January, 188a.
THE WEST SHORE.
from becoming raging torrent, in winter
to overflow the valley,. The valuable
timber may all be removed as commerce
nt'pfls it . i
.., 1,r octroying t,.u uUUjj
growth by destructive fires the pre-
miun 01 which is demanded by every
consideration of prudence, economy,
and climate j and the thoughtful citizens
of Marion county should take a leading
part in securing legislative action to
protect the timber wealth of the county.
The mineral resources of the cour.ty
are as yet wholly undeveloped, untouch-
ed, unexplored and barely known to
exist. Gold, silver, lead, coal and lime
stone, have Ijccn found in the Cascade
range within the county, and some at
tempts have been made to discover the
extent of these mineral deposits; but o
tar with indiflercnt success. The finest
specimens of gold and silver Waring
rock which wc have ever seen, were
taken from a vein of quarts on the
North Santiiim river. Hut a large out
lay of capital is necessary here, at in all
other mineral regions, to explore these
mines by proper shaft and tunnels, to
lay bare their concealed wealth. That
this will be done when the mining !u
siness becomes more settled and freed
from the disturbing elements of gamb
ling speculation, and interest on money
depreciates to the standard of older
countries, we have no doubt.
The soilsof this county produce finely
all the cereals and vegetables cultivated
in this region; wheat, oats, flax, barley
rye, buckwheat, potatoes, turnip, beets,
eas, pumpkins, &c. Fruits flourish in
all parts of the county, but csjccially in
the oak hills region south of Salem
and in the Waldo hills. The soiLin the
prairie arc a rich loam, while in these
rolling bill region", they show a larger
percentage of mineral properties. The
soil in the timk-r tails resemble more
the soils of the upland, than it doe that
of the prairies in close proximity ; clearly
showing that the forces' have not lrcn
so productive of humut or vegetable
matter, defiled in the mil, a tbc
grass covered prairies,
A splendid exhibition of the capacity
of Marion county soil, may lc cn at
the seed store of Mr. Dickinson, near
Salem, where all varieties of garden
scc!t are produced in great quantities
.,! of the finest quality, to u-ply the
.tm,n,l. of the State. A v't to these
interested in such matters; and the con
scientious care manifested by the pro
prietor, in cultivating only the ttcst, and
saving mid putting up only xMteiteil
seed commends his goods to the pat
ronage of all.
There is considerable alluvial bottom
land in the county along the Willamette,
Santiam and Pudding rivers. This land
is a very rich, warm, sandy loam, and
produces immense crops of potatoes,
carrots, beets, and in fact everything
the farmer cultivates. It is also utilised
at some points for hop yards, and pro-
luces this crop to great profit. Wc
know of one man near Silvcrton who
purchased a piece of such land on Silver
creek, going in debt for bis whole out
fit, land, bop roots, and everything; but,
by hard work and attention to his hop
yard, cleared enough on his hop crop
in three year to pay for everything in
lull, and put him out of deb), with a
fine home and iodccni!cnt for life.
Marion county it amply supplied with
that pi into ucccsoity to the highest de
velopment of agriculture ami the me
chanic ails, a general diffusion of
springs and streams of water. The
mountain streams coursing through the
county in various direction, lurnish
convenient supplies of water for farm
and domestic uses, and also economical
Mwer for saw mills, flouring mills fur
niture factories, etc. The water power
developed from the Santiam and Mill
creek, and used at Staytou, Aumsvdlc,
Turner and Salem, ha been worth
more to Marion county than a million
dollars in money donated to her people
It has employed great numlx-r of jwo.
pie for years, in the saw mill and flour
ing mill it ha oieratcl, and in the old
woolen factory, beside furnishing a
home maiket for wheat, wool and tint
Iter. And the value of ihi water xiwvr
has iu-l commenced to be felt. A lime
rolls on, one factory, ami one mill after
another, will I et in motion by (hi
tireless inexpensive power of gravila
lion, rai-d in fog and vapor to lite
mountains mid sent down in the shows,
rain and cryMl stream, to the busy
wheel in the valley, until thoutaml of
people ami million of money will I'm-
employment by tbi agency. At Sd
veiton, also, there i another valuable
water-power which wa lite origin
mean of starting town at thai point
.. ..I mnA iiuliriu-tlv huit.tino un a nriatfu-roui
gardens, or to the cipac.ous ; - " -r- r' "
in Salem, will richly repav all person 'place. Ami when rt go back Into th.
Cascades, wc find millions of horse.
M)wcrs awaiting the hand of enterprise
to turn the water upon some overshot or
turhinc, and commence the manulncturc
f lumber, furniture, etc. All this Is
wealth to Marion county.
KAXIM1 AND DAinVINO.
(Sraxing cattle for liecf is not now so
extensively carried on In thl county
a formerly, yrt, Messrs. Coolidge &
McLane, of Silvcrton, and others have
many large herd. (J rain field have
to a great extent taken the place of pns-
lure fields. While all the farmer raise
more or lest stock, having an occasional
liecl and some bacon for sale, yet the
lock business I not now what It was
away back In the fifties. Sheep, alto,
for both wool ami mutton, are raised to
profit in all part of the county; while
many flocks, notably thoe of Mcr.
ohn Minto.T. L. Davidson, and other,
have Income celebrated all over the
Northwest for the purity of their
blood and the fineness of their fleece.
Mutter and cheese of the best quality
is largely produced in several part ol
the thy county, but principally In the
Waldo hill region and the oak hill
country south of Salem. The tlatrlc
ami cheese factories of Mer, Ankeny,
Cranston, and Calvin (Jeer, have ecur
cd wiile reputation for the excellence
of their product. The field for dairy
and cheese making In IhU county an
inviting one. Cheap land can be had
in the foothill, where, by slashing off
the light fir brush ami sowing gr
seed on the ahc of the burn, a rich
and perm merit crop of pasturage I
easily secured, with ample supplir of
hay for winter use. In the same way,
and on lands loo rough for the plough
ami reaping machine, but wilh rich soil,
pasturage can be cheaply srtured for
sheep husbandry, and Jul where the
beep will have crfct health.
TOWN Aftt VIM.AoM.
Marion county, like all new countiir,
U hl-el with a golly number of these
centre of "great ctMit.itioti," Salem
the county scat ami capital of lite
Slate, I of course lite central point In
all matter of trade ami public interest
Much of it interetl i well show n In the
illustration of ibis article.
All the State Institution, except live
university, ami agricultural college, are
located al Satcm, The State Capitol
ami offices, penitentiary, Insane asylum
school for th (leaf mute, ami orphan