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THE SPECTATOR,
W. a. T VAILT, KDITOIL
Oregon City, Thursday, Feb. 19, IN 10.
WILLAMETTE RIVER.
It will probably bo interesting to many,
and particularly so to those who anticipate
visiting Oregon at some future time, to know
something f the Willamette, the Great Falls
of which arc now so rapidly coming into no.
tice, and to learn something of the ineny
cities that are pringing up in the neighbor
hood of.thc most important water privilege
west of the Ilocky mountains.
The Willamette river takes its rise in '.lie
California mountains, in almut 4.1 degrees of
north latitude ; its course is nearly north,
winding through leuutiful fertile prairies,
now and then skirted by lofty forests of lit,
pine, and cedar, receiving many considera
ble tributaries both on tin: cast and we-t all
of which have traversed their whole length
through a rich and fertile country, and, in
many places, we might say, bounded with
beautiful and lu.uiriont meadows, encircled
with the lofty fir, and interspersed with beau
tiful groves of oak.
But to describe the Willamette in its de.
scent, time and space will not permit u to
enter minutely either into a description nf the
river or the country adjoining. On arriving
near the Falls, " the river spread out into
a wide, deep basin, and runs slowly and
fily until "within a half a mile nf tluj
about eighty houses, to-wit : Two churches,
two taverns, two blacksmith shops, two coop,
or shops, two cabinet shops, four tailor shops,
ono hatter shop, uo tannery, three shoo
shops, two silversmiths, and a number of
other mechanics ; four stores, two flouring
and two saw mills, and a lath machine
One of the flouring and one of the saw mill",
together with the lath machine, were erected
and put in oeration by a company of Ameri
can citizens, associated together under the
name of the " Oregon Milling Company,"
.and until within a few weeks past, the Hour
ing mill was conducted as a public mill,
grinding for the settlers for toll; it, however,
I has la-en changed from doing custom work
to that o! exchange, giving a certain num
ber of pounds of llour for a bushel of wheat.
The mill owned by Dr. John .McLaughlin has
never done any custom grinding, but e.
changes flour for wheat.
We arc satisfied that the march of im.
provement would have been much greater
at Oregon City, if nuil and paints could
have been obtained sufficient to meet the de.
nmnds'of the citizens.
4
On the west side of the river, immediate
ly opposite the falls, the land is claimed
bv Robert Moore, Ksi who has also laid
rt.it . ..iff ....II. l t im. f'itf n.ul il.itiri tv-ii- , wl'tlMI
mentsar'e goinu' ahead. We are informed i ' w l;""idcl, we are informed. .,n. .
that Mr. Moorr has sold one half of the in- siting the ulmve, that live fu.nili.-s him
terest he claims in the water Kiwcr at the ' uln-oily h.cate.l iiiiiiir.liiit.-h on tli.-S.miid.
falls, to a Mr. l'almer of Indiana. From j (r ' A Subscriber," who miil.i s the in-
NORTH OF TIIK COLUMBIA.
We am informed by a respectable gentle,
innii, w ho has just returned from exploring
the north side of the Columbia river and
Pugot's Sound, that the. exploring party ure
highly pleased with thn country. North of
the Columbia, particularly in tho vicinity of
Pugct's Sound, tho country, susceptible of
settlement, is much more extensive, and thu
soil much better thun before, represented.
Splendid prairies, surrounded with the finest
of lir, pine and cedar, with a great many
beautiful wuter courses, sufficiently largo for
steam bout navigation, and iKNwcssing water
n)verwcll calculated to proM-l uny kind of
muchinnry ; of these Frazicr s, Snohomus,
hiynllup, Cowlitz, Chchulun utul Nt-squiil-la,
aro tho most considerable. The last
named stream empties into the Sound, which
TIIKTKi('L INTKM.HIKNCK.
TKIIAIIli: ON WiAllll II. II. M. S. MI'lll.NTK, VS
coiivmi.
A sailor's lift is one of excitement, nml
Jitrk is generally far more lumpy on his bri
uy element, than leading the lilii of a fornix,
num. Tim happy crew of the ulove ship
liuve had u spell of xhnrr.foinK (or the lust
two months, but to break in upon the inn.
imtouy of waddling through the mud, they
formed u little theatrical purty mining them
selves, (the first, by lh bye tu Oregon,) and
lime performed twice since the new year,
sustaining lliei'v characters in the must cre.l
itabh; manner, that even had Will Shnl.ri
jirnrr liiiusi If li"li:d up, he could not sa
nay!
