New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1846-08-25
psrooy TtnRIrcat. Feb. 2 l-i6

pHrooN TknRIrcas Feb lao.
The return of my friend Mr. Palmer, OF Franklin
county Indiana, offers me an opportunity which /
tondIv accept OF again writing you briefly IN re!a
ron 10 his couns and the trip 10 be performed in
getting nee
,o,,, safely on the last day of Septcnber-though
That vas much in advance OF the emigration gene
rally In company with few others. with only
!;+e wagons we procured tso boats az Fort Mes
terces or " alaW ala and descended The great
tiser ofte Y cs; 10 Linton place nacled in honor
81 the a,e celebrated Senator from Missouri, = nc
took active and earnest part IN everything that
lated the interest oi this territory BIZ this method OF
travelling We enabled to outstrp The balance Of
the company and arrived mere more than a month
her tnan any preceding emigreiion and even t"o
'noc.ns earlier han sOme OF the companies for the
IN fact OF the cpigrsn'- vet the bales and
piend cprn1 do@n the Columbia III he Spf;hs a.
they cTp4- the Cascade mountains with 'uc.r
catGe There = ~ vet wagon rOnte de
covered IN these mountains. small party OF l5o1t
ihtty wagons made the attempt them but
Jailed in getting through with their wagons some OF
them remained the mountains until December and
leaving their wagons came pack-horscs The
Cascades great barrier 10 the settlement OF TINS
country from the fact thai there yet facilities Or
passing down the Columbia river, except few very
Nnal. bos's consequently large emigration VIII bo
Unable TO get through in tic saiie Seef Many Of this
years emigration have taken winter quarters IN the
Spssns division Ms u is called-tha, H above the falls
Cur origalcn fGs TeEy large, yst iaadc the trip
IN good time, and vita less dic liz l'sH eXrccted,
although the distance actually Travelled far greater
tn6n sUppO-ed. Agreeaby 10 The account wach
nave carefully kept the distance il about 2bVJ miles
from here 10 hnoxviilc-about 800 OF which Is through
brosen and mountainous country yet the Travelled
foad Is not 20 difficult generally supposed hy nose
VINO have nprcr been over IL The TIP can easily oc
mad" IRON any O the Western states IA SIX months
with careful selection 0: teams and proper outht
On arriving IN this division OF the territory anu max
ng careful examination OF the country must say
that was very agrceably disappointed Instead OF hhd-
ny the country barren waste or desert ma II a. Elch
9nd fertile my part oil limos nc "hoie OF ths
division the territory far as have made personal
observation and tine highest hills (not mountaD-)
j. unsurpassed in fertility. The land mere produces
more per acre than it docs in any part OF Illinois FOR
the growth OF wheat there is certainly no part OF the
world equal 10 oregon. All binds OF small grain grow
here than in the states and for garden vegetables
y is decidedly the finest ever have seen.
There certainly is no country where stock OF all kinds
do vs. finely as here Cattle good beet at all seasons
OF tho year Grazing fnc all Winter. Stock is never
granted in this country. Tue oxen We drove III the
teams from thc States are now Ia.
This winter said 10 be colder than usual set there
ms been but few mornings that the mercury has been
below freezing and we ploH any time IN the win.
ter Speaking ot the winters--rC minds me OF what
have often hcard In the States that Is that IN oregon 1t
rains constantly for four months On the fall md winter
sc"scns) This however, heard disputed ana being
ious settle the mattel Tor myself well Obc able
10 answer the inquiries Of others having interest
this direction, have kept daybJoi tbeing employed
On II farm md the time have lost = follows No
'cnibtT days. DeC.mnHi =. md January J. nave
any cDuntry where man could do much
work IN tho winter ~ Oregon,
rs regards thu health OF this country there is but
cpiulon IL is remarkably healthy The emigration
necessity be much exposed after leaving
Portable aud well provided homes the States and per
forming sc long trip to settle here, a. .rs with 80 few
u tic comforts and corvcnenccs Ia which they
accustomed yet 80 ia. as | have been informed. the
new ernigraut. enjoy uninterrupted health, aud III
hae spirits and ysor and all appear well pleased with
teen new honles Our last years e'Itnioii numbered
ha,, t.lt tfgtr mill
iatcs presunhe - satisfy themselves before breaking
hn their old homca so itr a. Am acquainted they all
intend bringing Their lamlies TO Oregon such know
IS the intention of Mr. Palmer the late Representative
Of Franklin county Indiana
wrote you letter By Dr White when We were trail
ing up Burnt river which expected would reach you
early in December The Doctor is our Indian Agent
and on his way to Washington Cty. We have just
heard that White and his party all murdered by
the Sioux Indians MI Grant, the Agent OF the lludsons
Bay Company at Fort Hall, has written 10 d. McLaugh
ip oi Vancouver hot such is the iuct We still hope
however, that ii may be otherwise. His loss would be
luch lamentcd lie had large packet OF letters from
private individuals well much matter tor Congress
nom the Legislature OF the Territorial Government OF
Oregon, tor we have Government here, n Governor
and Legislature together with the usual County officers
Law and good order nowhere moro punctually OBJ
served, We have printing press, churches. aud nu
mosous schools In fine this country has all the Gle
nicnrs and that in high degree oil geographical phys
cal. political and MORAL grandeur and progression.
