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About The west shore. (Portland, Or.) 1875-1891 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 1, 1887)
ALBANY AND LINN COUNTY. AMONG the growing towns of Ore gon, none occupy a more promi nent position than Albany, the chief city of Linn county. Its selection by the Oregon Pacific as its point of junction with the Oregon & California, and the site for large round houses, which are in construction, has drawn much attention to its advantages as a business point This distinction has not fallen upon Albany unearned, but is the result of the enterprising spirit of its citizens, who subscribed liberally to in duce the Oregon Pacific to bridge the Willamette at that point and make the city its chief center of traffic on the east side of the river. This same spirit of enterprise is shown in other directions, and is bearing fruit in the prosperity and rapid growth of the community. The Oregon Pacific is now being operat ed fifteen milef east of Albany, and is under contract for construction beyond the summit of the Cascades. Another year will see it as far east as Snake riv er, and before a second shall roll around, it will meet, at Boise City, another road from the East, making one more trans continental route. Albany will then be the place where freight and passengers by this new line will connect with lines reaching points both north and south, and will, of necessity, become of great importance in the transportation system of the coast The city now has a popu lation of three thousand, which will, by the time the road is completed, have in creased fully twenty-five per cent Albany is well built up with substan tial business structures, and many neat, and even handsome, residences. The county buildings are brick structure?, and cost about $50,000.00. Business in all its branches is well represented, and is increasing yearly in volume. One of the best water powers in the West, tho Santiam river, supplies an abundanco of power for manufacturing, which is al ready utilized by a number of indus tries, chief among which is tho largo Bed Crown Mills of Isom, Lanning k Co., a complete roller mill, manufactur ing standard shipping brands of flour. As a manufacturing point, Albany pos sesses many advantages of location, bo cause of its situation at tho junction of two great railroad lines. It will havo a direct outlet by rail to Eastern Oregon and beyond, to all points south and north, and to tho two ocean shipping ports of Yaquina and Portland. With in easy reach aro vast forests of fir and cedar, and groves of aider, oak, maplo and cottonwood. Thousands of sheep are at hand to supply wool of tho finest grade, while cereal, fruit and vcgctablo products aro obtainable in unlimited quantities. Prom tho very naturo of things, Albany must becomo an import ant manufacturing and business com munity. On pages 809 and 810 aro presented engravings of several of tho busincHS and public structures of tho city, includ ing tho school house and now bank build ing. These aro evidences of business prosperity and enlightened enterprise, which speak volumes for tho city and its people. A glance at tho surrounding and trib utary country will give a good idea of the city's position. Much of tho region