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