The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-05-14
CENTRAL OREGON,S DESERT.
One OF the Least known negiOns OF the
United states and Its Remarkable River.

NihNeh Hbateh ~ central OFekVns ~ pro
aents we'll marked contrasts ranging from
the nearly level surfaces Of the desert val
eys, where the general elevation Is about
1000 feet, TO the rugged snowclad SUM
mite Of the Cascade Mountains. the Hottest
OF which Mount jefferson, reaches height
! Of 10 $50 feet.
Almost in the exact geographic center Of
the State Is what is known as the Great
Sandy Desert, an extensive tract Of nearly
level land which has been termed handy
on account Of the thick sheet Of pumiceous
sand and dust that covers large portions
OF It. The length Of the desert Is in the
neighborhood Of $50 miles, and It's width is
from 80 10 80 miles.
30 nearly uniform IL the surface that one
might drive throughout It's length without
meeting any greater obstruction than the
rugged saga brush, and, to indicate the
aridity OF the region, without finding
single watering place for men or animals
The borders Of this vast tract are indefinite.
as 1t Is bounded by untainA, both OF
volcanic origin and formed by upheaval.
between which lie the extensive plains that
unite 10 form the central plain,
On the plain itself there are prominent
elevations, either isolated buttes or groups
Of hills OF mountains, which are rendered
especially conspicuous because OF the gem
eral smoothness Of the surface from which
they rise as well as by the stSepness, and
in some instances the ruggedness OF their
sides. The most common and conspicuous
elevations are due to volcanic erupuons,
In travelling west from Burns 70 Sisters
number OF the volcanoes were found In
the first half Of the journey. aud farther
west a number Of ancient craters, OF much
eroded volcanic peaks and numerous young
volcanoes were located. These young vol
canoes are situated for the most part in
the northern part Of Lake county, and in
the southwestern part OF Crook county.
Their cones, so recent in many instances
that erosion has not yet broken their crater
rims, are 30 numerous that fifty or more
frequently can be counted in n single view,
while change Of few miles in the position
| Of an observer brings perhaps as many
more within the range Of the vision.
The topography Of the whole region Is
characterized by the broadness Of its ele-
vations, which is due in a minor way TO
the presence Of eminences left by widely
| extended erosion, but principally TO the
constructive volcanic activity. Tho val
leys between the mountains, buttes, hllls,
&c, are in general level hoored.
Sheets Of basalt which have invaded
the valleys and given them level floors
occur widely throughout this section, and
in many localities form the present surface.
These lava sheets range in thickness from
an average Of so to 100 feet, up to prob
ably several hundred feet.
Following the spreading out Of the vol
/ 1fgtHiH nd fra o.
mentary, came a heavy and widely dis
! tributel shower OF pumiceous fragments
ranging in size from dust particles to
masses Of highly vascular pumioe two to
three feet in diameter, which still remains
on the plains and mountains and ranges
In thickness up 10 at least seventy feet.
This covering lies on it like a great snow
fall over an extent OF several thousa nd
square miles, particularly east Of the Cas-
cades. Not only has it produced many
| changes In the minor features, but on ac-
| count OF It's extreme porosity ts 1t one OF
the leading factors controlling the agri-
cultural value Of the country IL covers
| This portion Of central Oregon forms
the extreme northern end Of the great
interior basin, which for 30 long was re-
garded as the insuperable barrier to Vest
| ern development. The portion OF Q
| great basin IN south-central Oregon COM
Malheur lakes and north Of Warner, Al
| bert, Summer and Silver lakes, and also
about forty townships northeast Of the
Glass Buttes.
owing to the small precipitation, the porous
character Of the soil and the assured con-
| dition Of the underlying lava sheets. The
entire region shares in the same general
geologic and climatic conditions; the val
| ieys are occupied for the most part by
basaltio lava flows; the surface over broad
| areas is composed OF loose porous material,
largely volcanic dust and lapilla; the rain
fall Is small, and the surface streams are
generally absent,
sandy desert and OF the adjacent country
Is the presence Of eroded valleys and cones
dispropoTtionately large in reference TO the
weak streams now occupying them, and,
what is even more conspicuous, the pres
ence in several instances Of stream chan
nels no longer occupied by water,
These features are similar to and in
fact form a part Of the characteristics Of
the great asin and Of much Of the country
adjacent 10 II, particularly on the north.
showing that what is now an arid country
was formerly we'll watered.
One Of these streamless channels has a
length Of about seventy-hve miles, its
course "a well defined, and in certain To-
calities it Is a narrow, steep sided oahon
at least 800 or 400 feet deep, cut in b9salt,
| In the memory Of the oldest inhabitant
this channel has never been known 10 re-
Oeive sufficient water to form q continuous
! stream.
Ons Of the most remarkable streams
embraced in the area investigated IS the
| Deschutes River, q fine stream Of clear,
cool water, which has It's source on the
east slope OF the Cascade Mountains, flows
northward, and Joins the Columbia about
fifteen miles above The Dalles. The country
IL drains is forested and holds several lakes
OF exceeding beauty, on account Of the
olearness Of their waters and the primeval
wildness Of the forest covered mountains
about them,
Owing to the retention OF the main tribu-
taries Of the river in lakes, as well az the
forest shelter Of It's drainage, and also 10
the fact that nearly the whole Of the region
drained by the head channels Of the river
Is covered by a thick surface sheet Of
pumioeous dust, which acts as filter, It's
waters are oonspiouously clear. In add
ton 10 the features just described, the
Deschutes IL OF especial interest 10 geogra-
pliers, as IL exhibits certain pecuiaHties
| not commonly dealt with
Although flowing from high plains on
which precipitation varies greatly with
seasonal changes, and whore snow mets
rapidly as the heat Of summer increases,
itS volume over a large section OF Its course
| is practically constant throughout the