Page:The West Shore vol. 1 no. 6.djvu/1



VOL. 1—No. 6.

BY DAVID NEWSOME. There are many things of vital importance to persons emigrating to Oregon which they do not or cannot sufficiently know before coming here. In the first place, there is really but little correctly known abroad of this State. I have a pretty fair chance to know this from the multitude of letters which I receive from persons in "the States" and from questions propounded to me by immigrants on their arrival amongst us.

live well in Eastern Oregon by industry and proper economy.

It is true that the very best portions of Oregon for extensive farming are in the great Willamette valley- timber and prairies alternate-and present much of the appearance of the fine sections of Illinois. Here, farming can be done to profit and on a large scale. But it is true that all the available farm lands, and much of the farm lands for timber, have been taken up. The two valley railroad grants from Congress includes a large amount of lands on both sides of them in alternate sections. But before these grants were made nearly all the good lands were taken up under the old Donation Act of Sept. 27, 1850. The first principal settlement here was made by the Methodist missionaries in Salem in 1834. From that point the settlements have radiated till all the good sites are taken up.

Immigrants have come to me here and wished me to show them farm lands, with good timber and prairie adjoining, near the railroad or the Willamette river, vacant and ready to be taken up at Congress price; and if I could not comply with their requests, they would become displeased. Upon the maps at the land offices much of the lands in Oregon are yet vacant. True; but this surface comprises our mountain lands, covered with tall timber, and in their bowels lie gold, silver, copper, lead, iron, cinnabar, marble, limestone and gypsum. Water-power|

J. H. LYON, CHIEF ENGINEER P. F. D. VIEW ON THE WALLA WALLA RIVER, W. T. FOR THE WENT SHORE. REMARKS ABOUT OREGON. abounds everywhere in all these mountain districts, where towns, mills, schools, navigation, railroads, good There are yet some lands in such districts that might be markets and good society abound, than to pass to the utilized for grain, fruits and gardens, But as we ascend districts not having these advantages. In the south in altitude we coume into colder regions. It is more in western counties of Oregon vast

fields, altitude than in Jatitude that the cold predominates, eries, gold, silver, iron, copper, marble and cinnabar

From the point where these lines are nenned I see frst abound. A very large amount of vacant lands are there,

ibe carth overed with a carnet of green and some bardy subject to homestead or pre-emption claims. We have Bowe in bloom neve the fo bils COvered with suo only about one person to every 400 acres of land in our State. three inches deep: and next, the larthest settlements up the western slope of the Cascades, covered with snow two feet deeponly twenty-five ailer off. And on the sum- the great valleys of Western Oregon and Washington Our fisheries are an endless source of wealth; and alt

There is another matter of serious detriment to our country here. Many persons soar into the regions of fancy, draw upon their fertile imaginations, and give sketches and descriptions of Oregon highly wrought. They represent Oregon as a paradise, and most of us as angels. Others come here with inflated ideas of acquiring quick fortunes, whether they have capital or brains to begin with or not. Some, again, suppose that if they can only reach here O K, they can look for and expect more from us than. in fact, we can bestow. It is true that, to persons in actual distress, there are none kinder, more feeling and generous than the Oregonians. But in the common affairs of busi-ness each one is expected to "paddle his own canoe."

Again, the geography and topography of this State seem to be but little known abroad. If persons will examine the map of the United States, they will see that

mit of the lofty Cascades-the Sierras of Oregon-Mount Territory are underlaid with a thick vein of superior coal e

Discoveries constantly being made prove this assertion. The great source of wealth here, but little appreciated as yet, are our immense bodies of fir, spruce, cedar and pine timber. Our wa- ter-powers are a wonder to all discerning per- sons. Capital and brains are needed to utiliae them, and erect factories, machine shops, foun- dries, fisheries, ship yards, rolling mills, nail factories, woollen mills, etc., and to push our commerce to foreign lands. One evening the subject of noses and their characteristics was under consideration, and the- discussion assumed an earnest aspect. In the midst of it, Will P, whose nose was not ex- actly Roman in structure, said, "I wonder what makes my nose so flat at its end ?" Sticking it AGHICULTURAL hecAldan STATE e GON CITY ORECO laresaeisplay Dea 16.1875

Hood, monarch of mountains, whose top is covered with in other folk's business !" promptly replied Charley T.

eternal snows, rears its head in majestic grandeur, 12,600 The discussion closed for that evening. Oregon contains 96,250 square miles, or 61.000.00 acres feet above the bosom of the Pacific Ocean, of land. If this surface was, like Illinois, section by sec- Upon the western slope of the Coast Mountains, and tion, rich, level land, then there could be a great many along the ocean for over 200 miles, are large boundaries day, riding through a street, he was accosted by would-be farms made upon it. But we must consider that it is of timber and brush lands, very rich, well watered and wit: "I say, do you know what happened to Balaam " greatly diversified. We have valleys, little hills, big hills, productive; healthy, and capable of being utilized in Came the answer sharp and quick:""The same as hap- Coleridge was acknowledged to be a bad rider. Ohe and cloud-capped, snow-capped mountains; sage plains, many ways. The timber is excellent; vast coal mines pened to me, An as spoke to him !" some barrens, some canons (pronounced "kanyons "), and abound; there are oyster, salmon and cod fisheries; and some gravel lands that are of not much account. Again, upon the marsh or tide lands fine wild grasses for hay we have vast grassy plains in Eastern Oregon, good for and grazing, "The tailor makes the man ?" emphatically declared a village philosopher. "No, Sir," replied a by-stander, " it sheep, cattle and horses, but a very large portion of it not Now, we see that the most valuable, and in every way is dress that makes the man." Then what does the suited for farming. Yet, in mining, stock-raising, fruit- the most desirable portions of the rural districts of Oregon tailor make?""Well, perhaps from ten to fifteen dollars raising and gardening a hundred thousand persons could are taken up, and now owned by the pioneers of this profit on a suit." coast. Persons, therefore, coming now must go back into interior districts and endure the privations and toils of pioneer life, or buy second-hand land. And here let me remark that all original land titles here are good. We have no Spanish grants and contested land titles. The United States have been, or are now, the sole, origi- nal proprietors of lands here. Buyers of second-hand lands can trace up titles, and can see from the records whether there be mortgages, liens or any local incum- brances upon any lands in there is a great diversity of ways and means by which persons can acquire comfortable livings here and enjoy it well, Really, the resources of Oregon are almost bonndless. It would require a book of 500 quarto pages to go into minute details of all our diversified resources. But the paramount object should be with all persons here now or coming here, to follow some honest calling for a living. I know of no section of the United States where frugal, industrious persons can live easier or better than they can live here. But loafers, gamblers, pickpockets, drunkards, and idlers generally, we have no use for, nor will we wel- come or show countenance to them. Lands in the famfng districts of Oregon can be had at very low rates. Persons of means can do better to buy improved or unimproved lands fin the settlements, question. Taken altogether, MASONIC TEMPLE, PORTLAND. ODD FELLOWS TEMPLE, PORTLAND ORBOON. తడక SOCIETY,