rr vr
V.l
1
Vol. 2.
OIHGGOIV CITY, OREGON; SATURDAY, JME 13 j 1868.
1 I
0
I)c iUcckln 0;ntcvprisc.
r-iiLISHED EVERT SATURDAY MORXIXO
3y D. 0. IRELAND,
VriCE- Ponth east corner of Fifth and
Maix streets, in tne Duuuing iai
m the Court lloase, Oregon City, Oregon.
Xcrmi of Subscription.
0n copt, one year in advance ?3 00
A" " ii delaved 4 00
Terms of Advertising.
Transient advertisements, per square
(12 lines or less) first insertion
fVreach subsequent insertion 1 00
Business Curds one square per annum
0
payable quarterly - -
One column per annum 1- '--
5 One half column " 0 0
S One quarter " ", 4tW
; Lcgid advertising at the established rates.
Book " and Job Printing
milEEXTEKPIUSE OFFICE
I JL
f Is supplied with every requisite for doing
s a. superior style of work, and is constant-
- lr accumulating new and beautiful styles
of mail-rial, and is prepared for every
J variety of
f book and Jon
J I XL I IV rjr x iv !
; AT SATISFACTORY VKICES.
iT The Public are invited to call and
J V.taminn both our specimens and facilities
for doing work.
BUSINESS CARDS.
Ladd & Tilt on
BANKERS,
FoKTi.Axn, Okeuox.
5 Will give prompt attention to collections,
' and other buSness appertaining to Hanking.
'Sight and Telegraphic Exchange
I On Francisco and the Atlantic States for
i sale Government Securities bought and
gold. fill
' L. C. Fuller,
3 BUOKEIl,
Pay a the Highest Price for Gold Dust
'
. l.eal Tenders and Government securities
' fconsht and sold. So. los Front St.,
xj tf Portland, Oregon.
Dr. F. Barclay, M. R. C. L
(Formerly Surgeon to the lion. II. B. Co.)
j OFFICE: Jtt ResiJeh-ce,
Main Street tr,-. Oregon City.
Dr. CHARLES BLACH,
Physician, Surgeon and.Accoucheur.
OFFICE Ctrner of Washington, and Front
. . Ktrerts, I'aYrish's Block, l'ortland, Oregon.
I'.US,IISKNCE Washington street, between
Fourth and Fifth streets. i . I v
J. WELCH,
DEXTISt.
..'. .....
Fermt neatly LucnhJ nt Or; von City, Oregon.
e
iQoms with Dr. SalVarans, on Main street.
1VEKT 0 N K YlTi H,
Oregon City, Oregon.
OHice in (.'barman's Brick Block,
stairs. (.o;tfj
up
IT. C. JOIINIOX,
r. o. m cown.
Xotari.l'nbUe.
JOHNSON & McCOWNj
OI&GOX CITV, OREGON.
-$7 Will attend to all business entrusted
t 1 our care in any cf the Courts of the State,
cdluot inoiier, negotiate loans, sell real es
t etc.
r.jT'l'articular attention given to contested
hind casri. l.yl
J. B. UPTOIf
Attorsf.v Xxri Couxselor-atLaav,
Oregon City, 'Oregon.
OlUce over tlie store of Pope & Co.,
Main street. 4.tf
4. . 6KLI..
E. A. TAIIKER.
BELL &, PARKER.
1 RUG GISTS,
An DEAtERS lV
ChemicaTs, Patent Medicines, Pain's,
Perfumery, Oils? Varnishes,
And every article kept in a Drug Store.
li.) Mais Stukbt, Of.ec'cS- Citv.
A. J. MONROE. v. A. K. MELLEX.
MONROE & MELLEN,
Dealers in California, Vermont, and
Italian Marbles, Obelisks, Monu
ments, Head and loot stones,
Salem Ok eg ox.
Mantles and Furniture Marble furnished
to order. S2.tf
SHADES SALOON.
H est Side Main. Street, U.twxn. Second and
2'hlrd, Oregon. City.
GEOUGE A. HAAS - - - - Proprietor.
The proprietor begs leave to inform his
friends and the public generally that the
above named popular saloon is open for their
"ceommodation, with a new and well assort
f.'l supply of the finest brands of wines,
itqnors and cigars. hi
FARR. JOUX FAIlR.
FARR & BROTHER,
Butchers and Meat Venders.
, Thankful for the favors of the community
n thy past, wish to say that they will con
onue to deliver to their patrons, from the
wagon, as usual,
Tu?,L.nj and Siltird.iys of each Wert,
?U the best Qualities of Be.d. Mutton, and
prk. or auy otner cjass of meats in the
Market. i:tf
Imieri:il Miiis9
oueuos citv.
reep constantly on hand for sale :
RA X A ND CHICKEN FEED !
