The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1851-04-09

advantages to this place as to Pacific
City. No large and beautiful bay is
spread out before her, and the
prospect around is not so magnificent.
Still, Astoria hopes to be first in
Importance, on account of her ago.
In point of population, the two places
arc 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 valuable. Proceeding
up the river about sixty miles, you
come to the south of the Cowlitz river.
In its valley the French have
a settlement. But tho Anglo Saxons
are crowding into their possessions
and establishing their claims.
The banks of the river on both sides,
arc high and precipitous, covered
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
inclines a little to the south of cast.
Cattle Poodle, another small
tributary on the same side ofthc river,
is Is miles from Cowlitz. Here we
find another settlement, in rich and
beautiful valley.
| AS you proceed eastward YOU soon
arrive at the mouth ofthe Willamette,
which enters the Columbia on the
south side. In the basin of this
river is located the principal portion
of Orcgon's population. This valley
consisting Of rich and beautiful prairie
interspersed with patches Of clean
magnificent timber land, is truly
delightful. 1t is without doubt the
best Wheat country yet known.
The climate, though mild, pleasant
and remarkable even, is sufficiently
warm to. mature Corn, except the.
yS4sH flint. The grass, with Which,
ttss are III! carr fssY9t3S7ss
unlike that east Of the KoGfTT
Mountains, is fine in quality and
very nutritious. Cattle subssts
on it and thrive during whole year.
1t affords to the husbandman, with
out any culture, perennial pasture
| 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 we're it not for the application Of
steam, for time this might be. Still,
Portland without doubt is soon to be
o place of Importance, mart Of no
inconsiderable trade.
Milwaukee, near the Falls Of the
Willamette, is the next point Of i'm
portance. Here a steam boat is
building, and is expected to be ready
for business by Christmas. This boat
is designed to ply between Pacific
City and Milwaukee, ascending as
high as Oregon City when the state
of the river will permit.
The river at this point spreads out
into beautiful cove, making a con.
venicnt harbo- for quite number
of vessels. Mr.. Whitcomb, the pro.
prietor at Milwaukee, is liberal,
entcrprisiny man, and it does appear
that nature has decrccd that his place
shall be the head Of ship navigation
for all the extensive valley Of the
Willamette.
Six or seven miles above Nlilwau-
kee We arrive at the falls of the Will
annette, and Oregon City, at present
the capitol of the Territory in point
of population and advancement
The perpendicular fall Of tho water
is sixty feet presenting grand and
picturesque scene. The city nun
bers about / 500 inhabitants, and is
most rapidly increasing. The most
thickly settled portion Of the Terrific,
~ is still higher up the valley
Wheat is the great staple, forty bush
els to the acre where the ground has
been we'll prepared, an ordinary yield,
and sixty bushels no extraordinary
one.
Many of the farmers have eight
hundrcdo q thousand bushels gath
cred up.
III water power and timber Oregon
stands unrivaled. Her water power
could supply the wants of the wcrld.
There are in tho territory some thir-
ty or thirtyfve saw mills now in op-
Grafton, and several more building,
but not one good Touring mill.
The mineral wealth of Oregon is
not yet ascertained. Her great re.
sources arc yet undevelopcd. Mar
BILE, fine and rich as Parian is known
to bo abundant, and it is confidently