214 THE WESTERN DIVISION. 



But, as a general thing, that portion of country north of the Columbia 

 is the most vvorthless part of Oregon. 



A vast share of it is mere naked rock or deserts of ice and snow, with 

 now and then dense forests of pine, cedar, and fir. There are, compara- 

 tively, few arable prairies ; and not more than one half of the whole extent 

 can be turned to any useful purpose. Perhaps one sixth of it is suscepti- 

 ble of cultivation. In fact, the only localities worthy of mention are the 

 valleys scattered among the Claset and Cascade Mountains, and along the 

 different rivers and creeks. 



The cause of this general sterility is more to be attributed to the severity 

 of the climate, consequent upon a high northern latitude, combined with the 

 broken and mountainous character of the country, than to any great natural 

 deficiency of soil. Of course it can never become thickly populated. 



Its timber, fisheries, and facilities for manufactures, stock-raising, and the 

 gro\\1;h of wool, embrace its greatest inducements to emigrants ; though, 

 in a commercial point of view, its extensive fur trade and commodious har- 

 bors, with other kindred advantages, should not be overlooked. 



We now come to the Middle Division, or that section south of the Co- 

 lumbia, between the Blue and Cascade Mountains. 



In this division of Oregon the face of the country is very much diversi- 

 fied. As a whole, it presents a continued series of conical hills, huge mas- 

 ses of rock, and undulating prairies, intermixed with lofty, cloud-capped 

 peaks, shooting transversely from the ridges that form its eastern and west- 

 ern boundaries. These mountains are usually clothed with rank vegeta- 

 tion, and frequently present stately forests of valuable timber, particularly 

 the Blue range. 



It also contains many extensive valleys of great fertihty, situated among 

 its mountains and upon the John Day, Quisnell, Umatilla, D'Chute, and 

 Wallawalla rivers, and their numerous affluents. 



The southern extremity likewise affords many fertile and extensive val- 

 leys, but it is rather sparsely timbered. In the immediate vicinity of the 

 Columbia, the land is sandy and barren, though back from the river, the 

 hills are tolerably rich and coated with heavy pine forests. 



Nearly the whole of this section may be considered available for agricul- 

 ture and stock-raising. 



The Western Division next commands our attention. Below the Cas- 

 cades, the country contiguous to the Columbia presents a vast extent of 

 thickly timbered and extremely fertile bottomland, one hundred and twenty 

 miles wide, interspersed with frequent openings of lusty vegetation. 



The forests of this section afford some of the largest and most beautiful 

 pine and fir trees in the world. Its valleys, plains, and hills are likewise 

 possessed of a most excellent soil, adapted to every practicable use. 



Above this, and bordering upon the Straits of Juan de Fuca are also 

 large tracts of fine land, well watered, timbered, and fertile. 



Southward, towards the confines of California, the Umpqua and Rogue 

 rivers claim several very extensive and fertile valleys and bottom lands. 

 Upon the former of these are said to be two, one of which is forty miles in 

 length by ten in width, and the other seventy by fifteen ; — upon the latter, 

 is one eighty miles long, and varying from fifteen to fifty in width. 



