Morning Oregonian., January 01, 1900, PART TWO, Page 18, Image 18

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THEMORNINQ OREGONIAK, MONDAY, JANUARY 1, 1900.
PRODUCTS
OF
Value of Last Year's Fruit
by Unfavorable Weather.
Aspects good for
Methods Taking Hold In Oregon;1 Growers Are Profiting by
Past Experiences Careless Planting the Cause of
Many of the Failures in the Industry.
Statistics furnished to The Oregonian by
the commissioners of four of the five
horticultural districts of Oregon show that
the fruit crop of Oregon In 199 was valued
at $272,050, as against $818,250 in 1893. The
-decrease was due to the unfavorable
weather at the beginning of the blooming
season last year. All sections of the state
were affected. By varieties of fruit,
values -were:
TRP9. 1R98.
Annies ? E9.G00 5168,600
IPriinoc; ...... 46.150
395.450
. Cherries 20.000
t Peaches 2.000
r Pears 10,300
r- Plums. 2.000
Apricots 2,000
Small fruits 130.000
44,000
10,200
25,500
19,500
5,000
150,000
Total $272,050 $S18,250
The report is not complete for 1S98 or
1899, for two reasons: First of these Is
that no figures are available for certain
varieties of fruit, and the second is that
no figures of any kind were obtainable in
the third district Mr. Casey, the former
commissioner for that district, kept no
statistics, and Mr. Carson, who succeeded
him last fall, did not have time to collect
any. Mr. Carson writes to The Oregonlan
that he means to make it a part of his
business to collect statistics, so that next
year a full report may be expected from
that district. The absence of statistics
relating to the third district is especially
regretable, in that there is no way of
making an estimate of the value of the
Southern Oregon peach crop, which has
become a very Important element in hor
ticulture. However, the report, even if
Incomplete, is of interest, in that it is the
first attempt ever made to get anything
like an official estimate of the .value of
the Oregon fruit crop.
Horticultural Conditions In Oregon.
Horticultural conditions in Oregon are
described in this Annual Number by the
members of the state board of horticul
ture. Each commissioner reviews the sit
uation in his district, and Hon. H. B.
Miller, president of the board, discusses
general conditions. The main point
brought out in this discussion is that
orchards which have been planted regard
less of soil, exposure and climatic condl-
itions have proved to be failures, and that
ijrchardists are profiting by these ex
periences or experiments. They who
thought that, to have an orchard, it was
necessary only to dig holes and put trees
in them, have found out that they were
mistaken. The stunted, infected and dead
, trees that are to be seen in all -parts of
(Oregon demonstrates the folly of these
(men. Horticulture, has been found to be
la science, and he who will not pursue it
a science will find himself loser. It
jseems to be the general opinion that a
few mora years will mark the disappear
ance from horticulture in Oregon of oil
the -unscientific the anti-sprayers, the
ontl-pruners, the neglectful and the in
competent and that in a short time the
orchards will be in the hands of men who
will give them the care and attention
which a merchant gives to his stock of
goods. The unscientific cannot much lon
ger "hold ground against the modern pol
icy, which is: "Put the best and health
iest fruit before the consumer at the
lowest market price."
The letters of the horticultural com
missioners follow:
horticulture: ev oregok.
The Industry Is Sow Safely Out of
. the Experimental Stage.
The horticulture of Oregon in most lines,
and over the greater portion of the state,
has passed the experimental stage, ana
Is assuming large proportions in varieties
for which the various localities are prop
erly adapted by soil and climate.
The year 1S99 has been an off-year in
Iruit throughout the entire Northwest,
'j "rem Alaska to the southern part of Ore
gon; California and" Rogue river valley.
In Oregon, being the only part of the Pa
cific coast producing fruit In large quan
tities of an average crop. The freezing
weather in February, preceded by a warm
and growing condition, did considerable
damage to trees, and for a time was a
source of considerable discouragement.
The continued cold, wet spring, following
the freeze, was the main cause of the
great failure of fruit throughout the
Northwest.
The damage by freezing has not proven
a source of serious discouragement to the
fruit industry of Oregon, and a. prosperous
crop the coming year will more than over
came the distress of the past season. We
ore so unaccustomed to the failure of the
fruit crop in Oregon or to climatic injury
to fruit trees, that we are thrown into
abject misery by injuries that would be
expected regularly in many other fruit
growing sections of the United States.
Commercial .Fruit Products.
The prune leads all other fruits in vol-
"ttffie, value, interest and future prospects.
