Morning Oregonian., January 01, 1902, SECOND SECTION, Page 20, Image 20

20
THE MORNING OREGONIAN, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 1, 1902.
not now the predominating product of
the county, as it was In early .days. It Is
still an Item of great importance. As a
natter of fact, there were as many cattle
and sheep raised and exported the past
year as during the days when this was
the almost sole reliance for Income.
There are thousands of acres of hill land,
extending; well Into the mountain ranges
on either side of the valley, which afford
an abundance of the finest kind of pasture
for cattle, sheep and goats. The seasons
are such that little attention Is necessary,
and stock does well with little expense.
As a matter of precaution, nearly all the
stockmen put up some hay during the
Summer in order to be fortified against a
short spell of bad weather In Winter,
when feeding Is advisable, but as a gen
eral thing stock will come through the
Winter In fair condition without any feed
whatever except what they gather for
themselves.
There are now In the county about 20,000
head of cattle, whose value Is approxi
mately $500,000. The export the past year
has been about 7000 head, valued at $140.
000. There are In the county about 2S.C00
sheep, valued at 5G0.0CO, and S00 goats, val
ued at $30,000. The export for the year has
been about one-third the number now on
hand.
Not much attention Is paid to hog
ralslng. but most of the farmers keep a
few, which yield a decidedly satisfactory
return for the labor and expense which
they require. The county has marketed
during the past year about 7000 hogs, and
they easily bring $S to $10 each.
Another Industry of cons.derablc Impor
tance to the county Is that of fishing, the
past season being a very successful one.
There are two salmon canneries oa the
Sluslaw Bay, near Florence, which furnish
employment during the fishing season to
several hundred men, Tnclr Importance
and product Is second only to the famous
Columbia River fishing grounds in the
state.
Town and Public Invitation.
The county seat .and principal town of
Lane County Is Eugene. There are other
towns of considerable business importance
such as Cottage Grove, which Is the
headquarters for the business of the Bo
hemia mines, as wil as a" large tributary
country devoted to timber, farming, stock
raisinf. etc.: Junction City, which Is a
trading point for a large tributary agri
cultural country: and Florence, which is
the business center of the rich Sluslaw
Valley. Eugene has a population of
about 5000 and Is one of the most beauti
fully located cities on the Coast- It is
first, a home city, and visitors are flrst
impressed with the beautiful and com
fortable residences, broad and well-kept
streets, with their ample rows of shade
trees on either side, the substantial and
well-kept business .houses, etc
It Is the scat of the Oregon State Uni
versity, which is the leading educational
Institution of the state, which devotes its
attention to the higher branches of edu
cation. It is a growing institution, but
is already well equipped and in position
to meet the demands of the young men
and women of the state for a strictly
Urst-class university education. The
grounds and buildings are located on a
beautiful rise of ground In the eastern
part of the city and are ample for the
accommodation of the several hundred
students who are here from all parts of
the state. The corps of Instructors con
sists of 28 heads of departments and as
sistants, who have been selected for their
special qualifications In their several
branches, and the instruction given Is up
to the standard of the leading universities
In the country.
The public schools and high school are
also of the highest order and furnish edu
cation up to and Including the twelfth
grade, and upon completion df this course
the student is fully prepared to enter
upon a university course.
Although not "a manufacturing town
particularly, there are located here a
large grist mill, excelsior mill, planing
mill and sash and door factory, fruit
drying and packing establishment, saw
mill, two iron foundries and machine
shops, a large tannery, and several minor
manufacturing institutions. There are
now assured for the coming season a new
planing mill and a three-set woolen mllL
The city is supplied with excellent
water-works system and electric lights,
.and .11 the modern Improvements and
conveniences, which help to make it a
delightful place of residence as well as
a good business point.
In Lane County It is the great variety
of resources and the certainty with which
they may be counted upon that make up
the value of its business. It Is not alone
the timber resources that make the coun
ty what it Is, neither is It the educational
facilities, the stock industry, the grain,
the fruit, the hops, the mines, the man
ufacturing, the fishing, or any other sin
gle branch of industry: but all these
combined go to make Lane County a
place of great commercial importance,
where any man has a good chance of
fair reward for Industry and for energy
intelligently expended.
Eugene. G. O. YORAN.
LINN COUNTY.
Beat In. Oregos, Therefore the Best
In the World.
