The Corvallis gazette., July 23, 1897, SUPPLEMENT TO THE CORVALLIS GAZETTE MIDSUMMER ED, Image 8

CORVALLIS GAZETTE, FRIDAY, JULY. 23, 1897.
RAILROAD TO . YAOUINA BAY
Originally a Local Enterprise. Career of the Road from its
Inception to Date. Yaquina Famous and
Popular as a Summer Resort.
BY J. H.
Among the early settlers in the Wil
lamette valley was Mr. J. C. Avery,
the founder of the city of Corvallis. Ar
riving in Oregon in the year 1845, he
carefully examined the Willamette valley
for a suitable location to found a city
After due consideration, he selected the
claim at the confluence of St. Mary's
and Willamette rivers, which now marks
the site of Corvallis. Above this point
there is practically little river traffic,
while to Corvallis steamboats ply the
greater portion oi the year, thus af
fording all-water transportation for
freights from this locality to the sea,
the great natural medium by which rates
are retained at all times at, or very near
to their normal figure. Those localities
which do not possess either water or rail
competition well know how to appreci
ate the blessings of an open river, or a
rival railroad, the absence of which
sometimes induces merchants to haul
their freight long distances, as we have
recently seen merchants of Eugene do,
whose teams have hauled their freight
from the Corvallis depot, to their stores,
40 miles away, notwithstanding they
have a railroad, connecting with this, at
their own doors.
J" r
t
9
M
CITY
The West Side division of the South
ern Pacific railroad parallels the Willam
ette from Portland to Corvallis, thus
affording a second route to the rnarketsJ
of-the Northwest, and also to San Fran
Cisco, which, until recent years, has
easily held the supremacy as a com
mercial center on the entire Pacific
coast. A supremacy which is now dis
puted by all persons well versed in the
Pacific coast currying trade, and manu
facturing and commercial industries.
For the conjunction . of several com
petitive lines of railway at Portland, Or.,
have shifted, or, at least, very largely
divided, these industries, so that pro
ducers and consumers throughout the
Northwest look to Portland as their base
of supplies, and their center for distri
bution, and regard the former metropo
lis in its true light, as a neighboring
city, only not any longer the Mecca
a connection with which can realize
their hopes of prosperity. This is a cir
cumstance which has an important bear
ing on the fortunes of the Yaquina
road.
Its Early History.
Up to some time in the 70s the O. S.
N. Company, or similar ones, had to
a considerable extent monopolized the
freight traffic of the Willamette valley.
And it is said that the Valley yielded a
bountiful harvest, indeed. This is at
tested, in part, by the handsome fortunes
accumulated by the gentlemen who were
enterprising to see and take advantage
of the favorable conditions existing at
that day for monopolizing thjs trade. It
has been said, and we hear it occasional
ly still, that Portland had the Valley
by the throat, and exacted a great per
cent, of the profits of the farmers of
the Valley. So that even yet there ex
ists an antipathy on part of rural states
men, and their constituency, which ma
terially retards the legitimate beneficial
legislation of the entire state. With an
other generation this will undoubtedly
pass away, and in the meantime great
natural resources must continue to
slumber on, awaiting the day when it
will be clearly perceived that only in
union can there be accomplished the
movements necessary to develop those
resources, and without proper and
wholesome legislation these movements
remain impossible.
It was when the Valley most felt the
oppressive nature of this monopoly that
the idea was conceived of building a
railroad to Yaquina bay, which would
shorten the distance to the San Fran
cisco markets by several hundred miles,
and also create a competition which it
was hoped would add several cents per
bushel to Valley wheat The Coast
mountains had to be crossed, and it
would seem that nature intended that
a railroad should be built through this
particular portion of the mountains, for
immediately west of Corvallis the first
surveying expedition under Mr. E. E.
Cooper found a low pass easy of access,
and with comparatively light work and
affording an easy grade line down into
the valley of the Yaquina river, from
which point there was no obstacle
whatever, of an unusual character, to in
terfere with the successful location and
operation of such a railroad as was
needed at that time. This was intended
for a narrow gauge, and with this in
view, the first promoters of the enter
prise secured ten miles of light rails
and a small locomotive, to be used in
the construction of the road, but after
building ten miles of grade, a river
was reached which the company had not
the means to bridge, and, which, to
gether with the withdrawal of active sup
port by several of the original pro
moters, caused a cessation of activities,
which came near to being the end of
the Yaquina road.
During several years of intermittent
effort, and seeming failure, the road
was kept alive by the persistent energy
of the veteran county clerk of Benton
county, whose private accumulations
were consumed, and a large private in
debtedness assumed, and carried for
years and finally paid off, in the en
deavor to keep this railroad project
alive, and to honor the obligations the
company had contracted, and to induce
Eastern capital to take hold of the en
terprise, and .'put the road through,
for it was learned, after ten miles had
been built, that local capital was not
adequate to complete this undertak
ing. W .' '..'-:. .."
0
WOSON.
In the meantime, the Willamette &
Coast Railroad Company had obtained
franchises and rights of way, and other
privileges, which were believed to be
valuable, and these, together with the
surveys and estimates, and ten miles of
grade, and a small locomotive, and ten
miles of light iron, constituted the prop
erty which had cost $35,000, and a con
siderable amount of labor donation, to
obtain.
Tbe Land Grants.
