13
THE riORXIXG OREGONIAN, MONDAY, OCTOBER 29, 1906.
PHASES OF INDUSTRIAL GROWTH IN THE STATE OF OREGON
HUMID
REGIONS
Professor Kent, of Agricultural
College, Discusses
the Subject.
OF INTEREST TO VALLEY
Gires. Kffolti of Exhaustive Experi
ments in Wisconsin and Eastern
states Crops Greatly In
creased by Use of Water.
BI PROF. F. L. KENT. OF OREGON AG
RICULTURAL COLLEGE.
Since the falling of rain upon soils
has always been intermittent In . its
character, and during the intervals of
fair weather a part of the water so
given to the soil has been lost by
drainage, land vegetation, during its
evolutionary stages, has become fitted
to do its best work when the soil is
watered at regular itnervals, and when
that soil retains a certain amount of
the rain which falls. But the. inter
vals between rains in almost all coun
tries are Irregular, and the amount of
rain which falls at one time also
varies between very wide limits, so
that in many, if not the majority of
climates, those seasons are rare in
deed when a crop can be carried to ma
turity with the soil containing at all
times the best amount of moisture.
This being true there will occur tlmes
wlth almost all soils, when they would
give larger yields if they could be ar
tificially irrigated or artificially drain
ed according as the season is one of
deficient or of excessive rain.
Let us consider briefly the part
which water plays in the matter of
plant production. In the first place
it is only through the soil, where very
extensive absorbing surfaces of root
hairs are developed, that plants are
able to obtain the very large amounts
of water they need. Water which falls
on the leaf surface of a plant performs
no function within its tissues.
In the second place, it is not alone
for the crop which is being grown
upon the ground that water is needed
in the soil; for there are living within
it microscopic, organisms of various
kinds upon whose normal and vigor
ous activity depends, in a high degree,
the size of the crop which is to be
harvested. The germs which react
upon the dead organic matter in the
soil, converting it into ammonia, thence
into nitrous and nitric acid whtcn lat
ter is the real nitrogen supply of most
of the higher plants each and all are
dependent for their proper activity
upon the right amount of moisture in
the soil. Water is also quite as im
portant for another class of germ life,
that which takes the free nitrogen
from the air and compounds if. into
such forms as shall leave it available
for the higher plants, as seen in the
root nodules of clover, alfalfa and
her legumes.
Drawbacks of Humidity.
Now in humid regions, where the sub
soils are much of the time water
logged, and where, as a consequence,
. there is but. little soil ventilation, the
plant food builders to which reference
has just been made are all forced into
a thin zone closse to the surface of the
ground, where all their work must be
done; but if this surface zone is al
lowed to become dry. the nitrogen sup
plying processes must come to a stand
still, and the crop will have its growth
checked, even though its roots may
have penetrated the subsoil where
moisture for its own purposes may be
had.
It Is well kwnon among tillers of
the soil in humid regions that when
the subsoil Is exposed to the surface
of a. field it requires considerable time
for it to become fully productive. This
condition is much less marked in semi
arid regions, so much so in some sec
tions that in fitting the surface for Ir
rigation the surface soil is often rather
deply buried and the subsoil exposed
during the leveling process, without
material injury to the fertility of the
field.
In the third place attention may be
called to another important principle.
In soils which have been highly fertil
ized or whicn are naturally well sup
plied with organic matter ready for de
cay, large amounts of nitrates are
rapidly formed. Under such conditions
the moisture which surrounds the soil
grains rapidly approaches saturation,
and finally reaches a point where it is
carrying so much matter In solution
that the water is no longer suitable
for the use of the germs which pro
duced this matter, and their activities
are thus brought to a standstill. In
fact, the soil water may become so
strongly charged with plant food sub
stances In combination and solution as
to be positively injurious to the plant
Itself.
In the fourth place other plant foods
those which contain the potash,
phosphoric, acid, lime, magnesia, etc.,
must be changed from their natural
solid form to a solution before they
cnn be of any service in plant growth.
In view of the fact which have just
been presented, it Is not strange that the
ancient philosophers should have come
to believe that water was the sole food
of plants. As a matter of fact, water
does contribute more than one half of
the materials which make up the dry
matter of plants, and. as water, it con
stitutes from three fourths to more than
Tine-tenths of their green weight.
Professor King's Experiments.
The most thorough investigations along
the line of the needs of plants for water
are those which have been conducted by
Prof. F. H. King of the Wisconsin Ex
periment Station, who found that ordi
nary field crops required water for the
production of one pound of dry matter In
the plant as follows;
Water used
No. per pound.
Kind of crop trials. dry matter.
