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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 1, 1895)
10 THE MOB3SING- OREGQ3sIA3s, TUESDAY, JANTJAB i, is95. THE STATE CAPITAL IfjLr.rne, ohegoxs leading cm SOUTH OP PORTLAND. giec&tloB. of the State Institutions at TkI Point An Old Established Commercial Center. ALEM, as the capital of Oregon, is the seat of most of the state Insti tutions. The establish ment of these institu tions at this point has resulted in gaining for Salem a prestige that is enjoyed by no other in terior city of the 'state, and it was around these institutions, as a nu cleus, that Salem, as a prosperous trading center, was built. The principal business streets of the city today are lined with imposing and substantial brick and stone structures, and the private residences vie in appearance with those found in the 2Cob hill district of Portland. A feature of the residence part of Salem that is especially worthy of comment is the gen eral attractiveness of the fine lawns and well-kept flower gardens which surround all the principal homes of the city. The streets of Salem are all wide, the city is well laid out, and it is one of the most interesting centers of population to tour ists on the coast. Salem is the judicial seat of Marion county, one of the best settled and most prosperous farming districts of Oregon. The land of this county is susceptible of the highest state of cultivation, and this land has been farmed successfully from the time that the first settlement was made in the Willamette valley. The principal streets of Salem are 100 feet wide; they are perfectly straight, and they are all lined with choice varieties of Ng"5 1 si m so 8 i ft E w mmmk ma z&Mm$l -r-Znr.-YM ii - -i i-i'iiii r ! tr i iirfiiiiir"-tV-vr----1 - i-" "i reSrr'.'si: PUBLIC SCHOOL BUILDIXG, ALBAXY.-Photo by Cravjord & Paxton, shade trees. The sidewalks are principally of stone, and they are kept in good re pair. The streets are well lighted after nightfall, the arc system of electric light ing being used. Two well-equipped lines of electric cars convey passengers to all parts of the city. These lines of road run from the business center to the rail road depot, the penitentiary, the insane asylum and the state fair grounds. Cars are run over these roads for distances of two miles or more from the center of the city, and they give as good service as is afforded by any of the big electric-car lines of Portland. Among the great contemplated improve ments of Salem during the present year is an extension of the line of the Salem Motor Railway Company to Highland ad dition, two miles north of the city. This line will afford means of reaching the Polytechnic institute, an important in stitution of Oregon's capital. Another extension of this same road will also be made south for a distance of one and one half miles. The Inauguration of the work of extending this system shows the satis factory conditions of the business of the city, which will justify the necessary ex penditure at tho present time, and it shows further that the complete elec tric railways of the capital city have been built to meet the legitimate de mands of lntcr-munlcipal and suburban transit, and not in the interests of property-owners for booming purposes. Salem has an efiiclent waterworks sys tem of ample capacity to afford an abun dant supply for domestic use, and also. for purposes of protecting the city against the danger of fire. The main reservoir of this system has a capacity of i' 000,000 gallons. It Is located at an eleva tion of 175 feet above the level of the city, and It furnishes sufficient pressure to throw several large streams over the highest buildings. This gravity system affords a better protection than could be given by any number of fire engines. The fire department, however, is well equipped with engines and modern apparatus for fighting fire, and the small fire losses in curred during the past few years attests the strong footing on which the depart ment has been placed. The present population of Salem Is a'-out 12,000. The city is located on the est bank of the Willamette river, on which steamboats ascend to this point from Portland at all seasons of the year. The distance from Sulem to Portland by the main line of the Southern Pacific railroad Is 62 miles. Salem has excellent transportation facilities, bringing her in direct connection with all parts of the Willamette valley, both by the lines of steamboats operated on the river north and south from this point, and also by the Southern Pacific system, which cov ers evciy important section In the valley and which makes close connections on the south for San Francisco and all points l.ast. During 1S94 no notable Improvements were made at Salem. A number of fine residences, however, ware erected dur ing the year, and several substantial bus iness blocks were put up. Salem's busi ness houses carry some of the largest rtocks of goods carried