THE MORNING OEBGONIAN, MONDAY, JANUARY 1, 1900.
end nono of them has experienced the
least difficulty In disposing of Its entire
output at fair prices. A number of the
mills have been unable to fill all the
orders they received from a distance, and
local building has been greatly retarded,
owing to the small supply of seasoned
lumber. At the present time there are
10 sawmills, whoso products are shipped
from Elgin. This number will be In
creased by two or three the coming sea
son. In addition, there are a large num
ber of men and teams that find constant
employment In the neighboring forests in
getting out railroad ties. A majority of
these ties are purchased by the O. R. &
N. Co., although Quite a number go to
the Oregon Short Line and the Union
Pacific The tie Industry was greatly
stimulated last year by the use of pine
ties by the railroad that is being built
from Weiser to the Seven Devils coun
try. This demand enabled the sawmill
men to dispose of a lot of timber that was
too rough to work into marketable lum
ber. The extent of the timber industry
In the vicinity of Elgin alone can be bet
ter understood by stating that at one time
last summer 160 teams were engaged In
hauling lumber and ties to the railroad
here. This, of course, was Independent
of the men and teams engaged in getting
logs to the various sawmills The extent
of the forests In this portion of the county
is such that a profitable Industry in this
line is assured for many years to come.
Union county is fast coming Into Import
ance as a producer of winter apples for
export Last season was an exception In
this line and there probably was not suf
ficient fruit for home demand. Notwith
standing the failure of the fruit crop
last year, new orchards are being added
in large numbers and our horticulturists
are not at all discouraged at a single fail
ure. Elgin is one of the Important stock
shipping points on the O. R. & N., as
all the stock raised In the northern por
tion of Union county, as well as nearly all
that is shipped from "Wallowa county,
is loaded on the cars at this point. Thous
ands of cattle, sheep and hogs leave
Eastern Oregon at this point, and the pur
chasers run no risk of getting diseased
animals, as nowhere else in the world
are stock diseases so rare as in the bunch
grass regions of this section of the state,
A. R. TUTTLH,
Elgin, Or.
HARNEY COUNTY.
StockralKlnc the Principal Employ
ment of the People.
Harney county, being remotely situated
in the southeastern portion of the state
more than 100 miles from the nearest rail
road point received but few immigrants
last year. The characteristics of the
county its climate and soil are not such
as to attract attention in the Eastern
states, among those on the lookout for
desirable localities in the West, to which
they might move for the purpose of mak
ing permanent homes. This county Is es
pecially adapted to stockralsing, and, in
that line, cannot be excelled anywhere!
As very few of those coming from the
East to the Pacific coast are possessed of
the necessry Qualifications, or means, to
engage in that calling. Harney county Is
not considered as a fit or suitable place
by the majority of intending settlers, and
consequently is passed by.
Agricultural Development.
For similar reasons, the agricultural
development of the county cannot be said
to be in a progressive state. There are,
bpever, several localities in the county
where splendid crops of roots and cereals
are successfully raised, and it is more
than probable that, In the near future,
.farming will, to a considerable extent,
be followed in many parts of the county.
But now, the raising of stock being a
much more lucrative pursuit, few devote
themselves to the more laborious and
less remunerative work of tilling the soil.
Mineral Development.
Harney county iias not figured promi
nently as a mineral-producing region. In
the northern part a few placers have been
-worked, with varying success, for seven
or eight years, but, on the whole, the out
put has been inconsiderable. Prospect
ing is being done in that section for
quartz, but as yet without much suc
cess. In the extreme southern portion of
the county, along the Nevada line, a
mining region is coming Into prominence,
"which gives promise of soon being a large
producer of the precious metals. The
camp is known as the Pueblo mining dis
trict. It is not, strictly speaking, a new
aiscovery, ana only in the past year has
it attracted the attention of mining men.
As long ago as 1863 and 1S64, miners en
route to Idaho from California found en
couraging prospects in that locality, and
established a camp. The place was re
mote from transportation lines and pro
visions were enormously high. Besides,
the Indians were on the warpath and con
tinually harassing the miners, and fre
quently killed some of them. For these
reasons the camp was abandoned, and
for years no miners went there. Now,
however, the camp is coming to the front,
and may shortly surprise the mining
world by the magnitude of Its output.
