Page:The History of Oregon Bancroft 1888.djvu/201

Rh. These accounts brought population to that part of the coast, and soon vessels began to ply between San Francisco and Scottsburg. Gardiner, named after the captain of the Bostonian, which was wrecked in trying to enter the river in 1850, sprang up in 1851. In that year also a trail was constructed for pack-animals across the mountains to Winchester, which became the county seat of Douglas county, with a United States land office. From Winchester the route was extended to the mines in the Umpqua and Rogue River valleys. Long trains of mules laden with goods for the mining region filed daily along the precipitous path which was dignified with the name of road, their tinkling bells striking cheerily the ear of the lonely traveller plodding his weary way to the gold-fields. Scottsburg, which was the point of departure for the pack-trains, became a commercial entrepôt of importance. The influence of the Umpqua interest was sufficient to obtain from congress at the session of 1850–51 appropriations for mail service by sea and land, a light-house at the mouth of the river, and a separate collection district.

As the mines were opened permanent settlements were made upon the farming lands of southern Oregon, and various small towns were started from 1851 to