ST" P.rl.n. l- e. .J 1 : .1.
sacks. 6 ao.tf
RANCH FOR SALE.
s
PTITATED BETWEEN THE CLACK-
amas and the
OREGON CITY TOWN PLAT !
Jn the vicinity of the place of T. J. Hunsaker
Will be sold cheap for cash.
..Apply to LEVY & FECHHEIMER,
Maiu street, Oregon City
BUSINESS CARDS.
CLIFF HOUSE.
Main Street,
JUlwi Xcarhj Opposite Woolen Factory,
W. L. WHITE, . '
T. W. RIIOADES, Proprietors.
Oregon City. Oregon.
"We invite the citizens of Oregon Citv. and
tne traviMincr nnl:Il tn on-p n 11 t:li...-A t.f ;
their patronage. Meals can be had at ali
hours, to please the ir.ost fastidious.
Lis
Notice to the Public.
I HAVE this day closed the Barlow nonse
in favor of the Cliff House. Hope my
old customers will give their liberal patron
age to the above well kept, house. They
will find Messrs. White fc Khoades always
on hand to make guests comfortable.
WM. BAULOW.
IVlcLaughlin House.
Main street, (opposite the Woolen Mills,)
Oregon City, Oregon.
E. B. KELLY, - - - Proprietor.
!W This is the most commodious Hotel
in the city. Newly furnished, and just open
for the reception of guests.
Z- ..-III n fl,n .nlunvnnnrtU fpnnri.
etor to make his guests comfortable. -U.tf
.
OREGON HOUSE,
Main Street Oregon City.
JACC3 BOEHM, Proprietor.
ESTABLISHED 1S57.
REDI CTIOS IX PKICES!
The undersigned wishes to give notice
that from Saturday, October oth, 18ii7, prices
at the above house will be as follows :
Board and Lodging per week $5 00
Board without Lodging 4 00
Board and Lodging per day 1 00
JACOB BOE11M.
Oregon City, Oct. Sd, lsJ7. o0:tf
ARMES h DALLAM,
IMPORTERS AND JOBBERS OF
WOOD AID WIIUM WAEE
Brushes, 2 wines, Cordage, etc.,
AND MAXfFACTfREKS OF
Brooms, I'ails, Tubs, Washboards. e)-c
215 a 17 Sacramento St., San Francisco.
113 Maiden Lane. X. Y. Citv.
Thomas W. Kinney,
49 Front street, Portland Oregon,
LEA LEtl IX
WINES AND LIQUORS',
Is constantly in receipjt of Pure Whiskeys
direct from the Atlantic States, andean ofler
to the trade . better .inducements than any
other house in Portland.
William Broughton, ;
CONTRA CTOR and BUILDER,
Main btrect, Orgon City.
Will attend to all work in his line, con
sisting in part. of .Carpenter and .Joiner work
framing, building, etc Jobbing promptly
attended 'to. (52
J0HV II. , S CIIA M
Manufacturer and Dealer in.
SADDLES, II A RNESS,
etc., etc,
Main street, between Third .and Fourth,
Oregon (Jiig.
rf",llE attention of parties desiring anything
1 in my line, is directed to my stock, be
fore making purchases elsewhere.
(ly) JOHN II. SCIIRAM.
tJLARK GREEIIMaN,
City Irayiiian,
0 REG OX CITY.
All orders for the delivery of merchandise,
or packages and freight ot whatever descrip
tion, to any .part of the city, will be executed
promptly and with care. " 16.im
W. F. HIGHFIELD,
Established since 1S4, at the old stand,
Main Street, Orugox City.
An assortment of Watches. Jew
elry, and Seth Thomas' ; weight
Clocks, all of which are warranted
to be as represented. , ,
Repairings done on short notice,
,and tlianktul tor past tavors. (.G.
-DAVID SMITH,
Successor to SMITH d- MARSHALL,
Black Smith and Vagnn Maker,
Corner of Main and Third streets,
Orcgou City Oregon.
Blacksmithing in all its branches'. W'4g6h
making and repa'ring. All work warranted
to give satisfaction. (3'J
JOHN FXjEjM.IiYGr,
RETAIL DEALER IT
SCHOOL BOOKS
STATIONERY,
Has removed into a LAI2GFL' STORE, in
MA S ONIC B UlLDIN 'G,
Where he will be pleased to wait upon his
old customers and as many new ones as ma"
patronize him.
In addition to the above, be has recently
received a WELL SELECTED ASSORT
MENT of
Perfumery and Cosmetics !
which are offered for sale at reasonable rates.
Oregon City. Oct, lfth, 1SS7.
NOTICE TO ALL
V HO WANT
First Class Fine or Coarse
ISoots siiidl SItocs !
