The weekly union record., 1864-06-04
Letter from Lewiston, Idaho.
Lewiston, May IA, 1864.

the morning Of the third instant, on the old
California steamboat. the Wilson G. Hunt,
now plying between the Cascades and Port
land. Six miles up the Columbia from the
mouth of the Willammet,e We came to
FoET VANCOUVER.
Here Government has erected some very
fne buildings for officers quarters and good
substantial barracks, but they are nearly de-
serted now, there being only some eighty men
stationed there st this time; considerable of
town is being built up here ard the site as
well as well as the general appearance of the
place is much superior 10 Portland, and is.
think, destined to become formidable rival,
unless the residents of that city pat forth
little more energy and improve the communi-
cation TO that place by removing the bar that
is fast forming across the mouth Of the VII
lammette. From here the scenery gradually
changes from thick forests to high PERCEPTIONS
bluffs; and while as whole II is truly grand
and awe-inspiriug, yet the almost perfect same
ness of the scene soon tires the eye One
gladly notes where here and there, some beau
tiful cascade leaps in silvery shower over the
perpendicular walls, or winding down
like a silver thread from amid
the huge rocks seems as if fastening TO 6re
its from their embrace and mingle with Co.
umbias swelling tide.
At Hassaloe We took the cars across the
first portage or Lower Cascades. These are
the first of the series of rapids that render the
navigation of this river so difficult. The Ore
gon Steam Navigation Company have built,at
a great expense, a very good substantial rail-
road over this portage six miles long, and
where it seems almost impossible to make
very good mule trail. But what difficulties
will not the insatiate thirst for gold enable
man to surmount. Nature may throw her
rudest barriers III the way, yet in search Of
gold he laughs at them ALL Had the Gold
Fever not broken out in this upper country,
centuries perhaps would have passed ere the
shrill neigh OF the Iron Horse, or the snort and
puff of the steam Leviathans would have ava
kened the echoes of these savage haunts. Ouce
more embarked on board the "Oneonta" from
the Upper Cascades We pass into far more
picturesque country. Here and there the bluffs
on either side break off into low rolling coun-
try aud beautiful valleys that gladden. the eyes
Some of these days the traveller up this river
will see beautiful cottages among these low
hills and envy the possesser, but now but few
take even the second look One hundred and
twenty four miles from Portland, we reach the
DALLEs.
This place is located on the South or Ore
gon side of the river, and is very lively, bus
/ . Of 7. -. IL
size Of Oroville, but the location is very poor,
aud the weather horribly disagreesble. The
climate seems to be a mixture OF Sacramento
and San Francisco, the heat of the former al
ternating with the winds of the latter, and as
sand is in great plenty, the result of the CON-
binaton is easier imagined than described
The Government buildings here are very fne
and | understand that kind hearted Uncle
Samuel was bled pretty freely for their con-
struction. One building, an ordinary cottage
costing ninety thousand. Who got the per-
quisies? sGbbe. John. But those were good
Old Democratic days and Uncle Sam could
stand it.
In a business view, this is good location,
as trains are daily coming and going to and
many other points, One OF Oroville's pioneers
Mr.. Jack Dowd is located here, and as usual,
is still on hand to give good turn out for
ride or drive. From this place we again took
the cars, O distance Of fourteen miles to Cello.
From the cars We have good view of the
rapids, aud the appropriateness of the name
Of the place is easily seen, as it required no
great stretch of the Imagination of the early
oh 10,
the channel as many slabs. hence the name
Dalles These rocks are scattered along for
several miles breaking it up into succession
of whrls and rapids throu gh which it seems
impossible that ever an Indian canoe could
pass. Once again we are steamboated on the
way, and tie up for the night at
UMATILLA,
ninety six miles from the Dalles This place
situated in Washington Territory is the prin-
cipal point Of landing for goods destined for
the Boise Basin. There are about thirty stores,
three hotels, and numberless places where tar
rantula juice and chain lightning are sold at
two bits per glass Here also another old
resident of Butte is located, Mr.. D. G. O'Don-
nell, OF the California House. Orovileians
should not fail to give him a call. as Dan is
always on hand to do the honors of the house,
and still halls from Butte.
WALLuLA
located on the site of old Fort Wala Walla is
twenty three miles from Umaiilla, and for
while, was the main point Of travel to the Boise
mines, but the owner of the town site haviog
placed too high an estimate on town lots, the
rival town of Umatilla was started and is fast
absorbing this place, and we're it not that the
o. s. \. Co. have an interest in keeping it
up. it would soon be among the things that
were and are not.
The new Fort and town of Wslla Wala is
located about thirty miles from Wallula. on
the Waa Walla river, and is very fine busy
little town. Government has some very fine
substantial buildings here, and the grounds are
fitted up in ine style fully equal 20 any have
seen on the trip.
The steamer not running up 10 Lewiston,
eight honest miners might have been seen
slowly vending their way over the sand hills
that surround Walfula. The air was hot and
Il l.. l.. G -.-fr