Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-09-28
ON THE PACIFIC SIDE.
Tho Trip by Rail From Spokane Falls to
Tacoma.

csrrsspondsncs Of THE Evxsrs sran
TACOMA, W.T., September 20.
Crossing west from Spokane Falls the traveller
finds nothing of special interest except il be
several thrifty villages such as Cheney, Sprague,
PaEouse Junction and others until he reaches
Pasco Junction, the eastern terminus of the
Cascade division Of the Northern Pacific rail-
road and the point where passengers wishing to
visit Portland. Ore. must determine whether
they viii do 20 by the way Of wallula Junction
and Columbia river or by Tacoma. As I
wished to visit point in Oregon bid adieu to
my friends in the sleeper on the Northern
Pacific with whom / had travelled some days
and took the train for Walls Walla, where ar
rived in about two hours.
BIG FRUIT IN wALIA wALLA
This young city is beautifully located in q
section of country Astounding in agricul-
tural activity. 1t is live place, filed with
energy, thrift and ability. The republican
party of the state was IN town in force when
! arrived, holding u nominating convention.
During my stay visited by invitation an exhi-
bition OF the products Of the surrounding coun-
try, and never before saw such specimens of
corn, wheat. cane, barley, potatoes. melons.
eppes. peaches pears. plums, prunes. berries,
vege tables, &c. / would scarcely dare to tell
the size ana dimensions OF some of these pro-
ducts. Corn 10 to Is feet high. with two and
three large ears on stalk; apples larger than
cocoanuts; pumpkins that one could only carry
with the aid OF "a wheelbarrow.
TIE BLUE MOUNTAINS OF OREGON.
Having a relative in western Oregon, 1 took
a train for his home and found ii beautifully
located in the Blue mountain district. The
canons OF these mountains are famous for the
wonderful growth of fruits of ali kinds. The
greatest objection is the fact that YOU have to
pass over mountains two or three thousand
feet high to get into the valleys where the fruit
aDounds. returning from this place TO Pasco
junction L again boarded Northern Pacific
tram and continued my journey west over the
Cascade division of said road for about 26O
miles. The first l50 miles is over vast plains
covered mainly by sage and bunch grass and
intersperscd with beautiful and fertile valleys
and then you enter great forest belt consisting
OF rugged scenery. great trees and mountain
peaks. and it is in this belt that the Cascade
range OF mountains Is crossed.
GREAT IRON BRIDGE.
When / left Pasco Junction / crossed the Co.
lumbia river over great iron bridge having a
length OF 2,437 feet The first important town
reached was Yakima. situated in valley of the
Yakima river, a fine location for the raising of
stock. The road follows for long distance
the winding course of this river. Ellensburgh.
the next town OF importance. is the N. p.
headquarters for this section of the limo. 1t
featuring and mining town.
LONG TUNNEL.
The tunnel through which the train passes
from the east to the west side Of the mountain
is $3.50 feet in length the longest tunnel in the
United States except the Hoosac tunnel in
Massachusetts Prior to its construction trains
passed over these mountains by the use of the
swtchback lines, a marvellous feat of engineer
Ing. Coming out OF this tunnel on the west
side | obtained my first view Of Mount Rennier,
now known as Mount Tacoma,
THE HIGHEST MOUNTAIN PEAK
OF North America, its most elevated point
reaching an altitude of 14,444 feet. Decend-
ing the west side of the mountains one soon
reaches the valley of Green river, which
stream is crossed and recrossed a dozen or
more times. Leaving this stream and its
beautiful valley ] soon came to and crossed
Milk river, and then flying still to the north
west the train soon reached Puyallup river.
the outflow of the great Puyallup glacier and
along its side and through it's valley the cars
passed. This is the great hop-raising valley
or district and the hop picking is done mainly
by the Indians, scores of whom l saw in pass
ing along. 1t is said that no less than four
thousand red men come annually from points
in British Columbia and else where to engage
in this industry. brief run through the
Puyallup Indian reservation and we arrive at
Tacoma. Oh the Puget sound, the western
terminus of the Northern Pacific railroad,
1000 miles west of st. Paul, MINI. n. B. NJ.