Page:Portland, Oregon, its History and Builders volume 1.djvu/51



The settlement of the west, northwest and southwest, from the earliest times proceeded from the Atlantic to the Pacific on two separate and characteristically different lines.

First: The French from the Canadas, succeeded by the English Canadians. Second: The English from the colonies, succeeded by the American rebels of the colonies. These currents of differing populations, ideas and ideals impinges one against the other, first in the wilderness of Old Fort Du Quesne, where the city of Pittsburg now stands, resulting in war between France and England, and finally on the Columbia, a half century later, between the United States and England, for possession of Old Oregon, of which this city is the most strategic point.

In this chapter will be sketched the men and movements which seem to have been in their inception, more devoted to fur trading, or religious interests, than to the political aspect of permanent settlements. Having, in tracing the development and conclusion of the seacoast exploration of the northwest, gone only so far as that exploration resulted in locating and pointing out, as its final result, the great interior water way line across the continent, that was to locate and build this city. While it may be true that the discovery of the Columbia river had some influence in deciding the title to the country, yet the city would have been located and built at this point, no matter what nation had secured the tributary territory. But now, we come to a chapter which presents the dramatis personae of the great work of civilization in the settlement of this vast region by the white race; and which wrought the mould and cast the future giant which is to rule the commerce of the great Pacific. From the timid and tentative adventurings out from the Atlantic sea coast into the unknown western wilderness, two distinct and diverse lines of thought and purpose characterize two separate and independent movements of population to take possession of the vast unknown West. And that these diverse lines of thought and separated independent movements of people, did as surely and definitely converge upon, select and build up this Oregon people and Portland City, as did the many sided sea-rovers exploration of unknown seas, finally converge upon and select the great Columbia river, will be the thought and conclusion of this chapter.