When Lewis and Clark explored the Columbia River, they stopped at an Indian Lodge on the afternoon of October 17th, 1805.
The squaws were engaged in splitting and drying salmon. Clark says, "I was furnished with a mat to set on and one man set about preparing me something to eat; first he brought in a piece of Dried log of pine and with a wedge of elk's horn, and a mallet of Stone, curiously carved, he Split the log into Small pieces and laid it upon the fire on which he put round Stones. A woman handed him a basket of water and a large Salmon about half Dried; when the Stones were hot he put them into the basket of water with the fish, which was soon sufficiently boiled for us; it was then taken up, put on a plate of rushes neetly made, and set before me. They boiled a Salmon for each of the men with me."[1]
The change that has come in the Oregon country in the short space of 110 years is truly marvelous. The opportunity which is offered to intelligent men at this time is even greater than it was in the early days.
Major General George W. Goethals, builder of the Panama Canal, passed over the Columbia River Highway between Portland and Cascade Locks on Wednesday, September 1st, 1915. He said, “The Columbia River Highway is a splendid jol of engineering, and absolutely without equal in America for scenic interest."
[134]
- ↑ Clark was too busy observing what he saw (and he seems to have seen everything) to pay any attention to spelling, punctuation, or the use of capitals.