Page:History of Oregon Literature.djvu/202

 in boats at Vancouver; a route of great danger, fatigue and exposure to the owners, and in which more than half the animals were lost. The rear of this emigration also, got no further than Dr. Whitman's Mission. Most of the citizens having experienced these calamities, and seeing their friends arrive in this distant country, shorn of the means of their comfort, or of becoming useful citizens, a desire to remedy these evils became universal.

Hopes were entertained that this could be effected by finding a nearer and better road into the Willamette valley, by a route formerly traveled by the Hudson's Bay Company, leaving the present road in the Malheur, or Powder river valley, and crossing the Cascade mountains by a pass near mount Jefferson. This was attempted by a party under the patronage of Dr. E. White, late Indian Agent of this Territory, in the summer of 1845. This party, after spending about a month in exploring the Cascade mountains up the Santiam river, and south of it, returned without accomplishing their object. As by this enterprise, Dr. White had been at considerable expense, the Legislature of Oregon passed a resolution recommending his claims to remuneration, "to the favorable consideration" of the Federal Government.

Two attempts have since been made to penetrate the Cascade mountains from the Willamette valley; and, as on one occasion, in case of success, the guide was to receive one thousand dollars, we have reason to believe they have been prosecuted, with due energy. Yet, I think these attempts should not be taken as final evidence that no pass can be found.

In support of this opinion, I would remark that their endeavors have been improperly directed; the great height of this range of mountains intercepting the ordinary rain clouds from the Pacific ocean, their western sides, from their great moisture, produce so heavy a growth of timber and undergrowth, that in such forests, traveling is extremely slow and laborious, and starting from the foot of the mountain, it is difficult to keep a correct course, and almost impossible to decide with certainty, whether a valley or ridge will termi-