Morning Oregonian., April 29, 1907, Tourists' and Homeseekers' Edition, PART ONE, Page 2, Image 2

THE MORNING OREG0X1AX, MONDAY, APRIE 29,. 1907.
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AQUATIC SPORTS. IN VARIETY
Oar, Sail and Paddle Closely Identified with History of Oregon Hundreds
of Miles of Boating Water Open to Launch, Yacht, Rowboat and Canoe.
By Ferry K. stawell.
ORJBOON, It might be Bald, was born
to the oar, for from the tlmy of the
discover? of. the mouth of its great
river, the Columbia, and Its subsequent
descent by the intrepid explorers, Lewis
and Clark, the boat and 'oar have played
an Important part In its development and
business history! The Hudson Bay trap-
man was followed by the American settler
and he found in "the Willamette and Co
lumbia a convenient highway. The sturdy
pioneer thought but little ot a trip from
Oregon City to Vanoouver by water, a
test of strength and . endurance ' the
sturdy athlete ot today would hesitate to
attempt, but- supplies had to be had,
roads there were none, and the water
trunk 11. Kilij.
residents floating homes a
By Frank B. Rllrjr.
REVREATION out of doors Is nowhere
to be enjoyed in such surprising va
riety and at such trifling expense as
In the Oregon country. Mile upon mile of
picturesque ocean ehore with cosy cot
tnges and modern hotels attract the pleasure-seeker.
In the heart of near-by flr
clnd mountains one finds comfortable
linstelries placed upon the shores of clear
l.ixcs or by rushing trout streams, or set
boldly up beside the
gleaming glaciers
and eternal snow
fields of Oregon's
great white sentinel
peaks.
Great waterways
are close at hand
with every attraction
for the yachtsman,
canoeist and fisher
man. Nestling close
to the shores of the
picturesque Islands
of the Columbia and
Willamette Rivers
ure the houseboats
of the lucky Oregon
comfortable
and many as pretentious as any to be
found on the Thames, the St. Charles or
the St.. Lawrence. An ever-lncreaatng
fleet of small craft plies between Fort
land and her many resorts on the river,
which divides the city.
Indeed, as a Summer watering-place,
Portland Itself, the Rose City, with Its
agreeable olimate. Its ecenlo river hills,
its parks and Its easy accessibility by trol-Icy-car
or boat to many near-by retreats,
leaves In the minds of many little to be
desired.
Of all the resorts the sea beaches at
tract by far the greatest number, and
their popularity la increasing each season.
While most of the hotels on the beaches
remain open the year around, the season
la at Its height from June till November.
Throughout these months the hotels are
crowded, atid the thousand of cottages
are occupied by the fortunate owners who
come from every part of the Pacific
Northwest. The fashionable vfe of the
Atlantto beaches Is only occasionally ap
parent here; comfort and freedom from
convention still characterize the life of
the Bummer beach colonies, although the
w-ason Is not without Its brilliant as
pects and the beaches are dotted with es
tablishments ot distinction and elegance.
From Portland the tourist proceeds to
the beaches by palatial steamers down
the majestic lower Columbia, which,
ever widening, attains at its mouth the
VRrt width of eight mi lee; or he may
shorten the Journey by taking the train,
which hugs the banks ot the great river
practically all the distance to Astoria.
Long Beach Is on the north or Washing
ton shore, a beautiful sweeping expanse
oC 20 miles, unbroken except at the south
end by Imposing headlands and fantastlo
arches and coves, and lined with an un
ending array of Summer homes and ho
tel. A short railroad carries one to his
favorite location and hotel which may be
at Soavtew. Long Beach, IHf twood. Ti
oga, The Breakers or Ocean Park.
To the south of the mouth of- the Co
lumbia are the beaches of the Oregon
shore. Of chief importance is Clatsop
Bench, the most thickly populated and
gayest of the resorts, reached in five
hours by train from Portland. Here one
finds hotels set In beautiful wooden sur
rounding as well aa directly upon the
beach it pelf. There is an excellent golf
course for the lovers of the game; a pier
out Into tie high surf for promenading
and deep-sea fishing, and one may whip
tha upper reaches of Kecanlum , Creek
for trout and get them within sound of
the booming breakers.
