The Illinois free trader. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1840-1841, 1840-05-23

hdSiO Icd(ucT, are llicSc Nciuo' ho
HWon's pledge was redeemed
The descendants of these pioneers are
now the mighty ones of the village
Chronicle, and John Huron is c0,di-
date for Congress.
The country beyond the Rocky tio"ntains.
F9e most thorough exploration of
thcse segions ever made unde the author
ltyI of the United States Government, was
thato Lewis and Clarke, during the adj
ministration Of Mr.. Jefferson. Various
private expeditions, for purposes of trade
mostly shave penetrated the country at
different times, the published accounts OF
Which contain much valuable information.
Fora full view of all particulars relative
ID the subject, including the statements
pertaining to our right of possession over
the0fegon country, we refer our readers
to an article in the last number of the
North American Review, and the works
therein mentioned.
The territory west ~ Rocky noun
tains would seem, Hddenlle descriptions
that are glven of it, to be one of the finest
on this continents Major Pitcher, in his
account Of his journey over the mountains,
declares that on crossing the ridge an I'M
metiiates change offtemperamrc was per-
ceived, and a'great. contrast discovercds in
the aspect oflthe country. Onsthe west
side the weather was mild, the timber
larger and the valley grassy: on the east,
all was locked up in snow and ice, the
timbers small and stintcd, and the face of
the country wild, desolate and dreafy.
As general characteristic of the country,
the winters are less cold and the sum-
mers less hot than in the corresponding
attitudes in the valley of the Mississippi,
or in the Atlantic States. Even in the
mountainous districts. whore the hirh
peaks are covered with .afu1 snc &,
the valleys at the base az Urtu ati+ CIV
mild. The. grass remains glie and
juicy nearly all winter, according /, the
statements of this traveller, and afrordsl
excellent pasture for horses. The Co.
lumbia river is free from ice during the
whole year.
The passage across the ridge of the
Rocky mountains is declared to be EASY.
81 have been familiar with these noun
tains for three years" says Major p. sand
have crossed them often and at various
points between the latltudes of 400 and
$40. ! have therefore the means of
knowing something about them, and
right to oppose my knowledge to the sup
position of strangers. | say, then, that
nothing is more easily crossed than these
mountains. Wagons and carriages NAV
cross them in a state of nature without
difficulty, and with little delay in the
days journey. Some parts are very high;
but the gradual rise of the country, in the
vast slope from the Mississippi to the foot
of the mountains, makes a considerable
elevation without perceptible increase,
and then tho caps or depressions let you
through almost upon level" This fact
is one of great importance. The COM
munication between the valley of the
Oregon and the great valley of the Mis-
sissippi will be easy, and the time will no
doubt come when a capacious canal will
unite the waters of the Columbia with
those of the Missouri. The facility and
convenience with which the trade with
China and the East Indies may be carried
on from port on the Pacific, will tend to
hasten the opening of some such channel
of communication between the coast and
the great interior.
The occupation of the Oregon region
has been hitherto yielded to British ira
ding companies. Mr.. Astor's establish
ment at the mouth of the Columbia, fell
into their possession, as is known, du-
ring the last war. between the United |
States and Great Britain; and although
the stipulations of the treaty of Gent re-
quircd the restoration of conquered places
to their original owners, there has been.
we believe, no formal occupancy of that
post by American authorities. The at.
tenton of the Government has never been