davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
, 1852-12-25

ing the means for the purchase Of stock,
and making such Improvements, as necessi-
ty and convenience may require, and at the
same time prove in no wise detrimental to
the settlement of the territory. For the
first few years Of the immigration 10 this
country, it consisted almost exclusively Of
famiIes--iarmers from the states, and to
them the land law was peculiarly adyanta-
geous, without any of its present oIjecIlou-
able features being particularly apparent
Now, immigration comprises a proportion
ate admixture of enterprising young men,
educated in various pursuits, but in most in
stances without the means to embark at
once, advantagcously, as agriculturalists; and
it is to be hoped that hereafter congress will
take some measures in placing this class Of
our citizens on something like an equality
with the comparatively wealthy farmer:
with whom they accompany. A further
modification in the land law is required
which will discriminate more favorably in
behalf of widows and children than is al
present afforded, and, in short, improve
ments therein are as essentially necessary a.
are improvements in our new and highly at.
tractive territory.
One Of the ABUSES" of the land law
palpable, and highly discreditable to person.
who avail themselves of the discrepancy o
lis provisions, is the practice, of too fire.
quent occurrence, of persons taking valua
be timbcred claims along the Sound, anc
after securing, converting into piles, squar,
timber, &c, all the most desirable portion
for foreign use, ABANDON them, for some ael
localities for the same object-without i'm
proyement, and greatly deiracting from Ihei
value when finally occupied by permanen
settlers. In this way, the whole counIr.
along the Sound might be culled over, with
out being in any way advantageous 10 thu
country, but on the contrary prove high
ly detrimental to its future interests. Th
is a species of speculation, too, connected
with the public lands, against which, con
gress should assert prompt interference
and by suitable notifications in the lant
law, the better adapt it to the onward pro
gress of our country.
, 1852-12-25
The Mails the Mails!l

A few weeks ago, all the papers on the
willamette contained bitter complaints with
regard to the non-arrival, when due, of the
mail from the states, per steamer Colum-
bia "-the provoking irregularity, and wan
ton disregard of the public accommodation
which the company contracting to supply
Oregon with the mail msniiests in the dis
charge of its duty, and the reckless and al
most ruthless manner in which the service is
performed throughout the territory.
Believing the press of southern Oregon
to have been perfectly justified in their
structures on the subject alluded TO, and be-
fore the matter becomes cold-with a de-
sire to keep the abuses practiced by con-
tractors, and others, connected with mail
arrangements in Oregon, before the people,
with the hope that those having authority in
the premises may be induced to take due
notice thereof, and inierpose a reformation,
we would beg leave to introduce the griev-
anccs of northern Oregon by stating that
the last mail from the Willamette, brought
to this post-ofice the Statesman Z" of De-
cember 4th, (which should have arrived the
week Previous and two letters = all told /!
And why is this! We understand that the
mail carrier on the Cowlitz river is in the
habit of receiving and taking the mail from
Rainier on Monday afternoon, instead of
Tuesday morning, as required by the con-
tract. The steamer Whitcomb," which
carries the mail from Portland 10 Rainier,
does not arrive at the last named place, un-
til late on Monday evening, and consequent
ly all the mail matter for northern Oregon
IS DETAINED AT RAINIER FOR ONE WEEK.
EACH TRIP! This delay is both illegal and in
tolerable, and we appeal in behalf of our cit.
liens to the Postal Agent of Oregon for
remedy and if not directly in his power 10
afford it, that he will use his influence with
the department for that object.
The Pacific Mail Steam Ship Company's
steamer Columbia" has cheated us out of
our mail matter for MONTH at a stretch,
several times, by neglecting to leave our
mail at Rainier. A gentleman who was a
passenger on board that vessel, on a recent
trip down the Columbia river, informs Ms.
that on arriving at Rainier the ships boat
was lowered and dispatched ashore for some
passengers. Soon after the boat showed off
from the ships side, one of the crew in
formed the captain that the mail had not
been sent; to which the captain replied
g NEVER MIND-1T ISTOO LATED
and of course our mail matter took a
pleasure excursion 10 San Francisco. As
to the IRREGULARITY " in the mail str-
vice from San. Francisco to Oregon, that
should not be matter Of surprise, as the
company receive from Uncle Sam, ONLY
So50,OO0 per annum, for carrying the mail
from New York 10 Astoria, aud consequent
y cannot AFFORD 10 be VERY punctual.
, 1852-12-25
The Dewamish Country.
DEwAMIsH RIVER, Dec. 10, 1859


