Show Or egons hi mighty lighty columbia Is outlet for vast empire into oregon pour the products ol of the inland empire a re region gion comi comprising square miles in eastern oregon eastern washington and northern idaho the columbia river and its tributary the snake are the waterway outlets ets for or the products of held field orest fores it and mine portland the rose city is the capital of 0 that empire on may 11 1792 capt robert gray sailed into a broad river which he promptly named columbia atter after the ship which had carried him from the east coast ol of the united states down to the southern tip of so south u th america and back up the pacific coast in captain grays pockets were sea letters signed by pres george washington from that day on the history of the oregon country and the columbia river are one and the same through pres thomas jeffers efforts lewis and dark clark were c cj to explore the ore country in 1803 they reached mouth of the columbia aich which it i miles wide on nov 11 1805 built fort gassol a site ne near 3 r i q present city of astoria I 1 an fn T the h e C columbia ol 01 um b i a p provides r ovi d es i import m P or A 1 na navigation vi g al io n fa facilities c i liti e s tor 0 r m more 0 r e i i 1 l miles and the snake provi still more channel tor for git kc ilk |