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About The west shore. (Portland, Or.) 1875-1891 | View Entire Issue (June 1, 1888)
THE WEST SHORE. .115 the center of which is the crater of the subordinate volcano which formed it. A visit to this outpost of wonderland presupposes a somewhat extensive outfit of camp equipage, bedding, provisions, etc. The camp grounds for the whole distance are all that can be desired. The time for a visit extends from tho middle of July to late in September, and sometimes until October. Leaving the vicinity of Ashland, and starting north, the route of the tourist lies through Rogue riv er valley, destined to be one of tho most prosperous and thickly populated fruit growing sections of the country. Peaches, grapes, melons, and all temperate zone fruits here find congenial soil and climate. Passing Grant's Pass, a young and flourishing manu facturing town, the wild and romantic scenery of tho Canyon mountains, the most notable, perhaps, in this respect, on the entire route, challenges the interest and admiration of the beholder. Wolf creek and Myrtle creek furnish a constant succession of views, any one of which is an inspiration to the artistic eye. Entering the valley of tho Umpqua, rich in ever changing vistas of hill and river and plain, tho beau tiful town of Roseburg is reached, and hero tho tour, ist will do well to tarry a while. I would bo thought extravagant in my praise, I am inclined to think, if I were to put down on paper my real opinion of tho climate of this section of country. I am not dealing in comparisons just now; I am only speaking of things as they are. There is something peculiar about this locality. In J uly, for instance, it becomes rather warm, for a few days at a time, in the town on the hill. A walk of half a mile will take you to tho Umpqua river, which runs merrily by. Cross that stream and find your way to Sheridan's grove, about half a mile above town, and take your easo in a ham mock, if you have one, or on tho grass if you havo not Presently you will feel the languorous touch on your heated brow of a sea brcezo which has boon slowly making its way up the river, between precipi tous and hot rocky walls at one point and over heat ed sand bars at another. All tho harshness of tho sea air has gone. It is tho very perfection of west wind Having once felt the benediction of its touch, you will be better able to appreciate Rryant's ode to that samo wind, commencing Fj.irit that brrsthrat throng my lattiar. Daily for three long months, a few years ago, be ing in every sense of the word an invalid, I felt that breeze come np the Umpqua with healing on its wings. There is another wind, so far as I know, jv culiar to that locality. I mado iU acquaintance in April, laSL It came from the southwest-cot the Chinock-and swept over a huge hill of iron lying abreast of tho town. Delicate as tho great master's dream of Tricksy Ariel, it did its spiriting gently in deed. Arnold, in his " Light of Asia," speaks of I'ahn that ri Kn;or to ki tln nkicn and ilritik llo tir I'luwn fnm Malaya nl tW Mho m. It must havo been such an " air " a that indecril ably delicate visitation from tho spico islands which I felt in Roseburg, which Arnold's palms were so ea ger to drink. After lingering for a while at Roseburg, it is po. sible that tho tourint might feel a natural, a whole some, a commendable, desire for a breath of sea air. All rightly constituted tourists do. A trip by stago or private conveyance to Cot bay, from which joints Port Orford, with its lxach of agates and camelians, Randon and other points of interest, will prove neither expensive nor tedious. To thoso who are not Pacific coasters, such a trip will afford rare revelations in forest growths and other matter of cognate interest From this pint, tho tourist can reach the railroad, to bear him farther north, at Drain Station, or ho can return to Roseburg, at which place, I contend, thw ought to 1)0 h $100,000.00 hotel, and there will bo one in five years from now, or I am uo prophet in hotel matters. Tho locality is intended by nature as a sail itarium. Leaving Ifcmeburg by rail, tho tourist i intro duced to a sight of the Caliooui rang of mountains, interesting as tho commonly recognized dividing liuo between the northern and southern sections of tho state. Crossing tho summit of this range ho finds himself in tho far-fanwi Willamette valh-y, which, in beauty, fertility and possibilities of supjorticg a dense and prosperous population has fw rival in the universe A few hours' run brings him to Ku gene City, tho seat of tho HUte University. Hero l t him mako up his mind to tarry a whil. 'Ih town is in every seuso of tho word a prosprou and activo ono, from both business and intellectual standpoint. At tho same time, it is ono of tho most restful and agreeable places of sojourn on tho Pacific cowl Km. lowered in shade, adorned with tasteful and hospita ble homes, it challenge admiration, and wt-ll deawri it Tho university luildings are bandsomo struct ures, and the very largo geological collection of Rev, Thomas Condon, professor in that d parent, is one of the mot valuable and comply oo tho coast. If the-tourist tspjrf'ts to U fortunat enough to rrath Engine City during comiamafii wrk, I can prom, iso him se veral days of rre and delightful entertain tnent; and when, from the upjr wtatows of the tasJa tuildicg, he Ms out upon the nquisito pastoral idxe which will grtt his ) if he dor tot say that
