Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1853-08-17
JOHN MINER.
Washington Territory.

We are indebted to Mr.. GOODMAN, of Bee
town for the perusal of letter from the Rev.
B. Close, dated Olympia, Puget Sound, w. T.,
May 9th. 1t was not intended for publ cation,
but as it contains much of general interest, we
ca mot refrain from presenting portion of it
to our readers:
You ask some questions
which you wish me to answer: and let
me say first, that am a stranger in this
country, but will answer as correctly as
my information will admit of. NV first
landing in Oregon was at Portland, l2O
miles up the Columbia River, the largest
place in Oregon, think or Portland is
on the Willamette about 6 miles from its
mouth. then went up to Salem to get
my appointment, and was sent here to
this place, Olympia, Puget Sound in
Washington Territory where | am, now.
1t was raining when | got into Oregon !;
and it continued 10 rain from that time
until went up to Salem and back when
the rain stopped, TO let it snow and
snow fell two feet deep, and continued
on three weeks, and went off with arain.
AS for mud, it was bad enough ). indeed,
there could be but little travelling done,
only by water. This was the Oregon
mist that used to read of, and it auas
mist or more. This spring the weather
has been pleasant. The ice froze at one
lime since | have been in the Territory
2 inches thick. We have our share oil
cool weather, but not freezing. The
winters are rainy, and npleasant- plen-
~ OF water. The summers, as far as | can
Judge, are quite pleasant, but rather dry.
7 OIL know tne extreme follows another
generally, and SO in the climate here
Winters, too much rain-summer not e.
nough. We don't have extreme cold
weather, nor extreme warm weather.
think indeed, if some of our winter
rain could fall in the summer, and thus
squalize it, the climate would suit me
better. AS to the face of the country,
some portions of it is mountainous, and
other portions quite leyel and handsome.
From where l am now writing | can see
he Olympia range of Mountains, cover
ed with snow. AS to the water, por-
lions of it is we'll watered, and some not
first rate, as it is in all countries. AS
10 timber, it is well timbered, fir, cedar,
aemlock, and other kinds-some of the
Iallest trees you ever saw. l fell a tree
that was $50 feet up to the first limb
and saw two cedar trees that Mr..
Thompson worked up into shingles the
TWO made sixty thousand, eighteen in
,hes long.
Productions Wheat, the best YOU
ever saw, | think. Potatoes, oats, and
vegetables of every kind most. Corn
does not do well, though / think it has
not had fair trial.
AS to Markets, we probably have as
good a market as any portion of Ameri-
"a. AT present home consumption
and high prices Flour, 500 per bbl.,
potatoes, $3.50 per bushel; beef, la
10 cts. per pound; pork, $50 per bbl.;
eggs, 81 per dozen; butter, 81 per pound
sc. Good cows are worth from $75 to
300; no. SEES from 500 to 5000, proba-
bly, not much more thah is the states Il
oxen by yoke from 5000 to $500.
AS to the Indians, l can chase l,OOOI
and two, 10000. Perhaps not quite as
large as that; but they are a cowardiy
race Of beings-not disposed to iniure
The whites-peaceable. They are all a.
round us, and get fish and clans, oysters
&c., for us; and my wife has boy to get
wood and water. We have as good fish
as ever swan in salt water, l think, and
plenty of clans and oysters.
l believe that Washington Territory
is as good as Oregon and Puget Sound
is the best and handsomest sheet of salt
water / ever saw.-We have fowls wild
and tame.-Wild geese, ducks, SC.
In many portions Of the Territory plen-
ty of deer and other game. If any body
asks you if like the country, tell them
the Iand is not as good as we have in
the States; and if they ask again, tell
them No, | don't If any body wants
to come here and settle, tell them we
want settlers, but if they take my advice
they will stay where they are.n