Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1854-05-02
Correspundcnce OF the Enquirer
SALEM, OREeoN TERRlToRy, FEBRUARY IS

nj. IN vour numerous readers. My native land Is virginia,
and nv warmest wishes are in her favor. Every State IN
the American Union ia sending out her population to swell
the numbers of the white race on the shores oil the racine
The vast country west Of the Rocky Mountains VIII Afford
fu,ure homes 10 millions of civilized men. But a small por-
ton of THE wide domain is yet eetIed by our people. Beau
tiIuI fcrtilv valleys, enchanting buHcs, or little hills, pure,
limpId streams, vast natural meadows, tall, volcanic noun
taius covered with perpetual SHOWS, q mild and healthy Gil
mate, extensive iron, gold and coal mines. navigable rivers
extensive bodies Of tall timber, safe ocean navigation. large
fisheries, endless water power, all invite our fellow cliizens
OF the United States TO come amongst US, and help oulld up
n cluster Of Republican States, protected under The broad
flag of our glorious Union. AS yet VIC have progressed bul
a iiiHe way towards developing the great nalutal resources
of Oregon. There is no country in which farming - more
Profitable than with us, and yet II 10 more neStectea mere
Than any where else in the United States. Much vi Inc
country west Of Missouri river Ia destitute OF umoer; yel
there is enough timber in Oregon 10 supply the whole iof
centuries to come. Most Of our present population atc iinai'
ing, and spend much Of their time at the GOLD mlnes' which
WELD but Il small profit TO The aggregate masses, who neglect
sale and sure cmp!oymenta for the tempting aiInrementd OF
sudden fortune. making. But this state OF shIngs Will pass
away, and men will take hold OF such business mere as VIII
WELD good proits. We look with intense anxiety 10 Inc ac'
lion OF our General Government on the great Paclhc Ral
Road question. We want 10 be united, by TINS great ma:
tional artery, 10 our brethren OF the Atlantic STATES. Ano
the facilities afforded by such q ROAD, OF feachihe me couh
try nm the shores OF the Pacific in a few days, instead OF
months, and of opening up an overland trade ana cofntnunl'
u,ion from China 10 New York and London and extending
life and animation 10 business generally, should be Induce
ments 10 our Government TO lay aside party Influence and
act fr. the good OF the whole American people, and incident
ally for half OF the people of the whole carth! lhls WORK
should begin speedily and progress rapidly 10 completion
Much of Deg IN is iu!ii.I, hut lateral branches should run
oul from the main trunk. and unite in general trade the va
rivus fertile vanies and pases OF Oregon ana SeoIasRa Ter
ri,orics. Low uaps or dercis have lately been found In the
! rrcat mountains OF Oregon and California, through whlch
Rail Roads can pass. The Star OF Empire Is westward. A
half century ago, when er"'grarts started from Ie oS states
to Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Michigan and Ohio Terrific
RIGS, they babe ,hri: friends, as they supposed, a Una! rare
| well! And now, by Rail Road and Teleg'aphic lines, what
"a change! But when emigration commenced u traverse
n ynsr ,riiprpf G intnIiIp1 by Wild beasts ana WlIucr men
from Missouri to the Pacific Coast. they babe adleu, as ihey
s @s1g sSe day 10 ' 1Ssn friends n,sn .h 1SisT 'sie s Aaa yt 90 no. nope cal. +.
from The Capitol OF Oregon, 10 Inc 9neen OF neS
Cincinnu,i-and reach there IN Two weess!! amer
csu entcrnrise and capilai can elect any lMng IN the
bounds Of moral possibility. The climate OF ms country
and ito b!esse health, render i; pre- emtnenlly desirable =
No earthly consideration could induce INT u ,et h.1, 0 ;nIn'
+, The Western S,a,es To live. We have ma TWO nara WIN
ters here in succession. and yet they have been nnih'ng IN
| comparison TO the mildest winters 10 me western QUITS
The grass in Oregon is peculiar 10 mis- country; II ) ever.
orapn' and Yields two crops q year. Go ~0nayzlng, II is
found 10 possess all the fattenlns properties oil corn wheat
rye or barley. Stock run on this grass, and remain INT all
the wear. have seen falter beet Killed oil the natlpe pas
lures here in December, January, February and March,
than | ever saw from the slaughter. pens IN 81. LOUIS LOU
isville or Cincinnati. Hard as times are here now, com.
mon American cows sell readily at SIS a piecei and yet the
Goa, of rearing such animals might be one dollar a piece
| Flour will ever eeIl al The average OF hve 10 seven Gohars
per l6G pounds, and wheat from 81 oU 10 Z oo per ouEne, mere,
There is no uncertainty in raising wheat IN oregon. Hneal
can be sown ary time between August and May, and yhio
q good crop in This climate. Eeny garden vegetables ''
main green in the earth nl Inc winner Estt. Sut eP'"eS
abound, and stock OF all kinds are remarkably hcai'hy.
Tobacco, corn, wheat, rye, oats. barley, peas, oeahS
onions, vines, potatoes, cabbage, lettuce, carols, oects, iur'
nios rad;.hts. and The varieties Of lame ftult, grow ane
flourish hare in the greatest perfection and aoundance. Inc
kouadIess grassy plains here would rear tens OF lhousahos
of horses, sfccp and cattle, beyond what ore mere now. Al
The tame grasses er0y here to perfection, and remain greer
all the yeur. go.
The wei season and South wi.ds 60, in about the lst Of
October, and the rains fall gradually aLnnt seven weeks
when they become tolerubly heavy tor nearly two iIoniha
They then begin 10 case off, aud wheat and oats are put
i,io the ground generally in February. The native clover
and nroso sprinp up in March. About this time the trade
winda BEGIN 10 blow from the North, the weather clears on
and the mos, delightful weather sets in and continues VI
October. There is occasionally clear weather IN the we
season; and showers in the dry eeacon are frequent. crops
require no irrigation in Oregon. Tie season5 are mucf
drier in the middle district Of Oregon than in the western
district, or that part lying contiguous to the Pacific ocean
| Shows b, seldom fall 10 Oregon, and they melt oil gener
aIiy n they fall. All the streams in Oregon take their rice
in the three great ranges Of mnuntains-Coas Range, Gas
cadc and Blue hioGnlains OF Oregon, and flow into the vahies
! and form creeks and rivc:u, which afford endless water
power. The water here is pGTe, cold apd clear as ON the
Allegheny mountain in Virginia.
have written something about the natural adsaataseoo
Oregon. What she may become Is in the future. We wan
forty thousand scientific farmers, five thousand good me
cnunics, ana three thousand first rate young women ioi
wives for our lotlorn bachelors here.
subjects connected with Oregon affairs, which, if carried
out in detail, would ill a book OF two hundred pages Oh
more. -.