, 1859-02-25

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UDtil our surveying party went there
last spring, nothing definite was known
about the country north Of the bay. 1t
was supposed that the coast range of
mountains, called the Olympia range, came
down to within three or -four uilcS Of the
coast, and feur.or FIVE miles Of the bay on
THO north. Its real r,eys show an eX-
teIlSive body Of very rich, handsome land,
extending north some forty or fifty miles,
and varying from fifteen 10 forty miles in
breadth, giving an extent Of country, in
elusive of the valley Of Chehalis river, that
forms the harbor or bay, nearly if not quite
as large as the Willamette valley, with a
safe and convenient harbor for itsNoutIet to
the ocean.
There is on the bar at the outlet of
Gray'S HarbOr, 81 feet of water at low
tide and 81 at ordinary high tide, and SO
at the highest full moon tides in winter aud
spring. The entrance is quite straight east
aud west, while the prevailing winds Of
summer are nOrtherly, and in winter south
erly, which would enable vessels to go in
and come ont at any time with the tides,
with entire safety.
Who can doubt but that more will be
accomplished in the progress Of the world
in the next five years, than has~been done
in the last fifteen or twenty. In that time
| shall be disappointed if ! live and do not
see a railroad from the East with termi-
nus at San Francisco and q termini at the
Sound or on the Columbia. The gap in
the Cascade range Of mountains, made by
the Columbia, is the most feasible route for
railroad to the Pacific. made survey
for railroad round the Cascade Falls Of
the Columbia on the Oregon side, and
found the heaviest grade only 81 feet to
the mile, for distance of one mile The
remainder of the route>( four miles) did not
exceed at any one point twenty feet to the
mile. The whole elevation from the steam
boat landing on the Lower TO the Upper
Columbia, was less than so feet. esti-
mated that first class railroad could be
built over the FIVE miles at $50, 900 mile.
From the landing above the Cascade Falls,
roud can he made to the Missouri river,
over good ground, without exceeding a
grade of 40 feet to the mile at any one
point.
The portion of the road over the Rocky
Mountnins, through the South Pass, will
cost less money than any other section of
the road Take 400 miles of the most ex-
penSive portion Of a road over this route,
and it would be better far than the route
Of the New York and Erie road have
formed this opinion from actual observation
of both routes, having passed over them
both, and making o careful survey Of what
has heretofore been regarded as the most
difficult portion Of the route.
If it should be desirable to have the ter
mini of the road on Puget's Sound, at Il
point that would be accessible to vessels
Of the deepest draft, it could be carried
down the north side Of the Columbia, cross
lug the Columbia at the Dalles, where it is
not more than 100 feet wide, with high,
rocky banks on each side, to the mouth of
the Cowlitz river passing through Van
couver, the present headquarters Of the
army in Oregon and Washington then upI
the valley of the Cowlitz and over to the
Sound. have just returned from the
Sound, and down the Cowlitz river, and
am confident that road could be taken
from the Upper Columbia to the Sound
without difficulty, on grade not exceed
ing 20 feet to the mile at any one point
u distance of less than 200 miles.
In my opinion this route over, or rather
through, the Cascade Mountains, is the
most eligible route from the yhost Dorther-
ly part of Washington territory TO the
most southerly part Of California, and l
am confident that the very able delegate
from Washington territory, Gov. Stevens,
will induce Congress to adopt the route.
Although citizen Of Oregon, and des;-
rous Of promoting her interests by every
means in my power, am nos nsensible to
the superior claims OF Washington terrific
ry to the terminus of the road, for the
reason that ships Of the larger class can
not enter the harbor Of the Columbia
while the waters Of the Sound can be navi-
gated by the largest ships ever built, or
likely to be built. Unfortunately for the
success Of this greatest of enterprises, local
and sectional interests have thus far con-
trolled the action Of Congress but here
after | trust the general welfare of the
Union will be the controlling inAunce.
Give the South q road terminating in
San Francisco, and the North one over tie
route have indicated, and both will he
completed before the end of five years. III
we delay the work, England will extend
her Canada road over her territory to the
Pacific, aud while we are wrangling over
local OHd sectional intaresls, she will be
planting a mighty empire along the border
Of our northern wilderness.
Oregon and Washington territories hold
out greater inducements for settlement than
any unoccuped portion of the Union, and
the construction Of railroad to the Pacific
would bring into cultivation every quarter
section that is desirable for settlement, and
nine quarters out Of ten of, our entire
country will make better farms than the
average farms Of New York and Pennsyl.
vsnia,