Morning Oregonian., January 01, 1902, SECOND SECTION, Page 29, Image 29

THE MORNING OEEGONIAN, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 1, 1902.
20
a manufacturer's point of view, -with a
volume of water sufficient to supply
power second to none In the United
States. The falls at the mouth, being
half a mile from the Oregon Railroad &
Navigation Company's line, would make
an excellent site for a flourlng-mllL
The John Day, which forms the eastern
boundary. Is another fine stream, unhar
nessed, as yet, co far as any manufac
turing enterprise Is concerned. Along the
banks of this stream are many fertile bot
toms suitable for alfalfa fields, which
will prove excellent Block ranches. Fifty
miles from the Columbia, going south, we
reach the southern boundary of Sherman,
which Joins "Wasco County in that direc
tion. Speaking of the railroad facilities. It Is
safe to say that there Is no more favored
county In this respect in the rAale. The
O. R. & N . which is a continuation or
one of the great transcontinental lines,
traverses the whole northern boundary,
following the course of the Columbia,
with an easy down grade direct to the
seaboard. The Columbia Southern, a line
of road fully up to the mark as to mod
ern improvements and excellent service,
traverses the center of the county fr'orn
north to couth, starting from Biggs Junc
tion, on the O. R. &. N., and having Its
terminus at Shaniko, a thrl Ing jiew town
in Wasco County, pome 20 miles from
the southern confines of Sherman County.
This line has been in operation for sev
eral years. It is a succcr-3 from a finan
cial ctandpoint, and a boom to the Sher
man County wheatraiser, who has not to
face the long haul to market which ham
pers the operations of bis -brother farmer
in less favored localities. At Intervals
along this rood may be found the large
warehouses where millions of bushels of
wheat are handled every year.
Wheat Crop 2,400,000 Bnshcls Last
i ear.
Wheat Is the staple product of the coun
ty. On It the bulk of our population de
pend for support, nor are they disap
pointed, for to take one crop with an
other, our farmers have enough and to
i-pare of this world's goods, many laying
up year by year a tidy sum to their credit
at the local bank. The following figures
will give some Idea of the extent of farm
operations In the county last Fall: About
210.000 acres in cultix'ation, of which about
S3.O0O or W.COO were In Summer fallow,
leaiing ?bout 120.0CO under crop. Allow
ing an average of 0 but-hels to the acre,
we have 2.400.000 bushels of grain harvest
ed last Tall, worth, at SO cents per bushel,
S1.200.O00. Allowing 5050 population, this
would leave ?2'0 a year for every raun,
woman and ch.ld in Sherman County.
This is scarcely a fair estimate of what
the county can produce, as the wheat
crop of 1901 was below the average, and
fell short nearly one-third the crop of
1900. In 1S02 a large jlcld may be ex
pected, as several thousand acres of new
land have been brought under cultiva
tion, which w'll increase the jield of
grain in 1902 many thousands of bushels.
Good County for General Farming.
Conditions as to farm operations aro
easy in this county. The friable soil
yields readily to the touch of the har
row, and It Is an established fact that
wheat can bo ralaed here at a cost that
will compare favorably with any grain
bearing tract In the United States. Wheat,
although the principal product, is by no
means the only crop that does well in
this favored region. Barley, oata and po
tatoes give large yields. Of the latter
prodigious quantities are raised without
irrigation or fertilizer of any kind. The
potato bug i9 unknown, and the ever
lasting spraying that has to be resorted
to In the East can be entirely dispensed
with here. Fruit does very well on the
river bottoms, and many young orchards
are bearing well on the plateau lands.
Although Sherman County cannot com
pare with the great stock counties to
the south in point of numbers, she Is in
no wise devoid of cattle, sheep, horses
and hogs. Cattle and sheep do well on the
Government land In the southern portion
of the county. Horsed abound, and can
be raised to good profit. Owing to the
open Winters, the young stock are al
lowed to roam at large, and seldom re
quire other feed than the bunchgrass on
the open ranges. Hog-raising could be
madtf to pay largely, and a fortune awaits
the man who turns his attention to these
prolific animals. Hams and bacon bring
a high price, and find a ready eale.
