St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1905-07-26
In An Oregon Lumber Camp.
A 81. JOhnsbury Mans Experiences In
the Forest Primeval.


the hospitality of their lumber camp,
located about twenty miles from Grants
Pass, in ono of the heaviest timber belts
OF Southern Oregon. We were only too
glad of the opportunity, knowing that a
rare treat was offered US. Our friends
being of New England birth and
education, we had much in common
with them and met at their hands most
generous hospitality. Onr start for the
forest was on typical Oregon day at
this time of year, hot, with dusty roads,
but these conditions did not count, for
we had a fine team and delightful
company. Our journey was toward the
mountains and before the week had pass
ed we could more fully realize the strength
and beauty of the words, II will lift up
mine eyes unto the hills, whence cometh
my help" for indeed they were OF help to
us and our lives were made better BY
going to them.
Our midday pause was at a fine
estate owned by the firm in which our
host is partner and their point Of ship
ment on the Southern Pacific railroad.
We reached the end of our journey about
6 p. m. with little sense of fatigue, for
there had been so much of beauty and
grandeur given as all the way, that
WEAKNESS was forgotten, II felt. The
last three miles was through a canyon
80 wildly beautiful that words fail to
describe it. The firm had been to great
expense in building road through this
gorge and it Is Of steep grade, the rise for
the last two miles being 1000 feet. Be-
ginning the ascent through this wild
canyon, we found ourselves In a dense
forest Of mighty trees, 200 feet In height,
and 80 closely did they border the beauti-
full stream, which dashed down through
to meet and In fancy give us glad well
come, as to convey the picture of giant
sentinels guarding their precious treas
ure. The movement of our little friend
wss 30 bewitching in captivating cas-
cades, miniature Niagaras in mad dash
from detected angles, swirling pools and
at times quiet water, in deep shade, invtt-
ing rest and reflection, the fine display OF
wild flowers along our way, these and
the wild music so charming to the ear,
conveyed the Idea offairyland and 1t was
with reluctance that we parted from the
spell so closely woven. May memory
faithfully preserve the enhancing vision.
We had arrived at camp and the
Whitehouse, as the millmen called the
whitewashed cabin that we were to
occupy, was before as. We had taken
quite stock ofreading matter, thinking
there would be opportunity for this
pleasant pastime. We were in error-for
1t was soon made apparent il we would
be in touch with the life about us, we
must give to 1t concentration. System
and order obtained.upon every hand; the
masterful New England business man
was indeed here, inspiring and directing
all. The business from the tree Teller tc
the men who load the cars, nine miles
away, Is in departments and each OF then
has its responsible head. To operate &C
complicated system successfully calls
for business talent of high order. 1t wa:
very interesting to observe the methods
employed in the manufacture of lumber
which so quickly changed the forest
giant to the required stock. A large
number of men and teams are employed
in the business.
So the days passed rapidly, but oul
host and hostess had other good thing.
for us. A mountain climb was proposed
This to one of the party seemed serious
business, for could not walk, much less
chance would there be for me to ride
horseback. had not been in saddle for
40 years. Our entertainers, always fer
tile In resources, had two fine saddl,
horses in camp and proposed that on the
day preceding the ascent should make g
trial Of the saddle. Great was my Joy
to find that could mount with help O
course) and ride with ease. The nexi
day we made the ascent. / was In the
saddle three hours without fatigue. W.
visited quartz mine, finding much o
interest in the operations there. A shaft
had been sunk $50 feet, and a, tunnel o.
$50 feet was under construction to meet
the main shaft. Ninety feet OF it had
been completed at the time OF our visit
The rock taken out is of paying value
giving an average yield 1917 in gold per
ton.
The company has several thousand
acres here of great value for timber and
mining. Pine and fir predominant; the
trees thickly placed and of great height
and beauty. At one point we had view
OF surprising beauty and grandeur, {
rich farming country of fine meadows
orchards and pastures with grazing
cattle, seventeen hundred feet below
thanked on every side by dark green pint
and fir-clad mountains. In the far dis