, 1860-03-23
WASHINGTON TERRITORY:
Hi,toricai, Geographical and !Ssaiis'ica
BY TIE GArHERER.

RIVERS OF AsHINGToN-(coNrlNUED)
The country in the immediate vicinity oI
The Dalles is much broken up by rocky ra,
vines. bnt short distance back the plains
and valleys aud table lands are reached,
which are valuable as q grazing region,
well waiered with springs and small
streams splrsely timbered with excellent
oaks, and the highlands covered with pine
Some FIVE miles below, on the Oregon
side Of the river in Wasco county -four,
ishng little town has sprung up, called
Dalles City, near which Is Fort Dales, an
important military post From this point
the Columbia is broad and deep, and on its
approach to the Cascade mountains steep
and rocky hills, rising from one to two
thousand feet, shuts it in on either side
Forty.fye miles below the Dalles, the Cas-
cades are reached Here tn, whole volume
Of water is confined to few hundred yards
in width, and pours with fearful velocity
over masses Of rocks detached from the
mountains above, forming in o short dis
tance fall of about forty feet. A railroad
has been cnsiructed across the portage
here, for the transmission of freight
Having at this point forced its way
through the main ridge of the Cascade
mountains, no further distractions OCCUR in
this noble river iu its course 10 the ocean,
which it enters with a width of about five
miles, between Cape Disappointment, a
bhI, rocky promontory 300 feet high, on
the north, aud Point Adams low sandy
point, on tho South, 10 latitude 46' l6'
aorth, and longitude l24o west from Green
wich. I.,s-.
The foregoing details in relation to the
great river of the western side of the
American continent, have been deemed of
essential Importance in these brief chapters,
in view Of its Intimate connection with the
Northern line of communication between
Washington and the nayigablo waters Of
the Missouri
The Columbia and its tributaries drain a
vast region Of country. embracing some
twelve degrees of latitude, and as many
degrees Of longitude. II traverses the
Territory from its eastern boundary-the
Sammt Of the Rocky mountans--to the
Pacific ocean, The head waters of its
principal tributaries are in close proximity
with those Of the Missouri, and only abont
l25 miles from Fert Benton, to which point
a steamer is now making trips from St.
Louis, having the government contract for
the transportation Of goods for hepaymenf
OF Gnnuities to Indian tribes in that quar-
ter.
An artilee upon the naVigabilty Of the
Columbia river appeared in the American
Railroad Journal in 1858, and contains a
mass of facts especially applicable to one
Of the objects in view in these papers, to-
VII tue dissemination of important infor-
nation, for the benefit of the public east of
'he Rocky mountains in regard 10 the
commercial Importance of this great water
line, in connection with the construction Of
Railway between its nRVigable waters
and the head Of navigation on the Missouri
at Fort Benton, distance Of only some
4oO miles. Now when the question of u
speedy aud direct communication between
The Atlantic seaboard aud the Pacific
ocean is one of great interest to the whole
Union, lei the fact be particularly remember
ID, that il 0hly requires lie construction of
some four hundred and fjty miles of railroad
to perfect a steamboat and railroad transit
from The city of 50. Louis 10 Astoria at The
mouth Of The Columbia.
Tne Secretary of War, in his late able
report, speaking of this line of communica.
tion, says:
The military road from Fort Wulla-
WaIla to Fort Benton, for which a special
appropriation was made, has been com.
menced, and nearly two hundred and sixty
miles Of it completed, Steamboats, can
navigate the Oregon river to Fort Walla
walla, and the Missouri river to Fort Ben
'On' thus ntfordiug, excepting for the dis
,ahce ol six hundred miles, line of steam
oOat communication between the Atlantic
auu Pacific. across the widest portion o.
vur possessions Without considering the
facilities which the construction Of a road
over the interval referred to would afford
" em'grants traversing that portion of the
sentiment, in military point Of view it is
VI very great importance. Among the
most powerful of our Indian tribes are
nose which inhabit the regions at either
s!'l Of the proposed line To keep the In
uiAns In Su6jec,ion, to have the means O.
"Sn'Fortating troops and material rapidly