The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-08-16
View OF rAAnss ia Oregon.
Correspondence OF the California Courier

OREGON Cry, June IL, 1850
hat Oregon is destined TO be the great producing
ana manufacturing country for ali the Pac .ic
| mere Is no doubt by any who have ever seen its
| fertile valies and magnificent waterfalls Az a
lumber country, II is superior to any ever visited
Inc extent and msgnih cence Of its forests
almost up TO the clouds; and these forests being ali
In the western part of the territory and on the
banks OF the rivers, give II peculiar advantage in
| the department OF commerce above all others Did
the people Of California know Of the easy access OF
those forests and their contguty waterfalls and
navigable rivers, they would no longer have any
occasion to send TO the States for lumber for there
is more in Oregon than sufficient to build I'D all tn,
cities that are needed on the Pacific coast. But
shall fail to give any adequate idea of those forests
| they must be seen to be realized
| The first emgrants who arrived in Oregon, set
tied in that beautiful valley, the Willamette, which
is the garden OF Oregon, and l may say OF the
world. The Willamette river is the great southern
| tributary of the magnificent Columbia. The val
ley through which runs, in point of extent ric a.
ness, beauty and fertility, stands prominent above
all others on the great American continent. The
length Of the valley, from north to south, is about
$50 miles, its width from the summit of the Cascades
to the summit of the coast range is about 100 miles
the width of the arabic portion of the valley is
about 40 miles, and through the centre of this
sive valley the Willamette river pursues its mean
deIing course, being augmented by streamseveryfew
miles, running down from the mountain on each
side, thus watering the great extent of country,
and giving 1t that luxurance and beauty which it
Is impossible to describe. The mountains each
sIue are covered WIN Tall pines, ceOdrS, mr., henl-
lock, &C., &c, which make these streams that
run down their sides, invaluable not only for sup
plying water to the valley below but for mill sites.
The valley Is about two-thirds prairie, beautifully
interspersed with timber sufficient for all farming
purposes. No wonder that the first emigrants
stopped here, for here they could excaim Eureka
The river is navigable for steamboats, about one
hundred miles, and, for six months of the year,
about one hundred and nifty miles above the falls
of the Willamette, where Oregon City is situated,
being about thirty miles from its mouth.
The Umpqua valley, which is south Of the Will
amette, running east and west, is in extent equal
10 about one-half, and is watered by magnificent
river OF the same name, which makes its way
through the coast ridge of mountain, and empties
into the sea.
This valley is capable of sustaining dense po-
pulation, as the farms are very rich and fertile,
particularly the river bottom. There are but few
settlements, and its extent il, as yet, not fully
known, never having been explored only by parties
crossing it at different points. / see there is a
company organizing in this city to explore its
mouth and make settlement, and / hope they
will ascertain fully the extent and capabilities Of
the magnificent valley.
If these two valleys were all that Oregon con-
tanned, they would be enough to make one OF the
richest States in our glorious confederacy. Bat
this is but a small portion Of Oregon. have said
river, which rises in the Rocky Mountains, run
ming through district of country more than a
thousand miles in extent, before it empes into the
ocean.
The advantages possessed in Oregon, as manu-
featuring country, are surpassed by none on ac-
count Of its extensive water power. At Oregon
City, where the waters Of the Willamette take
perpendicular descent Of about twenty-five feet,
passing Rochester, N. Y.
On the Columbia river, at the Cascades, about
100 miles from its mouth, Is another favorable point
for mills, marked out by nature, where that river
take descent oil twelve or fifteen feet. These
two places alone will give sufficient power to turn
machinery enough for our whole country.
But the water power is not confined to these
pacesl il is scattered all over that great and
tsnsive country. There is country well
watered, where rivers, streams and nvslets are IN
such great abundance as Oregon, and the position
Of the country being mountainous, all the smaller
streams OF course must be rapd consequently pro-
ducing great advantages TO. mills.
As q mineral country, ! have no doubt that
Oregon is very rich, but as yet il has never been
will safety will not stop for minerals Of less
value. That here are gold mines, there is ques-
ton, for they are now successfully worked in the
southern portion of Oregon; how extensive they
port with regard TO gold on the Columbia, in the
Spoon country, has come so authenticated, that
cannot doubt IL for q moment, yet | would not
true that geld il found away at the extreme north
line of the territory, can reason why the
Cascade ridge should not be as rich the Sierra
Nevada, for II Is the same continued ridge Of noun
tain.
But we are rich enough without gold. Oregon
possesses natural elements OF greatness enough to
make her 10y far the greatest country this coast
and am glad TO see attention beginning 70 turn
that way; towns and cities are beginning to spring
into existence at the different prominent points on
the rivers and elsewhere; exertions are now being
made TO give them that influence and benefit to the
country which their position demands. Soon we
shall see the majestic steamboat navigating these
noble rivers, and soon we shall city on the
shores Of that beautiful bay at the mouth OF the
great Columbia, which will give TO Oregon what
he has hmm eAa6 foxNn Ilfahl fnY n
commercial depot for that great country. Ameri-
cans have taken hold ef IL In earnest, aud that Is
sufficient guarantee.
prom the Pacific Sewsl
SAN FRANcIsco, June IL, 1850.
None familiar with the extent and peculiar lea
lures of Oregon, but must be impressed that three
great and important towns must necessarily spring
up in her midst. The fret has already come into
consideration in my last article, namely, Oregon
City, at the Falls Of the Willamette. The second
IL situated at the cascades Of the Columbia, and
the third nj the mouth Of that great river, the
natural outlet fer all the products Of Oregon. As
Oregon City 10 10 the great and extended valleys
Of the WilIemette and Umpqua, so IL Cascade City
to all the upper valleys Of the Columbia. IL " SIT
uated at the foot Of the cascades, where the
descent Of twelve or iif,.s" fee,' about Iso maes
from its mouth, and some 10 miles above the
mouth OF the Willamette, the great southern trbu-
tary;
natural distributing and manufacturing peint, and
although shipping can reach neither one nor the
other, is OF but little importance TO either, as
steamboats, are about 10 claim their proper pro-
vince, and transact all the business these for
midabe waters
In the immediate vicinity Of this place, which
has been but recently surveyed, are extensive Goa
beds, spe cimeps OF which now exhibited in
this city, and by its brlancy and specific gravity,
IT, believed TO be a superior quality. Mr.. Johnson
the principal proprietor, speaks favoratly OF the
extent and easy access Of this important mine
This adds considerably to the Importance Of this
position.
Pacific City, a. the little hamlet or nucleus Of a
commercial town is called, is situated al the
northern entrance of the Columbia. The impor-
tsncc Of this position hardly be estimated,
AZ the Columbis 10 the only feasible and natural
one seaport town TO the west, what Boston, New
York and Philadelyhis are 10 the east This will
be the more fnlly realized when we consider it's
coniiguitY " China. the Sandwich klaade. Cali