From Astoria to the Cascades [pp. 146-154]

FROM ASTORIA TO THE CASCADES.
Scappoose Bay is a sort of bayou of the Cathlapootle. This is the Calapooya,
the lower Willamette, which sets back a or Lake River, which rises in a small
distance of seven miles, and receives lake near Vancouver, twenty-five miles
the waters of the Milton Creek -a fine to the east, and flows nearly parallel
water-power which might be turned upon with the Columbia, until it empties into
the town-site of St. Helen, or made it. There is a large tract of excellent
to furnish water-works for that place. farming land along this river, also, most
There are, also, some fine grazing farms of which is already settled up. The
along Scappoose Bay on land subject to farmers, from both these valleys, bring
annual overflow. their produce to St. Helen to exchange
Extensive beds of the richest iron ore for goods. The tide, at this point on
lie adjacent to the township; coal exists the river, rises about four feet.
in the mountains, six miles back; water- As we pass along up the Columbia
power and timber are plentiful; while from this point, we notice that the shores
ships, of any size that can come into are level on both sides; for here, within
the Columbia, could lie alongside the a distance of twenty miles, the Cathlanatural wharves of trap-rock, that will pootle, Lake, and lower and upper Wilkeep off, forever, any encroachments lamette enter the great river. On the
which the river might make on a shore rightis the fertile Sauvie's Island; on the
of sand. The views from the town-site left the bottom-lands, belonging equalare beautiful-from the bench, just back, ly to Lake and Columbia rivers -each
magnificent. Game abounds in the vi- shore densely wooded with cottonwood,
cinity: black bear, deer, grouse, par- ash, and willow, while, at a distance of
tridges, and quail in the woods, and several miles back, on either side, we
trout in the streams. behold the fir-clad highlands. This con The country lying opposite St. Helen tinues, without variation, to the head of
is the finest on the lower Columbia. Sauvie's Island, where a group of small
The Cathlapootle, or Lewis River, rises islands, at the upper mouth of the Wilin Mount St. Helen, and, flowing south- lamette, give grace and variety to the
westwardly, falls into the Columbia op- river-view.
posite the town of St. Helen. This Passing the mouth of the Willamette,
river is a small and rapid stream, whose we find that we are actually passing the
waters are as pure, cold, and clear as foot of the Willamette Valley, and that
their mountain-springs. The valley of the flat country on the left extends all
the main or north fork of the Cathla- the way from the mouth of Lake River
pootle is a rich, warm tract of country, to the foot-hills of the Cascades; but,
producing excellent grain, fruit, vege- growing narrower as we near the mounttables, butter, and honey. It also raises ains, is but the continuation of tlie Wilstock for market, to a considerable ex- lamette Valley into Washington Territent. The road, or cattle - trail, from tory, according to the rule before noticed
the Willamette Valley to Puget Sound, for the tributaries of the Columbia.
passes up this valley for some little dis- Though this level country is now covtance. Annually, large numbers of cat- ered with timber, it must, from its altle and sheep are driven to a market, on luvial nature, when cleared, prove very
the Sound, by this trail, which, for want excellent farming land. That portion
of a suitable ferry from St. Helen across, of it nearest the river is subject to
is not much used for wagons. the annual overflow; but there is no
Another stream comes into the Co- difficulty in determining the limits of
lumbia, within the sixteenth of a mile of submersion, for, wherever the fir-tree
VOL. VIII.-I I.
1872.]
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