CHAPTER XXVII.
FORESTS, AND LUMBERING.
In Oregon, the forests are found almost exclusively on the mountains. Along the margins of streams there is usually a belt of timber a quarter of a mile in breadth. On the Columbia, this belt, even on the low grounds, is wider; but as there is a range of highlands of considerable elevation extending from the mouth of this river to and beyond its passage through the Cascade Mountains, with only occasional depressions, there is a great body of timber within reach of tide-water.
The base of the Coast Mountains on the west comes within two to six miles of the sea, and frequent spurs reach quite to the beach, forming high promontories. From the coast to the eastern base of the Coast Mountains, is a distance of from twenty to thirty miles. Allowing for the margin of level land toward the sea, and for openings among the foot-hills on the eastern side, here is an immense bod}^ of forest lands extending the whole length of the State, from north to south.
Again, the Cascade Range has a base from east to west of about forty miles, including the foot-hills. All the western side of this range is densely wooded, making another great supply of timber. The eastern side, having an entirely different climate, does not support the same heavy growth of trees.
