Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1846-09-17
IIUsI C-FECIIUITF
WILLIAM SHANNON.

accept, of again wiring you briefly 10 relation TO ihs
country, and the trip 20 be peroFmed IN getting here
We arrived in this, the first division of the territory,
safely OF The last day Of September-Ihoush that was
much in advance of the emigration generally In conf
pany with few others, with only five wagons, we pro-
cured two boats a Fort Nesperces or Naiia Naa, ana
descending the great river of the West To Linnon,
place named IN honor of The late celebrated Senator from
Missouri who took active and earnest part IN every
thing that related the interest If this Territory by
this method Of travelling enabled to OutsrP t"
balance Of the company, aud arrived here more thah
month earlier than any preceding emIgaiion aud even
months earlier than Of the companies Tor the
tear In fact Of the emigrants Yet the Dali
les aud intend coming down the Columbia IN the spring,
soon as they can cross the Cascade mountains WIN
their cattle. There Is vet wagon route or pass dis
covered in these mountains. small party OF about
thirty wagons made the attempt them, but
failed ia getting Though with their wagons some OF
them remained 10 The mountains until December, and,
leaving their wagons, came over pack horses The
Cascades great barrier 20 The settlement OF Tins
country from the iact that there yet no aciitlts
for passing down the Columbia rIver except few very
small boats; consequently large emigration wall be
able TO get through IN the same year. Many Of lls
years emigration have taken winter quarters ia the Sc
div IsIoD, IL is caIed-that is, above the falls
Our emigration veIy large, yet made the ifiD
in good time, and with less difficulty than ] expected,
although the distance actually travelled tar greater than
l supposed Agreeably 10 the account winch have
carefully kept the distance is about 600 miles from here
10 knoxvile-abont 800 Of which through broken
and mountainous country; yet the travelled road IS not
difficult Is generally supposed by those who have
never been over IT, The trip can easily he made from
selection Of teams and a proper outfit.
On arriving in tins division OF tbs territory, ard making
a careful examination OF the country, must say that
ayreeabIy disappointed Instead of finding The
country barren DESERT find rich aud fer
Tile any part Of Illinois. The whole of this division
OF the territory, far as have made personal obser,a
ton, and the highest hills mot mOuniaIns)
passed in fertility. The land here produces more per
than it does any part of Illinois. For the growth
OF wheat there certainly part of the world equal to
Oregon. AL kinds OF small gram grow better here Than
IN he gaTde l.
the finest ever have
There certainly country where stock of all kinds
do finely here. Cattle good beef NJ all seasons
of the year. Grazing is fine all winter Stock IS never
grain-Ied in this county. The drove IN the
teams from the States fat.
This is said be colder than usual yc; 'hcTe
has been but few mornings that the mercury has been
below freezing, and plough any time in the
ter Speaking of the winters reminds of What have
often heard in the States that is that ia Oregon II rains
constantly for four mouths, (n the fall and winter sea-
sons This, however, have heard disputed. and being
anxious 10 settle the matter for myse well as TO be
able answer the inquiries OF others having interest
in this direction, have kept day book, (bcng en-
pOyed on farm and the time have lost Is as follows;
November two days, December two and January four.
/ have a country where a could do as
much work in the winter in Oregon.
As regards the health Of ais counry there is but one
opinion remarkably healthy The emigration must
of necessity be much exposed after leaving comfortable
and we'll provided homes in the States aud performing
long trip, to settle here; frs: with few of the
comforts and convenienees to which they accus
toned; yet so lar as have been inlOTmed the new en-
grans enjoy uninterrupted health, and fine spirits
and vigor aud all appear well pleased with their
homes. Our last years emigTation numbered 4y24O
Many of them have left their families in the States pre-
sumng satisfy themselves before breaking their old
homes So far acquainted, they all intend bring
ing their families to Oregon. Such know 10 be The in
enlIon OF Mr. Palmar, the late representative OF Franklin
county, Indiana
wrote you a letter by DR.. White when trail
ing up Burnt river, which expected would reach yon
early In Deseuasr The Doctor Indian agent, and
Washington heard
that White aud his party all murdered by The Sioux
Indians Mr. Grant, the agent of the Hudson Bay Com
Pany at Fort Hall, has written Dr. Mclaughlin, of
Vancouver, that such is the fact We still hope, how
ever that may be otherwise His loss would be much
lamen1ed lie had large packet of letters from
individuals well much matter for Congress from the
Legislature Of the Territorial government Of Oregon for
we have here, govrnor and legislature,
gether with the usual county officers Law and good order
are nowhere moro punctuay observed We have print
ing press, churches aud schools In 6ne this
country has all the elements, and that high degree,
of geographical, Physca PoIitlca aud moral grandeur
and progression.
On the first day January 1876 after travelling 5000
miles, stood the shores of the great Pacfc, and with
unmingled delight gazed upon the mighty deep,
have been the Columbia FROM Fort Nesperces,
which is situated the mouth OF the Walla WaIa
to its mouth, at the Pacific. The Columbia, from Mes
Perces down, has many falls, rapids, some OF which
impossible. About hundred miles below Fort
Nssperces what called the Great Falls Here the
of the great river Of the rushes through nu
meroes chasms IN the rocks with perpendcuar falls,
short distance below this the Dals where the entire
body Of the through space Of $50 feet
walled IN by basaltic columns Of perpendicular rock
either side Fifty miles below, aud on the north bank
stands Fort Nancouver the principal establishment OF the
Hudson Bay Company IL of "a number Of build
ings within sloeksde and numbers several hundred in
habitAnss. The Willamette the Columbia about
miles below Vancouver. The Willamette valley
embraces very nearly the whole of hat called the first
division Of the territory the south side Of the river Co
Iumba, and is about 100 miles wide, by 80 300
abundant privileges OF extensive water power. The
Willamette river is navigabe for steamboats, two
hundred miles from its mouth except the obstruc
ton, the celebrated falls, around which canal Is now
being built
The Columbia is much contracted at the mouth, and
falls the Pacific between high points caPes of
land the right called Cape Disappointment and
the left Point Adams From each OF these sand bar
extends into the Here tue Of the Pacific
in angry violence by the rolling Of the
Columbia, forming heavy line of breakers, which
ders the entrance and departure of vessels always hazard
ons The depth of between the bars thirty
The lowest stage Of the river The Columbia abonnds
in FISH, especially salmon which forms the principal sup
1ort TOR Indian tribes which inhab the first
aud second divisions of the territory There are, also,
three ships this river-two British aid American
For the beneh Of your acqnantances At there should
be any such wishing To Oregon and DESTROYS OF
any Information in relation to the Journey, propose Civ
Ing you brief outline OF the necessaTe> Tor the
fu and independent prosecution of the enterprise In
the first place they should have strong twohOTse wagon,
light, but well made, with SIX yoke of oxen To each
wagon, from Tour years old Of quick aud lively APP
should be doeile and racabe beuIe starting. Shoeng
is unnecessary. There should be than 200
lbs per wagon and four yoke 10 the wagon enough at
time. But trailing mp the Nebraska, Platte, L
getting the foot evil tor all who have performed the trip
testify that loose cattle much subject 10 that
disorder than those that kept IN the teams and they
subject that disease alter they leave the buffalo
country We a speedy and certain winch