in any city of the t-tate, and the affairs of all the leading business houses are in a prosperous con dition Salem has been termed, not inappropri ately, the "City of Churches." There are no less than 15 churches within the city limits, and some of these buildings are imposing and expensive pieces of architecture- The following denominations are represented at Salem: Presbyterian, Episcopal, Congregational, Cumberland Presbyterian, Evangelical Mission, Cath olic Methodist Episcopal, Methodist Epis copal South, Baptist, Friends, Church of God and United Brethren, During the past year the two separate branches of the Evangelical church have erected sub stantial church buildings. In the same year the First Presbyterian church was entirely remodeled, additional seating ca pacity provided, and many other needed improvements made. Some of the strongest banks in the state are established at Salem. These banks have ample capital to meet the de mands of their business and so conserv atively have these Institutions always been managed that they pulled through the panic of 1S93 without suffering any serious drain on their resources. The substantial character of the local banks is but the reflection of the general sound ness of the business situation here, and it affords an index of the character of the commercial importance which will appeal particularly strong to those who are in search of desirable investments in the "West. There is something of an unwarranted assumption made by many people that Salem's Importance is due altogether to the establishment of the leading state in stitutions at this point. Salem's prosper ity is not materially affected by the loca tion of Oregon's public institutions there. Some trade in a small way reaches the local merchants from these institutions, but the bulk of the business handled there is from the people who are supported by the legitimate industries of the city and from the farmers of the rich counties or Marion and Polk, sections that do all their principal trading with Salem. Salem Is the seat of some of the most important manufacturing industries of the state. The bank of the river which flows by the city affords excellent sites for the location of a large number of factories. One of the most Important manufacturing plants located there is the large woolen milL This mill stands near the Southern Pacific depot. It has been carefully managed, and since its es- tablishment it has paid handsome divi- ft i5t.-rZ ?"-ZzZr!?L Je dends to Its stockholders. It is run throughout the year and gives steady employment to about 75 men hands. The goods manufactured by this mill find a ready sale, not only In Oregon, but also throughout the Northwest, and in all parts of the East. The amount of wool handled by this plant aggregates about 500.000 pounds annually. The mill Is a-three-set plant. Two large flouring mills are also located at Salem. An Important sawmill and two sash and door factories furnish steady employment to a considerable num ber of hands. In addition there are in cluded among the industrial plants of the citv. an iron-worklnir Riant, carriacre factory, brewery. Ice factory, soapworks, ' and several smaller factories. The flour ing mills, when run to their full capacity, turn out 1200 barrels of flour a day. Most of this product is shipped to foreign ports. Most of Salem's factories are run A 11". 5. LEE'S BLOCK, ifsBMIHH ifHBB i by water power, furnished by the con- I are those of industry and frugality, com struction of a flume which empties its I bined with practical instruction, waters into the Willamette river at this The Oregon state penitentiary, located point. All the available power afforded I at Salem, Is partly self-sustaining. One there Is not utilized at the present time. I of the leading employments of the con and this power can be Increased to any i vlcts Is the manufacture of stoves. No extent desired at a trifling expense. convict is kept in idleness. Connected Salem is one of the great educational with the institution is a farm, which Is centers of the coast. It Is the seat of a kept in a high state of cultivation. A large number of public and private good library is maintained for the ben schools and colleges. A number of the efit of prit-oners, and the institution is higher schools of learning there occupy a position among the leading schools of the coast. There are today In Salem five public schools The average dally attendance Cw 5S State Insane Asylum. Ilmf XOTABLE at these schools Is about 1750. The corps of instructors includes 33 competent teach ers. The Willamette university at Sa lem is one of the oldest schools in the state. This institution offers a full col legiate course of study. It was first founded by the Methodist church in 1S43. Its total enrollment today amounts to about 500 scholars. The branches taught include full courses in medicine, art and law, in addition to the regular collegiate course. The Friends' Polytechnic