peeted, it is in a fertile and desirable location, yet has never become a business centre. Here it was that the “ Organic Laws” were adopted by a majority of the Oregon settlers, in May, 1843, and a provisional government erected, to last until such time as the United States government should see fit to acknowledge Oregon as one of her Territories. There is also a memorable spot twelve miles below Salem, on the east bank, where the Methodist Mission made its first location in 1834, this being the very first American settlement in the Wallamet Valley. Here, too, in 1843, after the acceptance of the Organic Laws, was held the first Legislative Assembly of nine persons, their Council Chamber being a public room in a building belonging to the mission, known as “The Granary.” Subsequently the Legislature removed its sessions to Oregon City. The high- water of 1862 carried away a portion of the old mission ground, which was on the bank of the river, where the open prairie approaches quite to it.
While we are overcoming the last twelve miles of quiet voyaging between the “ Old Mission” and Salem, we maj’ as well consider their relationship. In the autumn of 1840 the Methodist Mission built a mill on a stream twelve miles south of their first establishment, at a place called by the Indians Chemeketa, and, finding the situation every way a better one than that, removed the mission to it in the following year. The first dwelling was erected at some distance back from the river, on the bank of a stream known as Mill Creek, in a very pleasant and convenient location, with an extensive plain on one hand, and a charmingly wooded, rolling landscape on the other. In 1843 the large frame building, for many years known as “ The Institute,” was erected, as a school for Indian children, but, the savages not taking very kindly to study, the mission was dissolved in 1844, after which time the Oregon Institute became a seminary of learning for whoever chose to patronize it, although it still remained under the control of the Methodist denomination, and was converted ultimately into a university.
Upon the sale of the mission property, the town-site of Salem was laid out by Mr. W. H. Wilson, and received its present name. It is very handsomely located upon a gravelly prairie, rising gradually back from the river, which is skirted with