It is produced in every fruitgrowing dis
trict of the state, and seems to thrive in
a great variety of climatic and soil
conditions. It is produced at a profit in
the semiarid regions of Eastern Oregon
under irrigation; it thrives well in the
colder and shorter seasons of the Grand
Ronde valley; it prospers in every part
of the Willamette valley, In every portion
of the country west of the Coast range of
mountains, bordering on the sea; it reaches
perfection in the valleys and on the hills
Of tho Umpqua, and Its tributaries, and Is
crown at a profit in the still warmer cll-
. mate of Rogue river.
The Italian and French and silver prunes
are common to all these localities, but
the Italian is the leading variety and ex
cels the other two in Importance. The
health and food value of the Italian prune,
proporuon to its cost of production in
gon, la sure to give It a growinjr and
ting place In the diet of the people of
wona. xn tnis one tact lies the cer-
nty of the prune industry becoming
e greatest in the horticulture of Oreeon.
he next fall crop of prunes In Oregon will
ount to iw cars of dried product, ana
several hundred of green.
Apples.
The next in Importance Is the apple. The
epple, like the prune, seems to be at home
la. every clime, and many kinds of soil In
our state. The question necessary to ask
5s not will apples do well in FJastern,
iddie. Western or Southern Oregbn; but
hich variety or class thrives best 4n any
ipecial section.
The semiarid regions of Eastern a&egon, 1
ORCHARDS
Crop Heavily Reduced
a large yield in 1900
by means of irrigation, produce many
types of the apple to perfection, and trees
seem to come into bearing earlier than
anywhere else. The tree growth is Im
mense, and fruit production enormous for
the age of the trees. The elements in
the sagebrush lands seem to be properly
mixed for the best production of both tree
and fruit. In the district about Ontario
thousands of trees are just coming into
bearing, and thousands more are being
planted. The Grand Ronde valley, is en
larging Its area of apples to a considerable
extent, and is producing some varieties
to perfection. It is sure to become a
great apple-growing district. Hood River
is so well known for Its production of
fancy apples that one can say nothing
about It, only by way of reaetitlon. Its
best reputation is made on its production
of the Yellow Newton. This apple can
not ba successfully produced in many lo
calities, and the Yellow Newton of Hood
River is unexcelled. One of the best
features of this section is that the climatic
conditions not only produce a high-class
apple, but also preserve It better and later
than any other section of the Pacific coast,
and It is this that gives the producers of
this section the highest price for their
fruit The great body of Western Oregon
produces apples of a fine quality in almost
every section! It is more especially noted
for the high color of the red varieties.
The great enemy to the apple Is the cod
lln moth. This pest Is becoming so ruin
ous to apples that in many localities it
Is almost impossible to produce fruit free
irom it, even with utmost care, and the
use of every device known. Throughout
all of that part of Oregon lying In direct
proximity to the sea the codlln mojh does
not live. For some reason It cannot re
produce Itself under climatic conditions
existing there, and apples grown along
the coast are free from its ravages. Tins
gives to this part of Oregon Immense ad
vantages over any other apple-growing
section of the United States. The Rogue
river valley produces the greatest quantity
of first-class apples grown in any part of
Oregon, and the planting of apple or
chards Is still Increasing. This year's
crop was about the largest ever produced,
and prices have been very satisfactory.
The valleys of the Umpqua are especial
ly well adapted to the growing of apples,
and as it has been proven profitable to
those engaged In It, many now orchards
are being planted.
Peaches.
The Umpqua and Rogue river valleya
seem to be better adapted to growing
peaches than any other part of the state,
and in both of these localities the produc
tion Is constantly Increasing. This year
has been a remarkably good one for peach
growers in these sections, as good crops
and good prices have prevailed: The Ash
land Fruitgrowers Association shipped the
main peach crop of the Rogue river val
ley, and Its first year has been a most suc
cessful one. This organization is deserving
of much praise for its successful creation
and management Its brand already com
mands the highest price In the market,
and is eagerly sought for by dealers and
consumers.
Pears.
There are many commercial pear or
chards In all parts of Oregon; but the most
successful seem to be those of Southern
and Eastern Oregon. The pear crop of
Southern Oregon was very good this year,
and most of it sold for a dollar a box on
tho cars.
The growing of Bartlett pears, while
quite extensive, is not a well-established
success, although It has been profitable
to some growers. The principal difficulty
seems to come from the fact that they
generally reach the Eastern market when
there Is a great abundance of green fruit
The absence of canning establishments is
another drawback. The growing of late
fall and winter pears in all probability
will prove more profitable In Southern
and Eastern Oregon, where pear blight and
scab are not to be found.
