Union gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1899-1900, 1899-09-01
EGYPTIANS NOT IN IT.
YANKEE PYRAMID BUILDERS CAN
ECLIPSE THEM.
So Says Geo. Wsggoner In One OF
His Characteristic and ia-
teresting Epistles.

/ His Characteristic and Id
teresting Epistles.
The following letter from eur old friend
Geo. Waggoner, will be eagerly read by
all whe have learned to admire his splea-
did style. and exceptional ability in de-
scribing what he sees:
Fancy an irregular pile OF granite
powders varying in size from that OF q
summer squash to an election precisct
furrowed or creviced here and there with
ravines SO tortuous in their course that
water, when in the latter part OF the
summer it assumes liquid state, be-
comes SO wearied in following that it
must pause frequently to rest, thereby
forming little pools and lakes whose sur
faces reflect only the gray granite etch-
ing of their borders and the blue sky.
In a narrow cleft near the apex OF
this pile pitch dozen large tents place
little wooden building to be used as q
custom house between two large bowl
ders near the railroad track, run up the
American and British flags on short
poles set ten feet apart in the bare rocks
above and you have White Pass as it is
seen today. Bald, bare, desolate, it IS
the most uninviting place imaginable,
one of the many spots where few extra
loads of rubbish were added to this vast
dumping ground, while Natures Titanic
masons were laying the foundation for
our continent. Something of the mag
nitude of their labors may be conceived
by survey of the huge chips hurled
about by their mighty blows. Viewing
the vast irregular pile, one is lost in won
der, and economy shudders at the appar.
ent waste of material. To what use can
man put this wilderness of granite?
| 1t has evidently lain here for long
time waiting for something. 1t must be
for the magic hand of the Yankee.
What will he do with it? Let tile rocks
answer; and they do.
Lately while this.query was uppermost
in my mind there came stealing on the
evening air from a mess.draped crevice
in huge stone low voice whispering,
"Why not build pyramids? They were
all the rage once, all you need now is
for some rich man to start the fashion,"
Greatly startled but listening intently,
other small voices from all the rocks
around came, barely breaking the abso-
lutte stiffness yet breathing in chorus,
Pyramids, pyramids" I was electri-
fed. That's the very idea. can see it
all at glance and the immense profit in
the thing once it is fairly started. If
the Yankee ever embarks in the pyra-
mid business, he will beat the world.
Not only will he build them cheaper
than did the Egyptians but he will build
better ones. The granite blocks are
just lying around here loose waiting to
be lifted into place and the foundation
is perfect. There is abundant material
on our side of the line without over
reaching on Her Majesty's dominions
and the brush is already cleared off.
The climate, too, is favorable to the
longevity of such structures. What |
more does an enterprising capitalist
want? The idea is a grand one. All I
Europe will turn pale with envy if We
are the first to start the enterprise.
fancy can see the old mummied kings
sit up and stare when some Klondyke
miner puts up pyramid in thirty days.
which would have taken all Egypt fifty
years to build.
have said the rocks were bare, they
appear SO from a distance, but closer
cred with short whitish growth called
reindeer moss said to be. identical with
the staple feed of the reindeer in Lap
land. Also that it may be prepared for
table use as is Irish moss and that it is
very nutritious. Then in places where
the granite has partly decomposed gen.
nine old Scotch heather, Of both white {
and purple bloom, has found home
ind blossoms as free and fragrant as it
lid near the historic cottage where RAM :,
oled natures greatest poet and his bonny
Hig hland Mary Then again as if ma {
ure ordained that no spot should be en- 6
irely desolate many varieties of beauti- ,
ul wild flowers peep from the riffs in tho ]
ocks to lift their petals towards where I
heir bright hues are mirrored in the lit G
lie lakelets which the melting SHOWS I
nave multiplied all about. Many times t
n climbing over this waste one is re- 1
minded of the familiar lines "Full many I
flower is born to blush unseen" etc. 7
And here too several varieties of little
birds chirp contentedly and never seem r
o long for green fields. Ptarmigeou, a /
inc game bird not quite SO large as the U
,rouse, are plentiful, and ten miles t
gouth, where the rock peaks rise sharp as s
church spires, the mountain goat may {
oe seen climbing about with ease where Z
he foot of the venturesome hunter finds q
10 resting place. il
But let us return to the tents, the lit I
lie house and the flags for the hum of /
,oen is near at hand and the train from
skaguay has just arrived. With much \
putting, few out cries the Buldurin !;
Locomotive has drawn the cars-1S >
an elevation of 2, 800 feet
n one hour and forty minutes and now !
stands painting in front of the canvas !
depot, while from the coaches tumble a ,
crowd of sight-seers, old gentlemen, ell ,
ierly ladies', young men, babies, maidens
canes, kid-gleves, sealskins, spectacles
and kodaks, all hustled along as by one
impulse on the well beaten path to where ,
the flags are planted among the rocks.
Proudly both emblems float in the breeze
and we'll may each challenge admirstion
from the world. People of many nations
come here but I think all eyes must rest
longest and most lovingly upon the fol ds