Oregon spectator. (Oregon City, O.T. [i.e. Or.]) 1846-1855, April 15, 1847, Image 1

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tOAD TO OIEOONN 4.
From the crossing of the fUera Nevada
to the entrance of the most dirrcl linmigranl
route into Hear river valley (called Green
wood's cut off.) is on a straight tine accord
ing tn Mitchell's late map, shout 445 mile.
The immigrant route is south of a right Hn
to ab-wt the Vad of the Csje ux of Raft titer,
where it crosses to the north aad remains on
that Me the remainder of thr distance. To
the hed of the Raft river, it taoa a straight
line S0 miles-1-end by the way bilU of the
rotd WO mile. The' mad from the paw of
th Siera run in a southeasterly direction to
Ogde.n' rtvrr about 140 miles; the first 70
mile of this distance, whieh reaches a large
grav plain, n a pond road, and well sup
plied with grass and water the remainder of
the distance to Ogden's nvrr, which include
all the long camps on the mute, is as follows.
From the grassy plain above alluded to, it
i 3 mile to a fine spring with sufficient grass
for a camp From this it is 1" miles over a
level, hut in places r. heavy road to the hot
springs at the foot of ; Black Rvk ; these
springs extend alone the foot of the moun
tain about 5 miles and the extensive fields of
grass produced by the spreading of their
waters over the plain makes this a good re
cruiting place after the privations suffered in
srnv mg hen from Ogden's river. From the
Black Rock to Ogden's river, it is about 45
mile; there arcalfcngthe road two springs
at convonfiit ditanee for camps, but owing
to the extreme drouth of th la41 season, but
one of these atlorded sufficient grass and
water for a camp, and at the other some of
the immigrants could only get a mall sup
ply of water for their teams, making the dis
tance of H.'i mils over a level, but'iri places
a heavy toad without camping To avoid
this "I 'tig stretch the country north of Og.
dn' nil" u as examined for about 50 mil s
al-ovethe leaving point, but no grass or wa
ter could be f iiind to supply the necessary
camps.
Tlie remainder of the road to the head of
Raft river, a distance of about .TJO miles, is
in a northeaocrly direction. The grass and
wi'er is plenty and at convenient distances,
and the road is go, lying most of the dis
tance in the Ie.l green alleys along the
streams. s this part o ihe country is
broken into detached mountains and level
handy plums, in the season of floods, the wa
ters collect in larger or smaller basins, but
drv up a the summer advances: the little
brooks which collect m the mountains, most
ly sink in a short distance form their sources.
It is doubtful whether an immigrant route
can be made mm h shorter than the present,
as Ogden's river alone adonis a connected
chain of terdant plains supplied with water-
mrougn this arH region : but a trail mad
may be taken over level plaint on nearly a
straight line.
From where Grernwood'a cut off entra
the Bear river valley, U is about a N. W.
course to the Soda Springs, 90 miles ; thence
nearly in the same direction to Fort Mall, 00
miles. Hrre the road turns down Snake
river, in a southwest -course, to raft river. A0
miles, and up Raft river, on a course nearly
outh, 30 miles, to a point nearly due weat,
and on a straight line, QA mileavfrom the
descent into Bear river valley. Before the
kcientifle mur of Capt. Frerrwnt, to the Salt
Lake in I9M, the true position of this coun.
try was not known, ami the reason the road
has not been imnroved in ihl nan hMMtnlnm
has twin mainly owing to the ignorance of
tor relative position o ,n ilifterent polnta
'? Hear river, ..f those who have attempted
The Soda Springs, instead of being on
he 1-.M parallel, nd Fort Hall a few min
ulr north of jt. as laid down on the old map,
,M H. 9hm Olt,, r.) Tknlty, Am II, int. .. .
km tmmi tMa trat hm In Raar rivtr valley
thrw patlM satli ml mrnkk't fcrk to lai.
n (fctwi ft aaiawtaa 47 aaanaaW ad af
tM RMa BMbaja to a 4t aWrtea at muv
Mtea W mvmmt, and Fast H
from th axeMJaaef tadraatural diapoakloa
to plunder, and m taw ar at nZT7ZZ
cause wkkk it U --1Tn ? to -J-.tnn
htet.4IaW.
fNl9l MHMIM 89 BaMHM9
Uapt. V. ale fcaaaj a asoalkat aaaa
tarasjgft the raat ofaaasantaJna wtat at Rear
nver Uirrctly oa tha 4W parallel (tea iour-
nai pafe 00) aad fraaa Use broad graasy val
ley of the Koaaaua or Reed river, a coun
try acariy (aval aad wall supaliad with sraaa
aad water axteoda over le the forka of the.
