fAG8 TWO
ASHLAND TIDINGS ,
Monday, Jnly 6. 1914
The Oldest National Bank in Jackson County
I Member Federal Reserve System
FIRST NATIONAL BANK
Capital and Surplus $120,000.00
DEPOSITORY OF
City of Ashland County of Jackson State of Oregon
United States of America
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Ashland Tidings
SEMI-WEEKLY.
ESTABLISHED 1876.
Issued Mondays and Thursdays
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Ashland, Ore., Monday, July 0, 1014
Judge Watson On
The Lake Country
As Ashland now is beginning to
awaken to the possibilities in develop
ing the natural resources, scenic
beauties and geologic favors of south
ern Oregon, the following letter writ
ten by Judge Watson to Professor
Diller. of the United States Depart
ment of Geology, about a year ago,
will be of interest to people gener
ally: "Your suggestions about collection
of anthropological data in-the Klam
ath Lake region I am sure is on the
line of interesting observation and
would result in value ethnologically
and geologically.
"I have been quite familiar with
the region, beginning back forty
years ago, as early as 1S72. I have,
from time to time, written much of
its history; was publisher and pro
prietor of the first newspaper in
southern Oregon east of the Cascades
at Lakeview in 1878-1880. The
natural history aroused my intense
interest at that time. While pursu
ing my studies of it I secured con
tracts for government surveys and
have personally surveyed considerable
territory there, up to twenty years
ago.
"I was engaged as attorney for the
settlers in their contests over the so
called swamp land locations, and be
came very familiar with the country
and people, extending my acquaint
ance even mong the Indians.' Their
traditions were very interesting to me
and getting them first hand gave me
peep-holes into their earlier history.
"I was there during the Modoc war
and witnessed the execution of Cap-
tain Jack and his confreres in Octo
ber, 1873. At that time the history
of this interesting and warlike tribe
might have been studied with profit.
These Indians, you remember, made
their way into the lava beds south of
Tnle Lake and defied Uncle Sam's
forces for weary months. Starvation
alone dislodged them, so impregnable
waa their stronghold of volcanic cav
erns. "These lava beds have never been
fully explored, though miles of pas
sageways and chambers have been
traversed and a great many interest
ing relics have been recovered. For
ethnological data touching the Mo
docs and their progenitors it la a vir
gin field and in some respects an
unique one. The cliff dwellers of
Arizona and New Mexico seem to
have been fully exploited, but of the
ancient dwellers of these volcanic
caverns there Is only a dim guess.
Besides the ethnological importance,
the geological readings are no less
important. Hazy tradition peoples
these caverns with the most savage
and warlike tribes of the northwest.
It prevented the amalgamation of the
Modocs with the Klamaths, Piutes
and other neighboring tribes, and the
effort of the government to put them
together upon a reservation resulted
in the war of 1872-3. The ill-feeling
between the Modocs and other tribes
still exists, as I have reason to know
from experience while I was prose
cuting attorney some years ago.
"Lost River has its rise In Clear
Lake and after a course of 90 miles
empties into Tule Lake, and yet the
two lakes are but five miles apart.
This river, in its lower course, cuts
deeply In the alluvial plain through
which it flows and ita banks havd
given up many interesting fossils.
"There is every indication that
Tule Lake Is a modern innovation, so
to speak, on the plain where It lies,
and the reclamation service has been
trying to devise methods of draining
it, but so far without success. So far
as it has gone, exploration has dis
closed volcanic tunnels apparently
continuous, except where obstructed
by "cave-Ins" from the top. The ap
pearance suggests that Lost river is
older than Tule Lake or the lava beds;
that the river's course was obstructed
by the flow that built up these beds.
An effort has been made by the
reclamation service to divert Lost
into Klamath River and now most of
its flow goes into the Klamath. Last
summer and fall I spent considerable
time In Shasta Valley, California, and
entered two great volcanic caverns
that underlie the valley near the
northwest base of Mt. Shasta. From
what I saw there I am led to believe
that such caverns of volcanic origin
are of frequent occurrence and of
great extent. It would not surprise
me if the disappearance of Lost river
near the head of Langells Valley and
its reappearance in immense springs
at Bonanza (if we could trace it) is
through volcanic conduits. The great
springs about the upper Klamath also
suggest relief to the "Big Klamath
marsh" and Crater Lake.
"I find the study of Shasta Valley
particularly interesting and believe
a careful study of it will be of great
benefit as well as scientific interest.
At the risk of tiring you, I'll venture
a few facts and suggestions I deduce
from them.
"A big irrigation scheme is being
projected for Shasta Valley and the
preliminary work is in progress, j
Water is what they need most. The j
soil is rich and the climate good for
agriculture. Where they have water
the results are good, but the region
is volcanic ash and sand lying upon
a very porous capping of basaltic
lava, In and under which are volcanic
caverns and tunnels. I was In one
for a distance of perhaps three-quarters
of a mile. It declined at a mod
erate angle. Its sides were very reg
ular and showing beyond doubt that
molten masses had used it as a high
way to the surface. It was quite reg
ular and had an arched roof. Its
average width I would estimate at
40 feet and its height at 30 feet.
