Oregon Republican

CORRESPONDENCE.
The following letter from a Pennsylvanian to William Davidson, Esq., well known as a Real Estate Agent in Portland, shows the interest taken in Oregon by the Eastern people:
East Springfield, Erie Co., Pa.,
March 31st, 1871.
WM. Davidson, Esq. Dear Sir:
Your letter of January 25th and packages were received in due time, and I have circulated them over the country, which will have, I believe, the desired effect. The eyes of the States are now being turned towards the Pacific slope, and many are looking to Oregon and Washington Territory for a future home, as soon as their business and property can be got in shape; and I think the Willamette Valley will receive a large portion. I think emigration will increase very rapidly for years to come. I have spent, since my arrival home, my entire time, and much money in forwarding the interests of emigration, and have had, by letter and otherwise, communications from hundreds of different men who design, as soon as practicable, to visit the Pacific, with the intention of making a home, and many of them will go forward this spring, summer and coming fall.
Although I have organized a party of what is called the Keystone Colony, we have not made a full and complete organization. Something is lacking to make full satisfaction. For instance, a part would wish to pay $5 to become a member of the Colony and have the benefit of reduced rates, extra baggage, freight, etc., and purchase their own land on their arrival. Others wish to pay to the treasurer the fare, about $115, the initiation fee, $5, and $150 to purchase land within a large tract where a town could be located in the most convenient place and send forward men to locate, build accommodations to receive the Colony on their arrival, etc.
All the ways proposed have their objections. For instance, the treasurer would have to be a man known from New York to Iowa, not only as an honest man, but a man responsible; and for the locating committee, and especially the executive committee, it is not so easy to find good men who wish the responsibility. With this explanation you can see at once that if the Colony should adopt the standard of admitting only those who were able to advance $270, it would cut out a large portion of the laboring class of young men who have not much more means than to pay their fare and fee, and have a little left to start on a homestead, who are the very bone and sinew of our country, and who will eventually tell upon the weal or woe of the land. And on the other hand, if I form a Colony on the basis of the organization above, without a location to go to, what can a poor or rich man do? It is like a leap in the dark. Now let us come to the point.
Can there be a company formed in the Willamette Valley, so that land can be secured in a large body, with a village laid out in its centre, and so situated that the poor man can purchase Government land or railroad land at a low price; especially for those who located first? And where we could have a depot and post office at once? Where the poor but honest man could get a little time, and where the rich man could buy a reasonable amount of land? Where the climate is healthy and the water good? Where all could enjoy the equable and delicious climate of your valley? I believe the population of your State would rapidly increase by emigration from this State. I would join such a company, and perhaps bring out say twenty-five families or their representatives, and in the summer and fall another small party, and by another spring we could get them going forward in earnest. Are there men or companies in your State that would be glad to take hold of this matter? I have no large means, but will give a large amount of labor for its interest.
I have several friends who propose visiting your State this spring—some time in May—and will give them letters to you and others, and if they find the country as has been represented to them, they will select homes in your highly favored land.
I am very much pleased with the climate of Oregon, and desire a home there.
Please present this matter to some of your business men—Ben. Holladay, the Mayor of Portland, O. Humason and others, as it may be of much interest to them.
I will communicate with you soon.
Yours truly,
WILLIAM BOND.