Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1854-06-14
0fegOn---Her Progress.

der date Of March g. gives this interesting account
of this interesting territory. ohioans will always
feel an abiding interest in it; as there are many
Buckeye boys abiding there. He says: ...
"Itwould be bad omen, indeed, for Oregon,
If with population not much short of 40 900, and
still increasing at unprecedented rate, and fast
settling into the order Of "a republican State--no
adequate provisions had been made for the Intel
lectual cultivation of the people.
From the earliest settlement of Americans
here, however, there has been felt want of the
means Of educating the youth. A few, at least,
in every class of society have manifestly been
deeply impressed with the Importance, not only
to this people but to the world, oil instampng up
on the Pacific coast, purity, berulty and inteili-
gence' The most prasewoathy exertions have
consequently been pat ferth in various quarters,
for the established of permanent and efficient in
stitutions of leafhihg. These exertionsi In spite
of the difficulties incident to all new countries,
have been SO far crowned with success, that Ore.
gon will now compare favorably with any State
in the Union in respect to its schools and edu-
cational facuties-considering its age and posi-
.on. Indeed, few of the old States have accom-
plished as much for the cause of education, with
in the first twenty years Of their settlement, and
the first eight of their civil and political exist.
ence, as Oregon. The Methodist Episcopal
Church have three f1ourishing academies now in
operation, and fourth soon to 20 into operations
The Willamette University, chartered last win.
ter and located at Salem, is also under the direc
ton of that body, and faculty will soon be or
ganized, and ample facilities provided for full
collegiate course.
The Baptists have also a fourishing school il
this place, under a charter which embraces al
the powers and provisions Of college. The,
have now permanent teacher, and already vffor,
to young men the advantages of collegiate aduca
ton. Their Institutions, call the Oregon Cit,
College, has received donation of tract of
land near this place, and mostly free from fnan
cia embarrassment, bids fair to be a source o
much good to the territory. ....
| There are also two iHstitut ons to which tn,
Congregatonalists are generally friendly, bu
which are really under the direction and contro
of no particular denomination of Christians
These are the Tualatn Academy and Pacific Un
iversity, and the Clackamas County Female Sem
mary. The former is an Academy with Collegi
ate powers, and professor already at work il
the collegiate department.
The Episcopalians are also making a move to-
ward the establishment of seminary or college
for the education of young men. The Cambeli
ties are making liberal provisions for the imme.
diate establishment ofa high school for their de.
nomination.
In addition to these, there must be taken into
consideration the village and neighborhood
schools, besides many private or family schools
the number of which cannot be easily ascrtained
There is a school law and school fund, pro.
viding for the support and regulation of public
schools in every county; but the sparseness oil
the country population, and their mixed character
having come from various and different parts oil
our Union and the world, and being comparative.
ly strangers to. each other-have rendered its
provisions, as yet, of comparatively little use.--
Still, it is an evidence of fruitful interest in the
cause Of education.
The schools So far as know, are we'll proyd.
ed with books of the very best kinds. The lat
est and best publications of your N ew York pub
fishers have been introduced, and are generally
used.
The public sentiment, however, notwithstand.
ing all that has been and is being done, will not
yet bear high standard of scholarship--one al
least that requires some years and considerable
expense to reach. Much of the interest felt in
education, it must be confessed, grows out of its
considerations of its practical, immediate utility
An education is deemed rather as means of EN-.
nobling and refining human nature. Education
carried out according to the prevalent idea here,
would, after one or two generations, provide only
the qualifications of a nation of shopkeepers
The Legislature of this Territory have had
quite harmonious session, and have done con
siderable good work. .....-t .....-...... Vs.
Several railroads We're chartered. The most
important one in respect to the immediate wants
of the country, is to have its terminal at Canemah
just above the Falls of the Willamette; and ut
some point on the Willamette below the Falls
1t is probable that if it is built at all, the lower
terminus will be Milwaukee, six miles below
This work, or an Improvement Of the Rapids at
the mouth of the Clackmas, is seriously needed
The Rapids and at all times hndrance, and dur.
ing large part Of the year, and almost total de-
struction to the passage Of any except the yer,
smallest steamboats,.
The question of forming State of Govern
meht is to be submitted to the people in June, ant
if the vote is for Convention, the members O
the same will he chosen in September, end the
Convention will meet next winter. What the
people will require is not easy to predict, but
apprehend that the politicians are quite muct
interested in the matter as the mass of the peo
ple." -'