Oregon Republican. [volume] (Dallas, Or.) 1870-1872, 1871-04-29
CORRESPONDENTS.

yanian TO William Davidson. Esq, we'll
known as a Real Estate Agent in Port>
land, shows the interest taken in Ore>
gon by the Eastern people;
EAST SPRINGFIELD, ERIE Co, Pa,
March 3lst, 1871.
VIM. DAVIDSON, ESQ. Dear Sir:
Your letter of January 25th and pack
ages were received in due time, and |
have circulated them over the country,
which will have, believe, the desired
effect. The eyes of the States are now
being turned towards the Pacific slope,
and many are looking to Oregon and
Washington Territory for future
home. as soon as their business and
| property can be got in shape; and |
! think the Willamette Valley will re
| ceive large portion. think emigra-
ton will increase very rapidly for years
to come. | have spent, since my arrival
home, my entire time, and much money
in forwarding the interests of emigra-
ton, and have had, by letter and other-
wise, communications from hundreds OF
different men who design, as soon as
practicable, to visit the Pacific, with the
intention of making home. and many
of them will go forward this spring,
summer and coming fall.
Although | have organized party of
what is called the Keystone Colony. we
have not made a full and complete or.
to fuaE +n
make full satisfaction. For instance,
part would wish to pay So to become
| a member of the Colony and have the
benefit of reduced rates, extra baggage,
freight, ETC., and purchase their own
| land on tacir arrival. Others wish to
pay to the treasurer the fare, about
S1l5, the initiation fee, S5, and $3.50
to purchase land within large tract
where a town could be located in the
most convenient place and send forward
men to locate, build accommodations to
receive the Colony on their arrival. etc.
All the ways proposed have their OBJ
| iections. For instance, the treasurer
would have to be man known from
New York to Iowa. not only as an hon
est man, bat man responsible; and,
| for the locating committee, and especi>
ally the executive committee, il is not
so easy to find good men who wish the
responsibility. With this explanation
YOU can sec at once that it the Colony
should adopt the standard of admitting
only those who were able to advarce
! $40 it would cut out large portion
| Of the laboring class of young men who
have not much more means than to pay
their fare aud fee, aud have little left
| to start on q homestead, who are the
| very bone and sinew of our country
aud who will eventually tell upon tho
veal or woe Of the land And on the
other hand, If | form Colony on the
bass Of the organization above, without
location to 70 To, what can poor or
rich m>n do +? 1t is like leap in the
dark Now let us come to the point
Can there be company formed in the
Willamette Valley, so that land can be
secured in large body, with viliage
laid out in its centre, and SD situated
that the poor man can purchase Gov
ernment land or railroad land at low
price; especially for those who located
first? Aud where we conld have a
depot and post Office at once !? Where
the poor but honest man could get a
little time, and where the rich mau
could buy reasonable amount of land !?
Where the climate is healthy and the
water good Where all could enjoy
the eqnable and delicious climate of
your valley | believe the population
of your State would rapidly increase by
emigration from this State. | would
join such company, and perhaps bring
out say twenty-five families or their
representatives, and in the summer and
fall another small party, and by another
spring we could get them going for
| ward in earnest Are there men or
companies in your State that would be
glad to take hold of this matter? |
have no large means, but will give
large amount of labor for its interest.
| have several friends who propose
visiting your State this spring-some
time 10 May-and will give them let
ters to you and others, aud if they find
the country as has been represented to
them. they will select homes in your
highly favored land.
| am very much pleased with the
climate of Oregon, and desire homo
there.
Please present this matter to some
Of your business men-Ben. Holladay.
the Mayor of Portland, O. Humason
and others, as it may be Of much inter-
est to them.
I will communicate with you soon.
Yours truly, WILLIAM BOND.