Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1845-09-05
FURTHER FROM OREGON.
WGLLIAMETT Fails, }
Oregon, Oct. %, lSil,

dI''Veu he1e OH tne loln Jay OF The present
month, having been on the way ljl days from
Independence, Missouri, which was at least one
month longer than were the last years compa.
ny OF einlgrants. This was owing TO the uuu-
sual rains that fell during the first two months
after our departure from Missouri.
My health is good and has been during the
whole route. The health OF the small party that
accompanied lie is also good. The last thou
sand miles no interruption from the Indians took
place, nor did even a shower Of rain fall TO Law
the dust
None Of the families hare yet arrirel. The
foremost are expected to reach this neighbor-
hood in about week. The last range Of noun
tains, called the Cascades, have never beer
passed with wagons. We were five days pass
ing over this range Of mountains and found il
by far the most difficult and fatiguing part OF the
journey, both for ourselves and our horses. The
mountains extend TO within few miles of this
place. The range runs nearly North and Sour h.
The Wiamett is on the West side of the
mountains. The Columbia breaks through from
East to West; it has number of dangerous
passes, and two falls that cannot be passed by
the lightest canoe. Our families, Wagons and
baggage, were carried around the falls; the Dor.
tages, however, are not lengthy
The settlements Of this territory appear TO be
in good and prosperous condition. Even the
last years emlgrants, some Of whom have been
more than nine or ten months on their new
'a'ns, have plenty ~, themselves, and some to
spare Tor their countrymen now on the way.-
OF bread, beef, fish, and potatoes Of a superior
kind, We have plenty. The three first mention.
ed articles are exported. The brig Columbia
is now freigh.ed with wheat and flour, and will
sail in few days for the Sandwich Islands. A
probable trade with the Islands is already cons
menced. From lis they receive wheat, flour
beef, pork, and lumber. In return, we receive
from them British, Chinese and American man.
ufactured articles; and molasses, sugar, coffee
and rice the growth Of the Islands
Standing in the door OF my present lodgings
| can'count sixty,two buildings. They form the
present village of the city of Oregon. Tlmbe,
and lumber lay scattered about for more build
ings, say eight or ten. Several other villages
Zone or two Of them have seen,) have some
pre;ensions 10 future greatness, but are quite
small as vet.
The Hudson Bay Company transact nearly
all the foreign and domestic trade. The Com,
pany derive great profit from the business, anc
at the same time accommodate the nhabtant.
of the Territory, who are all agriculiurls,s anl
mechanics, without capital sufficient Tor com,
mercial pursuits. On our arrival we found the
country dry and parched. We have recent,
had week OF warm rainy weather. The gras:
has commenced springing up, and looks mucl
Ike your Wisconsin praIfics IN May. The
leaves OF such trees as shed their foliage, are
yellow and beginning to fall. The kinds shed
ding the leaf are oak, species Of maple, aloe
lockwood, hazel, elder, &c, all small and scrub
by, compared to those in the States, except ell
der and alder. which here grow quite large
Notwithstanding the ease with which the ne
cessaries of life are acquired, Inerer sac NOR
disconnected community owing principally t,
natural disposition nearly all, like myseli
having been OF rowing. disconnected characte
before leaving their eastern homes. The long
,lresome trip from the States has taught then
what they are capable Of performing aud endu
ring. They talk of removing to the Islands
California, Chill, and other parts Of South Amer
lea, with as much composure as you in WIS
consin talk OF removing to Indiana or Michigan
Almost the first man | met on my arrlva
was J. N. Wier, formerly Of Indiana, who sery
ed with me in the Rangers. also heard o
lancaster GILMAN, who 10 married and settled
| some 40 or 80 miles up the WIllameit ex,
pected to see him this week. 1t is said that hs
is doing well.
You recollect the largo stories We used tc
hear respecting the immense size and height o
timber in this country. Tho largest timber
have seen is an evergreen of the fir kind. One
tree that measured few days since is sia
feet four inches IN diameter, and 21S feet long
The tree was lelled with an axe last summer
The fir is only two kinds, white and red +; both
good for timber and lumber, and generally split
easy, making the neatest rail fences have ev.
er seen; il has the appearance of being dura,
BILE. This 10 the season for sowing wheat all
the farmers are busly employed, il having been
heretofore too dry to sprout the grain The
farmer can sow wheat from Angus, until June
with certainty of reapng fair compensation
for his labor. The straw of that sown in MAY
grows very short, which renders II difficult tC
harvest That sown early and in good order
grows large and long, measuring five or SIN
feet, and in some extraordinary cases it has been
known to measure seven feet in length, with a
proportionable length Of head The grain OF
berry OF all that have seen is remarkable fol
its round, plump form.
The small Canada corn comes to perfection
oats likewise grow well Irish potatoes are O
fine quality, and yield abundantly. Th,
streams, am told, never freeze over, nor doe
snow ever cover the ground more than three O
four days at any one time during the winter
The open or prairie valleys are small almos
all the uplands are covered lhcky with the lo
test frs. The earth is lhickly covered wit
boys, underbrush, and the male fern called b
some brake. 1t grows in many places up to m
shoulders. and so thick found il impossible
some instances to break through il.
| have crowded all ! could on one shee
which send by Mr.. Perkins, Of the brig Colun