OREGON ClTYdCOURIER, FRIDAY, JULY 26,1912
THE HISTORICAL
BARLOW
ROAD
BACK IN THE DAYS THAT TRIED
MEN'S HEARTS AND 80ULS.
YET PLAINLY SEEN ON BLUFF,
Splendid Historical Article by
Walter Bailey of Gladstone
(The following interesting his
torical article was written by Wal
ter Baily of Gladstone, just before
leaving for the Philippines, where
he is in the government service.
After you have read it, go down
to the Ha'wley mill A, where the
famous old "Emigrant Trail" en
ters the city and follow it towards
Canemah, along the bluff. You
will then more appreciate this nar
rative of the hard old days of
privation, hardships, suffering
and hunger, when the trail was
blazed to Oregon City. Ed.)
Among the numerous obstacles
overcome by the American fron
tiersmen in the monumental task
of building a wagon road across
the continent, the last and one of
the greatest was the Cascade
Mountains. Unlike the Appala
chian and Rocky Mountain ranges
the Cascades presented, to the
eager eyes of the road hunter, no
natural pass. To those who would
cross with wagons, two altern
atives were presented; first the
narrow gorge through which the
, swift turbulent Columbia sweeps
and second, the range of steep
Rocky Mountain tops which join
the white hooded peaks of the
Cascades.
The stalwart pioneers who led
the first wagon train of American
home makers, from the valley of
the Mississippi to the falls of the
Willamette did not dare, Decause
the season was late and their
stockfagged, to try the mountain
heights. With rafts and the few
available boats, they descended
the troubled stream, suffering
severely en route from rapids and
storms.
The immigration of the next
year followed the same route.
The stock of both trains were
driven over the rough mountain
trails into the Willamette valley.
During the latter days of Sep
tember 1845 the third great com
pany of Western immigrants arri
ved at the Dalles, then the termin
us of the wagon road. The old
mission station became a great
frontier camp. Hundreds of
prairie wagons, large droves of
stock and crowds of way- worn
people lined the bleak shore of the
Columbia.
' Theif appearance showed the
' effect of their long overland jour
ney. Part of their number suffered
severe hardship and nearly lost
their lives in following an unj
reliable guide over a supposed
"cutoff" through the dry "wastes
of Eastern Oregon. Some of the
travellers were becoming dest
itute of provisions, and many had
little or no money. Disease add
ed it's terrors to those of imp
ending starvation. Only two boats
were running down to the Cas
cade rapids and transportation
prices were high. But for send
ing relief parties from Oregon
City and the kindly aid of the
Hudson Bay men, the immigrant
; camps at the old mission post
must have become a scene of aw
ful suffering.
Among the last to arrive in this
camp was the company com
manded by Samuel K. Barlow.
Captain Barlow did not like the
situtation at the Dalles and the
prospect of exausting his
provisions by a long delay and
his money for a dangerous pas
sage down the' river. And Barlow
a true pioneer, possessed that
stern self reliance and restless
ardor which causes a man, when
he dissapproves of the route of
his fellows to break a path of his
own. At the early ago of twenty
he had left the home of his pa
rents in . Kentucky because his
father was a slave holder and
, Samuel was bitterly opposed to
human slavery. He had started
West with the emmigrants be
cause his admired friend Henry
Clay had been defeated for pres
Against
Substitutes
Get theWell-Known
Round Package
Uf.N 1
ident and Barlow could not stay
where he had fought a losing
fight.
True to his principles, Captain
Barlow began looking for a new
route into the Willamette valley.
Two trails, he wa s told, had been
opened across the mountains by
stock drovers and horsemen.
One way was to swim the stock
across the Columbia, ' skirt the
mountains along the north bank
and ferry across to Vancouver.
A second route was the old
Indian trail south of Mt. Hood,
a path said to be steep and dif
ficult. Captain Barlow determined . to
attempt the southern route with
wagons. If there was already a
trail it would probably be possible
he reasoned, to widen it into a
wagon track. Says his son, Will
iam Barlow: "After resting a few
days and recruiting his followers,
tea ms and cattle, like a general
refreshing his troops for a new
fight, notice was given that the
company's captain S. K. Barlow,
was going to cross the Cascade
mountains .with his family,
wagons and plunder. An invita
tion was extended to any and all
who felt disposed to join his ex
pedition; but he wished none to
fojlow him who had ever learned
the adaptability of the word can't.
