(fcMIts Incite.
COKVALLIS, OR., JUNE 7, 1889.
KEEP A LOOKOUT
rockets to e 8cnt up from the top
of mary's peak to-night.
Yesterday afternoon a party of
Corvallig people consisting ot
ttobt. Johnson, Ed. B. Bier, John
son Porter, and others started on a
trip to Mary's Peak, which is about
sixteen miles from here. They
expect to reach the top of that
"lump" of dirt sometime to day
and remain until Sunday, and to
night about 9 o'clock they will
build a large bonfire on the sum
.init and want the people of Cor
vallis to keep a lookout for it.
Mr. Johnson and a representative
of the Gazette have agreed to do
some rocket shooting, providing
the weather is clear; that is the
former, will, if he can climb to
the top with the rest of the gang
fire off a rocket straight up in the
air, and the latter will stand near
the gate at : the east entrance to
the agricultural college grouhds,and
if he sees it will send a rocket up
in answer, then if this can be' seen
at the peak another will be
sent up by Johnson, bearing eith
er to the north or south, showing
that the Gazette rocket has been
seen there
NOTES.
Ed. Greffoz Will join the boys
- to-day, and will take along with
him some "red fire" to illuminate
the neak at the hour above men-
x-
tioned.
Bob Johnson has agreed to keep
his mouth closed so all can see
the light.
Ed. Bier took a bottle of (cam-
phor)along with which to resusci
tate Johnson in case be was
fatigued by getting his No. 10s up
the side of the peak.
The bovs sav thev will sing a
melody while the rockets are go
ing off, and let every one listen tor
the musical 'strain."
. A Pleasant Surprise The nice
pleasant home of Mr. Hitchens on the
north-west corner of.VanBuren arid
Fifth street was the scene of a Very
pninvahle sururise party in honof of
Miss Carl Hitchens on last Friday
evening. A party of Albanyites coh
sisting ot Jas. F. Powell, Miss Maud
Van Horn, T; J, Overryan, Miss Vesta
Mason, Ed. Cusick, Miss Jennie
Hollenbeck, M E. Brink, Miss Linda
Miller, M. O. Brink, Miss Grace Cuflj
L. Kenton, Miss May Mills, D. C
Woodworth, Miss Flora Mason, O. H.
Keeuey, Miss Minnie Parker, Chas.
Hart Miss Roe Trumbull, C. A. Bald
win and Miss Augusta Bridgeford,
. j
came up in private conveyances anu
before repairing to the house were
ninml hv a number of the young pe and delivery of diplomas, followed by
. ... l-. - J J - .1. 1 . . K., T ii 1 rrl
pie of Corvallis. At the appointea in auuieas io mc smuu vj
time the whole number "went in and
to say that a grand good social time
Institutes. A writer in the Farm
ers' Friend, speaking of farmers' in
titiites says: "Many of the old states
of the union are holding what are
called farmers' institutes, where the
farmers meet, under a competent in
Btructor, for the purpose of discussing
all questions which relate to agricul
tare and its kindred branches. From
what we have been nble to gather
from reports of these institutes in the
agricultural papers they are of pract;
cal utility, an 1 lasting benefit to those
farmers who are enterprising enough to
attend them. In most of the stales
they are supported by state appropria
tion.' The state agricultural colk
. of this city has held a series of four, of
these institutes during this schoo
year, one at Corvallis, one at Sulem, at
Hillsboro. and at Rosebure, and each
one was quie well attended, and they
have been the means of promotin,
and accomplishing great good.
MaUjnaxt Gleet. This dread
ful disease has broken out m a num
ber of places in the state to an alarm
ing extent and up to the present time
the Oregon Domestic Animal convert
tion have ordered thirteen animals
killed. The disease has broken out
in Marion, Washington, Polk, Umatil
la. Wasco and Multnomah counties
and . several other counties yet
to be heard from, savs the . Salem
Statesman. The disease is- contagious
and farmers and owners of stock should
use all precaution possible, to prevent
the spread of this animal destroyer.
A cuiious fact in the matter is that the
heaviest horses are more subject to
this malady than lighter ones.
Oh, Cork. Salem is ahead of the
state for big strawberries. None has
been found larger than one shown at
thev Journal office; measuring 9 inches
around the waist. Capital Journal
of J une 3rd. Now, come off. Ben
ton county has furnished several that
have measured oyer eleven inches
around the belt.
COMMENCEMENT WEEKS.
AT THE AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE AND THE
PHILOMATH COLLEGE.
The commencement exercises of th
state agricultural college of Oregon,
situated in Corvallis, are as follows:
Sunday, June 23rd, 11 a. m., Bacca.
laureatte sermon by Rev. D.- E. Loye
ridge of 'Eugene City. -
Monday, June 24th, 7:45 r en
tertainment by the Adelphian literary
society.