The indu&trlous who wish to try their
luck with poultry can also find a field
for their labors, as the amount of eggs
and chickens is totally Inadequate to
supply even the local markets.
The climate of Sherman County Is dry
and bracing, without any of the dreaded
hot spells so prevalent in the Middle and
Eastern Stated, In fact, a prostration from
the heat has never been heard of. Men
work through the Summer and Fall with
out Inconvenience In this respect. The
Winter Is to a great extent the pleas
antest season of the year, with a light
snowfall and bright days, when the dwell
er in Sherman County goes about his
business and can proceed with his farm
operations, when farmers elsewhere are
blocked with caiow and Ice. The cyclone,
blizzard and other rampageous climatic
disturbances have never been heard of,
and are not wanted.
Several Prosperous Town.
Sherman County has some excellent
business towns. The three principal ones
are on the line of the Columbia South
ern Railroad "Moro, Grass Valley and
Wasco. Moro, the county seat, is situated
in the center of the county, and is a
town of wonderful enterprise and push.
Twenty years ago Moro had one small
store and one or two scattered dwellings.
Today she has several brick general
stores, a ?10.000 Courthouse, excellent
graded school, Moore Brothers' banking
establishment, brick offices of the Inland
Empire Real Estate Company, Elrod &
Moore, managers. These men are reli
able, and do a large real estate business
all ocr the county. Two good hotels,
telephone and telegraph offices and above
all an excellent water system. There is
in course of construction a fiourlng-mill,
which will be operated by electric
power, to be transmitted from the
Deschutes River, seven miles to the west.
Also, two large brick business concerns
and several residences. Of the latter
there is always a scarcity, and new
houses being put up are engaged for
rent before the foundations are finished.
Twenty or thirty cottages built for rent
would prove a profitable investment.
Wasco is another thriving town in the
northern portion of the county. It has
some fine general stores. A quantity of
wneat is nandled, and all lines of busi
ness are well represented.
Grass "Valley Is the business center in
the southern part of the county, and has
a large scope of country, both stock and
farming, to draw from. The town is
growing rapidly, and has the usual
amount of business concerns, good school,
live newspapers, etc
Grant, on the line of the O. R. & N.,
is worthy of mention, having large ware
houses, and is the shipping point for the
quantities of fruit grown on the Columbia
River bottoms.
Farming Land Cheap.
Thanks to the railroad facilities, the
Intending settler can leave the O. R. &
N. at Biggs, board the Columbia Southern
train and In a few hours arrive at Moro,
from which point he can see the county
for himself and be convinced that Sher
man County offers many inducements to
those looking for desirable homes in our
new country. ImDroved farms can be
had from $S to ?10 per acre, payable on
easy terms, in some cases on the crop
mortgage plan. There are also many
farms for rent. Men who have become
rich raising wheat and want to spend
the remainder of their days at ease, or
go into business in town, arc always
ready to give the Industrious a chance,
and will either sell or rent on conditions
that will leave a margin of profit for
the renter as well as the owner. There Is
also a good field for the laborer in Sher
man County. At harvest time men can
scarcely be had at all. Common labor
then ranges from Jl 50 to S2 per day and
board.
Sherman County, although compara
tively a new country, is not lacking In
all the adjuncts of civilization. Nearly
all religious denominations are well rep
resented. Each town has Its three or
four churches, and Sunday schools arc
held every Sunday for the spiritual wel
fare of our young folks. The county is
in excellent shape from a financial stand
point, not owing a cent. Each and every
warrant is paid on presentation to the
County Treasurer.
M. FITZMAURICE.
Moro.
UMATILLA COUNTY.
Products of Farm, Orchard, Dairy
and Range Arc $3,500,000 a Year.
Umatilla County, of which Pendleton is
the seat, produced during the year 1301
marketable stuff that brought not less
than $3,500,000 in gold into the hands of
the farmers, stockbreeders, frultralscrs
and dairymen. Umatilla County ha3 a
population of 25,000. The per capita pro
duction, therefore, is SI-JO. It Is believed
that no county In Oregon, or, indeed, on
the Coast or In the entire United States,
can exhibit a higher legitimate per capita
annual production than this. And, of the
total that was produced, this being an og
ricultural and stock county, a larger
percentage of the receipts remain within
the county In. the possession of the pro
ducers, upon the theory, generally accept
ed, that agriculture and livestock yield
a larser margin of profit to those en
gaged therein than docs any other pro
ductive Industry. This splendid show
ing, whoa analyzed, will be seen to be
within bounds of truth. The crop of wheat
that was harvested was 4,300,000 bushels,
and the avprage price received was 45
cents, or a total value of $1,725,000. To off
set the reduction that must be made for
seed wheat comes the oats and corn raised
In the county.
