Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1905-09-28
THE GREAT
NORTHWEST
An Article Of Much Interest Written
by w. c. Elliott who has just
returned from Portland

Thinking that a few observations
may be OF interest to the readers of
the Republican concerning our trip to
Portland and Southern California
offer few.
After leaving Omaha and travelling
100 to 200 miles west in Nebraska, one
is impressed with the fact that he is
in sand country. In the way of
crops, there is some alfalfa, a few
patches OF beetS and an occasional
piece of corn. which is indeed sorry
looking stuff. Through the western
part of the state are many traces of
former habitltiOn, the fallen in roof
of the dugOut, and the little patch of
dead trees, tells the story of some
ambitious hOmesteader who wanted
an extra quarter in the way of tim
Der claim: but finally abandoned the
country and project. The character
of the country is not changed any as
one passes into the state of Wyoming
at Pine Bluff 467 miles west of Omaha.
The bluiIS at this point. are between
four and five hundred feet high, a few
scattering pines from to & feet high
irving the place its name, which con-
sistS Of half u dozen homes and the
station: from this point it is one con-
tinual elevation until one reaches the
highest point of the mountains, cross
ing them at Sherman Wyoming. Here
Il fine monument in honor of the great
soldiers Of the civil war marks the
highest elevation. There is neither
soil nor vegetation. of any kind.
Chey enne and Laramie are the chief
towns Of the state: there is nothing
between them but great bOulders, sand.
and sage brush. A higher range of
mountains is visible from the south
west. After getting over the divide.
one travels u whole day without see
ing anything but the sage brush, not
house or sign of habitatiOn save the
little red station house located at long
intervals. / kept looking if |, might
not see some one travelling along the
wagon trail which follows the railroad
about all the way. About 3 o'clock
in the afternoon, | saw a fellow, who
evidently was moving, two burroughs,
with packs two or three times as large
as the little dOnkeys to which they
were strapped, one brOnchO-proprietor
walking.
The soil is of a gray ashy color, of
volcanic formations, and where it is
deep, grows sage brush six to eight
feet high. The Snake River country
in Idaho, farther west, has promise of
better things when they get water, and
all the citizens Of the country are
much elated and eXpectant over the
irrigation experiments that the gov
eminent is making in the valley. The
valley is over one hundred miles wide
in some places and irrigation is being
planned on an extensive scale, not
only by the government, but by priv
ate enterprises. One canal is being
put in at Twin Falls that is claimed
will irrigate -, 0OOacres. From Snake
River, one trails nearly all day in
sight Of this river. 1t is deep, very
clear, and full of many falls. Power
is generated for the electric light plant
at POcatellO, eighteen miles away at
American Falls. Farther down the
river, the valley is narrow and along
its banks when there are a few acres
Of level ground, one sees many water
wheels constructed so that the current
turns them. Each tiange of the wheel
has trough attached which dips the
water as the wheel revolveS. carries it
up, and emptieS it into a flume which
conducts the water when it is wanted
for irrigation. This method is the
rude form, and is too limited to
amount to much. From the improve
ments around here, one may conclude
that people are easily satisfied. This
country seems to be fit for grazing
purposes only. AS one passes into
Oregon, the pine and fir trees begin to
appear, getting larger and taller as
one gets nearer the coast. The Oregon
Short Line winds along the banks of
the Columbia for over hundred miles
and the scenery along this river is
said to be unsurpassed in the world.
There are many tunnels, and the sides
of the river are hundreds of feet al
most perpendicular. At Hood River,
we took a steamer for Portland, about
10 miles away, it being a freight and
passenger boat, we were from 900 a.
m. to 600 p. m. reaching the city. On
| this trip one sees Mt. Hood and Mt
| Adams, that are covered with snow
the year round. The air is so rare
| that distance deceiyes one. These
mountains are % and As miles from
! the river at the nearest point, but do
not appear more than few miles away.
! The timber line disappears about two
thirds the way up: the glittering rays
of the sun on the snow in contrast with
the dark base of the mountain is a
wonderfully beautiful sight.
Cascade Locks are passed about 80
miles above Portland, a wonderful
piece of mason work, built by the
government at cost of seven millions.
! Boats are lowered or raised in these
locks pit feet. The ponderous gates
are opened by hydraulic power. The
| The entire distance from The Dalles to
to Portland is one varied and contin-
ued view of grand scenery. Among
the most noted points are the Bridge
of the Gods" where the river has seem
ed to tunnel through the Rocky range,
| leaving the cliffs on either side about
1000 feet high, and the Falls of Multi
nomah, where the water drops $50 feet
into tAe Columbia River. Myth and
! legend are associated with all of these
peaks. 1t is certainly place where
Z : n a. Al d. : n. e