VOL. XIX. x" OREGON PIONEER HISTORY. SKETCHES! OF EARLY DATS. MEN AND TIMES IN THE FORTIES ' DV 8. A CLARKE. u A . Copyright applied for. All tljhtieietve.l. Baccesstnl Formation of the Provisional Gov ernment or Oregon. Regulating tho curroncy wns at tomptod and roally worked well nt that monoyloss period. Gold and silver of courao woro recognized, also acceptances of solvent merchants, wheat that was merchantable, at market prico if stored in mills or warehouses ; all of tlioso wero mado of lawful tondor for all dobtB, but any Bpcclal contract mado to tho con trary wos to hold good. W. 0. T'Vault was appointi'd postmnstcr-gcncrnl, for this peoplo attempted to organizo somo Bort of a postal service, a subject wo .will inquiro into moro fully hereafter to loorn how ho succeeded. It will bo in teresting to look up tho persons who woro prominent in pioneer annals nnd trnco their histories. Somo, of course, wero men whoso names nro household words, but it is thoir duo to bo honored as they desurvo, and havo thoir modest lives given as oxamplos to tlioso who como nftor them. Pronouncing against slavery caused no dissatisfaction, for ovon tho fen- pro slavory peoplo hero acquiosccd freely to tho popular voico. It wns known that tho free-soil sontimont was largely in ex cess, so slavery had no champions. But tho voto against whisky was quito an other matter. Whilo it is truo that tho majority a great majority, too favored prohibition, it is equally truo that thon, na now, ardent spirits had anient frionds men who nid not foar Indian tnas eacros so long as thoy thcmsolves could drink and sell it to others to do tho samo. Tho influonco of this interost was exer cised in 1840 to repeal tho oxisting law prohibiting tho salo of spirits, and exer cised with success. A bill pasecd to license, instead of to prohibit. Ciov. Abornethy roturnod it with his veto, but it was carriod over tho voto by a voto of cloven to flvo, and thon, for tho first time, a man could legally becomo intox. icatcd in Oregon. By this tinio nil classes had become reconciled to tho oxistenco of tho pro visional government. Even ilio Hud son's Bay company gavo its nssont and its lending men filled scuts in tho legis lature Also, by changes nnd amend ments mado, tho organic Jaw was ma terially Htrongthonod nnd improved in many rospocts. Tho government of Oregon, as finally instituted, was digni fied and sufficiently powerful and hon p orcd to command respect from foreign ers who visited tho country. Tho logis lativo assembly finally consisted of sixty members, and was n dignified and really capablp body of mon. Its system of laws showed this, for, though in somo few points the legislation was weak, in tho most important features it was cor-, rect aud served admirably to govorn a prosperous people. In disregard of tho projudico existing against British inter ests, tho laws woro framed with enreful regard to tho rights of all, and every messago urged loyalty to the homo gov ernment of tho citizen as well as to that of Oregon. Without money, without credit to command means, and with no money market to rely on for assistance, this far-off community succeeded in nil respects, and when in time it surren dered control to tho government insti tuted by the United States, Oregon had no debt to. burden its future and no blot to shadow its present or future. ThW infant state was not without its trials, withal. In tho evening of the Cayuse war, that resulted from tho Whitman massacre, we see a crisis of no small magnitude and importance. Ac tion was necessary, and that speedy. To understand tho power of this govern ment we need only relate that in thir teen days from the time the news reached the governor and the state leg SALEM, OREGON, FRIDAY, islature a volunteer force was raised, equipped and transported to Tho Dullos, East of the Cascades, upon tho field of dangor. That, too, when tlioro was no transportation facilities other than ca noes and battcaux. Whilo this shows tho charactor of tho times, it speaks plainly of pioneers, whoso ready ro 8poii8o to tho call to amis mado tho no tion of thoir provisional government comparatively an easy task. Judgo Thornton says that Dr. Whit man told him in 1817, tho yonr previous to tho massacre of tho dangers that sur roundod him at Waulntpil, and said ho lookod to tho establishment of a terri torial govornmont by congress as his only means of safety from massacre, nnd tho destruction of tho mission by tho savages. If congress had acted soonor and had showed tho power of tho government hero in time, by establishing a territorial government, with military posts to proporly nwo tho Indians, tho torriblo tragedy that stainod tho banks of tho Walla Walla river with so much innocent blood, and cost so many vnlunblo