Even before the railroad idea was con
ceived, a wagon road had been built
to Elk City, on Yaquina river, and this
was a private toll road running from the
valley to tide water on that bay. In
consideration for this wagon road con
struction to the bay, the state deeded to
the road company 52,000 acres ot land
comprising the vacant odd sections for
six miles on either side of the route
of the wagon road. A similar road was
also constructed through the Cascade
mountains, called the Cascade Mountain
Military road. And also a road across
the state to some point at or near Snake
river, in Baker county (now Malheur)
The aggregate number of acres in these
latter grants, which were deeded to the
in
HALL.
military road, comprised something like
750,000 acres or more, and ultimately
constituted the basis of credit for the
- Yaquiha "read
A history of this enterprise without
some mention of Colonel T. Egenton
Hogg, and his brother, William M.
Hoag (Hogg minus the tail to one
"g") would be wanting in the principal
factors of .its rise and progress. For
however well the original promoters
planned the project, and however much
its early burdens oppressed its founder
(the writer's father), these men, Colonel
Hogg and his brother, are the real
builders of this railroad.
To those favored with an entrance in
to the presence of majesty during the
active construction period of the Ore
gon Pacific, there came many a romantic
legend, concerning this or that inci
dent in the stirring annals ' of these
gentlemen, and one of these associate
the colonel's name with a privateering
enterprise during the late civil war,
the upshot of which was the confisca
tion of the vessel in San Francisco har
bor, during the war, and the subsequent
detention of Lieutenant Hogg in Al
catraz prison for some time. (Under
stand this is legendary, not vouched
for.) It was whispered around the se
lect circle of favored mortals who
were allowed to appoach the inner cir
cle, that during this period of incar
ceration, a great project was born within
the colonel's mind, which found its con
summation in the building of the Oregon
facihc. Be that as it may, pot many
years after the war, the aforesaid land
grants were obtained, and it was found
that Colonel Hogg was the- reputed
owner of them, or largely identified with
their ownership. And accordingly when
Mr. Wilson sought to enlist Eastern cap
ital in the road, he naturally turned to
Colonel Hogg as the most likely man
to succeed in this endeavor. ' This led
to the organization of the v-
Oregon Pacific Railroad Company.
Which merged the franchises and prop
erties of the W. V. & C.,R. R.
Co., and undertook to construct a
standard gauge railroad from Yaquina
bay to Boise City, in Idaho, the in
tention being there to connect with a
transcontinental road, presumably the
C. & N. W., and make Yaquina the
seaport nature intended it should
become. The government was induced
to undertake the improvement of Ya
quina harbor, and succeeded in obtaining
one good, straight and safe outlet to the
bay, in place of the three irregular,
shoal and exceedingly dangerous chan
nels which existed at the entrance before
the jetties were placed there. The ef
forts of Senator Dolph, Senator Mitch
ell and Mr. Hermann have endeared
those gentlemen to all the faithful con
stituents throughout this section of the
state, for their success in getting this
harbor improvement accomplished. And
this and their labors for other ports on
this coast, will increase the luster of
their fame, as time demonstrates the nec
essary and substantial benefits which
the state receives from this source.
With the original surveys, the fran
chises, rights of way and land grants,
Colonel Hogg went East, and to Eu
rope, and for ten or more long and
weary years he confronted obstacles
which would ' have disheartened many
another man, in his effort to secure
money to build this road. We can ac
count for the persistency of Columbus
when we realize that the demonstration
of his belief in a westward passage had
become to him a second nature. So in
the unremitting efforts of Colonel Hogg
to make this Yaquina road a success,
we are beginning to understand that his
belief in its future had .become to him
a second nature, that he thoroughly
believed that there did exist in this en
terprise the possibility of a great factor
in the development of the .Northwest
there can no longer be any question.
To the support of the Declaration of In
dependence the fathers pledged their
lives, their fortunes and their sacred
honor. And to the consummation of this
railroad enterprise Colonel Hogg con
secrated his fortunes, and the best part
of his life's energies. Whatever may
have been his financial returns. it is due
to him to say that he put into this
enterprise an amount of energy which,
expended in some other direction, with
a view only to his own benefit, must
have made him wealthy, if not famous.
i
f
-pf"' " ' ' "l
, f;1
While laboring in the 'interests of
the Oregon Pacific, Colonel Hogg re
mained in the East, and Mr. Hoag, his
brother, was his manager in Oregon.
Their faith in the enterprise is shown
in the large purchases of property at
various points in the route of this road,
and this was natural and legitimate,
since they used their own money, and
the amounts so invested, to the writ
er's personal knowledge, aggregate a
considerable fortune. And again it is
due to Mr. Hoag to credit him with
his right view of his obligations to
the state. He has carried this load of
property through all the fluctuating for
tunes of the road, and has never mur
mured, has paid his taxes, in face of
what has ofttimes, to others, seemed
a forlorn hope, and still does this while
others let their property revert for taxes
showing that whether the public hoids
its faith or not, he will still continue
his support to the counties in which
his property lies.
During the period of construction of
the road, from about 1884 to 1889, there
is many an incident humorous or pa
thetic. Strikes were frequent, one time
amounting to a dangerous mob, and
when the governor was appealed to for
aid from the militia, his answer has be
come a part of the history of the state:
"Pay your men." It often happened
that to prevent strikes, Mr. Hoag went
down in his pocket and paid the men
twenty, thirty or forty thousand dollars,
out of pure sympathy. This I know.
There has been much prejudice engen
dered of late years towards these gen
tlemen, both in the East and in Oregon,
because of financial complications,
among the bondholders, and among the
labor or material creditors of the road,
but however just these estimates may
be, or however liable their actions may
have made them for the criticisms which
have been freely indulged in, the great
fact remains that these two men, Colonel
Hogg and his brother, did build the
Oregon Pacific railroad, and that be
cause of this the road is operating to
day, holding freight rates in this sec
tion of the Valley at a normal figure
and adding each year thousands upon
thousands of dollars to the farmers of
the Valley on this account. We often
forget, m the singleness ot our view,
that beneficial results, have followed the
building of the Yaquina road, but such
results have followed, and will continue
to follow the road, and the further it is
extended the more will this benefit be
felt.
