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About The west shore. (Portland, Or.) 1875-1891 | View Entire Issue (July 1, 1884)
THE WEST SHORE. 203 that Massachusetts was governed at the date mentioned by John Winthrop and not by Seymour GiMvw, whose name does not appear at all in the list of New England governors or "major-generals." Not the slightest refer ence is made to it in the records of Spain or Teru, and it is now generally conceded that the story is a creation of James Petiver, an eminent naturalist, who was a frequent contributor to the magazine in which it first appeared. Here were now three distinct and conflicting accounts of the discovery of a passage through the continent, each of which had its supporters, and all of which occupied the attention of explorers for years afterward. To this must be added a fourth mystery the River of Aguilnr. This was a great stream reported by Martin de Aguilar to exist in latitude 43 degrees, about the region of the Umpqua, which he discovered, and made unavailing efforts to enter in 1G03. In later years, when the French explorers of Louisiana were told by Indians of the great " River of the West," these two streams were considered identical In 1778 the celebrated Captain Cook made a thorough exploration of the coast, beginning below the forty-third parallel, and declared each and every one of them to be a myth; and such they were thereafter generally consid ered, notwithstanding the present Straits of Fuca wore subsequently discovered, and, for diplomatic purposes, served to lend substance to the very shadowy voyuge of the ancient Greek pilot' Harry L. Wellb. SUMMER CAMPS IN THE OOA8T RANGE, you know of a good camping place in the Coast U Range Mountains; if so, where? Yes; many fine places for a summer camp. One in particular, for its variedficenery and healthf ulness, is located on section 23, township 4 west, 3 north, owned by Paul Schulze, of Portland. Its principal features are nearnoss to Port land (only thirty-eight miles), a fine mineral spring, good fishing, good hunting, acres of the finest wild black berries in Oregon, raspberries in abundance, a good wagon road within half a mile. About one mile from the justly celebrated Nehalom River there is a fine camping place, grass for horses and cows, with many conveniences not always found in a mountain camp, and only eighteen miles from Forest Grove, Washington County. On Gale's Creek, on the premises of George Hinos, is a fine mineral spring, with many conveniences for camping, and located seven miles from Forest Grove. Another fine camping place, on the summit of what is known as the Nehalem Summit, between West Dniry Creek and the Nehalem River, at Horseshoe Spring. There is an exceptionally fine view of the valley, Nortli Pluins, Hills boro and adjacent country, with plenty of berries, pheas ants, grouse and quail, an occasional deer, and plenty of trout about two miles from camp. It is about seventeen miles from Forest Grove, with gxxl wagon road to the spring, feed for horses and cows. There are many other beautiful and healthful places, as on Wilson's River, emptying into Tillamook Ray, but not so accessible. A. Tiler. THE AINSWORTH BRIDGE rpiIE bridge ooiwh-uoled by the .Northern Paoifio at J. Ainsworth, W. T., where the track crosses Snake River just above its confluence with the Columbia, is a massive Btone and iron structure, costing about 11,250,000, and consuming two years' timo in building. It was first opened for trailio on the 20th of April last Previous to that time all trains had been transferred for three years from one side of the river to the other on the ferry boat Billing. As but a few cars could bo taken at ono timo, this was necessarily a long and tedious operation. This is now disponsod with, adding much to the comfort and ploosure of travolors, and to tho facility witli which freight business is dispatched. An engraving of thin structure is given on anothor pgo. The bridge is a Pratt truss, witli conter-bar draw, consists of six spans and a draw, and rests npon solid granite piors and abutment Four spans aro each 21(1 feet long, one is 140 feet, another 05 feet, and tho draw is 340 foot, aggregating 1,541 feet It stands twelve feet above high water and woighs 1,000 tons. Tho approaches are1 3,300 foot long. Preliminary work was begun in March, 1882, under H. D. Bush, civil enginoer. In July following the work of constructing caissons was begun, undor tho suiorintondonco of D. D. MoDoon, who was also contractor for tho stono work. In February, 1883, after having built two piors and one abutment McBoan was Buporsodod as superintendent by Captain Edward Spencer, ami soon after was lought out as contractor by the company. A. J. White succeeded Rush as supervis ing engineer, and was in turn suocoodod by Alfred Noblo, who also lias charge of tho Second Crossing Bridge. Spencer was succeeded as suiorintondont by George A, Lederle, who is also assistant engineer. Ward Davidson, Charles Yoogel, John McClellan, James K. Dopuo, James 8. Quinn and Charles W. Young have been prominently connected witli the work, Mr. Young having boon con tinuously employed as foreman. During tho progress of this work tho town of Ains worth sprang up, and lecamo a town of so much import ance that tho lost Legislature created it the county seat of the now county of Franklin. It was supposed that a town would exist tliero only during tho timo tho bridge was in process of construction; but it has boon found that much agricultural land exists in tho vicinity, which is being placed under cultivation, and as this is the junction with tho Cascades Division, now under construction, Ainsworth will contin4n Ix a good business town and increase with tho development of tho country. m m A joint stock company has lxwn organized in Colum bia County, Washington Territory, witli n capital of $5,000, to erect and oX'ruto a cheese factory upon the co-oorative plan, as many are conducted in tho dairy regions of the East Tliero is room in tho Northwest for scores of such institutions. A region that can import at a high price thousands of xiunU of cheese mid butter aunuully, ought to Im able to snport creameries and cheese factories of its own.
