August, 1881.
THE WEST SHORE.
SOME OF OUR RIVERS AND LAKES.
The Columbia river rises in latitude
60 degrees and 50 minutes north, and
after forming a series of lukes, takes in
the waters of the Kootenai, Spokane",
Okanagan, Chelan, Snnke, Wcnachce,
Yakima, Walla Walla, Methow, Pa
louse, Clearwntcr, Umntilla, John Day,
Deschutes, Klickitat, Willamette, Lewis
and Cowlitz, besides a half hundred
lesser streams. It drains an enormous
region of country, embracing seventeen
degrees of latitude, and nearly as many
of longitude; the great stream emptying
into the ocean in latitude 46 degrees
and 8 minutes, and longitude ill.
The Columbia is said to carry off a
volume of water equal to thnt of the
Mississippi. Though uot so wide, the
current is more rapid. The channel is
of great average depth. This river
may be said to be in Washington Terri
tory. Though for three hundred and
fifty miles from the sea to Wallula it is
the boundary line between Oregon and
Washington Territory. From Wallula
it meanders northward through Wash
ington Territory, a distance, of nearly
500 miles to the Uritish line, After its
passage into foreign soil, the river re
turns to the Territory by way of Clarks
fork, and meanders nearly south to lake
Pen d'Oreille, a distance of over one
hundred miles, The other great fork,
Lewis or Snake river, comes in at Ains
worth, the pret.cn t terminus of the
Northern Pacific going east. This
fork is a large and important river.
Most of its great waters are also in
Washington Territory. But there is
still another branch of the Columbia,
along which the Northern Pacific will
be running at some time the Yakima,
the valley of which contains lands of
superior grain and produce raising
qualities. This branch start in the
Cascade mountain and near the waters
of Puget-sound, and runs southeasterly
in eastern Washington. Many of these
streams are fed by the mountain snows
and for the most of the year affud cold
and pure water. Though small by
comparison they are navigable for
small steamboats. In the old settlements
the fine grass and firming lands along
their margin have long since been occu
pied. The explorer will find, however,
many fine lands in the back country
along streams of similar kind.
Among the attractions of our North
western territories are the lake regions.
The lakes are numerous, many of them
larc, notably Twii d'Oici'dc, about
thirty miles long north and south, sur
rounded by good lands and pine timber.
The Northern Pacific will soon lie fin
ished to this point and afford an nutlet
westward. Near lake CVur d'Alcne,
some forty mile from Pen d'Oreille, is
the old mission and Ccrur d'Alcne res
ervation. Here is a beautiful country.
The nothern waters of Cu-ur d'Alene
are some seven miles from the line of
the Northern Pacific. Lake-Chelan,
one hundred and fifty miles west Irom
Pen d'Oreille and two hundred miles
north of Walla-walla by way of the
Columbia river, is forty miles In length,
and situated in Stevens county, Wash
ington Territory. Hack of Seattte, and
but a short distance from it is Lake
Washington, twenty mile in length.
Near Stcilucoom, in Pierce county, are
a chain of hikes, one qulto largo and a
curiosity. American lake has no visible
outlet, is the receptacle of several
streams and never overflows its banks.
It is likely the source of many line
springs pouring out through the hills
fur and near. Those who are partial to
settlement near hike scenery can le
accommodated in the Pacific northwest,
NI.IIAI.KM VAI.I.KV.
The Nchalcm river empties into the
ocean about forty-five miles south of
the mouth of the Columbia, and I one
of the finest streams In Tillamook
county, Oregon, being about too miles
long. The valley are from one-half
to four mile In width, coinMsed of
fine soil. For about ten mile from its
moulh the tide land predominate, and
being very rich, produce from three to
four ton of hay to the acre. Thi hay
i not so nutritious a timothy ar.d
other specie, yet the stock eat it with
relish, and thrive splendidly thereon.
A you go up the river the bottom are
covered with salmon brush, vine maple,
willows, aider, and other etie of
wood. TbfM) Udtotns arc easily
brought u infer cultivation, being very
rich ami productive when projerly
cultivated. Potatoes, cabbage, lct
etc., thrive and attain to a good size,
a ltd corn, pumpkin and squashc do
passably well. Wheat on the table
land doc well, yielding from 35 to
50 busltcls per acre; but grow too
rank, and doe not 'per in teon on
the bottoms. All cultivated grasses
flourish on any of these lands, thereby
iimking the country weii adapted for
dairy and stock raising purposes, which
at present are the chief Industries. The
climate is temperate, never getting ex
cessively hot in summer or cold In
winter. The bottom land are all
covered with brush, but are easily
cleared. Foley creek, a beautiful,
sparkling stream, runs through about
six section of the lct quality of
bottom lauds, which alone would furn
ish home for a small colony. Thi
creek Is a tributary of the south fork of
the Nehalcm,and Is full of fine speckled
trout and other varieties of the finny
trilie. The upper end of tho Foley
creek bottom Join those of the Miami,
a more extensive and equally rich sec
tion, having an outlet eight mile mth
of the Nchalem, In Tillamook lay,
The hill are covered with spruce,
hemlock, fir, larch and cedar, which
timber 1 of superior quality. It Is con
fldently lalicvcd that a railroad will tap
this country at an earfy day, for it
coal and other commodities. Land I
worth $1.15 per acre. Person can
take steamer from San Francisco to
Astoria, thence via CUtsop plains,
keeping the coast route to the moulh o'
the Nchatcm, or leave the const at Sea
side, go over the mountain by rude
trail, striking the settlements fourteen
mile from the mouth of the river.
From the Willamette valley the most
prat tible route I via Quick' wagon
road from McMinnvilleor North Yam
hill to Tillamook.
MKIHCAt. I.AKr, W. T.
In addition to the medicinal qualities
of that famou lake, It ha pure, fresh
water, beautiful scenery, fine drives,
and a productive country around It. It
is only seven and half mile front
Cheney, where Invalids leave the car
of the N. P. K. It. The road between
these two points U in splendid con
dition. Good ami easy conveyance
have already Wen provided to convey
passenger to the lake, ami if one-half
the stories told of the wonderful eura
live properties are lobe credited most
of the patient will not need a convey
ance to take them to the depot at
Cheney on their return home. They
will be gll to walk to lw that they
have been cured.