The district of the northern part of the
county usually produces and sells for
gold $250,000 worth of fruit. Last year too
crop was damaped, and probably brought
somewhat less than STwJ.VX). but the deficit
Is more than made up by the production in
this part of thr county, so that S250.0W)
can legitimately be added to the year's
production, bringing up the total to $l,9i.
ooo. Handle 0,000,000 Pounds of "Wool.
Umatiila County sold more than 2,223,-
000 pounds of wool actually raised in the
county, although she handled more than
G.OGO.OOO pounds, being a center for wool
interests for a large district. The rev
enue from the wool sales was about
S225.000; and 175,000 lambs were dropped
and saved to grow into form to bring in
the Fall 51 75 each, for shipment to the
Yakima Winter feeding grounds, and also
to Montana and Utah and Wyoming, with
some sent to Chicago, Kansas City and
Omaha. These bring up the totnl to J2,
75G.250. Umatilla County sold 10,000 head of cat
tle, which at the prevailing high prices
for beef, realized fully S350.000, and making
the total S3.10S.250.
In the dairy Industry, there has been
rapid development In the-CainaB Valley
alone, a region 50 miles to the south and
within the limits of the county, nearly. If
not quite, 1500 cows are utilized by dairy
men, the most of the products coming
from tho several creameries that are
flourishing there. The returns from each
cow, for seven months of the year, are
S4 per month, or $2S to the cow, making1
a total of 142,000 for the seven months.
This amount Is augmented during the
remainder of the year, so that the dairy
Industry of Camas Valley returns about
SGO.OOO per annum. In other parts of the
county, the total returns from tho dairies
and creameries will equal those of the
Camas Valley. And this Justifies the as
sertion that 5100,000 Is contributed annual
ly by the dairy interests of Umatilla Coun
ty. Adding this return, the total of the
county's production comes to 53,200,250.
In addition to these elements of produc
tiveness arc the market gardens, the honey-raising,
itself by no means Inconsidera
ble, the lumber, the placer mines of the
southern district of the county, the wood
cut in the mountains for fuel and shipped
all over the eastern part of the state, the
hay and the horses and the hogs, enough
and to spare to bring up the total of the
county's annual production this year to
53.500.000. '
Umatilla County on the average raises
1 per cent of the wheat crop of the United
States, which runs about 500,000,000 bushels,
and the average here being 5,000,000.
The county Is conspicuous for the large
average yield per acre. Statements such
as this are trite, and are secnetimes looked
upon with suspicion, yet It Is easily dem
onstrable that the better lands of the
county average well up to 35 bushels to
the acre, with a comparatively small area
of lighter lands, in which is an admix
ture of alkali, that averages not more
than IS.
The soil of the. wheat areas is that en
during, indeed, almost Inexhaustible, vol
canic ash, which is present wherever in
the world high rates of production are
manifest, and which possesses the endur
ing qualities not known to any other
character of soil. Although tilled for
a-half generation, some of It for more
than twice that period. It indicates no
tendency to diminish in its yielding qual
ity. It Is Inevitable that In this time this
soil would become exhausted. But, as
the years pass, the farmers hereabouts
learn the art t diversification of crops,
and apply modern methods to the con
duct of their business. Lands that were
regarded as valueless for agriculture 20
years ago are now selling at from 520 to
535 per acre, and are held as the best
wheat or other grain lands In the world.
Umatilla Frnlt a Prizewinner.
