New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-02-24
FROM OREGON.

We have received files Of the Orrg0Hian, Ore
gon Spectator, and Western Star to Jan. ?. The
larger portion Of the steamer Gold Hunter has
been purchased by citizens Of Portland, and is to
be run eafterregulsrlyt twice a month between
that place and San Francisco. The Star has re-
ceived a tursip four feet in circumference, and
weighing 81 los, from Judge Burbee's farm in the
Cowlitz River. We copy the following interest
ing geographical items
LAFAYETTE, the County seat of Yamhill Co, is
Of the most thriving villages IN the Territory.
1t has grown from half dOzen or more little
bouses to be place OF between 300 and 400 IN
babitants, in the last ten months 1t is situated
at the falls Of the Ysmhill River, which stream at
fords an abundance of water power for manufac-
turing purposes.
Salem is a much older place. beautifully loca.
ted, and is the County seat Of Marion Co. ltcOn
tains & population of between five hundred and
six hundred The Methodists have a Seminary
here, which has long been fostered by the Mission,
and is now in a most hourishing condition
The best Agricultural district In Oregon as yet
considerably settled, is composed OF Iamhlll,
Polk, Benton, Linn, and Marion Counties.
Lexington is situated on Clatsop Plains, few
miles below Astoria. These plains run south
from the mouth Of the Columbia River from 20 to
80 miles, and vary in width from about miles at
the river to Is, and from that down TO the width
of a cart-path. They are shut out from the main
land by the coast range OF mountains, and are &C
cessble at present only from the sea and river.
Some of the best farms in the Territory are 70 be
seen here, and are exceedingly valuable from
their nearness to market Astoria-where farm
ers produce brings much higher prices than the
same things do at any other point 10 Oregon
This place is famous for excellent butter. Popu-
Ii Ga from 200 to 300
The Columbia river is walled up on either side
by high ranges of bills, for some sixty miles or
fro, ito no
rise nearly perpendicularly from the rivers edge
from 300 to 1000 feet high anon they gradually
ascend rising to their full hight from one to two
miles distsnt; then again they recede two or
three miles leaving a narrow strip of the richest
meadow land, sufficient for one two Land
claims but at no point is there land enough suit
able for agricultural purposes, for more than a
half dozen good farms together
These hills are generally thickly covered with
the finest timber to be found in Oregon, and must
at no distant day. if not so already become ex-
ceedingy valuable from the easy access to 1t
from that noble river, the Columbia. and thence to
an excellent market.
The country back from these hills, is Of the
richest quality for agricultural purposes, and is &C
cessible from the Columbia river only at the
mouths of the several rivers and streams which
empty into it, and thus afford way through these
vast ranges Of mountains.
The Western Star, of Dec. Goth, has an account
of the launch OF large steamer, the Lot WHIT
comb, which was built at Milwaukee, and launched
on Christmas Day, with great ceremony Gov.
Games giving her the christening. She is 100
feet in length, "a in breadth, and draws feet wa
ter She is to run on the Willamette River
The Star thus describes a melancholy accident
which took place on the occasion:
Capt Frederick Morse. of the Schr Merchant
man, while in the act of touching fire to a cannon
was instantly killed by the burs ting Of the piece
which was blown into atoms, and lis fragments
scattered about for some dstance-injuring, no
one, however, but Capt, Morse A fragment OF
the gun struck him in the neck below the jaw,
carrying away one half of ithe contents of the
neck, breaking the vertebr@ of the neck and lower
iaw.bone. He leaves family, we understand, at
Newbern North Carolina.