Letter tfm Mr. 1 lHUyMM.
K, IiEiWTn: I see in the
last issue of the nKGIKTKB ft com
munkstiun from brother Newsom,
ofMarion coHfnty, to which I shall
reply briefly. I am' very sorry to
know that brother Newsom is of
fended because I took notice of his
chanter of items. I had no inten
tion whatever to be sarcastic or
ironical, or bitterly severe. I think
if friend Newsom will read mv letter
again, he will come to a very differ
eiit conclusion." 1 was very well
pleased with -Mr. .Ncwsom's chap
terof items, until I came to drain
ing, where ho advises the farmers
of Linn to sell one-half of tlreir land
and use oi.c-tiaf of the proceeds to
draining thoroughly, and the other
half toward) substantial improve
ments. Now here I thought that
friend Newsom was not aware of
the cost of under-draining in Ore
gon. Now, I simply asked Mr. New
som it he ever had done mtich drain
mg in Oregon, or if he' Imd ever
counted ttevoft of draining one
acre of laud. Now, 1 think friend
Newsom ought not to have got of
fended at such a question as this.
Mr. N. says that I wanted him to
toll me how ditching ought to be
done, and if he knew ever so well,
he should not impart that informa
tion under caricature. Well, I am
naturally a caricaturist, and I would
be willing to imparl any information
desired on ditching or under-draining
to any one who wanted inform
ation. l!ut, friend Xewsom, I have
never asked of yon any information,
neither how ditching nor under
draining ought to be done. 1 have
been taught tlrt thoroughly, from
a child up. I have seen all sovts ot
ditching and all sorts of under
draining done to perfection.
Now, friend Newsom, I want
you to come back again to Limb
county, and see us, aud stroll about
just as much as you please ; and
come and see me, also. I will make
you very welcome, and what you
don't know about ditching and
under-draining I will tell you. Yo't
have always spoken in glowing
terms of Linn county, of our leautiful
land, of our central location, of our
enterprising people, of our morals
and religion, of our educational aud
manufacturing enterprises, and
when you have said so, you have
only told the truth, fin- we are a
mighty people, and old Linn is a
great country.
JAMES ITNLAYSON.
F.wUa of the l'rei Mixl .- of Astntn
inent. The Governor of Minnesota, in
his message to the Legislature of
that State, made mention of an evil
in the system of assessing prop
erty there, which corresiouds ex
actly with an evil which exists in
Oregon. He showed that, to be
gin with, the prevailing standards
of valuation arc absurdly and uni
versally false, and criminally viola
tive of the requirements of the law.
lu every town and county the ap
praisement of property by the As
sessors tor purpose of taxation is but
a fraction, as regards the aggregate
return, of the real value, probably
not averaging one-third of the real
value. Mote than that the
standard of valuation is different in
different counties, each one doing its
best, because every other does its
best, to lower its aggregate valua
tion in order to escajie a ortion of
the State tax. The result is a con
stant tendency to a reduced valua
tion aud general inequalities as be
tween counties upon which there
is no check at all adequate to the
correction jf the evil.
The essential vice of the system
of assessing property in Oregon
could not be moro clearly stated
than in the above presentation. We
have done our best to urge upon
the Legislature during its last two
sessions the nccsssity of providing a
remedy. Hut in the heat of party
legislation the matter has been neg
lected., We shall still urge it,and
we trust that a Legislature may lie
chosen this year which will give the
subject due attention. There is no
subject which more urgently re
quires it. Oregon ian.
An exchange says that ten mill
wii (Wi corseto were imported into
the United States last year. This
is only ;t,bffe cents apiece for
every man, woman and child in the
.tmr men and
chUdren, aboutfen 'forcYbWAjOfltf
cau woman.
Tlie barber, 1 loppy, who com
mitted the rape on the little girl in
Portland last week, is coming the
insane dodge.
Rev. 11. K. I lines intends to
write the life of Rev. Jason Lee, the
pioneer missionary, and appals to
everybody having material tbrsueh
a work to forward it to him at
Walla Walla, W. T.
Mr. W. Pope and ife, ot Oiegou
City, celebrated their wooden wed
ding last week.
The Multnomah Medical Society
numbers twelve members.
Klamath Lake couutry has had
a very miM winter, and stock has
fared well.
Coos Hay denizens arc agitating
the project of, building a railroad
from San Francisco via the Hay to
tlie Columbia river.
Ilcnry Kiinpel, of Jackson county,
is repirtcd as one o numerous
Democratic aspirants for Congress.
Douglas county has a Democrat
who aspires to Congressional hon
ors. Religious services were still be
ing held . in the Metlibdist and
Kvangelical churches in Salem last
week.
