1 84
THE WEST SHORE.
October, ,68a
FROM ROSEBURG, OREGON TO VREKA,
CALIFORNIA. THE UMPQUA AND
" ROGUE RIVER VALLEVS.
A (he completion of the Oregon and California
Railroad, from Roaeburi? in Oreron to Reddin?
In California, i now a foregone conclusion, a brief
ketch of the country through which it is to pass
win doubtless I read with satisfaction.
Those of us who have suffeied the agonies of a
doien or more trins bv the overland siaie line.
, , - o ,
have perhaps a more vivid conception of what is
in siore lor "ye traveler, than he who has never
braced against the bruises and tribulations of a
night stage ride, over the Grave creek hills, across
me suklvou mountains or down the Sacramento
He who has gazed with interest, under such
circumstances, upon the grandeur, beauty and
diversity of the scenery along this route, may well
anticipate the satisfaction he will feel when. re.
dining on the velvet cushions of a " Pullman
palace coach, he is rushing over this self-same
country at the rate of twenty-five miles an hour,
and inhaling poetic inspiration from the most
genial breezes that fan the face of Nature
Having traversed the greater part of the Pacific
loiw, from Loa Angeles to the Calumbia river,
and from the Pacific ocean to the Rnrkv
tains, I can safely asseit that no where can be
ouni to equable and pleasant a climate, such
diversity of scenery and production, more richness
w sou or neauly ol land,, than are to be seen
on wit route
Roaeburg, the county teat of Dniml..
U" wimjf
n enterpriiimr (own of
inhabtianta. Until a few weeks ago it wa the
icrminua 01 the O. 4 C. R. R. It is situated in
"e heart of the Umpqua valley on the east
hank of the Un.pqua river, two hundred miles
oum irom the city of Portland
It roues, many gd building, and ha, an
eten.i,e trade with the surrounding country. It
!o the site of the U. S. I
v vriiiLc lur ine
-ZL. " l 'ndSf"'"l .pprnpriation
- - ""no nonar. was WC(lrH Im .
.3 " ly f money, muscle
mi aieam, a stramlmi i...i.j ....
. - 'to us wharf
" '""T- ne experiment, however,
. never related .ml b.k.. .... . . '
, " " .-wiuig lapsed into ilt
revive! ti i . " fmm h '""rgy,
revived j M,im, V.
m .1 r Mv
"V onj the merchants th,re bll, "
SZ'-i,,.:;
, points to the south
times whitened with snow it is rarely covered
more than a few hours at a time. Frosts scarcely
ever injure the crops and a great variety of fruits
and vegetables grow tn perfection.
Annies, nears. Drunes. dums. apricots, peaches,
II I ' r ' -
herrien rind ornnes. are nroduced in abundance and
of the finest quality. This valley ships yearly
great quantities ot wheat, rye, oats ana parley.
The soil is remarkably productive, and with in
creased facilities for shiuDinp and travel, it is
destined to take rank among the most delightful
spots on the Pacific coast. It is remarkably well
watered and the timber is so well distributed that
little seems needed to complete its adaptability
for the farmer, while the hill ranges furnish an
extensive pasturage for sheep, horses and cattle.
It is neither a timbered nor a Drairie country.
but a harmonious blending of the two. that adds
as much to the beauty of the landscape as to the
convenience of the husbandman. The timber
consists of oak, ash, alder, maple, mountain ma
hogany, pine, fir and cedar, and supplies every
demand for fuel, building or cabinet work. The
North and South Umpqua are large streams, ris
ing in the Cascade mountains and flowine in a
westerly converging course, until, reaching the
center ot the valley, they join and thence flow
west to the ocean a broad, beautiful river, but
unnavigable by reason of rapids between Rose-
burg and Scottsburg, the latter being at present the
head of navigation, about thirty miles from the
ocean. Innumerable other smaller streams flow
through the valley, wending their tortuous course
among tne thousand hills, through the grassy
glades and groves of oak, cooling Ihe air, and
giving vigor to vegetable and animal life. The
denirens of the Umpqua have stronr hones nf ,
railroad that will at no distant day connect them
wim ine coast at Loos bay, sixty-five miles dis
tant. The surrounding mountains are well
.., wnn a variety or game, among which
luiiiiu uear ot the prizz v. b UrV
and cinnamon species, deer, panthers, wildcats,
i.u uiuisiunaiiy a O.ind of e k
The streams furnish mountain trout, and salmon
p.enuiu, ln the rivers .
m. The railroad survey follows the same gen
eral course as the Oreron .,H r,i;r.:. ....