About 1890, the road passed into the
hands of a receiver; its own president
being appointed. During the next two
or three years, it passed through two
other receivers, and finally was sold
for $100,000. The road and its fran-
chises, grants and rights of way cost
upwards ot $10,000,000 in cash. But
money was not very plentiful in 1894,
when the sale occurred, and that the
purchasers obtained a great bargain
is generally believed. Since the road
was purchased it has been reorganized
as the
Oregon Central A Eastern;
And its name implies its projected de
velopment. It is earnestly hoped that
the proper held ot this road will be
reached before many months pass away.
It is believed that lines to Eugene and
Salem will meet with liberal support
in building, and liberal patronage, when
constructed. These localities need the
road, and as they contain many public-
spirited citizens, and who can see their
own interests as well as any one else,
there is no doubt but what in proper
time, and in a proper manner, their
interest and enterprise will be mani
fested towards this end. Portland must
be reached to carry the road's traffic
into its proper field, and herein is the
circumstance alluded to at the beginning
of this article, that San Francisco is
not the necessary objective point for
the Yaquina road, Valley merchants will
not go to San Francisco for goods if
they can get them cheaper in Portland,
of equal quality, and .it seems to this
writer that Portland should be the main
objective point to be reached by the
Yaquina road, first, and then let its
extension feed and develop the home
metropolis. The road over the Cascades
connecting with Portland will do more
to develop the great empire in Central
and Southern Oregon than any other
possible enterprise can do. And while
this road does a good business now, it
undoubtedly must do a rushing business
when properly extended to its legitimate
field. Was there ever a great enterprise
which did not meet with early reverses?
The mere fact of continuing to exist and
operate, and to serve, and build up the
country where the road now extends is
proof of its usefulness. And its exten
sion is a logical consequence a neces
sary result. People who may not realize
this today will see it in time. Skepti
cism will always give way before facts.
And this road and its usefulness are
demonstrated facts, and the people know
it, and in some measure appreciate it.
The Snmmer Reaort.
Yaauina bav has become widely
(known as "the" summer resort of the
Northwest. In the placid waters of
the bay all kinds of fish abound, from
the flounder and kelp to the rock cod
and the salmon. Sailing and boating
affords to one with nautical tastes a most
pleasant diversion. Deep-sea fishing,
with all its variations, is within the reach
of all. And the beach! How can it be
described? Its rival does not exist. For
variety and genuine comfort the Ya
quina bay . sea beach is not equaled on
the Pacific or the Atlantic coast. This
is becoming known, and former habi
tues of other places of summer resort
have made Yaquina bay their summer
abode. Many elegant and artistic resi
dences have been built there, and any
one with a desire to have the best of
society in the summer time (who posses
ses the necessary credentials), can nnd
at this place such as the state affords.
And we claim that no state has any
better. If one cares less for aquatic
snorts, or the beach, the mountains, on
all sides, are alive with game big
crame. too. such as bear and deer, in
abundance. And sometimes elk have
been found, and an occasional cinna
mon. These latter, however, do not
come near the haunts of man, but have
to be hunted for. To bag an elk or a
cinnamon is well worthy of a hard
chase. The mountain streams abound
with trout, and those who are fond of
the rod can enjoy as good sport, within
easy walking of the .Newport hotels, as
can be found in the state. Altogether,
this resort is unparalelled on the coast,
and it is within the reach of all. While
we swelter and sweat in the interior.
the prudent live on the fat of the land
at the same expense it costs to re
main at home, at Yaquina bay, and the
Yaquina road has made all this pos
sible, and has placed this great boon,
for it is no less, within the reach of
all. Colonel Hoee is entitled to the
gratitude of every person who rides in
three hours, out of the interior heat,
through the finest scenery to be foun I,
into a climate and summer paradise un
equalled in the Northwest, where bhnk-
ets feel comfortable, and cares go to
the winds, and life takes on a new
aspect for the next ten months.
C. A. Gernard.
Mr. Gerhard is one of the young busi
ness men of the city. He owns and
conducts the principal stationery store,
and the only news depot in Corvallis.
His stock is well selected, and would
not disgrace a metropolitan business.
He keeps for sale all the leading maga
zines and journals, and the nevest pub
lications in the matter of books. His
sationery line is complete, and equal to
any social or business dem.ini Mr.
Gerhard takes a proper pride in keeoing
his business abreast of the times. He
attends promptly to mail orders, and
our friends in the country who vant
"something to read" can have that want
supplied by writing to him.
A BRIEF CHAPTER.
Devoted to Benton County's Soil,
Industries, and Climatic Condi
tions. Price of Lands, Etc.
Oregon is one of the largest states
in the Union, and owing to its situation
and topography, has. a greater variety
of soil, climate and natural resources
than any of the other states. The
famous Willamette valley, known as the
garden spot of the Northwest, extends
250 miles north and south, parallel with
and about 30 or 40 miles distant from
the Pacific ocean, and about midway be
tween the mouth and the source of the
Willamette river, extending for a dis
tance of 30 miles along its west bank,
is situated Benton county one of the
most populous, wealthy and fertile sec
tions of the state. From the river the
land gradually rises to the foothills on
the west, and between the foothills and
the mountains are located some small
but fertile valleys. " Through these val
leys small streams of pure mountain
water flow, and with the springs and
smaller creeks that feed them, afford
plenty of water for use and power, and
dispense with the necessity of irrigation.