Tuesday, Jane 25th, meeting of the
board of regentSi
Wednesday, June, 28th, commence
ment day; at 9:30 a m, delivery of
orations and essays by the graduating
class: 2 n nit, conferring of degrees
L L. .McArthur, of Portland. At
4d. m.. the com Pith v drilL At 8
College TeaaI RuNAWAY.-The
new te&mof boises,purchascd lately by
the board of the agricultural college for
use on the farm of that institution, on
1 Wednesday were hitched to a new
mowing machine, and with Charlie
Horning as driver, were put tofwork
cutting hay on the Arnold 5-acre tract
just west of the College building. Mr.
Horning had occasion to stop for some
thing during the afternoon and hardly
had he done so when the team became
frightened and started at a break-neck
speed across the field. They ran into
the fence near the residence of Sol
King, and one pf them wa badly Cnt
on tne snomaer. ine uiowpr was
scattered irt every direction and is a
complete wreck. This is the second
time these animals hve done this kind
of business, and more care should be
takeu in handling them in the future.
was enjoyed is putting it in Very mild
words. Social intercourse, vocal and
instrumental music, aud earnes were
prevalent during the evening, followed
by elegant refreshments. At a late
hour it was announced that it was
time that all "little" Albany people
should be at home and Soon they v ere
on their way. The evening whs
beautifully lighted by proud Luna and
it made the ride both coming and
going a very pleasant one. Mins
Hitchens is one of Corvallis charming
young ladies and the compliment paid
her by her Albany friends was an ex
cellent and deserving one.
State Grange. At a meeting of
the State gtange, held iu bulenr last
week, resolution was passed favoring
the Australian s system ef voting, and
resolutions relative to a change in the
law in regard to exemptions of proper
ty, regard the election of United States
senators, and salary of the lecturer
were considered and referred. The
subject of assesment and taxation was
also discussed and referred to the sub
ordinate grangfs. A resolution ask-
one or more women be ap
pointed upon the board of regents of
the agricultural college in Corvallis,
was adopted. The committee on ag
ricultiiral college, recommending the
change in the law so that a majority of
the regents must be practical farmers,
and that the curriculum of studies
which will SDeciallv aid the work of
- - i -
agriculture nd practical mechanics.
will
A DESCRIPTIVE ARTICIX
For a number of weeks past quite a
number of eistern letters of inyiery
concerning the core of the valley, Cor
vallis and Benton county, has been
received by the publishers of the Ga
zette, and in each one the writer has
asked for a ''specimen copy of your
paper as we have a party to go to the
coast, and we want to know some
thing about your country, or l am
thinking of going out that way to lo
cate and want to knew about your
city." In order to give them all the
information possible, the following ar
tide, taken from the May number of
the West Shore, is here re-printed:
CORVALLIS AND BENTON- COOWTT.
p. m.,jreunion of the alumni.
The examinations vi' take place
in the week previous to commence
ment.
Students now drill, at 8 o'clock
every nurmns instead oi at 4 p. m.
on account of the warm weather.
The commencement exercises
occur in the college assembly hall.
The graduating class for the year
1889 is as follows: Misses Bertha
Davis, Clara and Mollie Fisjier, Claia
Irvine, Emma Kittrage and Emma
Weber; John C. Applewhite, Harry
Arnold, A. S. Additon, Clarence Avery,
John and . Robert Buchanan, Thos.
Jones, Jesse Wilkins, E E. Wilson, of
Benton county, and B. S. Martin of
Linn county.
PHILOMATH COLLEGE.
The examination in this college be
ginning on June 13th. Biccabiureatte
seimon will be preached on Sunday
morning, June 16th, by Bishop
Becker, the annual sermon at 8 p. n
by Rev. E. J. Thompson, of Cor-
the evening of June
the society anniversary,
meeting of trustees on
Tuesday, June 18th. Commencement
exercises will take place in the college
chapel on the afternoon of Wednesday,
June 19th; and in the evening of that
day the annufl entertainment will occur.
Correct. Late discoveries of gold
and silver mines have been made in
L no county; gold and natural gas
have been found in Linn: coal and
gold in Marion, while in Benton coun
ty, gold has been discovered, ana a
romoanv has been organized in Cor-
lt w
vallis to prospect for col and natural
gas. The future of this section of Ore
gon brightens as our natural resources
are developed. Undoubtedly the hills
and mountains on either side of the
Willamatte valley are rich in mineral.
Astoria Pioneer.
