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WILLAMETTE FAllMER: POKTLAISD, OREGON. MAECH 24, 1882.
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Issued every Week by the
WIIAAMETTE FAItUER PITRLsXill.lK. JO.
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Publication Office: No,
lairs, rooms No. 5 and 5s.
6 Washington Street. Up
Thk Chinksk Bill having passed in tlo
Senate drags in the House, and there is some
suggestion that Mr, Authur will veto it if it
does pass, but we guesi not.
Floods is thk lower Mississippi hare
broken down levees arid flooded n country a
hundred mile wik The suffering and ruin
is beyond estimate, and after lingering for
weeks, the floods still causo fresh terror.
A iskadkk ok this paper writes a reply to
something we lately wrote about swindling in
connection with pensions, but lie is too lengthy
and seems to suppose wo oppose grantingpdn
sioua to soldiers, whereas we complain that
the law is so worded as to causo tens of mil
lions of dollars loss by the swindling claims.
It is also no doubt true that members of Con
gress were more eager to make political capi
tal with ox-soldierB than merely to do justice
to those who needed it.
Foil THE benefit of subscribers to newspa
pers who aro inclinod to jump their accounts,
after having taken a newspaper from the of
fice, wo qus'o tlio following from tho United
States postal laws, under which n New York
paper has commenced suit against several
subscribers for such nflenso: "Tho taking of
a newspaper and tin refusal to pay for the
same, is a theft, and any person guilty of such
lotion is liable to criminal prosecution the
samo as if ho had stolon goods to tho amount
f subscription."
Thk Grangers and Anti-Monopoly Leagues
of Lane county, says tho Albany Democrat,
have appointed two committers from each or
ganisation, whoso instructions aro to confer
with tho substantial men of each precinct with
the object of securing as delegates to the coun
ty conventions nono but honest, upright and
representative men. If Ibis is carried forward
successfully, and without fear or favor, the
results cannot but bn good, as such men will
not nominate for ollico anyone who is not both
mentally and morally qualified to till tho dif
ferent ollices.
"In 1702," says Senator Slater, "Vancouver
entered tho Columbia river, and found twenty
seven fcot of water on tho bar at extreme low
water." Now thero is not to exceed nineteen
feet, whilo tho channel is moro tnrtuoiu, un
certain and shiftinu. In ninety years there
aas been a reduction of nino feet, and tho
greater part of this has been during the past
ten years. The changes of tho next ninety
years, oven if no groator than indicated in the
foregoing for tho past niuoty, will oU'eotually
tloso tho stream to all outsido commorcu
whatever, and the probability .is that not to
exceed ten years will bo required for that
purpose.
Thk Prairie Farmer, of Chicago, is one if
tho best established of Western HLWspapeis
and has a largo circulation and wide influence,
hut after continued embarrasuieiits has been
newly organized with abundant capital to put
it on a sound linancial basis. That newspaper
contains no more reading matter, nor better
selections, or more ,-iblo editorials than dors
the Wii.i.A'KTTK K.tiiMKit, and with many
times our inconio has found it dillicult to keep
p. We womler, often, what Mould these
Kostern journals think of attempting to occu
py this Held with no more suppoit than wo
have! They simply wouldn't attempt it.
They couldn't, if they did not do tho work
within one family, as we do.
NATIONAL RAILROAD COMMISSION.
Chat lea I'm ois Adams, Jr., has been for
many yearn a member of the Hailroad Com
minion of Massachusetts, which has success
fully arbitrated between tho corporations and
the piopto of that State, so as to bring about
moro sati.factory condition of things than
exists in any utlier State. Mr. Adams' high
personal character, and long oxperienco with
this subject, have made him tho first authori
ty on railroad questions with relation to tho
State nnd tho puhlin, Kaatern journals lately
published an address made lieforu tho Mer
thantVs Association of the city of Huston,
which is too leughthy to go into our column,
but owing to tho very great importance of the
subject, we 'will givo its sulwtance briefly as
ossiblc.
Ho commences by quoting from the opin
ion.) of ltoboit Stephenson, sou of tho man
who built the tirat Knglish railroad, uttered
in 1S.MI, who si far back saw the question iu
its wnlet lK-aiing, as relstod to the public
nil tho Stite, and insisted that there should
fe "a tiibunil on these subjects competent to
judge and willing to devote its attention to
railway subject). " Stephenson insisted that
there was needjif knowledge of tho whole sub.
ject, in all its relations, and of restrictions to
m-iire the rights of private person) and of tho
public. "A tribunal that is impartial and
that I) thoroughly informed." It will be eeu
that he )aw the question twenty-live years ago
precisely as it is presented today.
