Hillsdale Whig standard. (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1846-1851, 1851-04-29
Letters from Oregon.
Mouth Of the Columbia River, }
Oregon Territory, Jan. 18th. 1851.

Il
containing many children. are my excuse
for addressing you.
| frequently hear the remark, elf those in
power, undCongress could see our situation
as il is, some amendments would be made
that would better our condition"
shall attempt to give you plain and cor
rect statement of the condition and prospect
OF this peculiarly country. Oregon Ter
rtory has rich fertile soil, mild aud un
commonly healthy climate, is well waIered
and limbered, and will soon be thickly settled
by the disappointed and ruined gold seekers
in the mines of California. Oregon IS des-
tined TO afford permanent and pleasant
home to thousands of families otherwise ru-
Ined
The large quantity of land granted to each
family will prove adverse TO the interests oil
education; parents see and deplore this fact
already. The time required by the land bill
before any part of the mile square can be
sold increases the difficulty. Population
will be too scarce and disjointed for school
and social purposes. The rising generation
will suffer.
Could the bill be so amended as 10 give 10
families, and those actually emigrated TO Or
eeon, a right 10 the land and disposal OF il
without requiring four years occupancy,
wonld not the couse of humanity be the bet
ter subseved? Many of the early pioneers 10
Oregon, who, by pyvation and hardship,
made this country valuable, feel themselves
aggteved by that clause in the land bill
which prevents rhem for SO long time rom
selling that part of their land which they do
not want or need for their own use; which
they cannot cultivate, and which must re-
main in wild state I'LL after the patent IS
obtained. Professional men, teachers, and
clergymen carnot hope to avail themselves
of the land donation. without abandoning
their professions and becoming flrmers.
A grant Of land so donated as to become al
once available. might induce teachers to
emigrate aud become citizens, which would
be of grea, moment TO the rising generation.
That section of the land bill (which pre-
venis the proprietors Of town sites from sell
iug town lots after the passage OF the act, il!
the obtaining of tho patent, will prove ad'
verse 10 the growth of towns and villages,
and thus operate against the commercial ~
terests of the whole Territory.
The Columbia river aud especially IT'S
mouth, is at present creating no little inter
est and the permanent establishment of its
port and commercial metropolis is o: great
importance TO the people Of Oregon.
TO the skillful and accustomed mariner,
the Columbia is rot difficult of entrance for
ships Of the la,geat class as far as Baker S
Bay.
As YOU enter the mouth OF the river and
round Cape Disappointment, Bakers exten-
sye bay spreads out III the form Of hall
moon on the north. The anchorage IN this
bay il good. Ii makes a safe barber for two
or three hundred vessels in its natural state,
and ia the opinion Of uavgators, when i'm
proved with docks and piers, will accommo-
date two or three hundred more. There are
Two entrances 10 the river the north and the
south channels. The north contains by far
the larger amount OF water.
Capt. Baker, an experienced navigator
from New Jersey, who is now in the bay with
his vessel, and who has for sone days been
engaged IN the sounding OF this channel for
fifteen miles OF more up the river, is satisfied
that the channel is better wide and safe,
than has been represented.
Bakers bay with shoai water, forms val
liable peninsula, containing fifteen or twenty
sections of land covered mostly with splen
did growth of spruce pine, commencing at
Cape Disappointment. This peninsula is
mostly claimed by settlers. AT the Cape a
lighthouse is much needss. The FIRST
point, including the cape, is claim ed and in
the possession Of Mr.. Ogden, a member Of
the Hudson Bay Company, and British
subject. The next hell section is claimed
by Mr.. Schudder, a mechanic. He has
bnilt upon il aud is improving il. This
dlaim of Mr. Sehpdder's, contains a portion
}fthe best locality tor city near the mouth
lf the river. Next north Of it, Is the site Of
the town of Pacific city, which have been
sold BY the proprietor. and Improvements
are gradually progressing. A water com
munica;ion, connecting the two bays and
making an island Of the peninsula, can be
accomplished with a trifllug expense.
AT Astoria, about fifteen miles higher up
the river becomes much narrower, and at
fords no faciiies for anchorage, except an
unsafe roadstead. General Adair has re-
moved the custom house and post Office
about a mile above the old site of Astoria.
ard commenced new town. Much anxiety
is manifested by those locating near the
mouth of the river, and by the people gener-
ally, as regards the action of the General
Government in reference To adjustment here.
Il is Of great importance TO the settlers on
Bakers bay. that they should know at an
early date as practicable what reservation the
Executive will make at the immediate mouth
of the riveI. IL is the general impression
here that the general government will not
require more than nalf a section for light
house and military purposes.
have made these representations at the
request of several Of our citizens. The peo-
pie Of Oregon feel some what oppressed by
some of the restrictions OF the land bill. The
country is rapidly filling up with emigrants
from California. They naturally look TO
Congress to relieve their anxietics. They
are grateful for the interest manifested to-
wards them; but they need aud ask little
more freedom in tho use of the bequests
granted.-I Republic.
A young lawyer who had paid his court
TO lady without advancing much hrs suit,
accused her ono day, of being insensible to
The Do,per of Ioye. at does not follew, "sho