1Iessrs. EditOrs-Will you permit me.
through the columns of the " Columbian"
TO say a word to those who are desirous 10
settle themselves and obtain good locations
in Northern Oregon There are hundreds
of the immigration Of the present season
who arc dcsrous 10 settle within our limits,
and make for themselves and families COM
Portable homes, but being strangers, know
not where to stop, neither have they the
means 10 prospect the country.
To such ] would say, if you can be suited
in Northern Oregon, you need not look far
ther than the Dewamish river. The land
on this river is of the best quality and very
productive, as you, Messrs. Editors, can
testify, having been presented with some
specimens of its productions. The land on
the river is mostly bottom land, covered
with white maple, vine maple, cotton wood,
alder, crab apple, Sc, and is easily cleared,
and when once prepared for tiliug is worth
twice as much as the prairie land. There
| is plenty Of fir and cedar timber back from
the river from one half of a mile TO a mile,
with points occasionally putting down to
the river. The river is navigable as far as
the forks, - miles from IFS mouth, and how
much farther / am not able to say The
water is excellent The land is mostly
claimed on both sides for six miles from lis
mouth Above there are a few claims ta-
ken, but hundreds Of choice opes yet vacant
The right hand fork takes the name Of
White river, and there are any quantity Of
good claims on either side. At the forks
there is a fine town site, and the day is not
far distant when it, as well as the river
above, will be settled. | am led to this
opinion from the fact that the whole sur
rounding country will admit Of a large sell
tlement. Seattle is destined to rank high
among towns of importance in Northern
Oregon. 1t is situated on the bay, two
miles from the mouth Of the river. A steam
saw mill is soon 10 be erected. A short
distance from the river and connected with
it is large lake from 40 10 60 miles in
length, and from 2 to 10 miles wide, sur
rounded with good land Only two claims
are yet taken on the lake.
The inhabitants in the Dewamish vicini-
ty are anxious to have the country settle,
and will go with the immigrant at any time
to show him the country. To those, then,
who desire GOOD locations, permit me again
to say, pass not by the Dewamish river.
Respectfully yours,
S. S. Grow.
, 1852-12-25

The LEGIsLATURE.-From private ad
vices received from the seat of government
dated December sth-the day after the
meeting ofthe assembly-we learn that the
legislature had done nothing but 10 vote
down the opening of the assembly by pray
er--adopt a resolution, requiring the clerk
of each house to order copies of each news
paper printed in the territory, for the use
OF each member, and receive and refer 10
appropriate committees, several petitions,
sc. The supreme court was in session at
Salem, with the prospect Of continuance
for some time. The legislature did not
meet on the 9Ih-thanksgiving day.
Business in Salem is said to be rapidly
increasing, and that beautiful town site is
crowded with strangers and immigrants
There are (elo claims left in northern Or
egon, which it might be well for some of
the latter to come over and LOOK AT as
soon as convenient.
, 1852-12-25

MINUTE MEcHANIsM.-There is a cher.
ry-stone at the Salem Mass Museum
which contains one dozen silver Spoons
The stone, itself, is Of the ordinary size,
but the spoons are so small that their shape
and finish can only be well distinguished BY
the microscope. Here is the result Of I'M
mense. labor, for no decidedly useful pur-
pose and there are thousands of other oh,
jecls in the world, fashioned by ingenuity,
the value of which, in a ltilitaIian sense,
may be quite as Indifferent.
DR.. Oliver gives an account in his Phio-
sophical Transactions, by'the-way, of cher
ry-stone, on which were carved one hun
derd and twenty-four heads, so distinctly
that the naked eye could distinguish those
belonging TO popes and kings, by the mitres
and crowns, II was brought in Prussia for
$500, and thence conveyed to England,
where il was considered an object of 50
much value, that its possession was dsput-
ed, and became the object of suit in cham
Gerry. This stone DIR. o. saw in 1857.
In more remote times still, an account is
given if an ivory chariot, constructed by
Mermecidos. which was so small that hy
could cover ii with his wing also ship Of
the came MARTIAL, which could be hidden
with the wing Of bee.
Pliny, too, tells US that Homer's Illiad,
which is fifteen thousand verses, was writ
ten in so small space as to be contained in
nut shell while Ella mentions an artist
who wrote diSiich in letters Of gold, and
enclosed it in the rind of kernel Of corn.
But the Harren MS. mentions greater Gu
riosity than any of the above ; it being moth
in more nor less than the Bible written by
one Petre Bales--a chancery clerk-in 50
small book that il could be enclosed with
in the shell Of an English walnut. DIraeli
gives an account Of many other similar ex-
Ploits to that of Bales.
There is drawing OF the head Of Charles
II. in the library of St. Johns College, Ok
ford, wholly composed of minute written
characters, which, at small distance, re-
semble the lines Of an engraving. The head
and ruff are said to contain the book of
Psalms, the Creed, and the Lords Prayer.
Again, in the British Museum, is a portrait
Of Queen Anne, not much bigger than the
hand. On this drawing, are a number Of
lines and scratches, which il is asserted, in
clude the entire contents of thin folio.
, 1852-12-25

