The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1846-08-14
From the Ssngamo Journal.
Direct from Oregon.

since of taking by the hand, Mr.
SPENCER BULKLEY, who left Oregon
city, on the 9th OF March last.
Mr.. Il. was a resident Of Franklin
County, Ia, had been for severa
years out of health, and two years
ago left for Oregon, and has beer
industriously engaged in exploring
that country ever since, except the
time he has spent upon the road tc
and from thence. He has recover.
ed his health, and was on his return
home when he passed through thi:
city.
He is very communicative in al
that relates to the Oregon territory
He visited all the settlements-ex
plorcd nearly the whole valley of the
Wallamette-also the country ada
cent to Puget's sound. He was in
tins last mentioned section of Ore.
gon in the latter part of January and
the beginning of February last, fol
fourteen days. This Sound is ir
about latitude as north. lie SAYS
that for 10 miles from the shore the
country is agreeably diversified with
hill and dale, groves Of excellent
timber and beautiful prairies-well
watered with pure streams and very
fertile. The Sound abounds with
fish, oysters, Holsters and the like,
and the rivers with the finest salmon
and other valuable fish. He sur.
veyed claim there for himself OF
GAO acres, and several other claims
were made and surveyed at the same
time by American citizens. The
scenery of the land and seattle
waters and harbors-every thing
combined, make it most pictur-
eSque and desirable country. Dur
ing the time he was there the SKY
was clear, the temperature agreea-
Bile, no rain, no snow, nor even frost.
He anticipates that the lands on
Pugets Sound will be regarded as
among the most valuable in Oregon.
The last winter in the valley OF
the Willamette was mild. Farmers
were blowing and sowing wheat all
winter. Wheat was a certain crop
and of most excellent quality. He
saw fields of sod corn, which yield
ed 40 bushels to the acre. He nam
ed several Of our old friends as among
his acquaintance. Mr.. Nathan Hus-
sey was well, well pleased with the
country, and doing well. The
Messrs. Ide, with Mr.. Todd, and
some others from this section OF
country, took the route to Califor-
mia. 1t was said that they designed
to examine that country, and, if it
did not suit them, to settle on the
Umquah, in Oregon Territory.
Mr.. B. describes the valley of the
Wallamette as generally having a
fertile soil-the country made up OF
prairie and woodland -agrecably
rolling-and as covered with an cx-
huberant growth Of natural grasses
and clover. He says the clover is
equal to the best cultivated here
No hay is made, however, or rather
provision for stock in winter. The
earth affords abundant food for cat
tie, horses and sheep; and during
that period, at all times, cattle are
fit for the shambles.
He passed up the Wallamattc
above the falls, in keel boat, draw
ins 2G inches of water, for about 90
miles. 1t could have been ascend
ed much farther. The valley was
well watered with fine streams, suit
able for mill seats, which, like the
Willamette, were well stored with
hsh.-Ihese streams were also sup
piled with the speckled trout-a fish
which is only found in the purest
waters. There were some muskc-
toes on the bottoms and in the tim
Der, but they did not appear in the
prairies, and what seems remarka-
Bile, there were no horse hes, nor
any of that disagreeable variety
which "blows meat" Indeed, Mr..
b. says, and he has verified the truth
of the statement by experiment, that
fresh meat hung in the sun, in the
summer, will not purify, but will
dry up and remain perfectly sweet.
He represents the timber as fine,
and that it is not uncommon to cut
trees of eighteen inches diameter at
the butt, which will make fifteen
rail cuts and that timber is album
dant.
Last winter the Legislature pass
ed law making wheat lawful ten
dry for debt at one dollar per BUSH
ell. Dry goods are becoming high
in Oregon city, The supply is not
equal to the demand. Coffee brings
20 cents; sugar II cents, and other
grocery articles bear a proportion
ate price. Shoes bring from 3 to 6
dollars pair; boots from 6 to Is
dollars; glass l6 gents light; au-
gers 81 cents per quarter; c.hissels
20 cents per quarter; salt. l cent