A Boom Excursion. Last week
there was an excursion from Portland
on the east side to Grant s Pass to
auction off some lots in that city. In
referring to the matter the Roseburg
Herald says in the following words:
"A large crowd of our citiaens were at
the depot to take a look at the first
boom excursion inaugurated in Oregon,
and there were expressions of sympathy
for those who should be unfortunate
pnnnnrh to invest in the granite soil
t's Pass and vicinity at the
town lot auction to be held Saturday.
Too many of them will be left to ex
claim: "The flowers come back when the sun
shines hot. I .
And slimmer all over the lea.
. But the money I mink in a Grant Pass lot
Will never eouie back to me."
vallis. In
17th occurs
The annual
HELP THE SUFFERING.
A Kiln. It is expected that to
morrow Mr. Wilson will fire a kiln con
taining 200,000 brick, which he-, has
had workmen busy making for the
past week or two. This will be
enough to construct the new bricks of
L. G. Kline and Napoleon Avery,
which will be erected this summers
Invited. Henry Villard. has. been
invited to deliver the address before
the state university at Eugene during
commencement week. He is now in
. New York, and has. sent, a telegram
stating that he will be in Portland on
June 17, and if possible will be pres
ent and deliver the address..
Bonds Ready. The Wonds for the
erection of the now school house in this
city and District No. 9, authorized to
be issued at the last annual meeting,
ri now readv to be placed on the
market From $12,000 to $20,000
will be offered for sale. The principal
to extend fifteen or twenty years, and
$1,000 of the principal with the inter
est to be paid yearly. The market
valuation of the property of the dis
trict is 1.500.000 and the assessed
value $700,000, while 2,000 is about
the population.
Probably Crazy. The attention
of the officials of Benton county is
called to the following: Yesterday af
ternoon at a little landing opposite the
Red Crown mills a man entirely nude,
accompanied by a woman, spent an
hour sittms on the bank, in full view
ofthecityon this side, presenting
very demoral ized spectacle for those
who witnessed the sight. It is to be
regretted that Albany ha3 no authority
over the Benton county side of the
river at this city. Democrat, June 4.
To Portland. A subscription pa-
per was circulated m tins city on
Wednesday forenoon to raise money
for the purpose of sending Mr.. Green,
who was rendered blind by a switch
striking him, in the eyes while grubbing,
to Portland for medical treatment A
large sum was quickly subscribed by
the citizens here.
On Wednesday last, June 5th, a
subscription per was opened by the
Corvallis Gazette to receive any
and all sums that any one may wish to
give toward helping the homeless,
destitute and suffering people in the
stricken districts of Pennsylvania
The publishers will take charge of
acknowledge, and forward all sums that
are sent in. This terrible calamity is
one of which the whole' United States
should respond to by aiding in furnish
ing relief. Come now, all of you, put
down your names with 50 cents or a dol
lar. The following persons have sub
scribed the amounts set opposite their
names up to this morning: .
Vorvallis, Or., June 5, 1839.
We, the undersigned residents of Beuton
county, hereby agree to pay each sum as
may be set opposite our respective names
for the aid of the survivors ot the late Peun-
sylviania disaster. The amounts to be p-dd
at the Corvallis Gazette office whose pub
lishers will forward tne same to the faeihc
Express Company, who have offered to for-
Attention. W. P. Layman wishes
to, announce that he is, now prepared
to do all kinds, of house arid sign paint
ing, and his work is. guaranteed to be
satisfactory.. ni-pd
An elegant line of dress, goods with silk,
satin, plush and velvet trimmings to match,
at Heckle Bros., Philomath.
A Question Raised. Members ot
the order of the A. O. U. W, assess
ment life association, as well as mem
bers of other insurance orders are
already wondering what effect the
terrible Johnstown flood and 'de
struction of life will have upon their
orders. Surely some companies must
go under. The loss of life is so
great greater in fact.than any in- the
history of the world since life insurance
has been general that it must cripple
seriously if not altogether wipe out of
existence some orders. At best,
assessments will be very high, says the
S ilem Journal.
Short Session. The county com
missioners' court was in session only a
few hours on Weduesdayr there being
but very little business to do. I he
July term, which convenes on the 3rd
init, will be a very busy one, as then
all the bills for the erection of the new
court houe will come up for consider
ation, the new county offices will have
to be furnished anew, and a- general
lot of new work gone through with.
New. Church at Eugene. Rev.
and Mrs. P. S. Knight returned yes
terday from a trip to Eugene, says the
Salem Statesman. Mrs.. Knight went
lip for the. purpose of assisting at a
preliminary meeting looking toward
the organization of a Congregational
church there, and a meeting will be
hatd on the 23rd ins., when it is Ca
nceled to' complete the organization
l a
with thirty members as it starter.
ward all sums from Portland free of charge:
J. R. Haddock.... 8 50
F. S. Craig 1 00
C. E. Nicholson : 1 00
Frank Conover 1 00
Frank Welch... ,.
