The New York herald., 1845-12-03
(Fcom the Independence Express, Nov. l7tb.l


(FSom the Independence Express, Nov i7tbl
Overland Mail from Oregon--ArrivaI OF DIR.
White, direct from oregom-spsciai Mes
ssngers to the Z. ). Congress-Throu.h h
Ninety Days.
We had the pleasure on Saturday evening last
of taking by the hand our old friend, Dr. Elijah
White, sub agent OF Indian Affairs for the Terr.-
OF only three men, Messrs. Chapman, Brown and
Saxion, uil claiming TO be citizens OF Willamette
Two OF whom, Oras Brown and Charles Saxton had
accompanied hlm some time previously, on in,e-
resting and Important exploring expedition, the re-
suits OF which Will soon come before the public Of
fcialy.
They left the beach OF the Pacific on the Both Of
July, some forty miles from the Umqua river, and
arrived III the Colony about the 10th of August t.
Ihey found the Legislature in session at Oregon
City, and DIR. White being officially requested to
bear memorial and petition emanating from that
body and slgn@d unanimously by them-also by the
Judge OF the Territory and Executive Commi,ee-
to the Congress OF the United States, lett on the
10th. They arrived at Fort Vancouver on the 18th,
the Dallrs OF the Columbia the 10Th, and on the
23d proceeded on their journey.
DIR. White has found time in the following letter,
to answer our inquiries, IN part touching the pros
poets and political condition of the new territory
He is now on his way TO Washington, the bearer
OF memorial to Congress, from all classes of citi-
zens in Oregon-Amercans, English, French, and
hali-breeds-asking for the extension OF the author
ity and government OF the United States over that
u.
dressed to the care Of the Missouri delegation. and
will, Of course, not be made known until presented
TO Congress.
DIR. White heard Of Lieut. Fremonts party to the
south OF tort Laramie, all well.
ST. Loun, Nov. %. IslS.
SIR received with pleasure your polite note of in
qury regarding Oregon from the consideration of the
interest you have manifested in favor of that ne
distant and interesting part of WIDE domain and am
most happy to assure you, and through you, tho good
citizens OF st. Louis and Missouri generally, who have
10 into fbat
aside from some nconvenie for the want of crcu.
latng medium or the establishment of proper CONNER
forward most vigorously and prosperorsly so
the accumulation OF property is concerned know of
ed themselves in the valley of the Willamette; nor do
know OF any like population uniformly pleased with
the country OF their adoponnOne, sir OF the SOBER
Industrious and intelligent part of our cheerful little
colony, but are greatly pleased with Oregon and its
prospects uniformly entoliing the climate soil scenery,
from residence OF nine years in That delightful valley
assure you know OF no country possessing mild.
equable salubrious and agreeable climate nor coun
try OF such varied and beautiful scenery no one of such
certainty or uniformity Of all kinds OF crop peculiar to
such latitude save Indian corn, which tho gh
tain from The uniformity OF cool nights does not in
growth yield more than an average New ngsnd crop.
Nor do know Of country pc ssessing such
purity of water. or considering its extent more yaua
bic water privileges OF its natural and CONNIE rcial
the Sandwich Islands, China, Peru and ali the western
world, will be seen at glance that those very
great
do not deny that at the first glance great norton of
the eastern and interior of that territory appears of lit
tie worth nor would otherwise say than that the Wll
lamete valley the garden Of the world possesses more
depth and strength OF soil and less land than any
country Of like extent; that three months of twelve
SIR the time coming, and rapidly advancing when do
mestic herds will take the place the immense herd,
ments at Fort II H. Basea Wallawala and other naIts
demonstrat ate this clearly.
My time is up upon this and other subjects rela
ting to Oregon very soon.
Very respectfully,
Your obedent servant,
ELIJAH WHITE.
