Page:Route Across the Rocky Mountains with a Description of Oregon and California.djvu/59



only a few houses, and is occupied as a Trading Post, by the Hudson's Bay Company, and now called by them Fort George. Some of the hearth stones of the old Trading House of Mr. Astor, may still be seen. This will probably eventually be the principal commercial place in Oregon; as it is the best situation between Tongue Point and the mouth of River, and as there are on the bar, at Tongue Point, only three fathoms of water, while on the bar at the mouth there are five. The River, at the mouth, is four miles wide, and the entrance is obstructed by a large bar, upon which the waves of the Ocean, (excepting the channel,) break with great violence. — The flying sheets of foam may be seen from Astoria, and the roaring may be heard for a much greater distance. The point of land on the South is low and sandy, and is called Point Adams; that on the North, is a high, perpendicular rock, and as heretofore said, is called Cape Disappointment. The channel comes around close to the foot of the rock, so that it has entire command of that entrance of the River. Since the wreck of the Peacock upon these breakers, this entrance has been considered by many, in the States, as extremely dangerous; but not so with those who are acquainted with the channel. All admit, however, that it is necessary to have a fair wind, and weather sufficiently clear to observe the land marks, to avoid danger, as the channel is narrow. With these, together with a correct knowledge of the place, we doubt not but that a thousand vessels, were they sailed by men of skill and judgment, might enter the mouth of the Columbia, and not one be lost. In the case of the Peacock; it is said, that the Captain mistook the bar for the channel, and struck before he discovered his mistake. We believe that strongly constructed and powerful tow boats, directed by experienced pilots, would overcome this obstruction as effectually, as the same means do that at the mouth of the Mississippi. When vessels have accomplished an entrance, they find a safe harbor, and good anchorage, in Baker's Bay, just within Cape Disappointment; and farther up, above, below, and opposite Astoria—in the main Channel of the River. The bad