Made or Repaired. Especial care and at
tention paid to orders for tine work, such as
Ladies' and Misses Fine Gaiters, Gents' Fine
French Calf Boots, etc.
r Orders solicited from abroad will be
executed with neatness and dispatch.
TERWILLIGER & SMITH,
4n.tf Greeu st., Oswego. Oregon
OSWEGO HOUSE!
OSWEGO, OREGON.
JOHN SCI1ADE .Proprietor,
IS now prepared to receive and entertain
all who mav favor him wi'h their patron
age. The House is Xew and the Rooms are
Xewly and Xeat'v Furnished. The Table
will be supplied with all the delicacies ef
the season. The House is situated near the
steamer landing. The proprietor wilt at all
times endeavor to give entire satisfaction to
all who may favor him with ft call, and
would respectfully solicit the patronage of
the Traveling Public.
Board per week 9
Board and Lodging 00
'Single Meals . 5'-'
B
ILL HEADS PRINTED.
At the Enterprise Oie.
s
LITTLE FEETi
Two little feet, so small that both may nestle
In one caressing hand
Two tender feet, upon the untried border
Of Life's mysterious land.
Dimpled and soft, and pink as peach tree
blossoms
In April's fragrant days
Uow can wlk among ihe briery tangles
Edging the world's rough ways?
These white-rose feet along the doubtful fu
ture Must bear a woman's load ;
Alas! since woman has the heaviest burden,
And walks the hardest road.
Love, for a while, will make the path before
them.
All dainty, smooth, and fair
Will cull away the brambles, letting only
The roses blossom there.
But, when the mother's watchful eyes are
shrouded
Away from sight of men,
And these dear feet are left without her
guiding,
Who shall direct them then?
IIow wil1 tlie-v be d, betrayed, deluded,
Poor little untaught feet!
Into what dreary mazes will they wander,
What dangers will they meet ?
Will they go stumbling blindly in the dark
ness Of Sorrow's tearful shades?
Or find the upland slopes of Peace and
Beauty,
Whose sunlight never fades ?
Will they go toiling up Ambition's summit,
The common world above?
Or in some nameless vale securely sheltered,
Walk side by side with Love?
Some feet there be which walk Life's track
uuwounded,
Which find but pleasavi ways ;
Some hearts there be to which this life is
only
A round of happy days.
But they are few. Far more there are who
wander
Without a hope or friend "
Who find their journey full of pains and
losses.
And long to reach the end.
IIow shall it be with her, the tender
stranger,
.. Fair-faced and gentle-eyed,
Before whose unstained feet the world's rude
... high way
Stretches so strange and wide ?
Ah ! who may re:li the future? For our
darling
We crave all blessings sweet
And pray that He who feeds the crying ra
vens Will guide the baby's feet.
Itemizing. Who that regularly
roads the newspapers has been struck
with those many-na'rhed columns in
to whi'en tne news of all the world is
compressed ? Variously styled in
various newspapers, they aim to
grasp and localise the news of everys
thing and everybody everywhere and
to present it in as small and telling
space as possible. They carry the
reader in a breath from Iudus to the
pole, and hurry him along from sen
tence to sentence to conduct him in
a trice to antipodes of thought. The
reader never think, as his eyes take
their rapidjourney down the columns,
of the care, the pains, the taste, the
skill, the patience necessary to reduce
those items to attractive shape. The
scissors and the paste do a good deal
of the work, it is true, but the brain
helps more than it is given credit for.
Fancy, and imagination, and judec
rhent have to play their part. The
scissors dart instinctively into a
" good" item; arid the braiiis step' in
and decide whether its publication
would be judiciom. Is the item old?
Has it ever appeared before ? Is it
nice, and fresh, and crisp, and spark
ling ? What position shall it hold
with regard to the other iiems ?
Has another one oq the same subject
been already clipped out ? Might
not the phraseology be changed so
as to bestow point and pith 1 Could
a piquant joke be tagged on ? Again,
when the work of selection is done,
and the items; personal, miscella
neous, religeous, theatrical, arid what
not, are all arranged in order, will
they make a glittering and symmet
ric whole, over wh;ch the eye will
delight to rove, like bird from flower
to flower ? All these things have to
be considered in attending to the
" item" department of a newspaper.
The tastes of every possible reader
must be anticipated. Since it takes
all sorts of people to make a world
a truism of profounder meaning
than is generally appreciated it
takes all sorts of itetns to make a
newspaper.
T
Shakspeare inusi have had a
vision of the modern bonnet when,
in " The taming of he Shrew," be
wrote the following :
Pttru-cltio" Why this was moulded en a
porringer;
A velret dish fie, fie !
Why, 'tis a cockle or a walriut shell,
A knack, a toy, a trick, a baby's cap '.