Frultralscrs here win prizes whenever
they enter Into competition with those of
other counties or states. Half of the fa
mous Walla Walla Valley Is within the
boundaries of Umatilla County. And tho
half that Is Included herein Is. perhaps,
the better half. It raises better fruits
than does the other half. It raises larger
yields per tree. In the orchards of Uma
tilla County iare less pests than in any
portion of the wonderful fruit sections
of the West. Greater care has been ex
ercised. The orchards are younger. Meth
ods for eradication of pests have been per
fect since the fruit industry was estab
lished here. Hence there Is every reason
why the orchards of tho county should be
freer from the pests than are others. The
State Fruit Commissioner for this dis
trict gives his testimony that Umatilla
County products are less subject to con
demnation than are those from any other
region coming under his supervision.
The horse industry of this county is one
of its most profitable producers. Here are
climate, proper food?, extensive range, in
deed all the elements necessary to the pro
duction of high-bred animals, as well as
those fit for the heavy farm uses. For
several years Umatilla County track
horses have conclusively demonstrated
the fact that this Is an Ideal region for
the breeding of horses for racing. Both
standard bred and thoroughbred horses
go from here to win In tho racing meets
of the Coast and in the East, and so suc
cessful has been the breeding of fast ani
mals here that the Umatiila County brand
upon a horse causes him to appreciate In
stantly In the open markets of the coun
try. The Altamont, Wilkes and other
famous families of harness horses are rep
resented in this county by get that have
sustaircd the great reputations of their
celebrated sires. Owned In the county,
bred on Its ranges and in its stables, and
actually exhibited In the annual horse pa
rade given here In April, were more than
40 animals of worthy and registered pedi
gree, that had shown miles "in less than
thirty," as the horsemen designate those
that can encircle a track faster than 2:30.
Of these 40 half have marks of less than
2.20. while the horses credited to Umatilla
County during the past six years that
have repeatedly done better than 2:15, in
clude half a score. Sales have been
heavy at high prices.
These are facts in face of the concession
that during the years when the horee
market was depressed, common animals
could be bought for 55, and a working
horse with his harness tin frequently sold
for 510, when put up at auction.
Breeding: Corra for the Dairy.
This is a period for development of the
dairying resources of the West. The
market is not yet suppHed by home pro
duction in any state on the Pacific Coast.
Western Oregon has made more rapid
strides In this line of Industry than has
Eastern Oregon. But at this time,
throughout this region, ranchers are turn
ing their attention more and more to the
breeding and raising of cows for dairying.
This Is accelerated by the Importation or
bulls from some of the best herds of the
East, and representing the acknowledged
families of butter-producers. At this
time In Umatilla County are several herds
that are prizewinners at fair and exposi
tion competitions. Jersey, Hereford and
Shorthorns predominate.
It is noticeable that rot only are dairy
men Improving their herds, but also cat
tlemen who breed for the beef market arc
giving heed to the advantages of having
cattle of better grade than the scrubs ot
the early years. This is resulting in tho
breeding up of cattle herds for the beef
market that are worthy the wearing ot
blue ribbons at any competition.
Umatilla County has long been noted for
the high-bred sheep that constitute the
bands of a dozen breeders vrfio have given
especial attention to building up bands
adapted to the needs of the Western wool
grower. The problem was to find a sheep
that combined mutton and wool qualities.
This has been done by proper crossing or
tho finer merinos with coarser breeds, or
in making some other combination, to
produce sheep large enough to be sought
by the mutton buyer, and yet with good
wool growing upon their backs. Experi
ments In feeding, as to time and quantity
and variety of feed, have enabled the
Umatilla County sheepmen to establish
tho sheep of this region In the markets ot
the country as staple stuff
What Is Offered to the Hoxncaeeker.
What advantages does Umatilla County
offer to those in the East who are seeking
Western locations? It offers the most
productive wheat lands known to agricul
ture. It offers timber on the mountains as
good as any ever sawed into lumber. It
offers vast areas of land now arid, that
will, with water placed upon it through
Irrigation, produce anything grown In the
temperate zone, and produce in an abun
dance that makes grain husbandry or hor
ticulture hut a pleasant episode. In this
county are several times more acres ot
these arid lands than there are of lands
now under cultivation. Therefore, to the
man who will work out the problem as to-
how best to Irrigate, here are unlimited
opportunities, not only to better his own
condition, but to be a factor in the mak
ing of the new West, In the building of an
empire, an empiro that will some day be
the real center of productiveness on the
American Continent. It offers to the sick
man the best climate upon which the rays
of the sun shine. It offers the surest
crops, failures being unknown, that are
taken from the earth by farmers any
where on the globe.