Linn County carried off the honors at
the State Fair, and Oregon was trium
phant at the Pan-American Exposition.
Oregon is the banner state of the Union;
therefore Linn is the banner county of
the United States. This is the kind of
reasoning that Linn County people are
doing just now, and with something to
back It Its location and natural advan
tages, as well as its cultivated advan
tages, entitles it to more than ordinary
notice. It has presented the goods- and
hence it Is not mere braggadocio when
It puts forth its claim for a front place on
the face of the earth.
The situation of Linn County Is the
heart of the far-famed Willamette Val
ley. It Is about 70x40 miles In extent. It
Is bounded on the west by the Willamette
River, which being navigable most of the
year, gives Its products the advantage of
lower rates in transportation, ana as weu
a complete system of natural irrigation,
reaching back SO miles to the foothills In
the most fertile land in the world. Its
eastern section Is a mountain of timber
land, monster firs and hard wood, unsur
passed anywhere in the world, and as well
contains mineral resources of promise. Its
whole surface therefore offers a diversity
that Is rare in a single county:
An Inexhaustible supply of timber.
Fine wheat land.
Soil and climate suitable for fruit.
Foothills for stockralslng.
Quartz and placer propositions.
Forty-five inches of rain annually, well
distributed, insures never-falling crops in
every line. .
An equable climate, never too cold, nev
er too hot, without cyclones or blizzards
makes the living here a pleasure.
Ample Railroad Facilities.
Verj properly Linn County people boast
of their railroad facilities. Linn County
is very fortunate in this respect, for its
producers are thus sure of the best mar
ket to be obtained. Two roads run north
and south through It, and one through
quite a section of it eastward Into the
fo thills with promise of crossing the moun
tains Into Eastern Oregon, and the fourth
connects the malri line of the Southern
Pacific with the Oregonlan branch. The
county Is thus well covered.
Schools Up to the Best Standard.
Letters of inquiry from the East inva
riably ask about our schools, some in a
manner to Indicate a doubt as to our ad.
vancement in the cause of education in
keeping with the progress of the East.
Linn County Is particularly fortunate in
its schools, and they may be said to be
the pride of the people of the county. Not
only Is the graded system In vogue, but
the higher grades are fast being added.
The schools of Albany have ten grades,
and the other incorporated cities eight
grades. The standard for teaching Is ad
vancing, and greater attention is being
paid to qualification. Besides the public
school system, Albany has a college Qf
splendid merit, with an efilclent corps of
teachers, whose watchword has ever been
thoroughness, with a moral as well as ed
ucational training: a sisters' academy in
efilclent hands, and Lebanon has an acad
emy long established and well managed.
Most of the leading deilgious denomina
tions are represented In the cities of the
county, and through the country are scat
tered organizations, some which meet In
their own churches and others In the
schoolhouses of their district. A more or
derly, better behaved people will be found
in few places In the United States.
Dairying; an Important Industry.
Linn County has taken a leading posi
tion in pushing the dairying Interests of
the state to the front, and Is able to pre
sent a flattering record. There are now
several good creameries In the county
generally patronized. The Albany cream
ery has done much to bring butter-making
to the front In this part of the state.
From the time of its establishment nearly
10 years ago. It has, as fast as Its bust,
nes has grown, not been able to meet the
demands for the product. In addition to
t jPftttTj i iffiflMTi r TMlKIInMafnri
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TIASKET OF OREGON STRAWBERRIES, SHOWING SIZE OF BERRY COMPARED WITH A SILVER DOLLAR. GnqWX BY J. R. DOUGLAS, OF ALBANY.
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this another creamery was established
here In 1900, the Albany Produce & But
ter Company. This is run on the separa
tor plan, and In no wise comes In competi
tion with Its neighbor, which receives the
milk direct from the farmer and cream
from its skimming stations. This cream
ery has the proud distinction of ranking
first at the State Fair, with the remark
able average of 23 per cent, several per
cent higher on a. fair test than the high
est marking at the Pan-American Expo
sition. A creamery at Brownsville is par
ticularly well managed by Fred Bruck
man, a pupil of the Albany creamery,
another, at Scio and Lebanon, of, a more
extensive character, besides smaller ones
scattered, through the county. Putting
cash into the pockets of the farmer at the
end of every month, at all reasons of the
year, they have proven of inestimable ad
vantage to him.
