The Republican journal., 1900-09-06
A TRIP TO THE PACIFIC.

quite deep ravines. The crops are I'M
usually poor for this section. Though
land is much higher here than in Dakota
we would hardly consider such crops
worth raising in Dakota. From Nc
Minnville to Sheridan the land is mostly
cleared along the road, which runs in
southwesterly direction. The grain is
much better and mostly in shock,
though several machines are threshing.
We pass along narrow valley through
mountains. After passing Willamina
there are small clearings, some extend
ing far up on the hillsides. When we
enter Grand Ronde valley, it is about
half mile wide mostly cleared with
small clearings on the hillsides at times.
We pass through a heavy forest along
a path Just wide enough for wagon
and come to a. region where the fire
devastated the forest years ago. We
are surrounded by small hills of all
shapes with high mountains in the dis
lance partially covered with dead trees.
The soil is mostly good, with few
stone III places, but the little grass is
smothered by dense growth OF ferns
and bushes. 1t costs a dollar to pass
the toll gate at Dolph.
We pass down Three Rivers through
narrow gorge, sometimes among green
trees. sometimes with precipitous bluffs
rising abruptly within a few rods on
each side. and SO steep that man could
not climb them without holding on to
bushes. There are some dead trees $50
to 200 feet high OF the banks. The
mountains on the side become less alb
rupt as we approach the Nestucca.
Within miles of Woods, we turn north
and ascend the Nestucca for a little
distance 30 feet above the water end
with precipitous hill or mountain on
the other side. After passing Beaver
we ascend a creek on plank road. The
county owns saw mill and moves it
from place to place to plank the roads.
After driving over about ten miles OF
this blank road we find about one mile
built up about four feet from the
ground ON account OF the valley being
so wet. Here is the divide which sepa
rates tile waters of the Tillamook from
those If the Nestucca. There are some
small rlealings. but it is mostly dense
green forest witt mountains in the dis
canct which we can seldom see for the
trees When within miles of Tilla
nook the valley is a mile OF more in
width and mostly cleared. I he buildings
are al medium size and rather dilapi-
dated bJt we SAW one large farm.
Tie tire Las been through the noun
lains dt the north, but i'll ether directions
they are green. Large, small and vari-
GUS shaped mountains surround us on
three sides. They remind one of a saw
with irregular teeth. We come to land
covered with stulnIs, logs and trees;
some green trees. some killed by fire
Some stumps are feet in diameter and
10 or IS feet high. They put a spring
board in a notch in the side of the tree
and stand on that to make another
notch higher and finally stand on these
boards to saw the tree down. Some
times the vegetable matter is burned
from the top of the ground and only the
roots of the tree touch the surface.
There is often a chance to camp for the
night under the trees among the roots.
We pass through cleared land again
before reaching Tillamook. The city
is ON q narrow arm of the bay about a
mile inland There are several livery
house. The cheese factory is several
miles out of town. There are some
rather fine buildings though not very
large We come back four miles on the
same road and start for Netarts, few
miles south of Tillamook. We pass
along a ravine covered with large trees
and some small clearings, up quite a
long hill and down a short distance; and
as we come out of the forest, the vast
Pacific Netarts bay, and the sand spit
separating them, break upon our view
The bay extends miles nearly south,
slightly east. 1t is about mile wide,
but at the entrance is only few rods
and about 8 feet deep at low tide The
bay is separated from the ocean by a
sand spit which is only few rods wide
at the south, but widens to half mile
or more and is covered with trees and
some houses.
Breakers sometimes dash over the
narrow part in three places, and
through these gaps we watch the in
coming breakers, whose spray reminds
one of the steam from locomotive.
The Watery form has scarcely spent it.
self when another follows Thus we
watch the passing of an imaginary
train after train and listen to it's cease
less roar, which can scarcely be distin-
guished from the rumble of a distant
train. \ short distance from the EN-
trance of the bay, out i'll the ocean, are
three huge masses of stone larger than
any barn. One of them has an opening
throuOb the cent re- 60 that hoatc mjubt