Barley 5 44.1
Oa t s 'JO 5rt3
Corn 52 270 9
Clover 4n
Peas 1 477.2
Potatoes 1 3S5.1
Total 1SS Average. .446.3
This amount of water represents that
which was lost by surface evaporation as
well as that which passes through the
plant. In fact the figures represent field
conditions as nearly as it was possible to
make them.
In order that we may compare the
rainfall conditions during the growing
season In the region where these de
terminations were made with those of the
Willamette Valley, the following table
is submitted:
Willamette Val.
av. for 6 yrs., in.
g tn
I s I
3 3
3 ? :
: :
I ? '
2.04 1.47 3.42
I 1.15 .74 1.47
I .53 . 57 . 23
.SI .$2 .65
1.97 1.85 1.94
6.50 I 5.45 7.76
MONTH.
May
June
Julv
August ...
September
Totals ..
3.31
3.14
2.11
3.0;
2.73
14.35
'Average. ...6. 57 in.
If with an average rainfall, during the
growing season, of more than double
what we have in the Willamette Valley,
irrigation should be found profitable at
Madison, Wis., could we not conclude
that it would be at least equally so in
the humid regions of Western Oregon.
Tabulation of the Results.
Let us see what Professor King found
as a result of his irrigation investiga
tions. KIXD OF CROP.
Potatoes, bushels
Corn, pounds
Cabbage (thinK pounds..
Cabbage (thick), pounds.
Clover, tons
Strawberries, boxes
The amount of water needed for irriga
tion varies within wide limits, being af
fected by the climate, weather, kind of
soil, variety of crop, manner of applica
tion of the water, and by the character
of the cultivation which the field receives
subsequent to irrigation. The amount
needed for a single watering must be de
termined by the quantity of water the
soil contains at the time it is to be irri
gated, and the amount it should contain
in order that plants should work to the
best advantage.
The maximum capacity of upland soils
for water ranges from IS per cent of their
dry weight for the light, sandy types, to
about 30 per cent for the heavy clay va
rieties, while the amounts of water these
soils should contain in order that plants
may thrive in them best is from 12 to 14
per cent for the former, and from IS to 20
per cent for the latter. Since water should
be applied as soon as the water content
of the sandy soil falls to 8 per cent, and
that of clay soils to 14 per cent, it follows
that, under these conditions, a depth of
two inches is the maximum amount which
would be needed to fill the surface foot of
sandy soil, and 2.46 inches is enough to fill
the surface foot of clay soil.
In the work of Professor King, summa
rized in the foregoing table, the usual
rate of application amounted to 2 to 2 45
inches in depth at seven to ten-day inter
vals. All Crops Made Larger.
In other Eastern and Middle Western
States, particularly in New Jersey. Mis
souri and South Dakota, irrigation has
been practiced with very satisfactory re
sults. At the Missouri Experiment Sta
tion in the case of onions the increased
yield due to irrigation was from 25 to 77
per cent, according to varieties. Corn,
even in a year unfavorable to irrigation,
showed a gain of 9 per cent in the yield
of grain and 7 per cent in the yield of
stalks.
In South Dakota, the Investigator con
cludes that in ordinary or extra dry years
the crop is increased two and sometimes
three fold; also that under Irrigation the
crops are always of superior quality, grad
ing No. 1. when untrrigated crops grade
No. 3 or are rejected.
Probably the most noted irrigated humid
region is that of Northern Italy. Elwood
Mead says of this region:
" For the past 50 years Italy has been a
school of irrigation for the rest of the
world. From the tower of the Cathedral
in Milan, where the average rainfall is 40
inches, one looks over a farming district
noted the world over for its fertility and
productiveness. When I first saw it the
blazing July sun beat down upon it, and
the air was hot and dry. yet the fields
were freFh and green as in the Spring.
"Wheat is one of the most important
crops of this district. It had been har
vested; the fields where it had been grown
had been irrigated: other crops had been
planted, and were already growing vig
orously, irrigation making it possible to
grow two crops In the same year, al
though the season is no longer than in
the southern half of the United States."
Bringing the matter nearer home, the
experience and opinions of some prac
tical irrigators in the Willamette Valley
should be of interest. In reply to a letter
of inquiry on the subject, Mr. W. W. Cot
ton, of Portland, answered as follows:
"I have no definite data of any kind on
this subject. For the last wo years I
have done some irrigating on my farm
near Gresham. This was tor vegetables,
celery and alfalfa, and, of course, has been
done on a very small scale, but I have
satisfied myself that the Willamette Val
ley needs two things first, draining in
the Spring: and. second, irrigation in mid
summer. I am satisfied that there are
many sections in Western Oregon where
the production of grass and other crops
needing water in midsummer could be
more than doubled by draining and iri
gation." Nearly Double Yield.
