The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1892-04-14
AMONG THE OREGON1ANs.
Al Interesting Letter from former An
1ersoniap.

Al Interesting Letter from former An
dersonian.
CORVALLIS, OREGON, April 5, 1892.
Editors anderson Intelligencer Near
ly FIVE months have elapsed since I plant
ed my foot for the first time uponiOregon
soil. Coming from within two hundred
miles of the Atlantic / am now within
half hundred of the Pacific7 Is it pos
sible that the invisible tie of affection that
binds me to South Carolina, to mother
and others whose images are frequently
before me in my dreams and thoughtful
moments, measures over 5000 miles7 So
the maps tells me, but believe it reluc-
tantly.
Oregon is thrice the size of South Caro-
lima. There is one County in Oregon al
most as large as South Carolina. The
surface of the country is varied In ap'
pearance. The first part of the State that
I touched was dry, sandy country
Much OF Oregon presents this desert.like
appearance. Irrigation renders it, how
ever, very productive. Three ranges Of
mountains extend North and South
through the State, and as natural con-
sequence, valleys are numerous. The
largest and most noted Of Oregon Valleys
is the Willamette. It lies between the
Cascade and Coast Range Mountains, aud
is drained by the Willamette River, the
most important stream in Oregon. This
Valley is over one hundred miles long
and has an average width OF forty miles.
In it are located the largest cities of the
State, such as Portland. the metropolis,
Salem, the Capital, together with Oregon
City, Eugene and Albany. All of these
places are on the banks Of the Willamette
River, and have the advantage OF its nav
igable waters. But must speak Of tie
climate Of Oregon. When I was prepsr-
ing to come out here, those interested in
me insisted that I should lay in supply
Of clothing, suited to the needs Of Arctic
explorers, and, no doubt, 1t will be n
surprise to many 10 be told that an in
habitant Of this country enjoys milder
climate than South Carolinian living In
the Piedmont Belt. Biographies divide
the seasons of Oregon into the rainy and
the dry, the former beginning in Novem-
ber and ending in April, and the latter
extending from April to November. I
arrived here in November and was intro
duced to Oregon while she was dressed In
her watery costume, and as sit In my
study today, after having been here almost
five months, and look out upon what 1
can see Of the State, her dripping dress
still greets my eye. For the first six
weeks after I arrived here I did not see
the sun more than halrdozen times,
and I can now recall but two days during
that time In which there was no rain.
"Oregon Mist'' is popular expression
among Oregonians, and signifies the
character of the rain. IL scarcely eyer
rains very hard, but 1t drizzles steadily.
This leads me 10 speak Of a very conspic-
uous characteristic of Oregor's rainy
season. It follows Immediately upon the
description of rain, sustaining to rain the
relation of effect to cause. refer to the
mud of this Valley-country--sloshy,
slushy, sloppy, sloughy mud and Its hue
is ebon. AS write, in my Imagination,
which is by no means lively one, can
see and hear the city drays and country
teams as they go sloshing along the mud
paved streets and roads. In the cities the
sidewalks are continuous bridges. In the
town in which am located it is possible
to walk from one end to the other OF any
of fthe'promihent streets and never touch
ones foot upon the soil.
AS to. the dry season, dust Is its con-
spicuous characteristic. I have gathered
from hearsay that during this season
the highways would be delightful for
travelling were it not for the dust.
The long rainy season and the Disagree
able mud are the drawbacks" to Ore
gon, at least to that portion with which I
am acquainted.
Do OregoniaDs receive any compensa-
ton for enduring this lengthy season OF
rain and mudl Yes, indeed, full COM
pensation!
When youngster at home l used to
enjoy hunting. never tired OF this
spos, though the woods and fields about
home afforded Ineager supply for the
hunters large demand. I thought | was
successful sportsman if occasionally my
shot overlook cotson-tail, brought down
asaoirrel, unseated a robin or arrested the
flight of partridge.
Soon after the train upon which trav-
elled from Cheyenne to Portland entered
the bounds OF Oregon there was slight
stir in our car. The cause soon learned.
The Columb bia River was in sight. A
grand stream it was. 1t presented q
CLASSY appearance aud seemed to be. 9
peaceful river, but that which impressed
me most about: it: was the innumerable
hocks OF geese and ducks, strung along
in soldierly lines near its low, sandy
banks. MY youthful spirit was aroused,
and how lOnged for my old shotgun,
that might FIRE into those ranks. Ore
gonisns call themselves, "Webfoots," and
/ have wondered often since I have been
here whether this nickname was suggest
ed by the large focks Of wild fowl, be-.
longing to the web-foot genus, that fire.
quent this region, or whether they assume
this name because it demands web-feet to
paddle successfully through this muddy
country. Squirrels, robins and larks are
plentiful and there are some rabbits, but
a hunter would lose self-respect and the
I6SpoCt "a LID AoAAoW-oooA sSu1ou ~ AAo
should discharge the contents Of his gun
at such small game. TO shoot them is
regarded here us the prerogative Of sling
shot shooters, But am talking too long
about the hunters interests in Oregon.
Those fond of hunting may. find in the
fields quails, grouse, pheasants, and in
the hills and mountains wild cats, pole
cats, skunks, psnthers, bears and, the
best of all, deer. Fishing Is not as attr,.c.
tive as i. is In South Carolina. The old
catfish and his mortal enemy, "outfy,"
both are scarce i'm this country. There are
some trout and small fish, but the fisher
man does not fare as we'll as the hunter
does.
The farming interests of Oregon next
demand notice. This is great farming
country. There are Immense areas OF
exceedingly fertile land in the State. The
soil in the valleys is black and rioh, de-
mandipg no fertilizing TO make it pro-
ductive. The staple products are wheat,
oats, potatoes (Irish) and hay. The
wheat, which is by far tho most impor::