Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1905-04-21
THE LEWIS AND CLARK FAIR
Story of Discovery and Explora-
ton of Oregon Country.

PtoAoeioh anu eottIonitut VI tnt Ort-
gon Country, to which the Lewis
and Clark Centennial Exposition at
Portland is drawing the attention of
the world, presents some of the most
astounding aspects. Perhaps the fact
that arouses the greatest degree of
astonishment in the up.to-date. hust-
ling citizen of today is that such a
long period of time was required for
taking possession of this vast terri
tory after its discovery and explora-
tion.
The coast line Of Oregon and Wash
ington was known to mariners genera
tions before the interior was explor-
ed, and maps more or less accurate
we're made from time to time.
Spanish, Dutch, British and Russian
navigation We'd with each other in
exploring the coast, but practically no
attempt was made to explore the in.
terror of the country until President
Jefferson. a hundred years ago, sent
Meriwether Lewis and William Clark
from st. Louis up the Missouri river
to its headwaters. across the mount
aims and plains and down the Colum.
bia river to its mouth.
But even after Uncle Sam, with
that rare Yankee sbrewdness which he
is supposed to possess, had penetrated
this great unknown territory, biseot.
ing 1t from side to side, IL was more
than 40 years before anything like a
definite intention of settlement and
occupation took form. Though from
the journals of Lewis and Clark and
the diaries OF some of their men it
was distinctly evident that "the Ore.
gon Country" was land magnifi.
ciently opulent in promise, land
crying for settlers and developers
even as babies cry for pitchers of
milk, full two.soore years passed be-
fore nation finally took possession of
the region. "oolonized" it and began
to make IL a part OF the civilized
word.
True, there was dispute as to its
ownership. Great Britain and the
United States both claimed the Ore
gon Country, and each appeared to
have some color of title. Yet it re-
quired 40 years to settle this matter,
and during all that time Oregon and
Washington and Idaho as now named
and known, remained wildernesses,
with but a struggling settlement here
and there, and those settlements har.
rassed by hostile Indians and exposed
to the natural perils of remote out.
posts
The history Of the actual develop
ment Of Oregon and her sister states
in the territory acquired by treaty
with Great Britain in 1916 is the his.
tory Of less than 60 years of heroic
effort and high achievement America
was discovered 4l3 years ago. James
town was oolonized by the English
29S years ago. Plymouth was touch.
ed by the tread of the May flower pill.
grim 2S6 years ago. American indie.
pendenoe was declared l29 years ago.
Lewis and Clark crossed the CONT.
nent to the Pacific Northwest 100
years ago. The United States finally
acquired Che Oregon Country, by
right Of discovery and exploration
and after 40 years of haggling and
juggling, 90 years ago. Westward
the course Of empire takes its way.
but until three.soore years ago, It
took its way most deliberately and
with dignified slowness
But after getting our clutches
firmly fixed upon this Oregon Country.
we have pushed forward the work of
development with gratifying rapidity.
With the extension Of the railroad
and the invention of the telegraph,
distance has been annihilated and It
was distance which was the main
Ssctor in keeping this great region
undeyeloped for so many generations
after the eastern part Of America was
settled. The Pacific Coast was so re.
mote from civilization that one felt,
as joaquin Miller has expressed it,
that 1t was a laud that oven God had
forgotten. Now it is but few day 4
trip by rail from New York aud few
seconds time by wire from any point
east or west
Great as has been the development
Of the past so years, Oregon and her
sister states Of the Pacific West are as
yet comparatively infants. There is
room for many millions of people in
addition to those now living In these
states. and the Lewis and Clark Expo
sition no doubt will be the means OF
drawing large increase Of desirable
population.
Men Past Sixty in Danger