History of Oregon, Vol. II, 1848-1888, Part 1

Author: Bancroft, Hubert Howe, 1832-1918; Victor, Mrs. Frances Auretta Fuller Barrett, 1826-1902
Publication date: 1886-88
Publisher: San Francisco : The History Co.
Number of Pages: 836


USA > Oregon > History of Oregon, Vol. II, 1848-1888 > Part 1


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GENERAL LIBRAABY -OF THE-


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Bancroft, Hubert Howe, 1832- 1918.


History of Oregon


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REFERENCE AMERICANA COLLECTION


THE WORKS


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HUBERT HOWE BANCROFT


THE WORKS


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HUBERT HOWE BANCROFT


VOLUME XXX


HISTORY OF OREGON VOL. II. 1848-1888


SAN FRANCISCO THE HISTORY COMPANY, PUBLISHERS 1888


Allen County Public Library 900 Webster Street PO Box 2270 Fol Wa no IN 46801-227


Entered according to Act of Congress in the Year 1888, by HUBERT H. BANCROFT, In the Office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington. All Rights Reserved.


Bautfield-$375.00 (391.x)


CONTENTS OF THIS VOLUME.


1216$90


CHAPTER I.


CONDITION OF AFFAIRS. 1848. PAGE


Population-Products-Places of Settlement-The First Families of Ore- gon-Stock-raising and Agriculture-Founding of Towns-Land Titles-Ocean Traffic-Ship-building and Commerce-Domestic Matters: Food, Clothing, and Shelter-Society: Religion, Educa- tion, and Morals-Benevolent Societies-Aids and Checks to Prog- ress-Notable Institutions-Character of the People. 1


CHAPTER II.


EFFECT OF THE CALIFORNIA GOLD DISCOVERY.


1848-1849.


The Magic Power of Gold-A New Oregon-Arrival of Newell-Sharp Traffic-The Discovery Announced-The Stampede Southward- Overland Companies-Lassen's Immigrants-Hancock's Manuscript -Character of the Oregonians in California-Their General Suc- cess-Revolutions in Trade and Society-Arrival of Vessels-In- crease in the Prices of Products-Change of Currency-The Ques- tion of a Mint-Private Coinage-Influx of Foreign Silver-Effect on Society-Legislation-Immigration 42


CHAPTER III. LANE'S ADMINISTRATION.


1849-1850.


Indian Affairs-Troubles in Cowlitz Valley-Fort Nisqually Attacked- Arrival of the United States Ship Massachusetts-A Military Post Established near Nisqually-Thornton as Sub-Indian Agent-Meet- ing of the Legislative Assembly-Measures Adopted-Judicial Dis- tricts-A Travelling Court of Justice-The Mounted Rifle Regiment -Establishment of Military Posts at Fort Hall, Vancouver, Steil- acoom, and The Dalles-The Vancouver Claim-General Persifer F Smith-His Drunken Soldiers-The Dalles Claim-Trial and Execu- tion of the Whitman Murderers.


(1x ) 66


x


CONTENTS.


CHAPTER IV.


A DELEGATE TO CONGRESS. 1849-1850.


PAGE


The Absence of Judges-Island Mills-Arrival of William Strong-Oppo- sition to the Hudson's Bay Company-Arrest of British Ship Cap- tains-George Gibbs-The Albion Affair-Samuel R. Thurston Chosen Delegate to Congress-His Life and Character-Proceeds to Washington-Misrepresentations and Unprincipled Measures- Rank Injustice toward McLoughlin-Efficient Work for Oregon- The Donation Land Bill-The Cayuse War Claim and Other Appro- priations Secured-The People Lose Confidence in their Delegate- Death of Thurston 101


CHAPTER V. ADMINISTRATION OF GAINES.


1850-1852.


An Official Vacancy-Gaines Appointed Governor-His Reception in Ore- gon-The Legislative Assembly in Session-Its Personnel-The Ter- ritorial Library-Location of the Capital-Oregon City or Salem- Warm and Prolonged Contest-Two Legislatures-War between the Law-makers and the Federal Judges-Appeal to Congress-Salem Declared the Capital-A New Session Called-Feuds of the Public Press-Unpopularity of Gaines-Close of his Term-Lane Appointed his Successor


139


CHAPTER VI.


DISCOVERY OF GOLD IN OREGON. 1850-1852.


