THE MOBNING ' OREGONIAlSr, MONDAY, JARUAEY 1, 1900.
uable for timber and pasturage "for cattle
and sheep. The farming lands are of a
great variety of soil, and of great rich
ness. Sand and black loam soil Is found
along the river bottoms, and on the lower
levels, while the clay and red loams pre
dominate on the higher levels. Any crop
peculiar to the Willamette valley grows
In Clackamas county.
The "Willamette river runs through the
county from south to north, affording ex
cellent transportation facilities at mini
mum rates and serving, at the same time,
to .modify and control the rates on the
railroads. Many good-sized mountain
streams, with water as clear as crystal,
course through the county from their
source amid the crags and fastnesses of
the mountains to their exit in the waters
of the Willamette and Columbia (rivers.
Pudding river. Butte creek. Rock creek,
Molalia. river. Milk creek, Beaver creek,
Aberneihy creek, Clackamas, Clear creek.
Roaring river. Eagle creek. Deep creek.
Cedar creek, Sandy river, Salmon river.
Bull Run and Tualatin river, are all
streams of considerable importance.
These, In turn, are fed by a multitude of
rivulets and spring branches. An abun
dance of water is one of the character
istics of the county. It is the rule, hardly
without -exception, that there is found
either a cunning stream of Some kind,
or a living spring, on every ICO acres of
land in the county. The abundance of
watercourses also naturally divides the
land into-bottom lands and table lands,
or plateaus, giving a great diversity of
soli, suitable for every known crop pe
culiar to a temperate climate.
Let it be understood that Clackamas
county lies Immediately south of Multno
mah county, the county seat of which is
Portland, the metropolis of the Northwest
Thus we have an unlimited market for
all our products. "When It is understood
that one-half of the farmers of our coun
ty can drive to Portland, do their mar
keting and trading and reach home the
same day, the Importance of this fact
will be readily conceded and appreciated.
In this day and age of close margins, it is
an absolute necessity to cut down every
expense. The farmer, by hauling to the
great market centers, not only sells to the
immediate consumer, but is enabled to
purchase all articles of family use at less
cost Commissions and profits to agents
and middlemen are thus saved to the
farmer.
Clackamas county is making commend
able progress in the construction of roads.
It was the second county in the state to
adopt the cash road system, in 1B93, and
since then more real practical improve
ments have been made to the public thor
oughfares than In all the previous years
under the old system. The annual road
tax collected Is from 4 to 5 mills on the
dollar, creating a fund of from $20,000 to
$25,000. This sum Is expended by the road
supervisors, under the direction of the
county court. As the now and permanent
roads reach out farther into the country,
the farmers are greatly encouraged, and
in their seal volunteer large amounts of
work. We have adopted all three sys
tems of road construction macadam,
gravel and plank with good (results.
In 1S99 a modern, road was completed to
Molalia at a cost of about $7000. The peo
ple of Oregon City, Carus. Mulino and
Molalia contributed, in work and money,
$3000, and the county paid the remainder.
We nave now in Clackamas county near
ly 75 miles of modern road. In less than
five years main roads to all the large out
lying precincts will be completed.
Frnlt Industry.
A great many of the old apple orchards
planted in early pioneer days remain.
They give, when taken care of, profitable
returns from year to yean But the plant
ing of orchards as a business and for
profit was not seriously begun until about
10 years ago. Since then thousands of
acres of the best varieties of apples,
pears and prunes have been set out. In
10 years frultraising will .be .the. leading
Industry of the county. Even now it
makes a considerable showing, aggre
gate results considered. Many farmers
are making prune culture a specialty.
The soil of the county, especially in the
sections where the natural drainage is
good, is well adapted td the successful
growing of prunes. The precincts of Can
by, Springwater and Clackamas lead In
acreage. Driers are being erected each
year to handle the new crop coming on,
and the product is shipped by carload
lots to all ax'ailable market points. While
I have no patience with the boom stories
of the wonderful results to flow from
prune culture, I am of the opinion that
$100 an acre, net, is within the reasonable
limits of what can be realized firom a fair
crop of prunes. So far, however, it has
been demonstrated that no fruit crop ex
cels in productiveness or value the far
famod red-cheeked apple. And if any
criticism is permissible in an article of
this kind, it would be to the effect that
we are not giving proper attention to the
growing of apples and pears.
