Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1884-09-01

kerchiefs furiously to the passengers
on deck. A man in a cherry tree
waves his hat until he is the observed
among the observers. For the greater
part of the way, high cliffs tower per-
pendicularly upward-a bar forever
TO the entrance of the emlgrant-or
vast forests, crowned with evergreen.
shadow the mountains like heavy
clouds, inviting him to toll and dan
ger in. subduing them.s
The steamer stops long time at
Astoria, giving the passengers a
chance to go on shore and take a look
at the place. ASTORIA SO different
to-day from Old Fort George of the
past! We miss the one-eyed Chinook
chief of which Irving tells us.
The ocean steamers leave the Co.
lumbia at the mouth of the Villa
mette and sail down that river to
Portland, the rival city of San Fran
cisco, thirty-five years ago forest,
now a large and growing city.
The remainder of the journey up
the Columbia may be performed by
river steamboats,, sail boats. ferries,
OF any other river craft. Six miles
from the mouth of the Willamette is
the beautiful city of Vancouver.
Vancouver has many more natural
advantages than Portland. But the
fate cities is like that of persons.
Those that seem to have more natur-
al advantages in their youth are often
outstripped by others that possess
fewer merits. This city is a U. S.
army post. The department of the
Columbia is stationed here. In 1S47
u. S. Grant was sent here as lieu
tenant of regiment. The city has
a pretty park, not trimmed and kept
like lawn, but is allowed to remain
more in q state of nature. 1t is a
forest of fine trees, traversed at irreg-
ular intervals by foot paths as well as
wide and well kept roads. There is
a fountain nearly in the centre of the
grounds. The most noticeable build
ings are the courthouse, school build
ings and Sisters Covenant Several
other fine buildings are in process of
erection, among the number may be
mentioned the Catholic Cathedral, the
Episcopal church, and brick dwell
ling house for S. M. Hidden, former
ly of Craftsbury.
There are no other very large places
on the Columbia, but numerous small
villages dot the shores. The North
ern Pacific R. r. runs along for miles
on the Oregon side of the river. AS
we near the cascades, three great
snow peaks rise on the Washington
Territory side. Mt. Adams, farthest
to the left, is fiat and massive pile,
more easy 10 climb than any other of
the great peaks. Tacoma, in the
centre, is the most sublime, lifting its
$4,000 feet of altitude far above all
surrounding objects. Tacoma is the
Indian name for Mount Banter and
means s'nourishing breast 1t is
so called from the fact that it is the
great centre from which rivers flow in
every direction, nourishing the lane
and supplying untold quantities Of
fish. Tacoma, being the name of the
highest and most sublime mountain
in w. T., it is the wish of many thai
when state is formed of the terri
tory, it may be called Tacoma.
Nearest on the left hand come Mt
ST. Helens and Mt. Hood, that inter
ested me greatly. 1t is said that {
natural bridge once spanned the Co
lumbia, uniting the beautiful queen
Mt. st. Helens, with the stormy king
MI Hood. He must have D,en yer,
troublesome partner, this cid, volcan
ic king, storming and splitting fort
lava, in those old days, ages and age
ago. Then, no doubt, his volcani
crest rose many feet above its presen
altitude. This old legend goes on t
say that a little domestic difficult
arose between them. The angry hus
band hurled an enormous rock at tn
wife's white head, which fell short O
its mark and broke down the natura
bridge which till then had spanne
the Columbia. Perhaps it might b
well to speak of the country draine
by the Columbia.
1t seems, to some, a great under
taking for people to leave their HON
in the east and make for themselve
homes in Oregon or Washingto
] Territory. Yet every possible &C
vantage, that nature can give
assist in making happy home,
, here supplied in its fulness. Noti
ing worth having can be procure
e anywhere without honest labo
c Here, as elsewhere, the forests mu;
e be cut down and the land mao
e ready before one can hope Ito rails
fruit. Cherries, peaches, plum
: prunes, pears, and all kinds of al
t, Piles grow here to enormous size an
e in great quantities. There is q
S abundance of large game; the lax,
are well stocked with trout. Ever,
e thing which pleases the eye and ston
It ach of the lover of nature, can
n had here for less labor than IN Il
5, east. ] t seems to me, that great
is Washington Territory is in her e.
tent of country, the industry, pers
III verance, and spirit of her people f