Cereals, fruit and berries grow luxuri
antly throughout the entire county,
while the hills and mountains and the
uncultivated portions of the valleys af
ford splendid grazing grounds for cat
tle, horses and sheep.
Climate.
That climate is the most desirable
which is the golden mean between the
extreme heat that enervates the mind
and body, and the extreme cold that
retards development, and that desirable
golden mean is found in Benton county.
The warm Japan ocean current flows
along our coast, bringing the breath
of the tropics on its bosom, which is
lifted on the wings of the western wind
and wafted across the valley, tempering
the rigors of winter. In the summer
months the sea breezes cool the heated
air, making the extremes of heat and
cold very much less than in corre
sponding latitudes east of the Rocky
mountains. Unlike our friends in the
East, we do not suffer from blizzards
in winter, nor from cyclones and cloud
bursts in summer, and throughout the
year our people go about their daily
business practically" without inter
ruption or inconvenience from the
weather. There are few days in sum
mer that are oppressively warm, while
the sea breeze each afternoon and ev
ening makes the nights cool and pleas-
ant. Cattle graze on the hills during
the winter months, and seldom suffer
from extremes of inclement weather.
This ' equable climate conduces to
health and strength, and the highest de
gree of production in all the industries
of the country, and has made the adage
"Crops never fail in Oregon" especially
applicable to the favored locality in
which Benton county is located.
Agriculture.
Wheat,- oats and barley are the lead
ing cereals grown in Benton county,
although corn is raised to some extent.
The wheat of the ' Willamette ' valley
stands second on the list of the world's
productions in the Liverpool market,
the wheat of Southern Australia aloii
FRUIT AND GARDENS.
Our Horticultural Interests as They
Appear to a Practical
Horticulturist.
BY PROF. E. R. LAKE.
The horticultural interests of Benton
county are in their infancy. It is scarce
ly more than ten years since the people
of this county began to direct their
attention to the growing of fruit for
commercial purposes, and while this is
but one phase ef horticulture, it is the
one of chief economic importance in the
state. ,
The estimated average acreage of
young orchards just beginning to bear
is about 2,500 acres, lhe larger part
of this is prunes, though the other
hardy fruits do as well as the prunes.
The ease with which the prune was for
merly put into marketable condition has
been the feature which induced planters
to set largely to this fruit. The physical
make-uo of the county is such that
ample opportunity is afforded for the
selection of orchard and garden sites.
The undulating surface allows wide
range of aspect. Air and water drain
age are excellent in all the best locali
ties for orchards. On the river bot
toms are to be found some of the best
small fruit and vegetable gardens in the
state. While the soil of the county
is chiefly a heavy basaltic loam, along
the river bottoms it is a sandy, alluvial
deposit, open, warm and fertile; and,
while the air drainage is not so good
as in the higher sections, some of the
most fruitful prune, and the only suc
cessful peach, orchards are to be found
along the Willamete river.
This year will witness the first real
commercial fruit crop of significance to
the county. A large acreage ot prunes
set out about 189Q will yield its . first
crop, climatic conditions over the state
at large, being against the prune crop
in '96. While some sections, especially
in irrigable localities, claim to fruit the
prune and other orchard trees in from
three to four years, these trees here re
quire from five to six years before one
can expect any returns of consequence.
Our heavier soil tends to induce wood
growth to the disadvantage of fruit
buds, though this longer period of un
restricted wood development is held to
be an advantage in respect to the vi
tality, visror and longevity of the tree.
Eight or ten years ago, when these
young prune orchards were set, few peo
ple had any idea of disposing of the crop
otherwise than by evaporating; but dur
ing the past three years there has been
developed an Eastern market for the
fresh fruit, which, according to present
indications, offers a much better -field
for the best grade fruit than evapor
ation. .
Our leading prune is the Italian, a
beautiful blue-black prune, large, firm,
sub-acid, good flavor, and a remarkable
keeper and shipper. This fruit can be
picked when mature, and. if carefully
oacked and handled, put upon the Chir
cago, Buffalo and other Eastern markets
in first-class condition. .
Now that it is found that the larger
prpfit on the prune crop is probably
.0 be had from the fresh fruit and that
the care and skill required to put the
best quality in the best condition on the
market, is as much, or, even : more,
than that required ti hane c'1 t frtsh
: i
- - -. --TF I r-n
being preferable and commanding a
higher price. In this section good land
properly tilled will yield from 25 to 40
bushels of wheat per acre, while the
average yield of oats under similar con
ditions would be from 40 to 60 bushels
per acre. The soil and climatic condi
tions here seem especially well adapted
to the production of the latter -cereal,
oats usually overrunning from 5 to 20
pounds per bushel, machine measure.
Benton county's annual production of
cereals will not fall far short of 1,000,000
bushels, and of this vast amount of grain
between 600,000 and 700,000 is wheat,
approximately 200,000 bushels is oats and
the balance barley, rye and corn. Hops
of an excellent quality are also grown
in this county in large quantities, there
being several hundred acres of Benton
county soil devoted to this paying in
dustry. An endless variety of garden
vegetables is also raised here. Potatoes,
beans, peas, beets, parsnips and in fact
almost everything flourishes here that
a generous soil and temperate climate
will produce.
Dairying-.
Dairying in this section is a paying
business, and is assuming larger propor
tions each year. The mildness of the
winters together with the success at
tained in the growing of forage plants
in this section makes it possible to
bring dairying to its highest perfection.