Old mountain men who had
trapped through every valley in
the mountains, the missionaries
who had lived for years in their
shadows, and Hudson's Bay men,
trained trailers of the wilderness,
all declared the attempt to be
folly especially as it was late in
the season and the cattle were
somewhat jaded by two thousand
miles of prairie and mountain.
Captain Barlow however, de
clared his belief inthe goodness
and wisdom of an allwise Being
and said, 'He never made a mou
ntain without making a way for
man to en over it. if the latter ex
ercised a proper amount of energy
When thestart was made, on or J
about September 24th, the party
consisted of seven wagons and
about nineteen persons including
beside the family or Mr. uariow,
Messers Gaines, Rector Gessner,
Caplinger, Buffum and famines
ther with John Bown.Reu4
ben Ganl, and William Berry.
For forty miles the way lea
over rolling mountain ianu,
crossing a branch of the Des
Chutes. At the end of tins ais
tnnnfi ft halt was called for rest
and repairs. Camp was pitched on
Five Mile Creek where water and
grass were plentiful. During the
delay in themarch Captain Bar
low left for a reconnoitering
trip. From the blue mountains a
small gap had been observed
south of Mt. Hood. Through this
opening the leader hoped to
the future roadway.
While Barlow was absent some
horsemen arrived from The Dal
les. Their leader was Joel Pal
mer, who with Barlow had been
aid in the company of Preston
Welch, and who was afterwards
the government Indian agent for
Oregon. Having arrived at The
Dalles after Barlows departure,
Palmer had determined to ionow
and had induced about twenty-
three wagons and as many fam
ilies to accompany mm. Auer
getting started he had gone a
head of the wagons to explore.
He followed Barlow into the
mnnn fains, hut returned after
several days reconnoitering with
out meeting him. After Barlow
returned to camp, it was muui
oiiv nffrnod In join forces and
push on with the road building.
At this point it was deciaea to
onnH n nart.v with the loose cattle
on to the settlements.Two families
determined to go on with the
drovers. This party was instruct
ed to procure provisions and
assistance and meet the road
builders.
After dispatching a small party
hnnk in The Dalles for beef and
wheat the main party now began
the arduous task or cutting a roaa
through the timbor. The eastern
side of the Cascades was not
heavilly timbered, however, and
thoutth there
is recorded some complaint a-f
bout the lncompauoiuiy 01 ui
trees, rusty tools and tender mus
cles. It being the dry season, fire
was used effectively m clearing
the mountain sides.
When they came face to face
with steep mountain sides sev
eral families gave up the enter
prise and returned to The Dalles.
Palmer and Barlow were still de
termined to push on. On' the
morning of October 11th they set
" Against S t
Imitations
HORUICK'S
MALTED MILK
Made In the largest, best
equipped and sanitary Malted
Milk plant In the world
We do notmake"milkproduct8
Skim Milk, Condensed Milk, etc.
But th. Original-Genuine
HORLICK'S MALTED MILK
Made from pure, full-cream milk
and the extract of select malted grain,
reduced to powder form, soluble in
water. Best food-drink for all ages.
C5ASK FOR HORLICK'S
Used all over the Globe
out ahead to find a Way over the
main dividing ridge. This laid
further to the west than they had
expected and their previous ex
ploration had showed no sign of
a western descent. In their ab
sence the company continued the
road building.
After several days travel on
foot ,1 in the heart of the range
Barlow and Palmer found a pass
able rote for wagons to the west
ern descent. But their own jour
ney was frought with so much
hardship and sufering on account
of the snow that they were forced
to conclude that the season was
too late and the journey too long
to risk being snowed in among the
mountains. It had previously been
determined that should the pass,
age prove impossible, the wagons
and impediments should be cach
ed and the company should j;io
ceed with the stock over the
mountains. Therefore, on the re
turn of the leaders a rude
house was constructed about five
miles of the summit. In this were
placed the perishable goods of the
company.
