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About Willamette farmer. (Salem, Or.) 1869-1887 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 31, 1886)
& - L r VOL. XVIIL ' OREGON PIONEER HISTORY. SKETCHES OP EARLY DAYS. MEM AMD TIMES IK THE FORTIES XDY 8. A CLARKE. f Cop) right applied (or. All rlghti rewrrcJ. NUMBER XLVIII. (j -Joseph Watt's Experience Croeelng tne Plains Some Early Episodes Continuod from lost week. A MORMON niERARCII. When wo got to Fort Hall wo mot Snm Brannan, who wna just from Call fornia. Ho expected to moot Brigham Young at Fort Hall, and wna going to induco him by nil possible means to go to California. Ho was loud in tho faith of Mor monism, nnd speculation ran high as to what ho would do. I thought him tho most extravagant man I ovor mot. Ho could build moro air castles nnd mako moro monoy by his own say so than any man I over saw. Tho dis covery of tho gold mines onnblod him to realizo many of his dreams, but his Mormoulsm was only skin deop, which old Briglmm readily saw through, nnd so declined to go to California. Most probably ho foresaw that in that stato Sam Brannan had tho gnmo mado for himself to bo chief priest of tho Latter Day Saints, and did not wish to en counter a rival. Hero, ono Son Carlos 0. Shaw, as ho styled himself, mado mo very favornblo offers for tho accommodation of n loan of $300, which I declined for a time,but was finally over persuaded by tho other to let him havo it, so at last I did so. I was to mcot him in Boston, and got a lot of goods for tho Oregon trado. Ho bad bocn trusted by Oregon morchants and others that ought to know responsi ble men. Ho represented htmsolf ss tho nophow of It. Q. Shaw of Boston, and had letters to that effect, and camo from tho Sandwich Islands tho provious fall. MEETING EMIGRANTS FOR OREOOK. Nothing of special interest occurred until wo reached below Fort Laramie. There wo met emigrants on their way to Oregon, and soma meetings wore ex citing. But tho trains we mot wero so large and so frequent that tho excito incnt soon woro oft". It got to be an old story. Wo kept meeting them from on Sandy tho other sido. of Green river, to tho south fork of tho Platto riven At Ash Hollow we overtook our seven old companions, who woro there waiting for us. Evidently tboy thought it danger ous to movo thoro in small numbers. On tho South Platte we passed through a largo village of Siour. - The old chief of this band was very friendly and kind. He told us by signs that before wo loft tho South Flatte wo should meet the Pawnees, and must look out for them, or wo would certainly lose our hair. They gavo us liberally of buffalo meat, and with many hearty shakes of tho hand, bid us go to tho white man's land to tho eastward. A TOUGH TIME WITH PIONEERS. That night wo camped among hun dreds of thousands of buffaloes. If you would look in any direction tho country was black with them. We were in danger of being run over by them ; we often, while traveling, had to stop to let thorn pass. Tho next night we had soma Pawnees to watch, and tho morning after, about 10 A. M., we mot the whole villago of them, camped on our trail. Wo were in for it, and thoro was no way but to push right through their village. Miller and Sportsman led tho train, and as they camo across In dians in their way they ordered them to leave the road and came xear riding over some of them. Old man Kcithly and myself asked them several times to treat them differently. No, they said, it was their day to lead the train, and they were putting it through to suit them selves, They came near ridisg over an old man who was trying to step them. The old Indian began rslftag to others, "Here they cone " We were niat their SALEM, OREGON, FRIDAY, villago by this timo and in a very few minutes wo woro surrounded, packed in so closo wo could hardly stir. A couplo of young chiefs rodo up and asked for our head man. I pointed to a French mountain-man wo had with us. Miller and Sportsman woro too badly fright ened to attend to anything. I told tho Frenchman, who could talk with thorn, ns ho had been long on tho plains among them, to toll thorn wo woro an oxprcss and wero in haste to get along ; that wo had not much to givo them, savo good wishes. MATTERS REACHING A CRISIS. They asked for n litllo tobacco nnd sotno powdor and ball, nnd wanted to know if wo had semi thoir cnomios, tho Sioux. By tho timo wo had got tho articles for thorn and had given tho do sired information, tho old Indian camo up. Of nil tho savages I had