James Ilurd, of Jacksonville, has
sent to the patent office a model ot
a railroad brake. The invention is
to be attached to the old brakes,
and is applied by drawing a cord
which runs through the entire train.
1 hiring a dispute at Florea, Utah,
on the 13th, George Williams drew
a pistol and shot J. Cunnington in
the head. Cunnington' returned
the fire, hitting Williams in the
breast, killing him instantly.
The Japanese Kmbassy prefer re
maining at Salt Lake until the
blockade opens, rather, than return
and go by steamer.
Ckvk county, W. T.,owes $26,-
000, which is more than the debt of
the Territory.
Gen. Ilalleck's will appoints his
wife executrix and guardian of their
son. 1 le desires his mother shall
have free use of his old homestead
in Oneida county, X. Y., during
her life, and be paid $5,000 from
his estate. All else goes to the
widow and son.
Egbert Millikin, toll-gate keeper
near San Francisco, took strychnine
as an antidote for whisky, but the
prompt application of remedies saved
his life.
Most of the woolen mills of Cal
ifornia are running on full time,aud
their fabrics find a ready sale.
" A four-cornered square box
standing on a three-legged tripod
which always ioints to the north,"
was the definition of a mariner's
compass, given by a student in
mathematics at Willamette Univer
sity, not long since.
A revenue vessel will be con
structed for Puget Sound at an
early day.
Snow about Idaho City is from
four to live feet deep.
Delegate Claggett, of Montana,
is carrying out the spirit of the civil
service reform, in submitting the
recommendations of candidates for
the vacant cadelship at West Point
to a committee of gentlemen of his
7erritory.
An Olympia paper says that Se
attle is making rapid strides in the
direction of progression.
An alien law has been passed by
tlie Montana Legislature, which
provides that "no alien shall be al
lowed to acquire any title, interest
or tossossory, or other right to any
placer mine or claim, orto the prof
its of the proceeds thereof, in this
Territory." It permits aliens to
hold and work claims after declar
ing their intentions to Ixscome citi
zens of the I'nited States. The
law docs not effect any alien inter
est acquired before its passage.
The blockade was broken on the
HUh, and trains were moving for
their destinations.
Tlie Union Pncilie Railroad has
expended $20,000 per day in trying
to open tlie road.
"Cotton-seed whisky" is the very
latest name for it
The time tor planting shade
trees "have arroven."
The city council of Portland has
voted $500 for tlie Portland Library.
W. C. Meyer has returned from
the Fast to Jackson comity with a
lot of fine stock.
Mr. if. S. Hart, contractor, has
absquatulated from Portland, carry
ing away some $6,000, which ought
to have lieen paid to his creditors.
A nice young man in Eugene
City is to receive a watch from a
lady at the expiration of oiie year's
total altstincnce from the use of
toliacco. A watch valued from
WOO to $500 wiJL engage the en
tire force ot the Guard office to
take a similar pledge.
The news of tlie ojicnitig of the
Union Pacific rtfrfroad caused -much
rejoicing in San Francisco.
Orders have been received to pift
the Northern Pacific railroad
through from Kalama toOlympia
by the first of November next
Maurice Graves was arrested in
Eugene and. taken to Salem, for
forgery.
Abraham Land was arrested in
Eugene on a charge of forgery, says
the Guard, ai d bound over in the
sum of $500, in default of which
he went to jail.
Eggs are thirty cents per dozen
at Eugene City., t
A four horse load of potatoes
went off last week at Corvallis.like
"hot cakes," at $1 75 per bushel,
says the Gazette.
Two births iA Kalama last week.
The Common Council talk of or
ganizing another) ward. .
The following new Post-offices
have been recently established :
Klaskamine, Columbia county ;
Fair Grounds, Marion county ;
Norton, Clackamas county ; Sum
mer House, Clatsop county ; Isth
mus, Coos county ; Hot Springs,
Jackson county ; Langell Yalley,
Jackson county ; Linkville, Jack
son county; Yauax, Jackson coun
ty ; Cornelius, Washington county;
Woodbnrn, Marion county.
Salem shipped seventy tons of
rlour to Portland last week. '
The roll of the Oregon Pioneers
at Astoria now contains one hun
dred names.
The Democrats are rexrted as
boarding eight men at Wheatland
to reduce the Republican majority
at the next election.
In the skating rink at Spring
field, Willie Pengra and Johnnie
Kelly, in a scuffle resulting from a
quarrel, both tumbled out of tlie
second story window to the ground,
breaking an arm or so.
The Eugene Journal anticipates
the establishment of a bank in that
city bearing the "Scriptural name,"
Faro.
Quite a number of Democrats in
Lane county are seeking the nomi
nation for clerk. All the rest want
to be Sheriff.
