The New York herald., 1851-11-08
our HOME coRREsPsNDENCR.
Oregon.

ELKToN, Umpqua Co., Oregon, Sept. 3, 1851.
2h Un,pq~a Region Of Oregom-1as LndianS-Ihs
Clinate-W Want of Mscha~ics and their Fan'iisss-
Soeiay-Postal arrangements Navigation.
Thinking that description of tais portion OF
Oregon territory would be ACCEPTABLE, take the
liberty of sending this leaving it Discretionary with
you to publish it or not.
The mouth of the river from which the county
takes its name is situated 10 latitude fortythree de-
grees fOrty-fve minutes north The entrance
though narrow is far better than that OF the Coium
bia, and affords large and safe haroor for vessels
The least quantity of water the bar at ebb tide
,s three ard half fathoms The river is navigable
for lia hit draught vessels high up Scottsville,
twenty four miles from the mouth; vessels dra wing
sixteen feet of water proceed as high up as Gar
diner. sixteen miles. little moro than twelve
months ago, 40 white man ever trod upon these
shores; it was inhabited by tribe of Indians, who
hunted the bear, beaver, OTTER and deer, for their
skins, which they bartered to the Hudson Bay Com
pany for blankets, knives, &C. Now there are over
one hundred white men settled on the prairies and
in the woods When one 6rst enters the river, he
is disappointed. On the right rise the hills of the
coast range, covered with timber, the growth of
centuries on the left lies long strip Of sandbank,
about three miles in extent, on which the Indians
reside, during the winter and spring, for the pur
pose Of catching seal and herring, with which that
part of the river abounds
reach Gardiner which is the first place of any nots
although there are few houses on the sandbank
above mentioned which the inhabitants call Ump-
qua City. Gardiner is situated the left bank Of
the river, and has some eight or ten inhabitants
1t is located on a fiat, about two miles long by one
and half broad, and contains six houses. Here
the river narrows again to almost one half running
as before, between the mountains, as far up as
Scottsville, eight miles from Gardiner There is
one continuous range OF hills on either side, while
scattered here and there, are to be seen the cabin
for the purpose of cutting piles tor the San Fran
cisco market. Scottsvilie, situated OF the sam
side OF the river, is almost under the brow of the
mountains, and is quite town. 1t has twelve
houses, five stores, and about twenty inhabitants.
The river not being navig able any further, one
must either take an Indian canoe or terra frma for
five miles more, when he enters upon the first prai-
rie, which is thirteen miles long by one and q half
broad, covered with verdure the year round Here
you see the log house Of the settler, and hear the
song Of the plough hnan, as, with his oxsn he turns
up the soil for cult gation The soil is very fertile
indeed, yielding abundant crops with but little
labor After leaving the first prairie, you pass over
sr around what is called the !. Big Hiil," noun
tain soiae two miles high, when you come upon the
Umpqua Valley. Here is a prairie, on both sides
of the river, forty miles long and from two to two
and half broad, with bills at the back covered
with a good assortment of timber. Thirty six
the HUdson lay Company, which, until within a
few years, has been under the oharg. Of half breed
Indian, but is now in charge OF a Mr. King, whose
kindncsS and Igentlemanly qualities has endeared
him to al en- the river
There several creeks emptying into the imp
qua, which would be advantageous for mill priy-
leges. There is in course of erection a saw mill ;
but grsl mill would pay equally as well, if not
better,
From this roin. is the easiest ana mos. dire,t
route 70 tbe Rogue river, klamath, aai SCOTS
river mines, which are said to yield handsomely to
the Industrious miier. Trains are passing, almost
daily, to and from the mines, as most of the prov
sions consumed there 90 from Scottsvills distance
200 miles. Mr.. Coe, the Few postal agent, passed
and established post Offices at the following places:
Umpeua City, GARDENERS, Scottsyille, and Elkton;
the latter being nearest TO me, have dated this
from there, The I. NJ 5 Co.'S steamer Columbis
was ordered to call in at the month deliver and
receive the mails for the Valley; ta. the captain
states, as an excuse, that there is not sufficient
water on tac bar. Now, this i, not true, for the
following vessels have been in and out Of this
harbor, Viz;-schooner Samuel Roberts, drawing
feet; brig LIcClellan 10 10 IL feet schooner Capa
city, III eet; bark Minerva, l6 feet, deep loaded
and . u told the Columbia draws but II 90 ID feet.
We receive the mail once week, VIA Portland
Should there be any mechanics IN your city VINO
would wish to turn farmers. ana work ut tier
trades. seId the N out here There is lana enough
and 10 snare man who will settle on piece OF
land receives l60 acres, and If married will got tn
same 10, his wife. We waE. to see the countr
,settlea--we want b,acksmiths. carpenters, wagon
.budsrs, vkeelwrights, shoemakers, and null
wrights. OF the above, there are but two carpsn-
ters nong us. If any of us wants horse shod, We
must 20 70 Portland or Oregon City; and as for
merd!rc boots and shoes that is thing impossible
Send them cut, as many as will come, aad let them
brig their wives and sisters, TO build up society
Theie arc but four females within 80 miles, and
they are ali married; SO yoa see there Is chance
for the ladies.
AS t. climate, none need fear on that score. 1t
is mos. salubrious. There have been but three
deaths in twelve months one was by an accidental
discharge Of pistol, and tive by the upsetting Of
a taI boat. Our winters are Of short duration,
ard arc no colder than the onth Of March at home,
and what is far mere preferable, we have no snow.
our cattle roam the hills all wiater, and not
obliged 10 house and feed them at tia. season as
they &c at home. Yours, truly, FENELoN,