Stockralslng.
The splendid market for cattle during
the past few years has proven an impetus
to stockralslng, and rapid strides have
been made In Linn County, many who had
been depending upon wheat in years past,
turning their attention to this paying busi
ness. The shipments of cattle, sheep,
horses and hogs from Linn County aro
said to be the most from any of the West
ern Oregon counties.
Large Shipments of Fruit.
Shipments of dried prunes from Linn
County last year were about 50 carloads,
where In former years the shipment has
been merely nominal. More apples, pears
and smaller fruits are being sent away
than ever before, indicating a substantial
progress In this line. New orchards are
being set out and the demand for good
trees in all lines of fruit Is brisk. Even
peaches do well here, and have the advan
tage of a superior quality, their flavor be
ing unexcelled anywhere.
. Linn County is the original home In
America of the best game bird in the
countryt the Mongolian Ring-Necked
Pheasant, which has through the protec
tion of the laws of Oregon multiplied un
til the fields of the county ore filled with
the bird. From October 1 to December 1
this county is the center for the sports
men of the valley. Besides this magnifi
cent Celestial bird there are native
grouse, pheasants, snipe, etc., and recent
ly several English partridges- -were added
with prospects of rapid multiplication. The
streams of the county In the foothills and
mountains are filled with the finest trout
to be found and the sportsman finds a
splendid place for the whipping ot
streams.
The inhabitant of this part of the world
has reason to be proud of the climate. It i
is mild and yet invigorating, rarely going
above S5 In the Summer or below 20 in the
Winter, and et with a breeze from the
sea In the evening possessing a life-giving
quality that 1 of great value. Almost
no snow In the Winter and no blizzards
or cyclones at any time. The records
show as many hours of sunshine in the
year as In most of the cities of the East.
No pjace In the world offers more enjoy
ment for its inhabitants.
The Towns.
Linn Counts is particularly fortunate In
the number of Incorporated cities within
Its borders located on railroads, scattered
over the county, thus offering superior
'markets with short hauls for the farmers
of the county.
Albany, the county seat. Is the leading
city of the county, a splendid business
center, with a population according to the
census of 1900 of 3149, about 4000 including
the suburbs. Trains run out from it in
five directions. Its manufacturing inter
ests have a good start. It has a woolen
mill, two chair factories, two flouring
mills, sash and door factory, iron works,
.soda works, cigar factory and two cream
eries, besides an Ice factory, brewery,
steam laundry, etc. It has two banks,
three newspaper offices, of which two are
dailies, fruit driers, a water works sys
tem, electric lights, etc It boasts of a fine
cantilever bridge coasting $95,000.
Lebanon Is 14 miles from Albany on a
branch road of the Southern Pacific
It is a gbod business center, has one of
the best paper mills on the Coast for
coarse papers, good schools, a bank, elec
tric light system, five churches, etc., with
a population of about 1000.
Brownsville, with 700 or 00 people, Is a
fine business center 22 miles southeast of
Albany. It has woolen mill, bank, six
churches, two schools, flour mill, plan
ing mill, sash and door factory, creamery,
tannery, water power. It Is one of the old
towns of the county and an excellent
business center.
Harrisburg, 20 miles south of Albany,
has about 600 population, three churches,
a hotel, saw mill, flouring mill, graded
school, good general merchandise stores,
warehouses and other smaller institu
tions. Halscy, a city o 300, has four churches,
4a good school.wheat warehouse, skimming
station and fruit drier.
Shedd, 14 miles south of Albany, three
churches, a skimming station, warehouse
and general merchandise stores.
Tangent, 6 miles south of Albany, has
a store, blacksmith shop, warehouse, two
churches, a large hall and a good school.
Scio, IS miles east of Albany, on a
branch of the Southern Pacific, a city of
about 500, Is a superior business center.
It has ten stores, two hotels, a bank, a
flax mill, sash and door factory, two
churches, a fine school, water works, elec
tric lights, creamery, flour mill and ware
house. Lyons, on the Corvallls & Eastern, zs
miles east of Albany, has three stores, a
saw mill, hotel and good school. Other
towns along the Corvall & Eastern In
1 Wh miiii I Wi IM J 4flfi 'GALIUM " '! IrfMHT h 'wMUM WM'I ' 'i iff 'df n s.-s3l
Marlon County furnish a market for Linn
County farmers.
