An Oregon Water Fall noted for its scenic beauty and typical of the great waterpower used to drive the wheels of many Oregon industries. The United States Geological Survey tells us that Oregon has already developed over eighty projects with a total horse power of 244,422. These developed projects have a combined total fall of 14,484 feet.
Today part of the water on the American side of Niagara Falls, and part on the Canadian side, is taken off through great tubes or tunnels and made to turn huge wheels. In the power plants these wheels are connected with dynamos so that electrical energy is generated. This energy is not only used near at had, but sold to consumers many miles away.
No better place to “play” the wary mountain trout than this! Here for a time man forgets the cares of the industrial world and refreshes himself at Nature’s “Fountain of Life”. Yet when he has filled is creel, he will probably pause, enjoy the beauty of the waterfall above him, and may even estimate how many horse power it will furnish in turning the wheels of the growing industries of Oregon.
Here we have a glimpse of the famous Victoria Falls on the Zambezi River which is claimed by some to be the world's greatest waterfall, and in height and width and volume of water to surpass Niagara; but the two great falls are too different to compare them as to which may be considered the most wonderful. Victoria Falls exceeds a mile in width and is 343 feet in height, at low water. During the wet season its volume no doubt far exceeds that of Niagara, but as the entire width of the great river is precipitated into a chasm only 250 yards wide and of a depth equal to that of the river, it is plain that it cannot have the magnificient presentment of Niagara, which is open to the view in unobstructed grandeur. Niagara throughout has a clear and solid volume of water, whereas Victoria Falls during a greater part of the year is much broken up by jutting rocks and lacks the wonderful clearness of the Niagara water. The waters of the Zambezi falling into this deep narrow gorge produce a volume of spray which makes it impossible to witness more than a portion of the falls from any point. The view before us is from the eastern side of the river looking westward; yet on account of the raising mists it is not possible to see more than a third of the distance across the river and falls. This great waterfall was discovered by Dr. Livingstone in 1855. You see in the distance just above, the island on which Livingstone landed when he made his discovery. The Cape to Cairo Railroad goes right to the falls and then crosses the Zambezi River on one of the highest bridges of the world.