Politics and Prospecting-Immigration-An Era of Discovery-Explora- tions on the Southern Oregon Seaboard-The California Company- The Schooner Samuel Roberts at the Mouths of Rogue River and the Umpqua-Meeting with the Oregon Party-Laying-out of Lands and Town Sites-Failure of the Umpqua Company-The Finding of Gold in Various Localities-The Mail Service-Efforts of Thurston in Congress-Settlement of Port Orford and Discovery of Coos Bay -The Colony at Port Orford-Indian Attack-The T'Vault Expedi- tion-Massacre-Government Assistance 174


CHAPTER VII.


INDIAN AFFAIRS. 1851.


Politics-Election of a Delegate-Extinguishment of Indian Titles-Ind- ian Superintendents and Agents Appointed-Kindness of the Great Father at Washington-Appropriations of Congress-Frauds Arising


xi


CONTENTS.


PAGE


from the System-Easy Expenditure of Government Money-Un- popularity of Human Sympathy-Efficiency of Superintendent Dart -Thirteen Treaties Effected-Lane among the Rogue River Indians and in the Mines-Divers Outrages and Retaliations-Military Affairs-Rogue River War-The Stronghold-Battle of Table Rock -Death of Stuart-Kearney's Prisoners.


205


CHAPTER VIII.


PLAUSIBLE PACIFICATION.


1851-1852.


Officers and Indian Agents at Port Orford-Attitude of the Coquilles- U. S. Troops Ordered out-Soldiers as Indian-fighters-The Savages too Much for Them-Something of Scarface and the Shastas-Steele Secures a Conference-Action of Superintendent Skinner-Much Ado about Nothing-Some Fighting-An Insecure Peace-More Troops Ordered to Vancouver


233


CHAPTER IX.


SURVEYS AND TOWN-MAKING. 1851-1853.


Proposed Territorial Division-Coast Survey-Light-houses Established -James S. Lawson-His Biography, Public Services, and Contribu- tion to History-Progress North of the Columbia-South of the Columbia-Birth of Towns-Creation of Counties-Proposed New Territory-River Navigation-Improvements at the Clackamas Rap- ids-On the Tualatin River-La Creole River-Bridge-building- Work at the Falls of the Willamette-Fruit Culture-The First Apples Sent to California-Agricultural Progress-Imports and Ex- ports-Society 247


CHAPTER X.


LAND LAWS AND LAND TITLES. 1851-1855.


The Donation Law-Its Provisions and Workings-Attitude of Congress -Powers of the Provisional Government-Qualification of Voters- Surveys -- Rights of Women and Children-Amendments-Preemp- tion Privileges-Duties of the Surveyor-general-Claimants to Lands of the Hudson's Bay and Puget Sound Companies-Mission Claims-Methodists, Presbyterians, and Catholics-Prominent Land Cases-Litigation in Regard to the Site of Portland-The Rights of Settlers-The Caruthers Claim-The Dalles Town-site Claim-Pre- tensions of the Methodists-Claims of the Catholics-Advantages and Disadvantages of the Donation System


260


xii


CONTENTS.


CHAPTER XI.


POLITICS AND PROGRESS. 1853. ΡΑΘΕ


Legislative Proceedings-Judicial Districts-Public Buildings-Tenor of Legislation-Instructions to the Congressional Delegate-Harbors and Shipping-Lane's Congressional Labors-Charges against Gover- nor Gaines-Ocean Mail Service-Protection of Overland Immigrants -Military Roads-Division of the Territory-Federal Appoint- ments-New Judges aud their Districts-Whigs and Democrats- Lane as Governor and Delegate-Alonzo A. Skinner-An Able and Humane Man-Sketch of his Life and Public Services. 296


CHAPTER XII. ROGUE RIVER WAR. 1853-1854.


Impositions and Retaliations-Outrages by White Men and Indians- The Military Called upon-War Declared-Suspension of Business- Roads Blockaded-Firing from Ambush-Alden at Table Rock- Lane in Command-Battle-The Savages Sue for Peace-Armistice -Preliminary Agreement-Hostages Given-Another Treaty with the Rogue River People-Stipulations-Other Treaties-Cost of the War 311


CHAPTER XIII.


LEGISLATION, MINING, AND SETTLEMENT.


1853-1854.


