THE MORNING OREGONIAN, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 1; 1902.
21
cured. It will be seen by a perusal of
this article that there are hut very few
staples that must be Imported to this
county, and that many of these are sup
plied by other sections of the state.
One Mau Farms 240 Acres.
A 240-acre "wheat farm run by one man
Is something that Marlon County can
point point to with pride. It shows the
possibilities of farming in the "Willamette
Valley, for Ite owner has made money on
It, and la making money every year. It
demonstrates that "management" is the
secret of success In agriculture as In
other pursuits, and proves conclusively
that a life of comparative ease and plenty
may be had on an Oregon farm.
This farm, an Ideal home. Is seven miles
south of Salem, and Is owned by W. W.
Culver. Mr. Culver is now well along In
years, past 60, In fact, and does not feel
like doing a full day's work, yet he runs
the farm alone and keeps his work up
with the season. He puts in short days,
but makes every turn count.
The farm is divided into three fields of
about SO acres each, and each field pro
duces a crop of wheat once In three years.
The other two fields are not idle In the
meantime. One of them is in Summer fal
low and both are supporting a well-fed
flock of sheep. The accompanying illus
tration will show the rotation of uses to
which the fields are put. By thus dividing
and using his land, Mr. Culver distributes
his work so that he is at no time abso
lutely idle, and at no time crowded with
work. Each ear he has an SO-acre field
to harvest and a field of the same size
to plow and sow. One man can do the
required amount of work easily.
As soon as the crop was removed from
the field which raised -wheat in 1897 Mr.
Culver turned a Hock of sheep in tp feed
on the scattering wheat and the clover
which is a natural growth in this section
of the state. The field will support one
sheep to the acre and every sheep will
get fat. The coming Summer the field will
stand In the stubble and the wild oat3
will try to take possession, only to ae
eaten by the wool-producers. At some
seasons the vegetable growth is rapid, but
at all times as many sheep are turned on
as there may be feed for. The following
year the field will be Summer-fallowed,
but it will furnish pasturage nevertheless
In fact, sheep are pastured on the land
after the wheat has. been sown, and has
come up, and until late In the Spring of
the year it is to be harvested. There are
160 acres of pasturage the whole year and
with the exception of a few months the
whole farm Is In pasture.
It will at once be apparent that a field
recently Summer-fallowed and cleared of
wild oats and other noxious wced will
produce a good crop of wheat. It cots
very little more to produce a good crop
than a poor one, while the financial re
sults of the former are much the greater.
It has become almost a settled question
that It is not best for land that it be
Summer-fallowed every other year, and
by pasturing his fields one year In three,
Mr. Culver attains as nearly as possible
the ideal In fertility and cleanliness.
This farm Includes In all 295 acres, but
only 240 acres are in cultivation. Tho
land has been cleared largely through
Mr. Culver's industry, and the farm has
been furnished with the conveniences of
a country home.
While Mr. Culver Is a believer In diver
sified farming, he does not carry the di
versification to extremes. He keeps a
number of hives of bees and some poul
try, but only one cow. As he does his
own cooking he does not have time to de
vote to dairying.
The economy of this manner of con
ducting farming operations will seldom
be of more necessity than during the
coming season, when farm labor will be
so scarce. The mines, lumber camps and
railroad camps have attracted so many
men that farm laborers are scarce. Un
der such circumstances the farmer who
has a crop of wheat of moderate size
and the remainder of his farm produce
on the backs of his sheep. Is fortunate.
Such a method of farming is possible only
under such conditions as prevail in Ore
gon. 80 ACRES.
Wheat 1897
Pasture 1S9S
Summer fallow 1S99
SO ACRES.
Pasture 1897
Summer fallow 1S9S
Wheat 1S99
Plat allowing how a 240-acre farm
by one
Good Roads.
Permanent Improvement of roads and
highways has been the purpose of road
work In this county in the last four years.
As the county extends from the mountains
to the Willamette River, it Is croated by
many streams which furnish perfect
drainage, and in the beds of the streams
may be found wash gravel that makes a
cheap and substantial surface for the roads.
In the more thickly settled portions of the
county the roads have already been grav
eled and are, therefore, good the year
round. As the cost of permanent Improve
ment Is not great, this work will be ex
tended each year, and farmers In the dis
tant portions of the county will have good
highways during the wet season.
Values of Prinfcipal Crops.
