Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1848-10-17
From she Jacksonville Argus.
Prom oregon. u Z
P9tK Co, OREGON TERR1rpRY, !
RICKERALL, April Sd. 1919.

KIcKERALL, April Sd. le4s.
DEAR SIR:-According to the request
OF trends will try to give you an accoun,
OF oregon as well as can. The Will
annette Valley is about $50 miles long
and 5O miles in breadth The Valley is
divided by the Willamette river, which
runs nearly through its center. and also
by its tributaries, which have their orr
gin in either the coast or Cas- cade Noun
tains. In the lower parts Of the valley,
and particularly on the Columbia river.
are found large forests of timber of un.
common height and size. The prairies
in thisPortion are small and are thought
not so fertile as the larger Prairies of The
upper valley. Numerous saw mills are
in operation, and large quantities of lum-
Der are shipped 20 the Sandwich Islands
from this portion ofthe country In what
is called the upper Willamette valley the
prairies are large, rolling and most beau
liful, the bodies of timber are small and
not so good as in the lower country, ex.
cePt when we get near the foot of the
mountain or Immediately on the river
The Prairies are divided from each other
by numerous creeks, and what are called
the oak hills, upon which are found mex
haustible bodies of white oak timber. Il
is very short and resembles the sand.
ridge oak Of the Illinois bottom; it is sci.
dom used for anything but fire wood. The
grass is not like that Of the states, hut
believe a much better kind than I
ever saw in my life. The soil is an unctous
loan lying upon clay foundation; it is
one and a half or two feet deep.
The portion of the country lying north
OF Columbia river and Immediately on Pu.
gets sonnd is said to be a beautiful coun.
try of timber and Prairie. The timber is
OF fine quality, but the prairie is thought
not to be so productive as the land OF the
Willamette valley. The Umphqua, Rouge
river and klamet countries are as yet I'm.
tried, and the two last but partially known.
Col. Ford with company ofmen are now
on an exploring expedition to the two
last. 1t is thought that they excel the
Willamette valley for the climate and
richness Of soil. .....
landed in the Willamette valley on
the 26th of September, the weather con.
tinued seasonable until Nobember. with
rain enough to put the ground in good or.
der for blowing and sowing whear; the
fore part Of November was rain: about
the middle we had cold spell of weather,
the ground froze about one inch deep for
four nights in succession: l saw ice on
small bodies of water on the ground, but
none in running water; the last of this
month was rainy; the three first weeks of
December no rain; the last of this month
and the first Of January. rainy about the
middle Of this month cold spell similar
to the first mentioned; the last of this and
until the Goth Of Feb. rain; here date
the commencement offspring, saw straw.
berry blossoms as early as the 4th of Feb.
yet at that time blossoms of various kinds
were common; the weather was fine and
the sky clear; in the last of February and
first of March my brother and l were
blowing and sowing wheat; the last OF
March was rainy and stormy, something
like the spring weather in Illinois, but
at this time it is clear, the hills are deco
rated with an almost innumerable variety
OF flowers of every color; and here |
would say | have, been disappointed in
the winters of Oregon-the rains are
harder, but not of so long a continuance
as in the States; we had two SHOWS this
winter, but neither ofthem lay on the
ground exceeding six hours. The grass
in Oregon comes in Autumn. just as il
comes in Spring in Illinois; it grows the
height OF four or FIVE inches, where il is
not cut down by cattle, and remains I'm.
til spring when it runs up to seed, and
during the summer months dries, dies or
cures on the ground. The frosts and
freezing in winter have no effect on the
grass. Cattle and horses remain Eat all
winter, and not only this, for some of my
oxen that were poor last fall are at this
time fat. a.
There is at present but two known
ship harbors on our coast-that of Co
lumbla river and Puget's Sound; there is
said to be good harbor at the mouth Of
Klamet.
A word to friends and relations; am
happy to inform you that am well pleas.
ed with Oregon, and as far as know at
present | expect to spend MY days here.
and there are many of you that / would
be glad to see here. But | say to no
person, ''coME"-ifI were in Illinois
should come again. Oregon is a new
country, and has great many disadvan-
tages at present, which in few years
will be otherwise. Ships are frequently
arriving, but we have but little for them
to take away, the emigration being large
enough to consume nearly all the sur
plus. But my opinion is if man can.
reach Oregon with wife. wagon and
team, q cove, an American mare. money
enough 20 buy his first years provisions,
and will like the country, Icount him
ricb--if he is not at that time, BY econo
my he soon can be. $50