O. R. Addition
J. M. Nolan '. .
Allen & Woodward
T.W VVhitehorn
J. Blumberg ,'
J. D. Clark
C. A. Loud....-
Kalston Cox
(. Maddox
M. A. Canan
Cash s
J. O. Wilson..
A. Horles
P. M. Zieraffi.
E. E. Raber -
S. L. Kline ,
Z. H. Davis v
Stock's Cash fetore 1
l Graham...
J. M. Applewhite
S. L. Henderson .
N. P. Briccs
T. A. Bell
L. G. Kline.... 1
G. M. Powers.
50
50
00
00
50
00
00
50
50
50
00
00
00
00
00
50
50
50
00
50
50
50
50
50
00
50
Nearly an Accident. Charles
Pearse came near being laid up again,
Wednesday morning he was walking
along in front of Clark's tin store when
he tripped on a loose board in the walk
and was thrown broadside onto the"
boards. However, he was compelled
to lay down for a short time only. It
is nitwit time some ot these bad walks
were repaired. - --
The State Fair. The Oregon
State Board of Agriculture will hold
the annual state fair at the fair grounds
near Sdem, commencing Monday
Sept. 16, 1889 and continuing six days.
Th. rach urp.miiims offered for agri-
- . -
culturalstock and mechanical exhi
bits, for works of art and fancy work,
and for trials of speed amount in
to $15,000.
Charles W. Kirkness..
G. T. Billings
C. B. King8!erry
H. J. Korthauer
B. W . Johnson .......
F. M. Johnson
5 00
1 00
1 00
50
1 00
1 00
fixing up. mos. wiiiteuorn is
having bis saloon building fitted up in
grand shape. He has had the building
raised lip, new flooring placed in, a
new sidewalk in front, and a private
office room fitted up. Thos. will put
on lots of style now.
Mofey to. Loan, On improved
farms at 8 per- cent, interest for three
years, and- upwards. Lombard In-,
vestment Co., J. W.. Rayburn, agent,
Qpr vallis, Or... ' -' ' 2jw, .
the
V.
the
has
rest
Change of Captains. Capt S.
Short, who has been captain ot
steamer Occident for a long time,
resigned his position and will
until next fall, when he will take charge
of theN. S. Bentley for the Oregon
Pacific line. Capt. Miles Bell, heretcr
fore of the, Champion, will take Capt
Short's'place on the Occident
A New Meat Firm. Godfrey SteU
tler, who has been working for Geo.
Smith in his meat market for quite
while past, has become an equal part
ner with Mr. Smith, and tne Dusiness
will hereafter he. known as. Smith &
Stettler, . -
For Sale. rFine violin-, ands large
nnlWt.inn of orchestra music. C
JFfearse, Corvallis, Qx.. ' . tf"
Corvallis is the seat of justice of Benton
counfV. Orecrou. It is a city of two thou
sand inhabitant?, and is sitnatad on the left
bank of the W illamette, near the mouth of
St. Mary's river, and about one hundred
miles south of Portland. It is at the head
of navigation on the Willamette river, and
the southern terminus of the west side divi
sion of the Southern Pacihc lines in Oreeon
where a junction is formed with the Oregon
Pacihc railway, extending inland from V a
qniua bay, on the Pacific coast.
Benton county has an area of about
twelve hundred suuare miles, aud extends
through from the Willamette river to the
Pacihc ocean. 1 lie Coast mouutains trav
erse the county north aud s-mtli through
the middle, thus giving it widely diversi
ried characteristics. " On the western slope
there are a number of small valleys that are
considerably improved. Chief among these
is the Alsea valley, iu the southwestern part
of the county, which is about fifteen miles
long and four miles wide, and is well adapt
ed to ueneral farnr'n;;, fruit crowiuj;, dairy
ing and stock raising. There are located in
this valley two erist mil If, two salmon can
neries, aud several small lumber aud fchingl
nulls. Coasting vessels ascend the river
number of miles and ply a lucrative trade,
The Yitauina valley, farther north, is a si in
ilar couutry, and it has the advantage of
being on the railroad, which runs down the
valley to the bay. xnqnina is a town ot
about foui hundred inhabitants, situated on
the biiy of the same name at the mouth of
the river; and its shipping facilities as the
terminus of the Oregon Pacific railway
on tide water make it an important place.
It has the best harbor on the coast between
San b'raucisco and the Columbia river, and
the nealest harbor to the Willamette valley.
