The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1846-11-06
From tie Springfield Journal.
EIsOli GREG ON.
AN INTERESTING LECTURE.

y
arrived in the States some days
since. lie has been an explorer Of
Oregon for Is months, and seems to
have a thorough knowledge of the
Willamette valley, and, indeed of
all the country in Oregon south Of
the Columbia river. He has made
his claim, and has now come to the
States for the purpose of returning
with his parents. Mr.. ID. was in
this city last week, and on Tuesday
night, at the request Of several Of
our citizens, delivered a lecture at
the b. Church, in which he gave a
general description of the Oregon
Territory, its advantages for settle
mcnt, and the route Of emigrants
from the South Pass to the Walla-
mctto valley.
Mr.. Davidson expressed his deci-
ded preference of the valley of the
Willamette over every other portion
of the territory, at present, for set
Elements. He said that the valley
was two hundred miles long, and
averaged one hundred and fifty miles
in width. He commenced his des-
cription of this valley at the juno
ton Of the Willamette with the CO.
lumbia, passing up the western side,
noticing the settlements, the soil,
the timber, the general appearar. Q
of the country, the creeks, sc, until
he reached the three forks Of the
Willamette, about 100 miles above
the falls, and where its navigation
terminates. The whole extent of
the west bank of that river he rep
resented as happily diversified with
prairie, timber, and creeks. The
creeks, ran with pure, soft and c.e.r
water, and furnished mill seats as
often as could be desired. He sta
ted that on Yam Hill river there
were nourishing SettlementS-good
improvements, and excellent society.
The usual crop Of wheat there was
80 bushels to an acre, but 80 bush
els has been raised to the acre,
weighing 50 pounds to the buShel.
He had himself cut down fir tree
in the Yam Hill country, which
measured 300 feet in length. Trees
had been cut which made twenty
lengths of rails, of eleven feet each.
The country was agreeably rolling,
and the best roads could be made.
The uplands were fertile, as well as
the vallicS of the creeks. The see
merry on these creeks was beautiful /;
and with the pure atmosphere, and
glowing health, here exhibited, i'm
parted an energy and checrGulness
to the people, which he had not seen
out of Oregon. This was manifest
in their improvements, which were
more advanced in one and two years,
than could have been accomplished
in the Western States within three
times that period.
This description of the Yam Hill
country, with little variation, will
apply to all that extensive country
from Yam Hill river on the west
side of the great valley, to the Forks
of the Willamette. But few claims
have been made south of the Yam
Hill country. That beautiful region
invites to its possession the energet-
ic Ang'o Saxon race.
Mr.. Davidson then took his audi
encc to the east side Of the Walla-
mette, and commencing with the
Clackamus creek, few miles be-
low Oregon city, he proceeded up
the east side of that river to the
great Forks describing the intervc-
ming country. 1t is land Of hills
and vallies, plains and creeks, gen
orally resembling the country on the
western side. 1t was, however, Sc
lected by the French for their early
settlement, and the Methodists for
their mission establishment. The
French settlement commences some
distance above Oregon city. The
settlers were originally servants Of
the Hudson Bay Company. After
leaving its service, they married ma.
tive women, and they have now large
families of half breeds. These peo-
pie are very inofensive, do not pos.
sess the kcenncss of the yankee in
tellcct; but the young men are fine
looking, and many of the girls arc
quite beautiful. They are of the
Catholic religion; and it is here the
Catholics have their Mission cstab.
lishmcnt. 1t is now altogether res
pectable in buildings, and they are
this summer greatly enlarging it by
the erection of an extensive brick
church.
The French have farms, cattle
horses, hogs, orchards, sc. The
apples, peaches, pears, and plums
were seedlings, but were generally
! fnc-proving, incontestibly, that tn,
WallSmettc valley is well adapted
to the cultivation of fruit.
Some distance above is the Meth
nlist Mission establishment IN, "a