20 We learn that the Australian gold
mines continue 10 increase in richness and
quantity, and that further discoveries were
making in all directions Provisions Of all
kinds were scarce and high, and it was
thought that large importations would be
required to meet the demand Of the present
emigration.
, 1852-12-25

Ia In consequence Of the extreme in
clemency Of the weather of last weck-the
almost impossible character of the road be-
tween this place and CowliIz landing, tue
mail from southern Oregon was detained
two days beyond its usual time of arrival at
this Office
, 1852-12-25

PSg- Our last California papers speak in
the most fattering manner Of the rich reward
afforded by the mines to the laborers there
in, throughout the state generally. The
rains have been extremely propilious thus
far this season.
, 1852-12-25

RB- We learn from the San Francisco
" Times and Ttascript," that a lighthouse
is 10 be erected forthwith in the vicinity OF
that city-the first on this portion of the
Pacific coast. Also, from the same source,
that the amount of Califomia's Indebtedness
is but little over a million and a quarter
all told.
, 1852-12-25

70 The National Intolligencer an
nounces that Commodore CadwslIader Ring
gold, U. S. Navy, has been appointed to the
command of the expedition "to explore and
survey the China and Japan Seas, Behring
Straits, and the route to and from Califor-
MIA and China" and which is in actual pro.
gress of organization and equipment.
, 1852-12-25

T The severe storm of wind and snow
on Wednesday night, crushed in the roof
and blew over the frame of the large bowl
ing alley of ]. PERKINS, Of this place. -
Fortunately, no person was in the alley at
the time, and the injury extended no further
, 1852-12-25
Editors Table.

0E The "rcsourccs " of "our table "
have been completely frozen up for the
last week. We shall expect perfect in
uHdation when lha0 sets in, and are pre-
pared to "stand from under"
, 1852-12-25

SENSIBLE TO THE LAsT-The small boys
at the Academy in this place have a debat-
ing society. The last question before il
was: "Whose life should be saved in prefer
ence, that of the mother or the wife ?''-
After a large majority had expressed them
selves in favor of saving the wife, little
chap about half an hour high, jumped up
and with very cunning twist Of the bead,
said / wouldn't: I'd save my mother,
'caus if was to losc my wife | could git
another.-lCaddo Gazette.
, 1852-12-25

D@- We are authorized and requested by
the collector of customs, to state, during his
recent absence from Olympia, he has been
informed, that certain gentlemen who irav-
elcd up and down the Sound in the revenue
boats, were charged passage money by the
oarsmen. The collector has never tolera-
ted anything of the kind, and ii those who
were charged will make their cases known
to the collector, he will require the oarsmen
to refund. Owing to the scarcity and un-
certainty of transportation on the Sound, the
public wants have been and are considered
by collector Moses, and the vacant seats,
when any in the revenue boats, whilst going
or coming on government business, have
been, and are FREE TO ALL.
, 1852-12-25

HSg~ Miss KATE HAYS, the celebrated
eautatriee, has recently arrived at San Fran
cisco, and madehe debut in concert al
the American Theatre.
, 1852-12-25

T According to a calculation in the
" "National Inteligencer," the census oi
1850, in the United States, will be 379,.
3J7,0oO. That will be something Of leap
from our present population %, ,l44, 1876,
but it will be remembered that our popula-
ton in 1So0, was only 5,3o5,952.
, 1852-12-25

