Wisconsin herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1846-1849, 1847-11-06
From the Chicago Journ
RecollectiOns of Oregon.
The condition of the Oregon Territor,

The condition of the Oregon Territory,
must have undergone marvellous change
in the last six years, if it possesses all the
advantages of a country to settle in, which
an occasional fiorid description published
by some over sanguine adventurer, or in
terested speculator, would lead one to inn
agine. Why, in 1871, there was no such
possibility as permanent 'ssquat' within
some miles of its banks, except the elevated
locations of Astoria, Voncouvre, and the
the Touring mills, belonging to the COM
pany, which latter, if my memory serve
me faithfully, are some thirty miles beyond
the Fort, and above the point where the
river is no longer navigable, except for ca
noes and flat boats. When surveyors can
alter the laws of nature, and prevent the
annual foundations of the rapid and sinuous
streanl-why, then, settling may be practi-
cable during the dry season. The traveller,
looking towards the tops of the highest
trees, may behold the drift wood and weeds
borne on the waters of the previous treshet,
whitening on their topmost branches-and
such is the character of all the streams be-
tween the Oregon and the Spanish Valley.
The Nomadic tribes of all that sylvan re-
gion, have flats upon the highest hills, to
which they retire during the rainy season,
and there take shelter until the water sub
sides, and then resume their hunting and
fishing in the valleys.
Six years since, and the Quality Plains,
between thirty and forty miles from the
Fort, and what was then called the Ameri-
can side, was the first cultivated land that
occurred with the exception OF an isolated
settlement or two from the Columbia to the
Willemett, at that time containing about
one hundred persons. Many of these were
dissatisfied, and were eager TO better their
condition by farther emigration. With
them, indeed, !" returning We're as tedious
as go o'er;'' and with the Rocky Mountains
in the rear, their faces as well as their aspi-
rations were turned towards California, and
the cry was 60 onwardl'' Many families
took advantage of the protection afforded
by Government party, and when we took
up our line of march, we were followed by
quite number of disappointed Oregonians,
and thus passed into the Spanish Valley,
the first American party that had ever
crossed those mountains, crowned with
magnificent timber, or changed into black
desolation by the fire of the natives. How
often have / heard the daughters of New
England, as, ready to drop from their sad
dies with fatigue, during our forced march
es through the hostile Indian counuy--be-
wailing their situations, and signing for the
comforts of their early homes. Nor were
these complaints the results of caprice or
momentary inconvenience-the were made
by those who had given the promised
land" and who had found toii and discom-
fort enough during the probation ~ dis
courage the fruit OF adventure itself. Mics
of this interesting country are traversed, be-
fore fresh water can be obtained, and when
it is come at, except in the gullies of the
mountains, the streams are sluggish, scant
and muddy, losing themselves in the dense
brushwood which oyerhangs and marks
their course, or slowly eddying into stag
nant pools, present little refresiiment to the
parched aud weary traveller. Ague and
fever were among the beauties Of that never
to be forgotten transit, and when the party
arrived at Suffers Plantation on the Sacra-
mento, it resembled band Of resusicta,ed
bodies from some extensive burial ground,
and happy was the sea-going portion Of it,
to find themselves once more Teading