The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1873-03-21


I am, yours very respectfully,
HENRY p. WILKERsoN.
ALBANY, Linn Co., Oregon,
March Is, 1873.
Henry n Wilkerson, Esq, MaWtield,
kentucky,
SIR:-Yours of February 5th, for
warded TO me hero from Canyon City,
came to hand on yesterday. You ex-
press desire to emigrate to Oregon,
and desire information in regard to
the soil, productions, facilities for
transportation, ETC., etc. am pleased
to learn that there are are some de-
string to avail themselves of our mild
and salubrious climate, rich soil, ex-
haustless forests, unparalleled water
power for propelling machinery. and
the unbounded pastoral resources OF
this State; aud, / might add, its in
exhaustable mines of coal, iron, gold,
silver, cinnabar, and copper.
Your letter was addressed to me at
Canyon City. which is in Grant coun-
ty, i'm what is known as 1" Eastern Or.
egon,' i. e., East of the Cascade range
of Mountains. Since closing my Sen.
atorial term in the Legislative Assem-
bly, of this State, / have changed my
location, am now permanently located
in the Willamette Valley. The char
acterisiics of the two sections of coun-
try are as distinat as the range of
Mountains that divide them-yet,
there are resources that are common
TO both; both have great pastoral re-
sonrces-but this is the marked char
acteristic of Eastern Oregon, com-
bined with which are its gold, silver,
cinnabar and copper minerals: it has,
also. agricultural lands-very pro-
dnctive-quitc sufficient in its produc-
tions Of grain, hay and vegetables for
home consumption; and so far as test
ed. the climate is well adapted TO the
growth of fruits of all kinds raised in
the temperate zone. Eastern Oregon
is a mountainous country, in which
are a number OF mines, lakes, and
large and fertile valleys; the foothills
and mountain sides are covered with q
great abundance OF the most nutri-
tious grasses. There are no railroads
in Eastern Oregon, except around the
several portgages on the Columbia
river. One is in contemplation with
good prospects OF final consummation
from Portland on the Willamette, via
Dalles on the Columbia, TO Salt Lake.
The climate in Eastern Oregon is
healty and attractive. / have seen
the mercury indicate as low temper
ature in south east Missouri, lat. q
as at Canyon City, Grant county, Ore
gon lat. 443o. AS TO the price OF
lands in the section of country now
under consideration, / will say there is
yet government lands to pre-empt.-
Improved lands, perhaps, can be pur-
chased at from $500 to $500 per
acre, according to character of i'm
proyements, proximity to market, etc.
You now have an imperfect birds
eye view OF Eastern Oregon. We
now turn to the country lying west oi
the Cascades, which embraces the
Willamette Valley, the coast range oi
mountains and the western slope oi
the latter range, including another i'm.
portant subdivision of the State, viz
Southern Oregon" including the
counties of Jackson and Josephine
similar, am informed in all respects
to the country have described, ex
cept, perhaps, it contains larger pro-
portion of agricultural lands. The
Willamette IS large and fertile val.
ley. Its pastoral resources being ex.
hausted only in proportion to the
land brought under actual cultivation
The soil and climate being well
adopted to the growth of all the cere.
als-(wheat being the chief grain tor
export; J also to the growth of all
kinds of vegetables and fruits, peaches
excepted. The valley is interspersed
with prairies, skirted with dense for
ests of pine, fir, oak, ash and maple
timber and cedar on the mountain
sides. The average yield of wheat ir
this valley is about 234 bushels pc,
acre-oats As and barley something
more, and this | think will apply te
the other sections of the State. The
climate in this valley is milder, bul
more humid than the other portions
referred to-ice at no time the pas
winter attaining the thickness of hal
an inch in this city. The water pow
er of Oregon, if properly utilized, il
sufficient to drive all the manufactur
ling machinery in the United State,
for the next half century.
| As TO railroads, we have two in thil
valley. The Oregon & California r
r. is now in operation from Eas
Portland sonth tn Rosehuro IN Douo