I'pon Tii.-mIuj the Hd inst., under the pa
iromige ii'('ait;iiii llaillie and theoiru-erM.il'
the ship, and before a lull and iesM-ctuLU
audit-net', was pei'f.iiui.-.l the comedy nf Vm'
inrk.t nl'lir Mnrriiiiii-, billowed bv the lifuvi"
i in linn, and the Mayor if durrnll; and In
forms one of thu best barlmrsiui the I'acil'n-. 1IVI, mi. u,,. .,, rl'o'iuii-rs lln-ir due, w
Hitherto tho country has been unexplored , limt sii that we have witnessed hit ml'.
bv emiL'rants wishin" to settle. ! rior acting b ihcdiih qualified "('. Dm
Wp arv well satisfied, from the iiiformu
tiuii received that, that region of c.ninti- ' .
muliiur. W e must lint spi-al ol tin- si i
hits iiliililcil li lhi-iii' lvi- .1 is r. iiiiv
l-Mlllillll. 'I'll.. lllol.I'MII I "IIIIHI .1 Itlld slll
north ol tlio loluiiihiii, as tur us i-ruzi.-r s i j.,,,, ))V M,-. I'.-ttiu.in. cli. it.-.l u r .tt (ilitii
rier, will, in a short time, be nipulated ; his u hiding tit no- thai "M.l--ii
with the cntcrorishiL' emiirunt. who niitici- ! w.i-"uir ship, iiii.I .. un in." w.i- -
pates and intends M realize the u.liuiilng.-. ' "11""ll ."" '".. ..lu.ni.s w.ll .,..i ,.- ,
1 , . . . i i i-n nut ii' t" till..- ii"iu i- nl i i in t"r iiiii wi
..I a location ut or neiu the harlir ..I 1 uget i... i...i.. .i ,i i...n.
To show that the above eonc liisious
smoothly
Falls, when its velocity incre
diminishes, eddies arc forme
ill liower i
eases, its wiiltri '
i i i .ii ' tavern,
d, in which il ,
If" lien- to sii-, t'n- w hub- -I tb. in .I. r-
t!n- hi I" -' i ' .'Mini inl.ili'iii.
Tin- . I- ii.i. -i i i I" Sir ( 'bar. i alnl La.lv
Ii.ii l.i-tt win ii'ih u-tiiiu.-.l. Mi- lli-.l-.-i
.I k . IWiini li.-i 'i !l iiii'lil In- pr ml ol
in i l,.i in l tin f.'. .inmi.' In i lin ; 1 1 1 I
r.iL'i . a-i ijin-iti-. U-.l.rt- Ihi !' ii w.i
asi i hi-ii . . I Ii iiioiy, a- l.i i m i . I'lil.i I
nml ihil hi pari wi!l, lot it i will. lli m
111 p"Wi I's nt' this ''i ii!i lii.ill w. Ii.im ! '
tin an tru! .tilnii i :i !! and w'c w-ail-l
ii'. I I .. ;i -1 :i i j i. l ! put h him . i ; . 1 1 1 1 -! a I'fii
luiii. i a H'im'ji. Mi". Mb ii. as Ihn.it.i,
wa.lnit -ii bail i.i ln sp'-Ki Hither Ii w
Mis. I.lmil. as Ainu V, wa- ni.o U" tin
..I in hi I wa!l..ii' w.i- i-Milli'tt.
'I'll'- pail- "I f'uiiiii 'I'liiiifu r ..I 'I V'lii"
111 'Ii--. Ii Mi l. S'llie lll. .ll.ll I ' I 1 1 I. -,
ni ii- ii.hs! r. -!.. c .. i .1 sii -t:i hi. il. ,i ii'l in i..
,, u.ah Citv, laid out by Hugh Hums, F.s,,., i,. (W Kllitk,s '., j, Unu, H. mlUtl )Ul ri ; ' '" r !' '"; 'I''- - " '"" '
ross tile ; , . '. . , . . I ' ' . cat.- li K'l-sli-. (Iii i lis apiM acini i- mi
its futo I wl',c,y ljHMr L' titv, and opH,s,t,. tl)lll ,. ,1UI. thnl pHlllllIllty. Jiiv lh i,(((i ,..' I, ... v., .
to Oregon fefl
on a lieauui
time, L-iVs
name. The
ty. .Multnomah Lity is locuteil
ul site, ii ml must, in a short
citv III
OCTli. our lir.srnuinlH.r, we publish. -hi..- ""..1. .w.i .- .-(gn lav bh In
1 In... 1... . r.....r I I., in.rli. ....
.il.. ill .ii''iii ..ii.... in. i..i...ii.ii..'ii
i I iririiiiu i.u in mi! in isiuiiiLi i.ii ii iiiiii'iii .
