Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1846-04-23

the kind of heritage, grass, clover, &c. and
where best produced, each reporting in the eve
ming the days observation
Soon after leaving the Oregon Institute, some
so miles South of the Willamette Falls on our
way upthe valley we were all most agreeably
struck and impressed with the general aspects
of the country The fern so common in the
lower part of the Valley, was no longer met
with; and aside from the fact of now and then
meeting with little district or patch somewhat
gravelly, there appeared everywhere spread out
before us combination of beauty and excel
lence | have nowhere else observed
AS have not met with description of this
remarkable scenery, ALLOW me to attempt sketch
of it, which certainly must be faint indeed.
The river flats are from two to six miles in
width; the table ground from 80 to 100 feet
higher, stretches off usually from to Is miles,
followed by the undulating, or rolling ground,
which gradually swelling Eastward connects
with the billy region, onward beyond which we
gaze upon the stupendous Cascade ridge, from
the centre and in the midst of which are thrown
up in full view five of the most remarkable
mounds of earth covered with perpetual snow
for many thousand feet, and thrown up in a
manner strlkingly resembling a country haystack
to the fearful height from Is to II thousand
feet above the level of the sea. See Captain
Fremonts report of the height of Mount Hood |
The fertility of these flats of rich alluyial depo-
sits, covered either with woodland or heritage,
the buffalo or bunch grass, clover, or timothy,
with flowers of every hue, impresses one most
agreeabIy The table ground with an occasion
al old orchard-oak scattered here and there, UNI
derneath which and all abroad, we observed a
smooth surface richly clad with the most nutri-
tious grass, commingled with strawberry vines,
clover, heritage, and flowers of great variety is
not less pleasing to the eye and mind of the OBJ
server than the fertile Wales below.
The billy districts will hardly be found less
charming interesting, or valuable. Here the
oaks increase in number commingled with an
occasional lofty fir, with now and then cluster
Of pine underneath, over all of which gentle
mans coach may be driven at pleasure, over
gentle rising and descending grounds of smooth
surface, in the midst of scenery spread out
before the eye, enlivened by the variety of wild
fowl and herds Of bounding deer, that de6es de-
scripton.
Here, too as in the higher districts, we meet
with laurel, cedar, maple, &c. with a shrubbery
of blackberry, raspberry, thimble. goose, service
and whorteberry, and every patch of open
ground richly clad with heritage of some de
sCription. The higher regions, more difficult Of
ascent, for considerable distance, part prairie
and part woodland, as witnessed in the astound-
ing growth Of timber and quality of grass, give
indications of excellent SOIL doubtless enriched
by the wash Of the eternal mountains above, tc
which this district is attached.
But must hasten down TO the Valley, moi
forgetting to say, however, to my Western emf
grant hunter, that these mountains TEEN with
game from the rabbit upward to the lofty boun.
ding elk. More upon this in an other number
must here close for to-day, not without say.
ing Oregon abounds in singular extremes, furn
ishing, in my humble opinion, some of the fines
districts OF country on earth, but more Of little
beauty Or worth the largest growth of timber
while, as a whole, it is sparsely tmbered; little
variety, and all of the Eastern portion of stunt
ed growth.
But of the Willamette and Umpqua Valley, ;
district of country capable of sustaining wei
several millions of inhabitants, it will be found
holds forth as many and strong inducements tC
emigrants, either as to agriculture, herding, man
uiacturng or for commercial purposes, as any
part of our wide domain.
ELIJAH WHITE,
Washington, Dec. IS, 1915