Cajesu ; there ia alae good road from Bear
river valley to the nea4 of the little lake
knows to the traaawra, aa Saake lake, which
leave a diefaaea of k$a (aea 35 utittM a rx-
. That a road niaaing nearly oa the
4'id parallel aaay be found uniting these
two potata, now scarcely admits of a doubt,
aad that it will be well aupeliad with the im
portant requisites lor aoimaia is certain ;
nd allowing 'Id mile to cover the crooka
of tan road, there will yet be a saving ia dis
tance ol 100 mile.
It is a remarkable fact, that through all the
ranges oi mountains west ol the I'mted
States, there are good pasara at or near the
the 42d parallel ; though no examination has
been made expressly for that purpose, it baa
nevertheless been fully proved by Capt. Fro
ntout to be the cac in respect to the Rocky
mountains, the Bear river mountains, and
the Siera Nevada or Blue mountains, and
the recent expedition prove the same to be
the case in the Cascade range ; and as the
Rogue river valley extends down the river
to the Pacific, the coast range is also open
on this parallel.
Aa theae natural passes. Tailing upon a
right line, across the continent, must ulti
mately have an influence in fixing the great
thoroughfare from the United States to the
shores of the Pacific, it may be of iutcret
to the public to know how far the southern
route to Oregon departs from this parallel.
As I before remarked, Capt. F. crossed the
Siera north of the wagon pass, and direct--d
hit course for Ogden's river, but broom-
mg discouraged with the appearance of Ihe
country to the eastward, he lost all hope of
reaching that nver and bore off to the south
ward : and as hit description of the country
along the route he travelled it most accurate,
it ia easy to determine the point at which the
two routea come together and ?eparate.
The wagon raad comet upon his route on
a remarkable little stream, which from the
high walls of tassalt which inclose it nar
row valley, ia called the kanyon the route
pass the same noted aoint to the Hot Spring
at the foot of tne Black Rock. Here Capt.
F. bore off to the southward, and the wagon
road keep it easterly course. The arosW
night after passing the Blark Rock, Capt. F.
find the latitude of his camp to bo 40 do.
greea 48 minute 15 seconds, being 11 min
utM 45 arcoade south of the 41st parallel,
'And aa he had traveled a day and a half
snath from Black Rock, it is evident that
where the road leave Ogden' river, which'
ia but little south of tho Kocfc, cannot u
far from the 4lat parallel, those who with
further to satisfy themaelvea will aee Capt.
Fremont's journal, from the 90th Dec. to tha
nd January inclusive.
Tho curve made In the road by following
down Offdea'a river to the 41t parallel, aa It
.. . ... .L L... nit
necessarily Increase it lengin oui
SO milea, ia mora thaa oomptaaated by tha
fine traveling and pasturage oa that atraaaa,
and a good camp wing at aay time to be
had, la of great advantage to caravaa.
Though the southern route to Oregoa, aa
faT aa traveling ia concerned, U aaitca au
perioVto the northern route, yet uader pfaa.
ent circumstance. I should nealtate te a.
viae immigrante to travel it, particularly It
their destination be to the northern pM
of the territory. Tha Indiaae !)
route not being depaadeat upon aay H
establlshmenthave nothing to reetreJa taem
3Ss&
eaH-itil'
par iaaeerkl haahel at Uasaa. M aaaal
mtmmmr-4gmt D. daiit." ,h M
7"aBatIJaiaaUiartWaeaa
of the WBlaawata rfrtr, aad aaaaa f art
awtwitr, aad ea,aaUfaaa.
ceaaibU to shfaaang m W aTiae latter
pUee. AtthUa4ae ()lamaVaaya,taeT
have neaivad em t,00t kaaaata; aad ff
taay deal oat eveahaaded Jtiatlat la all their
eaetemera, h would be but fair te Mapaea
that to otata ia goad U their ajaibwiai
eat illy dieaoaad towarda aa, k reouiraa vigi.