Away with it ! come, let me have a bigger"
Kaiharina "I'll have no bigger; this
doth fit the time :
And gent'ewomen wear such
these;"
caps as
REPLY TO MUl GASTOX.
Ed. Gazette:. .. ..
In your last issue is an article from
Joseph Gaston, devoted to the in
terests of the cast side R. ti., and to
F. A. Chenoweth, to which I have
thought, proper to call attention very
brie fly. He says the citizens of Den
ton county are naturally the friends
of the west side Railroad. That I
think is true. Well, what then? are
we the enemies of the Central Road?
If we are, it must be for some rea
son. We cannot be the enemies of
that which does us no harm. First,
what harm can the Central Road do
us? The first act of this Road is to
introduce among us 32,000 per
mile of Eastern capital, thus a 'ding
that much to our wealth and taxable
property, which will make the bur
dens of tax ition upon us proportiona
bly lighter. The second act of the
road will place us in immediate com
munication with Albany, Salem,
Oregon City and Portland on a line
os short and direct as can be made.
I think no harm can possibly arise
from either of these acts of the road.
But he may say we ought to be more
the friends of the west side road.
Wh ; does it do more for us? If we
are compelled to visit the Capital,
there is eo reason why we should go
by Dallas; or if we visit Portland,
there is no reason why we should go
by Hillsboro. If there is, we can't
see it. Suppose both these roads
were finished and in working order
to da), which road would we travel
from here? If we had no business
between this section and Portland,
we would then go by the shortest
route. First, then, as to the shortest
route. The west side road starts out
from Portland in a westerly direction,
and in order to scale the high hills
back of that city', must make many
turns; and I am told the road would
be twenty-seven miles long before it
turned south; whatever the distance
is, it is a dead loss and useless travel
and over a kind of road that with
every care possible, a large number
of accidents must happen. Then it
does not appear to be the shortest
route, nor likely to be the safest. I
it the best The ro;id having most
patronage could be', and naturally
would be, nust substantially furnish
ed and kept in good, and safe condi
tion. Besides the active trade and
intercourse between the towns on the
river, a very large amount of patron
age, that supports a li. Ii., is that
given it by travelers througft the
State. These persons desire to see
the chief towns and especially the
Capital, the falls at Oregon City,
etc.; arid would certainly not travel
out of the way to avoid them. Then
it does not appear that the west side
is either the shortest or the best
road.
But it may be said that it is on
our side of the river. Is the river a
wall of separation? or is it not rather
nature's indication of a center .to
which we are all more or less at
tracted? If there is any force in this,
I can't see it. The river is of great
use as a medium of communication,
not a separation, a means of intimate
connection between the cities on its
banks. The large town will natural
ly bridge the river for their own
convenience; Corvalls will bridge it
for the convenience and trade of her
near neighbors in Linn; Albany for
their near neighbors in Benton; Sa
lem fur theirs in Polk, etc. The
canoe and ferry boat will be " played
out.'' For all these reasons we are
friendiy to the west side road and
still more friendly to the Central
road. But Mr. Gaston says that it
will come to Benton without " any
$3,000,000 ifs." Just so we will
like it all the better for that and so
euable us to give the more individu
al assistance to the Central Road.
And for these obvious reasons, I had
no trouble in obtaining 12,000 00
in land and money, in our county, for
our Central Road the day after the
publication of Mr. Gaston's letter in
our county paper. But he still in
sists that if a man promises $10, the
Law will interpret it to mean $100
and make him pay it. Mr. G. must
have thought the people of the " cow
counties" a little susceptible, to ats
tempt to cram them with any thing
so manifestly absurd as that. The
people of Benton cotinty know that
contracts have to be enforced by
juries, and no jury will enforce any
thing so unjust. But he says he will
leave it to the Benton County Bar.
I know not how much the Benton Bar
have examined it but they are sup
posed to have common sense. Why
not leave it to the Portland Bar? our
. people have heard two members of
the Portland Bar (Stout and Mitch
ell), say to the contrary that there
was no liability beyond the $10 on
the 3100 share. Mr. G's. law is
very good in cases where it applies,
but having no application to this case,
it amounts to nothing.
That there will, and ought. to be a
R. R. down through Polk, Yamhill,
and Washington counties, we all ad
mit; and Benton county will most
certainly put nothing in the way of
so desirable an enterprise, and hope
liow soon that desirable object may
be accomplished; and there is no bet
ter place to form a junction with the
Central Road, than here at Corvallis.
It will also here intersect tne branch
to Yaquina B ly, for which I have
fifty sections of land pledged, and can
get four times that amount in money
and other aid, sufficient to ensure the
speedy construction of this little piece
cf road. It would not surprise me
if our people of the north side of our
State are waked up by the voice of
these few miles of completed road,
before Hillsboro and Portland are
connected by iron bands. The Ya
quina B iy road has many friends iu
Linn, Lane and Benton counties,
that will give $10 for this branch
road, when they would not give $1,
to any other road, much and deeply
as they suffer for railroads.