The mining belt at Pueblo extends into
Nevada, and some good Quartz claims
are being worked on that side of the line.
The Oregon side offers great Inducements
to the practical miner as a field m which
to operate, and It is on this side that the
most valuable properties are likely to
be developed. Gold and copper are the
chief minerals of the camp. From pres
ent Indications, immense deposits of cop
per are likely to be uncovered in that
region.
There is also, in the Pueblo neighbor
hood, an extensive deposit of borax, which
has been successfully worked for a few
years by the Hose "Valley Borax Com
pany. The company has large and costly
works upon the ground for refining the
product and preparing it for market. The
output is hauled to Wlnnemucca. Nev.,
by freight teams, from which point it Is
shipped by rail. Two large 12-mule teams,
carrying 20,000 pounds each, make regular
biweekly trips from the works to the rail
road all the year round. The borax com
pany is one of the best-paying concerns
in Eastern Oregon.
Material Prosperity.
It would be difficult to find a more
prosperous community than Harney coun
ty. There are several large and wealthy
corporations doing business In the county,
which, from a financial standpoint, are
decidedly successful. The mainstay of
our community is the small stockralser,
who builds up the country by spending
and Investing his surplus earnings in his
own community. The net profits of the
larger concerns are spent elsewhere. The
great majority of our stockraisers own
from 100 to 1000 head of cattle, or from
1000 to 5000 sheep.
New Industrial Enterprises.
In the vicinity of Burns there has Just
been completed a first-class roller flour
ing mill with a capactiy of 40 barrels per
day. This mill was long needed, as the
people of our county had heretofore to go
to the railroad for their flour a distance
of 150 miles. "While not what one could
truthfully call a good wheatraislng local
ity, Harney valley and vicinity can raise
enough of grain to supply the home de
mands. A brewery was built at Burns last year.
Resources of the County.
The staple crop of Harney county is
hay, principally saved from native
grasses, but of late years considerable al
falfa has been produced. The hay raised
Is, generally speaking, of a very fine
quality, and the amount annually saved
is enormous. The natural meadows of
barney county cannot be surpassed, on
his coast, .and it is very doubtful if
heir equal can be found. This hay is
tfceV to feed the immense herds of cattle,
ai&tmmerous flocks of sheep ranging in
the county. There are at least 125,000 head
9
The following chart shows the movement of loans and discounts and individual deposits of the National banks of Oregon, Washington and Idaho, from the tall end of the "good times of
the '90s," throughout the financial depression, and as far Into the present era of prosperity as September 7, 18S9. The lines shown are explanatory, not comparative. A glance at the chart will
show that the people of Oregon, Washington and Idaho, whether the states be considered separately or collectively, have never had so much money on deposit In the National banks as they now
have. On September 7, 1899, their deposits exceeded by over $8,000,000 the deposits of December 9, 1S92, and 1892 was accounted a good year. No account is taken here of deposits in private and
foreign banks, as It Is Impossible to obtain complete figures for the three states. These deposits amount to many millions.' Elsewhere in thi3 issue are given in detail loans and discounts and Indi
vidual deposits of National banlcs in Oregon, Washington and Idaho, from December 9, 1892, to September 7, 1S99.
I
o. !s
$Z4J5Z,8f.0S
3. &&&?
3(.57i8&.35'
2,.Wtp.l6
ZS.fS?.0Z,S7
ZlSz43S3tf
0
Zf,dd6,8W.tf
ZO,003 05:64
f
f?.fttf,ttO.f
8.43tfid.Z
fl?wtjef
wmm
V6.?fZM'3
M.fi&fyjLZf
iZ8o6.d
zpwmz
tfWfjrr.t
5t6tM3.6
tfd?.?ffJZ
tr32.dv&&
Mtfijflsc&r
w.toffii.te
J.S6Zft,7.3l
ty.to.76l.67
".387.674JZ
tfjtyr.d&ru
&. ?t.t6
ty.03S.ftZfi
3.?UWr$.f
YASfaMW.
