Morning journal and courier., 1890-03-14
CORRESPONDENCE.
The American Rhine-Interestlng and
 Picturesaue Seenes.

Picturesque Scenes.
 We left Portland, Ore, at 4 g. m. on the steamer Montnomah, having breakfast aboard. Our destination was the ''Dalles" of the Columbia river. The trip down the WilHafnette river and of the Columbia river is for the two frat hours through narrow stream with green, wooded banks on either side. Further up the river widens, end the Assure formations of rocks on the northwest side are remarkable in shape. The surface is rough, and the face of the rocks rise al- most perpendicularly for several hundred feet, with passes and caves and mound shapes, and the whole interspersed with the dark green moss and bright foliage which was just beginning to turn. The slow sail up this stream and the peculiarly pictu- resque views it affords made an impression of natural beauty and grandeur on my mind which hope never to forget There is @ white line on the rocks about twenty feet above the water level showing the height of the river in the early summer months. Still further up the rocks turn into high moun- tain walls which shut out the rest of the world, leaving this rapid running stream to course it's peaceful way unhindered to the sea. There are several cascades at this point, and one especially deserving notice. In shape it appears like tiny silver thread spraying out of the mountain fastness four hundred feet above the river, and, winding downward and spreading itself out, forms loops and tangles of moving silver white un- til lost to sight of the cliffs behind the foliage of the lofty Oregon pines.
 Hardly had we lost view of this cascade than we desoried another beyond, which is the largest on the river. It is called by the Indian name of "Montnomah" and is said to be 800 feet high and but twelve feet wide at the start. The first fall ia perhaps a distance of fifty feet, where 1t breaks upon the black rocks and then squeezes itself between two huge boulders and escaping from their stony embrace leaps 200 feet below, filling the air with spray and the beholder with awe. The gray overshadowing mountains above seemed to frown down upon 1t as though its constant movements disturbed their quiet rest. When one stops to think of the ages this great cascade has dashed over these rocks and of the ages still to come and at tempts to ooneider the vast amount of natu- ral material and power used and exerted the mind becomes bewildered from it's own thoughts and ones personality and brief ex- istence seems but an atom in the presence of these great landmarks of nature. Only a few years ago none but the Indians knew of the existence of these picturesque views yhoh rival the se;ns scenery of ,oo.tss sss the old log "Blockade fort" from which years ago the rifles of the bold white settlers were fired at the Indians, who out- numbered the whites one hundred to one, but from it's location on the bluff, and it's night portholes on eight sides, with look out on top, handful of brave men were en abled to stand of large band of Indians. In those days the brave wives of the settlers were accustomed to the use of firearms and took an active part in the defense of their frontier homes. The heavy lock-cornered logs which form it's octagonsl sides seem i'm penetrable, and even now appear as staunch pioneers years ago.
 Near where this fort stands we left the steamers, and . six-mile ride on a narrow.gauge road brought us to the upper river, where the twin steamer "Har- riet Queen" was waiting to carry us to our destination. The balance of the too short trip abounds with views on either eide which are constant surprise. Great sugar leaf mountains suddenly turn into flat meadows, eye sees something different. It is a con- stantly changing picture with the sky for 2 background. It gives one a strange sense of helplessness, this complete issolation from the mechanical world. Shut in on all sides by those great landmarks of creation, and borne on seemingly aimless journey on the surface of the river, which by the foresight of the creator, finds its path in peace amid these mountain fastnesses.
 No river in the world affords the grandeur of scenery, and sublimity of boundless na- ture which is here spread out for the passing eye. It's natural charms, are destined, some day, when better understood, to be described in glowing words by someone who has the feeling to appreciate and the power to depict it's matchless beauty. The range of noun tains here, are the Cascade range. and on a clear day, the peaks of Mt. Hood, Jefferson Adams, Helen, and Tacoma, can be seer with their snow-capped top outlined upon thu western sky. D. T. MALLETT.