Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1893-1895, 1895-10-08
UP THE WILD sANTrAM.
Great Improvement Along the o. o.
ne. Railroad.

"A trip up the Ola OTegOn Acihei
which is now known as the Oregon
Central & Eastern, at this season ofthe
year is treat long TO be remembered.
The Santiam is now at lts prettlest, and
the autumn effects along the romantic
banks are truly beautiful. The effect Of
the brilliant red dogwood foliage,
backed by the evergreen forest, is truly
magnificent, and as the acconimoda-
tlon train goes slowly winding Its way
up the gorge-like valley, the passengers
have an excellent op oortunity to drink
In some of the most beautiful scenery
In the world.
Our little party spent Sunday at DE
troit, now the last station on the road.
The track is laid to Idahna, but trains
are only run up there semi mi-occasionaliy.
We were we'll housed and served at the
Cascade House. Conductor Tway and
Engineer Laughed, who run the
train on this end OF the road, furnish
trout for the establishment, and they
are done TO q turn by the excellsn
hostess. Mr.. Laughed is said to be
the best fisherman In this whole
country. He can even get away with
his one-ermed brother at coaxing the
speckled beauties.
There are at present four sawmills
above the big Shaw mill at Mill City,
located respectively at Gatesville,
Mimic. Niagara and Detroit. The out
put at present is being used largely 10y
the o. 9. q e. railroad, In repairing its
road and bridges.
There are no more claims being taken
up In this section Of the country, as
the Cascade Forest Reserve excludes
any further settlement. This reserve
extends from the Columbia river 900
miles south, and at this point is 36
miles wide, and undoubtedly works a
great hardship on the people within its
limits as we'll as the state at large. The
reserve was made presumably to save
the watershed for the valley, but 1t is
thought by many valley people that
they could spare trlfe Of the present
enormous rainfall. There Is no doubt
but the setting aside OF this reserve is a
part OF some enormous scheme to get
the better of Uncle Sam, as II has been
manipulated by set OF philanthropists
at Portland, who devote most of their
time TO holding federal offices and run
ming state politics. God save the set
tiers from the clutches Of this benevo-
lent class
Some Of the claim owners near the
sawmllls are now realizing fine price
for their timber. They get so cents a
thousand for 1t on the stump, and thus
average about $50 per acre. About
$4,000 daily is at present being cut
from a ranch near here, thus giving
the owner a neat income Of $40 day.
Many new buildings have gone up
along this road, and progress and pros
perlty is rife on every hand. II there
ever was a set Of people In the world
who deserve better things, 1t lie these
settlers who have stood the hard times
Of the past two years.
Gates has hopes Of becoming lively
town, ON account of the mining boom
at Quartzvllle. The road to the mines
branches of at Gates, and all traftio
must go through here. The busiest
point on the road at present is Mil
City, where the saw mill Is pushing
work, employing many hands. The
renewed activity and business at all
these points is boon 10 the settlers.
The tracks are being repaired and the
bridges rebuilt, preparatory 10 doubt
10 the extentlon Of the road in the near
future.