John W. Davis as Governor-Legislative Proceedings-Appropriations by Congress-Oregon Acts and Resolutions-Affairs on the Ump- qua-Light-house Building-Beach Mining-Indian Disturbances- Palmer's Superintendence-Settlement of Coos Bay-Explorations and Mountain-climbing-Politics of the Period-The Question of State Organization-The People not Ready-Hard Times-Deca- dence of the Gold Epoch-Rise of Farming Interest-Some First Things-Agricultural Societies-Woollen Mills-Telegraphs-River and Ocean Shipping Interest and Disasters-Ward Massacre-Mil- itary Situation 322


CHAPTER XIV.


GOVERNMENT AND GENERAL DEVELOPMENT.


1854-1855.


Resignation of Governor Davis-His Successor, George Law Curry- Legislative Proceedings-Waste of Congressional Appropriations- State House-Penitentiary-Relocation of the Capital and Univer- sity-Legislative and Congressional Acts Relative thereto-More


xiii


CONTENTS.


PAGE


Counties Made-Finances-Territorial Convention-Newspapers- The Slavery Sentiment-Politics of the Period-Whigs, Democrats, and Know-nothings-A New Party-Indian Affairs-Treaties East of the Cascade Mountains . 348


CHAPTER XV.


FURTHER INDIAN WARS.


1855-1856.


Indian Affairs in Southern Oregon-The Rogue River People-Extermi- nation Advocated-Militia Companies-Surprises and Skirmishes- Reservation and Friendly Indians Protected by the U. S. Govern- ment against Miners and Settlers-More Fighting-Volunteers and Regulars-Battle of Grave Creek-Formation of the Northern and Southern Battalions-Affair at the Meadows-Ranging by the Vol- unteers-The Ben Wright Massacre. 369


CHAPTER XVI.


EXTERMINATION OF THE INDIANS. 1856-1857.


Grande Ronde Military Post and Reservation-Driving in and Caging the Wild Men-More Soldiers Required-Other Battalions-Down upon the Red Men-The Spring Campaign-Affairs along the River- Humanity of the United States Officers and Agents-Stubborn Brav- ery of Chief John-Councils and Surrenders-Battle of the Meadows -Smith's Tactics-Continued Skirmishing-Giving-up and Coming- in of the Indians. 397


CHAPTER XVII. OREGON BECOMES A STATE. 1856-1859.


Legislature of 1855-6-Measures and Memorials-Legislature of 1856-7 -No Slavery in Free Territory-Republican Convention-Election Results-Discussions concerning Admission-Delegate to Congress- Campaign Journalism-Constitutional Convention-The Great Ques- tion of Slavery-No Black Men, Bond or Free-Adoption of a State Constitution-Legislature of 1857-8-State and Territorial Bodies -Passenger Service-Legislatures of 1858-9-Admission into the Union.


413


CHAPTER XVIII.


POLITICS AND PATRIOTISM. 1859-1861.


Appointment of Officers of the United States Court-Extra Session of the Legislature-Acts and Reports-State Seal-Delazon Smith-Re-


xiv


CONTENTS.


PAGE


publican Convention-Nominations and Elections-Rupture in the Democratic Party-Sheil Elected to Congress-Scheme of a Pacific Republic-Legislative Session of 1860-Nesmith and Baker Elected U. S. Senators-Influence of Southern Secession-Thayer Elected to Congress-Lane's Disloyalty-Governor Whiteaker-Stark, U. S. Senator-Oregon in the War-New Officials.


442


CHAPTER XIX. WAR AND DEVELOPMENT. 1858-1862.


War Departments and Commanders-Military Administration of General Harney-Wallen's Road Expeditions-Troubles with the Shoshones -Emigration on the Northern and Southern Routes-Expeditions of Steen and Smith-Campaign against the Shoshones-Snake River Massacre-Action of the Legislature-Protection of the Southern Route-Discovery of the John Day and Powder River Mines-Floods and Cold of 1861-2 -Progress of Eastern Oregon 460


CHAPTER XX. MILITARY ORGANIZATION AND OPERATIONS.


1861-1865.


Appropriation Asked for-General Wright-Six Companies Raised-At- titude toward Secessionists-First Oregon Cavalry-Expeditions of Maury, Drake, and Curry-Fort Boise Established-Reconnoissance of Drew-Treaty with the Klamaths and Modocs-Action of the Legislature-First Infantry Oregon Volunteers 48S


.


CHAPTER XXI.


THE SHOSHONE WAR.


1866-1868.


Companies and Camps-Steele's Measures-Halleck Headstrong-Battle of the Owyhee-Indian Raids-Sufferings of the Settlers and Trans- portation Men-Movements of Troops-Attitude of Governor Woods -Free Fighting-Enlistment of Indians to Fight Indians-Military Reorganization-Among the Lava-beds-Crook in Command-Ex- termination or Confinement and Death in Reservations. 512


CHAPTER XXII.