Grapes.
The production of grapes Is Increasing
continually in all parts of Oregon. In the
Rogue river valley grapegrowlng has been
conducted successfully for many years,
and the vineyard of A. H. Carson, near
Grant's Pass, is becoming noted for Its
excellent grapes of many varieties, as well
as for its high-class wine. Jackson coun
ty is the leading section of the state In
the production of grapes and wine. Many
places in the vicinity of Portland are pro
ducing excellent table grapes at a profit;
the Oregon Concords are meeting with
much favor In California, and Oregon will
soon be producing not only enough grapes
for noma use, but also tons for shipment
to points outside the state.
Cherries.
Oregon cherries are as fine as can be
produced anywhere, and the past season
many were shipped to California to be put
up in glass as a fancy fruit There has
always been trouble in shipping cherries
East for some cause, but this will, no
doubt, be overcome In the future, and
shipments of some varieties will be sure to
Increase.
Strawberries.
The shipment of strawberries from Hood
River continues to Increase, and tho prod
uct is growing in popularity. Southern Or
egon Is Increasing itg shipments of straw
berries each year to Northern markets.
Almonds.
Quite a start in growing almonds has
been made in Southern Oregon by Mr.
Clint Stewart, and shipments this year
were quite heavy.
Markets.
The great bulk of the prunes of Oregon
are marketed in the dried Etate through
out all parts of the United States, and to
some extent In Europe. Most of the. prunes
of the Snake river and Grand Ronde coun
try are marketed as green fruit and are
shipped to tho Eastern states. On account
of the lateness of their season of matur
ing they enter into the Eastern markets
after most of the fruits of that class are
out, and good prices have bo far been se
cured by growers. Proper organization of
the growers for the purpose of marketing
would easily extend the markets for green
fruit and Increase the demand In Europe
for our Italian prunes. Japan, Australia
and Asia could be made great fields of
consumption also, as the flavor of this
prune is especially fitted to the appetites
created in these climates. Especial modes
of preparation in packages differing from
that used in any other shipments would
have to be devised, on account of climate
and trade conditions.
The apple market dould also be extended
Into these same sections by an organized
effort on the part of growers.
The crying need of Oregon to protect and
extend its horticultural industries is thor
ough organization of the various classes of
growers for the purpose of marketing.
Markets will not be studied -well, properly
extended, secured and maintained until
the growers by organization for that pur
pose take these problems in hand. The
great and Important question of the day
for Oregon fruitgrowers Is that of mar
kets and marketing, and this can only be
handled economically by co-operative or
ganization. H. B. MTLIiER,
President Oregon State Board of Horticul
ture. Eugene, Or. ..
FIRST DISTRICT.
No Reason Now for Orchardlsts to
Make Serious Mistakes.
The orchards that now furnish tho
commercial fruit of the first horticultural
district were mainly planted within tho
last 10 or 12 years. For many years it was
considered that frultralslng did not pay.
Then came an era of scarcity and high
prices, which Induced a rush of plant
ing of o'rehards, In many cases regard
less of suitability of location, soil or va
rieties of fruit All such orchards have
either died out and been abandoned or
have proved unprofitable, owing to small
yield. But as there are immense quanti
ties of land eminently suited to orchard
culture, the great majority of plantings
have proved very successful, where given
intelligent care, and their owners are now
ready to reap the rich harvest that Is
sure to follow. The crop of 1898 was a
bountiful one, and though owing to un
favorable weather conditions last year's
crop was light, such a condition has been
almost universal and there is no reason
for discouragement The crop of 1900
promises to fre enormous, and the scarcity
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I PINE BELT OF KLAMATH COUNTY I
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There is probably nowhere in America so magnificent a pine forest standing as In Southern Oregon, north of the
Klamath river. The timber Is of two kinds, sugar pine and Western yellow pine. Both are soft, equal in all ways to
white pine, and superior to It In some respects. These woods have been carefully tested at the Cramps' shipyards and
pronounced superior to all woods for patterns and ship decking. The noted oarsman, Ward, who has tried all kinds of
wood, asserts that he can make, from sugar pine, a pair of oars of regulation size, Beveral ounces lighter than from any
other wood, and yet of greater strength.
The Pokegama Sugar Pine Lumber Company has a mill at Klamathon, Cal., which saws about 75,000 feet dally.
