THROUGH WONDERLAND. 
43 
seventy miles, and the nearer southern peaks in still bolder outline. Eugene 
City, 123 miles from Portland, is also charmingly situated and finely laid out 
on the edge of a broad, rich prairie overlooked by a ridge of low hills. Its 
geographical position, at the head of navigation, commands for it the trade of 
a large section of country. It is also the seat of the State University, and is 
otherwise an educational centre of great importance. 
In the course of the next seventy-four miles the railroad ascends about 
2,000 feet to Roseburg, the judicial seat of Douglas county, traversed by 
another of the famous valleys of Oregon, that of the Umpqua. This was 
formerly a great stock country; but its pastures have gradually disappeared 
before the plow, and cattle have given way to grain. It is, moreover, a fine 
fruit growing region. The tourist is now approaching those intricate valleys 
which have made this line of railway from Roseburg to its terminus at Ashland 
at once so costly and so picturesque. 
Cow Creek Canon, so winding that thirty-five miles of track had to be laid 
to attain twelve miles of actual distance, abounds with wild and beautiful 
scenery. From the valley of the Umpqua, the railroad passes into that of the 
Rogue river, in Josephine county. This county is equally famed for its natural 
beauty, its healthful climate and the wonderful productiveness of its soil. 
Grains, fruits and vegetables of every description, yield prodigiously, and their 
quality is not to be surpassed. 
The great attractions of the county for the tourist are the two limestone 
caves situated thirty miles south of Grant’s Pass, and fifteen miles east of 
Kerbyville. There is said to be a good wagon road from the latter place to 
within five miles of these caves, and arrangements are in progress for the early 
completion of the road. According to an official publication of the county, 
there is another route, via Williams Creek, by wagon road, to within eight 
miles of the caves, and thence, by a mountain trail, on horseback. The scenery 
along this route is stated to be grand beyond description, embracing many of the 
lovely valleys of this charming county, and, in the distance, the snow-capped 
mountains of the Cascade Range, terminating in the tremendous peak of Mount 
Shasta. The caves themselves consist each of a series of chambers, adorned with 
beautiful stalactites of prismatic colors, and other curious and delicate forma¬ 
tions, presenting exquisite patterns, and sparkling with the lustre of diamonds. 
At Ashland, 341 miles from Portland, the tourist arrives at the southern 
terminus of the road. Connection is made with the California and Oregon 
Railroad, at Delta, California, by stage. This is an exceedingly enjoyable stage 
ride, the first twenty miles of the journey being over the Siskiyou Mountains, 
from whose summits the long Sierra Nevada and Cascade Range can be traced 
for nearly 200 miles. 
No tourist should return East without first taking a trip down the 
LOWER COLUMBIA 
to Astoria, that city of most interesting historical associations, and no little actual 
