Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 3.djvu/407

Rh this country is of a different kind from that of the states though generally of the Pine & Ceder species, with the exception of Oak & Soft Maple. The Prairies of this country are beautiful, full equal to any in Missouri or Illanois. They are generally found on the head of water courses. The land produces most all the productions of the States, in great perfection, except corn. Wheat is raised here in large quantities which is exported (by the Hudspn Bay Co. ) to the Islands & northern Russia. Wheat is worth one Dollar per bushel, Beef $6 per hundred. Pork $10 per hundred. These prices will probably hold good, & may increase as soon as we can produce a surplus sufficient to supply the Whaling Vessels, which will induce them to make more frequent calls on us. The first settlers here, were men who were discharged from the service of the Hudson Bay Co. & as they draw all their wages in Supplies; & all the cash brought here by emigrants goes immediately into the hands of merchants and is taken out of the country; hence we are left entirely destitute of a cash currency. Yet we have a currency which is not liable to fluctuations; any responsible man's order is good with the merchants for their amount in goods; & these orders are finally redeemed in Wheat, Pork or Beef. The Indians on the Columbia are a cowardly, thievish, indolent race of beings, subsisting almost entirely on Fish. The Indians on the coast are in small bands & disunited, on which circumstance the safety of the settlers of Oregon much depends; We however, had a small affray with them a few days ago, in which one white man was killed & one Indian. The Territory is well supplied with navigable streams & mill privileges. As to the climate I can speak only of the past winter, during which we have had no snow, & the grass has been in growing condition the whole winter, in short it has been the most pleasant (so far) I ever experienced in any country. It is exceedingly healthy, there is no sickness in the country at present, & although the emigrants were so much exposed during the journey, there has been but two deaths since our arrival.—The whole white population is probably about Fifteen Hundred. We, the citizens of Oregon, are very anxious that the United States should extend her jurisdiction over this territory & render us some means of protection, as we should be incapable of protecting ourselves in case of general hostilities with the Indians.

For my part, I am much pleased with the prospects of the country. I have a location immediately on the Columbia River, in sight of the great Pacific, I can go to & return from the coast, in a small boat with one tide, which ebbs & flows 8 & ten feet. I am engaged in partnership with two other persons, in having erected two saw mills & a grist Mill, we are making good progress, & will soon have one in opperation. I believe we have an as advantageous a mill sight as any in America. We intend exporting our lumber to the Islands, as there is a very great demand for it, & as one of the gentlemen with whom I am engaged,