Morning Oregonian., January 01, 1902, SECOND SECTION, Page 19, Image 19

THE MORNING OREGONIAN, WEDNESDAY. JANUARY 1, 1902.
19
yield an annual Income of from $50 to
575, according to grade and care.
Poultry-raising oltcrs largo and sure
returns to the man -who takes It up sys
tematically. Chickens are healthy and
prolific and the weather never gets cold
enough to stop them from laying or freeze
the eggs. The record of a poultryman nesr
Corvallls shows that his flock of hens
produced last year an average of 175 eggs
per hen; that the average price received
for his eggs was 20 cents per dozen; that
the feed required for each fowl cost 50
cents, thus leaving a net profit of 52 40
for each layer. The same record showed
that 33 yearling hens laid In seven months
$2 worth of eggs each. Few persons In
the county follow poultry-raising sys
tematically, and the chickens kept run
haphazard and In many cases are left to
shift for themselves, yet a canvaBs of
the stores of Corvallls showed that on
March 31, 1901, 2330 dozen eggs were
marketed at 15 cents per dozen, and that
the single day's marketing brought the
poultry-keepers the neat sum of 5349 50.
Market conditions for poultry products
are good. Eggs range from 124 to 30
cents, chickens from 53 to 55 per dozen.
Geese, ducks and turkeys do fully as well
as chickens, and sell at the proper season
for 1214 to IS cents per pound gross.
The county does not have the manu
facturing enterprises her opportunities
Justify. There are six flouring mills -with
a combined dally capacity of 650 barrels,
30 sawmills, which supply the local de
mand and ship several millions of feet of
lumber yearly to other markets, one or
gan factory, one sash and door factory,
one Ice factory and two creameries. We
ought to have canning establishments to
preserve the hundreds of tons of fruit
which perish for lack of markets for green
fruit, and other hundreds of tons of vege
tables, which grow In such profusion on
our river bottoms. Again, here Is the cen
ter of a large hardwood belt. This hard
wood, consisting of oak, ash and maple,
has a beautiful grain and takes an ex
cellent polish for furniture, mantels and
Inside furnishing, while much of It Is
suitable for agricultural Implements. "We
also have abundant and" cheap raw ma
terials for the manufacture of leather,
excelsior, starch, paper, wooden-ware,
woolen goods, etc
In the matter of transportation Benton
Is exceptionally served. The West Side
division of the Southern Pacific Railroad
runs through a large part of the county
from north to .south, while the Corvallls
&. Eastern Railroad runs through the
center of the county from cast to west
and connects with both the East and
West Side divisions of the Southern Pa
cific. In addition, a line of steamboats
operated by the Oregon Railroad &. Nav
igation Company ply the Willamette
River between Corvallls and Portland
the greater part of the year.
Markets are near at hand. Portland,
the greatest seaport of the Northwest,
with lines of railroad to all parts of the
continent and lines of steamships to all
parts of the globe, Is only 100 miles to
the north and accessible by rail or by
steamboat. Yaqulna harbor Is but GO
miles to the west, at the terminus of the
Corvallls & Eastern Railroad. San Fran
cisco and Seattle are both within reach.
The county has several thriving towns
and villages. Corvallls, the county seat,
is a modern, incorporated city of 2000 In
habitants, with good water, sewerage and
electric light systems. It has a 575,000
courthouse, a 510,000 city hall, a large
and commodious public school, eight
churches, a substantial National bank,
numerous mercantile and manufacturing
establishments and many pleasant homes,
shaded by magnificent maples and inhab
ited by a cultured and hospitable people.
Seven miles west of Corvallls, on the line
of the Corvallls & Eastern, is Philomath,
a thriving little town of 500 Inhabitants,
with many pretty homes and the moral
atmosphere and appearance of a college
town, which it Is. Eighteen miles south
of Corvallls Is Monroe, a village with two
flouring mills, three general merchandise
stores, a drug store and other shops and
markets. This town Is surrounded by a
prosperous farming country and has a
good and growing trade.
In her educational facilities the county
is surpassed by no county In the state.
