1850 American Gold Baron

Chapter 260 The Sacred Land of Oregon

Eugene, later the third largest city in Oregon, was still a little-known village at this time.

The terrain of later Oregon was somewhat similar to that of California, with coastal mountains on the west coast and towering karst mountains on the east.

In the middle of the Coast Mountains and the Custer Mountains is a valley that is more livable and suitable for agricultural development. This valley is called the Willamette Valley. Like the Central Valley of California, the Willamette Valley runs north-south.

Eugene Village is the southern starting point of the Oregon Valley. This valley extends from the Eugene Village area in the south to Portland in the north, with a length of about 200 kilometers from north to south and an average width of more than 50 kilometers from east to west.

This valley was called the Willamette River Valley, and most of the population in later Oregon was concentrated in this valley of more than 10,000 square kilometers.

It can be said that the Willamette Valley is the blessed land of Oregon.

Eugene, Salem, and Portland, later the top three cities in Oregon, are all located in the Willamette Valley.

Compared to the Central Valley of California, the Willamette Valley in Oregon is smaller in area, but it has an advantage that the Central Valley of California does not have.

The Willamette River flowing through the Willamette Valley is the most important tributary of the Columbia River. The Willamette River flows from south to north, and finally joins the Columbia River in the Portland area.

The flow direction of the Willamette River is consistent with the direction of the valley, and the runoff is sufficient, so most areas in the Willamette Valley do not have to worry about agricultural water problems.

Although California's Central Valley runs north-south, the rivers in the valley basically run east-west, so the cost of building water conservancy projects is relatively high.

While Deng Yan was leading the main force of the California Infantry to suppress bandits in the Columbia River Valley, Liang Yaozheng and people from the Chinese Chamber of Commerce, the Chinese representatives of the Oregon Reclamation Corps, as well as the mayor of Sacramento, Sutter, and the mayor of Eugene Village, Thomas

Expedition in the Willamette Valley.

"The land here is fertile, the water is abundant, and the terrain is flat. It's really a good place for farming."

Looking at the endless, fertile Willamette Valley, Wu Yuanhua couldn't help but sigh.

I thought that the United States has too much flat and fertile land. These places on the west coast are already considered rugged places in the United States, but they still have a lot of flat land suitable for farming.

Many of these fertile flat lands are still virgin lands that have not yet been cultivated. This made Wu Yuanhua feel that it was a waste of natural resources. It would be a pity not to use such good land for farming.

"The section of the Willamette River north of the village of Eugene is navigable, but currently there is only one small shipyard in the village of Eugene, which can only build small wooden boats."

Thomas said to Liang Yao on a small schooner with a load of only more than 20 tons.

"Not to mention the village of Eugene, even Portland can only manufacture small sailboats of more than two hundred tons, and due to wind restrictions, sailboats are not as convenient as steamships. Last year I visited your shipyard in San Francisco, and your shipbuilding

The Loach-class steamships built by the factory are very suitable for inland navigation.

I would like to purchase some Loach-class steamships from you, but my financial resources are limited. I hope to obtain some loans from the Bank of America. Of course, I can use my land and forestry in the village of Eugene as collateral."

Most of the existing settlements in Oregon are built along rivers, and inland waterway shipping is the main mode of transportation to communicate with these settlements.

Thomas has a good eye and sees the business opportunities contained in it.

The Loach-class steamship with a tonnage of more than 500 to 600 tons is a bit small for a sea-going ship, but if it is used as an inland waterway shipping vessel, it is an out-and-out big ship.

If Thomas purchased the boat from San Francisco, the boat would have to pass through Portland at the confluence of the Columbia River and the Willamette River before being transported along the Willamette River to the village of Eugene.

Portland is the largest white stronghold in the Oregon region and the residence of the governor of the Oregon Territory. Liang Yao is currently unable to control Portland.

"I can personally give you a brand new Loach-class steamship as a gift." Liang Yao said to Thomas with a smile.

"There is a huge demand for ships in Oregon. As the saying goes, it is better to buy than to build. How about we directly jointly establish a shipyard in the village of Eugene that can produce small steamships."

"Open a shipyard directly?" Thomas' eyes widened. He couldn't follow Liang Yao's thinking.

"Yes, opening a shipyard directly will not only directly solve the problem of insufficient ships in the Oregon area, people in Eugene Village can also work in the shipyard, and the wood produced by the local lumber factory can also be digested locally," Liang Yao said.

.

Fine shipbuilding lumber was readily available in the Eugene Village area and was originally destined for the California Shipyards in San Francisco.

There was renewed demand for inland shipping vessels in Oregon, which at least ensured that it would be profitable to open a small shipyard here.

After digesting the shipbuilding technology of paddle steamers, Liang Yao has now shifted the focus of shipbuilding to hidden ships.

In his eyes, paddle steamers were somewhat outdated, so it was not unacceptable to transfer a small part of the production capacity to Eugene Village.

Furthermore, after the Oregon Reclamation Corps settled in the Willamette Valley, they also needed convenient transportation, and the demand for river navigation would only increase.