Here, then, are unexcelled wheat, fruit,
vegetable, pasture and timber lands, with
only 15,000 people to occupy a county so
large that from Pendleton one may drive
by direct route 65 miles tothc southern
boundary, 35 miles by a direct route to tne
northern line, and an equal distance al
most from east to west. Here wheat may
be produced laid down at railroad sta
tions for VS cents a bushel, as nearly ab
solutely certain to be" unfailing, as finite
things can be absolute, and thus insuring
a return of nearly 100 per cent annually
on the total cost. And, in some years, the
return Is" close to 2C0 per cent. Here are
fruit lands that bear every variety and
the best quality known to the zone, with
abundance of water flowing from tne
mountains ready at hand to be utilized.
Here are vast ranges for Summer and
Winter, upon which with proper husband
ing of resources will flourish luxuriant
bunchgras. the most succulent natural
grass yet found by mu. Here are alJ
things with which to make of the region
a productive garden, and all the experi
mentation already dono by those who
were the pIQneers.
UmatiEa County, with 56,000.000 assessed
valuation, producing annually more than
50 per cent of that amount only slightly
explored, the soil but scratched by the
comparatively few engaged in the pro
ductive industries, lay claim to being
tho richest contributor to the state's
wealth of all the counties therein. And
she offers every opportunity to the man
of Industry and enterprise and brains to
find wide scope for their exercise.
JOHN E. LATHROP.
Pendleton.
WHEELER COUNTY.
Stockralalnjr Leads In Oregon's
YoHHReat Subdivision.
Every few years, owing to the state's
rapid growth in population and wealth,
the former necessitating the change and
and the latter providing means for its sup
port, a new county Is created In Oregon
by an act or the Legislature. The last or
youngest county In the state was formed
In this manner In March, 1E99. under the
name of "Wheeler County." The wisdom
of Its formation is already notably ap
parent. Inheriting a debt of 535,000 from
the three counties of Gilliam, Grant and
Crook, from each of which a portion of
territory was taken to form the new coun
ty, Wheeler County has. In the 2 years
of its existence, cut this debt down to
52C.000, according to the County Clerk's
last semi-annual statement, besides pay
ing out, aside from the ordinary running
expenses, 513,000 for a fine new Court
house, now ready to be occupied, and
53000 for new record books, transcribing
the records from the other counties, and
furniture for offices. All this without In
creasing the tax levy; in fact, with a
smaller levy than thk average levy of the
three counties out of which Wheeler Coun
ty was carved. In the new county, which
Is about GO miles long by 35 wide, no tax
payer lives more than 50 miles from the
county seat, while in the older counties
many of Wheeler's present citizens lived
over 100 miles from the county scat, and
that, too, over mountains almost Inacces
sible In the Winter time. Enough said,
perhaps, as an excuse for our existence
as a county, if any were needed.
Great County for Stock.
At present Wheeler County is chiefly.
In fact, almost wholly devoted to the rais
ing of livestock, for which it is peculiarly
well adapted. Having two spurs of the
densley timbered Blue Mountains running
across the county, with the John Day
River flowing between them, the county Is
magnificently watered, which means, in
Eastern Oregon, a stockman's paradise.
Some idea of the importance of this coun
ty as a stockraislng center may be
gleaned from tho knowledge that It con
tains at present 200,000 sheep, 15,000 cattle.
6000 horses, and hogs more than ample for
the county's 2500 inhabitants, the surplus
going to the Portland market. Of the 47
townships in the county, about 12 are tim
ber land, situated In the mountains and
mostly Government land, to which the
sheep are driven and where they fatten
during the hot Summer months on the
rich succulent grasses that flourish in the
cool shade of the tall pines, firs and tam
aracks. The open land contains bunch
grass, rank and rich, such as grows only
in the foothills, and, as Wheeler County,
for the most part stands on edge, the big
half of It Is foothills. Of late years the
quality of the livestock 'In this county
has been greatly improved by the use of
none but high-grade or full-blood males,
so much so that tho stock Is worth many
dollars per head more than formerly.
