New-York daily tribune., 1845-01-27
Lnts and T,ue from Oregon.


The following letter from sn emgrant now II
Oregon appears in the last Western missouri
journal. 1t states much truth which had already
been proclaimed by Farnhsm and by many 9TH
era, but which the adventures who are luring
thousands to settle in Oregon are continually ly-
ing down. Why wiH people choose to be de
csived 2 The Ofegonian says:
] left the Shawnee mission on the 29th OF
May; our rouie Was through the Cav lnclan
country, which is good, has considerable timber,
and is well watersd. 1t is bad country for
wagons to travel through, having SO many s'oughs
and bad creeks; the teams were often stalled, aDo
made slow progress. We had three rivers ano
creeks to cross before we reached Platte river
The Platte river has good grass-pien,y OF it
bi. is destitute OF timber. Here we saw the first
buffalo; they were poor anu tough. We saw
few OF the Pawnee Indians; they are fine looking
fellows and, no doubt, live well on buffalo meat:
they are quite treacherous. We reached tie
crossing of the Platte ON the I'd day Of July,
little moro than one month out. The travelling
up Platte is very good level and hard. We
struck fiUm this to the North fork Of Platte, one
days travel On the 18th Of July we arrived at
the crossing OF Lar4mies fork, at the fort u the
American Fur Company. Before arriving here,
We saw many splendid sights; also many Of the
dog towns that you have heard OF. | saw quan
titles of the dogs; they are small, round animals,
the size of cat. Certain it is, that there
owls that visit them, also rattle. snakes; but for
what reason is matter of dispute. Alter we le
Laramie, we came to the Black Hilis, the worst
of all traveling-hilly, sardy, and full Of wild
sage; it is death on wagon. TIE country is
til Of this barren, sandy KIND, until we reach
Fort Hall, and destitute of timber Arrived al
Fort Hall 18Th of September, after experiencing
some cold rains, SHOWS, hail, &c.
At Fort Hall we could get no PROVISIONS, and
were Obliged 20 go down the river (the SnakeD
and depend on getting fish to subsist on; thu
was the reason of my gong to Oregon instead
Of California. The country down Snake rivoi
10 hiliy, rocky, sandy, no timber but an abun
\ dance Of sage, until we go to the Blue Noun
Z taiBs; here is plenty of pine, the country very
Il broken and bad travelling, though the wagons
wen; through. After getting through the Blue
Mountains, we came 10 d splendid country oi.
grass, where there were thousands of Indian
horses grazing About twenty miles from this
we came to Walla walla Valley they raise
grain and vegetables, but no timber except for
FIRE wood. About twenty miles from this, we
came to the Columbia River; many of the emi
grants sold ,heiS cattle here. ana went down
the yiyer by water, as they could not cross the
Cascade Mountains with their wagons, though
they could 20 down one hundred miles further
and then take water, es many ofthem did. The
country on the Columbia is only fit Tor graz
ing, being good grass but sandy soil. On the
Sd Of November arrived at Fort Vancouver, Just
as tho rainy season had commenced; and it was
very disagreeable, and rained most of the time |
was there.
then went to Wallemmet,e Falls, quite
town here--iorty houses, four stores, two saw
mills, one hour.mill, aud another to be erected
coon. This country IS not copG6ic Of half as
iargea settlement as people represent there is
much rimbsr, and IL cannot be cleared an maRy
yeors as to be capable Of any great production,
and ,ohat pra,r tssre Lsitt a0f p,0dGce much
as your land bat the 10 teat better; neither do
MANY think the so ,oitt last Tong, but that 1t is
rather shalLo,p and there !, much terer ana Ggue.
Besides the 70 ntrs are ,ce,, fis impossible 10
do much out II dsors II has the advantage ,ha'
grain twneaU i, worth elghy cents per oushel,
and catrle WI, winter themselves Take II ait
in eii, '!is nothing your country.
| haroly know wha, 20 write about Oregon, or
what you would like TO know Though II | wa
where YOU are, and should see some one from
Oregon, could ask him a hundred qaestions. Is
you could me. The report OF Wilkes lGat you hac
10 very correct. Tneie are thousands OF Salmon
here-some wild game, plenty OF ducks, geese,
and swans, and some good wet places To sai.e
more of them as there must be some wet places,
being So much ram IN the winter, and no SNOW.
There is scarcely any corn raiseG-,t soih aot
do yell I sao a littie but il sooS poor. Mos,
other kinds of grain do web. There lsno money
in Oregon although most of those who have
been farming few years have made property, as
grain is high ana cattie take care of themselves,
and sell high-oxen worth 5 IS 10 S $l25 per yoke;
bcof, six cents per pound Many OF the peopt
who went 10 California have lett it and gone to
Oregon. saw many OF them while there: anu
they gave us as one of the reasons of leaving
trouble with the Spaniaros.
Truly your,. INC. BoARDMAN.
So they will in Kentucky end In al! South Wes,ern
s,ates.-lEd
Later from Oregon.
u. Si.. oT n,nsra fran, fha Sandwich Islands