The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1915-08-12
HEALTH And WEALTH
FOUND NEAR CARSON

Ponce de Leon, who died with a
broken heart after his quest in Florida
for treasure and the fountain of eternal
youth failed, might have had the two
consuming desires of his heart fulfilled
could he have penetrated the heart Of
Sksmsnia county, Washington. The
region north of Carson is today the
lure of men. some seeking wealth and
others health.
In this district of the Cascades, l6
miles north of Carson, is located at an
altitude of ] 1865 feet Government Min
eral Springs. the waters of which, be-
cause of their curative powers, are
fast becoming known to the outside
world. Even before the coming of the
pioneer settler the springs were known
for the healing properties of their wa
ter. They are said TO have been dis
covered by a Hudson Bay trspper, who
happened on them while penetrating
the heavily wooded district over the
runway of deer.
Government Springs is situated on
Trapper creek, a fork of Wind river
and in the heart of the Columbia ma
tional forest reserve. 1t is estimated
that two billion feet of fir and cedar
timber stand in the immediate neigh
borhood of the health resort.
Those who have found health at the
wonderful spring are extolling its meT
its and the big Mineral Springs hotel
is now popular place in the summer
months, and guests may be found. there
to take the curative waters at all times
of the year.
"A man must quickly get well or
else he will die, pinlng to get out in
the woods and enjoy the fishing in the
mountain streams" says r. II. Hus-
bands, local resident, who returned
home with Strengthened limbs after
sojourn at the springs, for rheuma
tism. Mr.. Husbands could not resist
the temptation of casting for the big
trout that may be taken there. 1t is
said that some of the patients who
groan at every step on arriving at the
hotel are out cacthing all the fish the
guests at the hotel can eat in less than
a week after they have begun taking
the water.
No denser forests may be found in
all the northwest than those surround
spots all underbrush has been shaded
out and one may walk for miles on the
soft cushion OF hr and pine needle
down the huge tree bordered vistas.
1t may be noontime when the stroll is
taken, yet scarcely a ray of sunlight
penetrates the heavy foliage of the
trees. The little patches of sunlight
that do reach beneath the canopy of
boughs, dance like elusive fairies as
the trees are gently bent by the wind.
Observation peak, the divide between
Wind river and Lewis river, is but
short journey from Mineral Springs.
Here at an altitude of 5000 feet, one
may see seven great snow peaks. The
entire basins of the Wind ana Lewis
rivers are spread OFT beneath the
mountain like map. Toward the base
of Mount Adams may be seen the In
dians' Race Track, where in buckle
berry season the Indians gather from
the four corners of the northwest, the
squaws to pick the luscious fruit and
the bucks to gamble and race their
favorite ponies on the natural race
track, legendary gift of the gods.
To the north and northeast are little
dots of blue submerged in the green of
the forests. They are the numerous
little lakes of the district, among them
Steamboat lake, where fishermen,
little harder than their fellow disciples
of Izaak Walton, sometimes go. By
travelling IL miles from Government
Mineral Springs one may penetrate as
dense wilds as may be found in the
United States.
This district has always been the
haunt of trappers since Hudson Bay
days, and even today trappers may be
found there, and in the winter months
they catch many valuable fur-bearing
animals. Mink, fox and wolverine are
taken there. A trapper discovered
the veins of gold that crop out near
Observation point, and today the pros
pector divides the region with the
trapper. While the gold is not SO pIen-
tiful as to ever have caused any STAN
pede to the district, several small for
tunes have been dug from the depths
of the earth near Observation point.
Visits to the old mines form a feature
of interest for the guests of Mineral
Springs hotel.
Government Mineral Springs, even
today, is almost unknown. When the
people of Skamania county have COM
pleted the north bank highway it will
be accessible by automobile. Today it
is possible tosbring a machine to Car
son by boat and motor up through the
dense forest. the road flanked and can
opied by huge trees. 1t may we'll be
predicted that this resort, along with
many others, will spring into promi-
nence as soon as the highways leading
from the outside world are complete.
Truly, nature has been bountiful in
her blessinges. and it should be no
difficult task for sick man to find
health at Government Mineral Springs.
Only morbid temperament could
breed pessimistic thoughts in a region
so rich in scenery and where the at
mosphere is so pure and balmy. Per-
haps the waters are no more curative
than those of many other springs. 1t
may be that their handmaidens or
nurses, the air and scenery, are just
little better.