THE WEST SHORE.
253
The upper river, or that portion of it above Colilo,
is divided into stretches of smooth water, whore the our
rent flows with moderate velocity, and stretches of
rapids with a current of great velocity. Small steam
boats, of fine modol and great comparative power, now
navigate this portion of the river at all nenons, when
not prevented by ice. These boats have engines of suf
ficient capacity to drive them through the water at the
rate of sixteen miles an hour, and do not hesitate at the
worst rapids. They require pilots of great skill and
daring, and carry large crews. Such Ixmts can not fur
nish transportation at minimum rates. Tlio boat of tho
future that is destined to liberate tho producers of the
interior from the bondage of exorbitant freights, must
have a carrying capacity at leaHt doublo that of the larg
est meml)er of the present fleet, while drawing no more
water and having but very little more power. Such
Iwats will make thoir way very slowly up stream, and
can not pass the rapids by the uso of their paddle wheels
alone. To enable them to reach the grain-producing
regions I would firmly anchor, above tho head of each
rapid, a steel cable of sndlcient length to reach tho foot
of the rapid, where tho end would bo supported by a
buoy. The cable occupying a position in the center of
the channel, a steamer approaching from below would
touch the buoy, and being supplied with a steam wind
lass, suitable for tho purpose, would pick up the cablo
and warp over the swift water. Such boata will carry
produce at very much lower rates than would be possi
ble under the prcsont system.
In proposing a solution of the problem of ehuap
transportation to the scaltoard of tho products of the In
terior, I have considered time as an iuixrtaiit factor
just how important it is may bo judged from tho BHser
tion mado by the engineer in charge of tho Cascade
locks, that each year's delay in opening the river to free
navigation involves a loss to the people on its banks al
most equal to (he approximate cost of tho works. I lc
lieve tho scheme heroin proposed can lie realized at less
expense, and in one quarter the time demanded for tho
other schemes which have been proosed. This mailer
of time is of such consequence that it woidd pay, from
a business standpoint, to build the inclines mentioned
by Major Jones, for the Dalles, as teinH)rary devices,
for use tending the completion of more obdurate works.
El'OKSF. Kkmi'I.k.
l oll staining bricks red, mult one ounce of glue in
one gallon of water; add a piece of alum the si0 of au
egg, then ouo-half pound of Venctiau rud and one jiound
of Spanish brown. Try the color on the bricks before
using, and change light or dark with tho red or brown,
using a yellow miueral for buff. For coloring blark,
heat asphaltum to a lluid state, and moderately heat the
surface of the bricks and dip them. Or make a hot
mixture of linseed oil and asphalt; heat the bricks and
dip them. Tar and asphalt are also UHod for the same
purpose. It is important that the bricks I snllicieiitly
hot, and bo held in tho mixture Ui almorb the color to
the depth of one-sixteenth of an inch.
FLATHEAD LAKE! AND VALLEY.
Tho fine country around Flathead lake, in Missoula
oounty, Montana, is rapidly filling up with settlers, and
at present many fino ranches with comfortable homes
are locnted, where ten yearn nw there was scarce a hab
itation. This applies to tho section that lies outside of
the Flathead Indian reservation, which encloses half the
lako and a large tract of country to the east, west and
south. North of the lake tho fine, large valley, watered
by tho Flathead river and tributaries, oilers great in
ducements to the farmer and stock grower, and of late
years people havo Hocked to this section to avail them
selves of its advantages. It is now estimated that there
aro over two hundred people living in the valley, and as
the tide of immigration is constantly flowing it will not
le long until it is thoroughly populated.
This valley is one of tho most attractive spots in
Montana. Hounded on the south by the licautiful sheet
of water whenco it takes its name, an Immenso basin
of rolling prairio stretches northward for fifty miles,
covered for tho most part with luxurious grass and dot
ted in places along tlte water courses and at the base of
the mountains with heavy belts of timber. On the east
and west sides ranges of mountains stretch along its en
tiro length, thoso on tho east being remarkable for their
rugged and lofty grandeur. To the north another lofty
chain of mountains looms up to tho eyo of tho observer,
and ns tho casual visitor gasr.es at their snow-tipped sum
mits he is astonished by the information that he is look
ing at the lofty peaks which guard the famed Kicking
Horse pass, through which tho Canadian I'aciflo railroad
wends its tortuous way toward the I'aciflo ocean. Yet
such is the case. The boundary line, the Ituhicon of
defaulting bank cashiers is close at hand, and Her
Majesty's dominions are only a matter of seventy miles
to the north. This valley is accessible either by a so
called wagon road that stretches from the foot of Flat
head lake northward on the west side of that body of
water, or by atcamloat from the same iht across the
lako and up the Flathead river. Nearly all the settlers
havo their own teams and wagons, and when they go to
tho railroad or Missoula they usually travel overland by
their own conveyance, The road, however, Is a miser
able alTair and very hard to travel, and lately the settlers
havo agitated tho question of building a good road on
the east side of the lake. This question look definite
shau in a mooting held ut F.gan's ferry, vtlieii sulllcieiit
funds aud Inltor were sulmorihcd to nearly complete (lis
road. This route Is shorter and better in every way
than the old one, and tho citi.eiis expect, with the help
of the county in building the necessary bridges, to soon
make it yield them au easy and practicable wagon road.
The country is full of lakus. I climUil a mountain
the other day, and in tho magnificent landscape unfold
ed to view from its lofty summit. I counted tio less than
thirteen. Koine of them are mere (tond, but the major
ity aro deserving of the more general term of lakes.
Onrrcionilvn( of llvlem J liquid.