The common school system comprises CO
districts, with a school population of 2500
children. The common school fund fur
nishes about 57 for each child, and most
of the districts have nine months of
school each year, the average for all the
districts being seven months. Two schools
of higher learning at Philomath, con
ducted by the two branches of the United
Brethren, furnish higher training to all
seeking such education In a sectarian
school, and the State Agricultural Col
lege, the greatest Industrial school of the
Northwest, is located at Corvallls.
There are in the county 25 church edi
fices, representing all the principal re
ligious denominations, and a careful In
vestigation shows that one-half of the
000 population of the county attend
church services regularly. Sabbath
schools and young people's societies are
numerous and flourishing. Of the benefi
cial and social orders, there are flour
ishing lodges of Masons, Odd Fellows,
Knights of Pythias, Woodmen, Workmen,
Maccabees, Foresters, Artisans and the
G. A. R.
For hours of recreation, the ocean, dis
tant but a few hours ride by rail, calls
to the enjoyment of the beach and the
surf, and the mountains, nearer still. In
vite to the pleasures of their soothing
shade, the quest of the gamy trout which
inhabit their sparkling streams, or the
pursuit of the magnificent deer which
hide In their fastnesses. Pheasants,
grouse and quail during the Summer and
geese andducks and snipe in Winter fur
nish game for the sportsman.
With all her other advantages, Benton
County offers to the homesceker a pleas
ant 'and profitable home at a modest
price. There are in tho county 40.000
acres of Government land, some of which
is valuable as timber land and stock
ranges. This is open to homestead and
timber entries. There are also large
tracts of railroad land, which can be
had at from 52 30 to 55 per acre. Im
proved land sells for 510 to 550 per acre,
according to location and Improi'ements.
The people of Benton realize that their
great need is a larger population to take
advantage of the opportunities- on every
hand. The citizens of the county have,
therefore, during the last year, organized
a Citizens' League to make Benton
known abroad. The league has, at an ex
pense of over $500. gotten out an ele
gantly Illustrated pamphlet, fully descrip
tive of the county and Its resources. This
comprehensive little work Is being sent
by the secretary of the league to any
Interested party at the nominal price of
10' cents per copy, required to cover cost
of mailing. This and other descrlptlvo
matter has interested many Eastern peo
ple In this section. A number of families
from the Middle West have settled here
during the Summer and Fall, and every
mall brings Inquiries concerning the coun
ty and Its resources. Next year Is sure
to bring a great Influx of immigrants, for
whom there is ample room and flattering
Inducements.
C. E. WOODSON, Corvallls.
CLACKAMAS COUNTY.
Inducements to .Homcseekerii Aot
Excelled Anywhere la the World.
Clackamas County Is becoming famous
for the fertility of Its soil, variety of re
sources and Abundance of productions,
and is destined to be one of the garden
spots of the Willamette Valley.
With an area of 1500 square miles of the
best portion of Northwestern Oregon,
there is not a square foot of its million
acres unsuitable for tillage, pasture, tim
ber or mineral. Its boundaries extend
from Yamhill and Washington counties
easterly to the crest of the Cascade Moun
tains a distance of 60 miles, and from
Multnomah County, on the north. It ex
tends 30 miles to Pudding River and Butte
Creek, which practically marks Its south
ern boundary. The population of the
county consists largely of people from
the Eastern and Middle Western states,
and, according to the census -of 1900, ag
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The electric lights of Port
land and much of the power
for miscellaneous purposes
used In this city are transmit
ted from the falls of the Wil
lamette, 14 miles south o'f
Portland. The system Is
owned by the Portland Gen
eral Electric Company, having
a capitalization of 54,250,000. It
is one of the larcest long-distance
electric transmission
plants In the country, and one
of the very first that was built
and put into successful opera
tion. The company furnishes all
the electric lights used in the
city, and supplies most of the
power used by the various
street-car lines. Besides this
some 6000 horsepower is sold to
manufacturing establishments
located at Oregon City, the
seat of the great generating
plant of the company. Many
Portland plants are also run
by ttls power. Large sums of
money have been expended by
the company In bringing its
plant to a high state of effect
iveness. Every advance made by In
ventive genius In the Improve
ment of electrical matters has
been grasped by the Portland
General, so that today it owns
one of the most perfect and
well-conducted systems to be
found in the West.
