CHAPTER XI. CONCLUSION. ALTHOUGH it is not the intention to enter on the thorny paths of political controversy, yet, in accordance with the objects of this work, it may be expected that some notice should be taken of the geographical relations and consequent comparative value of the different parts of the Oregon territory in connection with the propositions that have been made for the settlement of the dispute by the parties concerned. It is much to be wished that such considerations entered more frequently into treaties respecting boundary lines, and that they were not so commonly formed according to mere temporary or extraneous interests; or, as if to save the trouble and thought such a course would require, and forgetful of the abiding character of the geographical, i. e., the natural features of a country, by running an arbitrary line across the map, severing, as is almost certain to be the case, interests most closely connected by nature, and reducing, if not entirely destroying, the value of perhaps otherwise important tracts of country. Such a line on the east of the Rocky Mountains now separates the sources of the northern tributaries of the Missouri from their mouths, and consequently from all connection with that river; while with still stranger perversity it cuts off not only the Moose River from the main stream of the Assiniboin, but far the more considerable portion of the Red River from their united waters, which fall into Lake Winnipeg-an example forcibly illustrative of the absurdity of a system which it is desired to perpetuate in the west, and which, if carried out, would be followed by perhaps even greater inconveniences and inconsistencies. As an illustration of this, it may be observed that the value of water power, which is more frequently found on the head-waters of the tributaries of the larger rivers, is, especially if used for sawing, entirely dependent on the facility which the streams themselves afford for carrying the produce of the mills to market. This every one who has travelled in America must be fully aware of. In such cases, therefore, the cutting off the upper waters of a stream from the lower by a boundary line must neutralize any advantage to be derived from their possession; and if, as is most probable, the floods which some years since did so much damage in the Red River district were caused by the overflowing of the Missouri into the Moose River, it is easy to conceive that hereafter, on the occurrence of such a calamity, it might cause a collision of interests, one party desiring that the surplus waters should find an outlet in that direction, and the other naturally anxious that they should be kept in their proper channel. It may be concluded, from the description already given of the Oregon territory, that Sir George Simpson's opinion, as expressed in the account given by him in his letter to Sir Henry Pelly on the renewal of the Hudson's Bay Company's charter, respecting the state of the country at that time, and which has been printed by order of parliament with the other papers relating to it, is substantially correct, viz., that the only part of it north of the Columbia at present valuable for any purpose except the fur trade is between that river and Frazer's, including, of course, the lands surrounding Admiralty Inlet, Puget's Sound, &c. In this tract is contained all the land in the country fit for cultivation, the more northern parts of New Caledonia affording little else but mountain and flood, rock and water; and although they may hereafter support a hardy population similar to that of other highland districts, they offer no advantages to tempt the settler, and must ever be in a great measure dependent on the more favoured districts to the south, where we have seen fertile land of every description is not wanting, whether rich arable, as on the coast district, or abundant pasture on the plains, not to mention the tobacco to be found on the more elevated table-lands, the heavy growth of the forests, or the universality of edible roots. Already exporting, as it does, a considerable quantity of the produce of the soil, its fertility is beyond doubt; and although there may be disputes as to its comparative amount-whether we, with Mr. Wilkes, esteem it more fertile by three times than the United States, or with others, consider it less so than Canada-there can be none as to its capabilities for supporting a large population in ease and comfort, with the enjoyment of every necessary, and not a few of the luxuries of life. It has been remarked, also, that the maritime advantages of the country are concentered in the Strait of Juan de Fuca and Admiralty Inlet; and that Puget's Sound, from its contiguity to the Columbia by the Cowelitz, and to Gray's Bay by Assiniboin, but far the more considerable portion of the Red River from their united waters, which fall into Lake Winnipeg-an example forcibly illustrative of the absurdity of a system which it is desired to perpetuate in the west, and which, if carried out, would be followed by perhaps even greater inconveniences and inconsistencies. As an illustration of this, it may be observed that the value of water power, which is more frequently found on the head-waters of the tributaries of the larger rivers, is, especially if used for sawing, entirely dependent on the facility which the streams themselves afford for carrying the produce of the mills to market. This every one who has travelled in America must be fully aware of. In such cases, therefore, the cutting off the upper waters of a stream from the lower by a boundary line must neutralize any advantage to be derived from their possession; and if, as is most probable, the floods which some years since did so much damage in the Red River district were caused by the overflowing of the Missouri into the Moose River, it is easy to conceive that hereafter, on the occurrence of such a calamity, it might cause a collision of interests, one party desiring that the surplus waters should find an outlet in that direction, and the other naturally anxious that they should be kept in their proper channel. It may be concluded, from the description already given of the Oregon territory, that Sir George Simpson's opinion, as expressed in the account given by him in his letter to Sir Henry Pelly on the renewal of the Hudson's Bay Company's charter, respecting the state of the country at that time, and which has been printed by order of parliament with the other papers relating to it, is substantially correct, viz., that the only part of it north of the Columbia at present valuable for any purpose except the fur trade is between that river and Frazer's, including, of course, the lands surrounding Admiralty Inlet, Puget's Sound, &c. In this tract is contained all the land in the country fit for cultivation, the more northern parts of New Caledonia affording little else but mountain and flood, rock and water; and although they may hereafter support a hardy population similar to that of other highland districts, they offer no advantages to tempt the settler, and must ever be in a great measure dependent on the more favoured districts to the south, where we have seen fertile land of every description is not wanting, whether rich arable, as on the coast district, or abundant pasture on the plains, not to mention the tobacco to be found on the more elevated table-lands, the heavy growth of the forests, or the universality of edible roots. Already exporting, as it does, a considerable quantity of the produce of the soil, its fertility is beyond doubt; and although there may be disputes as to its comparative amount-whether we, with Mr. Wilkes, esteem it more fertile by three times than the United States, or with others, consider it less so than Canada-there can be none as to its capabilities for supporting a large population in ease and comfort, with the enjoyment of every necessary, and not a few of the luxuries of life. It has been remarked, also, that the maritime advantages of the country are concentered in the Strait of Juan de Fuca and Admiralty Inlet; and that Puget's Sound, from its contiguity to the Columbia by the Cowelitz, and to Gray's Bay by |