Norwich bulletin., 1916-09-13
WRITES FROM CAMP
 IN OREGON NOUN
Former Storrs Woman Tells of the Marvellous Scenery in the Far West

FoFnleF orofFS woman els of the
 Marvellous Scenery in the Far West
 Mrs. Anna Snow Fitts, wife of E. B, Fitts, in charge of the dairy husband ry of the Oregon Agricultural College, who was formerly located at the Con- necticut Agricultural College at StorrS has written The Bulletin an interest ing letter telling of their camp life in the Oregon Mountains. The letter which will be of interest to many eastern Connecticut people, especially those who came in contact with MT. and Mrs. Fitts during their connec- ton with Storrs college, is as follows:
 For the third successive season. we are camping in the mountainous woods of this wonderful Oregon coun- try-our camp is in the coast range, grant college which is situated at Cor 26 miles west of the Oregon land wallis. The scenery in this section of the country is marvelously beautiful and picturesque and Is conceded by tourists of wide experience to be equal to that found anywhere. In fact the republican nominee for president of recent visit to this state that the view along the Columbia highway are un- surpassed in the world.
 To us New England, our homeland" Is more beautiful than any other sec tion of the United States. Yet that Le%Ct uOoS nCt C5uQ6F us DIlnd 10 the artistic value and other advantages of this interesting section which to this day reflects, in sense, the hardy courage, self sacrifice and cheerful overcoming of obstacles, evinced by those honored founders, the pioneers who fought their westward way through many difficulties and dangers and blazed the trail which now, ngur- atfvely speaking, is covered by the steel rails of a modern railway. The ea ar-ITr hi ic4O r,f ing Idaho, Oregon and Washington, is replete with facts and incidents, which make it a fascinating study and Q revelation to one hitherto unac- quainted with the experiences of the pioneers. study of the life of that early missionary, Marcus Whitman, well repays one in interest and one feels a poignant regret that that un- selfish man and his good wife, were so merctlessly slain in the Whitman Cn- college HOW stands a fit monument to their unselfish efforts in the early christianizing of this state.
 We arrived at our camp three weeks ago. coming over the picturesque mountain road in 9 huge autotruck
 which transports passengers and bag gage daily between Corvallis on the Southern Pacific railroad, and Alsea, a little town of about 200 inha bitants, over the mountain and whose only connection with the outside world is via this same mountain road At the top of the mountain, where the road is being repaired, we passed a big steam road roller bearing the manu- featuring address of Buffalo, N. Y, which brought to us a fieeting imagin- ary glimpse and possibly a tWinge of nostalgia of that eastern coast which we have not seen for three years.
 We are camped by the side of a r1nn17t ain in which tbp trout succeed in eluding most of the time at least our inviting fshhooks. We have. however, partaken twice of the. luxury of trout fried in bacon fat. We are surrounded by a growth of alder trees" unlike the alter tree of the east, to which we are accustomed, but resembling a cross between the popular and white grey green. These with @ luxuriant growth of ferns, to- gether with the song of the busy a sylvan spot" truly beautiful camp for the city dweller, seewing rest and outdoor life.
 We pitched our tent in the exact spot as last summer so it seemed ra- ther like Q ome-coming. In this state one sees at this season many campers travelling over the mountain road, whole families setting out in a motor car, or more often, with the horses and a great covered wagon, 
 for a stay of several weeks in the woods or going farther on stopping at the shore we counted eight children in such an outfit one day and won dered at the courage which would ac- company the attempt to feed such group with a camping appetite All looked well fed however. and needless to say, carefree and happy.
 It so seldom rains here during July and August that many start out with no tent, it being considered quite with in the realm of safety. We, however, being so recently from the Atlantic coast and remembering vivid1y the electrical storms of that section have seen to it that our outfit included a tent being sure to stipuIate that it be rainproof and sure enough this year our Yankee sagacity was duly rewarded for during the three weeks we have been here we have had two rainy days, an almost unheard of thing at this season. We have been told that only once in 19 years has it rained here in August. However, dur ing the rain, we discovered while on our walks, many a grand old fir tree under whose protecting and wide spreading branches the ground was as dry as the rain were not known Tn such places we found beds" made of cut ferns and pine boughs where some tired traveller had camDed for