Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1857-04-09
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Oregon.

n letter IIoln oregon, IN Inc Phlla0elpnlu
Ledger describes some of The physical features
of that territory, which is destined at no dis
tant day, to become member of the great North
American coniederacy of sovereign States. As
is well known Oregon is mountainous coun-
try, and the writer remarks that there is scarce
y hill or open spot of ground from the Rocky
Mountains TO the Pacific Ocean, or from the Col
umba river to the California line, which does
not afford view OF mountain scenery more or
less grand. The territory is divided into three
separate regions by mountain ranges-,he East
eru, NJ lddle and " estern. The Western le.
gion is also subdivded by mountains into three
separates regions or valleys-the Willamette
Umpqua, and Rogue River valleys. The East
ern region embraces part of the Green and Bear
river countries, and the Snake river country,
and is bounced on the east by the Rocky Noun
iains, and on the west by the Blue Mountains.
1t is generally dry, barren, and sterile The
middle region lies between the Blue Mountains
on the East and the Cascade Mounla lains on the
"N9'' ~ 10 "uCitu ny ScNoIdl llVCTS, WHICH
flow into the Columbia. This region is an ele-
waited, unGuating plain, generally destitute OF
timber, but producing grass of all excellent quail
lty IL possesses a mild climate. and those
portions which border on the mountains being
adapted to agricultural purposes, and the noun
talns being well wooded will probably be oc.
copled by the whites soon as the Indian diff
hcullles are settled. The other portions will
furnish gazing for INNER Sc herds of cattle.
lhe Western region lies between the Gas.
cade Mountains and the Pacific Ocean, and in.
cludes the Willamette, Umpqua and Rogue Riv
er Alleys, and the Coast mountains Each
\ these valleys is -W2iered bG ia rrer hea.ng tl,t
name of The valley through which it runs. Tn,
general character of this region is that of grea
fertility the forest trees are abundan, and HI
grasses superior. The Cascade Mountains ex
tend from Columbia river to San Francisco
running parallel with the coast The William
ellie valley is about $50 miles long, from nortl
to south and from 40 to 70 miles wide, and i
quite equally divided in its entire length by tn
willamette river, which rises among the moun
tains at the upper end of The valley 1t is com
pIelely encircled by mountains and high hill S
from which the valley is supplied with pur
water of excellent quality. Numerous sma,
streams rising among the mountains On eilhe
side run into the W willamette, and afford an i'm
!, mense amount of water power. The Viii
Iamelte is navigable for small steamers for
distance of about one hundred miles from it
mouth, but the navigation is obstruc,ed at Ore
gon City by fall of twenty-five feet.
BY far the great portion of the Wilamett
valley is prairie, with heavy bodies of timber O
the water courses. The mountains are ais
heavily timbered There are a number of his
, hills and ridges in the valley, some covered wit
timber and others with grass the soil is good t
their SUBMITS, and farms and houses are fire.
, quently seen perched on them. One of thes
} hills is fifteen miles in length, and from ten t
twelve hundred feet high.
There are numerous high mountain peaks i
Oregon-one, Mount Hood of the Cascad
: range, rises 1880 above the sea, and abou
three hundred feet above the level of porpetua
snow. In 1853 two men assembled to the TOP
Several others made the attempt at the sam
time, but failed. They found hot air issuin
from the crevces in many places, giving evdenc
7 of great internal heat.