lives, would never havo occurred. Oh, hon many such murders has tho government of tho United States causod by its delays, and Kb failures to fulfill its promises I This one, alone, sac nflcing as it did Whitman's and other lives, cannot bo at toned for. This shows us what tho pioneers who made Oregon, sacrificed, nnd what thoy dared to do to hold this region for tho United Stato. All thoy suflercd and ondurod, if summed up in words, would mako a volume of thrilling interest It docs sometimes seem that tho American congress has a world of criminality to answor for. It was criminal that peoplo situated a, our Oregon pioneers wero for ten years, whilo thoy watched and waited for tho coming of our flag, and tho protection itgunrnn tcod, should havo had for ono momont to enduro tho indifforenco of n congress Hint listened unmoved to memorials that cumo thrco thousand miles by land, or sovontecn thousand miles by scu, nnd heard, without appreciating, tho ardent spcochos made by such mon as Bonton, Linn and Douglas, in our bohalf, Tho provisional government of Oregon, that commenced in 1811 nnd that went went through many changes nnd amend ments, lasted for n roomornblo epoch. It found Oregon, in 1811, with a mero handful of American citizens, claiming recognition from tho mother country. Through eight years of changes and vicissitudes Oregon becamo slowly stronger in numbers and its provisional organization becomo hotter perfect by the wisdom of its pioneor legislative power. During that eight years tho scarco moro than ono hundred citizens wore increned to thousands. Gold be ing discovered, tho golden gates wero opened to all the nations. Oregon was no longer isolated, remote, solitary nnd unknown, but wns becomo known nnd npprecinted by all tho world. Congress passed an act of organization August, 1818, nnd in Mnrch, 1840, Governor Jo Lane arrived and assumed the reins of government. Tho provisional govern ment then dissolved and was known no moro as a ruling power, but through nil her history, bo it through days of ter ritorial dependence oi tho pride of later statehood, thoro is not any period of which her citizens can bo moro justly proud, not if he live n decade of cen turies from now, than of tho "pioneer days" in "the forties," whon tho stalwart yeomen of that poriod framed their own government, made and executed their own laws and conquered peace when tho worst of ravages mado war. Advices from the West coast of Africa say that natives uttacked and plundered English ami French settle ments, burning villages' and torturing and murdering native inhabitants. Thoy attempted to capture tho English and French stations where weru stored goods of value. After four days of seigo an English gun loat came and drove them off. The French station ropulsed them unaided. JorrcjJottilent. Letter Front Monmouth. Monmouth, Juno 0, 1887. Editor WlUmetto Farmer t Our small town is all astir over tho prospects of Commencement weok. Tho programmo is as follows: Entertain ment 8 p. m. Sunday, Juno 12th, Bac calauroato Borinon. by Prof. S. G. Irvino, ol Albany, 11 a. m. Monday, Juno 13th studonU reunion, 8 p. in. Tuesday, Juno 14th, annual meeting of Board of Trustees, 10 a. in. Tuesday, Juno 14th, entertainment by Athlotic Association, 8 p. m. Wednesday Juno 15th, Gradua tion Day. Exercises beginning at 10 a. in. Usual nddrcss by Prof. It. K. War ron, Principal of Portland High School. Tho Normal sonior class, which consists of fifteen members, tho Collogiato !)rd, and tho Commoreial 2d, planted their class troo on tho college grounds, Satur day Juno -lib. Tho programmo was very interesting. It was oponcd by musio by tho band. Miss Minnio Wado's recitation was well rendorcd. Rov. Murgatroid, of Independence, de livered tho nddross, which was highly appreciated by all. Miss Sarah Cabit recited in n very nblo manner, a poem on "Our Class Troo." Tho class song, tho words of which wero composed by Mr. Hoy Lowis, was vory good. After tlioso exorcises tho baud followed by tho class and faculty, led tho way to the groundn, whero n fow appropriate ro marks woro mado by Mr. B. F. Mulkoy, and tho class tree pooin was read by its author, Mies Minnio Wade. Tho class tree song was composed by .1. A. Buch annon. Aftor each mombcr of tho class had taken his turn in putting the dirt round thoir tree. Tho nudienco retired to tho fir grovo on tho college campus, where n bountiful suppor was served by tho women of town. After supper tho young peoplo amusoi thomselvcs with croquet and other games. Tho Athlotio Association's now building is almost completed, nnd prcsonts a very neat ap pearance. Mrs. M. J. Morris nnd her daughter Ada, of Turner, went tho guests of Miss Olnra Hilleary, Inst week. Sun day, Juno 5th, tho S. S. had somo very interesting excrcifos. The services in tho ovening were do voted to children. Mrs. Dr. Byrd, of Salem, is visiting her parents, Mr. nnd Mrs. Wolvcrton. 