New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-01-30
OREGON.
Oregon Mt the Cisse of 1S5O-Infanf Cities
Agriculture, &c.

give YOU some idea Of this truly interesting coun-
try. The day Nov. 8, lat IS north is mild aud
pleasant; the air is soft as Spring, and very in
yigorating; the leaves of some young, thrifty ap.
ple.trees, on the verge Of Bakers Bay, are not
tinged with the frost Probably there is not
more healthy, agreeable, and even temperature
on the globe than here at the mouth OF the Co
lumbia River-no extreme Of heat and cold
There are two entrances into the River-the
North and South Channel The Northern con.
tains more water, and is the only one by which
ships of any considerable draft can enter at low
tide. The mouth of the river, to the unpracticed
in navigation, presents quite formidable aspect
breakers on every side. But the danger Is not
so great az il appears The chief difficulty is the
neces sity OF waiting for favorable wind. As
YOU approach the entrance OF the River, your
ewes are greeted with a most imposing and beau.
tiful spectacle Mount ST Helens, in the form OF
a sugar loaf and white as the spotleS snow,
rises on your view-an emblem Of innocence, an
everduring monument Of silent eloquence-as
though it said to the jewellers on all the immense
nrospect il oyerloOks, " Be pure be truthful and
lust. and you will be beautiful and happy
AS YOU enter che mouth of the River on small
peninsula formed by the expansion of the River,
in the form of half moon into large bay (ba-
ker's) and the Pacific, on the north side is stu
ated Pacific City-the embryo as many think OF
the Oueen of the West. The city was COM
menced last March. The Bay on which 1t 10 10
Gated is spacious and safe, as though Nature IN
tended il for the depot Of the extensive lumber
and agricultural regions of the Columbia valley.
A hotel which, well furnished, will cost twenty
Thousand dollars, is nearly completed n large
saw.mill is already commenced, and the site De-
gins 10 attract the attention OF the capitalist
Almost every vessel bringing to it the sturdy adj
venturer. Ii certainly has many advantages out
YOU will see it has also good number OF rivals.
Across the River, and little higher up, ls stu
ated Clatsap Plains low, sandy district but re-
markedly productive in vegetables. The claims
here mostly containing full sectionl are nearly
all occupied They are now selling their potatoes
for four dollars per bushe and other vegetables
in proportions consequently the farmer Is making
his heap with great rapidity. And so 1t must
continue here for years 70 come. There Is no re-
gion that presents brighter prospect to the az
riculturist than that about the mouth OF the Co
lumbia.
Astoria, also on the opposite side OF the river
from Pacific city, is situated about fifteen miles
higher up. At present 1t IS the only port OF Ore
gon except one. The customhouse aud as
tributing Post office are here. Gen. Adair the
Port Collector has moved the Offices about one
mile higher up, and commenced new Astoria
Nature has not been as protuse OF her advantages
to this place as to Pacific City. No large ana
beautiful baV spread out
$500. sroSnd is not so magnificent. STILL AS
tora hopes to be first in Importance on account OF
her age In point of population, the two places
are nearly equal.
The claims near the mouth Of the river are
being fast taken up, and are estimated in value
from two hundred to five thousand dollars-those
near Pacific City being considered most yalua-
BILE Proceeding up the river about sixty miles,
YOU come TO the month OF Cowlltz river. In ITS
valley the French have settlement. But the
Anglo Saxon are crowding into their possessions
and establishing their claims The banks OF the
river on both sides are high and precipitous COW
cred with dense forest the lofty tops OF which
shoot up arrow-like three hundred feet and more
toward the heavens AS you leave this place,
the general course of the river ncllnes little 10
the south OF east.
Cattle Poodle. another small tributary and on
the same side of the river, is 10 miles from Cow
litz Herea we find another settlement, IN rich
and beautiful valley.
As YOU proceed eastward you soon arrive at the
mouth of the Willamette, which enters the Colum-
bia on the south side In the basin OF this river Is
located the principal portion OF Oregons popula
ton This valley, consisting of rich and beautiful
prairie, inserspersed with patches OF clean and
magnificent timber land, is truly delightful 1t is
without doubt the best Wheat country yet
known. The climate, though mild, pleasant aud
remarkably even, is sufficiently warm 10 mature
Corn. except the yellow flint. The grass, with
which the prairies are richly carpeted, unlike
that east OF the Rocky Mountains, is fine in
quality and very nutritious Cattle subsist on it
and thrive during whole year 1t affords to the
husbandman, without any culture, perennial pas
ture field.
Proceeding up the Willamette some fifteen or
twenty miles, you arrive at Portland. This is the
second port, and may be considered the head OF
ship navigation. An effort is making to make
this the great port of Oregon, and were it not for
the application Of steam, for time this might be.
STILL Portland without doubt is soon to be
place of importance, mart OF no uncomfortable
trade,
Milwaukee, near the slls of the Willamette, is
the next point of importance Here steamboat
is building and is expected to be ready for bust
ness bv Christmas This boat is designed to ply
between Pacific City and Milwaukee, ascending as
high as Oregon City, when the stage oil the river
will permit.
The river at this point spreads out into beau
tiful cove making a convenient harbor for quite
number of vessels. Mr.. Whitcomb, the proprietor
of Milwaukee is a liberal, enterprising man, and
it does appear that nature has decreed that his
place shall be the head of ship navigation for all
the extensive valley Of the Willamette.
Six or seven miles above Milwaukee we arrive
at the Falls of the Willamette and Oregon City,
at present the capitol of the Territory in point of
population and advancement The perpendicular
fall of the water is sixty feet presenting grand
and n;ctaresouA scene The city numbers about
1900 inhabitants, and is most rapidly Increasing
The most thickly settled portion OF the Territory
is still higher up the valley. Wheat is the great
staple, forty bushels TO the acre where the ground
has been well prepared an ordinary yield, and
sixty bushels no extraordinary one. Many ofthe
farmers have eight hundred or thousand bushels
garnered up.
In Water.pOwer and Timber Oregon stands an
riyaled. Her water power could supply the wants
Of the world There are in the Territory some
thirty or thirty.fve saw mills now in operation,
and several more building, but not one good -four
The mineral wealth Of Oregon is not yet ascer-
tanned. Her great resources are yet undeveoped
Marble, fine and rich as Parlan Is known 70 De
abundant and it is confidently DeneveG ina IN tle
Klamath district. and other parts are richer mines