Dairjlngr and Stockraising;.
Clackamas is a clover county. The
white clover grows on every roadside,
and the red clover yields from three to
five tons pec acre a year. As a matter of
fact, the farmers of this county and of
Oregon hardily realize the possibilities In
butter-making. To be sure, our breeds of
cattle are improving, and the outlook is
encouraging; yet we have not scratched
the surface of the Klondike of wealth to
be found In the dairy interests of West
ern Oregon. Not only that, but abundant
pasturage in the foothills of our county
offers special inducements to the raising
of cattle for market. A great many of
our foothiii farmers keep as many as 100
head of cattle in connection with their
farming interests, and the number might
be largely Increased with profit.
What is true of cattle is true of sheep.
Sheep pay. The best farmers are coming
to understand that a flock of sheep is an
absolute necessity to successful diversi
fied farming. There is ample room In this
county for wide-awake farmers with mod
ern ideas who are not afraid to work.
The soil is rich, the crons never fail,
deep-water ships come within four miles
of our county line, inviting us to greater
efforts, and promising us the highest
market price for our products. Clacka
mas county is an empire in itself, and
could support, without crowding, a popu
lation of 590.000.
A great matter of encouragement Is the
number of public and private creameries
starting up in various sections of the
county, most of them during the past
year. On a recent trip into the Sandy
country, 20 miles east of Oregon City, I
found five private creameries in opera
tion, and the product found ready sale
every week for cash. The farmers of Lo--.gan,
18 miles cast of Oregon City, are
also organizing a cheese factory and
creamery, which they expect to have in
operation early this year. So the good
work goes on.
Cluckanias County
Acres under cultivation..
Bushels of wheat
Bushels of oats
Bushels barley and rye...
Bushels of corn
Tons of hay.-
Bushels of potatoes
Pounds butter and cheese.
Pounds of hops
Bushels of apples
Bushels of pears J
Baskets of peaches
Bushels of plums
Bushels of green prunes...
"Value of all other fruit
raised in county
Lumber cut, feet 1
Number of sheep
Number of horses
Number of cattle
Number of swine
Statistics.
Value.
71,054
400,000 -$200,000
500 00 175,000
20.000 12,500
20.000 10,000
30,000 240.000
5C0.003 150,000
500 000 125.000
1,000,000 100.000
200,000 150,000
50,090 20.000
5,000 2 500
10,000 5.000
50,000 SO.O'jO
t 25,000
16,000,000 ICO.000
9.00S 18,000
3.495 150,000
7,452 150,000
3,945 10,000
Real Estate.
Sales of real etsate in 1S99 show an in
crease of nearly 25 per cent over those of.
1S9L Sales in 1S9S aggregated 5400.000. A
careful compilation of the records of
Clackamas county from January 1, 199,
to December 10, 1869, shows total real es- 1
tate sales of $472,009 39. By the end of the
year the total .sales will easily reach
&00 000 This sum, while not large", shows
that the movement in real estate has be
crun and Increased sales may be confi
dently expected. Farms are, however, I
cL-ap, and good bargains may be had,
The snaps are being picked up fast, and
better prices will no doubt prevail in the'
near future.
Any inquiries as to lands, in this coun
ty or as to water-power will be cheerful
ly given on application.
H. J3. CROSS.
.Oregon City.
CLATSOP COUNTY.
Activity in All Line Provides Work
for All Who Want It.
Clatsop county, in common with the
rest of the state, has made a marked ad
vance, the past year in the line of material
development of its natural resources, and
shows a well-defined Increase in the value
of Its products. That -. Increase has been
somewhat checked, especially in the farm
ing districts, by the Jack of good roads
and proper transportation facilities to the
markets. This matter is now being
remedied by a united action of the people
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The following comparative diagram shows the highest individual
9, 1892t to September 7, 1899. Words could not tell so striking' a story
Millions
f
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Jfray t893
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flec'9.69
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.of the county at large, and 1900 will see
this barrier to progress removed.