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gregates SO.000, of which nearly 7000 re
side In Oregon City and suburbs. The
topography of the county Is designed and
calculated for the highest state of devel
oping all lines of Industry. Running
through the county north and south Is
the Willamette River, which affords ex
cellent transportation facilities for the
products of tho southern part of the
county Into the markets of the world.
Tributary to the Willamette, draining the
southern and middle portions of
the county, are Pudding River,
Butte Creek, Rock Creek, Molalla
River, Milk Creek, Beaver Creek,
Abernethy Creek. Clackamas River, Clear
Creek, Roaring River, Eagle Creek, Deep
Creek, Cedar Creek, Russel Creek and
Tualatin River. The northern part of
the county is drained by the Sandy Riv
er and its tributaries, Salmon and Bull
Run, all of which are filled with crystal
waters from the ice-fields of Mount Hood.
Besides these numerous rivers, a run
ning stream or living spring may be
found on almost every quarter-section of
land in the county, which assures abund
ance of water at all seasons, and makes
a drouth Impossible. Along each of these
rivers and streams are numerous saw
mills and grist mills now in operation,
and there are cataracts or waterfalls suf
ficient to operate many more mills in
almost every mile of these streams. These
numerous rivers tod streams naturally
divide the county info lowlands and ta
blelands, giving diversity of soil suitable
for every known production adapted to a
temperate climate.
Thousands of Acre Valuable for
Graxingr.
Along tho headwaters of these rivers
and streams are extensive ranges con
taining thousands of acres especially
adapted for grazing purposes, affording
large opportunity for stockralslng. Fir,
alder, maple, larch and other deciduous
trees grow prollflcally in the foothills of
the county an.d adjacent to these streams.
The quantity of timber growing In this
part of the county Is almost Inexhausti
ble, and Is fast being secured by Eastern
lumber syndicates. The broken surfaces
along these rivers and streams expose
rich veins of gold, sliver, coal and Iron
and oil ready for development. The In
dustries of the county are numerous and
varied. Chief among these are
the mills, manufactories and elec
tric plant at the falls of the Wil
lamette River, which have a direct pre
cipitation of 40 feet, and capacity of 55,000
horse-power, of which only 20,00) horse
power is now being utilized. The electric
plant supplies the City of Portland, 14
miles distant, with lights and Immense
quantities of power. The largest of the
paper mills manufactures 120 tons of pa
per dally and consumes 15,000.000 feet of
pulp logs annually. Its finished product
aggregates nearly 52,000,000 annually. The
capacity of the flouring mills at Oregon
City Is 1000 barrels per day. In the woolen
mills are employed 400 laborers, with a
pay roll of 5150,000 a year, and its fin
ished product amounts in the neighbor
hood of 51,000,000. All the Industries of
Oregon City, including the two paper
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mills, electric plant, flouring mill, pumpr '
lng station, ice plant, woolen mills and.,
shoe factory employ upwards of 1100 men.
Profit In Dairying.
Within the past few years the creamery
and dairy Industry has developed to a
marked desrfee, and already a number of
dairies are in successful operation in dif
ferent portions of the county. Profits
derived from this source encourages the
belief that this industry will be increased
many times throughout the county within
the coming year.
The benefits that come to the people
through creameries and dairies are many.
The industry diversifies farming and the
competition It raises is an lnoentlvo to
higher and stronger efforts in the line of
cattle-breeding. Dairy farmers are tak
ing an interest that has never been noted
before in securing a high grade of stock.
A few years since the farming population
of this county depended almost entirely
upon raising grain, with a few cattle, but
in recent years experiments have been
made in many other directions all tending
to diversify the crops. The first experi
ment was made some 12 years ago in
raising hops, with the result that the pro
duction equals the best of any county In
the state In quality and the general acre
age yield, and hops have become one of
tho staples. Of recent years dairying has
taken a hold upon the people and there
are seven creameries and dairies located
here, all of which are prospering and the
experiments- In that line of husbandry
are such as to demonstrate that Clacka
mas County Is second to none. The
creamery and dairy Industry alone Is des
tined to support a population greater than
the present population of the county.
