THE WEST SHORE.
237
wide prairies nnd through the pnasos of hor hills, the
iron track is laid and the screaming of tho hoarso
ihroated engine tells every few minutes of boiuo station
reached. The stage coach, that surprised tho natives,
has given place to steam, as that must in turn give place
to eleotrioity. The telegraph flash ncroM tho wires
news of the Old World; we are so near New York as to
publish the same day the snme news its great dailies is
sue. Roller flouring mills use the flow of rivers di
verted from their courses to do good to man. Saw mills
work up and digest the mighty forests that once grew
here, and the world of to-day bears little semblance to
the "long ago." This is no longor a new country, but
boosts schools, colleges, asylums, prisons, churches and
hospitals. Every Juno old and wrinkled and gray
haired men and womon assemble to talk over the old
times and old friends, many of whom are gone and this
is the pioneers' reunion.
Salem is the second town in Oregon, with six thou
sand population in town and suburbs. It is the most
home-like place in the state, with less pride and artifici
ality than the metropolis has. Spreading maples, natu
ral to this region, are planted alonq its wido and uni
form streets', water from the Santiam is brought in in
two streams that afford six mill sites. Great flouring
mills grind immense quantities of wheat, and other in
dustries do their part to build the town. The future
will see here in harmonious combination great mechani
cal industries, schools and colloges without superior on
tho coast, and state institutions that will do their share
to make the city prosper. Its common schools aro fine
buildings and toachorB who deserve high merit conduct
them. Willamotto University is a thriving college.
Tho city spreads far; has generous lot and wide streets,
and leafy maples shade tho walks. Such as it is, the
MothwliBt mission founded it, and it keeps pace with
tho growth and proHerity of our slate. Halem hits far
the handsomest court houso in Oregon, a building Hint
cost over $100,000, and is truly olegant in npponranoo.
At the upper end of the avonuo on which it stands is
tho state capitol, a building of great dimensions, that
will be completed in duo time. Tho dome and towers
planned for it will not bo built until tho inside is flu
ished, and this ia being done now. When built and
completed it will bo a structure of which any state might
well feel proud. East of Solom, a milo or bo, the state
owns soveral hundred acrea of land, on which aro the
penitentiary, and insano asylum. These are rather im
posing in Bize, well built, and furnished with all modern
improvements. It is sofo to say that thoy-as well as the
capitol-have cost less than any similar public buildings
in America. Silvertou siU close in among tho foot
hills, and is a busy town. Jefferson, Stayton and Tur
uor have mills that use tho Santiam water in busy work.
Home industry will make their futuro. On the railroad,
in French prnirie, are Aurora, Hubbard, Woodburn,
Gervais and Hrooks, all growing at a g.iod pan. Along
the river is Uutteville, famous for it early history.
All over tho county aro towns and villages, furms and
homes, with gardens and orchards that show how well
they all can livo if they but ohooso to do so. The
state has its rivalries, and a generous share of rather
formidable rivalry is worn out nion Salem. The time
came, a quarter of a century ago, when at a general eleo
tinn, nil rotors cant a ballot to nttoat their clwloo for the
seat of government It so happened that a tow from
Salem chanced to be temporarily residing at the mines
in Eastern Oregon. One was a lady whoso charms may
havo faded some in quarter of a century, but then she
was attractive enough to win many votes for Salem, and
carried all alio could. She and others labored bo well
for " sweet home " as to turn tho scale. 8alem was in
dicated by less than one hundred plurality.
Every ton years tho state takes n census of its own,
in tho middle of each decade. The national census
being taken at tho close and tho state census in tho mid
dle of eoeh decade, we have a tolerably effective census
every five years. The state returns from 1885 orodit
Marion county with three thousand six hundred nnd five
legal voters, nnd eleven thousand eight hundred and
forty-eight opulatioii; of live stock, thirty -one thousand
and soventy-two sheep, ten thousand two hundred and
forty-five swine, four thousand seven hundred and
twenty-five horses, two hundred nnd (our mules, ten
thousand seven hundred nnd two cattle. Of 188-1 pro
ducts, wheat, ono milliou two hundrod and ninety-nine
thousand one hundred and ninety-six bushels; oats, nine
hundred and fifty-eight thousand three hundred and
three bushels; barley, sixteen thousand eight hundrod
and ninety-threo bushels; hay, fourteen thousand four
hundred and two tons; corn, sixteen tliousaml eight hun
dred and three bushels; butter and cheese, two hundred
and fifty-six thousand one hundred and thirteen pounds ;
flax seed, two hundred and fifty bushels; hops, four hun
dred and fifty thousand two hundred nnd forty-four
M)iinds; Ntntoes, three hundred nnd eighty-six thou
sand nnd thirty-eight bushels; npples, two hundred and
forty-four thousand two hundred and fourteeg bushels;
plums and prunes, eighteen thousnnd seven hundred
nnd ninety -eight Hiunds; (there nre errors In this, as
wo know ono man who had just alsmt tho quantity of
dried plums and prunes as is credited to tho whole
county); lumber, nine milliou eight hundred ami fifty,
two thousand five hundrod foot; gross taluo of taxablo
proHirty, 15,92 1,315.00.
Marion county is thus divided: tho greatest reach of
prnirio is tho French prnirio, comprising tho northern
part of tho county, extending twenty miles north and
south and almost ns far enst nnd west It has Aurora,
Hubbard, Woodburn, Oorvnis nnd Urooka, towns on tho
railroad, nnd Uutteville, Chnmpoeg and Fairfield near
tho river. Catholics 1-avo a school and oouvent at St
Paul. This prairie Is very fertile and well settled.
Howell prnirio li near the Waldo hills ami borders on
them; it is one of tho most ix-autiful and fruitful of all
Oregon's garden spots. Halem prairie is not so exten
sive as the others, but is a fine piece of country jet
north of tho capital. Tho Mill crovik aud Suutinw country