The Quarterly of the Oregon Historical Society Part 23

All of which is respectfully submitted.

JAMES OFFICER, WM. DEAKINS, B. M. ATHERTON, C. F. HALLY,

_January 4, 1845._ Committee.

From _Western Journal_, March 15, 1845.

LETTER FROM OREGON.

The following extracts from a letter written by one of the emigrants of 1843, will be particularly interesting at this time, and should be carefully read by those going out this spring. It will be particularly useful to emigrants who leave from this part of the country:

FORT VANCOUVER, November 11, 1843.

DEAR SIR: We were six months to-day, from the time we left home, in getting to this place, though we might have arrived one month sooner had we not unnecessarily wasted time on the way. To give you a full description of our travels would occupy more time than I have to spare. I will, however, give you and my friends a short sketch. We left Westport on the 27th of May, and crossed the Kansas River near the old village: thence up the north side of the Kansas, where we had a great deal of rain and stormy weather to encounter which made it very disagreeable traveling. We then crossed over [to] the Platte, about eighty miles above the p.a.w.nee village; thence up the Platte about fifty miles above the forks, where we crossed the South Fork. We then struck over on to the North Fork and traveled up it until we came to Fort Laramie. We then crossed Laramie's Fork of Platte, which we found very difficult to pa.s.s. We still kept up the North Fork to within forty miles of the Rocky Mountains, where we crossed it. We came to a small stream, called Sweet.w.a.ter, one of the streams of the northern branch of Platte; we traveled up this until we pa.s.sed through the Rocky Mountains, which we found to be as good as any part of our road. We then came to the waters of Green River, which is one of the branches of the Colorado--then to Fort Bridges [Bridger], which is on the waters of Green River; from there we next struck Bear River, which empties into the Great Salt Lake. We traveled several days down this river, then crossed over on to the Snake River, and arrived at Fort Hall on the 25th day of August. Here I found some of the best beef I ever saw. From here we traveled down Snake or Lewis River, crossing and recrossing the same to Fort Bosie [Boise]; thence to Fort Walla Walla, crossing the Blue Mountains in our route. We pa.s.sed them much easier than I expected.

At Walla Walla myself and Reeves, and many others of the emigrants, exchanged cattle [for cattle] at Vancouver. We got age for age and s.e.x for s.e.x. Here we found it advisable to take [to the] water and travel down the great Columbia, which we did with some difficulty. Those who did not exchange their stock went to the Methodist mission at the foot of the Cascade Mountains. Here they carried their wagons by water and drove their stock through by land. A large portion of the emigrants have arrived, and the remainder will be here in a few days. Those who have been to the Willamette Valley say it is a rich and beautiful country, but to what extent they know not, as they have not had sufficient time to examine it. I find any quant.i.ty of provisions can be had here. Doctor McLoughlin, of Vancouver, has rendered great a.s.sistance to the emigrants in loaning them his boats and furnishing them with provisions to take back to the companies that are yet behind--at the same time refusing any compensation for either. We have found the Hudson Bay Company at all the forts very accommodating. The road from Independence to Fort Hall is as good a road as I would wish to travel,--from Fort Hall there is some bad road and some good. The reason why we did not try to take our wagons across the Cascade Mountains was that the season had so far advanced it was thought to be a dangerous undertaking through so much snow and cold weather. We will prepare a road across these mountains next summer, so that the next emigration can bring their wagons through without any difficulty. Some of us will meet the next emigration at Fort Hall.

I will now give you a description of the necessary outfit each person should have to come to this terrestrial paradise. Your wagons should be light, yet substantial and strong, and a plenty of good oxen. Though I wrote while on the Sweet.w.a.ter that mule teams were preferable, but after seeing them thoroughly tried I have become convinced that oxen are more preferable--they are the least trouble and stand traveling much the best--are worth a great deal more when here. Load your wagons light and put one third more team to them than is necessary to pull the load. Bring nothing with you except provisions and a plenty of clothes to do you one year from the time you leave. They can all be had on as good terms here as in Missouri, and even better; bring but few bedclothes, for they will be worn out when they arrive here--they can be had here on good terms. Your oxen will not require shoeing. Bring a plenty of loose cattle, cows and heifers particularly, as they are but little trouble and are worth a great deal. Bring mules to drive your loose stock. Bring a few good American mares, but use them very tenderly or you will not get them here.