&.&fr.990o
fi
Straight line denotes Individual deposits and refers to the figures on the
marked "Loans and Discounts."
esas98oiit9etiaiaiai(eic(e89etaistt(at8(8iaetseeoseeetsfa(9ii89ieaeficseee69feeeseoe0eoettoeoto
of cattle owned in the county, and about
100.000 sheep. The horses number from
15.000 to 20,000 head. About 1000 head of
mules are raised annually. Barley, oats
and rye are raised to some extent. They
do well.
Harney county offers Inducements to
people possessing a knowledge of stock
raising and having sufficient means to
start in that business. Poor people seek
ing homes and especially to till the soli
and subsist thereon are not encouraged
to come here.
Improvements.
There are no railroad lines built or be
ing built In the county, though there Is
considerable talk of lines being extend
ed into the county in the near future.
The wagon roads throughout the county
are, In most cases, excellent highways
for public travel.
The Blue Mountain Telephone Company
extended Its line to Burns last year, and
Is' now extending It to different locali
ties in the county.
Demand for Property.
Hay land is In great demand, and brings
from ?15 to $25 an acre. Farming
land is not worth quite so much. Town
property in Burns, the county seat, sells
readily at good prices. The town has a
steady growth, and is expanding rapidly,
though nothing resembling a boom has
ever been had. Quite a number of new
buildings were erected last year, both for
residences and business.
Dairying:.
Dairying la not extensively carried on,
though it would be haid to find a- moro
favorable locality for that business. Quito
a number of 6mall ranchers andfarmers
make butter and cheese for sale, but not
in sufficient quantities to supply the home
market. Every winter creamery butter
has to be Imported by our merchants from
California and Western Oregon. It is. In
deed, strange that in n ideal dairying
country like this, butter and cheese have
89889888899
8998881
O
e
o
e
e
COST OF PUBLIC EDUCATION IN OREGON
Tear. Amount. r
1873 5 184,010 00
1874 204,760 00,
1S75 -MS.HilWl
1876 269,822 00
1877 . 2oo.c37 00
1878 "... 258,785 00
1S79 351,673 00
1SS0 339,080 00
1SS1 S58.018 00
1882 385,218 00
1S83 538,798 51
1BS4 501,599 95
1885 578,340 9b
1SS6 901,22 26
Since the organization of the department of public instruction In 1873,
the sum of 520,426,782 61 has been available for the use of tho public
schools of Oregon. This money has been received from apportionments
of state funds, and by county, district and special tax levies. Practically
all this has been expended, as districts do not carry large balances from
year to year.
9 909999099999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
to be imported. The explanation is In the
fact that stockraisers make money too
easily In rals.ng and selling stock to be
bothered with the drudgery Incident to
dairying. Butter Is never worth less than
25 cents a pound, a price deemed "fancy"
In some of the prairie states where the
conditions are far less favorable to dairy
ing than In Harney county.
Lumber Industry.
The lumbering industry Is represented
by three sawmills In the northern part of
the county, the only part that produces
pine timber. These mills supply only the
local demand. The output of the three,
e
lSi $ 2 &&& X &
To 3- V 2NCN.sr 5" S
sggg3.fcg3gyg$y-3 s.
r i : -
1 ' ; f ; I ' . - -- M '
i 1 1 ii i i i... i, . , - i . - - i i i i ra i
: fi '- k X
M WW MWm MMBM ! -MM- MMl MM B. MMMM MM -MMMW MMB - MMMM PMMM -MMM MMWM W - B MM" ! I rVJ WM1M IRMMI
j
' 1
rtr r- - 1 ; t - . ,... - t . Li-
4 ' ' l ' I I ll'l I" I '" .'! ' ! I . ...I .h I I l I
-AC-L -A , 1
i f
1 . Jf .
E - IT" " - T - "" 5
V
"I ' IMi -M-M I l 1 11 11 m m III MM MW I1 I ) - " -W ' I - -M ! M I B M MtoM BMM- M Wi
j L4 a, X . 1 -
1 . . . '-fa--- m -an 1 ,
-. 1, .. j f. i i (Lt7 -.------
I '
I II fe i I ' - - ,m I t i i j ( ii ii , , n . - -- - . -- . ----. --. --- i i ' - - mil .
i ' ' f
1 1 K- '-i " 1 -; :" 1
fi v
i ' l i a ' ' S TV ' v i I n i n i e i ii
I,. ITt 'I" l
' " ' ; I' .j '. ; f &" fi i - ' ""I '' ' '' ' 7' i
. a . 1 .a 1 J -f .
