The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-01-11
I'm the Wonderland
OF North America.
Twenty-second Letter of Northwestern
Travel-0nward to Olympia and Portland

we see in California, 1t is true, many of
them girth all the way from IL to 30
feet In circumference and are appar-
emily solid. There" says the con-
ductor, grow the finest spars on the
continent" Willapa Bay is one of the
best and most capacious harbors on the
Pacific coast. having a deep and safe
entrance and land-locked waters. spa
cious enough for hundreds of vessels
to lie at anchor. Salmon canning is an
established business here. ami oysters
are taken from the flats on the bay and
shipped to San Francisco, Portland and
to the Sound cities.
The Mrjcstic Columbia River.
After fifty miles ride through the
Chehalis valley and along the east bank
Of the Coroltz river, where our atten-
tion has benen largely occupied with
the magnificent peaks Of the Cascades.
their dazzling whiteness piercing the
very skies. We suddenly come to the
mighty Columbia we last crossed at
kennewick east Of the Cascades In the
Yakima districts, which. after its long.
eventful course of 1900 miles from the
little mountain lake In British Col
umbia. Is here at its best. With added
power and volume this deep-green flood
from three to five miles wide sweeps
the Pacific.
At Kalama, small town of 300 popu-
lation on the Washington side. we
cross the Columbia, which Is here from
three to four miles wide Our train OF
fifteen cars, including locomotive. is
run on to the huge steam ferry boat. or
railway transfer boat Tacoma. which
Is capable Of carrying thirty-one cars
at one time. This boat is next in size
to the Corona, at Port Costa. Cal. on
which we crossed the Straits of Car
quinez In lS92--the largest ferry boat
In the world. with a carrying capacity
of fifty-four loaded cars. After fifteen
or twenty minutes ride 80 quietly that
we could with difficulty believe that
the transfer was being made, we debark
from this monster float and enter the
state of Oregon at Goble. Among the
prominent travellers on our train was
President G. j. Ives, of the Burlington,
Cedar Rapids and Northern railway.
whom we met In Yellowstone Park and
who Is travelling with his family in his
private car across the Continent and
who also takes passase with US on the
ing OF this railway transfer he said, In
substance:
80 quickly and quietly II this trans
fer being made l am sure that good
part of the passengers on our train
would never know that they were being
carried across the Columbia river unless
by chance they leave the car and are
convinced of the fact by geographical
evidence"
We are now forty miles from Portland
and follow the south and west banks
of the Columbia nearly all the way
through countless fruit farms. alter
mi 80,
train windows and observation car in
the rear. we enjoy such superb views
Of Mount Hood and Mount st. Helens
as we have never before had. st. Hell
ems has q form. a rounded top. like
sugar loaf, and IL $3.50 feet high, while
Mt. Hood. more distant. has a sharp
pyramidal peak and an elevation OF
II, ,225 feet. These gigantic mountains
are covered with snow during the en-
tire year. The line of !nerpetual snow
lies between 500 and 600 feet. varying
with the latitude.
BY Way Of Rcca apitulation.
Portland being the extreme southern
terminus Of the Northern Pacific rail-
way, we recognize the fact that the
long journey across the continent over
this marvellous road Is ended and soon
we are to commence our journey into
the far and mysterious Northland,
Alaska. During our westward journey
We have taken our readers over 5000
miles of our magnificent young empire.
which the Northern Pacific has opened
up to the knowledge and admiration of
the outside world and the settlement
and development of it's marvellous re-
sources. A route which leads to many
wondrOus regions; the first and only
one that begins with the Great Lakes
the unsalted seas-and clasping hands
with branches which extend into mar
velous regions of wealth and grandeur.
terminates with Puget Sound and the
rich valleys of the Willamette and Col
umbia. While this road has been
potent factor In the advancement of
the great Northwest 1t has also built
itself up to be the greatest and richest
road in America owning &c. 600, 900 acres
of land 1t Is one Of the great engi-
neering miracles of the age. 1t cuts
in hundreds Of places the rugged back
bone of the continent. traversng re-
gions where none but inspired genius
in railrcading would ever think of lay
ing track. It's trains spin along river
courses. across ravines. through tun-
nels. over passes where 1t would seem
almost impossible for mountain goat
to climb. or anything without wings to
pass. Its tracks double and cross
themselves, plunging from daylight into
darkness. and so perfect Is its engi-
neering, so massive its construction, SO
ceaseless Is the care and supervision of
its every detail, that there has never
been serious accident on its lines Its
tracks are of heavy steel rail, laid much
Of 1t on bed of solid granite and pa
trolled day and night by vigilant watch
men. Its pOnderCus locomotives are