Owing to the diversity of Its resources,
Marlon County could not have an entire
crop failure and has never had even a
failure of half a. crop. The wheat crop
has failed once In the last 10 years, the
hop crop Is short about one year In four,
as also Is the prune crop. As harvesting
is the chief expense In the latter two
crops, a shortage entails but little finan
cial loss. Except In rare instances, the
crops pay expenses. The following table
shows w'hat Marlon County expects to
produce each year, and the values at
average prices:
Wheat, S00.000 bushels, at 50 cents.. ?400,000
Hops, 33,000 bales of ISO pounds, at
12 cents 752,400
Oats, 600,000 bushels at 30 cents 150,000
Hay, 40,000 tons, at 56 240,000
Prunes. 4.000.000 pounds, at 4 cents.. 160 000
Apples, pears, peaches, cherries, etc. 100,000
Sheep and wool 110,000
Butter, 600,000 pounds, at 22 cents. 135.000
Lumber, 30.000,000 feet, at 5S per M.. 240,000
Potatoes. 600,000 bushels, at 25 cents. 150,000
Market for Fuel.
Furnishing fuel for Marlon County con
sumers has suddenly become an enter
prise of no small proportions. Salem alone
consumes 30,000 cords of wood each year,
and all this Is supplied by the farmers
of the surrounding country. Residents
and manufacturers in the other towns of
the county consume some 35,000 cords
more, a"nd, Including what is required by
the railroad and steamboat companies,
the annual consumption may be placed at
70.000 cords. There are two principal
classes of wood large, or first growth, fir,
and small, or second growth, fir. The
former usually sells for 53 per cord, and
the latter at 52 25. During the past sea
son large fir has brought 53 50 and small
fir 52 75 per cord. The total expenditure
for. fuei Is in the neighborhood of 5200,000,
and every stick of the wood Is supplied
by residents of this county. Almost every
farm of 160 acres has Its wooded tract,
and the owner cuts cordwood during the
Winter months, when there is little else
to occupy his time. The farmer who has
all his land under cultivation can buy
"stumpage" from his neighbor, and make
good wages for himself and team by fur
nishing wood to the city consumer. As
the haul Is short, the price Is remunera
tive to the producer, and, as compared
with the price of fuel In most Eastern
cities, the burden to the consumer Is light.
Many Instances are known of men pur
chasing timbered land and paying for It
with the profits from the fuel taken from
It. Though the timbered area In the set
tled portion of this county is growing
gradually less, no person now living will
see the time when firewood will need to
be Imported from other sections of the
state.
Sheep and Goats.
Sheep and goats are sources of consid
erable profit In this county, because the
cost of maintenance Is small. The animals
are turned Into the fields of Fall-sown
grain, and they nibble the green grain
until late in "the Spring. This helps the
crop rather than Injures it. "When the
grain gets too large to permit sheep on
It, the animals are turned Into a field to
be Summer-fallowed, and they eat down
the vegetable growth. Immediately after
harvest they may again be turned upon
the grain fields, where they eat native
clover, which springs up in the stubble.
Nearly every farm has Its wooded lot,
and goats thrive there on vegetation
which other animals will not eat. As our
Summers and "Winters are subject to no
extremes of weather, the loss from death
of young animals Is very small.
Schools.
As Marion County Is one of the oldest
settled sections of the state, Its educa
tional institutions- are firmly established
and abreast of the times. Not a child in
the county Is beyond the reach of the
common schools, except, perhaps. In the
case of a family that has gone far back
in the mountains to establish a home. In
all the mountain valleys the comfortable
schoolhouse will be found, and In the
more thickly settled section of the coun
ty children are very seldom compelled to
walk over a mile and a half to school.
Four-fifths of the people have a public
school within one mile of their homes.
In all the larger towns advanced grades
are taught, and in the cities high schools
are maintained. Salem Is the seat of
"Willamette University, established In 1844.
There are also several other private
schools at Salem and other towns In the
county. The schools are maintained chiefly
from the proceeds of the Irreducible school
fund and the county school fund, and
only In rare instances Is a district tax
necessary. Teachers are paid from 530
to $75 per month. There are 10,000 children
of school age in the county.
Free Rural Mall Delivery.
Salem, Turner and Macleay, the centers
of the most populous sections of the coun
ty, have free rural mall delivery sys
tems, maintained at the expense of the
United States Government. Practically all
the farmers within a radius of 8 to 10
miles of these towns have their mall de
livered at their doors every day. The
Government has recently called for bids
for carrying malls on eight stage routes
that center in Salem, and It Is provided
that the mail-carriers must deliver mall to
farmers along their routes. When this
system Is Inaugurated a few months hence
a large majority of the people of the en
tire county will be within the reach of a
free rural delivery system. This Is a
matter of no small consequence, for It
saves the farmer many a trip to town.