The government is improving this harbor to
meet tho growing demands of commerce. '
The railway company has a line of steamers
plying between Yaquiua and San Francisco,
and coasting vessels do more or less busi
ness there. The only bank in the county
outside of Corvallis is located there. A few
miles down the beach is the Seal Hock sum
mer resort, which u well patronized every
season and is rapidly gaining in. popularity.
fvewport is an incorporated town about the
same size as laquina. it is a lew miles
nearer the ocean and is quite widely Known
as a summer resort. The Siletz Indian res
ervation takes in a small portion of the
northeastern part of thecounty. The west
ern slope of Benton county is not so well
settled as that portion in the Willamette
valley, but it contains many choice tracts of
farming land aud vast forests of valuable
timber. ' -
In the Willamette valley portion of the
county there are several sub-valb ys, sepa
rated by low lulls that are not too rough lor
cultivation Iu the northern part of the
county are Blodget's and King's valleys,
draineil by tho Luckiamute river. The
Kinu's valley" settlement is the larger of the
two, and includes a considerable area of
well developed country. The Alary s river
valley is tlie largest in the county and com
prises the country about Corvallis and ex
tending westward into the mountains fifteen
or twenty miles distant. " Then the Long
Tom country occupies an important portiou
of the southeastern corner of the couuty.
All these small valleys are merely portions'
of the rich Willamette valley, the division
between them being somewhat imperfectly
defined watersheds trending front the moun
tains to the river.
Ou the Willamette slope the forests de
crease as the river is approacueu. xue
mountaiusare, for the miwt part, heavily
timbered with white fir, cedar and yew,
and down the slopes are maple, ash, oak,
alder and balm. Nearly all localities of
medium altitude bear a light growth of. oak
and maple. All the cieek bottoms have ash,
alder and balm. This entire list of woods
is suitable for manufacturing purposes, such
as lumber, furniture, wooden ware, etc.
A part of the preseut town site of Corval
lis was taken as a donation claim in 1815.
Iu 1851 it was made the couuty seat of Ben
ton, and six years later it was incorporated
under the state law. It was the original
site determined upon for the state universi
ty but in the early '50's it was agreed that
if Uorvallw would relinquish the university
the state capital would be located titers.
Subsequently, however, it was decided that
the question of the change of location of the
capital mu3t be voted ou by the people,
aud, though the result oi tun nanots was in
favor of Corvallis. it is claimed, still the
territorial officers, for some reason, declined
to remove .the capital. Pending the deci
siou. a portion of one scssiou of the legisla
ture was held in uorvalli, which was lor
that short peiiod the capital of the state of
Oregnrr. Wbeu the state resolved to tound
an agricultural college it was agreed that it
should be located at Corvallis, and it was
couducted temporarily in conjunction with
denominational institutions already estab
lished there. Last year, however, the citi
zens of Corvallis erected a tine brick build
ing for the college, which was reorganized
and more completely fitted for carrying put
the design of the state in founding it.
The State Agricultural college is one sf
the mo.it important institutions in. Corvallis.
The college building cost $26,090. The ex
perimental farm consists of one hnndred and
eighty-four acres of excellent land adjoining
the corporation limits, the college occupy
ing a slight eleyation overlooking the city
from the west. The institution has accom
modation for about three hundred students.
The faculty at present consist of eight mem
bers, and the curriculum does not by any
means ignore the classics, though the dis
tinguishing feature is the prominence given
to agriculture and the mechanic arts, iu ac
cordance with the law of, congress granting
aid to, experiment stations in connection
with state agricultural colleges. The annu
al income of this college from all sources is
$32,000 $15,000 from the government,
$10,000, from the interest on its govern meut
land salea and $7,500 appropriation from
the state. The government of the college,
is vested in a, board of regents, consisting of
governor, secretary of state, superintendant
of public instructions, and the master of thr
state grange, who- are ex-officio members,
and five others who are appointed by the
governor subject to the confirmation-of- the
senate. In apportioning- the- patronage of
it I the college, one free scholarship is given for
I vaca lueuiuer ui iiua ioguiauuiQ uuu uuo vo
' each county at large; for all. other, scholar.
ihips a tuition of $5 per quarter must be the ad vantage of the mast direct bosi
paid. The college is now uuder good m in- : 1 he uregon raeino niaiHLjumi
agement aud is doiug efficient work. Many
additions t! its present means for instruc
tion are, however, contemplated for tne
near future, among which are the erection ot
a military drill hall aud shop for instruction
in iron and wood working and buildings for
the use of the experiment farm, and the
purchase of animals for properly stocking
the farm. It has an excelleut start and
very cratifyiug prosiiects for a rapid growth.
The iufhieuoe of this institution will be wide
and constantly increasing.
