Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1906-08-23


I In the big timber man looks small
He stands beside a group of gian
spruces and feels very much like
toy man. This is certainly the fores
primeval untouched by axe.
/ forgot to mention the Meggeso
ranch, owned by Mrs. Meggeson ant
her daughter, Mrs. Wilson. 1t ag
! gregates miles Of picturesque hill
for grazing cattle and sheep walks
When Mr.. Meggeson was killed by al
accident, his wife was inconsolablC
in her grief. The loyalty and deyo
tion of an Indian wife knows nc
bounds, and only the late arrival OF
a grandson has cheered her declining
years.
Here one gets faint impression OF
the endless forest wealth of western
Oregon. All tales of it's amount in
board feet are Lilliputian concep-
tions compared to reality. AT top of
the mountain on Cape Foulweather
two spruce trees stand by the road
that are worth going miles to Sec
brothers of the forest six feet
through and guarding spring of
water where the considerate Lincoln
county roadmaster has put in a
watering trough for horses and a tin
cup for man.
On top OF the first hill beyond
Wild Bill's place stands q spruce
tree at least twelve feet through. A
timber claimers shanty beside has
twelve-foot ridge and the eye can do
It's own measuring. | am describing
these things for our readers who may
never take this picturesque ride,
still so near the heart of nature. Il
am writing as / walk up and down
he hills, the horses drawing our
buggy and camping outfit.
Rock Creek is sixteen miles north
OF Iaquina Bay. Here the coast is
Wild and Otter Rock is very tame
IN comparison, so far as scenery goes
It surpasses Seal Rocks in Jagged
promontories and the views of the
ocean from the trail that winds along
the breast of the Homegrown hills
are too grand to attempt description.
Rock Creek enters the sea at a black
plratical cove, on one side of which |
the breakers strike a wall of rock
hundreds of feet high.
At Rock Creek cove one could |
put skiff out to sea. Here the
coast line railroad will have to tun-
mel ana resort to steel structures to
'ross the chasms of black basalt, be-
Ween which the tides roar and the
waters race and spout. II is a re-
zion wild, wierd and wonderful beau
w. and when once opened To the
world with railroad will became
famous for its scenery There are
pretty landlocked bays and unex-
lioreh caves a plenty.
The settlers and the county have
shown enterprise by converting the
ran to Siletz Bay into fairly good
mountain road. 1t is graded in
'laces at considerable expense. The
bridges are all rounded timbers. os
We are 80 miles from the nearest
awmill, This is about such a road
Is Marion county was asked 10 build
'p into the Gold creek mines and
/ almost seems as II the poorer.
hinly settled counties are the most
Wild Bin is the pioneer back
'"odsman, hunter and guide In All
his wilderness, lie has renters ON
rs ranch nj Rock Creek and has
taxed new claim higher in the
fountains with only bear, deer and
III Tor neighbors, BIN wears n wide
trimmed hat, a belt stuck fun of
uniting knives, one of which Is the
tahd-daddy of all such weanons
a'mg blade sixteen inches long
lll has fondness for Newport in
ommer' whore he spons half his
me aud is well known TO peop,e 4
'oW all over the state, He keeps n
a'k OF dogs and has the scaIp OF
'"ny cougar to his credit. He
as never licked hut once in his life
nd that was by a mountain lion
lldeat or long-horned buck, run
ns for the Monterey hotel several
'ars ago, Bin didn't like the way .
.' Motel man treated some people
III although not half the size of his n
'ponent Jumped him about il. ana
y the worst of Il, Enough said
p" didn't have his knife with him