New-York daily tribune., 1844-04-05
VOL. IEs. NO. 500.
Oregon and California.

States from Oregon, via California, the city OF Mex
leo and Vera Cruz. was fihe party that left the
United States for Oregon in the spring Of 1912.
Upon arriving here, | iud very great interest man.
iies'ed by many OF our citizens III reference 10 those
countries; have therefore thought that il mi2 hi not
only be proper, but perhaps it might be duty III
cumbent upon me 10 stale some facts within my
knowledge, especially in reference to those of the
TO which many Of our cnterprizng and valuable citi-
zens are annually emigrating.
Much has recently been written in reference TO
Oregon; il is therefore, perhaps only necessary for
state the present condition OF that country, and
to refer those interested 10 the Report Of Lieutenant
Wilkes, the Report of Dir. White, Indian Agent in
Oregon aud the Travels Of Mr.. Farnham, for the
details.
Iarrived in Oregon on the 9TH day OF October,
1912, with party of l60 persons. ] spent the Win
Ter principally at the Falls of The WaIlammette.-
During the Winter the question in reference to an
organization e,vas fully discussed; many were in
favor OF an independent government, but the ajoritv
were favorable TO government dependent upon, and
subject to, the control of the Uuited States for a
limited time-fvc years, perhaps-when if the L.
States bad not extended her jurisdiction 10 that
country, they favorable 10 declaring themselves
Independent not only oi the United States but OF
all powers of the world. This discussion resulted
III determination to organize government subject
the control the u States; and in the Spring fol-
lowing, IN accordance with that determination, an
organization took place. The various ofilcerS were
e!ected-a Supreme Judge, members of the Legisla-
ture, Sheris, Justices olthe Peace, Consiabes, and
the different secretaries and prothonotaries. They
elected no Executive, consequently Their government
must be very neliicGcious. Their Legislature was
convened in the Spring OF l843, and when left
they had government in full operation. This
seems not 10 sustain the conclusion which Lieut..
Wilkes arrives 'When there he says made
particular enquiries whether laws were necessary
for their protection and am fully satisfied that
they require none ut present besides the moral code il
is their duty to incucate" 1t is true that the ''moa
code" which is the dulv OF man every where 10 IN
cuca,e, might be substituted for civil code, not
only in Oregon, but throughout the world, were man
governed bv sense OF duty TO his God and TO his
ielow-man ; but all experience seems 10 prove that
civil code is necsseryto enforce that "moral code
No more can be expected from Oregon in this re-
spect than from the residue OF the world.
When ! lett that country, Improvements were
rapidly progressing at the Falls Of the Waammeue;
two saw-mills were erected. of which was IN
operation; Touring mills were IN contemplation.
the frame OF ono Of which was completed; there were
three stores and another has since been estahshed
in all there were about thirty buildings. This Is
a very favorable site Tor town. The doctor Me
il is called 'Oregon City. As yet this is the only
town in the territory with the exception of that in
connection with FIT. Nancouvre. Dr. Mclaughlin
has expended very considerable amount OF money
at Oregon City presume not less than seven or
eight thousand dollars. Alter having surveyed tins
site, he permitted all persons who wished To do so,
to TAX. gratutously as many lots as they would
bald upon aud improve. Ii is not true some have
staled ;hat the Doctor claims preference night
10 that property bY virtue oi any supposed right
or claim oil Great Britain 10 hut territory. What
ever claim preference he has, he claims to acquire
by virtue of the clam snd laws OF lie United States.
The gentlemen of The Hudson's Bay Company are
doing every thing in their powerEto encourage and
iiclitare cmigration and 10 advance improvements
throughout the country. OF this fact Lieut.. Wilkes
bears testimony. They hc SAYS afforded lis
every assistance that in their power both IN
supplies and means Ia accomplish our duties. There
are many persons in The country who bear testimony
IN the AID and kindness rendered them in their out
set: and OF their hospitality IL is needless 10 speak.
for il has become proverbial. The party 10 which
| belonged, upon arriving III HE country received
more attention from these gentlemen than they would
have done at home. Df Mclaughlin kindly proller
ed 10 render them any assistance i'll his power. Ol
the aid OF the Doctor the people very happy 10
avail themselves, without which they would have
been unable To have protected themselves against The
oi the approaching winter.
left Oregon for California on the 3Oth day OF
Nav, 1913, with II party ol 53 persons we arrived
in California on the 10th day OF July following
few facts III reference 10 California may bc deemed
of some Importance, as many OF our ciuzens are ~
so emigrating To that delightful country.
Upper California. of which | speak, is bounded
on the East bv the Rocky Mountains, on The South
bv Lower California and Sonora, on the West ~
The Pacific Ocean, and on the North by Oregon, ttne
l2d degree OF n. lalitude The appearance OF thi5
country is really attractive. There Is an elevated
range of country Immediately on the coast; Tins
section of country is, however. interspersed wltn
beautiful and most fertile valleys, OF rather limited
extent Immediately East al tins range oil elevated
lands is vast plain, averaging from ~ 10 lou ics
in width from East TO West, and extending Inc
whole extent of the country from North 10 South
This plain extends from the high lands on the coast
Ia = range of mountains in the interior. II Is be-
vond a doubt one of the most fertile sections oi
country in the world, producing oats, clover, ana
iiaX spontaneously i'll great abundance, ana Q, an
excellent quality. Ii Is generally covered win
Kind of short fine grass, o, which cattle and horses
are very fond The oats, in many parts q this val
'ey or PLAIN are found FIVE SIX feel IN hight. ne
clover generally grows about two or three ieet hish
4 yerv much resembles our common red ana Wnile
clover. The flax is OF an excellent qualify lhs
soil of all this valley is generally black, deepVeS
etabe loam; that of the hills and mountains Is uSu'
ally light brown loan or vegetable eaTth. Inc
sub-so is generally gravel and sand, or unctuou$
clav Immediately al the Eastward OF this range OF
is another valley, OF more limited extent
but equal in fertility ha, Just described IhiS Is
also bounded on the East by another range oi noun
tains, 10 the Eastward OF which there is also anoth
cr valley Of considerably extent, which is also very
fertile. These valleys all run parallel with the
coast. so also do the ranges OF mountains. all oi
which are spurs of the Rocky Mountains.
The principal grain grown in California as yet Is
wheat, which is raised in great abundance through,
ou, the whole country The average crop, IN good
seasons is said 10 be from 80 90 bushels per acre.
or 10 bushel OF sowing. was informed by seHe-
raj respectable that there had been one instance
within their own knowledge OF a farmers receiving
1873 bushels 10 one of sowing the next year. without
sowing, from spontaneous growth, upon The same