The native American., 1838-05-26
From the St. Louis Argus.
OREGON.


| OREGON.
| By the report of the proceedings of Congress IT
appears that Mr.. Linn has introduced bill ma
king an appropriation of fifty thousand dollars for
the purpose of taking possession of the Oregon
Territory.
Since the persons in the employ of Mr.. Astor
relinquished their trading post the Pacific, the
English have had the sole and undisputed pos
session of the Territory, and we may yet have
as much difficulty in the settlement Of our wes-
tern, as we have had in the establishment Of our
eastern boundary. The Oregon Territory pos
sesses, in opinion, but little to recommend II;
but we believe that the country bordering on the
Pacific, including the coast Of Oregon Territory
and upper California, possesses more agreeable
climate than any other part of North America,
The latest notice which we have met with OF tn at
region, is contained in journal OF Mr.. SPaidlng'
who, with his associates, Mrs. Whitman, Mr..
Doctor, and Mr.. Gray, passed from the State OF
Missouri to the Pacific ocean in 1885,
The Territory Of the United States on the
Pacific ocean, extends from about latitude AZ TO
latitude 20, about 400 miles Of coast. Within
this space empties the Columbia river, nearly AL
of which lies within the jurisdiction OF the Unl-
ted States. This stream is about 1900 miles in
length, having its head in the Rocky Mountains.
On its banks the Hudson's Bay Company have
several posts, and the British are now the sole
occupants.
Mr.. Spalding and his associates left the from
tier of the State of Missouri, about the lst OF
May, 1886, in company with gentleman enga-
ged in the trade. Their route generally lay near
the Missouri river, till they reached the Platte,
thence along that river to its fork, by the Black
Hill, to near its source; thence to the Green rv-
er, one of the branches Of the Western Colorado;
thence to the waters of the Bear river, which emp
ties itself into the great Salt lake, and thence to
the head waters of Lewis river, the south eastern
branch of the Columbia, on which, or on the
streams which run into it, they pursued their
course to Fort Wallawaa, one Of the principal
trading posts of the Hudson's Bay Company,
about 800 miles from the Pacific ocean.
Mrs. Spalding and Mrs. Whitman are believ-
ed to be the first white women who have crossed
the Rocky Mountains. But though subjected TO
many hardships and labor, and some privaiions,
the health Of the whole party was decidedly I'M
proved by the journey
The following is an extract from the journal:
1--WE left Walawalla the 9th Of September, in
a boat propelled by six oarsmen. The usu'l
time for passage down in five days. We we,c
detained by head winds, and did not arrive Til
the 18th. Here we were met by the warmest ex-
pressions of friendship, by DR.. Mclaughlin, who
conducted us Immediately to his house. After
brief interview, he conducted us to his gardens,
and be assured, we were not little surprised
to see west of the Rocky Mountains, where we
expected to meet scarcely the first buildings f
civilization, such perfection in horticulture. Abor
five acres are laid out in order, and stored with al
most every species of vegetables, fruits and flow
ers; and among them figs and citrons, oranges, le-
mons, pomegranates, cotton plants, and all COM
mon fruits in the United States. Every thing
produces well. For some days our time was di-
yided between visits on the farm, to the mills, the
herds, the dairy, the stores the ships in port the
school, &c. 1t of course gave us great satisfac-
ton to witness these fruits of civilization, which
we supposed our eyes had looked upon for the
last time, when we passed the frontier line Of orr
own land. DR.. McLaughlins farm is the largest
on the Columbia river, and produced, last year,
$500 bushels Of wheat 4,CO0 Of peas, l,700 Of
barley, 1900 Of oats, potatoes not gathered, corn
but little His horned cattle 75O, swine 400, and
from 900 to 800 horses. He has saw-mill and
a Touring"
The mouth of the Columbia lies in the same
latitude with Bordeaux, in France, and possesses
similar climate, far different, however, from tie
climate Of fortyve degrees north in the States Of
Maine and Michigan.