Willamette farmer., May 27, 1887, Image 1

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VOL. XIX.
SALEM, OREGON, FRIDAY, MAY 37, 1887.
NO. 1G.
OREGON PIONEER HISTORY.
BKETCHES OF EARLY DAYS. HEN AND
TIMES IN THE FORTIES
UY 8. A CLARKE. ' ' '
Copyright applied for. All rlghti ruervotl
Suecenful Formation or the Provisional Gov
ernment or Oregon.
Ono cnnnot but bo Biirprisod nt tlio
moderation nnd judgment shown by tho
frionds of provisisonal government mado.
Thoy porforrcd to wait until public
opinion was ripo rather than allow any
disaffection towards tho proposed or
ganization to divido thoso who woro
truly Americans. Tho hostility of tho
Hudson Bay company and its employers
was something thoy could meet; but
whon tho Methodist mission failed to
tiarmonizo with them, that was a serious
mattor. And it is not caBy to sco how
tho missionaries stood aloof as thoy did,
whon Amorican unity was so much to
bo desired. But thoy certainly did.
Thoro was considorablo cordiality bo
twocn them and Dr. McLoughlin, and
it is not very strango if thoy felt liko
yiolding nil that that was consistent
with honor and patriotism to ploaso him,
for ho had favored and accommodated
thorn in many ways. The meeting at
Ghampoog created twelvo ns a rommit
tco, who woro to framo a coiiHtitution
and propoeo a codo of laws for popular
acceptance. Tho battlo wob not now ;
but tho Americans occupied tho field and
had many points of vantage. It re
mained for tho popular voice- to accopt
or reject, and tho action of tho commit
tco must bo wiso and beneficent to sccuro
accoptanco as desired.
On.tho 10th of May tho twelvo met at
tho Falls in tho building tondcrcd by tho
mission for tho purpose. "Wliilo Dr.
Bnbcock, Mr. Hincs and others hesitated,
nnd oven opposed, it is to their credit
that thoy facilitated, by all means in
their power, tho general effort, and gave
of their means liberally to prevent any
burdon of taxation upon tho people. Tho
warohouso of tho mission, thus erected
into a legislative chambor, was n vory
plain structure that wits not at all in
harmony with recent Orcgpn efforts to
shelter ligislators. It was a rudo framo
bnilding, sixteen feet by thirty, and two
low stories in height. Tho lower part
wns divided, and ono-lmlf used as a hall;
horo it was, in quarters fifteen by sixteen
foct, that our first legislators mot and
studiod tho art of govornment for Ore
gon. Robert Moore, of Linn City, was
chairman, and Lo Breton secretary. Tho
first question in government must bo to
provide an oxecutive, but thoy woro in
structed to provido for no governor.
But whon thoy got to work they saw and
felt all tho dilllcnlty of tho situation,
and realized that the coming state must
lmvo un executive. Thoy finally sur
mounted this difficulty by creating an
oxecutivo committeo of three, which
could veto bills and execute laws. An
other advantngo of this triumvirato was,
that tho Methodist mission could bo
placated by having a man of their own
oil tho oxecutivo committee, and so
divido tho honors, whilo a member of
tho mission might not bo elected gover
nor by popular vote. In this manner
tho assent and co-operation of tho mis
sion was secured, and all Americans
finally harmonized.
Tho meeting of July 5th saw almost
tho entito malo population of Oregon
assembled at Champoeg to hear the re
port of tho legislative committeo and to
transact any business in their collected
capacity that might devolve upon them.