The Benton county court home, with one
exception the finest and most expensive in
the stat-t, is jusi reeeivio;; iw musuiug
touches. It is a large three-story brick
structure, erected at a cost of $b'$,O00, aud
is an ornament to the city aud a credit to
the county. The basement is made of a
superior quality of gray grauite, .which is
quarried near the city and the bricks were
also mauutactnreit at home. me interior
is finished iu fir, white pine and redwood
in their natural colors. The city is uow
making preparations for the erection of a
school building this season, to cost about
$25,000. This will give Corvallis better
public buildings than any other town ot its
size iu the noitnwesi.
The city uow has two public school build-.
. 1 , ,1 1 L i il
ings, in which two nuuareu aim eioty-iove
pupils are regularly taught iy nve teacners.
Six teaohers will be required next year.
The auuual expenditure for school purposes
is about $13,000. The churches ot the city
are Methodist, Southern Methodiot, Con
gregationalism Presbyterian, Evangelical,
Christaiu, Episcopal and Kom.au Catholic.
there are two lodges -ot free Masons, one ot
Knights of Pythias, one of Uuited Work
men, one of Odd Fellows, one of Good Tem
plars, a Grand Army po6t, Woman's Belief
Corps auxiliary to G. A. It., aud a Woman's
Christian Temperance Union. A free read
ing room is supported by the citizens, lhe
city has a telephone exchange and is con-
. i , i . -l it:i .1.
necteit y leiepuone wita i iiuuiuaMi, a vil
lage of about three hundred people seven
miles west of Corvallis. An efficient water
works system furnishes water for general
consumption and fire protection. It has
two iron and wooden tanks, with a capacity
of thirty thousand gallons each, erected
seventy fet above the ground, and ordina
rily the pressure from them is. all that is ap
plied to the pipes, but iu case of tire press
ure is supplied direct from thestepm pumps.
The volunteer tire department consists of
one engine company, oue hook and ladder
company aud two hose companies, well dis
ciplined and e uipped.
The assessed valuation of Corvallis prop
erty is $793,000, and of the couuty $4,557,
370. The county ..has twenty-seven huu
dred horses and mules, aud nearly ten thou
sand cattle, nearly fourteen thousand sheep,'
aud thirty two hundred swine. Ibese are
the figures taken troin the assessment roa,
and they bear about the same relation to
the actual number aud valuation as the as
sessments throughout the state ouly a
fraction of the true value.
Corvallis has two private banking houses,
oue ot which has a branch establishment at
Yaquina. Both are doiuga prosperous busi
ness, that is gradually increasing iu volume.
Financial matters throughout the county are
in a very healthy state. Two weekly news
papers are published in the city the Coa
vali.is Gazette, and the Times and one
semi-weekly the Leader-all of them being
enterprising local journals. A board of
trade, re'cently organized, is doing, vigorous
work in promoting the interests of the city.
The citizens are inoviug iu couccrt to push
their locality to the front, aud are already
attaining gratifying results.
Some of the enterprises which have con
tributed to the growth of Corvallis aud
placed it in a position for future advance
ment deserve special mention. . One of these
is the Willamette Valley & Coast railway, a
concern conceived and inaugurated by Cor
vallis men and capital. This road "V.
operated by the Oregon Pacific company
uuder its construction contract with the
Willamette Valley & Coast Coinpauy, aud
it is generally known as the Oregon racihc,
It was started twelve years ago, but sever
al years passed in making the preliminary
arrangements and constructingtiie.iine- irom.
xauuiua bay to Oorvallis. from that point,
in accordance with the oiigiual design, it
was continued eastward, and it crossed the
Willamette river at Albany aud. pushed for
eastern connections beyond the Cascades.
The line is now completed nearly a hundred
miles ea,t of Corvallis; and' the epimng.
summer it is expected to complete the track
across the mountains, so that it will Da in
operation in eastern Oregon next season. It
is generally understood that the Chicago a
Northwe8tcrnCompaiiy is behind this ear
terprise and that the eastern connection will
oe Wltn mat great railway system, wuicu
will render it entirely free from any possi
ble handicap from any other transcontinen
tal lines. Corvallis is looking forward, to
the completion of this road. with, assunuice
that it will inaugurate a new era for the
regiou. It will make that ne ot the prom
inent objective poipta. for. immigrants from
the east, who would never think of visiting.
it as it lies now, a little removed fioni. the
through lines ot travel. The general offices
of the "railroad are in Corvallis and all its
funds are handled there.
A few years ago., when the Villiard. in
fluence was at its highest in Oregon,, the.
plan of connecting what was. west side diyir
sion of the Oreuou & California railroad.
which already had its southern terminus in
Corvallis, with the main line of the road1 at
Junction was formulated. The route was
surveyed and active preparations for con
structing the track were begun. The com
pany even went so far as to get out bridge
timbers and drive piles for bridges, and then,
came the collapse of the Villard schemes
and this project was dropped. Iitely.,.
however, this matter has beeu. revived, and.
the newly organized board of trade of Cor
vallis has taken hold of it with, a good, pros
pect of accomplishing the object in view.
