Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1847-12-07
B Or From the Princeton Herald.
Letter from Oregon. "
PLEASANT HILL, Oregon, )

OScremenlo'apo AFTER travelling 35 days,
we reached the head of the Willamette
valley in Oregon. AS soon as had res.
ted, l commenced looking at the country.
q have examined it with Jealous eye,
: and have come to the conclusion that the
Creator has placed Oregon at that point
OF the globe where il will ever be healthy.
II has good soil, is well watered, and
mas, excellent timber; though the country
: V notas extensive as expected to find it.
But there is much oft unexPlored. have
settled or Pleasant Hill, in the forks of
the Willamette, $50 miles above ship
navigation, and 60 or 70 from Alsea Bay.
supposed to be a ship harbor. People
can lire here with half the. labor.
they can in Illinois, Stock can live with.
out corn. Wheat never fails it will come
g well for three years with but once sowing
and it is not known how much longer; but
the third crop was the best l have ever
saw any where; ST bushels per acre
measured. Rust is not known. We have
two crops of grass, for as soon as the fall
rains setiu, The grass springs up, and
continues green all the winter. Oatsgrow
we'll they are almost evergreen. Turnips
nre raised weighing 2llbs., and beets out
Ofcredit. Cabbage, potatoes, and other
vegetables come we'll when it is not too
dry. Corn does hut poorly. owing to the
cool nights (made SO by the sea breeze)
but sufficient corn can be raised to fatten
pork. &c. Sheep,I think, will do we'll:
erery family should bring 10 ewes; they
drive better than cattle, There is plenty
90 bear, deer and elk near Pleasant Hill.
and | could catch plenty Of fish if had
time. II does not rain as much in the
winter as ! anticipated. Last winter we
had % SHOWS. and Is times the valley
was white. Many cattle ofthe last years
emigration died; those that were here be.
fore did we'll. The new emigrants were
obliged TO feed their cattle on wheat, in
order to winter them. ] have conversed
with several meA who have been here
thirty-eight and forty years, who never
saw SO hard winter before. We can
have every variety ofclimate, for two days
ride will carry us from the sultry plains
~ lUc region OF eI0TDal snow.
@ The country is not without its obiec.
tions. The greatest that can see is that
it rains little too much in winter, and not
quite enough in summer; but you would
mind il the least here of any other pla ce.
The time Of caring is very dry. The wat.
or is as pure as ever dubbed from the
earth. Some people here are much dis
satisfied, not finding every thing they
wished. The principal cause of dissatis-
faction Is the difficulty of obtaining such
things as they need in this new country
where everything is scarce and high.
Wheat, 81 cash: sharpening prairie
plough, 81; dressing gun 81; shoes, from
4 to 80; boots from 3 to $40, and other
things in proportion. There are many
claims for sale, Some are going back to
the States. Ifyou see any of them, you
will not hava the truth, for they e1agger.
ate to PERSONS face. There are many
of the best claims not taken. and will not
be for years. The Willamette is noble
river, with rapid current to the falls.
| have been TO the mouth osthe Columbia.
and do not like it. 1t is well described
by Lewis and Clark. do not think Pu.
get Sound a good farming country though
some like it. ,a..a g.. =
| have been induced to tear myselfloose
from the embraces iofa kind tfectionate
family. in order to seek an asylum
more under the direction of kind Bene.
factor, and to better cur condition, and
am the worst deceived man you ever saw
if | have not found that place. All | re.
greet is that did not get my consent to
do it years before. No country can pre-.
sent better prospect for health, at least.
Many have gained their health since they
left the States. There are many who
were miserably poor when they left the
States, who would sell their property for
from $4,000. You would 10 we'll to come
TO Oregon. if you can only get an outi.
for would not give claim on Pleasant
Hill for all three of your farms. When
l look around, and make full estimate of
all the prospects that are apparently Ell.
lgible, | can hardly enjoy myself as
christian should. My whole soul is in
this thing. You know am no enthusiast.
have lendeavored not to exaggerate. and
know this is my common way ofwrt.
ing have therefore said but little, but
from what | say, you see that am much
pleased. 1t requires economy to live
here as well as in other places, but we
can do so with much less labor and res.
possibility, after we get fixed. The stock
is wintered without grain, and the farmer
has little else to do but sow and reao. I
know | may be censured for persuadinp
you all so hard to come to Oregon for It
would be almost a miricle it all of so large
afamily should be pleased; but l have
done what know to be my duty, as you
are all young. Your mother and myself
are getting old, bu. we shall live many
yeArs longer here, no doubt, than in Hi