Many of them came a long distance. ,It
is to be regretted that all their names
cannot be given and the circumstances
related under which they were assem
bled. Many of them were living in the
Willamette valley, but even these had
io journey a long distance, and at no
small inconvenience, to be there. Others
again lived on tho lowor Columbia, and
eomo had homes on Clatsop plains. It
would bo a satisfaction to know actually
who were thcro from all locnlitics, and
hand down tho fact of their attcudanco
as an incidont of pionocr history. Cer
tain it is that this day had boon long
expected ond looked for, and thoro was
gathered on tho banks of tho beautiful
Willamette nt Champoeg nearly all tho
AmoricaiiB who, up to that time, had
made their homes in Oregon. As thoy
rodo up on horseback nnd dismounted
thoy joined in groups to discuss tho
great question of tho hour. Tho com.
mittoo of twelve, too, had been together
studying tho needs of this little, far
away community on tho Pacific, and
woro alUliated and harmonized by such
association and labor. It remains for
tho pcoplo to learn what they had to
rocommond and for thorn to loarn how
tho pooplo would judge their work
whothor their journoyings and labors
woro only timo wasted; or, if their wis
dom would bo approved and accepted
as lawn of Oregon. Sinco men com
menced to onact history it has seldom
been nllottcd to plain and honest yeomen
to fulfill n duty so important and requir
ing equal wisdom. Tho day was opened
and passed away ns otlior summer days
do, so for as July could blazon it with
sunshine. Mr. Gustnvus Ilines presided,
though ho was ono who continually op
posed tho movement. Ho presided over
a convention of tho pcoplo of Oregon.
Not only woro thoy Americans bom, or
by adoption and sentiment, but tho moro
independent of that foreign clomont
that lately stood aloof now camo to cast
their lot with their American neighbors.
Tho mojorily of thoso allied to tho Brit
ish interest, who woro both ignorant
and incapablo, remained absent. It was
something gained when tho most worthy
of thoso who had been in opposition be
camo co-workers to sccuro good govern
ment. Tho unreconciled clomont de
clared it would not organize nny gov
ernment that might be formed, and tho
Hudson Bay company, in u memorial
addressed to tho leaders of tho American
movement, declared ability to abun
dantly protoct themselves nnd protect
their political rights. In view of tho
great powor this corporation oxorclscdf
and tho almost dopendent condition of
many of tho settlers, who had liecn
favored by it, wo must accord great firm
Doss and courago on tho part of thoso
who dared to assert themselves, ns the
majority did.
Peculiar credit is duo to W. II. Gray.
rgnniziUion
though ho was by naturo impulsivo and
hasty, ho maintained tho wisest caution.
bo incomplete. Ho eloquently ruforrcd
to tho distanco this Oregon community
was from any other; that whilo a por
tion of its mombors wero protected by
tho laws of Great Britain, Americans
had no protection. Thoro woro but two
or three ncgativo Votes, nnd tho meas
ures proposed woro nil adopted.
On a ballot for election of tho Execu
tivo Committee, Alanson Bcors, Joseph
Galo and Mr. Hill worn chosen to that
important position. Tho Convention
thou proceeded to olect otlior officers.
On, tho Gth of July, 181!), tho cltizcus of
Oregon wlsoly organized a provisional
govornment for thoir mutual safeguard.
Argumont had very freoly boon urged
against it for tho reason that it looked
to a permanent organization indepen
dent of tho United States. It is not
known if any numbor of thoso who
participated in this movement had nny
such dosiro, and i. is boliovcd thoy did
not. Tho prenmblo to tho organic law
adopted that Gth of July, over forty
years ago, set at rest any fears concern
ing tho loyalty of this community to tho
United Slates, for it road as follows:
" Wo, tho pcoplo of Oregon Torritory,
for tho purposes of mutual protoction,
and to Hocuro pcaco and prosperity
among ourselves, agrca to adopt tho fol
lowing laws and regulations until such
limo as tho United States of Amorica
extend thoir jurisdiction over us."
Ono nicmorablo fact in connection
with this popular movement, .coming as
it did from pcoplo who had lived in Mis
souri, wns thoir decided assertion against
slavery. Almost without exception thoy
took tho ground that Oregon should bo
a free country and not tolcrato slavery.
And when tho bottnr organized govorn
ment wont into forco two years later,
Jesse Applcgato, who had reached Ore
gon from n slavo Statn sinco tho date of
tho first organic act, offered a resolution
of tho snmo character. It is evident
that tho pioneers who planted American
sentiment on tho Pacific brought hero
not only lovo of country, hut devotion
to liberty as opjiosed to slavery. Thoy
enmo, as did Cnpt. Morrison, to got away
from slavery. Tho new organization
did not rush into oflieo eagerly, but pro
vided that tho nfilcerH elw ted on May
2, previous, should hold for a year and
until an election should lmvo been hold,
so that it wns in tho' spring of 181 1 that
tho newly elected nllieoiH took tho reins
of government. The ollicial rortillriito
of election reads as follows :
tlts 4sl onnli mt niitim . .4 oil !. Tid
lZrrrulZ::i YXXOmonTcv.,Ju)y fi,l8ia.
