Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1851-10-30
Oregon.

UEcSOu.
We take the following from The Milwau-
kee (Wis.) Sentinel:
PORTLAND, Oregon, Aug. 10, 1851.
MEssRs. EDIroRs: Perhaps a few lines
from former subscriber and resident of Wis
consin may not be unacceptable to your rea-
ders
The first question that would probably be
asked would be, Do you like Oregon better
than Wisconsin! This would be difficult
question for me to answer, prejudiced as | am
in favor of the latter 1t is hard to compare
two regions of country so totally different in
almost every respect. But, if | were asked
in which country a farmer or mechanic could
live the easiest and make the most money, |
should, without hesitation, say Oregon.
From what heard at home, expected to
find country of unsurpassed fertility. In
this respect can assure your readers they
would be disappointed. | do not think that
any portion of America could compare with
Wisconsin and Illinois in that respect; but
we have here other advantages that far over
balance that. This is undeniably proved by
the wonderful prosperity of the farmers gen.
ally, and indeed of all classes of men who are
commonly Industrious.
The great advantage the Oregon farmer has
Is the long Summer and the short and mild
Winter. In Wisconsin the farmer is busy
nearly the whole summer in preparing for the
long and severe cold season. Here the cold
season is SO mild and short that but little
such preparation is necessary. In the Upper
Willamette Valley the grass continues green
the whole year round. 1t is ofa remarkably fat
tening quality. This makes Oregon the
greatest stock-raising country in the world !;
and, with the whole Pacific coast for mar
ket, it is incompatible. Oregon Butter and
Cheese has already name which it we'll de-
serves
In regard to grain-growing, | will mention
one fact that will sound strange to Wisconsin
farmers. At the time when the gold was first
discovered, farms. stores and workshops were
nearly totally deserted; all rushed for the
mines. The dry summer weather at length
coming on, and water becoming too scarce,
they returned home to harvest the crops of
wheat that were sown the preceding season.
OF course they would not plow and sow again,
as they knew they could return to the rich
diggings with the commencement ofthe rains.
The wet season came on and to the mines
they went, returning home as before in the
summer. They then found, as before, a fair
crop ready for the harvest, growing from the
waste of the year before, without one stroke
Of labor having been applied. This was re-
peated last season, making three crops from
the same ground with but one planting
This, can assure your readers, is the fact,
and shows how little labor is required in Ore
gon for the sustenance of life.
A variety of soil and timber is offered to
the choice of the emigrant; those that prefer
the woodland can have it to their hearts con-
tent | see from my desk at this moment,
thousands of straight, tall pines and frs 200
feet high, with scarcely branch.
To me the openings and prairles are the
most inviting. Many of the praries contain
but few hundred acres, and are entirely sur
rounded by the forest; others are much lar
ger, but always interspersed with groves of
7 l., G. T 1ocI
them as a perfect farmers paradise. Above
all their other advantages, | look upon their
perfect healthfulness as the greatest Of all.
JNo. M. BREcK