Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1841-10-05
From the Northern LPEt.
THE OREGON TERRITORY.
BY u. h. STOCKHOLM.

BY ID. u. STOCKHOLM.
In commercial, agricultural, and militia.
ry point of view, the Oregon Territory is one
of the most important and valuable portions
OF our country: and sound policy, and the in
terest of the United States imperously require
ITS speedy settlement and military occupation.
Able and luminous reports from committees
OF both Houses of Congress heretofore sub
mltted, conclusively show the immense value
and importance of this territory 10 the United
States.
The Columbia, or Oregon river is one of
the largest and finest rivers in the world Il
is now navigable for ships one hundred and
twenty, and a canal around its falls would rem.
der IT navigabe for steamboats,, more than six
hundred miles
The right Of the United States to all the
territory bordering on the Pacific, from lat-
tudc ~ to 40 north, is undoubted and il Is
not questioned by any nation except Great
Britain. The climate west of the Rocky
Mountains is mild and steady,-and is dec-
dedly better than that Of any portion of our
territory east of these mountains.
! Mr.. Irving, in his ASTORIA speaking on this
subject, says,-'The rigorous winters and sui
try summers, and all tho caprcious inequa-
ties OF temperature, prevailing on the Attain
tic SIDE of the mountains, is but little felt on
the western declvitles. The country between
them and the Pacific is blessed with miider
and Sfead'er temperature, resembling the eli
mate IN parallel ATTITUDES in Europe
Mr.. Provost, speaking of the climate in lat
Itude 40, 10 on the Pacific S. The rains
commence in the beginning Of November, and
continue TO fall partially until the beginning
OF April; "a benign spring succeeds, and
When The summer heats obtain they are so
tempered with showers as seldom to suspend
vegetation found it uxuriant on the LIST of
October, and during fortnght's stay, expe-
rIenced no change of weather to retard its
progress
From the late tour Of the Rev. Samuel Par
ker, 1t appears that the upper portion of the
territory contains extensive praries, where
horses are numerous, which subslst, winter
and summer, upon the pasture afforded by
them, and that on these praries, cattle to any
amount might be raised, without labor or ex,
pcnse. The other portions of the territory
abound in wood and timber, and produce the
finest OF wheat, corn, oats, potatoes, barley,
peas, &c &c. The country from the ocean
asccnds by regular terraces to the SUBMITS o.
the Rocky Mountains, and presents every va
rIety OF SOIL which will be found adapted TO
every variety Of culture, and is watered by the
noble river Columbia, and its numerous tribu-
taries.
Mr.. Sacum, special agent appointed by
President Jackson to examine this territory,
speaking OF the southernmost portion Of it, in
latitude 43 north, says: From the informa-
ton received of Mr.. Young and other trap
pers, am told that the river Umpqua is near
~ OF the same size as the Wllhamet, IA trib.
utary OF the Columbia.) The lands are equal
ly good and well timbered The river called
Ragues, and sometimes Smiths river, abound
with the nnest timber west Of the Rocky
Mountains; and it may be fairly estimated
that The valleys of these rivers. certainly with
IN the jurisdiction of the United States, con-
tain at least fourteen millions uf acres oCland
Of the first quality, equal to the best land. Of
Missouri and Illinois,
Such is the Oregon Territory, which, ow-
ing 10 the supneness Of our governme Mt NAV
be SAID 10 be possessed, or ruled, by the Hud-
son Bay Company, and from which ii draws
an annual income from the fur trade alone, OF
nearly million of dollars.
THIS company has its principal establish.
ment west OF the Rocky Mountains few
miles below the falls on the Columbia river,
and clearly within our territory, where il has
fort, saw-ml, grlsi-mlll various kinds
OF mechanics, large boat house a steamboat
end other shipping, an enclosed farm OF }, 900
acres, on which Is produced annually about
5000 bushels Of wheat, and large quantiiie.
Of corn, barley, oats, potatoes, &c. DC, with
population, mostly Canadians, Of about $50
persons. Ii has also several other establish
menls near the source Of the Columbia riyer.
The title Of the United States to all the ter
rtory south Of tie Columbia, and 10 the mid
die Of the channel Of tina, riyc has been vir-
tually acknowledged by Gre. Britain that
IT, from latitude ~ TO 40 II uorh; and our
iitle from 4 10 80 north latitude on the Pacific,
j. undoubted although a claim is set up by
Great Britain TO al the territory north OF the
Columbia uyer. The grounds Of that pre-
tended claim are perfectly understood by the
government Of the United States, and are no.