:-, LSj , , 8 1 u; Jl, 1 , , 7
II I I till '
I ; I . I II f
i. i 8 H i t t ' ' i m i "-t- "" " ' 1 ' P " . ' ' ii ' ii i I v
r 't r. : T-t t ' fc 7
L -V f & 4- (-4 : r-r-r !
i i i i 4 -- i'i I k -t i I - 1 r4- I i ' A i ,
I -X I V ' '111 ' I ' '
. .-. i i 4- J : i c J li ., .
i - L i, IJL ' ' JL
I.f 1. I ft. .1.1
i J 11 '
- - -- J w- - , ? i -f , r ' j t-r - --- r
I 1 J I II'
J . , & afe-.J.i r: tv. J- r-f
J I J I ' J' t , .
, 1 Jl.-f.A -V 'r i :
I I s I I
. i I i i ...I i i i. cr . . i f i - i & i i -
1 f . ft
I ' ..-I. It
It.
. r-r-l - . i; ii
1 I flr ' J 1 I 1 , 1 v -A 1 ,1 J ! I I J a 1 , F 1 1 i i i i l , 1 A
last year, aggregated about 2,500,000 feet.
Rough lumber brings 510 per 1000 feet.
Horticulture.
The horticultural development of the
county Is truly In Its Infancy. Very little
has been done in that line. A few small
orchards have been set out In recent years,
some of which are beginning to bear, and
tho outlook for the future Is quite en
couraging. The largest orchard In the
county is owned by A. Venator. It con-
. tains 1000 fruit trees.
Sales of Stock.
' The annual sales of stock from Harney
county" represent a very respectable
amount In money values. During the past
season, fully 25,000 head of cattle were
sold, aggregating In value about 5750,000.
At least 40,000 sheep were disposed of, rep
resenting in value about 5100,000. Horses
to the number of about 1000, and valued at
515,000, were sold to outside buyers. Nearly
5900,000 worth of livestock was shipped
I from Harney county in 1899. When It 13
considered that the population of the coun
ty does not exceed 4000, the showing per
capita Is a splendid one.
A. W. GOWAN.
Burns, Or.
DOUGLAS COUNTY.
Activity In Every Line of Industry
Prosperity of the People.
The climate of Douglas, county Is un
surpassed by that of any section of the
state. The soil of the valleys and benches
Is fertile, and Is adapted to the produc
tion of grains, grasses and fruit of every
variety common to the Paciflo Northwest.
The hilly portions afford fine pasture for
stock of every kind. Early settlers in
the county hold very large bodies of land,
98 88899898888 I
Z
Year. Amount.
1887 5 669,935 54
18SS 01,638 95
1SS3 916,407 39
1890 1,062,890 13
1891 1,231,198 18
1892 1,324,797 70
ifi3 1,449,614 S6
18S4 1,322,910 41
1835 1,205,100 64
1896 1,284,664 06
j 1897 1.187,484 19
,1898 1,276,775 29
189 1,327,781 59
which they cannot profitably utilize. They
are offering to sell In tracts to suit buy
ers, at low rates. This is a great in
ducement to immigration.
The price of grain has ruled low since
harvest, and only a limited amount has
been shipped, except as flour. The county
has seven flouring mills, all doing a good
business.
Timber Resources.
There are large sections of the county
covered with fine timber. This land,
which belongs to the government, is rap
Idly being entered by individuals, and
later will be represented by syndicates,
PROSPERITY OF THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST.
$ a vKt
SCr 'Qi sv w V?v S 5.
t
s
side marked "Individual Deposits." Dotted
which will utilize the waterways to float
the logs to railroad points, where water
power can be employed In lumber manu
facture. The great water-power on the
North Umpqua at Winchester has been
purchased by capitalists from Georgia,
who Intend to manufacture lumber from
the forests bordering the upper waters
of the river, and build flouring mills and
an electric-power plant.
Every branch of Industry Is active. NO
idle men are seeking employment. Mort
gage releases are largely In excess of
liens, and general prosperity prevails in
the community. Early and abundant
rainfall has favored the farmer, the stock
raiser and the hydraulic miner, and the
prospects of these industries was never
more promising.