Clatsop occupies the extreme northwest
corner of the state "and In area comprises
about 700,000 acres. About 550,000 acres
,Is covered with the best fir, spruce,
cedar, larch, hemlock, maple and alder
timber to.be found In the world, and tne
remainder consists of prairie, cleared tim
ber, reclaimed swamp, diked and wild
tide lands. These lands are generally of
a clay loam, mixed in parts with sand,
with a subsoil of dark clay, admirably
adapted for the storage of large quanti
ties of the winter's moisture for the use
of growing vegetation through the sum-
mer season. And though there is but lit-
lie rainfall from June to November, vege
tatlon never becomes dry or withered.
Agriculture Is carried on to a greater or
less extent in all parts of the county,
but more particularly in the Nehalem val
ley and on Clatsop plains. Dairying and
stockraising are the principal ocupa
tions. though vegetables, all classes of
cereals and even hops are becoming im
portant sources of income. The develop
ment of the county, agriculturally, dur
ing tho past year has not been so marked
Perhaps as in "some other lines, but It has
been a gradual and steady growth, and
the products will show a measurable in
crease over those of a year ago. Espe
cially is this true along the courses of
the Lewis and Clark and Young's rivers,
where lie many thousands of acres of
tho richest and most fertile tldelands
which are being reclaimed by the con
struction of dikes. The construction of
the wagon bridge from Astoria across
Young's bay and the several roads lead
ing to its southern approach has opened
to agriculture vast tracts that have
within a short time beeh transformed
from veritable wastes of inaccessible un
dergrowth to rich and teeming farming
lands.
Natural Rcsquxces of Great Value.
In the wealth and diversity of natural
resources, Clatsop county equals if it does
not surpass any district of a like area in
the Northwest. Of these the mosu Im
portant, or at least the one that has been
accorded the greatest amount of attention,
is tho salmon fisheries of the Columbia
river, the headquarters for which Is at
Astoria. During the past SO years this In
dustry has brought in a gross revenue of
over $73,000,000. The annual outlay Is over
$1,000,000 for the purchase of raw fish,
to say nothing of the vast amount paid
for labor in getting the fish ready for
shipment to market. The advent of the
cold-storage shipment of salmon during
the past wo years has given a wonderful
impetus to the Industry. It has raised the
price- paid to the fishermen and has sup
plemented the Chinamen who are em
ployed almost exclusively In the canneries
by the engagement of white labor for the
cold-storage plants, thus Increasing In no
small degree the sum expended for la
bor. This money soon finds it way Into
the natural channels of trade In the com
munity. To this must be added ship
ments of sturgeon and other river fishes,
which will easily reach a value of over
5100,000 a season, and the deep-sea fishing,
which, though only in its experimental
stages, promises soon to be numbered
among the most important Industries of
the county.
Timber Lands Increasing: In Valne.
Next in point of value to the fisheries
are the timber resources, which are just
beginning " to attract merited attention
from the outside world. Here lie over
500.000 acres of verdant forest, as yet un
touched by the woodsman, and waiting
only the application of capital and energy
to add their latent wealth to the com
merce of the world. A great portion of
this timber Is Oregon pine. Traversing
the country at frequent Intervals and 'n
almost every direction are numerous small
waterways, which, though Inaccessible
for boats, afford excellent and inexpensive
means of transporting lbgs from the for
ests to the navigable rivers and bays.
The development of these timber re
sources,, has, during the year just past,
"made rapid strides. Numerous logging
camps have been established In different
portions of the county, and the output
in logs shows an increase in value of
fully one-third. Timber lands have also
made a wonderful advance in market
value. Xands that a short time ago
could be had almost for the asking now
pommand a good figure, while those lo
cated close to "any of the numerous
streams have nearly doubled in price.
Coal Beds.
