The New era. [volume] ([Portsmouth, Va.]) 1845-1847, 1846-08-22
LETTER FROM OREGON.

LETTER FROM OREGON.
Samuel X. Barlow. formerly of the State of
Illinois, having emigrated to Oregon has written
a highly interesting letter from Oregon City un-
der date of 2Sth Of February. from which we ex
tract the following interesting iniellgence:-
&c l reached this, Oregon City. on the 9Th of
December. ard found in place of northern winter.
a southern fall as one fact only will prove. ,obac
CO was green as late the Goth of December.
peas, cabbage, turnips, and lettuce, green all the
time up to this day. ] only saw one snow in this
region. and that did not cover the ground shall
start IN few days Ia finish my road, SO that the
next emigration need have no fears about eettnu
through with their wagons and stock unless some
pretended pilot should meet them, and persuade
them to take other routes. The old mountain
trappers will promise all things. and do but little.
One OF these pretended pilots last fall led off two
hundred and twelve wagons On nearer route, and
aer leading them through all sorts of difficulties
lett them 10 find themselves a road where hest
they could. They reached the settlement some
three days after all the rest came in, ard to add
more to the sad tale. already bad enough, the sick
ness and deaths brought on by fatigue, hunger and
bad water, (when any could be had, for they
found none for days together.) The deaths in
that small company amounted 10 one hundred and
thirteen, while IN our company there was but one
SICK, and none went to bed no dea tbs Now I
will give you the names Of some that NAV deceive
others. Meek. Fethero, Black, Harris. and any
ct the old rappers, who will profess to have full
knowledge OF the mountains. Believe them not
but as your most deadly enemies they will use
M any company that may fall in their hands =
They all belong to the British Hudson Bay Com
pany.
AS respects the start and fit, have written
heretofore, and think it proper 10 repeat again.
Get strong two horse wagons; fall tongue, three
10 four yoke of oxen, known to be good load lioht
say from fifteen to eighteen hundred, two hundred
houI to the head. and in that proportion, suit
yourselves as to variety; next. clothing and bed
ding, then tools you may need either on the
road OF here as all things high at this time.
and must be so until the Yankees find us out. and
come To our relief, You know that all former le,-
tiers gave you different version of this part of
my story; but times have altered, the supply is
Tar. very far behind The demand. consequently ex-
orhitant prices are eXacted, to wit shoes az to
o. boots So to Is. glass Is cents per light auours
6O cts. per ar, chisels 25 cts. per DR. Enough on
this subject as you carry ont the sum total
There has not been out merchant ship here
since arrived there is one British mar. of war
here, and has been for some months asked one
ct the officers how long he was going To STAY
Ills answer was, until another came to take his
place As have heard nothing from the United
States since ! left, you must make your own COM
hut there is some party feeling beginning to show
itself; the British Hudson Bay Company and the
American emgrants, are beginning to look with
a jealous eve at each other. hope for the better
but fear the worst. All ia suspense here. all are
aoxl"us to know what is going on in the old
world %
=" From the foot of the Rocky mountains. tn the
Pacihc mountains, the soil is equal to any in the
world, and produces every kind Of vegetables,
(corn excepted in greater amount than any Mace
have seen. The tales you have heard of wheat
oats, barley, rye and roots of all kinds are true
and more than true To sum ND the whole mat
ter. the agricultural part of Oregon is not behind
any on the globe, acre for acre, and as To the ex
tent ot Oregon, Chat is the agricultural part it
is small; would say about twice as large as ILL
nois The grazing part, some larger Take Ore
gon all together, should say that it will suppor,
some SIX or eight millions of souls comfnrtably.-
VIII now say something of the fisheries, or VI
other words, give yOn fish story The salmon
are plenty. beyond description other fish t,Iera-
BILE plenty, and Of good quality AS to hoos and
cattle, VIII say that first rate beef and pork il
Drought IN daily, OF the latest kind, killed from
the grass; beef from to 6, pork from 8 to 10
cents per pound wheat one dollar all the time;
shingles four dollars per thousand lumber fifteen
TO twenty dollars per thousand salt is worth one
cent per pound, sugar 1914, coffee 20 cts Goods
"t all Kinds have risen some two hundred per
cent. SINCE the last emIgranis came ont. Ii ship
ping does not come soon, we shall he compelled
TO go step towards the natives in our habits. at
least IN wearing apparel, as clothing is higher
than any other article in demand Mechanics
tools are next in high price, and in the greatest
demand iron is worth 25 cents per pound. ] had
plough made last week, that cost me thirty
seven dollars, the sricest economy was studied
IN the size and consuuction--it was for breaking
new land The boys are now pIowinq some dis
lance nom town. sowing oats saw oats last
week six inches high
As to climate we have foil variety in the
valley ofihe Willamette, and other streams, il is
warm, so much so, that ~ have had turnp green's
for month past; lettuce all the time. peas are
green all winter, grass green and rich always-no
feeding or housing stock Of any kind through the
winter. but there is draw back on this score
the wolves occasionally kill cattle. when they find
one by itself When we leave the valley and as
cend the mountain we find colder weather, and
increasing in cold, until it is cold enough to scare
LaPlander. have not seen snow fall but once.
III the valley. this winter, and then not enough to
cover the ground, nor ice half an inch thick vet
! could look on the mountains, and see snow nf
great depth, and not more than eighty miles off
Now Do not be surprised, TO hear me say eighty
miles, tor will assure you, we can see objects