Three young men, William
Barlow, John Bown, and William
Berry volunteered to remain and
guard the deposit,' but it was
found that scarcely any provis
ionsions could be left and Berry
was left in solitude to keep a long
winter's vigil amid the mountain
storms.
Packing a few necessary art
icles upon the horses and oxen,
only the weakest having saddle
horses, the remainder of the
company pushed on toward the
outpost, of the scattered Oregon
settlements.
Even greater hardships were
experienced on the western slope
of he Cascades. On the very sum
mit they encountered treacherous
swamps; there was no grass for
the stock and they broused the
poison laurel bushes; provisions
gave out entirely ana tne woous
honnmp. so dense and the canyons
so deep and precipitous that some
despaired of ever reacning civn
i7ninn . William Barlow relates
how his sister, Mrs. Gaines, tried
to cheer her disneartenea com
panions, saying, "Why we are in
the midst of plenty- plenty of
snow, plenty of wood to melt it,
plenty of horse meat, plenty of
Hno- mnat. if the worst comes."
A nacktrain wnn nour aim
other provisions from Oregon
r.itv name, to their relief ana an
nnasjuii safelv through to the
Willamette. i
Pnnl a in Rarlnw. earlv in Dec
ember, applied to the territorial
o QtnrA t.nen in session hi
ni-oonn r.itv. fnr ft Charter tO Open
a road across the Cascade Moun-
tains. He was allowed to address
the House on the subject and n
December .1 6th a charter was
granted. As soon as the snow
a a tna QTifiw
left the mountains in mo yi.
Barlow engaged a force of about
forty men, and opened the road
from Foster s larm in me umiii-
nmas val ev to tne camp wmne
the wagons were left.
A subscription list was circu
lated among the Oregon settlers
to help defray the expence oi
this construction, Dut a writer in
the Oregon Spectator of Febuary
18, 1847, declares that he "has it
frnm nn authentic source that
only thirty dollars was ever rec
eived". ....
For two years following me
construction, Captain Barlow
personally collected the toll. In
1846, according to ins reymi uc
hundred and forty-five wagons,
t.nri r.t hnrao a. mules and horn
ed cattle, and one drove of sheep"
passed througn me ion
i'h Tinrinu; rnnd continued to
bo extensively used by immigrants
until tho building oi me rail
road along the Columbia, and it is
still in use.
From 1848 to 1862 the road
was leased by Barlow to various
operators, among whom were
Philip roster anu uucpu ivuo.
These men did little except collect
the tolls and the nignway iap"
into an almost impassable condit-
1862. the Mount
Hood wagon road, Company, cap
italized at twenty nve uiuu .u
j.ii..o tvaa nrnftnized to lane
over and reconstruct the old road.
This enterprise appears 10 uavc
been a failure but in May,1864, a
new company, called the Cascade
Road and Bridge company woo
incorporated.
This organization incorporated
by Joseph Young, Egbert Alcott,
Stephen Coleman, Fredrick Sie
vers and Frances Reveneu, made
extensive improvements in the
route, building bridges ana mail
ing corduroy across the swamps.
In 1882 tne roaa was uecuuu vu
the Mount Hood and uariow
nnaA p.nmnnnv. organized by
Richard Gerdner, S.D Coleman, H
Cross, F. O Mcuown, anu j.i.
innnn Thfisfl men snortenea
and improved the route and con
structed an important ri
road. The Mount Hopd and Barlow
Road Company, now under dif
ferent management, still operates
the road. One oi tne nrst meaau.
tn onmn hefnrft the people of
Oregon under the Initiative Law
was a proposal that the state pur
chase the Bariow roau uau uu.
ish tolls. The measure was de
feated by a small majority.
Among tne memorauic vui-
rences in "crossing me pmm
the passage over tne cascoue
Mountains by the Mount Hood
route stands out most vividly in
the memory of a large number of
OreBon pioneers. The dangers,
nH horrtahin: the beauties of
the mountains and the pleasant
suprises of the great dense ior
ests; the laborious climb on the
eastern slope and the sleep de
scent of "Laurel Hill" on the
ail rnmhined to make an
impression on the minds of the
pioneers wnicn later, eeivcu ,Ui
many a fireside reminiscence.