There are in the different parts of the
county several coal veins, thick enough
to prove profitable and of a character
o be merchantable, but as yet very lit
tle has been done towards developing
them. In the southern portion of the
county two veins "have been prospected,
one of them showing a thickness of 26
inches and the other 33 Inches. These
Veins have been uncovered in spots for
a aistance or uve miles, and enough in-
vestlgatlon has been made to show that
..Lore is sufficient coal in the locality to
1
last for years. Some of it is of a quality
fit for steaming purposes and in quantity
equal to supply the needs of the com
merce of the Pacific. In the eastern por
tion of the county a coking coal has been
discovered, and recently a; local company
was formed to open up the vein. k
Superior Quality of. Clay.
Another valuable natural resource which,
will, if properly utilized, result in the es
tablishment of a paying industry, Is a
superior quality of clay Within a short
distance of Astoria are large deposits of
potteryclay o a quality' suitable for the
manufacture of the finest drain pipes and
earthenware. A few years ago the manu
facture of brick, was commenced, but the
cheapness of lumber at that time reduced
the demand for brick to ho small a- limit
that the experiment proved unprofitable,
and the works were suspended, but condi
tions have changed now. Lumber Is fast
advancing in price, and it will be but aj
short time before brick of good quality
will be In great demand. Quantities of
this clay are now being shipped to outside
towns and there made Into pipe and earth
enware for the markets, but there is every I
INDIVIDUAL DEPOSITS IN
y
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inducement offered for the establishment
of a plant of the kind here.
Among the new industries started last
year the most important, outside of tho
cold-storage plants, Is the creamery , at
Astoria. Although thi? plant has been' in'
operation only during the past season, it
has proved a success, and has induced our
resident farmers and many newcomers to
engage more extensively in the business of
dairying and stockraising, for which the
tldelands and lowlands are well suited
In material prosperity Clatsop county
will compare favorably with any of her
neighbors. A crop failure has never been
known. The .renewed activity in lumber-
ing" andfishing,1' and extensive Improve
ments of a private and public nature have
made work plentiful and distributed thou
sands of dollars among the working peo
ple. I. J. KERN.
Astoria, Or.
a
COLUMBIA COUNTY.
Prosperity indicated by the Increase
of Taxable Valuations.'
Midway between the metropolis of Ore
gon and the sea is a country which for
productiveness of soil and richness of har
vest, cannot be equaled byany other part
of the state. About 60 miles of the river
frontage of this section forms a part of
what is known geographically as Columbia
county. Of late 5rears thjs section - has
become noted for its mild climate, which
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-TJie following diagram, with comparative horizontal extensions, shows the foreign commerce, Imports and exports combined, of the customs dis
tricts of Oregon (Portland, Astoria and Coos bay), for sixteen fiscal years ended "June 30, 1S99:
Mb
'3
07S
dd
s'esr
r?4rrn'y
306
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jji M'.T.'a-.'. !! ij!'.' - - v.
388
1 -
639.
690
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'
769
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39S
7696
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During the sixteen years under review, Oregon has imported and exported merchandise 'valued at $125,982,623, of which $107,531,129 Is credited to
Portland, and the balance toAstoria and Coos hay. Yaquina bay has reported neither imports nor exports in this period. Oregon's best year for
commerce was 189S, when' ihe ,total of' Imports and exports swelled to $15,94,670. Though the total for 1899 fell below that of 1S98, It was 'greater
than that of Oregon's third best year 1892.
xo
eO0OO9t9(S(99S6t8tC9SI99t
in many1 respects is vastly superior to that
01 cauiornia a liitio coiaer in winter,
perhaps, but with a very temperate sum-
"While 'the immigration to Columbia "coun
ty 'during the past year may not have
equaled that to othe"r sections of the state,
In point of numbers, it is very evident that
that deficiency has been made up in qual- 'rioted for good schools, and the employ
itv. Many newcomers have located on ment of many men in their saw mills.
government lands, and are now busily
clearing and Improving" them ' In v
the older settled portions of the conn- 1
ty meg. of wealth have come and bought J
,7
out such as were desirous of selling, and
have started new improvements. The Ne
halem valley, where a few sections are still
subject to entry, has received a fair per
centage of the immigration, but along the
river front, in the vicinity of Rainier,
Clatskanle and Goble, the Immigration has
been heaviest. Owing to good schools and . and the Chief at Clatskanle.
church privileges offered at these polnt3 Here the horticulturist finds a soil and
along ., with steady employment in mills, climate ihat wlU grow fruit and nutbearing
factories, lumbering and logging camps, f trees of all varieties except those peculiar
there is now, and will be for some time, a lyadapted to a. tropical climate. -Prunes
steady growth In population and wealth.
