The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-04-18
From he NashUiHe True Whig.
Oregon-Face OF the Country, Resources,

Game, &c.
Our readers will not fail to be interested with the
following extract of letter from young officer in
the army at Oregon city, TO his friend here, dated
OREooN CITY, November, 1919.
Oregon, west Of the Cascade mountains to the
ocean, is well timbered consisting of pine, fir, al
der, "a white, hard, and fine grained wood } and
variety OF other species. II is of the heaviest
imbered countries II not the heaviest in the world.
II 10 true, that many trees, pine and fir, reach To
the enormous height Of three hundred feet while
the average is two hundred and fifty feet-trees
nave been measured eight feet from the ground,
twelve, hfteen, seventeen, and one has been mea-
sured by an army officer, twenty one feet in
diameter. know you will be incredulous; what
shall state, however, will have truth to support it.
The forests very thick astonishingy 50 for the
great size of the trees. You will Judge, therefore,
that this country has mine of wealth in its lum-
Der. Precisely so--that is its greatest resource,
and il is now being proved. The country speak
Of as timbercd has an extraordinary water power.
Mill sites are numerous, and already command
enormous prices; mill privilege, with single
saw running now, cannot be purchased for fifteen
thousand dollars. This easily be accounted
for; lumber sells in San Francisco at three hundred
dollars per thousand; it commands in the heaviest
contracts, s. 100 thousand at the mill. The Co
umba river is navigable for the largest vessels to
the port of the rapids at the Cascade alls and up
the river Willamette, on which Oregon city Is
situated, ships come as far as Portland, which ]
judge to be twenty miles from its mouth, and
Twelve miles from THIS place; ana nve months IN
the year ships come up to vevy falls, at Oregon
city Nsqually, Cowhly, the Willamette and Co
lumba rivers offer the best milling seats in the
country, and Willamette valley the best agricul-
tural inducements. The Yamhill country "a part
of the Willamette valley) cannot be surpassed for
fertility Of soil; though corn has not been raised
successfully, wheat oats, barley, rye, potatoes, tur
nips, beets, pumpkins, and in fine, every sort OF
vegetables yield extravagantly. We have in our
quarters turnip at least ten inches in diameter,
so that from what isstated you may gather enough
to be convinced its agricultural worth is by no
means Insignificant; unfortunately the of rich
soil is not proportionate with the rest Of the
try. But Oregon has its valuable minerals, and
believe that salt will be manufactured before many
years as another great source OF wealth.
The natural pastures produce the finest grass
you saw, and cattle require little shelter
whatever, from the mild climate Of the winters
Occasionally there is hard winter, but this oc-
ours but seldom.
Sheep could be raised very proftably, but would
require herdsmen, on account OF wolves. Horses
and mules in great demand; $50 horse in
Tennessee is here worth $50, and very fine
S $50 horse is easily sold for $500 mules 500 to
1925 in poor condition, fast they arrive
Mich COWS 1915 and 800, and very scarce; porl
% cents per pound; beef cents.
Common laborers So per day; carpenters Sd
per day head workmen Sl2; blacksmith gets
his own price, Tailors charge $40 to make coat
and washerwoman s per dozen. Potatoes S:
per bushel; oats ~ so, and can't be had. and every
dition of affairs in this country present Money
however, is very abundant, and many who have
got start are reaping splendid harvest. All this
has been produced, beyond doubt, by the gold ex.
element in California. But still, there is no abate
ment of the gold fever, and men sanguine and
more SO than heretofore.
One thing alone disquets the community, and
that is the unsettled condition Of their land claims
The provisional government granted section Of
land to each settler Many locations have been
surveyed, and small hut erected for the present
upon them Others have gone on and improved
their farms, particularly in the :" Yamhill coun-
try" OF course they have their occupant rights
whatever action Congress may have In the matter;
still they were guaranteed, by the provisional gov
eminent, and they claim their lands as a donation
to SETTLE but they fear Congress will bring the lands
into market. This, believe, would be wrong, as
the emigrants have endured great suffering, and
periled their all to colonize this distant Territory
Such is the condition of Oregon at this time and. il
we may judge of the future from the present, the
destiny of the country will be all its citizens could
desire.
country has not been exaggerated Though har-
bors few and unsafe, still the coast is not en-
tirely destitute. The Columbia river is of vast inn
portance and the number of vessels arriving in the
river is greatly on the increase. learn on inquiry
that the difficulty, though at present very great, tc
vessels entering or leaving the river has been mucf
exaggerated, and the navigation can be rendered
far safer. At this, the wet season of the year. fog
In a few years the carrying trade will be qun
tupled, and at present il is difficult TO foresec how
great trade will be carried in lumber. TIL,
wheat of this country is most excellent in quality
and venture that large Touring establishment
will distribute their brands 10 the islands and alone
the coast north and south.
The salmon and fisheries are of great importance
one of the wealth producing sources Of this coun
try. The hsharc excellent and swarm the rivers
very large and constantly increasing trade i
carried on with the Indians Several of the tribe
are rich in horses; especially the Cayusc and Ney
Perces, among whom single chief owns four thou
sand head.
The animals are, in the Cascade mountains
grizzly bear, brown bear, panther, cougar, wilo
cat, and grey wolf; in all other parts, panther
wild cat, black tailed deer, whte-taied deer, elk
black bear, wolves, fox, raccoon, otter, Ia few
beaver in distant parts,) and other small game
Several varieties Of grouse are every where found
few quails, doves, wild pigeons, swan, geese
brants, and every variety Of wild ducks immune
rsble.
From The ConnsrsuiAe (Ia.) Chronicle.
The State OF Indiana.
Fifty years ago the vast body Of land now EN-