Sales of products in the county In 1S99
were:
Dried prunes, 2,105.600 pounds $ 63,168
Dried apples, 10,000 pounds 600
Peaches, 400.000 pounds 9.000
Pears, 300.COO pounds 6,000
Apples, 275,000 pounds 4,125
Hops, 1000 bales 19,000
Cattle, 10.400 head 225,000
Horses, 60 head 3,000
Hogs, 6100 head 48,800
Sheep, 9200 head 27,600
Eggs, 65,400 dozen 9,800
Chickens, 12,000 dozen 43,000
Turkeys. 2250 dozen 40,500
Ducks and goese, 416 dozen 3.000
Lumber, 20,000,000 feet 169,000
Total 5671,593
Mining: Industry.
Bohemia mining district, mainly in .the
northeastern corner of Douglas county,
employs about 600 men. Besides, there
are a large number of prospectors devel
oping new- discoveries. There are five
mills in the camp, with -an aggregate of
60 stamps. Some of these have been run
ning several years upon ore that averages
about ?25 per ton. While some of the ore
is fabulously rich, the proportion of free
milling ore Is perhaps not over 50 per
1 cent. With denth. thA nm innrMonn in
1U6' hUe thfi veins become Wider, giv-
lnS every assurance of their true charac-
ter. When smelters have been Introduced,
'RnTltnlo tvIII Via an ImmannaUr ...nnllU..
camp. Meantime, concentrates are hauled t
during summer to railroad by team. Much ,
capital already Invested In the camp will
naturally, in the near future, concentrate
Its force and find an outlet for Its ores
by electric railway down the watershed of
the North Umpqua to smelters at Rose-
burg. There are numerous other small
plants for the reduction of quartz at dlf- t
ferent points, notably a Grlffen pulverizer I
equal to 20 stamps, situate upon a por-
nliwmr Alra -fnlll mltoG AOof nf13tf1jl!i nn.3 '
a small mill at the extensive hydraulic
mines of Colonel J. G. Day, near Olalla.
There are a large number of gold and
copper veins of established value in prog
ress of development in different sections
of the county, notably tho Black Repub
lican group and Cowboy group. In Myrtle
creek mining district. These mines have
extensive tunnels, shafts and open cuts,
showing great bodies of ore in the differ
ent veins, rich in gold and copper. The
ore belt Is visible for many miles, and af
fords an Inviting field for the profitable
Investment of capital. Valuable copper
veins are In process of development in the
canyon of Cow creek on the line of the
railroad.
In the mining districts, known as Myrtle
creek. Coffee creek, Canyonville, Cow
creek and its tributaries, Olalla, 40 giants
are In operation, and others In prepara
tion. While it is often asserted in min
ing .Journals that there are only two
nickel mines in the world. Sudburs and I
New Caltjdonla, It should be remembered
that Nickel mountain, situated only a few
miles from Riddle station, is a veritable
mass, from base to summit, of nickel slli-
j cate. The deposit is o high grade, and
is pronounced by nickel experts to be
.1 I I I I b
fc&fc.fc.s s - &.&&
W
s'?
v-vvr .j oc a o
-Tw 3.
SV-&
3& 3s
vS1 ? t? j& sejsi
ff
vj vj
line denotes loans and discounts and
equal in richness to New Caledonia. It is
practically inexhaustible, and easily
mined.
The mining industry of Douglas county
has a promising future. Only capital and
practical skill are needed to place Doug
las in the front rank of Oregon's mining
counties. In addition to the great number
of men employed in the quartz and hy
draulic mines, hundreds more are work
ing In an individual capacity on a prim
itive scale, while others are hunting new
veins and deposits In the great auriferous
belt that crosses the county.
D. S. K. BUICK.
Roseburg, Or.
e
GILLIAM COUNTY.
Stock Interests Still Important, but
Diversified Farming in Favor.
Although Gilliam county is one of the
small counties of Oregon, in point of
area, it Is a land of big things in all
other respects. Pigs, peaches and pota
toes, carrots, cattle and cucumbers, hay.
horses and hen fruit, beans, barley and
babies, all attain the highest degree of
perfection In point of size and general
excellence, within her favored borders.
