The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-03-27
LETTER FROM OREGON.
From Our Regular Correspondent

PORTLAND, Oregon, Jan. ~, 1868.
To the Editor of the Pioneer:
have been looking at the commercial
advantages of Oregon and Washington
since my last letter to you, in the hope of
furnishing something of the character of
these great "centres of attraction " in q
commercial point of view Atpresent, the
country is without any very important
points. The Columbia, Snake and Wala-
met are the only rivers navigable. Taking
the map, you notice that the Snake River,
as it comes down from the southeast, is
crowded far to the north to find a passage
through the Blue Mountains and then,
after uniting with the Columbia, both are
bent again southwark by the lateral ranges
of the Cascade Mountains, as they project
eastward, before they find passage
through that bold range. After passing
the rocky gates of the Cascades, the tor
rent sweeps by the mouth of the Walamet,
and bears northwest, widening and deepen
ing until it mingles with the Pacific Ocean.
The Walamet from its source, flows north
west until it debOuches into the famous
''Valley of the Walamet," and then after
divers windings, enters the Columbia, about
$50 miles from the head of the Valley,
and almost in direct north course
East of the Cascade Mountains the coun-
try is not an agricultural region. 1t is
there where the gold districts lie, and
where the miner is at home, and, OIL that
account, is where the trade is COMPARE
lively greater. South of Columbia the
Valley of the Walamet opens the only
good agricultural country in the entire
boundary-some two hundred miles long
by about from five to forty in width.
The trade east Of the Cascade Range is
pretty large, from the fact Of SO many
miners being there, and several places
have sprung into existence, along the
shores of the Columbia. The port of
export and import on the same, at
the mouth of the Columbia Here,
only, the Pacific sends its throbbing
pulse up to the Mountains. its channel is
not difficult nor its current dangerous.
Portland is the point Of arrival and iepar-
ture of sea going commerce, and here |
expected to find a ''forest of masts, " and
flags of all nations. | expected the cross
of St. George would be seen riding in
peace by the side of the tri-color of France
or the royal lion reposing in undisturbed
tranquility needing not the growl of the
Russian Bear, Or the scream OF the Amer
lean Eagle, but instead, found ut the har-
Dor OF Portland a few small vessels, with
sails closely reefed. towed sneakingly
along the waters of the Walamet in un-
slightly helplessness, on an inland journey.
Much has been said of "where is the place
to build up large city" made by the sea
going trade. Some Years ago thew had
St. Helens, at the base Of Mount St. Hell
ems, then Milwaukee, but neither proved
to be it. La Roche once figured as The
place, bnt new corners cannot now find La
Rouche: then Walamet city, but now a
printer--yes, sir, a poor printer, even,
now monopolized the valuable town-pat
of that once furnishing place, he uses it
for & calf pasture, or something of that
sort. Then Milwaukee, view her smoul-
deri.g ruins--fit emblems of Overlapping
ambition. Portland, with all her enter
prise, cannot be conceded yet as the place,
because the week. y steamer sticks on Swan
Island Bar, Notwithstanding the ''thirty
feet OF water on it, "God never intend
ed Portland to be the place." and here
the valuable real estate from which such
splendid "views of Mount St. Helens, and
Mount Hood, and the Southern continue
ton of the Cascade Range are seen over
the timbers, must depreciate in value the
location for the best view of the scenery
of the Cascades must dwindle to mere
Mud Monument of the speculative folly of
its early founders.
Ascend the Columbia, Vancouver is
natural point of supply to a considerable
extent. The Cascades is mere portage.
Dallas city, besides being a portage, by
nature ITSELF has future hopeful and bright,
from that point DIVORCES to John Days riv-
er mines, and some parts of Powder river
mines. Arailroad of fifteen miles length is
nearly completed around the portage from
the Dallas to Des Chutes. From thence
to Wallula, the navigation of the Columbia
is free and uninterrupted. did not form
a very good idea of Wallula, however,
when there. 1t is located at the mouth
of the Walla Walla river Ga very small
creek, and has no natural advantages, ex-
cept that it supplies Walla Walla, Tou-
Ghetto and lebanon valleys.
Walla Walla has grown to be a thriving
place, with no advantages but military
post and a small valley. In times past
considerable teaming was done from there
to Lewiston, which place stands at the
converging ways to Salmon river, and the
1ooo1;tr d.