The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1897-04-03
RECEIVED INSTRUCTIONS
THE PIONEER MISSIONARIES SENT
To THE NORTHWEST.
Old Document Brought to Light Con-
tanning All the Information
Of tlse Time.

While attending the recent meeting at
Portland. or.iS to organize a whitman
monument association, Rev. ]. E. Walker
said that he had lately been inquiring
into some of his fathers papers relating
to early missionary work in the north
west. Rev. E. Walker, the father, was
one of the four missionaries sent to this
territory in 1885, the other three being
Rev. c. Eells, A. B. Smith and w. H.
Gray. When they started they were Civ
en- manuscript, containing instructions
and information bearing on their trip.
This paper covered Is pages, and reveals
much of interest as to how Oregon was
viewed at that period. The document is
entitled, instructions OF the Prudential
Committee OF the A. B. c. f. M, to Rev.
Messrs. E. Walker, c. Eells, A. B. Smith
and w, H. Gray, March s, 1888" To a re-
porter of the Oregonian, Rev. ]. E. Walk
er made the following statement:
THE object of the document was to
present to the departing missionaries, in
a succinct form, what knowledge the com
mittee possessed in regard to the coun-
try to which they were going, the num-
bers, characters and conditions of the
people inhabiting the region. and the work
ment they regretted the lack of Stats
teal information,' but say: We hope the
explorations and journals Of missionaries
will soon furnish more accurate state
ments.' Then followed a description Of
the route they were to take, the mode of
travel, the outfit needed, the character of
fellow travellers, etc. At that time sclen-
tific men mad an exaggerated idea of the
hon y,Fk
of the great watershed, the committee
said: AT this point you aRe supposed to
be about 10000 feet above the ocean level
Some of the peaks near this
pass are estimated by scientific men to
be not less than $4,000 feet above the
ocean level
''They add this: The country which you
enter as you cross the Rocky mountains,
and which is to be the scene of your la
bors, may be regarded as extending from
east to west through IL or 16 degrees of
longitude, and from the Mexican possess
sions in latitude AZ, to an undetermined
boundary separating it from the Russian
colony on the north, about the 50th or saith
degree of latitude, and embracing nearly
100000 square miles. Most of this territory,
excepting strip about 200 miles in
forests, and much of it is so broken ty
mountain ridges, steep precipices and
deep ravines, and is withal so barren, as
to render 1t unfit for cultivation. or the
abode of civilized man. AS you approach
within 400 or 800 miles of the Pacific you
will find on some of the rivers extensive
valleys with fertile soil
As Grazing Country
The soil, from the ocean, as far back
as the falls of the Columbia and in most
of the valleys and on the warehouses, is
of the most productive character yielding
in abundance of the grains, fruits and
every kind Of vegetable common to tenn
perate climates. AS a grazing country
1t is probably unequalled by any other
in the same latitude on the continent
1.-THE Willamette river is twice spoken of
as the 'Multnomah.' But perhaps the
most remarkable passage in the document
is the following:
Within the past few years a new in
terest seems to be awakened among our
citizens in regard to this extensive and
important, country and probably if the
political relations of it were settled defin-
nitely, colonies;Eauld be established there
without delay. But by a convention made
in 1918 between the British government
and that of the United States, and re-
newed in 1927, it was agreed that the ter
ritory west of the mountains should be
left open to the citizens of both nations
for the space of 10 years. That period
has now expired without renewal of the
stipulations or any arrangement having
been made by either government for TAX
ing more formal possession, or exercising
jurisdiction over the disputed territory
What the resolutions recently introduced
into our congress may result in, Is I'M
certain. There can be little doubt how
ever, that at no distant gay fourishing
settlements the germs of a great and
powerful nation, will be seen scattered
along the shores of the Pacific and
through the fertile valleys of the in
terror. The mildness of the climate, the
fertility of the soil, the abundance and
variety of its productions the forests of
valuable timber, which abound along the
coast, the excellent fish which fill the
rivers, and the openings for trade, es-
pecially for the productions of such a
country, which abound in almost every
part of the Pacific and Indian oceans,
obviously mark out this territory as the
seat of nation of great commercial I'M
portance.'
I'm respect to the native population,
the document said:
when visited in 1880, the country, es-
pecially along the coast, was regarded as
being populous for an Indian country, and
though their numbers were undoubtedly
diminished by the wars provoked by the
traders, and the diseases, the murderous
weapons, and the more murderous liquors
which were introduced among them from
this source, yet large tribes were even
then found along the shores. Lewis and
| Clark, however, supposed that at least Is
years. earlier than the date just named,
the smallpox, that destroyer of every saw
age people which it visits, and which is
even now said to be depopulating whole
| tribes east of the mountains, had swept
over most of these western tribes. The
| old Indians SCARED by the disease told
the mournful tale, and pointed out the
ruin of villages which had been thus I'M
| peopled.
Lewis and Clark reckoned up 80 tribes
with an estimated population of $4,000
The Rev. Mr.. Parker, in 1886. found IS