All of Its timber comes from Klamath county, Oregon, close to the Jackson county line, from what Is known as tho
"Jenny Creek" timber belt Their box lumber Is all sold at a high price at the mill, and they have already con
tracted for the sale of several million feet of uppers for delivery next spring, an an advance over present prices. All
of this lumber goes East, mainly to the Mississippi valley and the Middle states.
This timber will run all the way from 25,000 to 50,000 feet of pine to the acre, some particular fine quarter sections
going as high as 100,000 feet to the acre.
The main belt comprises the following townships: Townships 39 south of ranges 4, 5 and 6, and townships 40 south
of ranges 4, 5 and 6 east In all, about 130,000 acres. All of the best timber has been bought up and is owned in tracts
varying from 5000 to 40,000 acres each. The trees run from two to eight feet in diameter, and contain from four to ten
merchantable 16-foot logs each.
The accompanying photographs give some Idea of the size and quality of the pine, and In a measure bear out the as
sertion made, that this belt of pine timber is without equal In America.
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last year will undoubtedly causo good
prices.
The great future of the fruit Industry
of Oregon is to grow prunes and apples
for export to Asia. Properly handled,
there will be as great a demand there for
our fruit as there Is for our flour, and wo
should be first In the field to secure and
maintain this trade.
Out of the Experimental Stage.
The experimental stage of orchaird
growlng Is now passed. The best varie
ties for planting and the proper soil and
methods of culture have been determined
and it is now easy for an intending
planter to secure such information as is
necessary for his guidance.
Enlargement of Orchards.
. Men who have made a success of fruit
growing are steadily enlarging their or
chards, and from now on there will be a
steady, rapid growth of the industry, and
where it Is given the necessary care, will
prove very profitable. A prune orchard
will begin bearing at four years old, and
at six and seven should net $50 per acre.
It is not known how long lived the trees
will be, but many trees already .25 and SO
years old are still bearing profitable crops.
WILBUR K. NEWELL,
Dilley, Or. Commissioner.
SECOND DISTRICT.
Indications Favorable to Large
Crops of Fruit This Year.
While nearly all varieties of deciduous
fruits are grown in the -ralley, the prune
is the leading commercial fruit. The lead
ing varieties are the Petite, or French
prune, and the Italian. Of these, the Ital
ian prune is most generally favored, and
by far the largest acreage Is in this fruit,
though prunegrowers are looking forward
to the production of a prune which shall
retain the good qualities of the Italian and
still possess additional desirable qualities.
The largest yield fof prunes In the second
district was produced In 1898, when 6,000,000
pounds of evaporated prunes were cured,
and found a ready market, returning to
the grower about $200,000. With a favor-
able season a still larger yield was ex- I
pected In 1899, but the severe winter frost, '
followed by unfavorable weather during
the blooming period, reduced the fruit crop
of the valley to very meager proportions.
In the early history of this valley, after j
the gold excitement In California and the
cessation of the demand for our famous
Oregon red apples, the early settlers, find
ing the products of their orchards no
longer sought after at exorbitant prices,
gradually allowed their trees to be neglect
ed, and both trees and fruit rapidly suc
cumbed to disease and depredation by In
sect enemies. A few prune orchards,
planted as experiments, having proved
profitable to their owners, prune trees
were soon planted in large orchards, many
of which. Tvere in soils unfavorable for
the growth of the trees and the produc
tion of fruit A large number of these
orchards have now been bearing for sev
eral years and others are rapidly coming
Into bearing. The cherry, apple, pear and
other fruits have received the attention
of orchardlsts, until the orchards of the
second district now number over 800, con
taining more than 12,000 acres, exclusive
of old apple orchards and the small home
plantations of one or two acres. There
is now a tendency to plant apple
orchards throughout the valley. While
good apples of the right variety will pay
a profit to the grower, there are already
too many inferior, diseased and wormy
apples, and he who anticipates planting
an apple orchard should consider care
fully whether he can give it the attention
ft must have in order to be profitable.
For the coming seaon the present pros
pects are good, the fruit buds appear
Mississippi valley.
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healthy, and with favorable climatic con
ditions, the yield of fruit In 1900 should
equal or exceed that of 1898.
L. T. REYNOLDS,
Salem, Or. Commissioner.
THIRD DISTRICT.
Crop Last Year Was Smaller Than
That of 1SOS.