mot or scon, I think ho was far tho maddost ono I ovor know of. Ho stormod and frothed at tho mouth; his gestures woro florco and violont. Thoro was a halt-brcod that could speak a littlo Eng lish. Ho worked himself up closo to mo, and whisporod that "Tho old man's heart was bad ; ho says it is good to kill you ; ho wants your guns ; your horses ; Bays you aro moan ; you rodo ovor him ; told him to got out of tho way ; him very mad ; mo don't know." Miller and Sportsman woro so scared thoy didn't know what thoy woro doing or saying. Miller was begging iho young chief not to lot ns bo hurt. Tho Fronchmnn was also besido himsolf. I yollcd to him, for then it took a yell to bo hoard. Ho asked, "What shall I say!" I ropliod : "Thoy'ro going to kill us. Tell tho cbict that wo must go." iho cuioi ap peared to understand mo, for ho at once rodo or squeezed over to mo, and said in brokon English : "Yes, it is good to go!" Ho began giving ordors and crowding on to us, motioning with his hands. Tho momont wo began to movo, I thought tho infernal regions had broken Iooso. If I ever heard yolllng, it was there. Tho Indians on horseback kept closo around us and as soon as wo wero cloar of tho main crowd wo wero on tho full run. Onr Indian cavalry guard nover chirped ; it was the follows on foot that did the howling and yelling. They had long spears and ran as fast as they could, trying to spear us in tho back, but our horso-guard was too closo together for them'to get a single good lick in on us. Thoy put us through on the full run for about ton miles. Tho last of tho footmen and spearsmon kopt after us about threo miles. I thought they nover would stop. Whon they found tho chase useless thoy gavo it up. Our guard stopped after a ten-mile rido and then of course we had to unpack and mako moro proaonts. It may bo believed that no men ever paid for dcliveranco more freely and cheerfully. Wo swapped horses and shook' hands and then parted tho best of friend. Wo wero tho most completely scared men anybody over saw on tho North American plains. Wo packed up and started and never lighted off our "swapped" horses until near morning. No matter of interest transpired during tho rcmaindor of tho "journey." Wo got to St. Jo, Missouri, about tho last of July, and of course had a good time in a city where all had friends. A MISCREANT. At St Jo we separated, all striking out for our different homes. My brother bought most of the Bheep I wanted, thatlfall. I went to SL Louis, sold the property theroj I had charge of, and started on to Boston to hunt my man Shaw, got the goods he owed me and start them toward Oregon. I arrived at Boston in October, and went to the Fremont house, as it was tho place designated for me to meet him. I in quired for Mr. C, 0. Shaw. He was not to be found there. Q. Q. Shaw, perhaps, was meant, if to, he died in the Sand wieh Islands a year or more ago. "No, - m " ' sir," said I, "ho enmo out to Oregon, and on here, across tho plains. I know, because I was wi th him, and ho was to moet mo hero." Said tho landlord, "You ncod not look for him at this houso, or this city, of any where clso in this country. Ho ran away from hero for taking money that did not bolong to him. In short, tho Btato prison' is his portion if ho comes this way." Ho wont on to Bay that Shaw's father had originally Icon n man of property, and had soonrod his boy a placo in tho bank at Providonco. Ho broke his fathor up boforo ho loft. Tho old man Shnw was now blind, and ns n blind fiddler wns picking up n living in tho streets of Providouco. I found this wns all truo, for I wont to boo tho father and talked with him about his scamp of n son. Tlint let mo out of many speculations nnd air-castles. Not only woro theso gono, vanished liko smoko, but my honost 300, oamod by hard work nnd fair trading of town-lots, had gono to hunt up tho lost fortuno of poor, blind old mnn Shaw. My visit to tho Hub was not so interesting to mo na a denso wildornoss or n mountain cortro. Even n sago plain would havo suited my stato of mind in proforonco. RATnER DOWN IN TUB MOUTH. My oxponsos cast wero no small figuro and I hardly got my monoy'a worth. I know no ono nnd did not oven know what places of interest to visit. I bad to contont mysolf with looking into Bhop windows, admiring pretty womon. But I enjoyed myself riding on the beautiful steamboats I found navigating Boston bay and ad joining waters. Also, I mado railroad excursions, always wondoring if tho Pacific country would over seo tho liko in my