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About Lincoln County leader. (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987 | View Entire Issue (July 4, 1895)
.LINCOLN COUNTY LEADER, : ' j. v. srawiKLKdiuir .d Proprietor. ! ' ; . Published every Thursday m Toledo, Lincoln, county, Oregon. Subscription Rates: One year, ... Six months, ... Three months, Sr ; .50 Advertising ratei made known on application Siletz Reserve. WHERE AND WHAT IT ; AND HOW TO GET THERE. IS A Brief Description of the Land Toward Which Many Are Looking. I he portion of Oregon that is now attracting the most attention . . . irom nomeseeicers at the present time is the Siletz Reservation. The reservation embraces a body of land about 24 miles long north and south, by about 15 miles wide east and west. It was formerly situated in the counties of Benton and Tilla mook,' but when Lincoln county .was created it was made to embrace the entire reservation within its .boundaries. , By virtue of a proclamation of President Cleveland the lands of this reserve, not already allotted to the Indians in severalty, will be opened for settlement at 12 o'clock, .noon, on Thursday, July 25, 1895. TOPOGRAPH V. The general topography of the reservation is hilly or mountainous, with valleys along the streams of varying sizes. The east line of the reservation runs along near the summit of the Coast range, and the land slopes westward to the sea. The slope does not vary in any considerable particular from that of all the other coast counties in the state from the summit of the moun tains to the sea. The principal questions which arises in connection with this reser vation, are, what are the oppor tunities in the way of getting good land, and how, and what other opportunities are open? We would answer that the following induce ments will be offered at the opening, viz; good farm, fruit and grazing lands, good timber lands, good fishing waters, and all other busi ness opportunities that go with them. We will take them in order named, and endeavor to set them forth in their true, lights without exaggeration. These statements will be made from personal obser vation to a large extent. ' The agricultural lands of the Siletz lie along the varies streams that wind through its hills and along the low slope of the coast. The largest stream, and the one on which the principal amount of arable land lies is the Siletz river. The Siletz river heads near the summit of the Coast range and empties into the Siletz Bay. In an air line from source to mouth it is perhaps not more than thirty miles, yet so winding and sinuous is this stream that it ii estimated to be from 90 to 110 miles in length. All along its length are valleys, or bottoms of varying width. In some places these bottoms will contain hundreds of acres of the richest land that an Oregon mist ever fell upon or the sun ever warmed with its genial rays. The bottoms are something of the same formation as the famous beaver dam lands in some places in the Willamette valley. They are the overflow and deposit decayed vegetable of years accumulation. In the places where these lands have been cleared and farmed they have abundantly yielded in every thing tried upon them. The soil is second to none and the climate is the same as other coast counties, all that could be asked. The Salmon river is the next in size to the Siletz, and lies in the north part ot the county. The same description, except as to size, applies to it that describes the Siletz. It empties iuto Salmon bay. Drift creek and Schoouer creek, streams of con siderable size, empties into Siletz bay, while Spencer creek, and several other small streams empty into the ocean direct, and along all these streams are valleys and bot- loms. varying in size according to the stream. The largest bay and the only one of any size emptying into the ocean, is the Siletz Bav. This bay is about four miles long ieast and west by about two and a ! half north and south, at the widest 'part Lyme on tee bav are laree ' lift 'iss r.f t!".c Fv.f;t 1 ?.-!. lands it hat , , cvci utrcu uui iui tu sec. xueupcii tide land is high and from the vege tation growing on it, we would judge that it never overflowed ex cept in the highest winter tides. Back further from the tidelands are large bodies of bottom lauds, in the most part covered with alder and vine maple thickets. These lands are the very best of land when they are cleared and cultivated. There are heavy bodies of tidelands along the Salmon river and bay. Between Siletz and Salmon river, near the coast is a large lake around which are also hundreds of acres of good lands. Of course, at the present time it is impossible to estimate the amount of tillable land along these streams. Much land which at first observation does not look fit for agriculture, will be found to be good land, only covered with a heavy growth of alder, vine maple, cherry or crab apple. These lands will ail be taken and cleared up, and they will surprise one by their fineness, after the brush and tim ber is cleared off of them. There are 366 sections of land on the reservation, containing 234,240 acres. Of this there has been al lotted to the Indians 42,560. This leaves a total of 191,680 acres un allotted. Placing only one-fifth ot this as good farm and grazing lands and it would make 38,400 acres in round numbers, or 240 homesteads of 160 acres each to be had on the reserve outside of the Indian allotments. This means 240 homes for actual settlers, homes where they may live and prosper. In addition to this must be added the fact that nearly, if not all of the hill land is well adapted to grazing for cattle, sheep aud goats. In fact there are certain parts of the hills in the reserve that are said to be the best grazing lands in the state. They are in some places open mountains on which