Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1852-12-09
OREGON LETTER.
TABLE Xock, Rogue River Valley, :
Oregon, Sep. 10Th, 1852. {

TABLE HocK, Rogue River Valley,2
Oregon, Sep. 10th, 1852.
III. u. GRAVES,
My dear old friend: Il am
very happy TO inform you that we ar
rived in Wyreka. Siskiyou county CAL,
on the Gath of Aug last, all well, in fine
spirits and without any loss of property
Wyreka is situated in the Shasta mines,
where we lett our families some IL
days while we looked at the Valley OF
Shasta and Scott river. These Valleys
are very fac to look at, but the frost too
frequent for raising Vegetables, the win
ter TOO severe for stock ,ascer,aining these
facts TO my satisfaction, | believed
could do better in this Valley, and NOV
ed in, 4 families, viz: DR.. Coffin, Tin.
brook, Geo. Rodgers and myself; cross.
ed the Siskiyou mountains to this place.
distance from Wyreka 20 miles. This
is beautiful little Valley, well watered
and plenty of timber; portions of it rich
soil and susceptible OF being cultivated.
1t lays much lower than the two valleys
above spoken of, consequently very
mild climate and fine range for stock
every where about here. have got me
a claim on q half section of very fine land,
2 miles north cas-, of and in sight of the
town of Table Rock, the only town in
this valley. '. .".
The Rogue River gold diggings are
within 2 miles OF my ranch. The dig.
gings were not discovered until last Feb,
and could no. be worked much on &C.
count of the hostility OF the Indians. IN
til The water failed in most Of the gulches;
few however, yet afford water for run
ming rockers. As good proportion of
the miners in this vicinity who have wa
ter are doing as well as in any mines
have been in. One company OF 5 men
have been making from 800 to $4,000
per day, frequently making $1,000 per
day. They took out one lump few
days since worth $1,000, and took out
the same day over 5000 besides. Every
week brings about some new develop
ment Of more extensive rich diggings in
the hills and gIlches that surround this
yaIley. Upon the whole, believe the
mines will be lasting in south Oregon
and will yield abundanIly TO the lucky
few, while the many poor fellows must
ever feel the pains of an empty pocket
60 where they may. 1 his valley was
commenced being settled last winter, but
did not make much head way on account
of the Indians, until about weeks ago
the settlers and miners had big fight
with them and whipped them out; since
that they are very friendly and 40 doubt
will remain so because they can't help
themselves.
| am putting up cabins to live in-will
have them done this week. intend to
fence and break up ten acres of ground
within the next weeks, ready for put
Ting in all kinds vegetables in Feb,
next. There is but little preparation
for farming in this valley next year.
don't think any other man will have one
half that much in cultivation, and verv
few any. Every thing in the like If
farming pays well. There are 2 gar
dens in the valley that were attended TO
and have yielded abundantly. Potatoes
40cts and Onions Scots per pound; ev.
erything else in the way OF gardening
in the same proportion, and is likely to
remain so for some time. Flour 23c to
25c per Id, butter 81 90 to 81 SO per Id,
according TO its freshness; beef l2c 10
l5c per ID. &C., &c. What | expect
to Go after fencing and blowing. Shall
pitch into the mines and try my luck a.
gain--if strike it big, shall stick 10 it
until next spring; but In the meantime
will have my garden planted, for | am
bound to play Roots aWern" pretty
strong next summer or have it done.
Next Spring SO soon as the waters
will admi, of it, expect TO undertake an
exploring expedition to the Coast
From San Francisco to the mouth of the
Columbia, there are no good ports Of en-
try, nor safe harbors for vessels, a dis.
lance of 700 miles anu the few landings
have been made are hardly accessible
from the country by pack animals
This whole extent of country gets its
supplies from these extremes. You
must know that something big lies in
the middle. Scoitsburgh will not do:
immovable mountains close in until they
can only get the town lots wide, and
many others in the way. There is a
bay discovered have every reason to be-
lieve, just above the mouth of Koos riv-
er, south of the mouth of Umpqua Riv-
er, and mex: thing is to get a road to it
and get a foo, hold. There is said TO be
fine country adjoining the bay; but un-
inhabited only by Indians. intend to
make bold push among the first, for
believe il will pay well and a comforla-
bic place TO live. We should have went
in this Fall but it was too late to do any
thing with safety. 1t may take three
months 10 find pass to it, and the coas,
range OF mountains are very rugged and
hard to pass IN the snowy season. am
now in my elements. | am again in a
wide and open field for daring enterprise.
No little 8 by 10 stove room is necessa.
ry TO keep warmth in man that blood
may circulate in his veins. The sur
rounding mountains are his only hinder
ance, and TO penetrate them the fartherst
is one of "mans proudest efforts" here.