East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1920-09-25


in store for the new community on the
Pacific
The rapid rise of California created
markets for grain, meat and other
foodstuffs. also for lumber. Oregon
ians were among the first to visit the
gold fields and to bring home a supply
Of the precious metal. Thus produce
ton and general commerce increased
hand In hand. farms were extended
and improved. mills and sawmills
built. a spirit of hopefuiness. enter
prise and progress took hold OF the
people.
Meantime, population increased
more rapidly than before, and it now
spread into new districts like the val
leys of southern oregon. the coast
country both of Oregon and Washing
ton. and to a slight extent even the
great interior country east of the Cas-
cades. The Puget Sound country be-
came noted for numbering. mills and
shipping. also in time for coal. South
ern Oregon furnished cattle and other
supplies to the gold region.
The Indian Wars
The only serious check to the gen.
era1 prosperity of the northwest, after
the gold discovery. arose from a series
of. bitter and terrible Indian wars
which occurred between 1853 and 1853.
The government. looking to the pros
pective settlement OF large portions
of the country. began about 1853, to
extinguish the Indian title by purchase
from the tribes, who were induced to
concentrate their people upon limited
areas called reservations.
The change or habitat, of mode OF
life. the restriction of hunting and
grazing privileges-in short. the new
conditions generally-caused the In
dians much real suffering and called
out a vast deal of bitterness and re-
hatred. Occasions of misun-
derstanding with government agents
We're abundant and real grievances
were, not rare. The result was the
formation of new Indian confederacies.
the pillaging and murder of white
men, and finally war. From Rogue
river to Puget Sound, and eastward to
the Rocky Mountains, these struggles
ragged from year to year. The govern
ment sent troops who in the end per
formed valuable service, but from be- |
ginning to end OF this sanguinary con- |
Ilict the pioneers settlers and their |
'talwart sons bore the brunt of both I
attack and defense. And there were |
many deeds of heroism, also. on the /
'aTf of wives and mothers at home. |
IN short, the Indian wars of the Paci-
ic northwest have all the characteris-
ics OF the Indian wars of New Eng
and. the middle western states, or the
outh. They constitute. with the pio-
eefing episodes. the heroic age of
Dregon.
Opening OF the Inland Empire
No sooner were the Indian troubles
ettled than a new excitement began
n the shape of gold discoveries east
{ the Cascade range in the region
yer which companies and battalions
I'D recently marched intent on blood
nd victory. Miners returning from
he Fraser river mines found color
q the sands of various streams and
hese signs being followed up it soon
eveloped that most of the streams ,
owing down from the Rockies had ,
uring the ages left their golden de- ,
osits in bar and sand bank at many I
oints in their lower courses :
Soon hundreds. then thousands, out {
tied with shovel. pan and pack of 2
IppIies made their way to the valleys
eastern Oregon. eastern Washing I
IN and Idaho. Rich mines were S
pened also within the present bor- f
ers OF Montana, in Wyoming and high
p In British Columbia, now turned d
ast to supply the new trade. Steam II
lats to so south to California. now ii
'rned cast TO supply the new. trade d
leamboats were placed on successive I
ltnrai sections Of the Columbia river, O
agon roads were opened and wagon $
aims employed to cheaper the cost OF e
ansportation. Fine valleys near the
Ines were used for farming and ii
oclraising. and soon-with mining in
llages. trading towns, wheat and cat a
e-raising. districts-the so-ca1led in Il
nd empire was wrested from savag- e
y and brought within the pale Of v
vilized life. OF course. great areas p
ere still unsettled. as they are today, n
4 a firm beginning had been made e
The Age OF Railways
One OF the most pressing needs. both b
a and west of the Cascades. was y
iIways 10 transport agricultural pro- Il
cts 10 seaboard. to connect the scat n
red settlements to one another and "
re the whole region a sense OF one o
- with the rest OF the United States. Ii
: can not go into the beginnings Of
clflc railway history here. But after p
quarter century of discussion. the a
= tranucontinentai railway. the Tn L
Pacific and Central Pacific, was p
s.nletod In May 1Sss- n Esfve q
.as imeptus 10 the Development of h
lifornla bus was Of Gar less service q