Acting on this view Mr. Adams had framed
a bill to be prra-utcd to Congress, aud we
since learn that it w ill be presented and stands
a chtuce of becoming a law at the present sc.
sion of L'ongrois. This bill provides for a
board of three commissioners ou iifter-SUto
toiinncrcr, to exercise supervision over all the
Viuincas that passes from one Statu to another
a'uc,h State has control of the commerce within
its bounds), or through two or more Statis,
or from foreign countries, limited to questions
of commerce within the States and methods
of operating roads by corporations, as affect
ing commerce. The board sball investigate
complaints of undue discrimination in charges,
or method of rondsiing service as a common
carrier; such complaints to be made to Boards
of Trade, or of Commerce, or to State or mu
nicipal governments, and if approved by them
to be investigated by the commission. This
board shall also collect and procure the neces
sary data for the enactment of a gradual en
actment of an intelligent system of national
legislation regulating inter-State railroad com
merce, and annually report in full to the Sec
retary of the1 Interior.
Mr. Adams goes on to show that the mem
bers of tho commission must have qualifica
tions of a hin'i order, to be competent to per
form thtir duties. His own experience, for
fifteen years, as railroad commissioner, is al
luded to, and ho asserts that with all his study
ot those matters new features constantly pre
sent themselves and fresh problems have to be
solved. One commissioner should be a trained
railroad man, familiar with every detail of
construction and management; another mem
ber mutt have thorough knowledge of consti
tutional law, for railroad legislation is gener
ally so clumsy that corporations, who always
retain tho best talent, "can drive a locomotive
through them." The third man should be a
specialist of a peculiar kind, trained to trace
cause and effect; able to handle statistics and
supply the theory of political economy as the
others do the law and practical knowledge of
railroad construction and management.
To indicate tho character of this board, Mr.
Adams names Judge Cooley, of Michigan, for
the lawyer, as the head of the commission, one
qualificn'ion, besiden his vminent legal abili
ties being that he "has had little experience
iu politics." Among practical railroad men
he names Mr. Harris, general manager of the
ICrio road; aud as statistician and specialist
General Francis A. Walker, of the Census
Bureau. With such a commission organized
and empowered to act, he considers that the
railroad problem will present fow difficulties.
If, instead of such men as these, political par
tisans shall bo chosen as reward for "claims
on tho party, or any of that kind of cattle, '
he says, "tho commission would be a nuisance
and a disgrace and tho end will bo worse than
the beginning."
Wo have here the views of an able man
who has been for many years selected to aibi
tratc between tho people of Massachusetts
snd all the corporations within its limits, au.l
whose efforts havo piot with such success that
wo hear littlo or no complaint of unreasonable
exactions there Applying tho principles of
action ho Iku laid down, for organization of a
National Commission to co-operate with sim
ilar commissions to bo orgiuizcd within oach
individual State, nud wo may ooufideutly
hope that tho problem will bo solved; but if
not satisfactory, we shall expect in timo to
soo the government own and operate tho rail
roads in tho interest of the public.
talk indulged in. Villard may be a terrible
fellow, and probably is, judging from the
terror many have of him, but he wasted no
words about his intentions. The first we all
knew he had thousands of men at work and
millions of money went into circulation. In
this respect we commend his example to the
Oregon Pacific people, and if they can im
prove on it, so much the better. Talk is
cheap, and these people seem to talk one way
East and another way West. It was Ms tiff
who said! "Lord, how the world is given to
lying 1" Well-meaning peoplo we hope will
not misunderstand the motive with which we
discuss these matters; we are talking plain
common sense in the interest of the farmers
of this valley. We do not oppose the Oregon
Pacific road, but to the contrary. Our busi
ness is to keep farmers informed of all matters
that interest them. Many seem to think the
Yaquina road is to be built merely for public
accommodation, of which idea they may as
well d'sabuse themselves.
If. the Oregon Pacific chooses to sell their
bonds and give away their stock, we make no
objection. In our opinion it matters little te
the public on what financial scheme roads are
built, if the charges for transportation are
reasonable. It is proper to charge a sufficient
rato to reward the investors, but it is not
proper that projectors of an enterprise should
in advance try to humbug tho soft-handed
capitalist on one ocean and the hard-handed
farmer on the other ocean.
