CROOK COUNTY JOURNAL'S ANNUAL NUMBER.
19
sage brush. In the parched sands, as if
neglected for centuries, these , streams
shoot forth with a rush, and flow away
through the valleys, giving life to vegeta
tion along their way. The water is pure
and clear as crystal and fish abound in
them all from source to mouth. Spring
river, Fall river, and Matoles river, are the
names of these streams.
In the southeastern part of the county
is a chain of hot springs. These springs
have a large flow of water, and the tem
perature is sufficient to boil vegetables or
scald hogs, ana the medicinal qualities of
the water are said to be equal to any in
the world. Either one of these springs will
equal the famous hot springs of Arkansas
in interest and as the country settles up
may equal them as health resorts. A visit
here and an exhilerating bath is worth the
while of the traveler or tourist.
We have a thousand other attractions,
but we are tired of writing about them and
you are doubtless tired of reading, so set
apart your vacation next summer to come
and see for yourself and .you will never re
gret it.
How to Get Here.
The distances from Albany or Eugene,
Oregon, on the Southern Pacific railroad,
and from Shaniko, the terminus of the
Columbia Southern, are about the same.
From these points you can come by stage,
a distance of 60 miles, and reach the heart
of Crook county. The journey will not
prove montonous, for you are never put
of sight of beautiful scenery and you have
Mt. Jefferson, Mt. Hood, Mt. Thielsen, the
Three Sisters and numerous minor peaks
and a chain of snow-capped - mountains,
ever as a background to the picture.
Good service all along the route at rea
sonable rates is insured.
RAILROAD PROSPECTS.
Crook county has not a foot of railroad
track within its boundaries. The nearest
railroad point being at Shaniko the present
terminus of the Columbia Southern, 60
miles north of Prineville, from which point
all goods and merchandise for the interior
are hauled by freight teams. Formerly all
shipping was from The Dalles, 120 .miles
distant. This condition will not, however,
long prevail. At least two roads will likely
build into the county before another year.
Railroad men thoroughly understand the
situation and stand ready to build as fast
as the development of the county will
warrant it.
A road has , been surveyed south from
The Dalles, following generally the course
of the Deschutes, called The Dalles South
ern, which would tap the best farming sec
tions as well as the vast bodies of yellow
pine on the Deschutes and further south.
Though not definitely located, we predict
that this road will be built shortly on the
following route:
After entering the Deschutes canyon near
the mouth of White river in Wasco county,
it will follow up the Deschutes to mouth of
Trout creek, thence up that stream to the
mouth of Hay creek, thence up Hay creek
to divide east of Agency plains and the
Haystack country, thence south crossing
Crooked river at Carmichael's, 13 .miles
northwest of Prineville, thence southwest
across the "desert" back to Deschutes river
at or near Pilot Butte where it would strike
l
I .- - : p . : -V-,
-A
It
WILD DEER.
the timber belt and from which point it
could be extended south or southeast in
definitely, to a southern or eastern con
nection. The route presents no engineer
ing difficulties, has no heavy grades, and
would cover the territory.
The Corvallis and Eastern is more than
a probability. It is now built to within 10
miles of the western boundary of the coun-
i ' - i
xW If
This line, when built, will afford Crook
the advantages of a direct route east for
shipments of wool, cattle, sheep, horses,
and lumber. Either road will penetrate
the great stretch of "desert" soon to be
brought under irrigation, and the timbered
portions of the county, thus opening up
and aiding the development of two most
important resources. With the completion
of these roads as indicated and the exten
sion of the Columbia Southern from Shan
iko eastward up the John Day valley to
the Sumpter and Grant county gold fields,
and a connecting link from Shaniko down
Antelope and Trout creeks to a junction
with The Dalles Southern at the mouth of
Hay creek, Crook county, and the interior
of Eastern Oregon will have all the trans
portation facilities necessary for their prop
er development.
i
Xf
...Lif-tV?- t
PRINEVILLE POSTAL STATISTICS.
STIEN'S PILLAR.
ty, at the summit of the Cascades, from
whence eastward through Crook, Harney
and Malheur counties the route has been
surveyed and definitely located, crossing
the Deschutes at Pickett island, 25 miles
west of Prineville, thence taking a south
east course across the "desert."
The following shows the number and
amount of money orders issued at Prine
ville postoffice from January 1, 1897, to and
inclusive of December 15, 1900:
No. Amount.
1897 2855 $29,924 99
1898 3248 31,313 69
1899 3475 33,632 36
1900 3402 32,896 42
And the receipts from the sale of stamps,
etc., for the same time were:
1897 .$1,820 72
1898 2,339 31
1899 2,540 01
1900. up to November 30 2,300 73
This office is the distributing center for
the following mail lines:
Prineville to Burns, 162 miles, two round
trips per week.
Prineville to Sisters, 38 miles, three round
trips per week.
Prineville to Crook, 48 miles, two round
trips per week.
Prineville to Lamonta, 16 mileSj six repaid
trips. - . " " '"