Intending "Immigrants can secure more
particular Information regarding Marlon
County by addressing N. J. Judah, secre
tary of the Salem Commercial Club, or by
writing to the Mayors of the other prin
cipal towns in the county Woodbum, Sll
verton, Stayton and Jefferson.
Salem. A. W. PRESCOTT.
WASHINGTON COUNTY.
Paradise for Dalrj-men Close to the
Northtvest'a Greatest Murket
Location Is the great secret of ttus pres
ent and future of Washington County,
situated westerly from and" adjoining
Multnomah. Over one-half of the farmers
and dairymen of this county can drive to
Portland with a load and return the same
day. This proximity to the greatest mar
ket In the Northwest makes "Washington
County an Ideal field for farm, dairy,
fruit and livestock production. Add to
this the great fertility and diversity of
SO ACRES.
Summer fallow 1897
Wheat .1893
Pasture .1899
is divided no as to be operated
man.
the soil, ranging from rich beaverdam
so productive that Its leld seems almost
fabulous to those unacquainted with Its
character, and bench land where are
raised grains and grasses, to the higher
hill lands, where one finds a happy com
bination that will produce the long range
of agricultural and horticultural products
Indigenous to Oregon soil. The Tualatin
River Is the chief watershed of the val
ley and mountains which go to make up
the nearly 500,000 acres within the county's
boundaries. Living streams run through
almost every section, making its dalry
posslbllltles second to none in the state.
There are about 90,000 acres In farm and
orchard, and those familiar with Its area
say that there are yet 100,000 acres wWch
will be cleared and become as productive
as that now under cultivation. The
mountainous sections are rapidly being
used for stock ranges and creameries are
being established in the hills, where a few
years ago the idea would have been ridi
culed. The meadows of the plains and
river bottoms are famed for their richness
of production, and it Is a fact that Wash
ington has sent more timothy hay to
the Philippines than any other county in
the Pacific Northwest.
As a matter of fact, grain-raising leads,
although dairying and hopralslng are rap
Idly coming to the front. For the year
closed the production of grain at a con
servative estimate was: Wheat, 650,000
bushels; oats, 700,000; barley and rye, 60.
000 bushels. Wheat ranges In yield from
20 to 25 bushels per acre, while oats yield
from 35 to 70 bushels.
Twenty-five Creameries in Operation
It Is In dairying that the greatest stride
Is being made. Where but a few years
ago there were but two or three cream
eries In operation the county now has 25,
and all operating at a profit. The future
of dairying Is unbounded, owing to the
great area capable of providing range for
stock, the splendid water supply and the
excellent facilities for market. Where In
1600 the creameries produced for the mar
ket 320,000 pounds of butter, last year
the output for shipment nearly touched
the 500.000 mark. Here, again, is made
prominent the value of a close market.
Nine-tenths of the creameries deliver their
product by team, fresh from the butter
vats, and this alone Is a valuable percent
age over creameries located in the dis
tance. Portland producers can give their
customers the best ana freshest product,
and this gives Washington County dairy
men a better price, generally, than that
enjoyed by their rivals from up the Wil
lamette "Valley. Thousands of pounds of
cheese are annually turned out by the
Swiss settlements, and their product finds
a ready market In the adjoining city. The
dairy stork of the past is being replaced
,by Jerseys, and nowhere In the state are
to be found better dairy herds. Dairy
men are Intelligent and progressive, and
prominent dairymen from the state at
large who attended the State Dairy Asso
ciation here last Winter stated that no
where at their annual meetings had they
found a more Intelligent and progressive
class In the business. It Is significant
that out of all the creameries and dairies
established but three or four have failed.
Five years from now the county will be
first In the dairy Industry In Oregon.
As a hop producer, the county I3 gain
ing quite a reputation in the Northwest,
the soil of the plains and bench land
being especially adapted for a quality that
cannot be excelled. Buyers for the 1901
crop state that, for quality, hops raleed
In this section are the finest to be found
In the Willamette Valley. From present
indications, although the price last year
was not all that was wanted, there will
be a large Increase In acreage from year
to year. As In all other production, the
closeness to market Is a valuable factor
In this Industry, and another benefit Is
tho closeness to help In picking time.
Last year's was a very light yield, but,
notwithstanding this, over 1.000,000 pounds
were harvested.
