The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-11-26
The Early Settlement OF Orcgon-Its 011
mate, Productions, Sc.

The Early Settlement OF Orcgon-Its o11
mate, Productions, Sc.
TO THE EDITOR or THE NEW YORK HERALD.
Nov. 20, 1853.
siR-Whle tender my most sincere and hear
felt thanks Tor the favorable mention which you ha
SO kindly made Of me and of my order in your papd
OF the 10th inst, must, however beg leave to col
rect a few statements contained therein Trutt
justice and gratitude require it.
The Jesuits, then, have not been the frs. to dill
cover the vast natural resources of Oregon Th
praise thereof is entirely due to John Mol an CHILD
ESQ.,, who, having been for about thirty years at I'd
head of the Hudson's Bay Company, west of III
Rocky Mountains, not only discovered the richness
that soil, but also foresaw the glorious destines
that remote portion Of the American continent. u
it was who brought about the colonization OF th{
part Of Oregon which he deemed most favorable |
agricultural purposes, and which, from the riy{
that battles it, is called the Willamet Valley. Nal
more, it is this praiseworthy gentleman who, thong
contrary to the rules of the Huds0n's Bay CompanI
not Only permitted its servants to settle at the
piration Of their service In that part Of the cou
try, but also gave every encouragement al
assistance to the first American emigrants, tn
taking upon himself heavy and dangerous respon
bilities both towards his home government, as w
as towards the powerful company whose represent
tive he was. when the boundary question still pend
between the American and British governments.
was he who gave q powerful impulse to the eetteme
OF that country, which he ever asserted belonged
the American not Britlsh-power; and under thI
conviction he laid his claim near the Falls of Il
Wiamet, and founded the first city in Oregd
which If ut present, for some peculiar and transic
circumstances, common with all other places, cOuI
bort o;oht s.,l~~
in the progress Of time, it will on account Of its
cal advantages, most assuredy be one of the m
prominent places OF that region. He did all Il
not to introduce, as some have very u0justly
very PROFESSIONALLY asserted, the British influence
American dOminiOns, but to secure to his old a
and to his family home under the protecting WIN
of the American eagle Though he was afterwal
wronged and by an act OF the Congress, ground
on mere misrepresentation stripped and dspossess
of his right to the Oregon City claim, to which
was entitled both on account OF his having forme
been British subject, and in virtue Of the trea
between the two nations, as well as on account
his being al actual bona fde citizen Of the Uni
States.
And, as regards the mssionary's tolls in thd
quarters it il true that the Jesuits, through the
severing exertions Of the Rev. Father Des net, ha
been the first to establish themselves among the
dams who occupy that trac, Of Oregon which con
under the name Of the Rocky Mountains. But
the remaining portion of the country they were
bly, preceded by the two jealous Canadian missi(
aries, Messrs Blanchet and Demers, the formed
whom is now Archbishop OF Oregon city, and
have respectively displayed the most untring 2
and energy in their apostolic functions.
As to the climate OF Oregon, say indeed that
is delightful, very mild in winter, and very heal
10 every season Of the year but it Is far from bel
the climate Of the Sandwich Islands. The sn
lasts for few days only, but the rains pre-,
through out the winter; not, however, to such an
tent as to prevent farmers from ploughing and 81
ing almost INCREASINGLY from September till the
OF April and some years even until the mid LID
May. Summer is very warm in day time, but
nights are very pleasant on account OF coolish
perasure which prevails in u very considerable
gree.
Nearly all the productions of Italy and of
south OF France could be successfully obtained
Oregon; but would not venture to assert the SO
Of the tropical productions, for am Of opinion
neither the climate nor the soil would prove con
NAL to them. First rate wheat, tolerably good Cd
peas and oats Of superior order, splendid potato
and other vegetables, fine apples, peaches, pei
cherries, apricots, grapes and tobacco, could, and
grow very well; not SO with las bananas, las piI
los platanos, and the like. may also state
certainty that without having recourse to engr
ment, we might, by planting the seed, obtain Il
producing highly luxuriant and palatabe fri
This is proof OF the peculiar fertility Of the
and does not, In my opinion, held with respect to
States, nor even with regard to Italy, France, or
Spanish Peninsula.
readers is, that how great soeyer may be the ind
veniencies Of emigration from these States to the
of countries # the Pacific, yet the advantages
so multifcrm as to compensate every sacrifice ia
highest degree, especially with regard to farm
During o residence Of ten years in the country
never met a single emigrant farmer who
GREETED his former home. On the contra
they are oil perfectly satisfied with the land Of M
adoption. Even the poorest emigrants attain, q
a few years, to such state Of prosperity as x
quite independent, not to say opulent. The vici
Of the California malts, and OF the mining region
Oregon, present opportunities never to be met
in the eastern States.
The present population Of Oregon, to say moth
of that portion so improperly styled Washing ton
ritorJ, is, if am not mistaken, from twenty Av
thirty thousand inhabitants. But If we consider
surveyed portion of the country as laid down in
printed map made by the indefatigable Sure
General, J. B. Preston, Esq, we could state
there is room for an average OF 10 millions.
Please, sir, to give publicity to this through
medium Of your widely circulating paper, and
will thereby highly oblige yours, truly and resp
fully, NJ. s. ACCOLTI,
Super't of Missions S. J. in Oregon and Gallo