Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1852-11-17
Growth of Oregon.

| This western verge of the American continent
is bound to 60 ahead. The Territory has advan-
tages of sea coast good harbors, navigable rivers
and bays, salubrious climate, rich soil, valuable
forests, extensive water power, market at hand,
and rich minerals, that cannot fail to attract
large emigration annually, and soon make Oregon
a fourishing State of the Union. The Oregonian
of the 18th of September, published on the yel-
lowest sort of wrapping paper, thus speaks of the
brief past and the prosperous present.
"We look back with astonishment at the rapid
improvement Oregon has made in a few short
years. Less than two years ago we came to this
territory. At that time the only steamer on the
Columbia and Willamette rivers, was the 'Little
Columbia which made weekly trips between
Clackamas rapids and Astoria, consuming nearly
forty eight hours in performing the distance be-
tween the two points. On entering the Column
bia we were greatly disappointed at the size and
appearance of the world-renowned Astoria As
we ascend the river the appearance on either side
as far as st. Helena, presented nothing but con-
tinued wilderness, with some two or three excep-
tions. Mr.. Birnie's, now called Calamet, Oak
Point, and one house just below st. Helena, were
all the evidences of civilization that greeted the
eve. st. Helena, five remember right, contain
ed three buildings, and Portland boasted of some
twenty, in ALL with about dozen families, four or
five small stores and one saw mill. Astoria is
much larger now than it was then; the banks of
the Columbia are skirted with the dwellings ofnew
settlers; st. Helena presents the appearance of a
fourishing town-the buildings all new and of
good size; Portland has more than quadrupled;
many houses having been built ofa superior order
and style. We have over twenty traders doing a
fine business, besides mechanics engaged in al
most every mechanical employment usually found
in the large towns on the Atlantic side.
We have three good churches we'll finished, viz:
Congregational, Methodist and Catholic; also, an
Episcopal congregation who worship at the school
house; an academy under the direction of the
school; three and one Touring mills doing an
extensive business. There are four steamers
constantly plying below the rapids at Oregon
| City-the Lot Whitcomb, Multnomah, James P.
Flint, and Eagle; also three above, Canemah,
Washington, and Hoosier, and one more being
built. There are, also two weekly newspapers and
one monthly magazine, published in this city,
which speaks we'll for the intelligence of our citi-
zens.
We made trip about the first of July last to
the Puget's Sound, and again few days since.
The rapid increase OF settlements along the way
was truly astonishing
Nor are the places above alluded to the only por-
tions ofthe territory which evince rapid improve
ment; the whole Willamette Valley is filling up
with an intelligent population; and Oregon City,
Salem, Lafayette, Marysville, Scottsburgh, Jack
sonville, and many other towns are growing into
importance with rapidity unknown, save in che
settlement of California.
Last year the immigration did not probably ex-
ceed three thousand, this year we assured, it
will not fall short of ten thousand. 1t will there
fore be seen that our course must be onward, SO
far at least the increase population and busi
ness is concerned.