While this may not be making two blades
of grass grow where one grew before. It
amounts to substantially the same thing,
and shows the great possibilities exist
ing along this line Our people are learn
ing the lesson that a full-blood animal
eats no more than a scrub.
Ample Winter feed for the livestock is
grown on the creek bottoms, natural
meadows and sidebllls that are not too
steep to till with ordinary plows. As
yet the day of the farmer has not came
here, the stockman tilling Just as little
ground as necessity demands, preferring
to keep intact as much of the virgin
bunchgrass land as possible. Alfalfa
grows to perfection on all the low lands,
and Is tho favorite Winter stock feed.
Grain of all kinds Is raised successfully,
wherever tried. In all parts of the county,
not excepting the highest latitudes,, which
Is saying a good deal for our climate,
when It Is remembered that the summit
of the Blue Mountains Is the county's
southern line. Here, as elsewhere In
Oregon east of the Cascade Mountains,
dry weather prevails during three-fourths
of the year, and the average Winter
(meaning by this the duration of time
range stock must be fed) does not ex
ceed six weeks. There is an average of
about one week's zero weather. Where
ordinary care is exercised. Winter loss of
stock Is unknown.
Planting Nevr Orchards.
Hardy fruits are easily raised through
out the county, almost every rancher pos
sessing a small orchard. Peaches, apri
cots and grapes second to none are pro
duced In abundance in the orchards on
creeks and river bottoms, and In many
sheltered coves In the hills. Many thou
sands of fruit trees, of which the major
portion, perhaps, are apples, as the apple
docs extraordinarily well and Is the ac
knowledged king of all fruits raised here,
are being set out each year. Some day,
when the transportation facilities come,
as come they surely will, the fruit ex
ports of Wheeler County will not bo the
least source of Its Income. Good gardens
are the rule everywhere, fine vegetables
and small fruits being raised with but
little care.
Tho average stockman views the com
ing of railroads with mixed feelings, but
the sentiment in favor of the 'iron horse"
Is surely though slowly growing. For,
while its advent will undeniably reduce
tho quantity of the stockman's outside
range, It will Juet as certainly enhance
the value of the land that he owns. More
over, it will give him, and what is gen
erally dearer to him far than himself his
wife and children advantages In the way
ot a better civilization, especially along
social and educational liner, that come
only with growth of population and di
rect touch with the outside world, that
will more than offset the problematical
decrease he flees in his income. The
long-distance telephone, already here, is
a whole- sermon In itself to doubters of
this truth. The old and selfish view, of
great prosperity for a small number of
people, is being superseded by the new and
better view of the greatest good for the
greatest number. Once the railroad tra
verses Wheeler County the county will be
able to support, in comfort, nay, even
affluence, many times Its present popula
tion; for, with transportation assured and
modern appliances for cultivating our ex
ceedingly fertile sldehllls, the county
could produce millions of bushels of grain
annually, instead of merely sufficient, as
now, for the making of our bread and the
feeding of our teams. This, without de
creasing the net value of our livestock,
as with Improved methods more per acre
and of a better grade can be kept. Crop
failures in this county are unknown. Last
year the Columbia Southern Rallroaa,
which is headed this way, was completed
to Shaniko, 40 miles from Fossil, and
now our nearest shipping point. Prior to
that, Arlington, 60 miles away, was our
closest shipping point.
ThonsanCs of Acres for Homesteads.
Whilo the best lands of Wheeler Coun
ty have already been taken up, there are
still hundreds of thousands of acres of
Government land that can be homesteaded
or secured cheaply as school, desert or
timber and stone lands. Or the thrifty
Eastern farmer, who desires to forsake
the Winter blizzards and withering Sum
mers to which he is accustomed, can yet
buy productive deeded land In Wheeler
County, Oregon, at a price that will ap
pear to him as a song, from restless, vis
ionary owners who often leave In search
of a "better land" that is never found,
and who almost Invariably return, poorer
In purse but richer in experience, to one
of the most prosperous counties on God's
green earth. A large majority of our cit
MMMHMMMHMtHMMtHHMtHH
HENRY W
Situated on the block
Couch, North Twelfth
M H H M M I H 0
izens own their own homes. Poverty as
understood in the East and Middle states
Is unknown. There Is not a pauper In tae
county.
