The west shore., April 01, 1885, Page 125, Image 33

THE WEST SHORE.
125
agriculture. The stock ranges of the Malheur and Owy
hee are among the best in the West Cattle have grazed
there for fifteen years without other food than that ob
tained by them on the ranges and have never suffored
serious loss. Generally they are fat and in good condi
tion in the spring. It is estimated that 80,000 cattle are
grazed in the county, valued at 12,000,000. The wool
interests are also quite considerable, and large bands of
sheep graze on the hills and in the little mountain val
leys. Gold and silver quartz ledges and gold placers
have annually yielded large return Copper ore has
been found in good working quantities. The great draw
back has been a lack of capital. Now, happily, the rail
road affords an opportunity to either bring in machinery
or ship selected ore to other points for reduction, and the
attention of capitalists has been attracted.
The bottom lands of Snake River and its tributaries,
where sheltered from the rigors of winter by the high
bluffs on either side, are especially adapted to orchards.
Peaches, plums, pears, etc., yield prolifically, and Baker
has never wanted for the choicest of fruit in abundance,
When everything is considered, it is evidont that Baker
offers inducements to immigrants that should draw thither
during the next few years both population and capital.
The large amount of arable Government land, and the
fact that good improved land may now be purchased at
from 15 to $30 per acre, combined with the fact that the
heart of the county can be reached by rail, guarantee a
rapid increase in population and wealth.
(WANT -COUNTY.
The largest and least developed county in Oregon is
Grant, lying just west of Baker. It contains an area of
. 13,000 square miles, and stands at the head of the stock
industry in Oregon. Its 6,000 people are engagod chiefly
in mining and stock raising. There is little land, except
on the Lower John Day and its tributaries, that is loss
than 3,000 feet above the sea level. The mercury falls
sometimes quite low, but those cold snaps are infrequent
and of short duration. Among the mountains, of amino,
the climate is subject to sudden changes. Snow seldom
falls to any great depth, except in the mountains, and
seldom remains on the ground more than a few days
below the timber line. Bain seldom falls from June to
September, except in sudden thunder showers that some
times occur with great fury. Although the summers are
warm, the heat is not uncomfortable, owing to the dry
ness and rarity of the atmosphere. The nights are always
cool
The agricultural possibilities of that region have never
been fully reoognizod. The farming lands consist chiefly
of narrow valleys and adjacent foothills. The small
farm, producing diversified crops of grain, hay and vege
tables, and civing support to a limited number ol cattle,
sheep, horses and swine, can be made to yield a splendid
living to thousands of energetic families. The great
trouble with that region at present is that a few wealthy
men have monopolized the valleys and hills and covered
them with vast bands of stock, to the exclusion of the
small fnrmor, There tiro tLomaaii uuu UiUuu. ol
acres of arable land, most of it requiring irrigation, which
are suitable for farms, whore farming and stock raising
may be profitably uuitod.
The soil aud climate are adapted to the raising of all
the hardior grains, fruits and vegetables. Wheat, oats,
barley and hay are the leading crops. The nights aro too
cool for oorn to do well, though corn is raised in the
warmer valleys. Apples, jicars, plums, cherries and ber
ries of all kinds thrive, but poaohoa cannot be depended
upon; yet good poaohes are raised in certain portions of
the oounty, where the topography favors them and gives
them sholter from the extrome oold. Except in tho
southern portion, the country is woii waterod by numer
ous large and small streams and springs of pure water.
The northern portion is well timbered, whilo the southern
is nearly barren of troes. The leading varieties of timltor
are pine, fir and tamarack. A dozen saw mills are at
work cutting lumber for tho homo market.
In proportion to its total area the amount of arable
land is small, but when tho areas of tho numerous valleys
are added together the rosult oarries tho total far up into
the millions of acres. Fut together in one body, it would
make a compact arable tract equal in size to some of the
best counties in tho State. Tho valleys in the northern
portion, in the vicinity of tho John Day, vary iu area
from twonty-five to two hundred square miles, a portion
of each suited for agriculture and the remainder for
grazing. The more desirablo of these are already settled.
The valleys loing south of tho John Day, though domi
nated by cattle men, are subject to location under the
land laws. They contain, as a general thing, more than
fifty square miles each, many of them leing very largo.
Among thorn is Haruey, the second largest valley in the
State. Harney is oompoaod of a succession of large val
leys, through which runs a lake, forty miles in length, and
a number of lateral and tributary valleys, each iNisseuting
a distinct spallation. Lake Hnmey is fresh water, but
has no visible outlet, and varies from eight to fifty foot
in depth. All tlie laud in the nper portion belongs to
the Government, except the school section and a atrip
six miles wide, grauted to the Cascade Mountains Military
Road. Much land lias been taken up under the State
Swamp Land Act, all land of that character having been
granted to the State by Congress. A nuinW of settlers
have recently gone into Harney Valley, disregarding tho
assertion of cattle men that it is unfit for agriculture, and
it is to be hoed their success will induce homesteaders
to seek locations in all those valleys.
There are alxmt 200,000 cattle in tho county, some
firms having as many as 40,000, valued at M.OM.OOO. To
this must be added 15,000 horses and 11)0,000 sheep.
Gold mining is leading industry in the John Day
region. For years placer mining was the sole occupation
of the people. Gradually the ground easily worked was
used up and mining declined There are yet many good
claims being worked, and the large gravel channels are
yielding good returns uuder the hydraulic process. Nu.
meroua valuable quarts ledges have been discovered, but