. . vmiiuima stage
ne, varied somewhat, of course, as the face of
Z7 , 1 " SeVeral ,hous"l men
.re now at work, and the din consequent to rail
way construction in this age of Jm, electricity
ndg,ant powder, wake. it,. ' . ..
exce i ",rCJ0IC,eal,hi8Ps of civilization,
STJS"i!r invincible sUge dri.
tii ,. SWh" o'io" almost cone, and
cIkJ, uuLJ 1 Mt hill., in
viunaii M ieu kurotd than thai of iK.
-Mliketh, Rogue Ww H e
lectrJ i ik. i . A m " ' "W ub-
i..i.ii-.nT.T"fr"
fiendis ril mCdMi d" with
inZg tnnM fned
-c-nui L 0 of the town
' Point intol Se" hich crow(is
ummitof this ridee we 1. ' achmg the
"P Rose!,, L . 'ew the ,and-
WMe its 'n Mght and
"m"- ''nt cottage,,
prosperous looking business tm. .
schools, court house, and all that goes to make"
a thrifty western county seat, with a laudible In?
bition to excel, is spread out to our view and
with its shade trees of oak, alder and maple,' nr.
sents a, pretty, picture for our contemnl"
Bordering either bank of the river. h. .u. v
do not crowd too closely, are seen pleasant farm?
houses and gardens, with oak and fir covered
knobs and knolls for a back -ground. Th. J j.
at the roadside tell of one of the chief occuna.
....o v,, ptupic, ucanng as they do stolen
fleeces of wool from the sheep that pray.
them. Above this point anH furit,., .... .,
valley bordering the river spreads its arms frtt,..
to the east and west,' and furnishes broad farm. t
level ground and excellent soil. Our road follow.
the river, and as we traverse its crooked cou.
new attractions are constantly presented. w
we are passing around a rocky point, the road a
mere artihciat shelf cut in the solid wall, with a
mountain above and the roarine river helm.
Anon we have passed the point of danger, and
me snarp cracK ot the driver's whip rings out on
the morning air. We go flyine over a fine level
road, with fences, farms and orchards on either
hand. Thus m and out, now skimming along the
water's edge, lulled by its ripple, aeain at a riHHv
height on the hillside, with a beautiful prospect
below, or stifled in the dust of some neighborhood
lane, our journey is sufficiently varied to keen
both ennui and Morpheus at a distance. Oak
Urove, until recently the first stage station, is l6
miles from Roseburg. Four miles further on. we
reach Myrtle Creek, a pleasant little burg, with a
prosperous farming community around it. About
eight miles south is Riddleburg, at the present
time the terminus of the railroad. Nine miles
frpm Myrtle Creek, by stage, we reach Canyon
ville, at the extreme south end of the Umpaua
valley. This village constitutes the base of sup-
plies for a fine farming country, stretching away
for miles up and down the Umpqua river, which
passes nhout two miles to the north and flows
west by north. The railroad will cross the moun
tains through Crow creek canyon, about six mile
west of Canyonville. , ,
From Canyonville to the southward our route
lies over a heavily timbered and mountainous
country, until we reach Rogue River valley. Wt
pass occasional settlements nestling at the foot of
high mountains and half hid nwav beneath the
shade of the ever-present forests of fir, cedar and
pine. . Many pf these little vales and yalleyi pos
sess all the attractions for which Switzerland i
famous, except that which time and an industrious
people alone can make. The people who dwell
in these isolated nooks are necessarily frutral and
industrious, and are fast making some of the aw
attractive homes to be found in the state, and only
await the advent of the railroad to complfK
iheir comfort and conveniences. The soil
these little valleys is an accumulation of centime.
from the surrounding mountains, and is as pro
ductive as any that can be found anywhere. Tbi
climate is healthful and invigorating, and allth1
is needed for domestic use, xcept such articles a
the latitude will not produce, is raised. Co
Creek, Wolf Creek, Grave Creek, Jump-off J'
and Grant's Pass are successively the settleroenu
passed after leaving Canyonville, and before
reach Rogue River valley, a distance of aboat
seventy miles. These settlement's are afl H""