lifotimo. Evon then I folt suro that n railroad would bo built across tho plains, but I wondorod if our rivers would in my timo hear tho shrill whlatlo of competing steamboats. I thought "What an improvement that would bo ovor Hudson bay company batteaux and Indian canoes." Tho contrast was great, but I livo to see four lines of railroads in this valloy and two trans continental lines como into Portland, a eity that wns denso woods woods while wo wrestled with tho Fawnoos on tho South Platto, and I wished for a chance to wrestle with Don Carlos Shaw any where about Boston. Steamboats climb tho Willamotto and Columbia, and thoro aro solid looks at Die falls and there will soon bo moro solid ones at tho Cascades. Just then wo woro on tho ove of tho discovery that has mado tho wholo Pacific coast a hotbed of riches gold and silvor and has made tho valleys and plains and hills of Ore gon, Washington and California produco wheat enough to disturb tho price of bread in all tho world. I expootod to witnosa much growth but tho Puclllo world has astonished roe. Beet seed all tone. Wo givo notico that tho beet seod mentioned in last week's issuo is all dis posed of but wo etill have several bun dred packages of tobacco loft that will bo mailed to all who apply as long as it lasts. Orecon Padllo Railroad Co. "About January 1st, 1887, tho fine Steamship "Santa Maria" will sail from San Francisco for Yaquina and there after will altcrnato with tho Steamship "Yaquina City." Sailings about every five days. For exact dates seo subse quent advertisements. Farmers who havo sown gypsum on strawberry plants to promote their vigor havo met some disappointing results. Tho gypsum produced such a large growth of clover that it becano almost impossible to keep the rows clean, and in some instances the bed had to be abandoned. Boston Post. First Farmer corn in the ear? in the mouth. -Do you feed your hogs oeconu farmer .No; -T' DECEMBER 31, 1886. forreonilent Soma Bound Logic Junction, Dec, 27, 1880. Editor Willamette Farmer As tho subject of assessment and tax ation is just now a portinont ono I thought I would add n few thoughts. I boliovo that everything of valuo should bear its just proportion of tho taxos with an exemption of $500 to tho bonds of families. This would, of courso, necessitate tho assessment of monoy, notes nnd accounts nnd allow no deduc tions for indobtednoss, but wo find thnt tho surplus wealth of tho country is hold by tho rich almost exclusively for tho purposo of loaning it for intorest, as almost ovory ono knows that interest is hotter than any othor legitimato ontor- prlso in tho country. Now why Uioho rich mon should bo oxompt from tax ation whllo tho poor men who aro com pelled to borrow must pay tho taxos for both is something I cannot understand, as for instanco : A owns a farm worth 710,000 ho pays taxes on that nmount, thon ho soils that farm to B who pays him $5,000 down and glvos his notes proporly secured for tho balanco, thon A loans tho $5,000 B payed him to O on annothor farm, now A has nothing but notes which pay no taxes and B and O must pay his taxes and thoir own too though ho is worth as much in dollars and conts as both and has valid Hon on all their proporty to pay his notes, which wo will say aro ironclad, thon A goes in to tho courts paid for by tho taxpayors of which numbers ho is not ono, to collect thoso notos and makos tho poor mon pay his nttornoy foes. Now whoro is tho Justico nnd oqnality? does A think ho is worth any loss when his monoy is all safoly loanod out under such circum stances j noithor aro B and O worth moro though thoy must pay tho taxes for both. Monoy is the unit of vaiuo and tho moans by which we dotermino what all othor property is worth therefore any thing wo havo that will bring monoy is property a good $1,000 dollar note will bring (1,000 iu monoy as quick as a good $1,000 farm and vica versa, thon why should tho farm bo taxed and the monoy not taxed. If I buy a $100 dollar horso from a noighbor for $100 wo aro neither of us worth moro or less, I $100 more in horses and ho a $100 mora in cash, thon why should I pay moro taxes and him less. As a reason for not tax ing monoy, notes and accounts the "Or egonian" says that four out of flvo rich mon do not pay thoir honost taxes. This is n sad commentary on wealthy mon but will it mako taxes lighter on honest mon to let tho fifth man out. I think not. What wo want is u moro riged en forcement of the laws all laws bo thoy over so just will bo evaded or trans grossed