insti tute is a leading educational institution of Salem. The Catholics maintain a well equipped private seat of learning, where young ladles from all parts of the North west receive the benefits of the thorough course of instruction afforded there. The City Business College affords opportuni ties for obtaining a good business train ing. Among the notable public institutions at Salem is the state reform school. This Is located a few miles distant from the city, In the midst of a section highly fer tile. The building Itself is a large brick structure, the erection of which involved an expenditure of $30,000. The school is in charge of Hon. R. J. Hendricks, one of the most competent men In the state, and under the management of this gentleman some of the most incorrigible youth of the state have been turned out as prom ising young men after taking a course here. Connected with the Institution is a large farm where boys are given prac tical instruction in farm and garden work. Schools are also maintained at Salem for the blind and the deaf and dumb, and the lessens Inculcated in these institutions JUXCTIOX CITY. I well conducted in all of Its departments. I The state insane asylum is considered I one of the model institutions of the kind on tne coast, it contains at tne present time about 750 inmates. A large farm is also connected with the asylum, and the convalescent and more rational inmates find a healthful source of exercise in working on this farm. Numerous Improvements and additions have been made to the several public institutions located at Salem during the past year, and everything connected with these institutions is run in a systematic manner, and they are conducted with the idea or aim in view of making them as nearly self-sustaining as possible. Salem has an excellent paper in. the Daily and Weekly Statesman, which is published under the management of Mr. C. B. Irvine- In addition to the States man. Salem also has a good evening paper, the Capital Journal. The Willamette riv er at Salem is spanned by a magnificent steel wagon and passenger bridge, which is at a sufficient elevation to allow steam boats to pass under at all stages of the river. This bridge was con structed at a cost of $65,000, and it is one of the finest bridges spanning the Wil lamette south of Portland. The construc tion of this bridge brought to Salem a large part of the trade of Polk county on the opposite side of the river, and the mon- 1 ey advanced for its construction was in BUILDINGS, SALE2L Photo by Cherrington & Bto. the interests of the entire people of Ma non and Polk counties and Salem alike. JUNCTION CITY. The Point Where the Tracks of Tvi o Railroads Will Meet. HE point In tha Willamette valley where the tracks ( Of the East Side ' and West Side di visions of the Southern Pacific will jofii is Junc tion City. This place, according to the plans of the management of the old Oregon & California railroad system, now a part of the South ern Pacific, form- , ulated at the time that the East ifnd West Side divis ions of this system were being constructed south througn the Willamette valley from Portland, was to have been one of the most Important railroad junctions of the state. North from Junction City to Port land on the East S'de of the Willamette river, a distance of 110 miles, stretches away the garden spot of the state, a sec tion thickly settled, supporting towns of the magnltude.of Salem, the state capital; Albany, a leading trade center of the val ley; and Oregon City, the coming manu facturing site of the Northwest. This part of the Willamette valley is the oldest settled part of the state, and it Is today the home of hundreds of most prosperous farmers. The line of the Southern Pacific on the west side of the Willamette, now being operated from Portland to Corvallis, a distance of nearly 100 miles, furnishes an outlet to a farming community of equal importance to the district on the east side of the river. From Corvallis, the pres ent terminus of the West bide road, to Junction, a distance of about 30 miles, the survey for the extension of the road has all been made, and the line -would have been in running order long- ere this had It not been for the financial depression of last year. This extension would be a flue paying piece of property. It will extend through a country that is level, that is thickly settled, and, with its great im portance to the systemof the Southern Pacific now being operated in Oregon, Its. completion will not be long delayed fol lowing any revival of business in the Northwest. Junction City today contains a popula tion of about S00. It is the end of a divis ion on the Southern Pacific, and an im portant roundhouse of the company is lo cated at this point. The type Qfthe buildings of the town devoted to businsss is good. One block distant from the de pot is a well-arranged cpera-house with a seating capacity of 1000. The rest of the building, which is of