Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1845-08-07
From the extree heaIthness Of DIE climate and DE

pursuits which the people will adopt, we may anticl-
pate that it will become distinguished portion of
the country for intelligence, virtue, and political IN
dependence. Our knowledge OF the region, between
the Rocky and Blue mountains, not favorable its
speedy settlement or its value for any Of the princl-
pal pursuits of our citizens The soil Is strangely
mpregnated with salts that it must remain for many
centuries unfit for cultivation. salt lake, called
Youta, is situated In the south part of this valley
near the junction of the Snowy and Rocky mountains
Mr. Pitcher spent year in the region of the Mutton
oman, Lewis and Clarks rivers, and found the val
eys covered with the richest grasses White clover,
red clover, timothy and blue grass, were common,
and among the spontaneous productions Though the
soil upon these rivers does not equal that of the Mis-
sissippi it is superior to the cultivated parts Of the
Atlantic States.
| Notwithstanding the many disadvantages of soil
and climate, Oregon possesses commercial and man
ufacturing abilities far superior to those of other
tons of the country 1t is universally conceded that
the water power of the territory is unlimited. The
rivers which rise in the Rocky Mountains, at ele
walton of 5000 10000 feet above the sea- find their
way with extreme rapdity and power to the Pacific
On all these streams labor enterprise and wealth, will
establish various kinds of manufactures Coal has
been found and minerals supposed to be buried In
the mountains. A large portion oft ne country, par
ticularly the coast, is covered with heavy and val
liable timber. The pine, live oak, and white oak,
grow to extraordinary size, far surprising any OF
the species in North America The timber Is not on
y valuable for fuel but will be extensively used in
building ships houses and for export to the countries
washed by the Pacific.
The commercial advantages of this territory const
tute Its principal value On the north and northwest
are the Russian possessions, both of America and
ASIA extending 80 degrees of latitude; on the
south are California Mexico, and the extensive coast
5 of South America on the west, and comparatively
near are China and the populous regions known as
{ the East Indies. When Oregon settled, ii will
be- by American citizens, her ships will visit all these
ports for commercial purposes. Among her CONNER
cial furs, lumber beef, hides, tallow
and grain, omit entirely those, articles of traffic
il which American enterprise and ingenuity will utl-
mately produce in great quantities. Furs always
: meet ready sale In China and many parts OF the
East lumber sells at high price in the islands of
the Pacific and various sections of Asia aud Amer
lea flour, beef, hides and talow, be sent to al
most any section of the world Many of these arti-
cles commanded high price last year. On the Will
lamet river beef was worth So 90 per hundred, flour
81 90 per bbl, pork Sl2 30 per bb lard, butter and
cheese, 20 cents per pound. (Letter from an emf
h grant.) A century will be sufficient to place the
commerce of Oregon in respectable position. Should
the jurisdiction of the United States be extended
e the territory west of the Rocky mountains emgra
ton will be encouraged, and the authority of the gov
e eminent will essentially aid in rendering the Pacific
the rival of the Atlantic.
The great difficulty, in a commercial aspect is the
want of good harbors. The mouth of the Columbia
river affords toerabe shelter for vessels, but the
re entrance is difficult and dangerous. When Capt
ID Gray discovered the river he was unable to enter
for nine days, though he made great exertons to dc
So Various plans for the improvement of the harbo
n have been made and the settlement of the country
O. will lead partial complete removal Of the diff
ne cultes. As the Columbia has Its head in the remote
m parts of the territory, and for long time, at least
w be the principal channel of communication witt
the coast 1t is important that every obstacle SHOULD
D. be overcome There are no harbors of any yalu
a south Of the Columbia North of the Columbia ar
as Bulnch Grays harbor, Nootka sound, and numer
at Gus bays sounds and nets upon the strait Of Fuca
he Princess Royal and Queen Charlottes islands, whic
pm will afford secure shelters for vessels of any size
Hence the importance of securing this portion of tn
e. coast in the adjustment of the boundary with Grea
he Britain.
as The possession of Oregon viii enable the Unite
he States to increase and strengthen their naval we
rst as commercial power. There few places whic
will afford greater facilities for ship building, tina
H., the coasts of this country. The pines of the Colum
bia rival the sycamores of the Mississippi, while tn
live and white oak superior to the specie
in the Atlantic States OF course, of the frs
no measures of our government should be to establish
naval station for the repair of trading vessels,
those employed in the protection of our commerc
The mouth the Columbia could easily be made tn
depot for the trade of the whole eastern continen
re- After the establishment of naval station, the
essential requisite is a safe and expeditions mode
Al communication betwixt the Pacific and the valley
the Mississippi.
70 By this arrangement our merchants would obtai
information from all parts of the Pacific coast in az
- vance of those of any other nation A knowledge
the European markets could be obtained more exp'
o dtously via the United States to China, than by
" other route. So, the other hand, shall obai
the earliest information, well from all Asia
the eastern coast of South America, from Chin
" and Oregon. Our trading vessels fitted out at Il
Columbia, could traverse the ocean in every direction
rth and search for markets and articles of
es- fc at every post both continents, from Beerng
IN strait TO Cape Horn. In the absence of the
u.s. transporting heavy merchandise the continen
oil vessels would ply regularly between the extremti
ON of the American territories The possession of Or
it oon IN the limited States the control of Il
UO commerce of the world and enables them to conen
. even-handed with Great Britain for the supremacy
IL the seas.
Ow
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