Year: 1860




of "empty pockets" is much to be attribu-
ted. With dull market for Iumber-the
main, and, we might say, about the only
commodity of commerce from which we
could hope to secure return Of the cash
which is So regularly and constantly leaV-
ing the Territory, in payment for goods and
wares consumed by our people-the prices
Of labor have deprecated within the last
two years fully so per cent. Yet where is
the Iaborer or mechanic who has curtailed
his expenses propOrtionately! We dare
say there is scarcely one. The extrava-
giant habits Of our people, formed in past
prosperous days, have taken too deep root
to be laid aside by them in these days of
hard times,"' when it behooves everybody
to so economise their means as to have the
two ends meet"-to reduce expenses to a
standard compatible with their means. The
mechanic and laborer should be more eco.
nomical; the farmer more industrious, in or
der that we may have surplus Of something
for export, that thus some Of the money
shipped by every steamer for imports may
be returned TO us; and the merchant should
come down peg" or two from his 1852
"a prices, be content to do fair business,
instead Of hoping to amass fortune in a
day, in these days Of misfortune to others
The fact is indisputable, that whilst the
price of labor has deteriorated, the products
Of the farmer have materially fallen, mer-
ehaHdize Of every description alone remains
at its ancient standard As consequence,
our peoples wants being hone the less than
formerly, (though with perhaps less ready
means to crafty them) our shipments of
specie are as large as ever, whilst our Ter
ritory has nothing to sell with which to
bring 1t back again. The natural effect, of
course, has been to drain the country of its
circulating medium, and credit or a loan
all Of which will have tendency to make
the future still harder-is now the only al
tentative left to our people.


In view Of these, startling facts, we sub
init the question to every one: what must
be done, and where must begin the work
Of bringing about changel We confess
we are ignorant, unless we may be permit
ted to look to the farmer. They must raise
more Of the cereals which are a sure crop
here, and are easiest of transportation, and
be willing to sell it at prices that will bear
shipment abroad. They should at once
consent to fall in the price Of their stock,
so as to prohibit Oregonians from seeking
a market for theirs almost at our very
doorsfas they now successfully do, and
come in competion with them for the sale
Of our beef, sh ep, and swine in the victo-
ria market. The 1900 head of cattle, and
other stock, now shipped monthly from Or
egon and California to that place, should
be supplied by ourselves. We can do so,
aad should do Il. Bands Of cattle de not
constitute wealth unless they can be con
verted into money when required. At the
prices demanded by many of our farmers
now they never can be, but will remain up
on their hands, comparatively an idle drug.
Whenever this shall have been accomplish
ed by our farmers, then, and not till then,
may we hope for happy times acoming."
Let every farmer, then, endeavor to raise
little more than will suffice to "bread" him
self and family. Let every one contribute
little towards foreign export.


Holding to the above opinion, it was
with the greatest pleasure we witnessed the
FIRST exportAother than that furnished by
our inexhaustible forests-from our Terri
tory, BY the last mail steamer for San
Francisco. The shipment was made by
Mr.. RUrLEDGE, jr., aud consisted Of some


IL or $4,000 pounds Of wool, mostly, If not
all, the product Of this county. The wool
is represented as far superior to that raised
elsewhere from the same species of sheep.
The fibre is fine and Of even length, quail
ties highly desirable by the manufacturer.
These excellencies are attributed to the
evenness Of our climate and absence of all
burs and briers. In the more rigorous eli
mate Of the Atlantic States, the wool is
finest in the winter; bat owing to the un-
certainty Of the weatheriin spring and early
summer, farmers usually delay shearing un-
til some time in June, BY which time the
wool has again become coarse. Here, with
certainty of warm and dry weather after
March, shearing can be safely commenced
in the latter part of April or early May,
though is is often delayed till late in July,
and perhaps seldom proves seriously uncom.
Portable to the sleeps back.


The wool mentioned Is destined for the
eastern market-Boston, We believe. 1t