the grass grows waist high and is very nutritious. -Cattle will and do live on these hills the year round, roll ing fat. These bald mountains, as they are called, are the stockmen's paradise. The timber lauds of the Siletz are equal to any of the Coast range. The best timber is on the hills and mountains near the heads of the various streams, although all along the rivers are fine bodies of timber that would be considered simply first-class in every respect in other less favored countries. The timber consists principally of fir, both white and yellow, spruce, larch, alder and cedar. There are some of the finest bodies of spruce and fir con tiguous to the Siletz and its tribu taries that there are in the Coast range. The time is not far distant when there will be mills on the Siletz that will be sawing thousands ofiCwt, l'1 s, ;;;j Uiui fir lumber each day, which will be carried by the lumber schooners to all parts of the coast. The fishing industries of the Siletz are in their virgin state. The Siletz is said to have the largest run of salmon of any stream between the Columbia and Rogue river. It is a virgin stream aud has never been fished out of. On account of the large body ot fresh water that runs down the Siletz it is said to attract the large number of salmon. The rariy or parties that get the first cannery on the Siletz river or Bay is going to reap the greatest harvest that has been had in the fishing industry since the palmy days of the canneries ou the Columbia river. All the ad vantages are present ou the Siletz for the successful prosecution of this industry, and it is safe to say that not many months will elap.e before some man or firm will erect a cannery on the Siletz and reap the benefit of this great run of fish that are now going to waste. HOW TO OBTAIN THKSU LANDS. As stated above, there will be on July 25, 1895, at noon, 191.680 acres ot lan-1 subject to settlement. j Of this a portion has been surveyed, : ard aH f t'nat surveyed portion ! will De subject to entry at that !tirae- There is no school land on j the reservation, the state having i already received its portion of this j land in the way of selections ot "eu ianus m ower parts 01 tne parts state. The lnetliods of obtaining these lands are through the home stead, timber and stone, and town site laws. Some of these laws have already been published in this paper but will be again publishad here. By the terms of the act ratifying the treaty made with the Indians the land entered under the. home stead law will be governed by the general provisions of the homestead law with the following exceptions, to quote from the act, "Provided, however, that each settler under and in accordance with the pro visions of said homestead law shall, at the time of making his original entry, pay the sum of fifty cents per acre in addition to the fees now required by law, and at the time of making final proof pay the fur ther sum of one dollar per acre, final proof to be made within five years from date of making entry, and three years actual residence on the land shall be established by sucn evidence as is now required in homestead proofs, as a pre-requisite to title or patent." The provisions of the homestead law, to be brief are: That entrymen must be 21 years of age or over, or the head of a family, that he is a citizen of the United States, or has declared his intention to become such; must describe accurately the land he de sires to enter; that he is not the owner of more thau 160 acres ot land in any state or territory; that he is making the entry in good faith aud not for the purpose of speculation, nor in the interest of person or corporation, but for his own use and benefit. The fee to accompany such entry is about $16 for 160 acres, which added to the cash payment of fifty cents per acre makes a total of $96 required to cuter 160 acres. It is not absolutely necessary to enter a full 160 acres unless the entry man so desires, but he can enter 40 acres, or any amount from that up to 160 acres. The fees would be in proportion to those named above. Settlement can be made on unsurveyed land, and the settler has the exclusive right to enter said land for a period of three months after such land is surveyed aud subject to entry. The time of actual residence may be counted in at the time of making proof. The mineral lands will subject be to entry under the ordinary pio visions of the mining laws, a copy of which may tie obtained by ad dressing the local or general land office. The principal provisions of the townsite laws have already been published, aud will be of no mate rial interest at this time. The principal and most import ant question to be determined by the prospective settler who would make a home on the Siletz is this: Are all the good lands allotted to tue Indi.iiisi' To this we would an swer, not by any means. It is true that allotments have been made of all the improved lands, and in fact, of all the land close to the agency. But as you go up and down the riv er there can be seen hu:i '.reds cf acres of just as good land as any of that owned by the Indians yet un allotted. There are large bottoms in bends of the river that are yet open for the sturdy settler. What is true of the Siletz is also true of eveiy other stream in the reserva tion in proportion to the size of the streams. Many of the Indian al lotments have been taken solely with the view of fronting the river, and the land is wholly unfit for ag riculture. In no instance after you leave what is known as the lower farm, six miles below the agency, does a single allotment reach more than a half mile back from the riv er, and in many cases they do not extend nearly so far. There are bottoms that are two 01 three miles wide. There are many good homes in these when the strong and will ing arm of the farmer puts them