, 1862-02-01

the close of the coming season to the farm
ers in the Walla Walla valley. We regard
every thrifty, enterprising farmer in the
valley to-day, as occupying position of
independence. Not like the miner, who, |
if he would succeed, must in the outstart
grid himself with an indomitable will to
overcome all obstacles that lie between him
and his object, and bear all the burdens
that the exercise of will like this involves
nor like the trader, whose success is cen
tingent upon favoring circumstances,-the
farmer may remain at home, and while he
is subject to none of tie hardshlps incident
and unavoidable in the chase after gold, he
may cultivate the products of his soil, and
at the close of the season find himself in
far better circumstances than would result
from forsaking his farm for the best mines
ever discovered. We call attention to this
matter now, by way of suggesting to farm
ers-many of whom, we learn, are contem-
plating going to the mines SO soon as the
state of the weather permits-the propriety
of staying at home, and apply the energyl
necessary to success in the mines in thd
pursuit of their accustomed business.-N
Doubtless some have made up their minds
that the pursuit of farming is not a very
immediate means of amassing wealth, and
are tempted by the stories of speedy for
tunes accruing to men in the mines, to throw
it off and take their chances in the inviting
gold placers of Salmon river. The great
misfortune of the winter in the loss of stock
has borne heavily on some, and perhaps re-
solved them to turn their attention to other
sources of profit. But the results of the
coming season will demonstrate that the
farmer who resists the temptations offered
on the one hand, and overcomes the embar
rassments on the other, has acted wisely.
1t is quite evident from the reports we
receive of the great number of men who are
already turned Salmon ward, that there is
not a reasonable probability that all of them
will find employment in the mines and,
judging by the experience of the past, a.
large proportion of them will either return
or resort to other branches of industry,
even in case our anticpations of the rich
ness and extent of the mines are realized.
The immense influx of population expected
the next season, argues not only against
the farmer abandoning his farm, but also
diminishes his chances in tie mines in the
same ratio as the number going there is
augmented. But the first is the most CO.
gent argument in favor of his remaining at
home; for even though all do not find sue
cessful employment in the mines, their
presence in the country will enhance the
demand for articles of consumption, and be-
yond this it is an established fact that
large extent of mining country will for years
command the labor of thousands of miners,
which must create a demand for the farm
products of all the surrounding valleys.
Situated contiguous to the mining dis
tricts, the Walla Walla valley affords the
means of supplying this demand; and if
the farmers are wise, they will see to it that
during the coming season the articles which
if in their possession would bring to them
a handsome remuneration, do not have to
be imported from the Willamette valley or
California. But in order to accomplish
this, our farmers must get out of the slug
gish channel of many of the Oregon farmers
in former years. They must in a measure
anticipate the wants Of the country, and by
so doing they will be able to apply their
products when the market demands them
EXTENSION OF THE WAGON Road
lIr H. L. Richardson, formerly of Portland,
arrived in this city on last Tuesday even
ing, having left the Salmon river mines on
the 5th ult He brings no later mining in