, 1853-01-15
For the Columbian.
Agriculture.

hSAAOuAtuAOs
MEssRs. ADIroRs-There are many mon
in this " breathing world of ours" and not
few Of them in Northern Oregon, even),
who are always on hand =" TO give an
opinion upon any subject "under heaven
that may happen to be discussed in their
presence, whether they have any correct
knowledge Of the question al issue OF not.
Such people are seldom, or never, qualified
to give san opinion as is an opinion,p and
therefore when found should be made note
Of. Since my advent into this Puget Sound
country, the remark has frequently been
made TO me by different individuals, that
Northern Oregon is most miseFably adapt
ed to the purposes Of agriculture, that its
soil is barrenand unfruitfnl, with the exoep-
lion of now and then fertile spot, like an
oasis in the desert, and that il Is not, and
cannot be an agricultural country Such
men "reckon without their host, /" and fool
lshly make assertions upon matters that
they know little or nothing about, and
which they cannot substantiate BY facts
Men who do not look beyond the surface
of things need never expect 10 gain anything
more than a superficial knowledge Of them:
and 30 it is with this really beautiful and
fruitful country, for ifpeOple will persist in
con6ning themselves exclusively. TO the
shores of the Sound, which, are bounded
throughout its length and breadth by dense
forests, and never penetrate the interior,
they have no reason whatever 10 expect TO
gain correct knowledge of the country as
it is. "'-.'i
To a stranger who comes here BY sea,
and whose object Is agriculture, the pros.
pect before him as he sails up the Sound is
anything but an inviting one, grant, for be
can see nothing but bold, bluff banks, and
forests of fir; but LET him push his way in
land a few miles, and his eyes will soon be
gladdened by the sight of the richest and
most beautiful prairies in the world, where
he can sit down in quiet contentment upon
his own claim" and in few years, with
little labor and means judicially applied,
become wealthy, or at least wen off, as
the "yankees have it, Almost every day
| meet with discontented individuals who
are continually growing about Puget Sound,
and curSing themselves for fools for ever
coming to il but almost always find that
L
they are DISAPPOINTED men, who cannot,
or WILL not work, and who vainly hoped
that it would prove perfectly easy matter
for them TO acquire wealth here without
either mental or bodily exertion. Il was
delusiye phantom that they hugged to their
hearts, and somo of them can now Say as
did Pat when writing to brother
d" Mickey " in Ireland I; = Sure this.Athiri-
ky is a great country intirely, for when
landed in New York I hadn't arag 10 my
back and now Pm kiSered wid lhem,"s--
Men MUST WORK in, D,some way OF oiher
in this country, as in all other countries, or
they have no ground whatever 10 found
Ihope upon Of ever gaining wealth, or even a
subsistence Drones are not wanted here-;
they are Of no manner Of use or benefit 70
the community or Territory. MEN VINO
WILL CULTIVATE the SOIL, and BY energy
and determined perseverance cause the
wilderness 70 blossom as the rose,n are
they that are needed of all others, and who
will ever be welcomed hero, with opsn
hands and warm hearts. 1t is perfectly Idle
for men 10 talk Of Northern Oregonas being
barren and unsuited 10 the purposes 0f agrl-
culture, for there is no TRUTH IN i. There
is as good soil here as any in the world, and
a plenty Of il. II you win not take my
word for il, call courage enough To- your
aid to forsake for a season the allurementS
of Olympia, and other places along shore,
and explore the interior. ~ go =
s..I lsilHq "oHE ANYN'