20 The recent large shipments of lum>
Der TO the San Francisco market has caused a
material decline from former rates. Oregon
pine, square is now quoted at $55 per NJ. ;
oak plank, 500; pine, $40; shingles, $50
per M.
, 1852-12-25

TIE ENGLISH misunderstanding
10 recent calculations, it is probable that the
English is already the Language of sixty mill
lions Of human beings, and that The number
is augmen,ing at continually increasing
ratio.
, 1852-12-25

o. Do our farmers know the prices
which all kinds of produce command at thi,
place? And further-do they know that
unless our market is more libcrally supplied
than heretofore, there is imminent danger
that our citizens will eventually have to re-
sort again to "clam-banks" and salmon,
to keep the peace between soul and body
Only think Of $50 per cwt. for -four; Ii
10 10 cents per ID. for beef; 90 for pork
81 90 for butter; 81 so per bushel for po-
tatoes, and 81 90 for onions! We are aware
that the roads are at present very bad,
but hope after slight improvement in the
weather 10 see our farmers rolling in with
full loads OF the above mentioned articles.
We also hope 10 hear determination on the
part of our farmers to double the extent Of
their crops the coming year.
, 1852-12-25

20 BEVERLY SANDERS, Esq, has been
appointed collector for the port of San Fran
cisco, rice T. BUTLER KING, resigned.
, 1852-12-25
About the Weather.

In the last number of the Columbian -"
we stated that "the snow fell on Sunday
night and Monday last, (l2th and 18th
lnsls.,) to the depth of near six inches," sc.
Although we maintain to have told the truth
as far as stated in reference thereto, We do
not pretend to have told the WHOLE truth.
neither had the snow ceased falling at the
time the paragraph referred to was put in
type. As we trust the storm is now over,
and ga better time is coming"-and as we
do not wish TO conceal any facts either in
praise or tending to disparage northern Or
egon, or knowingly mislead persons at a
distance in matters about which they have
right to expect correct information, we will
proceed 10 tell the balance of the story by
remarking that from the 12lh inst. up 70
the present, we have had some very extra
ordinary wealher-admirably calculated, for
the time being, to be peculiarly discourag.
ing to newly arrived immigrants, and give
them an unfavorable impression of this par,
of the country; and as we are informed
the Willamette valley has been placed in
the "same awful fix" and as "misery
loves company" we can congratulate each
other that it is no worse, and that there is
a prospect ahead Of looking over the present
storm, to the mild spring and beautiful sum
mer of the coming year Cheer up then,
all ye of dropping sPirits-remember that
" the darkest hour Preccdeih day."
The average depth of snow in this vicin-
ity can be put down at seventeen inches-on
some prairies more, and on others much
less; and we are told by some gentlemen
just arrived from the Cowlilz, that in some
places in that neighborhood, the snow meas
ured TwENrY-sIx inches in depth. The
long continuance of the storm gives almost
positive evidence that no portion of Oregon
has escaped, and the stock in many parts
particularly such as have crossed the plains
this season will have been subjected 10 great
suffering, if no worse, and such of the i'm
migration as may have been living in tents
will have shared keenly the distress of theiI
faithful animals Should the snow coniue
to remain on the grOund for any considera
ble length Of time, we cannot but expect tc
hear of a great loss of stock, and have ar
unusual scarcity Of poor beef in our meat
market
In conclusion we have authority for say
ing that the weather for the last two week,
has been more severe than ever known foi
the last three years in northern Oregon
the mercury in Fahrenheit's thermometer
having frequently been as low as 20 de-
grees, and on Thursday and Friday morning,
it stood at IA deg. above zero.
| P. S. Since the above was in type, the
snow has fallen 10 the depth of about THREE
FEET-lhe weather continuing cold, choudy
and threatening The wind has been from
the north ever since the storm commenced,
, 1852-12-25

R4- We learn from the " Statesman -
that the government bark "Anita," Cap
plain Belcher, went ashorse near Port Or
ford, on the 29th of October last, and was
completely wrecked, but no lives lost.
, 1852-12-25

D~ A seaman named David Clark, a ma
tive of Sweden, and attached to the crew
Of the ship Thracian," loading a short
distance below this place, had his leg hor-
ribly broken in two places below the knee,
on Tuesday last, by the falling of spar,
which he was assisting to take aboard that
vessel.
, 1852-12-25