Good dairy - butter always commands
fair prices, while choice creamery but
ter is always in demand at 50 and 60
cents per roll. During the past few
years the breeds of dairy stock have
been materially improved, which cer
tainly augurs well for the permanent
success of this important industry. Here
tofore little attention has been paid in
this locality to the creamery business,
but this spring Mr. George Taylor, an
experienced dairyman of this county,
built a large creamery, which has now
been in operation for over a month.
This plant is well equipped with all
the latest improved machinery and has
the capacity sufficient to care for the
milk from 1000 cows. Uenton county
offers exceptional advantages to those
wishing to engage in the business ot
dairying., - '
Horticulture.
Fruitgrowing has become a well es
tablished industry of Benton county,
and in proportion to her area probably
has a larger acreage in fruit than any
other county in the state. Un account
of its vast importance, this subject is
treated separately at considerable length
in another column.
Land and Homes.
It only remains to be said that good
land can be obtained tor farming and
orchards at from $10 to $30 per acre
in the Valley, according to situation.
Pasture land and the more remote and
smaller valleys afford some cheaper
land, at prices varying from $6 to $15
per acre, while in the vicinity of the
towns and cities land is, of course,
much higher. Considerable land is still
held in this vicinity in large bodies,
which eventually must be divided into
smaller tracts. There is considerable
government and railroad land in the
county, but the best of it has been
bought or taken up by settlers.
fruit rops, the tendency in fu
ture plantings will be to di
versify. The apple, cherry and
pear, all of which flourish and
bear abundantly, one year with
another, will, in the future, re
ceive their due meed of atten
tion at the hands of the or
chardist. Our county exhibits
in the past have shown re
markable specimens of Spitz
enbeTg. Northern Spy, Bald
win, Bellfleur and other lead
ing varieties of apples. Bart
lett, Seckel, Winter Nelis, Fall
,Biitter and other pears; Kent
'ish, Biack Republican, Royal
Anne, Dukes and other cher
ries. In quality and size these
fruits can be grown to perfec
tion with proper care. We
have the soil, the climate and
the necessary rainfall; we like
wise have the pests. We only
lack the live horticulturists,
who desire to grow these
fruits for the market.
We ?.re developing some of
these latter- among our own
people, but the great change in
methods of tillage and crop
page to be encountered in
pnssing from our old practice
of wheat-growing to that of
fruit-growing under present
methods is well nigh too much for the
average son of the West.
Among the small fruits our gardeners
make exhibit of magnificent specimens
of the leading choice varieties of straw
berries, raspberries, blackberries, cur
rants, gooseberries and dewberries. An
overproduction of these fruits for home
use is a common thing at every farm
house in this section. The marvelous
fecundity of these bush fruits is phe
nomenal. .
The American grape does well in se
lect places. Our hillsides offer a most
congenial home for the hardy grapes,
though, as yet, no one has undertaken to
grow them for market. No home need
be without them as, Concords, Wordens,
Isabellas and others of like character
flourish.
As to vegetables, it may be said that
from a commercial point of view there
is little inducement to their culture, be
yond the small home markets. As in
all Western Oregon, the full range of
garden vegetables are easily grown. The
hardier ones, such as cabbage, carrots,
parsnips, beets and potatoes, grow to
mammoth size, the mere mention of
which in measured terms would subject
one to undue reflections. Only seeing
is believing.
On the whole, it mav be said for Ben
ton county's horticultural interests that
they are just blossoming, the full fruit
or nf which will not be seen for years.
The steadily growing interest manifested
in our orchard property during inc
past eight or ten years is ample evi
dence that this interest is one of absorb
ing moment to our people; that it is
destined to grow to large proportions in
the county and ultimately become a
factor of influence and wealth in our
community.
It is only within two or three years
that the large commission houses have
directed any attention to this section;
now there are three or . four of these
firms giving special attention to our
crop prospects, certain index of grow-ir-j
c "
THE BUSINESS WORLD
Our Manufacturers, and the Business
Houses of Corvallis.
MANUFACTURING.
Benton is eminently an agricultural
county, and it is natural that flour
mills and saw mills .should con
stitute her chief manufactories. : Of
the former there are four, all
equipped with modern machinery,
and making a first-class grade of flour.
Two, both owned by Adam Wilhelm
& son, are located in the southern part
of the county; one at Monroe and one
near there at a place called Liverpool.
The other two are at Corvallis. The
Benton County Mills are owned and
operated by Punderson, Avery, R. E.
Gibson, John Record and Allan Wil
son wealthy citizens and good business
men. Their mills have a high rating,
and their flour is one of the standard
brands. They ship directly to all Pa
cific coast points, from Alaska to Cen
tral America. The grinding capacity
of their plant .is 110 barrels per day,
and it runs day and nigil.
lhe Corvallis .Flouring Mills are
owned by H. F. Fischer, one of th;
financially solid men of the county.
These mills have both steam and water
power, and can grind 175 barrels daily.
Their product co-nmands the highest
market prices. These two mills give
employment to a large number of men.
Ihere are several sawmills in the
county, but the most important is that
of the Corvallis Lumber Company, lo
cated at Corvallis. This company has
a first-class plant, and does a very large
business. L. Martin has a hardwood
saw and planing-mill. and ships to the
principal coast points. Messrs. Sheas-
green and Wewhouse operate aplaning
mill, sash and door factory and box fac
tory at Corvallis, and are building up an
extensive business.
Mr. George Taylor established a
creamery at Corvallis this summer, and
its success, financially and otherwise, is
assured. The plant is complete, and
can handle the milk of 1000 cows. The
Corvallis Foundry & Machine Shops,
owned by Franklin Brothers, are well
equipped for doing all work in its line.
Messrs. Franklin are first-class and re
liable machinists, and have won an en
viable reputation as mechanics and as
business men.