The fruit crop of the third horticultural
district was not as large last year as In
1S9S. Trees bore very heavily in 1S98, hence
1S99 was an off year. A heavy crop taxes
the vitality of a fruit tree, and nature
demands a rest the following year, and the
bloom following a large crop Is always
much less. Climatic conditions, too,
thinned the light bloom. There were no
frosts that did any damage. After April
we had no rains until August, with too
low a temperature In May, June and July,
and a constant north wind that caused a
great amount of fruit of all kinds to
drop. With the drouth and north wind
came the usual spring fake, traveling the
country selling the "best known remedy"
for killing all kinds of Insect pests, and
that he made a success in selling "hl3
remedy" Is evidenced by the unusual
amount of worm-Infested apples this year.
That using these fake remedies has cost
the fruitgrowers of this district several
carloads of apples, I have no doubt Fruit
growers should Ignore all spraying reme
dies not approved by the state board.
The peach crop was light In this district,
except at Ashland, In Jackson county, and
Merlin, In Josephine. From the most re
liable data that I could get, Ashland mar
keted last year, 75,000 20-pound boxes Of
peaches at gOQd paying prices to the grow
ers. Ashland peaches are becoming fa
mous, and they deserve to, as they are
large, highly colored and of delicious fla
vor. Organization Helps Prices.
The peach men of that enterprising fruit
locality have taken hold of the marketing
of the products of their orchards In a busi
ness manner. Last year they organized a
fruit association, which handled 40,000
boxes with satisfaction to all the members
of the association. To grow fruit Is one
thing; selling it Is another. The Ashland
growers sold their peacea at a much bet
ter profit than they wcr were able to
realize as Individuals,
Jackson county shlp94 100 cars of ap-
pies last year, but It' was a short crop as
compared with 1S93, so Olwell Bros., of
Central Point, Inform me. Jonathan, Bald
win, Spltzenburg apples of the holiday
trade, are bringing tha grower about 60
cents net, while the Ben Davis, yellow
Newtown, keepers that supply the spring
trade, bring the grower about SO cents net
A standard box of apples weighs 45 pounds
net Josephine county shipped 65 cars of
apples in 1898, at good prices. Last year
20 cars will cover the output
The Jackson and Josephine county prune
crop Is never large, as but few commer
cial orchards have been planted. Eight
carloads of cured prunes will cover the
1899 output for both counties. Douglas
county is the "Santa Clara" of the Third
district in growing and curing prunes.
From the best data I could obtain, Doug
las shipped 80 cars of cured prunes in 1893.
Last year the crop was not more than a
half crop as compared with 1898, owing
to the Italian and silver prune dropping
badly.
A. H. CARSON, Commissioner.
Grant's Pass.
FOURTH DISTRICT.
Mistakes of Some Early Orohardlsta
Now Fully Realized.
The fruit industry has made rapid prog-
res3 in my district the fourth during the
the Middle States and the I
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past 8 or 10 years. Before that time the
bulk of the fruit consumed here had to be
Imported from other parts of the state
or from California. Now the home prod
uct not only meets the home demand, but
a constantly Increasing surplus Is annually
shipped in carload lots to the Eastern
states. And yet the Industry is only in
its infancy. The orchards are nearly all
young. Many of them have not come
Into full bearing, while a vast territory
lying along the foothills, at an elevation
of 2000 to 3000 feet above sea level, ana
pre-eminently adapted to apple culture. Is
still practically untouched by the hand of
the orchardlst What has been done In
the Upper Hood river valley, near the base
of Mount Hood, abundantly demonstrates.
If demonstration were needed, that the
best-flavored and best-keeping apples are
raised in the higher altitudes the nearer
thesnow line the better-cool nights during
the ripening season being absolutely essen
tial to these ends. Apple's raised In such
altitudes not only keep better, but are
better flavored than those grown In
warmer regions. They are also less sub
ject to the depredations of insect pests.
Proper Start the First Consideration.
I believe that a sure reward awaits in
telligent fruit culture In Eastern Oregon.
We have tho soil and the climate and a
constantly expanding and generally profit
able market It is a rare thing to hear
of an Intelligent and Industrious fruit
grower being driven to the wall. There
are probably fewer failures among fruit
growers than among any other class of
business men. But to make fruit culture
a success It Is necessary to make a proper
start. Much depends on the location and
the selection of only such variety of fruit
as Is best adapted to the locality. It Is
a safe rule to plant your trees where,
nature has already made trees to grow.
