, 1860-03-23

other, aud to build up communities on the
upper waters of the Oregon and the Mis-
souri strong enough to dispense with mill
tary protection aud TO furnish supplies 70 a
column m rchng over, are objects that
render the work measure Of sound cconO-
my, if not necessity itself. A further ap-
propriaton for its completion is now neces-
sary. Reliable information has been re-
ceutly furnished 10 the Department Of the
existence Of great mineral Wealth in the
mountains through which portion of the
road passcs.'
From tie american Railroad Journal.
'In our last issue Of August 7th, we pre-
Scnted some facts in regard to the uaviga-
biIity of the Missouri river. We now pro-
pose TO redeem the promise then made, Of
presenting similar facts in relation to the
navigability Of the great connecting aud
intcrlocking river on the western slope Of
the conIineut, the Columbia.
The Columbia drains vast extent Of
country from the Becky range to the Pa
ciiic, situate between the parallels of 42o
and 52o 80. The main Columbia takes
its rise in about parallel ,5Oo, flows to the
uorthward and making large circular bend
TO the westward in about parallel 52o 80 ,
finally takes a nearly due south course till
ii reaches the parallel Of 400, when it pass,
es to the ocean in nearly due west course,
its mouth being in latitude 46o Is.
It's principal tributaries are Lewis or
Saake river, which flows through the south
ern portion of the country drained by the
system Of waters of which the Columbia is
the main stem, and whose valley has fur
uiShed one Of the great routes Of travel
from the Mississippi valley to the Pacific,
aud which empties into the main river about
latitude AGO IS; aud Clark's Fork which
drains the central portion, and empties into
the Columbia about parallel 400 l.. Both
these rivers have reaches of navigable water
aud deserve consideration in connection with
the Columbia itself
Besides these tributaries, are the Spokane
which flows into the Columbia from the east
and the Yakima, Wenatschapan, and other
streams which flow from the west. As
these streams are not navigable, even in
reaches Of any length, except small portions
Of the upper waters Of the Spokaup,' known
as the Celr d'Aleno river aud lake, further
allusions TO them will not be called for, ex-
cept Ia reference TO their facilities for raft
ing lumber in high water.
\ The Kootenuy river, however, which has
iA rise in the Rocky Mountains, flows in
course nearly parallel to that Of Clark's
Fork, aud empties into the Columbia about
20 miles above the mouth Of Clark's Fork,
has undoubtedly, considerable reaches of
naVigablo waters; but as it is out Of direc-
tion in regard to the streams draining the
eastern slope Of the Rocky Mountains, and
is in connection with no overland route, it
will not be considered further in this paper.
Thcmain Columbia has for many years been
navigated by boats and canoes from the
Boat Encampmeut, near its source in the
Rocky Mountains to the ocean, and reaches
in Clark's fork and the Snake river have been
navigated in the same way. The naviga-
ton is obstructed by several rapids aud
falls, requiring portages even for canoes in
the most favorable stage Of water, aud Of
other rapids requiring porIages at low wa
ter. The journals Of the officers aud en-
ployeeS of tue Hudson's Bay Company give
much interesting Information in regard to
the difficulties and the danger and labor re-
quired to overcome them.
Oar present purpose, however, is to con
slider its nayigability for steamers, and we
shall give facts in detail of the distractions
and facilities of the river as far as the Ket-
tie Falls near ColVille. We will commence
at lis mouth.
Erom the Columbia entrance up to the
Cascades, distance Of l60 miles, the river
is without obstruction, aud can be navigated
by large steamers. Sea-goiug steamersean
ascend as far as Vancouver, lis miles from
its mouth. The Indians say that at the Cas-
cadeS the river used to be perfectly free;
but the gradual encroAchments on its pre-
cpitous banks at leugth gave rise to land
slide, which, falling into the river, made
sort Of natural dam, which is evidently the
case from the appearance Of the shore
There is portage around the Cascades of
Que mile aud a-haH Tue next obstruction
is at the Dalles, 205 miles from its mouth.
At this place, lho Columbia makes bend
ike Il horse shoe towards the south and
runs through basaltic trough with walls
about twenty feet in height and two hun
dred yards apart, the current is very rapid,
but is not rough. For canoes, portage
Of eight hundred PAGES avoids this obStruc-
tion. For steamers, canaling for consid-
erably LOGGER distance would be required
In the absence Of careful surveys we have
not the means for stating the distance along
which Improvements must be made to fur
uish continuous navigation, or in the ab-
sence Of such Improvements the shortest land
portage which would be required The
portage now in use is from the Dalles to
the mOath OF the Deschutes, distance Of
ten miles. But this can uuqucStionaoly be
very much reduced
For the past two seasons, the army sup
plies for the Walla-walla post have been
transported in sailing vessels from the mouth
Of the Desch1tes RIVER TO old Fort Walla-
waIla, and it Is known that from that point
to Priests Rapids no obstruction exists
Snake river which flows into tue Columbia
J. a IN =