Wisconsin herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1846-1849, 1849-03-03

mineral springs of Bear river, with its pure
and lnyigorating climate, is destined to be-
come the great watering place of the world.
Oregon is not only valuable for its soil
and grasses, but also for its climate, timber,
aud fisheries, and for its location upon the
Pacific. There are many intelligent men in
the States, who believe that Oregon has
from five TO six months of incesSant rain,
aud about rs many months of drought in the
year. We have passed winter, but not a
summer IN Oregon. Ii is said that last sum-
mer was unusually dry. We arrived in the
Willamette Valley on the 18th of Septem-
Der, some time before the commencement of
the rainy season; and when we arrived, the
soil and vegetation showed less suffering
from drought than we have Frequently seen
in the States.
The wheat crop of the las, season was
unusually small, the cause of which is at
tributed here TO lack of the usual spring
rains; yet sufficient was produced to supply
the greatly increased population of the coun-
try with bread, and seed for sowing-al of
which was full and perfect. The last seas
on's crop of oats, potatoes, corn, $50 far as
II was panted) vegetables and fruits though
not heavy, was sufficient for the wants of
the country. These facts would satisfy any
man that the droughts in Oregon are more
terrible in name than in fact. Ii seldom
SHOWS in this valley. In December last, we
saw ice about three-lourths of an inch thick
on dead water in small shallow pools, the re-
suit of three cold days and nights During
the greater part OF last winter there were no
irosts here. That which is here denomina-
ted the rainy season commences on the LIST
of November, aud ends on the lst of March
49, ,,,anth. H..
October, lS47, and the LIST day of March,
1913, in this valley, there were seventy-six
clear days, fourteen days on which il rained,
hailed, or showed all day, and thirty days
on which il was neither clear nor stormy all
day. Those of our citizens who have pass
ed the winter in the middle portion of Ore
gon, represent the climate there as beauti-
fully mild and pleasant, with scarcely rainy
day during the winter.
Theimmense growth and quantity Of tim
Der of Oregon, we believe, is generally adj
mtted. The timber is valuable so far as it
is needed for home consumption and so far
as il is profitable for expectation. There
are eighteen saw mills in operation in Ore
gon aud greater number nearly ready for
operation, and yet lumber is worth $40 per
thousand in currency. The Oregon lumber
is shipped 10 California and the Sandwich
Islands, aai its value for shipment controls
its prlce at home.
That the rivers OF Oregon abound with
the choicest fish, we believe also is generally
admitted Several hundred barrels of sal
mon are anu ually packed here /; as many
thousands of barrels might he packed an
nually.
The day is not far distant when people
residing upon the Atlantic coast will be en-
gagged in the fishing and numbering business
upon the Pacific. LAUNDERING is fast disap-
pearing on the Atlantic. The fisheries are
becoming barren there. Whale fishing is
almost exclusively confined to the Pacific.
The present work of whale fishing is per-
formed AT great distance from home
That farmer who goes ten miles from home
TO work his farm, cannot farm as profitably
as he who lives upon his farm. Those who
control the whaIe-fishing interest may con-
tinue to reside upon the Atlantic but the
operators will reside upon the Pacific TO col
lect and store.
When the collecting and carrying branch
es Of the whae-fshng interest shall he sep
arated, that business may be reduced to sys-
tenn and certainty, but not before. That
the Pacific will soon become the seat Of nc
tive aud profitable commercial operation
none can doubt; the capital of Oregon to be
invested in these operations, furnished by
Nature, is immense, beyond computation.