The contour of the county varies from
the alluvial bottom lands, lying along
the streams by which the country is wat-
ered, to the equally fertile, though dlf-
ferently constituted, plateau or table
lands of the higher altitudes. The first
named land3 are perfectly adapted to
fruitgrowing and vegetable gardening,
while the latter yield bountiful harvests
of cereal crops, In return for the labor '
of the thorough and progressive farmer. J
In tho earlier history of the county the ,
stock business was the principal Industry,
and, while it still occupies an important
place, it can no longer, by any means, be
considered paramount. As the tide of im
migration swept westward, from the sun-
99999999999999999999999999
9
9
8
?
9
OREGON CADETS AT UNITED
Since 1854 there have been 13 admissions to the United States naval
academy, of cadets from Oregon. Seven resigned after having been ad
mitted, four were graduated, and two are at present at the academy.
The full list follows:
Names Admitted.
F..L. Rldgely Sept. 30, 1S54; resigned 1856.
Roswell H. Lamson., Sept. 20, i858; graduated 18S2. ,
Charles Newell . Sept. 20, 1S64; resigned 1865.
Charles Seymour July 28, 1864; graduated 1869.
Berlah Brown Sept. 28, 1870; resigned, 1873.
Robert M. Donovan June, 1873; resigned June. 1874.
O. H. Bellinger June 21. 1876; resigned May, 1873.
Edwin B. Weeks Sept. 23, 1878; graduated June. 1884.
Percy N. Olmsted May 21, 1888; graduated June, 1S94.
Walter N. Vernou Ma.y 20, 1895; resigned January, 1896.
Russell Montgomery May 21, 1895; resigned May, 1&96.
Huntington Johnston September, 1S96; now at the academy.
Franklin W. Osburn Sept. 27, 1898; now at the academy.
99889999999999999999990999999999090999999999088999990
baked plains beyond the Great Dlvido, J
the grassy slopes and fertile valleys of
Gilliam county arrested the attention of
the travel-worn farmers, and with the cry
"Eureka," they clapped the brakes on
their "prairie schooners," unhitched the
mules and turned them out to graze, un
loaded wives and babies, pitched their
tents and started in to make homes. How
well they have succeeded 13 evidenced to
day by the hundreds of comfortable
homes, the boundless
wheat fields, the
bearing orchards and the fertile garden
spots, where dwell a happy, contented.
self-reliant and self-supporting people.
The last grand Jury report for this coun
ty (September, 1899) contained the follow
ing significant statement: "We have in-
I
vj '- s,
5 $S
ff
WQWfr
HVl.W.69
ze.mm
l6,ofyo5f.te
W,Z&tW.$f
MWPbs
vf.w,m.($
ztoftmM
ZSSfd.fZ
ZZ.SZJS.
,00ZSd6.J7
mPZ7
f 8.533.33.63
0
N
lfc7W2.se
78MjZt,.3?
1,7607'
ffJptifyt
(fMttff.ff
tpttfM0
w-m"
&MMM
iMdtffttjA
W0?.J8f86
tetS7i8.fj
t6M$658.7J
6.6.6if.op
lt.o4v&6o
663.6d3.M
3ZZp7J2
iTJ6$.87.7.
refers to the figures on tho side
quired as to the. county poor, and find
that there are no county charges in the
county." A summary of the assessment
roll of the county, for the same year,
shows the taxable property in the county
to aggregate in value 51.100,095.
The county still contains some excellent
farming lands which are open to settle
ment under the homestead act; but, at the
rate these lands have been taken during
the past year. It cannot be long before the
supply of free homes will bo exhausted.
A larger number of homestead entries
were filed In the county during 1839 than
for a number of years past. The oppor
tunities for new settlers, however, are
by no means confined to the acquisition
of public land, there being, as In all n'ew
countries, plenty of chances to acquire
deeded land by purchase, and on reason
able terms.
Diversified Farming In Favor.