We do not claim that this Is a Garden
of Eden, where all is play and a line
Adamlc living comes without work to
cumberers of the ground. To the lazy.
Impecunious, hand-to-mouth prospective
immigrant we would say: "Go 'way back
and sit down. There is not room under
foot for you In progressive Wheeler Coun
ty, Oregon." To the thrifty, industrious
Eastern Immigrant, possessed of some
means as such usually are, who fears not
profitable work and disdains not sma'l
things, wo say: "Come, and welcome.
There Is room for you in this vineyard.
Here your heavy handicap Is removed and
you will prosper as never before. Cornel"
This sort of man will bo Interested in the
fact that bees Invariably do well here.
Ope man In "Mitchell realized S100O from 100
hives last year, and even better results,
on a smaller scale, are realized by others
who keep bees in various parts of the
county. This, notwithstanding the arti
ficial feeding of bees, as practiced In other
parts of the world, 13 never practiced here.
He will also be Interested by the state
ment or the ract that there Is a bright
future for dairying In this county, an in
dustry as yet In Its swaddling clothes with
us. Further, he will be Interested to
know that our high, dry climate Is an
Ideal one for the raising of poultry, the
percentage of increase being much larger
than In lower, damper regions. This Is a
line that Is receiving considerable atten
tion from our citizens generally, all be
ing apparently anxious to increase tne
numbers and Improve the quality of their
chickens. For example, one local fancier
of the writer's acquaintance has during
the past year sold to ranchers and others
over a hundred thoroughbred birds at an
average price of 51. besides 550 worth of
full-blood eggs for 'hatching purposes.
To the sportsman, Wheeler County has
much to offer. Deer, once plentiful, are
becoming scarcer as man pushes his
abodo toward the heart of the wild
wood, but are still plentiful enough
to make the stalking and shooting of
them interesting to the ardent hunter.
Fish abound In our many streams,
and their capture docs not require the
skill or patience of an Izaak Walton. Rab
bits, grouse and wild ducks and geese are
numerous. For those desiring bigger
game a few bear yet inhabit the mountain
fastnesses.
Manufacturing and Mining.
So far our manufactures consist of but
flour and lumber. Fossil has a fine 50
barrel full roller process flouring mill, and
Mitchell baa a good mill with half that
capacity. There are half a dozen saw
mills scattered over the county's timber
belt' that turn out several million feet a
year of rough and finished lumber for
local purposes.
Our mines consist of a large and ever
Increasing number or partially developed
quartz claims, many of them of consider
able promise, some being owned by lead
ing capitalists of Oregon; and the well-
known Spanish Gulch placer mines, whose
output has averaged 325,000 during the pas;
three years. It is expected that berore
many years the mines of Wheeler County
will be one of the main factors In her
wealth and general prosperity.
Fossil, the county seat. Is beautifully
located on Butte Creek, a tributary of the
John Day River, In a valley surrounded
by lofty hills that 3helter the town from
the winds and storms that prevail on tne
mountains to the south and the plateau
region towards the Columbia River on the
north. At a cost of 515.000 It has one ot
tho best gravity water systems in the
country, tho supply being obtained by
piping from a pure mountain spring about
three miles southwest of town, at an
elevation of 400 feet above the town. Tnts
system throws a stream of water from a
four-inch hose far over the tallest brick
buildings in town, affording superb pro
tection from fire. The town has a splen
did public school, taught nine months each
year, with four teachers and 230 pupils in
attendance. The schoolrooms are Inade
quate, but that fault will soon be reme
died, as the voters have declared for a
now school building to meet the ulready
overdue demand. Plans are being pre
pared for a new eight-room brick school
house, estimated cost 5SC00. to be built
ESTABLISHED IN 1862
CITY
bounded by Burnside, T0"DrTT A 1VTT
and Thirteenth Streets r V-JLV 1 irkll JLJ5
DRAUGHT AND BOTTLED BEER SOLD TN QUANTITIES
ALL ORDERS PROMPTLY ATTENDED TO. -
SHIPMENTS IN CARLOAD LOTS A SPECIALTY.