Of course, the most important thing is to use the shipyard to firmly bind the interests of the dignitaries in Eugene Village to yourself, so as not to hinder your own settlement work.

"Then how are the shares calculated?" Upon hearing about the joint venture to set up a factory, Sutter, who accompanied Liang Yao to the Oregon region for inspection, instantly became more energetic. He was very interested in setting up a factory, especially Liang Yao's.

Since setting up a factory with this guy, Sartre has never lost money yet.

His sawmill in Sacramento has become a cash cow for him. Last month, the sawmill introduced a wood bending machine from Liang Yao, which can directly produce handles for farm tools, adding another way to make money.

"American Group 40%, Oregon Reclamation Group 30%, Mr. Thomas and Mr. Sutter 15% each." Liang Yao said while looking at the calm Willamita River with his hands behind his back.

The core technology of the shipyard was provided by Liang Yao, and Liang Yao held the majority of the shares. No one had any objections.

The representatives of the Oregon Reclamation Corps were originally composed of Chinese businessmen who followed Liang Yao's lead. Thomas was just a small village leader, and 15% of the shipyard shares was already a big pie falling from the sky for him.

As for Sutter, his shareholding is small, but he is now considering moving two wood bending machines directly from the sawmill and opening a lumber factory directly in Eugene Village to provide wood for the shipyard and farm tools for the Oregon Reclamation Corps.

It's wood.

"For a rich man like you, the hair you pluck out is thicker than my waist. It's an honor for me to cooperate with you in setting up a factory!"

Thomas immediately made his attitude clear to Liang Yao.

In the past, Thomas was very envious of Sartre's cooperation with Liang Yao, who made a lot of money, and suddenly became one of the few wealthy people on the West Coast from a farmer, and he was also the mayor of a big city.

Looking at myself now, my starting point was similar to that of Sartre, but now my status and wealth can be said to be rising day by day.

Liang Yao took the initiative to extend an olive branch to Thomas for cooperation, which was something Thomas only dreamed of.

As for Leonardo, the territorial governor of Portland, Oregon, Thomas did not have a good impression at all.

Hanging out with the poor guys in Portland is not as promising as hanging out with the rich guys in California.

Furthermore, the villagers of Thomas and Eugene Village also have a lot of resentment towards Portland.

In the mid-19th century, the tax system in the United States was very confusing. In territorial areas that did not even have a sound administrative system, the tax system was even more chaotic. It could not even be called a tax system, and was similar in nature to protection fees.

The biggest use of taxes in the territory is to support the armed forces in the territory and provide protection for small settlements like Eugene Village.

In the past few years, Portland has obviously failed to fulfill its obligations after collecting money.

The former territorial governor Bernat and the current governor Leonardo were very active in killing Indians, but they were not active in asking them to send troops to protect the village of Eugene because the village of Eugene used to be very poor and Portland was unwilling to send people to Eugene.

gold.

Thomas also knew that much of the money they handed over ended up in the pockets of the territorial governor.

Otherwise, it would be difficult to explain why Bernat had the money to form an armed force of more than 300 people after serving as territorial governor for just over two years.

After the economy of California, which Eugene Village relied on, gradually improved, Portland took the initiative to send troops to protect them.

But at this time Thomas did not want Portland to send armed personnel to his village.

Because when these people come, Eugene Village will inevitably suffer a massive hemorrhage.

Portland's armed forces were impatient in protecting them, but very patient in asking for money.

"Very good. The 500 immigrants from the first phase of the Oregon Reclamation Corps have settled in Eugene Village. I hope that Eugene Village can elect a representative from the Oregon Reclamation Corps as the deputy village chief." Liang Yao said calmly.

"Of course, Eugene Village should have a representative from the Reclamation Corps."

Thomas agreed, and soon Thomas saw a group of Indians appearing on the banks of the Willamita River, numbering at least a thousand people.

This made Thomas' nerves tense up involuntarily, and beads of sweat the size of soybean grains instantly appeared on his forehead. Thomas subconsciously took out the pistol from his waist and shouted.

"Indian."

"This is my man, Chief Thomas. From now on, the conflict between the Indians and Eugene Village is over. Do you understand?"

Liang Yao picked up the binoculars and saw that Deng Yan was leading soldiers from the California Infantry Regiment, escorting more than a hundred prisoners, waiting for Liang Yao.

Previously, Deng Yan had sent signal troops to report the victory to Liang Yao. The operation was very successful. All 355 of Bernat's armed forces were annihilated.

Those who were lucky enough to survive became their prisoners, and no one escaped.

"Huh?" Thomas nodded without knowing why.

"These guys should have been sent to hell long ago." Sartre put down the telescope in his hand and said angrily.

Because of Burnet's massacre of Indians in Oregon, the Indians also launched a retaliatory counterattack.

Sartre, who had not participated in the conflict, suffered heavy losses. His caravan heading to the Oregon region was also robbed several times, and many employees died.

In the end, Sutter had to send his Indian and Chinese employees along the Oregon trade route to minimize losses.

Sartre also felt that it was a happy thing to be able to solve Bernat's cancer.

(End of chapter)