A,,i,,mn after Bulumn. from "for
ty-sis" to "sixty-four" witness
a innir lines of expectant home
seekers toiliDg through the pocky
defiles and over the steep ridges
Tno diaries ana letters written
by the travellers express a stra
nge mixture of happiness and
sorrow, contentment and deject
ion, hope and dispair, extasy and
misery. Says one, "Some men's
hearts died within them and some
of our women sat down by the
roadside and cried, saying they
hnH nhnnrinnnri 8.11 hnnrt nf Aver
reaching the promised land. I saw
women with names Dut a weeit old
toiling up the mountains in the i
hiirninc sun. on foot, because our'
jaded teams were not able to haul
them. We went down mountains
an l.p(n (.hat we had to Int. our
wagons down with ropes. My wife
and 1 carried our cnuuren up
miirlrlv mountains in the Cascad
es, half a mile high and then car
ried the loading or our wagons up
nn nnr hacks hv nineemeal. ft our
cattle were so reduced that were
hardly able to haul up our empty
wagon. ,
Of Laurel Hill an emigrant of
1853 complains: "The road on
this ' hill is something terrible.
It is worn down into the soil from
1'ivn tn sAvon feet, leaving steen
banks on both sides, and so nar
row that it is almost impossible
to walk alongside, of the cattle
for any distance witnout lean
ing nirainsf. the oxen. The emi
grants cut down a small tree a-
bout ten inches in diameter and
about i forty feet long, and the
more limbs it had on the better.
This tree they fasten to the rear
axle with chains or ropes, top and
foremost, making an excellent
brake".
On the other hand many make
no mention of hardship but are
enraptured and captivated by the
charming blushes of the snowy
peaks. From the Dalles at five in
the morning one is "thrilled by
the spectacle of Mount Hood's
snowy pyramid standing out,
clearly defined against the pale
grey of dawn; not white as at
nnnndav. hut. ninE. as the heart of
a Sharon rose, from base to sum
mit. A little later it nas laaea
and by the most lovely transitions
of color and light, now looks gol
den, now pearly, and finally glis
tens whitely in the full glare of
the risen sun."
Even the prosaic Palmer finds
room to exclaim among his prac
tical observatisn: "I had never be
fore beheld a sight so nobly grand
grand." (
'Currv. a newspaper editor, in
his new . charge the Oregon
Spectator records at some length
his imnressinns of the mounJain
road," The breath of the. forest
was laden with the scent of agr
okl,, nlnrg What a fooling nf
freshnesg wft8 diffused into our
whoifl beintr as we enjoyed the
pleasure of the pathless woods.
In every glimpse we could catch
i . ,. a i i j
" r o"
f (ha rinen riav. there, above and
beyond us were the towering hei
ghts, with their immense array of
sky piercing enaus.
"Up, up to an altitude fearfully
nolnniuhlncr the fisn.pnt. is steeo
and diffioult, but there are many
such ridges or tne mountains to
ha nrnaanrl hnfnm vnu can des
cend into- the flourishing valley
of the Willamette, uown, aown
into the deep, dark and silent
ravines, and when you have
reached the bottom of it, by it's
precipitous descent, you may. be
able to form an idea of the great
elevation which you had prev
iously attained. The crossing of
the Rocky Mountains, the Bear
River Range and the "big hill" of
the Brulies, with the Blue Mount
ains, was insignificant in comp
arison to the Cascades. Here is no
natural pass- you breast the lofty
hills and climb them, and each
succeeding one, you fancy is the
dividing ridgo of the range."
The Barlow road was a val
uable asset to both emigrants and
settlers. It enabled the farmer to
divide their trains and avoid the
over . crowded condition on the
r.nlnmhia: it furnished the lat
ter as a means of communication
and trade with the settlers east of
the mountains. Large numbers of
Willamette Valley cattle were
driven over it to be slaughtered in
the mines and many a packer has
paid toll at its gates.
.TnHcra Mnthnw P. Deadv. an est
eemed citizen and noted jurist of
Oregon is reported to nave saiu
thia wind! "The construction
of the Barlow road contributed
more towards the prosperity of
the Willamette Valley and the
future State of Oregon than any
other achievement prior to me
building of the railways in 1870.