M M M t M M M H M M
during the coming year. A new County
Courthouse, costing 513,000, has Just been
completed, and other buildings bring the
total cost of buildings erected in Fossil
during the year 1901 up to 531,200, a re
markable showing for a town of about 500
inhabitants. This progressive llttie town
has fine church facilities and contains
lodges of all the prominent fraternal or
ders. Its principal merchants carry im
mense stocks of goods in modern brick
buildings, to accommodate the large In
terior trade, and its fine flouring mill Is
a source of pride to every citizen. The
town is quite a mall center, being the dis
tributing and starting point ot six mail
lines, whose mails are carried in stage
coaches that also carry passengers. Fos
sil derives its name from valuable fossil
discoveries made In the vicinity by scien
tists who annually explore the rich fossil
fields of the county. Professor Merriam,
of the University or California, has made
valuable discoveries of this nature here
during the past two years.
Mitchell, the only other incorporated
town in the county, has a population of
about 300, and Is a very prosperous place,
its business houses having a splendid
trade with the stockmen whose ranges
surround It, extending back for many
miles. Richmond and Spray are both
small towns, with bright prospects, that
have been almost entirely built up within
the past two years.
JAMES S. STEWART.
Fossil.
WALLOWA COUNTY.
Lack of a Railroad Retards the De
velopment of Agriculture.
This comparatively new county has dur
ing the year 1S01 enjoyed a reasonable de
gree of prosperity. More land has been
put In cultivation, fencing done, more
houses built and more Irrigating ditches
constructed 'than In any previous year
since Its organization. Successful experi
ments have proven that alfalfa and brome
grass can be raised here, and many acres
have been sown, alfalfa on the lower
lands that can be Irrigated and brome on
the high, dry lands.
As we have no railroad or other public
ENTERPRISE BREWERY
SAN FRANCISCO, CAL.
Largest and Greatest Brewery on the Pacific Coast.
First and Only Eight-Hour Union Beer in America.
f
Cold Stornse nt
PORTLAND ARTIFICIAL ICE COMPANY'S
Eighteenth nnd Upshur.
. Office: 383 SEVENTEENTH STREET, North
Near Thurman.
j Oregon 'Phone, 1U21.
' Colnmbln 'Phone, "221.
----
NHA
r : ' " n
RE
WERY
M M H M M t.H M --
means of transportation, farm products
are not extensively raised for export, but
enough wheat of the best possible quality
was ralsed last year to keep all the mills
of the county running until another crop
can be harvested, and an abundance of
other kinds of grain and hay to supply all
the stock not sent to the Winter ranges.
The vegetable and fruit crop, owing to
late frosts, may not have been quite up
to the usual yield, but there is no danger
of a famine in either.
The copper mines, about which there
has been some stir, are still being pros
pected, and development work is being
done, and the difficulty of access Is prob
ably the only reason that more has not
been done with them. The same may be
said of the granite, marble and coal de
posits known to exist In the county. The
wonderful agricultural, grazing and tim
ber resources will eventually make this
a great county, whether the mines amount
to anything or not. There is also much
Government land within the limits of
this county on which good homes will be
made If It is not all leased to some syn
dicate. Financially the county is fairly well off.
The money coming from the sale of the
wool of 250.000 or more sheep, and 10.000
hogs, 6000 cattle and a great many horses
at high prices, ought to figure out in tho
aggregate quite a large sum. When di
vided among the 7000 or S000 people in the
county, it gives an amount per capita,
perhaps, as great as any county in tho
state.
Educationally, socially and morally the
people here are probably getting along as
well as those anywhere. The exclusion
law would be a dead letter and the scenes
that cause little flurries of excitement In
the South could not happen here, as there
Is not a Chinaman or negro In the county.
The Indians, once so numerous, and not
always agreeable, after several of them
had to work out fines on the streets of
Enterprise for violating the fish and game
laws, left In disgust and are seen no
more. Only four persons have been found
worthy of the penitentiary, which Is much
less than the usual yearly average. No
one has been sent to the lunatic asylum
and the two or three attempts at suicide
were not successful. It Is doubtful if a
people more Justly better satisfied with
themselves and things generally can bo
found than In Wallowa County.
Enterprise. L. J. ROUSE.
HENRY MEISTER,
iGenera! Agent
Oi"DlCrrlT
WlXEVJ - VJlN
TO SUIT.
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