Levi Geer. of London. Or., near Cottage
Grove, writes as follows:
"I have been irrigating for several years,
and while our land will produce good
crops without irrigation my experience is
that it will nearly double the yield of
clover, pasture or garden. I have been
able to produce three crops of clover,
yielding one and one-half to two tons
each per acre, where I could produce only
one. or at most two crops without irriga
tion, and the second crop very light. I
think that irrigation properly used will
nearly, if not quite, double the yield of
potatoes and other garden vegetables and
small fruit."
Robert Gellatly. of Philomath. Or., re
ports that the yield of onions is more than
doubled by irrigation. For 36 years the
Gellatly family has been growing onions
continuously on a tract of dark red clay
loam soil. Beyond an occasional dressing
of barnyard manure, the tract has had no
fertilizer of any kind, yet this year three
fourths of an acre produced 350 bushels
of prime onions, worth from 75 cents to SI
per bushel. .
The onions are planted in drill rows 13
Inches apart, and the water run over the
tract in shallow furrows between alter
nate rows. Irrigation usually begins about
the middle of June, and is continued at
about seven-day intervals until growth is
practically finished. The source of water
supply is a mountain stream, which is led
onto the field by the simplest kind of di
version. The stream supplies during the
irrigating season about six miners' inches,
which is sufficient to irrigate the area in
12 to 14 hours to a depth of about two
inches.
The humid regions of Western Oregon,
the Willamette. Rogue and Umpqua Val
leys have a decided advantage in regard
to irrigation over the humid regions of
the Eastern and Middle West States, in
that they rarely have rain during the sea
son when irrigation would be desirable.
One -of the most serious objections to the
practice in most h,umid regions is that
immediately after the soil has been prop
erly wetted by irrigation, a heavy rainfall
may saturate the ground to such an ex
tent as to render the. irrigation a detri
ment rather than an advantage. It is
rare, indeed, that such a case would hap
pen in Western Oregon.
In the opinion of the writer the follow
ing conclusions are warranted:
First The long season of dry weather
in Western Oregon makes conditions more
favorable for irrigation than in most oth
er humid regions.
Second By irrigation the yield of garden
crops, potatoes, clover, etc., will be near
ly, if not quite doubled.
Third Gophers, the clover root borer
and other vermin will be largely held In
check, if not destroyed, by irrigation.
Fourth The quality as well as the quan
tity of many crops, particularly small
fruits, will be materially improved.
Fifth Pumping from wells and natural
reservoirs may often be resorted to with
profit where a gravity system is not available.
White Salmon Ditch Plan.
HOOD RIVER. Or , Oct 2S (Special.)-
Tield Per Acre.
3
2.
-I-
1596i
1S97
1894
1SS5
1?
1S97i
394.2
374.9
20.705
21.173
20 600
17.009
79.567
11S.37S
290.5
249.6
15.342
5.602
15.579
13.619
73.324
103.7
125.3
S.363
15.571
4.021
3.390
6.243
14.7ivi
17.74 10.75
11.76 7.35
8.15. S.61
4.4?: 26.60
15 02l 12.03
10.66 5.70
17.94
17.94!
I 103.673
1S95'
4.01
1.45
2.56i
4.45i
;iS96!
1S97
11594:
1 1895! I
1.38,1 15.02i
1.95l 10.66i
4.431 2.4SI
6.S67 3.490 I
S.732 j 1.030
3.377 S.lo ..
7.703 4.4S..
A number of prominent farmers at Glen
wood in the White Salmon Valley have
organized a' ditch company and will
endeavor to bring water for irrigating
purposes for the headwaters of the Big
Muddy Creek in the mountains of Yakima
and Klickitat Counties. A survey has
just been completed which takes the line
through the Klickitat Indian reserva
tion and a portion of the forest reserve.
It is the intention of the company to
get the permission of the Government to
use these public lands for the new ditch
and if it is obtained to commence work
on it in the Spring.
PIONEERS 1ST WAKE BP
CROOK COUNTY FAIR OPENS
EXES OF OLD TIMERS.
Miracle Wrought in the Desert by Ir
rigation Under the Carey Act
Now Blossoms as the Rose.
Crook County Journal.
' The Crook County Fair illustrates the
ola adage that "he who laughs last
laughs best." The pioneers who settled
along the water courses of Crook County
located there because of the unlimited
range through the Spring and Fall on
the "arid" desert land- covering three
fourths of the entire county, and the
splendid Summer range on the Cascade
and Blue Mountains, never dreaming that
the day would come when the desert
would be covered) with the fences af set
tlers foolish enough to believe that any
thing except sagebrush and bunchgrass
would grow there.