Public discussion of corporate assumptions
can do no harm, and the Willamette Farmer
stands ready to expose double dealing on the
part of any, m our readers will see if they
havo complaint to make over any reliable
signature.
THE MORMON QUESTION SETTLED.
THE OREOON PACIFIC RAILROAD.
Last week wo took from the Springfield He
publican of March 3d, an advertisement offer
ing tho bonds of tho Oregon Pacific railroad
for sale at par, and agreeing to thiow iu $300
of the Company's stock with every SI 000 of
bonis sold, giving $1300 of bonds and stock
for $1000 iu cash.
Heading this we called to mind tho speech
that Col. Hogg, President of that corpora,
tion, mudo on his return to Corvalbs last fall.
also the announcement!- repeatedly mado by
tho representatives of this company that tho
euteipriso was to ho conducted ou "strictly
business principles;" that there would be no
imposition by issuu of unjsiid stock, com
monly known as "watered stock," ou which
to pay dividends, etc, all of which appeared
iu tho public prints, time and again, and limit
bo still froidi in the minds of readers.
Wo havo cordially welcomed tho Yaquiua
Hay enterpiiso as calculated to do much good.
It will open to producers of, this valley, if
completed, an nutlet to the ocean much moro
convenient than any now existing, and by so
doing creates competition for the carrying off
their products. That opportunity exists, and
when that road is constructed and Yaquiua
harbor is improved we may expect to soe all
these benefits accrue.
We have never attachod importance to the
assertions of Col. Hogg or Mr. Nash that
their object is to befriend producers and be-
conio puliliu benefactors. That, of course.
was merely buncombe. They aro working for
money and will not bo more scrupulous in
making it than corporations aro commonly
supposed to lie. They will need to bo re
strained by law from unreasonable exactions,
as much as tho Villard combination. The
Tho Yaquiua Company may bo expected to
join that, or any other combination, if they
can see moro profit in so doing, thau by "go
ing it alone." They will bo certain to make
the beat terms possiblo for themselvos as the
narrow gauge roads have already done.
We have to accuse this company of making
false statements, for which they protest here,
to farmers whose products they wish to carry,
that they intend only to charge such rates as
will yield a fair income on cost of their road.
They hold out to Kaatern capitalists, as an in
ducement to invo.t, the assurance that after
paying interest ou the bonds, tho road will
also pay twenty per cent, per annum divi.
denda ou millions of watered stock.
What is this capital stock! It is uothiug
but water! If it was auythiug but watered
stock they could not afford to give it away aa
a bait to sell their bonds.
We suggest that the friends uf the Yaquiua
enterprise quit all unnecessary buueombe ami
go ahead with their railroad. When they get
it completed they cau charge what they
please, unless the legislature fixes rates for
them. Wo have no fear they will over make
twenty per cent, dividends on stock, but that
will n-t be their fault. They will do their
boat in that direction.
Many persons have declined to put faith in
the enterprise because of the unnecessary
Congress has dually pas icd the Klmumis
bill as it went from the Senate, nl so far as
stringent legislation can etFect, polygamy is
doomed in Utah. By its terms tho present
laws and. systems of territorial government aro
abrogated and powei utterly taken from
polygamists as a class, and the definition of
that crime is made so general by the now Act
that there will be no escaping its penalties.
A Commission, to be appointed by the Presi
dent, will govern tho territory until a legis
laturo to bo elected bynon-polygamists can be
elected and meet to enact other laws. The Act
is framed for tho purpose of making uon
polyuamists independent, and placing them
above tho terror that Mormon power had es
tablished, nud which was more powerful than
the law. Wo hear that in Utah tho effect has
been to oncourago tho "Gentiles," and give
great causo for rejoicing, not only to that class
of inhabitant, but also to develop o liberal
feeling in the younger mcmbirs of tho Mor
mon population, who have always been kept
under by the elder men. Then young men are
generally opposed to polygamy, and now that
such radical action on the part of Congress
liberates them from the oppression ot the
church and the tyranny of the elders, they
manifest independence, and openly join tlie
ranks of tho non-polygamists. This is what
was desired to break down the awful power
of tho false priesthood aud tho tyranny of
the rulers, and give room for independence in
tho minds of many who havo not dared to as
sert themselves against tho ruling powers,
who knew how to enforce their edicts by bar
barous doeds worso than murder, or by actual
murder, vhen any of tho fraternity dared to
show signs of revolt, or even of independence.
