The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1889-09-06

the nearest sea port the valley has,
and it is justly proud of the enterprise.
1t is now the headquarters for the rail-
road, the seat of justice of Benton
county, and has the state agricultural
college and the large number of busi-
ness auxiliaries of thriving CONNER
cial town. Connection is there made
with the west side division of the
Southern Pacific lines in Oregon, which
is soon to he extended southwark to
junction with the main line of that
system.
Leaving the Willamette river at
Corvallis the Oregon Pacific reaches
westward across the coast mountains
to the sea, some seventy-odd miles
distant. For the first few miles the
traveller on this line finds nothing very
unusual to attract his attention. At
this season of the year, however, the
operations of the busy husbandman
caring for the bountiful reward the
soil yields him for his years toll are
of surprising interest TO the ordinary
mortal, who can take in a vast pano-
rama from his seat in the passenger
coach. The bri ght village of Philo-
rnath is passed and the grade of the
track increases as The two long lines of
steel bend around the rolling hills that
grow more rugged as the mountains
are approached. The road follows
the Mary's river, and there are set
tiers scattered along the route at in
tervals clear through the mountains.
The old stage road, over which so
many weary travellers have trudged in
years agone, after paying their fare for
riding in the coach, also traversed this
route, which is one of the easiest pass
es in that rugged mountain chain.
From near the Willamette river to the
summit the rise is gradual to an aiti-
tude of about seven hundred feet above
Corvallis. West of the summit the
descent is more abrupt. In distance
of five miles the track sinks nearly SIX
hundred feet, passing through mum,
Der of tunnels and making two OF
three interesting loops. Then the
Yaquina river is reached, and the road
the rest of the distance to the termi.
nus at Yaquina City, is on almost d
water level.
For picturesqueness and grandeur
the scenery of the western slope en-
tirely surpasses that Of the eastern.
The west side is much the more abrupt,
and the rocky sides of the mountains
more frequently present themselves
for the admiration of the tourist, and
the execration of engineers who have
to surmount the difficulties they pre-
sent in building roads, than on the
opposite side of thei range. In this
pass there was ori ginally a heavy
growth of timber which was swept
away by fire years ago. In few
places the timber grown since the fire
has reached considerable size. A
large portion of the land now bears a
dense growth of ferns that are easily
cleared away when it is desired to
cultivate the soil. Along the bottom
lands of the creeks that take their
rise in the mountains there is much
valuable timber There are also
many indications of minerals, but
nothing has been dok toward thei,
development. On shelves Of the
mountains are good locations for the
establishment of successful ranches
where small tracts may be found suit
able for cultivation, and the surround
ing country is rich in pasturage for
stock, which is an important considera-
ton to one having a small area of cul
tivable land.
The coast mountains are very at
tractive to the sportsman. The timic
hunter does not often seek that ground
for his fun, however. To him who
wishes adventure the businesses o
these mountains offer strong attrac
tions. There are bears and cougars
galore as well as the more useful game
such as deer, elk, birds, ETC., to be
had. The destructive animals do not
fancy civilization and their haunts are
in the most inaccessible mountain re.
cesses, where they are often hunted"
COURSE OF LEcrUREs.-A course of lee.
lures has been prepared for the benefit OF
the free reading room. Able speakers have
been secured. Course to begin Tuesday,
Sept. 10th, by Hon. Geo. FL. Williams, oi