Increase iu Stock Holdings.
A verdant land, where -the grass is al
ways green, one would naturally suppose
to bo a good country for stockraising' and
dairying. We flndtNthat by development
and clearing, the acreage of tillable lands
has been increased at least 10 per cent
during the past year. A steady growth
is noticed ,ln the stock business; sheep,
cattle, horses, mules and swine, In the
order named", show Increases ranging from
45 per cent for sheep to 10 per cent for
swine. Agriculture In this country is yet
in its Infancy, owing to the fact that the
forests must be cleared away before farm-
OREGON NATIONAL BANKS
deposits of the National banks of Oregon
of the prosperity of the people.
7
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Ing begins. Along the waterways and
rapid-transit lines 'dairying and creamery
'industries are flourishing. A large number
of skimming, stations and creameries have
been established, notably in the upper end
of "the county along the Columbia and Wil-
lamette slough. Several dairies are op-
erateciton the rich Bottom lands, witn cows
numbering as -high as 100 to the dairy. Tho
product of the dairy finds ready market, ,
with cheap transportation, and it, Is safe
to say that this Industry will be perma
nenC It 13 constantly growing larger.
As an indication of tho material pros-
perlty it Is worthy of note that the taxa-
ble wealth of the county has increased
durlnj? the "past year"almost $100,000. "St
Helens, the county seat, and Houlton,
which adjoins St. Helens, both show signs
of decided improvement. The Orcgonl
Wood Company has greatly Improved their
facilities for handling wood. They have
on their payroll from 40 to 50 men, and
the average per month has been about
1000 cords, which is sold from thejr new
dock, mostly to steamboatmen. They have
3 miles of flume, and own real estate
valued at SS0O0. The new improvements
I contemplated hero are a new four-room
schoolhouse, where it is Intended to
hold a graded school tho entire year. A
$2000 church and parsonage will be qrected
by the Methodist Episcopal congregation,
their old church having been burned last
July. An addition to the courthouse is
being constructed to provide more room
for county officials.
Progress of County Towns.
Rainier, the largest town in the county,
FOREIGN COMMERCE OF OREGON
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09Q 09 O OO O Q 9
made phenomenal growth last year. A
fine railroad station: a three-story frame
hotel and several residences and business
blocks were built. Tne Knights of Pythias
jtalk of erecting a large two-story build
ing for lecture-room and castle hall.
Clatskanle grew very rapidly during the
year. .Rainier and Clatskanle are equally
shingle mills and factories.
The cold-storage business ox Goble has
been kept quite busy ever since it started
and has added greatly to ihe wealth at
.
( that part of the county. At Goble the
wood, logging and lumber trade gives em
ployment to between 200 and 300 men.
There are three newspapers in the coun
ty, just half the nuniber'of four years
ago. 'The Columbia County News and
Oregon Mist are published- at St Helena.
and cherries grow In large quantities, and
here, too. Is the favorite place of the "Or
jjon Red Apple."
Mineral development, It is but fair to
state, has hardly begun. It Is- a well
.known fact that the Nehalem coal fields
and Iron mountains are very rich, and one
might say, inexhaustible. Although no
high-grade ore has been found, yet the
Rock Creek sliver mine prospectors, are
stilt In hopes of striking It rich. Along
this line it is worthy of note that a mineral
paint works is In operation near Scap
poose, and ;from these works much of tjia
yellow and red ocher in Portland markets
is obtained. The projector of this business,
Frank Payne, has shown by skill and en-
iooooeaieaeaaaoaaea9aaaaeaaaee
in each year from December
'ZZ)0ar$
9.fc$3SZ39
9.96. 362.: 67
7.S92.9S-&4A
8.460,69.2?