That kind of soil is always suitable for
an orchard, and the thicker the original
timber and underbrush the better Is the
soil adapted to fruit trees. Care must be
had that the land be well under-drained,
and that it have a deep subsoil on the
northern exposure. It Is along these lines
that too many fruitgrowers In my district
have made serious mistakes. As a re
sult I have come to the conclusion, veri
fied by my experience as commissioner,
that not more than 50 per cent of the
fruit trees hitherto planted In my dls
trlct have lived to bo over 10 years old.
"1
In some localities the loss has been even
greater;- in others less. I believe that
much of this loss would have been avoided
if the location and soil had been Intelli
gently selected and the trees properly
planted, and I am strongly In favor of a
horticultural department in our public
schools, especially In the schools of the
rural districts, where the male pupils
shall be Instructed In matters relating to
the planting and care of fruit trees. I
am sure that Instruction along these lines
would result In far greater benefit to the
average country youth than a modicum
of Latin and Greek inflections or a smat
tering of the higher mathematics.
EMILE SCHANNO, Commissioner.
The Dalles, Or.
FDPTH DISTRICT,
Commissioner Geer Expects a. Crop
Valued at 81,000,000 This Year.
The valleys of Eastern Oregon are un
excelled for the production of commercial
fruits. Owing to the unprecedentedly se
vere winter of 1898-99, the fruit crop
of the past season was greatly diminished.
The tree3 uave had a rest from bearing,
hence have made a much larger growth
than usual, and formed an abundance of
fruit buds for the coming season. The
danger we now have to fear Is one of over
production, which often brings loss to the
grower where he look3 for gain. It Is
hard to induce the grower to prune vigor
ously and hand pick, early In the season.
It is now probable that tho fruit crop
of 1900 In Eastern Oregon will be much
larger than any ever harvested. In 1S98
one-half of the orchards bore their first
crop, and a large number of young or
chards would, under normal conditions,
have come Into bearing In 1899. The loss
of trees by the cold winter was not so
great as was feared, except In the peach
orchards, which suffered considerably.
With an average season during 1900 the
gross value of the fruit crop In the fifth
district will be not far from $1,000,000.
Fruit Late to Mature.
Owing to the cool nights and even tem
perature of the mountain valleys, the
fruit matures slowly and possesses a firm
texture, which gives It great keeping
qualities and renders It of extra value for
long-distance shipping. The fruit matur
ing late In Its season gives U3 the value of
a bare market. Cherries here mature In
August and some varieties as late as
September. No cherries I have ever seen
"stand up" so well In long-time ship
ments. We can place the King apple on
the market at from one to three months
after Its "season" In the Eastern markets
Is past. A few years. ago, I received some
fine specimens of Gravensteln apples, fully
matured and looking fresh and firm on
the 1st of March.
At best It seems a long time to the or
chardlst that he must wait for returns
from his Investment, hence It will be an
Item of Interest to him to know that fruit
trees come Into bearing here at an early
age. One grower whom I call to mind
picked from 500 4-year-old trees 600 boxes
of four and Ave tier apples. And last
year was an off year. These apples were
of the Ben Davis and Shackleford vari
eties. Cherry trees, of course, come Into
bearing at an earlier age.
Large Areas Being Opened.
Irrigation Is opening up an immense field
of new lands which possess great advan
tages and rare attractions to the grower
of commercial fruits. The apple-grower,
especially, finds great advantages to be
derived In having a supply of moisture at
his command during the months of Au
gust and September.
The fruit Industry of Eastern Oregon 13
yet in Its infancy. The fruit pests which
have proved such a menace In older fruit
districts, have gained but a feeble foot
hold, many places being entirely free from
the most harmful ones.
JUDD GEER, Commissioner.
Cove, Or.
CHRISTENSON-M'MASTER MA
CHINERY COMPANY.
Manufacturers of Logging Engines,
Hoisting Plants, Eta.
The character of the business of this
well-known firm has recently undergone
considerable changes. While still dealing
in second-hand machinery they have re
cently devoted considerable time to the de
velopment of the manufacturing line of
:helr business, and with such great suc
cess that it has been necessary to increase
the capacity of their machine shops, and
with an additional force of mechanics all
working overtime, it Is found difficult to
be prompt with the large numbers of or
ders for new machinery now on hand.