brick, is used as a hotel. Among the other brick buildings of the town is the handsome two-story block built by W.. S. Lee. An Illustration of this building is published in connection with the present article. Mr. Lee opened the first drug store m Junction City near ly 22 years ago, and he Is today one of the most prosperous citizens of the town. In addition to his complete drug store, he does a general banking and insurance business. He has some very valuable farm property, which he is willing to cut up Into small holdings. He realizes that it is the small holdings of farm property in the hands of families who will work these small farms to the best possible a 1 vantage that promises the most for the prosperity of any agricultural town, and with this view in mind he is offering to day some of the best opportunities to settlers in small farms that are afforded in any part of the Willamette valley. Grain elevators, with a capacity of -lno.-OOObushels, are located at Junction City. The annual shipments of wheat from thlspotr.t aggregate about 175.090 bushels. As in other parts of the -valley, hop culture In the vicinity of Junction City is yearly claiming increased attention, and diversi fied farming here as elsewhere has given the most satisfactory results. The rcller flourng mill at Junction City has a dally capacity of 75 barrels. Thi flour ranks with the best brands of the state. The public improvements include a fine gravity water system. This .system has two large reservoirs with an aggre gate capacity of 16,000 gallons. The town is the trading point for a fine section of country, and it has always been one cf the prosperous smaller towns of the val ley. WOODBURN. OODBURN, in Marion county, Is an Incorpo rated town of nearly 1000 population. It is 35 miles south of Port land, on the main line of the Southern Fa cie, and is also the point of junction of the main line and the Woodburn - Springfield branch of the same system. The entire Willamette valley north and south is i tapped by the two line3 of railroad which meet at Woodburn, and the town is the business center of one of the most pros perous sections of Marion county. The principal support of Woodburn Is obtained from that part of Marion county known as French Prairie. This belt of rich land extends almost due west of the town. It is a rich farming section, and is settled by a thrifty class of farmers. The leadlnsr Industry here is the nurserv business. There are about 20 large nur- series In the vicinity of Woodburn. One of these is the larc-pst Tinr5frv on thf coast, and covers an area of over 00 acres. A single flouring mill, with a daily ca pacity of 140 barrels, Is the only manufac turing industry of the town. The busi ness blocks are principally of brick. All lines of business here are handled on a profitable basis, and the finances of the place are in a very healthy condition. ALBANY. The Mo.st Important Rnilroncl Center of the "Willamette Valley. LBANT, the judicial seat of Linn county and one cf the most important inland cities of Western Oregon, has the best shipping facilities enjoyed by any in terior point of the state. It is located at the junction of the main line of $&B8t the Southern Pacific with the Oregon Pa cific railroad, and is also connected with Lebanon, a point 13 miles east, by a branch line of the former company. The Oregon ssir , -i NN1BI r County CourtHquse.. T "cefim ote, Cf o a A -&L V?& A .. . yZ WO n2? ' j ghE37QM .iv . ?1R: CRT ? N! v j sssgsffgpasa - yti jJu r. j WanittMMDBanaQHn PUBLIC STRUCTURES, ROSEBURG. Pacific in addition affords Albany direct connection with the Woodburn-Springfield branch of the Southern Pacific at Shel- burn, 10 miles east, and the Lebanon branch crosses the same line at Lebanon Junction, nine miles east of Albany. In osses tho sami lino at T,phannn addition to the advantages of trans portation afforded Albany by the Hne3 of the Southern Pacific and the Ore gon Pacific crossing at this point. Albany is also on the navigable por tion of the Willamette river. Light-draft boats ascend the stream to this point throughout the year. A navigable stream running parallel to a railroad line is a most effective regulator of freight rates, and Albany has taken every advantage of the opportunities afforded to secure ex ceptionally low rates on all goods the local merchants handle. The part of the Willamette valley of which Albany is the commercial center is noted for its fertility. Numerous small er valleys converge near Albany, and these, with the famed Willamette valley, form a belt of country fully 75 miles wide, the trade of which Is handled by the Al bany merchants. The valley is covered north and south from Albany by the line of the Southern Pacific and the Willam ette river, while the Oregon Pacific, form ing a junction with the Southern Pacific at Albany, extends east and west, having its deep-water terminus at Yaquina bay. The Oregon Pacific has long been, and It will continue to be, of the greatest ben efit to tho Albany merchants. The low rates of freight established by this com pany between Albany and San Francisco have enabled the merchants of the former city to build up a large trade throughout the Willamette valley, in direct competi tion with the largest jobbing houses. This company has made the exceptionally low rate of from $2 80 to $3 50 per ton on grain shipped from Albany to San Francisco. This has resulted in, making Albany one of the greatest grain-shipping centers of the state, as.