On tho first day of January 1916 after travelling 1900
miles stood the shores OF the great Pacific and with
unninglod delight gaLcd upon the mighty deep
have been on the Columbia from Fort Mes Perccs,
which situated at the mouth of the Wallawala river
10 its mouth, at the Pacific The Columbia, from Mrs.
Perces down. has many falls rapids, some OF which
are impossible. About hundred miles below Fort
Mes Prrces what called the Great Falls Here The
water OF the great River OF the West rushes through
chnsrls in tho rocks with perpendicular falls
their navigation being impossible with any kind OF craft
a short distance below this is the DOllcs where the
cntiro body OF the river rnsihrough what is called
"eao, narrow space OF one hundred and fifty feet
walled in by baltic columns OF perpendicular rock I.i
either side. Fifty miles below and the north bag,
stands Fort Vancouver the principal establishment Il
The Hudsons Bay Company 1t consists OF number 81
buildings within sOckAdc, and numbers several hEl
bred inhabitants The Willamette enters the COLUMBIA
about seven miles below Vancouver. The Wallamcus'
valley embraces very nearly the whole OF what Is cnt@
the rst division OF the territory on the south side OF %
river Columbia and is about ono hundred mites WIDE ny
hundred and fifty three hundred IN length with
tributaries. aforCIng the most abundant PRIV
igcs OF extensive water power The Willamette river
Is navigablc for steamboats, near two hundred m,es
from s mouth except the obstruction the celebrated
fails round which canal ia now being built.
The Columbia is much contracted at the mouth, asd
falls into tho Pacific between two high points OF pi
land one on the right called Cape Disappointment AID
the left Point Adams From each OF these sand bar a>
tends into the water Here the waves OF the racine gre
met in angry violence by the rolling current OF the GO
lubia forming heavy line OF breakers, which renders
the and departure of vessels always hazardous
Tho depth OF water between the bars is 50 feet al TIE
lowest stage OF the river The Columbia abounds i'll 'sh
especially salmon which forms the principal support tor
Indian tribes which inhabit the first and sec
ond divisions of the territory There are, also. three
ships in this river TWO British and one American
Tor the benefit OF your acquaintance, there should
be amy such wishing Oregon and DESTROYS OF
any information in relation the journey propose
giving you bret outline o; the ncocssaries for the
ccsstul and independent prosecution OF the enterprise.
IN the hrs, place they should hsvc strong twohorSc
wagon light but well made with six yoke OF oxen TO
esch wagon from four 10 Years old OF quick and
lively appearance OF middle size we'll formed for travel
ing they should be docie and trscabc before starting
Shceng unnecessary There should not Dc more than
1900 lbs. per wagon, and four yoke to the wagon lis
enough time. But trailing up the Nebraska or
Platte, would drive them all 10 the wagon, prevent
them from getting the foot evil for all who have per
formed the trip testify that loose cattle much
more subject to that disorder than those that are kept
the teams and they not subject TO that disease after
they leave the Buffalo country. We have speedy and
certain for it. which burn the frog of the foot
With hot tar and rosin.
The supply OF provisions should DC very nearly as
follows. To each person $50 lbs OF aoar 100 lbs OF
bacon 10 lbs OF coffee, the OF sugar, lbs of sal
era,us, and rice and dried fruit is very useful.
The men should De dressed with buckskin and every
family should be well supplied with clothing OF all kinds
is very difficult TO set clothing ia this country
present and is twice high here as in the States
owing 70 the scarcity and want OF competition