The Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1834-184?, 1844-12-05
THE JOU RI AL.
The OREGON.

t Afohii
the West:
The prospect is quite good for a young
man to make a fortune in this country, as
all kinds of produce are high and likely to re-
main so, from the extensive demand. The
Russian settlements in Asia, the Sandwich
Islands, a great portion of California, and the
whaling vessels oflhe North west coast, pro-
cure their supplies from this place.
There is vet but little money in the coun-
iry, and the whole trade is carried on by or
ders on an agent or factor. For instance
when | sell my crop Of wheat, the purcha ser
/, asks me when ] wish to receive the pay-t
Vancouver is as yet the principal point, and
an order on that point enables the sellor 10
procure goods, or cattle or anything else Tor
IL.
The soil is excellent, wheat averaging
about thirty bushels per acre, peas thirty and
potaloes two hundred bushels; the face oil
the country is beautiful, with level prairles
cedars and frs behind, and next the grassy
hills with the snow mountains in the back
ground. Our claim is at the foot of the
hill, about fifty miles above the falls of WALL
lamette. Our house IS on a small eminence
overlooking the plain below Tor many miles.
On a hill near US We have the most beauil-
fui view the eye of man ever beheld-be-
hind US and on the right is the whole range
of the Cascade mountains-before us the
Calapoya mountains, and on the left the Ump-
euash mountains, with the beautiful valley of
the Willamette lying at you feet. The
grass remains green throughout the year, the
stocks are always fat; the horses are heardy
and beautiful. Some tribes OF Indians own
~ - - a = c. ,lo..ean1 ha4d
The population of this country consists
Of French sailors, mountain traders, mission
aries, and emigrants, for the states. The
French population consists OF old worn out
servants Of the Hudson Bay Company: they
universally have Indian wives, and many
children, some of whom are very handsome;
this part of the population are Catholics
The sailors are those who deserted, from yes
sells while lying on the coast, and have also
ntermarried with the Indians, and but few
OF them have embraced any ~religlon-they
are however generally good citizens. The
mount ain traders are similar to the sailor,
except that they have nearly all embraced
the Methodist or Catholic religion.
The citizens held a meeting some time
since, and unanimously adopted the statutes
GLOW territory for their code eflaws, until
the government of the United States should
make laws for them. There islitle .or no
crime in Oregon as yet, which Is attributed
10 the absence of spiriluous liquors and so
sensible are The citizens of this fact, thai
they are unanimoas in iavors excluding 1t.
In fact, DR.. Mclaughlin has several cargoes
in his warehouse now, which. he boughtIn
preforeuce 10 allowing it to be sold in the
country. | cannot speak too highly of this
excellent man for lis kindness TO US ALL
He sent several boats loaded with provisions
10 meetthe emigranis last Fall, and contin.
ned 10 distribute lille Injuries among US
as long as we remained in reach of him -he
is always on the look out for an opportunity
TO beslow his charity, aud bestows with nc
Eparing hand. His intention is TO quit tht
Hudson Bay Compay and become an Amer
lean citizen.
Our prairies are beautiful, soil good, ant
the best stock range | ever saw. | have
located and selected six sections OF land
which / can hold for one year By making
certain improvements thereon. which ilnten'
doing. | can stand in my door and see owe
all Of them. Every thing is plenty here bu
sells high. The prospects for industriou
young men are truly fattering. | do thinI
The six sections we {ia We now IN possession
are intrinsieally worth $4,000, that woul
be S5 per acre, and that is not near It's val
ne taking all things into consideration. III
situation for trade aud IS certain
ly better than any other country. The el
mate, soil. timber, wafer, health, the prt
ducts of the country, and the prospects {
good society, combined to make it delight
full. 1t would astonish you to see the stat
of society here-more hospitality and filent
ship, more morality, industry, and L do bt
lieve religion, than you viii see any wher'
There are a good many scattering indian
but nothing 10 be feared from them.
The Hudson Bay Company exceed,
reality, the high character they sustain
broad for benevolence and friendship.
settled in what is called Quality Plain
near to a small river of that name that heat
between the Willamette and Columbia, al
and can easily be made navigable near
where | live, emp,yiug into the ~allamett
at the falIs-The country does not admit Z
farming near the Columbia or Wallameti
on account ofa chain of mountains or hll
on their borders, for from six TO ten mill
vide, Though immensely tiinbered) until yt
get a good distance above the falls and the
the navigation is so difficult, thought
best to settle as near as | could 10 both ri
ers, in the most populous and popular pa
OF the country, where land will Ultimately |
very high, though | bad to 60 a little bac
from the river, as the land was all occupi'
nearer, that is, the river prairie situation
though there will be good timbered stu
ra,r ifanu cf Won Shouid ch0Os