Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 7.pdf/175

Rh ; but the intervening Mountains, extending along the coast, separate the Valley from the Ocean, and the River passing through them probably contains Falls, Rapids, and Canyons that will prevent vessels from passing any considerable distance up the River. This Valley, although it is separated by the surrounding Mountains, not only from all other portions of the country, but also from the Sea-Board, nevertheless offers sufficient inducements to ensure its speedy settlement. The Calapooiah Mountains are so gradual and unbroken that a good wagon road can easily be made across them into the Willammette Valley, and a railroad can be made to connect it with the navigable waters of the Willammette, whenever the necessities of the country require it and its wealth is sufficient to construct it.

South of the Valley of the Umpqua are the Umpqua Mountains, running nearly parallel with the Calapooiah Mountains, and separating this Valley from the Valley of Rogue's River. The distance across them is fourteen miles. They are high, very steep and somewhat broken, but not rocky, and covered with forests of Fir so dense that they entirely prevent the growth of grass.

South of this range is the Valley of Rogue's River, having the same course with the Valley of the Umpqua, and being about twenty-five miles wide. Its general character is much like that of the Umpqua, but it is more level, has a soil of a rather better quality, and is also covered with good grass. On the North side, where the California trail crosses the Valley, it is principally wooded; on the South, Prairie. Immediately above, the proportion of prairie and timber is very good. Here, as in the Umpqua Valley, the timber is on the streams, and the prairies are between them. There is, in the Valley, quite a considerable quantity of granite; but basaltic is the most prevalent rock. The Valley appears to widen above; its