It is safe to say that Washington
County raises more onions than any other
like area in the United States. Thousands
of acres are given up to onion culture,
and the market Is the entire 'Northwest.
The rich beaverdam lands along the Tu
alatin River and Its numerous branches
produce wonderful crops, and growers
make themselves Independently rich In a
JSsSBE&MPSf v -4-4iMbE ssBWBg5aKSJra8SgSsw
AS$tirt?&S-? . J,S8sSBSilBHH3MPvGHBBBBBff?Sk V$sfllr .i. "K79EB&flKusQHHra$SBBBBflr'3VisW
M HeEL 'l&l!!Sr!SBHHKjllllsBsssi lw-''viw&TOfl
Yt iSfrBfei-'' '- -s8jSNw3ag8BSMffiHwBKHssB 4MffMKJ5JI3BBBsrafSMSB3!J9ff5B
Hi 9EKfW2K2&iaBHSBSHBflKBisssssB KUmSSSBKS'mSSBBHBK
3t.-;9ftv5lk dSHBBiBKssBBsBBIarslBBC&jBsESSkSwBsssnsF2 kSSk uaE99B9iM9lBKKlsHHBiSlW99SssssssBSKWVB.
IsssBT tiEsviaBHpX3ENlsssBS ySjS8feifjMBHtMMsWPB?ff UBHriSvW.Tfty'"'!""'taaBKB is' - ,-i n8SfvjrrllisssisssssHssssssssst
UssUHBsbP J03SSgMBSStBBBffQBsSBtBt 1 V itl!fymraissssssssH
'BEIw?BBBWBBBswBQ3HfFi "& 3BSsfSli&isSHfiE9sssislsssssss?
smtHi i' . j MTsssMJnsCTLBMMSsEiLMMLi'rJ!li " . J.. JjrlBwlireiBlBJTJillLB. B9sHsssssBKXKLi &vTvXfssfc .wr SB8BBBBwKKy v4?vtwas ? l3aKJSIBEsslBMssssssssV
- S?iisBBSBSBBBfifeSwi ". jy&5&3CSHBsssssBsKgfcfl$9K'a!w 3?!' ILlQOlJQLDJilDXClBMr .- iS
v. tv. ;TssssMOBsssWMMnHIMFim- nro ?
OREGON PEACHES COMPARED" WITH A SILVER DOLLAR AXD
few years from the harvest of a five or
ton-acre tract. This land also Is marvel
ously rich In those 'characteristics that
make great yields of all root crops, and
Portland gets a greater per cent of her
vegetables from this section.
Fruit Is raised successfully here. Grow
ers have been progressing In this regard,
and orchards are doing much better now
than In the past. The law- regulating
spraying has borne good fruit. In a double
sense. Thousands of pounds of prunes
are dried and shipped each year, and
pruneralslng is yet In Its Infancy. The
hill lands, at the county edges, are very
prolific as to prunes, and trees bear
younger than on the plains. Grapes are
raised in profusion, and much wine Is
manufactured for home consumption. No
where In the world are finer or better
pears produced. English walnuts bear
splendidly. As to cherries, here Is where
"you get them. Owing to the high hills
surrounding the county in its entire cir
cumference, frosts are very rare at bloom
time, and visitors from abroad tell us
that ours are world-beaters. At the recent
state fair It was the unanimous opinion
of all who visited the Washington County
display that the cherries were the best
In the pavilion and that is saying a great
deal, as Oregon's reputation Is estab
lished. Although this is a county of agriculture
and dairying, yet the manufacturing Is
not unimportant. There are flouring mills
at nearly every town and village of Im
portance, and as a consequence very little
wivat Is shipped for export purposes, ex-
T"&,&mmrz . ,r a3c . ' .w "-. - v? rr?''srr"'"T -y&Tr
si ffl?m&j tp r r& "'SS1 v - jj?j!& n i4cy&-
EBrii . K5ffi5avj-ri"' ."-,.-.. . ii, -.' i r -V - t Z. V- t'.'iSil
I WHEAT GROWS OX THE McFARLAXD RANCH, NEAR ALBANY, OR. THE
cept In the manufactured article. Much
flour Is ground for tho Oriental market,
and this Is on the Increase.
Small sawmills dot the streams here and
there, and, besides manufacturing for the
local demand, thousands of feet of lum
ber are shipped abroad. At tho head of
the streams there are yet millions upon
millions of fine merchantable timber,
which, In a few years will bring much
wealth.
Transportation Facilities.
