The Quarterly of the Oregon Historical Society Part 14

(Signed) ONE WHO INTENDS TO EMIGRATE.

N. B.--Newspapers who are friendly to the enterprise are requested to give the above an insertion.

The same issue of the _Statesman_ still further quotes from the _Gazette_ as follows:

OREGON.

The Oregon fever is raging in almost every part of the Union. Companies are forming in the East, and in several parts of Ohio, which, added to those of Illinois, Iowa, and Missouri, will make a pretty formidable army. The larger portion of those will probably join the companies of Fort Independence, Missouri, and proceed together across the mountains. It would be reasonable to suppose that there will be at least five thousand Americans west of the Rocky Mountains by next autumn. This, if nothing else, will compel Congress to act upon the matter. We have reason to suppose, however, that we shall have a congress which will a.s.sume the responsibility even without any inducement other than the protection of American honor and American rights.

From the _National Intelligencer_ (Was.h.i.+ngton), June 7, 1843.

EMIGRANTS FOR OREGON.

The _Liberty Banner_, published in Clay County, Missouri, says: We are informed that the expedition to Oregon, now rendezvoused at Westport in Jackson County, will take up its line of march on the 20th of [May] this month. The company consists of some four or five hundred emigrants, some with their families. They will probably have out one hundred and fifty wagons, drawn by oxen, together with horses for nearly every individual, and some milch cows. They will, we suppose, take as much provision with them as they can conveniently carry, together with a few of the necessary implements of husbandry. There are in the expedition a number of citizens of inestimable value to any community, men of fine intelligence and intrepid character, admirably calculated to lay the firm foundations of a future empire.

From the _Ohio Statesman_, May 3, 1843.

We attach the suggestions in the report of General Worthington, adopted in this city on Sat.u.r.day evening, in advance of the publication of the report:

"The committee, then, do most respectfully recommend that a convention of the western and southwestern states and territories be immediately called, to urge upon the General Government immediate occupation of the Oregon country by a military force, and to adopt such measures as may seem most conducive to its immediate and effectual occupation, _whether the government acts or not in the matter_.

"That it be declared to the world, that the Californias never should pa.s.s into the hands of England for any purpose whatever; and that if they go out of the possession of Mexico, they should at once be attached to the _future_ North American Republic of the Pacific Ocean.

"That all rumored negotiations of the surrender of any part of the Pacific border for an equivalent in the Californias, should be denounced as fraught with danger to the peace and honor and liberty of the American continents, and as a _repudiation_ of Mr. Monroe's triumphantly sustained declaration of 1823, _that these continents are not to be considered subjects of colonization by any European power_.

"That it be declared that Great Britain should be excluded from the whole of the Northwest coast, between our boundaries with Mexico and Russia; and, that, to give her any part, will be a virtual loss of the whole, as it will cripple, or entirely prevent any important commercial operations by American citizens on our Pacific coast.

"That we recommend the Oregon Convention to be held in Cincinnati, Ohio, on the third, fourth, and fifth days of July, 1843.

"That measures be immediately taken for the appointment of committees at the capitals of all the states and territories west and southwest of the Alleghanies, to urge such action upon their several legislatures as will induce Congress to immediate occupation of Oregon country by the arms, the laws, and the citizens of the United States.

"That an address be published to the people of the West, and the Union generally, setting forth, and urging the adoption of the principles and opinions above proclaimed."

[The meeting to appoint the delegates to this Oregon Convention was called to meet in Columbus on the last Sat.u.r.day in June.]

EXPERIENCES OF THE EMIGRATION OF 1843.

From the _New York Tribune_ (weekly), August 5, 1843.

We find the following letter from the Oregon Emigration in the _Iowa Gazette_ of the 8th instant (July):

OREGON EMIGRATING COMPANY.

KANSAS RIVER, June 3, 1843.

* * There are over 3,000 and perhaps 5,000 head of cattle, mules, and horses attached to the company. Captain Applegate has over 200 head, and others over 100 head. This has been a bone of contention with some of the emigrants and very nearly divided the company. Indeed, I am not certain but it will be the means of a split yet, as there are a number without cattle who refuse to a.s.sist in guarding them. The dissatisfaction is not quite so violent now, as the cattle owners have agreed to furnish the company with beef, (in case of scarcity of buffalo meat,) work cattle and milch cows, the former at a price to be fixed by the committee, and the cows and oxen without charge. The company have agreed to this proposition, and the former law, limiting each individual to three head of loose cattle, is thereby repealed. The number of cattle is quite too large. It is impossible to guard them at night, and the Indians at this place have already commenced stealing horses and killing cattle. The company which leaves next spring for Oregon should keep strict guard on their cattle and horses at the crossing of this river, as some eight or ten horses and mules have been stolen in one night from our company. Doctor Whitman from Walla Walla, who is in our company, advises that the company divide into three or four parties, for speed and convenience, as there will be no danger from the Indians.

[The name of the writer of the above letter is not given.

The letter, however, indicates that he came to the emigration from Burlington, Iowa, and evidently lived there, as his letter was printed first in a Burlington paper. He was chosen a member of the "cabinet advisers" of the captain--nine persons. Probably these points will serve to identify him. Was he M. M. McCarver?]

LETTERS DESCRIPTIVE OF OREGON COUNTRY AND ITS EARLIER CONDITIONS.

A letter by the Rev. Alvan F. Waller to his brother at Elba, New York.

It was first published in the _Christian Advocate and Journal_.

Taken from the _Ohio Statesman_, March 10, 1843.