THE MODOC WAR. 1864-1873.


Land of the Modocs-Keintpoos, or Captain Jack-Agents, Superintend- ents, and Treaties-Keintpoos Declines to Go on a Reservation- Raids-Troops in Pursuit-Jack Takes to the Lava-beds-Appoint-


CONTENTS.


PAGE


ment of a Peace Commissioner-Assassination of Canby, Thomas, and Sherwood-Jack Invested in his Stronghold-He Escapes- Crushing Defeat of Troops under Thomas-Captain Jack Pursued, Caught, and Executed. .. 555


CHAPTER XXIII. POLITICAL, INDUSTRIAL, AND INSTITUTIONAL. IS62-1887.


Republican Loyalty-Legislature of 1862-Legal-tender and Specific Con- tract-Public Buildings-Surveys and Boundaries-Military Road- Swamp and Agricultural Lands-Civil Code-The Negro Question -Later Legislation-Governors Gibbs, Woods, Grover, Chadwick, Thayer, and Moody-Members of Congress . 637


CHAPTER XXIV.


LATER EVENTS. 1887-1888.


Recent Developments in Railways-Progress of Portland-Architecture and Organizations-East Portland-Iron Works-Value of Property -Mining-Congressional Appropriations-New Counties-Salmon Fisheries-Lumber-Political Affairs-Public Lands-Legislaturc- Election


746


HISTORY OF OREGON.


CHAPTER I.


CONDITION OF AFFAIRS.


1848.


POPULATION-PRODUCTS-PLACES OF SETTLEMENT-THE FIRST FAMILIES OF OREGON-STOCK-RAISING AND AGRICULTURE-FOUNDINO OF TOWNS- LAND TITLES-OCEAN TRAFFIC-SHIP-BUILDING AND COMMERCE-DO- MESTIC MATTERS: FOOD, CLOTHING, AND SHELTER-SOCIETY: RELIGION, EDUCATION, AND MORALS- BENEVOLENT SOCIETIES-AIDS AND CHECKS TO PROGRESS-NOTABLE INSTITUTIONS-CHARACTER OF THE PEOPLE.


FOURTEEN years have now elapsed since Jason Lee began his missionary station on the east bank of the Willamette, and five years since the first considerable settlement was made by an agricultural population from the western states. It is well to pause a moment in our historical progress and to take a general survey.


First as to population, there are between ten and twelve thousand white inhabitants and half-breeds scattered about the valley of the Willamette, with a few in the valleys of the Columbia, the Cowlitz, and on Puget Sound. Most of these are stock-raisers and grain-growers. The extent of land cultivated is not great,1 from twenty to fifty acres only being in cereals on single farms within reach of warehouses of the fur


1 In Hastings' Or. and Cal., 55-6, the average size of farms is given at 500 acres, which is much too high an estimate. There was no need to fence so much land, and had it been cultivated the crops would have found no market. VOL. II. 1


2


CONDITION OF AFFAIRS.


company and the American merchants. One writer estimated the company's stock in 1845 at 20,00C bushels, and that this was not half of the surplus. As many farmers reap from sixty to sixty-five bushels of wheat to the acre,2 and the poorest land returns twenty bushels, no great extent of sowing is required to furnish the market with an amount equal to that named. Agricultural machinery to any considerable extent is not yet known. Threshing is done by driv- ing horses over the sheaves strewn in an enclosure, first trodden hard by the hoofs of wild cattle. In the summer of 1848 Wallace and Wilson of Oregon City construct two threshing-machines with endless chains, which are henceforward much sought after.3 The usual price of wheat, fixed by the Hudson's Bay Company, is sixty-two and a half cents; but at different times it has been higher, as in 1845, when it reached a dollar and a half a bushel,4 owing to the influx of population that year.


The flouring of wheat is no longer difficult, for there are in 1848 nine grist-mills in the country.5 Nor is it any longer impossible to obtain sawed lumber in the lower parts of the valley, or on the Columbia, for a larger number of mills furnish material for build- ing to those who can afford to purchase and provide the means of transportation.6 The larger number of


2 IFines' Hist. Oregon, 342-6. Thornton, in his Or. and Cal., i. 379, gives the whole production of 1846 at 144,863 bushels, the greatest amount raised in any county being in Tualatin, and the least in Clatsop. Oats, pease, and potatoes were in proportion. See also Or. Spectator, July 23, 1846; Howison's Coast and Country, 29-30. The total wheat crop of 1847 was estimated at 180,000 bushels, and the surplus at 50,000.


