The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1853-01-21
LETTER FROM OREGON,

to gentleman in Monroe county, has beer
in our office for some time, but its publication
has been delayed by press of other matter
Marion CcrNTY, Oregon Territory,1
November 5th. {
DEAR CoUsIN:-In compliance with youl
request and with design which we formed
long ago, undertake now to give you Il more
extended description ofthis country than any
we have heretofore written you.
Three principal ranges OF mOuntains-tl
Rocky mountains, the Blue mountains, and
the Cascade range-running nearly parallel
with one another, and intersccting this coun.
try North and South, divide it into three grand
divisions. The Eastern division, lying be-
tween the Rocky and the Blue mountain
ranges, is generally of rocky barren appear.
ance, covered with sage, (artemisa) and is of
little Importance, except rs affordng water,
ard here and there q fertile spot of ground
covered with grass sufficient for the accomo-
dation of the emigration. The middle por-
ton, situated between the Blue mountains,
and the Cascade range, is well watercd, has
gertrally good soil. coated with excellent
grass, and is well adapted to grazing, and,
where there is timber to farming also. Parts
OF it, however, are very scarce Of TIMBER
The Western division, comprising the region
between the Cascade and the Pacific coast, is
the most important division of the three, and
demands therefore more particular descrp-
tion. 1t is 52l miles in length, about 100 in
breadth, and is divided by smaller ranges of
mountains into number Of valleys or small
districts.
The district north of the Columbia river is
rather broken, and is heavier timbercd thar.
the country south of the river There is con-
siderable Of open country near Puget Sound,
and on small river called the Cowtz. This
section is adapted to grazing, raising small
grain, and the numbering business. In point
ofconiinercial advantages, it is not easily sur
passed; Puget Sound being enc of the finest
harbors in the known world
South of tho Columbia is the Willamette
(Will-am' '-ette) valley, which is the principal
valley included in tho Western division. 1t
is bounded on the north by the Columbia, on
the East by the Cascade range, on the south
by the Caapooia mountains, on the west by
the Coast range. CThc Coast range binds
the Pacific coast from the mouth of the Co.
lumbia, southintc California a-henceisname.)
The valley sabout l4O or 100 miles in length,
miles in breadth. 1t is watcrcd by beautiful
river OF the same name, which rises in the
southern extremity, runs north, about central
Of the valley, through its whole length, and
flows into the Columbia some 80 miles above
its mouth; also, by numerous other streams,
which issue from the mountains on each hand,
and, running across the valley into the Will
lamcttc, afford ample water power for machin-
cry Of every kind on the most extensive
SCALE 1t is sufficiently timtcred, being alter
nately timber and prairie. From the Ccluni-
bia to so or 60 miles south, the timber pre-
dominates; from thence to the head Of the
valley, the prairie prevails. The chief timber
is Fir, Whitc-oak, Pine, and CEDAR the Fir is
the most abundant. 1t is interspersed with
hills and buttes; (pro. buttes-answcring to
our knobs;) but u great portion of it is very
level, presenting to the eye thousands ofacres
in one body, as even apparently rs sheet OF
water. The soil is generally good every
where on the hills, and on the level The
pralrics arc covered with an excellent nutri-
tiOus grass, called frOmits manner Ofgrowing
bunch grass, which affords subsistence for
stock of every kind from one year to another.
Good beef is killed from the range in every
season in the year, and during the summer
and fall is remarkably fat saw Il two year
old steer past, slaughtered 4 few weeks ago,
which had not, perhaps, cost his owner fifty
cents, that weighed 700 lbs. AT present this
valley is the most important portion of Oregon.
South Of this is the Umpqua valley. This
valley lies east and west in length: is not as
extensive as the Willamette; is more broken,
having a great many bald buttes scattered
through it; but it has II very rich soil, and is
considered the best grazing section west of
the Cascades. 1t is watercd by river of the
same name, which rises in the Cascade range,
and runs westwardly into the Pacific; and by
other smaller streams. Timber is somewhat
scarce; FIR, Blackjack, Cottonwood, Ash and
Pine is the principal growth.
The ROgue's river valley and the Klameth
country, lie between this and the northern
boundary of California. They are sufficiently
watered by rivers of the same name together
with other streams, and are tolerably well
timbcrcd; however they have not vet been ve-
ry extensively explored. We would remark
here, that there are many smaller valleys which
We have not mentioned, that will afford con-
siderable settlements.
RIVERS. The principal rivers are the CO.
lumbia, the Willamette, the Umpqua the
Roguc's river, and the KlamctI,. The Co.
lumbia rises in the Rocky mountains, and
running westerly, flows into the Ocean in
lat. 46 de. com. N. At the mouth it is about
six miles wide-a broad magnificent stream,
navigable for ships Of heavy draught, up to
where it breaks through the Cascade range. |
Here succession Of cascades or falls, form |
a barrier to all navigation, except with small /
crafts which can be conveyed around the falls
by land. The distance from the foot of the
Rapids to the head, is some two miles the
portage is made about half mile. Once
above tho falls, the river is smooth to the
"Dalls," distance of As miles; at this place
the whole volume of the river is compressed
between the walls ola cliasm, about So yards
wide, which is passable only at a very low
stage Of water. Above the DalIs few miles
are the "Falls of the Columbia" above which
the navigation is pretty good perhaps some
200 miles or more. Belop the Cascades the
river is shut in generally BY high hills, which
are covered by heavy forests of fir; abore the
il is generally pent in by rocky bluffs,
and the bottom land, where there is any, is
mostly sandy and rocky; presenting along its
whole line desolato appearance, being near.
ly entirely destitute Of timber. The VIII
lamette is beautiful stream, navigabls for
ships some 30 miles above its junction with