The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-01-28

VIII eventually make II profitable 10 the government
| as well as 10 themselves. .#
We have had some extreme cold weather this
month, tho Thermometer being about ak degrees be-
low zero. Snow fell continually for sixteen days
g 90 % ' Yours, truly.
TAs OREGON eoySrRY--No. 10
| n - CG>sv ~ Uaiss, -.
ssss Hsvisg veospsy returned from an excnr.ion.
to the East and the North, take additional pleasure
in commencing anew my brief numbers on Oregon;
especially as find they have beea farther copied
from your excellent paper, and more generally read
than had pected.
Hereafter | expect to be less engaged, as the
whirlwind Of excitement is now subsldlng, end my
calls not so frequent, and hope IN be able 10 do be
ter justice TO this interesting subject. And here SIR
allow mo to remark, II Is most gratifying to witness
from the extreme West to the extreme East, such
oneness OF sentiment and expression upon this
Oregon question. Oregon is rising as il regards liz
intrinsic worth-its national importance begins 10 be
seen and ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS natural and conmercin
advantages now dwelt upon-its kalubriotls mild
and agreeable climate, is theme OF pleasing inter.
est in conversation by thousands; and am satisfied
If our Congress can be induced to oct timely, Ore
gon will receive large accessons to her numbers the
coming year.
My last was upon the Willamette valley, and in
proof Of what have said upon that interesting por-
ton Of the territory, beg leave to introduce two
brief communications from highly respectable gen
tlemen, residing IN that colony, especially | am
much engaged to-day, and they throw so much ad-
dtonal light upon the subject before us.
Z. WHITE.
WAsHSerOS, Jan. 81, 1886,
OREGON CRY, June 81, l5l5.
Sra: In reply to your letter, dated June "a, lSI5.
TO me member 10 represent the district of Clatsap
in the legislative committee Of Oregon requesting in-
formation the strength, character, prospects, DC
Of that part OF the colony have the honor to repre-
SENT have TO state that the sit uation OF the land in
Clatsop district differs from that Of any other dis
trict now settled occupied by whites in Oregon,
owing to its situation at the mouth Of the Columbia
river. considerable portion OF the district may bn
called broken, or mountain lsnds, interspersed with
small prairies or plains, Of excellent soil
All the infor nation you may wish on the maritime
situation of the country be correctly obtained
from the reports Of scientific officers Of the govern
ment of the United States, appointed for that pur-
pose.
The present population, Of white inhabitants. is
about one hundred souls, ffty-two of whichare
males, the age of twenty-one years and ca.
pable of bearing arms There IN our infant dis
trict not yet one year old, one saw and grist mill,
and one shingle mill In operation; also TWO all
stores, Zone, however, being the Hudson Bay & IN
pany's.) fair estimate Of the present harvest may
stand thus: Wheat 1900 bushels, potatoes 900
bushels, besides oats, rye, peas, &c. The farmers
all Americans-moral, honest, and industrious.
plains OF Catsop twenty miles IN length ana
about c-and a. half in width; the soil first rate and
the grazing or pasture land sufficient for the sup
port of several thousand cattle. They contain about
half the population Of the district deem it unne-
cessary to describe the character of the lands around
Astoria, as 1t must be well known to you, and all
others, who seek information after the welfare of our
beautiful and healthy country. The climate is ex-
ceedngly mild, and sickness unknown amongst
The growth Of timber here has also been described
by travellers, and their reports abroad amongst
he all ut wis for
be easily come at.
Ihave the honor to be,
Very respectfully,
Your obedent servant,
JOHN MCCLURE.
DR.. ELIJAH WHITE, sub-agent Of Indian affairs.
VALE OF THE RcKscoLL,
July 7, ls45.
DEAR SIR 1t gives me great pleasure to answer
the questions propounded in your note of the 2lst
ult., in relation to Oregon. | exceedingly regret
that your letter has been mslad by accident-ln
consequence Of which, am unable TO answer your
inquiries in the order in which they were present.
ed.
consider the lands lying Immediately on the
Columbia and Willamette rivers, far rs have
examined, superior to any of the bottom lands of
the western States. The uplands arc equal in fer
tility and productveness to the uplands Of Missou
ri, Illinois, or Kentucky; and the more elevated
hilands are, out Of all comparison, superior to Tho
hill lands of any of the aforementioned States.
purposes, the grass and clover being good through
out the whole year.
Ihavc been happily disappointed as to tho naviga-
ton Of w lila mettc river From what heard others
say shortly after my arrival to this country thought
it extremely doubtful whether II could be naviga-
ted above the falls; but on ascending that stream
myself last winter in boat of considerable size, all
my doubts in relation to the difficulty Of navigating
il by boats Of even = Jorge class were entirely re-
moved. / have never looked or travelled upon
h~uu nj IF pasv nayi
ton And the Willamette is destined to be to this
lich and beautiful valley to which it g YES name,
what the Ohio is to that vast and populous region
of country through which it fows,--a thoroughiar
upon whose bosom will be borne the surplus ac-
cumulatons of industrious millions-thc true wealth
of a nation!
The climate is milder and less variable than that
of other countries lying under the same parallels OF
latitude; and healthy to degree almost incredible
to one raised in the United States. 1t is very rare
thing to hear of of sickness. Last winter was
somewhat disagreeabe on account of the abundant
rains; but have been informed by men who ha e
lived in this country for the last thirty years. tina, hG
past winter has had no precedent within the period
of their residence in Oregon; that, heretofore, he
rains have fallen in gentle and broken showers, in-
erspersed with brief intervals Of pleasant sunshine;
and that clear sky in winter for two or three sue
cessive weeks, has been by no means unusual.
The scenery is most singulary picturesque ard
sublime. Language is too meagre TO describe II;
the most gifted pencil could not paint 1t. The pleas
ing alienation Of hill and dale, the fowery plains
along whose smiling bosoms the svery waters Of
mountain springs alternately dance and linger, the
dark forests Of lowering frs, and the heavenward
aspiring mountain peaks, from whose sublime at'
tudes the snow never melts, all conspire to expand
the mind and elevate the soul to brighter aud nobler
conceptions Of the great invisible Author of Nature.
| would, with entire cheerfulness, write at greater
length, but so much has been written about Oregon
within the last twelve months, that deem 1t unne-
cessary.
remain, dear sir,
Your humble servant,
NATHANIEL FORD.
To DIR. ELIJAH WHITE.
TyEXAS LANDS-Great bargains offered in