Viewing page 55 of 97

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

[[repeat of page 88]]

[[end page]]
[[start page]]

1
[[underline]] Past - second 99 [[\underline]]
[[underline]] Physical Description of the Columbia River Regions with General remarks [[\underline]]

A traveller approaching the coast near the mouth of the Columbia; or any portion of it from near Upper Mendocino south to Cape [[?Classet), must be struck by the appearance of the dense forests unbroken forests which with few exceptions cover the whole face of the country as visible from the sea.  The exceptions are some high mountains as far as [[?Rogers]] River which have not entirely lost the characteristic baldness of Californian scenery; and a few scattered spots which I shall more specially describe.
So general and complete is the dark [[strikethrough]] green [[\strikethrough]] covering of Cone bearing evergreens that it makes one of the principal differences between the Natural Regions of the Columbia River and those towards the south.  The mountainous character still pervades the whole country and the higher ranges even approach nearer the coast, their rough peaks forming landmarks visible far at sea.  But no rough craggy outlines or bare perpetual snow seems occupied by the gigantic vegetation.  We have then a Great Region as remarkable for its forests as California or Utah for their extensive plains, and will at first be astonished at such a sudden change, though we may find sufficient causes for it as we proceed to examine more closely into the natural productions, climate and influence of man's presence in it.