CORVALLIS BUSINESS MEN.
There is no attempt, in this article,
to give a complete or minute description
of the business interests of Corvallis.
Mention is only made of the more im
portant business houses and that in a
general manner.
F. L. Miller.
Mr. Miller is a 4eading light ;n the
Corvallis business world. He is a
clothier and haberdasher, and does a
large business in these lines. His por
trait appears in this issue, and in an
other column will be tound a more ex
tended personal description.
S. N. Wilklna.
Mr. Wilkins is a large dealer in furni
ture, and he conducts the principal un
dertaking establishment in Benton coun
ty. His portrait and more extended
sketch appears elsewhere in this issue.
A-
I
3.
i
Simpson, Huston A Co.
The business conducted by this firm
was established over 30 years ago. Of
the present proprietors, Mr. John Simp
son has been connected with the store
for 20 years, and Mr. . R. H. . Huston
for six years. Both gentlemen are good
business men, and they have built up :
big trade. They carry a large and com
plete stock of hard- and tinware, and
deal extensively in paints and oils. Ihey
are the principal local dealers in sport
ing goods, are the agents for the cele
brated Columbia and Hartford bicycles.
The firm handles the Superior stoves,
the very best in the market. The store
does an immense business in harvesting
machinery and all farm implements. It
sells Studebaker wagons and buggies,
McCormack harvesting machinery, (Jli
ver plows and Buffalo threshing ma
chinery. The firm enjoys the confidence
of the public, and the large trade it has
secured is the natural result of intelli
gent and legitimate business methods.
Nolan A Callahan.
Mr. J. M. Nolan commenced business
in Corvallis in May, 1884, and in May,
1895, Thomas Callahan entered into
partnership with him. They do a very
large business in gents' clothing and
furnishing goods, and are live, up-to-date,
successful business men. They are
keen buyers, and their big stock always
seems fresh and fashionable. They have
established a tailoring department, and
employ only skillful workmen in it. The
product of this establishment is equal
to that of any metropolitan tailor. Mr.
Nolan served his- apprenticeship in the
general merchandise business in Dublin,
Ireland, where he was engaged for five
years, and was. afterwards employed in
a large house in Belfast. August 13,
1872, he left Ireland for. San Francisco,
and arrived in the latter city with one
English sovereign -in his pocket, and
went to work the next day. He came
to Albany in 1874, going into business
there. Ten years later, he moved to
Corvallis, and is one of the leading men
of the town. Messrs. Nolan and Calla
han have complete understanding of
their business. They know how to at
tract patrons, and know how to keep
them.
J. M. C
The city council of Corvallis has a
doctor, a warehouse man, a harness
maker, a cattle dealer, a farmer, a baker,
a mill owner, 'a housemover and a ci
gar manufacturer, lhe harness-maker
is T. M. Cameron, and his harness is
as popular as the recent city election
proved him to be. Mr. Cameron suc
ceeded to the business of N. P. Briggs,
after working for him for nine years.
He is an exceedingly good workman.
and a set of harness can have
no better guarantee of quality than
the fact that it is of Cameron's
make. His reputation is not con
fined to Benton county, but he has
orders from all over the state, and has
shipped many sets to Texas customers.
Good harness is always the cheapest
harness in the end, and good harness
is the only kind that can be purchased
of -Mr. Cameron. In material and in
workmanship the product of his shop
cannot be criticised. Mr. Cameron at
tends strictly to business, and he is a
good, reliable citizen.
Send a ep af thia edition to jrr
frtenda la ikt Eait. Extra eoptlM en
K. A. Alexander.
The New York Racket store does
business on a cash basis, and ther seems
to be a lot of people who have cash,
for its goods go out in large quantities.
Mr. Alexander, the proprietor, visits
the East every year, and buys his stock
direct from the factories, thus saving
the profit of the middlemen, and getting
fresh, new goods. He is an energetic
man, and possesses good business judg
ment. - ;
P. M. Zleroli.
"Milk and honey" were the words
used by the ancients to signify vood liv
ing. The expression "Zierolf's grocer
ies'' conveys the same meaning to Cor
vallis people, and groceries from Peter
Zierolfs store have been gladly wel
comed by Corvallis households for over
16 years. Mr. Zierolf commenced busi
ness in Corvallis in 1881. By upright
dealing and good management his busi
ness prospered, and outgrew its original
quarters, so in 1892 he erected a hand
some two-story brick building, wherein
is located his large store. Mr. Zeirolf's
custom is not confined to Benton coun
ty, but he is patronized by people from
the several boundary counties. He buys
trom the best wholesalers, and can safe
ly recommend the goods he sells. He
keeps an excellent stock of staple and
fancy groceries. Special attention is
called to his teas and coffees. They
cannot be surpassed for quality, and the
price is no higher than that asked tor
many poorer grades. He carries a fine
line of crockery and glassware,' and it
is worth a visit to his store to look at
the French Haviland china there. A
large assortment of lamps, including
the well-known student lamp, are kept
constantly on hand. Mr. Zierolf is a
native of Ohio, and is 47 years old. He
is one of our solid citizens, and an active,
trustworthy business man.
Ana-nst Hodei.
There are few grocers in the Willam
ette valley, south of Portland, who can
boast of a larger or better trade than
that of August Hodes. He has been
in business since 1881, and for six years
was in partnership with Joseph Peroni.
but purchased the latter's interest in
1887. "Honesty" is the policy of his
store. Honest tea, honest coffee, honest
groceries of all kinds, honest prices and
honest dealings with his customers have
built up a very large and growing busi
ness.' He guarantees the quality of the
goods he offers to customers.- Besides
a full stock of staple groceries, he car
ries a heavy line of fancy goods. Pic
nickers, campers, and all who indulge in
outings for business or pleasure will
find Hodes' all tinned and other deli
cacies and substantials they require. Mr.