Ije to arevaat their dearedailoo..
Though ao far from aafag formidable that
aartieaof 5 aad evaa 4 aaaa ka. ir..i
their ooaatry ia iu whole extent ia safety
and without the Idea of a aiagte article, and
have sawtinrf atatioaary for weeke ia the
midst of them without aeiag molaated, yet
Urge partiaa of iiamigraau were not equal,
ly aucceaaAil.
Immigrant may embody for the protec
tion of their property but from the natural
repugnance with which a free people aubmit
to any kind of discipline or coatrol,the duty
of guarding it, whieh is iu only security,
will be negligently performed or wholly aeg.
lected. Aad besides (ailiag ia the object for
which they unite, they will be subjected to
all the tardiaeaa aad dianaaiona of a large
uadiacipliaed aad dlaoordaat maaa. The
diligent will be withheld from prosecuting
the journey, by the slothful and indolent,
more inert from the knowledge that they will
not be left behind. .
Far um Orsgsa SfscUtor.
Ma. EotToa In the Spectator of March
4th, I noticed a communication over the aig
nature of ' Obeerver,' which the writer a.
turcs us is the reault of researches made
with the express object of testing the accu-
racy of statements which appeared in the
Spectator of the 4th of February last, and
the information given on every point, he as
tures us may be " regarded at unquestionably
authentic." One of my earliest lessons, Mr.
Kditor, wa to receivo with suspicion tho
statements of the individual who was tho
harbinger of his honcty or correct state,
menu, and I confess that observation ami ex
perience has had no tendency to lessen my
confidence in these earlv precepts ; he asures
us that he " speaks the truth and may be
unquestionably relied upon." Very well,
we have his testimony and that of other
individuals which we intend to furnish the
public with, and leave them for their impnr.
tittl consideration. In the first place, to have
the public believn the H. B. Company had
not received 40,000 bushels of wheat in 184C,
a statement is given of tlie amount taken in
at three of their granaries, only carefully
avoiding two important receiving point a
well as that grown on their own farmes, to
wit that of Vancouver and Cowlitr. : at
the latter place, I understand that between
eight and nine thousand bushels waa rvcefv
edon the previous year but suins wo-m re
ceipta at the three granaries at 30150 bush
els. We now believe the amount grown by
them and purchased would be nearer 50,.
000 than 40,000 bushels. But enough up
on suppositions. Again, our " unquestiona.
ble authority" aaya, " I found the II. II.
nnmnanv have bouffht ell their wheat at
the rate of 80 oeata per imperial bushel of
just 63 lb, and continue to pay ine aamo
price; bm it coete them tl 15 cent per
bushel before it can bo prepared for ship,
meat. During my absence, aome of my
friends fumuhed me with certificates with
permission to use them, which will give some
luht nn this aubiecl. and I shall make a few
extracts from aome of them, reserving thorn
s . at .!. tw He
all lor tae sapec;ion i -votcner, .
wishes them. Henry Buxton, jun. testifies
that "he delivered to Ihe II. D. Company a
araaary at Linton, last fall, 63 bushels im-
aerta! measure, wss in "yr-y r
arte, aat ealy for their wheat delivered at
Liwtoa, bat far all wheat delivered ia a Ilka
eoadkleafarsaiaatas. vBut Observer aava
"taey pat aa cents for aiaa-teatfaa af tha
wheat purchased atCieMeeeeV'aaa toaaew
tha deception there ie aractiaaa la tab tt
aeata, are propoea to bring fig urea to t aid.
