ted us. I
am happy to say, they received full cargoes on board and crossed the bar in safety. The provisions of the pilot law have been carried out, and its good effects are already visible. The able pilot at the mouth of the river has made himself thoroughly acquainted with the channels and currents, thus diminish- ing the dangers formerly attending vessels coming into the river. The time is not far distant when our river will be entered with more ease and facility than many of the ports in the United States on the Atlantic coast; and captains will wonder why the entrance was so much dreaded, forgetting that they are reap- ing the benefits of experience.
The cause of education demands your attention. School districts should be formed in the several counties, and school houses built. Teachers would be employed by the people, I have no doubt, and thus pave the way for more ad- vanced institutions.
In closing, allow me to unite with you in expressions of gratitude to that Being who has preserved us during the past year, and granted us the blessing of health, peace and prosperity. May we continue to merit his mercies by acknowledging our dependence on Him and keeping His law before us.
Geo. Abernethy."
Oregon City, December 7, 1847.
Joseph Meek was appointed messenger to carry the news of the Whitman massacre to Washington City, and lay it before congress, and resigned his seat in the legislature and made that remarkable trip by horseback across the conti- nent in the middle of the winter of 1847-8.
The following extract from the letter of Hugh Burns, commissioner of the currency, to the legislature, dated Oregon City, February 8, 1849, ^^^^ show the troubles of that officer in financing the treasury of Oregon, in fighting the Indians at that date :
"On the 28th of March last, or near that time, the commissary general told me that when he was at The Dalles, it became necessary for him to take wagons and oxen, the property of Phelaster and Philemon Lee, to the amount of $250. I consented to give bonds to that amount and did so, but in a few days I was called upon by different persons for bonds for a very large amount. I refused to execute bonds to them until I could see the other two commission- ers, and when we met together it was thought best not to give any more bonds for any property, as we knew nothing about it ; so, for these reasons we re- fused to give bonds for any more of the property taken at The Dalles by the commissary general.
There is another matter I wish to explain ; it is this : When I commenced to collect funds, I was not able to obtain any money except orders on the stores in Oregon City; in consequence of this, it was impossible for the commissary general to obtain articles for the use of the army.
He told me he could get axes and spades, and these articles were very much wanted to make roads for wagons to pass up the Columbia river. Philip Fos- ter had subscribed $50, to be paid on the stores, and John B. Price $25, to be paid also on the stores. These gentlemen told me if I would give them twenty- five per cent premium, they would let me have cash, and I told them I would do so. Mr. Foster gave me $37.50, and I gave him a bond for $50. Mr. Price gave me $18.75, ^"^ I g'^ve him a bond for $25. This I did for the best. But should your honorable body think otherwise, I am ready to pay to this govern- ment out of my own funds, the amount of premium that I found at that time necessary to allow. I bring this to your particular notice, because it was noticed at the time by one of the presses of Oregon City. Whatever your decision on this point may be, I alone am responsible, as my two associates know nothing of the matter. The commissary general or his a?ent. A. J. Hembree, Esq., ob- tained a loan of $196.50, or thereabouts, from Thomas Justins, for which they agreed to get him a bond for $216.33. I ^^st refused to give the bond for that
