Oregon Historical Quarterly/Volume 25/Notes and Comment

NOTES AND COMMENT

During the month of July the Dominion of Canada (Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada) set up and officially dedicated a tablet on the shore of Friendly Cove in Nootka Sound on the West coast of Vancouver Island in commemoration of the historic events which took place in that, the first chartered harbor of common resort in connection with the discovery and exploration of the Northwest Coast of America. A steamer, especially chartered, carried a party of government officials and guests from Victoria to Nootka Sound for this purpose. Hon. F. W. Howay, who is an honorary member of the Oregon Historical Society, is a member of this official board and took a prominent part in the dedication.

During the last year careful research has been made for the location of the exact spot where Alex. MacKenzie, the explorer, reached the waters of the Pacific Ocean in the year 1792, and thus established the prior rights of the English to the country now designated as British Columbia. Success has attended this effort and the report is that the actual inscription on the rocky side of Bentinct Arm, an inlet of the ocean, has been found. The Historic Sites and Monument Board of Canada intend to cut the letters of this inscription in the solid rock and fill them in with red cement to permanently identify this historic spot. The persistence and care of the people of Canada in this preservation of their history is an example to be followed by their neighbors to the southward.

The Salt Cairn at Seaside, Oregon. Interest is growing in the proper marking and preservation of the site where Lewis and Clark in the winter of 1805-6 provided themselves with salt for their use and health by boiling water from the ocean. The story of this incident is of exceeding interest and value. Many years ago the Oregon Historical Society, as trustee for the State, acquired a deed to a lot 100 feet square, which is situated within one-half block of the ocean front or boulevard of the fine residence portion of the city of Seaside. It has been in a state of neglect but recently one of the public spirited business men of the city has caused to be erected a temporary wooden fence, and the street in front has been paved and sidewalked, and a fine flag pole has been erected and signs placed indicating the location. Recently a committee of the Oregon Historical Society have visited Seaside with a view of causing more permanent improvement of the lot to be made in the name of the Society, which will include a restoration of the cairn, as far as possible, and placing of a permanent stone wall around it.

Fort Astoria. The ladies of the D. A. R. at Astoria met informally for a social picnic at the site of the old Lewis and Clark Fort Clatsop the last week in July, and are planning a formal meeting at Astoria in October on the date commemorative of when Commissioner J. B Prevost took over the fort and raised the American flag in October, 1818. The Clatsop County Historical Society are to join in this celebration.

Fort Vancouver. The year 1925 will be commemorative of the removal of the headquarters of the Hudson's Bay Company from Astoria to Vancouver, on the north side of the Columbia river. The Washington State Historical Society, with headquarters at Tacoma, is planning to erect a monument or marker of some kind near the site of the original Fort Vancouver, and to dedicate it with fitting exercises. The Oregon Historical Society has been invited to assist in the dedication, but no date has yet been fixed.