The H. B. Co. have a store at Oregoa Cky,
and aa we have frequently heard k said, far
the aocommodation of the Amaricaa mar
vhaats; they hare added at this store 47 per
cent oa Vancouver prices, for example com
moo ooroeroy pantaloons are aoM at Van.
couver, where wheat ia paid for at tha rates
of 60 cents in merchandise, at t 40 aeata;
but if sold at Oregoa City, SO or 4t milea
nearer the farming eommuaity, where It la
said 80 cents is given for wheat, they era
sold for 85 00, being an advance aa before
stated, of just -47 per eeat. upon Vancouver
trices, ana leaving a balance against tha
armer who tells his grain in Oregon Citye
at 80 cent for goods, of just 14 per cent ; or
in other words, if paid for at Vaaeouvar
prices, where' 60 cents k given for wheat,
5 bushels of wheat will pay for them ; hat
if sold at their store at Oregon Cky, where
it is said they pay 80 cents, it then requires
6 J bushels to pay for them, making aa ia plabt
to be seen, lea than 60 cents per bushel
for nine-tenths of the whest received at the
Champoeg granary. That the imperial
bushel weighs just 68 pounds, we give the
Rev. Mr. Griffin's testimony upon the sub
ject. J. S. Griffin testifies, that be "has a
sealed American measure which baa beea
used frequently by hi neighbor for tha mat
3 or 4 years in measuring wheat to deliver
to the H. B. Company, and on inquiring how
it held out with the Company' measure, waa
told that in a few instances ten bushel made
nine, but in most casts, not so favorably.
I have frequently weighed on a good pair
of English steelyards and on scale, a
bushel of wheat from my measure aad found
it to weigh from GO to 0.1 pounds; to which
add one-ninth of a bushel to make it equal
to the imperial, and it would weigh 70
pounds." The sale price of flour at Vaa.
couver, say Observer, "is H cents per
jwund, or til 60 cents per banvl."' But Or.
egon City U the place where thy sell their
flour to the citizens of Oregon, and the first
intimation the public had, that dour would
bo sold at 3 cents was caataincu ia the Spec
tator which published the comniuaicatioa
Observer' is respoadiag to, aad the paper
had hardlyiched its subacriben ia the val.
ley before thexpuWic were informed that it
had again risen to 4 cents ; but we hare aaaaa
testimony MitneTaacouw-pricee for aVatr.
Daniel Clark certifies "that in the fall of 1944V
he purchased at Vancouver at least .0tt
poimosoi nour, rrceinis; !" wi aa
tlO per barrel, the balance at 4 eealaj par
M
la merahaadiae 80 cente per bushel, to ow.
lag them nothing at the Uiae-algned "II.
Buxtoa, jua." Mr. Hall, memhar of our
last leaialature, says, i oeiiverru i -T.lTLTut
mjasura to the H. B. Co'a gran-
arvLlaton, fcrwWfc tftf ff.
aa'r haahel n goods In the fali of 1846
lJdL. HaTUath March, 1847." An-
nnnnd. naid for at the time In gold aneaUvar
signed, " D. Clark." Mr. Mousey teatl.
lies that ifi November and December, 1848,
he purchuscd a quantity of flour, for waiea
he paid 84 per hundred at tha time In aahi
and silver, or if in barrels ai $10 psrkr.
nl. I waa also told that the last flour ahia.
prd by the H. B. Company, waa ia the month
of Feb. 1846 alnoe which time, 'Observer'
says none has been shipped. But we lad
in he Polynesian,' of Honolulu, 16th Jan.
uary, 1847, a statement that tha Vaacou-
ver, ope oi ino n. w'r"; "r
brings 50 barrels of flour, an article much
needed here." We have never heard that
their rules were violated by shipping far
..-n not connected wiia we compear.
Observer' saya "the wheat deUvawaJ at
vw Archanael. a dangerous voyage of front
otterTand'l will atop on this subjaet
Clark testifies, that in ie n
D.
received
o . k ntonths. is sold by them there mr.4l
30 cents per bushel. ' I njfvd JfNar
from a friend of oura in CallfcrnJa, by tto
late arrival of ihe Toulon, wMehtaav give
- itokt m tkU subiect: I awato hie la.
ruase.-" Several taeasa.biisaUef wheat
Ravi bean shipped from here (CaHfbrasa) to
j!. iSKl!2r.
ii mii mmir um ins
ri71a more for whtat? WetraalaWtoM
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