Now that tho strong hand of national law is
to bo relied on to uphold them, we hope to seo
a strong party of tho best men and women iu
tho Mormon community come to the support
of tho government. The Mormon faith may
bo unreasonable, but tnorcly as a belief it is
not dangeious, unless it tyranizes over con
science and opposes tho lawv Taking away all
temporal power from the church will place it
en a level with other denominations, and its
influence must gradually lesseii whon brought
into contact with pu-er teachings. No one
doubts that Mormonism has been the very
parent of crime, and that its inner history con
tains as dreadful socrots as ever existed in
tho darkest ages of human history. With this
effectual rebuke to Mormon power, we may
hope to seo their hideous crimes exposed and
brought to light, and their authors punished.
As rats fonake a sinking ship, so many of
theso misguided people will rojoice to bo de
livered from bondage, and some of thochiefest
criminals, tme to the history of crime in all
ages, may be expected to turn State's evi
dence, and givo away their partners in crime.
It will be sato to kick the dead lion, aud tho
dead body of Mormau power will be apt to
receive many a thrust from the parasites it
)fed and clothed.
SOME RAILROAD FIOURES.
A week or so ago we received two letters
relating to railroad matters. One was from
Mr. Silas Haight, of Albany, and the other
from Mr. A. C. Jennings, of Irving. Mr.
Jennings wrote as follows: "Will you please
seud mo Villard's statement, published some
time seo, of cost and earnings of our line of
his railroad. 'I he main points I want are:
1st. The average cost of construction per
mile, from Portland'to Roseburg. 2d. Gross
and net earning. 3d. Yearly expense of
keeping up the road (iron, ties, grade and
bridges.) Some items of the foregoing will be
presented at our meeting on Saturday, and I
would be glad, if we cannot get the exact
amount, to approximate as near as possible."
Not knowing of any published statement
and desirous of accommodating a friend, we
went to Mr. A. (. Cunningham, Secretary of
the O. & C. road, and showed him the letter.
Though a stranger to us, Mr. Cunningham en
tertained the matter very politely, and finally
furnished a manuscript copy of his annual re
port for tho year 1831, which is a concise
statement of much of the matter presented in
Mr. Jennings' letter of inquiry'. As the facts
contained in this report are of general interest
and subject of special consideration among the
people of the Willamette valley at the present
time, we publish them in full for the benefit
of the publin.
OREGON AND CALIFORNIA RAILROAD.
From Secretary's report, 1881 :
Sale of 10,l50,000 bonds at 60 cents ... .
Net earnings Sept., 1870, to Apr., 1873, )
(after thai date interest In default.) I
Floating debt. , , .
$0,570,000 00
321,505 (14
4 ',640 87
61,011 49
Less Interest on bonds to April, 1873.
W,703,157 09
l.MM.OSS 03
5,3S,0C9 00
MtOU'RSKlfKXTH.
Itt of wayand construction, f4,62S,447 Ml
Ilofllny stock 497,1.17 14
Machine ry and tools 29,2.F0 60
Ferry boat 41,093 21
Otllccs and depot furniture. 19,325 40
!:. Port, depot ground, 4c.. 173,209 10
$5,339,069 06
Memorandum of earnings Sept., 1870, to
Dec. 1, 1881 :
Sept. 1870 to Dec. 1379:
Gross Kirninj-s. Gross Kxpenses. Net Enrninirs.
$.1,091,301 IW $3,271,W3 02 $1,819,713 94
Jan. ISSOto Deo. 1, 1931:
81,370,712 37 $1,197,012 Of. $179,200 02
Haxrlaburg aranje.
Tho DlttemimUor says : Judge R. P. Hoise,
W. M, of tho Oregon Stato Grange, visited
Harrisburg Grange last Saturday. Au unusual
'number had gathered to welcome the Judge,
many of the neighboring Granges being in at
tendance, this making tho meeting very full.
After iuductiug a class of twelve into the
mysteries of the order, and doing a 'small part
towanls getting away with a magnificent din
ner prepared fur the occasion, the Jude gave
one of his excellent addresses, which was lis
tend to with the closest attention by all pres
ent. The facts and figures laid dowu iu the
address wire conclusive and convincing, aud
everyone present went away fully satisfied
that they were well paid for the loug day
spent in doing the work, eatiug the dinner,
aud listening to tho address.