Besides these Incorporated towns there
are on the railroads small stations with
a single store, schoolhouse and perhaps
Mineral Resources.
The Santiam mines In the mountains In
tho eastern part of the county have had
many ups and downs, perhaps more downs
than ups, and at the present time are in
statu quo. Three or Ave years ago the
Lawler Mining Company did some active
work and took out from $50,000 to $100,000,
and since then there has been only pros
pecting work. The Albany group of mines
have been bonded at times, but the bonds
have not been taken up. The company
has a 20-stamp mill in good condition, and
there are parties now Investigating the
properties. There Is unquestionably good
ore In these mines when fully developed.
Two shafts aro down 200 to 500 feet and
have reached that point where the pros
pects are becoming the best.
Taylor & Co. recently secured control of
the Salem group of mines In this dis
trict, and now have a small force of men
at work pushing development. They are
experienced miners and report the outlook
excellent for something substantial.
On the southern boundary of the county
In the Blue River district are probably
the best prospects In the county. It Is
stated that with the exception of the
Lucky Boy mine the best claims are in
Linn County, on this side of the Calapoola
Mountains. An effort Is now being made
to get a road Into the mines from this
side, when the work of development will
be pushed with greater energy.
Albany. F. P. NUTTING.
MARION COUNTY.
Intending: Settler Has the Choice ef
Many Kinds of Laud,
Marlon County lies In the center of the
Willamette Valley, In Western Oregon,
and extends from the Willamette River
eastward 60 mlle3 to the summit of the
Cascade Mcuntaina. It, therefore, pre
sents for the intending settler a choice
of every kind of agricultural and timber
land, from the alluvial soil along the
Willamette River, only 140 feet above
sea level, to the forest-clad mountains
whose summits arc covered with perpetual
snow. The county has an area of 71S.O00
acre3. of which onlj 200.000 acres are un
der cultiition Ti. balance comprises
wooded tracts in the midst of the cul
tivated area, of paature lands, of timber
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y HOW S3IALL LOGGING CONCERNS TRANSPORT LOGS FROM THE TIMBER IN MARION COUTY.
lands, and of waste area that lie on steep
mountain sides or in mountain gorges.
The Government census of 1300 shows the
population of the county to 27,713, of which
9200 is enumerated in Salem ard its im
mediate suburbs. Of the total area,. 105,
000 acres arc Included in the Cascade for
est reserve, leaving 613,000 acres- upon
which eomc 2500 families, of the farming
classes, are making their homes. In the
hop anJ fruitgrowing districts, the farms
comprise only 20 to 40 acres, so It will
readily be seen that there is abundant
room for double the present population,
even under the present methods of agri
culture. The Willamette River flows along Marion
Countj's western boundary for a distance
of 50 miles. Alongthe river there are rich
bottom lands formed from the deposits
of soil during high water. Seme of tfca
bottom lands are subject to almost yearly
overflow, and are consequently best suited
to market gardening and the production
of crops that require a maximum of fer
tility. There arc also large tracts of
bottom lands not subject to overflow, but
which are well drained, and easily brought
to a high state of cultivation. These arc
the choice lands of the Willamette Valley
- 0-0-0
for the purposes of diversified farming.
Back farther from the river may be
found prairie lands, hill lands and finally
the region known as the foothills of the
Cascade Mountains, beginning about 15
miles east of the Willamette River. The
soil along the river Is alluvial, and In oth
er sections of the county It Is a red,
brown or black loam. Improved bottom
lands can be bought at from $25 to $100 per
acre; prairie and hill lands at from $10
to $40 per acre, according to location.
Umimproved lands may bo purchased at
from $5 to $20 per acre, according to loca
tion and natural conditions. There is
eome (Government land In the eastern
part of the county subject to homestead
entry, and much of this will yet be taken
by settlers, though It is now deemed not
worth taking.
Marlon County enjoys the distinction
of being entirely out of debt. It has one
of the prettiest and most substantial
Courthouses in the state, and has no
large expenses to meet in the near future.
In paying oft debus for Internal improve
ments, the county tax levy has been
slightly above 10 mills on th-s dollar.
