Hillsdale Whig standard. (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1846-1851, 1851-05-27

lies between Coast Range and Cascade
Mountains. Fifteen miles from the mouth
Of the Willamette on its west banks is located
Portland, the largest and most flourishing
town in the Territory. The land gGdually
ascends from the river some two miles when
it becomes rolling and covered with dense
forest of beautiful fir timber, for the dis
tsnce Of ten miles 10 Tradition Plans. which
for richness Of soil. | will venture To say,
cannot be surpassed 10 the country. Port
land numbers some fifteen thousand inhab-
itants, and has sprung to existence within
the last three Yeas. There are three Saw
Mills in operation, aud a FIGURING Mill. Ma
chine Shop and Planning Mills to be pu, in
to operation this summer
The Methodists and Pfesbyterans have
each neat church here. which adds much
to the beauty Of the town, and hope the
morals Of its inhabitants. A spacious school
house has already been provided, which
presume is daily filled with the tender buds
genius OF the rising generation. This place
presume will be the grand central empon-
um oil Oregon. Custom has made this the
head Of navigation. A regular semi-monh-
~ sleamer-the Gold Hunter-pies tetween
here and San Francisco. and vessels from all
parts OF the world may at times oe found at
her docks.
Six miles above Portland, on the east
bank Of the river, is located Milwaukee. a
place OF some importance, numbering above
300 inhabitants. A fine steamer calculated
for the navigation OF the river has been laun-
ched here since | came into the territory,
making two that we have on Oregon waters.
Six miles further up, on the east bank Of the
river, stands Oregon City. the Oldest town Of
importance in the territory. Oregon City
is the present capital of the Territory. aud
is situated on narrow beech of land, ex-
tending from the river beach 10 the second
bench, high and abrupt Bluff. Ia many
places the first bench is so narrow as 10 bare
~ admit Of one street running parallel with
the river. Oregon City has not a beautiful
situation, but one that will always COM
mand busi1ess. She Can boast Of one OF the
best water powers in the world, equal 10 ev-
cry point Of view TO Rochester n. Y. Her
Touring ard Saving Mills are already doing
an extensive business. The navigation OF
the river does not reach within two miles of
the city-the foot OF Cluckamies Rapids at
the upper end of which is fail OF the river
twenty feet perpendicular, Those falls over
|
steamers up the river 100 miles. On the
opposite side Of the river from Oregon City
is Lima City. place of some importance,
and Is miles further is Chompvey. place
of considerable trade.
: Salem is about so miles above Oregon
Civ, on the East side OF the river and con-
tains about 800 Inhabitants. AT this place is
located seminary, under the care Of the
Methodist Missionary society. Syracuse,
Albany, MarysvlIle and Cincinnati, are now
towns Of importance, located above Salem
on the Willamette and its tributaries. Hills
borough the county seat Of Washington
County is situated Is miles west oil Portland
in the midst Of Tradition Plains, cluster OF
rich and beautiful Prairies, interspersed with
small groves Of Fir. Lafayette the county
seat Of Yam Hill County is new and thri
wing town, located Oh the Yam Hill, tribu =
tary OF the Willamette. II contains about
COO inhabitants and has one Of the best wa
ter powers in Oregon. This place bids fair
to be one Of the largest places, inland in the
Territory. The capital will be located here
and il will be connected with Portland by
Rail or Plank Road. South Of the valley of
the Willamette, running contrary direction
East and west-lies the valley OF Umqua. a
large. rich aud magnificent valley, which is
fast filling up with the right kind Of settlers.
Two places have lately sprung into exis.
tence in this valley. Scotts'ille and Umqua
City, both situated on the Umqua River,
which is navigable from the Ocean up some
30 or 40 miles. Still further south and di-
vided from the Umqua valley by the Um-
qua Mountains, is The valley OF Rouges Rlv-
er, hut the Indians are so hostile that its set
Element has not yet been attempted. Pass
ing across the Rouges River Valley and over
the Cisqua mountains, and you enter the
valley of the Hamoth. This Is the confines
Of Oregon. Soil not very good, but is said
to abound with gold. Most Of the young
meG of Oregon will leave for this Eldorsdo
Of Oregon in the spring. | have no doubt
but gold can be found on the Hamoth, but
that it exists 10 remuneraing quantities at
! the present prices of labor here, very much
doubt. Do not be led away by these stories
Of gold and large fortunes made at the drop
Of the hat. You may rest assured that some
speculator stands behind the curtain. Gold
can be found in small quantities sufficient to
always keep money plenty here on nearly all
Of the streams OF Oregon.
We will now return TO the Columbia.-
! Fort Vancouver miles n. +. from Port
| land and on the north side of the river, and
still further up, Cascade City, are both pIa-
ces OF growing importance aud as the coun-
try around them fills up with settlers from
Yankee land, they will be able TO compete
with their sister towns on the Willamette,
| PUGET Sound country. north Of the Colum
bia, has not yet attracted much attention,
but from what can learn Of people who have
travelled over il, the Prairies are as extensive,
rich and as beautiful as the Willamette or
any Of the vallies south OF the Columbia, Of
the PUGET Sound country, the vallies of
Chusketes and CheoIes and Hoods canal are
the best. A good wagon road Is being con-
structed from WslIa Walla 10 the Sound,
and think the next years emigrauts would
do we'll to take this road in preference to
crossing the Cascade mountains. have
now given you a view ofthe settlements OF
Oregon, and you will at once perceive that
,heiconntYv is huf thinly nonuIat ed. that here