The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1853-02-01
Oregon.

D.
pened since last advices.
The Columbia had some difficulty on the 2Osb
December in getting out of the Columbia river on
account OF ice. The brig Bordeaux was beached
near the mouth OF the Columbia river on the 18th
and would be a total loss passengers all saved
Passengers from Oregon state that when they
left the Columbia river was frozen over so that
teams crossed on the ice as low down as the mouth
OF the willamette, which is less than a hundred
miles from the ocean. This is very extraordi-
nary circumstance, and indicates the commence
ment of a severe winter At Vancouver's, six
miles above Willamette, on the north side of the
Columbia, the snow was near two feet deep, where
winter frequently passes with scarce any snow
at all.
The result of the Observation-Disclosures was known
in Oregon forty days after the day on which the
contest took place.
The Oregon Legislature met at Portland on the
7th of December.
New gold discoveries have recently been made
near Table Rock There now large number
of miners engaged in working them.
On the 9th Of December DIR. Evans read before
the Oregon Legislature communication on the
geology of the country.
The gold mines of Rogue River valley, and other
localities the southern boundary OF Oregon,
are being wrought to considerable profit Gold
in small quantities has been discovered on several
small tributaries east of the Cascades. And gold
has been found on most of the small streams en-
tering the Umpqua, as we'll as the main stream.
Also, on the south fork of Santiam and on Gala
pooiah creek, sc.
Eastern Oregon has been generally much I'M
derrated. That portion, including the valley of
Flathead lake, the valley of st. Mary's the head
waters of kooskook or Clearwater, and the Spo-
kane, and other districts in that region, afford fine
pasturage and many beautiful sites for agricutu-
RAD communities. Sufficient information has al
ready been obtained TO render it probable that
many portions of Oregon will prove rich in USE
ful minerals, and its soil for many agricultural
prod ucts is unsurpassed 1t also affords rich and
interesting field for scientific research.
Il ,l,xL1
the Willamette valley, and the valleys bordering
the coast range of mountains; and, in fact, in al
most every part OF Oregon that has been visited.
The convention recently held in Northern Ore
gon adopted memorial, which has been forward
ed to Congress, praying that all that portion oil
Oregon Territory lying north of the Columbia
river, and west of the great northern branch there.
OF, should be organized into separate territory.
under the name and style of the Territory of CO.
lumbia.''
This prayer is justified by numerous reasons sci
forth in the memorial. The present Territory oil
Oregon contains an area of 81 900 square miles,
being entirely too large to be embraced within the
limits of one State Its seacoast is $50 miles in
tent. The proposed Territory of Columbia contains
area of about 80 900 square miles. 1t presents
natural resources capable of supporting popula-
ton as large as that of any State in the Union OF
the same size.
We perceive that G. N. NcCanaha, recently an
active member of the California Legislature, was
elected President of the convention which proposes
the creation of the new Territory of Columb
The number of letters mailed in the post Office
at Portland, for the steamer of December 4, was
i,l65, the largest number ever mailed for one
steamer at that place.
Hon. Deazon Smith, who has arrived in Oregon
this year by the overland route, publishes letter
in the Portland Times, in which he asserts that
fthere are, perhaps, from 5000 to 1000 fresh
graves between the Missouri river and the Dalles
of the Columbia; and if the mortality has been
equal on the California route, twelve fifteen per
cent OF this years immigration are dead"
The Columbian Gays:
"We neglected last week to notice the seizure, by
the collector of customs for the district of Puget
Sound, Colonel s. p. Moses, of the ship Thracian,
for the alleged offence of procuring fraudulent
enrolment in the district of San Francisco. 1t
seems the said vessel is owned by foreigner, but
has been engaged in coasting in the lumber bust
ness with papers made out in the name of an
American citizen, contrary to the laws of the
United States regulating commerce.