Iowa territorial gazette and advertiser. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa Territory [Iowa]) 1840-1846, 1845-04-12

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OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES Columbia
.3sal 9 Ee0I River. 9 nai
The following extracts ffdm the narrative 4
tue Y. s. Exploring expedition, by Lieut.
WILKES, are furnished by the Washington cor
respondent Of the Ohio Statesman. -.
.d i. Waters Of the Pacific, ,.-.i.r
Nothing can exceed the beauty Of thes,
waters, and their safety: not a shoat exist.
within the Straits Of Juan de Fuca. "A
miralty Inlet, Puget Sound, or Hoods Ca.
nal, that can in any way interrupt theil
navigation, BY seventy-four gunship.
venture nothing in saying, there is nc
country in the world that possesses wa.
tiers equal to these" q s2all q
The scenery here must be eminent : beautiful
sin the morning when we resumed GU,
Journey the park scenery increased in
beauty, and it was almost impossible te
realize that we were in a savage and wild
country, and that nature, not art, had per
fected the landscape. Beautiful lakes
with green sward growing to the water
edge, with deer feeding fearlessly on their
margin, and every tint Of flower, many Of
which we're not new to our gardens a,
home, strewn arotind; we could hardly, il
galloping along, but expect to see some
beautiful mansion, as tit accompaniment
Of such scenery ,s..
Astoria has little Of its former reputation te
boast: %t] q s4at}.s - ifu
SIN the morning we had a view Of The
somewhat famous Astoria, which is any
thing but what l would wish to describe.
Half dozen log houses with as many
sheds and pig-stye or two, are all that j,
can boast Of, and even these appear to be
rapidly going to decay. ..3.Iqap
'sThe company pay little regard to it.
and the idea ofholding or improving it az
post, has long since been given up. The
headquarters Of their operations have
been removed 10 Vancouver, eighty miles
further up the river, since which Astoris
has merely been held for the convenience
Of their vessels. 1t boasts of but one field
and that was in potatoes, which, can
however, vouch for as being very fine. II
former times it had its gardens, forts, and
banqueting halls; and from all accounts
when it was the head quarters Of the
Northwest Company, during their rival.
ship with the Hudson Bay Company, there
were as jovial set residing here, as eve,
were met together. 1 have had the pleas.
ure Of meeting several of the survivors,
who have recounted their banquetings, SC
s'In point of beauty Of situation, few
places win vie with Astoria. It is stu.
ated on the south side Of the Columbis
river, eleven miles from Cape disappoint-
ment, as the crow flies. From Astoris
there is a fine view Of the high promon-
tory Of Cape Disappointment. and the
ocean bounding it on the west; the Chi.
nook Hills and Point Eilice, with its rug
ged peak, on the north; Tongue Point and
Katalmet Range on the east; and high
back ground, bristling with lofty pines, Is
the south. The ground rises from the
river gradually to the top of the ridge five
hundred feet in elevation. This was orr.
ginally covered with thick forest Of pines
that part reclaimed by the first occupant.
is again growing up in brushwood. From
all parts of the ground the broad surfac,
Of the river is in view. The stiffness j.
remarkable, and makes it evident that on,
is yet far removed from civilized life: tn,
distant though, distinct roar Of the ocean i,
the only sound that is heard: this, howev
er, is almost incessant; for the stream
though rushing EDWARDS in silence to NEE
the ocean, keeps up an eternal war witt
it on the bar, producing at times scenes Q
great grandeur, but which, as we have al
ready experienced, renders the bar who'll,
impossible for days together. c4 "
"The magnificent pine so often men
toned by travellers, lies PROSTATE near tn
tomb Of the hospitable chief Concomely
now in ruins. The chief S skull, It is be
lieved, is in Glasgow, having been lon
since removed by Dr.. Gardner" ioha
The Columbia, opposite to Astoria,
four miles wide, but in the middle of tn
river is an extensive ,sand-bar, with only
few feet of water on it, and at extreme 10,
tides it is bare; the channel is very Mario,
on each side and difficult to navigate.
Astoria there is only space for dozen yes
sells to lie at anchor, and it.would there
fore be difficult to accommodate any sxten
siveo trade. The point Of. land extend
about half a mile below its site, whef
Young river joins the Columbia and form
bay, on the banks of which Lewis an
Clark wintercd. The position Of their hi
is still pointed out, but the building hs
long since gone to decay" - p,
The state of morals at Vancouver. 4.! .tg-.
tan opinion has gone abroad, do M
know how, that at this post there is tots
disregard Of morality and religion, and tn;
vice predominates. AS far as my obser
vations went, I feel myself obliged to state
that every thing seems to prove the cor
trary, and to bear testimony that the officer
of the Company are exerting themselves
check vice, and encourage morality and re
ligion, in a very marked manner; and til;
/ saw no instance in which vice was tolel
ated in any degree. ! have, indeed, reaso
to believe, from the discipline and the en-
ample Of the superiors, that the whole es
tablishment is a pattern Of good order an