F. A. Chenoweth.
Blood Will Tell. Grant comes
from a sturdy Scotch stock; his an
cestors emigrated to this country long
before the revolution, and their de
scendants fouglit for liberty in both
wars with Great Britain, and Grant
himself fought in Mexico. His ge
nius and skilled crushed the rebel
lion, and with a stroke of his pen an
nihilated the recreant Johnson.
Colfax comes from the race that
fought in the wars of the Nether
laud?', and drove the myrmidons of
Philip the Second out of that country
and proclaimed the Dutch Republic.
Ills ancestors, on his father's side,
emigrated to New Jersey, and on his
mothers side to New York, when
America was first settled. His
Grandfathers were both Generals,
Coifax and Sohuvler of Revolution-
., , " i.
ary fame, one a Major-General and
the. other Command? of Washing,
ton's L:fo Guard.
They are both an honor to their
brave ancestors, and well have they
aided in preserving the trust confided
to them, and to them the people will
look for support in sustaining the pil
lars of Republican liberty.
Can the Rknts be Paid? We are
at a loss to understand how tenants
can a (Tor d to pay the rents that they
have agreed to pay for the coming
year says a New York paper. If
times were good, as they were three
or four years ago, it woutd not be diffi
cult. But we have now reached what
ought to be the busiest season of the
year, fitid yet thousands of working
men in this city are but of employ
ment. Instead of decline in rents, as
was expected by many persons three
or four months ago, the rates have
been generally advanced. Landlords
have taken advantage of the fact that
there are not enough houses to sup
ply the demand, and have run up the
figures to au unprecedeuted standard.
Nearly all the house room has been
engaged for the year, however at
the landlords' exorbitant prices. The
bargain has been carried so far as
the agreement; but how the payment
can be met, in the case of si large
class of tenants, we cannot imagine.
In Boston they have a " milk
inspector;" whose business it is to
keep the milk venders of that city
straight. He has recently made a
report of his doings in 1S6T, from
which it appears that he has inspect
ed during the year 1,747 samples of
milk, of which he foud 029 adulter
ated. Of these the average amount
of adulteration was 32 per cent, the
chief article used being water. The
smallest adulteration was 14 per cent,
and the largest id any single sample
nearly 5G per cent. tTpori these in
vestigations he procured the indict
ment during the year of twenty one
milk dealers, nineteen of whom were
convicted by the Boston Courts. Tne
daily supply of milk in Boston is
17,493 gallons, and it is sold at eight
cents per quart retail.
Chief Justice Chase, as a presid
ing officer of the trial, issued a ticket
to tne floor of the Senate to John M.
Langston; Esq., of Ohio, the well
known colored lawyer.
The professors of medicine in
the Michigan University threaten to
resign because homcepaihy has been
established therein. They are sap
heads. 1
AX i.'ClDE.T IS THE CARS!
On the whole, pleasant traits and
characters are not common on the
cars. This opinion I expressed to
my friend Summers the other day.
I was escorting home the lovely
Charlotte Li to whom I was at
the time quite devoted. Charlotte
could scarcely find room to spread
her crinoline and arrange Her volum
inous floiinces. 1 stood up near her,
there being no vacant seat.
After a few minutes came in a
poor woman, who deposited a basket
of clothes on the front platform, and
held in her arms a small child, while
a little girl hung to her dress. She
looked tired and weary, but there
was no vacant seat ; to be sure,
Charlotte might have condensed her
flounces, but &-ie did not. Beside
her, however, sat a very lovely and
elegant young woman, who seemed
by moving down closer to others, lo
make space enough for the stranger
between herself and Miss D .
At last she succeeded, and with the
sweetest blush I ever saw, she invited
the poor woman to be seated. Char
lotte D drew her drapery arouud
her, and blushed too, but it was not
a pretty blush at all, and she looked
annoyed at the proximity of the new
comer, who was however, cleanly
clad.
The unknown lady drew the little
girl upon her lap. and wrapped her
velvet mantle around the half-clad
form, and put her muff over the half
frozen little blue hands.
Sd jrcat was the crowd thai I
alone seemed to observe. The child
shivered the keen wind from the
door blew on her unprotected neck.
I saw the young lady quietly draw
from under her cloak a little woolen
sh'awl, which she softly put on the
little one. The mother looked oh in
confused wonder. After a short
time she arose to leave the cars, and
would have removed the shawl, but
the unknown gently whispered : "No,
keep it for her." The woman did
not answer ; the conductor hurried
her out, but her eyes swam with
tears. I noticed her as she descend
ed lo the basement, and I hastily re
marked the house.
