The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1867-09-21
For the slato Rights Demoeral.
For the State Rights Democrat.
LECTURES BY REV. H. H. SPAULD DING
Early Oregon NIissiOns.-.Their Ina.
pOrtance I'm Securing the COun-
try to Americans.
NrMRER rMENTY.sIX,


We left Boise August 2lst, and re-
crossed Snake river at the Island in
like manner as we did above, except
our ladies, one at Il time, were taken
over on three small bundles of bull
ruShes lashed together-an Indian
swimming before with light cord in
his mouth, the other end attached to
tbs '.Moses' ark of bull-rushes. 1t
required a strong nerve and slow
breath, or this bunch of 'feathers"
would shoot from under them.
have before said that Fort Boise is
2,10O feet above the sea; but Snake
river, where we left it, is 500. (These
measurements, as before stated, are
Fremont's.) We passed through q
rough country, but we'll stocked with
grass, which served our animals.
We reached Powder river Aug. 2s,
in starving condition; and the
greater portion of the company push
ed ahead with the stronger animals to
obtain food for themselves and to send
back. Mrs. Spalding and myself
three Canadians and the Indians re-
manned behind with our cattle and
weaker animals, te espend the Sabbath
Proyidentially the Indians got hold of
some poor salmon in Powder river
and several prairie cocks-a fowl be-
tween the turkey and common hen,
the male growing IN the morning like
our chickens. THIS was God-send to
u.s.
The sight of Grand Ronde filled us
with transports of JOY. We had seen
nothing like it since low down on
Platte. \ charming meadow of &C
miles IN circuit, mountains of easy
slope on all sides, low down; name
descriptive of its shape; beautiful
streams, skirted with balm, flowing
through it and uniting in a considera-
BILE river, called by the natives
sWalua," 1900 feet above the sea.
In the Blue Mountains the Indians
were successful in shooting a deer,
which we received with thankful
hearts
The timber of the Blue Mountains
(name derived from the blue appear
ance of their thick timber at dis
tance) Is red and white fir, hemlock,
tamarack, yellow and spruce pine, two
kinds of white pine, white cedar, balm,
white and vine maple, birch, cherry.
servieeberry, blackberry, alder, goose
berry, eurrant, willow and aspin The
timber is of heavy growth, some of
the pine and fir being 20 feet in cir
cumference some of The beautiful,
majestic larch (tamarack) grew 200
feet high-1O0 feet without a limb,
and straight as an arrow.
The highest divide in the Blue
Mountains oyerwhich the route passes,
according to Fremont, is 5000 feet
above the sea-5same elevation Of Bear
river at Soda Fountain, and only 500
feet higher than Fort Hall and Fort
Laramie.
We had now fairly entered new
part of the world, reminding us ofthe
far-away timbered countries of our
childhood. For four long months We
had been travelling over the barren
plains and internal mountains of the
great interior of North America. The
striking feature of this great and ter
rible wilderness Is everywhere the
lack of timber. In some districts we
saw not even a willow switch for days.
Our dependence for camp fires was
often sagebrush or buffalo manure.
On the 3Ist of August we emerged
from the Blue Mountains upon an
open divide and the great basin of
middle Columbia and much of what
is now Washington Territory burst
upon our view. Mount Washington
(Hood), with his crown Of glory, sup
porting the clouds, rose MAJESTIC $50
miles to the west and by the help of
the glass other white peaks, like clouds,
could be seen in the northwest. How
unlike are the two great divisions Of
our country divided by the Rocky
Mountains. In the Atlantic States
and in the great basin of the 0iissis-
sippi the observer may travel for miles
without coming in sight of snow cap
ped mountains. But on the Pacific
slope, from the ridge of the Rocky
Mountains to the OCEANS wave, from
almost every high point may be seen
white peaks glistening in the sunbeams
the year round.
Another remarkable difference should
be noticed East of the Mountains
the soil grows richer to the very wa
ter's edge, through the vast waters of
the Mississippi, Ohio, Susquehannah,
and all the great rivers, while the soil
upon the mountains is barren. But
on the Pacific slope it is the reverse.
The good soil is found in the noun
tains and their base and in small iso-
lated patches upon a few of the small
9r streams, while the great Basins Of
the Lewis, Columbia, Colorado, Hum
bolt, and al the principal rivers, are
vast uninhabitable, untimbered deserts
of wormwood and broiling sand or
lava to waters edge. The country
west of the Cascades is an exception.
tothis.
From our charming standpoint the
Indians could point out to us the bluffs
of the far away Columbia river, and a
a prominent landmark near the long
looked for Fort Walla Walla. The
scene was grand and inspiring. The
country was altogether a different one
from the searching deserts we had
been travelling through for months
Onr hopes were. strengthened. Surely
such country could afford favorable
locations We were told by the In
dams that the country held the same
character far away to the east and into
the country of the Nez Perees. 1t
was fit occasion to sing the hymn
found in the Wesleyan collection. PAGE