The Montana post. [volume] (Virginia City, Montana Territory [i.e. Mont.]) 1864-1869, 1866-11-03

day there are great many vacant houses
and stores, and but one or two of the
former large establishments running.
The scenery about the place is most
beautiful, and the Columbia here re-
deems her great reputation, for from
hence to its mouth it presents the grand
est and most varied scenery of any stream
on our continent, | think far surprising
the Hudson or Connecticut. The steam
ers do not run on Sunday, and we were
compelled to lay over till the following
Monday, when at 5 a. m. the Wilson G.
Hunt started down stream, with our
party aboard. At 10 a. m the fog,which
had obscured everything during the NOR
ming, cleared away, and that greatest of
all our mountain peaks, Mount Hood,
stood out in bold relief in the distance
1t was grand, inspiring sight, to behold
its snowy crest, piercing not only the
clouds, but the very heavens-its feecy
covering glistening in the bright morn
ings sunlight. AT noon we reached the
Upper Cascades, where train was in
waiting to convey the steamers load of
freight and passengers around the great
cascades, seven miles, to the lower land
ing. On this portage is situated the high
bridge, some eighty feet in height, which
causes feeling of dizziness as you look
from the car window down upon the
rocks beneath. At the lower terminus,
the Oneonta was in readiness to trans
port us to Portland, and after few min
utes consumed in transferring passen-
gers, etc, she was gaily plowing the
crested waves of this now great, as well
as charming river, taking us down past
lovely islands, huge rocks, among which
were Castle and Eagle rocks, the former
a huge mass rising abruptly from the
water, and presenting very picturesque
view, not unlike a ruined castle, while
the latter is tall monster, standing out
alone on the bank of the stream, a lone
pine tree growing upon it's crest, it's huge
sides covered with moss which has never
been disturbed by the feet of mana fit
abode of the noble bird from which it is
named. From the Lower Cascades to
Portland we pass Fort Vancouver, very
handsomely located place, near which
the government hasa body of troops sta,
toned for the protection of the surround
ing region from the various tribes of In
dians, who are very hostile Below Van
couyer few miles, the Willamette joins
the Columbia, on which is Portland,
which place We reached at p. M, hav-
ing been treated to views of Mounts
Hood, st. Helens and Adams, besides
other scenery more beautiful than pen
can describe or a Bierdstat paint.
The Oregon Steam Navigation Com
pany seem to think that the scenery
along their route is sufficient to feast one
physically, as well as mentally, for poorer
fare was never placed before any one than
that aboard their boats, for which, TOO,
you pay extra, notwithstanding the mod
crate charge of eighteen dollars for trans
portation from Walula to Portland,
two hundred and sixty miles. They
ought at least to adopt Ben. Holladay's s
plan of warm meals" and provide
abundance of mustard, pepper, etc.
The city of Portland is a thriving place,
well laid out, with many fine public and
private buildings, and with excellently
paved streets. From here most of the
goods for the mountains is purchased,
creating very extensive trade, and caus.
ing the appearance of great activity in
all circles of business. The Jews and
Chinese have almost taken the place,
however. During my brief stay the Jews
celebrated their day of g atonement," and
the whole place wore the appearance OF
a Sabbath day in an eastern city, while
on Sunday the streets reminded one OF
Virginia in her early days. Travel from
Portland to the bay" as San Francisco
is here familiarly termed. is now cheap
compared to a few months since, when
that gourmand, Ben. H., had it all his
own way, and played the people of Or
egon and the Territories lively string
in the way of outrageous charges fol
| freight and passage, a rival line (the An
chor,) having placed two of the finest
boats on the coast in the Portland trade
bringing fare down from forty-fve to ter
and fifteen dollars, and freight from fit
teen to three dollars per ton. Let the
people support the new line, and the days
of high prices will be numbered, SO fal
as their merchandise from Frisco is con
cerned. A large number of passenger
went out on the Montana, which left OF
the day of my departure from Portland
but being desirous of a sight of the grea
vallies of the Willamette, Umpqua anl
Trinity rivers, as well as the ice-crowne(
peak of Mount Shasta and the famous
mines of Upper California, / took tn,
overland route through Oregon and thi
State, coming via Salem, Oregon's capi
tai, where / rested day, and had tn,
pleasure of forming the acquaintance o
Hon. S. z. May, Secretary of State,
noble, generous and highminded gentle
man, whom Oregon has but Justly hon
ored. visited both Houses of the Leg
islature, then in session, and storm,
one, too, being engaged in balloting 70
United States Senator to fill the vacanc,
caused by the expiration Of Nesmith'
term. Excitement was running high
and the bread-and-butter politicians ar
making superhuman efforts to effect
triumph and elect believer in m,
policy" The constitutional amendmen
was passed by small majority, and
was thought Union man would b
elected Senator, which has since bee
the result, Hon. H. w. Corbett, proprit
tor of the overland stage line to Sacrs
mento being the winning candidate. j
is most glorious record for the Webfee
nation, and one they are eminently prou
of, for Mr.. Corbett is sound supporte
of the congressional policy i
- Coloy,, sc think tho bo nd co,r oef 81 4