For 40 years the pioneers' dream was
undisturbed, but the evolution of new
methods and new ideas of farming, born
from manv disastrous failures through
lack of rain when needed, led progressive
farmers to believe that as a business pro
position it was better to put water on
crops when needed than to depend upon
the uncertainties and eccentricities of the
clouds. The tide of emigration which for
300 years has rolled ceaselessly west
ward, will, through the passage of the
national irrigation law and the "Carey
Act," make of Oregon one of the most
populous and wealthy states of the
Union. Is it not time for the pioneers of
Crook County to wake up?
Two years ago when it was noised
around Prineville that a few settlers had
taken up land on the "desert" under the
Carey act. we pitied them for their lack
of judgment and laughed at the thought
of anyone trying to raise a paying crop
among the junipers. About two months
ago we felt a mild jar when we received
the advertisements of a fair to be held
at the 1-year-old town of Redmond on
the "desert."
The story of that fair has already been
told. The surprise of those who visited
it. The amazement at what had been
accomplished In so short a space of time
by these wide-awake, progressive and
prosperous looking farmers who have
moved to Crook County from the New
England states on the east ancl the Wil
lamette Valley on the west. After again
seeing the exhibits of the Redmond coun
try at the Crook County fair just closed,
we do not blame them for exchanging the
comforts of the old home for the incon
veniences and hard work necessary In
carving out a home in a new settlement.
But Crook County offered them an inex
haustibly rich soil wherever water can
be had to irrigate it: more water than
can be diverted for the purpose of irri
gation than In any other county in any
state in the "arid" belt. Crook County
also offers them the finest climate Sum
mer and Winter, year in and year out
on the face of the globe. Cool nights and
sunny days, with the inspiring views of
perpetually snow-clad mountains: add to
this dense pine forests where deer and
other game are found in abundance; with
lakes and streams abounding in speckled
beauties, what more could mortal desire?
GIVEN BETTER FACILITIES.
Hood River Now Ships Apples In
Refrigerator Cars.
HOOD RIVER. Or., Oct.' 2S.( Special.)
Refrigerator cars were taken out over
the Mt. Hood Railroad yesterday, and
for the first time apples are to be
shipped direct to their destination over
the new railroad. At several points
along the road where there are large
orchards the railroad company has built
sidings so that growers can load almost
direct from their orchards. This is
proving a great help to fruit growers on
the east side of the valley as the apple
crop Is so large that they are experienc
ing considerable trouble in getting their
fruit hauled to the railroad by team.
At several places along the road ware
houses have been put up by the Davidson
Fruit company for packing and shipping
of apples and it Is expected that many
cars of fruit will be shipped over the
road from now on until the close of
the season.
Suit the people, because they are tired
of bitter doses, with the pain and griping
that usuany follow. Carter's Little Liver
Pills. One pill a dose.
F
Valley of That Stream Real
Coos Bay Country.-
DISTRICT IS LITTLE KNOWN
Rich Land Snitable for Farming and
Dairying Still Cheap Vast'
Forests of Saw Timber
Yet Untouched.
MTRXLE POINT, Or.. Oct. 28. (Spe
cial.) Much has been said of late, and
written, too, about that part of Coos
County known as the "Coos Bay coun
try." People who have never visited this
CHILE
SL'ni rvnfrifrji I, iiifiViM'" 'mi' iim? in iiTiiMtiiwWi'riiri''iii--:''j
A NORTH BEJTD CABBAGE.
This cabbage was grown in the garden of Mayor Louis J. Simpson
Korth Bend. When spread out the leaves measured four feet from tip to
and the bead Is 15 Inches in diamet.
part of the state are likely to get the im
pression that the Coos Bay country com
prises all of Coos County. Therefore those
who are looking for investment and are
attracted by what they have read about
this region invariably go to Coos Bay and
expect to find there the sum total of the
resources of Coos County, all centered
around Coos Bay.
Coos County is distinctly divided Into
two valleys, separated by a low divide
the Coquille River Valley, drained by the
Coquille River, and the Coos Bay coun
try, including Coos River and many in
lets. These two basins are about 20 miles
apart, and come into the ocean at about
the same distance from each other. The
existence of these two separate basins is
perhaps familiar to most old residents of
Oregon, but the i..ings with which every
one is not familiar are the vastness. the
fertility and the productiveness of the
Coquille Valley as compared with the
Coos Bay basin.
Three tributaries of the Coquille River
the East Fork, the South Fork and the
Middle Fork all unite at Myrtle Point to
form what is known as the Lower River
Valley. The town which has grown up
at the junction of these streams is known
all over Coos County as the most enter
prising, if not the largest, town of this
part of the country. It has the best wa
ter system, the best streets and also has
the only brick buildings in Coos County.
