Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1895-01-13
sosm ODD THINGS ~ oRnGOy.


-
PreHervcru
New York, Jan. 12.-Out in oregon
there Is to ba found dhe only place
In the country whore a locomotive has
ufs-preBervers hung upon It's sides TINS
singular sight Ia to be seen at Astoria,
at the mouth OF the Columbia fiNer'
An extensive system OF Jetties Ia being
constructed there, and breakwater
that runs for ave miles Into the Pa
cino ocean In being built All this
IS to deepen the harbor at Astoria 30
that the largest ocean steamers may
Had easy access to tho whnrves ot
Oregous chief seaport city, and also
10 secure a hRrbor Tor shipping aud
ward OF the storms OF the ocean. rms
work OF building an enormous break
water has cost an Immense sum OF
money, but It's beneficial results are
already beginning 70 be seen, and there
is no doubt of it's ultimate success.
railroad track Ia built on the top
OF tho brealtwater az fast as II Is I'm
ished sufficiently 10 lay tracks. Inas-
much as the workmen are far out to
sea, and as there 10 constant danger
that some OF the trains crew may
fall overheard, 1t was thought well to
hang along the sides OF the tender To
the locomotive half IA dozen large life
preservers for instant use Ia case OF
accident. Several tlmss In the last few
months they have been brought Into
play. and thus have demonstrated the
wisdom OF equipping the locomotive IN
this strange fashion. This 10 not the
only unusual sight 10 be seen In the
equipment OF locomotives on the Pa
oihc coust. As tho traveller approaches
san Francisco he win notice on tho
tenders OF locomotives a reel of FIRE
hose. A dozen or more locomotives la
one yard will be seen with their ten-
g.a b. ss l.
precauton adopted Ia case of fre
The locomotive Is turned into n fire
engine. and thus the safety Of round
houses and stations and other proper
~ IL the more enhanced. The eastern
man Is surprised at the sight, but
soon forgets II as locomotive after To-
comotiyc Ia seen equipped thus.
There ure more singular things in
Oregon, however, than lie preservers
on locomotives. The state has only
Just begun 20 be developed and its
citizens tell many queer tales Of the
possibilities Of the country James NJ
Turney, on9 OF the best known citi.
gems Of Portland, told a New York
reporter that on more than one occas-
ion fishermen had gone out from AS
toria and sailed out to some Iceberg
that was floating down from Alaska
and actually had chopped frozen hsh
from It's sides which were afterward
sold In the markets The fish were
found TO be preserved perfectly. and
brought good prices, the expense Of
freight from Alaska having been saved.
Mr. purney told another singular story.
illustrating the resources and richness
OF Oregon. lie said that a well-known
banker named Luli. OF Portland. had
occasion not Ions agO 10 dfill on his
country place, ~ one ~ the richest
valleys OF the state. for water. He
sank an arteslan well. He went 1000
feet under ground aud passed through
two thick layers OF stone before he got
satisfactory supply OF water. He was
aniitzed to md at the depth OF 1000
feet tree perfectly preserved, and has
samples OF the wood 20 prove his a.
Eertlon. Mr.. Turney added:
mo one has any adequate idea Of
the richness OF Oregon. It has been
proved that she distances both CALI
fornia and Washington In the quality
of her fruits. We are doing an enor-
nous mining business. ana the state
fairy teens with gold and silver. Our
lumber cannot be surpassed, and there
are no more fertile valleys In the world
than those which are only half known
even TO ourselves"