The Kalida venture. [volume] (Kalida, Ohio) 1841-1865, 1845-02-28

4
wide, it increases in size from the falls to
the mouth and is navigable for vessels of
twelve feet draught, forty miles below the
falls and the rapids which will make port
age of Two miles. From this point 10 the
ocean the navigation is unobsructed. Be-
low the rapids it receives the Cowlitz from
the north and the Willamette from the
south. The Willamette is navigable 20
miles from its mouth for small vessels; eight
miles above this point are the falls where
extensive mills have been created and
town laid out.
FIsHERIEs.-Lt. Wilkes writes, 1t will
be almost impossible to give all idea of the
extensive fisheries in the rivers and on the
coasts, they all abound in salmon Of the
finest flavor, which run twice year begin
ing in May and October and appear mex
haustible, The whole population live upon
them. The Columbia produces the largest
and probably affords the greatest numbers"
ADVANTAGES FOR TRADE.-lt is believed
by Lit. Wilkes, that this country can furnish
the following articles of trade in great
abundance, viz: Furs, sailed beef and pork.
grain, -four, wool, hides, tallow, lumber and
perhaps coal. A ready market will be found
for these articles in the islands of the pacific
and in China, They will get inreturn sugars,
coffee, lea, spices, tropical fruits and porce-
lain. There will be also direct trade with
the western coast of Mexico, Peru and
Chill, countries which furnish most of the
precious metals in the world. The trade
already carried on in furs, fish and lumber is
extensive.
We learn from the Consular returns re-
ceived by our government from the Sand
wich islands that the number of American
ships which go into The ports of the Sand
wich Islands to obtain supplies or to pass
the winter, ranges from SIS to 65 every year.
There is but little doubt that so soon as a
surplus can be produced in Oregon Terri
tory it will take the precedence in furnish
ing these ships with their supplies.
SErTLEMENrs.-The largest settlements
made in Oregon Territory prior to Is4l
were formed by the Hudson Bay Company.
This is an English Company and takes. its
name from Hudson's BY on the Atlantic
ocean, it is principally engaged in the fur
trade. With vast and powerful means al
command they have established numerous
forts and trading stations throughout all the
northern part of the American Continent
from the Atlantic ocean TO the Pacific and
northward to the Arctic ocean. They en-
ploy great number of hunters and traders
who traverse an extent of territory equal TO
the present size of the United States. of
late years that part of the company located
on the Columbia river have carried on ex-
tensive farming operations. 1t. w. who
visited tina, country in lS4l writes, "rhey
have now farms in successful operation al
Cowltz, Nisqually, Collville, Fl. Langley and
the Fualatine plains about 10 miles from
Vancouver, all of which are we'll stocked
and supply the Russian Post at Stka, under
contract with a variety of articles raised on
them. They have introduced large herds
and focks into the territory from California
and during our stay there several thousand
head were imported" The company own
ships two schoonerst and steamboat which
carry their trade to and from different points
in this part of the world. Fl. Vancouver is
the principal depot from which goods are
furnished to the other stations; DR.. Nc
Laughlin is the chief agent for the compn-
ny in this territory and resides at Fl. Van
couver. His generosity and hospitality to
strangers have made his name dear TO all
who have visited that country. His liberal
kindness in sending provisions and aid 10
meet the worn down emigrants who have
crossed the mountains cannot be too highly
appreciated His we'll deserved reputation
for untiring benevoence has spread through
out the United States with the name of
Oregon; and it is to be hoped that he will
be rewarded in some manner which will
show that the American People are not
ungrateful.
The American citizens in The territory at
this time are estimated as being over 5000
persons. They have opened farms, laid
out towns, built schoolhouses churches and
mills. They have established temporary
government, an office for recording land
titles. and are actively engaged in developing
the resources of the country. Some indivi-
duals are realizing handsome incomes from
their farms and work shops.
The committee are we'll aware that new
are frequently overrated and that
emigrants are often disappointed in their
after locating in newly dis
covered countries. 1t is we'll to bear in mind
that every country has both advantages and
peculiar to itself, and that
different portions of the world are more
nearly equal in the possession Of benefits
than is generally supposed. Oregon has its
barren, inaccessible mountains and sandy
deserts as well as rich vallies and fertile
plains. But after making due allowances
for many faults which may be discovered,
the committee still incline to adopt the
opinions of Lit. Wilkes who concludes his