Soon after my unknown also arose
to go. I was in despair, for I wanted
to follow and discover her residence,
but could not leave Miss D .
IIow glad, then, I was to see her
bowing, as she passed, to a mutual
acquaintance who stood in the door
way. From hiih, ere many minutes,
I learned her name and address.
To shorten the story as much as
possible, the lady is now my wife.
In the small incident which introduc
ed her to trie she showed her real
character. A few days after our
marriage 1 showed her the blessed
crimson shawl, which I redeemed
from the owner, and shall keep it as
a memento. There are sometimes
pleasant things to be found in unex
pected places ; certainly I may be
said to have picked up my wife iu
the cars.
San Francisco pays one. six
teenth of the whole whiskey tax of
the United States. If other comuiu
nilies, says the Call, paid this tax as
full, in proportion to their population,
the Government would" derive at
least one hundred and fifty million
dollars revenue from this tax, instead
of about twenty-eight million, which
she now receives. This large sh6w
ing on the part of San Francisco is
not because she manufactures so
much whiskey in proportion to other
cities, but because our people are
law-abiding, pay our taxes prompt
ly, our revenue oHicers attend to
their proper duties, and " whiskey
rings" are unknown here.
New Yorkers arc favoring the
establishment of a Museum of Natu
ral History in their Central Park,
which is to be, in course of time, a
rival on Jardiu des PJantes and the
British Zoological Institute. The
idea is a good one, and for the credit
of the nation, of w hich New York is
metropolis, we hope it will be success
fully carried out.
The English papers announce
the death of Dr. John Elliotson, one
of the most distinguished scientific
men of the time. He introduced the
telescope into England, discovered
the curative properties of quinine and
prussic acid, founded the North Lon
don Hospital, and was a confirmed
believer in mesmerism.
Popular ErroR3.-'I hat editors
keep public reading rooms. That
they have plenty time to talk to
everybody. That they are delighted
to get any thing to fill up the paper
witti.
AX OREGON' LETTER.
The following letter of information in
regard to the resources of Oregon is from
tb.w pen of Mr. John Minto. of Marion Co..
and was written at the instance of a genr
iiepian in caieni, in answer to iastern
inquiries respecting Oregon. It was pub
lished in the Oregon City Extkrpiuse f
Sept. 7th, 18C7 :
You ash ':
I- What kinl of a country Is Oregon
for farming?
II. Is the country, in its wild state.
covered with forest?
HI. Are the people afillcted much with
fever and ague ?
IV. IIow far is the Willamette in a di
rect line lroth the ocean ?
V. Do the rivers arid streams abound
in fisH ? ,,.
Vf. Is it profitable to raise sheep?
VII. Is the Valley subject to frectuent
inn nidations ?.
Vlll. How expensive are partly im
proved farms, with building thereon '!
ANSWER.-5 AND REM AUKS. .
Oregon is pre-eminently a good country
for farming. Perhaps a comparison be
tween Oregon au Massachusetts, with re
gard to seme products, would be the bi!st
means I could adopt to impress this upon
your mind. By reterence to the 8th census
you will see that Oregon, with a popula
tion of 52.-1G5, produced of wheat t22.48U
bushels, and DU0.201 bushels of oats. Mas
sachusetts., with her 1,231.0(50 inhabitants,
produced l!)9.ia bushels of wheat, and
1,180,075 bushels of oats. Indeed. Oregon
daes not fall far behind the entire New
England States .in the production of wheat
which stands first amongst grains fit for
human .food. It has been remarked by
many- intelligent observers who have visit
ed this coast, that Oregon possesses a re
markable fecundating power. This fer
tility does not lie in her soil exclusively :
for richness of soil I think ehe. will bear
comparison with some of the Western
States. It nust be mainly owinsr to her
mild arid uniform seasons, .and its exis
tence is seen in aniriial, as well as vegeta
ble life. The tendency of domestic ani
mals here is to breed too early ; and the
tendency of our. apple, pear, and plum
orchards is. to early overbearing. The
uniformity of the seasons, one with nnolh
er, is such that, during a residence of over
23 years here, 1 have. never known the
apple-tree to . fail to bear, or the wheat
to yield a harvest generally abundant for
the means used to procure it Wheat and
oats are our principal crops, being most
convenient, and yielding the greatest re
turn lor the labor and care they require.
