Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1911-08-30
A BADGERS VISIT TO
THE PACIFIC COAST
Passing Through the + ar Famed
Yakima Valley.
Impression Gained From Study of Sc
attic, Portland and Other
Coast Cities

with his parents, Mr.. and Mrs E. w.
Clifton, recently made trip to the
Pacific coast and has written an in
teresting letter concerning the trip
across the mountains, through the
Yakima Valley Of Washington, and
his impressions concerning sumo of
the coast cities, which makes interest
ing reading. 1t has been sent to The
Herald for publication and is given
herewith:
The trip from North Yakima up the
Yakima river and across the Cascades
to Seattle is one long to be remem.
bered. As we, followed the river,
the valley narrowed until there was
scarcely room for the river bed and
the track. The road was interesting
and picturesque as it wound around
the foothills and through the tunnels
up toward the crest. The last thou
sand feet of the ascent was avoided
by two mile tunnel after emerging
from which we found ourselves at the
little mountain village of Stampede.
Here the descent began. Slowly
down the mountain by tunnel. by
bridge and by natural grade the track
takes its course until il joins beauti-
full Green river below. At times we
could see hundreds of feet above us,
the track which a few minutes before
we had travelled and at the same
time hundreds Of feet below, the
track we we're soon to be riding
over. The sharp bends and curves
were sometimes startling.
Here we were in the region of great
forest reserves, and it is we'll the
government has taken hold of forest
conditions here In times gone by,
fires have ragged here and millions Of
feet of standing timber has been
killed and much burned to the
ground. Uncle Sam s faithful rap gers
will do much to prevent this con
dition in the future.
For miles through the foothills on
the western slope the track follows
the Green river, one of the most
beautiful untain streams I ever
saw The water was so clear that
we could see the fish in the quiet
pools. twenty to forty feet below. 1t
is from this stream Tacoma will in
the future take its water supply.
The fiat between the foothills and
Seattle is of great fertility and the
soil is being we'll used. The heaviest
crops have ever seen were being
harvested from this land.
'seattIe" So says the brakeman.
The Potlatch is on. The streets are
crowded with strangers and citizens.
People Of all coloTs and speech seem
to be represented Business is
practically suspended. Pageants,
professions and parades are moving
up and down the streets. There are
floats on land, fleets on the sound and
arships in the air. Everyone seems
happy. 1t is great city in holiday
mood and holiday attire Seattle is
truly great city The statistics in
regard to it's growth in population,
industrial and commercial life are
very interesting to me but probably
would not be to readers of this letter
generally. 1t is we'll situated on the
highlands overlooking Puget Sound
and is made up of the kind of people
one likes to meet energetic and pro-
gressive and brim full Of the spirit
of the West.
After four days IN and around
Portland, Ore, l feel that if 1 were
to choose home in either Portland
or Seattle it would be in the former
While its growth has not been SO
rapid as that of Seattle, l believe its
future is brighter than that or its
rival. 1t is the natural outlet through
the Columbia river valley of the
products of one Of the richest sections
of the United States. This both
Hartman and Hill have recognized
and their competing lines parallel
the river-Hill's North Bank on
the Washington side and Hartman IS
Oregon Washington. on the Oregon
side.
One of our side trips was to unique
and historic old Astoria ear the
mouth of the Columbia river. One
hundred and nineteen years ego last
April Capt. kobt Gray of B 3ston.
after rounding Cape Horn and bIaying
the perils Of the sea TOR months
sailed his vessel into the mouth Of
the COLUMBIA A few days later the
great English navigator, Vancouver,
entered the river and to this circum.
stance was due the rival claims Of the
Y. S and England. Probably both
visited the present site Of Astoria
Thirteen years later the intrepid
eXDlOrers. Lewis and CLARK whOsa