by offering to carry to California without expense the men who were to go for the purpose of securing cattle. An association was formed, with Young at its head, that took the name of the "Willamette Cattle Company." A fund of several thousand dollars was subscribed, partly by Dr. McLoughlin for the fur company, partly by the Methodist mission, and the remainder by individuals. Mr. Slocum himself took a small financial interest in the company. Ewing Young and P. L. Edwards, with a few others, took passrge in the Loriot (Slocum's ship) to California, where they bought eight hundred head of cattle at three dollars apiece, and forty horses at twelve dollars apiece. After many vexations and hardships they arrived in the Willamette valley with six hundred head of stock, the remainder having been lost by the way.
The bringing of these cattle, in the fall of 1837, marks the opening of a new era for Oregon. It gave a great stimulus to stock raising, for which the country was specially adapted, promoted the prosperity of the settlers already there, and, by the reports which soon travelled eastward, caused many people in the Mississippi valley to look with longing eyes toward this land of ease and plenty, thus preparing the way for the colonizing movement which was about to begin.
Renewal of Oregon agitation in Congress. Mr. Slocum returned to the United States and made his report to the government. In December, 1837, this document, so interesting as the earliest particular account of the Willamette settlement, was presented to
