Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1858-04-23
Oregon,

Pacific slope of the Rocky Mountains, or
hat portion Of it constituting the terrific
DRY of Oregon, and none which has all
he elements, both good and bad, in so
great a variety. Situated as the terrific
-y of Oregon is, between the longest and
highest range Of mountains in North |
America, and that great expanse of wa
ter which layes the shores of both the
Eastern and the Western Worlds, she
can but be All object Of inquiry on &C
count of her position as a future COM
mercial mart where the people of both
hemispheres shall meet for purposes of
trade.
Oregon stretches from the summit of
the Rocky Mountains on the East to the
Pacific Ocean on the West, distance Of
nearly one thousand miles, and having a
width from north to south Of some four
hundred miles. This tract is divided.
geographically, by the Cascade range Of
mountains which runs from upper Cali
fornia on the south to British America
on the north, and through the territory of
Washington. This chain extends back
from the ocean at an average distance Of
one hundred miles, and runs nearly in a
straight line parallel with the ocean, for
the whole distance, not having that wind
ing, zig-zag course Of many of its sister
ranges. These mountains are very rug
gcd, bold, steep, and form ar almost i'm
pnssahle barrier TO the venturous emf
grant who has dared to brave the perils
of the unsettled wilderness in search of a
home in the rich valies which lie beyond
its rocky battIements. They are more
difficult of passage than any and all other
mountains which tie emigrant has to en-
counter in his weary march. They are
ornamented by five principal peaks, which
tower like grim sentinels above the rest
bold, beautiful and grand, and white will
the SHOWS Of thousand ages. Three 0
these arinl promoatories, Mt. Hood il
Oregon. Mt. ST. Helehs and Mt. Bake
in Washington, lift their heads to the SIX,
nearly $4,000 feet, and can be seen 70
hundreds of miles, and are hailed wit
rapture by the weary emigrant, for b
knows at their base are the evergree
pastures, and the cooling streams whic
have for long months fitted across hi
filful fancy by day, and came over HI
dreams by night while slumbering in tn
open fields, or on the mountain peak
with no covering but his blanket and til
broad blue of heaven. Often have "
on some bright moonlt night, stood upo
the banks of the beautiful Willamette, {
mounted some gentle eminence an
gazed for hours al Mt. Hood, as it TOW
cred in its cold majesty towards the SIX
and watched the light clouds as they sat u
on its hoary brow, or at the pale moe
that seemed not so high as this monar'
Of earth. 1t was a glorious sight, and
scene which will last to our dying day.
The country beyond the Casca
mountains is divided into three princip
valleys, the largest Of which is the Wi
annette, on the north the second is t
Umpqua, in the middle; Sd, the Rog
River Valley, on the south. For streng
of soil, beauty of scenery, salubrity
climate, pure water, tremendous grow
of timber rank vegetation, great wal
power, and the enormous yield of ever
thing the farmer desires, together W
the almost unexampled healthfulness
the atmosphere, this portion of the ter
tory cannot be surpassed by any otl
of the same extent IN the globe. c
word of fault, however, with the winte
which are so rainy that ii is very di
sreeable TO a New Englander who
used to lis sleighing parties but tn
heavy rains only prepare the ground
the coming summer, when the song
Of the reaper Is heard in the land.
Gold is found in small particles
over the territory, and on Rogue Ri
the yield Of the precious metal is nea
as great as in the best mines Of Cali
MIA. The timber frequently grows
the height of three hundred feet, and
have measured a fir which was two h
bred and eighty feet in length.
tree was within the limits of the Cit
Portland. We also measured ct
which wac standing on the banks OF
Cowliiz river in Washington territ
which was twenty seven feet in circ
ference. These trees were but
above the average. There is tree
standing near the town of Astoria W
measures eighteen feet in diameter.
mention these facts to prove the stree
Of the sDil
No country in the world has SO g
a n.ntnr tnn,.-nt. ns Log Arannr, The