It has several mills, factories, etc., and is
the head of navigation of the Coquille
Rivef.
Immediately below Myrtle Point the val
ley widens to an average of three or four
miles in width. This valley is about 30
miles in length. Standing on the foothills
on one side and looking across the val
ley, one would think that very little of
the great region is in cultivation. The
valley appears densely covered with wil
lows and other underbrush, but by travel
ing up through the valley one can get an
idea of how rapidly the wilderness is
being subdued by the work of man.
Best Dairy Farms Here.
Already the best dairy farms of Coos
County lie in this valley, while the hills
are fast being "set" in grass for grazing
purposes. The value of this land can be
realized only by those who iave become
independently rich from cultivating it-
Although the Coquille River Valley is
separated from the Coos Bay Basin, it is
still tributary to Coos Bay in a commer
cial sense, being connected by the C. B.
& E. Railroad, which terminates at Myrtle
Point. Coos Bay depends largely on the
Coquille Valley for the reputation on
which she is building up her present pros
perity. The Coos Bay apples of wide re
pute are largely grown in the Coquille
Valley. A large percentage of the lum
ber sawed in the Coos Bay mills is cut
from logs shipped from the Coquille. The
country immediately around the bay was
denuded of timber years ago. A great
deal of lumber sawed on the Coquille is
shipped by way of Coos Bay and is cred
ited to that region.
The majority of the population of Coos
Bay is in the Coquille basin. As a result
of all that is said about the resources of
Coos Bay. all newcomers Invest meir
money there without investigating fur
ther. Prices of all kinds of real estate
on the bay are high, while prices on the
Coquille River for the same kind of prop
erty are less than its producing value in
many cases. . Speculators who live on
Coos Bay can see the value of property
on the river, and are Investing there.
Coos Bay Shipping Point.
Coos Bay will always be a shipping
point for this whole region, and will al
ways be prosperous for that reason, but
the real Coos Bay country is the Coquille
Valley. With approximately 100.000 acres
of level valley land and hills covered with
grass, with several well-located and pros
perous towns, with thousands of acres of
almost untouched timber land, and with
the near prospect of being connected with
the outside world by a new railroad, the
great Coquille Valley promises to become
the wealthiest region of Southwestern
Oregon.
WILL RETURN TO YALLE1".
H. A. Somerville Looks Over His
Farm Lands Near Harrisbus.
HARRISBURG. Or., Oct. 2S.i Special )
H. A. Sommerville, of the stock firm of
Brown & Sommerville, in Grant County,
is here looging after his farming inter
ests. He owns 1150 acres of fertile and
well improved farming and grazing lands
between this city and the foot hills.
In an interview he stated that he will
return to this valley with his family
to take up a permanent residence when
ever he can dispose of hia holding in
Eastern Oregon to advantage.
He said, that Mr. Brown and himself
had 2000 cattle on the range, mostly beef
steers, and they had on hand one ton of
hay for each animal, which they con
sidered ample protection, even if a severe
Winter should follow. Mr. Sommerville
is a pioneer of 1S53. alert and progressive.
SUGAR BEET CROP LARGE.
- '
This Will Be Banner Year for La
Grande Sugar Factory.
LA GRANDE, Or., Oct. 28. Special.)
Reports from the beet growers and
the sugar factory sustains the pre
diction made early in the season that
this would be the most successful year
for the beet Industry that the valley
has ever known. The yield is without
exception -prolific and the uniformity
in quality is of special advantage. In
the vicinity of Union the returns are
unquestionably high. L G. Dagon is
harvesting twenty tons an acre from
a field of twenty acres. F. P. Davis,
tin.
who also has a field near Union, will
have practically the same yield from
an equal acreage, while A. A. Bram
well will secure about sixteen tons
to the acre from a field of twenty-one
acres.
These are among the larger yields
from small fields. Among the big
tracts farmed by the sugar company
is the one on what is known as the
John A. Childers place, three and a
half miles east of La Grande. The
output from this farm will run from
2000 to 2500 tons of beets, which the
company figures to be a net value of
$8030.
Not so heavy in tonnage, but highly
satisfactory in returns, are some of
the fields southeast of La Grande on
land that has heretofore been classed
as inferior. Leo Winn has thirteen
acres running well up toward fifteen
tons an acre, and portions of the patch
are going higher than that.
This is on ground that has been in
beets but one previous year, and ex
perience has demonstrated that culti
vation will give?' greatly increased
crops. .
