Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-01-09
OUR NORTHWESTERN POSSES
SIONS.
Their Extent, Climate, Productions
and Population.

/ OAO4NOs
Eeeir Extent, Climate, Productions
and Population.
| Our territory on the Pacific slope
is l 100000 square miles, which is
about the same as the whole of
Europe, Russia included. Gen.
Halleck reports that it has 1880
miles of sea coast. The climate of
the Northwest coast is one of the
most delightful in the world. The
isOthermal line of new York, which
Is in latitude of 40 degrees AZ minu-
ties, strikes the Pacific coast at iati-
tude 40 degrees, which on the east
ern coast Of our continent is near
tue southern boundaries of Labra-
dor. The Indians who cut no fod-
der at latitude 40 degrees. keep their
horses the year round. At Oregon
City, which is three degrees further
north than Boston, only one inch of
ice was made two years ago, and
grass was green in January Last
winter there was in all but four inches
of snow, and some seasons there is
scarcely any
1t is very singular fact that there
is less snow north of 4j degrees
than south of AZ degrees. Among
the Nevadas of California the snow
sometimes covers the tops of the
trees, while in the Cascade Noun
tains, the corresponding range in
Oregon, immense herds of cattle
Craze on the high grass. covered
plains the year round. Hence the
Northern Pacific Railroad will have
much less to content with, as regards
snow, than the Central Road, on
which it will be necessary, as stated,
to protect some forty miles Of the
track, where it crosses the noun
tains, with snow sheds.
The climate of Washington Ter
ritory and Oregon is moderated by
the ocean currents of the Pacific,
which correspond to the Gulf stream
of the Atlantic This warm cur
rent from the Indian Ocean, pass
ing the coasts of China and ia
pan, divides-one portion passing
through Behring's Strait, and anoth-
er turning southwark along the Pa
citic coast. The immense evapOra-
ton also of the Pacific ocean, TO-
600 miles wide and stretching
through forty seven degrees of lati-
tude, is borne by southwest winds
upon the coast, and, coming in con
tact with the land, yields up its heat
and moisture That there is less
snow in Oregon than in California
is explained by the fact that the
mountains of California are much
higher, and hence colder, than those
of Oregon. The Nevadas are some
1000 feet high, while the Cascade
mountains are about $500 These
mountains, which are but one range,
are about one hundred miles from
the coast. The Neyadas are high
and cold, and condense so much Of
the moisture in the ocean currents,
that the region between them and
the great range of Rocky Noun
tains is 4 desert, where it seldom or
never rains. The mountains Of Or
egon being lower, do not cOndense
50 much vapor. and hence the cOun-
try beyond them, being watered, IS
fertile.
A warm, moist and uniform eli
mate, like this, must be favorable
for vegetation. Forests of gigantic
trees from one hundred to three
hundred feet in height, and from six
to twelve feet in diameter, extend
from California to Alaska. The
English and French Governments
have for ten years supplied their
navy yards with masts, spars and
timber from this coast, and it IS
doubtful whether our government
is aware of the fact. A gentleman
from Oregon recently met in the
backwOods of Maine a government
contractor who had been searching
for months through the forests and
timber boOms of Maine for some
large dimension stock; and, find
inc but a stick here and there of
sufficient size, was in despair of be-
ing able to fill his contract This
getleman gave the contractor the
name of a lumbeTman in Oregon
who could furnish the stock he de-
sired, and deliver it at New York in
less time and at less expense than
he could pick it up in Maine; and
could as readily fill the order if the
length and other dimensions of the
stock were increased three fold. In
1866 the mills in the neighborh0od
of Puget's Sound sent out four
hundred million feet of lumber, and
the business is yet in its infancy.
The soil of the northwest coast
is especially adapted to cereals
The wheat crop of California now
nearly equals in value its prOduc-
ton of gold. Oregon, with its
small population, raised last year
five million bushels of wheat The
fruits of that coast are unsurpassed
in quality and quantity. Apple
trees have no bOres and plum trees
no warts; apples have no worms
and plums no curculio. The whole
tribe of insect pests, which so thwart
the best endeavOrs of fruit-grOwers
in the older States, are unknown in
Oregon.
EXIT THE VIVANDIERE
| Marshall Neil is about to abolish tbs
position Of Vivandiere in the French