As has been stated the stock Interest,
while still an Important factor In the
resources of the county, has seen Its best
days as .the dominant Industry, but It
may be added that the day Is near at
j hand when the stock and farming inter
I ests will be Joined by a system of diversi
fied farming whereby each farmer will
keep a limited amount of stock, such as
j he can handle to advantage on his own
farm. It Is safe to say that In no other
section of the country are the farmers
as a class In better condition, all things
considered, than they are In Gilliam coun-
' ty. While the wheat crop of 1899 was
by no means up to the average, and the
price far from satisfactory, the farmers
are not discouraged. With firm faith In
the fertility and bounty of Gilliam coun
ty soil they have diligently improved ev
ery minute of time since the harvest and
threshing season, in plowing and planting
by far the largest acreage ever seeded in
the county, and the exceedingly favorable
conditions of the fall and winter, as re
gards rainfall and "growing weather"
give them bright hopes of a bountiful
harvest in 1900. It may be added in this
999999991
90999999998998999 o
O
STATES NAVAL ACADEMY
O
o
o
o
connection that a large portion of the
j.059 uup reuiiuus uiuuiu, ue iarmers De-
lng able to hold lor better prices
While many of our sister counties In
Eastern Oregon are heralded far and wide
as wonderful wealth-producers In gold
and silver, It must not be forgotten that
Gilliam county "ground" gives forth
abundant wealth In dazzling dollars. Ours
are all surface "diggings," but we have
passed the primitive period of the pioneer
prospector's pick and pan, and gather up
our wealth with eight-horse gang plows
and 32-horse combined harvesters and
threshers.
Stockmen have received good prices for
beef, mutton and wool durins the year
and a large amount of these products have I
been marketed, bringing into the county
hundreds of thousands of dollars in re
turn. The Item of mutton alone a&3
brought to Gilliam county sheepmen, dur
ing the year, 575,000 In round numbers,
and there yet remains In the county about
S5.000 head of the woolly-coated prosperity-producers.
Condon and Arlington. Gilliam's oa.y
incorporated cities, are thriving commer
cial centers, the former being the seat
of county government, and the latter tho
principal shipping point of the county.
Condon, situated on the high plateau,
miles south of Arlington, Is the center
of one of the most fertile farming regions
of the West. Wheat fields hem in th
town on every hand and stretcb away
for miles In golden, gracious waves. Tna
Ferry Canyon section, which ha3 received
perhaps 90 per cent of the new settiera
coming into the county during the year,
lies a few miles due west of Condon, aid
Is one of the garden spots of the In
land Emplrt. The rapidity with whu-h
that section has filled up with wide-
awake, progressive settlers during tio
year, together with the room and oppor
tunities for others yet to come, leads
to the conclusion that Condon, tho "Sum
mit City," will ever continue to be thi
center of wealth and population of thi
county. The city ha3 made many sub
stantial Improvements during the year,
chief of which Is one of the most perfect
water systems to be found In any city
of Ilka size In the Northwest. An Inex
haustible supply of pure, cold, sparkling
water is drawn from a 90-foot drilled well.
which furnishes an abundant supply for
all purposes domestic use. Irrigation and
fire protection, and at a minimum cost to
the consumers. A number of new busi
ness enterprises have been undertaken in
the city during the year and two new
church buildings are being erected.
Arlington enjoys a thriving trade and
lias long been known a3 one of the most
Important shipping points In Eastern Ore
gon. The town of Olex, midway between Con
don and Arlington, on Rock creek. Is1 also
an important trading point and has added
to Its commercial establishments during
the year one of the largest and best ap
pointed stores In the county.
Lone Rock, near the east: Mayville,
near the south, and Blalock, near tho
northwest boundaries of the county, aro
also thriving towns and each enjoys a
lively trade with its adjacent territory.
Prospective Benefits to Producers.
The opening of tho Columbia river by
the portage railway, now in course of
construction, will prove of Inestimable
benefit to the producers of this county,
and will do more than anything else could
do to bring out the latent wealth of Gil
Ham's fertile hills. The system will nor
be complete, however, until a connect ng
line of railway is pushed Into the Interior
to tap the Condon wheat belt and when
that is done and Gilliam county people
are confident It will be dona In tho near
future the production of cereals will be
more than trebled and Gilliam will be
come one of the biggest little counties on
the face of the earth.
S. A. PATTISON.
Condon, Or.
B
JACKSON COUNTY.
Several Hundred Settiera, Principally
Americans, Buy Homes.
