The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-11-15

pie as actually reside on lands, and do not hold
then. as a cloak, make of course part Of desirable
population. The agents of the company among
the most respectable Of our inhabitants, and many
Of them have become citizens; but the existence Of
powerful foreign corporal ion in thnly settled
and distant Territory, possessed of special and, in
some degree, hostile powers, seems TO me TO be Of
questionable policy.
On the other hand, il must be considered that
the revenue of this Territory would be cut down by
its extinction; that all trade would probably, for
some time, be mere coasting trade, and that
| reduction in the offices would be required. The
establishment of port of delivery at Portland on
the Wahlamet, believe to be useless as it is. An
inspector stationed here must, necessarily, accom-
pany all vessels up the river, and is just compe
tent to discharge them as collector. Again Mis-
qually, at the head of Puget's Sound, is made
port OF delivery. Now, il is idle to suppose that
vessels will enter the mouth Of the Columbia before
going to the sound, especially if they from
the northward, from Vancouver's Island for in
stance; consequently, port of entry, instead of
port OF delivery, if any thing, should have been
constituted there. The expense would be no
greater-the benefit to the Territory much more.
But. unless for merely temporary purposes, New
Dunguiness, in the straits is the point for port of
entry to the sound. In the strange constitution Of
that Sheet rather assemblage of waters, there is
hardly point where vessels Of the largest size
cannot tic up to the trees its banks, whence
perpendicular depth of fifty or sixty fathoms drops
down. port at the head of such bay, with its
thousand notifications, would be Of as much avail
for protection of the revenue at Albany to
protect the commerce of Long leland sound. When
the shores of Puget's Sound are inhabited, it will
be at an hundred points Greater advantages for
inland navigation were never concentrated.
In regard to the advantages and perils of this
river harbor and navigable stream, l will say
few words, at the risk of fatiguing your atten-
ton During the last eighteen months hum
drcd and seven vessels have entered the mouth of
the river, and of all Sizes from sloop- of down
to New London mackerel smack. Since Janu-
airy last only has there been pilot stationed here
permanently, and yet but two accidents have oc-
CURED upon the much dreaded bar-one a French
bark, which came in directly the breakers,
struck, and got over, though much injured; the
other, lumber laden vessel, whose master, igno-
rant of the channel and frightened at the appear
of the bar, abandoned her, after cutting away
his masts, and escaped in small boat with his
crew. That vessel went over, and went to sea un-
injured. A large vessel the old Sylvic dc Grasse,
of New York, lost on a rock in the river dbope
Astoria; and a brig lading with piles, in a small
river running into Young's bay, fell over with the
tide and biged. This is the whole catalogue of
accidents during that period, both on the bar and
in the river. Since have had pilot here,
Capt Charles White, formerly Of the Hackstafi,
New York pilot.) new channel, which for many
years has been gradually opening, has been ex-
pored, and through it almost all vessels now enter
the river. 1t has the advantage Of being perfectly
straight, though not quite as deep the old north
channel; but the Massachusetts, the sloop- of war
Falmouth, and the steamship Carolina, have all
passed it, II lies the south side of the river and
is some miles nearer TO Astoria than the other.
Not only is there less there, in the prevalent
winds of the river, but there leading winds,
both entering and going out. Captain Macarthur,
of the United States Coast Survey, who has been
here during the spring and summer, pronounoes it
an excellent one, and to have diminished the dan
gers Of the bar seventy five per cent. No
Of detention, beyond the ordinary Of bad
weather, TO which every Dor ia subject, has &C.
CURED, either entering leaving, since this pas
sage has been used whereas, in the old route,
sells often lay for weeks under Cape Disappoint-
ment.
Above Astoria there are, in a hundred and thirty
miles in which the Columbia is navigabe, several
points of obstruction. which, except at the pc
riod of the freshets vessels of large size cannot
safely pass, and the same is the with the Wah-
lamet. For steamboat navigation, however such
il used in the eastern rivera, il is admirably
adapted; and small steamboat built at Astoria
now plies regularly between here and Vancouver
From the nature of its Shores the Columbia itself
will never be thickly peopled river, though set
Elements at different points will undoubtedly attain
considerable size Astoria, situated relatively to
the mouth New York, or rather Brooklyn is
TO the mouth Of the Hudson, and possessing a
good harbor, protected from the winter winds,
and afording safe anchorage, is destined to
become point of importance, both de-
pot for vesscls entering and for the produce Of
the country above. Here the custom. house and
the distributing office of the Territory have both
been very properly located. The size Of the place
at present is small enough though il is the largest
on the Columbia, Fort Vancouver only excepted
A rival has lately been attempted by some daring
spectators in Baker's Bay, under Cape Disappoint
ment, which bears the imposing name of Pacific
City Their object once served in the sale of lots,
however it is not likely TO be much heard Of; but
its owners threaten the removal of all public build
ings to that point.
There several public works Of no great cost
which it ia most desirable to have constructed here
and which, as they would not figure largely in a
bill of appropriation, Congress should favor with.
One is small building for marine hospital, which
could be placed under the direction of the surgeon
Of the garrison at Fort George, mile below here;
another ia suitable pier and public store. AZ re-
CARDS the hospital, which is pressing want, Gene
| raj Adair wrote urgently to Mr.. Thurston during
the last wintor, but notice seems to have been
| taken Of the application. The cum Of ten thou
sand dollars would the building and furnish
ing, and annual sum Of five thousand dollars,
the expense Of keepng Il up. Itwould serve at the
same time as quarantine building For pier,
which is absolutely needed. further sum of ten
thousand dollars should be granted, and five thou
sand for a warehouse. Tbesc sums could be sup.
piled within year out of the revenue OF the dis
trict, independent Of all other demands The fact
that no accommodation exists here for landing,
storing, OF inspecting goods, is Sufficient to show
the necessity. General kdair has caused 10 be
built, with funds placed in his hands for that pur
poso 10y Mr.. Secretary Walker, a small but convo-
nient office, and is about with the balance to erect
wharf, at which landing is practicable, adjoining
IL; but the whole of the bay being exposed TO & csh
winds, and the rise and fall OF the tide being con-