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About Oregon free press. (Oregon City [Or.]) 1848-1848 | View Entire Issue (April 29, 1848)
ORECON FREE PRESS. Geo. L. Curry, Editor and Proprietor. OBEGON CITY, SATURDAY APIUL 29, 1818. North Sidk ok the Comjmria. Somefew months ago, while at Mo mouth of the Columbia, we made a little trip of exploration, on the North side of the river, wnich richly repaid us for whatever of inconvenience or (rouble it might have occasioned. In company with a few friends, and Captain Kkeve, our excellent pilot, we crossed from Astoria on the pilot boat "Dolphin," "with a spa iking- broczs, through surf and breaker, to Cape Disappointment. We visited "TdcKenzie's Head" a high, hold, and rocky point of land, jutting o it isi'o the sea, to the Northwaid of the Cape groped our way for some three hundred yards in the mid night darkness of the cave beneath the Cape, and after climbing up on "all fours" along the face of that com manding promilory to its summit, and taking a good look seaward and landward, uc descended to the gen eral level of the land by the well-worn path that marks its rough, mossy sides. Aeain on bo .ml of the pilot-boat, we "made" the head of "Baker's Bay" and the mouth or the YVallack river a small stream, as large as the "Skipanoun," and by no means as diflicull of navigation that emp ties into the Bay at " Leading-in-Cliff." Yre ascended the river about two miles landed at several points, and found a most beautiful and fertile section of country, though somewhat limited in extent, stretching towards the coast. Prairie land, covered with a most luxuriant growth of grasses, where large bands of the elk and deer bad left evidences of their recent presence, by the bent and malted grass where they had been feeding and reposing ; while gentle elevations, crowned with groves of the spruce, crab-apple, and alder, terminated the level land, with densely wooded hills beyond. From the little opportunity we had of examining and observing, we should say, that tiie north side of the river, from the Cowlitz to the ocean, is full of such de sirable portions of land, most advantageous for settle ment, and it will not be long before the musical ring of the settler's axe will echo and re-echo amid those hills and valleys, for their adornment with the rich fields of cultivation, and the comfortable dwellings of civilized 'life. Judge Skinner, and others, who have been some dis tance to the northward of Baker's Bay, represent that .there is a strip of land, laying parallel to the ocean, of some four miles in width, and perhaps forty in extent, not dissimilar to Clatsop Plains; and, we have heard it 'asserted, much more preferable as the soil is not as .sandy as that of the Plains, and as the level of the land is not interrupted by ridges. We suppose this 'must be in, immediately back of Baker's and along Shoal "Water Bay. If there be good land enough there to re ward the settler, it will soon be made known by fur ther exploration, and be ready for improvement. These settlements along the coast arc to be of wonderful ser vice to the country generally,iri facilitating its commer cial prosperity, as well as in other respects. VVilh an interior rich in surplus products, (here must be some sea-port town or towns. We shall have something .more to say upon this subject, anon. St. TIklen's City. Although a cify but in embryo; . having nothing to boast of as yel, but a "splendid site," vvc have no doubt that it will soon be a place of con siderable importance, from the fact of the natural ad vantages it possesses, though it may be years before it gets to be exactly a "city." The lime is at band when such points of any consequence, along the Columbia, will be improved, and spring rapidly into distinction. Wherever the operations of commerce are likely to be facilitated, there will arise the spacious ware-house, and the busy marls of trade. The great "commercial City" of Oregon, however, vvc think is not yet located. Time and necessity must do this, and it is as diilicult, at present, to determine where that location will be, as it must have been some five or six years ago to con ceive thai the malted undergrowth and heavy timber about the falls of the VYillamel, would so soon givo place to the gardens of cultivation, and the comfortable structures attendant upon civilization YYe own no town-lots in St. Helen's City, nor are we. any more interested in it, than various other places of beauty and excellence in the V Villainel and Colum bia valleys. VVe are induced to speak of it in partic ular, now, because, our attention has been attracted to it from the fact that the discovery of coal on the Cow litz brings it at once into notice, and greatly enhances its value. It is situated directly opposite the mou.h of the Cowlitz river, and the "ship channel" passes close along its river line. The erection of ware-houses for receiving coal, and the general produce of the fertile section of country bordering on the Cowlitz, is in con templation, as vvc are informed. Let St. Helen's City have a chance. " He-Union" at Portland. A most delightful 're union' took place at Portland on Wednesday evening last, which was enjoyed by quite' a gathering of both sexes. Theenlertainment was most excellent in every particular, and gave the happiest satisfaction. Another Exploring Party. We hear thatCol. Ford, who is indefatigable in his efforts, has raised another parly to explore the Klamet country, consisting of some 20 men. 'Ihey will start in the course of a month. VVe wish the expedition every success. FOR THE FREE PRESS. AN APOLOGY for tub "FIFTEEN YOUNG LADIES." Mr. Editor As there has been so much said out of doors res pecting the immortal "fifteen young ladies," who have stepped foith to the support of their devoted country, I have thought proper to disabuse the public mind by introducing a few words by way of apology. Whoever says that this stand upon the part of Iho young ladies of Oregon is uncalled for, greatly mistakes the signs of the times. It is well known that if Iho Bachelors could slay at home and have full swing with the young ladies they would not peril their lives upon the "field of bloody strife." I need not slop to prove this point. Even the 'way-faring' fool knows it to be a fact. 11 follows then, that if the young ladies would permit them to do so, Oregon would soon tumble head over heels into the 'gulf of dark despair.' Again some say, 'they ought to have expressed their intentions in a moro mild manner not have come out in the Governor's newspaper striking us dumb at the outset.' Do you recollect, my faint hearted bachelor friends, that it was the full, unrestrained, thundering tones of a flock of the feminine gender that once saved Rome from a total overthrow ? Had that noble, patriotic