$0,430,014 83 $I,469,C95 07 $1,993,918 9S
Taking tho plant of the road to Rosebure at
$5,359,069.00, average j early earnings from
Sept., 1870, to Dec. 31, 187SJ, gives $202,101,
or 3J per cent, per annum interest on the
money actually expended, or 1 5 G per cent.
on bonded debt, add the purchase of the West
Side roads at their cost and construction of
the Lebanon branch, amounting to $3,784,
032.01, and tho total plant has cost $9,174,.
020.07.
Average yearly earnings on this amount
havo been as follows: Jan. 1, 1S80, to Dec. 1,
1881, $92,095.60, which has been a trifle over
one per cent, interest on the actual cost of the
property.
The company has paid interest, as follow,
on tho bonds:
March, 1875, $2 45 per cent. ; March, 187C,
$2.13 per cent.; March, 1877, $1.75 per cent.;
Maion: 1878, S2.I24 percent. : March. 1870.
$2.01 percent ; March, 1880,95 100 percent.;
March, 1881, 75-100 per cent.
Tho explanation of the low returns of late
years lies in tho fact that the road has now
worn, so that much work has to be done to
keep it in running order, replacing ties, trestle
work and bridge timbers. While the East
Side road has not been in any way remunera
tive, never having paid common interest en
the actual cost of construction, tho West Side
road, owned by the same parties, has even
failed of that much and has been a heavy drag.
Tho completion of the main road to Califor
nia will make a great improvement iu its
financial standing, f.r it will be tho great
highway of the travel up and down the coast,
from British Columbia to Mexico.
Mr. Silas Haight, in a private letter, says it
seems strange that wheat is carried from Chi
cago to New York for tho same pfice, 9 cents.
that is paid for taking it hero one-tenth of the
distance from Albany to Portland. While ihe
railroad war lasted this winter, wheat was
taken from Chicago to New York for a very
low price; now that the great trunk lines have
made peace, tho price is 12 ceuts per bushel,
which is also cheap, but tho great traffic on
these roads makes it prolitablo to transport
grain so cheaply, while our roads have so little
to do that they cannot cam a fair dividend
charging these higher rates. People must
bear theso things iu mind, aud rec dlect that
our roads could make more money if they had
ten times the freight to haul, if they coulil
get one-quarter the present price.
How to Make Rape a Profitable Crop
Itow to secure rotation of crops aud practice
mixed husbandry to advantage is the most
important question for our farmers. How to
carry on stock raising and farming in a sys
tematic manner just now commands the atten
tion of many. We have suggested that hnd
should bo kept in pasture part of tho time,
and so doing would sustain its fertility, so
that its years of cropping would yield much
greater profit, and the pasturago itself would
pay a fair profit on all the investment.
We shall repeat again the experience of Mr.
Jas. Withycombe, Jr., veterinary surgeon of
this city, who has a farm in Washington
county, whero ho considers that rape seed
furnishes one of his most profitable crops. In
the first place rape makes a leaf something
like a ruta bago, and has no root that is
edible. It is crown for the feed found in the
leaf and is excellent in ths green state for
sheep and hogs; it is not so good for cattle or
horses as it causes cattle to bloat if they eat
to excess, and it is not safe to try to accustom
them to it.
Rape can be sown broadcast, but does very
much better drilled in, say 2 J feet apart, and
sown rather liberally in the drills. It needs to
be carefully worked to secure a prolific growih
and make the best possible returns. It should
be sown as soon as convenient in the spring.
To gi e it all the, advantage it needs tho farm
er should haul out manure and spread liberal
ly, then plow and put the laud in best possi
ble condition to raise a good crop. After six
weeks, when six inches high, it will do to pas
ture on it. Either it cm be divided in small
fields, so as to alternate their use and allow
growth during rest, or movable panels
can be used and changed as often as.necessary,
to allow plenty of feed. The ground between
tho rows should bo often cul lvated through
the summer. Stock can be kept on it from the
timo it is six inches high for ten months, until
tho next April, when it can be plowed up and
made to yield a prodigious crop of wheat from
April sowing.
fheep can in this manner be well kept
through the summer and fall, and through tie
winter. But its uso for Keeping hogs in good
condition is a very important item, as they
can bo kept growing all through the year, and
indeed fattened in the rape field. Mr. Withy
combe has crown rane for a number of vears.
He assures us that it is the best crop on the
farm, and that ho intends to make more and
more use of it hereafter. While it pays of it-
sen, it also nreparcs tlie land lor raising im
mense crops of grain to succeed it. He claims
that it insures him 40 bushels of wheat to the
acre, as it secures a great deal of manure from
droppings of stock, and its roots, that fill the
ground as fully as clover roots do, possess the
same quality lor termination that clover roots
do, and when plowed under, enrich tho soil to
a remarkable degree.