A strong petition has been gotten up ami
extensively signed by the citizens of Corvalr
lis aud vicinity, and it is also being circular
tedTin the towns on. the railroad, this side of;
Corvallis.. This plan having been so nearly
consumated before, and the conditions being
so ripe for it now, it is considered. a practical,
certainty for the near, future. Vy.ith- this,
enterprise completed, (jorvallia will be il
another through, transportation line.. The.,
west side of the Willamette vaUey would,
then have the same advantages, that the
east side has long enjoyed,. aud the term
"Willamette valley" , "will soon, coma to
mean more to. visitors,. h the west: than, the,
land bordering the eastrside of the tiv.er,
. Entirely aside, from. prpspeitifO- increase
of transportation facilities, however. Cor-
vallis is well provided w.ithi shipping, fauili?-
ities at the present time. rm, toafr city
to tide water, via the Oregon Pacific, is only.
sev.enty-five miles, wjiich is scarcely rnpre-
.than oiie-third the distance, to tne ocean ny
the nearest other route, and then it is much,
nearer. Sau.Francisco,. to which market much
of the export produce of. the whole PacipC
slope coes. evieu, foe shipment to fpreiun.
countries. The immediate - result of, the
operation of the Oregon Pacihc M to. re
duce the taritt.ou produce tnom, tne .vniarn.
ette valley, to. about one-third- what has
ruled: before. This influence; has confipped,
to the nresent time, and will prevail in, the.
future, andtha benefit to- the shippers, of,
that region can be estimated in. C 'sh to. the
firmer. This change was not biongbt about
by ruinpus cutting of rates,, but. simply, b
steameES operating i conjunction with the
railroad, so its. influence is. felt along tks
Willamette for a. considerable distance..
The Oregon llailway and Navigation Compa
uies competes for the rivtr business to con
nect with its transportation lines at Port
land. With such a strong corporation as
the Southern Pacific also in the fields it Diay ,
be seen that Corvallis by no means fares
poorly in the matter of transportation advau
tages by both mil aud water. The river al
ways stands as a regulator of freight charg- .
es, aud the -competition of other hues. 13 sk.
sufficient guaranty against extortioni on,
goods not subject to the influence ofc then -boat
lines.
In the line of manufacturing, Corvallis:
has a flouring mm, run iy wawr pwi-r, .
...:... .A V.; ...... ..a rf m tl'tt.nh If.AflilltJ ullt: of
Mary's river a short distance above the city,, -a
saw mill, a planing mill, a furniture fac
tory, two breweries mid a foundry and ma
chine shop, all rnu by steam power.. There,
are six large warehouaes for storing grain
and wool. Th jre ought to ba large estab
lishments for the manufacture of. wooden--ware,
furniture, wagons and' carriages
plows, harrows and other farming imple-
meuts; also fruit aud vegetable dryers., anrfc
canneries, cheese factories and creameries
There is a go id field for a large flouring;
mill plaut at Corvallis, so that instead 'of'
sending the wheat out' of. the country, -it,
could be shipped in the form- of flour, andt
the refuse retained at home where there
a market for it. ' .
It seems surprising that the- mineral
about Corvallis are not worked, to any great;
extent. There are indications of rich iron
ore very near the city; indeed the track off
the Oregon Pacific railway in the city is bal
lasted with a fair quality of iron ore. AIU
through the hills to the westward, there are,
stroug indications of rich iron deposits, audi
it is strange that there have been. no. at.,
tempts at mining. - Excellent bricks aro,
made in the two brick yards near the city,,
aud potter's clay is fouud in abundance in
many places, corvallis oners greet induce
ments for meu of capital ',0 build up manu
facturing enterprises at that point, and they
are well worthy the careful consideration 0$
investors.
The plan of bringing water lhn dibcnrromi
some point up the Willamette river to fur-
uisn power lor lactones is uow baniug loiu -with
board of trade. That stream has a
quite rapid fall, and it would not be; JP
expensive to lead a portion of its water iu a.
1 -. 1 m f..n 1 11
largo mien witn buuiciliii. iau iur u"vs
power at Corvallis. The flouring mill has
already demonstrated the plan to.be a sue- ,
ces3, and all that has to.be doue,is to enlarge
and that project to meet larger demands..
