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About The west shore. (Portland, Or.) 1875-1891 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 1, 1884)
352 THE WEST SHORE. ward, with its dark, heavily woolo(l sides, formed a mountain background, in sharp contrast with the peaceful picture of contentment and plenty presented by the vf.)!"j'. From mountain laso U tho Umbei-fiiugcd river, grain fields, productive farms and pasture lands Mended in pleasant harmony. Through this pastoral Hccno the classic "Long Tom" pressed its sinuous way, its banks thinly skirted here and there with woods, and its sluggish waters reflecting bock the fading beams of departing day. From the base of the range it wound until its milky waters mingled with the crystal flood of the parent stream. Glancing north from the course of the Long Tom, the eye passed over a fertile section of country, level, olmost as a floor, for some miles west of the Willamette; but as it approached the base of the Coast Range the land broke into high, rolling hills and oak-clad uplands. I)uo east of the peak stood the town of Corvallis, nest ling by the bank of the Willamette. The town was about eignwen miles away, but, with the aid of a powerful field glass, the rosidoncos and business buildings could be very distinctly distinguished. Turning the faco north King's Valley, embracing some of tho richest agricultural lands of Benton, came into view. Hemmed in by high, bold hills on the east irom tno plains, and on the west by tho Coast Range, this narrow valley stretched its green length for twelve or fifteen miles, thickly dotted with fertile farms, until tho distant hills of Polk County snatched from sight its expanse of fields, woods and pastures. Still wBHt nf tl'B valley, and nestling among tho nigged mountains that trended norm rrom the peak, lay Blodgott's Valley, the homo of many thrifty tillers of tho soil. Commencing at tho northern base of Mary's Teak, tho beautiful little stream known as Mary's River txk its source. It ilowod north for some distance, then changod its direction to the east, pursuing an extraordinarily tortuoiiB course, wash ing the basoB of tho high, forestless hills which stretched for miles to the north. In and out wound this boautiful mountain stroam. Distant glimpsos could bo caught of its shining waters between the bare, brown hills, as its fretful current roared around a sharp turn in the sinuous channel or brawled over its stony bed. Emerging from the environment of hills, the stream flowed directly south for boiuo distance, thus making a clear double in iu eoursA Receiving tho crystal waters of "Little Mary's River," the exjwindod stream lod through a most charm ing section, due east again, and pourod itself into the Willamette just south of Corvallis. Another Bwoep to tho northeast disclosed high hills crowned with rocks and straggling timlier, pleasant little valleys and rolling plains. Now and then fields of un wokled grain shone with yellow lustre from hillside and vale, and itewly-nmdo meadows stretched their greenish browu exjwnso iuU view. Out from among the far-off rang or hills flowed tho dull-hue,! and almost currentless Soap Creek, dragging, like a sluggish serpent, ita course toward the clear, winding Willamette. Still farther north oould be dimly traced tho picturesque Luckiamute River, its blueish, leaden waters sending back a faint reflection. Beyond this stream rose the yellow and green hills of Polk County, fading away and melting into the liulioli. Looking Bgain toward the east, Linn County the fairest flower of the Willamette Valley unrolled in the soft twilight its wide expanse of country. Southward from Albany rose here and there the numerous bold buttes, their rugged sides mellowed by distance. Far to the southeast the turbulent Calapooia. sprinm'iKr HU young giant from the icy gorges of the Cascades, hurried witn a wild torrents fortie over its rocky channel, and rushed its banded waters upon the peaceful valliw Bt the thriving little hamlet of Brownsville, and thence across tne level plain debouched into the Willamette at Albany. A more delightful sight could not greet the eye of mortal I Hundreds of farms were seen at a rina glance, with their profuse agricultural wealth. The sot ting sun slione with departing lustre upon thousands of acres of golden grain, upon orchards bendi bonAnth burdens of fruit, upon lowing herds, upon gamboling flocks, upon broad acres of meadow and luxuriant pos tures, and upon the homes of thousands of honest, happy and prosperous people. Lying along the margin of the lordly Santiam, and near the foothills of the Cascades, far to the eastward, could be faintly seen the village of Lebanon. Albany, with its characteristic neatness, sim plicity and charming taste, sat modestly by the given banks of the Willamette, and, in the gloaming, looked like a shadowy, unreal abode of man. Some miles east of Albany a range of thickly wooded hills extendod from the. Cascades across the valley and reached the Willamette. Through these rugged foothills pressed the sparkling, impetuous torrents of the Santiam River, sing ing their wild Bong of mountain freedom, and precipitat ing themselves upon the tranauil floods of the Willamette just south of Jefferson. Raising the eye above the landscape, and orlancinir along the rim of the eastern horizon, a magnificent view broke gently on the vision. Ovnr mahiv miles of the Cascade range of mountains stood clearly outlined in the waning light of eveninc. Deer. rich irnle shadows enshrouded the distant range like a royal mantle. Away tn flia aniif!. - 11. . mi r.. i . i i - .. owuiu iubo me i.uree oisters, strongly suggestive ot a trio of brides attired in flnnwv crnrmanfa rAnilv for the marriage peaL Opposite where we stood Mount Jeffer- 1 . ooa aiieu ins snowy crown far above the range, his crest bathed in fiery splendor. And Vila oiiloa And Jin so touched by tho deepening shades of approaching night Far, far to the north Mount Hood's kingly head loomed through the soft air cold, dim anil mitral TWnnd. where the Santiam emptied its crystal stores, tho view was shut out -by tho russet-liuod hills of Marion, which blemlod with the sky of evening. Northward, along the Coast Range, nothing was seen but a succession of rinrn,1 innnnfiiina Imianlv pIjuI With living anl daal forests and a thick growth of under brush. South, the range presented no change of feature, ,