The floor is good and not very un
even except where during that
volcanic energy was expiring lava
masses not having force enough to
expel them, were deposited on the
floor and broke up in the course of
cooling. In such places we had to
climb over the masses of great angu
lar blocks. At the extreme point
reached by us a greater mass had
completely blocked the way, but be
tween this mass and the roof and
sides I could plainly see that the tun
nel continued but with a much great
er decline in its downward course. I
was told that extensive side passages
had been found and followed for con
siderable distances, but I did not en
ter them. The entrance is from an
almost level plain. I found the horns
and bones of mountain sheep. I en
tered and traversed another such cav
ern a few miles nearer to Mt. Shasta,
also In the level plain, not quite so
large, but equally striking.
At what is known as the Big
Springs, about sixteen miles south
east of Montague, the greatest part
of "Big" Shasta River comes to tlje
surface, forming a small lake. This
water is now being pumped with elec
tric power and a large area of other
wise desert land Is reclaimed and
very productive. In this Immediate
vicinity eleven large flowing wells
have been opened, for Irrigation.
About two miles above these springs,
and directly toward Mt. Shasta, Mr.
Williams last summer started to drill
a well In a "draw." At five feet he
struck the lavy cap. Two feet more
he got through It and a great volume
of water flowed out. He went on
down for 80 feet, and while he
seemed to be passing a medium that
yielded easily, he got no residue from
his drillings, his sand bucket bring
ing up only water. He then cleared
off a space 10 feet wide and 30 feet
long down to the lava cap and in It
bored three more holes and got four
monstrous flowing wells In this small
space, from which he has, perhaps,
300 inches of water flowing away.
There are other interesting phenom
ena in this Immediate neighborhood,
but I am inflicting you too much, 1
fear, and yet I am not done.
You have noticed the great num
ber of volcanic cones that dot the
floor of Shasta Valley. I think I
have read somewhere that you give
their number at 140. Now between
these cones are valleys of varying
sizes, generally drained into Shasta
River by means of "salt draws," i. e.
depressions continuing in the direc
tion of the fall of the valley with
more or less of alkaline deposits and
attendant "salt grass." I noticed
that at the heads of these draws,
around the foot of the volcanic cones,
where the water table seems to be
fractured, the salt grass and alkali
Indicated water near the surface. I
selected several of these places and
with an eight-foot crowbar punctured
a thin water able at about two feet
from the surface and then easily
pushed the bar down Its whole length,
when, withdrawing it, the water
flowed out at the surface. Remem
ber, this is around the feet of the
volcanic cones where water seems to
gush from a strong source of supply.
"Then I heard of a spasmodic
stream of 5,000 or 6,000 inches that,
during warm weather, flows from the
glaciers on the north slope of Shasta,
beginning about midnight and run
ning until about noon the following
day. I went to see it, and while I
did not measure the amount of wa
ter, I am prepared to believe the
statement. I found . that it carried
an immense amount of silt, sand,
gravel and small rock, building up
an inclined plain of that material at
the margin of the valley where the
water all disappeared within a very
small area. The Southern Pacific
Railroad from Weed to Klamath
Falls crosses this spring and its
heavy burden was used to make a
large fill there. There is, near the
railroad, what I take to be a heavy
terminal moraine, and from the foot
of it the same kind of a plain ex
tends down to the edge of the valley.
From the material I take it to have
been built up in the same way that
the present spasmodic 'stream is con
tinuing the work on a smaller scale.
"I am told that other volcanic cav
erns than those I saw are known in
the valley and some of them have
been entered, but none explored.
Other evidences of the existence of
such caverns have been discovered in
drilling for wells and currents of air
detected coming from the ground.
"There are no springs on the north
slopes of Mt. Shasta and not a great
number near the river, and yet the
north slope of that mountain carries
its heaviest glaciers and greatest
snow banks.
"Now here Is my query: In the
building up of these volcanic cones
that dot the valley, has the matter
which composes them, when expelled,
left voids under the valley corre
sponding with the mass expelled? If
such is the case, are the caverns
filled with the lost waters from
Shasta? Did Williams tap such a
reservoir In his cluster of artesian
wells? Does the existence of such
subterranean supply of water account
for my getting water with a crowbar
along the fracture line at the foot of
these cones?
"Would it not pay to determine the
facts as they exist? Would it not be
interesting to determine what rela
tion, if any, exists between the Mc
Cloud River and Lost River? Are
they one and the same stream, inter
rupted and cut in two by a volcanic
disturbance that gave birth to the
lava beds and created Tule Lake?
That whimsical stream does flow un
der ground through Langell Valley
and comes to the surface at Bonanza.
