mi
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 moun
tains 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 Wil
lamette 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 posi
tion 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 emi
gration of 1 845, to find their way into the Willamette val
ley 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.