The finances ot Eugene are look
ing up, as the tines for drunks, etc,
are coming in lively.
They think of starting a grave
yard at Kalama, so soon as some
body dies. r
Tlie assessment ot Washington
Territory will not . fall below $14,
000,000, and four mills on that
amount will give ,$59,000 as the
tax fortius year.
Pembina, instead of Ojibway, is
to be the name of the new Territory.
$100 per ton has been offered for
hay at Vancouver, and can't get it
at that, says the Register,
The public school has been closed
atXanaimd, R C, and three bun
dred children have been left to
street education.
It is in contemplation to estab
lish a line of vessels between San
Francisco and Seattle to accommo
date the merchants in the matter
of sure freight, at lower rates than
has beeu heretofore the case.
The Sacramento Union com
pares the growth ot California with
that of Kansas, and shows that the
latter has largely distanced the
former, owing to its greater accessi-
bility from Atlantic States.
Oregon City is to liave a fire
Department election next Monday.
It is reported that one hundred
and forty-two arrests were made in
Portland during last January,
within eight of tlie number made
in San Francisco during the same
period. -
John Bryon of San Francisco has
sued the Omnibus Railway Com
pany) for $50,000 damages for kil
ling 'his SQU.
Peter Quick and wife sues S. J,
Chadburii for $25,000 for injuries
received by Mrs. Quick ly being
run oH er by defendant's wagon. AH
of San Francisco.
Tlie mills at Corvallishave lost
some logs and lumber by the pres
ent freshet.
J. M. Murphy, late local reporter
ori the Portland Hwahl, was tried
lost Monday in the Circuit Court
on the charge of assault witb a
dangerous weapon, ami was ac
quitted, the jury being out bnt a
few minutes, says Omjonian.
William Pickett, at one time
editor Of the Commercial in Port
land, has been elected Recorder of
lama."v,
MwMana' contains 23,000,000
acuwof agricultural lauds, 12,000,
000 of timljcr lands aud 79,000,000
acres of grazing lands.
But few cattle have died in Mon
tana. At least ten thousand cattle and
horses have died in Wyoming in
the Vicinity of Laramie.
The total rain fall for the season
at Sftn Francisco has been nearly
twenty-nine inches.
Carrie Stanley of San Francisco,
a beautiful and well educated wom
an, who left her husband and went
on 'he town three years since, drop
ped dead upon a street of- that
city recently from the effects of
poisoned whisky.
One of the mow bounders named
Danoughs, who is said to have left
New York a jwwerful man in fiill
health, was so worn down and ex
hausted when the train arrived at
San Francisco on the 19th, that it
was found necessary to cany him to
the Lick House in men's aims. lie
appears to be in the last stages of
consumption.
The Roseburg I'laindealer says
that ou the morning of the 12th,
tlie house of J. C. Scraggs on Sugar
Pine mountain, was destroyed by
fire;' 'Uss $400, including $145 in
greenbacks.
Also, Mr. J. D. Bowen, of
Roseburg, on the 10th, was knock
ed down and partially stunned by
a ctyb in the hands of a man who
intended to rob him. His cries for
help, brought assistance before the
robbery was accomplished, and the
thief fled.
There were ten cases of small
pox at Eureka, Nevada, on the
8th. '
Eight inches more rain has fal
len this season in San Francisco
than in Sacramento.
The Santa Cruz mountains are
full of land slides, many of them of
vast dimensions.
There are 120 pupils in the Cali
fornia State Normal School.
Sail Francisco exported 95,354
bull, of Hour to China last year, tlie
largest quantity sent to any port.
At Virgiuia City on the 5th inst.,
a man, named Williams commit
ted an outrage upon a little girl five
yea?8qfage. Her injuries were such
as to imperil her life. The inhuman
wretch was arrested.
The Sa Francisco Chron'wk has
comd opt victorious in fourteen li
bel snta.
aau Joao, Cal., had a beet on the
5th 'inst. weighing 170 pounds.
Only forty-seven marriages occur-
red in San Luis Obispo, Cal., last
year. - ,
Tlie Nevada Ice Company has
stored ten thousand tons of that
cooling commodity.
Ore from the Silver ledges of the
Vipond district, Montana, are said
to assay $200 per ton.
Joaquin Miller lectured in San
Francisco on the 7th. His subject
was "Literary London." The
Chronicle pronounces it the best
lecture of the season.
. Almond trees are being exten
sively pouted in Oakland, Cal.
tlferruigJiave been caught in Salt
Recently a Miss Alfred Daltou
of Beuicia, Cal., committed suicide
by taking strychnine. Previous to
committing the rash act, she cleaned
up her house and put it in perfect
order, then dressed herself iu clean,
nice apparel, and laid down on tlie !
bed in pror shape for burial. She j
then took the poison ami died. Her j
funeral took ulace on Friday. She
leaves a husband ami six children.