7.6S-.C9S.V
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ergy that there is room for one of the
greatest paint factories In the world at
this point. All that Is needed is capital
and push.
Xew Roads to Nehalem Valley.
New wagon roads are projected from
several river points Into the Nehalem val
ley. There Is talk of a railroad from sea
side to Salem via the Nehalem valley.
Several big sales of timber lands have
been made during the past year to Eastern
capitalists who are interesting themselves
In the Nehalem country.
The prospects for the next year or two
are brighter than ever before. New ln-
dustrles, new settlers and new improve-
ments are-the order of the day.
R. H. MITCHELIi.
St Helens, Or.
a
BENTON COUNTY.
Farmers Do Not Depend So Ulucb
Upon Grain as in Former Times.
-It Is now more than half a century
since the valley lands of Benton county
were first occupied. Like those who lo
cated In other parts of the Willamette
valley, the early settlers were men of
sturdy character and sterling qualities.
Many of these men have passed away,
leaving the sections and half-sections of
land, donated to them by the government
to their children, and it is these sons,
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with the disposition and' characters of 1
their sirfes,' that make up the larger part
of the producing population. They are
not men given to speculation, but. ad- i
vised of the possibilities or their eon, are , edness. The health of the city has al
contented to cultivate their farms and j ways been good, but the improvement Is
Invest their surplus income In the im- 1 undertaken as a safeguard as well as a
provement of their homes and the quality
of their-stock. The larger part of the til
lable land was taken up early in tho his
tory of the county, so that those who
came later purchased farms already test-
I ed, and, profiting by the experiences of
their neighbors, continued in much the
same fashion as their predecessors.. Tho
result is a stable and prosperous com
munity. The good- prices for wheat prevailing
to years ago assisted many farmers to
again catch up, so that, whilo the low
prices at this time are felt, the effect la
not as great as it would have been a
few years ago. The people of the county
are realizing. thatL grain, is not the only
thing they can produce; that cattle are
in demand, at excellent prices; that mo
hair Is a staple article and that sheep pay
good returns. As a result, whila not
abandoning the growing of wheat and
oats, more attention is being paid to rais
ing cattle. Farmers generally desire to
provide themselves with a small band of
sheep, and those who live near the foot
hills either own a band of goats or are
anxious to find some to be purchased or
taken on the shares. It is noticeable that
an Increased disposition is being mani
fested amoDg farmers to awn a better
grade of cattle, sheep, goats and poultry
than they have heretofore possessed. They
are improving constantly and getting as
near the thoroughbred as they are able
to do. Some of the finest grades of -joata.
in the state are to be found here, impor
tations' having been made from Texas and
Iowa of some of the finest, and a testi
monial of the. quality of some of the cat
tle was the sale, by a local cattleman,
of about 15 head of yearling bulls, at $100
each. Of this number, five went to the
Ladd farm. .-
The advantage of the silo has come to
be recognized, and now silos are ,to- be
found on many farms In the county. Their
benefit will be felt still more later, when
the farmers more generally come to con
tribute to the creameries, as they will
surely do. One creamery has been suc
cessfully operated at Corvallis for three
years, and those who furnish milk' find
the results most satisfactory. A cheese
factory was established a little over a year
ago about a mile from Corvallis, and pro
duces a first-class article that finds ready
sale. Mr. Woodcock, the owner, has re
cently purchased some adjoining land,
and added a herd of thoroughbred Jersey
cows. k
'For the cattle industry the entire coun
ty is especially well adapted. The coun
ty is traversed with living streams, and
range fs first class. Land In King's and
Alsea valleys is not as high-priced as
along the Willamette. There is yet some
public land open for settlement, but only
to a limited extent. The newcomer to
Benton county takes no chances. There
Is no experimenting. Hi3 purchase of
land will be measured In quality by the
price he pays, and if he exercises an ordi
nary amount of care in his selection, ac
cording to his Individual tastes, he Is cer
tain to get his money's worth. It Is a
safe assertion to say that the bottom will
never drop out of Benton.. The location
has the advantage of a healthful and even
climate. Extremes In temperature, for
the summer, are about 92 deg., and for
the winter about 8 deg. above zero. The
mean temperature i3 about 60 deg. Total
rainfall for tho year will not average over
42 inches.
