The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-09-29
in THEWHEATC0UN
MR.. cAMpsELL's OBSERVATIONS
In Southern orsson-rhs Wonderful Fertility Of
Willamette aud unrquA yalIeJs-PiOustrR Rem.
ihlIesncts Of the COuatry-Hardships OF
CrOrsiug the Plains a Generation Ago.

Special Correspondence orMs IatslioaeG.
SALEM, OREGON, September 19.-one oi
the most important portions Of Oregon is
the Valley Of the Willamette river. 1t is
for the most part fertile prairie valley
lying on the East and West sides Of the
river, and is skirted on the East by the
foothills Of the Cascade mountains, and on
the West by those OF the Coast range. 1t
was this valley, as well as the two valleys
south Of 1.-THE Umpqua and the Rogue
river vslleys-that were inst settled, and
their rich lands were given in large tracts
by special act Of Congress when Oregon
was disputed country between the United
States and Great Britain. Prior to the
passage Of this act there were few white
people in all the $4,000 square miles that
then constituted the area OF Oregon Terri
tory, other than the employees Of the
Hudson Bay Company. England claimed
the country, as did the United S ates, by
right OF discovery, but inasmuCh as neither
country had settled or occupied il, lis future
turned upon the preferences OF the popula.
tion that could be drawn into it. Hence
Congress, in order TO stimulate emigration
from the States, passed an extraordinary
act, giving to any native or adopted citizen
OF the United States who might settle in the
country prior to December, 1858, home.
stead OF 800 acres OF land, and, in addition,
80 lhn of tasl
settler who should come with him, Or who
might become his wife prior to the date
named.
This act was considered both necessary
and shrewd act Of government policy inas-
much as there was serious danger that the
dispute with Great Britain might lead 10
war between the two countries. Inasmuch
as strategy Is cheaper than war, and mas
much as Congress could afford to be liberal
in parcelling out disputed territory for the
sake Of acquiring 1t, this act was passed. It
was a successful stroke Of state policy. 1t
stimulated emigration from the States to
such an extent that the ecountry was largely
Americanized, and England was forced to
recognize our jurisdiction as far north ss
the 40Ih parallel, although we had to back
down from our original war cry OF "54 40
or fight" The Ashburton treaty made the
waters OF Puget Sound the dividing line,
and by that treaty all that is now Oregon
and much that was part OF what is now
Washington, Idaho and Montana territories
were added to our public domain.
HOW THE COUNTRY WAS SETTLED.
Settlers locked in across the plains, set
ting out from Independence and St, Joe,
Missouri, with their OK teams, a journey
that was made at the slow and painful rate
OF l6 miles day and that consumed six
months Of time. To succeed in planting
$4,000 riffs in the valley OF the Columbia
was tho idea OF Thos. II. Benton, as the
means OF holding the country, aud this was
gradually accomplished. England mean
while made strenuous efforts to beat us but
she was distanced in the race. Her idea at
that time was that we could only settle 1t
by bringing immigrants around Cape Horn
that overland immigration was imprac-
ticable-and therefore that she could fairly
compete with us. She did not know the
country between here and the Missouri
border, nor did she appreciate the stuff out
OF v Which our pioneers were made. It is
related as a fact here that in 1874, at the
time Of the dispute between England and
the United States, a party OF American i'm.
migrants who had crossed the plains and
the Rocky Mountains aud arrived at the
Cascades Of the Columbia, had among them
curious ana cheeky young fellow who
went on board an English ship anchored
there aud made his way to the Captains
cabin. The Captain was busy at his
desk and when intruded upon by
this visitor and somewhat nettled at the in
trusion, looked up and addressed him thus:
"Young man, who are you and what do
you want here? The man answered, "S!r, l
am an immigrant just come down the river.
do not wish to intrude, but | wanted to
SEQ the ship, as never saw one before"
The Captain, examined his strange visitor
few moments in silence, aud said:
"Where did you come from and why do
you come here? He was answered,
"We've come from Missouri acrCss the
Rocky Moun,ains-we've come to settle in
Oregon and rulo this country" The Cap.
tain took another sient stare at the man
and then rel lied: "Well, young man, /
have allied into every quarter Of this globe,
and seen most Of tho people on 1t, but a
more uncoutb, at the same time bolder set
Of men than you Americans, never saw
before"