With the exception of the rush work
1n thinning and digging, Mr. Winn has
attended to the field himself and has
had time for other farm work. His
profits, not counting his own work,
will run about $50 per acre. Arthur
Huff, who has had some experience
this year with ' the sandy districts
southeast of town, figures that the
sugar beet is the coming crop for all
that section of the country.
The yield of beets in the cove ex
ceeds all expectations. With such
fine yield and superior quality of beets
the factory will have a long run and
a new record will be established for
the beet sugar industry in Grande
Ronde.
HOOD RIVER LAND BOOM.
Demand for Farm and Fruit Land
Exceeds All Expectations.
HOOD RIVER, Or., Oct. 28. (Spe
cial.) More real estate has been sold
at Hood River during the past few
weeks than ever before in the history
of the valley. Many, however, who
had put a price on their holdings be
fore the price of apples was ascer
tained now refuse to sell, and have
withdrawn their property from the
market. A number who homesteaded
land a few years ago and have only
recently "proved up." have received as
high as $5000 for their places on which
no improvements have been made ex
cept those required by law.
The price of land has advanced at
least 25 per cent, and many here think
that it has not yet reached the top
notch. Not only strangers, but resi
dents who already have considerable
real property, are investing. Some of
them have recently sold, but are now
buying again. Considerable of the land
has been purchased by Portland par
ties. H. E. Kinsman, a Wabash Rail
road official, has just closed a deal for
a 20-acre Hood River ranch for $9000,
and E. L. Smith, who had disposed of
all his holdings of ranch property, has
reinvested in 30 acres.
WALLOWA COUNTY'S BIG FAIR
Exhibits of Fine Stock Prove Partlc
ula ly Attractive.
ENTERPRISE. Or., Oct. 28. (Spe
cial.) That Wallowa County is com
ing to the front in agricultural, fruit
and stock was shown by the exhibits
at the County Fair at Lostine. which
in every way was a revelation. The
attendance was good and the exhibits
excellent, varied and represented every
part of the county. Fine cattle of
several breeds were on exhibition; also
some very good sheep and hogs that
probably have no superior in the state.
The glory of tne livestock exhibit
probably belonged to the horses, of
which there wag a magnificent display.
There were Percherons. Clydesdales,
Shires. Normans. German Coach, run
ners end trotters that are hard to beat
in any country.
The poultry display was extensive
and there were some turkeys, geese,
ducks and chickens of several breeds
that would score high in a poultry con
test anywhere.
The art and fancy work hall was
very prettily decorated, and the col- I
lection of oil paintings, crayon work, J
leather work, rugs, quilts, crochet and
various kinds of fancy needlework
showed that the ladies of Wallowa
County are not lacking in industry,
taste and skill, and are up to date.
Their work was greatly admired by all
who had -Hie privilege of seeing it.
The Blue Mountain Creamery Com
pany had on. exhibition & display of
excellent butter. There also were sev
ral exhibits of home-made butter,
breads, cakes, jellies, preserves,
pickles, etc.
The vegetable and fruit displays
were immense, and proved conclusively
that it is not, as was once thought, only
possible to raise these things on the
lower altitudes of Imnaha. Grand
Ronde. and Snake Rivers. They can
be, and are, raised to perfection In all
parts of the county.
There was a fine quality of grain on
exhibition, and some fine spears of
grass enough to prove to anyone that
Wallowa County is one of the finest
agricultural counties in the Northwest.
There were some spirited races each
day of the fair. The management,
however, aimed to make the fair an
agricultural one. and it proved a suc
cess along that line. The Lostine band
furnished the music. Steps are being
taken now to have the fair every year
and to make it second to none.
VALLEY IS WRONGED.
Willamette Apples Go East Under
Hood River Brand.
, SALEM. Or., Oct. 28 (Special.) That
Willamette Valley apples are not being
sold under a Willamette Valley brand is
one of the handicaps under which Valley
orchardists are now laboring. Because
there are no packers in this part of the
state making a specialty of apples, the
bulk of that fruit grown here will go East
merely as 'Oregon apples." branded as
packed by a Hood River firm, thus for
all practical purposes making them an
advertisement for Hood River. So far
as the commercial world can learn, the
Willamette Valley produces no apples for
shipping. It Is an unfortunate condition
keenly felt by Valley fruitgrowers.
Spltzenberg apples are the choicest va
riety in the markets of the iiast. The
Wallace orchard, near this city, produced
this year about 15,000 boxes of as fine
Spitzenbergs as grow anywhere. The
whole crop of tnis variety in Hood River
Valley amounts to about 25,000 boxes. The
Wallace crop was sold to the iJavidson
Fruit Company, of Hood River, to be
packed and sold by .them, and. though
the apples will not be sold as Hood River
apples, every box will be an advertise
ment for that section, for every consumer
will munch his apple and sing tae praises
of Hood River.
