The state herald., 1909-06-25

the river and one on the south side,
by interests seeking coast outlet.
Three reports made in this way gave
varying estimates of the expense of
putting lineup the valley, but the three
conceded In this, that the cost would
be prohibltive, Engineers of reputa-
ton had In this respect agreed. but
Glover, who looked after such work
for Bucks, remained unconvinced, and
before McCloud was put into the OPP
Grating department on the Short Line
he was asked by Glover to run pre-
liminary up Crawling Stone valley.
Before the date of his report the con-
illusions reached by other engineers
had stood unchallenged.
The valley was not unknown to
McCloud. His first year In the noun
tains, in which. fitted as thoroughly
as he could fit himself for his profess
sion, he had come west and found him
self unable to get work. had been
spent hunting, fishing, and wandering.
often cold and often hungry. In the
upper Crawling Stone country. The
valley in itself offers to construc-
zionist no insuperable obstacles; the
difficulty is presented In the canyon
where the river bursts through the
Elbow mountains. South Of this can
yon. McCloud. one day on hunting
trip, found himself with two Indians
pocketed In the rough country. and
was planning how TO escape passing
night away from camp when his COM
panions led him past vertical wall
OF rock 1000 feet high, split into
narrow defile down which they rode,
as 1t broadened out. for miles. They
emerged upon an open country that
led without u break into the valley Of
the Crawling Stone below the canyon.
Afterward, when he had become a rail.
road man, McCloud. sitting at camp
fire with Glover and Morris Blood.
heard them discussing the coveted and
impossible line up the valley. He had
been taken into the circle OF construc-
tionists and was told OF the earlier re-
ports against the line. He thought he
knew something about the Elbow
mountains. and disputed the findings,
offering in two days ride to take tho
men before him TO the pass called by
the Indians the Box, and to take them
through 1t. Glover called II find. and
a big one, and though more immediate
matters In the strategy of territorial
control then came before him. the pre-
liminary was ordered and McCloud's
findings were approved. McCloud him.
self was soon afterward engrossed In
the problems OF operating the noun
tain division: but the dream OF his
life was to build the Crawling Stone
line with "A maximum grade Of eight.
tenths through the Box.
The prettiest stretch of Crawling
Stone valley lies within 20 miles OF
Medicine Bend. There II lies widest.
and has the pick of water and grass
between Medicine Bend and the Mis-
sion mountains. Cattlemen went into
the Crawling Stone country before the
Indians had wholly left II. The first
house In the valley was the Stone
ranch. built by Richard Cunning. and
II still stands overlooking the town OF
/ Dunning at the junction OF the French
man creek and the Crawling Stone.
me frehcnhsh ~ leo py uhiaiiins
springs ana when by summer sun and
winu every smaller stream IN the mid
aie oasih mas oeeh iekea dry. inc
rrench,nan runs ooiu anu h"ii, Do
Mee" us i"sSe. mus iucharu puh-
n,ns' po'hs On 'ne ooruer Oh 'he IN
uiah country, punt LOT ms fahch'
mouse taihDihg stone fortress, lie
han choseh' II hi,erWaru proved inc
choice spot IN the valley ana he
stocked II win oa'ue when yearlinss
could DO picked up IN medicine BEND
NJ ten doiiars hehn. he got together
great body OF valley land when IL
could Dc had Tor the asking and be-
came the fich man OF the Long hange.
The Cummings were kcntuckians.
Richard was bridge engineer and