New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-07-07
OREGON.
Northern Oregon and Puget sonnd'

that
the vicinity Of Puget Sound
That portion of Oregon Territory bounded on
the north by the 49th parallel, on the south by
the Columbia River, on the cast by the Okona'
can River and on the west by the Pacific Ocean,
is. in my opinion, the most desirable part OF the
Territory for tho-e who wish TO select home IN
the star West" and is destined, at no very dis
tant day, to form an additional State in the Amer
lean Confederation. >,
Although there is a great deal Of level lsnd in
This mart of Oregon. yet it is by 10 means desti-
tute of rnountains ard hills. 10 may be called
nountainous country. We have the Cascade
Mounteins and the Coast Range, which are, IN
many places covered with perpetual snow. FROM
these mountains numberess streams, OF greater or
less volume. subply the land with water. Perhaps
no country is more equally supplied with an
abundance of pure cool aud healthy water. There
are several districts Of land in his country highly
pyzed by the farmer account OF their produce
tiyeDess; these are the valleys Of the Corotz the
Chehalis the SnOhOmus, the Soquam; h, besides
Others Of less extent. Whltby's Stand. IN Iuget
Sound is about so miles long, averaging ID mllesln
width. and from the fertility of its soil. has justly
been styled the "Garden of Oregon" Besides
these on the east side of the Cascades and north e
the Columbia is the Yakamah country, which, for
fertility of soil and salubrty of climate, IS not sur
passed by any other portion Of the Territory.
The fertility Of the soil ef this part OF the cOun-
try is nearly the same as that south of the Column
ba, and in speaking of it, and OF Our agricultural
products it is not my intention to enter INTO de-
rail of those mammoth vegetables which have be-
come so Justly celebrated. The fame of our large
Oregon potatoes, turnips and wheat crops mas
been repeated in nearly all the papers IN the
Union. The soil is excellent, ands not surpassed,
if e0uaIled by any portion of the continent IN Its
adaptation to the growth OF wheat, rye, oats,
grass potatoes and other vegetables. Potatoes
are produced in great abundance with little cult
walton they OF @ superior quality, ana the
potatoe roo has never yet appeared IN Oregon
Owing to our peculiar climate, wheat natures
slowly, and hence the grain is always full and
plump, and the straw unusually solid and elastic.
This is the reason that wheat in this country is
subject to none OF those diseases aud uncertainties
peculiar to it in the States and is tnrafidbiy a
certain crop.
Puget Sound may be called a large inland sea.
1t is about $50 miles long, averaging from D to III
miles in width, and IS corrected with the ocean
by the Straits of Juan de Fuca. 1t affords the
best ard safest harbors for vessels to be found on
the Pacific Coast, not excepting even the Bay OF
San Francisco. The water is deep, entirely Tree
from rocks or other submarine inpedlments, and
safe anchoTsges to be found IN almost every
part of it. The Straits are about III miles wide at
their narrOwest part, the water very deep, ana
vessels can run from the Ocean into the Sound, III
gale without risk. In this, and many other re-
gpects the Straits differ from the mouth Oi the
Columbia. Vessels destined up that RIVER are
frequently obliged to lay out to sea for weeks, IN
order to avail themselves OF n favorable WIND, AMI
even then, with careful and experienced pdOt on
board, the entrance is pefilOus. When we con-
slider the sand bar ct the mouth of I'll 1t river, tn
number Of vessels that have been there wrecked,
and the consequent great loss of human lie AMI
when we reflect that the Columbia River is the
only avenue by which commerce can penetrate the
q. r al
products can find foreign market, We are forced
To the conclu ion Il at the valley OF the Villa
mette can never compete with Northern Oregon
in commercial point Of view, aud III It nature has
destined Puget Sound II be the grand commercial
depot Of the North west Coast.
The Sound is, perhaps, the most majestic SHEET
of water Ill the world for navigation bs steam
vessels. i'm the summer season, however 1t =
subject to long Gains, when, its waters being rat
fed only by the most gentle breezes, little or
nothing can be done by s1iIyessels.
The timber of this country of which there IS a
superabundancc, is composed principally OF the
Cedar and the Fir. The advantages Of the cOun-
try for furnishing this kind Of timber are unsIr-
passed by any other part OF the Continent.
The shores of the Sound are generally thickiy
studded with timber: IN some places, however, the
spots of praire-land, in which this country
abOunds extend down To the water. Tas land
from the Sound toward the noun aims is gene-
rally level. An active trade is CARED on by num-
Der ofvessels IN Supplying the san Francisco mar
ket with hewed timber, spars aud piles. The set
Elements IN this part OF the country qli'e
young. There are several small to Vns growing
up on the Sound and Olympia, on Budds Inlet
at the southern end Of the Sound, is the largest
town in Northern Oregon. We have hut few
mills as yet on the Sound, but there are
raj others in process of erection, and when they
get properly into operation, there is no doub5 Of
an extensive trade in lumber with San Francisco,
the Sandwich Islands and China.
Besides our advantages for commerce ayrcul-
turc andl unber, | must not forget the fisheries.
In the Sound almost every kind OF valuable fsh
may be caught in abundance. Among these lal-
though do not pretend to enumeraee ally might
mention the Salmon, the Cod fish, Herring and
Halbut, besides Oysters, CLANS, Crabs, s..
Whales frequently come into the Straits. aud ar,
caught. The SQUAD affords the most favorable
ports on the Pacific for whaling vessels to obtain
supplies and spend the winter.
On the Goth Of March last, the schooner Exact
returned from Queen Chulottcs Island, " n
number ofspecimens Of gold aud gold-qIartZ on
board. At the time write, she is living IN our
harb0r, AMI reports an abundance Of the 1reci1ls
metal on the island. Puget Sound being the
nearest point IN American territory from which
vessels can fit out for that place, will conn mud
an advantage over all other ports on the ic,
sh ould mining operations ever be extensively pros
ecuted on that island.
FrGm the prect ding state of facts in relation to
he surface of the land. from our northcra latitu+e
and geographical position would natunly
conclude that ours was healthy country. THIS
IS eminently the fact. We have nune o. that
fever and agUe or Malaria which is to be found
in Southern Oregon, and which prevailed there so
extensively last wear. The Chief Factor of the
Hudson's Bay Company az Nasquallv. DR.. Toln'e.
hes lived on the Sound fer the last 10 years. W II
always considerable number OF men in his en-
p)y, aud he tells ne that be has mover known Of
single case of fever and agUe originating in the
cOustry. No country Of the same latitude on the
Continent possesses so mild climate. Daring
she past winter, which WAS az unusually cold one,
the thermometer ranged at about IL above zero,
and our praiIies were covered with green Crass.
Here tic farmer is not compelled u toll during
the summer to provide for his stock during winter.
Cattle can Craze throughout the year, and have
tAl--aEnl q a.. L..