INVESTORS' AND HOMESEEKERS' EDITION
SECOND SECTION
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PUBLISHES rULt ASSOCIATED PRESS REPORT
PAGES 9 TO 16
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COVERS THE MORNING FIELD CN THE LOWER COLUMBIA
33rd YEAR, NO. 47
ASTORIA, OREGON, SUNDAY FEBRUARY 23, 1908
Finest Baiiry Coumttiry
PRICE FIFTEEN CENTS
to tihe World
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MKADOWS LOOKING EAST FROM WARRENTON.
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DAIRY FARM DR. BARR, CRAY'S RIVER.
PIIOM a brief description of the physical features of thnt section of
I Oregon lying on the south shore of the Coluiiihia ami near tho P
oiflo Count the thoughtful reader w ill not fail to discern that conditions
here are very favorable for the success of the live stock imlnsirv
There are extensive range well covered with native grasses; there are
well-watered valleys; there are large areas that can be put into pasture at
a reasonable cost, ami there is a mild climate that enable stcck to roam
in the ojien country during the winter months. In abort, every essential
requisite for carrying on stock-raising with satisfactory results may
be found in all parts of this district.
The valleys of the Nehalem, Young's River and the Iwis and
Clark in Clatsop county, equal any dairying lands in the world. Along
me oroau valleys ol the last two rivers are a number of dairy farms
which supply Astoria and the towns of the county with milk, cream and
butter. Some of them have ordinary stock and some of them have fine
tock,but they all find conditions most excellent for marketing their
produce all the year round.
Among the dairy farms having fine stock are the Clover Nook and
tho Sunflower dairies, located on the east bank of the Lewis and Clark
river, and owned by 0. I. Peterson, of Astoria. The ground stock of
Clover Nook consists of fine registered Jerseys, while the ground stock
of the Sunflower dairy consist of the famous Dutch Belted Cattle, the
only stock of the kind in tho state, and one of three herds on the west
coast. These have taken first prize at the county and state fairs and
have aroused great interest because of their beauty and the amount of
milk they furnish as compared with other stock.
Sunflower dairy is aliout five miles from the center of Astoria. The
Lewis and Clark River, deep enough for large ships, runs along one
side of the farm, which consists of 164 acres, and the county road skirts
the other side on the east. The farm is formed from the richest soil in
the world that of tide land which has been dyked and drained and
ia good for any purpose. It will raise any kind of vegetable, fruit or
grain crop. Three crops of clover may be raised on it yearly and for
pasturage purposes it is practically unsurpassed.
It is perfectly level and has several natural snriiurs located in
different parts of it, which may be used for keeping milk cool in cans
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ana lor watering the stock, although the river water is quite good for
uio latter purpose, 'the grass is green on this soil all the year round
and it grows thickly and rapidly, making very fine forage for dairy
stock. Eighty head of cattle form the dairy stock of the farm anil
they produce at a low estimate from 120 to 160 gallons of milk per day.
The wholesale price of the milk in Astoria, because of the luck of more
dairy farms, is 60 cents a gallon wholesale.
The buildings on this dairy farm are the fiuest in Clatsop county.
The residence would do credit to a man of means in a large city and tho
barn, which is quite new, is one of the largest on the coast. The upper
portion easily holds 100 tons of hay. It is 140 feet long by 80 feet wide
and has Btanchions for 75 head of cattle. Tho latest patent devices for
keeping the stock in the stalls, where they lock themselves in, are in
evidence in au parts or the lower floor.
Two large silos for green feed stand in the center of thn lar h-
A machine shop, improved devices for separating cream and bottling
' anJ n iwi everything that modern ingenuity could devise for
the convenience of such a great dairy as this, are installed in every
position where it will do the most good and save labor. A. C. Miller is
manager of the farm, his assistant beinir Harrv Spicer. With t.hn
other men the big dairy is run like a huge machine, its modern improve-
menw maKing this possible.
This dairy is the best sample of what may be done in this line in
the valleys of Clatsop county. It combines beauty with convenient
utilities, both artificial and natural. Beautiful shade trees spread their
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SCENE ON JEFFERS' BROS. DAIRY FARM, LEWIS & CLARK.
waving boughs over grassy lawns, in a large park which is set aside
from the active portion of the farm. Two substantial bridges span
smnii streams which pass through the park. The view from the sul
stantial county road, the approach to the dairy farm, and the splendid
view on enterting the grounds invariably causes exclamations of delight
and enthusism on the part of the visitors.
Another feature of this farm is its historic associations. It is
almost directly opposite the spot on the river where Captains Lewis and
Clark camped for a winter over 100 years airo. These fnmmia or.
plorers passed over this farm on numerous occasions and probably never
imagined that it would eventually be the beautiful dairv farm that
it now is.
Land values along this famous stretch of "bottoms."
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for many miles along both sides of the river, are amazingly low. ' But,
they will not remain that way long, when the county is filled with new
comers anxious to enjoy a share in the general prosperity and richness
of this section. The lands may be had at nresent tnr a tenth nf thdm
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actual value, which will be realized within a very few years.
The bottoms along Young's River are also very productive and
good for dairying, trucking and fruit-growing. Corn may be raised
for stock and this has been proved during the cast summer, when both
the Lewis and Clark and Young's River bottoms, have produced ji fine
quality of forage of this kind in spite of the mat moisture: Which -n.
ables three crops to be grown during a season.
Other parts of the county are excellent for dairvinsr ' Prrvlnetji nt
the dairy farm are in excessive demand and as the towns and cities
grow the demand will be that much greater. .There will always be a
big market, in fact, for all produce raised in the soil n.l nrnrlnotinn.
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from stock. As the production arrows the DODuktion will irmw
although the prospects are that the population will easily keep ahead
in the race.
The range days for stock have passed and stock-farm'mff ia Hip mnst
profitabe investment of the modern farmer. Conditions in nd nrmmd
Clatsop are open for stock-farming of a superior kind and the natural
advantages are unsurpassed in the west. In other localities stncWn
are constantly anxious about the maladies thatrom time to time attack
their animals. Disease germs are in the air and epidemics are likely ta
break out at any time. Nothine of the kind is vet in Oivsmn nfl
the strenuous regulations enforced by the state government, to preserve
mese neaitny sanitary conditions, it is very unlikely that any disease
peculiar to stock will gain a foothold. The low
is unfavorable to the propagation of disease germs and annoying animal
pests. 7
But favorable as the conditions are for the raising of stock in
Oregon state, the latter does not yet produce the stock necessary for
local demands. Oregon markets will be looked to for all time to come
to supply demands in Alaska and the Orient. There is not likely to
be a time when the beef, pork, mutton and dairy products of th
will fail to find a ready sale at remunerative prices, and there can
hardly be placed a limit to the number of opportunities for inaugurat
ing a siocK-growmg enterprise; nor to the possibilities to which such an
enterprise may be developed.
The prediction that Oregon would in time become a ereat dairvin
state, made some years ago. is proving true. While the industry has had
a steady, if not rapid growth, in the years gone by, the past biennial
period, and especially this year, has seen a remarkable increase in the
products of the dairy. Some of the dairies which heretofore have Ann
a large business, report this year that they have increased their hiisinmsi
by from 60 to 70 per cent, while the dairyman, the one who produces
the milk, has had an unusually profitable season. The market has been
firm and the prices paid have been higher by considerable than in any