The assessed valuation of property, how
ever is only about one-third of Its actual
value, so that the county tax has. in
reality, been less than 4 mills. The county
administration has been economical, and
intending settlers can rest assured that
their county tax burdens will be light.
Until tho last few years, wheatraislng
his been tho principal occupation of the
farming classes. From the standpoint of
Income, hopgrowing has surpassed wheat
farming, and the prospect is that in a
few years the value of our wheat exports
will bo exceeded by the value of our sales
.of fruit and dairy products. The wheat
yield In this part of the Valley Is from
15 to 40 bushels per acre, and up to 10
years ago the average was nearer the
latter quantity tlvin the former. Owing
to a failure to observe the principles of
rotation of crops, the wheat yield has
decreased, and farmers are turning their j thus far encountered has been that the
attention more to dairying and fruitgrow- ( various localities do not produce the differ
ing. The wheat yield of this county is ent fruits in sufficient quantity to-build up
estimated at SCO.OCO bushels, which, at an
average price of cO cents per bushel, would
bo worth $400.CCO. It Is not to be under
stood, however, that wheatgrowing Ms
proven a failure, or that it Is to be en
tirely abandoned. Farmers have found
that they must alternate thlr grain
crops with clover or cultivated
crops In order to keep up the juoduc- i peaches grow here to perfection and In
tlveness of the land, ard they are building ! favorable seasons find a good market out
up dairy herds in order to accomplish suie this state. In a few vears these
this end without curtailing their profits, fruits will also have a regular sale which
Industrious farmers make a living rais- j.m make them a source of large income.
intr wheat even at the present low prices,
and in years when the price is better
they make a good profit. Wheatgrowlng
In this section of the state is conducted
under very favorable conditions. Either
Fall or Spring grain may be sown, and
In this climate It Is only once in a great
many years that rains disturb the har
vest. There are no winds to blow the
grain down, or to shell it. so the -whole j
crop Is- always saved. There being no
danger from rain, threshing Is almost
universally done from the shock.
Oats always produce a large crop In
the Willamette Valley counties, and since
there has arisen :i demand for oats for
shipment to the Philippines, the market
has been very good. The ordinary crop
of oats is estimated at C00.C00 bushels, val
ued at 30 cents per bushel, or $150,000.
The climate of Western Oregon Is Ideal
for the production of grasses, and with
the rapid development of dalrjlng, this
becomes a more important crop. In Mar
Ion County cheat grass Is grown for
horses, while clover Is the principal food
for cattle. Each of these graeses will j
yield two to three tons per acre at one
cutting, and clover land furnishes good
grazing, after the crop has been taken
oo o
off. In the market, hay sells for from $6
to $S per ton. The hay crop In this county
has been estimated at 40,000 tons, but un
der the new methods of farming this will
bo greatly Increased. Most of the hay Is
consumed at home.
Hops.
An average hop crop in Marlon County
Is 23.000 bales, of ISO pounds each, or about
G.COO.GCO pounds. The price varies widely,
but an average price Is 12 cents, at
which the value of the crop Is $720,000.
Practically all of the hop crop is exported,
and as the production ot harvesting of
this quantity! ot hops requires the em
ployment of a large number of men, wo
men and children, all this sum of money
Is distributed directly among the people.
The harvesting of the hop crop of Marion
County gives employment to 10.000 per
sons, who cam an average of $150 per
day for 12 days, or $180,000. The total cost
of production has been about S cents
per pound, or $4S0,0CO In the aggregate.
Tha family living In a state where hops
are raised has a source of Income not
open to the resident of the Middle West
ern states. Here whole families go to the
hopyards and live in tents during the pick
ing season. In this way the ,famlly en
jo3 a very profitable outing. Experi
ence, and the Introduction of more ap
proved methods has enabled growers to
reduce the cost of production, and the
utlook is that Oregon will, In a few
years, be the great hop-producing sec
tion of America, for other states cannot
long compete with it In the growing of
this crop The income from the hop crop
may be expected to more than double in
the next 10 years.
Frnlt5.
The soil and climate of Marion County
arc suited to the production of fruit, and
the fruitgrowing industry Is each year
becoming more firmly established upon a
commercial basis. The greatest difficulty
a permanent business requiring frequent
shipments in large quantities. The p od
uct has been too large for local consump
tion, but not largo enough to make ship
ping profitable It may be said that the
Oregon dried prune is the only fruit grown
in this county that has a recognized place
In Eastern markets. Apples, pears and
The Italian, or Fellenberg, prune Is now
one of the staple products of this county,
and an annual output of 4000,000 pounds
of the dried fruit may be counted upon.
