The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1852-02-05
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shall not attempt to describe my emo
tons on entering the mouth of the noble
Columbia river. Here ended journey of
six thousand three hundred miles, five thou
sand eight hundred of which, from the city
OF New ork, was OH water. Bare, rugged
and sterile mouataas extend from the 18th
mus to California, where the meagre, parch-
ed vegetation Of the coast affords small
qualification to the eyes. had looked on
many sublime and interesting mountains,
but the prolific command to bring forth
'the herb bearing seed,'' and the tree bear
ing fruit seemed not to have extended TO
them. DesoIatien had become familiar, and
longed to see vegetable life elevate its
proud foliage to catch the refreshing air OF
heaven. My heart yearned for the sight of
green trees, and in all the luxuriance Of TO-
Iiage, size aud loftiness, saw them here.
They only who have made such voyage
can appreciate such a termination.
SUNDAY morning, June 9Th, the green fir
crowned hills Of Oregon were first seen :.
With what emotions of delight beheId
them, rising from the ocean, How my
heart tbrohbed with Joy as ] gazed upon
the opening scenery, while our steamer
plowed her way from huge ocean waves,
q
cid waters OF Bakers Bay. felt safe
from the dangers and relieved from The mo-
notony Of a Ioug sea voyage. Though a
stranger in u strange land, had arrived at
home. Oregon, unseen, had excited my
imagination. was prepared, to admire,
and with my heart love this country.
| In its landscape appearance | was tho
roughly disappointed. | expected, at this
place, to look un to bare acciivities and ma
ked rocks, but entirely the reverse. Every
where, vegetable life has luxuriance un-
known in the STATES. Forests, nearly un-
broken, are gazed upon in their native
wilduess. Pacific City, on the leftI little
above, on the right of Astoria, still farther
up, Gen. Adairs, or New Astoria, have
each little opening. At its mouth, the
river is FIVE miles wide. On passing Cape
Disappointment, we entered by the North
channel into Bakers Bay, a beautiful and
broad sheet Of quist water, where the river
expands to the width of fifteen miles. Al
Astoria, ten miles from the mouth, and fif-
teen from Pacific City, il is about 6ye,whieh
width generally continues many miles high.
er. From the Cascade Mountains to its
month, distance of one hundred and fifty
miles, it has rapid current, is deep, aud
occupies broad bed, aud safely avisabie
for ships The scenery is varied, but eve-
Iry where beautiful and interesting. As
ceDding, the mountains become higher and
more grand At The distance Of about six
ty miles, we passed from mountain scener,
except that of St. Helen, covered with eter
nal snow, which elevates its bright rounded
peak far in the distance. As seen from ihs
ship, the country appears to be an extensive
plain, luxuriant with vegetation, the banks
lbnt little above the rivers surface, and tt
some considerable extent, occasionally O.
lverfiowed, II receives the Willamette
one hundred miles from its mouth.
/ From the coast mountains TO the Cascade
range, it has many islands, some of then
extensive and fertile, hTbsss aud the bos
tom land are mostly timbered, hut there ar,
occasional. prairles, Every spot that is val
iuab,e, with some that are not, has a claim.
ant, usually in hpt Of y single room
Fort Van Coover is one hundred and five
tiniles from Astoria. its legation is exceed.
lingiy pleasant, on a plain. Twenty mile.
Iabove Van Cooycr, we begin TO enter the
Kenyan, occupied by the Columbia river
as il rushes through the Cascade range o
linouptaips, Here tbs river is confined Il
narrower limits, and flows more rapidly
ibut is very deep, and affords a good navi
lt ation twenty-five iniies up, to within thre,
! miles of the Cascade Falls, and saii vessel
are carried up this three miles-rhich i
81 = 50