3 Crawford's Nar., MS., 164; Ross' Nar., MS., 10.


+ Ekin's Saddle-Maker, MS., 4.


5 The grist-mills were built by the Hudson's Bay Company near Vancouver; McLoughlin and the Oregon Milling Company at Oregon City; by Thomas McKay on French Prairie; by Thomas James O'Neal on the Ricknall in the Applegate Settlement in Polk County; by the Methodist Mission at Salem; by Lot Whiteomb at Milwaukee, on the right bank of the Willamette, between Portland and Oregon City; by Meck and Luelling at the same place; and by Whitman at Waiilatpu. About this time a flouring-mill was begun on Puget Sound. Thornton's Or. and Cal., i. 330; S. F. Californian, April 19, 1848.


6 These saw-mills were often in connection with the flouring-mills, as at Oregon City, Salem, and Vancouver. But there were several others that were


3


FOUNDING OF TOWNS.


houses on the land-claims, however, are still of hewn logs, in the style of western frontier dwellings of the Mississippi states.7


separate, as the mill established for sawing lumber by Mr Hunsaker at the junction of the Willamette with the Columbia; by Charles MeKay on the Tualatin Plains, and by Hunt near Astoria. There were others to the number of 15 in different parts of the territory. Thornton's Or. and Cal., i. 330; Craw- ford's Nar., MS., 164.


? George Gay had a brick dwelling, and Abernethy a brick store; and brick was also used in the ereetion of the Catholic church at St Pauls. Craw- ford tells us a good deal about where to look for settlers. Reason Read. he says, was located on Nathan Crosby's land-claim, a mile below Pettygrove's dwelling in Portland, on the right bank of the Willamette, just below a high gravelly bluff, that is, in what is now the north part of East Portland. Two of the Belknaps were making brick at this place, assisted by Read. A house was being erected for Crosby by a mechanie named Richardson. Daniel Lowusdale bad a tannery west of Portland town-site. South of it on the same side of the river were the claims of Finice Caruthers, William Johnson, Thomas Stevens, and James Terwilliger. Ou the island in front of Steveus' place lived Richard McCrary, celebrated for making 'blue ruin' whiskey out of molasses. James Stevens lived opposite Caruthers, on the east bank of the Willamette, where he had a cooper-shop, and William Kilhorne a warehouse. Three miles above Milwaukee, where Whitcomb, William Meck, and Luelling were settled, was a German named Piper, attempting to make pottery. Opposite Oregon City lived S. Thurston, R. Moore, Il. Burns, and Judge Lancaster. Philip Foster and other settlers lived on the Clackamas River, east of Oregon City. Turning baek, and going north of Portland, John H. Couch claimed the land adjoining that place. Below him were settled at intervals on the same side of the river William Blackstone, Peter Gill, Doane, and Watts. At Linnton there were two settlers, William Dillon and Dick Richards. Opposite to Watt's on the east bank was James Loomis, and just above him James John. At the head of Sauve Island lived John Miller. Near James Logie's place, before mentioned as a dairy-farm of the Hudson's Bay Company. Alexander McQuinn was settled, and on different parts of the island Jacob Cline, Joseph Charlton, James Bybee, Malcolm Smith a Scotch- man, Gilbau a Canadian, and an American named Walker. On the Scappoose plains south of the island was settled McPherson, a Scotchman; and during the summer Nelson Hoyt took a claim on the Seappoose. At Plymouth Rock, now St Helen, lived H. M. Knighton who the year before had succeeded to the claim of its first settler, Bartholomew White, who was a eripple, and unable to make improvements. A town was already projected at this place, though not surveyed till 1849, when a few lots were laid off by James Brown of Canemah. The survey was subsequently completed by N. H. Tappan and P. W. Crawford, and mapped by Joseph Truteh, in the spring of 1851. A few miles below Knighton were settled the Merrill family and a man named Tulitson. The only settler in the region of the Dalles was Nathan Olney, who in 1847 took a claim 3 miles below the present town, on the south side of the river. On the north side of the Columbia, in the neighborhood of Vancouver, the land formerly occupied by the fur company, after the settle- ment of the boundary was elaimed to a considerable extent by individuals, British subjects as well as Americans. Above the fort, Forbes Barelay and Mr Lowe, members of the company, held claims as individuals, as also Mr Covington, teacher at the fort. On the south side, opposite Vancouver, John Switzler kept a ferry, which had been much in use during the Cayuse war as well as in the season of immigrant arrivals. On Cathlapootle, or Lewis, river there was also a settler. On the Kalama River Jonathan Burpee had taken a claim; he afterward removed to the Cowlitz, where Thibault, a Canadian,


4


CONDITION OF AFFAIRS.


