Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1846-09-19


= Sometimes they gradually but al seasons
they burst upon the country and with the violence OF
thunder Storm they are always attended with continued
falls Of rain and the period of their continuance therefore
called the rainy during the rainy there
intervals OF pleasant weather. which generally fol
lowed by cold chilly rains from the south aud Ia the
latter part of winter there generally light falls Of
throughout the country though in the Valleys aud pacu-
larry in the Willamette valley seldom falls than
three inches deep However in the winter Of s4l and
AZ the fell in this valley twelve inches deep but eight
I days afterwards il had all disappeared.
'sThough the winters disagreeabe account Of the
chness Of the southeast winds, and the extreme humidity Of
the atmosphere yet thecod is very moderate the hermometer
seldom falling below freezing point As matter OF course the
ground seldom ozen and therefore poughg may be done
great portion of the winter Occasionally however, there
exception this few days before the great fall OF
already mentioned the mercury fell in parts OF the coun
try fifteen degrees below Zero and continued excessively
cold for several days The lakes all frozen, that cattle
and horses could pass them the and the Columbia
river far downas the mouth of the Willamette was bdged
with the period Of fifteen days. similar circumstance
occurred in the winter OF 1884.
In the middle region the abundant in the
lower country the weather colder and there consequent
y In that portion OF Oregon east OF the Blue
Mountains called the upper region, seldom rains except
the spring. and then the rains proacted Vast guam
titles of fall in this region, particularly in the mountains
This part of the territory distinguished for the extreme
Of its atmosphere which, with the difference in the
temperature botwx the day and night forms its peculiar
trait, far climate is concerned From sunrise l
the mercury frequently rises from forty sixty degrees
" II Should be observed that of the winters Of Oregon
either stormy cold but that cattle horses Sheep
&c. find ample supplies Of provender the widespread pa
ries whittier they are driven to roam at large.
" IL the winters Of Oregon rather and unpleasant
the sufficiently delightful counterbaance all
| that is disagreeable in the winters.
sIn the month of March the weather becomes sufficiently
vegetation that thus early the prairies be-
beautifully green and many Of Foras choicest gifts APP
pear herald the approach of The winds
fyom the and north, and there seldom plea
SAINT weather. except when these prevail After long rainy
0f The fhy md
haatng breeze from the bosom of the Pacific with great
lcude At length the wished for change takes place. The
howl of the storm and the of the southern winds
hushed to silence the hills and valleys gently famed ~
the western zephyr and the sun, pouring his floods of light
and heat from cloudess sky, Nature by enchan
enrobe herself in all the gores of The de-
ghul weather thus ushered in continues through the entire
summer with but little deviation, and the temperature of the
atmosphere, particularly the Willamette valley, is agree
ably and uniform. At in the warmest weather
the Thermometer ranges about $40 in the shade but the
evenings considerably cooler The GOODNESS Of the
ngs doubtless goes far to neuaze the effects Of the malaria
that is exhaled through the influence of the from the
swap and marshy places which found in parts of
the country. From personal experience and extensive obse
in reference this particular writer prepared
express the opinion that the climate of Oregon is decidedly
favorable health. And why should it be The
perature particularly in the lower country remarkably uni
form The country not therefore subject TO the evil result
from sudden changes from extreme heat extreme cold
The exhaa,ng breeze which almost every day
during the sumner contributes greatly TO purify the amos
there but little decayng vegetable matter the country and
but few dead swamps and marshes TO send forth their poison
miasna infect the surrounding regions sufficient
show that Oregon be the abode of health and that hui
life likely be proacted and die of old age
in this country any other portion of the world Indeed
such the heahness Of the climate of this country that but
very few white persons have here scened and died it
first occupancy by such, than thirty years ago. Yet
with these facts before hem there persons who ready
publish far and that the climate of Oregon, and par
cuary of the lower country, decidedly unheathy-tbat
representation could be
"Tue, the and fever, in very modified FORM
times prevails the lower country but il easily controlled
by proper remedies and finally leaves the person with Wig
and unimpared constitution and seldom returns the
second Those persons who have lived longest in the
country generally the healthy and vigorous which
of itself sufficient proof Of the endness Of the climate
the promotion of health II there any difference between
the diff portions Of Oregon regard the heahness
its climate the middle region and that Immediately along
the saubrous The climate of the valleys of
the Willamette, Cowlitz, Umpqua, and Klamet rivers il
well calculated for wheat barley OATS peas apples peaches
paatocs tunps aud all other vegetables usually cultivated
in the temperate attitudes while horses cattle, Sheep hogs
NC flourish and multiply beyond all parallel but in the mid
die and parts of the upper region the climate is well
adapted to all the pursuits of pastoral life.
'With a uniform, salubrious, and delightful climate,
well adapted purposes agriculture any within the
degrees Of latitude any part of the world Oregon much
of its importance if the fertility Of the soil doesn correspond
with the nature Of the climate.
Tbe soil of Oregon has varousy represented by per-
altogether favorable light while Others have greatly
derrated IT. Some have placed among the first in the world
while others have considered Oregon boundess DESERT fit
only be the habaon of wild beasts and These
conflicting representations doubtless have arisen from
perca acquaintance with the country by the authors Of them
They have either stayed in the country sufficient length
of time to become acquainted with its real producveness
they have relied upon that information which has been artu
" designed to prevent the country from being known.
fThe bottom lands each bank Of the Columbia river,
subject annual nundaon, which is occasioned by
the melting Of the quantities Of snow which fall its up
per branches among the mountains This flood continues
through the month of June and into july that whatever
he the richness OF the land thus overown but small por
lions of it will be brought TO contribute the support OF
There are, however, portions which lie above
high mark, and remarkably FERTILE and produce in
abundance all the grains and vegetables the best
parts Of the country. Fort Vancouver is situated Of
these higher parts Of the Columbia valley and here farm Of
thousand cultivated and produces annually
raj thousand bushels Of grain Here also apples pears, and
peaches cultivated successfully, and grapes brought
n degree of perfection.
Though hut few attempts have yet been made to cul
vate the upands tmbered lands, yet sufficient has been
done prove that the soil OF these portions be Of
peor quality. And, indeed, this attested by the immense
those trunks, which, in their upward progress,
spread their magnificent branches the Skies and often
their heads the amazing height Of three hundred feet
Catsop FlaiBs the south side OF the Columbia river,
its mouth embracing of about sixty square miles,
amazingly fertie being composed of rich auvia de-
po and producing all kinds Of vegetables in the greatest
abundance The country around Puge Sound the north
side Of the river is altogether Of different character The
pracs extensive and beautiful the scenery most delight