There are farmers in the Willamette valley
who believe they can fatten pork on wheat
here with less labor than they used to fat
ten it on coi-n, on rich llbnpjs corn lamls..,
Second, Oregon may properly bo divi
ded into two districts East and West
which differ very materially as regards
climate. That portion of the State lying
eat of the Cascade mountains, which di
vide it in nearly a north and south direc- j
tion, is hotter and dryer iu the summer, ;
and colder tutd dryer in the winter, than j
the western pqrtion. In extent it .embra- )
ces more than half the area of the Slate, j
and consists mainly of narrow but exceed- ;
ingly fertile valleys and high, dry table
lands, mostly covered with a short and '
very nutritions bunch grass. The scarcity j
of timber in this region makes cattle herd
mi: ami aut-eu raising uie cnier tiursuiis.
asfde from gold and silver mining. ,The
valleys would siinnlv breadstuff's for foiir
times the population that is now here, and
more than three fourths of the country is
yet unoccupied even for the purposes of
grazing. Toward the eastern boundary
ofthehfiate the land assumes, a barren
character, where artcmisla, or wild sage,
is the prevailing growth.
western Oregon
Is divided into three principal valleys
the Willamette, the Umpqua, and the
Rogue river. In their '. wild state" each
contain, a large proportion of praire laud,
covered wl'h a variety of grasses arid clo
vers. Of these valleys the Willamette is
by far the most extensive, and is the lar
gest compact body of good farming land
on the Pacific slope. . It is estimated to
contain 3.000,000 acres cf arable land, so
interspersed with belts of timber, and
streams of living .water, as to make it
difficult to conceive of a place better fitted
by nature for tlie use of civilized man.
Third, There is very little fever and
ague here ; what there is, is so confined
to a few localities, that it is not couuted
among the ills of life here.
Fourth, The. Willamette river .has its
sources in the Cascade, Calapooia and
Coast ranges of mountains. The Jst
bounds it on the north, the second on h-;
south seperatirig it from the Umpqua val
ley anil the Coast range which is connec-
ted with the Cascade range bv the Cala- i
nooia, stretching across the head of the '
valley, and bounds it on the west, sepera- i
ting it from the cot'.st line, with which its j
course is nearly parallel lrom south and!
iioi iL, ui, au a fiase instance oi aooul i U
miles., About midway of jts.coursb of one
hundred and forty miles, the river tends
to the west, and at Corvallis it is but 40
miles from the waters of Yaquina Pay, to
which place there is now a good w.igon
road. On the west side of the Coast range
the climate is again modified by the influ
ence of the ocean, the dews fall more co
piously, and rain is more frequent, conse
quently grass keeps green late into the
season ; circumstances all indicate that
this will be the dairy region of. .Oregon
and experience at those points where set
tlements are already formed in this region,
confirm the facts so indicated. At some
of these points as Tillamook bay, Ya
quina, Alsea. and Coos bays, there are
thriving settlement. The country gener
ally is covered with forests ot larch,
spruce, hemlock, ceder. redj yellow, and
white fir, of such dimensions as it 13 difi
cult for a resident of the Atlantic seaboard
to conceive of, and hazardous to any man's
character for veracity to descr.be. The
forest land? of this State can scarcely be
said to be touched yet, for the purposes of
cultivation.
Fifth. There is riot a great variety of
fish in the rivers and streams of Oregon.
We have all the varieties of the trout fam
ily, however, at the head of which ii the
.-. ...- -,: ....
Salmon. Salmon of excellent quality on-!
tcr the Columbia river, and run up into i
most of its' tributaries. The falls of the 1
Hiuamette.(near y 40 leet perpend.ci: ah J
at Oregon Citv.) intercent their further
progress up' that river, and at that point i
mric J.-5 vAiajucuii ii.-ii;u. ouirzeon are
caught in the Columbia, and there is also
a kind of chub which is said to be of fine
quality. Little attention is yet paid to
any kind of fish except salmon and oysters,
which latter are cultivated at Yaquina
bay. . -, . ..
Sixth, Sheep raising is profitable here
as compared with other branches of farm
ing. Wool raising is being adopted as a
pursuit by many of our citizens. The
...... .1 ! i r-v . - ,
uxi (J11.UUUUIU nt-Mtiu uri-gon 18 iouna
to be of a very superior quality, and the
extensive grazing lands of eastern Oregon,
and the market for mutton furnished by
the mining camps, is inducing many to
adopt sheep husbandry there. It is'now
one of the most important interests in the
State, and together with the manufacture
of woolen goods, is destined to become
more and more importa-.it.
Seventh, Such a thing as freshets during
the summer season is not known in Oregon
with the exception of the regular rise in
the Columbia, wbicli is caused bv the melt-
ing of snow in the far interior. These wa-1
ters reach the lower Columbia, from the
middle to the end of June, and occasion
ally do seme damage. The bottom lands
are not extensive, however, and the water
usually subsides in time for those who
farm these lands to raise crops upon tbem.
In 23 years I have never seen the waters
of the'Willamette or tributaries, discolored
in the least by a summer rain. Between
the middle of June and the middle of Oc
tober it does not often rain so as to lay
the dust, and a thunder sliower is a rare
occurrence in Oregon. From about the
middle of October it commences to. rain
at intervals, which shorten as winter ap
proaches. I'.y the middle of December
the wet weather channels are usually full
of water ; a great overflow is not common.