American horses are worth considerable in this country.

Horses can not get here except they are well used, and you should have two or three pairs of shoes and nails for them and your mules. You should bring 200 pounds of flour, 100 pounds of bacon, for every member of the family that can eat, besides other provisions. Make no calculation on getting buffalo or other wild meat, for you are only wasting time and killing horses and mules to get it. Have your wagon beds made in such a manner that they can be used for boats; you will find them of great service in crossing streams--have your wagons well covered, so that they will not leak, or your provisions and clothes will spoil. Have your tents made water tight; start as early as possible; let your teams and stock all be in good order. Start as soon as your stock can get gra.s.s enough to travel on, for the gra.s.s will be getting better every day until you arrive at Fort Hall; after that you will find the gra.s.s bad in places until you get to the Blue Mountains. You will find plenty of gra.s.s from there to the Willamette Valley. Our cattle are in better order than they were one month ago. Large flintlock guns are good to traffic with the Snake Indians. Bring a plenty of cheap cotton shirts to trade to the Indians on this side of the mountains. You might start with calves and kill them on the way, before they get poor, for fresh eating. You will find some beans, rice, and dried fruit of great use on the road. You should travel in companies of forty wagons, and continue together the whole route. You will find some ship biscuit to be of great use at times when you can not find fuel sufficient to cook with.

Be sure and bring nothing except what will be of material use to you on your journey, for, depend upon it, if you overload you will lose your team, wagon, and goods. You will find good stout young cows to answer in place of oxen, in case you should not have sufficient; let them be about middle size; let them be good, sound oxen, that have never been injured. I am satisfied from the products of the country that a man can live easier here than he can in any part of the United States. If he raises any produce he is sure of getting a good price for it in anything he may call for, money excepted. There is very little money in this country, though it is very little use when a man can get anything he wants without it. The merchants here will sell their goods cheaper for produce or labor than they will for cash, because they make a profit on the commodities they purchase, while there is no profit on cash. In fact, business is done here altogether by exchanging commodities.

We can purchase anything of the Hudson Bay Company cheaper by promising wheat next year than we can for cash in hand.

Cows are worth (that is, American,) from $30 to $50; American horses from $60 to $100; oxen $60 to $80; wheat $1 per bushel; oats, 40 cents; potatoes, 40 cents; peas the same; beef, 6 cents; pork, 10 cents; b.u.t.ter, 20 cents; common labor, $1.50; mechanics, $2 to $3.

The next emigration will get their cattle and wagons through quite easy, if they will start early and travel constantly though slow; they must not push.

Persons on the north side of the Missouri should rendezvous on the south side of the river, opposite the Blacksnake Hills, and go up the Nemaha and strike the Platte near the p.a.w.nee village; by so doing they will avoid crossing the Kansas, and avoid some bad roads, and go 100 miles nearer.

We were not troubled with the Indians in the dangerous part of the country, for this reason, I have no doubt,--we kept a strong guard in nighttime and a sharp lookout in daytime.

After we pa.s.sed Green River we abandoned guarding and broke up into small companies, though advised to the contrary, and in pa.s.sing from the Blue Mountains to the valley some of the emigrants were imposed on, in fact, some of them were robbed, though it was their own fault for not sticking together. You should start with some medicine, for you will have more or less sickness until you get to Fort Hall. Be sure and take good care not to expose yourself unnecessarily, for people have to go through a seasoning on the road, which makes the most of them sick. We are now eating apples which grew at Vancouver. They are now gathering their apples, peaches, and grapes, etc.; these are the only fruits tried as yet; they are fine.

The missionaries here have done more toward Christianizing the Indians in five years than has been done in the States in twenty years. Numbers of them who can not speak one word of English hold regular family worship. They are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. I am convinced it is in consequence of not being able to get liquor. The Hudson Bay Company and missionaries and settlers have taken a bold stand against the introduction of ardent spirits into this country, and I am convinced while they continue this praiseworthy course we all will see more satisfaction and pleasure, and our little colony will profit thereby.

S. M. GILMORE.

From _Weston Journal_, April 5, 1845.

