Wheeling times and advertiser. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1839-1849, 1843-02-20
From the N. Y. Tribune

OREGON TERRIrORY-ITs vALUE.-If,he
nam ridge Of The Rocky Mountains be assumed a.
me Eastern. latitude so Deg. N as the Northern.
and latitude ~ degrees ~ az ths Southern bocn.
oay OF THIS territory. We shall hive an area OF a.
bout l7OO00.000 ofacres, Of which, according 10
me latest and best authority --Farnham's travels
&c.-snly 10 100000 are lila BILE, ab ,ui 80 0Oo 600
acres OF mountain land, unfit for tage or pasurax-
out covered with heavy forests. Thur il seems on.
" 5O!OOOQp0 ont Orl700000O0 Of acres are a
vsileo'e 'toFthe business Of maintenance and pop
ulatian.
This estimate appears 10 have been made upon
ralher minute observation The following is the
substance OF Mr. Pa. account Of the countrv bv
disiricts The valley Of The south bank OF the Co.
lumbia' commonly called Lewis river il de.er,
OF volcanic desrs-noi 1000 acres on all s course
susceptible Of cultivation aud not timber enough IN
supply the camp-ires-of HE traveller
The valley OF the ColumbiI, above lis junction
win the south branch. is liltle better A small
Nook mere and there, at intervals Of many, often.
times hundreds Of miles. will produce the small
grains Indian corn, and the vegetables Of northern
atitldes. But these productive spots are merely
sPo-lslands OF green among endless wasta Of rocks
and light, lOamy, barren soil. High upon this
stream near the altitude Of perpetual frosts are e1
lensiVes groves Of pine and ceder; but as the fui
inl parts OF the territory we'll supplied with tim
per- u Is conceived that these can 10 OF liuo value
Inc country lying east,vardly. and between this
orally barren. Small tracks along the streams NAV
Dc rendered moderately productive by irrigalisn,
and not otherwise. These tracts, however consti.
tn'e 90 small portion Of the surface, that thew
should be mentioned only 10 qualify the word desert
winch would thus truly describe this dist net This
same remark may with truth be made Of the whole
'rogon which lies east Of the Presidents range The
ridge OF mountains. in that part OF the territory w.
ing south of the Columbia, runs in north and
south direction within Il 90 miles Of the sea North
of the Columbia 1t approaches the sea rapidly tiII
70 iatludei49 deg N. IFS lower hills border closely
dswn upon The ssaters Surrounding Vancouver Is
land, and continues It's nearness To the sea till n
reaches high Northern latitude
TheagucOiiural capabilities Of The lands lying be.
tween these mountains and the sea, are IIcaited-
mere are ON The par ofitlying south Of the CoIum
Ola river, along the banks OF the WiLhommith ar0e
tracts OF prairie land inIsrspersed with groves of
fiae' hr, DC but these prairies very produc
i've. The wheat crops yield on an average about
10 bushels TO the acre. Other crops fellow nearly
In the same Iatio
The tractlyrng no IN Of the Columbia and beiwe. n
these mountains and the sea, is generally clothed
with the heaviest forests in the wotld produced bv
The salabriiy Of the cIimaie-lhs uninterrupted
growth Of ages, rather than the richness of the sol
Il Is more than The land is will be worth durin,
the next hundred years TO clear il and subdue for
the soil Is Thin vegetable mould resting on stra
tum OF blue eiay-a soil that everywhere becomss
-sFoHhless alter few years cultivation.