The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1894-08-31
OUTING NO. 1.

During July and August, outing seems
to be epidemic in Albany. Like many
Others, also had an attcck of it. The
question was: Where shall go to get
rid of IL? Sodaville or the Bay? After
educ consideration, determined TO visit
the former. At the fixed time, with
valice in hand wended my way to the
depot, w ere the train was in readiness
for all who wished to go to Lebanon.
Promptly at $40 m it moved out.
There were five of US, and no one seemed
to have anything to say. l an used my
self in watching young lady and an old
man, who were making desperate efforts
to masticate piece OF chewing gum and
a quid OF tobacco. In exactly AZ minutes
| the train reached Lebanon. Judging
| from the rapidity with which veteran
and amateur chewers were using their
masticators, inferred that the work OF
justification was by no means com
pleted. How much enjoyment they re-
ceived from the performance am unable
to say.
A ride of 41s miles in hack, over a
dusty road, brought US to Sodaville,
which, as many of the readers of the
DEMOCRAT know, is 3 micro-monohippic
town located on a hill side at the head of
an arm OF the Willamette valley. can
see but one reason for the existence OF
this town. The Creator. in the begin
ming, whenever that was, in fitting up the
earth as an abode for man, foreseeiDg to
what ailments the human family would
he subject, formed at this point a sub
ter-anean, labratory for the production
of mineral water for the healing of the
sick, who, in the far away future, would |
be dwellers on the Pacific Coass. About !
40 years ago, the spring was discovered |
in some way, do not know how; but the |
curative qualities of its water does not |
seem TO have been known till more re-
cent date, when some, who were con
sidered incurable, visited the spring and |
were restored TO health. They then took |
up their abode near the spring. Others
under similar circumstances did the |
same; and thus the town originated.
That the water OF the spring has great
curative power for some diseases does 1
not admit of doubt Men and women l
nov in good health, who came to Soda
vile connrmed invalids, are ocular
demonstrations OF this. And so are
others who have been benefited oy using
the water few weeks or months. ] feel
been of advantage TO me. do no., how
ever, attribute all the benefit derived to
the water alone. During the two weeks
that was in GodsvIlle, l explored, for
some distance. the surrounding country,
in all directions, eastward l walked as
far as Waterloo. on the Santiam river,
auother town which perhaps owes its ex-
istence, in part, to q mineral spring,
which is found among the rocks at the
falls in the river at this point. This
spring is puzzle not easily solved. II
is in a depression or crevice in the rocks
forming the falls, and the water can be
gotten only when the river is low. Dur
ing the rainy season the spring is over
flowed by the river. 1t would be diff
cult to explain how the mineral water is
a. some dist ance perhaps,
and finds its way to the small opening in
the rocks without coming in contact with
the river water which fills many OF the
aropnd it.
1t was puLZling to me to know how the
spring was found. On inquiry, learned
that the original discoveries were deer,
which made their discovery known by
coming down from the woods for drink.
There ia 4 good deal OF diversity of
opinion in regard to the superiority of
this spring and the one at Sodayille. In
taste there is not much difference. The
former Is more salty. The latter is
sharper and contains more gas. In cur
ative qualities the SodaviIie spring is un-
doubtedly superior 10 that of Waterloo;
and it has the advantage OF being aecess-
ible at all seasons of the year. A proof
of the medicinal superiority is the guam
tity Of water shipped to different parts OF
the state. Some aase it by the wagon
load for their own use
That Waterloo is more popular
summer resort for many young people
and those who like something stronger
than mineral water, no one calls in qnes-
ton. The semi weekly "hngging set 10
m-sic' and the drinking saloon ma.
the mineral spring more attractive to
many and hence the greater number of
campers and b-oarders.
The reports that the spring at Soda
vile was ruined by the excavations made
for the foundation OF the new building
over the spring were utterly false. The
sster is just as good and abundant a. it
was one year ago, an is drawn from the |
same tank, which in the mean time re-
mained intact. The new building is not /
yet completed, but this does not prevent /
access to the spring. A little more ad- /
vertising would not only add to the /
number Of visitors at the spring, but 4
would also be a means OF restoring many |
invalids TO health. frequently meet |
persons who have never heard OF the !
mineral spring at SodavilIe and it's cura-
tive qualities AGANos.