The fertility of the soil and the adapta
bility of the climate to raising clover,
timothy, cheat, corn, peas and other
hay and forage soiltable for silage, and
green feed such as Is necessary for milch
cows, gives the greatest promise of suc
cess to any such undertaking. The
amount of land which can be purchased
for a reasonable figure renders it of the
greatest promise to Immigrants. Another
Industry of the county Is the raising of
Angora goats. This is practically a new
undertaking. Ten years ago about the
only flock was owned by James and Rob
ert Beaty, of Molalla, and today the flocks
are numbered by hundreds and are of the
best breed In the land.
The potato crop Is becoming one on
which the farmers can rely for a great
source of income. Potatoes are now
shipped to San Francisco, but also find
their way way In carloads to Texas, the
territories, and as far cast as St. Louis,
and they are gaining a fame equal to tho
Prince Edward Island potatoes.
Cultivation of Tenacls.
Clackamas County enjoys the distinc
tion of being the first and only county In
the state to cultivate teasels. The late A.
J. Sawtell was the pioneer In the Industry.
Thirty years ago he first experimented
j with the growth of teasels, and from the
J first was successful In his efforts. Teasel
j growing Is now carried on by George
j Gregory and S. E. Gregoryf who ship
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their product to London and New York.
Clackamas County Is also adapted to the
Ngrowlng and raising of small fruits and is
he home of the red-cheeked apple, Spitz-
enberg, Ben Davis, Yellow Newton Pip
pin and other varieties thrive in all parts
of the county, which can produce any
thing from the smallest crabapplc to the
largest Giorl Mundl. This Industry has
not yet attracted the attention It deserves
and Is still In its Infancy. Bartlett ana
Winter Nellis are the leading varieties of
pears raised In this section. Large crops
aro produced which bring good prices,
and this year's Bartletts sold for a dollar
to a dollar and a quarter a box. Grapes,
raspberries, blackberries of the best qual
ities can Jbe raised In unlimited quantities.
Early Crawford peaches in the orchard of
H. E. Cross have more than a local rep
utation, and Canby strawberries are
known throughout the state for their size
and delicious flavor. With careful culti
vation and attention farmers have made
as much as 5200 per acre from their straw
berry crop.
Tho first extensive orchard of prunes
in this county was set out in 1SS5 by Mr.
Guttridge, of Sprlngwater, which has
steadily Increased until he now has more
than 40 acres. Thousands of tons are
shipped every year to the Eastern ana
foreign market. Watermelons are grown
in tho vicinity of Canby, and while they
are riot equal in size to the California
melon, their flavor Is much superior.
Forests, Mineral and Grain.
Tho vast forests of Clackamas County
have scarcely been touched at the pres
ent time. A few saw mills In tho north
eastern part of the county are In opera
tion, and a great many railroad ties have
been cut. There are some local mills
which are all right as far as they go,
but the lumber and milling Industry Is
still young here, and Is one of great
promise. In the near future It will give
employment to thousands of men and
fill the coffers of the corporations now
fast gaining control of the vast bodies
of timber.
In the northeastern part of the county
are mines of galena carrying silver in
large quantities. Preparation is being
made to begin development and work of
extensive character will be started fn a
short time. On Russell Creek, a tribu
tary of the Molalla, Wales Russell and
Henry Russell have claims which carry
gold, silver and copper, In values rang
ing from 525 to 5300 per ton. There are
a number of other claims, all of which
are being developed as nlpldly as possi
ble, and all carrying large values.
The yield of grain In Clackamas Coun
ty Is an important Item in agricultural
pursuits.
The staple cereals are wheat, oats and
barley, and these three will grow any
where and in any season. Rye and corn
are also sure crops, but owing to the
cool Summer evenings the corn does not
ripen successfully, and for that reason
cannot be classed as a commercial prod
uct. It makes rich feed for stock, and
is grown extensively for that purpose.
Rye Is grown chiefly for hay, owing to
Its abundant growth, producing as high
as three and four tons to tho acre. It
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also ripens early, and is used in the
manufacture of flour.
Barley Is probably a surer product than
any other grain, and commands a high
er price In the market than other cereals,
on account of the commercial demand
for It. Barley Is especially adapted to
low soil, and under ordinary cultivation
produces as high as 75 bushels to the
acre. The price 13 more steady on bar
ley than on other commodities, owing to
tho heavy local demand. Very little Is
exported, and the price usually stands at
from 40 to 50 cents per bushel.
