Page:Route Across the Rocky Mountains with a Description of Oregon and California.djvu/53

Rh rapidity of its current, will probably always prevent it from being useful for that purpose.—The Valley is diversified with woodland and prairies; but the prairies occupy the greater portion, the timber being principally along the water courses and on the bordering Mountains. The prairies have a good soil, and are covered with a most excellent kind of grass. There is a great deal of fall in the smaller streams; and, having their sources in the Mountains, they are constant, and afford numerous fine water priviliges. There is some granite in this Valley; but the prevailing rock is basaltic. The Umqua Indians, are quite numerous. They are not openly hostile to the whites; but yet, it is not considered entirely safe, for a few persons to travel through their country. No settlement has yet been made in the Valley, and no person has yet visited it, except those passing through, to or from California. The Hudson's Bay Company have a Trading Post near the mouth of the River. Supplies are taken to it over land, from Vancouver, on pack animals. There is a small bay at the mouth of the Umqua; but the depth of water, at the entrance, is sufficient only for small vessels. It affords a tolerable harbor; but the intervening Mountains, extending along the coast, separate the Valley from the Ocean, and the River passing through them, probably containsFalls, Rapids, and Canions, 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 waggon road can easily be made across them, into the Willamette Valley, and a rail road 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 Umqua, are the Umqua 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 Umqua, and being about twenty-five miles wide. Its general character is much like that of the Umqua; but is more