Beuton county has by no means reached a-.
state of full development. Its agricultural,
resosrees, which are chief, arc susceptible ofj
growth, aud it needs many people than it.
now has to till the soil. The land is very
productive. No section of the west excel.
this county in the abundance and variety
farm products. Tne climate is mild audi
healthful, with the same pleasant leatttre
that characterizes the climate of. ttt
Willamette valley in general.. Ths sum
iners are dry aud the winters moist and ex
tremes of temperature are unknown.. Tho
climate of the portiou west of the monn--
tains is a little more moist than ih. the val
ley, and vegetatiou is green there the- year
round, Siiinetimes there is snow kl the val
ley for a brief time in winter i)u.riiSfc
nearly half a century that Benton- cnuu tjr
has been cultivated there has not been a sin
gle failure of crops and the ordinary yield
are proverbially large.. All tJw- coinjiit"
graius, vegetables, and fruits are-raised. bu.
even the more. sensitive grapes and' poojae
are successfully grown,. Tne fr.niti interest-;
could easily be quadrupled, by the estebJisJi
inent of curing facilities, There-acw laryas
quantities of. cultivatible land still unoccupi
ed ou both sides of the mountains,, but- thai
western slope has.fewe- settlers, thftft. tlni
eastern, because it is a newer seotiou. an I.
has not the modern conveniences of the val
ley. Iu the foothills on. the. east. side,, a
well as on the west, there is a great- deal of
government, land open for settlement-. Bus;
it is not necessary to go intottio- roiuli,
country to get lapd. tor farming. For grz
ing. purposes,, the foothills of the mountains
contain the choicest land; but for : cultivation
the more lvel surface down in the valley is
preferred, and such farms may, be. ohtained:
in good, locations near market from- $10 to
J-30 per acre.. Improved, farms,, of cdurae,.
cost more than the wild lands.. Many of the,
laudi holders uow. ow,u hundreds of; acres
more thai! they can use. aud- they are now
mauifesting a disposition to cut up these,
large tracts aud dispose of the surplus l.in-L.
to immigrants seeking homes in the west.
This section does not offer- very- strong in-,
ducemeuts to mere speculators and- adveut-.
nrers, but it has superior attractions for
borne seekers, and: it is,. that class of. people,
topre than any other, that is.bscoining inter
ested id Benton county Though Corvallis,
was oue of the first settled towns in the,
northwest, it has been, under the disadvnn-.
tage of being somewhat removed from- the,
main Hues of travel,. and while other, poiutst
of no mpre msrit have experienced, a lively
growth, it has plodded along more modest-.
iyt ana is mil just now rescuing out, 101. m
patronage that will bring it increased; pros
perity. It is swinging into the line of-enterprising
cities of the country and making it--,
self, known abroad; But it is not inviting;
outsiders to locate there merely to. help.
tlu8e already there. Its citizens are taking
the initiative and. are organizing enterprises
I foivhome improvements that will make that-,
locality much more attractive even. than, is-,
has been. As indicating the enterprising-;
spirit that has been, awakened, the new
court house erected by the county, the pro-,
posed const ruction of. a tine, public schpoU
house and a city hall, the former of- which
is already assured,, the establishing of, an,
electric light plaut to the city,. the project
ed, water power canal, the organizing of a.
board of. tradefor the special purpose of pro
n.oting the. city's business interests, an4
many other, things, might be mentioned, III;
is oue of the finest localities-both for-residence,
apd. business,, that can, be found..
Co-vallis is surrounded by a. truly sruilinifc
land; and it promises to move forward- with
a rapidity tjat, w-ill surprise itself," 4
In addition to, the; above it can be saidl
that the electric light system, is. now iu rutt
ing order aud is a fine plant,, aud: tUii Ben.
ton county rahes the largest strawberrios
and; al! kinds pfc Qthes fruity grain,, etc., iu
the state:.
MEDICATED VAPOR BAIII&.
Q: A, Ioud,.of the Little. Bvnd B-x bar-.
bsr 8.hop,. has placad,in his rooms ft medica
ted vapor bath for. the. cure of, all diseaset
arising from impure blood, and those suffer-,
ing fr.om.chrouic troubles.can surely find re-,
lief, Rheumatism,, neuralgia,, salt, rhuenu,
general debility,, kidney trouble, nt-rvoua,
pwstratipu.. paralysis, scrofula,, piles,, tu--mors,
eczema, malaria, fev.ee and agup,.erv-.
sipelas, pains in. the back, powuu oak.,
dyspepsia, and. one. bath, will break, up .
coltf aud: prevent a fever,. If you. are- ailiug;
in. any way try the vapor, bath by. applying;
afc tb. ruonis. testimonials, on ail disease
will; be. furuiabedi ; Mrs.. toud will ie,
treatment, to ladies,, and. alatv f uwish, fceUr.
tnpnialft. Apply, at. Little Bund Box. I 'fi
ber shop, Main ureei, C01 Viliis, Ore.C,. ok.
lud,iprojjrietor. '-..-' .