Salem Is the center of the prunegrowlng
Industry In this section of the Valley, and
about 3,750,000 pounds of this fruit were
shipped from Salem this year. Shipments
are also made from Jefferson, Marlon.
Shaw and other towns In this county.
Prices range from 3 to 5 cents, and 4
cents may be taken as an average. At
this price the crop In this county brings
in S160.0CO per year. Like hopgrowing. tne
prune Industry requires the employment
of a large number of persons, and every
season thousands of men, women and
children go out to work In the orchards
and fruit-evaporators.
The favorite size for an orchard is from
20 to 30 acres, ard the proprietor can
care for such an orchard without hiring
much help except at picking time. Land
in the "Red Hills." south of Salem,
cleared and ready for planting to fruit
trees, can be bought for $50 per acre, and
less. Setting out trees, cultivation for
four years, etc.. will bring the cost up to
$90 per acre, or $2700 for a 20-acre orchard.
About one year In four there will be a
short crop, or perhaps an entire failure.
The crop of 1900 was short about one-half,
and some figures on that year's crop,
given by T. E. Mitchell, and published at
the close of that year's work, will show
what a man may expect to realize from
an investment In. that industry. The trees
are set 120 to the acre, and yield nothing
the first four years, but will pay expenses
on the fourth and fifth years. Some grow
ers get a crop from their orchards dur
ing the flrst three years by planting vege
tables between the rows. After the tlfth
year the trees will pay a profit, and at
eight years are in full bearing. Mr.
Mitchell's figures were on a six-year-old,
which. In ordinary years, would pr6duce
120 bushels to the acre, hut which pro
duced only 60 bushels that year. Owners
of evaporators paid 40 cents per bushel
for tho fruit on the trees that year: so tho
fruit would yield the grower $24 per acre,
which, less J6 for cultivation, would leave
$1S per acre clear. This would be 20 per
cent on the Investment. An eight-year-old
orchard would have produced 120
bushels of fruit, making the net profit
$42 per acre. But, instead of selling the
fruit at 40 cents per mishel, the grower
could hire It dried, and sell the cured
product. Picking and hauling would cost
$3 60 per acre; cultivation, $8; drying. $15;
total, $24 60. Practically all the Italian
prunes in tne itoseaaie uisinci Drougni a
cents net, and CO bushels of green fruit
would make 1200 pounds of dried fruit.
This would make the total receipts $60,
which, less $24 0, leaves $35 40 per acre
clear. On an eight-year-old orchard. 2400
pounds of fruit would be produced, bring
ing $120 gross, or $76 SO net.
But these figures are for a half crop.
On a whole crop, probably a smaller price
would be received, but growers usually
count on clearing from $S0 to $100 per acre,
after all expenses are paid. While the
industry was young, the profits were
smaller, because growers learned by mak
ing mistakes, and the mistakes were often
costly. The beginner In the prune indus
try today has the benefit of the experi
ence of all the other growers. Many ot
the orchards around Salem have cost
more than $90 per acre, and some nave
cos.1 $C00 per acre, but there Is no reason
why one going Into the Industry now
should Invest that much money. An evap
orator such as would be needed on a 23
acre orchard would cost about $1250, or $50
per acre, making the proper cost for an
entire outfit $110 per acre.
Fresh Frnitn.
There Is now a very bright outlook for
the marketing of fresh fruits In Marlon
County. Tho Salem cannery has taken all
the fresh fruits not needed for shipment,
paying good prices therefor, and there has
been good money during the last two
years In such small fruits as plums, cher
ries and berries. The cannery also han
dles apples, pears, peaches and vegeta
bles. The small fruits and vegetables are
supplied In most part by farmers who
raise them in addition to large crops of
grain or other farm produce. The profits
from these small fruits show one of the
great advantages of a climate which Is
favorablo to a diversity of crops. The la
bor In the cultivation and harvesting of
small fruits can be performed largely by
children or by the farmer at times when
other farm work is not pressing.
Dairying.
