Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly volume 18.djvu/288



252 Harvey W. Scott

tion ; and exhaustion of the mines leaves the producing coun- try no richer, or but little richer, than if the gold had re- mained in the beds where nature had placed it.

The Indian missionary work of the early time terminated in failure of the purposes for which it was intended, but it bore fruit of inestimable value, through its conversion into educational and religious work among the white inhabitants, rapidly increasing in members. Our first schools were thus founded, long time antedating the beginning of our public educational system. The original missionary enterprises, moreover, were among the main influences that settled the Or^on Question in favor of the United States.'' That we saved so much of our claim as we did was due largely to the early misionary effort, which, though defeated in its first purpose and endeavor, sowed for a harvest of a far more val- uable kind.

Soon after the settlement began the mercantile class became active here; for the mercantile class also was an important factor. Indeed, the mercantile class came early, for trade with the natives — the Astor people first, then Wyeth, and the Hud- son's Bay Company as more permanent traders. When the American settlement began, the chances of profit in trade opened opportunity to all who noted them and could take advantage of them. Foundation of not a few fortunes and families were laid thus — which continue to this present day, and undoubtedly will have much longer continuance. The Jewish mercantile spirit, ever alert for new opporttmity, ap- peared in Oregon at an early time. It was active in every town. At Portland, Vancouver, Olympia, Lafayette, Salem, Roseburg, Oregon City, it pushed to the front. From the gen- eral mercantile class it was more distinct than it is now. That was because of the agricultural pioneer, who lived on the lap of nature, did not understand at the time the higher civiliza- tion, represented then by the mercantile class. The Oregonian

7 la 1846.