Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1895-01-23
SINGULAR THINGS IN OREGON.

Out in Oregon there Is to be found
the only place in the country where a
locomotive has life preservers hung
upon its sides. This singular sight is
to be seen at Astoria, at the mouth of
the Columbia river. An extensive sys-
tenn of jetties Is being constructed
there, and a breakwater that runs for
five miles into the Pacific ocean Is
being built. All this is to deepen the
harbor at Astoria, so that the largest
ocean setamers may find easy access to
the wharves of Oregon's chief seaport
city, and also to secure harbor for
shipping and ward off the storms of
the ocean.
The work of building an enormous
breakwater has cost an enormous sum
of money. but its beneficial results are
already beginning, to be seen, and there
is no doubt of its ultimate success.
A railroad track is built on the top of
the breakwater as fast as it is finished
sufficiently to lay tracks. Inasmuch
as the workmen are far out to sea, and
as there is constant danger that some
of the trains crew may fall overheard,
it was thought we'll to hang along the
sides of the tender to the locomotive
half dozen large life preservers for
instant use in case of accident. Sew
eral times in the last few months they
have been brought into play. and thus
have demonstrated the wisdom of
euuipping the locomotive in this
strange fashion.
This is not the only unusual sight to
be seen in the equipment of locomo-
tives on the Pacific coast. AS the trav-
eler approaches San Francisco he will
notice Oh the tenders of the locomotives
reel of fire hose. A dozen or more
locomotives in one yard will be seen
with their tenders fitted up in this
manner. 1t is precaution adopted in
case of fire. The locomotive is turned
into fire engine, and thon the safety
of round houses and stations and other
property is the more insured. The
Eastern man is surprised at the sight,
but soon forgets it. as locomotive after
locomotive is seen equipped thus.
There are more singular things in
Oregon however, than the life preservers
on locomotives. The State has only
just begun to be developed. and its
citizens tell many queer tales of the
posi- bilities of the country. James
M. Turney, one of the best known citi-
zens of Portland, told New York Sun
reporter who visited that city only
last fall that ON more than one occasion
fishermen had gone out from Astoria
and sailed out to some iceberg that
was floating down from Alaska and
actually had chopped frozen fish from
its 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.. Turney told another singular
story. illustrating the resources and
richness of Oregon. He said that a
we'll known banker named Ladd of
Portland had occasion, not long ago, to
drill ON his country place, in one of
the richest valleys of the State, for
water. He sank an artesian well.
He went 2,000 feet under ground and
passed through two thick layers of stone
before he got satisfactory supply of
water. He was amazed to find at the
depth of 2,000 feet tree perfectly pre-
served, and has samples of the wood to
prove his assertion.