The Kalida venture. [volume] (Kalida, Ohio) 1841-1865, 1845-12-09
Letter from Oregon.


gent member of the Oregon Emigration, the last
doubtless which will be received previous to their
reaching their destination. 1t contains valuable
information as to the outfit Of an expe diton; and
in what is said of the Hudson's Bay Company and
their agent, McLaughlin's improper influence, the
real state of things is undoubtedly exhibited
While our country neither gives capital or protec-
ton to our citizens in Oregon, Ct. Britain islav-
ishing her wealth, secure of large returns, to up
hold and maintain her undue influence there
This letter gives foreshudowing of the continu-
ed effects of joint occupation and tells to whose
advantage it is tending
MALosE CREEK, OREGON, Sept Sd, l845.
Well, / guess you don't know where Malose
(Which means bad luck) Creek is. fl tell you,
then perhaps you won't know, and it is not very
material. wrote TO you from the South Pass;
cannot, ofcourse, give you the particulars of our
journey. The principal rivers we have crossed
since are Green River, Bear River, Snake and Bo-
sia. Green River is some so miles this side Of
the summit; it is considerable stream. Fort
Badger is situated on Blacks Fork of this river
This fort we passed; it is 180 miles 5eyond Fort
Hall, which is 600 miles from Laramie. The next
river is Bear, down which we travelled some dis.
tance. On this are the Soda Springs. Snake Ri
yer we struck at Fort Hall, travelled down 200
miles, crossed it, and struck Bosa River, and trav.
elled down it to its junction with Snake, where is
situated Fort Bosa. There we arrived vest erday
and re. crossed Snake River, and to day came Is
miles to this creek, where we met fourmen return
ing from Oregon to the States. Fort Bosu is 300
miles below Hall.
| We have travelled long road and are yet about
600 miles from our journeys end. From the sum-
init of the Rocky Mountains our road has been
principally over sand plains covered with noun
| tain sage Occasionally we have a mountain to
cross. The road generally has been very good,
and the greatest inconvenience we have suffered
has been from the sand and dust which we have
had continually for the last 1900 miles We have
passed over the country where there is the worst
range for our cattle, and they have stood it very
well. This part of the route is before we come to
the first crossing of Snake river For four days
we had very little grass, barely enough for our
cattle to .subsist during the balance of the road
we have found enough, and from this down we
have plenty.
We have many nconvenen ces to endure, and
it is long journey, so that we at times get i'm
patient. but such thing as SUFFERING in any
way does not exist n the route. And althoug h
at times things may run riot and vex us, yet
when all is over and summed up, and think
back upon the past, can not call it otherwise
than four months of my time spent pleasantly,
and have no doubt when l get to my journeys
end, will always look back upon it as among
the happiest of my days If l were in the States
now knowing what do should come again,
but should come on pack horses as l would
ADVISE every young man to come and every man
who has family to send all his goods by water
and bring nothing in Wagons, but provisions and
such things as are actually needed on the way
In t he first place Wagons cost considerable and
when you arrive at the Cascade Mountains, you
must leave them and pack, and here you will
throw away many goods, if you bring them, be-
cause you cannot take them thro'. Secondly, you
must have cattle to draw your Wagons. You
must have your drivers, &c. &c., and when you
count the cost you will find you can have them
taken cheaper by water. If you do not do this
you had better GIVE them to your friends than to
undertake to haul them, and you will find it SO.
have often heard persons regret that they had not
| taken the advice of those who had been through
about those things. By fitting out right it can be
made pleasant trip. For this purpose then make
up company of ten or twenty Wagons, those
whom you know or whom your friends know, and
O ha n ri IN nd plx,I
long enough to fit out-take no others in your
crowd-don't wait for pilot, the road is plain
have strong light Wagon, wifi a common
Yankee bed, on strong bows, and good cover,
plenty of oxen water keg; provisions, flour is
the principal thing; few hams of bacon, a
little lard, coffee, tea, sugar, beans, and dried
fruit; light churn to carry milk in is conven-
lent; a wash tub, &c.
If you have any good American horses bring
them on; they stand it wel--but you must not
use them much at first or they will get poor
before you get to bad range, that you can
not use them afterwards. One will buy half do
zen Indian horsesin Oregon.
We have been feasting on fine salmon for s. ONE
time; they glorious fish.
some nltVEmlgrants Wagons took theCafornia
road on Casia rver, 40 miles this side of Fort Hall
TheBrtish atForHall and other ports,are perswad-
ing all they can to 60 to California In order to do
this they picture out to them California as perfect
paradise and Oregon poor country; and that
it is almost impossible for them to get 10 Oregon,
as they have desert of 100 miles to cross, and
Snake river to cross twice, and it SO deep as to
swim their oxen and Wagons; that the Indians
below have hacnmA hoatila and ad natl