Evening star., 1947-03-23

land known only to his neighbors
No chronicles were written of him
and no memorial is inscribed to him
But he was, in his way, as much
an empire builder as the men OF
means and prominence who invested
in the frontier and helped develop
it or who held high Office in the
early days of the pioneer territories
and States. The humbleSt chore
boy of the most bedraggled caravan
had his part in the fateful migra-
ton.
In this book. MIR. Case has pre-
sented some of the personalities that
stood out in historic episodes OF
the Oregon country. as the whole
Pacific Northwest once was called
Some OF these were the master plan
ners who could see the cities that
one day would rise out of the wilder
ness; others were unlettered folk
without pretense to prophecy, who
simply wanted a better break in
life, but who had the courage and
practical skill to lead while others
faltered. Some were not leaders
but had other qualities that made
them typical of that brave period
All the characters Mr. Case pictures
are interesting. Around them he
has woven Is incidents significant OF
the pioneer era.
The sketches start in 1890 when
Robert Gray. master of the small
merchant ship Columbia, set out
from Boston on the voyage that led
him to discover the Vests greatest
river. which he named for his
staunch vessel. Capt. Gray, who
was a fur trader and not an ex-
plorer. sailed in wonder 100 miles up
the Columbia. He claimed it for
the United States. though he knew
little about such things. Other
nations were looking for the river
the Indians had described, vast
stream which had split the noun
tains apart in its journey to the
sea. 1t. George Vancouver of the
British Navy was on voyage OF
discovery, but he missed t he mouth
of the Columbia Russia and Spain
were searching for the legendary
river which they doubted but want
ed TO believe in.
The Lure of Free Land.
Capt. Gray's claim stuck. The
British fouted it. The Hudson's Bay
Co. set up a frontier post at Fort
Vancouver, on the north bank oi
the Columbia in what now is the
State of Washington. The powerful
company, an autocratic government
within itself, claimed the whole
coast for the British Empire. But
tough DR.. John Mclaughlin, the
company's chief factor at Fort Van
couver, who kept kind heart well
hidden, knew the Americans would
come in time-realized nothing
could stop them. There was fabu-
lous valley south of the Columbia
between the Cascade Mountains
and the ocean, known as the Will
lamette. 1t was tremendous in di-
mensions, temperate throughout the
year and would grow anything. The
doctor tried to bottle it up for the
British, but he couldn't.
How the lure of free land in this
enchanted valley drew settlers
through the perils of the plains ano
the mountains forms the theme OF
later chapters There is e pungent
description of the great covered
wagon caravan of 1843, one of the
spectacular migrations of history
The colorful figures who were typl-
cal Of the emigrant trains. the from
tier settlements, the sprouting towns
emerge clearly.
The State of Oregon.
Mr.. Case ends the story in 1859
with Oregon a State. 1t will be 6
long time before the railroads come
In, bringing hordes of new citizens
But the region has been well settled;
crops have fourished. industrie'
have been started-the Oregon Tral
already has led many to measure
Of prosperity and to contentmen'
beyond computing.
It's clear that immense research
has gone into these fast-moving
stories. Mr.. Case has made then
fictional to the extent of writing ir
dialogue and creating incidents
which might well have occurred II
the course of known episodes ane
trends. Surely that's no great sir
against history Certainly Mr.. Case's
empire builders are offered in 6
dramatic way likely to appeal tt
readers who would not wadt
through ponderous, if strictly fac
tual, records of the times.
These stories first were presented
as a radio program over Portland
station. Mr.. Case says the dia'
logue has been left virtually intact
Some of the narrator's eloquenc'
also apparently remains, and thi:
might have been edited more. Their,
are some passages sentimental