Wo suggcit to farmers that they can afford
to try one to fivo acres of this crop to test its
value, and then can understand the benefit to
be derived from it. It requires about two
pounds of seed to the acre to sow in drills, 2J
feet apart.
Portland Board of Trade.
GENERAL NOTES.
Spokan Chronicle: What is known ,i,
Blue Bend country, situated. west of this ,.,
and north of Sprague, contains about 80 0m
acres of rich wheat and crass lands Siu'-V
ficieut timber for farm purposes. A -..
man, jost from that district, informs n th
at no time this winter cattle have been :i
out outdoor feed. The Indians have 'raiMj
pood corn in that locality, and manyV ft.
whites intend to mako the experiment.
Albany Democrat: Fruit raisins
Cattle Trade.
Mr,
Alfalfa.
Daniel Sheehan, of Williams' Creek.
wishes to know what ground will grow alfalfa;
says ho has good ground but not water to irri
gate. We do not understand that alfalfa
needs irrigation. If it is cood land and the
roots-can strike down to find water it will do
excellently, but uo doubt irrigation would be
useful at times. Mr. Mints .raises alfalfa ou
the sandy loam of the island close by Salem,
and It ought to do better in Southern Oregon
than in any part of this valley. Sow the seed
on good, rich soil, sandy if possible, on bottom
land where the root) cau find water within air
or eight feet, and they claim it will do well.
Although the frost has scarcely left the
ground, cattlo men from the East aro arriv
ing in tho city for the purpose of gathering up
large bands to be driven to the Chicago mar
ket. The drive is usually commenced as soon
as the grass will furnish food, and terminate)
about snow fall, when the cattle will probably
have arrived in tho neighborhood of the Hig
Horn coUutry. The next year the drivo is re
sumed, and in early summer the cattle arrive
at some shipping point on the railways, and
from thence on cars they are taken to Chi
cago or St, Louis, where they arrive iu good
condition. The drovers say that while a short
drive each day has the advautage of keeping
the stock in good condition, it also is cheaper,
requiring but little more help thau to herd
without moving. Walla Walla once furnished
the gr.ater part of the leef purchased by
these buyeis, but now they are forced to
scour the Yakima, Hie Hend and Camas
Prairie country in search of the bovine that
like the Indians, are alwavs on the verm, f
:..:!:. . .... 11". if. ii-ii o .
vitiuMtiuu. it iimii n nuts aiaietmnn,
A 1UL1ARI.K correspondent at Dalles City
iu a private letter denies that there has been
any strife there regarding the public schools,
as intimated in some new) item we published,
copied from some other journal, and ras the
school election passed with a unanimous vote.
only one set of candidates being put in nom
ination.
No doubt, the merchants and capitalists of
this city are commencing to understand the
necessity of actual effort and of liberal expen
diture on tho part of this city, in view of the
speedy construction of the railroad link
needed to connect this valley and the upper
Columbia with Pnget Sound, and tho present
organization of the Board of Trade represents
the public seutiment. After alluding to the
new and more efficient organization of that
body, the Ortijoaum sums up its achievements
and objects, as follows:
Tho Board got well on its feet under the
now management in November last, and since
then has been an active business force. In the
past few months it has accomplished meas
ures of the highest importance. It has sent a
delegate to Washington Hon. D. P. Thomp
sonin the matter of river improvement. It
secured the assignment of our Representative
in the House of Representatives to the Com
merce Committee. It started the movement
to put efficient tugs on the bar, the success of
which is assured. It has appropriated $1,000
to tho work of dredging the Columbia river.
It has, in connection with the O. K. & N. Co.,
sent three delegates to Idaho to consult with
the merchants of that section with reference
to turning their trade to Portland. It has so.
cured a permanent crew for tho Cape Disap
pointment life-saving station. It has, through
its delegate to Washington, obtained the
promise of six stake lights on the Columbia
river. It has raised its voice against the at
tempt to rob tho Northern Pacifio of its land
grant, against the Hawaiian treny, and will
ask the Legislature at its coming session to
remedy the pilot laws.
