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About The west shore. (Portland, Or.) 1875-1891 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 1, 1881)
November, 1881. THE WEST SHORE. a77 SOUTHWESTERN OREGON. Difficulty of transportation and re moteness from the world's center has stood in the way of the development of all the Pacific Northwest for many years, and that is the reason why so great a portion of the Columbian re gion has remained so long unpeopled and uncultivated. The first settlements were on Clatsop, along the Columbia, and its tributaries, as the Cowlitz, and through the Willamette valley where navigation made the transportation of products possible. Beyond where steamboat navigation extended, as the interior mining regions offered a market for products, the wide interior was utilized as pasture lands for vast herds of stock 5 but the development of a well denned railroad system is ex tending population and converting bare bunch-grass ranges into productive re gions, and as these extend the railroads arc sure to follow until all the agricul tural regions cast of the Cascades shall be settled and cultivated. The construction of the Oregon and California railroad points to important development in another direction. Southwestern Oregon has hitherto been so remote from ordinary travel and wanting in transportation facilities, that there has been little inducement for dense settlement and no motive for production, further than has been needed to supply the needs of mining camps scattered through the mountains. But the pushing of a railroad south to connect with the California railroad system will lead to the development of 11 the available agricultural lands in the valleys west of the Cascade range, and also in the settlement and cultiva tion of a great portion of Coos and Curry counties, that lie on the coast. It 2s of importance to understand the advantages possessed by this part ofl our country and the inducements lor settlement and for this purpose a com parative view will best accomplish our object. South of Roscburg there is not an extensive region of open country, ex cept the Rogue River valley, which is already all occupied, though no doubt railroad connections will increase values of land, encourage iu ownership in imaller bodies, double population and productions and so add greatly to it. importance. But the greater portion of the country between the Sierras aiul the ocean and south of the Willamette valley, is hilly ami timbered and will require considerable labor to make it available for agriculture; while the agricultural areas east of the Sierras' are generally open lands and easily re duced to cultivation; the emigrant who wishes to become a producer as soon as possible, naturally seeks these open eastern fields to commence work upon. So the comparison of these regions is necessary to enable the intending settler to judge where he had lcst pitch his tent and plant his vine and fig tree. One great advantugc of Southwest ern Oregon, consists of its temperate climate, that is even more equable than that of the Willamette valley, and un doubtedly healthy. There are few ex trcuics of heat or cold, ind along the coast the winters are delightful as well as the summers. If the road deficit from Koseburg towards the coast It will bring that region into immediate demand, and whichever way the main track may take, a system of branch roads will be required to develop the country and feed the main line so the development of all this region is a ques tion of but a short time. Along the coast there are stock ranges that utilize the best portions of the coast range and when transpoi tation facilities give value to these lands we may look for small farms to' be opened in all directions. The delightful climate will !c our irre- sistible attraction. Production will take every shape that can promise success but will not be apt to result in swelling our grain surplus so much as in grass, fruit and vegetables. Of course, cattle, sheep and horses will increase and wool will Ixroine an extensive export. With route open to San Francisco that place will furnish a probable market for much if not all of the products of bouthern Oregon. This hill country will alfound in or. chard and vineyard, fur the climate will favor many varieties of fruit and grape that do not succeed in tin vicin ily, The peach crop of Jackson and Josephine counties llw past year was very prolific and their grapes were as luscious a abundant. The making of wine and raisin should become a source of constant income for the southern country.and ibey can also product in perfection whatever other fruit can be grown to the north. Vegetable from Umpqua already reach the market of the Willamette Valley town Iwfore they ripen here, and they can be brought still earlier from Rogue River Valley, when the road is built that far. Canned and dried iVuiu in immense quantity should be exported from this part of the State, a soon a orchards can be planted ami made to War, It is not easy to predict what the agricultural future of the southern am! western counties of Oregon can be come without full comprehension of the lands that can In- made availabU for cultivation, ami that I qucktion that only time can solve. The rough, est hill region tlii side of Jac ksonville has the richest possible soil, and can be mado profitable for many purposes. Much dccnds on the Inducement that time will offer. The great state of New York ami Pennsylvania have many thickly settled and well de velops! counties thill in a stale of iiutuie were foi bidding, but have been made valuable, and those region had no uch equable ami delightful climate a that of Southwestern Oregon, which, Indeed, excel in climate and many nat ural facilities, mo portions of the Pacific Coat. Compared with eastern Oregon that section excel not only In climate, but abundance of wood am! water are found everywhere and de lightful home simIs can lx selected, sheltered from storms am! with natural attractions that a life time could hardly procure, Viewing the construction of the rail road through to California as a ccr tsinty within two vears, we may expect to see wonderful change occur in the country it will pas inrougn. A glance show the iwmIom of unlimit ed water power, grand forest, rich iil, wltle pasture, many goii mining fields, extensive coal field and limner. ou good harbor. Put a railroad through thi region and all those thing will be stimulated Into activity and In crrasd production will result. The fWhcrlr of those stream will be made the most of. Mine that fire now vatu. leM will I worked. Land that are now Idle can be cropped. A change will pas over lite whole face of nature, and where a sleep of age wa on lit land, life ami tffort will make it up to higher object and aim, ami such pro duction a we have not dreamed 'f un der the old order of thing, when there hat been no Inducement for outlay or energy because the product could not safely exceed the want. Bring the world to the doortof southern Oregon farm ami prospector and the rtsull will be a miracle of ptogre.