New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-10-01
OREGON.
nee OF The n. Y. Tribune.

PORTLAND, Oregon, Aug. %, 1855.
have now been some time in Oregon and Wash-
ineton Territories, and will give you the resuk
of my observations. The first and most prominent
feature that grees the eye of the traveller is the msgn
cent forest scenery The tall pines majestic oaks ana
unrvaled red wood seem 10 carry back TO the days
OF Noah end his SONS. 1t has always been difficult for
me believe the accounts of the trees here, as related
by Lewis and Clarke and all travellers since. These
Giants the forest from ten TO twenty feet In diam
eter ard sometimes $50 feet In hight. could not.
from 70 IaaIy labc accOunts doubt their existence:
now ! kA>". A few weeks ago some contractors
came I'D tic Columbia and cut pine for spar, and
sfe hewiDg it out, took it to San Francisco u serve
ss the "mast of some tall admiral" This lit Q walk
ing stick was TO feet long, he1ed eight square-an
oc'agon - thirty light Inches In diameter. and ~
straight as candle the entire length. When II ar
rived at san Francisco, they could not tell tho top
from the butt
The general appearance Of the country is much like
our Northern Atlantic States-New. York and PennsyI
vana Nature has laid out every thing on larger scale;
trees larger and Of moro rapid growth; rivers wider
and deeper, mountains far higher; fruit nc0mparaby
larger; and very likely they may hGTe louder thun-
Ger and forkeder lightning than your Eastern coast
I" dare have" first saw Mount Hood from the deck
of the steamer, on tho Columbia, some seventy niles
distant This mountain is II 900 feet high being 1000
feet higher than Mont Blanc, the highest In Europe
i rIs up to Pgn s t5a Isa,y as wsa m.s
sc high, how long il has been 30, have found NO
wise enough 10 inform mo. Its antiquity Is no
doubt very considerable, for II Is common remark
Gil 0ng the Oldest settlers in Oregon when they wish
10 establish their claims to knowledge Of the coun-
try. 10 Say u ey knew Mount Hood since twas
"a,hole in the ground " Ny hars are not gray enough
to set up that clan. Ever since We known w. 1t mas
stood high ar dry towering "a majestic grendeur-
Zee the ast Magazine article for conclusion OF tho
sentnce)-and gazing in cold syblinty' on the sur
rounding landscape. Long may wave!
In gong among the faimers find time Of general
prosperity. Crops Usually good-particulariy
wheat oats, root crops ard grass In some places tho
wheat has been Little struck with rust. never saw
such fruit country iD my life. Peaches and grapes
do well in the southern part Of the State nut they are
not raised a great deal on the Columbia River. Tho
The apples here are Iihe small pumpkins gentle
man has been showing me through bis grounds lie
has only resided here three yeas and sd months and
be has good supply Vi apples and pears from treas OF
biz own plan:u g-seodliDgs Of three years growth
He has pear trees twelve feet high with fair supply
Of frlit on them that planted Che seed two yeana
az C ast November Apple trees that grew froa seed
hel be planted three years ago aE April are aOt full
Of fruit, but have from one TO tgo dozen apples on
each tree. These trees are fourteen feet high, tho
shO0ts Of Last years growth being from five u six fe
Nng. think ihis goes little ahead OF Illinois and
Minnesota
The climate of Oregon is mrah like our Northern
Atlantic States. IL rains and shines alternately IN
| Sumner sLd in Winter thsTe is snow enough for
sIea bine end Jack Frost bridges the streams. Tho
state Of society am plexed with; it appears mora
aady, settled, and-beggiag paTdon Of the golddig-
gerE-more civilized, than ma OF Catalonia. church
spiree advertisements OF academies and male and fe
male Summaries; children playing in The streets, grl1
in Le.hoIn hats and Blosner bOInets, tripping over
the stiles sBd across the Ses neatly cultivated gar
ders and howorpiots; country DANES and city ladies
shopping a. the stOres, announcements Ct lectures al
the Lyecum-aIl speak Of home comforts, Of ciyiliza
ton and rehnement. Oregon appears TO be growing.
not as rapidly a. California, but with ate idy, healthy
lTogress. 1t will inevitably be great state. Port
land s probably the finest " ely N the Territory.
II is on the left hank Of the willamette twenty
| miles above its junction with the Columbia.
II B oil level plateau some sixty feet above the
river; has several churches two academies three DOVE
papers, and over 5000 Inhabitants. TIE stores ar
almost ell The main street that runs parallel witt
the river Some Of the buildings are three stories high
Expressren, hunters, fsImers, Travellers and a yer,
mscelaneo1s crowd Is SEN in the spacious bar.room
of the TWO principal hotels, particularly after the arr
val Of the steamer. The first two papers saw wer
The n. Y. TRIBusE and The Boston Post TIL
SGtdne is sought .orvery little here lie may tray,
faster than truth; but II the first has the greats,
spees, the las, has most bottom and Light or short
wnded jade cant get .s far a. OregJn without breal
ing Gown.
Oregon City Is twelve miles above here, at tbe Eal