Only a small portion of the land being fenced, alinost the whole Willamette Valley is open to travel, and covered with the herds of the settlers, some of whom own between two and three thousand cattle and horses. Though thus pastured the grass is knee-high on the plains, and yet more luxuriant on the low lands; in summer the hilly parts are incarnadine with strawberries.8 Besides the natural increase of the first importations, not a year has passed since the venture of the Willamette Cattle Company in 1837, without the introduction of cattle and horses from California, to which are added those driven from the States an- nually after 1842,9 whence come likewise constantly increasing flocks of sheep. The towns, as is too often the case, are out of proportion to the rural population. Oregon City, with six or seven hundred inhabitants, is still the metropolis, having the advantage of a central


was living in charge of the warehouse of the Hudson's Bay Company, and where during the spring and summer Peter W. Crawford, E. West, and one or two others settled. Before the autumn of 1849 several families were located near the mouth of the Cowlitz. H. D. Huntington, Nathaniel Stone, David Stone, Seth Catlin, James Porter, and R. C. Smith were making shingles here for the California market. Below the Cowlitz, at old Oak Point on the south side of the river, lived John McLean, a Scotchman. Oak Point Mills on the north side were not built till the following summer, when they were crected by a man named Dyer for Abernethy and Clark of Oregon City. At Cathlamet on the north bank of the river lived James Birnie, who had settled there in 1846. There was no settlement between Cathlamet and Hunt's Mill, and none between Hunt's Mill, where a man named Spears was living, and Astoria, except the claim of Robert Shortess near Tongue Point. At Astoria the old fur company's post was in charge of Mr Mckay; and there were several Americans living there, namely, John McClure, James Welch, John M. Shively, Van Dusen and family, and others; in all about 30 persons; but the town was partially surveyed this year by P. W. Craw- ford. There were about a dozen settlers on Clatsop plains, and a town had been projected on Point Adams by two brothers O'Brien, called New York, which never came to anything. At Baker Bay lived John Edmunds, though the claim belonged to Peter Skeen Ogden. On Scarborough Hill, just above, a claim had been taken by au English captain of that name in the service of the Hudson's Bay Company. The greater number of these items have been taken from Crawford's Narrative, MS .; but other authorities have contributed, namely : Minto's Early Days, MS .; Weed's Queen Charlotte I. Exped., MS .; Deady's Hist. Or., MS .; Pettygrove's Or., MS,; Lovejoy's Port- land, MS .; Moss' Pioneer Times, MS .; Brown's Willamette Valley, MS .; Or. Statutes; Victor's Oregon and Wash .; Murphy's Or. Directory, I; S. I. Friend, Oct. 15, 1849; Wilkes' Nar .; Palmer's Journal; Home Missionary Mag., xxii. 63-4.


8 ' The most beautiful country I ever saw in my life.' Weed's Queen Char- lotte I. Exped., MS., 2.


' Clyman's Note Book, MS., 6; W. B. Ide's Biog., 34.


5


THE OREGON INSTITUTE.


position between the farming country above the falls and the deep-water navigation twelve miles below; and more capital and improvements are found here than at any other point.10 It is the only incorporated town as yet in Oregon, the legislature of 1844 having granted it a charter;11 unimproved lots are held at from $100 to $500. The canal round the falls which the same legislature authorized is in progress of con- struction, a wing being thrown out across the east shoot of the river above the falls which form a basin, and is of great benefit to navigation by affording quiet water for the landing of boats, which without it were in danger of being carried over the cataract.12


Linn City and Multnomah City just across the river from the metropolis, languish from propinquity to a greatness in which they cannot share. Milwaukee, a few miles below, is. still in embryo. Linnton, the city founded during the winter of 1843 by Burnett and McCarver, has had but two adult male inhabit- ants, though it boasts a warehouse for wheat. Hills- boro and Lafayette aspire to the dignity of county- seats of Tualatin and Yamhill. Corvallis, Albany, and Eugene are settled by claimants of the land, but do not yet rejoice in the distinction of an urban appel-




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