Why should Willamette Valley apples
1 not be packed and sold under a Willam-
commission men. Because the va-lley has
not been producing enough shipping ap
ples of one variety to justify the estab
lishment of packing and cold-storage
houses, was the reply given by H. S. Gile
& Co. and the Capital Commission Com
pany, the only two handlers of fruit in
this city.
The Wallace orchard is the only orchard
in this section that produces more than
a carload of Spitzenbergs for shipment
There are a number of growers wno pro
duce a few hundred bushels of Spitzen
bergs. but me lots are so small that pack
ers could not afford to give their atten
tion to them.
When some of the young orchards set
out in the last few years come into bear
ing and 40 or 50 carloads can be secured,
packing-houses will be established, and
then Willamette Valley apples will be
sent East in boxes with a ..illamette
Vallev brand. Until then Valley growers
must content themselves with lamenting
their short-sightedness In planting a large
number of varieties rather than confining
their attention to one or two varieties
that are sure to find favor with shippers.
Many orchardists proceeded upon the
theory that it would be best to plant a
number of varieties,- so that if one kind
did not bear in an unfavorable season, an
other variety would, and the grower
would be pretty sure of a crop. Many
were influenced by other reasons, but In
the end they have found that, in order to
find a ready market, they must nave
enough fruit of one well-known variety
to enable the shipper to handle it eco
nomically. Without a cold-storage plant and a
packing-house, the Salem fruit handlers
cannot comnete with Hood River buyers.
KThe latter offer higher prices and get the
apples. - When Salem and other ..alley
towns are prepared to handle the fruit.
Valley shippers will be able to outbid buy
ers from other sections, and the fruit will
go out as a Willamette Valley product.
In the meantime, this section is not only
gaining no reputation for its apples, but
is contributing to a very great extent to
the upbuilding of a reputation for another
section.
The excellence of apples grown in this
part of the state was convincingly shown
in this city last Saturday. Harry K.
Spaulding. an enterprising student at Wil
ltntte University, hailing from Sunny-
side, in the Takima Valley, secured a
show window In the John Hughes store
and displayed a splendid collection of
Takima appleB. together with an attract
ive lot of photos and ltterature descrip
tive of his home territory. The nerve of
the Takima boy stunned the Salem apple
growers for a while, but when they re
gained their senses they met his chal
lenge bv securing the opposite window in
the same store and pat in a display of
Willamette Valley apples.
That the two displays are meritorious
is evident from the large crowds that
have stood around the windows most of
the time since. Of course. Salem people
insist that the Willamette Valley ex. i
is superior to that from Yakima. The
Salem apples were grown bj u i.
Revnolds. the Wallace orchard and An
drew Vercler. The Yakima boy at least
made the Salem people sit up and take
notice.
RAINIER SHOWS. PROGRESS
Local Iron Works Enlarged New
Telephone System Installed.
RAINIER. Or.. Oct. 28. (Special.)
Rainier is going some. The Rainier
Iron Works is the latest local company
to expand its business, and has begun
the erection of a brass and iron foun
dry, from which it can turn out the
machinery for equipping sawmills and
factories from bottom to top. The
foundry will add greatly to the Rainier
payroll and will be a great convenience
to this whole section of country.
The independent telephone company
(the Lee, & Stenman Company) will
have its system completed by next
Monday, when all parts of the city will
be connected by that service. Already
75 subscribers have been secured, and
Mr. Stenman says the whole city wants
and will have the new phones as fast
as he and his men can install them.
Portland ar.d other long distances
are already connected.
Call to a Eugene Pastor.
' OREGON CITY. Or.. Oct. 28. (Spe
cial.! The First Congregational
Church "f this city this morning ex
tended to Rev. C. E. Oakley, pastor of
the First Congregational Church at
Eugene, a unanimous call to the pas
torate of the Oregon City Church.
BLASTING
DRIVES
y THE FISH
Few Eggs Taken .for Hatch
eries on White Salmon
This Year.
INROADS OF CIVILIZATION
Royal Chinook Deserting Oregon
Rivers Obstructed by Dams and
Polluted by Factories Ha
Scorns to Use- Ladders.
HOOD RIVER, Or.. Oct. 2?. (Special.)
Employes of the Government fish station
on the Clackamas River, who have been
taking salmon eggs at the mouth of the
White Salmon River, have completed their
work for this season and report that the
number of eggs secured this year is the
smallest since the work of endeavoring
to preserve the salmon in the Columbia
River was taken up. Altogether hut
5.000.000 eggs were taken this year as
against 1S.OOO.O, last year. The worle
commenced September 13 and was stopped
about the middle of October.
