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

forests are alive with game.
The Columbia River, which is by far
the largest stream west of the Rocky
Mountains, rises in them and marks a
winding path, until it finally deposits it
self in the Pacific. In comparison with
other great rivers, the Columbia has few
facilities for steam navigation. Ocean
vessels can only penetrate it some one
hundred miles, being stopped by the
Cascade falls. Above these falls steam
boats can run but some sixty miles to the
Dalles. Above this point, the water is
too broken for successful navigation with |
large class vessels. The river is al
ternately deep and shallow which would !
stop large steamers. We speak from
actual observation, as we have travelled !
down its banks some eight hundred miles,
and therefore lay claim to some knowl-
edge in relation TO it. The average
width of the Columbia is about one half
mile. 1t is majestic stream, and while
Flooding our weary way down its forbid
ding banks, in the summer of 1852, our
eyes would turn wistfdlly to its CLASSY
breast and watch its bright waters as they
rolled along in their sublime majesty to
that great Ocean whose name is Peace.
How welcome its look How inviting
: its liquid depths to Us whose tired feet
had for hundreds of miles beaten over
dusty, rocky, and uneven roads, over
mountain sleeps, across sandy plains, over
= parched deserts, through fields of stunt
= ed Artemts STA, over piles of volcanic de-
y posts, drinking of the poisoned waters,
and from the Shiny pool, all of which
= falls to the lot of him who dares invade
the sanctity Of that treeless wilderness.
- Let him who would look upon the awful
and the grand in nature take journey
down the walled banks Of the Columbia
and he viii see such sights as his widest
q Imagination had scarcely pictured. Its
" banks from where we struck it at Fort Hall
- are lined on either side by high over
hanging rocks, which average from fifty
to three hundred feet, in many case:
leaning towards the water as though
about to plunge in its liquid depths
From this it is readily seen, it is not al
=, ways easy Of access. Well do we re
r member encamping over night after
hard days journey over parched dis
" trict, upon a bluff of rocks that iutted to
- wards the river, and ourselves and team
= fling down towards it for water Ate
:, winding down a staircase for nearly
! half mile, we came to green pastur
where our herd fed in safety and in plen
ty. But TO look to the dizzy height fror
=. which we had descended, was grand i
the extreme. Over our heads hung hug
masses Of jagged rocks, on the the tops
!. which our Wagons were planted an
and tents pitched for the night. Up an
down the river for miles these walls e.
tended, with no outlet or inlet, save I'll
one by which we had descended, and U
this tiresome path we had to carry watt
for cooking purposes. What thinks Il
" lazy drone of this, who whines bccau.
~ he is sent for turn to the friendly pun
~ in his fathers door yard?
Jon
rob We have thus far spoken of but
! . small extent of the territory,-of abo
one hundred miles of it-leaving son
a., nine hundred miles more to be dispos
mol of. But we have spoken of what co
I'm stitutes, or did at the time we left it
ho 1854, the only settled portion of Gregg
The next part which demands attenti
is that which lies between the Casca
mountains on the west and The Bl
, mountains on the east, embracing trs
of land some two hundred miles in wild
' and four hundred miles in length, 2
-, which we shall term middle Oregon.
r. The face of this country is very diff
ent from that we have described, |
- nearly as good for purposes of az
- culture. This tract is a series of hi
O rolling praries, hills and table lands.
'' The Umatilla Valley lies in this PORTE
'i' This is a splendid country. There
" " none richer 10 point Of soil that we e7
I' beheld. 1t is is very deep and stro
ioi Water is scarce, and what there is is me-
. " ly in streams, which are rocky bottom
=, swift, and are therefore healthy. 7
,. " tract is destined to give life and sust
ance to future great American popr
arly tior whose forms sbaIl taar, NIL II,
'''' enterprise, and industry. One of
prettiest localities in this section, or
is any other, is Grande Ronde, val
NV. about fifteen by twenty miles, and s
~ rounded by mountains forming a c.
y y" plete barrier, hid from view until