WALLAMETTE FALLS, April 6, 1842.

DEAR BROTHER: Your last came duly to hand and very much refreshed our spirits. Write every opportunity, being a.s.sured that intelligence from our friends is to us in this land like cold water to thirsty souls. You will see by my letter where I am stationed. This is in some respects a pleasant though laborious field of labor. This is and is destined to be, the great emporium of the interior of this country. Its water power for manufacturing purposes is probably not rivaled in the States; at least, few and far between are the privileges which equal or excel it; besides here is an excellent salmon fishery. As to the country, taking it all and all, it is a good farming and grazing country. The winters are so mild that the cattle and horses do well without feeding. The country is well watered, and the inhabitants are, in general, healthy. The ague and fever is the most prevalent disease, although other diseases occur. On the sea coast I believe it is more healthy than back in the country. So far as I and my family are concerned, we have been as healthy as we ever were in the States. Our little ones are quite as hearty and as lively as the fawns that skip over the plains.

Produce of all kinds, except corn, does well here, so far as it has been fairly tried. Some corn has been raised. Wheat, peas, and oats, I believe, so far as quality is concerned, can not excel in any country. Potatoes are tolerable, and in some parts excellent. Indeed, it is my candid conviction, that an industrious and economical man can live as well (fruit excepted) and make property as fast as in almost any country, and far easier than in any part of the State of New York where I have lived. Let him bring with him a few hundred dollars in cash or property, his farming utensils, etc., and settle on one of these delightful plains and the first year he can support his family from the soil, as he has nothing to do but fence, plow, and sow, and prepare a shelter or house for his family; yet he will have to encounter some difficulties incident to all new countries.

Our mills are few and far between, and not all of the first order, but rather multiplying and improving; though a good millwright is very much wanted, as well as apparatus for building mills and a great many wholesome settlers, embracing some capitalists who will open trade with the Islands and China, which can be done from this coast with great facility. But first of all, our government ought to extend its jurisdiction and protection over this country.

The state of the country in this respect (especially for Americans), as well in respect to a currency, is unpleasant.

The Hudson Bay Company seem determined to monopolize as long as possible; yet in many respects they are quite accommodating, at least, so far as it is to their interest.

They profess to claim many of the best and most valuable parts of the country by putting up a little hut without habitation and forbidding any one settling in those places.

They made a claim at the Falls, on the side where I now am, about twelve years since, hewing a quant.i.ty of timber, etc., and a few years since they put up a small hut and covered it with bark.

Last fall an American took possession of a small island in the falls, but no sooner was it known at Fort Vancouver than a company of men was sent off with boards to put up a hut, and soon the governor of the fort came up, greatly incensed, called the man a pilferer, and anything but good; he, however, went on! A cooper wished to build a shop near me, but was informed, by orders from the fort, that if he built his shop would be torn down. He, however, went on and built; his shop still stands. These are naked facts; and others of the same kind, if necessary, can be forthcoming. By this you will have some clue to the state of things in this country in this respect.

I have written in great haste, as this is to be off early to-morrow morning. Besides, I have plenty of company, a number of men being here to buy salmon, of which I have the care. Others are on their way down the river. Indeed, my house is at times, as to travelers, more like a public house than a Methodist preacher's.

Your affectionate brother,

ALVIN F. WALLER.

A letter by t.i.tian R. Peale to Thomas Morgan, Esq., of Was.h.i.+ngton, Pennsylvania:

WAs.h.i.+NGTON, D. C., February 6, 1843.

DEAR SIR: Observing the interest you have taken in the "Oregon Bill," now before Congress, I conclude that a few notes, coming from one who has recently traveled through a portion of the Oregon territory, will be acceptable to you, and probably be of use to some of your neighbors, who may feel disposed to profit by the inducements offered, should the bill pa.s.s and become a law.

Being a member of the Scientific Corps of the United States Expedition, in 1841, I had the misfortune to be wrecked, in the s.h.i.+p Peac.o.c.k, at the mouth of the Columbia River, and subsequently traveled that portion of the country south of the Columbia River, known as the Wallamette Valley, and thence across the mountains to California.

The soil, we observed, generally on that route, although not as rich as that of the Mississippi Valley, was still sufficiently so, when cultivated, to produce from twenty to forty bushels of wheat to the acre, of as good quality as any I have ever seen in my native State (Pennsylvania), which, added to the facilities for settlers in finding the land ready for the plough, without the labor of clearing, while sufficiency of the finest timber is found on the banks of the numerous streams, is alone sufficient to invite to the further settlement of the country when known. But this is not all. The winters are so mild that it has never yet been found necessary to house cattle, or provide winter food for them. They thrive and multiply beyond expectation.

Salmon are procured in great profusion in almost all the streams, and ready markets are found for them, as well as all the other products of the territory, in the markets of Mexico, South America, and the numerous islands of the Pacific Ocean. Thus, from its position in the Pacific, it has all the advantages which we possess in the Atlantic Ocean; gaining in the China what might be considered as partly lost from the European trade.

The tract of country to which I have more particularly alluded is about two hundred and fifty miles long, including the mouth of the Columbia River, and reaching to about one hundred and fifty miles from the coast. This tract of country I considered quite equal, if not superior to Pennsylvania, both in commercial position and capability in agricultural product, and much superior in its advantages for raising cattle, etc., being generally interspersed with prairie and woodland.

Would the above hasty notes prove satisfactory to you or any of your friends, or if they only serve to awaken a spirit of inquiry, it will always be a source of pleasure to me in having communicated them.