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

Of Oregon, work prepared by order OF
Congress. The country claimed by the
United States west Of the Rocky noun
tains between AZ and Sd deg's North la
tituGe, is sufficient to form seven or eight
States as large as Mississippi. The ac-
count, it is believed, does not do justice to
tho fertility Of the country. lis impor-
lance in q commercial view, as the future
channel to the trade of the Pacific, and Of
China, is incalculable, and almost beyond
conception:
"This country is divided by its natu
raj confguration, into three great regions,
which differ from each other materially in
soil, climate, and productive powers.
l, The first region, or low country, lies
between the Pacific coast, and chain Of
mountains running near the sea. This
chain has received variety of names, the
California, the Kamat, The Cascade and
the President range, and lis seven highest
peaks have been named after the seven
Presidents from Washington to Jackson in
succession. These mountains are of con-
siderable elevation, and those who have
travelled over them speak in rapturous
terms of the wide and magnificent view
which they present. The distance from
the coast to the foot of these mountains is
in some places 100 miles, in others less.
The intervening country is crossed by low
ridges, between which are yallies drained
by rivers flowing into the Pacific and the.
Columbia. OF the two which empty into;
the Columbia, the Corwilitz has beer but
partially traced; the Southern, the Noun
tain, or Wallamet, has been traced 200
miles, through valley said to be the most
delightful and fertile part of North Ameri-
ca. The climate of this region is more
favorable to agriculture than that of the
other parts of Oregon. The summer is
warm and dry. Snow is rarely seen in the
valleys, aud the ground is very seldom fro.
zen, so that ploughing may be carried on
during the whole winter. Wheat, barley,
rye, peas, apples, potatoes are raised; hor-
ses and cattle succeed tolerably WE'LL
The growth Of timber on the uplands is
enormous,--iar surprising in thickness
and size any forest known in the United
States. There are extensive prairies ex-
ceedngly fertile and above inundution.--
Travellers describe fir and pine trees
growing here Of gigantic size. Ross Cox
mentions fir near Astoria, az feet in
circumference, 1853 feet high before reach
ing a branch, and 800 feet in its whole
height, Another stands on the banks OF
the Umqua, rs feet in circumference, and
2l5 feet high below its branches. Sound
pines from 200 10 $50 feet high, are by no
means uncommon.
2. The middle region Of Oregon lies
between the President range and the Blue
Mountains, chain extending through the
whole territory north and south, conside-
raby broken, and made up Of steep and
rocky mountains, generally volcanic, and
some of them covered with eternal snow.
1t is more elevated and less fertile than the
low country. The soil is a sandy clay,
covered with grass, small shrubs, and
prickly pear. Timber is scarce, the trees
are small and of useless wood. The eli
mate is agreeable and saIubrious. There
is little snow, especially in the southern
vallies. Few attempts have been made at
cultivation, and these are represented by
travellers as not very successful. The
agriculture, il is said, must always be limit
ed 10 the wants of pastoral people -
The region, though poorly adapted TO till
ing, is one Of the best adapted for grazing
in the world. II is in this section that all
the horses for the supply of Indians and
traders are raised, and often single In
dian owns hundreds Of them. Mr. Wyeth,
judicious traveller through this section,
deems it, for producing hides, tallow, beef,
&c. superior to any part Of North America.
Sheep might be raised to any extent, and
it is one Of the healthiest countries in the
world.
| 3. The third division is the high coun-
try lying between the Blue Mountains
on the west, and the Rocky Mountains on
the east. The southern part is a desert,
Of steep rocky mountains, deep narrow
valleys and wide sandy plains. The dis
tinguishing features Of this region are its
extreme dryness, and The great difference
in the temperature between the day and
night II seldom rains there is very little
snow in the valleys IN winter, and no mos-
ture is deposited in dews. A difference
of forty degrees in the thermometer, be-
tween sunrise and noon, isnot uncommon.
The surface 10 besides so strongly irnpreg-
mated with salt as TO. render cultivation
impossible. In this region are the chief
branches Of The Columbia, the northern
most rising near the 54ih, and the south
enmosi near the 42d parallels Of latitude.
There are many lakes in this section,
some Of which communicate with the Co
Iumbia, and others having no outlet are
salt. The largest OF tho salt lakes isl