Hillsdale Whig standard. (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1846-1851, 1851-05-27
A Letter from Oregon.
Polk County. OREeoN, Feb. 90, 1876

DEAN SIR:-I have concluded to give you
in this letter view of Oregon in her present
situation; and as my first view Of Oregon
this land of rich vallies, noble rivers, unsur-
passed mountain scenery and climate which
no other country in North America can
boast Of hsving-was al the mouth OF the
Columbia River will make this my starting
poirt.
The Columbia River emptes into the Pa
cifc Ocean from the east, at 90 deg. l9A
min. north. On the north side Of the
river is a bold, high head-Iand projecting
out into the Ocean called Cape Disappoint-
ment, from this p an angling direction south
is located the much dreaded bar OF the CO.
lumbia. over which aud against Cape Dis
appointment the waves Of the Ocean with
their white crested tops have rolled and dash
ed for ages past This was TO me truly
grand aud magnificent sight; such an one in-
deed as my pen cannot do justice. actual
sight can only give person any idea OF its
beauty, and fearful and majestic grandeur
The entrance to the river is by two channels.
the north and the south, and they have the
reputation of being dangerous and ditficnlt;
but like a great many other dangers and dit
ficuhies, easily snrnounted where there is a
will. The navigation Of the bar Of the CO.
lumbia has been rendered perfectly safe
and easy through the perseverance of Capt.
White, the only pilot now there. There
have during the last year entered and clear
ed the mouth Of the Columbia, over one
hundred and fifty different vessels from as
to 600 tons burthen and out Of this number
there have been about half dozen accidents,
and those trivial.
I As Won round Cape Disappointment by
the north channel, the bay runs TO the north
ward and westward considerable distance.
! forming Bakers Bay. This Bay Is land
! locked on the west and north. On the
north ives, shore of Bakers Bay is situated
! Pacific City, place but recently started and
evidently having some advantages; but more
especially from the country north Of the CO.
lumbia. The entrance Of the river being
mostly by the south channel, Astoria no
doubt will outs,rip its neighbor in trade. Pa
ciic City can already boast OF spacious
Hotel and several other substantial buildings
and many other Improvements which are
progressing rapidly. The country back pre-
ssnts a beautiful appearance. The High
lands being covered with heavy growth oI
timber mostly pine-as far as the eye car
reach, indented here and there with small
vallies Of unsurpassed fertility.
In the distance, TO the eastward, looms ur
in beautiful sublimity the snow capt top o
Nj. ST. Hellens, the silence of whose sum.
nit has never yet been broken by the tread
of human feet, and presume never will
This is burning mountain, its fires are al
present subsided. The crater is on the
north side below the summit.
To the south, the couHtry appears more
level and better adopted TO agricultural pur-
suits. Several farm Cabins are located upon
the margin of the river, and large bands oI
cattle may be seen feeding upon the rich
grasses on its banks.
Six miles from the mouth Of the river. on
the south bank, stands Astoria, town con-
tanning some 500 inhabitants exclusive OF
the U. S. troops which are quartered there.
This place although well known to the
people Of the U. S, by name, is comparative
ly new in point OF improvement. The bull
ding are all new and present a fine appear
ance. The general distributing Post Office
for the Territory. and Custom House are To-
Gated here. II | mistake not, this place
will yet be the New York OF the Columbia
Above Astoria stands Tongue Point, high
frownng rock, and as its name indicates il
is of tongue shape and extends several hun.
| dred feet from the main bank into the river.
! believe it is the intention Of the govern
ment to forlify this place, il can be made inn
pregnable as Gibialer. Above this, to
! the eastward, is Shoal Water Bay, the river
at this point must be 25 or 80 miles vide
On either side Of this Bay there appears to
be heavy growth Of fir timber. reaching the
very top Of the highest mountain in the dis
tauce,
can safely say that the Columbia is the
most beautiful river that | ever seen, and
when brought in comparison with the Miss
issippi, Missouri, Detroit, or Hudson, it far
exceeds either of them in beauty. al least al
any point where | have seen them. The
water is as clear as the crystal fount, from
the mountain spring. IL is deep and wide
and its whole course, may say is beautiful.
The banks are high and lined with wood
lands. with here and there the opening Of
the hardy pioneer, who has in many instau-
Get periled his all for the purpose Of making
him home in this far off western land.-
Forests are fast giving way to the AK of the
hard fsted adveulurer, and soil heretofore trod
by the mercess Indiar, or Inhabited by PROV
ling beasts Of the forest, are yielding pleuti-
fu harvests in payment for the industry and
perseve tance OF its occupants.
1t is singular fact, that the Indians of
Oregon, which were once very powerful and
numerous, have already almost entirely dis
appeared before the march oi civilization
and American enterprise. Ask an Indian
where his tribo is and his answer will be
".Memuloost." They are dead, They
sleep with their fathers aud unless something
is soon done 10 ameliorate their condition
the last Indian Of Oregon will soon have paid
the debt of nature, and will sleep the sleep
that knows no waking.
Sixty miles above Astoria. on the south
bank Of the Columbia, stands St. Hellens.-
Il is beautifully situated, on high, rolling
ground, with large supply Of building ma
teral at hand. The town OF Milton, one
and half miles above St. Hellens Is fast
improving. II is we'll situated for towo,
and is surrounded by some Of the most pro-
ductiye lands in Oregon, which is fast being