Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 20.pdf/112

 REVEREND EZRA FISHER

104

The

soil in

the vicinity of

The

generally a loamy and decomposed rocks of

Dalles

is

sand, mixed with vegetable mould various kinds, some of which appear to contain considerable quantities of alkalies, in some places so much so as to prevent the growth of vegetation, except a kind of wild rye which

grows with great luxuriance where the alkalies destroy all the ordinary grass. This soil must hereafter become very rich manures for lands requiring alkalies. Potatoes, onions, beets, cabbage, squashes, melons, wheat, oats, peas,

etc.,

been successfully raised here. The river from the head of The Cascades to

have

all

this place is

broad and sufficiently deep for the largest class of steamers and the current very gentle. This must be the great place of trade for all the upper Columbia country in all future time, unless a railroad should be constructed through this great valley to Pugets Sound, and in that event a branch will come

down

the Columbia to this place. this place I find two persons

At .

.

.

who have been

The same Methodist missionary

Baptists

circuit preacher

who

has visited The Cascades has visited this place a few times the past summer. The people here desire the labors of a good Protestant preacher, but as yet they are entirely uncommitted. efficient, common-sense minister should be placed here to

An

He would occupy labor at this place and The Cascades. emphatically a missionary post which will be a post of observaIt will prove to the sreat Columbia Valley what St. tion. Louis or Chicago is to the Mississippi Valley. True it is small now, but it will soon be the kev to hundreds ot millions of wealth and millions of souls.

I spent

two Sabbaths

at this

preached to attentive congregations and received the most cordial hospitality of the citizens. Will your Board send a man to The Dalles and for once occupy an important post place,

first

one who may be able to work by Romans, who are doing what they can? soon attempt to give you what information I have from Washington Ter. also make one more earnest

amonsr Protestants

the side of T shall

collected