Rensselaer Union, Volume 10, Number 48, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 August 1878 — Way Out West in Oregon. [ARTICLE]

Way Out West in Oregon.

Wo select for publication the subjoined extracts from a private letter dated Salem, Oregon, July 27th, 1878, written by Mr. 11. W. Savage, formerly a citizen of Jasper counly: Salem, the capital of Oregon, is situated on the banks of (he Williamette river. H’jifiL living in the Williamette valley, and tliiuk as Governor Morion said: “no artist can paint a prettier landscape.” The wheat crop is not as good as it was last year; it will only average twenty-five to thirty bushels an acre; fruit of all kinds plenty, and the best I ever saw. I suppose you have news of the Indian cutting-up. But they are not so bad as the newspapers report. 1 have seen men from the Indian country, and they sny that the white men are worse than the Indians. The prices of produce here are: new potatoes $1.25 a bushel, wit eat sl, oats fifty cents, pork ten cents a pound, beef five to six cents, sugar nine to ten, coffee twenty-five to thirty; clothing is cheaper than in Rensselaer, farming tools a little dearer; horses and otitle cheaper than iu Jasper county, Indiana, "Tbo weather is nice; warm in daytime and cool nights; one sleeps comfortably under two blankets all summer, nnd no musketoes to bother; the cool sea breezes commence blowing land wards about 4 o'clock in the afternoon nnd the temperature is comfortable. We have had only two rains since the 2'Jtli day of April, but vegetation is growing finely; » fog or mist settles at night which keeps everything bright and green. Old settlers tell me that this has been the worst season they have ever experienced iu the state; if it is the worst I do nut want to live in Indiana again. The summer is nice; do not know about the winter, but will risk it for the sake-of the de-' lightful summer season. People who have lived here any length of time all appear contented to remain the rest of their lives; if one talks to them about moving to this place or that place, they answer: This is good enough for me, 1 do not waul a better country to live in than Oregon. I hope you will elect good men to office this coming fall. There are no greenback advocates here; all want gold nnd silver, currency; so do I, and plenty of it.