Rapid changes are taking place In the
methods" of dairying In this county, and
the industry has now been placed upon a
commercial basis. Until two years ago
tho production of butter In this section of
the valley was a matter to which grain
farmers gave secondary attention and lit
tle effort was made, except In a few In
stances, to manufacture a first-class arti
cle or to find a market for It outside the
state. Now all Is different. Farmers are
increasing their dairy herds and improv
ing their stock, are using cream separa
tors Instead of the old gravity process,
and are selling their cream to the cream
eries or taking pains to make a first-class
quality of butter.
By this means the
price of butter during the Spring and early
bummer has been doubled, and has been
increased oo per cent uurlng the remainder
or tne year. T.iere Is an outside demand
for our butter and the local market read
ily takes all that Is not exported.
Grass Is green here the year round, with
the exception of six to einht weeks in the
Summer. By producing corn, vetches and
other succulent crops for feeding during
the dry season, the flow of milk Is kept mills, employing the labor of residents of
up during the time when the price of but- the county. Our woolen manufactures
ter Is highest and the profits thus in- find their way to nearly every section ot
creased. Many silos have been built In , the United States and to Alaska. The
this county during" the -past vear and the forests of our own hills supply our lum
number Is being steadily increased. While ber at the very reasonable price of $12
there has not been a heavy increase In I per thousand, and some 25.000.000 feet of
the quantity of butter produced In the last lumber Is shipped to other sections of
12 months there has been a very markea ' the Western States. The export lumber
Improvement in the quality. Building up j is principally in1 the form of large bridge
a dairy herd Is a slow process, but the timbers, for which the mills receive $8
cnange in methods of manufacture has
been very rapid. The butter product of
the county Is COO.00O pounds per year, with
a value of $135,000. That the farmers are
finding dalrjlng profitable Is evidenced bv
the fact that every dairyman is trying to
buy cows while none have cows they wtsh
to soli. No one who has undertaken dalrv-
Ing In this county has abandoned the in-
dustry. Creamery butter sells at from
22 cents per pound in the Spring to 30
cents per pound In the Summer and Win
ter. "Store" or "country" butter brings
from 15 to 25 cents per pound, according
to season.
LHmberinjf.
Marion County turns out some 30.000,
000 feet of lumber each year, valued at
$240,C00. The Umber Is principally fir,
cedar and hemlock. The- largest mills
are situated at Mill City, on the Santiam
River. There are also large saw mill3
at Salem ana Stayton, and numerous
small mills In various parts of the coun
ty. Our lumbering Industry pays good
wages to a large force of men, and as
the timber supply is almost inexhausti
ble, our forest resources may be counted
among the great wealth-producers of the
future. Our lumber has already found
regular sale in every section of the Pa
cific Coast and Rocky Mountain States.
Timber lands have more than doubled In
value during the past five years. A largo
proportion of the timber claims are still
in the hands of the original owners, and
may bo purchased at market prices by
those who desire to establish saw mills.
Timber lands may be bought at from $4
per acre up, according to accessibility.
The timber cut in this county is about
27,000 feet per acre. Trees under two
feet in diameter are not used, and it is
very seldom that logs as small as this
are seen. Four feet in diameter la a
common size, and our forests afford an
abundance of timber that stands 120 feet
without a branch, and therefore without
knots.
The methods pursued in lumbering in
Oregon may be understood when it Is
said that In this county logs are dragged
out of the woods for the distance of a
mile by means of an endless cable run by
water-power. The logs are loaded on
railroad cars, by water-pow&r, the cars
run several miles to the mills by the
force of gravity, and aro then sawed Into
lumber by water-power. At the same
time, lumbering on a small scale and by
old-fashioned methods is profitably con
ducted. The day ot the ox team, and the
small saw mill has not entirely passed,
but tho output of the small mills is sold
chiefly for local consumption. Men with
limited capital can erect portable mlll3
in growing communities, and make a good
profit from sawing up the timber that
may be found in the vicinity. In its
local market such a mill is practically
without competition, and as It finds a
sale for 1ib slab-wood and sawdust, it
has that advantage over the larger mill,
which manufactures, for export.
Latent "Wnter-PoTvers.
Marlon County offers every Inducement
to the manufacturer who Is seeking for
water-power. The rivers tributary to
the Willamette flow down steep grades,
and carry a large volume of water. Hav
ing their sources in tho melting snows
of mountain peaks and the multitude of
mountain springs, the supply of water
does not fall during the Summer months.
