Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-10-12
THE EXPLORATIONS OF THE COAST OF
OREGON AND CALIFORNIA.

FROM THE cAIrFoRsIA COURIER on sEPrEABER l.
The Joint Commission of the Army and Navy
officers, detailed by Government to explore the
whole coast of the United States lying on the Paci
ic ocean, with reference to its permanent defence
adaptation to naval establishments, and other i'm
portant specified particulars, returned to this place
a few days since, having nearly completed thei,
labors. The Commission is made up of three
from the navy and three from the army. Cap,
L. M. GoLDsBoRoUGH, Capt. VAN BRuNr, and
Lieut.. LINsA LUNT are Of the navy. Col. ]. L
SMITH, Major CORNELIUS OGDEN, and Lieut.. ID.
LEADBETTER belong to the army.
The coast of California, north of San Francisco.
including the whole of Oregon to 40 deg, has
been thoroughly examined, and valuable Informs
ton obtained. In the course of this examination
and after visiting our possessions lying along the
Straits of Fuca, Admiralty Inlet, Pugefs Sound,
&C. &c., up to our boundary line at the 49th paral
lei of latitude, it became necessary TO proceed TO
Beaver Harbor, on the northeast part of Vancou-
ve Island, in order to obtain fresh supply of Goals for the
propeller Massachusetts, This vessel transferred to the
naval service for the special purpose of accommodating the
Commission, and for conveying its members the places
connected with their prescribed duties At that place an
abundant supply of bituminous COAL of excellent quality
for steamng purposes readily procured but Beaver
Harbor reached via the Gulf Of Geogs and thus by
what termed the inside passage, and the north route
was the pursued in returning. seems that Vancouver
Island completely crcumnavgated and that the party
in question went as far north as 81 degrees.
Goal was found to exist in immense quantities az around
and about Beaver Habor and also The seawad side Of
Vancouver opposite that harbor and the main land OBJ
quey opposite and still to the norhward. The beautiful
hmbors Of Victoria and Esqumalt he former settlement
Of the Hudson Bay Company visited by the Commits
son Esqumal is described Of the very anchor
that be conceived Of for ships Of any daught size
whatever Both these places il be remembered are
Vancouves Island and lie along the Straits of Fuca
After accomplishing all that required in the quayers
mentioned the Commission directed its attention that
part Of running from the southern cape Of the Straits
Of Fuca to Columbia river and then that ITSELF
geher with its tributaries In the of these examine
tons, we learn that party dispatched to visit carefully
large and Ishetered harbor known thereabous as
Shoawater Bay, and having its entrance thirty miles
north OF Cape Disappointment in the neighborhood Of
midway from that cape TO Gray Harbor.
The prosecution of this service confirmed the fact that the
waters of the harbor and those the mouth the Columbia
approach each other within very short distance distance
involving portage present almost mpaccabe for wagons
whaleboa was hauled it by dozen of Indians
without any great difficulty. II is thought that Shoalwaer
Bay Is destined to become point of material consequence
proper is twenty miles, and its beadh six or
eight The bar too at its entrance is understood to present
no serious obstacle to the admission of ships Of the largest
class at all seasons of the year.
But of the most remarkable features Of this place u.s.
that ship may probably approach Bakers bay Cape
Disappointment via its entrance within eight
miles It abound however, with sand banks but there
good channel ways between hem and the whole sheet Of
water is placid summers lake. On leaving the Co
umba and coasting along the southwark the Commission
touched of the Umpqua, and asceraned that lis bar
was practicable for commercial purposes under certain cir
cumstances. Indeed, American schooner was at the
time lying anchor in the river, and had reached her posi-
ton without difficulty. The lands Of the Umpqua valley
described being fertile than those Of the
Willamette, and the proximity Of these valleys matter of
singular importance. Upon the whole, learn that the
examinations Of the Commission have proved highly interest
ment is already engaged in the preliminary steps towards
terrifying Pacific possessions, and avang itself Of their
admitted advantages for naval establishments.