UDtMiiiraiicn Qs we us . " cluu.-il with the . IMil.tr coiueilx
name. 1 lie lulls ot tilts w.iiametle niloriis
'in. .In U'filoi- firii'lli.rrr.4 Cur llir .r'ftliill if
, . - ", . . I of the citizens who have not bad an uiiimr
machmerv of everv ileMirintion. to anv t-x-1 '.'
tent desired; and we believe thut, in u fi-w
our acquaintance with Mr. l'almer, we ,jry f,r uiHirmatioii. can h;ie bis und.-i
feel warranted in saying that he will, at an .iudiii! briiihteiieil bv reiuliii'' the "lh in 1 1
eaily time, prosecute, with energy, the ereit- t.,. f the Constitution nf the Oregon I'nnt. '
inn ol machinery on the west side n the jL, .ssocialinn, as wr liiive in In-v"M-rin !
rier, unless prevented by the government hv that Constitution. In im ease will w.-.
of the 1'nited States, reserving the water : kiiiivitil , violate it. We gave our r. as.ms
power nt the falls. Linn City contiiins one tt( u. thought it bud iMiliey to airitate 'li-
one chair manufactory, one cabinet tjc ; t. cilumns nf the Sn-ctiitni-, nml we
' 1 !r.r. i.tir. frillilnllli klii.ti mill film Utlllllll !.. .1' .1 :..!.... . .ill !... il' il...
. t. J -p i.i . . ,l. .1. . I '" li '" t,in-"." .-., . - -.-j.-.. reu inn 01 ill.- saini- 'Iniiiiio sun nui n iu-
water turns bad: as ir loth to make tin-1 ..... ....
plunge; but is forced forward bv the watei . Mll,ll0. !m, ,,.,.,,.,. ,,, Mljr.i(.lth kllwi.i il-'"1" '" ''"'- ' lr' "- '- -'-
mine rear, ano wiieiisnii nu-arei, u nu-uns
upon the volcanic rocks scattered across
channel, and then, as if resigned to its fate,
smooths its agitated surges, and precipitates
down an almost perpendicular of twcnty-live
feet, presenting a somewhat whitened col.
uinn." The rising mist, on a pleasant day,
forms, in the rays of the sun, a beautiful
Ihiw the whole forming a sight, the gra;
dour of which has to be seen to be appro,
ciatcd.
Below the falls, for the distance of half a
mile, the channel of tho river is confined by
ledges of basaltic rocks to about two hun
dred yards in width. About one mile below
the fulls enters the Clackamas river from tin
fast, which takes its rise near Mount Hood,
one of the perpetual snow peuks of the Ca
cade mountains. Here are the Clackamas
rapids, another obstacle in the navigation of
tiie Willamette; but the difficulties here pre.
sentcd are of minor importance at almost
uny stage nf water, the boats of the Hudson
Hay Company nscend and descend with but
little difficulty. From this place to the mouth
of tho Willamette, a distanco of twcnty.fivc
miles, navigation is good, as the tide runs up
to tho foot of tho Clackamas rapids. The
Willamette, running Its whole course from
south to north, enters the Columbia in about
latitude 40 degs. DO rnin. north, longitude
122 degs. 20 min. wost."
On the cast side of tho Willamette, at the
falls, the land is claimed by )r. John Mc
Laughlin, who laid out Oregon City in tho
year 1842. The many advantages present
ed for tho growth and prosperity of a manu.
facturing city, is manifest to the most casual
observor. We aro informed that where Ore
gon City now stands, irwus, thrco years ngo,
a denso forest of fir and underbrush. The
march of improvement haKbecn with gigantic
stride. The city is now iricorporotcd with a
population of not less than 000 souls, and
I liu 'iiiur
..-pi in a i -hi
years, there will In- constructed a cuual on
each side of tho river, commencing r.t tho
head of the falls and locked down for a dis
tance nfouo mile, which improvement would
afford power for the manufacturing of every
thing necessary for internal purees, as
well as transportation. Willi these advan
tages, together with the great quuntily of
timber immediately in our noighborl.noi. a
heultby climate, a productivo soil, mid min
erals yet to be found, we uro sanguine that
the time is not far distant when wo must be.
come great, and we hope, good.
IiASTWAni Hound. Hugh Hums, Ksq.,
informs us that himself and party will leave
early in March next, for tho United States.
Their route will bo across the Rocky inoun.
tains by way of the South Pass. Persons
wishing to send east by the party, would do
well to avail themselves of this opportunity.
Finn ! On Suturduy the 7th instant, the
plunk kilo of IV. John McLaughlin was (lis
covered to be on fire, which was, however,
soon extinguished by tho united efforts of the
Americans, English, Irish, Kuuukas, (alias
Sandwich Isluuders,) and Indians. On that
occasion it was hard to tell which nation had
tho reference. It was a perfect hcterogo.
neous rnawof conglomerated guttural sounds.
