, 1860-03-30
WASHINGTON TERRITORY.
HistorioaI, Geographical and Statistical
BY THE GATHERED
RIVERS OF WESTERN WASHINGTON.


The rivers Of western Washington are
numerous, and several of them of much i'm
porlance, looking to the fact that with a
comparatively small expenditure of money,
they could be made navigable for steamers
far into the interior. Those in the south
ern part of this portion of the Territory,
and which flow into the Columbia, will FIRST
be noticed.
The Cathlapoodle river rises in the Cas-
eade range, and has a general western
course, falling into the Columbia, opposite
the town of St. Heens, on the Oregon
shore. 1t is bold, rapid river, running
about thirty yards in its bed. The lands
bordering the lower portion Of this river
are wide Approaching the foothills Of the
mountains the valley is narrow, the coun-
try well timbered, with the exception Of
occasional>Open but small plains, which af
ford good grazing.
The Cowlitz river has its source between
the snow-capped peaks Of Mt Rainer and
Mt. St. Heleus, and taking a west aud
south course, empties into the Columbia,
6fty miles from the ocean, opposite the
town Of Rainier, on the Oregon side. 1t
waters large extent Of good agricultural
country, both timber and prairie, lying in
the counties Of Lewis and Cowlitz. The
lands Of the river bottoms are exceedingly
rich, with clayey loan soil. The prevail
ing timber being, as usual In the bottom
lands OF this portion Of the territory, cedar,
tr, ash, soft aud vine maple, cottonwood,
&c. The Cowlitz is a large and rapid riT-
sr, and has for many years been naVigated
by bateaus and canoes, to a point thirty
miles above its mouth, known as "Cowllz
Landing" constituting for that distance a
portion Of the liue Of communication be-
tween the Columbia river and the head of
Puget Sound. The tide flows up this
stream some nine miles, at which point rap
ids occur, aud continue at intervals to the
Landing" A reasonable sum Of money
would render this river navigable for steam
ers to the Landing" and the legislature
has passed su act incorporating The
CoWlitz River Steam Navigation Compa-
ny" who at their own instance are bound
by the act to place q steamer upon and
navigate the river to the Landing" in six
months from date.
Gray's river rises in highrange Of
knobs or hills TO the north OF the Colum-
bia. 1t is a large stream, and flowing south
falls into Gray's Bay opposite TO and a, lit
tie above AStorin. The valley Of this
stream has rich black soil, and is timber
ed with vine maple aud alder The tide
extends up some 6fteen miles, to fall Of
about twelve feet.
The Palux, Nasal and Willapah all emp
ty into ShoalWater Bay. The two former
rise in the same range Of hills as GrayS
river. The latter in q rnnge more to the
north and east More or less prairie lands
border all these rivers, but near their mouth
the land is subject TO overflow from the ex-
treme high tides during the winter. The
tim6ered portions of these river bottoms
have growth Of vine maple, aud alder,
with some cedar, spruce and Or. The soil
Is a deep rich clnyey loan. The Willapah
is the largest Of these rivers. 1t is about
q mile wide at its mouth, narrowing to an
average width Of some twenty five or thirty
yards, beyond the influence Of the tides
1t is navigable for small steamers about If
teen miles up, and for boats some distance
further.
The Chehalis river heads in a low range
Of mountains, fifteen miles north Of the
Columbia at Csthlamet, aud thirty north
west from the mouth Of the Cowlitz with
which river it runs nearly parallel but in an
opposite direction, and between that river
aud the heads Of those emptying into ShOal-
water Bay, which it completely eucircles,
and after receiving the Newaukum and
Skoo-kum-ehuck, two large streams rising
in the Cascades, it takes west course and
falls into Gray's HarbOr, iu latitude 470.
This river and its tributaries drains one OF
the most fertile portions Of county west Of
the Cascades, extending from east to west
about eighty miles, aud the same distance
from north to south; well Iimbsred, inter
spersed with rich prairies, and the numer-
Gus streams affording abundance of water
power. A small appropriation Of money
J1diciously expended, would render the
,Chehalis navigable for half Of the year, for
steamers, distance Of eighty miles, and at
all seasons a distance OF thirty or forty
into the interior. Some Of its tributaries