Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1912-07-26
PARTY RETURNS FROM
TRIP OF EXPERIENCES


and Anderson. who returned We'd
nesday from 225 mile trip through
Curry Coos and Douglas counties,
making $50 miles on foot, do not en-
tirely agree as to minor incidents of
the jaunt; but their tales of big
strings ut fish ana sore feet nave a
true ring; in fact Williams walks yet
as If afraid of bruising the pave
ment.
The Courier by interviews, threats
and confessions has managed to get
the following out OF the members OF
the party The stolen dog referred
to in our columns was traded to Mr..
Francis at Horseshoe Bend for sup
per and breakfast fer the party; so
they really ate the dog early on the
trip.
Horseshoe Bend is the sharpest
curve on Rogue river, as the river
doubles around rock point so a
tunnel 400 feet in length will drain
o er half a mile OF river bed and give
81 feet fall at the lower end; this
narrow neck is being tunnelled by
Cottage Grove people with the inten-
tion OF mining the bed of the stream
and later developing power from the
tunnel, The mining industry is un-
usually brisk in this locality and
around Mule creek; much money Is
being spent in bitches and fumes 10
work three river bars long known 10
be rich in gold. Mr. Francis ana DR.,
W \. Wise, of Portland, have con-
structed long bridge across the rlv-
er above the horseshoe bend for the
purpose of bringing a fume across
and more profitably working their
places on the north side. At Blossom
Bar just below Mule Creek, a COM
pany is erecting a quartz mill and
cable tramway TO develop what they
consider a valuable quartz property.
All these mining operations give EN-
.ployment to considerable number
of men, and all machinery and sup
plies come in from the north, though
the trade OF this region belongs to
Grants Pass and should come up the
river, and mail route established
this way would soon bring this trade
here The only obstacle to such a
mail route is what Is known as the
Zig Tag near Bunker Creek, and It
is estimated that $1100.O0 would
construct a trail around this obstruc-
tion, The government has spent
many thousands Of dollars in maxi
ing the trail down Rogue river, and
josephine county has also 81 900 al.
ready invested In II, so II Is TO be re
gretted that the lack OF so small an
amount should prevent the compile
tion of so important a highway It
is understood that If this county will
donate one-half the cost the forest
service will complete the trail; II
TINS Is true the donation should be
made at once Everybody along the
river is anxious to have the work
done as only by this route can an
open trail be secured during the win
ter months.
The party left the Rogue at Mule
Creek and crossed the Devils Back
bone into the CoquIlle valley along
one of the railroad surveys now be-
ins run from the coast. Right on
top Of this craggy ridge, 800 feet
above any level piece of land large
enough for baseball diamond, a
tragedy was narrowly avoided three
OF the party organized a court tried
Anderson, who had plloted them to
the spot for saying II was fair hlk-
ing over the mountain, and pre-
pared to hang him forthwith; but
like our illustrlous COVE. nor they lat
or comm tied his sentence to cooking
bread for the crowd dm .ng the rest
OF the trip, and are now sorry for
. their leniency MS Donncll and Counts
lost 20 pounds each in weight, whIla
Williams is continually followed by
! stray dogs that appear to take him
1 for a bone, all claiming that It was
the bread that did It.
There are several survey crews
, running railroad lines from the coast
10 Marshfeld and Bandon through
e the great forests and coal fields on
r the head OF the south fork OF the Co
, guile TO Grants Pass; but excepting
I that there is keen rivalry to hnt
- the best route In the quickest tlm'
e little can be learned All seem anx
ious to cross the divide high enougi
to keep out OF the canyon of the rive
below Galice. yet low enough TO con
troll the tonnage which that CAM