Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1906-11-10

Picture a mountain gorge In the
Businesses OF the matchless Cascades
which is 62 miles long, averages two
miles in width and Is frequently one
and three-quarters miles deep; then
fll this gorge to depth OF from 1900
TO $500 feet with the sparkling waters
that come tumbling down the precip'
itous sides of the mountains, decimat-
ing in summer time scores OF glisten-
Eng and fantastic glaciers; frame the
whole. in imagination, in the blue oil
. sky unsurpassed and in the cease
less glitter OF millions of snow dia-
monds; then throw about 1t the misty
slamor of legendary past and the
charm OF present solitude unbroken
by rude evidence of civilization-and
you will have dim idea of the glories
of Lake Chelan.
Before this picture Of the magma
fion fades, draw another of the ages
before the time of man. Extend this
same Cascade Range gorge to dis
lance of more than 100 miles; take
away its wealth of shimmering wa
tiers: supplant them by an ice pact ex-
tending from the crest of the Cascades
70 the very waters of the turbulent
Columbia. varying in depth from few
feet to more than 1900, river OF
solid ice more wonderful than the
Muir Glacier, a resistless force of ma
ture slowly wearing and tearing and
grinding its relentless way towards
the waters that lead to the Pacific
ocean, soaring the mountain sides
and preparing the way for scene in
the coming ages which is unsurpassed
for the fertility of its beauty. Do this
and you will have the story of the
creation of the wonderful Chelan.
which lies as a gem almost undiscov-
cred In the heart of wealth and plenty
In northern Washington.
It seems incredible that the greatest
lake in the great state of Washington,
. lake where nature has been more
than prodigal with her scenic effects,
should be so little known, SO little
sought and so little visited. Like the
other great scenic attractions of the
west and northwest, Lake Chelan Is
off the main transcontinental thorough
fares. 1t takes time and costs some
effort to get there, and life is race
after time, with most Americans.
Chelan, however, is soon to be rescued
from the comparative seclusion it has
enjoyed, and 1t Is not an idle predic-
ton to say that 1t will before long be
rivaling the Yellowstone, the Yosemite
and the Grand Canyon of Arizona in
the bid for popular favor.
Lake Chelan is a glacial-fed body of
water. resembling a river more than
a lake, a narrow ribbon OF emerald
blue In the SCARED side of the eastern
slope of the Cascade mountains. 1t
extends from the famous Stehekin
canyon, southeasterly along nearly the
entire side of Chelan county to within
four miles of the Columbia river.
Overland from the railroad the jour
ney to the lake may be made through
mountain passes, awe-inspiring can
yons filled with many-hued rocks and
watered by scores of tumultuous gla-
cial streams filled with imposing stone
minarets towering above the feecy
clouds to the glistening, sparkling,
melting snow fields above. This is
the route, however. of the hardy noun
taineer and OF the glacier climber
The ordinary traveller prefers the
river route The railroad is left at
Wenatchee, at the juncture of the
Wenatchee and the Columbia rivers,
and in a valley of the same name.
Wenatchee, which sprang up in a
night, following the discovery of the
magician's wand called irrigation. bids
fair to become the commercial center
of northern central Washington. 1t
nestles in an irrigated valley OF Ala
dinlike fertility. is on the main trans
continental line of the Great North
ern. and is one of the garden spots
of the Pacific northwest.
The sole means of communication
between the Chelan country and the
outside world at present is by the
Chelan and the Selkirk, two small
river steamers belonging to the Co
lumbia and Okanogan Transportation
company. From Wenatchee to Chelan
Falls is a distance of but AZ miles, yet
II take sa steamer IL hours to battle
her way against the current, and but
little more than three hours to come
down with il. The trip up the river
to Chelan Falls is one long to be re
membered, and the time which the
new railroad will save will scarcely be
a recompense for the loss it will occa.
sion. On either side of the river for
a short distance back the banks are
dotted occasionally with patches of
green, making irrigated farms. Back
of these the foothills rise abruptly,