Fools and obstinate people mako lawyers
rich.
, 1852-12-25

= n65- We are under obligations to our able
and highly esteemed member of the legis-
islature, Hon. |. N. EBEY, for the names oI
subscribers 10 the columbian" recently
forwarded. Also, on the same score, 10 Col
S. P. Moses, collector of customs Of thi,
port, during bis recent visit to the William
ette. We hope, ere long, to be able to en-.
rol amongst the names of our subscribers
many independent THINKING and ACTING
residents of southern Oregon.
, 1852-12-25

W ~ friend of ours who was present at
private party, giving manifestations in
"sPiritual raPpings," recently in San Fran
cisco, relates good story respecting reve-
lations made to one of the gentlemen COM
Prising it. Dr., who, by the way,
has business connexion in this place, was
made "medium," and commenced con.
yersation with the spirit as follows: "Whose
spirit are you ?" in answer 10 which the spir-
it caused 10 be written" your guardian an
gel." The inquiry was then submitted by
the Dr." who is my guardian angel ?" and
received reply in answer-"THE DEVIL p'
The party Immediately resolved itself into a
" "hors1-laugh," and the doctor considered
himself badly SOLD"
, 1852-12-25

baS- The recent bad weather has cast an
unusual gloom over our little community, and
all kinds of business is transacted with clos
ed doors, and around comfortable stoves
We regret to learn that the manufacture oi
lumber at our mills has been seriously im-
peded from the inability of persons engaged
10 secure an adequate supply of logs. Work,
ing cattle must be fed, these times, and time
must be consumed in procuring provinder
We hope by next week TO be able TO an
nounce an improvement in the weather.
The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1852-08-25
Notice in Partition.

NWARY SMITH, John Smith, Riley Smith,
NlA Aaron Smith, Basil Smith, Zachariah Smith,
David Smith, Eliz ia Cronin, and Aaron Cronin,
her husband, Sarah Blazer and Benjamin Blazer
her husband, Mary Smith Jr, Rachel Smith and
Rebecca Smith, heirs of Basil Smith, deceased,
will take notice, that petition was filed against
them on the 10Th day of August, 1852, in the court
of common pleas of Monroe County, Ohio, by
Andrew Smith, and is now pending, wherein the
said Andrew Smith demands partition of the fol.
lowing real estate, to witt the east half of the south
west quarter of section twenty.one, in township
ve ofTange six, containing eighty acres; also the
south West quarter of the south east quarter of the
same section. township, and range, containing
forty acres; also the south west quarter of the
north east quarter OF the same section. township.
aud range, containing forty acres; also the east
half of the north west quarter of the same secton
township, and range, containing forty acres; also
two acres in the north west quarter of the same
section, township, and range; also the south west
quarter Of the south west quarter Of the same Sec
ton, township, and range, containing forty acres;
also the norh east quarter of the north west quar-
ter of section 20, in T. S, R. 6, containing forty
acres; and that as the next Term of said Court
application will be made by the said Andrew
Smith for an order that partition may be made of
said premises. ANDREW SMITH,
BY HoLLisrER, OkEY & HoLLIsTER,
August s5th. 1852. His Attorneys.
The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1852-08-25

GHERIFF'S SALE-By virtue of a writ of
- Fl. Fa. Ell Lev. Fa. issued from the court of
Common Pleas of Belmont county, Ohio, and a
writ OF Vendtoni Exponas issued from the court
OF Common Pleas of Monroe county, Ohio, and
to me directed. will offer for sale, at public out.
cry, at the front door of the court house in the
town of WoodsfeId in Monroe county, on
Wednesday, the 25th day Of August. 1852.
between the hours Of 10 O'Clock IN, and O'Clock
m, of said day, the following described lands and
tenemeDts, lying and being in said county, to wit:
The west half Of the north east quarter Of Sec
ton IA, township and range 5. containing 80
acres more or less; also the south east quarter oi
the north east quarter of the same section town.
ship and range, containing 40 acres more or less;
also the south east quarter of the north west quar-
| ter of same section township and range. contain
ing 20 acres more or less, aud being in Monroe
county, Ohio.
Taken in execution and levied on as the proper
ty of Israel Barnes, at the suits of Stephen Wilson
and John Montgomery.
July 81 SO l2 M. MORROW. Sh'f