The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1886-08-07

submits the year round, bus none are
SNOW c}o1cd in the sense that the peaks
Of the Cascade range are. One does not
pass over the main ridge at high
altitude; the journey through thes.
mountains IS q series of winlings over
numerous ridges, through various tun-
nels, and around sharp curves. 1t is
also a ride through valleys, some OF
which are green with vegetation. Many
low peaks ana intervening valleys spread
over miles OF country describe the chain
which constitutes the backbone Of our
continent.
But the chief reason why the trip
should be made in early Summer is that
Oregon, Washington Territory, and the
country about Puget Sound then show
to best advantage. During the whole
season, and until late in December, the
Northwest coast is most beautiful, and
has many very clear days, but III late
May and June a clear sky is moro to be
the projected Cascade Division of the
Northern Pacific Railroad, much injury
has been done the forests by fires.
Tlere can be seen acres of trees measur-
ing from / to 10 and - feet in diameter,
stripped OF their bark and limbs They
rise from 100 to'o0O feet in the air. and
like spectres stand in the midst of q waste
Of trunks fallen thick about them. Tho
sight OF burned forest is not pleasant.
One cannot help contrasting the dead
and dying mass of trunks with the living
trees beyond, and blaming mankind as a
whole for the destruction of forests
beauty and wanton waste OF fine
material have known people to miss
much OF the beautiful and grand on the
North Pacific coast by this smoke, but
fear Of meeting it should not cause any
one to hesitate about q trip. But June
and even earlier is safe time to mako
the trip, because then the sky is clear,
and the moisture is not so dried out of
the ground that serious fires can occur.
Such smoke does much to injuye the
country in the eyes OF those unfortunate
enough to meet with it. They carry
East with them an impression OF the
country very unlike what it really is.
The whole Northwest coast is filed
with scenery both grand and beautiful.
The Columbia River is famous for its
mass of water. its perpendicular cliffs,
its picturesque waterfalls. and tho many
exquisite bits of water view. Early sum.
mcr shows its waters high, and plenty of
volume in Multnomah Falls. These
falls are fortunately near the river and
so convenient to the r,ilroad that tourists
can climb to . point giving good view
while the train waits. The main fall is
$50 feet high. The water pours over Il
perpendicular cliff, blackened by tho
dampncss and covered with dark moss.
It leaps out into .nilair from the surface
Of tho rock, and falls in one stream,
touching nothing i'll Its desc ent. Separ-
ating into showers OF sparkling slobules
in its rapid rush to the dark pool below,
the volume drifts away mass of spray
and fairy rainbows. Grand indeed arc
these falls. 10 do them justice vhilc
the train stops is impossible. To look
at nature "on time" seems almost an
| offense. IT'S easier to mix oil with water
than 20 enjoy thoroughly the beautiful
and grand when "will ii get left!" chow
long can look 2" and kindred thoughts
are hammeriuG on ones brain and dane.
ing between the eyes and landscape.
Portland lies amid very picturesque
surroundings. at its back and to the
west are timbercd hills. They are the
forcrunncrs Of the Coast Range, bat be-
tween them and the Pacific the country is a
series of oascs surrounded by bits of for
est. To the south of tic city is the fertile
valley of tho Willamette, q river wide
and navigablc. It flows by the city and
emptics into the Columbia twelve miles
below. To the cast and north country
open and ripe for cultivation is soon
lost in tho forests of the Cascade Range.
Out of this range rise four snow-capped
peaks. Not snow-capped as is an East
ern mountain. but white with ice and for
thousands OF feet below their SUBMITS.
Perpendicular cliffs and projecting rocks,
| whose surfaces afford no shelter for the
falling SHOWS. here and there stand out
I bare and black against the surrounding
whitencss. Beginning with Mount
Hood, st. Helen's and Adams rises in
turn to the north, and Puget Sound
furnishes Tacoma. With river whose
surface is in summer smooth and mirror