The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-01-28
George B. Mathew, esq.

FROM OREGoN.--By the Falcon VIC have re-
ceived letters and Oregon papers to the 2lst of
November.
We perceive that Arson Dart, the newly mp
pointed superintendent of Indian nffirs E.,
Oregon, has entered upon the duties Of his Office
He has issued proclamation calling the atten-
ton of all concerned to the penalties imposed
by acts of Congress for attempts to dispose OF,
wines or spirituous liquors to the Indiuns, or to
introduce them into the Indian country.
meeting had been held at Portland, at which
$3.50 were subscribed for the relief Of the over.
land immigrants, many Of whom, it was said
were beyond the Dallas river in a suffering con
dition.
The Oregon Spectator publishes an importan,
decision by Judge Strong, of the United States
District Court Under an act of the Legislative
assembly of Oregon, the proper authorities OF
Clark county selected one hundred and sixty
acres Of land the site for the county buildings
The judge has decided that the act of the legs-
lature is contrary TO the laws of the United
States, and all proceedings under it are null and
void The reasons for this opinion are The
act of Congress on which the territorial law
was founded, gives the right of presumption at
the minimum price, for quarter section of land,
for county purposes, to each county in which
there are lands belonging to the United States
This is not the fee, but the right to purchase,
and the quantity is designated as quarter sec
ton, legal subdivision. The Judge does not
consider 100 acres as equivalent 10, though it is
the amount of quarter section. In the absence
of surveys,.it could not be told whether they
might not constitute parts of two or more quar-
ter sections. The Judge says:
This court is bound officially to take notice
Ill l.. l.. l.. Al a.
tory are as yet unsurveyed, and in fact that the
Indian title is not yet extinguished to any portion
of them. Under the organic act, Congress has
expressly reserved to itself to primary disposal
Of the soil The legislative assembly therefore
have no right to confer authority upon the Judges
OF probate to appropriate public lands in Oregon
territory fer county or any other purposes nm
less authorized TO do so by act of Congress"
The paper above quoted publishes the follow
ing paragraph fit shall indeed prove true that
coal exists in large quantities in the territory
and in such a position as to be easily trans
ported TO the sea coast, the discovery is one Of
immense importance, not only to Oregon, nut to
tie commerce Of the Union. Ii is now toer-
ably well ascertained that there is no coal in
California, while it is equally certain that the
day is not far distant when an immense steam
marine will be employed on the shores of the
Poetic. source Of supply of that indispensa-
bic agent in steam navigation, near at hand, and
within our own territory, is something greatly
to be desired, and we hope that the announce
ment here made may prove to have veritable
A gentleman handed us one day last week
piece of stone coal, which, in our opinion, APP
proaches very nearly, in appearance. the anthra-
cite coal, as found in Pennsylvania. He Informed
us that it was found in Admiralty Inlet, by Mr.
Hancock; he states further that il exists in vast
quantities--that there is sufGciency to propel
all the steamers that may float on the Pacific,
for centuries to come. 1t has been exam
ined by scientific men at Portland, and has been
pronounced coal ola superior quality. In burn
ing it leaves no cinder, and makes very little
ashes
Letters from the Rev. Mr.. Roberts, supern-
tendent of the Methodist mission, say that the
weather in Oregon, November Goth, was remark
ably fine. The grass in many places was six
inches high. A considerable number Of immi-
grants had recently arrived from the States,
and every steamer from California adds to the
number.
Rev. Mr.. Hoyt and lady, from Newark Semi
nnry, New Jersey arrived a, Salem City, Oregon,
Nov. 8 and entered Immediately upon their work
in tho Orppon Insfitufn