This highly satisfactory increaso of busi
ness Is partly due to the great experience
Chri&tenson & McMaster have had In the
machinery line, enabling them not only to
execute orders with entire satisfaction to
the purchaser, but also to Introduce many
very Important Improvements. Chief
among these may be mentioned the "Pole
Road" locomotives, and wire-cable en
gines for logging camps. These differ
from the ordinary engines In the style of
rail, which Is only a pole bedded In the
natural soil, the wheels of the engine be
ing made with concave faces adapted
to the pole. The chief advantages claimed
for this are cheapness and simplicity of
construction, and the ease with which It
Is constructed and kept in order and re
pair. Last year several of these pole road3
were equipped and have more than ex
ceeded the anticipations of the buyers,
who find It greatly superior to tho old
fashioned horse outfit This fall two more
have been built with equally satisfactory
results, with prospects for more orders
ahead.
In addition to these Chrlstenson & Mc
Master have constructed many of this
type of engine, but with wheels flat-faced
and double-flanged to run on square tim
bers. The firm also have In hand or
ders for hoisting engines, which will oc
cupy some time to complete.
These are being built on an entirely new
plan, with wooden frames Instead of a
cast-Iron bed. The engines, boilers and
drums are bolted to the wooden frame,
which Is reinforced with a heavy wrought
Iron bedplate. The great advantage
here Is that the wood frame stands tho
great hauling strain better than Iron and
Is more easily and cheaply repaired.
Those who have used the hoisting plant
constructed on this plan affirm that It Is
In every way far more satisfactory.
Chrlstenson-McMaster Machinery Com
pany are the only firm In Portland now
building refrigerating machinery and have
put In several plants this season which
have given complete satisfaction, and they
have a large number of orders In hand for
next season.
A very large and Increasing business Is
also being done In the manufacture of
freight elevators, which are giving the
greatest satisfaction. Although the Chrlstenson-McMaster
Machinery Company has
not been long established In Portland,
their thorough knowledge of the business
and their ability to apply that knowledge
to the needs of their customers have en
abled them to build up a business which,
by leaps and bounds. Is. rapidly becoming
the foremost house of its line In Port
land. MERCHANT HOTEL.
One of the well-known hotels of Port
land, among the traveling public, Is the
Merchant located at the corner of Third
and Davis streets. Mr. T. D. Condon, the
proprietor, was formerly a conductor on
the Southern Pacific railroad, and Is well
known throughout the state. The Merchant
has 200 rooms, is only a short distance from
the union depot, and runs a free 'bus to
and from all trains. It has the reputation
of being headquarters for mining men and
livestock dealers. When a cattle man
comes to Portland he Is generally found at
the Merchant While catering to please
his guests with the best of rooms and ta
ble board Mr. Condon has managed to es
tablish a reputation for reasonable rate3.
and this, perhaps, more than anything
else, has given his hotel the high standing
it enjoys among the people who visit the
city;.
WEBER BROS., TANNERS,
THEIR LARGE AND COMPLETE TASK
NERY IN PORTLAND. -
Tho Market It Affords for- the Prompt,
Solo of Choice Hides la tho
Homo Field.
There Is no line of business which tha
Portland people show a special desire to
foster and encourage as that of legiti
mate home manufacture. Tha real prog
ress that the city Itself has made during
the past few years dates from the timo
when attention was diverted from the fit
ful spirit of real estate speculation to
that of earnest effort to build up our in
dustries along the soHd lines of substan
tial and steady growth of manufacturing.
The Pacific Northwest today boasts of
the best and largest ranges for cattle
and sheep In the United States, barring,
perhaps, the ranges of the single stats of
Texas. In many respects, however, eattle
raised, on the ranges of Oregon and
Washington are superior to thosm of tho
Texas range. These cattle make some of
the best beef sold In the Chicago and
New York markets. The same conditions
of growth which conduce to producing
tho best beef, also insure the highest
state of development of a perfect hide, a
badly raised animal when killed yields
only an inferior hide. The superior qual
ity of Oregon and Washington hioVs has
created a demand for theso hides which
now reaches to every part of the United
States. Goods made from Oregon hWtw
are among the most valuable sold In any
markets of the world, and tho special af
fort which our home manufacturers of
leather have made during the past few
years to improve the quality of the locally
produced article of staple consumption
has proved a most effective advertisement
for Oregon tanneries generally.
The best-known tannery of Oregon te
day" Is that of Weber Bros., situated neas
Fulton Park on the Macadam road, ar,
the southern lines of Portland. It ia
located on the river bank, and has evWry
facility for shipping In the raw materials
of manufacture, and also of shipping Jho
finished product by either the numerous
lines of steamers on the Willamette, or
by the cars of the Southern Pacific Com
pany, which pass their door. The Snu
Is composed of Joseph and Frank Webeh
They have now been established In busi
ness In Portland for 12 years past They
employ regularly about 20 men, and their,
product Is shipped to all parts of tho
United States. The company uses only(
the highest grade of oak bark for tan
ning. The supply of bark used com3i
principally from Humboldt county. Call-5
fornla. There Is no better harness leather '
on the market today than that which l
bears stamp of Weber Bros., tanners, '
Portland, and tho Industry which this I
firm has developed hero ha3 proved a t
most valuable advertisement for not only '
the business of Portland, but for the ea-
tire Btate as well.
a
ASBESTOS MANUFACTURING.
