The New Oregon Trail (1938)

[Music] [Applause] aragón like a gleaming star on the western heavens a hundred years ago set a vast migration surging westward to these adventurous ones who traveled with the Sun Colligan was a land of fabled wonders the beauty and charm of this then new land was beyond the vision of these sturdy pioneers whose ox teams wore deep the original Oregon Trail [Music] today there is a new Oregon Trail a trail of modern paved highways leading to beauty spots of unsurpassed grandeur [Music] gone are the hardships and dangers of the Pioneer day the old Oregon Trail is a memory but the new Oregon Trail a network of modern paid highways opens to the world a scenic Wonderland where one may adventure with speed and comfort a call of courteous and efficient State Police guard your safety on Oregon's highways they are always glad to assist one in trouble or help with information lifting skyward in northeastern Oregon are the forest side well our mountains presenting nature at her best mountain lakes dot the region like shimmering jewels here was the hereditary home of the Nez Perce Indians who named it Valley a winding waters the mountains beckoned the trail invites and gave me trout await those willing to climb into the saddle on the back of a sure footing horse down from the mountains to Celilo Falls near the dalles Indians enjoying their treaty rights and catching salmon by spear and dip net [Music] just beyond the city of Portland along the Columbia River Highway Multnomah Falls a beautiful torrent of water plunges headlong down a sheer cliff 620 feet kissed by passing winds the spray spreads a gossamer mist in rainbow great ribbons dancing down the mosque carpeted walls to a pool below multnomah is the queen of eleven similar forms that greet the eye within a distance of eleven miles here is another wahkeena falls that crown point stands the vista hugs a memorial to oregon pioneers below the beauty of the columbia gorge unfolds itself men's conquest of nature carving a road through a mountain of stone lends variety and enchantment at mitchell point tunnel above the broad Columbia [Music] but an even greater conquest one surely never dreamed up by the intrepid Lewis and Clark when in 1805 they're exploring eyes first beheld the mighty Columbia River is Bonneville Dam built by the government at a cost of some seventy three million dollars to provide power production and navigation in Columbia Gorge [Music] a few more miles along the Columbia River Highway more glimpses of rare beauty then Portland the city of roses a modern industrial seaport with Beach mountain and lake resorts within a few hours drive of the city the Rose Festival held in June of each year is world famous as an unsurpassed pageant of flowers Fleet Week in Portland brings Uncle Sam C armada to the city's riverfront a gala site inspiring and colorful at oswego lake close to the city's outskirts is the answer to a golfer's prayer but perhaps you prefer a canoe what's more fun than a picnic and here's the very spot shampooing State Park site of the Pacific coast first American Commonwealth and speaking of state parks Oregon has scores of them his beautiful North Falls and South Falls both in Silver Creek Falls State Park [Music] for those who admire architectural beauty the state capitol building at salem is a poem in marble coming back to the columbia highway we claim to clap suppressed which gives a panoramic view of the mighty Columbia and surrounding world of evergreen here at our store eeeh when the salmon are running is something rare to witness men who go down to the scene small but sturdy boats to gather the silver horde of salmon make a story of their home port Astoria is a city rich in romantic history remembering its past and honoring its founder John Jacob Astor with a column of impressive desire at Astoria the Columbia River Highway joins with the Oregon Coast Highway the world's most majestic ocean road paralleling the Pacific for 400 miles at gearheart clam digging when the tide is low offers both sport and a rare table treat on the beach at seaside might be the title of a song and it is the song of thousands who revel in the delights of this oceanside playground foam crested waves acres of glistening sands provide a year-round playground of unusual charm a few miles further through a deep forest is Cannon Beach adorned with fantastic rocks and a 12 mile stretch of close-packed sand ah what a place for a canter what a place to while away days or weeks the economy Beach Indian legends and names are closely linked with Oregon's attractions Oregon takes pride in our beaches and almost everyone is state-owned they belong to the people Rockaway is one of the famous Tillamook features a snug little Harbor which would have been a haven to pirates and smugglers of other days is deep obey now a port for a fleet of sturdy fishing boats which take fold out through the breakers to fish for salmon Cod red snapper and other saltwater Dennison here the highway ascends to provide a scenic view from our crest one of the most outstanding promontories on the coast passing a pin of a state park we cross ship win a bridge one of five major structures that have eliminated ferries along the Oregon Coast Highway that you see the head stands a lighthouse named after the Spanish explorer captain Bruno heceta close by is Cape Creek Bridge a beautiful arch structure leading into a tunnel almost anywhere along this rugged shoreline fishermen may be found casting their lines and hauling in their fishing catch an interesting diversion enjoyed by many who frequent Oregon's beaches is a hunt for agates which are plentiful when nightfall comes the beach still holds its charms this wood fires provide fun and lots of comfort and there's no end to the supply of fuel here Northup Lawrence herds of sea lions live on shore ledges and congregate in caves beneath the highway Oregon's coastline is a region of State Parks the Jessie M Honeyman Memorial Park near Florence is typical of these playgrounds choice scenic historic and recreational areas have been set aside by the state in many sections they are developed and supervised by the State Highway Commission that Reedsport the highway branches inland along the Umpqua River a beautiful region the Umpqua affords some of the finest fishing in Oregon artistry and beauty as well as utility are built into Oregon's bridges and they are told free to the world whose play bridge is a large cantilever type structure with lovely landscape plazas at each end as the coastline approaches its extreme southern end an impressive array of offshore rock formations greet the eye at Bandhan these huge rock towers are known as sea stacks farther down the coast at Gold Beach near the mouth of the Rogue River is a famous salmon fishing ground trolling for these gamy fighters brings rare and exciting sport [Music] running up the lower road by high-powered motor boats especially built to overcome rolling Rapids is an adventure this stream is themed for the steelhead fly-fishing in the heart of the Siskiyou mountains are the Oregon Caves call the marvel halls of Oregon in winding corridors and countless chambers are weird but majestic creations few caverns of the world contain more fantastic interest than the famous ghost chamber Paradise Lost king's palace or Dante's Inferno [Music] dear have become exceedingly tame and the Federal Reserve sir