Show I Ogee Oregon's s 's M Mighty a Ss Hs' s' s Ou Ol r Empire t Into Oregon pour the products of ot the Inland Empire a region comprising comprising comprising com com- square miles in eastern east cast em ern n Oregon eastern Washington and northern Idaho The Columbia river and its tributary the Snake are the w waterway outlets for tor the products of field forest and mine Portland the Rose City is the capi capt capital tal of ot that empire On May 11 11 1792 Capt Robert Gray Glay sailed Into a broad river whist which he promptly named Columbia after alter the ship which had carried him from the east coast of the United States Stales down to the southern tip of ot South America and back up the Pacific Pa Pa- Pacific cHic coast In Captain Grays Gray's pockets were sea letters signed by Pres George Washington From that day history of the Oregon country and the Columbia river are one and the same Through Pres Thomas Jeffersons Jefferson's I efforts Lewis and Clark were commissioned commissioned com com- to explore the Oregon country in 1803 They reached the mouth of the Columbia which is 14 H miles mUes wide on Nov 11 11 1805 and built Fort a site near the present city of Astoria The Columbia provides Important I navigation facilities for more than I miles and the Snake provides l I still more channel for shipping |