Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1852-03-18
From the New York Tribure.I
Oregon and Emigration Thither,

but small space and only offer a few statements
very concsely and in order.
First of the country itself Oregon embraces an area
OF about $4,000 square miles. Ii is divided by
ranges of mountains parallel with the Pacific shore into
three belts or sections The first, Western Oregon
from 100 to $50 miles in breadth, and 40 900
square miles, of which only eighth is fit for cultva
ton Its climate is not especially favorable to agrcu
ture; the mean Temperature is 81 degrees Fahrenheit
Ii has rather rainy season than winter and in the
year lS4S at Oregon City, ID deg 20 mIn north the
than threequarters of inch thick during
all the winter This region is well tmbered rivers
rich In fish there is coal and lead good fax is
grown, and the base of the mountains grain -four
shes finely and the grazing is admirable. In this
ton lies the valley of the Willamette atributary stream
of the Columbia which the beautiful and fertile
tract in Oregon. The second section, between the
mountain ranges Of equabe and the har
vest is ripe in June Its soil is light sandy loam-in
the valleys rich alluvium, and barren the hills The
third section between the second range and the Rocky
mountains, is broken and bare country almost unex-
plOred The settlements are, Of course in West Ore
gon, and the agricultural activity the valley Of
the Willamette.
The Columbia is the chief river of the region, the
main body OF which is formed by the union Of large
streams at about 300 miles from the sea. Its general
is South and East Ii is navigable for 100 miles
from the mouth for vessels of twelve feet draft The
entrance of the Columbia is mprectcabe for two thirds
OF the year. But within the straits Of Juan de Fuea,
upon Pugets sound noble harbors for the largest
vessels This sound is in the northwestern corner of
the country andhere will be the great rivals of the Cali
lorna ports and the QepOtS Oh racine Commerce.
The Willamette, 100 miles in length is only naviga-
BILE for small vessels within three miles of its falls
and its valley is sixty miles broad Wheat and oats are
the chief grain crops in Oregon The wheat raised on
the Willamette is of superior quality, and yields from
20 to 80 bushels the Indian does thrive
The nights cold for it, Hardy fruits succeed
well, bossomng early in April, Vancouver and else
where Cattle nothing, except for a little care, vet
they sell high The farmers make little or no provision
for them. Herds and focks feed on the prairies OF
among the hills all the year. Cold weather rarely lasts
more than week at time. The Salmon Fishery
the Columbia has two seasons and yields abundanty.
Oregon wants good harbors. The coast is very dan
gerous by Of sand bars Ships Of eight feet draft
enter the Umpqua and the river Tuatn is ia pro-
cess Of clearing for navigation But the work goes slow.
ly on. There are now six steamers upon the Oregon
rivers, and Plank roads very generally discussed
! Second Population and Emigration. The chief set
Elements IN Oregon are the towns Of Astoria, Oregon
City, Fort Vancouver, Salem, and Lafayette. Oregon
City has population of 700 inhabitants and they hope
ardenty make it the seat Of Government The chief
agricultural districts the valleys of the Willamette
and the TuaaiIn; the latter produced the best last
year, and fine rye. There 20 900 Indians ia West
Oregon The immigration of I847 less than
4000 and the total white population is estimated
at IL 600. Before l843 there probably not more
than 400 residents in the Willamette VALLEY The law
OF Congress giving land to settlers and emgrants pass
ed the Session Of lS49150, extends TO December,
1853. This law gives TO all persons is years Of
who arrived and settled in Oregon previous to De-
cember, 1880, $40 acres OF land If single and If
ried $40 The bill then provides that If those sin
gle men marrfd in year from the LIST Of December
1850 they would receive $40 The bill next pro-
vdes that all white males twentyone ENGRAVING
10 that country and settling there between the st day
of December 1850, and the lst day of December 1883
shall receive 160 of land If a single man. aud If
married then 800 All male minors who 90 10 that
country and SETTLE and become twentyone before De-
cember, 1853 will receive 100 of land absolutely
and they marry in year after arriving majority
they will receive 800 In all the emgrant is al
lowed TO pick his land where he pleases If previ-
] L. ei.o -.
half of the above grant in her right. In all
four years residence and cutvatonto be completed
either before after the date Of the LAWS required
before the final title is made by the Government though
the title good all ntents and purposes against every
body but the Government from the moment the claim Is
taken If the his wife, both, die after taking
the claim, and before the four years expire the
goes to the survivor or heirs.
There are two ways Of emigration, that by sea
and by land. The is of much the short
est2S 80 days is an average passage to San Fran
cisco by the way of San Juan that by Chagres per-
haps three days longer although the Mica
ragua route, it is made rapidly steerags pas
TO San Juan costs $3.50, with 10 cents per pound
portage of luggage across the Isthmus. To ChagreS
the price about S2OO and IN the Storage OF sailing
ship round the Cape perhaps $3.50 to $l75. From San
Francisco to Astoria distance Of 700 800 miles the
$50. '''N ''= ~ ''''' ''1 '1' p''|' . '''1'
The land route although very much longer has Ger
tain advantages, the chief of which, according the
statement of intelligent familiar with the land
emigration, and capable Of speaking to the point are
cheapness, health and safety Fremonts narrative OF
tbs expedition gives detailed account Of each days
journey over the plains and through the mountains which
crossed by the South Pass 900 feet above The
The usual points of departure ST. Joseph Indepen
dence and Council Bluffs, near the confluence of the
Kanzas with the Missouri. The route lies along the
Kanzas and Platte Rivers Fort Laramie $50 miles
from Independence, Still along the Platte and through
the Black hills $50 miles: the South Pass being about
1000 miles from the points of DEPARTURE $50 miles lar.
hat Fort Hall To- HE she
route is olerabe but beyond this il bad for carriages
Pushing along the Lewis River for 500 miles you reach
the junction of the Columbia and Walle Waa, and be-
low this is almost impossible TO use wheel carriages
ard the rapids of the river interfere with the descent
Finally the emigran reaches Fort Vancouver 250 miles
from Walla Walla. 125 from the Pacific coast below
the mouth of the willamette and 900 miles from the
point OF departure upon the Missouri A company Of
three outfit plete with wagon aud four
yoke of anywhere the Missouri Iowa frontier
for $500 They lst May after as possible
and reach Oregon by LIST to 18th August Last Spring
MIR. Fisher OF Iowa, company with fourteen others
and four xteams left St. Joseph the 23d April and
arrived at the settlements the 9th July. with all
their stock They found the grass pretty good along
the except for 200 miles upon the Snake River.
The emigration for the last year did exceed 600
teams.
The reasons of preference assigned for the land route
are its health and safety although there always some
apprehension from the treachery of the Indians. The
emgrant arrives in the farming districts, with
his teams and wagons Injured 10 hardshps Ii he COCA
by sea be must make outfits California prices and in
the best regulated lines oil travel when thronged
as the California lines now are there must always be
of imposition and extortion Ii the emigrant
concludes go the Plains he should bay light
twohorse wagons. wide-read and well seasoned Oxen
plenty at ST. Joseph s45 to $50 the yoke; mules
$50 to $50 proposition isnow agitatng in Congress
that the War Department shall provide armed escort
for the protection of the Oregon emigrsnts.
We hope these statements will give correspondents
some Of the knowledge he requests. The Emgrant will
see that this Is rugged promise but like all new