Ashland weekly tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1919-1924, 1919-09-24
Great Natural
Wonder Neglected

proclaims II well worth the effort.
Effort is right when it comes to
reaching the Oregon Caves, for ac-
cording to Mr. Rose the way is al
most inaccessible. There are no
roads, no guide posts. no accommo-
dations along the way, no horses to
take one there after the end of the
automobile road is reached Hol-
land is the nearest town this way
and is thirteen and One-haf miles
from the caves. Automobiles can
travel over a road that is not worth
the name to within five miles Of the
caves, after which the rest OF the
journey must be made on foot. On
reaching the caves one can camp
In the open, as there are no facili-
ties other than wha; tourists col
pack in on their backs.
But when all these difficulties have
been overcome the scene that nature
has provided for those who pene-
trate the wilderness is one OF the
most wonderful spectacular attrac-
tions of the world. The pictures Mr..
Rose is exhibiting are flashlights ia
ken in the interior of the caves and
only feebly portray the wonderful
charm OF the. scene.
Visitors can penetrate $500 feet
into the interior of the caves and are
1900 feet from the surface of the
earth. Here spacious caverns are
seen with immense y alactites sus-
pended from the ceiling, glittering
like gigantic, icicles. In places they
meet the huge stalagmites from the
floor of the caves and form fantas-
tic pillars, the result Of countless
centuries of water drip. BY these
pillars chambers have been seques-
tered which have been given descrip-
tive names. Here may be seen the
petrified forest, group of stalac-
tites closely resembling the trunks
OF gigantic trees. Then there is Nj
agara Falls in cleaning and imper-
ishable stone, the Bee Hive. Wash
ingtons Monument, Joaquin Miller's
Chapel, so-named when the famous
poet explored the. caves, and many
others.
At the extreme end is the "Ghost
Chamber" the largest one there
This is i5 feet long, 65 feet high
and 25 feet wide. In the far reaches
are glittering, white, illuslve statue
like objects which do rot take long
stretch of imagination to fancy
ghosts lurking in the subterranean |
Businesses of the caves
No woman should ever attempt to |
"do" the Oregon Caves clad in a
skirt, Mr.. Rose stated. There are .
many subterranean passages that
cannot be explored In attire of that
kind. and only those dressed in trou-
sers should think of making the
trip.
One of the happiest co-lncidents
of the trip, according to Mr. Rose,
was meeting the guide to the caves.
Dick Rowley, who, before he accept
I'd his present position, was well
known railroad man in this vicinity.
ROwley is the best-natured guide
nan ever had, and but for his knowl-
edge of the caves treasures and his
courteous consideration to the Wis
tors the trip would be q failure.
hot only looks after the welfare
those who enter the caves, but
nakes their abode in the nearby
amp as pleasant as possible,
While Rowley leads secluded
lie away out in this isolated section,
lie has many feathered and four
ooted comrades who have learned
o love their gentle friend and come
t his call While Mr.. and Mrs, Rose
we're there little fawn came to their
amp expectantly looking for some
hing to eat Birds would come and
Ierch on the table, looking for
rumbs, and squirrels were sociable
,uests everywhere. These little wild
ok knew no harm would befall them
vhen they were at the camp OF theii
eloved friend, the guide to the Ore
on Caves.
The pitiful thing about this Won
erful woSk of nature to Mr., Rose Is
he fact that Oregon has let such a
attraction go so long with
ut making 1t more prominent and
uilding passable roNd to the caves.
'ourists of the coast states cannot
ealize its Importance among tho
Genie attractions, as u suitable
leans OF reaching 1t has not been
royided, Mr., and Mrs, Rose met
ome eastern tourists there who stat
that II was toss-up with them s
neither or not they would visit the
ayes, and when they finally decided /
do so, were perfectly enraptured Q
ith this wonderful work of nature 4,
rat had been shut away for count &
'ss ages in the depths Of an Oregon X
,rest,
Guide Rowley stays at the caves c,
II summer, He is paid II salary by RI
,e government and 10 charges are Of
ade for his services Not even a T,
y is accepted by this worthy servant NJ
the country. ri
Northwestern bank adopts profit
iaring plan for employees. bt