Page:History of Oregon Literature.djvu/182

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156
HISTORY OF OREGON LITERATURE

as can be determined by local contributors and all dealing with the Oregon country as it was in that long ago beginning period, have been taken from Volume 1, 1846–1847. This was the period when W. G. T'Vault, H. A. G. Lee and George L. Curry were editors, and of the editorless numbers when John Fleming, the printer, probably carried on. Regardless of their varying stands on the issue of the day that cost them their heads, they followed a common policy of preserving the paper's purely literary flavor. We have and hold the literature in gratitude, even if it was only a condition that made these editors wise—if it was scarcity of exchanges and boiler-plate that caused the hospitality of all three towards local poets and writers. Perhaps H. A. G. Lee should be placed a little ahead of the rest for his idea of using as filler the material from the Repository of the Falls Association.

1

The Willamette River

From Oregon Spectator, Vol. 1, No. 2, Oregon City, February 19, 1846. W. G. T’Vault, Editor

It will probably be interesting to many, and particularly so to those who anticipate visiting Orego... some future time... know somethin... the Willamette, the Great Fall... which are no... rapidly coming into notice, an... learn somethin... the many cities that are springing u... the neighborhoo... the most important water privilege wes... the Rocky Mountains. The Willametter river takes its ris... the California mountains... abou... degree... north latitude... s cours... nearly north, winding through beautiful fertile prairies, now and then skirte... lofty forest... fir, pine, and cedar, receiving many considerable tributaries bot... the