Year: 1862

.


facilities of travel by river were circum-
scribed to the Indian canoe, and when the
overland conveyance was limited to the
wild cayuses of the country But very
few years ago it was Aaru, dangerous and
disagreeable trip, and one which was only
performed in cases of the most extreme ur-
gency; now, it is both expeditions and
pleasant, and is frequently resorted to sole
ly as means of agreeable pastime and di-
version. Passing up or down the river at
the present time, one cannot help compar-
ing the differences in the facilities of trav-
ell and transportation of the two periods /;
and remembering thai but year or two
have suficed to bring about this marked
contrast, we are forced to the conviction that
this is even but the beginning of an era of
rapid and continued progress which the
opening resources and superior advantages
of the upper country are destined to stimu-
late and develop.


As the country has improved during the
few years past in all the various elements
that tend to her material prosperity, so
shall she continue to do in the future, and
perhaps even at a faster rate. The waters
of the Columbia river destined to be-
come a few years hence one of the greatest
commercial channels in the world have
hitherto been harnessed to the boats of
company who have sought to become the
exclusive arbiters of this vast means Of
wealth and influence, and who have left no
schemes untried to compass this end. Thus
far, no opposition which has been brought
to bear against this company has been able
to Withstand their concentrated capital and
advantages, and in some instances the op-
position has retreated from the contest. At
present, however, the prospects of an oppo-
sition which will be permanent and solid,
which will combine capital with other
material advantages, are favorable, and
indeed give encouraging promises. am
informed by a gentleman interested, that
several leading capitalists in the State have
taken hold of the matter, and that the ques-
ton of putting on line in the spring is
already determined A meeting of the
stockholders who have subscribed is to be
held shortly in this city, for the selection
of officers, and the adoption of rules for
the government of the company. When
the plans of the organization are developed,
l will communicate them


The 0. 5. N. Company are exhibiting
commendable enterprise in extending and
perlecting their facilities for the transpor-
tation of goods from this point to the up
per country The railroad around the
portage is nearly completed, notwithstand-
ing the cmbarrassments against which the
company have had to contend The in
junction which was granted in favor of
Bush against the company, has been dis
solved for want of sufficient bonls, and the
road is progressing to completion. There
are already two or three ponies running up
and do II the road, their shrill whistle en-
livening the peculiar loneliness of that
most lonely and forbidding spot.


The opposition steamer DaHes is still on
the line between Cascades and DaIles, con-

Meeting with the Pioneer on the lower
river. The fare on both lines is only two
dollars from Dalles to Portland. The op-
position steamer Maria, which created
quite furore some weeks since, has been
laid up ost5nsibly for repairs. Some think
she was laid up through the influence of
the other company.


Stephen Coffin, of this city, has been
rendered the appointment of the Brigadier
Generalship, made vacant by Bro. Pearne's
Fourth of July 'declinature 1t is gen
orally admitted here that the appointment
of Pearne was made for he purpose Of
giving him a chance to recuperate his fail
ing fortunes, it doubtless being we'll under
stood that he would decline the honor. -
The thing was evidently a farce from be-
ginning to end that the end was a farce
we have abundant evidence in the ''declna-
ture" Coffin will make good officer, if
be accepts; but the probability is that he
will have nothing to do with it after the
trucking that has taken place. 1t will not
be matter of surprise if the position is f.
nally filled by some nincompOop no more
fitted for it than Pearne; as no man who
thinks anything of himself can be expected
to play second fiddle" to a farce of such
huge dimensions.


Large numbers of the emigrants have
made their way to this place, many of them
in depressed circumstances. They meet
with great difficulty in procuring houses for
the winter, as empty houses are scarce, and
rents enormously high heard of one
man ho charges twenty dollars per month
for house which is pronounced unfit to
live in, and is not reasonably worth half
that sum. The editor of the P. G. Advo-
cate, in the plenitude of his magnanimous
soul, advises the emigrants to go to Mil
waukie and Oregon city to spend the win
ter, suggesting that they may be able to
find some vacant houses in those towns
There may be vacant houses in these lwns.