The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1903-08-06
SEVENTY
YEARS
BACK
What Biographies said
of Oregon in the
year 1895
Astounding in Beaver and the
River full Of Salmon. AS
tOria tne Principal
City

4 A textbook on geography, by Ma
thaniel @. Huntington. published at
Hartford In 1885. has been kindly
loaned by a Tacoma lady for examina.
tion. and proves exceedingly interest
ing. Al the time this geography was
published there were twenty-four
states In the Union, classified as the
New England. or Eastern. states; the
Middle states. the Southern and tho
Western. Maryland. Virginia North
Carolina. South Carolina. Georgia and
Alabama were the six southern states.
and the eight states classed as west.
ern" were Louisiana. Mississippi. Ten.
nessee. Kentucky. Ohio. Indiana. III.
nois and Missouri There were three
organized territories, Florida. Arkan.
sas and Michigan. and two unorgan.
lied territories. Missouri and Oregon.
Missouri territory was divided into
four dlstricts-Ozark. lying next west
OF Arkansas. Usage. west OF the state
OF Missouri. Sioux. north of Missouri
and between the Mississippi and Mis
souri, rivers and Mandan. lying north.
westward along the Missouri river. 10
rs sources. North Of Illinois. west OF
Lake Michigan and east OF the Missis
slppi was the district of Huron. little
explored and inhabited chiehy by In.
dlans.
The territory Of Oregon Is stated
IN this geography Of 10 years ago 20
be 100000 square miles In extent
and 10 have population OF 10000
Indians. This territory extends west
from the Rocky mountains TO the
Pacific ocean II ls region but little
explored by the whites The climate
Il said 90 be mllder than that OF
the same latitude on the Atlantic.
The principle rivers are the Columbia
and ita branches. The soil on this
river. for n great distance. Is fertile.
and abOunds In hr trees and pines.
some OF which are represented to be
200 or 300 feet In height aud 30 feet
In circumference The river produces
vast Quantities OF salmon. which con.
stitute no small part Of the sustenance
OF the Indians on ltS banks. Eighteen
miles above the mouth OF the Coum.
bla Il Astoria. an American settlement
Of fur traders
HEAVIER are found IN plenty. pro.
dncing large quantities OF valuable
fur The noble and extensive forests
OF Oregon abound the finest shlp.tlm.
her. aud are thronged with wild ami
mails Thousands OF buffalo have been
seen within the compass OF a mile.
The Wild horses are numerous. splrit
cd and elegant. The Indians are fond
of taking and mounting them. There
are many sheep on all the mountains.
and large numbers OF horned cattle
grazing on the hills toward the south. /"
This II all there was 20 learn 70
years ago about the Oregon territory
out OF which Oregon. Wash.
lngton, Idaho and parts OF Montana
and Wyoming have been carved II II
noticeable that the mlldness of the
climate was mentioned though as yet
that fact IL little understood In the
Fast. No reference Is made 10 any
Pr'tieh possessions on the coast. The
Nrss'an possessions IN America are
bounded on the north by the Arctic
ocean, east by Mackenxle's river and
the Rocky Mountains. south by Ore.
son territory and west by the Pacific
ocean. The population Ia given at
1000 whites and 10000 Indians. The
coast IA said TO be rugged and noun.
tainous, resembling the coast OF Nor.
way. IL IA diversified with lofty
mountains, covered with perpetual
snow, and deep chasms or cavities
hllcl up with glaciers OF Ice Mount
elias risea $4,000 feet or more than
three miles In height. and Is consld,
cred the Highest peak IN North
America. The native Indians are said
20 resemble the Greenlanders, and are
principally employed In hunting and
nshing. The white population, In
general, are Russian fur traders. who
barter with the natives for furs and
giVe In return tobacco. beads and 9th.
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