By request of the chief signal officer the
Board has appointed a meteorological commit
tee which makes monthly inspections of the
signal station here, nnd reports any recom-
iiiuiiuuuiii ii, niiiy litem necessarv lor im
tually to become onpif the best naying indns
tries of the Willamette vally. There is Broh.'
ably no place in tho world that wises as gnoA
apples and pears, nor so prolificly. Attna
present time there is nothing which has inch
a. ready market, there being a sale form,
quantity which may be brought into mirkeb
However, extensive the industry may beenrns
here this ready market will not change- it i!
hound to remain good, and not only that, but
improve as the superiority of Oregon f,iY i.
comes generally known. One of our citizen,
being asked by letter if there was a good wav
to invest $3,000 or $4,000 here, wrote that it
could not be better expended than in tSe pur.
chase of 60 or "0 acres somewhere in tho vab
ley .and the laying ef it out to a fruit orchard'
Such advice is being given every day, atidTa
sound.
For several years the Albany Farmers' Cow,,
pany have been talking about putting us a
flouring mill, and matters aro now beginning
to take definite shape. A meeting r.f tu
itockhnlders has been called for the 17th in. '
staut, at which time they will consider th)
question of building a mill. It is almost
necessity that they idiould do no. as the build,
ing of warehouses by the railroad company
will sound the death knoll of the present
warehouse business.
Pataha Spirit: Thomas Benbow informs ni
that last harvest he threshed on Pataha Prsji
rie 31,000 bushels of grain from 052 seres of
land bfing an average of over 32 bushels to
the acre. He threshed for 20 persona who to.
gether own 3435 acres of land, two-thirds of
which will soon be under cultivation. This
will givo 109,820 bushels of grain for only 20
persons on Pataha Prairie.
Lewistnn A'cicj: Cattlo buyers are still
busy rn Camas Prairie and Salmon River. Th)
latest sale is that of John Dumac. on Salmon
River, who has sold his entire baud, about
600 head, and also his ranch on the river, at
satisfactory prices.
Walla Walla Statesman: William KirVm.
informs us that cattle are in great demand at
proent, and that they have advanced 10 or 15
per cent, over last year's prices asarl for sheep
there is even a still lartrer demand. 7i..
last year they were selling for $1.25 per head
buyers are now boldly offering $1.75 and can
obtain none at even that figure. Heretofore
sheep have been a drug in tho matket and no
demand for them; thev aro now wanted for
mutton ta be shipped East; and thero is not a
sheep holder in the country, but has been ap.
proached by buyers to sell; but the invest
ment is now ro good that holders prefer to
keep their stock to selling them.
Grant County AW: Wo understand that
Mrs. Thompson has sold her entire band of
stock cnttle to parties, who will drive them
East soon. The prieo paid is $14.75 per head,
all above' eight months old being included in
the sale. 1 his is the highest tjricc yet paid
here for a band .containing so many cows and
calves. The price of cattle has been advanc
ing for some time, owing to competition
among buyers who drive to tho Ea't.
Baker County Jtericlle: Last Monday a
band of 1600 sheep, belonging to B. F. Toney,
passed through town on their way to Snake
Rive.. They were in splendid condition.
Prineville Aici: In response to a general
tho stock men of this section mt at
call
proving the tame: makes monthlv sLitemont
of the condition of the office, and also aids tho
sigual officer to secure anything needed for
the successful working of his office.
But tho most important work of the Board
is its record of statistics. In November last,
Mr. Benjamin I. Cohen was engaged as assist
ant secretary and statistician, and he imme
diately opened a set of commercial records.
As an example, the price of wheat, a3 repotted
each day by fivo leading firms Allen & Lew
is, Sibson, Church Co., Balfour, Guthrie &
Co., C. fsar & Co., and Corbitt & Macleay
is reonled and averaged. At the close of each
month these dailv average r .n.,1
Thus, for December, the averago price of
wheat per cental is shown to have been for
ii iiiainetio valley, $l 5(i 199-2SS; Walla Wal
The atriicst at !.ivriniu 1t a.. ;.... .
and is assuming alarming proportions.
4,0-576. In another book are recorded the
entries and clearances of the port, the name of
each vessel arriving or departing, her master,
tounage, destination, cargo, consignee and
charter rate being given. A daily report of
all artielts received or shipped by both the
river and ocean divisions of the Oregon Rail,
way and Navigation Company is recorded;
and also a similar monthly report of the busi
nesa of the Oregon snd California Railroad
Umipany, and a weeklv renort of !,
carrying business of Wells, Fargo 4 Co. These
record) are open to public examination and
may be seen at the office of the very efficient
llHtll.fls, aon-A l i r.
