Geological Survey
Published: 2013-09
Total Pages: 94
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This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1903 edition. Excerpt: ... the Middle Fork of the Willamette. This is a large and deep body of water, free from fish on account of the fall at its mouth, which effectually stops their further progress. This lake lies practically upon the summit of the Cascade Range, and with little difficulty could be drained into Salmon Creek, there being only a narrow rim 15 feet high between them. This lake can be used as a reservoir for the storage of water for irrigation works east of the mountains. It would require the excavation of a tunnel a little over 1 mile long into the head waters of Salt Creek, and thence it could be conveyed by ditches around the east side of Salt Creek, crossing the main Cascade divide at the extreme western end of Odell Lake, whence it could be emptied into Lake Odell or conveyed by independent ditches and flumes to the objective point. AGRICULTURE. Very little agriculture is carried on within the confines of the territory examined, for the land is scattered in small tracts and is distant from markets. If it were not for the few cattle that the settlers graze upon the high mountains they could not possibly make an existence. The only settlement of any size is that on Big Prairie, at the junction of the North Fork and Middle Fork of the Willamette, and the settlers here rely principal upon cattle for a living, using the ground mostly for raising hay for their stock, although a few acres of oats and wheat had been planted and raised upon the prairie. There is another settlement at Hazel Dell post-office, and again at the mouth of Trout Creek, and 2 miles above it on the main river on Trout Creek there are two settlers, one of whom makes his living from the hot springs upon his place, which are generously patronized during the summer months. There is...