Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1845-04-22
THE OREGON TERRlTORY,-ITS EX.
TENT-ITS SOIL--ITS PRODUCTIONS.

TENT-ITS SOIL--ITS PRODUCTIONS.
Atihis time, when the OREGON TERRITORY
is justly exciting SO much Of the u ,en,;on
of the people. il seems no: unwlsc to draw
n brief sketch OF the situation, climate and
other advantages of that region Of the Uni.
ted States west of the Rocky Mountains
now claimed by Great Britain.
First then as 10 its extent always assn.
ming that we are speaking Of the country
between the 42d and 54ih parallel Of north
latiiude-on The East it skirts $50 miles
along the Rocky Mountains, on the
South 400 miles along the Snowy
Mountains, on the Yves, 700 miles along
the Pacific Ocean, on the North $50 miles
along the North American possessions Of
Russia AMI England This area or i'm
mense valley contains 100000 square
miles-capable undoubtedly Of forming
screen states as large IS New York, or for
fy states Of the Dimensions Of Massachu-
sets.
Some Of the Islands on the coast are very
large-sufficient to form state by them
selves. These are situate north Of the par
alell Of A. Van Couver's Island, 26O
miles in length and so in breadth, contains
$4,000 square miles-an area larger than
Massachusetts and Connecticut. Queen
Charloie's or rather Washington Island,
$50 miles in length and 80 in breadth, con-
tains 1000 square miles. On both Of these
immense Islands, though they lie between
the high parallels of AZ and "a degree the
soil is said to be we'll adapted to agricul-
ture. The straits and circumjaceni waters
abound in fish Of the finest quality.-Coal
Of good quality, and other veins Of miner
ais have been found.
The region between the parallels Of 10
and "a degrees, is undeniubly a splendid
and desirable country. 1t possesses that
variety Of soil and climate and productions
SO necessary TO form n desirable whole
consisting Of prairie and woodland, upland
and lowland, in a rich profusion and varie-
lty. The forest trees are giganiic-from
IS TO so feet in circumference, and from
! leo to over 500 feet in heighth! This may
seem incred bic. but these facts are vouch-
ed by every traveller from the time Of Lew
is and Clark to the present day. The trees
are principally pines, cedars and frs. To
farmers in The Atlantic states this may seem
a strange growth of timber for fertile
soil. Mr.. FARNnAM, who spent some
months there, and who describes with great
power bu, perhaps with some exaggeration,
remarks of the country north and between
the Colombia river ard the straits Of Juan
de Fuca, that The forests are SO heavy
and SO matted with brambles, as TO require
the arm Of Hercules TO clear q farm Of
100 acres in an ordinary lifetime, and the
mass Of timber is so great that an attempt
TO subdue it by girdling would result in tho
production of another forest before The
ground could be disencumbere1 Of what
was thus killed, The small prares among
the woods are covered with wild grasses
and are useful as pastures. The soil of
these, like that Of the timbered portions, is
u vegetable mould. or 10 inches in thick
ness, resting on stratum Of hard blue
clay and gravel"
The Columbia takes is rise in the Rocky
Mountains, as high as the 54lh parallel
and in lis various windings lraverses dis
lance Of 1900 miles. 1t enters The Paci-
fic Ocean at the latitude Of 46 degrees.
Frazer's river $50 miles in length) en-
tiers The strait of Juan de Fuca al the 49,h
parallel. One hundred and fifty miles
south Of The Columbia, tho Umpqua river
enters the Pacific. This stream is abou,
100 miles in cngth-at its mouth, three
Iourths Of a mile wide, with Is fee, Of
water on the bar-the Tide sets up for 80
miles-above that, it is unnavigabe on &C.
count Of the falls ard rapids. Forty miles
south Of the Umpqua, the Klamet river lin
latitude AZ. 400 enters the Pacific. Its
length is $50 miles. Mr.. Farnham re-
marks, as something peculiar, 1.-The pine
and cedar disappear upon this stream, and
instead of them are found myriaceous
rec of small size, which when shaken by
the leas, breeze, diffuses delicious fra
GRANGE through the groves"
On the south Of the Columbia there 10
more prairie than wood land This is sta
ted TO be the finest agricultural section in
Oregon. The trees pine and CEDAR on
the upIands are OF the Same enormous size
as they are on the banks Of the Columbia
| river. The tallest and heaviest trees in
the Atlantic states seem mere saplings in
comparison.
1t is singular, though i. is so stated, that
Indian Corn wiN not Mrire in any part
even of Southern Oregon. This seems
scarcely credible, for they cur raise wheat,
barly, oats, and even the most tender gar
den vegetables in great portion Of the
territory, as well as the finest varieties Of
apples. pears and strawberries. Tho
dry chilly nights in summer, even when
The days are very warm. are represented
as the cause of It's non adoption TO corn.
In relation TO the general aspects Of tho
Oregon territory, taken as q whole, Mr..
Farnham remarks:
"The mineral resources Of Oregon
have not been investigated. Great guam
titles of Luminous coal have however
been discovered on Pugel's Sound. and on
the Willamette. Salt springs also abound;
and other fountains highly inpregnated
with sulphur, soda, iron, &c. are numer-
GUS"
"There are many wild fruits in the ter
rltory that would be very desirable for cul
tvatlon IN the gardens Of the s,ates.-
Among these are very large and deli