UIUIVUWUH ""1" WKIHIIMHUII. W- ,., lhl...l..in..Ml!lll II
lllin I'viuucn unit, iuwn inn. illlllinuu
Beors and Joseph (Sato wero chossn tho
oxecutive committee of tho Territory of
Tho report of tho committee, with all Oregon, by tho people of said Terltory,
its important provisions, having been nnd have taken tho oath for tho faithful
ml.nil.tixt i.v iinimri. Un.i.oi performancoof tho duties of thoir offices
, .. T .... ' ,vv" """ is required by law.
of tho Legislative Committeo, tho pco- GEOHGE W. LE BRETON,
plo passed favorably on its acceptance, Recorder,
though it was bitterly donounccd by
Gustavus Ilines, who especially de
nounced tho tripartite executive. Jason
Lee, howover, who wna not earnest in
supporting tho report, did not sco so
much to oppoeo as .Mr. Ilines did. Mr.
Babcock was decidedly hoetilo for many
reasons, ono of them being that itseom
ed to him to bo a permanent organiza
tion instoad of ono to terminate when
Congress should set up u Territorial
government. Hero Mr. Gray took tho
floor and admirably reviowed tho whole
matter in argument. By favoring tho
views of some and harmonizing with
skill tho objections of others, he caused
union of action to bo the outcome of all
this diversity. As wo have said before,
Mr. Gray mado this his great opportu
nity, and tho success that marked tho
provisional government was more due to
his active efforts than to any other
cause. Jib showed the imperative need
of some governing mind to execute
laws, and that this Executivo Commit
tee, whilo it filled that position, was also
a council to weigh tho acts of legislation
and serve as a check upon them. With
out some sort of an executive, all would
As tho provisional governmout used
tho orthography "Wnllainot," and tho
University at Salem at an caly day em
ployed tho sumo sKlling, it is a littlo
strango that the present spelling of tho
word evor became a usage. It in cer
tainly a corruption of tho Indian pro
nunciation, for the natives gave It a very
broad sound, like Waugh-lam-ut, far
moro tlmn "Willamette." Tho meaning
of tho word, too, is worth remembering,
because on its shores tho tribes or bands
would meot to harmonizo their differ
ences; therefore it was called Wallainot,
or "Waters of Few e." which is tho liter
al translation.
Up to this time we have noticed that
George W. Lo Breton generally officiated
as tho Secretary of all publio conven
tions, and that ho was elected Recorder
at tho first election Lo Breton was
evidently as capable and useful as ho
was popular. Ho was evidently very
useful to this young community, but
that usefulness was cut short and a
promising career ended by a poisoned
arrow shot in a fight with vagabond Jn:
dians at the falls, bo we shall Bee his name
in Oregon annals no more.
UNION COUNTY, 0RECI0N.
A Brier Description Without Any Colorlne
Facts for Settlers.
Wo tnko tills notico from a supple
ment issued by tho LaQrand Gazotto:
Union county is situated in tho North
eastern portion of Oregon. Tho O R.
it N. Railway, which, with tho 0. S. L.
and U. P. Railways, makes tho great
routo from Kansas city and Omaha to
tho Northwest, passes in a northerly di
rection through tho county, La Grande
being tho end of a division nnd pritici
pal oint Of business. Union county
contains 1,1)58.100 acres, of which 1,
I97,i00 acres are surveyed lands. The
unmirvoyed portion is mostly moun
tains, vnluoblo for limber, for paBtur
nge, and in many places rich in miner
als. Tho largest body of agricultural
land is tho Grando Rondo Vnlloy, which
contains 1100,000 acres of as rich, lovel
agricultural land as there is in tho wost,
This is nil prairio land, and of tho host.
