Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1838-07-04
VOLUME XXXIX, NO. 10.

red, like contemplating intinity, which
can measure only by succession its ex-
pansion and sublimiiy. Like the van-
!, ishing lines Of prospect, SO is contem.
plation lost in this extent Of ocean.
Fort George, or astoria.
Fort George is situated on tho south
side Of tho bay, ten miles from Capo
Disappointment; is without any furtlfi-
cations; has only two small buildings.
made OF hewed logs; about two acres
cleared, par, Of which is cultivated
with potatoes and garden vegetables.
Ii is occupied BY two white men oftho
Hudson llay Company, FOR the purpose
OF trade with the few remaining lndi.
ans who reside about these shores -
Though this is the presen, condition Of
Astoria, yet tho time must come, when
at the mouth OF this noble river there
will be place Of business, and cspeciS
ally may this be expected, as this bay
affords the only good harbor for long
| distance on this coast. should think
the north side Of the bay a little above
the Cape, adjoining what is called Ba.
ker's Bay, would be the most desirable
! location for a place Of business, MS that
is tbs safest place for ships to ride at
anchor. On that side of the Columbia
Bay, the country is more open ard
plessan, for commercial town. On
the south side, where Astoria WINS locs.
ted, the mountains or high hills como
down very near the shore, md arc
rocky and PERCEPTIONS, preventing =
southern prospect, and in the short win
ter days Of north latitude Of 40
deg. IL sig, they almost exclude tho
sun.
A difficulty, OF such nature as 10
no, cnsily overcome, exists in regard 10
the navigation Of this river, which 10
the sand bar at its entrance. Il 10
about five miles across the bar from
Cape disappointment out to sea. In
no part of that distance is the water
upon the bar over eight faihoms, and
, in one place only five, and the channel
about half mile wido. And so wide
and open is the Ocean, that there is nl-
ways heavy swell, and when The
wind is above gentle breeze, there are
breakers quite across the bar, and there
is no passing il except when the wind
and tide are both very iavornble.--
Without the bar there is no anchorage,
and there have been instances, in the
winter season, ofships lying of and on
thirty days, waiting for an opportuni-
ty TO ppss, and always good pilot -
needed. Perhaps there have been
more lives lost here, in proportion 10
the number Of those who have entered
this river, thnn IN entering almost any
other hsrbor in the world. But the
calnmi'ics have been less frequent for
some years past than formerly, and
should steamboat be stationed ut the
Cape, wasen business shall be sufficient
ly multiplied 10 warrant the expense,
| 10 tow vessels over, the delays and
dangers would be greatly diminish
ed.
The main bay is four miles wide ut
the mouth ofthe river, between Cape
disappointment and Point Adams; ex-
tends sixteen miles up the river; 10
nine mil vide between Chenook Bay
on the north and Young's Bay on tho
south, and seven wide between Fort
George and Chenook Point. II is filed
with many sand bars. and one, which
is called Sand Island, a little within
the Capes, seen only when the tide is
down, is dangerous TO ships when not
10 charge Of skiful pilots.
The section OF the country about the
sen cost is very rough and mountain.
Gus, and covered with tho most heavy
and dense forest Of any rart Of Amcri.
ca Of which | have any knowledge.
The trees are almost all OF the genus
pinus, but | saw none Of the species
commonly called pine, any where be-
low the cascades. The bnlsam fir, OF
which there are three species. constl-
tu,e fer the greatest pant Of the forest
trees. Whi'e cedar, spruce, hemlock
and yew are interspersed. Three spe-
cies of oak, Of which the white is far
the most common, prevail in small Sec
tons; and in some low bottom lands,
the species Of poplar called balm of
Gilead, and some bitter cotton wood,
is mos, general. The balsam fir grows
very large, not unfrequenlly four and
six feet in diameter, and about two
hundred feet high. ] measured one
which was eight feet in diameter and
two hundred feet high. AS ! do not
intend TO enter upon the dendrology OF
the country, I pass farther remarks
upon this subject for the present
There are some tracts of good land,
which might easily be brought under
cultivation, in different parts OF this
mountainous and iron-bound coast.
- .hnut Yonup'a Raw. extending