The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1849-06-30
Late and Interesting from Oregon

The New York Tribune has received files of the
Oregon Spectator to the 22d of February last The
news of the organization of Oregon as a territory
of the United States had been received, but Gen.
Lane had not arrived although daily expected
The Legislature of Oregon adjourned on the 10th
of February, after passing law authorizing the
establishment of Mint.
The Legislature elected Gen. A. Lawrence Love-
Joy, Supreme Judge of Oregon Territory; w. S.
Matlock, Circuit Judge; Samuel Parker, Prose-
cutting Attorney TheOphilus Magruder, Secretary
of the Territory; Capt. VIM. X. Kilborn, Terrific
rial Treasurer; and John G. Campbell, Territorial
Auditor.
The Legislature also elected Theophilus Magru-
der, James Burch, and Wesley Shannon, Commits
sioners to settle all claims growing out of the
Cayuse war.
The Legislature also elected the following gen.
tlemen officers of the Mint, to wit Col. James
Taylor, Director; Truman p Powers, Treasurer :;
DR.. William H. Wilson, Meter and Conner and
Geo. L. Curry, Assayer. az
The Legislature also elected VIM. H Bennett,
Marshal; and A. Lee Lewis, Superintendent of
Indian Affairs.
The Spectator says that iron ore has been dis
covered within ten miles of Oregon City. 1t is be-
lieved the metal exists in abundance. Rich beds
of lead ore have also been discovered, and also
pumbago and black lead. Copper is said to exist
10 the western part of the territory Granite, mar
BILE, sandstone and other useful minerals abound.
todi dt the Ol TIE SdScdue
Mountains, and in various other places. Platinum
is said TO exist in vast quantities in the Flathead
Country, in the neghborhood of Fort Okanagan.
cd has been discovered in several different
places in Oregon, but nowhere yet in great
abundance. Within the last three weeks gold had
been discovered on the Sanfiam river, tributary
of the Willamette, taking its rise in the neighbor-
hook of Mount Jefferson. Some persons engaged
in gold digging on the Santam are making about
81 per day, and think the prospect good for finding
the gold considerably abundant when, from the
disappearance of the snow, they shall be able to
penetrate into the mountains The editor of the
Spectator had conversed with several who have
returned from the California gold mines, and all
agree in dscribing striking similarity in the geo.
logical character of several portions of eastern and
southern Oregon and the gold regions of California.
Timber is abundant and of the finest quality.
There are thirty sawmils, and lumber is worth
$50 per thousand.
The editor of the Spectator is enthusiastic in his
praises of the climate of Oregon. Objects may be
seen with the unaded eye at the distance of 200
miles. Persons abroad may form some idea of the
charming transparency of the atmosphere of Gre
gon from the fact that at Oregon City (45o 2OD day
light and twilight, in the longest days of Summer,
consume 81 out Of the "a hours of the day.
Those portions of the territory between the Rocky
and Blue Mountains, has climate sufficiently
agreeable in Summer, but cold in winter. That
portion between the Blue and Cascade Mountains,
1t is believed possesses of the mildly tenn
perafe, even and invigorating climates on the face
OF the earth; snow rain. hail seldom fall except
In the spring or fall yet excellent consecutive crops
OF wheat, corn, oats, peas, potatoes and garden
vegetables have been raised there without rriga-
lion, and almost the entire surface of the country
is bountifuly Overspread with the richest of grasses
That portion between the Cascade Mountains and
the Pacific enjoy climate eminently pure and
healthy, and as mild at 4S degrees of north latitude
the opposite side Of the continent does at 40.
Apple and peach trees perfect abundant fruit an
nually. There are few bearing pear trees in the
country Apple trees of less than two inches diam
eter, are loaded with fruit. Wild white plums,
grapes, cherries, and black, red, and yellow cur
rants are indigenous to some portions of Oregon,
but are rarely, says the Spectator, found in this
valley. A choice white plum grows in the imp
qua valley upon tree, rather shrub small that
their growing and ripening fruit bends them to the
ground. the berries are strawberries, dewberries,
whorleberres, sallalberries, black and yellow rasp
berries, gooseberres juneberries and cranberries.
The pralres may be truly said to be literally red
with strawberries, and the timbered openings blue
with whorslsbeHiss, in their season,