Mississippi Democrat. (Carrollton, Miss.) 1844-18??, 1845-03-19


thorn part of this region is less barren Than
that just described, The valleys are wi
der, the rains more frequent, and the soil
is freed from salt by the numerous streams
which traverse it. The country east Of
the Rocky Mountains is for more than two
hundred mics dry and barren, aflording
no manner of support for population OK.
cept in the immediate vicinity Of streams
and offering formidable obstacle to the
settlement of the western territory.
These three regions comprise the Ore,
gon Territory now in dispute between The
United States and Great Britain. II de.
rives its chief value from the Columbia
River. The northernmost branch OF this
great stream is Canoe river, which rises
near the 54th degree of latitude. Near
the SD, in its progress South, it is joined
by two others, at place called by the ira
ders, boat encampment. OF these two
one flows from tho South along the base
of the Rocky Mountains; the other rises
in a great gorge of that chain, near the
line Of SO degrees and in the immediate
vicinity Of the highest land on the West
ern Continent. Travellers describe the
scene as one of terrific desolation. From
this point the united streams rud South
300 miles, where the Columbia receives
McGiivay's river, and soon after Cark's,
flowing from the Rocky Mountains -
Clark's river, which is nearly as large as
the Columbia, rises near the head waters
Of the Missouri; the intervening ridge is
not very high; and il may form one of the
greatest channels of future communion.
ton. The Clark rushes into the Column
bia over a ledge of rocks, and then both
pass the Blue Mountains at Kettle Falls
Just below which, in lat. 40 deg. 81, is
Fort ColvilIe, one of the principal ostab.
Iishments of the Hudson's Bay Company
The country in the vicinity is very fertile
and agreeable. Thence the Columbia
flows due west, receiving the Spokan from
the southeast about 100 miles TO the juno.
ton with the Okanagan, large stream
from the north, where the IIudson's Bay
Company has another Fort. Thence the
Columbia runs south 10 the lat of 40 deg
s and then joins the Lewis or Snake RI.
yer. This river rises in the angle formed
by the Rocky and Snowy Mountains, be.
tween tho 42d and 44th parallels, near tho
sources Of the Colorado, the Platte, the
Yellow Stone and the Missouri; flows west.
wardly through the Snowy Mountains to
Salmon Falls, thence northwest to its juno
ton, receives the Walla,the Umatala, John
Days river, and the Falls River from the
South, and then pass through the range
Of mountains nearest the Pacific, under
the 46th parallel of latitude. Below the
Walla walla the Columbia forms many ra-
pids, some of which are impossible at low
water put passablo at high water, both up
and down. Five miles below tho Falls
are the Dalles or narrows, where the ri
yer rushes through space not more than
$50 feet wide, walled in by basallic CO.
lumns on both sides; and 80 miles lover
are the Cascades, which are impossible at
all times. This point is 1876 miles from
the ocean, the tide comes up 10 il, and the
navigation is good for vessels drawing not
more than fourteen feet water. At dis.
lance Of about 100 miles from the Pacific
on the north side of the Columbia stands
Fort Vancouver, the principal establish
ment Of the Hudson's Bay Company west
of the Rocky Mountains. II consists Of
a number Of wooden buildings within a
blockade, saw mill and grist mill, and
the number Of inhabitants is about 300;
several hundred acres of land are under
cultivation. The WalIamet enters the
Columbia from the South about 90 miles
below Vancouver, il is navigable for small
vessels 20 miles from IFS mouth. At the
head Of its navigation is delightful val
ley, where two settlements have been
made, one by retiring Servants Of the Hud-
sons Bay Company, and another by Amer.
lean citizens, chiefly from this city. As,
toria is on the Columbia, eight miles from
it's mouth. The Columbia enters the Pa
cifc between two points Of land, one on
the north called Cape disappointment, OF
Cape Hancock, and the other Point AID.
ans. From each sand bar runs into the
water above which break the waves of The
Pacific on one side, and the torrents Of The
Columbia on the other. The river abounds
in fish especially salmon, which form the
principle support of the 10000 sayages
who inhahit the first and middle regions Of
Oregon"
The following is the substance Of the
bill for the occunation Of OreOnn. nassed