Polynesian., 1845-03-15

recent volcanic action. Hot-springs occur,
and the river banks are in some places found
streaming with emissions of scalding vapor
and hot water. This may properly be de-
nominated a desert region, in which there
are only occasional GASES.
Having now described the interior coun-
try as far as is necessary for my present
purpose, it only remains to inquire into its
capabilities and prospects.
1t will be seen at once from the above
statements that the interior of Oregon can
never become an agricultural country, and
consequently can never sustain a dense
population. 1t can be turned to account
only by raising herds and hocks, and in this
way it is capable Of sustaining a sparse pop
%ulation, and a sufficient quantity of %alluvial
bottom can be formed, in the best portions
of it, to furnish grain and vegetables for
such a population residing there for such
purposes. 1t is necessary, however, to say
in reference to the grazing capabilities Of
this region, that they are very far from
being superior. There are considerable
tracts of waste land worth almost nothing at
all, even for this purpose. The amount of
grass also which the uplands furnish is very
small. 1t is undoubtedly nutritious in quail
ity, but perhaps not more so than the pas
lures of New England. Its medium height
l should judge to be l2 or Ia inches, 1imin-
ishing on the highest and more exposed
plains to six or eight inches, and increasing,
particularly in the vicinity Of the woodlands
of the mountains where there is more moist
ure, to 10 or 90 inches. The ground is
thinly covered, it usually growing in bunch
es, so that not more than from one-third to
one-sixth Of the area of the surface is cover
ed. 1t would, therefore, require some four
or five acres, more or less, to furnish the
same amount of nutriment which one acre
of pasture or meadow-land of medium quail
ity in New-EngIand would furnish. Cattle
thrive well in this region, particularly when
kept along the banks of the streams, but it
has been found by experiment that they will
not do well on the high lands away from the
streams, especially in the dry season. Sheep
and goats might do well on these up-lands.
The practice of burning over these plains
annually, which is however only partial, is
an evil which must cease if ever the country
become extensively stocked with cattle.
Cattle live out during the whole winter, and
this grass which dries up during the dry
season, and remains in this state through
the winter, standing hay for the cattle to
gather for themselves as their necessities
require. Let this all be burned over, and
the green grass which springs up in the
autumn will do but very little towards sus-
tanning a herd through the winter, and star
walton must ensue. Cattle and horses suffer
in the winter in some parts of this region
when there is an unusual quantity of snow,
and can find nothing to supply their wants,
except on southern declivities where the
snow is soon removed by the direct rays Of
the sun.
What then are the prospects Of this region
in respect to settlement?
There is one motive and one only fol
immediate settlement in the interior in pre-.
ference to the Walamet, and this is the
salubrity of the climate. In every other
respect the Walamet is altogether preferable
and will continue to be so till all its land il
taken up and all the grazing country in it,
vicinity is occupied. 1t is doubtful whether
cmigrants will be willing to forego all othel
advantages for the sake Of climate.