Some o the Work Done by the Lend,
ing Fireproollng Co. of Oregon.
J. O. Glllen & Co., of 223 Second street.
formerly Gaffney &. Glllen, are a firm
keeping abreast of tho times In their
line. The fact that Glllen & Co. do the
greater part of the boiler and steam pipe
covering throughout the Northwest, whieh
Includes such work as the lightships and
torpedo-boats built by the Wolff & Zwlek
er Iron works and United States engineers
department, together with references se
cured by the company, during the past 10
years, 13 conclusive evidence that they are
experts In manufacturing and applying
fireprooflng materials.
They are also manufacturers of high
and low-pressure sectional steamplpe cov
erings, asbestos boiler fittings, furnace
and stove cements.
Users of steam now realize the Im
portance of covering steam-heated sa
facea. especially a3 the saving in ftwl'
pays for the covering in a few month.
This manufacturing Industry Is growing
and will keep pace with the constantly In
creasing demands for this class f goeds.
JOHN POOLE.
A Prominent Dealer In Machinery.
Portland Is recognized as an excellent
distributing point and quite a number C
noted dealers In machinery and alliedi
lines are located here. Some 15 years ago
John Poole established a business hand
ling pumps and windmills, which has
grown steadily until he now carries a va
ried stock, embracing engines, boilers,
the celebrated "L X. L." windmills,
"Frahern" pumps. "Byers " donkey en
gines. Michigan Buggy uompuny s "
riages, "Newton" wagons, agricultural
implements. South Bend Chilled Plow
Company's line, dairy machinery, laundry
machinery and supplies, wood-working
and sawmill machinery, church, school
and farm bells, iron pipe and fittings.
Mr. Poole'3 warehouse Is located on the
river front, extending from Morrison to
Yamhill streets. He has a machine-shop
connected therewith, and does an ex
tensive business In second-hand boilers andt
engines He transacts his business
through travelers and correspondence,
covering the Oregon, Washington, Idaho,
and Alaska sections. Buying In carload
lots he 13 amply qualified to meet any
competition. He recently secured the con
tract for putting In an electric plant and1;
city water works at Woodburn, Or.
. O O M
0. SUMMERS CROCKERY.
One of the best known of Portland's
business houses Is that of O. Summers,
dealer In crockery and glassware; suc
cessor to the old firm of Olds .& Sum
mers, established In 1S79. Since then It has
done a constantly Increasing business,, un
til at the present time It ranks with the
first of Portland's retail establishments.
This house carries a large stock at the
best grades of crockery, not only of do
mestic manufacture, but many Importa
tions from European potteries, particu
larly of the popular Haviland china.
In glassware there are all grades, in
cluding a fine line of cut glass In cholee
patterns and the latest designs. Taet
stock Includes a complete assortment of
lamps, in china, wrought Iron and. the
new enameled steel varieties, the last
named being especially handsome.
At the head of the house Is. General O.
Summers, who nas won distinction as
commander of the Second Oregon in the
Philippines during the last year. Since
his return from Manila. General Sum
mers has resumed active management of
the business of 'the house, having laid
aside the honors and duties of war for t
his old place again in the ranks of Port-
land's business men.
mi
PORTLAND STOVE WORKSL
One of the oldest manufacturing estab
lishments In Portland Is that of the
Portland stcve works, established 17 years
ago. Montag & Cleave, the present pro
prietors, started the plant, doing all of
their own work, and have built it up grad
ually until now they employ 20 men. all
of whom are members of a union. Every
stove manufactured by the firm has Port
land stamped upon Its name-plate. In
addition to manufacturing cooking and
heating stoves, the firm does a large
business In supplying extras and repair
ing stoves of other makes. They find a
market to the ngrth as far as Juneau; to
the east as far as Spokane, and as far
south as San Francisco. Over 512.000' an
nually Is put Into circulation Dy the firm
in the way of salaries, goods bought etc.
The factory of the Portland stove works
is located at the .corner of Hood and
Caruthers streets. ,
i