Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1884-09-01
NOTES IN REGARD TO COLUMN
BIA

As rivers furnish the natural high
ways of travel and trade, and open
pathways for the hardy pioneer to
Investigate and develop the resources
of unknown countries, it seems to
me study of this great river, which
drains such a vast area Of country
comparatively new, cannot fail to be
of interest to many.
The Columbia and its tributaries
has a drainage basin of about 25O,-
900 square miles. 1t enters the Pa
citic near the 46th degree of latitude.
From its mouth to the mouth of the
Willamette the river is navigable by
ocean steamers and ships. From the
Willamette up to the Cascades, river
boats can go up at all seasons of the
year except at times in the winter
season, when the river freezes up.
But it remains frozen bnt short
time. At the Cascades navigation is
completely INSTRUCTED. Boats cannot
ascend. Even when the canal with
locks has been completed, the navi-
gator will find another obstruction at
the Dalles. If these two distinctions
could be removed there would be con-
tinuous navigation distance of 500
miles from sea. The U. S. govern
ment has already commenced work
on the first obstruction.
There are many islands in the river
supposed to be formed of drift wood
compressed in solid mass by the
force of the current. In the Column
bia stands rock which from it's re-
semblance to the profile of Queen
Victoria, has received the name of
Victoria Rock. 1t is over ninety fee.
high and is of columnar black basaltt
1t is said that this portion Of the riv-
er in which the rock is placed is very
beautiful. The banks are high bluffs
composed of columnar black basalt.
These columns are in every conceiv-
able shape and position, twisted into
a thousand fantastic fgures-arches,
inches, crowns, etc. 1t is supposed
that this river was once several hun
dred feet higher than it is now; for
in one of the inches near Victoria
Rock, a thousand feet above the riv-
er, there lies stick of timber. 1t is
a thousand feet from the top of the
bluffs and could not have been put
there from above. 1t could never
have grown there. 1t is reasonable
to suppose that it reached its present
position by being caught when the
river was a thousand feet higher than
it is now, being left there by the re-
ceding river.
In the year 1877 the ship Column
bia was fitted out in Boston for trade
on the northwest coast. Robert Gray
was put in command of the ship. In
the year 1892 Gray ran in between
the breakers at the mouth of the rivei
successfully, hut spent week trying
to get out. On leaving the river
Gray gave it the name of his ship
Columbia. This first discovery anC
entrance into the Columbia by al
American, gave the U. S. their prin
cipal claim to the territory drained
by the river.
Mr.. Astor's attempt TO found a flu
trading post on the Columbia is tn
| next most important event. Nearl,
all of us are familiar with Irving
description of this attempt as describ
ed in his charming book "Astoria.
In the year 1910 John Jacob Astor
of New York, fitted out two expedi
tions to establish the Pacific Flu
Company at the mouth of the Colum
bia, one by sea in the ship ''Tonquin,
by the way of Cape Horn, the othe
overland from Montreal, in Canada
The Tonquin arrived at the Columbi
bar on the 22d of March, 1911 an
was two days and nights in effectin
an entrance. 1t lost several men
it's efforts to get in. After examinin
the coast for several miles, cam
was fixed on shore. The whole part
numbering thirty-three persons the
left the ship. All the time they wei
clearing the land, on order to estal
lish Astoria, the woods were swarm
ing with savages who were held bac
by the personal influence of the Of
Chief, Comeconely.
The overland expedition under HUI
and McKensie arrived on the 10th {
January, 1912. The united parti'
explored the river as far as Dalles.
The ship Tonquin left Astoria
June, 1912, on trading expedite
to Nostka Sound. She was attackt
, and boarded by band of savage
who destroyed every soul but the a
morer, Stephen Weeks. To avens
I his murdered comrades, this hero
man set fire to the magazine and II
{ ship was blown 10 atoms, killing o.
hundred and seventy-fiye Indians.
{ The terrible and indescribable sic
ness that overcomes one on the ocea
, disappears the moment we cross t
t Columbia bar, and life again seer
S worth living. A long line of snoN
: cones meet our eyes as we enter t
+ river, alike in their white dresses, Y
e presenting a marked difference
: general outline. Jagged cluste
spire Snapped peaks and voluptuo
/: masses.
S 1t is an interesting sight to wat