To the above may be added another de
sirable quality, that of the certainty of
crops and the presence of pests only as
an exception. Not only are the crops cer
tain, but; the land and climate are favor
able to a generality of crops, so that gar
den, orchard and field will produce a wide
jango of vegetables, fruits and grains.
Benton deserves as much as any other
county her just proportion of credit that
earns for the Willamette valley the title of
"garden spot." True, her productions may
not in the aggregate be as much as that
from other counties, but It must be remem
bered that Benton Is only about SO miles
'square. Every portion of the county la
well watered.
The demand for land 13 good, more par
ticularly for farming than for city prop
erties. Farm lands have within the last
two years increased in prices. It took the"
first of these two years to get prices in
equilibrium again, and the last year has
shown the increase. This Increase cannot
be expected to continue in the same ratio
for the succeeding years, but It will con
tinue to some extent. This condition has
been brought about to a considerable ex
tent by purchases of land made by parties
coming from the East. An Increased
number of sales have been nnade within
the last year, and all at good figures, for
the most part spot cash.
The county and the city of Corvalll3
are well supplied with public administra
tion buildings. The courthouse and city
hall compare with those of any other
county in the state outside of Multnomah.
During the past year the city of Corvallis
has adopted a complete system of sewer
age for the thorough drainage of the city,
and is at this time engaged in construct
ing two large sewers- that are expected
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to De of material benefit The cost is
upwards of $10,000. and is being paid by
warrants drawn on the general fund. It
, is not anticipated that any Increased
levy wln be neceSary to pay the'indebt-
convenience.
Although supplied with tw.o schools,
conducted under the branches of the
United Brethren church. Philomath is to
have a new $3000 pablic school building.
It is understood that arrangements have
been completed to secure a sightly post
tion for the "building, that is to be mod
era' In its construction and of pleasing:
design. The location, of the state agri
cultural college at Corvallis, with an at
tendance of over 3S0 students from all
over the state, with, a farm of 175 acres
and an equipment second to no educa
tional institution In the Northwest, makes
thl3 county particularly desirable for its
educational advantages. This year thero
has been added to the college a heating
plant for the principal buildings, costing
$19,000; a stone mechanical hall to replace
the former, which was destroyed by fire,
at $25,000. and a system of sewerage.
The principal manufacture of the county
is flour, there being four mill3, with an
average capacity of 200 barrels per day,
besides two custom mills, located in the
rural districts. The local lumber mar
ket is more than supplied by local mills,
and a considerable amount of haiawood,
ash and oak. Is shipped to California by
the Corvallis saw mill.
For several years the navigability of the
IiOng Tom river has been an open ques
tion. During list summer the government
removed the snags from the stream as
far up as Monroe and cleared it for
steamboats. Recently the county court
has removed county bridges spanning the
stream, and henceforth during the winter
season' boats will load wheat and flour
at Monroe, thus saving considerable in
the way of hauling to railroad station or
Willamette river landing.
GEORGE DENMAN.
Corvallis, Or.
a
UNION COUNTY.
Large Grand Ronde Farms Being Cat
Into Small Tracts.
The population of Union county was
considerably increased in 1S99 by immigra
tion from the states farther east The
majority of the settlers came from Utah,
Their settlement In Oregon can be traced
directly to the beet Bugar industry at
La Grande, which was originated by peo
ple from that state. A few of these im
migrants have settled in th various towna
of the county. As they ars principally of
an agricultural class, tho majority of
them have purchased small tracts and.
will engage in sugar-beet raising and
diversified farming. Nebraska and Mis
souri also contributed quite a number of
immigrants. One of the be3t results of
this increase in our population Is the ten
dency to cut some of the large ranches
of the Grand Ronde valley Into small
tracts and place an Industrious family
upon each of these smaller tracts. A
number of real estate deals are now in
cdntemplation with this end In view.