The Southern Pacific Company has
two lines traversing the county from
east to west. One line runs out of Fourth
street, Portland, passes over the moun
tain, through Beaverton. Reedvllle, Hills
boro, Forest Grove, Dllley and Gaston,
while the Other leaves the foot of Jeffer
son street and passes through the rich
bottom lands contiguous to Tualatin,
Sherwood and Mlddleton. Each line fur
nishes a dally passenger and mall serv
ice, and an every other day freight serv
ice. It Is only a question of time, how
ever, until there will be an electric line
established through the center of the coun
ty, leading out of Portland, as the popu
lation Is constantly Increasing. Along
the Base line, and near which the Port-land-Corvallls
branch has Its line, resides
a population of nearly 10,000. Increase of
population will demand a better railway
service and more frequent passenger tran
sit. County Out of Debt.
Financially, the county Is In a splendid
condition. The floating debt Is no more,
and each year's taxation provides the
revenue for current expenses. This within
Itself Is a gratifying feature, as Interest
is the barnacle of Industry.
No like area In the Northwest can com-
pare with this In production. There are
yet thousands of acres of rich beaverdam
whch will be made productive. With a
constantly growing urban population to
accelerate the market demand, and with
Portland at the very doors of three
fourths of the district, Washington Coun
ty gives better promise for the farmer,
the vegetable gardener, . the f rult-raiser,
the dairyman, and the man .who wants
a profitable country home, than any other
county In the state and location is the
key that Is unlocking her greatness.
Estimate of Production.
A conservative estimate of the county's
production follows:
Annual production wheat, bushels. 600,000
Oats 700.0CO
Rc and barley 50.000
Potatoes DCO.O00
Onionb, for export 2-tO.OOO
Apples, bushels 75,000
Prune., bushels J 20,000
Pears, bushels 10,000
Tomatoes, bushels 1.000
Cabbr.ge, pounds 500,000
Grapes, pounds 150.CO0
Strawberries 100,000
Eggs, dozens 300,000
Butter, dairy and creamery,
cheese, pouads 425,000
Bacon, cured, pounds 500,000
Flour, manufactured, barrels 60,000
Lumber, manufactured, feet 12,000.000
Hops, pounds 1,000,000
Hay, timothy, tons 50.000
Hay, timothy and clover 75,000
Wool, pounds 60,000
Population Growlnc
Over 1000 people have immigrated to
Washington County since the last census
was taken, and every train brings new
families. People who are looking for
.Oregon homes are beginning to appreciate
the nearness to a large and constantly
growing city like Portland, and are set
tling -where they can have the advan
tage of a dally market and a dally paper
If they desire It. They find people here
thoroughly metropolitan, as must be th
case where so large a portion dally
"vlslt the Northwest metropolis. For
years past, when Washington County
lands were high, buyers went on Into
the Interior, disdaining to consider the
law of averages. Those who bought now
find that they have a market of 100,000
people just across the boundary, Instead
of 40.000. And in this feature, largely.
Is the future of this fertile section. Not
alone commercially does this closeness
to a large city affect our people, but It
permeates the social life of the common
wealth, enters Into our school methods,
gives us better social tone, gives the
farmer his dally record of the world's
doings, and in various ways makes him
a better citizen, and provide.")
him a better chance to raise his family
along modern lines. But no longer does
It require a fortune to buy a home here.
The old high values have disappeared.
Forest Grove, the seat of Pacific Uni
versity, the oldest Institution of learning
in the Pacific Northwest, and Hillsboro,
the County Capital, are the chief cities.
Each has a population of about 1200, and
their population Is at present Increasing
rapidly. The school system Is organized
thoroughly, and leading educators declare
It equal to that at any county In Oregon.
The last few years has witnessed a
wonderful change In the raising of cat
tle' and horses. The old scrub cow has
been relegated to the butcher's 'block.
WITH A HALF DOLLAR. GROWTf BY
and the scrub horse has been sacrificed
to the LInnton horse reducer. Fine herds
of Jersey and Shorthorns now graze in
the meadows, and the finest draft horses,
Percheron and Clydesdale, are being bred.
Hillsboro. L. A. LONG.
Yamhill county.
Undisputed Agricultural and Horti
cultural Paradise of Oregon.
