Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1889-04-17
TIE PACIFIC SLOPE.
some of the Characterist,cs OF tae
Couptry and or Its Peqple-Oregon
viewed by an Uid-Time Lbakotpian.

VIZ fP'sh 1tb AooV
70 the Press ard Dakotaian: Yonr
columns are asked for a letter to many
that time does Los permit me to write to
each. The heading is the postoffloe and
name of the "Salem Iod;an industrial
school" where | now have the honor to
serve Uncle Sim. The place is nearly
five miles north from Salem on the Cali
fornis and Oregon railroad (she Mt.
Shasta ronte) and all trans stop within
fifty feet o fthis ofioe. Besides this we
have O hack and teams. We are near
enough 70 the city. The place is very
pretty and the building, coed. Life Is
comfortable; but / do not like it. The
trail OF the Indian service is st,ewn with
trouble and more disaster than glory
has beer won IN its peaceful duties.
am yet q tenderfoot, OF course, in
this climate. In early March the rain
was sometimes tlresome; generally
the weather has been delightful.
The grass 10 now rich and green.
the maple leaves are about of full size
and the apple and pear trees have been
long loaded with bloom. Peach blooms
were abundant q month ago. There are
a great many wild and cultivated flowers.
We are liable to frost, however, during
all of April. The forests are nearly ell
evergreen. two closely similar species OF
fs, though there are groves of oak and
other declduous trees. Along the Will
lamette my eyes ere cheered with the
sight of the familiar cottonwood and
willow. A few miles back from the river
small pralries, not now distinguishnble
from the largo cleared tracts elsewhere,
are found, and these increase towards
the Cascades.
The coil ls rich generally, and often
very fertile. In the general vicinity Of!
Salem fairly improved farms are worth
from $40 to 800 per acre. Life seems to
rest eesily upon the people, and they
are compelled to do much resting frcm
farm labor by the rainy season. L will
not write about that as this is an I'M
usually dry and pieassnt winter and
spring.
The people are from all over the union
and there are many foreign people, or
descendants of them, German, English
and Scotch, the former far more numer-
Gus. John Cinnamon is here. Two of
them cook for our mess and serve u
sablss very accepaably, Foon and Sing
by name. Whether these are their
christian or other names I never learned.
They smile when I call them
"Zaan" as Remnants Siberian waiter
did. Driving out through 8 wooded
region l came upon a 'camp" Of
them outing wood and saw them play
ing one OF their mysterious and by me
inexplicsble gambling games. Under O
white boss they form the section squad
that keeps the rsilroad in perfect condi-
tion. Recently / witnessed a funeral.
1t is an old story to most readers. When
fully ready they started with teams oil
most at q run and kept it up till they
reached the cemetery, where the corpse
was quietly buried and his personal eff
fscts burned. All along the route they
scattered hhndfuls of small bits OF paper,
each pierced with Q hole. The theory is
that the evil one must go through the
hole in every paper bit, in his chase
after the soul OF the departed. Like
many Others they worship or give heed
to the bad joss more than to the good
one.
There are many people here from the
southern states. 1t will be remembered
that Lam OF Oregon was the candidate
OK tho secession democrats in 1860 and
the relation of this state to the union
cause was by some held in doubt, though
the eloquent and gallant Baker was one
OF the senators. The immigration 10 now
more and more Yankee in character, and
the effect is observable. The Nj, e.
church south, has yet On existence in
the state. The people are social, cordial
courteous and rather conservative. Da.
kota has q more complete and excellent
body oflaws. and more vigorous insti-
tutions. hut Dakota is an exception
among commonwealth.
The products are wheat, wool, lumber,
fruits. such as apples. pears, plums,
prGnes and small fruits in great album
dance. Gardens are good, but corn is a
very small crop. The people appear
prosperous. The distance and cost OF
coming appsar to select more we'll to do
people. There are very few paupers
indeed. The coantry homes vary from
excellent and attractive to the shanty or
CHEAP box house. The farms were
o%riginsll Very large. ranging from 800
to 1850 acres under 9 law that gave "do,
nation claims" to induce settlers, and
another that gave lands,to Indian women
and Others. There wns considerable
inter-marriage OF races in early days,
These large holdings delayed develop.
ment and yet do, but they are breaking
mp by sales and distribution of estates
Under the name of .sfruis farms" lands
are often sold in lots OF ten acres, though
| haze seen that there were yet virgin
forests OF fir. Clearing lands OF timber
is slow. 1 nave Just come in from direct.
ing work ia removing stumps, some OF
them ak feet across. We insert giant
powder down among the roots. apply a
fuse. light il aud at once retreat, had
eight charges thu. we're fred in quick
succession and we had ell the