The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1878-05-14
PRAISES OF THE COLUMBIA


speech on the Northern Pacific
Railroad Bill, delivered the fol-
lowing panegyric on the Columbia
river and its valley, which applies
more directly to our own Territory
than to Oregon He said:
/ This great river of the West, the
largest which flows into the Pacific
Ocsan from the American continent,
is navigable for one hundred miles from
its mouth for deep ses-going vessels,
and, with the exception of occasional
rapids. rendering portages necessary,
ordinary river steamers can ascend five
hundred miles into the interior. Three
hundred and fifty miles from it's mouth
the Columbia opens out its branches
like fan, spanning more than twelve
degrees of latitude, equal nearly to one
half the width of the domain of the
United States on the western shed of
the Rocky Mountains The headwaters
of this rive meet and interlock with
the headwaters of the Missouri at about
l12 degrees of west longitude. forming,
with the exception of q single divide, a
valley line for railroad from the great
lakes to the Pacific Ocean. The extent
of region drained by the Columbia is
three hundred thousand square miles,
or one-tenth the area of the United
States. 1t is equal to the country
drained by the Danube. 1t is as large
as France and the British Islands, and
yields the products of these countries.
Lying within the ATTITUDES of France,
it possesses climate of equal mildness
and salubrity. There is great river
of the North Pacific Ocean which affects
the climate Of the western coast of
North America in the same manner as
the Gulf Stream Of the Atlantic affects
the climate of Western Europe.
Not all the lands west of the Rocky
Mountains in these ATTITUDES are suita-
BILE for cultivation; but the broad
reaches of rolling upland and mountain
sides, which will never submit to the
plow, vet are covered with an almost
perennial verdure, and are the best
natural pastures in the world. The
meat producing capacity of this region
is very great. The rivers flowing into
the Pacific Ocean between the forty.
second and forty. ninth parallels Of
north latitude and Puget Sound
abound in salmon. the imperial food
fish.
Oregon Salmon rs prepared for the
markets of the world, was exhibited at
the Centennial and awarded medals
and diplomas for very great excel
lence, the preparation being wonder
fully sound aud of choice flavor -
"pickled, very excellent preparation"
again, "for good flavor and soundness."
Already the export value of this pro-
duct has reached $3,0e0,000 a year.
While speaking of fisheries permit me
to say word for Alaska. Mr.. Stewart
was condemned and ridiculed in many
quarters for purchasing Alaska for ST.
100000. The fisheries alone of this
vast tertiary are worth more than the
price. Not only do the many rivers
abound in salmon. but the coast is
fronted by fishing banks broader than
the Grand Banks of Newfoundland,
where all the way from Queen Char
lotte's Island round into Behring's Sea
can be taken every variety of sea fish
which are found in the same latitude
| in the Atlantic. Why give Great
Britain money for the privilege of fish
ing in her waters when we possess bet
| ter fisheries of our own?
Dut the great staple product of the
valley of the Columbia River is
wheat; all kinds of wheat can be
grown here, winter, spring. summer
and fall wheat A farmer told me he
could SOW wheat every month in the
year and produce good crop. The
soil does not surrender under cultiva-
ton, nor is there ever failure of
crops. During the th,rty.six years in
which general farming has been carried
on N the country not single failure OF
crop has occurred. The qualities of the
soil seem to be like those of Sicily and
the regions about tho Black Sea, which
have been the never-failing granaries
of Europe for the past two Thousand
years.
But there are other attractions. The
family from the North can come among
US and find new climate, mild and
agreeable, and new scenery of mos,
attractive beauty and grandeur. The
family of the South can come and
plant the magnolia and the climbing
roses and vines of their own home, and
see them grow and bloom. England
France, and Switzerland may come
and each find his own climate and
scenery. This is land of profit and q
land of beauty. but she is sitting alone
and waiting for the world to come and
meet her. This land was the dream oil
Thomas Jefferson hundred years ago
In the second century of our Republic
let it be made reality and living
child of the Union.