1850 American Gold Tycoon

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.

Between 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 California's Central Valley, the Willamette Valley runs north-south.

Eugene Village is the southern starting point of this valley in Oregon. This valley extends from the Eugene Village area in the south to Portland in the north. It is about 200 kilometers long from north to south and about 50 kilometers wide on average 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 Oregon's blessed land.

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

Compared to California's Central Valley, Oregon's Willamette Valley, although smaller in area, has an advantage that California's Central Valley does not have.

The Willamette River, which flows through the Willamette Valley, is the most important tributary of the Columbia River. The Willamette River flows from south to north, eventually joining 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 makes Wu Yuanhua feel that it is a waste of 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 sailing ships of more than two hundred tons, and due to wind restrictions, sailing ships are not as convenient as steam ships. 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 tree farms in the village of Eugene as collateral. "

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

Thomas had a good eye and saw the business opportunities contained in it.

The Loach-class steamship of more than 500 to 600 tons is a bit small for a sea-going ship, but if it is used as an inland 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 and Willamette rivers before being transported along the Willamette River to the village of Eugene.

As 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 build than to buy. Why don't 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 Oregon, 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 intended for the California Shipyards in San Francisco.

There was renewed demand for river shipping vessels in Oregon, at least ensuring 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.

Paddle steamers were somewhat outdated in his eyes, and 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, immediately became excited. He was very interested in setting up a factory, especially Liang Yao's.

Since setting up a factory with this guy, Sartre has yet to lose money.

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, looking at the calm Willamita River with his hands behind his back.

The core technology of the shipyard was provided by Liang Yao. Liang Yao held the majority share and 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. For him, 15% of the shipyard shares was already a big pie falling from the sky.

As for Sutter, his shareholding is small, but he has now considered 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. Timber.

"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 and Liang Yao's cooperation. They made a lot of money and jumped from a farmer to one of the few wealthy people on the West Coast, 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 dreamed of.

As for Leonardo, the territorial governor of Portland, Oregon, Thomas didn't have a good impression at all.

Hanging out with the poor guys in Portland is not as promising as hanging out with the rich old 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 fell into 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 the 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 lot of bleeding.

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 of the Oregon Reclamation Corps as the deputy village chief." Liang Yao said calmly.

"Of course, the village of Eugene deserves to 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 at 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 the soldiers of the California Infantry Regiment, escorting more than a hundred prisoners, waiting for Liang Yao.

Previously, Deng Yan had sent signal troops to report 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 originally, 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 employees 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.

()