Idaho news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1887-1891, 1889-07-06
Communication.

climate and scenery. After leaving
Idaho we come into the Blue noun
tain district, bounded ON the south BY
the Blue mountains, and much broken
by projecting spurs and outreaching
valleys from these mountains. This
district comprises several counties,
the o. II. & n. Oregon Railway and
Nayigation,) line of road passing
through the two principal counties,
Baker and Union.
Powder river is beautiful stream
on the eastern margin Of Baker coun.
ty, and Baker City, the county seat, is
finely situated in the center of Pow.
der River Valley, surrounded by an
extensive gold mining district. II is
a prosperous town with a population
OF 5000 and a future, so its friends
predict, as glittering as the precious
metal on which its prosperity de-
ponds
The Grand Ronde valley is the larg.
est valley Of Union county and con
tains 300, 900 acres of rich agricultu-
raj land II is well settled, has many
pleasant villages, and LeGrande, the
largest town through which we pass,
presents thrifty and comfortable APP
pearancc.
II is quite change TO come down
from this picturesque region into the
arid sand belt some ten miles wide,
which lies along the southern shore
OF the Columbia river. The tradition
al breeze Of this region, breeze as
untiring as the waters OF the majestic
river across whose bosom Il plays,
lifts the fine white sand and shifts il
increasingly, now piling 1t up in round
ed heaps, now in long banks, which
shine and glimmer in the sunlight and
reflect the suns rays until the heat
becomes almost intoIerable. To look
out on these desolnte sand wastes the
traveller can hardly realize that not
many miles away are the prosperous
counties OF Morrow and Gillian, the
only visible signs Of population being
the scattered stations, chief OF which
is Arlington, said TO have a popula.
ton OF 1000, and where platforms
piled high with huge sacks Of wool
testify that we are in or near sheep
country. The sand banks rise into
abrupt cliffs as We approach the
Dallcs.
Not much OF this town can be seen
from the cars; but It is one OF the old.
est towns in Oregon, has q population
OF about 1900, and is a well built
town doing a solid and prosperous
business. II Is the distributing point
of supplies TO several large and Inn
portant settlements which are as yet
remote from railroads and which are
destined 20 make of eastern Oregon,
at some future time, as rich and pros.
porous an Finland empire" as eastern
Washington is fast becoming From
the Dalles go out long trains of large
freight wagons, carrying supplies to
Harvey Valley, Prineville and even
into the distant Malheur country, and
return laden with wool, the staple
product Of eastern Oregon. At the
Dallcs the mighty river which has
been gliding along quietly between
monotonous, low.lying shores, gathers
up her resistless energy and dashes
down her splendid mountain path to
the sea. A more complete change
of scenery and climate than between
the upper and lower Columbia, can
scarcely be imagined.
We have exchanged the fierce heat
add sitting sand for cool shade and
soft winds which family stirs the
naples and starry wild
syringas.
The Cascade mountains in May are
beautiful with a wealth OF foliage OF
maple and fir and alder, waving ferns
and vines, and everywhere the sweet,
white clover comes creeping over
every open space making soft and
fragrant carpet.
Long vistas open between noble