The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-01-28
orsxon-o,rsular Letter or Hon. Joseph Lane


The West is furnishing quite large emigration Il
Oregon. the number last being in lhe neighbor
hood OF ten thousand Al the last accounts most OF th
emgrants had arrived for the year. and the families hat
suffered but little from sickness, though many had los
property from Indian thefts, and few lives had beer
taken by The savages
Oregon is destined 10 become an important Stale in IN,
Union. and The tide OF emigration hher will be annual,
increased Those who have been longest in The Teitor,
write the most alterng letters OF their success and al
concur IN representing healthy productive. and grow
ing country For the information OF such as are LOOKING
ior SUI further West lay before them The recent cir
cniar oil Hon. Joseph Lane congressional delegate from
Oregon, in reference 10 the settlement SOIL and climate
oil oregon Territory The information given is lust the
hing wan,ed,-Seioio Gd=eue
WASHINGTON, Jan. !, 1852
The great number OF letters am constantly receiving
making inquiries in reference the Territory OF Oregon
mas induced me to mbody in the form of circular such
information as is usually desired, that may thus be ena-
bed TO furnish il more promptly and more in detail than
que allention TO my other public duties would allow
me, We're TO endeavor TO give written answer TO each
nope TINS course will not be considered discoureous 10
my correspondents; for, in pursuing H. will more effect.
desire.
Oregon is mountainous country, interspersed with
many extensive, rich, and beautiful valleys watered by
COOL pure streams having their sources among It's snow
clad mountains It is exceedingly healthy; no country
more So The atmosphere is pure and the climate delight
iul, especially during the summer From April TO No.
vember there is but little ran but cool gentle breeze
blows almost perpeluay from the north. The winters
are RAINY, but nid Tor during this season warm south
winds constantly prevail
The country is well watered. and The soil very fertile,
and well adapted to The growth of all the small grains,
grasses potatoes and other culinary vegetabes-all
yielding most abundantiy except Indian corn which is
not regarded as successful crop MANY of he hills and
mountains are covered with nexhausble forests of fine
timber, generally fir and cedar The forests frequently
skirt the valleys and streams.
As is well known the Columbia is the oaly great river
on The Pacific SLOPE and stretches from the seacoast 10
The Rocky mountains. From its mouth TO the Cas-.
cades distance OF about hundred and fifty miles,
there IS an uninterrupted navigation for vessels OF the
largest size.
The Willamette empes into the Columbia about nine.
~ miles from its mouth This river is also navgable
for the largest vessels to Portland fifteen miles from its
mouth, and many have assembled as high rs Milwaukee
seven miles further.
At the risk of some little repeliiion il may not be
deemed improper or unnecessary 10 give more detailed
and minute description of the valley OF this and some of
the other streams OF Oregon.
willamette valley is bounded by the Coast mountains
on the west and The Cascade range on the east The
soil Is excellent and is not Surpassed il equaled by any
portion OF the continent IN its adaptation the growth OF
wheat rye, and oats. Potatoes produced in great
abundance and are OF superior quality while wheat is
invariably certain crop, subject TO of the diseases
and uncertainties peculiar to 1t in the States it natures
slowly, hence the grain is always full and plump and the
straw unusually solid and elastic and not subject 10 fall
u,
absence OF rain during the harvest season, the farmer
enabled to gather in his grain without waste
This valley is about one hundred and fifty miles in
length and hiryve in breadth, and is sparsey settled
throughout its whole extent Many fine locations are
yet unoccuped which will richly repay The labor of the
thrifty husbandman Natural meadows as yet untouched
by the hand OF cultivation afford abundant and rich
pasurage for immense herds OF cattle The valley is
mostly prairie, skirted by beautiful groves of timber
while through lis centre runs the Willamette river.
The Umpqua. valley is distant from the Willamette
twp mi nd 10 ated h ha Caa
pooc mountain. II is about ninety miles in length, and
varies from five to thirty Ave miles in width Ii is made
up o succession OF hills and dales, furnishes but little
timber. yet abounds in natural nxursnt growth Of the
richest grass.
North and South Umrqua rivers run through this val.
ley, and form junction about forty miles from the bay
OF the name. The entrance 10 this bay is found 10
be practicable many soops and steamers have
the bar al lis mouth, finding from three 10 three and
hall fathoms oil water upon il, without the aid OF pilots
buoys, or lighthouses few slight accidents, however
have occurred Tor the want OF such improvements A
port OF entry has been established here and appropra
lions have been made for ght.ho and ogsgnals
This bay is destined 10 be an important point 10 the
southern portion of Oregon. Here viii be the outlet OF
The produce OF the Umpqua valley and here, consequent
~ will be It's commercial city Many pack Trains are al
ready employed in the transportation oil goods and pro-
visions from this point TO the gold dggings" on Rogue
Chasia and Scott rivers.
Rogue river valley, which takes lis name from The
river which passes through IT, is about seventy miles By
the main travelled route from The Umpqua The valley
waered by neyeralling streams the soil is generally
good and u is skired and inlespersed with groves Of
fine timber. As II borders upon rich gold region, IL
must eventually become densey populated Asyei how.
ever IL contains white settlement but is occupied by
the Rogue river Indians who have rendered il the seat OF
much trouble aqd suffering from their depredations
There IN no portion OF the Territory, and indeed may
almost add Of the world, better adapted 10 gaziRg than
this valley In extent II IS about fifty by thirty miles
Surrounded BY mountains the eye seldom rests upon
more beautiful, picturesque, and romantic spot II
tends TO within few miles OF the boundary between Ore.
gon and California These valleys all lie west OF the Cas-.
cade mountains, and south of Columbia.
There also many small valleys rich and fertile in
this part OF the Territory sording good inducements 10
settlers and which doubt will be speedily occupied as
suitable protection be extended them by
the government
A very interesting portion OF Oregon lies north OF ,he
Columbia, and is being rapidly settled. The Cowz,
which rises in the Cascade mountains, north Of the Co.
lumba, runs through large tract OF fine, arabic land,
entering the Columbia some forty or fifty miles from IFS
mouth
French settlement OF many years growth commences
near this river, about thirty miles from its mouth, and
now embraces some large and valuable farms. Amer.
cans also have, within the last six years, settled between
il and the Cahaes. and doing we'll The country is
level and fertile and beautifully nerspeTsed with praires
and timber
The valley OF the Cahales is also fertile, and well
adapted TO cultivation Between and Puget Sound tie
country is level and well timbered, with occasional small
pranes THIS Sound OF the safest and bes, har
bors in the world II affords fne ship navigation into an
district Of country rich in soil, with immense forests Of
the finest iher in the world, and combining many ad.
vantages, agricultural and commercial, II is destined TO
be- at distant day, al the most important points
the Pacific coast low pass IN The Cascade mountains
offers ronte for good road from the Sound TO Fort
important for military purposes, and would also be a
great saving OF distance and time Ia emaTans going 10