nate at the summit of the main range, or some lateral spur.
But from the east side of the mountains, as the plain of the river DeChutes is much higher than that of the Willamette, and from the dryness of the country, the sides of the mountains are either bold, or sparsely timbered with pine without undergrowth, it is not difficult to reach the top. Once on the summit of the ridge, as the whole country below will be in view, and as every stream or valley will lead to the foot of the mountain, there can be little difficulty in choosing the most favorable descent. That a road may be found over the Cascade mountains, near mount Jefferson, is made still more probable from the observations of Capt. Fremont, in the winter of 1843, while traveling up the river DeChutes (see his journal, p. 119), speaking of the Cascades, he says, "A small trail takes off through the prairie, towards a low point in the range, and perhaps there is here a pass into the Willamette valley." The same evening, he finds his camp to be in latitude, 45 deg. 2 min. 45 sec, and longitude, 125 deg. 2 min. 43 sec, being a due east course, and not exceeding 100 miles from the town of Salem. Taking into account the length of the valley of the Santiam, and the opposite branch of the river DeChutes, but a small part of this distance can be timber.
When we take into consideration the excellence of the mills at Salem, its literary Institution, the cheapness and abundance of provisions in its vicinity, and its central position in regard to the rest of the Territory, its advantages to the emigrant as the terminus of the road from the United States, must be obvious.
The failure of Dr. White's enterprise left the large emigration of 1 845, to find their way into the Willamette valley by the usual means; the supply of boats being wholly inadequate to their speedy conveyance down the Columbia and the stock of provisions failing at the Dalles, famine, and a malignant disease at the same time raging amongst them, a scene of human misery ensued which scarcely has a parallel in history—the loss of life and property was enormous.
