Wisconsin tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1847-1854, 1852-04-01


are numerous and are thought to be equal
to the waters of Saratoga, and may in
time become as celebrated. A mountain
IN the vicinity was, as / was Informed BY
a man who then saw it, In 1876 an active
volcano, its top is now covered with Soda
! Springs.
We made a stop at Portlsni It is
situated on the Willamette River. -
miles from the Columbia. and is at pres
ent the most tiourishing place in Oregon.
1t has two well finished churches. one
/ Congregational. and one Methodist. two
newspapers. two steam saw mills one
steam gristmiil, some fifty stores, and a
plank road now building out into the
country. and is the place where nearly all
the ships and steamboats, discharge their
cargoes. Since we came in shere has
been as many as thirty ships living there
at one time. The steamers Black Hawk
and Washington make daily trips between
Portland aud Oregon City. distance of
II miles stopping at Milwaukee. a place
( of considerable size between them Ore
Son City ~ about as large as Portland
/ but ships cannot get to ii on account of
rapids below the falls but the break in
/ the navigation of the river makes a valu-
able waterpower, which is already extern
sively improved. There are three steam
boats running above the falls and fourth
/ building. 1t Is calculated that the vii.
iamette valley can support population
( Of two millions. aud the North side of
the Columbia as many. | found about
Portland that emigration to Puget Sound
was all the 90. so [ thought | might as
well keep on So on the 9th of Nov. I
+ took passage on board the schooner Ex-
act l30 tons. with 40 passengers on board
for Puget Sound and so for the new gold
mines on Queen Charlotte's Island The
wind being untavorable. we were taken in
tow by the steamer - Whltcomb and
taken down TO Astoria. distance of $50
miles The Willamette discharges it's
waters into the Columbia through three
mouths. The Columbia bel5w the Cas-
cade falls, is broad deep smooth stream,
clear water, sc. it varies in width from
one to five miles. Astoria Is about as
large as Dodgeville. situated at the foot
Of bluff, and II miles frorl the mouth
of the river The wind being favorable,
We were soon bounding over the biIlows
of the Pacific The Columbia empties
into the ocean through two channels,
about , miles apart The North channel
was formerly navigated, but the South is
now thought to be the safest; both are
dangerous in bad weather. but we were
soon over the bar and the sublime upris-
ing of the soul at being on the bosom of
the great Ocean for the first time. was
soon supplanted by an uprising of diff
ferent kind; in half an hour. deck, cabin
and steerage was such in appearance. as
f., l...s al. II
been some sea-sickness on board-but in
u hours we were In the mouth Of the
Sound The Sound IS lS0 miles long and
from five to fifty wide There is great
deal of fine land along its borders but
timber for the most part near the shore,
good prairics are found though. within
four or tivc miles Its entrance is large
and safe and it Is called one of the best
harbors IN the world. At the entrance
of the Sound, Whales were seen spouting
water in the distance, but VIC did not get
near them The Sound abounds in all
kinds Of fish that are found on the Allan
tic coast Goldfish, Halibut, Mackerel,
Founders, Oysters, CLAIMS, Grabs, &c.
Salmon, are so plenty that they are drug.
Ducks, Geese, &c, are abundant-Deer
and other game also Cranberries and
Huckleberrics. are very plenty. And /
believe this to be one of the healthiest
countries in the world This place is at
the head OF the Sound. $50 miles from the
sea. It has good water power. a saw-mill
and grist mill built. and 1t work-a fine
spring in the center Of the town. and has
at present fifteen frame houses; four more
VIII be raised this weck-one will be my
Office. | have concluded to stop here
IN fact | cannot get much farther without
taking water Another vessel is about to
sail from Portland to this place, with 60
families on board
An effort Is now being made by the IN
habitauts Of this side of tho Columbia to
have the territory divided, with the CO.
lumbia for the line But think it is yet
premature We hope to get regular
mail Steamer soon, to the Sound They
run SEM monthly now to Portland. A
man can 20 uow from Portland to San
Francisco. for forty dollars, and from
Portland 10 Puget Sound for twenty -
And / am told that man can go to the
City of New York for S50,--if so, he
would gain time enough to make up all
he would save by crossing the plains 1
DO not consider crossing the plains, with
a good team aud light load, anything diff
fcult, or attended with any wonderful
hardshipz There ought to be FIVE yoke
Of oxen to a wagon, from FIVE to eight
years old Some pretend to say that the
color Of the hoof should be black to have
them tough; but | had oxen with hoofs Of
all colors and | could see no difference -
My team stood it the best of any have
heard Of | did not have a lame OK on the
road. nor did they have a shoe on.
have not however. heard Of another team
that was thus fortunate-many cattle are
lost by lame feet 1t is well to carry
few shoes, they sometimes save an OK. but
not always Take plenty Of provisions,
be sure to start early. and never camp two
nights in place The best plan is. to
keep a guard with the stock all the time,
to keep them from bad water and to pre-
vent theft We did not loose an animal
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