- the grain of a considerable portion of the valley seeks this place as an outlet, for the reason that the low rates over the Oregon Pacific enable the Albany buyers to pay the highest market price for this grain. This naturally in creases the trade of the city merchants, for farmers almost Invariably trade at the place where they sell their produce. The Oregon Pacific also affords Albany con nection with the Santiam mines, which are now enjoying a season of renewed ! prosperity, owing to new discoveries in that section and the introduction of suffi cient capital to work the mines to a bet ter advantage than ever before. It is be lieved that before the opening of another season arrangements will have been com pleted for working a force of no less than 300 men In these mines. Albany is the dis tributing point for this mining belt, and the city is greatly interested in their de velopment. The importance of Albany as a shipping point can be appreciated from the state ment that the annual freight shipments over the Oregon Pacific irom this point aggregate 75,000 tons, while the annual freight receipts over the same road are 25,000 tons. The annual freight shipments and freight receipts over the Southern Pacific line amount to 10,000 tons and 8000 tons respectively. Nature has been especially liberal to Albany In placing natural advantages within the reach of the people here, which have been developed to the direct benefit oi tne city and at a comparatively small expense. Twelve miles southeast of Al- bany. at a sufficient elevation to afford natural flow to the city, runs the Santiam river. A large volume of water Is divert ed from this stream, which flows into Albany through, a well-constructed canal. As the canal approaches the city It di vides into two forks, one of which empties into the Callpoola river in the western part of Albany, and the other discharges Into the Willamette at this point. The fall afforded at the points where the water from this canal discharges at Al- PBEE BRIDGE, ALBAX1'. 111 I I l I. STORE, SAMUEL E. YOUXG, ALBAXY.Pholo. by Ciavford i Paxton. bany is respectively 36 and 32 feet. This furnishes power for all the varied manu facturing industries of the city and for running the electric-light and water-supply plants. The latter system is a com plete one, and It affords ample water for domestic use and also for protection against fire. Although Albany Is today he leading manufacturing center of the Willamette valley outside of Portland and Its suburb. Oregon City, still a large available power is afforded by the canal here which is unused. Factories are easily established at Albany, and the history of manufac turing here has been that success has fol lowed every attempt to build up a manu facturing industry at this point where the business has been carefully managed. Among the large manufacturing plants now established at Albany is the Albany Iron works, one of the most prosperous Iron-working plants of the state. The company operating this plant furnishes steady employment to from S to 20 men, SCHOOL,BUILPING. j and their plant is busy both winter and summer. The company turns out all I kinds of farm, mill and mininsr machinerv. i as well-as steam engines, hrldzro work. I ctnm frnntv n,i i,.. j ... ., store fronts, and brass and ornamental castings. The value of the annual output of this plant is from $1S,000 to $20,009. The Sugar-Pine Mill & Fixture Company op erates an extensive plant at this point. This plant includes a sash and door fac tory fully equipped to successfully handle a business of any capacity required. The bank counters, church pews and other in terior woodwork manufactured by the company equal in finish the product of the large factories of the coast. The woods handled are principally yellow fir. '-7 P - - -KSoiTl IiTC .VV..