On every farm and In every season the
oat crop Is one of the prime products. Its
advantage over wheat Is that It will
grow in all kinds of soil and Is not af
fected materially by the weather. It re
quires less care In Its cultivation, and
Is more varied In Its use. In the sheaf It
makes an excellent food for cattle and
horses, and, properly prepared, swine
and sheep thrive upon it. .The variety
from which oatmeal and rolled oats aro
manufactured is also grown In many
parts of the county. Baled oat straw
commands a price in the market almost
equal to that of first-class hay, and
Clackamas County oats find a market in
every part of the world. '
Flour Shipped to Europe and Asia.
Until recent years wieat has held first
place among the productions of this coun
ty, and can be raised as cheaply and in
as large quantities here as in any place
In the world. But time has shown that
wheat Is not among the products that
give the most profitable results, although
sufficient quantity Is raised to supply
the numerous grist mills of the county,
and hundreds of thousands of bushels are
also exported annually. Flour from our
local mills Is shipped direct to Liverpool
and to China, and ranks with the best
flour produced anywhere. Time was when
farmers burned their wheat straw, but
now such a thing is never heard of. The
paper mills of the county demand not
only all of the wheat straw in Clackamas
County, but large quantities from, other
portions of the state.
The growth of flax and broomcorn has
been tested In Clackamas County, and
proven profitable with proper attention;
but as yet this Industry is in Its infancy,
and a large field presents itself In this
line to development.
Large quantities of land In the county
are especially adapted to the growth of
onions, and this product is fast taking a
prominent place on many farms through
out the county. Often larger profits are
derived from the cultivation of an acre
or two of onlcns than from the remain
der of a 160-acre farm.
The public thoroughfares of the county
make It possible of access to every farm
In the county. Upwards of 200 miles are
laid off to public roads, and more than
100 miles of these are improved after the
most modern methods, with crushed rock
macadam and plank. Eighteen miles of
this improved road lies between Oregon
City and Molalln, 12 miles between Ore
gon City and Clarke's, and 13 miles by
aid of popular subscription between Ore
gon City and Logan and Sprlngwater.
It has done much for Port
land In the way of developing
manufacturing enterprises.
With cheap, reliable and
economical power, many In
dustries hava been enabled to
secure a start when otherwise
their existence would have
been rather precarious.
Besides the enormous power
plant at the falls of the Wil
lamette at Oregon City, the
company owns the locks at
the latter place, through
which all steamboats pass
from, the lower to the upper
river. The improvements
which have been made In
building and maintaining the
locks, the dams, and in various
other ways run into vast sums
of money. It Is only a com
pany conducted on such a
broad and liberal policy and
having great resources behind
it which could do all this.
At Seventh and Alder streets,
this city, the company has
general offices and a substa
tion, into which all the wires
from Oregon City run direct
and where the current is re
duced to the proper voltage.
The officers of the company
are: P. F. Morey, president;
C. H. Caufleld, secretary, and
H. W. Goode, general manager.
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The remainder is graded, corduroyed and
planked, and made conveniently passa
ble at all seasons of the year. In tho
last fiscal year the county spent 30,000
on Its public roads, exclusive of popular
subscription of 57500. Besides these nu
merous public thoroughfares there are
In contemplation several railroad lines to
be operated by electricity or steam Into
the Interior of the country, one in the
northern portion of the county, another
through the central portion, and the third
into the southern part, all running
through rich farming communities and
the vast timber belt in the eastern part
of the county, and terminating In the min
ing district awaiting these lines of trans
portation for its development. For tho
Interested homeseeker and aspiring busi
ness man, Clackamas County offers op
portunities second to none In the United
States.
EDWARD EVERETT BR0DD3.
Oregon City.
LANE COUNTY.
People Atvake to the Importance of
Utilizing Their Vast Resources.
The year Just ended was In many re
spects a phenomenal one for Lane Coun
ty. Never In the history of the county
has there been such a season of develop
ment, such evidence on the part of the
people of a waking up to the importance
of utilizing the varied resources of the
county. Never such a spirit of progress
iveness and Intelligent application of the
machinery of industry to bring forth, from
tho products of nature. such marketable
commodities as the outside world Is in
constant need of.
