The Dalles times-mountaineer. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1882-1904, 1894-10-13

A Ride Through the wheat Belt
Of WascO County,,

A Ride Through the wheat Belt
Of wasco County.
1t is not quite the season of '.the ser.
the yellow Leaf" but the mellow days of
early autumn, when the sky Is ciOudles-
and the air is IN igoratlng with a freshness
that is the result OF frosty DIghts. EAilv
mornings are cool, but when the sun
reaches point near the zenith the atmos.
phere is delightful, and makes one think OF
climatic perfection. Such day was Sat
urday, and behind a team of horses,
whose powers of endurance and swiftness
of movement In passing over suburban
roads woald not force the Imagination to
picture scene of riding behind Pegasus,
the winged messenger of the muses., the
1--WE" Of the TIMES MoUNTAINEER was
seated on that afternoon with Hon. A. M.
kelsay, the county clerk, holding the reins.
The object of the Journey was some bust
ness connected with the clerks office, and,
as Mr.. Kelsay is sociable man he invited
the pencli-pusher to accompany him, and
due appreciation accepted.
The first few miles from The Dalles passed
over well-remembered scenes, which have
Teen familiar to the writer for oyer quar-
ter OF century. Old Mt. Hood, snow
capped, stands sentinel over mountains and
glens. forests and PLAINS. In the foreground,
winds the sinuous course or the Columbia
RIVER. golden in the sunlight and silvery
bright in the rays of the moon. A ter
gaining the uplands the fruitful fields OF
Wasco appear close at hand. Almost every
hill is dotted with grain-6elds, with the
bountiful straw stacks from the recently
threshed gram in the center. The road
crosses Three Mile, Five Mile and E ght
Mile, and the scene Is varied but little.
Pleasant farm houses on bottoms and hills,
with orchards and pastures on the bank OF
the streams are constantly seen, until after
two hours drive stop is made at Dufur.
This is a fourishing country town, with
all the accessories to make life enjoyable.
The Fifteen Mile house is presided oyer
by Mr.. A. K. Dufur, and more genial
host cannot be found in Eastern Oregon.
From his large farm the table Is supplied
with milk fresh from the cow. butter
churned on the premises. and steaks that
are JUICY and invigorating Guests are ac-
commodated with o)dtime hospitality, and
are forced to the conclusion that they are
visiting friends instead Of transient sojour-
ners. The leading merchants are Johnston
Bros. and they carry complete stock o.
goods, and sell at prices to suit the times.
That the gentlemen have been successful IN
business is fully demonstrated by the beant.
iful homes they occupy. surrounded with
well kept lawns, beautiful shade trees, and
orchards bnrdened with golden fruit. DIR.
Kane, graduated from Cooper Institute,
San Francisco. highly recommended by the
faculty, is the latest addition to the med
ical profession of the town. There is well
supplied drug store, presided over by Mr..
c. p. Baich, thorough druggist Two
Methodist and United Brethren,
with resident ministers, are custodians of
the morals of the community, and better
,lass of people. morally and socially. do not
reside anywhere.
An hours stay at Dufur, hearth hand
hake with old aoquaintanoes, and we are
peeding away to the Tygh ridge. This
5 the garden spot of Wasco County, and
rain fields follow each other continuously.
The soil is black and loamy, and crops
ever fail. Here are situated the farms of /
Or. j.. Brookhouse. r. Mays, Fargher
'ros., Remi and Leon Rondeau, all well
o do, with herds of cattle and horses in
asture, and droves of hogs roaming
through newly cut rain. Mr.. Remi Ron
eau has been esident of Tygh ridge
Or twenty-one Yeart, and was perhaps the
rst settler. From the highest point the
lew is grand beyond description. The
ighlands OF Wasco and Sherman counties
re spread before the vision, and these
leam in golden tints from the sunlight,
nd the horizon shows up boldly Hood.
dams and St. Heleps, with the Cascade
lnge as the background.
The business was soon transacted Satur-
~ night, and after refreshing sleep,
lnday was devoted to the return trip to
he Dalles. Kingsley. the postofice of
ygh ridge, Is twenty-six miles distant,
I'd the early morning drive was truly
'acing. Passing wagons that had depos
ed their loads of grain at the warehouses
this city. Eight Mile was reached IN
ree hours drive. and here dinner was
ten at the Inn kept by Mrs. Huott and
II daughters. If one desire to fare sump.
ously he should sit down to Mrs. Huott's
BILE, and have his appetite RECALLED with {
asst beef. cooked to the queens taste.
ith vegetables, cake and pastry as eide
shes. An hours drive brought Us to the
mines of the city, and an absence of
lgle day Afforded us more extended
ew of the country than could have been .
d by any other means. t