Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1844-01-23
From the St. Louis Republican.
FROM OREGON.

iSuer from gentleman DeiOnSinS ~ III
Methodist mission in Oregon, fiom which W.
make the following extracts:
| am stationed at the Willamette Falls
4 This is 4 rather romantic spot, yet man.
things conspire 10 render it rather pleasan
than otherwise. Its advantages for waite
power are very little, if any, exceeded b,
those Of Rochester. The are at this place
now cooper's shop, two small stores cstab
lished this season, by two Americans named
Briggs One is 10 be permanent if circum
stances will justify. 1t is established by Mr.
Gushing, of Newburyport,Mass. | under
stand he takes deep interest in the affair:
of Oregon. We have two mission build
ings.
A saw mill is raised, and Touring mil
is in contemplation by milling company
! formed in the country for the purpose oflm
provement. The Hudson Bay Company
have two houses for their convenience. Sc
that we have quite village.
What of ,the climate, water, soil, timber
IN a word, of advantages and disadvanta-
ges of Oregon, and what encouragement does
the country hold out to emigran's? The
climate is milo, the summers generally fine,
though in the middle of the day rather warm.
The nights are cool, and very little rain in
summer. This summer, however, we have
been favored with some rain it has been DIFF
fcult TO secure the harvest; not much, how
ever, will be lost. This is prolific season
here; crops are very good.
There will probably be fifty or more thou
sand bushels of produce in the country this
year. Last year the Hudson Bay Company
shipped, probably 10000 bushels for the
Russian dominions and other places, at six
ty cents per blshel. The winters are gen.
orally rainy, though there is some pleasant
weather, sometimes little snow. Cattle,
however, keep fat all winter, without fodder
ing. This is destined to be one of the best
grazing countries in the world. There are
now large heads of cattle he. and more are
annually being driven from California. Beef
and pork are becoming abundant Beef 5
to cents per pound; pork 7 TO 10 cents,
wheat 60 cents to 81 ;peas about the same;
corn is scarce, 81 so per bushel. Garden
vegetables are also raised. Horses are num-
erous. know of no country where there
are so NANNY cattle and horses for the popu-
laton as in Oregon. Some Indians are said
to own $50 head Of horses.
This summer there have been six or
seven droves by my house to the settlement,
TO exchange for cattle. These are mostly
from the uper country. These Indians
,,,,n h. ..nL e.
are domestic animals, such as l have al
ready mentioned, and cats, dogs and hens:
no tame geese, or very few, though there
are thousa nds wild; also the swan, balc
and grey eagle, vulture, buzzard, the crow
of different kinds, fish-hawk, hen-hawk
pigeon-hawk, owl, black bird, robin, wren
aud various kinds Of other birds; some oil
which have never seen in the States
We have the elk, deer raccoon, wilk cat
wolf, squirrels Of different kinds, rats
[bush ta!) mice, moles, beaver, otter
muskrat, mink, weasel, snakes, rattle
snakes, in some places, adder, lizards
creeping and flying locusts orvarious kind;
and colors. Water is abundant and good
The streams are generally clear a:
chryslal; some, which rise in the noun
tains Of perpetual snow, are cold all sum
mer. There are several snow mountain:
in view from almost every point, ant
greatly, in my opinion, add to the beauty
and grandeur Of the county. The sol
is generally good; some loan mixed will
clay, some sandy. gravelly, red soil: al
produce very we'll so far as they hav'
been tried Wheat is sowed here from
year to year. One man, it is said, ha
raised seven or eight crops of wheat il
succession from the same ground, and tn
last is said to have been the best, and al
were good. Ii is frequently the case, tina
when wheat shells considerably in harvest
ing, what falls is left on the ground an
the next season a good crop is realized
know Of no country where man cal
make farm easier than in Oregon, o
where he can live easier.
Mills are rather scarce, though the pros
pect is increasing favorably. There ar
no regularly laid out roads; and the gene
raj mode Of travelling is on horseback, o
by canoes. The prospect of Commercial
intercourse with the Sandwich Islands ar,
destined to he to the western world, wha
the West Indies are to the United States
We obtain sugar and molasscs from these
nearly, or quite as cheap as they can b
afforded in the States. 1t is only abou
sixty days sail to China, and fifteen o
twenty TO the Islands.
Slauery. This has existed from tim
immcmorial. The stronger tribes make
J war on the weaker, take prisoners and en-
, slave them. These are frequently take
TO other parts of the country, and are sol
TO other tribes. Such has been the cas-
, this week. A large party of the Clamot
; tribe, fierce and warlike, from the South
came in with about twenty slaves, and sol
mos, or all Of Them. Some was Informed
were sold for three horses each--sonl
cheaper. Slaves are not considered fill
: cum. that is, people, but as dogs. The
! do the principal part Of The work and III
J drugery, and when they die, are cast OF
, among the bushes without burial, and ar
, generally devoured by wild beasts. Henc
human bones are scattered far and wilde
: and are numerous in some parts of tn
: country. Slaves are generally as well @
: better clad than their masters. and as t
food, fare equally well; but the ephheteit
: -s!ave-;s fixed upon them, never or Sc
! l.