Wisconsin herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1846-1849, 1846-09-26
Correspondence Of the Cincinnati Comm erciaI
Oregon.

V4OSOnHs
z We lay before our readers, below,
the best description ever printed of
Oregon. 1t is from a nj anuscript let
Ter of the Rev. Mr.. Spaulding, direct
ed to Joel Palmer, of Oregon, who is
now at Laurel, Indiana, to whom we
are indebted forit. We give Mr.. P.'s
letter enclosing the manuscript - "a.
LAUREL, Ind, Aug. 26, lS46.
L. G. CuRTrss, Ed. Gin. Comr.:
Dear Sir Enclosed is the letter
written to me by Mr.. Spaulding, of
Oregon. Upon the last sheet is a list
of names (Mr. Spaulding's friends in
the U. S. to whom Mr.. S. and Mr..
Whitman requested copies of the paper
containing the letter sent. $40
ISL am, sir, essi
,ieuss your ob't servant, Haas
s-hasasaa = JOEL PALMER.
Before giving the letter we will re-
mark that Mr.. Palmer crossed the
Rocky Mountains and settled in Ore
gon some two years since. He re-
turned of late to visit his friends and
arrange business. The following let
ter was obtained from Mr.. Spaulding--
ten years resident there-as a just
and impartial description of the coun-
try from actual residence and expert
ment: go sfss .,esr
Nez Percs Mission, Clear Water River,
OREGON TERRITORY, April 7,ls46.
ToJel Palmer, Esq, efhdiana..-
My Dear Sir,-Agreeably to your re-
quest ! most cheerfully give you my
views concerning the Oregon Territory,
its extent, its most desirable climate.
fertility of soil, Rivers and Mountains,
Seas and Bays, and its proximity to one
of the most extensive markets opening
upon the world. s.la
Concerning the young colony in the
lower country on the waters Of the
Willamette, Its government and pros
poets, you are better able to speak than
myself having never visited that coun-
try. ..,.e sb s4s,era
The Oregon Territory is usually d.
vided into three great divisions, the
Lower, Middle and Upper Regions
The Upper includes the Rocky Noun
tains with the head waters of most of
the rivers running West and East,
North and South, and extends West to
the Blue and Spokan ranges of noun
tains. The Lower includes the Belt
of country bounded on the West by
the Pacific and on the East by the
Nesqually, Cascade and California
Mountains. Tne Mrouic Region lies
between the two and embraces proba-
bly, far the greatest extent of country
and in some respects the most desira-
Bile for settlers. The number of rainy
days during the winter season in the
Lower country is thought to be about
Observation-Disclosures while the
number of rainy days during the same
season in the upper (or middle) country
is about fifteen-one-hundredths.- -
There is but little more snow during
the winter season in the Middle than
in the Lower Regions, or upon the
plains, Of course the depth of snow
upon the mountains depends upon their
height. The Lower country is subject
to foundations to greater or less ex-
tent from the Columbia River, which,
gathering into Standing pools and with
the great amount OF vegetable decay
consequent upon low prairie countries,
produces to some extent unhealthy
fogs during the summer season.. This,
however, is greatly moderated by the
sea breezes from the Pacific. The
Middle Region is entirely free from
these evils and has probably one of the
most pacific, healthy, and every way
most desirable climate in the world
This, with its extensive prairies, COW
cred with a superior quality of grass
tuft or Bench Grass which springs
fresh twice year, spotted and streak
ed every where with springs and
streams of the purest, sweetest water,
renders it admirably adapted to the
herding system. The Lower country
will ever have greatly the advantage
in its proximity to market extensive
sea coast, and from the fact it contains
one of the largest and best harbors in
the world, viz. Puget's Sound, running
| far inland, the mouth of which is pro-
tected by the extensive Vancouyer's
Island, easy Of access at all seasons and
under all winds.
But to go into detail. Myself and
wife were appointed missionaries OF
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