It has been an undisputed claim for
years that Yamhill County Is the agricul
tural and horticultural paradise of Ore
gon. The claim Is not only made within,
but is conceded without her borders. It
is based upon several Important and Justi
fying facts. Though she has no town ex
ceeding 2000 in population, she ranks
sixth In the state In taxable wealth. She
Is. and has been for years, almost strict
ly an agricultural section. Her wheat
crop for 1901 is estimated at about 3,000,
000 bushels. About 60 threshers are op
crated each season, and a fair average
run Is 50,000 bushels. Yamhill s bcen
one of the leading hopgrowing counties
for tho past five years. Tho product last
year is estimated at 2000 bales, or about
one-twenty-fifth of the spate's crop. Of
a total area of 275,643 acres, 11S.14S acres
are tillable. Her topography Is simply
unexcelled. Lying to the west of the Wil
lamette River, her territory comprises the
-- e
" sT"-.nsr ' j-"JV
&! J'
m..:xi
- - S'l v
' -i f ', -t'i'S'
LARGER MAN IS SEC FEET TALL, f
broad valleys of the North and South
Yamhill Rivers and their tributaries,
merged Into and thus expanding the great
general valley of the Willamette to an
extent not equaled at any other point on
either side of that river throushout Its
length of 150 miles. Lying to the west
of this natural farming section to an
average distance of 12 miles Is Yamhill's
allotment of the Coast Range Mountains.
Easily accessible, j-et seemingly placed
out of Industry's way, here Is territory
that gives scope and ready vent to the
poetic side of a man's nature In the en
joyment of the beauties, comforts and
privileges of mountain, forest and rivulet.
There Is untold wealth of timber and
water power.
The county Is very favorably located
In respect to commercial advantages.
Fifty milfs from Portland, with both rail
and water transportation, she Is brought
near to populous centers, which crcato
markets, yet not .near enough to lose her
Identity as a separate community.
The largest prune orchard In the world
Is located at Dundee, in Ihls county. The
principal part of this Immense fruit tract
Is owned by Thomas Prince & Sons, whorfe
largo driers have this year turned out
over 100 carloads of dried prunes. Many
driers are located at Newberg, Dayton,
Carlton, North Yamhill and McMlnnvIlle,
some of which prepare other products,
such as evaporated apples, potatoes and
vegetable soup compounds.
Opening: of the Coal Measures.
An epoch In the history of the county
was marked last July, when an organized
company began opening a promising coal
mlno near North Yamhill. Assayers pro
nounce the coal the best yet found on the
Pacific Coast, and the work of mining has
C. H. STEWART, ALBAJTY.
progressed to a degree that insures cheap
fuel of a new kind, profitable returns
for the miner, and enhanced values for
the landowner. A few miles from this
coal mine another company is organized
to bore for oil, and have early met with
Indications In every way similar to those
encountered In drilling for oil In the fa
mous wells of Texas and California. They
confidently look for the discovery of tho
real article the coming year.
In the southwest part of tho county,
at Wlllamina, are large deposits of bluo
clay, not found elsewhere, which, when
baked Into brick, becomes white and af
fords superb material for building pur
poses. Some of the "finest blocks In Port
land are constructed of this brick.
McMlnnvIlle, the county seat, and New
berg, the second largest town, each have
a high-grade college, with yearly increase
ing enrollment. Public school facilities are
everywhere abundant.
Tho county is practically out of debt.
Indeed, her warrants are sufficiently in
demand to occasionally command o. pre
mium. The annual rainfall Is about 44 inches.
On November 7, 1901, the time of penning
this article, farmers were picking a Win
ter crop of red raspberries, and roses
were plentifully In bloom. This is suffi
cient testimony as to the mildness of our
climate.
In tho development of the great State of
Oregon, which is coming surely and quick
ly, Yamhill County will not fall to main
tain her place in the front rank, and with
the development will come greater
achievement In the line of manufactures,
whlch,are now among our greatest needs,
and for which our native resources stand
unexcelled. JOHN G. ECKMAN.
McMlnnvIlle.
POLK COUNTY.
Last Year There "Were 1,050,050
Acres Under Culti
vation. Polk County lies between tho Coast
Mountains and tho Willamette River, its
northern boundary being 55 miles south of
tho City of Portland, and the county's
area is 7G0 square miles. The Luckla
mute River in the south, the RIckreall in
the middle and the Yamhill River on the
north, with their net work of tributaries,
all flowing toward the Willamette, afford
a perfect system of drainage, and as the
surface of the county Is rolling, and its
few hills are cultivated to their summits,
there remains little waste or unprofitable
lands. Far Into tho westward hills and
mountains along the streams extend areas
of rich farm lands. The soil Is a rich,
deep alluvial, almost incapable of being
exhausted, and very productive. The to
tal acreage under cultivation last year
was 1,650,950.