TWILIGHT
ri in hut aplrlnm that von meet
a farmer whols lavoraniy inciinea
to the single tax proposition. To
the writer it looks good. And es
neciallv should the limited land
owner extend it his support. A
great many of our most impor
tant laws were proniematicai at
their tnpnntinn. a trial justifying
the promoters. Why not give this
issue an opportunity to merit us
rolnlinn nr nrove the contention
nf it AnnrniPH. A larife majority
of our taxpayers are dissatisfied
with present methodsof gathering
mih m rAvenues. wny not try
out some other plan. Chronic
grumbling seldom rights . a
wromr. To improve conditions
requires action, and it is quite
evident the lime lor grumDiing
im noot
Miss Corabel McNaughton of
Seattle, is a guest of Miss Mary
Harvey for ten uays.
Tho oYnrpfisinn of our citizens
is almost unanimous in favor of
a change in the name of this com
mnnitv "RnRB Lawn" has been
suggested by the Community Club
and is growing in popularity uauy
Mr ami Mr. Meidel of Sellwood
were Sunday guests at Mountain
Ash Slock tarm.
Tom Kelland visited Portland
fr'ionHa Kundav.
Miss Marie Harvey and Miss
Corabel McNaughton, her guest,
did Portland, Monday.
' BEAVER CREEK
We had another thunder show
er Saturday night in this berg and"
a nice rain during the night that
freshened things up a little and
if we don t get too much rain now
so that we can harvest our crops
we might be thankful, for there is
a large crop of hay and the grain
is looking line in this part of the
county, ,
Haying is about all over in this
part, of the creek, and every body
seems to be well pleased, as tho
hay was fine and line weather to
bring it' into the barn.
Lena Studamen of this place is
very sick. Dr. Mount nas ueen
out several times. We hope to see
Lena up and around in a short
time.
The ball game between Shubel
and Mulino was an interesting one
the score being 13 to 1 in favor of
Shubel. This' makes fourteen
straight games for Shubel this
season.
Nearly all the boys from this
town took in the Chautauqua Sat
urday . night. Everybody reports
a line time.
Mrs. J. Stiner went to Port
land to visit relatives and friends
for a week or two.
Fred Bohlander was helping
his brother Bill through haying
in the Milk Creek district.
Ben Fisher Is building a largo
barn for George Lamers this
week.
A. Bluhm was in Portland last
Saturday on business, returning
home thtt same day,
F. Stimer took old Uncle Tom a
load of hay last week. i'.'
W. II. Perry had his binder in
the field ready to go to work but
the rain spoiled his plans. i
H. Staben has been on the sick
list for several days but is able to
around and about his work.
Charles Jones, son of Uncle
Tom has been very ' sick and laid
up for several weeks with a lame
back, but is now getting better, so
he can be up to do his chores and
cooking
A.Thomas has been busy pull,
ing stumps for D. Fishers stump
puller. Adle is thinking of ' build
ing him a house and a large barn
and then look for a cook.
W.- Herman and F. Bohlander
were camping at the Chautauqua
grounds for a week or two.
. DOUBLY PROVEN.
Oregon City Reader Can no Lon
ger Doubt the Evidence.
This Oregon City citizen testi
fied long ago. !
Told of quick relief of lasting
benefit.
The facts are now conflrmed.i
Such testimony is complete
the evidence conclusive. i
It forms convincing proof pi
merit. t
Theodore Huerth, Park Place,
Oregon City, Ore., says : "I found
Doan's Kidney Pills to be Just as
represented and I consider tnem
worthy of endorsement. For a
long time I suffered from lame
ness across my back, and there
was a steady acne over my mu-
neys'. The trouble was not severe
ah in lav me un. but it caused
trreat distress, especially when I
stooped or lifted. On a friend's
advice I was finally lea to use
Doan's Kidney Pills, procurrea
frnm Hiintlnv Bros. Drust Co. and
they removed every symptom of
the trouble' Statement given
January 27, 1905. .
A Permanent cure.
In April. 1910 Mr. Huerth added
to the above: "The staatement I
have previously, given in favor of
Doan's Kidney Pills still holds
good. This remedy effected a per
manent cure in my case.
For sale by all dealers. Price
&n p.Anta. Vnsl.Br-Milburn Co..
