, 1860-03-16
OLYMPIA WASHINGTON TERRITORY FRIDAY MARCH 49, 1860

Rapids, and receiving in latitude 46o 40
the Yakima river, unites in latitude 46o
20, longitude ll9o with its great southeast.
ern branch, Lewis or Snake river One Of
the principal sources of the stream is Hen.
ry's river having its rise in the Rocky
mountains in abOat latitude 44o To-, near
the head waters Of the Madison fork of the
Missouri. Another is Jackson's Lake, to
the eastward of the "Three Tetons" Of
the Rocky range, and in the vicinity of the
head waters of the Yellowstone, and the
Colorado of the Gulf of California. Hen
ry's riyer-,he stream flowing from Lake
jackson - and a considerable tributary
coming in from the south, form the main
Lewis river, which flowing in a west-north-
west direction, receives in its course numer-
our tributaries, the principal ones being
from the east-the Malade [or Sickly) riv-
er, the Boise Cor Wooded), the Salmon
river, and the Kooskooskia; from the south,
the Portneuf, Raft, Clarke's and Owyhee;
and from the west, Malheur, Burnt river,
Powder river, and Grande Ronde river.
Although the three last named rivers
are in Oregon, yet from the intermediate
connection their valleys have with the same
description of country Immediately north Of
the boundary line between the two terrific
ries, and stretching into the interior of
Washington, it is deemed proper and right
to give them more than passing notice.
Their Importance does not arise from the
fact Of their being naVigable streams, for
they are not, except perhaps TO the Indian
canoe, but from the fact of their flowing
through most magnificent farming and
grazing region. No more beautiful por-
tiOn Of either Territory can be found, than
the valleys and the immediate surrounding
country of the Burnt, the Powder, and the
Grande Ronde rivers. The high rolling
praires on either side of the Burnt river,
with the numerous little valleys of its trib-
utaries, and the extensive bottom prairie
lands of the Powder river, bordered by
well timbered highlands, offer inducements
to the settler of the most advantageous
kind. Grande Ronde river waters one of'the
most beautiful valleys on the Pacific coast
1t is some twenty miles long by twelve wide,
surrounded by ridges of the Blue mount
aims, covered with heavy growth of white
pine. If beautiful and sublime scenery,
great pildness Of climate, rich soil, ne
water and timber, and nm abundance Of
grass, with streams affording good water
power and plenty Of salmon and trout, are
any inducements to settlement, particular.
ly for the farmer and grazer, they are ad-
vised to turn their attention to such sec
tions of Washington and Oregon as Just
described. The old emigrant road from
Ft, Hall to Walla-walla passes through it.
The Columbia near its junction with
Lewis river is about three-fourths of mile
wide. Its course thence to its union with
the Walla Walla, in latitude 46o TO-, is
south, here it is about 1900 yards wide.
Upon the Walla Walla and its tributaries
the soil is fertile, and to the north and
south are extensive prairies.
From its junction with the Wala Walla,
the Columbia makes its last turn to the
westward, receiving on its way to the
DalleS, the Umatila river in about latitude
450 so, longitude ll9o, and John Days
and Falls or Des Chutes rivers in the same
latitude, and longitude 1909 80. The
Chutes is large stream, has many falls
and rapids, and is famed among the Indian
tribes for its salmon fisheries.
After receiving the Des Chutes, the Co
lumbia, continuing its westward course
through au elevated rocky region, reaches
the Dalles, one Of the most remarkable
places on the river. The whole volume of
water is here thrown into a narrow canyon
of some 300 feet wide and half mile long,
with rush and roar perfectly deafening.
The country in the immediate vicinity is
much broken up by rocky ravines but a
short distance back the plains and valleys
and table lands are reached, which are
valuable as a grazing region, well watered
with springs,
(TO BE CONTINUED J