, 1862-12-06
From walla walla to San Francisco.
BY CAPT. JOHN MuLLAN. q. s. A.


the importance of establishing a mail line from
Walla Walla to Fort Laramie, to there tap the
present daily Overland mail service by which
means our mails at Walla Walla could be dev-
cred to us in 10 days from st. Louis, and in II
days to Portland-ths in the summer season
or 20 to % days in the winter At present our
mails cross the continent to Sacramento, 1000
miles; thence to Portland, 700; thence to Wala
Walla, 800 more making a total of 5000 miles
of travel before we get them whereas, can
guarantee line, by the route indicated, of one
half the distance and one half the time. framed
a memorial which Judge Hummason would in
troduce in Congress for this line and was prom
ised by Mr.. Harding his cooperation to see that
the matter not allowed to pass unnotced du-
ring the coming winter Leaving Salem, Jour
ney of twenty-four hours passes US through Cor
wallis and Eugene city; and through an exceed
ingly beautiful and rich agricultural country on to
Oakland, where the celebrated 'Baler Mills are
established, producing it is said the finest flour
in Oregon. The disasters of the food were too
visible at each and every point. sweeping away
bridges and ferries, and destroying property to
the extent of thousands of dollars A large
structure across the Umpqua, costing $4,000,
was thus carried oH-its convenience being now
replaced by ferry. All along the road we pass
ed small parties of emigrants who crossed the
Plains this season; some in search of new homes;
others to join their friends who years since had
preceded them. The Umpqua is beautiful val
| ley, in high state of cultivation; the school
houses, dotting here hill, and there valley, be-
token that the education of the youth of the
country not being neglected. Rossburg, the
county-seat of the Umpqua region, is a gem of
village streets neatly laid out, and neat, white
frame cottages, giving the place rare picturesque
/ beauty where mountain an dale and the hand
Of refined culture, all joined in beautiful harmony
The line of Telegraph post extend throughout
this entire distance from Portland to Canyovilie
the faTthest point south where they are as yet
erected. 1t is fully anticipated to have the line
from Salem to Portland in working order by win
te; as also the link from Jacksonville to Yreka
The posts are supplied and erected by contract
by the farmers and others living along the line, at
from 81 % 81 per post, and the line when COM
pleted, will cost 5000 per mile. Local nte-
gence and the interest which every citizen feels in
the reception of intelligence, now brstling with
so much import, will cause this line, as soon as
placed in good wockng order, to pay to the
stockholders fair dividends upon their capital
This link between Canyonvlle and Jacksonville
will be completed during the next season. | saw
Mr.. Strong in Yreka, and found him pushing
ahead the line with all his o. Characteristic energy
He deserves much credit for prosecuting this
proeet thus far to a that is to bring to our
doors daily intelligence from the East; and it is
TO be hoped that the citizens of the Upper
Columbia will move in the same matter as soon
as the line is completed to Portland
A ride of twenty hours brings us into the Rogue
River valley and to Jacksonville, region regard
as one of the most beautiful and picturesque to
be found in Oregon. The valley is from twenty
five to thirty miles square, entirely taken up by
] l.. r.. 4 i l. e.. . Al
farm-houses and barns in good keeping with the
character of its progress grst and saw-mills
erected to supply the wants Of its inhabitants !;
AID with inexhausible forests of timber. Gold
minirg is here carried on with much success and
it interesting to see the lines of sluicebOxe
running through the streets of Jacksonville that
turned out as retty gold as any mined on the
coast. Unfortunately for this fine valley, it has
no outlet for its produce, and is dependent solely
on home market. Its supplies are brought
in by the way of Crescent City, by good wagon
road, at cost of four to five cents per pound
Oats here are 40 cents a bushel wheat 70 to 90
cents lnmber, $l5 per NJ; labor, from $50 to
$40 per month. We observed, in squads, the
ubiquitous Cinnamon, moving from mining local
ity to mining locality; fleeing from the kicks of
one to the cuffs of the other with no fixed abd-
ing place to be called his permanent home.
A location for Railroad line from Portland to
Jacksonville is eminently practicable, and the citv
izens of the Willamette will be blind to their
own interests, if they do not so move in the mat
ter so to secure to themselves the advantage Of
the ample provisions made in the Pacific Rail
road Bill, for a connection between Portland and
Sacramento. But South from Jacksonville there
will be severe problem for the Engineers to
to solve, beth in the shape of grades and tunnels
The Calapooya range will present an easy prob
lem for solution; But the Scotl's and Trinity
mountains will not be easily handled. They are
high, broad and broken, and no railroad line
can be laid across or through them, except at
most enormous cost. But that it is practicable
and will in time be built, have no doubt. But
my views relative to this location as Branch of
the Pacific Railroad have been more than con-
frmed by detailed view Of its geography, and
| still insist that a Branch of the Pacific Rail
road that will benefit Oregon and Washington, as
such, can only be found by tapping the main
trunk at or near Fort Laramie, and coming into
the Columbia at or near the mouth of Snake
rivers and thence using the main Colum-
5ia to such point whence freight can be be ship
ped to and across the ocean. / made special in
quiries relative to the depth of snow across the
CaapoJya Scouts and Trinity mountains, during
the past winter, and learned that not less than
eight feet fell upon these mountains; still the
/
until the freshet suspended the travel; which was
for the period of six weeks. The Scott's and
Trinity mountains are higher than any mountain
crossed by my road from Walla Walla to Fort
Benton and knowing that the question of snow
with us is no more difficult than that met and
overcome on this and other lines, am sanguine
to believe that mail line from Fort Laramie to
Walla Wala will prove eventually practicable
But the "experimentum crucis" that will leave no
lingering doubt even with the most uncompro-
missing caviler, will be afforded US, trust, during
the next twelve months and that will deliver at
our doors in Waa Waa the mails, direct from
ST. Louis ,inffeen days. am but too anxious that
this last crowniGg success should bs afforded US /;
not only to give us increased mail facilities, for
the present but to awaken practical attention to
that region where the Isothermal and lsochmeaL
lines have, for ages past presented and do still
continue 10 present TO us, ollogical phases as
wonderful in their nature as they are destined to
prove useful in their future results.
To those who derive pleasure in seeing the
rough, rugged wild face of Nature made to wear
the smiles of civilization and of progress, and to
witness what money and labor can accomplish,
know of no point where they can visit to sec
these in all their grandeur than across the Scotts
and Trinity mountains which, in point of diff
Guilty and rugged wildness, SUI pass any mountain
region it has ever been my lot TO travel, from the
Columbia to the Missouri rivers. Toll roads lead
over both of -hese mOunans one connecting
Yreka with Rogue river and the other, Yreka
with Shasta. The road over SCOTS mountain is
about twenty miles long, and made at cost not
far from 100000; and the other eight miles
made at a cost of $4,000. The mind that con-
ceived the road, and the hand that executed it,
were not cast in Natures ordinary mould; genius
of higher order was Natures gift to them. Those