The Unspoiled Wilderness of the Cowlitz

Notwithstanding the abuse heaped upon the region traversed by the Northern Pacific Railroad in its 106-mile section between the Columbia River and Puget Sound, it is a pretty fair country, and in some respects a lovely country. Excluding the first four or five miles, which runs through the wooded belt that fringes the Sound, the road for twenty miles is located through a natural park, the spring loveliness of which is not surpassed anywhere. The ground, though not fertile, is covered with a sward of the greenest grass, upon which thousands of domestic animals may be seen grazing, while the lark builds its home in every bush and fills the air with its clear, sweet notes. It is a prairie section, but rolling, and with every variety to give delight to the eye. Natural roads, as good as the best paved streets of the city, cross in every direction to suit the convenience of residents, furnishing drives that would make Stanford, Vanderbilt and Bonner envious of our more favored people. This prairie is encircled with timber, while little clumps of fir, pine and oak can be seen here, there and everywhere, and groves of young trees are on every hand, rising from the ground to a height of from twenty to forty feet. A number of lakes and streams are to be seen, while a grand view of Mount Rainier is furnished on a clear day. Passing this prairie a few miles, and a prairie of another character is reached, in the vicinity of Tenino. Here the loss of a portion of the beauty is compensated by the increased fertility of the soil, and some really fine farms are to be seen. The Cowlitz farmer has much to make him contented and happy, and his measure would be full to overflowing were it not for the overflows of the river. There is an appearance of thrift and plenty from one end of the road to the other. The towns at the stations have all grown up since the advent of the road, and their newness is quite apparent. Evidence of an increase of population can be seen on every hand. New houses are building, new homes making, and new farms being carved out of the forest.