Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1849-10-03

CONSCIOUSNESS OF THE N. Y. OBSERVER.

+. Town OF PoRTLAND.-Ihs town is located OF
the west bank of the Willamette, fourteen mile
from It's entrance into tho Columbia, the mouth o
The Willamette being five miles below Fort Van
couver. The first settlement here made was in
November. 1915, by Capt n. Crosby. master, and
Is F. Stark, supercargo, of the barque Tououn from
New York. They built small log store. Since
that time Capt. Crosby has built fine house, Gin
which am now writing at $1,000 expense. IL
is finished of in the most perfect manner, and ia
regarded as the best house in Oregon. He now
values the premises worth $4,000. The town of
Portland now contains twenty or thirty tolerably
well finished wooden buildings. At present there
are about tina, number of families residing here
This place is AT the head waters Of ship navigation
IN the Willamette, being ten or twelve miles below
Oregon City, and must eventually become place
OF much Importance. 1t derives its name from
Portland" Maine, an early settler in the town be-
ING from that State
| The LUMBER TRApE.-Thc name is not alto
geiher Inappropriate nasmuch as the lumber trade
is that now principally prosecuted here. At pre-
sent 1t is most profitable business, will appear
when Inform you respecting the prices of lumber
IN California Lumber formerly sold in Oregon
for twenty dollars per thousand. The price has al
ready advanced TO hundred dollars per thousand,
while in California it is selling for about five
hundred dollars per thousand. So great is the de-
mand that vessels can afford to pay seamen at the
rate of one hundred dollars per month for their ser
vices on ship board.
WAGES OF SEAMeN AND LABoRERs.-You will
scarcely credit the following statement yet you may
rely upon it as no exaggeration. A vessel arrived
here last week, on board Of which the first officer
receives $3.50 per month, and the foremost hands
Sl5O! Did not positively know these statements
10 be true should be far from willing to risk my
character for veTacity in stating them. Every thing
Is In the same proportion. Shipcarpenters receive
ten dollars per day. and common laborers three four,
and five dollars; and this is Oregon! Goods, OF
course, bring high price, and the produce of tho
country has advanced in about the same proportion.
Wealth of various kinds is flowing into the country
The vessel referred to above is supposed to have
brought 100000 in specie, gold dust, and goods
30 goes the business world. But you are learning
such facts from other sources; hence will touch
upon other topics.
VISIT TO Mr.. PoMERoy AND Mn. GRIFFIN.-
Last week started for Turlau Plains TO visit the
Rev. Mr.. Eels, lately of the mission of the Amer
lean Board among the Flat Head Indians. But
must refer TO some incidents which occurred before
| reached his residence. After proceeding some
twelve miles through the forest horseback, (the
miles in Oregon are very long, one will almost g.
quail ttco in New England ! came to an open field
or plain several miles in extent. Being somewhat
weary rode up to farm house, and was cordially
welcomed BY tho owner, a Mr.. Poneroy originally
from Northampton, (Mass.) His good lady fur
nished me an excellent dinner. They appeared to
be surrounded with the products Of Oregon in rich
abundance but, says Mrs p, ''Oh, what would
no; give for the fruits of the Eastern Staes' Those
| could not furnish, but CHANGED 10 have fresh
orange in my pocket, which gladly presented the
lady. 1t was the first she had for many years.
Mr.. p. owns one of the best farms in Oregon has
five hundred acres of land fenced and under cult
| walton, twenty or thirty yoke of oxen, barn one
hundred and twenty feet long, and other things I'd
correspond On leaving his farmhouse proceeded
on my route over the plains.
The next stopping place which made was that
! OF the Rev. MIR. Griffin, about three miles distant.
He resides IN the edge of forest of oak and pine,
with fine prairie country in front. On introduce
ing myself, was asked Immediately into print
ing office, where found the Rev. MIR. Griffin &C.
tually at tho press working off volume one num-
Der eight OF the Oregon American and Evangeli.
cal UnioniSt." How it was possible for him to is
sue respectable periodical OF sixteen pages from
, press not larger than merchants copying ma
chine was matter of no little surprise. Yet there
was the work actually going forward | shall send
; you some OF the numbers. His only printer was
boy between thirteen and fourteen years old, who
never saw the inside of printing office until July
last year. We need not, however, be surprised
for the boys given was Frapkii,i, and he had
come over the Rocky mountains.
G ENTERPRISE THE AMERICANS.-The world
has hitherto been asonished at the ingenuity and
labors Of the American people ofthe Eastern States
but, let me assure them, their brethren of the Yves,
are TapdIy advancing 10 contest with them the palm
of invention, skill, and enterprise The truth is
one must hithcr himself and behold the chan
ges which American labor has accomplished in less
h than ten years to fully solve and appreciate the en-
It terprise and goa head powers of the Americans-
= For years, while residing at the Sandwich Islands,
e have been listening 10 the 'yarns" Of the sailor
and the whaleman, but they fall short of the dan
gers trials, and escapes incident journey over
the Rocky mountaDa.
d