Around the commanding TUlamoo'x
Head new beaches are found Elk Creex.
and Cannon beaches, rivalling all others,
llere there is a wild and beautiful moun
tainous background and the great
(tretclies of sand are here and there
pierced by towering pinnacles and domes
of- rock. Further south Is Taqulna Bay
and Newport in particular favor wth the
cities and towns - of the Interior from
whence comes a great population each
year to enjoy to the fullest the Summer
Joys sf nahing and boating and surf bath
ing at the favorite Nye Creek Beach.
Splendid steamers of the type seen upon
tha iiuason carry the pleasure-seeker up
and down the noble Columbia. amid
scenes or such beauty and grandeur as
places thla river beyond comparison with
the Huason ana au other American
waterways. Like the Rhine, It has Its
legends. Its history; though Its legends
bs of the Indians and Its history, the
story Of Intrepid explorers. Up through
the Grand Canyon of the Columbia, by
steamer or train, the health-seeker in a
day reaches attractive resorts in the
mountains Collins' Hot Springs, amid
wild and beautiful surroundings directly
upon the river, a health retreat with
modern accommodations: Bingham's
Springs Resort, at the base of lofty
raks by the Umatilla River; and. in
Eastern Oregon. Hot Lake, with an area
of acres, the ancient "Medicine Camp"
of the early Indians and now tha white
man's "Arkansas of the West."
This Is one of the most pretentious ot
i the health resorts, with extensive sani
tariums and bath-houses. Tha flow, ot
the springs Is about 1.000.000 gallons an
hour and the waters have great curative
powers. Other mineral springs re'sorts In
different localities might be mentioned by
the score, among them St. Martins
Springs. Wllhoit Springs. Boswell Springs,
Cascade Mineral Springs, etc., all with
varied attractions.
From the town of Hood River on the
Columbia one may proceed by coach
through a beautiful valley and, ever as
rending through great forests, at last on
the evening of the first day reach Cloud
Cap Inn at the snow-line of Mount Hood,
a peak of surpassing beauty, the favorite
of all Oregon, which towers In snowy
splendor above the array of Cascade
Mountains. From the Inn, which is as
charming a bit of mountain architec
ture as ever met the eye of an Alpine
traveler, one is within easy tramping
distance of many great glaciers, and. If he
yield to the fascination of - the supreme
feat, he may, with ordinary courage,
cover the four thrilling miles to tha
summit. -
Once the climbing fever Is upon him.
he may next conquer Mount Adams,
whose vast white dome towers across
the Columbia to the north, and rest from
his efforts In eamp at Trout Lake the
mecca of fishermen; and Mount St. Hel
ens, of startling resemblance to the
sacred mountain of Japan, will claim his
attention. A Summer In the McKenzle
River country is attractive, and here
stand more snow mountains, Mount Jef
ferson, Mount Pitt and the Three Sisters,
with the promise of more delights and
added problems for tbe climber.
If the mountain-lover wishes to know
the great peaks under Ideal conditions of
commissary and camp comfort he Is wel
come to share in the outings of the The
Mazamas a mountain-climbing organiza
tion corresponding to the Alpine clubs of
Switzerland, the Apalachlan clubs of the
Eastern states and the Sierra Club of
California. .
In Southern Oregon the vast Klamath.
Lake country abounds In opportunities,
for hunting, fishing and boating, and
scores of other regions might be men
tioned with innumerable streams and
lakes. From Grants Pass the tourist
makes the trip to the Oregon Caves; to
the Grey Back Mountains, the home of
big game, and to the resorts of the Rogue
Klver country.
And it Is through this Rogue River
valley, or from Ashland or Medford, that
the Journey Is begun to Oregon's supreme
attraction. Crater Lake, of tndlsputed
rank among the four, great wonders of
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first of the cities of the Coast to foster
rowing as a aport and as a means ot rec
reation, and as far back as the late '80s
Its first club of athletic young business
and professional men was formed. Many;
of these men are Dow gray-haired and are
the heads ot the Northwest's strongest
financial and mercantile Institutions, while
others have taken their last , trip across"
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courses were the natural highways.
In after years tne rise of the salmon
Industry created a demand for large num
bers of boats, and eventually a model
was evolved exactly suited to the condi
tions, the Columbia River fishing boat, a
craft of splendid sea qualities, graceful
lines, large carrying power and easy of
propulsion, either by sail or oar. This
boat is known wherever Pacific Coast
salmon are caught, from the Sacramento
River, In California, to the frozen
stretches of the Arctic Ocean.
- So it will be seen that rowing has played
the dark river with the ferryman of the
Styx.