At the 'st camp. Major Moses Harris alias Black
Harris his pilot and his dependence interpreter for
the Sioux and Pawnee Indians in passing through their
country, without any difference or explanation with.
drew from the party and returned to the valley surpr
sea, but nothing intind ed they moved forward They
met the Indians so much excted the spring
before by Of the violent death Of
Elih Hea ling an educated young chief Of distinction
Killed by white man in California and handsome
y ssluted and most cordially received the
having entirely subsidized Corn, potatoes, peas
and cherries were brought forward for the
OF the party and their plantations with those the Kew
use speak well for their advance in agriculture and Fl
vilizstion Not many of the Waliawass cultivate they
generally subsist on fish But the Keyuse anu Nczper
ces, or sehep,ans under the auspices Of DR.. Whitman
and lady, and Rev III II Spsud,ng and lad, are repre-
sensed as having maze most communicable advance
IL as ieuture, science, morn AMI religion many
Vi The latter reading their language huenty and
writing WELL and in regularity Of ,ner family evo
uons and Observance OF the Sabbath, believed few
equal them
On the st of September they met at Burnt river Capt
Harlow, knighton and McDonald's companies Of emf
grants the three compaoes comprising eight hun
dred persons, with eighy-seven wagons, within some
three huntred and fifty miles of their stinaon all in
good health and H. spirits, representing the difficulties
OF the route as nothing in comparison with hat they
expected While the Doctor giving them an Intel.
lectua treat, to which all listened bic in.
terest some OF the ladies' prepared rich repsst for him
and his e party coffee, sugar bread biscuit butter.
milk and honey with bacon, rice and several kinds of
dried fruits nicely spread out they ate and drank
talked and mutually cheered each other and parted in
the happies mood At different points, for the distance
Of hundred and thirty miles. they others-each
a n voIa lnrt,r
The last party, called the st. Joseph company were met
on Snake rivsr camped geously being some
desert but they found them in the best spirits and
advising them at Length Oregon the party was
invited to dinner, and sat down to table in the tent OF
Rev. NJ. Fisher, Baptist clergyman spread with a white
CLOTH and pa:took Of tea, light bread crackers maple
moasses dried beef and butter all prepared in the
est manner; This company were mostly New England
people, had emigraed to Iowa and from thence Ore.
gon and carried their virtues and intelligence tho
mountains with them All much happier and better for
the teryiew the party took their leave this interest
ing group OF venerable sres aged matrons and smiling
youth and passed on TO Fort Hail. where they arrived
on the 18th Of September, and met cordial reception
from Capt Grant On the 2ad they passed the
and interesting Soda Springs, where all drank freely
On the 27th met Dr. Joseph Burk botanis and miner.
aogist, sent out by the English government TO make
collections and return in seven years from the time Of
his departuredned with him found him an intelligent
unarsuming gentleman. The party passed the dwde'
on the ith Of October all walking it, and on striking
the Sweet Water, all drank, little pleased TO be-
hold the water once more running into the Atlantic On
the 18Th Of October came in sight of large Sioux viii
1"6o " sums oou ooBes, ana containing 1000 souls
went Immediately to it-wore met by several Chiefs
and the party conducted by them TO the Soldiers Lodge
where they Toasted upon the choicest buffalo meat Dr.
White exchanged o horse with Chief at the Indians
request and left, after tarry ing two hours the party
being much pleased with their reception as the In
dians appeared to be in entertaining them. They en-.
camped three miles below the village, horses unmolest
ed and nothing missed. Next day met Smoke notable
Chief and 200 Indians with him. moving up to the large
village which they had passed-exchanged the usual
salutations o. the day and all went of most ageeably
On the 10th reached Fort Laramie where party were
Hospitality entertained, as at Fort Hail. by Mr. Pepin
Lott on the l6th having purchassda sufficient supply of
dried buffalo meat and flour, with groceries, to last TO
lndependence intending to npish the journey with
an possible expedition and not 10 stop TO kill game On
the l7th met eight or nine OK teams heavily loaded
with goods for trading with the Indians, in charge of
naptan Finch, who had trading post miles below
Fort Laramie, on the Platte On the 18TH met Mr.
spane; had also several teams loaded with goods for
ha hnd ,1-.i