Page:History of Oregon Literature.djvu/184

 west.

On the east side of the Willamette, at the falls, the land is claimed by Dr. John McLaughlin, who laid out Oregon City in the year 1 842. The many advantages presented for the growth and prosperity of a manufacturing city is mani fest to the most casual observer. We are informed that where Oregon City now stands, it was, three years ago, a dense forest of fir and underbrush. The march of improvement has been with gigantic stride. The city is now incorporated with a population of not less than 500 souls, and about eighty houses, to-wit: Two churches, two taverns, two blacksmith shops, two cooper shops, two cabinet shops, four tailor shops, one hatter shop, one tannery, three shoe shops, two silver smiths, and a number of other mechanics; four stores, two flouring and two saw mills, and a lath machine. One of the flouring and one of the saw mills, together with the lath machine, were erected and put in operation by a company of American citizens, associated together under the name of the "Oregon Milling Company," and until within a few weeks past, the flouring mill was conducted as a public mill, grinding for the settlers for toll... , however, has been changed from doing custom work to that of exchange, giving a certain number of pounds of flour for a bushel of wheat. The mill owned by Dr. John McLaughlin has never done any custom grinding, but exchanges flour for wheat. We are satisfied that the march of improvement would have been much greater at Oregon City... nails and paints could have been obtained sufficient to meet the demands of the citizens. On the west side of the river, immediately opposite the falls, the lan... claimed by Robert Moore, Esq., who has also laid out a city called Linn City, and improvements are going ahead. We are informed that Mr. Moore has sold one half of the interest he claims in the water power at the falls, to a Mr. Palmer of Indiana. From our acquaintance with Mr. Palmer, we feel warrante... saying that he will at an early time, prosecute, with energy, the erecting of machinery on the west side of the river, unless prevented by the g