in shape. For the man who wishes to settle on the Siletz and feels uncertain ot making a living for a year or two, or until he gets his ground partly ! in a state of cultiAation, there is a ! chance to lease Indian laud for cul- 1 tivation. The Indians can now lease their lands for from one to three years for farming purposes. Thi.5 will give a man a chance to get a home started, some land clear ed and a start made. HOW TO GET TO THE RESERVE, There are several ways by which one may reach the reservation. There is a good wagon road leading from the Valley over the mountains to the head of Salmon river, and thence down the river to the coast. This is about the' only means of in gress to the northern part of the reservation. To reach the central and southern part one has a choice of the O. C. & E. railroad and a wagon road from Corvallis over the mouutaius. By these routes Toledo is reached, and from here there is a good wagon road onto the reserva tion. In conclusion we would say that the Siletz country does not have al! of the advantages iu the world, but to the man who is toiling his life ont on a rented farm, it offers a home where he can be free aud in dependent. It offers au opportuni ty fur a man of limited means to get a good piece of land iu a good country in a goon state. The coun try is going to settle up. There are hundreds of men who are look ing for just such a chance to get land. So if a person wants to make a home where every effort of honest toil will be rewarded; where the' killing hot winds and the destruc tive cyclones are unknown; where it can be truly said that, "the hus bandman tickles the earth with a hoe and it laughs forth an abundant harvest;" where nature has been so prolific that man can live with the smallest amount of effort, and the balance of his labors be fully re warded, then let him come to the laud of the Siletz in Lincoln ocunty. We can picture in our minds the haPPy. prosperous and contented people that the land of the Siletz will contain and shelter in its beau tiful valleys and ou its sunny hill sides before many years have passed away. Can anyone imagitie a more entrancing picture than a home 011 the banks of the beautiful Siletz, with the field and the orchard on which the husbandman can rely with calm content, knowing that he has only to put forth the effort of his labor and it will be fully rewarded. His flocks and herds pasture on the hillsides and in the glades, his gar dens, grain and fruits ripen iu the sun, his bees gather honey from the clover fields, the buds and the blos soms; the timber furnishes his fuel, fencing, etc.; the river gives him fish, and iu the forest are deer and other game. Should not peace, prosperity and contentment rest up on the man who makes his home under these conditions? Then come and view the laud of the Siletz, one of the last Indian reservations ever to be opened for settlement by Un cle Sam. You may not like it. You rnisht wish for tVs -o-l oi a ptairie where you could wear mind aud body out trying to grow corn or wheat. You may not take kindly to our country with its di versified products. But come and see the land anyway. View its hills and its valleys. Gaze on its tall, majestic trees. Take a canoe ride down the river and pay tribute to old Mediciue Rock. Gaze on the grand old Pacific ocean as it breaks on the shingly beach. See alt of it that Is to be seen, and then if you do not think you could live and prosper amid its hills and valleys, return from whence you came. But come and see the land of the Siletz. Farms for Sale. I have several farms, both culti vated and uncultivated, for sale in tracts ot 40 acres and upwards. These lands are adapted to fruit, vegetable and sheep culture. Will be sold very cheap and on reason able terms. Anyone desiring to purchase such lands will do well to call on or address M. J. AttniiN, tf. Little Elk, Oregon. If you want to what is going on Lincoln You will have to Lincoln County Leader. It will give you all the County and local news, without favor or bias. 31.50 o V & H r3 I- M JIM A ft m nacKajre. Costs no more than inferior packaee soda never spoils the flour, keeps soft, versally acknowledged purest in KaSe only fcy GTJRCn fe CO., New York Soli ty crcccra cveryw&rre. Write for Ana and Hammar Eool; of talnnhl nin.in h DO YOU WANT It Will Pay YOU to see I CAN SELL YOU FIRST-CLASS S Warranted True to Name and Insect Pests AT THE LOWEST PRICES. Home Growngand'HealthyTrees tT. F. STUART, J-Oieao, tSF-At LEADER OFFICE. BARGAINS IN We have some good Bargains iu aa'c- DClow we give a description of a few of them: -3SEES3- ffif arrfl ratiM. T) , j , ucavcr creen; good house, barn and outbuildings this farm has lots of meadow land and is an ideal dairy farm. Price $1,200, and worth double the mon ey. 59 acre ranch on- Big Elk five miles above Elk City; some plowed and 7 acres slashed and in timothy house, good barn 40x48; on county road, school within )l mile A good stock ranch. Price $1,400 on good terms. 120 acre ranch five miles from Toledo! fr.im ttmii. -J t about 40 acres under fence, orchard Many other Bargains in keep posted on in County subscribe for the yz;ar Cf ias.tivi!;.?. trade marks and labels. and is mi. the world. FRUIT TREES? ME before Buying. and Free From Disease Oregon REAL ESTATE Real Estate placed in our bani and small fruit. A splendid trtf of land with a good body of cr; bottom. Price $600 cash. Two lots in Prior Scott's ad6 tion to Highland! one corner sc one inside. P-iice for the two, $i: all cash. Toledo, well located and clost'-f av.uuji nouse. rnce 975. A well selected stock ot mercha' dise to trade for a good ranch f Auinua iui , musi Dave auuiv - or bottom land and be welllocafjP A good trade will be given for U ( Mnu 01 a Tancn. Farm and City .Proper! summit 1 1 o. j?'. biWAET & CO. TOLEDO, OREGON.
