The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1911-09-23

A movement is on foot to improve
the Columbia river above the Dalles
and in this way open long stretch
of the Upper Columbia and Snake
rivers to navigation. If this Is ac-
complished it will be an important
link in the great scheme of inland
waterways. Upon this arm Of the sea
have floated the ships that were with
Dewey at Manila and with Sampson
at Santiago. The commerce OF the
world enters It's waters. Cargoes OF
tea, lumber, -four and wheat pass ov-
er It and its foreign trade averages
twelve million dollars year. -,
The Columbia is the only fresh
water harbor on the Northwest coast
of our states. With its tributaries it
drains aeraes of New England, New
York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and
Maryland. More than this, it is the
scenic wonder of the Northwest. It's
gorge Is stupendrous and its mighty
current puts to shame even the Mis-
sissippi, to which in size it is close
second.
Though this mighty river is thriv-
ing rival Of the railroads its historp
calls to every traveller on its waters.
People this stream with Jaun de Fuca
Bering, Gray and long roll of Span
ish adventures and the Indians that
preceded them, and every headland
will speak of thrilling incidents. 1t
was in 1906 that travel-stained and
weary Lewis and Clark, those dough-
ty soldiers, reach ed the mouth Of the
Columbia after travelling 1000 miles
from their starting point. They had
crossed the Rockies and travelled
along the Missouri After reaching
the Columbia, they passed the winter
in the camp on the Oregon side at
place they called Fort Clatsop after
neighboring tribe Of Indians. Cap
tain Gray had already entered the
rivers mouth and gave it the name Of
his noble ship, but it remained for
Lewis and Clark to influence the I'm
tied States to follow up the claim
bassed on Greys discovery and to
hold the country west of the Rockies
and south Of the 49th parallel.
One other name this mighty stream
has borne-and this is "the Oregon"
Its origin is shrcuded in mystery
one of the mary that envelope this
stream-but il S known that Carver
used the word in describing river
which he said the Indians told him
flowed to the West ard was 50 named.
jefferson used the word Oregon in
his instructions to Lewis and Clark,
but it was reallr B1yant's 'ThanatoD-
SIS" that brou?ht the name Oregon
into notice. Columbia or Oregon, II
presents many phases of wild nature.
The usual trip for sight-seers is to
the coast where is the old fur trading
post, Astoria. and up the river to the
Dalles, but there is delightful
stretch in Canada where the river
winds between the foothills of the
Rockies and the Selkirks. In one
place it widens into one Of its mother
lakes, Lake Windemere. Just below
are salmon spawning grounds where
twenty years ago the kootenay In
dians fish in one night, but this has
ceased since the salmon industry has
been carried or so vigorously near it's
mouth. Another fascinating stretch
of the Upper Columbia is where it
widens into Arrow Lakes. here the
scenery reminls one of the Scotch
lakes.
The historian will wish to take a
boat to Astoria and follow the course
made memorable by Lewis and Clark
ard agents of John Jacob Astor. This
part of the river, though not as pic
tLresque as the Upper Columbia,
teens with history. At its mouth the
river is seven miles wide and its tide
is so great it can be felt one hundred
and fifty miles. There are many re-
minders of a hundred years ago
among them Tongues Point, Chinook
Point, Gray's Bay and Astoria. The
view from the lighthouse at Cane