, 1852-12-25
A steamer on the COwlitz River.

The citizens Of Lewis county appear TO
have become thoroughly aroused to the i'm,
portance of having an improved and speedy
means Of communication betwecn the Co.
lumba river and the interior Of northern
Oregon, not only by opening out wagon
road up the east side of the Cowlitz river,
but through the organization of Il company
for the construction of suitable steamer
10 ply between Fox's landing, on the Co.
lumbia, 10 that Of tha Cowitz--a distance
of about thirty -four miles In the ,lsl men
toned project, We have the satisfaction of
being informed, and take pleasure TO an
nounce, that Mr.. J. r. JACKSON, Esq, one
of northern Orcgon's most energetic, enter
prising and substantial citizens has taken
an interest, and that petition will be pre-
sented to the legislature at its present ses-
sion, asking for a charter, and organization
Of the "Cowlitz Steamboat Company" to
be endowed with certain privileges, and re
serving to that body the power of fixing the
rates Of freight, &C., subject 10 alteration
and amendment, from year to year, at the
discretion of the legislature. We have au-
thority for stating that steamboat properly
adapted, can be made 10 run between the
points designated at least six months in eve
ry year, and the favorable auspices under
which the formation Of a company has been
commenced, and the thorough going char
actcr Of the men who will comprise it, gives
every assurance, if the project is at all prac-
ticable, that no undue quantity of "gass "
will be expended, or unnecessary time con-
sumed in its completion.
The people of northern Oregon, and the
territory generally, at all acquainted with
the almost utter impossibility of communi-
cation, at this season of the year, between
the two divisions Of the territory, must re-
Ijoice at the prospect Of having a thorough
fare opened up, by steam as well as by a
road, from the Columbia river; and we have
every assurance that the people of Lewis,
with the "aid and comfort" of the citizens
of neighboring counties, will push the road
through without delay.
We have heard it intimated from high
ly respectable quarter, that the legislative
assembly, at its present session, will be pc
toned, in the most urgent manner, for aid
in the improvement Of roads in southern Or
egon generally, but more especially those
leading into the Rogue river and Shasta min
ing districts; and as our citizens would ne
cessarily be levied upon in common with the
people Of the whole territory for a proper
tionale share Of contributions for improve
ments in that direction, in which they have
no immediate interest, and which would
never be Travelled by them--should the leg
islature deem it necessary to make appro-
priaiions for territorial roads, northern Or
egon can DEMAND as q RIGHT, that provi-
sion be made to aid its citizens in the com.
Apletion of the road up the CowliIz river, at
as early day as possible, The legislature
cannot fail to acknowledge the JUSTICE Of
the proposed demand, and we hope lcW not
so far forget its duty to the people at large,
as to overlook, or refuse to accede 10 this
most important and necessary public enter
prise.
If the wants Of our southern neighbors re-
quire the repair or construction Of new
roads leading into the mining regions at the
expense of the territory, we of the north
can urge at least as strong a claim for the ex-
penditure within our limits of a portion of
the public money as any part of Oregon.
A road up the Cowlitz river is demanded
for the convenience of the military station
here-lor facilitating the commercial and
increasing general intercourse between the
two divisions of the country, and above all,
for the comfortable admission of permanent
settlers amongst US. The completion Of the
proposed road, would prove a matter of as
much Importance to the people south Of the
Columbia river as il would to us, and equally
as much so as thoroughfares for which we are
Informed they will petition, in the direction
Of Rogue river and Shasta. Will the leg
stature take this matter under impartial ad-
visementl
VI L.
" Times and Ttascript," that a lighthouse
is 10 be erected forthwith in the vicinity Of
that city-tho first on this portion of the
Pacific coast Also, from the same source,