Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1846-01-17
THE OREGON COUNTRY.
LETTER II.
To he EtIikor of HE Union.

LETTER u. f4s....s
To The Editor of The Union.
Sin: observed, in running over your
yesterdays paper, that the clerk, 10 cop.
ying my first number, had altered little
my phraseology, thereby attaching too
much Importance TO the eastern portion Of
Oregon as a pastoral district; for, notwith.
standing the facts quoted are denomination
Of its value and, in addition, il might
have been said that and my companions
met during the present season a large emi.
grating party, who had just passed through
this district with herd of horses, mules,
and cattle, estimated al no less than ten to
twelve thousand head, all passing the same
road, and well subsisting by the way,-it 10
but just 10 say, that such are the rugged
features and the altitude Of this part Of the
country, that it can never yield as much
IN quantity as, or compare in quality with,
the middle and western portions OF the ter
ritory; which so far as we are informed,
from the north 10 the south, from the Disco
to the Cascades, yields generally a rich
coat ofnutritous grass throughout the year.
This part Of the country, judging fiom
the United statements Of the gentlemen
attached TO the missions, and from the
concnrring testimony Of others who have
gone out on exploring expeditions during
the last few years, possesses much interest.
In the discharge Of my official duties, was
once in the midst of winter, obliged to trav.
ell many hundred miles in the central
nor,heastery part of this district, and found,
from the Dalles Of the Columbia 10 the
Wallawaa, and from thence to Waulatupu,
Doctor Whitman's stations, among tho
Leyuse Indians, and onward TO the Clear
water station, occupied by Rev. Mr.. Spal.
ding among The Neoperces tribe, numerous
herds OF horses, and some neat stock, scat
tered along throughout, appearing every
where in good condition; and was assured
by Mr.. Spalding that not only horses, but
cattle and Sheep, owing 10 the quality OF
the grass and mdness OF the climate, kept
throughout the winter in good state even
for slaughter. He mentioned few extreme
cases, demonstrating this clearly, and pre-
senting il in strong light; and really, in
corroboration, | can hardly avoid saying,
never did witness, at the same season OF
the year, all kinds of herds in SO fine con.
dition--he assuring me that, probably,
owing 10 the mildness of the climate, sheep
produced uniformly twice year; and that
disease was as yet unknown among the
herds Of the country. found the country
undulating, and admirably wa,ered, and
particularly from Wallawala eastward, we'll
grassed-,he blue mountains, stretching 10
the north and south, affording rich supply
Of timber to meet the demands of large
district Of country on either hand, Of an
inviting character.
In future number, the localities Of these
missions will be described, their doings and
prospects dwelt upon, and the movements
Of the Hudson Bay Company properly ex.
planned. In my next the lower country, EN-.
bracing the Wlemette valley and seacoast
will be considered, concerning which we
are little more satisfactorily informed.
though it is but proper to say that only
small portions of it have been explored; and
earnestly hope, for the sake Of future en-
igrating parties, for whose instruction am
writing, that our President, who has so
much at heart the welI.being OF Oregon, will
early take into consideration the propriety
of sending there properly qualified explo.
ring party, 10 bring more fully 10 light the
vast resources Of this new and interesting
country.
ELIJAH WHITE.
Washington, Dec. Is, 1s45.