Year: 1876

To THE EDITOR OF THE NEW NoRTHw EST:


About the first of August last it was
decided that we should go on visit to
the great Willamette Valley. So, after
several weary days of busy preparation
that reached far into the night, we
loaded our camping paraphernalia, TO-
gether with our trunks packed full of
our best clothes, into two-horse wagon
and started the "mountains across" by
the way of the Santiam route.


Nothing worthy Of mention trans
pired; but as the roads were in good
condition and we were favored with
clear skies, in due course of time we
found ourselves beneath the parental
roof enjoying glad communion With
many loved ones.


For a whole month we visited friends
and relatives in different parts of the
broad Willamette Valley, and every
where we found everybody as busy as
they could be; for it was fruit time as
we'll as harvest time-both terms being
Synonymous with plenty Of work. And
with canning and preserving fruit, and
looking after the little fellows, was
just as busy as any of them. But as the
month of August was taking leave of
us, We realized that it was time for us
to take leave of our friends and turn
our faces homeward.


So, on the afternoon of the I'd day of
September, beneath the scorching rays
of a declining sun, we, after having
bade our friends regretful goodbye,
began our journey with the intention of
going the Mckenzie route, for the pur-
pose of diversifying our toilsome jour
ney with a change of scenery.


Nightfall found us near the farm
house of a genial old gentleman, an old
acquaintance, too, whose home is near
the left bank of the Mckenzie fork of
the Willamette. That night we reposed
on a downy bed beneath his roof and
satisfied the cravings of appetite at his
table, and didn't unload our camping
outfit at all.


Next morning at an early hour we
were again on the road and soon came
to Spores ferry, and after safe passage
across the ripping waters, we journeyed
up through what is known as "The
Forks" To my notion, this is the fair
est portion of the Valley. The farms,
and there are many nice ones, are gener-
ally well improved, showing that the
settlers are an industrious and enterpris-
ing people. Springfield, modest little
town, lay about half of a mile to our
right, its church-steeples plainly in
view, and with the near hills for back
ground, formed pleasant picture. By
little after noon we had passed most
of the nice farms, and the habitations
began to occupy "clearings," and things
began to have a good deal the look OF
the frontier about them. Crossed Hen
dricks' ferry back to the same side of the
river on which we started about 4
o'clock. The clouds, which had all day
been gathering, betokened a storm, and
as a few warning drops began to fall, we
hurried on to Mr.. Powelps place, where
we learned we could get good accommo-
dations for the night. This gentleman
has been living here ten years, and
has splendid apple, peach and plumt
trees growing, where once the majestic
fir alone had possession. A large new
barn which he had just completed was
filled with the incest hay, cut from
amongst blackened stumps and tree
that had not yet been removed from thu
ground. We drove our wagon under {
shed and spread our blankets on tn,
barn floor, where all night long tn,
champ, champ, champing of the horse
at their hay mingled with the drip
drip, dripping of the rain out of doors


All day long on the 4th We travele,
up the Mckenzie, sometimes close t
the waters edge, and at other time
farther away, with tall timber on ever,
hand, but always within sound of tn
rushing waters. There are people liv
ing every two or three miles all alon
here. Their principal occupation seem
to be making boards and shingles, inter
spersed with killing and curing dee
meat. We had some splendid views a
we journeyed along, and once wa
filled with an intense longing for th
skill of an artist that might transfe
to canvas the scene that lay before MT
We were ascending a steep rocky grad'
and had paused to rest our team, Will
below US lay the Mckenzie, its brigh
waters visible for a mile or so up {
down, with heavy green timber grow
ing down to its waters edge, while /
the distance could be seen the towerin
mountains through which it cuts II
way, when, as If to complete the d.
lightful picture, a deer sprang up fror
behind a rock in front of us aud ra
nimbly up the hillside and disappeare
among the green timber.


Camped about fifteen miles belo
Mckenzie bridge, under the droopiu
branches of lofty fir tree, where "
felt sure no rain could reach us, hov
ever hard it should fall. The skies we
propitious, however, and just at da,
break we were ready for our days driv
Crossed the Blue River. a swift runnir