Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1865-01-07
Notes Of Travel by Gold Seeker.
FROM THE PACIFIC COAST.
PORTLAND, Nov. IL, 1854.

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found considerable very fine country, but
more that is rough and uninviting. Indeed
there is but a small portion OF the state that
can even be considered first rate agrieultu-
raj country, from its mountainous character,
in the Western, and its extensive, barren sand
plains which embrace so largesa portion OF
the Eastern division, or that part of the State
| living Eas: of the Cascade Mountains
The best portion Of the State, which lies
to the south and southwest Of this city, was
settled by those who we're attracted here
some years ago by the very liberal bounty,
or land grant offered pioneer settlers, and
the consequence is, the State does not pre-
sent the prosperous agricultural appearance
it would were the farms smaller, and the peo-
pie possessed of more "dOwn east" industry
and economy The early settlers came on to
the lands before they were surveyed, and the
| Government afterwards made its surveys TO
accommodate, as near as possible, the settlers
claims. Many of the original farms of GAO
acres occupied whole valley, being perhaps
a quarter of a mile wide, and long enough to
make the required amount, and these claims
took no particular direction of the compass,
following the claimants choice of land-the
result is that the older portion of the State
is very irregular in its surveys, and farms are
in all conceivable shape.
As we get near the coast, the country be-
comes more broken, and very heavily tim
bered l found some oak in the southern
part, but towards the coast the timber is
mostly fir, with heavy pine districts. The
pine here would make the "Wisconse boys"
laugh. | saw one pine that measured eleven
feet through, and ran up-well, higher than |
ever expect to get.
This is an excellent country for stock
grass grows luxuriantly, and is green now as
in June and for fruit, excepting grapes, and
perhaps peaches, it is unequalled. Inever saw
finer apples. The soil, when once brought
under cultivation is very productive, in all
grains and vegetables but the people l9ck
industry-they live so easily, that e1foII ia
hardly necessary, and the farms generally
have a neglected appearance. This is not
the case with all, for occasionally will be seen
the marks of a new conner, but all fall sooner
q. later into INDECENT habits.
not but remark the disparity between the
sexes-there are but few single women here,
and its influence is seen in the neglected APP
pearance of the men, many of whom keep
BACH"
In travelling from Salem, took a road on
which there was no stage, and of course had
to go on foot. The second day out came to
one of the original settlements, or neighbOr-
hoods, in which reside the patriarchs, with
their children settled around them | called
at the most inviting house, and asked for en-
tertainment, which was very readily granted.
NV plumber" was taken from my back, and
soon became very intimate with mine host,
whom found to be an old settler, hailing
from Southern Illinois, He was very inquis-
tive, eyeing me closely, as if to deLect my
business when, at last, he came at me with
&c Wall, stranger, l allow you amt ped
lar-your plumber don't look like it. I'm
ag'in pedlaFs-they are cheats. Perhaps you
are LAWYER, or some SIGH +" No, / told
him. | was a teacher. $" A schoolmaster -
Pm right glad o. that-we're desprit in want
of some SIGH Our schoolmarm, that was,
went and done-got married, and we are right
sharp in want of a man, as the gals are SO
scarce hereabouts that the schoolmarms have
no peace fur the pesky boys"
| soon found that | was an acceptable guest,
and without letting me know of il, the school
board was called togetheT-of which my
landlord was one--and l was put through
course of "hard questions" such as "W Who
discovered America ?" " Who was the first
President ?" "HOw is Oregon bounded ?"-
and had to go through the multiplication ia
BILE as far as ''S times is o." Here the board
| stopped, and made me give them specimens
of ''coarse hand writing. All of which prov
ing satisfactory, was offered $50 per month,
and aboard round;n and it would teach 'sing-
ing school they would give me $50 in addi-
ton, They we're, the committee said, in want
of church music. This latter proposition was
a poser to me, but in declining it on account
of bad voice, supplied the want with a
proposition to teach " dancing school" in
which art l was great proficient This found
no favor with the committee, and / lost the
school, the committee evidently thinking
me educated too low down. School teachers,
particularly "school-marms," are in demand,
and all female help is high. There are no
American girls at work out, and but few of
| other nationalities. In the cities the Chinese
women and men do the kitchen work. China
men do all the washing, or laundry work, and
| they do it better than wemen-at any rate, /
never had washing done better than it is by
Mr.. " Ho living" who does my " washee."
| | did not 90 quite to the coast, intending
to 90 to Astoria by steamer, and have return
ed TO tnlS city III hopes VI EeCelNlHS lSLtefS
ordered to be forwarded from Idaho. This
is the business point of the State, and is
bound to be the metropolis The mOreI see
of it the better like it, and | predict for
Portland rapid growth. Twas much pleased
to find here Judge Larrabee, formerly Of Wis
consin. He has established himself here in
his profession, with fine prospects. heard
him make bully" speech at the Mcclellan
Club the evening before the elections He
has permanently settled here. Business is
good in Portland-the currency is gold and
silver, no paper, not oven "greenbaeks" is
seen, and it will be a long time before paper
money gets foothold, the gold region being
so near and the yield of the precious ores so
bundant. The State is rapidly settling up
with Eastern people, and all seem prosperous
/ and contented.
The "wet season" has set in, and rain is
constant. The temperature, however, is mild,
more like May than November, and stores
and workshops are open, and goods displayed
| as if winter was aiar off
| Wages are good and labor in demand
Tell your printers that jours. get s25 per
week in gold, equal to $50 or more in green
backs"
| just paid boy two "bits" for an extra
headed GLORY to Godl Lincoln's elected !"
Wish had my two bits back again.
GEORGE
4 ft..-..