Modes is a square, upright citizen, a
genial gentleman, and a shrewd man of
business. ,
Bodes & Hall.
The establishment of these gentlemen
is a credit to Corvallis. It is made up
of several departments, fully up to the
times. Ihey conduct a confectionery
and cigar store, a bakery and a first
class eating house. Their coffee has a
valley reputation, and visiting bicyclists
consider it their first duty and pleasure
to refresh themselves with lunch at
Hodes & Hall's. The proprietors are
pleasant, popular gentlemen, public
spirited and enterprising.
8. L. Kline.
One business in Corvallis has- two
nicknames. It is popularly known as the
"White Store," and also the "Big, Busy
Store. -The proprietor, Mr. i. L.
Kline, owns the handsome building
which the store occupies, and of which
a cut appears in this issue. This build
ing has a 45-foot front and is 100 feet
in length, and is crowded with one of
the largest and most valuable stocks 01
goods in the Willamette Valley. It is
on Second street and fronting on Mad
ison street is Mr. Kline's large ware-
room, 25x100 feet, and two stories high.
filled with heavier articles of merchan
dise. The stock includes dry goods,
clothing, furnishing goods, shoes,
crockery, hats, groceries, hardware,
trunks and valises; in fact, it is one of the
modern department stores. Mr. Kline
is also a big buyer of grain' and wool
Six clerks are kept busy in this estab
lishment. Twice a year Mr. Kline vis
its San Francisco and personally selects
his stock. Mr. Kline is a native of
Ohio, being born in Cincinnati, Decern
ber 18, 1856. With his parents he came
to Oregon in 1864. locating in Corvallis,
where his father engaged in general
merchandise business. S. L. Kline
in 1882 succeeded to his fath
er's business, then in the Fisch
er building, and later moved to the
Kline building, now occupied by G,
Stettler. September 1, 1890, he moved
into his present -handsome and commo
dious quarters. , Mr. Kline is an alert
and discerning man, takes a keen inter
est in public affairs, and is esteemed
as a responsible and useful citizen.
M. Schmidt.
The iollv host of Corvallis' leading
hotel, the Occidental, was born in Ger
many in the year 1843- He came to
America in 1867. He was at San Fran
cisco 15 years, during which time he was
in business on a very large scale. He
was one year in Portland and six years
at Yaquina, and the past six years he
has'' spent in this city. Mr. Schmidt
has been an extensive financial operator
and occasional reverses have not blind
ed his eye for business. He is an ideal
landlord, has never had cause to com
plain of lack of patronage. His dining
room has an established reputation.
Mr, Schmidt's family, besides himself,
and wife, consists of three boys and
two girls. A cut of the hotel appears
in another place. Mr. Schmidt owns
the Corvallis street railway system.
Thos. Whitehorn. '
The wooden building formerly oc-
cupied by Mr. Whitehorn,. has been
torn down and on the site is be
ing erected a fine brick structure that
will be a credit to the city and to. Mr.
Whitehorn's enterprise. Elsewhere in
this naner is civen a sketch and cut of
this gentleman, who is accounted one of
the solid men of business ot this com
munity. Allen A Woodward.
In 1866,' Allen & Souther started a
drug store in Corvallis, at the corner
where the Occidental hotel now stands.
There are only two business men in
the city who were in business here then
Mr. E. Allen and Gustave Hades. Mr.
E. Woodward, the present mayor of
Corvallis, succeeded Souther ii? 1869,
ti the--rn moved to Fischer' brick
" -t. j : ' 'can. re
A J
are both skillful, careful and competent
pharmacists, and with their complete
stock of pure drugs thev can give most
satisfactory service in the compounding
of prescriptions. The firm deals largely
in paints and oils. They make a special
ty of tojlet articles. They carry a full
line of stationery and books of all
kinds. In school books and school
supplies they cannot be rivaled, and stu
dents of either the oublic schools or of
the Oregon agricultural college will find
it prontaDie to call upon these gentle
men before purchasing their school out
fit. The firm is a very substantial one
and the members are among Corvallis'
uesi cuizens. in Dusiness or in private,
their reliability is above question.
The Caih Store.
This business, while a comoarativelv
new one. has forged to the front as one
of the leading houses of Corvallis. It is
conducted by Miss Emma Crawford and
Mr. E. A. Crawford, and occupies a
large room in the postoffice building. It
makes a specialty of shoes and ladies
furnishing goods. The "Cash Store
Shoes" have an established and perma
nent reputation in Benton county, for
wearing quality, stylish appearance,
comfortable fit and moderate once. The
store is the shoe headquarters for college
students. In its other lines the goods
are fresh, seasonable and in the latest
fashion. The 'proprietors are genial,
pleasant and accommodating, and there
is no hesitancy in recommending them
to the trading public.
J. R. Smith & Co.
This firm has been established since
1892, and the senior member has been
in business in Corvallis for over 10
years, lhe store is on the corner of
Madison and Third streets. The firm
carries a complete line of heavy and
sneii nardware, tinware, etc. It deals
extensively in farming machinery and
implements, handling the famous Piano
binders and mowers, Canton plows. Old
nicKory wagons. lhe hrm has the
agency for the splendid and popular
Victor bicycle. It employs competent
tinners and plumbers and is prepared
to do large or small jobs of plumbing,
tin-roofing, etc. The members of the
hrm are active, substantial business
men, honest in their dealings and thor
oughly reliable.