" Hiadt 'ituck!" was tho only uudiblo sound
we could hear, and that wus from tho doctor
himself, which means hurry! water!! Loss
sustained about 1000 feet of lumber.
of Oregon. The Land Law ison-unic, mid rc,irrnii. and tin- h..ns.. :.
no ilouot, will lie reuil with intcicM liy miiiiN -liiual mar ! 1 . 1 1 1 h t . i limn In .'iiiniii-j I
end. i-,w ry .un- ilel tin n p. tit alui'.M I. mil
I...,.!- L-. ......I I... I,...- ....,. .1... ui.l....... '-. "' we e.imini M" ci.ni, i . iimm-
..,",,. , , , K'i!i.-rts us inimitalili- m . m Snml. -it
ol land claims. It appears that a coim.I. U(((i) (.U ( ,,, M.1111 lllln , ,., ,,
erablc business is going on in the territory mil j,,.,;,,.; Milli.e it t,.sa. w.-, v.-u .Imil.t
in the traffic of laud claims. The most im. if the great l.itmi hiuis.-ll i-nuhl un as
portant change of ownership we have hcunl he did. in tb mi.-ul twist ..fth.- niu-i ul.n
of latelv, is that of Cam. Disum-ointmcnt be. ' i'r," i""1 1,is "rtt '""' " " '.' '' ,ft""'.'
, , ,, ' , ... .. I iilllliist sent eerv ill!- into hts It Wlls thnl
ing purchased by Mr. Ogden, one ol the lac ',,.. ,.,.M,.lu,.n ,....., wn,
tor.N of the Hudson Hay Company. ,,!,,. v, ,, ,. j i. 1,1- faculties l,.iuU
i-viir ' 71 ' i T ii- .- I so in-led uiill. Mr. Union's Sniillr w lis ahu
OCTWeguv.' notice in our lust publication ,.',.. ., ' ' , ,
. , iii ,'"1"' '" pelleclion the gisli-s lllnl ,n
that the Kistmuster general hud contra, ted ,..,, ial ,.v,. S11ll(. ,- ,M. .Inldreii
with H. Hums, lw;., to curry the mail, lor lall.-.l nut '. ul ihr i.mii muhiui' .(."
one triponly. from this place to Weston, Mis. I Tin- on-hi-sini was well got gp. wnh vi-ilm-.,
wmrl lluil l.M..r Miiili.il lit ni.v of ill.- ..Hi. H'lte, lllnl the hiiriiwilllill.1 bll'MUp. s. Messis.
I'ostii.'e '''',,,l,m" !""' P'-HHian's snugs wen- highlv
uppluudcd the foriner's "'Virnwgi llir irnnil"
ccs, Ksi paid, would be forwarded
oniy iniy corns on single si.eeis. Wlw ttl.,.tv iu M.Uiitifiill n miiiu. utul d.
Wo understand the construction given by im-im-.II nieurcil the luttc'i's " .Im math'
some is, thut .Mr. Hums receives the fifty given with much zest, but we would i.-cuu
cents for his pay for carrying the mail. This
is a mistake. The postmaster general, wi
hope, will inuke better contracts than thut for
the department.
The terms of the contract ure : Mr. H. re
coives 2.r pur cent, on tho amount of iostuge
thut the department receives for sending lei.
tors eust, and only fifty cents can bo char
ged for a single sheet.
Hai.sam. On Suturday the 1-lth instant,
somn wood choppers having cut into a small
sized fir tree, standing on thn town plat, they
discovered that it emitted large quantities of
balsam. After considerable loss, prcparu.
tion was mudo for saving it. During tho duy
about forty gallons wero saved. Wo huvo
no doubt but tho balsam thus obtained from
the fir in Oregon will hecomo valuable.
mi-nil less i the sereiiuiiiig in i-lmi using
pmirJerc uiiuli. We cniiclude by su ing that
we wish these suppnitc rs nf the drama every
prosperity and success, and hid them iml
speed! (.ratified, I think, I may safely sav,
in my own name, with that of the other sA
tiers in Oregon, shall we be, when we shall see
the "nirliiiii nM" in our infant city', aniL
cntertuimneut allbrded us equal to that of rt?
"Moilrxt" blur jnrbls. "
lLLLA7rVN(.,0iri:il.
Captain Haim.ik and the gun-room officers
of IL It. M. S. Modesto, entertained ii nu
merous circle at a ball here, upon Wednes
day evening There wus a brilliant assem
blage of tho "fair sex" of Oregon ; and al
though in the fur ircxl, yet from the gay dis.
play that night, wo aro proud to state that
tho infant colony can lioast of us pretty fuces
and handsome "figures" us the mother coun
try. Dancing commenced tit H o'clock, ami
it wus pleasing to sco tho tripping on the