Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly volume 18.djvu/322



286 F»BD WtLBtnt Powell

Gray's harbor, on the same side of the river, ^tboat tto mfles fr6m the cape, is better protected than Chtoook, but it is com- paratively shaltew, except f6r a short distance, where the i^f^ measufes three and iotxt fathoms. It must become a great place for shipbuilding, in consequence of the vicinity ti im- mense quantities of ship timber.

Nearly opposite is Astor harbor, lying a little south of "Tongue point." Though not wholly defended from the westerly winds, it is the best of the harbors yet mentioned, having soundings of from four to seven fathoms, and a muddy bottom. From Astor harbor to Cape Hancock the direct dis- tance is eleven miles; but by the channel it is mcreased to something over fourteen.

Directly over against Chenook harbor is Meriwether bay, a deep opening behind Point Adams, inaccessible to vessels of large size, by reason of sand bars, but furnishing a secure anchorage to the smaller craft.

It would be easy to improve the entrance of the Columbia by cutting a ship channel across a narrow strip of lowland from Chenook bay to a small but deep harbor which lies north of Cape Hancock. The distance does not exceed a hundred rods ; a creek extends nearly across, and the spring flood flows quite over it. My belief is that, at some former period, the waters of the Columbia had a free outlet at this place, but that the gradual deposits of sand and alluvwn have choked up the channel.

So also might a canal be cut at small expense from Chenook harbor, some thirty miles northwestwardly, to Bulfinch's bay, by which the navigation would be greatly facilitated. The in- tervening land invites this enterprise ; for it is not only low and level, but, for a considerable portion of the distance, ponds and natural channels of water furnish great facilities to such a work.

The Columbia is, at all seasons, navigable for ships to the head of tide water, which is two miles fr6nl its outlet. Tfie brig Convoy, Cai!>tain Thompson, in the Reason of the freshet, ascended forty miles further to the falfe.