Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1843-12-29
OREGON TERRITORY.

ton of Mr.. Inns Report to the Senate OF
the United States, on the occupation oil the
Oregon Territory, which treats the subject
with reference TO other matters than the
mere title. According TO the opinions oil
Mr.. SIacum, Messrs Lewis and Clarke, aud
others who have seen the country, its pro-
ducts are of the most valuable kinds, consis-
ting of peltries of various descriptions, be-
sides salmon fisheries, etc. etc. The influ-
ence of the Hudsons Bay Company is also
mentioned as requiring to be counteracted,
owing to the vast power which their trappers
and traders are likely to acquire among
those with whom they deal. As the difficult
ties Of passing the Rocky Mountains, which
at one period were deemed insurmountable,
have within few years been overcome 10
such degree that where passage was re-
rarded as impracticable, passes of easy as
cent for wagons. etc. have been found, n
fear is expressed that in the event Of war 4,
hostile troops might be introduced by the
way of the Oregon river, and brought over
TO the head waters Of the Missouri river
To prevent such movement, as well as
the smuggling of goods of British manufac-
ture free Of duty into the territories Of the
United States, it is deemed advisable that a
settlement be formed at the mouth of the
Oregon. AS an evidence Of the ease with
which the de6les of the Rocky Mountains
NAV be passed, the names are given of seve-
raj missionaries, who, with their wives, had
passed over. In the cases mentioned, the
course pursued was from the State Of Mis-
souri, along and near to the banks Of the
river of that name, until they reached the
Platte, thence along that river to its fork ;
thence by the North fork and the Black
Hills, to near its source; thence to Green
River, one of the branches of the Western
Colorado thence to Bear River, which emp
ties itself into the Great Salt Lake; and
thence to the head waters Of Lewis's River,
the Southern branch of the Columbia River,
by which or It's tributaries, they pursued
their course to Fort WallawalIa, one of
the principal posts of the Hudson's Bay
Company, within three hundred miles Of the
ocean A great portion of the midland re-
gion is described as a wild country, to
which refugees from all quarters will resort,
and may be employed by Great Britain in
the event of war with the United States to
great advantage.
In speaking of the Great Salt lake, its
length is stated at $50 miles and its breadth
40, no outlet to its waters being apparent,
although two streams flow into it. The Re-
port contains quotation from the Encyclo-
peda Of Geography in which detailed ac-
count is given Of the geological character of
the country on either side of the Rocky
Mountains or great back bone Of the Amer
lean Continent, but its details are such as
not to interest general readers. 1t is in
speaking Of the climate of the regions west
of the Rocky Mountains that the authorities
cited indulge in terms of the most unquali.
fed admiration, representing it as almost
free from frost, and except during fouI
months Of unbloken rainy weather, serene
and delightful.
The wild horses are very numerous, anC
of very fine breed, resembling European
coursers or the blooded horses of Virginia
and may be bought of the natives for bead
worth one or two dollars. Wild sheep ar,
also found in great cumbers, and have fin,
wool on many parts of their bodies. Tn,
soil of the country which rises in terrace
from the Pacific Ocean towards the interior
is of rich mould, and for grazing purpose
is believed to be equal to the best found il
Mexico.
The British have village at Fort Van
couver, about seventy miles above the moutl
of the river, containing about 500 inhabi,
ants, with picket including officers dwell
ing houses, workshops for carpenters, wheel
wrights, coopers, timers. &c. they have
saw mill erected on never failing stream
falling into the Columbia, which cuts 200
feet of timber daily, employing % men =
the depth of water at the mill being "a feet
where the company vessels can take in thei
cargoes for the Sandwich Islands market
They have farm at Vancouver, contanin.
5000 acres fenced and under cultivation, oil
which are employed about 100 hands
large ship arrives annually from Londol
and discharges at Vancouver-introducin
into our country, English goods, free of du
ty, which are placed in competition, in tn
Indian market, with the goods of the Amer
lean fur dealer Three of the company
ships remain on the coast, with steamboat
These vessels are all well armed and mann
ed. An express, as it is called, goes out an
nually, in March, and ascends the Colum
bia 900 miles, in batteauX-generally unde
the command of chief trader, who meet
the assemblage Of American trappers an,
hunters, $50 or 500 in number, in In,
American trader, who purchases his good
at ST. Louis, subject to the government du
ty-the English trader thus having an ad
vantage over the American trader on Amer
lean ground, of twenty-five to thirty pei
cent. In reference to the soil, climate anC