In years past the county has undergone
some changes and transitions, and old
methods have been discarded to be super
seded by something more in keeping with
the times. In early days the settlers
looked upon the hills and valleys as re
markably adapted to grazing, and many
of the early pioneers settled on home
steads with the Intention of taking life
easy and In time acquiring a competence
by the natural Increase of their herds and
flocks. In this they were not mistaken,
for, starting with a comparatively few
cattle. It was only a few years until they
grew Into herds of considerable size. They
sold enough each year to keep up their
expenses of living, which were not great,
and allowed' the increase to roam over the
hills, and thus found a good flving and
satisfactory growth of capital with a min
imum of labor and exertion.
Then came the wheat farmer, who saw
in the fertile valleys the virgin soil which
would respond to the Industry of the
farmer with Immense yields of the world's
breadstuff. Wheat farming was then tak
en up quite generally, and was followed
with considerable profit, and became the
leading Industry In point of export prod
uct. For marty years, then, the products
of the county were principally stock and
wheat, which were always marketable
and yielded fair results. But, as has been
the rule in all countries, this would not
continue. With the Increase In the popu
lation, the Introduction of new ideas of
farming by Incoming immigrants, and a
demand for diversity of products, there
has been a steadily growing change to
more modern methods of diversified farm
ing. The small crops and binall Items
about rural industry became more impor
tant, and have "now made for the county
an immense Income without detracting
from the chief products of former years.
Hopgrowlng was taken up by many who
had small tracts of the "richest alluvial
soil, and many years ago became one of
the Important Industries of the county,
and still annually provides a large portion
"of the income of the county from is
ports. Then came the Improvement of tho
stock by Importation of blooded animals,
and consequent Improvement In quality and
value of tho marketable product. Also
the more Intensified farming, rotation of
crops, fruit culture, gardening, chicken
raising, etc. All these have grown to in
dustries of considerable magnitude, and
many thousands of dollars are annual'
brought in for such products as were once
almost entirely neglected and considered
If no value.
It was a long time before some of tho
greatest natural resources were brought
Into anything like a state of development.
Not because they were altogether over
looked, but because their Importance was
not fully realized and the capital and ex
perience did not seem to bo hero to tako
hold. Such, for instance, are tho timber
Industry, fishing, mining, manufacturing,
etc.
His Demand for Lnmber.
Among the industries of Lane County
the lumber Industry has clearly been In
the lead the past year in magnitude and
Importance. The excellent timber which
grows in both the Cascade and Coast
Ranges of mountains is becoming known
In tho markets of tho East, and on ac
count of the superior quality of lumber It
Is now In great demand. In fact, the ex
port demand Is much greater thar the cut
ting capacity of the mills, and th revenue
derived from the sale of lumber in this
county Is the largest coming in from, any
slngle export product.
There are saw mills of Importance at
Saginaw, Springfield. Eugene. Coburg,
Wendllng. Elmlra, Acme and Florence. Be
sides these, which are running at full ca
pacity, there are numerous smaller mills
which are doing a good business supply
ing the demand In their particular locali
ties. There has been an unusual amount
of Improvement In tho towns of the coun
ty, and throughout the farming districts
as well. New buildings of every class aro
going up everywhere. New houses, new
barns, new granaries, new stores, are very
abundant. This improvement has made a
great demand upon the bmall local mills
to furnish lumber at home, while the ex
port mills have had more than they can
do filling orders for shipment. It te dif
ficult to measure the lumber product for
tho year with accuracy, but a conserva
tive estimate based on figures from somo
of the mills would place the year's product
at about 147.000.000 feet. This sells at
prices ranging from 5S to ?20 per 1000, or In
tho aggregate over $1,350 000. Several new
mills of large capacity are strongly talkul
of, and no doubt another year vili bring
a considerable Increase In the lumber ex
port of the county.
MIz.ei Attracting Attention.
Tho mining Industry, while not greit in
the magnitude of ltd product, is coming to
be an Important one to Lano County.
