The republic., 1851-03-13
Letter from Oregon.
[ Correspondence Of The Hs.tdeld (aa..) STANDARD ]

L
OREGon CRY, o. T., Nov. 25, 1850.
Since writing my last have travelled over a
considerable portion of the Territory, and pre-
pared to speak more definitely in regard to it. As
agricultural country believe it has superior
maintain It's superiority. With the exception of
Indian corn, every species of grain, and all kinds
fvegetables raised with as little labor, and in
great profusion, in the Mississippi valley,
while its proximity to the mining and exclusively
consuming country of California furnishes, and
will continue to furnish it, with better market
than that valley can ever have. Beef 10 now worth
Sl2 per hundred " upon the hoof," and is fattened
entirely upon grass, with the expense only of occa
sionnlly salting the animals. The climate il
mild that stock ia not housed or fed during the
winter, and consequently have seen no hay or
stables upon any farm in the Territory. But
the six hundred and forty acres which every i'm
migrant now takes up (Which furnishes ample
room for grazing) come TO be divided among the
heirs of the present claimants. cut up and sold
to new immigrants, the necessity for cutting hay,
and feeding stock portion of the year, will pt o.
baby arise, yet it will doubtless always be pro-
duced at a much less expense than in the States.
Pork il also worth from $l2 to SIS per hundred,
and is fattened entirely upon nuts and acorns, sub
'ecting the grower only to the expense of slaughter
ing and hauling to market.
In consequence of the nights being cool in the
summer, Indian corn cannot be raised to advantage,
yet have seen some very fine corn here. But it
requires at least much in New England,
and will not be likely to be raised in large quanti
ties, while other kinds of grain are 80 much more
easily produced. 1t is now worth 8 per busheI
in this market. Wheat ia worth 81 rs; oats rye,
and barley, 50 so; potatoes and turnps, So !;
onions, 81; cabbages, so cents per head; cucum-
bers, (pickled,) $2o per barrel; butter. rs cents
per pound cheese, SO cents; eggs, rs cents per
dozen; chickens. 81 per pair and every other
kind Of farmers produce in proportion ! do not
suppose these articles will keep up their present
rates very long, yet they will always be high hero,
nearness (ffty hours by stoam) to the Califor-
MIA market. Tho price Of board here is Sl2 per
week; three months since it was GIG. Dry goods
clothing, and groceries, all high, but not pro-
portionally as high other things. Carpenters'
and all kinds of mechanics wages, are $40 or
$l2 per day, and not enough TO half supply the de-
mand at that. / have doubt that at least five
times the number of house carpenters, and also
most other mechanics, who are now in the Ter
ritory, could readily find employment at the above
Priees Common laborers get S. per day.
Lumber IL worth 5 60 per thousand; wood can be
had anywhere for the cutting, and yet it IL worth
from s. to $40 per cord the expense of cutting
and hauling ID SO great. Goods from the Sandwich
Islands and China sell much cheaper than any 9TH
ers, the distance being much shorter and freight
consequently less. Cigars worth $40 Der
thousand, and retail at all the botes 25 cents
apiece. Drinks also quarter. IL is rather for
tunate, under the circumstances, that my Now
England education teaches me to dispense with al
such luxures. Money principally gold coin ant
dust) 10 exceedingly plenty, and seems to be aboa
the only thing in the country that is worth little
attended religious meeting last Sabbath after
noon, at which, upon the taking up OF a "collec
tion," the minister requested the audience 4" +
make their contributions in gold, assilver coin wa
30 cumbersome, il not desirable." The fact ia
there ia much money in the country for the goo
OF it. The raggedest loafer Indian in the stree
has pocketful of gold, and its great plenty seem
TO enervate all classes.
Fruit, as in every new country, 10 pretty scare
here, and sells at very high prices; but there ar
several large nurseries in the Territory, compris
ing all the varieties, and large number of or
chsrds are already planted, and there will soon b
n great abundance Of fruit.
The country. during the past two years, ba'
been literally deserted for the gold mincs, ant
every thing has been Mt stand. In this city, fo
instance, scarcely building was erected during
that whole time, while several that were partially
completed when the mines were Uncovered re-
manned unfinished until the present fall Yet now
forty fifty buildings going up, and extcnsivs
preparations are being made for building the COM
ing spring and summer. And the history of this