WRIGHT, Linden - Putnam

The following letter from Oregon, we have been handed for publication. As the writer of it was formerly a citizen of our county, it will doubtless be read with much interest.

Dear Relatives and Friends: Having wandered far from the land of my youth and those that I loved, I feel a desire to communicate a few lines to my friends in old Putnam, whom I associated with for 17 years.  In the fall of ’41, I emigrated to Missouri, where I lived until ’47, perfectly satisfied, but hearing so much of Oregon, and its healthy climate, I resolved to see it and judge for myself. The road was long and tedious, but I do not regret coming to my new home, as the climate has more than paid me.

I came here with about $90 worth of property.  A short time after my arrival, I joined a force to suppress the Cayuse Indians, who had been guilty of a good many depredations.  I served five months and a half and only received $16. Rather poor pay.  At that time things looked gloomy in Oregon, but now we are enjoying peace and plenty.  I have visited Umpqua and Rogue River Valleys and a part of California as well as the country between the Blue & Cascade mountains. I am living in WiIlhamette Valley where I have been for the last five years. This country has a number of material advantages over that of the states.  The climate is milder – much more pleasant both in winter and summer. We have a wet season and dry season. The wet season commences about the first of October and continues about six months. It rains about 1/3 of the time, with the wind from the south. We have but little frost or snow.  During the winter the grass is green and growing, and of course all kinds of stock live well. The dry season lasts about six months with but little rain and nearly all the time a gentle breeze from the north.

For the past two seasons we have had more rain than usual. The streams are flush and cool during the summer, from the melting of the snows in the mountains. There are many peaks in the mountains from which can be seen snow the summer round. The soil of this country is good. The bottoms is mostly of a black loam, while the hill and is of a reddish cast. The soil produces well. The timber is very tall and splits fine. The summers are too cool for raising corn of a large __.  The principal products are wheat, oats, barley and potatoes. There is often from 35-55 bushels of wheat raised to the acre. Last year some of the largest farms made an average of 50 bushels to the acres.  Onions, turnips, cabbages, carrots and almost every kind of vegetables, yield fine.

Bees and sweet potatoes we cannot raise, but to make up for this, our horses, cattle, sheep and hogs raise themselves. Good American mares are worth from 150 to 300 dollars – geldings about the same. Indian and Spanish horses about ½ the above sum, while mules bring 125. Oxen from 150-225 dollars per yoke. Cows are worth from 75-125 while two-year-old steers are worth from 50-65 per head.  The common price of grain has been 1.50 per bushel, but for the last six months it has sold for from 3.00 to 5.00 and flour from 10-18 dollars per 100.  Butter and cheese 37 ½ cts per pound.

Common laborers command $1.50 per day. Mechanics wages are very high. Groceries, as well as the products of the country are too high in proportion of the price of labor. The country is improving very fast. In time, the land will be very valuable – an average section is now worth 10 dollars per acres. The donation having been extended for two years longer, I feel anxious to see some of my friends avail themselves of the advantages of Pacific coast.  But little over one-half of the land is yet settled. Shipping come up the Columbia River nearby to the Cascade Falls and up the Willamette 25 miles while small steamboats run up the latter 90 miles.  

This country is better provided with water privileges, for machineries than any I have ever seen.  The waters fall but very little in the dry season as the melting of the snow sin the mountains keep the streams full of cold clear water. You can see the bottom of a stream 10’ deep.  There is but very little stagnant water in the country.  It dries up before the weather gets warm.  I have not seen any person shake with the ague since I have been here, but I have been informed that they have it I places.

Gold is found within 12 miles of my house as well as in most all of the small streams running into the Willamette. The morals of this country is better than could be expected for a new one. There has been but little spiritous liquors sold as yet but I fear it is growing worse.  Education is going ahead in the thick settled parts.  Teachers command about $50 a month.  The people begin to talk of a railroad to California.  I expect it will be commenced in the next 12 months. It will run nearly all the way through a mining district, which will give us the best market in the known world. I will close by saying, if any of you feel disposed to cast your lots with us, we will give you a heart welcome.

Do not forget to bring a few sheep and cows with you.  

Yours, as ever,

Linden Wright