Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1843-06-16
OREGON.

! OREGON.
| Routes THE MOUTH OF THE CoLuMBIA.-The
increasing interest manifested in deren sections OF
the country, in regard to this and extensive field
for adventure and enterprise, does not perhaps over
rate the value of its acquisition, whether viewed in
reference 10 the productveness of large portion oil
/ IL, soil-its mineral wealth and water power-its
fur trade, fisheries, and the extensive commerce OF
which il will, at very distant day, become the me
dunn from the East lndes and China, and the isles OF
| the Pacific.
In letter addressed by Amos Hoton TO the editors
Of the Cbco,he (Ohio) Advertiser we ind some yalu-
able information in reference to the length and compa
ra,ive praccab.y Of the route pursued oy Lewis and
| Clarke. and that taken by Mr.. Samuel Parker, an
America n missionary in the Oregon Territory, across
the Rocky Mountains, TO the mouth OF Inc river
Columbia From the confluence Of the Missouri
and Mississippi rivers, the distance travelled over
| bv Messrs Lewis and Clarke, TO the mouth OF the
Columbia is according to their own estimate, 'nre re
thousand five hundred and fifty i've miles hey 'o''
lowed the Missouri up 10 the rams % . ,bencs
thousand FIVE hundred and seventy.hve m'les 'nehee
across utremendous mountains which, Tor sky u'ies'
are covered with eternal SHOWS, Passape ohy ~ sa"
mer from july TO September inclusive three nunofeo
and forty miles to the nav'geoiee lie - am;.'
koo,ske and down this, seventy-hVe miles 10 Lewiss
river one hundred and fftyfouf miles ABOVE us juno
ton with the Columbia, which, IN us course 'nence 70
the Pacific Ocean, raverses distance OF TOUR hunofed
and thirteen miles. .
of fourteen hundred miles shorter than that of Lewis
and Clarke is still some three hundred miles longer
than the mos direct accessible route TO the mouth Of
the Columbia river. Mr. Parker left the Missouri at
ouncil Bluffs and directed his the North
Fork of the Platte TO the Sweet Water and Southwest
erly through the great Southern pass OF the Rocky
Mountains in latitude AZ North, just above our line
of separation from Mexco-a valley eighty miles
long, and from five to twenty wide, whose ascent is so
gradual that it is only when experiencing the variation
in the temperature Of the atmosphere, and viewing the
stu endous mountains TO the left eighteen thousand
feet in elevation, robed in clouds, and crowned with
dadems of snow that the traveller becomes conscious
of uayersinp this mighty barrier The distance from
the junction of the Kanzas with the Missouri, across
the Southern fork Of the Platte and through this great
Southern pass to the navigable waters of the Coum.
bia is about the same from Council Bluffs, three
hundred miles above the mouth Of the kanzas TO those
waters and by this last route, the distance from st.
Louis TO the mouth of the Columbia would be reduced
to less than eighteen hundred miles.
Mr.. Holion is enthusiast in relation to Oregon,
and intent upon early development of its resources
and capabilities, is examining The adaptation Of these
routes "to the construction and establishment Of Rait
road" His scheme embraces the distance interven.
ing between New York and China. Connect n.
and ST. Louis, eight hundred miles by railway; then
from the navigable Waters oil the Missouri, at the
mouth Of The Kansas, construct railroad eight hun.
bred miles the navigabe waters Of the Columbia,
at cost of $I6,000,000, (S20,000 per meD and you
shall have line of direct communication between ~
York and China, eight thousand one hundred miles
six thousand FIVE hundred of navigable water and OF
railroad sixteen hundred be passed in twenty
nine thirty days-appying to the one the steam
boat speed now made across the Atlantic, and TO Inc
| other the speed existing Eastern railroads.
f.N Y Jour Com.