0. A. Hiu.E.wtv. A Uox Case. Plkaant IIomb, -May 21, 18S7. KJitor Willamette Farmer: Tho minds of our peoplo nro not ns tranquil as in by-gono days, for ono mnn has enforced tho hog law, and whero he sees it is violated, he has ttio offenders brought to trial. Tho other day thoro was a lawsuit in cniiM-qucncoof tho vio lation of law by letting tho hog run at large. Tho citizons met at an informal meeting, and all agreed to bo neighbor ly and not inforco tho law against each other. All wero present, but the con tending party, who makes it n businoss to mako tho peoplo abide by tho law. Tho law should not apply to a timbered region like this, whero all can keep good fences, nnd whero thoro is to much wasto land ns here, whero nothing but hogs can over reach. No ono ever thought they wero a damage but rather a benefit to kill thistles and fern wliich abound all over tho soil Nothing moro than a bit of contrary work prompted by ill will towards their neighbor, would ever causo anyona person to make a commu nity such unpleasantness as this has done. The result thus far has been ono lawsuit, and one trial and ono person bound over to tho grand jury for 1 1,000. Much troublo and anxiety will ho tho future result to the contending parties, by tho lime they get clear from the law. Farmers are jubilant over the fine weather that has of Into dawned upon us. Most the planting is done. Somo JUNE 10, 1887. potatoes yot to plant. Orient saw mill is moving down on tho rivor, n short distnnco from Portland ; itis"ownedby Robt. Smith, n former partner. Wo ro grot its going, as it has been n great bonoflt to our vicinity, furnishing lum bor at homo. Causo of removal, being too far from tho 11. It., mako expen ses vory heavy hauling with teams. Success attend thoir futuro aims. J. 8. Weather Report for May, 1887. Eola, Or., Juno 1, 1887. Editor Willamotto Farmer: During May, 1887, thero wero 10 dayB during which min foil, nnd an aggro gato of '1.37 inchos of water. Thero wero 8 clear and 13 fair days. Tho mean temperature for tho month was 55.80 dog. Highest daily mean temperature for tho month 85 rieg. on tho 29. lowest daily mean tempcrnturo .10 dog. on tho 11. Mean tomperaturo for the month at 2 o'clock P. M., 05.20 dog. Tho highest tomperaturo for tho month was 00 deg, at -1 o'clock P. M., on tho 29. Lowest tompornturo 32 dog. at 7 o'clock A. M. on the 11. Frost occurred on tho 11. Tho prevailing winds for tho month woro from tho SW during 12 days, S 2 days, N 17 days. During May, 1880, thoro wero 11 rainy days and 1.50 inches of water, 9 cloar, 9 fair, nnd 2 cloudy days. Mean torn poraturx for tho month, 50.08 dogroos. Ilighost daily mean temperature 71 dcg. on tho 2. Lowest daily moantompcra turo for tho month 51 dog. on tho 11. T. Pkarck. The Time Fixed for the Annual 0 ran re Plenlo at Jefferson. Tinio for holding tho annual grange picnic undor tho auspices of tho Linn county business council has boon fixed for tho 23d, 21th, and 25th of Jnuo, nt tho usunl place on tho south fork of tho Santiam rivor nt JcfTorson. Hon. W. Cyrus, of Scio, hns been appointed tires presldont, and Hon. Chas. Millor, of JeOurson, marshal for tho occasion. Eminont speakers from diflbront por tions of tho state will be present. A largo attendance promised. Inspecting Sheep. .1. W. lllake, Gilliam county's efiicicnt stock inspoctor, has about completed his semi-annual tour of iuspoction. Out of about eighty bands examined up to Mon day last, ho had found fourteen bauds infected with scab. This is much less than in Crook or Wasco counties. It is reported that tho inspector of Crook county, when ho had examined about sixty bands, had only found about ten bands free of disease. Tho total number of sheep inspected by Mr. Blako was 121,030, not counting lambs, aud tho total number in Gilliam county, not counting lambs estimated at 1!)5,000. Fossil Journal. Undor tho caption of "Benefits of Fall Seeding," tho La U rondo Gazotto soys : Thoro are many reasons why it pays to sow wheat in tho fall iustoad of waiting till tho busy spring season de mands n rush of tho work. This is tin important matter. It makes just tho dinoronco of a firmer being in a position to crowd his work, instead of having his work crowd htm. With his seod in the ground, ho has amplo timo to turn his attention in many needed directions in tho spring season. Thero is this much in fall seeding from nn economical viow for thoro is just as much economy in timo as in material. All fall-sown grain is up high, nnd has a deep green and thrifty appearance, tho ground under neath being sufficiently shaded to retain the largest iiossiblo amount