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Show Till: CIATI..1.MAI. JMstrEKSUIT. Oa the lllli of May, 179:, the ship "Columbia" entered the great river which llow Into the Northern Paclflo ocean. Captain Oray gave tbe name of lila ship to the new discovery, and bmcowe hare the Columbia rlrar, famed forlts salmon and It beauty. On Wednesday last, the centennial annl veraary f this discovery, tho people of Aitorla, Oregon, commemorated tbo event with due ceremonies eod solemnities. solemn-ities. Aitorla Is tha olJeit town In the northwest coast. II dates back to IS1I, when John Jacob Aator established a trading post at the mouth cf the Columbia river which was called Aatorla lu honor of the great fur-dealer and peddkr. Tho place lias an Interesting history. Washington Irving' "Astoria" will repay peruaal. It la a story of pioneer llfoof thrilling Interest. Ureat llrltaln obtained posaeialon of thla Territory In 1S12, and It remaleel Ilrltlsli soil until 1811, when Oregon and Washington were proclklmed United Htatrd property. Tbe Ilrltlsli fur-traders then moved further north. In 1819 a Federal cuatoru liouae waa established, and Astoria oon became a thriving little town. It population at preaent li about 10,000. The people not alone of thla town, but of the whole coast paid due honors to the Plymouth Hock annlveraaryof the Paclllc. |