-..v.... .wtury, Air. uonen, in the count
ing room of Messrs. Corhitt A M.ol i
yuopsis of them will appear in the an mal re
port of the secretary, to be published in Au
gust The Board of Trade his come to be an
intelligent al an active guardian of the busi
neas interests of Portland, and for its new use
fulness great credit is due President Donald
Macleay and Secrttary F. K. Arnold.
Mr. John Loi-er says the weather at Tan.-
gent continues cold and wet, no farm work
f,0.'!!1 1?' f,ecU &ty8 ""'"J PP1 com.
inenced feeding earl ier th ,,..Y. i i. i...
got on well , f.r uJ it cVi"
will come through all
weather anon tn.-t
I right.
Prineville on Saturday, the 4th, and appointed
committees to frame by-laws and mako other
necessary p climinaries towards organizing a
temporary Stockmen's Association. Tim nK.
ject of this is mutual assistance and protec-
,nn nn.1 la n ...a.. .........ft. ftl i. ... . . . .
..., . i.i is luuvciu. u, mat is calculated to
be beneficial to all concerned.
According to a Seattle naner. fli ,,1.
trade of tho Pacific coast, last venr n.
sented briefly in the following figures: There
were on hand Jan. 1st, 1881, 119,000 cases.
The Columbia liver pack was about 540,000
cases; the Frazier and Skccn pack, 159,000
cases; the Sacramento river pack, 170,000
cases; the Pucet ouiidani all sources, 42,150
cases. Total exports to Great Britain, Aus.
traha,and the Eastern States, and the home
consumption, aro estimated at 958,784 cases.
Tho quantity on hand, Jan. 1st, 18S2, is esti
mated at 71,366 cases.
Yamhill Reporter: After much carorul con
sideration by the Building Committee, the
contract for building McMinnville College was
let by them last week. Tho masonry portion
was awarded to Canuto & Co., and the wood
work to Jones, Hill Co., the contract price
being S17.000. This is ptc1i,0;,. r ,ftl,:,t
Willi ll is furnished bv the blllldincr r-nnunittee
t an expense of $4,000, making the total cost
of building about $21,000 Work is to be com
menccd nt once, and the building is to be
completed by the 1st of next October.
The Albany UeijUter has this item about
Jersey cows: Messrs. H. C. Pow ell and A.
jlutsmpiller have sold their Jersey cows to
Mr. Oatnun. of Pnrthm1 .! !,.. .:n k.
taken down to-day. Mr, Powell had four, for
which he received $450. and Mr. Hutsinpiller
two, which he sold for $250.
Jieksonvillo Sentinel: Fruit growers say
that prospects for a very largo fruit crop in
Jackson county almost promising. At this
date, last year, many almonds and peaches
were in bloom, and, consequently, were badly
damaged by frost, while at present buds aro
only beginning to swell, and bloom will be so
late that the crop will hardly be caught by
frosts. A very largo number of trees and
vines have alieady been set out this winter,
and fruit raising seems to have a new start
Jn a few years an industry, long neglected,
will be one of the most important in this
county. r
uauer uonnty liereille : We are reliably in
formed that at last some stock are dying, and,
strangest of all, they are iu Snake river bot
tom. This year the snow in that region hai
been unusually deep, and in other, respect)
the winter has been severe. The prices of est
tie are as follows: Ycarbngs, $10; 2-ycaroUi,
510; 3-year olds, $20. Horses and mules liaw
doneand are doing well in Baker county.
Walla Walla Statesman: Crop report)
gathered from every portion of the West ani
Northwest thow that winter wheat is in ex
cellent condition, and that the area of spring
wheat will be increased should the season
prove favorable. The amount of surplus
wheat grown last year in Eastern Washington
and Oregon is placed at 3,735,000 bushel),
r e0oe,real?50, 1882 wi" l nfly double that
o 1881, and it d e)timated that there will be
a )urplus of 8,000,000 bushels the coming sea
son. Walla Walla Statesman : Lang & Ryan, the
Wif Ift,!wn c"'e buyers, have purchased
about 13,000 head of cattle, which will be
driven hast this spring. Eastern Oregon pa
pers state that there seems to be plenty of
cattle in the market, notwithstanding the
large numbers that are driven out of the coun
nsj each year. However, we have heard stock
men remark lately that they have no desire to
dispose of their cattle at present, desiring to
Jllow their bands to increase for a time.
the price of cattle is advancing in conse
quence. J "