Page:All Over Oregon and Washington.djvu/170

164 claim, and a series of aggressions, concessions, and compromises took place. In the meantime the Mission opened a store, receiving a fresh supply of goods in 1842. There was also a Milling Company formed this year, which proceeded to build a saw -mill on the island, already mentioned. Several gentlemen came out from the States that fall, one or more of whom entered into trade at Oregon City, or Wallamet Falls, as it was then called. In the following year quite a large immigration arrived; such persons as did not desire to reside upon farms, congregating at this place. Soon a Provisional Government was talked of, was finally decided upon, and adopted. Oregon City became the recognized capital, as it was the principal seat of American enterprise in the Territory. As early as 1846 it boasted a newspaper—the Oregon Spectator—a seminary, and a debating club. Its pretensions to literary attainments, judging from the contributions to the Spectator, were very well founded. From the same source we learn that it was not without its social entertainments, its local politics, and other excitements—and, from the advertising columns, that almost every branch of business common to the ordinary town life was even then represented; while an export trade was carried on by Dr. McLaughlin, and in a measure by the Americans—the articles exported being lumber and wheat.

Oregon City continued to maintain its supremacy until the gold discovery in California, which, giving rise to an active commerce with that country, imparted to Portland an impetus that soon enabled it to outstrip the city at the falls, which had not the required depth of water for floating an extensive merchant navy. Railroads will ultimately remove any disabilities of