-N-: 1 m uT" STREET SCEXE, ALBAXY.Pholo. by Crawford & Paxloxu yellow pine, cedar and redwood. The company employs from eight to tea men. and the value of the annual output is from $20,000 to $25,000. The shipments of wheat from Albany by the two large ele vators and the Red Crown roller mills aggregate 500,000 bushels annually. The Red Crown roller mill at Albany is ranked among the great mills of the coast. The flour from this mill enjoys both a national and a foreign reputation. The capacity of the mill is 150 barrels of flour a day. It has been established for 16 years past, and is today In a highly prosperous condition. The Santiam Lumbering Com pany is another large manufacturing plant here. The Albany chair factory, conducted by R. Vedl. Son & Co.. employs 10 men and turns out an annual product valued at from $10,000 to 512,000. The Al bany woolen mills consume from 550,000 to 400,000 pounds of wool a year and fur nish employment to about 50 hands. The cloth made by this company is shipped in large quantities to the New York market, and it competes successfully with the product of the large Eastern mills. The Pacific Mattress Manufacturing Company employs from six to ten men and turns out a product valued at $25,000 annually. O. H. Hoberg & Co. run a sash and door factory which gives steady employment to from four to seven men, and their yearly output is valued at from $7000 to $10,0to. In addition to the manufacturing plants mentioned above, Albany supports a numbsr of factories of lesser import ance. All of these manufacturing indus- ' tries are in a flourishing condition, and the money they annually disburse at this point is an irap Important factor in the city' trade. Within a radius of 30 miles of Albany is comprised one of the most fertile sections of the valley. In past years wheat has been the staple product of this section, and the yield per acre has always been large. For several years past, however, the farmers here have been devoting more attention to diversified farming, and with satisfactory results. The unequaled ship ping facilities enjoyed by the district trlb- t utary to Albany have especially encour- aged fruit culture, and, as the soil of this land is well adapted to fruitgrowing, this promises in time to become a very pros perous industry. Many of the new orchards here are beginning to bear well, while others have been In bearing condition for years. The fruit grown In this section is superior in size and quality to the Cali fornia product, and It finds a good market in points hundreds of miles distant from the seat of its production. A decided advantage to the husbandman of this country is the low price of first class farming lands. Fine land sells here for from $10 to $50 an acre, according to location. Land in California in no re spect superior to this sells readily at from $100 to $300 an acre. Land near Albany, as in other parts of Western Oregon, needs no irrigation to insure abundant crops. Large areas of land in the vicinity of Albany are now regularly planted In hops each season. In addition to fruit culture and hopgrow ing, the farmers are paying special atten tion to raising fine stock, the blood hogs, sheep and cattle In this vicinity being especially worthy of mention. Near Albany large quantities of vegetables are raised, especially on the rich bottom lands. The nursery business in the adjacent country has proved a profitable Industry, and a large number of acres here are now de voted to growing young trees for the market-Albany has always been ambitious In the matter of public improvements. The magnificent cantilever bridge which spans the Willamette at this point is one of the finest bridge structures on the coast, and with the exception of the new Burnside bridge at Portland is the finest bridge across the Willamette river at any point along its course. The business center of Albany is connected with the railroad de pots and the suburbs by a well-equipped line of street railway. The main street is macadamized, and the sidewalks on either side are of concrete. The Albany college and two fine public schools afford educational facilities equal to those of any city of the state. A fine electric-light plant supplies light for stores, dwellings and streets. The system of sewerage here is perahps better than that of any other town in the valley. All the public improvements of Albany have been made with the view of the future growth of the city, and they have been constructed on a scale sufficient to meet the demands of a city of 10,000 population. The churches and social privileges of Albany are unequaled in any city of the size on the coast. So marked an influence do the denominational orders here exert that Albany has long been known as "The City of Churches." Albany claims today a population of between 5000 and 60v0. Most of these peo ple are actively employed, and idlers are few. The business houses are well stocked and some of the largest stocks of the valley are carried here. The two strong local banks lend every support to all legit imate enterprises, and these financial in stitutions have done much to advance th interests of the city. Any of the following named firms will furnish full information of Albany and Its tributary country. These are representa tive business houses of the city, and the information they may furnish will be found reliable. The firms arc S. N. Steele & Co., Curran & Montcith and C. G. Burkhart. A Chnnfrc Has Come. Senator Hill's sympathy for the adminis tration is hardly ablo to be out. XAZX STREET. ASELAXD. I