We presume most persons thought that when the tide of
emigration reached Oregon it would go no farther, for it did
not seem that the "Far West" could get beyond the Pacific.
We find, however, that some of the emigrants who have
reached Oregon are "dissatisfied with the country, and
contemplate going to California this spring." So says a
letter in the _Iowa Herald_ from one of the settlers, who
for his own part likes the country very well, and expects to
end his days there. He describes the Oregon region as rough
and broken, generally heavy timbered, principally with fir,
yellow pine, cedar, hemlock, oak, ash, and maple--well
watered, with about one tenth prairie of excellent quality.
In the streams is an abundance of fish, among which are the
finest salmon in the world. Oregon City is a thriving little
place, and from its advantageous position it is likely to
become a thriving great one. It is situated at the head of
navigation on the Oregon or Columbia River, and at the foot
of Walhammat Falls, one of the greatest water powers in the
world.
Of the foregoing documents, the editorial from the _Daily
Tribune_, New York, of March 29, 1843, the second in the
order of the excerpts, was found and copied by Dr. J. R.
Wilson; for all the others the editor is indebted to Prof.
Joseph Schafer.
THE QUARTERLY
OF THE
OREGON HISTORICAL SOCIETY.