The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1891-05-07


hosts OF others "too numerous to men
tion." Chiefest and last among thoee
In this vicinity was Devils Slide. =
This consists Of two upright walls Of:
solid rock some ten or twelve feet il;
height, and like distance apart, look
ing like gigantic chute for loadt, 8
stock on cars and reaching from the;
top Of the mountain 10 III base, + dis
tancs OF many hundreds Of feet. W.
Ing this scene In sober earhestness,
light suddenly broke upon 10 in regard
to the true origin Of tobogganinR, and
we for the first time comprehended tie
meaning of the term going down grade
like the devil" which ~ had 30 often
heard in connection with tobogganing
and which our train at the same time
was said to be doing. However we
soon left the vicinity Of the Old Fell
low g former haunts behind and pulled
into Ogden, the suburb of the Mormon
stronghold In former times, when
Brigham Young, in the glory Of his
power, married every other woman in
the Territory.
Here We were obliged to lay over
nearly seven hours and taking adval,-
tage Of the opportunity, we visited
points Of interest in the city and by u
little questioning gained fair knowl-
edge of the condition Of affairs and of
the dangers of being to n uchly mar
ried. Finding that it was y peniten-
tiary offense we fastened back to our
car and offered the conductor two
bits" to pull out, but a. he stubbornly
refused we concluded that he Was 60.
lug to take the risk.
The city is beautifully situated. sur.
rounded by snow capped mountxine
that loom up to such an extent as to
impress one with the idea that they
are but few rods away when they
were in reality from six to ten miles
off. The soft spring bret yes and III.
scent Of starting vegetation WAS deli
cious after experiencing the keen chill
mir of the mountains.
From here we turned north by way
IF the Oregon Short Line and reached
Pocatello. Idaho, the next morning.
From there We followed the great val
ley # the Snake river for several l,un~
dred miles over vast stretch, Uf level
prairie covered with sage brush. "A
magnificent view of tho American,
Falls on Snake river made q lasting
impression on us, 40 did the terrible
alkali dust of the plains OF Western
Idaho, that filled the eyes Of passen-
gers and literally covered everything
il the cars. Relief came at night wien
we crossed over into Oregon, and. re-
firing to our berths. We wake Up ut
Arlington on the Columbia river next
morning.
From here to Portland the road fol-
lows the river and the magnificent
mountain scenery II the Cascade range
is fully as grand as anything the
Rockies had t. offer. At Bridal Veil
Falls the train stopped long enough to
give the passengers u chance to view
the water fall and the grandeur of the
surrounding scenery. The Dall+s n x,
appeared, calling forth. EXPLANATIONS
of surprise and delight fron the trav-
~lers, being grandly beautiful! beyond
the power Of words to describe.
At noon our train pulled into Port.
land, being nearly three hours behind
time. Here again We were obliged to
lay over for several hours before coh-
tinuing our journey, and again taking
advantage OF our opportunity we Wis
tied some of the points of interest in
the city. Taking the motor car We as.
cended Portland Heights, from which
bird's.eye view Of tile city and valley
is obtained. at our feet lay the city,
tile Willamette and Columbia rivers.
At our right, the depot, the docks and
bay, with steamers and sailing vessels
lying at anchor; while in the distance
could be seen the towering peaks s.of
Mount HelleMs, Mount Hood, and over
in Washington, Mount Adams. The
day being bright and clear. the view
was One and the scene enchanting be-
yond description, and We reluctantly
descended as it were to earth and more
commonplace things. Here We found
the weather very warm, excessively 90
to 10 from Minnesota and NOrthern
Iowa, with myriads of wild flowers I'D
bloom in the mountains, and fruit
trees of al kinds loaded with blossoms
in the valleys. The air seemed laden
with the scent Of = thousand different
perfumes which to inhale was life,
health, sweetness and beauty. It WAS
like being transported tos r..'
Land that IS iairer than day. p;
Whore the flowers eternAlty bloom. ~
In my next will give some particu-
lars Of this valley, ito resources, its
prospects and its people, tins letter b.
ing already too long to admit of any
thing moro Ut present. -. ..Sf
M1rAN D0ANE.