Wisconsin herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1846-1849, 1848-11-11

/ Wy W this SudSt Win WnicN. too, IN all
Likelihood, will be commenced the first in
4 'ercourse with Japan. Now, along the
whole length of this coast, there are hui two
or three practicable ports for shipping, and
the struggle which even the passive Mexi-
1 cans made for San Francisco, proves how
previously such resorts are valued by those
! best acquainted with their use. Vancouver's
island, from It's situation and harhors, is I'M
/ Occasionally the site which will command
the commerce of the coast and il ever the
/ North Pacific is indeed to become Medit-
lerrmean, here will be its Tyre
/ Nootka Island derives its supposed i'm
portance, then, from its geographical posi-
ton ON the Pacific (it is only eighteen DAYS,
steam-distance, from China y from its har-
hors, which are not only the best on the
iwhole coast, north of Acapulco, bot must,
for that and other reasons, in the opinion of
many experienced critics, Captain Wilkes
among the rest, compel the location of the
WeSter2 terminus OF the Pacific Railroad
on ihs Straits of Juan de ltuca aud, US we
have mentioned, from the coal beds situated
on its very shores, the ready dcpots of ocean
steamers, and the supposed fertility of soil
and mildness of climate, offering SD many
inducements To colonists. The island Is
about three hundred miles long, with an av-
erage of perhaps sixty wide, presenting an
area of eighteen or twenty thousand square
miles, equal To two such States as MARYLAND
or New Hampshire.
Perhaps, however, the ideas of the fine
isoi and climate of this island are chiefly
derived from Captain Cookies original OBJ
servations on the timber, grass aud genial
air noticed 10y him at NOolka Sound. He
found the grass there a foot long, rs early
as April at which time, the lowest temper
allure al night was 40 degrees of Eahrenheit's
thermometer, which rose by day 10 90 de-
grccs; and he noticed rich soil in some
places two feet deep. Nevertheless, the n-
terror of the island is very little known,
and It's mountainous surface, shooting up in-
10 peaks of perpetual snow, must greatly
lessen the extent of its cultivable territory.
Its coal mines may be thought of less ne
count since The reported discovery of coal
beds in various parts of American Oregon
and California, aud more especially on the
Cowlitz river, only twelve miles above its
confluence with the Columbia, and near the
mouth OF the latter: (but Sir George Simp-
son speaks of this coal as of very imper-
feet, inferior descriptionS.) We may CON
cedc the superior number aud better cbarac-
ter OF the harburs ia aud behind Ibis island;
bur we shall never perhaps feel the want of
them so long as we possess Admiralty Inlet
aud our share OF the opening Of the Straits
of de Fuca. NoCtka may he, and doubtless
is, very valuable island; but it is not en-
trely paradise aud Unless capable, with
the al jacent mainland north of 40 degrees,
of supporting large population, which does
not seem TO he the case, II may be question
ed whether any colony or free state founded
upon IT'S shores, can ever expect Ia dispute
tie dominion OF the Pacific with the future
American States of Oregon and California.
The question Of the cession Of Nootka To
the iludson's Bay Company is one OF some
interest on this side of the water, as well as
in England; but il cannot he said to make
any difference TO the United States whether
Nootka be given up to the Company or
made a new field of free British colonization.
The Company, or bands of free colonIsts,
must alike work for as. In the natural
course OF events, and IN the iullness OF time,
all these northern territories of the Ameri-
eau continent will become the possessions of
the republic, compelled by wars or CONNER
cial aud political necessities moie ciiectual
than wars ia changing colonial conditions
aud those occupants of Nooika may he con-
sidered the best for US, who will do most TO
bHLuuG httsl tltlllLc u. Il ftt biiilSh rtAt''o
would 20 best but it may be doubted wbeth-
or the rentoteuess of the island will not rem
der colonization impracticable, notwlthstan-
ding various projects aud calculations, now
in vogue IN London for carrying out settlers
to Nootka at AN expense Of only from Els
TO Ell sterling a head In the hands of the
Hudson's Bay Company the island would he
preserved for US IN "A state of nature, like all
the rest OF those vast regions of the North,
equal to the territorial expanse of Europe,
winch, for century and "a half, have re-
manned in their prmeyal des0laiIon, under
the fatal rule OF an association whose inter-
csts are incompatible with the progress OF
civilization. IL is not man, but wild beasts,
that must Increase and multiply ia the terri
tories Of "a power which takes more account
oil beaver skins than human souls, and has
30 farther thought, ia the cultivation OF ITS
savage aud halt breed subjects, than that OF
maklng them frugal hunters aud industrious
yoyageurs. Ceded to II, NoOtka viii be an
otter region added 10 the wilderness which
it Is holding back for the use of the Amerl-
cans. The fludsOn's Bay Company IS, IN
fact, the forest-ranger Of the republic, pre-
serving, until the proper day, the game aud
the lands for those who Will know how 10
make a better use Of both than European
governments or subjects.
BUyraLo AND WHITE's Corner PLANK
RoAp.-Tbe Iron Bridge Company have
inst sent, Iy canal an elegant iron suspension