Part 2 - Summary of the trip from Scottish newspaper, Banffshire Journal, September 6th, 1870

After William returned to Scotland, the following article was published in the local newspaper - 

THE PRESS ON MR CHALMERS' LAND PURCHASE.

AN EXAMPLE FOR SCOTCH FARMERS. Our readers will learn with interest, and in some respects with regret, that Mr Chalmers, Oldwhat (his hometown), well known as a successful breeder of short-horns, and a most enterprising farmer, has made a purchase of land in the State of Oregon, and intends removing thither with his family. 

The Daily Bulletin of Portland, Oregon, of the 22d July last, thus refers to the purchase :-"Mr Chalmers left the old country on May 29th; crossed the continent by the Overland Railway, and came here by steamer from San Francisco, on the 15th of the current month. He is accompanied by one of his sons, a young man of about twenty years. On his arrival here, Mr Chalmers made the acquaintance of Mr Jacob Stitzel, of the firm of Stitzel & Upton, Real Estate Agents, and that gentleman provided a team suitable for the extended tour, and took Mr Chalmers and his son from this city, through Clackamas and Marion counties, on the east side of the Willamette river, to Albany, and from there to Lebanon, Brownsville, and other points in Linn county. 

Crossing the river at Albany, the party made the return trip on the west side, through Benton, Polk, Yamhill, and Washington counties, back again to this city. The round trip was concluded by a little after noontide of yesterday. Mr Chalmers expressed himself as highly pleased, charmed indeed with the appearance of the country. He declares it all to be the finest, best, most enticing country for the farmer or stock-breeder he ever laid eyes upon. Pleased as he was with the appearance of the country wherever he journeyed, it is in Washington county that he finally made his selection, and to prove he meant business, he very soon after he had concluded in his own mind to enter upon negotiations for the particular tract which most attracted him, proceeded in direct business earnest to accomplish the object of his tour and quest. 

The tract he has selected and purchased is that known as the Ben. Cornelius property, of nine hundred and fifty acres. Ben Cornelius, (brother to Col. Tom Cornelius,) has lived upon it for about twenty years, and few choicer farms are there, either for quality of the soil, or in location, in all Oregon. It is eighteen miles west of Portland, and in the heart of the richest portion of the Tualatin district. 

The price paid is, $14,000 coin, Mr Chalmers will leave his son here to attend to matters during his own absence, on the return trip to his home in Scotland, whence he will in brief time return here, accompanied by his family to locate upon his splendid purchase, and to make his permanent home among us." We may add that the purchase price named includes about two thousand dollars' worth of stock presently on the farm.→→ Banffshire Journal, September 6th, 1870.