The cause of her self-destruction is
not known.
The Los Angles Star hoists the
namq of General W infield S. Han
cock for the Presidency.
A Carson family were recently
afflicted with hog.pox a variety of
small-pox imported from Germany.
Salt Lake City is to have a new
daily paper.
How thk. Bovs Snowballed
Alexis, Tlie St. Louis Democrat
says : Tlie mind of tlie average
American gamin is largely demo
cratic. It is no respecter of persons.
All day long a crowd of street boys
had lieen having high old sport at
Twelfth ad Pine streets in shying
snowballs at passers-by. They pro
longed tlie tun much to tlieiudigna
tiou of tlie possessors of the glitter
ing targets ofsilk hats, and the vex
ation of the souls of patient police
men, all through the afternoon.
When Alexis came he was instant
ly recognized. With a shout of
yells, "There's the Juke !" "Give
it to the son of a Czar," the mitrail
leuse ot snowballs was discharged,
and royalty ducked beneath the de
scending missels. Ducking, how
ever, availed not, and Olsonfieitf
alono iu the party successfully ran
the battery. Alexis teigned a smile
when the cold snow sifted down bis
neck, and piously responded to
Tndeer's hurried quotation from the
Greco-Russian prayer-book.
Those Sxpcmxos. The time
was when all the stockings worn
were knit by hand, by ladies of
both high and low degree. Our
mothers and grandmothers never
thought of calling on a neighbor
for an afternoon chat without Uk -
ins their knitting work along : and
every otherwise unoccupied hour i
the nngers would piy ine giiucrtng i
steel. We enn remember how we
had to wait for tlie gratification of i
every childish want till mother got
around with the "scam needle:
how with specs over her nose, she
would sit by the fireside ot an even
ing and read aloud, stopping now
and then to see to "widen" or "nar
row," or count the stitches, with
the wliole family gathered about
her. And mother kept all those
many feet warm, and kn't the most
raagirificent striped blue and white
mittens, and initials on and a fringe
arouud the wrist, that we have
ever seen, or ever expect to see.
The Lake Shore and Michigan
Shore and Michigan Southern Rail
way Company have commenced
work of planting trees along the
tracks on their road li,W) chest
nut and 10,000 European larches
have been planted along its line
between White Pigeon and Toledo,
through the country where.the for
ests liave been mostly eleared away
and the supply of timber is scan
tiest. The work was most excel
lently done, with the intention that
every tree might live, and the cost,
including the time of laborers, who
belong to the regular force of the
road, and did this work in connec
tion with and in addition to their
ordinary duties, at an average of
eight cents per tree; excluding tho
cost of tlie company's employes, the
cost was tour cents per tree.
Packing Salmon. When the
salmon are brought to the lisliery
they are piled up on long tables,
projecting over tlie water. Here
stands Chinamen, two at each ta
ble, armed with long, sharp knives,
who, with great celerity aud skill,
disembowel and behead the fresh
arrivals, pushing the offal over the
brink into tlie river at the same
time. After cleaning, the fish are
thrown into brine vats, where they
remain from one to two days to un
dergo the necessary shrinkage,
which is nearly one-half. They are
then taken out, washed thoroughly,
aud packed down in barrels, with
the proper quality of salt. That
they may keep perfectly well, it is
necessary to heap them up in bar
rels, and force them down with a
screwpress.
A Xew York dispatch says Mr
Comer, Colonel Fisk's private Sec
retary, is administrator of Fisk's es
tate. On Friday he went to the
Grand Central Hotel, and demand
ed the personal property taken from
the Colonel's person after the shoot
ing. "''The property includes Fisk's
immense diamond pin, his Siamond
sleeve -buttons, lu diamond ling,
and $1,500 in bank dotes, Instead
of giving up the property, the ;bro-
!ii V,AT . - V:ll
jyci jmviiwu a Dill
altowine Colonel Fisk
ta die it? his house,
bR GOODS.
t..ninla. H.K.Yowff. J.Bamws.
BLAIN,
YOUNG
& CO.,
Wholesale and Retail
DEALERS IN
DUY GpODS.
! .
nnc,nTpc
wAIIUliiAlJua
HARDWARE,
BOOTS, SHOES, ETC.
Agents for All Kinds of
AGRICUTURAL IMPLEMENTS
SE WIXG MA CHINES;
And the
Celebrated Bain Wagon
BLAIN,
YOUNG
&CO.,
FIRE-PROOF BRICK,
First Street,
ALBANY, ORECOIT..
!&1
i1.J.S'.V'" " '