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About The west shore. (Portland, Or.) 1875-1891 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 1, 1887)
A HEM OF THE WILLAMETTE. at Independence, and terminating at Cor vallia, in Benton county. Between this lino and the foothills of tho Coast range, runs tho narrow gaugo lino of tho Ore gonian railway, passing through Dalian, and terminating at Airjie, on tho south- " em vergo of tho county. This road will probably bo extended to a connection with the Oregon Pacific, thus offering tho country along tho route tho sarao ! competitive advantages enjoyed by points on the river. It is within tho hotrods of truth to Bay that scarcely a farm in tho county is moro than five miles distant, by good wagon road, from a railroad or tho river. Tho largest town in tho county is Dab las, tho county scat, situated ou the lino of tho narrow gauge, near tho foothills, and not far from tho geographical ecu ter of tho county. It lies iu tho midst of a multitude of farms, stretching out acroHH tho prairies to tho north, cast and south, and over and among tho hills to tho west From this )oint, about sixty thousand bushels of wheat aro ahipied by rail to Portland annually. This does not, by any means, represent tho total crop of tho country immediately sur rounding tho town, since more than twice that quantity is purchased by tho largo ilouring mill at Dixie, only four and one half miles distant- Through tho edge of tho city runs tho Ia Creole (com. mouly called the Kickreall), a tributary of tho Willamette, whose water power is utilized by a largo sash and door facto ry, combined with an extensive foundry and machino bhoj. Threo miles est of Dallas, at Ellendale, is a valublo water power, formerly usM by a woolen mill, which has not been utilized since tho mill was destroyed by fire. By tho ex. Ieuditure of a littles money, water jtowc-r can lo bail for several factories. Other forms of manufacturing cousint of two machines for brace-wiro fencing a tin shop and wagon shoj. A tannery turns HUM out annually largo quantities of leather of sujK'rior quality, which fimU market chiefly in San Francism Near tho town is a freivstono quarry, whero dimension stono is taken out for trimmings for buildings and Uses for monuments, etc This is a valuable resource, and will bo worked moro extensively as tho demand for such material inert aaes. Dallas is a quiet place, though full of business and thrift Its streets aro brood and its res idences neat and tasteful, some of them being quito largo and ornamental In tho (euter of a largo square, fronting oa tho chief business strtvt, stands tho court bouse, a largo framo structure, with Corinthian columns U'foro tho en trance. Tho jail, a brick structure, with a second story of wood, sUnds ou ono side of tho enclosure. Tho buitiuetui houses occupy 0110 street, nearly all fac ing tho publio square. It consists of four good brick buildings and many sub stantial framo ones. Ouo block Iwk from this street is being erects! a largo framo city hall, thirty-six by eighty f t in size, two stories high, and surmount ed by n 111 tower. Theso frature of Uic city apjiear distinctly in tho engrav ing on pago 0X1. Dallas has two largo general stores, carrying stocks of from $15,000.00 to tJO.OOOOO; threo groceries; two hard ware stores; two drug stores; ono furni ture store; ouo jewelry store, and nu merous other store and ahoj. IVro is au oju niug for a good hotej. Tho fact that there has n-vi r l u a busi ness fniluro iu Dallas, -aks volumes for tho regiou un which it dqiuU for trade. Tho city has a volunteer fire department, who? apparatus ronsUi of a good band engine and Um cart CUterns iu n;ui rtion of tho towu, and tho mill ract) iu others, afford an abundant supply of water for firo pur- JiOfte. From an educational joint of vie,