of moisture. A great deal of tho wheat on tho Sand ridge is fall sown, and no fiolds of grain ever looked moro promising. Tho fruit crop about Macleay will bo very light this Reason. Grain and other farm products look well yet, but a few moro such hot days as last Sunday will cut thorn short; so says a corres pondent. A small force is at tho Cascades and not much work can be done at tho canal there until the rivor falls. NO. 18. The Oregon Commission. Our Oregon llailroad Commissioners havo dono n good thing, nnd wo hopo it will bear good fruit, in making direct suggestions to tho Oregon Railway and Navigation Company for reduction of their charges. Wo givo tho document in full, ns follows : Sai.km, Juno 3. Tho railaoad com mission, through its clork, has sent to the officials of the 0. 11. & N. Company at Portland tho following recommenda tion for construction of propor depot facilities at Tho Dalles, and n schodulo of rates on wheat, wool. eto. : "Recommendations fordopot facilities ot Dalles City, Oiogon Tho Board having examined tho condition of Tho Dalles as respects depot accommodation, and finding that said city is without a depot building or other facilities for tho nccom medat ion of tho traveling public arriving and departing therefrom, would respectfully roprosent to tho Oregon Railway & Navigation Company and its lessees, that : tho commission doom the early construction of dopot buildings at snid point n matter of great importance, and would recommend that suitublo depot buildings bo nt onco constructed, with such accommodations as will moot the requirements nnd necessities of said city. This recommendation is urgod for the reason that tho present nrraugo mont for stopping passenger trains, partly in tho street and partly over Mill creek, is inconvonicnt, unsatisfactory and ovon dangorous." RKnUCTION 01" RATES. Following is its rccommondation for a reduction of rates : "Tho Board would recommend to tho O. It. ifc N. Company that its tariff1 of rates on wheat, flour, oats, barloy, rye, farina, flaxseed and potatoes bo reduced to tho following schedule of rates: When in carload lots of 20,000 pounds, from all points cast within tho Stato of Orogon to Port laud, Oregon: Kates per 100 pounds: Tho Dalles, Summit and intermediate points, 13 cents ( Colilo, Deschutes and intermediate points, 10 cents; Grant's, John I)ay,Quinnand iuterinediato points, 17 cents ; Blalock's, Arlington, Willows, Shipsburg, CitBtlo Rock, Coyoto, Stokos and intermediate points, 18 cents'; Umatilla Junction, Fostor, Echo and intermediate points, lOcontir Barnhart, Pendleton, Eastland, Adams, Center villo, Cayuse, LnGrando, Union North Powder, Baker City, Huntington, Cold Springs, Juniper, Milton. Bluo Mount ain and intermediate points, 20 cents. And tho Board would also rccommoud thnt tho Oregon Railway & Navigation Company roduco thoir tariff of rates on wool, whon in sacks or compressed bales, to tho following schodulo of rates, to wit: From all points cast within tho State of Oregon to Portland, rates per 100 pounds: Rowoua. Tliu Dulles and intermediate points, 37 J conts; Colilo, DesChutcs and intormodiato points, 45 cents; Grant's, John Day, Quinn, Bla lock's, and intermediute points, 50 cents ; Alkali, Willows, Coyote, Umatilla Junc tion aud intcrmediata points, 00 cents; Fostor', Echo nnd intermediate points, 05 cents; Barnhart, Pendleton and in tormodlato iioints, 75 cents ; Cayuse, Huntington and intermediate points, 75 cents; Contervillo, Bluo Mountain, Milton und intermediate points, 75 conts Cold Springs, Juniper and inter mediate points, 75 cents. Tho present rnto per ton of shipments on flour, whent, etc., from Tho Dalles is H per ton, nnd tho rato recommended is $3, u reduction of 25 per cont. Other reductions hnvo been recommended on about tho samo basis. Commissioner Slater and Waggonor returned this morning from Canby, whero thoy went to examine into a-complaint against tho O. it C. Tho matter lias been considered, but no action taken. TIIK ItAII.HOAl) lllMDOK. The Oiogon Hallway & Navigation Company to-day Mod with tho Secretary of State Hi acceptance of tho terms of the net passed by the lust legislature, by which they wero authorized to con struct a bridgo across tho Willamette at Portland. This company bus also filed an agreement, as romiircd in said act. to employ none but white labor in con struction oi me unugo. unuor ino terms of the act construction of the bridiro must bctrin within six months after tho passago of tho act, and tho structure must bo completed within two years from that date. 'Driics. toilflt artitdeH. including snan. combs nnd hand-clasa. can be found in endless variety at the Port Drug Com pany No. 1UU btate street, Huleiu. 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