The general wave of prosperity which
has swept over the country the past year
has made its beneficent Influence felfr In
the valleys and on tho hillsides of Jack
son county. Immigrants from less favored
localities have not hesitated to ava.l
themselves of tho opportunity to secure
homes where tho mild winters send the
roots of cereals deep Into the soil, ready
for an early vigorous spring growth, and
where the summer sun ripens peaches.
grapes, pears, and. tho big red apples for
which the state Is noted. The Immigra
tion has been largest from tho MidJ a
states. People who have become tired of
the blizzards, cyclones-, hailstones and
thunder storm3 of Dakota, Nebraska and
Kansas have rejoiced to find a piai.9
where nature spends her energies for tao
good of humanity.
Several hundred newcomers, the major
ity of whom are thrifty. Intelligent Amer
icans, have purchased land in the val
leys. Their coming has not displaced
former occupants, but has resulted in di
vision of the larger ranches, thus paving
the way for more Intensive tillage uf
tho solL An encouraging feature of the
Immigration last year was that the great
bulk of real estate purchases were cat,h
deals. Many families are now malting a
comfortable living on small holdings of
from five to 30 acres by raising fruits and
vegetables. Last year several small fruit
growers havo realized 5300 per acre from
their crops. One grower of vegetables,
A. L Hazeltcn, of Eaglo Point, marketed
40,000 pounds of onions from, one and a
half acres, and sold them, for 130.
Orchard Acreage Increased.
The larger orchardlsts are so encouraged
by the prices received for their producu
that the acreage has been materially In
creased during the past year. A hasty
glance at a few of the large orchards will
give some Idea of the extent of the fruit
Industry in the valley. The crop of
Weeks & Orr yielded 550 boxes of app.es.
2000 boxes of peara, 2000 boxes of peaches.
40,000 pounds of prunes, and 10,000 pounds
of dried apples. Captain G. Voorhles will
dispose of 6000 boxes of apples, 9500 box 3
of pears, and 65,000 pounds of prunes. P.
W. Olwell has 160 acres set with 12,000 fruit
trees, which are beginning to be profit
able. He will sell 10,000 boxe3 of appiea
and 1500 boxes of pears. This Is about
one-third of a full yield. His apples bring
him from 90 cents to L per box on cars
at Central Point, and hl3 pears 51 25. Ho
had In November 20 hands packing apples,
and has had 0 in the busy season. In
the immediate vicinity of A3hland 75.0CO
boxes of peaches of a superior quality
wre handled at a large profit. The 3011
and altitude of this section are peculiarly
adapted to peachgrowlng. Tho 21,500
boxes of apples. 13,000 boxes of peara, and
105,000 pounds of prunes from three or
chands referred to, and the 75,000 boxes
of peaches from Ashland orchards, are
but a part of the fruit crop of this vicin
ity. There will be from 500,000 to 1,000,000
pounds of prunes sent out of the Rogue
river valley. Apples aro shipped from,
here to all parts of the country, and many
carloads are sent direct to London and
Berlin, where they bring fabulous prices.
While Jackson county cannot be caLed
an Ideal dairy section, the output of
butter Is not only sufficient to supply
home demands, but since the establish
ment of the Ashland creamery a large
amount has been exported. Under the
management of D. Perozzl, tho past year
911,445 pounds of milk has been handled,
which produced 41,803 pounds of butter,
from which $10,000 was realized. Seveial
thousand acres of alfalfa, yielding three
crops of hay each season, besides much
early and late pasturage, affords a sound
basis on which, to build a thriving dairy
business.
Stockmen have prospered, and are mak
ing preparations for enlarging- their herdd,
which find good range in the hills and
low mountain ranges, with plenty of hay
acreage in the valleys for winter feeding.
Many large herds are driven over the
mountains into Eastern Oregon for sum
mer feeding.
Gold Mines Receiving: Attention
Increased Interest In goldmlning has
marked the past year. In the early his
tory of this county millions of dollars
worth of gold was taken from rich placer
mines, but as these were gradually
washed out, newer fields attracted tho
prospector. With Improved machinery for
working the ore, backed by skill and
capital, some 10 of the many rich ledges
are now beginning to give handsome re
turns. Free-mllllnff ore, running- from 5a
to 525 per ton, 13 found in many places.
Some ledges run- much higher. Capital
is now being Invested to work it, part
V
4