The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-11-12
AdvIoes from Wash lngton Territory, Salt
Lake. and the Plains.

from the St. Louis Inteigencer, Nov. 8
rhsodors WSsssp If New YORK direct from Puget.
Sound, via Salt Lake Independence where he arrived
with ths United States mail on the 18th nit. -
M Winthrop left the Oregon Haiee on the "a OF sep
TENDER. and mis- route met and passed great many
err grants with tleiI families stock, &c lie estimates
the number of At six thousand They were gener
ally getting along well in good health and their stock
in the main in good condition He thinks the most
OF them will reach The Columbia river before severe
weather in In the valley Of the Columbia and us
rbutsrie the crops good and the emgrants would
fni suaoient supply Of provisions on their arrival
There was considerable influx OF emigration INTO tne
Territory of Washington in view Of its organization
large portion directed to Pugets Sound where me
lumber trade carried very extensively Along the
htz Valley upon Whidby's Island On this island
number of farmers have settled and MIR. W. saw very
fine wheat and other crops raised upon new and resh
broken lands.
The British colony on vancouyer's Island making
but slow and doubtful progress Two causes were ope-
rating against the colonsts Ore the Russian policy
which permitted only the purchase of hoe goods and
the Hudson Bay Company. The coonsts cannot sell to
the Russans for they draw thing that necessity
country, and the Hudson Bay Company hold mo-
nopoy and control over the products of every coonst
TIE coonst is but the lessee of the company Many of
the inhabitants Of the island anxious to be annexed
TO the United States
Mr.. W. describes the territory Of Washington, from
Pugets Sound across the Cascade Mountains rs heavi
ly timbered country, chiefly with the Oregon fir which
in some localities grows very large There scattered
praries and some dry barrens between the sound and
mountains the latter covered with ne pebbles of trap
rock and scantly wooded with oaks ACROSS the noun
tains is open rolling prairie country, with small and
thinly wooded valleyswater everywhere abundant To
the north of this and in the country occupied by the
Flat Head Indians there timber and the country
is admin ably adapted for settlements
The Indians 10 Washington Territory friendly, and
those Pugets Sound bs said to be civilized They
in constant intercourse with the whites farming and
raising potatoes which, with the salmon constitute their
food.
The emgrants had partially succeeded during the past
summer in cutting road through the pass OF the Gas
do tasro tn fha nnrfh 1f r
Winthrop through this pass, and met Capt McCel
Ian and his party Capt McC acting in conjunction
plore the northern route for railroad Capt McC had
been the Cascade Mountains from the Columbia
river to the parallel of latitude 40 deg to find practice
Columbia Barracks Columbia river on the 18th OF july
and cut their way with difficulty through the heavy tim
Der to the mountains They had found no pass at the
base Of Mount St. Helena, and none between
that and Mount Rainier Captain Mcclellan did
the 'Nach Cheese" was practicable for railroad. 1t
his purpose to proceed still further north Mr. Win
throp from his own knowledge OF the country and the
quainted with it believes that the best route for road
will be found north of Mount Baker and the frontier
boundary line Captain Noes party were all well,
but had been compelled to send In to Fort Sulacom Pu
gets Sound for provisions. From the Fathead village,
the base of the Rocky mountains to the base Of the
Cascades, there difficulty ia finding route for
railroad But the Cascade aims present the great
obstacle. Deep SHOWS lay upon the Mach Cheese and
rugged lofty and heavily tr bered and the valleys
Of the by which they entered sometimes
into canons The result of these exploring parties in
search Of route for aIrailroad will dsyelope many
and important facts in relation to the geography OF The
I country
Mr. Winthrop in by the way Of Salt Lake, and left
there in the mail stage On their way in they overlook
Mr. srdger (he found der of Bridgers fort at the
DEVILS Gate, on his way to the United States He will
we trust be here in fe days, to tell his tale As
Mr. W. learned the story, Brdger was accused of selling
ammunition, guns, &c, to the Indians, who are at war
with the Normons, and thereupon party of forty or
more sent from Salt Lake by Governor Young to
arrest him. ing apprsed of their approach, he took
to the mountains (not Green River, heretofore
stated) but in the vicinity where he could watch all
the Of his pursuers His arrived at
the fort took possession of it. and lived upon his cattle
less returned home Brdger when he thought it SAFE
Joined by his wife and children and they
their way in, and will probably reach Westport next
i week.
The mail party found buffalo in abundance as low down
this side Of the Big Blue The snow on the 18th ult
was four inches deep on the Namaha