The most Important factor In the devel
opment of the -county last year was the
Increased production of sugar beets. Beet
growers profited by the experience of last
season, and were enabled to get a con
siderable increase in yield per acre, whila
they were also enabled to reduce the
cost for weeding, thinning, etc. It will
probably take four or five yeara to get
the sugar-beet Industry satisfactorily es
tablished, but there 13 not the least doubt
that It will soon be one of the principal
sources of revenue la the eastern portion
of the state.
Plenty of Worlc for All.
Notwithstanding the low prices of cer
eals and the fact that a considerable
per cent of the grain crop was damaged
by wet weather during harvest it is
doubtful if there has been a time within
the past decade when all classes of peoplo
were so prosperous as they are now. All
classes of workers, from the skilled me
chanic to the common laborer, had no- .J
difficulty last year In securing employ
ment at fair wages. The individual who
was not welt provided when winter began
could be set down for one who had cither
met with misfortune or one who had
wasted his means in extravagant or
riotous living.
Mineral development received a great
deal of attention, and some promising
discoveries were made. The copper depos
its along Snake river. In the southeastern
part of the county, have attracted the at
tention of mining capitalists, and many of
them will doubtless be developed into
paying mines this year. Until recently
it was supposed that the northeastern
portion of the county was devoid of prec
ious minerals, but during the past few
months it has been discovered that both
gold and siLver-bearlng ore exists here in
large quantities, and recent assays denot,
that a new and promising mining
will shortly offer opportunities for h.1
vestment.
I feel safe In making the assertion that
there Is not another county in the state
the resources of. which are more varied
than are those of Union. Our soil and
climate are well adapted to the successful
growing of all kinds of grains and grasses
found in a temperate climate. The sugar
beets produced here are among the finest
in the world. All kinds of hardy fruits
and vegetables grow to the highest per
fection. Our foothills and mountains af
ford an abundance of free pasture for
thousands of cattle, sheep and horses.
Our almost exhaustless tracts of timber
give, each year, hundreds of laborers
employment in getting out sawlogs, rail
road ties and cordwood. In addition to
these, our deposits of precious" minerals
furnish regular employment to &. largo
number of men and are constantly grow
ing in Importance. The timber Industry
of the county Is rapidly coming to the
front as one of the greatest importance,
and, as timber land3 can be purchased at
reasonable figures, this Industry offers
superior Inducements to practical sawmill
men of moderate capital. There i3 not a
sawmill in the county that is not making
money for its owner,
A Year of Many Improvements.
The improvements throughout the
county last year were many and varied.
The number of new substantial steel
bridges that have been placed across the
various streams on our public roads
makes it apparent that the county au
thorities believe In making our publlo
improvements of as permanent a char
acter as possible. The various towns In
the county have all had a number of sub
stantial business houses and residences
added to them during the year, while the
value of the new farm buildings that have
been erected would foot up a large amount
The most Important public Improvement
undertaken in the county was the build
ing of a new wagon road down the Wal
lowa hill. This road is now fast Hearing
completion and will cost several thous
ands of dollars. The principal part of the
expense was met by the taxpayers of
Uniori county, although the business1 men
of Elgin and the towns of Wallowa coun
ty contributed quite an amount Tho
new road reduces the maximum, grade
from 19 per cent to 10 per cent, and as
tho distance Is less than a mile farther
than by the old road. It can readily bo
seen that It Is of the greatest import
ance to the people of Wallowa county,
who are obliged to convey practically all
of their exports and imports over this
road.
The influx of newcomers Into the county
kept up a steady demand for city prop
erty and farming lands during the year.
This extra demand for agricultural lands
has Increased the price within the past
IS months from 20 to 40 per cent, and it is
now difficult to purchase good farm lands,
in the Grand Ronde valley at less than
$50 per acre, while a great deal of It,
situated within a short distance of the
sugar factory, could probably be sold for
twice that figure. The increase in tho
value of town property has not been quite
so great as In that of agricultural land,
although there has been a steady demand
for town lands at prices much higher than,
those that prevailed in 1S93.
Scarcity of Lumber Delays Bulldinjt.
It is probable that no industry in tho
county received more attention last year
than lumbering. The number of saw
mills In the county haa bcpa Increased,