The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1845-11-25
THE OREGON TERRITORY-AN IN
TERESTiNG SKETCH.

TERESTiNG SKETCH.
The Oregon question is growing in impor-
lance since the breaking oft OF the negotia-
ton between MIR. Pack, nham and MIR. Cal
houn, aud the passage by the House oil Rep
reseniaiiyes Of the bill established terrific
iial Government there.
The New-Ycrk Courier gives the following
sketch in relation TO the disputed title. The
Courier says:
"A, the matter is one ofintehse interest, x
on which definite and authentic information
is greatly to be desired, we shall present as
briefly as possible statement OF the whole
question, including the foundation OF the
cIaims on either side, drawn almost entirely
from the forthcoming book of MIR. Greenhow.
which is undoubtedly mach The best treaties
hitherto published on the subject.
l. The Dispute dnd the Disputed Terri'e-
ry.-By the Florida Treaty Of 1919. between
the t. States and Spain, line drawn along
The 42d parallel Of latitude, from the Rocky
Mountains TO the Pacific, was fixed at the
Northern limits of The Spanish territory, and
the Soulhern limit of the territory OF the I'M
ted States in Western America; and WHEN
Mexico took the place of Spain, The sam
boundary line was preserved by new treaty.
By the convention Of 1872. between tie
United States aud Russia, the Russians a.
greed to make no setilemcurs south Ct the lat
iude of 81 degrees 40 minutes. and the Unit
ed States agreed to make no settlement north
of that line.
By the Convention Of 1925, between Rus
s:a and Great Britain, it was Hsrscd that the
British should occupy no place north o! 81
deg. 40 min. and that the Russians should
make no settlement south Of that line; and
further, That a line from that parallel n"j'!
ward, W thin 90 miles of the sea. TO lis inter
section with the 4lst meridian Of west Ion /
tude, AMI thence along that meridian TO the
Arctic Sea. should be The Emit between the
Russian and British possessions. A glance
., any good map will shuw tia, this line pas
ses through Mt. IT. Elias.
Here Their, are two lines OF boundary, one
north from the line of "a degrees 10 minutes
Latitude TO the Arctic Sea, between Great
Britain and Russia; the other following the
I'D parallel, making the limit between the
United States and Mexico-The i.iermtdi-
I aie regi ii is TIE disputed Territory Of Gre
gon. The Americans claim north OF the 42d
| line, the British south Of the line Of 81 de
! srees 10 minutes each to an underlined ex-
]
try dlrined by the Columbia River. These
claims were compromised by an arrangement
made in 1913 continued in.icfuitiy il l52'
and still in force, by which any territory in
| that section claimed by either, shall ne fee
aud open TO the citizens or subjects of both
7 the government of each being at liberty to ah-
! rogate the arrangement, after giving due no
t;cc of twelve months To that Of the oihrr.-
I IL. =, Il, J;c,,,to-fl,. u,-nerSIID If
! this territory.
/ Oregon. the disputed territory, thus ex-
/ tends from the 42d parallel to The lines Of 81
degrees 40 minutes. Its natural boundaries
I are: on the east. the Rocky Mountains on
the South, the Snowy Mountains; on the
West, The Pacific, from Cape Mcndocino to
Cape Flattery and on the North the SI"i's
of Fuca, about 100 miles eastward, thence a
line running northeast along the highlands
separating the waters Oft Columbia from
those of Frazer's river, to the Rock Noun
taus. This is The territory drained by the
Columbia, and the exten; Of its surface Is
about :}5U.O0O square miles. This country
is divided by its natural CONFORMATION, into
three great regions, which differ from each
either materially in soil, climate. and rrodac-
tive pC"ers.
|. The i...>t region. or low country, lies
betm cen the Pau.fc cGas! & cham oil moan
tains running near tn sea. his chain ha'
received variety Of Mains, The Caiii"ftla
the K.amet. the Cascade an6 the i'resheh
range, and its seven hiehes, peaks have seer
named after the seven Presidents from " ash
irgiun 10 Jackson in successor. jhes,
mountains are of consul, rille elevation, ai'd
those nbo have travelled over them speak u
rap,uruns terms Of the wide aa6 magnificent
view whitch they present. The distance
from the coast 10 The foot of these mountain;
i, in some rlicesIO0 miles. in others less
The intervening country Is crossed by 10"
: ridges, between Y hirh are vallics drained b,
rivers flowing ini0 the Pacific and the Co
lumhia. OF the two which empty into th'
Columbia, the Cowiliiz has been but part
ally traced; III. Southern. the Mnlinomal
or Waliamet, has been traced 200 miles
through valley said to be the most delight
ful and fertile part of the northwest Amen
ca. The climate of this region Is more Ia
vorable To agriculture than that OF the othe
4 parts of Oregon. The summer is warm AM
+ dry. Snow is rarely seen in the valleys. au
. the ground is very seldom frozen, so tba
. plouching may he carried on during ih
4 whole winter Wheat. harley, rye, apples
= potatoes. &C., are raised; horses and catil
il succeeded tolerably well; but asrIcu!Inr
= must always suier from The dryness OF III
}. summer The growth Of The tini Der on ih
r uplanis is enormous-far surprising IN thick
: ucss and size any forest known IN the Unite
/. States. There are extensive pralries eN
/ tre,nely fertile and above inundation. lra'
C elers describe Cir and pine trees CROWN
= here of gigantic size. Ross Cox mentions
e fir uear Astoria, &c feet in circumference, Is
is feet high before reaching branch, ard 80
l. feet in rs whole height. Another stands o
e the banks ofihe Umqua, 81 feet In circumft
renee, and al6 feet high, below its branche:
Sound pines from 200 to $50 feet high an
: from 90 to 40 feet in circumference, ale by n
means uncommon.
- 2. The Middle Region of Oregon lies b
% tween the President Range and the Blu
Nou,,ains n chain extending through III