Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The west shore. (Portland, Or.) 1875-1891 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 1, 1884)
THE WEST SHORE. 311 with a few Modocs and a portion of the Snakes, or Sa-hap-tins, on a reservation ostouJiug noilhward and eastward from Upper Klamath Lake. Here is situated Fort Kla- . math, a cavalry post belonging to the Department of the Columbia, and generally occupied by four companies of troops. Since the Modoc war, which was not partici pated in by Indians on the reservation, the band of the famous Captain Jack being but a smull and turbulent Krtion of the tribe which had refused to live uj)on the reservation, there has been no trouble with Indians in the vicinity of Klamath Lake. At the end of that mom orable campaign Captain Jack and throe of his most influential braves were hanged at Fort Klamath, and the remainder of hjs band, some 150 mon, women and chil- . dren, were sent to a small reserve in Indian Territory, whore they still live. The portion of the trile now on the Klamath Reserve took no part in the war, and are peaceful and contented Link River runs but a brief course, but tlio descent is considerable, causing a swift current, which runs noisily over a rocky bed. At one place there aio cascades so steep as to amount almost to a waterfall, and as the water rushes violently over and around the rocky obstructions it presents a beautiful sight, while the noise is carried a long distance by the breeze. The water power is valua ble, and is partially utilized by a saw mill On the bunks of the stream is Linkville, seat of justice of the county of Klamath. This is the base of supplies for quite an extensive stock oountry, and is a growing town. A visit to that region, and especially to Crater Lako, which lies a few miles to the northward of Fort Klamath, would amply reward one who is traveling for pleasure. V The snow peaks of the Columbia are the most promi nent features of our landscape. Three of these are dis tinctly visible from the streets of Portland, and we present engravings of them. Mount llcxxl and Mount St Helens are shown as they ate seen from this city, the most com mon points of observation, while Mount Adams, being more distant and partially obscured by intervening hills, is given from a nearer standpoint. Two others may 1h seen from the hills back of the city tho apex of Mount Rainier to the north, and the crown of Mount Jefferson to the southeast In outline and general ap)earance these peaks differ as widely as possible. St Helens is a rounded cone, with apparently smooth sides sloping regq larly toward the base. Mount Hood, whose , lines are more sweeping and graceful has long ridges ami deep canyons filled with living glaciers, which cause it to present a different outline from varying points of view. Hood is 11,225 feet high, and has been frequently as cended, the route presenting no particular difliculty until almost to the summit At that point there is a wide and unfathomable chasm, across which is suHjxndtxl a natural bridge of ice. Over this precarious viaduct, where a ' misstep would lead to instant destruction, the venture some climber must pass if he would gain the summit Some of the earlier explorers of the mountain, lxfore the present route was discovered, were cow polled to tie themselves together, as a safeguard in passing along tho edge of sUH'p and slip)ery precipices, and there are sev eral instances related wliore tho wisdom of this prooan tion was demonstrated. St Helens is 0,750 foot in height but because of its stoop sides, presents greater difficulties of ascent Mount Adams, 0,250 foot high, has boon ascended several times of late, and tho country around its base is assorted by tho enthusiastic explorers to present tho grandest Bconory of tho Cascades. Trout Lake, which apioars iii tho foreground of our engraving, is but one of a numlmr of deep, clear, mountain lakes to be found in that rogiou. It is a orfoot paradise for tho anglor, and the huntsmau will Hud door, boar and smaller game in abundance in tho forests that encirclo tho moun tain's base. V Ever since the Central Pacific constructed tho mam. moth lxat Solano, for ferrying trains across Han Pablo Bay, thus saving many miles of travel by rail, such a mothixl of transit across wido and deep Ixxlios of water has come into favor with railroads. The system lms lieen adopted by the Northern Pacific for crossing tho Colum bia on the route from this city to Pugot Hound. With the exception of tho river, a continuous track is laid from Portland to Tacoma and Seattle, and tho 1st of October is the date set for opening the all rail route, by which time it is confidently expected the ferrying arrangements will have boon perfected More thau a your ago a largo iron ferry boat was ordered in Now York, which was constructed and shipped around tho Horn in pieces, arriving early last spring. She has Iwon put together, painted, supplied with machinery and otherwise fitted for her arduous duties, ami is ready to liegin her triw, wait ing only for tho completion of the ferry slips. Though not as largo as the Solitnn, she is a ferry Ismt of enor mous proportions. Her length is '.YM foot; width of beam, 40 foot; over guards, '70 foot; dopth of hold, 13 feet G inches. She has two engines, witli .'Hi-inch rylin dors and 0-foot stroke, and two 25-foot Isiilers, with a diameter of 8 feet Tho Tnroma, for such she has boon christened, is capable of transforring twelve passenger coaches or twenty-seven loaded lxx cars at one trip. Kite is a staunch craft and possesses all the requirements for a speedy and safe transfer of trains across tho Columbia at any stage of the water. The ferry slips are in tho vicinity of Kalama, the point where the Itoats from Port land connect with tho train for Pugot Hound nndor tho old arrangement When the new system is inaugurated the expense and tedious delays of handling all freight and "baggage at Kalama will be obviated, and the schedule time between this city and jxtints north of the Columbia will bo reduced several hours. V Tho Yakima River is an important tributary of tho Columbia, flowing into it from the west a few miles alxv the mouth of Snake River. It is up this stream, and through tho region of fertile valleys and bunch grass hills, tho Cascades Division of tho Northern Pacific is being constructed. Tho rainfall is light, but tho soil is