Tho'Gronda Rondo river Hows through
tho valley from tho southwest to north
cast. Numerous small stroams start
from over flowing springs in tho hills
which Htirround tho valley, and fiow into
tho Grando Rondo. Puro water in abun
danco ovcrywhorc. Tho soil is adapted
to tho culture nf grain, hay, hops, fruits
and vegetables. Wo ship wheat, oats,
barley, rye, 'hops, hay, fruits nnd vegeta
bles, Hour, bacon, wool, hides, horses,
cattle, Bhcop, lumber but not one-fourth
what will bo shipped when our country
is settled and developed. In addition
wo have in Union county mines of gold
nnd silver, coppor and gnloiin, which an
nually produco thousands, and givo
promiso of nn increased production for
many years to como. Tho Pine, Eaglo,
Powder River, Clovor Creek, Stnrkoy
Prairio and Indian Valleys nro all located
in Union county. Ench of thoso con
tains n considerable body of agricultural
laud, which has tho aamo goucral char
acter as tho Grando Rondo Valloy. Tho
hills and mountains bordoring tho val
leys aro covered with a growth of fine
timber and grns. timber at no point Im
ing many miles distant from tho agri
cultural lands. Many small valloya aro
to bo found among the mountains and
foothills, in which tho soil is very fortilo.
Theso volleys aro especially adapted to
smnll fruits and dairy ranches. Thoro
is yet sonio Govornmont lnud to lie found
in these locnlitics. Puro water can lo
found anywhere. Tho rainfall is suill
cicnt to nuituro crops ; such a thing ns
a failure has never been known. On tho
other hand, thcro nro no long, rainy sen
sons ns in some portions of tho Wost.
The climate, ns n whole, hns many ad
vantages. Hero is n medium point, not
troubled with long, cold winters, ns in
States farther East, ncithor tho'heat nor
long rainy seasons nf sonio other locali
ties. .Summer nights are delightfully
cool and pleasant. Tho mountains pro
tect from cold "northers" which would
sweep over an open country.
There are no Hurricanes, tornnuoos
and cyclones.
Tho health of this country is good, and
always has been. No fovcr and ngiin.
Tho soil Is generally alluvial and sandy
loam, from three to twenty feet id dopth.
Subsoil usually gravel, Tho soil is rich,
nnd produces wheat, onts, bnrloy, ryo,
hops, llax nnd hemp; hay timothy nnd
clover, and tho nativo grasses ; vegeta
bles potatoes, cabbage, beets, turnips,
cucumbers, pen'', benns nnd others of
the like, berries currants, goosebony,
strawberry, raspberry, blackberry and
wild huckleberry, all do well; fruits
apples, pears, plums, cherries. Peaches
do fairly in borne localities, Large quan
tities of hay aro shipped to tho counties
further west. From 20 to 00 bushels of
wheat, 10 to SO bushels of oats, and 40
to 'JO biishols of barloy aro raised per
acre.
The stock interests occupy tho atten
tion of a considerable number, and will
continue to do so. Our mild winters,
extensive raugos, productive grain and
hay lands, absenco of contageous dis
elites, pure water everywhere, mako this
now. as it always will bo, a choico loca
tion for stock. Ah fine horses as can bo
found on the Pacific Coast aro raised
hero ; also cattle, sheep and hogs. Fat
tening cattlo for shipment is a growing
business.
Dairy interests nro assuming impor
tance to our county. Tho advantages of
this lino of business aro unexcelled.
Tho mountain stroams aro stocked
with fish. The most common aro tho
salmon, red-fin and trout. For game,
there aro doer, antelope, mountain sheep
and bear; grouse, prairio chickens,
pheasants, ducks and geese.
Tho support of tho schools by the
tato la liberal, and our publio school
system will bo found second to none.
Thoro aro good district schools all ovor
tho county, and nro well patronized.
Most districts have neat, comfortablo
buildings, and in many places thoso
buildings would boa credit to nn oldor
country. Tho spiritual welfare of tho
pcoplo is lookod after by churches of
tho different denominations. Tho Ma
sonic, Odd Fellows and other sooiotios
aro represented.
