The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1890-05-15

follows up Green River Valley until
the river dwindles into trickllng
mountain stream on the Rocky
mountain divide. 1t is on this divide
that both the Snake and Green rlv-
ers are formed; the Snake river
flowing into the Columbia, and the
Green river into the Colorado, just
above the great canyons. could
step across the Snake river where
the road first crossed it, but later on
and after travelling many miles
through much splendid scenery.
found it to be a great river. 1t was
while travelling down this river that
we were caught in terrific thunder
storm, and certainly if there IS any
thing in nature that is sublime,
beautiful and terrifying, it is thun-
der storm in the mountains. Couple
this statement with the fact that the
train was ten hours behind time;
that we were being driven along at
the speed of fifty-four miles an hour;
that there was a wrecked freight
train in our rear, and deep canyons
and sharp curves in front; that the
road bed had been softened and
made treacherous by heavy rains,
and that the spreading of a rail or
the lurching of coach little too
far to the rigat or left would hurl us
on the rocks hundreds of feet below,
and the reader can understand why
the writer felt slightly shaky IN this
wild ride down the Snake river val
lev. The flashes of lightning, the
rafting crash of thunder as it ech-
oed through the mountain gorges;
the shrill whistle of the locomotive
as the train neared dangerous
curve; the closing of the throttle
and the application of the air brakes
that almost shook the passengers out
of their seats is very nice to read
about. and while such a scene is
worthy of the brush of Rembrandt or
the pencil of Byron, it is altogether
too lively for those persons directly
interested in getting out of the will
derness.
There is now three great CONNER
cial centers in the extreme north
west, viz: Portland, Seattle and Ia
coma. The two last named cities
are being doomed for all they are
worth. This statement | can vouch
for by hearsay and personal observa-
ton. The cities and towns | have
visited are on the top crest OF gl-
gantic wild cat speculation such as |
believe this nor any other country has
ever before seen. While the natural
resources of Washington and Oregon
are undoubtedly very great, it is
questionable whether the drafts of
real estate spectators will be hon.
ored in the near future. Property
that three months ago was not worth
the powder to blow the stumps out of
the ground has been divided up into
lots which are selling for fabulous
prices. If l was real estate specu-
lator I would 60 to Seattle and Ia
coma If | was conservative busl-
ness man and wished to make safe
investment in real estate, should go
to the city of Portland. If the read
er will examine his map he will per-
ceive. that Portland controls the ag
ricultura al trade of Western Washing
ton and Northern Oregon. 1t is To-
Gated on the Willimette river, twenty
miles from its junction with the Co.
lumbia. 1t has population of 5o,-
900, and with the exception of San
Francisco, is the wealthiest city on
the Pacific slope. It has cable and
electric railways, electric lights and
dock frontage that will float the
largest ocean vessel. F.. Z. II.