sometimes, even the laws againbt murder do not prevent porsons from be ing killed occasionally, but as this com' munication is long enough I will close for this timo. J. O. Jennings. WHEK TO CUT TIMBER. Editor WlUmetto Farmer i It is important to know when to cut timber to proscrvo it to tho best advan tages. Just as wo cut and harvest our crops when thoy are ripe, bo wo should cut timber that 'is intended for perma nent uso whon it has thoroughly ma tured and tho juices havo all hardened and mado tho wood solid by filling tho pores and scams. Wood cut in spring, or after tho sup has begun to riso, will not last so well. Tho wood ripens when tho leaves have made their growth; when tho limbs havo dono growing, and whon the buds have all perfected their growth for another year and have rip ened so that they can endure the cold of winter. In Oregon wood should be cut earlier than east of the Rocky roounUlaa, be cause the sap, ia this climate, oommeno- - T'isjitj,"'p "irvyj" t?MxJfr "" NO. 47. os to riso laio in January. Thon wood that is intended for building or fonccs should bo cut in tho fall. Any timo from tho last of Soptombcr to tho first of December will answer. If you can not work up tho troos into saw logs, or timbor, or rails, you should out thorn down and so proscrvo tho conditions ex isting nt tho timo tho wood has per fected itsolf by thoroughly ripening. If tho trees aro foiled it will do to work thorn up at your convonlonco, not, how ovor, permitting thorn to lio too long with tho bark on and absorbing damp noss from tho ground. C. Letter from Wasco County. Wabco, On., Dec. 20, 1880. Editor Willamotto Ftrmon Wo havo had copious rains Binco my last letter to you, and ovory f armor has been plowing for tho past ton days, nnd all tho fall sown wheat is now well up and in flno condition to stand tho win- tor. Thoro aro not many places that boat Oregon for Dccombor plowing. Somo aro yot sowing grain, and only flvo days to Christmas. Wo havo bocn visitod by a mnn from Portland who proposes to rccovor from tho govornmont tho excess wo had to pay for our pro-omptlons on account of tho N. P. 11. 11. claim on tho odd sections of land, and ho proposos to go to con gross and endeavor to havo a elauso in tho forfoitnro bill ponding to forfeit Bald odd sections, to pay back ono-half of our monoy, and in caso ho fails in this ho proposos to go boforo tho Land do pnrtmont, nnd thoro press onr claims for us until thoy succeed, and he pro posos to do all tills at his own espouse, and in caso ho tails doos not ask any thing from tho pooplo, but if ho is suc cessful proposos to charga fiftoon por cont, of tho amount oollocted as his fees, which seems to bo very proper and just, for wo think that without someone to proas our claims wo would not get it back for a long period of timo. If said claims wero paid off it would help tho the poor farmor beyond estimation. Thoro has boon quite a demad for young cattto hero this fall, and at a good price about $12 for spring calves. One of our neighbors raisod 300 acres of corn this season and he is feeding now 100 hood of steers, for which ho paid $35 por head, and ho is also feeding a largo drovo of hogs. Wo wish him suc cess, for wo can grow corn on our fallow ground if wo can find uso for it We much need a better grade of stock, so wo can find a bettor markot and higher prices. A good Clydo stallion would bo valuablo property hero. Wm. M. Baitnett. Frult-arowers' Mwiloi. PoRTiJiNiyOr., Dec, 20, 188C. Editor Willamette Farmers Tho next regular mooting of tho North Pacifio Fruit Q rowers' Associa tion will bo hold at tho Council Cham ber, Portland, on Tuesday, Jan. 4, 1887, at 10 A. M. and 1 P. M. At this meet ing ofllccrs will be elected to servo tho onsuing year. You aro earnestly re quested to bo present. A. F. MiLLKit, Secrotary. staffed Buds. Thoro ia quite a btisinoes dono boro in shipping the skins of Oregon birds to tho East, where ourgrouso and quail aro considered as very handsorao birds. Captain T. Douglas, tho woll known taxidermist, has just received an order for 100 quail skins and a fat grouse skins. Ho loft yesterday for Southern Oregon to secure tho birds to fill tho order. Cap tain Douglas has lately mounted some ' canvas back and other species of ducks for members of .the Bod and Gun club. A canvas back in his best clothes makes a very handsomo specimen, to say noth ing of the meat furnished by his carcass. -Oregonian. Bum Vitriol Cheapest at Port Drug Co., 100 State street. d&fo?& j&fttA. . S J i k
