Page:All Over Oregon and Washington.djvu/98

92 in Idaho in 1862–3, first gave Dalles a start. In 1865 it was just such a place as one may see in any mining country—Nevada, for instance—a hastily built, rough-looking town, filled with restless, rough-looking men. The streets were dusty, there were no shadetrees, and very little comfort anywhere. Now, since the mining excitement is done away with, and only so much interest in it remains as a legitimate outfitting trade creates; and since the people here begin to understand the agricultural resources of the country immediately about them, Dalles has come to be quite a cheerful and handsome town. Real homes occupy the places of hastily erected board-houses; gardens blossom with exquisite flowers; shade-trees shelter and adorn the promenades; churches and school-houses abound; and the place is one of the pleasantest in Oregon.

The situation of Dalles is a fine one. Except in great floods like that of 1862 and 1871, the whole town is above high-water mark. It rises gradually back for a quarter of a mile, then sharply to a second well-defined bench of land, beyond which is a considerable ridge. The whole landscape back of, and surrounding, the town, is of fine outlines, and very handsomely ornamented with pine-trees.

A number of creeks fall into the Columbia, near Dalles City. Taking a ride up the little valley of Mill Creek, brought us through the garrison-grounds—a lovely spot—and out past some very pretty places and well-cultivated farms. It quite surprised us to come upon such well-to-do-seeming farmers, where the general aspect of the country is so uncultivated. But here is the evidence of successful and profitable farming: good houses, fine orchards, grain-fields, gardens,