62 DOCUMENTARY
it has been for many years. The inflatus of the California gold has found its way here. Mules are up to $100.00 and $120.00, oxen about $75.00, beef cattle on foot $4.00 to $5.00, wheat $1.00, flour $6.00. Lands have gone up from 20 to 50 per cent. Most all the land in the State has been taken by warrants speculation, lands are being improved and men are settling all about thru, the large prairies; but enough on this subject.
The gold mania has not subsided, it is thought by some that there will be a larger emigration to California this year than last, not many, however, from Springfield. I do not hear of many going to Oregon, though from the last accounts we get from there I should think the latter place the most certain for a fortune. A great many who went to California have returned and from what I can learn, two-thirds have come back poorer than they went. A great many have died.
We have had no letters from Jim McNabb yet, nor no direct information, tho. many of the Springfield men have written home. We learned that Bolivar (Alvey) went to Oregon. I wrote a letter about three months ago to James (Watson) which if you get will inform you of Madaline's death. She has been dead about ten months. Her family are in Iowa. Fisher is doing well. He and Todd Thompson have a store here.
Sister Ann's health is good. Adelaide has a baby boy. John Elkin has moved to town. Evelyn's health is poor. Lucretia has another boy.
Now, Sanford, if you have not already written anything in relation to your country, I wish you to do it, as we all feel more interest in Oregon than we used to. The distance does not seem so great as formerly and there are more induce- ments since you all are there. I should like to know how things did look to you, compared with what you expected.
I want to know the relative value of the country independ- ent of the gold influence, for none of us know what that will produce. I want to know what Oregon can or will do in
