The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1871-10-13
ocHoco CORRESPONDENCE.
OcHoco VALLEY. 0R.,l
Sept. Is, 1871.

the columns of your paper?
Ochoco is stock country, adapted to
raising stock of all kinds, with the ex-
ception of sheep (they do not do well
here). Farmers moving here should
hear this in mind, and not come ex-
pecting to find good farming country.
Though we have some good land-as
good as any in Oregon-yet 1t Is in
small bodies, lying along the creek
bottoms, in small vallies averaging
from one hundred yards to three-quar-
ters of a mile wide, and ten to thirty
long. These vallies are generally sep
arated from each other by low ranges
of hills, covered with bunch grass
The settlements are situated on Trout,
Little Willow and Big Willow Creeks,
Ochoco and Crooked River Nallies,
Beaver Greek, Pauline Bottom and Up
per Crooked River. Ochoco is all ta-
ken up, but on all the Others good
claims can yet be taken.
Our citizens are now considerably
excited over large valley just discov-
cred by party of men who went out
prospecting from here. They report
that they found a large valley, some
sixty miles south of here, "the largest
and finest of any yet discovered" 1t
is about sixty miles long and from ten
to thirty wide, and covered with heavy
rye grass. The soil is loose andablack
and pronounced bysthem to be as rich
as any in the world The climate is
thought to be considerably warmer
than Ochoco. Our nights are too cold
to allow us to raise only the hardest
vegetables, but our party thought that
there settlers could raise anything,
melons, beans, potatoes, etc. This new
valley is surrounded by low, rolling
hills and covered with rank bunch
grass, and all well watered-some-
thing that cannot be said of every place
east of the Cascades. This valley IS
called New Texas'' or ''Shore's VAL
, ley"
AS to society, we have the best in Or
egon-nearly all the settlers are DEM
ocrats. No Doctors, Lawyers, Niggers
or Cinnamon have yet settled here, and
vep few Union men.
Our climate is very healthy no sick
ness to amount to anything.
AS to the historic item: Mrs. VIM
Marks was the first white woman that
moved here. Mrs. G. Judy gave birth
to the first white chiid. VIM. Foster
and Jane Marks were the first couple
married. The first death was Rube
Stratoff, who died last winter, of con-
sumption. The first drunk was Bro.
Pickett, formerly of the Albany Jour
nal The first store was kept at Bum
merville, and the first city CT any i'm
portance was the aforesaid Bummer-
willie. Settlers moving in here had
better secure lots in that city, as a
mans importance is reckoned by the
number Of city lots he owns. If he
lives i'm Bummerville be must have a
Trace hOss," must chew a mixture
called "backer," made of willow bark,
sage leaves and small amount of to-
bacco, and, as the cap-sheaf of perfec-
ton, he must own deck of "keerds''
and be an Abolitionist. All, or nearly
ali, of the blacks that have come out
here have settled at BummeryilIe.
We are laboring under great disad-
vantage I'm regard to our mail facilities.
All the mail We get is brought from
the Dalies by travellers who are coming
from there, and we often 60 for months
without particle of mail. We hope
this will soon be remedied.
FROM EASTERN OREGoN.-By a let
ter from Weston, UmatiiIa county,
dated October 1st, we get the following
information
The people are greatly excited about
smallpox, as many cases are reported
to exist in Walla Walia, and fears are
entertained that the terrible scourge
will prevail extensively throughout
Eastern Oregon.
Our correspondent says the country
about Weston is very productive. The
soil is OF rich, black character and
produces from 80 to 10 bushels of wheat
per acre, both on the hills and in the
creek bottoms. The country is settled
solidly in 160-acre farms, embracing a
tract from seven to ten miles wide
along the base of the Blue Mountains
There are but few tracts unclaimed in
that region.
Weston is situated on Pine creek
near where it makes it's exit from the
mountain gorges. 1t is a fourishing
village, for two-year old contains
two stores, hotel, livery stable, two
blacksmith shops, with prospects for a
harness shop. Great need is felt for a
timer and boot-maker. Along the
foot of the mountains, not more thar
three miles from town, any amount o.
tipnher exists, where three steam saw
mills are daily cutting thirty thousand
feet'dDpine and fir lumber for the Wal.
La Walla market. "Indeed,,' saws oul
correspondent, ssWeston has the mos
abundant resources, the most enter
prising men, the prettiest women, and
the smartest babies of any village of it.
proportions in Christendom ~
Our correspondent sends us a small
club OF new subscribers and promises &c
enlarge it to a handsome list shortly
he has our thanks and good wishes fol
his prosperity in his pioneer Eden.
VzNEGAR.M Messrs. Hiltabidel & Co.
have gone into the vinegar business or
large scale. They will soon have the
best quality of cider vinegar for sale II