Page:Route Across the Rocky Mountains with a Description of Oregon and California.djvu/57



means to facilitate the intercourse, between the different portions of country lying above and below the Cascade Mountains, and the ingress and egress from and to the United States; and a canal can only be made, with any reasonable expense, on the North side. The vast amount of water power which the Falls will afford, can be rendered available with profit, only on the North side. Cape Disappointment, which can be made almost as impregnable as the Rock of Gibralter, and which entirely commands the entrance of the River, frowning down on the channel which washes its base, is also on the North side. Puget's Sound, which is cut by the parallel of 49 deg., and is said to be surrounded by a very beautiful country, of considerable extent; in point of spaciousness, safety and facility of access, is the second harbor on the Western shores of America. The general character of the country is similar to that on the South, excepting that its valleys are not so large, and the mountainous and hilly portions, occupy a greater extent. Like the Valley of Willammette, the Valleys on the North side of the Columbia, are diversified with forest and plain. There is little or no difference in the soil, and the grass is equally fine. On the streams that empty into the Columbia, and their tributaries, there are many Falls and Cascades; which afford excellent sites for machinery, to an almost unlimited extent. On the Cawlitz, which is the largest falling into the Columbia, and their tributaries, there are many Falls and Cascades; which aford excellent sites for machinery, to an almost unlimited extent. On the Cawlitz, which is the largest falling into the Columbia from the North, below the Cascade Mountains, the Hudson's Bay Company have a Saw Mill, and there is, at the same place, a small French settlement, which has been connected with them; but their term of service having expired, they were permitted by the Company to remain in the country, (the contract of the Company with them is to return them at the expiration of their term of service, to their own countries. This is done in order to prevent competition.) They are engaged in agriculture, and furnish, annually, several thousand bushels of wheat, to supply the Russian contract. Their wheat is boated down the Cawlitz, in bateaus; but the rapidity of the stream, renders the navigation difficult and tedious. This settlement is fifty miles above the mouth of the stream. The valley, here, is not half so large as that of the Willammette; but it is, nevertheless, entirely sufficient to accomodate quite large settlements. There are many other smaller streams, emptying into the