Frult-Orowlas In Eastern Washington.
For many years thoso portions of
Washington Territory bordoring the
Pitcillo ocean and along tho Columbia
river havo boon notod for tho varioty
and quality of fruit grown. Tho region
around Wnlla Walla has also long had
a reputation for its flno fruits, particu
larly apples and peaches. Up and down
tho Columbia, from tho mouth to tho
Wonatchlo, aro many flno orchards and
vinoynrds, tho Wonntchlo producing
grapes, peaches nnd plums of extra,
quality. Tho wino grapos of this sec
tion nro particularly fine.
I will venture to nsscrt that thoro nro
fow portions of Washington Torritory
where any fruit that can bo successfully
grown in Now York or Michigan may
not bo ns well grown horo with propor
care.. There aro many portioiiH of tho
regions east of tho mountains especially
adapted to tho culturo of grapes nnd
peaches, nud in sonio favored ar.d shel
tered places many of tho moro dolicato
and tendor varieties may bo grown. Tho
soil is particularly rich, nnd with irriga
tionwhich is only just boginning tobo
understood hero produces trees which
aro very strong, vigorous and f reo from
disease Alkllt is nn Important olcmont
of tho soil, nnd thus presonts a bar to
tho ingress of the "yolltiwH."
Ono fruit-grower on tho bench lands
below Yakima City raised n thousand
bushels of peaches on -l'J5 trees from
thrno to four years old. Ono two-year-old
tree netted him about 20 worth of
fruit. Tho bench land in this part of
Yakima is adapted .to growing nil kinds
of fiuit grapes, peaches, plums, cher
ries, apricots, apples, nnd all sorts of
small fruits. Ono man i preparing to
propagato lfi.000 peach trees for future
limiting on his ranch. Fruit-growing
is being pushed in thin section, and in a
fow years many lino orchards and vine
yards wil bo set out whore nt prcsont is
nothing but sagebrush, furnishing n
retreat for tho jnck-raboit and coyote.
Thoro nro many sections of tho finest
fruit land nwniting settlement around
hero by porBoim who lmvo sutllcioiit cap
ital to construct irrigating ditcheH. This
land is bonleriug on and back from tho
Yakima river. Tho bench lands in the
Ahtahnam and Natches valleys aro also
finely adapted for fruits. In all jiortionB
of the Territory small fruits nro vigor
ous and productive.
The Oregon Improvement Scheme.
At the annual meeting of tho Oregon
Improvement Company, to bo hold in
Now York on Juno 'M, tho stockholders
will act upon the proposed issue of $2,
000,000 in 7 per cent, preferred stock,
to be subscribed for at par. Tho pro
coeds will bo applied to extinguish tho
floating debt (f.'i:i8,000), to oxtond tho
Pacific coast railway (HK),000), to ex
tend the Columbia ,fc Pugot Sound rail
road CJ.'iOO.OOO) ami to provide throo now
iron passenger steamers for tho Pacific
coast itflamsliip lino (.f 075,000). Under
the terms oxisting the first mortgago
bondholders have n right to subscrilio
for stock first if thoy exorcise that priv
ilege within fifteen days. If thoy do
not Bubscribo tho stockholders have this
right.
Died, May !, 1887, of consumption,
Hollo Orborn, aged lfi ycare, 8 moutliH
and ! days. Slio was buried at Macloay
graveyard, May 7th. Words of com
fort ami consolation wero siiokeii by
Elder J. S. Osborn, of Turner. She was
ever patient in her nflliction, and loft a
bright testimony of a living faith in tho
Savior's b)oodand felt no fears for the
future, but said : "All is well with mo."
The famous Suoquulmio hop growers'
ranch at Squak in King county is sup
posed to bo tho largest in tho world.
Thoy havo twenty span of horsoi and
mulos, a sawmill which is soon to bo
run night and dny, a logging camp, 100
acros in oats and wheat, and 10 acres of
potatoes, etc. Thoy havo their own car
penter and blacksmith shops, and thoy
keep a hotel and largo store besides, and
by next fall will have 800 men in thoir
employ.
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