Polk County has long been celebratea
for Its heavy yields of grains, fruits, hops
and vegetables, the annual yield of wheat
alone ranging from 2,000,000 to 2.S0O.O0O
bushels. The past year a phenomenal
crop of grain was produced, wheat yield
ing from 15 to 40 bushels, oats 20 to W)
bushels and barley 30 to 40 bushels per
acre.
Vast numbers of prune orchards planted
some 10 years ago, have come Into full
bearing, the crop being estimated last year
at 2,500,000 pounds. Many old orchards are
being renewed by skillful methods, and
the enormous yield of apples and pears
this year was of good quality. Organ
izations for destroying pests and obtain
ing markets have made the old pioneer
orchard of value to the valley farmer.
Hopgrowing in Oregon had Its begin
ning in Polk County. The quality of hops
raised here Is of the best, and Polk Coun
ty hops have a special rating In New
York markets. Hops grown in this coun
ty received first premium at the Paris
Exposition. The yield Is from 1000 to 2500
pounds per acre. The hop business has
steadied down to a regular paying basis.
Possibilities of Stockralslng-.
If the future of this section Is to bo de
termined by It3 adaptabilities there Is lit
tle doubt that stockralsing along with Inci
dental farming Is to be the employment or
our people, and the source of revenue at
no distant day. The climate Is mild and
equable, especially fitted for growth of
stock with a minimum of food and care,
and the region will produce grass in quan
tity and quality equal to the celebratea
"bluo grass" regions of Kentucky. It has
been demonstrated that there are no bet
ter clover lands In the United States tnan
In this immediate section; rape,
vetches and other grasses are found to
suit conditions here, and these can raise
the capacity of land for feeding purposes
to a faoulous extent, Stockralsing, though,
not far advanced, has passed the experi
mental stage. There are at this time in
Polk County S9.310 head of cattle, 70.247
head of sheep, 11,427 head of swine and
2L',500 head of goats. Every farmer, large
or small, strives to have a few- head of
stock to supplement the farm, and he has
learned by experience tTlat the products
have greater value In the proportion In
which he can utilize them in Increasing
and maintaining the number and quality
of his herds. This foreshadows the time
when the Willamette Valley will be given
almost entirely to stockralsing, with farm
ing Incidental thereto.
Dairying is receiving much attention
now as a sequence of this tendency toward
stockralsing. Several farmers have cream
separators, and very many of them sell
the milk directly to local creamerits. Tnis
has led to careful selection of milch cows.
Tho market for Oregon's dairy products
is Illimitable. The extent to which dairy
ing can be carried on in a community like
Polk County is almost incalculable. To
men skilled in dairying this is an inviting
field.
This county la tho center of goat cul
ture in tho Willamette Valley. Oak grub
lands stripped of their wood and long con
sidered unprofitable are become valuable
for goat pasture, and tho foothills abound
In Hocks of goats. The number of goats
has increased 7500 the past year, makiny
a total of 22,500 at the present time. Thero
are numbers of pure bred goats owned by
U. S. Grant, of Dallas, and J. B. Stump,
of Monmouth, valued at from 530 to 5150
tier head. Mr. Grant hrm In hia flnclr cnm
does sired by "Pasha Columbia," sold at)
Kansas City to C. P. Bailey & Sons for
51050. and at tho head of his herd a half
brother of Pasha Columbia. Tho quality
of mohair raised in Polk County excels
because of larger numbers of pure-bred1
goats here.
Oregon Mohair Superior.
Experts claim that the climate la Ideal,
for the production of high-grade fleece. A '
noted spinner In a New England factory
says tho Oregon mohair is better than any
brought from foreign countries. That It I
is smoother, makes a better thread, is
silkier, softer and runs the spindle faster
than any other mohair known. Tho prico
received for mohair in 1900 was 22 cents
per pound. During the past 10 years the
price has ranged from 21& cents to 6S
cents per pound, the average for that pe
riod being more than 30 cents per pound.
Tho average yield per head is three
pounds. Our Coast Mountains contain
abun'dant feed to support vast numbers oC
goats and tho land Is easily obtalnablo
for that purpose. Fifty-five hundred dol
lars will buy 1000 fifteen-sixteenths grado
does and 20 bucks. These will yield 4000
pounds of mohair and 00 kids, easily
worth 53200; 5600 will cover expense ot
herder, shearing, taxes. Incidentals, etc.,
leaving net gain upon cost of herd of
52570 or 47 per cent tho first year. After
paying the largest estimate of 57350 for tho
land the gain is 20 per cent upon tho in
vestment. These figures are conservative.
