Wisconsin herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1846-1849, 1846-09-26
LANCASTER, SATURDAY. SEPTEMBER ss, 1886

The region Of Oregon, should it ex-
tend to 40, is probably capable of sus-
tanning as great population as two
thirds of the Territory of the States
and with far less hard labor. s2i'a8
| ,g8 saaels Climate. i1 ea i.f
This is decidedly the inviting char
acteristic of the country, and is GER
tainly great inducement for all per-
sons of delicate health. l speak Of
the Middle region. Free from marshes
or standing water and vegetable decay,
the air is remarkably pure and serene,
summers rather warm, especially in the
valleys; the mercury ranges, for some
time during the hot season, from 100
to 100 degrees above zero. Nights
cool, but no fog or dew except in few
places. Twice since have been in the
country frost has injured vines, leaves,
&c.. first of May, but never in the fall
till late often my melons, &c.. are
green till first of December. -Four
times since | have been here the mer-
curry has fallen below zero, once to 26
degrees, but usually it ranges above 20
in the morning and above GO through
the day. Six of my ten winters in the
country the rivers have remained I'M
frozen through the winter. The snow
sometimes falls foot deep, should
Judge about once in 5 years. About
half of my winters here there has been
mo snow in the vallies, but little on the
plains except to ~hiten the earth for a
short time, but it disappears in few
hours, especially on the south face of
the bluffs and hills. Last year ] made
collection of flowers and plants which
l purpose to send to Washington. !
gathered two flowers in JAM, on 22d
and goth, blowers have been seen the
last winter and winter before from Goth
OF Jan } and during the month of Feb.
some 40 showed themselves, and by
the first of March the grass on the
south face of the bluffs was Ii inches.
This year the season was about three
weeks later, judging by the appearance
of flowers. ] know Of no disease that
can be said to be peculiar to the coun-
try. The country is peculiarly free
from sudden changes of weather or
violent storms. Persons who have
wintered here from the South, tell me
the winters are as mild as the winters
in the north of North and South Caro-
lima, and with less sudden changes.
Advantages of the IIerding system.
The country is one extensive prairie,
except the mountains, which are Gov.
cred with several species Of pine, cedar
and fir. The prairies are rolling, and
with the exception Of a narrow belt of
sand and srdgrupon the coinmbia and
portions of the Snake river, are every
where covered with the bunch grass,
which, from observation, / Judge to be
a richer, heartier food for animals than
corn. oats, and the best pasture Of the
States. tits fine solid stalk growing
two feet high, with fine leaves, holds
its freshness through the winter;
mean the old stock which mingled with
the young growth which usually springs
fresh in the fall, forms food for ami
mails through the winter, preferable to
the best hay. Horses and oxen per-
form labor at all seasons upon this grass
simply, without The aid Of grain, which
I now think disposes the animal system
10 various diseases. When ] pack ]
usually travel from 35 to DO miles a
day, each horse carrying 200 pounds,
rest an hour at noon without taking
down the packs, camp sun two hours
high, hobble horses, drive up in the
morning al sunrise, find horses will en-
dure snch labor for 25 or 80 days, rest
ing Of course on the Sabbath, upon
this grass without injuring them
Their wind is evidently better than
that Of horses fed on grain and hay. |
have rode from DIR. Whitman's station
to this, I25 miles, in 10 hours. starting
at nine o'clock at night, driving spare
horse before for change, but this was
no advantage, for / find it was more
fatiguing TO horse to be drove than to
be rode.
You doubtless recollect the man
who overlook US on the head of Ala
pausawi, Thursday morning. He had
left the Dals or Long Narrows on the
Columbia, Tuesday morning, slept a
short time Tuesday night below the
Utilla, passed by DR.. Whiiman's sta
ton and slept Wednesday night on the
Tukansn, distance from the Dalls OF
24o miles, and the day he passed Us
N