Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1851-11-20
IFrcm the Oregon spectator.l
About Oregon.

There are many letter writers in Oregon, who, in de-
scribing the country, its agricultural capacity, etc.,
greatly exaggerate things, and thereby create many
false impressions in the minds Of the people in the States.
1t is a wrong policy, for the settlers here, no matter how
much they may be pleased themselves, 10 pursue; 1t has
been the means OF a great deal Of disappointment. The
evil consequences of il are greatly to be deplored. The
times have greatly changed within the last twelve
months; produce Of all kinds has fallen, labor has fallen,
and money has grown more scarce. III every writer
was as particular in stating the facts, as Dr. Arson
Dart, Superintendent Of Indian Affairs for Oregon has
been in the following paragraphs, extracted from the
Watertown Chronicle, there would be very few people
fooled and disappointed on their arrival in the country.
We commend TO the especial attention Of the distant
reader, the Doctors remarks:
"The prices Of almost everything in Oregon are CON-
ing down. Common laboring hands can now be employ
ed for three dollars per day, %(without board mechanics
from five to eight. Merchandise of all kinds has fallen
more than fifty per cent. in price, within eight months.
The New Workers, Bostonians and philadelphians, are
about to play the same ruinous game, Tor themselves, IN
teen months in California: that is, sending more goods
for a mere handful of people, than would be consumed
in one of our populous States.
"Look at Oregon, with a population Of thirteen thou
sand, (about enough for a respectable village scattered
over a country as large as New York and Pennsylvania.
What can they do with the ten cargOes OF goods now on
their way here from the Atlantic cities, and that, too,
when cargoes of goods are daily arriving here from San
Francisco. bought there at auction, at, in many cases,
fifty per cent. less than New York priest 1t is strange
that shippers do not reflect that this is the end of the
road-they can neither 90 forward or back-,heir goods
must be sold. Then, wha. is to be done with the ship!
She is very likely to stay and rot, as hundreds are now
doing al San Francisco. 1 close this paragraph by say
ing. that certain ruin awsits the shipper Of goods to Or
eGon and California, FOR one or two years 10 come.
'The prospect for the farmer in this country is quite
different. provided he is prepared to do his own labor
he must not hire. The price of the productions of the
soil will never be as low in this country as in the States
east Of the mountains, for the reason that a large portion
Of the consumers are constantly working in the mines
and as they will be for many years; although l do not
believe that, on an average, the gold diggers save as
much as the industrious farmers. The Klameth mines
are producing now from six TO twelve dollars per day,
for each labOrer.
"The country is overstocked with lawyers, doctors,
(of preachers there are many )merchants, clerks, scrihes,
oilers and gamblers. Laborers Of all kinds are wanted.
l was about to speak of the prospect FOR unmarried Ia
dies. will only say, there are about five males to one
female here"