54 LIEUTENANT HOWISON REPORT ON OREGON, 1846
before reaching- the settlements, and, to the regret of all, this praiseworthy and troublesome experiment did not succeed.
There has been nothing valuable in mineralogy yet discov- ered. Coal had been found in the northeastern portion of Vancouver's island, and the British war-steamer Cormorant visited the mine and procured some of it, which was found to be of fair quality. A systematic exploration of our own terri- tory would doubtless bring to light much valuable information on this subject.
With respect to defences, the subject is too comprehensive to be more than hinted at here. Cape Disappointment may be rendered impregnable, and will command the river so long as the channel passes where it does; but I cannot suppose the government will commence works of defence anywhere, with- out a special reconnoissance by military engineers had first been made of the premises. It may be proper, however, to report that Cape Disappointment is now "claimed" by Mr. Peter Skeen Ogden, a chief factor of the Hudson's Bay Company. He purchased the "claim" from an American named Wheeler, giving him a thousand dollars for it, and is now putting up a warehouse there. Point Adams, the southern point of the river's mouth, and nearly five miles from the cape, is low and sandy, and of course not so susceptible of defence as the other side ; nor is there safe anchorage in its neighborhood during the winter season. The cape, Tongue point, both sides of the Wil- hammette falls, a site at the Cascades, and one at the Dalles, are points on the rivers prominently presenting themselves for reservation by the government, should it design to reserve anything.
Nisqually, and perhaps other places on the sound and coast, are not less distinctly marked by nature as eligible sites for forts or future towns. I have omitted Astoria from this list, as the isthmus of Tongue point, within three miles of it, is every way better situated for a business settlement, being acces- sible to ships from sea of equal draughts of water, having more spacious anchorage ground, and subject to less tide. A snug
