Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The west shore. (Portland, Or.) 1875-1891 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 1, 1886)
,..., niiwn imr r nwnwratm. t m . n-V ' 1 1 T THE WEST SHORE. 47 A BIRD'S-EYE VIEW OF CENTRAL OREGON. BEAR CREEK BUTTE rises from the elevated table land of Eastern Oregon to an altitude of Utmb i n i s .... nve ana six inonsnna ioui above the level of the sea. It is near the geographical centre of the State, twenty-five miles south of Prineville, the county seat of Crook County, and about forty miles east of the Cascade range of mountains. Like the greater part of Eastern Oregon this mountain is without timber except a scraggy growth ol jumper, from its Bummit is obtained one of the most expansive prospects I have had on the Taoifio Coast a bird s-eye view of an area of country larger than New England. The grand snow-capped Cascados to the west northwest and southwest, the grass-covered hills as far as the eye can reaoh to the north, wooded mountains to the northeast, sage plains to the east, and the great un even expanse to the south and southeast formerly known as the "Great Oregon Desert, make up a view well worth the time and labor required to obtain it In the month of November last I stood upon this summit alone and breathed an expression of satisfaction that I was permitted to look upon so grand a scone. The air whistled fresh and keen through the clumps of stunted jumper that adorn the brow of this mountain ol the plain. The sky was perfectly clear, and the altitud and the pure, bracing, rare atmosphere made up that condition, almost peculiar to the West, that enables one to see so far. Far to the north wore seen the rolling hills of Crook and Wasco counties. At my feet a slight depression marked the beginning of one of the many gulches that cut and scar the face of the mountain. These gulches are of great depth, their walls of basalt almost vertical, and down these natural channels the I rush of waters wake the echoes of hiddon caverns among them. In the spring time these streams beooine swollen to the proportion of rivers and go rushing and roaring down the mountain side to join the Dos Chutes on the west and Crooked River on the north, or are lost in the "Desert" to the south. At the foot of the mountain the country spreads out in an almost level table land, fifteen or tweuty milus wide, covered with bunch grass and sage brush, with hore and there scattered forests of juniper. Large areas of excellent soil are found on this table, and the prosonce of the industrious pioneer is made known by the houses, barns and cultivated spots which begin to dot the plain. Stock raising ia the chief occupation, but the adaptability of climate and soil for agriculture has been fully demon Btrated, and presages a prosperous agricultural country as soon as facilities are furnished for transportation, The climate, though somewhat rigorous in the winter, is wonderfully healthful, and but little feeding of stock is required. Further on toward the north is seen the Ooheoo Valley, about one thousand feet lower than the table land just described, and though not a large one, yet one of the richest in Eastern Oregon. The Ocheoo about forty miles long, with a varying width of from one to five miles. Prineville ia located in this valley, at the junction of the Ocheoo and Crooked rivers, and does an immonse business as tho base of supplies for a largo ' radius of country. IU population U ultout nve hundred, ii.ii all that goes to make up a thriving and prosperous town schools, churches, two newspapers, a flouring mill, two good hotels, eta. The settlement of Ooheoo Valley has Un rapid and its improvement wonderful. Almost everything ueeded for the tahlo that can le produced on a farm is here yielded in abundance. Annies, pears, plums and other fruits are raised and are of an excellent quality. Vege. tables and the cereals grown here are not excelled on the Coast. The wool clip of this valley and the surrounding oouutry is very large. The scenery is piuturcNquc, the olimate, though colder than Western Oregon, ia exoellent. Water is abundant and of the finest quality, fish aro plentiful in the streams, ami the people seem healthy, oontented and happy. Timber is plentiful to the north and northeast, in the Ocheoo Mountains, tor all domestic demands, consisting of pine, fir, spruce and oedar. With railroad, which seems to be one of tho most distinct shadows cast by ooming events, Ooheoo Valley would become of great imortanco to the State by the fuller development of its resources and the profitable shipment of it products. Still on to the north, but lcyoml tho line of vision, are other valleys equally rich and produc tivo, though smaller. And everywhere were seen thou sands of cattle, horses and sheep, Tho distance to The Dalles is alnrnt 120 miles. From my elevated perch 011 Dear Creek Butte I oould also see many little valleys along the line of tho Des Chub River. Turning to the south and southeast, a panorama en tirely different from tho one just described met my view. n this direction the view ia unolmtructed at points for more than a hundred miles, comprising an immense area of country. Directly below, clod in lU sombre garments of the ever-present sage, with here and there dark piles of basalt rearing their frowning forms altovs the plain, ies the "Groat Oregou Desert," where for many a weary ile no surface water is to le found The desert from this lofty stand presents a very jecnllar apearance, dotted as it is with sxU bright ami shining in the jr- feet semblance of lakes, and to one not acquainted with the oountry the illusion is calculated to deceive. The mirago of tho desert, how many have been its victims since the eyes of man first played him falsel Many a weary traveler has Wn lured on and on, led by thirst and deceived by the ever-receding vision of lakes, streams and shady groves, until tired and discouraged, with the exasperating mirage only a little In advance, changing its form and feature, as it laughing at the torture ol weaK humanity, he has fallen and perished miserably and alone, his bleaching skeleton left to the speculation or those who should follow him. Such things as this lavs occurred even in this once barren waste, in timet long past, before the trails were known and the hidden springs were found. It has since ln demonstrated that in most places, and at an easy depth, water can U bad in abundanoe, and settlers art now selecting sllgiblt spots and establishing oomforUUo homes, It is found that ft