The work of securing the eggs Is done
by experienced men. They claim that
the great industrial development that la
going on in Oregon will ruin the salmon
fishing in a few years if something is not
done to preserve the fish, other than
building fish ladders to aid them ia
ascending dams.
J. R. Wisner, superintendent of th
United States Fish Commission's stations
in Oregon, calls attention to the fact that
the Rogue River, formerly one of the
greatest spawning grounds for salmon in
the state, last year yielded but 200.0H0
eggs, where it once produced millions, and
this year practically no spawning at all
was done there. This, he says, is due to
the many industries which have com
menced operation along the river and the
dams which have been built across it.
The law provides that where damg are
built fish ladders shall be erected, but old
fishermen say that the fish do not take
Windly to the. ladders and beat themselves
to death trying to jump over the dams.
Fishing Should Be Restricted.
H. G. Van Dusen, State Fish Warfen,
who recently made a tour of inspection
along the Columbia and its tributary
streams, is of the opinion that the fish
wheels and the seining ought to be regu
lated in some way so that only a certain
number of fish would be taken each sea
son, giving more of them an opportunity
to get into the smaller streams.
The eggs taken at this season of the
year are those of the Chinook, considered
by fishermen the king of all salmon. An
oid fisherman who has fished in Oregon
waters for many years and who has been
with the outfit at the White Salmon,
when asked why there were so few fish
in that river this year replied:
"One of the reasons why we got so
few eggs this season Is because there has
been so much blasting going on along the
North Bank road. It scares the fish away
from the shore and keeps them out in
the channel. With the railroad men blast
ing every few minutes on both sides of
the mouth of the river the fish are fright
ened away. Last year we took so many
salmon here some days that we had to
let them out of the net before we could
haul it in, but this year we had no such
difficulty.
"With the coming of the railroad and
the development of the water power in
the White Salmon River one of the last
great spawning grounds for salmon along
th Columbia River will be destroyed.
Formerly it was one of the greatest fish
ing grounds along the river for Indians,
who come here even now during tha
spawning season to get the fish we taka
the eggs from, and It has been the most
productive place in the state for salmon
eggs.
Return, to Birthplace.
"A peculiar thing, about the salmon
is that it always comes back to spawn
where it was hatched and after spawning
dies. Where they are stopped by dama
they will stop with their heads up stream,
trying to find a place to deposit their
eggs, until they die, battered and scarred,
by their continual struggles. A big Chi
nook salmon will dig a hole in the mud
or sand from two to three feet deep, try
tng to find a place to spawn.
"As they die anyhow the Government
takes this method of getting the eggs and
hatching them out for distribution in the
various streams of the state. In this way
many more come to maturity than if they
were allowed to deposit their eggs In
the streams where they become a prey;
to salmon trout and other small fish."
The eggs are taken to the hatchery
about a mile below the White Salmon
River, where after about 60 days they
hatch. The fry are kept five or six weeks
longer before being placed in tanks and,
shipped to points where they are released,
BIG TIMBER DEAL IS ON.
Rogue River Timber and Mining
Company to Sell Holdings.
GOLD HILL, Or., Oct. 28. (Special.)!
The four thousand-acre timber tract
situated at the head of Foot s Creek,
owned by the Rogue River Lumber &
Mining Co., is now being cruised in
the interests of Idaho and Ashland,
Or., capitalists, with a view to pur
chase. Tne sale of this property to
practical lumbermen would mean
much to Gold Hill and vicinity, as
it would involve a large expenditure
of money, not only in the initial cost
of the property, but in building of a.
logging road to connect with the S. P.
Railroad at the mouth of Foot's Creek
by a bridge across Rogue River. It
would also mean the installation of a
large mill at an early date.
J. W. Opp, who is operating the
Braden mine,, one and one-half miles
south of Gold Hill, reports very good
success with his new mill, erected this
past Summer. He is now employing
a force of some sixteen men and run-
ning his mill but one shift, owing to.
scarcity of water.
This is a new. up-to-date ten-stamp
mill, run by electric power. He la
using two Johnson concentrators to
each battery of stamps, with very
good success. This force of men will
be increased as fast as good miners
can be procured.
Owing to the increased activity in
mining in Southern Oregon, it Is vers;
difficult to secure good miners.
BCSIXESS ITEMS.
If Babr I" Cnttlne Teetb
Be oar and use th&t old aod well-tried rem
edy. Mr. wtnslow'e Soothing Syrup, for chil
dren trethlng. It soothes the child, aoftena
the fams. ailays' all pala. cures wlaa colls,
and clarraoea.
II