The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-04-14
Questions about Oregon Answered.
BY Mr.. Fleming, Postmaster, Oregon City.
From the Oregon Argus, December 4

- ~@SN'
BY Mr.. Fleming, Postmaster, Oregon City.
From the Oregon Argus, Defenders.
"Ls 1t HealhyP"-Yes. We have neve,
seen country we would sooner risk our health
In than this-but people are sometimes sick
aud not subsequently die, in Oregon. The ma.
lority OF those who have died here, we believe,
have been carried of BY old Chronic com.
plants that were deeply rooted in their con.
situations in the States. Those who start from
the States with incipient consumption general.
~ experience an apparent perfect cure during
the hrst year or two of their residence here,
but after that they are almost sure to drop off.
There are some locations in the dranght of the
sea breeze-that rushes with great force through
gaps OF the Coast chain of mountains-that are
said by the doctors to be very unfavorable for
such as have weak lungs Hence, some who
flrst settled in such localities have exchanged
their residences for more sheltered and Quiet
ones, while others who have strong lungs re.
loice in the luxury of the breeze Almost any
kind OF location can be had in the Willamette
valley, so far as regards breezes-one where
there is little or no wind, or one where the
winds during the after part of the day in sum-
mer are strong and cool. The country imme-
diately on the coast, west of the Coast chain OF
mountains, Is limited in extent, but has an ex.
celent soil, and is not subject to drouth in
summer. Its character for health is about the
same as that of other portions of the Territory.
The country east of the Cascades, called Middle
Oregon, is but little settled yet. 1t has been
opened to settlement quite recently. and a
good many are turning their attention that
way. 1t Is principally adapted to stock raising,
and boasts remarkably healthy, mild, and
pleasant climate. There is little rain there in
winter, but the cold is severer than in the Will
lamette valley. The clouds that rise from the
ocean and overspread the country west of the
Cascades during much of the time from Novem-
Der to April, seem to beat against the western
slope of these mountains, discharging all their
rain against this great natural barrier, which
rises sufficiently high to protect the country
beyond from the storms to which we are ex.
posed.
is ii a good farming country P"-Yes. AL
most all kinds of grain and vegetables that do
well in Illinois are raised with much success
here. Wheat averages from fifteen to twenty.
five bushels to the acre with the present poor
average cultivation. But many perhaps we
ought to say few farmers, who pillow deep,
harrow thoroughly, keep their stock off the
pillow land during the winter, and put in their
grain at the proper season, raise from forty to
UuohCios w III SUCH CULTIVATION as
land receives in the Western States generally.
we have no doubt but fifty bushels to the acre
would be oftcner produced than less quaint
ty. What we say of wheat raising is equally
applicable to most other products. The soil
has been poorly cultivated, as q general thug,
since the country was settled but since Orego-
mans have discovered that they must go to
work in order to get rich, if not to make
living, they have begun to improve upon ex-
perience; and the consequence is, that the soil
has now a reputation for being from three to
five times as good as it had ten years ago. To
illustrate ten years ago, man who plowed
his land with a wooden mould-board Missouri
pillow, when the ground was saturated with
water, seldom getting down lower than two
inches, and often clogging with mud so as to
refuse TO poke its nose into the ground at all
for several rods at time, and then planted his
potatoes, leaving them to manage their own
affairs in their own way" till digging time,
generally got from five to ten bushels for one
planted-(we got in 1850 only thirteen bushels,
worth $l3, from six bushels, very poor measure,
for which we paid $l8.) NO,o, the man who
uses Lewiss steel pillow, when the ground is in
proper order, turning up the soil to Che depth
OF six or eight inches, and then hoes or plows
them afterward, raises as fine potatoes as can
be raised anywhere, Oats do as we'll here as
In Illinois, but corn is generally light, averaging
perhaps twenty or twenty-five bushels to the
acre, except on choice sandy bottom lands,
where as high as forty bushels are produced,
Is a good place for Mechanics P"-Me-
chanics generally get four or five dollars day,
we believe, There is considerable building
going on in the country, and we think all me-
chanics who are willing to work have enough
to do.
Can good impyOred land be bought on good
termsF THE most of the country is settled up
by section claimants, but taxes and other causes
already induce very many to offer part Of their
lands for sale, Good lands vary much in price
but nom five to seven and ten dollars an acre
we think would be fair average for good prai
RE land. That which is improved to much ex
tent ranges higher. For instance, half sec
ton of good land under fence, with a good
orchard, house, barn, and out-buildngs, would
cost from $4,000 to $4,000. For further par
uoulars, see advertisements in this paper
" Haze you good timber and good springs ?"
Plenty of good timber, such as FIR, oak, ash,
maple, cedar, DC, &c, in places rather too
plenty, in other places rather scarce, but gen.
orally the county Is well timbered. There
are & lew farms that have not enough stock
water, either running brooks or springs. Some
prairie locations are however, destitute of these,
but good water can generally be had by dig |
ging from twelve to twenty-five feet. Water
power is abundant and both humber and -four
mills are becoming quite convenient to most |
settlers, We have already a woollen manufac- |
tory in operation, which gives good blankets
and spun yarn in exchange for wool, (Sheep |
do well and are worth about six dollars a head. !
Stock rdising-Probably no country is better
adapted to stock-raisipg. Cows are worth from |
$50 to $50, horses (Indian) from sac to SEQ, |
American from $3.50 to $500, work oxen from
100 to $l25. Cattle subsist most of the year
through with less feed than is used for the same
number in Illinois in two weeks. This is the |
way they are kept-not the way they ought 10 |
be. What would winter ten head in Illinois, |
would winter one hundred head here, and win. |
Ter them WELL
fsNr-Orchards are becoming very numer- |
BUS tor new country, and in a short time we |
shall have a great abundance Of fruit of all |
Kinds. Apples sell readily for from az. so (seed-
ings) to S. (grafts) bushel, for California
Ihipment. |
Fsh.-We have any quantity Of salmon in |
Ill the streams below the falls at this CITY. while
'bove here the stresms abound IN mountain
rout.
Ggme-0ur game consists of deer, bear,
yr9use, quails, cartridges, ducks, and geese,
While elk and moose are found in the noun
aims.
Berries.-We have blackberriss, strawber- |
hes, huckleberries, thimhleherries, salalberries,
eFanberies, Ton the coast, wild,
yhile tn cur gardens we have most kinds pro-
iuced in the East, not excepting the I.awton
blackberry. Great country this for berries
Wa9es.-Common farm hands get from $40 |
% $40 month the year round.
Wy n
With occasional heavy rains in June and Sep.
ember sometimes oftener. Crons suffer Gttie |