East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1905-03-28

elers and they were IN ecStacles over n
the scenery and it is truly grand this +,
time of year G.
In one place the mountains We're a
covered with freshly fallen snow,
down to within perhaps $50 feet of a
their base, and looked so "wintery" S
that one felt like buttoning up his I
overcoat, while along the road the /
grass was green. the birds were sing $
ing and the fruit trees in bloom, and /
all nature in her balmy springtime l
mood
1t has never been my fortune to
see the Alpine mountain valleys, but
judging from the pictures, our own
Columbia gorge will, at least, COM
pare favorably with them
At this time of the year there are
an unusual number of falls along the
way and almost every bold bluff
has a fall. which we Oregonians pass
by without comment, but which in
some eastern state would be thought
we'll worth a journey to see.
Strange as it may seem. it was not /
raining. neither foggy, but bids fair |
to be a nice day. On nearing Port /
land l was surprised to note that the |
grass, grain and other vegetation is
no farther advanced than in the vi
cinity of Pendleton.
Passing up the valley from Port
land the different stages of forward
ness of vegetation reminds one of
a moving picture. First the swelling
bud. then a few miles and the bud
] nd
the leaves unfold few more, and
the bloom shows forth, and the tree
stands out in its complete spring
raiment and ready for its summer
; work.
3 Last year was unusually dry and
hay scarce, and the result is the cattle
look very thin. As we approach
Salem we notice indications of re-
y cent heavy rains; plows are idle in
the fields and ponds of water are seen
=, everywhere. The country traversed
g by the Southern Pacific is beautiful
to look upon and 1 cannot help but
think of what it was when the white
8 man first came here and feel sorry
y for Mr.. Lo in being compelled to re-
. linquish it,
/
II away to the east toward the Cascade
S' mountains intersected here and there
by small streams and strips of tim
Der. on the west at no great dis
m tance, it is flanked by a range of oaH
v hills: along whose base nestle many
er farm houses. The individual field:
lie look like potato patches as compared
", with Umatilla fields and there is &
ne lack of the indications Of vastuess
lis rustic and money making, seen vi
ed there but more of contented hom'
nd life. These people are apparentl!
or here to stay, and they are using thei
holdings to make homes for them
s. selves and little ones, while up Their
he every man is straining every nerv
nd to make more money to buy NOR
of land. and then more money for som
D. more land, ad infinitum.
e- Many of the little towns along tn
nd road seem to be in very flat wet 10
r. cations and have a dingy, down at tn
er heel look, but now and then one see
a clean, bright little place.
Eugene I found at the upper end @
the valley. at the edge of the foothill
and in rather a pleasant place; but
as was disappointed in the town itsel
le- 1t seems to be an aggregation c
.ee cheap little houses and does not sho'
in much indications of solidity. Q
course all my impressions are de
-. rived from what can be seen from tn
~ road.
80 From Eugene to Drain is throug
49, a rough, hilly, mountainous cour
-, try. devoted largely to the lumbe
business; here being located some {
the large Booth-Kelley mills an
IN yards; but it seems queer that ever
ne place where there is a level spot lare
Ut enough for a house there one will Sc
ne an old shack. and frequently app
10 trees 25 or 80 years old, showing lon
occupancy.
est One would think they would eth,
et- dig out a bigger hole or go. whei
elk, they can get one without digging
his Drain is a little village right dow
ties in a hole in the ground, and I CO
the not imagine where the children cs
come from to support much of
and school 1t looks to a passing o
me server that the making of a Norm
.ast school of the one there and giving
her state aid, is only to keep it from d
ON ing a natural death and furnish son
I'M teachers a job.
lied The country from there south b
wife gins to open up little and at Yo
cola, one sees nearly every hillsi
. covered with prune orchards, whi
are Just now out in bloom and the
acres and acres of blooming fri
trees make a pretty sight besides t
promise of substantial returns by a
by.
The country for many mi
through here consists of high, ru
ged chains of oak hills, with lit
hollows or valleys between; We
= much like many parts of the Villa
,cb- cite. but more rugged.
Where we first came to the Un
qua river the water was almost bri
ad- red caused by mining operations +,
= ther up. This is a mining count
all through here. The canyon of
Umpqua for many miles is very mu
such country as Meacham ere
from Bingham on up.
I notice the hillsides are badlyNg
lied, which would indicate that WI
~ .vete