We had high floods in November 1844, in
December I8'.il, and one not so high in
The dill'erenee between the summer
and winter flow of water is well defined,
and is easily guarded against.
Eighth, i he price of partly improved
fii'-ms :irv Considerably, according1 to lo
;isui, l no ju ice oi jiujuj jhhi
i i arv considerably, according to lo-,-,
quality, etc. Land can be bought
ti a circle of five miles around Salem
cality.
within
at 10 to 100 per acre : within ten miles.
at $. to $-.. Eight to ten dollars per
acre will buy good lands within conveni
ent distances of towns. Excellent opened
limbered lands, with improvements, in
gome instances can be bought, within
miles or Oregon City, at from f to $10
per acre. Sheep ranges iu Umpqua val
ley can be had forVi to $.V per acre. '
These are gold prices, and lands can be
purchased 'of the Slate at $2 to $ 10 in
currency : or taken up under the home
stead or pre-emption laws, and cost in
manner nothing.
In conclusion, I would say there is room
in Oregon for tens of thousands more of
industrious people- We are a much mixed
up community, coming as we do from
every State in'the Union, and from nearly
every State in Europe : but ChristWn mis
sionaries were the pioneers of civilization
here. The influence of their example and
teachings have not been lost. As proof
of this I will close by a comparison be
tween Oregon and other new States, as ii
a law abiding and order loving communi
ty. Previous to the breaking out of the
great rebellion the materials for the Stab
census had all been collected. These sta
tistics give the number of deaths by mur
der in the State of Texas for the year end
ing June 1st, 18C0, as f-5, and the number
of executions, one. In Oregon tor the
same periods the deaths by murder were Jg)
and the executions 3. John Minto.
j Camp meetings in Oregon rill be
j held at the following places this year:
! The Laf.ivette circuit will com
j mence on the 1 1th of June. Camp
! ground, five miles below Lafayette,
j three miles below Dayton, on the
! Portland road.
! The Hillsboro circuit on the Meth-
odist campground, near Cetiterville,
I commencing Thursday the ISth.
Six miles northwest of Oakland,
on the premises of Mr. James Dodge,
on the Scottsbnrg road, commencing
on Thursday the llrh.
On the Powell's valley camp
! i i . j i
! r OUR(3' commencing on Indoy, June
! iOlh.
Oa the Beiiontaine camp ground ,
Monrce circuit, comnivneinfr the 2tiu
of July.
Three miles frcm Dallas near .the
Ellendale Factory, commencing on
Thursday, June 25th.
On the Clark Creek camp ground,
commencing Thursday, July Oth.
On Spencer's Butte charge, near
Cloverdale, commencing June 18th.
The United Brethren will hold
a camo meetini? in Robert's Prove.
i ) C7 t o
near Walla Walla City, commencing
j on the 18th of June.
All persons interested in such
meetings are invited to attend.
It is said that in Jeddo among
the 2,b00,000 inhabitants there U
not one begger ; every man can read,
and every one is comfortably pro
vided for. Rome, the Queen of th
World, was populated by a mob of
thieves, fugitive slaves and miserable
exiles, from whom sprang heroo
i j . i i -r -
conquered the wond. Jeddo
might be supplied with the sameelc-
! tuent of future glory, from San Fran
. - . ; , O
noriT. rr rnri.ri nrv. trnm Sun h r.in
cisco, without any great loss to out
selves, says the Sj)?ciator;
m
John Schneider, a blacksmith in
Grand Rapids, Michigan, has fallen
heir to an estate valued at SI, 000,
000. The property belonged to tt
batchelor undo ot his, who died
short time since at Frunkfort-on-thr -Main;
and his property falls lo hi
only sister, the mother of Mr. Schnei
der, who has only two children now
living-.
The. Viceroy of Eypt has three
harems and a wife and suite in each
He has put the spinsters on the qui
vice by announcing that he intend
to take to himself a new wife everv
year. This sounds like help meet
and a suite meet together. Too
much sweetness entirely.
Excavations have brought lo
Jt in Syria, a Hebrew house dating
J 1 JJV" f-
from abont the second century befon
fh
Some of the rooms are
good preservation and among tb-.
books found is a collection of He
brew poems, said to be unknown to
present Orientals.
A portrait of the prudish Men
j ken, taken in conjunction with the shv
1 ' J
and. modest Mr. Algernon Charles
Swinburne, has been issued by the
London Stereoscopic Company, anri
is the occasion of considerable com
ment. The latest Paris ballet is
"Adam and Eve." It is before the
fall, and tbey of coursa have theit
summer cl ;thirg en.
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