First National Bank.
This splendid financial institution was
first started as the Benton Countv bank.
June 27, 1887, by M. S. Woodcock. It
was succeeded by the First National
bank, organized under the national
banking system, which opened business
on May 26, 1890. The officers and di
rectors are: M. S. Woodcock, presi
dent; C. E. Moor, vice-president; Wal
ter Wiles, cashier; George E. Lilly,
assistant cashier; and John Wiles, di
rector. The other stockholders are
John Foster, estate of J. B. Lee, Peter
Rickard and Martha Peet. Nearly all
the officers, directors and stockholders
of the bank are early pioneers of Ore
gon or natiye sons of the state,' who
have witnessed much of the transforma
tion of our now beautiful state, from its
condition of uncultivated and unim
proved lands, with its wild grasses and
grains and heavy forests of trees, to its
present condition of improvement and
advancement. John Wiles arrived in
Oregon in 1847, a young man, and
settled on the farm which is his present
home, near Wells, this county. He
has been pre-eminently successful as an
agriculturist. C. E. Moor arrived in
Oregon in 1851, settling first in Polk
county, near Dallas, on his donation
land claim. He taught school success
fully and ably served that county, as
county judge. He conducted his farm
on business and profitable methods.
Later he purchased his present farm in
this county, where he has since been an
honored citizen. He was postmaster of
Corvallis under the Harrison adminis
tration. George E. Lilly was born on.
a .l annnearCorva ! 1 js InjSfi and -.con
tinued there, except during the time
he attended college, until he entered the
service of the bank, about six years ago.
Walter T. Wiles was born near Wells,
on his father's farm, in i860, and was a
successful farmer for several years. He
was afterward with Foshay & Mason,
druggists, at Albany, and began his
connection with the bank in 1890. M.
S. Woodcock, to whose excellent man
agement the bank owes its present
r.piendid condition, is a man of unusual
ly good business judgment, prudent and
careful in all matters. He crossed the
plains with his parents in 1853, locating
in Lane county, Oregon. He removed
to Monroe, this county, in 1859, and in
i89 came to Corvallis. He was in the
hardware business for several years
and at one time owned and edited the
Corvallis Gazette. He was admitted to
the Oregon bar in 1875, and engaged in
active practice for 12 years. John Fos
ter crossed the plains, arriving in Ore-'
gon. in 1845, settling on his donation
iand claim in this county, south of Cor
vallis. He engaged in stock raising
and farming on a large scale, and is one
of our wealthier citizens. A sketch of
Mr. Rickard appears elsewhere.- Most
of the gentlemen started with nothing
but their bare hands and willingness to
work." Their present prosperous condi
tion has been brought about by their
constantly applied industry, skill and
perseverance, and their determination to
be busy at some useful line of work.
The bank's last report to the comptrol
ler of currency showed the amount of
deposits to be $155,233 61. The lawtul
money reserve in bank was $51,498 5S,
and it had in other banks, cash items,
etc.. $io.7.T4 05. The loans and dis
counts footed up $69,974 02; stocks, etc.,
$24,666 47, while the banking-house,
furniture and fixtures amounted to
$14,313 85. These figures exhibit the
safe and conservative methods of the
institution. The bank is remodeling its
large building on the corner of Madison
and Second streets, and will this fall
occupy as handsome and convenient
quarters as any bank in the valley.
Other Business Houses.
Among the other business" men of
Corvallis are T. D. Campbell, second
hand store; Calvin Thresher, proprietor
Hotel Corvallis; A. b. liershner, ill. J.
Young and E. B. Horning, grocers; J.
H. Harris, a orominent dry goods mer
chant, and George W. Henkle & Co.,
in the same line; D. C. Rose & Bro.,
cigar manufacturers: Phillips & Trask,
photographers; J. C. Taylor, Charles. E.
Hout and G. atedtler, meat marKet;
P. Griffoz and U. B. Vogle, jewelry;
W. T. and C. E. Small, confectionery,
etc. ; Jesse Spencer, Bowers & Case, and
R. L. Taylor, barbers; Miss May War
ren and Miss Pernot, variety stores; R.
M. Wade & Co., hardware and farm
machinery, a branch of the well-known
Portland house of the same name; Gra
ham & Wells and Graham & Wortham,
druggists; Mrs. J. Mason, Misses John
son, and Misses Whitaker and Housley,
millinery-; J. T. Phillips, James Horning
and Mr. Porter, blacksmiths; Cam.
Hemphill, harness and saddles; George
Bingham, soda water manufacturer; Al.
Johnson, Kirk & Germanson, B. Woldt,
and Julius wuesterteldt, saloons; inos.
Eelin. livery stable.
Corvallis has two newspapers of gen-
eral circulation, the Gazette, weekly, re
publican, and the Times, semi-weekly,
democratic. 1 he Uregonian . recently
said of theses papers, "as purveyors of
news, they stand unsurpassed " among
country papers." Two other publica
tions have recently started, the New
Dispensation, monthly, populist, and
the Union, supposed to be Cleveland
democratic. '
Lawyers and Doctors.
The members of the Corvallis bar are
W. S. McFadden, J. H. Wilson, Tohn
Burnett, E. Holgate & Son, A. L. Mc
Fadden, W. S. Hufford, E. E. Wilson, J.
H. Gibson, F. M. Johnson, and Yates
& Yates. The physicians are C. H.
Lee, L. G. Altman, G. R. Farra and E.
F. Pernot. Professor S. I. Pratt is
principal of the Corvallis public schools.
Dr. Bowen Lester and Taylor &
Cr- orn, dentists. - -