Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1844-01-18
From, Oregon.

letter from gentleman belonging to ihe Meth
odist mission in Oregon, from which we make
the following extracts: ST.. L,iuls Repuh.
I am stationed at the Willemerie Falls. This
is rather romantic spot. yet many things con-
spire 10 render il rather pleasant than other
wise. It's advantages for water power are very
lu,le, if any, exceeded by those oi Rochester
There are al this place now cooPefs shop'
two small stores established This season, by TWO
Americans named Briggs. One Is 10 be per-
manent if circumstances will justify. II Is es-
ahshed by Mr.. Gushing. of Newburypori,
Mass. | understand he lakes a deep interest
in the affairs of Oregon. We have Two mis-
sion buildings
A saw mill is raised. and Touring mill is !
in contemplation by amIlng company, formed
in The country for the purpose oi improvement
The Hudson Bay Company have two houses
for their convenience So that we have quite
village.
What Of the climate, waller. soil, tlnber-lD
"A word. advantages and disadvantages OF Ore
eon. and what encourae cement does The coun-
lrv hold out to emigrans The climate Is mild,
the summers generally fine, though in The mid
die of the day rather warm The nights are
summer, however, we have been favored with
some rain; ii has heen difficult to secure The
harvest; moi much, however, will be lost. This
is a prolific season here; crops are very good
There will probably be fifty or more thous-
and bushels of produce in the country this year.
Last year The Hudson Bay Company shipped,
probably 10000 bushels for the Russian do
mnons and other places. al sixty cents per
busheI. The winters are generally rainy, tho
there is some pleasant weather. sometimes
li,le snow CauIe, however, keep fat all win
ter, without iodderng. This is destined 10 be
one Of ihe best grazing countries in the world.
There are now large herds of cattle here, and
more are annually heing driven from Califor-
MIA Beef and pork are becoming abundant
Beef 10 cents per pound pork TO 10 cls.
wheat 60 cents 10 81; peas about the same ;
corn is scarce, ST 10 81 50 per bushel. Gar
den vegetables are also raised. Horses are Rn-
merous. | know of no country whore there
are so many cattle and horses for The popula-
tion as in Oregon Some Indians SAID 10
own l50 head of horses.
! This summer there have been six or seven
droves by my house 10 the settlement. To ex-
change for calle. These mostly from the
upper country. These lndians will soon be
! rch in cattle, &c. There are domestic AMI
mails, such as | have already mentioned, and
cats, dogs, and hens; no lame geese, or very
! few; though there are thousands wild; also the
swan, bald and gray eagle, vuliure, buzzarc. the
crow of different kinds, fish hawk, hen-hawk,
pigeon hawk ow, black bird robin, wren, aud
various kinds of other birdsi some of which
have never seen in the States. We have the
| elk deer, bear, panther, Iox, raccoon. wild cat,
wolf squirrels of different kinds, rats, (bushy
! tall mice, noles, beaver, olier, muskrar, mink,
weasel, snakes, rarte-snakes in some places,
adder lizards, and creeping and flying locusIs
! of various kinds and coiors. w aler Is abund-
an, and good.
! The streams are generally clear as cryslalj
some, which rise In The MOUNTAINS OF perpetual
snow. are cold all summer There are several
snow mountains III view from almost every point
and greatly. III my opnon, add TO the beauty
OF The country The soil Is generally good;
some dark loan mixed with clay, some sandy,
sravely, red soil; all productive very well so
lar as they have been tried. Wheat is sowed
here from year to year One man, 1t is said,
has raised seven or eight crops OF wheat In sue
cesson from the same ground, aud the last Is
i said lo have been The best, aud all were good.
Itis frequently the case, that when wheat shells
/ considerably IN harvesting, villa; falls is left on
| the ground and the next season good crop Is
realized. know of 40 country where man
can make farm easier than in Oregon, or
" re he can live easier.
Mills are rather scarce, though the prospec,
is increasingly favorable. There are no regu-
IarIy laid out reads; and the general mode OF
travelling is ca horseback, or by canoes. The
prospect OF commercial intercourse with the
+! Sandwich Island, and China is good The
Sandwich Islands are destined to be the wes-
tern world, what the West lndes are Ia the U.
States. We obIain sugar and molasses from
these, nearly, or quite cheap as they can be
afforded i'll the States. Ii Is only aboal sixty
days sail To- China, and fifteen or twenty to the
| Islands
Slavery. This has existed from time imme'
mortal. The stronger tribes make war on lhs
weaker, take prisoners, and euslave them
These are frequently taken To other parts ei
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