Mining can be said to be only in its in
fancy here, although auriferous quarts
veins have been known to exist In the
mountains to the east of Eugene for many
years. It was a long time before suili
cient capital would take the necossary risk
to develop a property, for It is very ex
pensive to develop a quartz mine. Only
minlng capital will work these mines, and
as the mines or prospects here were hpld
by men mostly without capital, it was al
most impossible to get claims developed
sufficiently to demonstrate their worth.
But at least one claim In the Blue River
district, the Lucky Boy, was pushed for
ward until It proved Its worth, and to a
great extent demonstrated the value of
the ore of the district. This was highly
satisfactory, and mining capital is now
becoming interested In these properties.
This pioneer mine has now 15" stamps run
ning, and is preparing to Increase this to
50 stamps In the near future. A liinto
electrlc plant Is being Installed to furnish
power and assist in mining operations.
Whilo this Is the only regular produc r,
there aro many other properties fully as
rich, but less developed, and work is actlvu
In making substantial Improvements.
Two other properties have erected small
mills, and others will soon follow. Tho
Bluo River and Fall Creek districts, both
In Lano County, offer great opportuni
ties for gold miners. They are only await
ing development to become regular pro
ducers. This Is sure to come at no re
mote day, and the precious metal known
to exist In the mountains of this county
will reach the channels of trade.
Agriculture and Dnirjlnjr.
Agriculture furnishes an occupation to
a vast majority of tho population of tlio
county. The broad, rich valley is becom
ing more thickly settled, and large farms
are being subdivided. The richness of tho
soil, together with favorable climate,
make agricultural crops almo&t certain.
In fact, such a thing as failure of crops
Is unknown to tho oldest farmers in this
vicinity. Some years are better than
others, but failures are not known. A
farmer ha3 only to work the soil properly
and the seed sown Is certain to bring him
a crop. Thero are 120.000 acres of tilla
ble land In the county. The principal crop
raised Is wheat, but diversity and rota
tion of crop3 is followed to a great ex
tent. While the soil Is strong, wheat will
not yield well on land that has been pro
ducing this one crop for a series of 20 or 40
years. Oats, barley, flax, peas, vetch,
etc., are grown and yield good returns.
Dairying has occupied the attention of a.
few of tho farmers the past season, ai.d.
those who have started into this class of
farming are more than pleased with tho
results. This industry will grow very
rapidly, as It has been found more profita
ble than exclusive cereal farming. Com
paratively little attention has been given,
to dairying, but this year a creamery was
established In Eugene, and a number of
farmers turned their attention to dalrjing
as an experiment. It has proven a suc
cess and demonstrated that dairying will
yield as good profits here as in what aro
termed the best dairy counties.
In the line of horticulture Lane County
has made an Important start and nearly
all varieties of fruits adapted to a tem
perate climate are successfully grown.
During the past season the crop of all va
rieties of fruits, such as apples, pears,
plums, prunes, cherries and berries of all
varieties, have produced abundantly anl
have been an Important source of reve
nue. The prune crop is larger than
any of' the other fruits. There are a
large number of young prune orchards in
bearing and the crop the past seaton has
been the largest In the history of tho
county. Besides the vast amount of
prunes shipped green, the crop of dried
prunes for export amounts to more thin
2,000,000 pounds. While the ruling price of
dried prunes is low, yet there is a good
profit for the grower, when he can reaLzo
512 per ton for his grCen fruit, as has
been the case this season.
The hop industry Is also an Important
one In Lane County, the export the past
teason being about 7000 bales or 1,260.000
pounds. There is a. vast amount of gool
hop land in the county, only a small por
tion of which is In use for this crop. No
better hop land exists anywhere, and It
Is said by a competent authority that tho
banner hopfield In the world based on the
past season's crop was one In Lane Coun
ty, which produced 21S0 pounds to tho
acre of strictly first-class expprt hops.
There Is always a good profit in hopgrow
lng here on account of the prolific yield,
and the comparatively small amount of la
bor required in its production. The soil
and climatic conditions are in every way
favorable to the production of a good
crop, and If the market price is such
that the average producer throughout the
county can make bis expenses there Is a
safe profit for the Lane County grower.
The stock Industry is one of great Im
portance In this county, and while It Is