The club formed at that time Is still In
existence, and one of the city's foremost
athietlo and social Institutions, still train
ing young men to the oar and furthering
the Interest In rowing for the pure love
and pleasure of It, building up a sturdy,
well-developed race of young men with
clear and active minds, the financiers and .
merchants of tomorrow.
During the ast Summer this organiza
tion, the Portland Rowing Club, after van
quishing all opponents on the Coast, sent
YACTimoNWIlAMirT7Zk
must ever baffle the descriptive powers
of the most sympathetic and eloquent
writers.
In 1902 a National Park of IM square
miles 'was created surrounding the lake.
Roads are being constructed through the
park and there is now under way the
building of comfortable accommodations
such as are found In other National
Parks for the comfort of sight-seers who,
until this year, have established individ
ual camps upon the sweeping escarpment
which encircles the lake. It Is scsrcely
exaggeration to say that It Is the dream,
easy of realization, of every Oregon resi
dent to some day see Crater Lake, and
with the new and more rapid transporta
tion to the lake, there Is no excuse for
the tourist making the error ot passing
It by.
Portland's Street Railway System.
There are now 209 miles of street rail
way line within the boundaries of or im- i
mediately, tributary to Portland. The I
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the world. The volcano. Mount Mazama,
long extinct, holds aloof this enchanted
lake In the hollow of her elliptical crater,
8239 feet above the sea. The lake is
about 30 miles In circumference and the
reflections, the colors and clearness of
rolling stock of the Portland Railway.
Light Power Company includes 860
passenger cars, of which 235 are in daily
service. The number of employes of the
street railway system la approximately
UOu, and the average wage of the carmen
lis watara, wbian are of iacrsiUbU denthJL Is XI cents sui -t Xha eomoaxcr baa
now under construction ten miles of new
trackage. -Reconstruction and other
changes to be made the present year are
vary extensive. Ob Its various lines and
In other Improvements connected there
with, the company will spend this year
pers were tbe first to use the streams, and
in their bateaux plied tha oar on the Co
lumbia and its tributaries, carrying sup
plies and articles of barter and returning
with furs, caught during the mild Win
ters of this region. The Hudson Bay
an important part In the development of
the Beaver State and one of Its greatest
Industries. It was but natural; therefore,
that Portland, the center of water trans
portation of the Northwest and of all this
activity with the oar, should become the
j?Cascadz:s o?
its crew East to the National regatta,
and the climate of Oregon, from a row
ing point of view. Is best shown by tha
performance of this erew. which, after a
SuOO-mile trip, won second place against
the best oarsmen in America, on strange
waters and in a defective boat. :
To the lover of aquatio Nature Oregon
presents an inviting field, with Its thou- j
sands of miles of boating water, filled ln
season with gamy fish or alive with wild
fowl, and the rowboat or canoe enthusiast
may find streams or lakes for his craft
In any part of its broad domain and the
use o the oar or paddle is not confined
to any particular season, as Ice does not
form and the pleasure may be Indulged in
at any time.
The swifter streams, such as the Rogue,
or the Ltmpqua, are delightful for canoe
ing, and the "Willamette from Cottage
Grove to Portland, some 200 miles. Is a
favorite trip for many camping nd canoe
ing parties, while the lakes in South
eastern Oregon offer . miles of water and
the best of hunting.
During the post few seasons several of
the more enthusiastic have followed
Lewis and Clark's trip from Eastern Ore
gon to Astoria, down the majestic Co
lumbia to its mouth, negotiating the Ce
lllo Rapids and the swift waters of tha
Cascades without serious trouble, return
ing to their business duties hardened In
muscle, tanned by sun and full of the
Joy of aquatic life. ' .
The motor-boat, too, plays an important
role in pleasure and business on Oregon's
streams, bays and lakes, and, like rowing,
Portland Is the center of this branch of
aquatics; hundreds of "chug-chug" boat
flit here and there on Its harbor.
The Eastern oarsman, tired of that
long and vigorous Winters and hot
nights of Summer, will find a boon on
Oregon waters, and his fellows of tha
West will extend to him a true West
ern welcome, should he decide toi
change his abode and cast his lot la
Oregon, whose life has been so closeljtf
united to the oar.
Free Trip to Paclfio Coast.
The Portland Commercial Club offerA
$5000 cash for articles on Portland. Or.,
and this part of the United States SO
prizes. Many sufficient to pay all ex-t
penses tor the trip. Write for particulars.1