The Santiam River Is our largest moun
tain stream. The main stream will fur
nish a 2500-horsepow er at every half mllo
along 40 miles of it3 course. Its branches,
tho North Fork and the Breltenbush,
also offer splendid opportunities for cheap
power. At intervals during the course
of the Santiam, the stream flows be
tween high walls of solid rock. Such
places are Ideal for the building of dams,
and already some of these sites have
been secured by manufacturing enter
prises or by speculators. At Niagara a
stone dam 60 feet high and 200 feet long
is being constructed. The proprietor
says that he has no definite purpose In
view, but knows that in this rapidly de
veloping county such a water-power will
not long remain idle when once it is
placed in control. In the Santiam coun
try, there are unlimited quantities of fir.
cedar and hemlock timber. Already mills
are sawing the fir and cedar Into lum
ber, and plans are on foot for the es
tablishment of pulp or paper mills, which
will make use of tho hemlock. The San
tiam country is already traversed by a
railroad, so that there is no lack of ship
ping facilities.
Silver Creek. Ablqua River and Pud
ding River also afford large water-powers
accessible to manufacturing industries.
At Silver Creek Falls, 25 miles east of
Salem, the water of Silver Creek takes
a plunge of 200 feet over a precipice of
solid rock, and within the distance of
a mile another plunge of over 120 feet Is
taken. At each of these places it would
be a matter of small difficulty to turn
this water through a turbine by means
of which the entire fall could be utilized.
Salem Is not located on a mountain
stream, but water has been brought
through a mlllrace from the Santiam, 20
miles away, and the power thus pro
vided is used to operate mills in this
city.
Manufactures.
With unlimited water-power and nat
ural resources which afford almost every
kind of raw material, Marion County is
yet lacking in factories, but holds out
strong Inducements to the- person seek
ing a favorable location. Our principal
manufacturing institutions arc our saw
mills, sash and door factories, box fac
tories, flouring mills, and woolen mills.
We have, besides, a chair factory, elder
and vinegar works, broom factory, soap
works, fruit cannery, cheese factory, and
brick and tile factories. Each of these
enterprises Is upon a paying basis, and
a failure in any of them Is entirely un
known. Our rapidly growing trade with
the Orient will Increase our market for
manufactured goods, &nd enlarge the field
for new enterprises. As an Illustration
of what can bo done here, it may be said
that a Marlon County broom factory lm
norts its handles from Southern Oregon,
Its corn from Illinois, and then makes a
good profit on Its manufactured product.
If a factory of this kind were conducted
on a larger scale, the raw materials could
bo produced here, and the cost of tho
manufactured articles thus reduced.
Transportation Facilities.
Marlon County Is fortunate In its trans
portation facilities. It Is crossed by two
railroads, the main line of the Southern
Pacific, whlcn crosses the western por
tion of tho county near enough to the
Willamette River to keep up a lively
competition between the water and rail
transportation companies, and the Sil
verton branch, which crosses the county
about 10 miles back from the river.
There are railway stations about every
six miles along these lines, so that tha
haul of produce to market Is short. The
Willamette River Is navigable to Salem U
months every year, so that the river traf
fic keeps freight rates within reasonable
limits. Stage lines cross the country in
every direction, furnishing all the country
postottlce3 with a dally mall.
Many Exports Few Imports.
Marlon County prides herself on pro
ducing nearly all the principle articles
of consumption, and while needing to
purchase but little abroad, her citizens
always have something to sell. All our
grain, flour, fruits, vegetables, dairy prod
ucts, lumber, fuel, woolen goods and va
rious other articles are produced here in
abundance, and after the home market is
i SUnplIcd there Is a large surpl
supplied there Is a large surplus for export-
The first premium for flour at the
World's Columbian Expoaition at Chicago
was awarded to flour made from wheat
grown In the Waldo Hills. Wool grown
on Marion County sheep Is manufactured
' into cloth and blankets in Marlon County
per thousand. Apples, pears, plums,
prunes, peaches, cherries, strawberries,
blackberries, raspberries -and other fruits
are particularly adapted to our soil and
climate, and after the home supply Is
filled at prices that would seem ridiculous
to the resident of many of the Middle
I Western States. knmena nuantitip i
i sold at a profit, either fresh, canned or
i