The Coast Mountains with their foothills
vast areas of lands now cheap as meas
ured by the markets will one day support
a heavy population, and the hills and
mountains of Oregon, like Cantabrla. will
resound with the bleating of flocks and
the shouts of herdsmen.
The number of sheep in this county has
increased in geometrical ratio the past
live years. More significant Is the earnest
ness with which sheepraiscrs are advanc
ing tho breed of their herds. The Mis
sissippi Valley has been ransacked for
tho finest specimens of the finest breed
and there is scarcely a grazer that has noi
caught this spirit of progress. Quallty
as well as numbers forms the basis for
estimating tho value of the 70,000 sheep
above .referred to.
In the western portion of Polk County
is a belt of timber dense and majestic,
composed of fir, cedar, white pine, hem
lock, spruce, larch and ewe. Thdre 13 an
area of 20 townships of this timber, of
which eight townships are solid- timber.
All this Is accessible and can be handled
by railroads In conjunction with tho
streams that thread their way In every
direction from the mountain tops. Tho
standing timber is estimated at from 6.
000,000 to 1S.000.000 feet per quarter section,
averaging easily 6.000.000 feet per qnnrter.
Estimating tho whole amount of 6,812,000.
000 feet at 50 cents per thousand, we havo
a wealth of 56,500,000 yet untouched,
awaiting tho advent of the lumberman,
who Is even now beginning to arrlvo
from the timber-devnstated regions of
Maine and the old Northwest. Tho red
and yellow fir, larch and hemlock trees
tower 200 to 330 feet high, straight a
plummet lines and as smooth as candles
to a height of 160 or 200 feet. Tho pre
vailing size of these trees is from 3& to 5
feet in diameter. Tests made by en
gineers have shown that Oregon fir has
under pressure nearly twice the strength,
of Eastern oak, and almost three times
that of pine. This timber will be used
wherever great length, strength, lightness"
and durability are In demand, and today
Is being shipped to nearly all parts of tho
globe. Eastern capitalists aro buying,
holdings In this region as fast as men can)
convey title to their lands.
Totviis ot Pollc County.
Polk County Is dotted over with towns!
thriving with local trade. Falls City Is
situated on the Lucklamute, at a point'
well chosen for its manufacturing pros
pects This town has a bright future. It
13 now a center of lumbering industries.
Monmouth, the seat of the Normal
School, has a good country trade. A
largo two-story brick building has been
completed tho past year and is now oc
cupied. Independence, connected with tho out
side world by river and by rail, is a great
shipping center for hops, wool, wheat,
fruits, cattle, etc. It Is supported by a
rich section of farming country', and will
always be a thriving business center. It
has one of the finest public school build
ings in the state and a very superior sys
tem of schools.
Dallas, at tho geographical center of tho
county, the county seat. Is a prosperous
town and has Increased heavily In popu
lation during the past three years. It la
backed by orchards, hopfields, farms and
stock ranches, and an endless expanse of
timber, even now coming into market.
Educationally, the homeseeker finds all
that Is desired in Polk County. The pub
lic schools are of the best, and Dallas Col
lego and the State Normal School af Mon
mouth are both good Institutions of learn
ing, each having largo attendance and
promising future.
The government of tho county Is and
has been conservative. County warrants
draw 6 per cent and sell readily at a pre
mium. A new courthouse of stone adorns
the county's grounds. It is a model of
beauty and convenience.
The people of Polk County are In a
prosperous condition, healthy, contented,
hopeful. The harvest just closed utilized
every available man. woman and child In
the fields, orchards and hopyards, and
money has been scattered broadcast
among the people. Our mild Winter finds
all.comfortably dressed, -ell fed. the chil
dren supplied with books and tuition, and
the schools are crowded. Every man is
at work at profitable employment. Flow
ers are In bloom, fruit trees are deceived
In putting forth their buds with tho
thought that this is springtime. The
homeseeker, as he looks about him on
his advent here, exclaims, "This is para
dise!" B. F. MULIvEY.
Monmouth.
At the Cass copper mine, near Waldo,
Or., recently bonded by R. B. Whiteside,
of Duluth. Minn., for 5100,000, a remark
ably rich ledge- of copper has just been
discovered. At a depth of 200 feet In tho
upper tunnel being run into the mine an
eight-foot ledge carrying copper values
of 1" to 60 per cent has been struck. A
large fcrce of men Is employed at the
mine, ana the property Is being rapidly
developed and opened up for a perma
nent and extensive business