THE WEST SHORE.
would Dot have braved the dangers nor endured the
the privations incident to building homes in a wild
erness bo remote from civilization. But the fastness
es of the mountains were not so forbidding to those
who understood the nature of the country, and for
the natural advantages which could be enjoyed the
early settlers were willing to endure the inconveni
ence of a few years of isolation from the rest of tho
world. Of the nearly three million three hundred
thousand acres of land in the county, less than three
quarters of a million acres are now under cultivation,
and about half the area is still unsurveyed. It is es
timated that about half the entire surface of the coun
ty is cultivable. Much of the remainder alTords pas
ture lands, and in the mountains in the eastern part
are whole townships densely timbered with pine, fir,
cedar, oak, etc., of the finest quality. Of course, the
choicest locations are the ones which were first taken,
but there is much excellent government land desir
ably situated that is still subject to entry, and much
that can be purchased at low priccB, from private par
ties who have secured it A large portion of tho
county is yet practically unexplored, but tho interest
now being awakened in that region indicates that it
is not likely long to remain so.
There have grown up with tho settlement of
Douglas county several towns which manifest a spir
it of enterprise and capacity for growth. Roseburg,
the county seat, is tho largest city in tho county. It
has a population of nearly two thousand, is situated
on the Oregon line of the Southern Pacific railway,
not far from tho center of the county, and is ono of.
the most important towns in Southern Oregon. The
supplement to this number of The Wi-st Shobe is
an accurate picture of Roseburg, and shows its situa
tion and the natural features immediately surround
iDg the town. The site is on tho cast bank of tho
South Umpqua river, at tho junction of Deer creek.
'1 ho streets of the city arb well kept, tho buildings
are substantially constructed, and tho place presents
a business like appearance. It has good schools,
churches, hotels and facilities for accommodating a
large volume of business. Tho public buildings are
new and a credit to the county. During tho past
year a new public school building has been erected
at a cost of $15,000.00. It is built on the same gen
eral plan as tho Portland school building, and its
apjKuntmenU throughout are of tho most modern
and complete. It has accommodations for over fire
hundred pupils. Tho public schools of Rowburg
serve as an academy for a large portion of Southern
Oregon. The principal, J. B. Homer, AM., and six
teachers, conduct a course of instruction that is on a
high plane of excellence, thorough and tflicient In j
connection with tho schools is one of the larg"t lit-
erary societies in Southern Oregon, so judiciously
managed as to bo an almost indispensable adjunct to
tho successful prosecution of tho school work. With
such excellent educational facilities at homo there Is
no necessity for sending children abroad to acuiro
an education. Tho people of Ilosclmrg aro justly
proud of their public schools. A Roman Catholic
school building is now being erected. Two large
flouring mills on tho river just below tho city, foun
dry and machine shop in town, saw mills in tho adja
cent country, a brick yard, warehouses, etc., indicate
tho prosperity which is enjoyed, and they handle a
very rcspectablo volume of business.
A recent acquisition to tho business interests of
Roseburg is an extensivo woolen mills plant, now Ix.
ing erected at tho water power just outside tho city
limits. Messrs. James Rentoul and James Don ho! in,
of Scotland, through The Wk-ht Biioni:, had their at
tention called to tho desirability of wuolen mills in
Roseburg, and on investigating tho merits of that lo
cality with referenco to tho business, they decided to
establish a plant at that x)int, and tho work of con
struction is now in progress. This will bo a valuable
complement to tho wool growing industry of South
cm Oregon. Inducements aro offered for other fac
tories which will aid in developing tho couutry, and
all legitimate business enterprises will l warmly
welcome! by tho xxp!o of tho county. Tho secur
ing of this Scotch company to locnto woolen tnilU
hero is an illustration of tho benefits which accrui
from judicious advertising. In this cmo capital from
a foreign country on tho other side of tho earth was
brought to add to domestic wealth.
There aro located at Roseburg a U. & signal sta
tion and U. a land ofiice. Two telegraph companie
snd ono express company do business there. TU
site of Roseburg is four hundred fret aUro tho s-
level, and tho records of tho weather bureau show
that there is less wind there than at any other station
in the lrnitd States. Tho town is entirely surround,
rd by high hills. A preliminary surrey fur a railway
lino direct to tido water has Un ru
construct! thu road will giro tho Umpqua valley un.
surpassed commercial adrantags. Tho routfl prures
to bo a feasitlo one, tho highest ideation to U sur
mounted being only nino hundred fe t above llo
burg. Aside from its busings capabilities this U a
desirable resident p!ac iU situation being h-alth-fol
and iU surroundings unusually pliant
Oakland is tho second largest town l iJouglw
county, is incorporate and has a city goverwnt
The isolation is U-twH-a six aLd hunifrd.
IU growth Las Ufa entirely within tho tlUra
years, site tho raiWl wu omUuclnl IU toc-
tion is on Calipooi creek, Uu miU ttou it jatctioo