CORRESPONDENCE.

MR. EDITOR: I desire to recommend, through your paper, to all emigrants to Oregon, to pa.s.s by the Council Bluffs. The road from Weston to the Bluffs is now in fine order. All the streams are bridged or have ferries, so that there is no obstacle to cause an hour's detention until the company shall reach the Bluffs. The best route is that crossing the Nishnebatona at Huntseeker's Ferry; thence by the residence of Major Stephen Cooper to Port au Poule, where a good ferry-boat is now in preparation to cross the Missouri. From the Missouri, at that point, to the p.a.w.nee villages, the road is much better than on the lower route, and the distance is about the same.

ONE WHO KNOWS.

_Weston, April 2, 1845._

From _Weston Journal_, March 15, 1845.

OREGON! OREGON!! OREGON!!!

MR. EDITOR: I wish to give notice, through your paper, to all those parties who intend to emigrate to Oregon, that arrangements have been made to cross the Missouri River at two different points, the one in Andrew, the other in Buchanan County. Some of the citizens of Andrew have made an arrangement with the Sacs Indians for the privilege of range, wood, and water, opposite Elizabethtown.

They have promised the Indians six two-year-old beeves, to be paid by that portion of the Oregon company which may cross at Elizabethtown. This point is very suitable for crossing the Missouri River. The rates of only about half what is usual at the common ferries on the Missouri.

The company expect to rendezvous in the Indian country, opposite Elizabethtown, between the first and tenth of April. A number of excellent citizens expect to cross at this place. This is the point from which a portion of the Oregon company started last spring. Taking all things into consideration, this is probably the best route to cross the Missouri at Elizabethtown (where there is an excellent large, new ferry-boat), and fall over on the Platte, opposite the p.a.w.nee village, and thence pa.s.s along up the south side of the Platte River.

A MEMBER OF THE OREGON COMPANY.

_March 8, 1845._

From _Cherokee Advocate_, Tahlequah, Cherokee Nation, February 27, 1845.

LATER FROM THE SANDWICH ISLANDS AND OREGON.

Advices are to September 4th. The United States ship _Warren_, Hull, sailed on the 8th of August from Honolulu for Mazatlan, by way of California. The _Delaware_, Carter, which arrived at Honolulu with naval stores from Valparaiso, September 1st, reports having seen a large vessel, probably the United States ship _Savannah_, entering Honolulu Bay.

The _Polynesian_ contains intelligence from Oregon to August 2d.

The legislature of Oregon adjourned a few days before the 3d of July, having pa.s.sed some important laws. One of its acts is: "Any person who shall make, sell, or give away ardent spirits in Oregon, south of Columbia River, shall forfeit and pay $100 for each and every such offense." The legislature is called the "Legislative Committee," and consists of nine persons elected by the people. The officers of the Oregon Territory consist of three governors, called the Executive Committee, a Supreme Judge, and a Legislative Council. The laws are the same as those governing the Territory of Iowa. The government is purely democratic republican. Doctor Babc.o.c.k is the supreme judge. The name of only one of the governors, Doctor Bailey, is mentioned. On the 1st of August a Belgian brig arrived at the Oregon city, having on board a number of nuns and several Catholic priests from Antwerp, sent out to Oregon by the church of Rome.

The colony is in a most encouraging condition. The crops were giving promise of an abundant harvest.

People were coming into the territory in large numbers, and the country is filling up with thriving and energetic colonists. Doctor Babc.o.c.k, "the supreme judge," went to Oregon as physician to the Methodist mission family. Doctor Bailey was from this city, where his family now resides.--_New York Evening Post._

From _Cherokee Advocate_, February 27, 1845.

A large company of emigrants are expected to leave Independence, Missouri, about the first of May for Oregon.

From _Cherokee Advocate_, Tahlequah, Cherokee Nation, February 27, 1845.

PRINTING PRESS FOR OREGON.

We see by the _Commercial_ that the proprietors of that paper forwarded one of Hoe's best printing presses to Oregon last week, with type, printing ink, paper, etc., for the newspaper about to be established in Oregon. The paper is to be connected with the missionary station there.--_New York Sun, 27th ultimo._

_Missouri Statesman_, September 1, 1843.