Buffalo. N. Y., sole agents for the
.United States. j
Remember the name Doans
and take no other.
Buy it now. Chamberlain's
Cholic, Cholera and Diarrhoea
Remedy is almost certain to be
deeded befor the summer is over.
By it now and be prepared for any
such emergency. Jfor saie Dy
Huntley Bros. Co.
LOG. AN
Thn ficvim Vfiftr old son Of H.
Tschopp, who recently fell out of
a cherry tree and had both arms
ami hln nnsn broken, is KettlhK
along fine and will soon be ready
to climb again. Perhaps he win
be more careful hereafter.
The death of Adolph Fisher was
a shock to his many friends in
Logan, wher he lived many years.
Let the accident be a warning to
all to keep clear from a moving
car.
T.nst. wRp.k was a busy time but
al, present writing there is a rest
fur hav haulers and balers on ac
count of the slight rain on tho
20th. Gerber and Anderson and
Kohl Bros, were baling out of the
field and F. .1. Moser and Henry
Thure were also in the field with
a new baler. This makes it hard
for Hmftll farmers to Ket help.
George Kohl nd Fred Gerber went
to Portland and brought out 14
men to work with the haiers.
r.invAr was a fine cron this year
hut vp.toh was a minus Quantity,
thanks to the little gree nphis.
The long spell of cloudy weather
just at the right time, or tne
wrong time, gave the little devils
a chance. A few days of hot
weather finally coked them but tho
the mischief was done.
We rejoice for the prospects of
our neighbors at Stone. When
the new power plant is completed
tho oil is found in the well, and
our push club have pushed thti
railroad out through our midst,)
well, we will all ride on the wave
of prosperity.
Hives, eczema, iteh or salt
rheum sat you crazy. Can't beap
the touch of your elothintDoan'a
Ointment cures the most obstin
ate cases. Why suffer. All the
druggist i sell it.
JULY CLEARANCE
SALE
:ON:
Men and Boy's Clothing
Shoes and Furnishings
NOW ON '
Don't overlook this. If you are thinking
of CLOTHES it means a saving to you
of from 25 to 35 per cent, on every dol
lar you spend here during this great
July Clearance Sale
EVERYTHING REDUCED J
.1
JJ. LfEVOTT
On the Corner of Main and 7th Street Oregon City!
Phone 1121
Res. 1833
Williams Bros. Transfer Co.
Safes; Pianos and Furniture Moving a Specialty
Freight and Parcels Delivered
YOUNG- MEN: 1
Pabst's Okay Specif ic
DOES THE WORK. YOU ALL KNOW IT BY REPUTATION. PRICE $3
V For Sale By
JONES DRUG COMPANY
(Incorporated)
FRANK BUSCH
I a tt mm I I 1
.JUL irZmaJLJLJSL UU
Paint was first used simply to beautify and to cov
- er up defects. From time to time ingredients were
added which give it the power to protect and preserve
as well.
There are paints and paints on the markt. Some
of them answer the purpose for which they are in
tended. The majority are simply on the market for one
reason to make a big profit for the people who make
them and the people who sell them. We don't keep
that kind.
It doesn't pay you to use them so in the long run it
wouldn't pay us to sell them. You want the most for
your money so come in and talk the paint question ov
er with us in detail.
FRANK BUSCH
Furniture and Hardware
A QUICK SAFE AND
Thousands have used and
Price 50c
The Box of
50 Caps
neys, Bladder and Urinary Organs, permanent!
lifved in 2 to 6 days. Warranted harmless. Noii-i
or money back
Sold by JONES DRUG CO.,
or tent pMtptid In plain wrapper
I The safety Remeay to.,
Office in Favorite Ciar Store
Opposite Masonic building
Prices reasonable and
Satisfaction Guaranteed
FURNITURE AND
HARDWARE
FOR MEN
PRIVATE TREATMENT
found it the one best remedy
Discharge), Infiatnmation and Irritation of the Kid-'
tnarr urgans, permanently re
Warranted harmless, Nou-fujec-
tiva. Stricture Impossible Bona-fide Guarantee to cure
(Inc.)
Oregon City, Ore.
tamon rfQzc