OREGON AND CALIFORNIA.

For the Western Expositor.

Mr. Editor: Knowing the interest which you take in common with other citizens in facilitating the progress of emigrants to Oregon and California, I feel assured that you will devote a column of your paper to giving publicity to such information as I may be able to communicate, for the benefit of those desirous of emigrating to the shores of the Pacific.

Twelve months since it devolved upon me to answer the vast number of communications from persons in every State in the Union, who addressed the post-master at this place making enquiries on the subject of emigration to Oregon and California, at which time I took pains to glean from every reliable source information on that subject, and I find of late, much additional evidence to confirm me in the belief that the knowledge, which I then imparted to emigrants, was cor

rect.

I then recommended emigration to those countries as promising a rich reward to the pioneer, and much more readily can I now do so, since the difficulty then existing between this government and Great Britain in regard to the boundary of Oregon is settled, and the laws of the United States are extended over that territory. Late accounts inform us that the forest is giving way to extensive fields, the country is already dotted over with flourishing towns and villages, the immense water power of the Columbia and her tributaries supersede the necessity of steam, and the country can now boast of some of the best merchant mills, her commerce is in the most flourishing condition and the country in its vast extent of territory embracing almost every variety of soil and climate, has already assumed an importance among the nations of the earth.

Look too, at California, and see the change a year has wrought in her destiny. There roamed the wild Mexican, as wild and untutored as the mustang he bestrides, governed by

no law save that of tyranny, upon the principle that "might makes right," he too has changed to the respectable and industrious "ranchero," and as he looks upon the Stars and Stripes that flutter in the breeze, toils on in the full assurance of protection from the new government, the laws of the United States have there taken the place of the despotic edicts of tyrannical governors, the right of trial by jury is extended to all, the American flag by Com. Stockton and Capt. Fremont, has been placed upon every town in both California, and where—? let me ask has our banner ever been planted, that the march of civilization did not speedily follow. That the country on the other side of the Rocky mountains and the great valley of the Mississippi will ere long be connected by rail-road is not the wandering of a chimerical brain, but will as certainly be accomplished as we remain a free and united republic. Let the skeptic go back to the landing of the Pilgrims on Plymouth Rock, suppose a panoramic view of the vast wilderness on this side the Alleghany mountains were then presented to them, how many would have been found among them who would have believed that such a change could take place. There is almost nothing too great for American industry to achieve, her energies never sleep, and each succeeding anniversary develops something new in literature, the arts and sciences.

"No pent up Utica contracts our powers," but the march of improvement is onward and will never cease until the shores of the Pacific and Atlantic are united by rail-road, and that which is now a wilderness and occupied by the savage, will be made to flourish and blossom like the rose.

For the benefit of those wishing to emigrate, I will give some information which may be valuable to them in making preparation for their journey across the mountains. The emigrating company that will start from Independence the coming spring, from present appearances, will be large, and all persons should endeavor to rendezvous at this place or vicinity at least by the first of May next, in order to form a thorough organization and start by the tenth, or at least fifteenth of that month.

Wagons should be light but strongly made and drawn by two or more yoke of oxen or by four mules, cows are just as good to work and are worth four times the amount in Oregon that they are here. 2,000 lbs. should be a full load for a wagon, no furniture whatever should be taken, blankets and quilts should supply the place a feather beds, and tin ware that of crockery, a good part of the provision stores should be flour and pilot bread, at least 150 lbs. bacon, the same of flour-20 lbs. salt, 40 lbs. sugar and 20 lb. coffee to each person, but it is well for every one to take a large supply of both sugar and coffee, as much more will be used on the prairie than here, and any overplus can be disposed of at an excellent price at the different trading posts which will be passed on the route.

Strong and durable clothing should be provided, and some tools, such as axes, saws, augers, spades, hoes, &c., as well as a few ploughs.

For further information of the emigrants and to save them the expense of high freight on the Missouri in the spring, I will connect with this letter a synopsis of the resources of our town and surrounding country, giving a correct list of the number of mercantile houses, the mechanic shops and other business houses, in our town as well as the state of agriculture in Jackson county,-to commence. We have in the town of Independence

2 Hotels, the most extensive this side of St. Louis,

47 Blacksmith forges, with between some four and five hundred hands employed, directly and indirectly in the manufacture of wagons. I give merely the establishments in which the emigrants will feel interested.

In the neighborhood of the town are four good steam mills doing an extensive business. Provision of every kind is low here owing to the large crop of last year.

Wagons, mules, oxen, provisions, and all necessary outfit for emigrants can be obtained here at much less price than elsewhere when you add cost and carriage. I am enabled to state candidly the facts from the information gathered of different emigrants in the last four years who had made their purchases before arriving at this point.

This is the great starting point for all the westward bound, whether their destination be Santa Fe, Chihuahua, the Rocky Mountains, Oregon or California, and may justly be termed the "Great Emporium" of the West. Our farmers, merchants and merchanics are industrious in their zeal to vie with each other in furnishing at the lowest rate the best articles wanted by the emigrant or trader, and although like all other communities there are some who are guilty of dereliction from the path of rectitude, yet our community will compare with any in point of morals and probity.

I see that you have given notice through your paper that an Oregon meeting will be held here on the first Monday in March next. I know it would be useless to recommend that meeting to pass a resolution that all emigrants while they sojourned with us should be treated kindly; for the hospitality of our citizens is proverbial, but I would suggest that suitable persons be appointed to await upon all emigrants and give them information as to outfit even in the minutest particular before they launch out on the broad road to the Pacific.

The unthinking mind may value too lightly the emigrant to west of the Rocky mountains, but like the pioneers in the Mississippi valley, they are laying up for their posterity a treasure and a name engraven upon the everlasting tablets of their country's recollection. Even upon the top of the highest mountains of Switzerland the proud bard of England sung of the immortality of "Gen. Boon, backwoodsman of Kentucky," and other generations are destined to read to some mighty Daniel in the farthest west that which will add to the galaxy of heroes already departed.

Independence, Mo., February 15, 1847.

APPOINTMENT OF DR. MARCUS WHITMAN AS GUARDIAN OF THE SAGER CHILDREN.

(While examining the earliest probate records of Clackamas county, Oregon, recently, I found the following relating to the appointment of Dr. Marcus Whitman as guardian of the Sager children, the parents of whom died on the plains in the summer of 1844, while on the way to Oregon. Capt. William Shaw and his wife, notwithstanding they had a large family of their own, took charge of the seven orphan children, and provided for them as best they could until the Whitman Station, near Walla Walla, Washington, was reached, and placed them in the care of Dr. Whitman and wife, who took care of them until the fearful massacre of November 29-30, 1847, occurred. Then Dr. and Mrs. Whitman and twelve others were killed and fifty-three women and children taken prisoners, from which condition they were rescued through the instrumentality of Peter Skene Ogden, the head of the Hudson's Bay Company at Fort Vancouver.-George H. Himes, Assistant Secretary, Oregon Historical Society.)

Klackamas District,

3d June, 1845.

J. W. Nesmith, Judge.

Now on this day came Marcus Whitman, of this district, and represents as follows: That Henry Sager, late of the State of