Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1845-09-20
FROM OREGON.
Extract of II Letter, dated


DEAR SIR-l have but little time 10 write.
arrived at Oregon City, on the 10Th Of
November last, with my family. We were
two months longer on the trip'rhan cott4pt-
MES usually have been in CONSEQUENCE of
the extremely wet spring and fall. We had
tedious and tresome trip; but think we
will be well paid torour trouble; we are in
The best country have ever seen for fatr,.
ing and stock raising. The green grass,
similar to the blue grass Of the states. is
now some SIX inches high; stock of no de.
>crplion have to be fed during the year,
1t is the finest country for raising hogs |
have ever seen. The prairie portion Of the
country, which is The largest half, is cover.
ed with the cammus, and the wet places,
many Of them, have large quantities of the
wappatoo; which roots are as fine feed for
hogs as corn. The hogs grow large and
get very fat. We have the finest OF Irish
and Berkshire hogs here, brought by the
Hudson's Bay Company. and are stocking
the country very fast. The country is bet
ter than an! other in 1Erth America
There is scarcely any sickness here. Nv
family are healthier than thew ever were
before. My wife has fine health. and
weighs heavier than she has for some fl.
teen years. Mary Ann, who, you know.
never had any health, has now very fine
health. have got entirely clear of the
dyspePsy, and can do more hard labor than
have for fifteen years.
have settled in the Willamette valley,
some forty miles, above Oregon CITY, on Il
little river called the Rckerall. on the west
side Of the Willamette. in the pre,lies,
country | ever saw for farming and stock
'aisng. am now breaking prairie to sow
spring wheat. shall put in some forty
acres, which vii! produce this season some
90 bushels per acre; the second crop wall
produce 40 or so bushels per acre, wheE
sowed in the fall. There was raised in this
nelghborhood, last season, So bushels per
acre. The average crop Of wheat in the
country is 40 bushels, and have no DOUBT
when well cultivated, it will exceed that
The average weight per busheI, is Ga lbs.
We have as fine flour us | ever saw in anv
country. There is no rust or blasted wheat
in consequence OF the dryness Of the sum.
mer.
DR.. Mclaughlin has a merchant mill at
the falls OF the Willamette, with three run
of stones, and can manufacture loo barrels
Of flour in "a hours. There is also a Com.
pany mill at the sane place, which does
very fine business. There is a good mill in
every section OF country where the settle
ment will justify the building. We have
no difficulty in getting breadsIutf.
From the best Information ] have Of the
country, it is large enough to make some 3
or good states. The Indians are harm
less, with the exec plion of stealing some
little things, which they think all right.
DR.. Mclaughlin, who has charge of fort
Nancouvre, and is governor of the Hudson
Bay Company IN the west, has treated the
two last emgrations with a great deal of
kindness. He has furnished them with
boats to bring their families, goods, wagons.
&c. down the Columbia, some 100 miles,
and up the Willamette, to Oregon CIV,
which is about 80 miles, without charge for
the use OF the boats, and let all the fami-
lies have provisions on a credit of twelve
months, 10 do them until they can procure
provisions otherwise. He has also loaned
all that wished 10 borrow seed. wheat, and
charges them six bushels on the hundred,
until they can raise crops.
Families wishing to move to this country
should leave independence by the 18th Of
April, if they possibly can, in consequence
of the fall rains in Oregon. believe the
distance will be shortened, by a new route.
some 800 miles, and better road obtain
ed. All emigrants should have light wag.
ons, plenty OF provisions, as little bedding
as will do, plenty of clothing, shoes, boots,