River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1913-03-20
FROM OUT WEST
ON a RAILWAY TRAIN
BY z. s. REED

Applying at the station of the
Southern Pacific railway for pas
sage from Corvallis, Oregon, to
Providence, Rhode Island, by way
of st. Paul and Chicago, the agent
kindly asked me to step inside his
office and take seat while he looked
up the schedule and wrote my tick
ct.
Going to Corvallis from Portland
had followed the main line, but
on returning took the branch line,
which gave me the opportunity of
seeing another part of the Valley.
This line runs from Portland to
Eugene, one hundred and forty
miles. Trains are now drawn by
steam power but the line is soon to
be equipped with electric power.
The landscap con this line is pleas
ingly varied in aspect, wide areas of
level land in good state of cult
walton; hills of moderate elevation
and gentle slope, and park-like
tracts. Many villages are seen
along the route and an occasional
city of a few thousand people.
The nearer the approach to Port
land the more thickly is the coun-
try settled, and the better the land
improved, some large, and numer-
Gus smaller, orchards of apple,
pear, prune and pea-h trees appear
ing.
The trip to Portland this sunny
Sunday afternoon was a very pleas
ant one. The train was a local. and
stopped at every station. A man
who had been a resident of Oregon
for twenty years took a seat beside
me and as he was we'll acquainted
with the country through which we
passed he gave me interesting in
formation. He was an extensive
traveller and claimed TO be acquaint-
ed with all parts of the Coast states
He thinks the Willamet Valley the
best locality he has ever seen.
notice that Mr.. Reese, in writ
ing from Ashland, Oregon, town
south of the Willamet Valley, made
the statement that the raising of
apples in Oregon does not pay.
This man l met on the train is en-
gagged in raising and marketing
apples and pears. He says he does
we'll in the business-9ets up to
81 so a box of forty pounds, two
thirds of a bushel, for apples.
But" says he, II never have a
wormy apple" The fruits must be
of standard variety and the trees
must be persistently cared for and
carefully sprayed to keep down the
pests that spoil the fruit. If one
raises the apples that are in demand
and has perfect fruit he has no
trouble in selling all he produces at
good price.
The scenery along the Columbia
river, which the railway between
Portland and Spokane follows for
two. hundred and fifty miles, is rom
antically grand, but a night trip
gives little opportunity to appreciate
and enjoy its beauty. Yet, in the
moonlight we were made aware of
some of its nearby features, obtain
ing elimpses of the river and the
towering bluffs, and we were con-
scious from the sound of passing
through tunnels where the bluffs
came down to the river. The dis
lance from Portland to Spokane is
nearly five-hundred miles, long
night journey. The train makes
but few stops. II is wild, desolate
region along the river and there are
few settlements except through the
country between the river and the
city of Spokane.
From Portland to St. Paul, while
the day coaches were full, the sleep
ers had comparatively few occupants,
A few miles out of Portland a man
occupying the section opposite came
across the isle, sat down facing me,
and with the characteristic geniality
of the people of the far West, intro
duced very agreeable conversation
81 see that you are Grand Army
man and l guess l can claim com
radeship for arr also member Of