Does it do the same thing between
Tule Lake and the McCloud4
"AH through that lake country are
Interesting things that ought to be
looked into. In the Great Basin
scarcity of water alone holds settle
ment back. There is an abundance
of precipitation and no surface out
let. Where does the water go?
Evaporation alone hardly accounts
for its disappearance. The whole
country has been broken up by vol
canic action. Are there great vol
canic caverns underlying It? If so,
may they not be accessible sources of
water supply? The use of electricity
for pumping is now available and I
believe the chance is worth an effort
for that, if not for other scientific
purposes. In many places is found
sandstone rich in fossils. At the fos
sil beds north of Summer Lake Val
ley Is a wonderful deposit, brought
to light occasionally by the shifting
of the volcanic sands that drift about
on the plain. Occasionally masses
of granite that might have been
Islands in that prehistoric sea have
been saved from the cataclysms that
have wrought so many changes.
"One of the most interesting things
to me is the 'old river bed that cross
es the 'Oregon desert' between Sum
mer Lake and Bear Creek Buttes.
Some years ago, in a lecture at the
University of Oregon, I suggested
some possibility of connection be
tween the 'old river bed' and the
boulder cliffs that support the sand
stone on the Cascade side of Rogue
River Valley. If such relation ever
existed, then it means that long be
fore the submergence that preceded
the rise of the Cascade range the
country known as the Great Basin
was above water; that this great riv
er crossed it and that the Rogue Riv.
er boulder beds marked a delta at its
mouth; that afterwards the country
east, perhaps to the Rocky Moun
tains, was submerged and subsequent
ly when the Cascades were raised the
old river bed was cut In two and
came to the surface again, but only a
fragment was left to mark Its course
across what we now call the 'Oregon
Desert.' It produced some comment
at the time, but I'm not aware that
any further thought has been given
to it.
"The 'Black Desert' of northwest
Nevada is another interesting bit that
I examined a little many years ago.
In a sage plain there I found fine
specimens of silllclous sinter that
looked like the product of the gey
sers in the Yellowstone National
Park. I found there also what I
have often thought might prove to
be a valuable nitrate deposit.
C. B. WATSON.
- The Commercial Club is desirous
of obtaining good specimens of grains
and grasses for exhibit purposes. Will
those who have such kindly leave at
the Commercial Club rooms? tf
OREGON'S GOING DRY.
(Tune: "Bringing in the Sheaves.")
Come, ye loyal workers. Join the tem
perance army,
Shout for prohibition, now our battle
cry.
Forward be our watchword, in the
mighty conflict;
See the hosts advancing, Oregon's
going dry.
CHORUS. -
Oregon's going dry, Oregon's going
dry.
See the hosts advancing, Oregon's
going dry.
Oregon's going dry (by faith we
bring it nigh),
See the hosts advancing, Oregon's
going dry.
Saloons will soon be banished from
our state forever;
Hear the children singing, banner
lifted high;
Joyous are their voices, happy are
their faces, "
See the hosts advancing, Oregon's
going dry.
CHORUS.
And the youths and tnaldens, with
their zeal and courage,
United for the battle, the enemy defy
From hillside and from valley, from
city and from village, -
See the hosts advancing, Oregon's
going dry.
CHORUS.
Rally, all ye faithful, rally to the con
quest; Shout the glorious message, victory
is nigh.
Prayers will soon be answered, God
Is leading onward,
See the hosts advancing, Oregon's
going dry.
Pumps with wide toes- and low
heels, value $3, extra special at ?2.
Brlggs & Shinn.
The Tidings is on sale at Poley's
drug store, 17 East Main street.
Ashland Tidings wants ads bring
results. tf
Save Grains and Grasses for County
Fair.
The farmers and ranchers are re
quested to save displays of their
grains and grasses for the Jackson
county fair in Medford, September
9 to 12. Liberal premiums will be
offered and the catalogue will be
Issued about July 15. Some of these
displays will have to bo saved at
this time and everybody should be
interested in making a good showing
for the county at the fair.
Staple and Fancy
DryGoods
Fancy Waists
' VAUPEL'S
Ufie QUALITY STORE
Butterick Patterns
SHOES
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You will find a Sorosis shoe here that will fit your
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Special
One lot of Oxfords and Pumps, val- OAk
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a
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THE STAPLES REALTY AND AUTO AGENCY
PI
heap Land and (Good iaii.
200 a. stock ranch, water and alfalfa 110 a. 17 a. high grade alfalfa home $9,000
large wheat ranch $ 30 a. 16 a. 6-yr-old gilt-edge orchard 6,400
800 a. partly improved 25 a. 80 a. alfalfa home ranch 12,500
120 a. Improved, close to town .......... 100 a. 20 a bottom land cpi Bear creek 200 a.
lots ol other properties at fair prices and easy terras
Automobile Insurance
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