Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1912-08-23
TELL STORY OF OUTING
TRIP To CRESCENT CITY,

OUTFIT and ourselves all loaded on
Peter Pan, We started for the land
OF the sunset skies. where the Amer
lean continent and the great Pacific
ocean meet meath the shadows OF
the giant redwoods, that land the
name OF which has the Turing gleam
OF gold; California the land where
dreams come true.
Out over the splendid macadam-
lied roadways leading from Grants
Pass through the valleys OF the APP
plegate and Illinois rivers, dotted
with orchards and fields OF grain and
alfalfa past the thriving villages OF
Widerville and Selma, TO Kerby.
whose population was once numbered
by the thousands in the golden days
OF the miner and prospector, when
the coin OF the realm was the golden
nugget and the rich dust from the
famous placer "diggln's" of south
ern Oregon; but today the scene has
been shifted to modern advancement
in all things. instead of the saddle
horse, and pack mule with its tink-
ling bell, the automobile and its big
brother. the auto truck. carry the
producer and his loads OF golden
ores to and from the city on the
banks OF the Rogue river The days
OF romance and the pioneer have
passed and but the story remains
Our roadway leads us into the
cool, inviting shade of the forest aud
mountains. aud as We begin to climb
the lofty range that divides the great
states of Oregon and California, over
the old trail winding In aud out
around steep and rocky gorges and
rugged canyons always upward, past
the fountains OF cool water that flow
from the rock, inviting one to stop
and rest meath the shade OF some
massive clif At last We reach the
summit Of the range, and the view
that greets the eye is one that is new
er to be forgotten. as. far below US
We see the sparkling stream hurry
ling on its way TO the sea. and before
MS the snoN-capped peaks glistening
in the sunshine, but away 10 the
south and west the cool forest beck
ons us on, and We glide down into
its welcoming shade, along the swift
lowing Smith river, to the old toll
station OF Pere Gasquets. the
Frenchman who fastened a speed
meter on a pack mule and timed the
distance over one OF the most crook
ed OF trails Little did he dream
that he was laying out one OF the
most scenic routes for the modern
traveller, and today the old trail" Is
the great auto highway TO the sea,
over which a continuous stream Of
all kinds of vehicles and modes Of
transportation are coming aud going
Here We pitched camp for the
night, although the traveller may still
sit around the old fire place ar Gas
quets' II he desires, conducted along
modern lines and methods; the com
pound instead OF being filled with
= pack horses and burros, as In the
days gone by is taken mp With the
automobile
= Early the next morning W. Were
on our way Peter Pan having TAX
en- on q fresh supply OF gasoline aud
water. was seemingly anxious 10 get
into the forest the haunts OF his
namesake. the great Pan. and We
were convinced by the record that he
{ had made over the mountain. that
: Peter Pan vas not % be taken
, lightly. even If he were destined new
) er 10 grow up We now enter the
forest of red woods. which Is one OF
the great natural wonders Of the
{ ages; they stand like giants. silent
5 sentinels. emblems OF time for they
1 were thousands OF years old when
the American continent was disCOy-