Willamette farmer. (Salem, Or.) 1869-1887, May 14, 1875, Image 1

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Willamette farmer., May 14, 1875, Image 1

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Newspaper Page TextI " J !W w " i il A tUSf A Four-Page Supplement with-tlie Farmer this -Week. V J J n nN xc Uhfjpi k I i $3.00 per Year, in Advance. SALEM, OREGON, MAY 14, 1875. Voluino VII Number 1&. OHIO CORRESPONDENCE. Mb. Editor: This eleventh day of Aprll, is now laboring under a weak effort to rain, and It surely is needed, for in two weeks time, the ground has dried and settlod down with terrific permanency, to be about as hnrd as It was last winter, when frozen to a depth of three feet, and the wheat crop looks from tlio effect of thaw and froeze, very much like it hnd suffered tho threat made to tho Laodoceans: "Had been spowod out." Of course, a great many people are getting wbe, and say, our seasons aro altered very much. For the last few days there has been some oats and flax sowed In this locality, and peo ple seem willing still to furnish greens for potato booties, and havo planted somo of tho earlier varieties of that most estimable tuber which furnishes these pests their most toothsome food. At this time potatoes are selling at one dolhsr and fifty conts, whilst a citizen of Delaware, Mr. Campbell, Is offer ing some new seedling varieties for two dol lars per pound. He claims to have originated tbe late rose variety, which by tbe way is a btnnbug. I notice in my last Farmer that your State has nt last moved In the right di rection, and has taken pains to arrange the necessary information for emigrants, or those contemplating getting homes on that alone. Please send me over one of your pamphlets, for $y the way I have been answering a great niany questions respecting Oregon from a guessing standpoint, and I had better post up a little before I am detected. How ever should you hear some Laplander or Norwegian cursing me because they might find the climate too cold, please offer an ptfogy for me and consider yourself en titles to an exchange. There are many families leaving this local ity the present spring than have left for many years. Many intending to seek homes in 'California and Oregon, aud but for a letter published in tbe Cincinnati Commercial, aud written from Vallejo by a discomfited old bachelor from Porkopolls, the ratio of emi gration would have been doubled. He gave California his most spiteful efforts, (and tbe poor devil was sharper than a Tallyho razor,) in so much, that California thought It mighty necessary to throw In n. counter irritant, and and have glvon an old preacher fivo tliou awfl dollars lo fisjbt it Umvu through the columns of the Herald and 1'rcxbyterian published in Cincinnati. That very beautiful work tho Trans-Contl-2iental Tourist published bv that eminout pubWhar Mr. G. W. Carlston, showing the bekuty aud vastness of western scenery, will do nuuph also Jn bringing many to your shores as tourists, who will find homes wi!h you, arjcl reasons for stRvintr in the hUtoric Band of dipt. Jack and tho Modocs. I still iJollght to read the journal of Lewis and ClarkA, those great explorers, who pene trated two thousand miles of wilderness lo reach that land where rolled tho Oregon when as yet I was but a small boy, and heard my parents readlngofthN baclcood's enterprise. .And lu the lotter of Jesse Apple gato to the Agricultural Bureau at Washing ton, and eeeu'ln the Reports oriP53, the old gentleman threw in this beautifully roir.?nllo sentiment. "And even now aro seon standing aiue'uy sine me log eamn 01 me ionwr and tbe wigwam of the savage." This Is only one of the beautiful thoughts embodied in tils letter, and Oregon should do honor to his memory 'by rendering thnt noble letter .mora conspicuous, and when 1 come.to Oro- 'goii I vanttosne Jesspif he be living, It not .any representative of tho man. I am Mr, Editor yours, Ac, Johk Waters, LeoVabdsuuko., O., April 11, 1675. About Lands Offered for Sale. Mr. Editor: Oregon is now receiving, a few immigrants, but only a sprinkling com pared with our neighbor California. Our people havo seen so little of influx to this coast for so many years, they are in a meas ure excited ovor a low strangers, and somo imagine that fanning lands have or must take a great advance in price. This is not true, and only in very rare instances will any of our lands boar an advance on present prices; some of tho lands now offered in the market are above their actual and truo value for any purpose whatever. This only tends to drive from us those who have coino to make their homes here. Iu ono lustanco a man in the Waldo hills, had bis farm, (a good piece of land) put on the books oi the real estate agents, In Salem, and by them adver tised all tho season at $14 per acre, without a buyer. We learn that that same man has now been to those same agents and negotiat ed for a loan of $1,000 to be used in grubbing out the brush on his land, says he would not take 25 per acre. A few immigrants have Inspired htm to en orgy, this Is well, but the inspiration that does not get boyond advance in price is not well. We have learned of a case In Polk county, where a farm was put on tho books of tho same Arm in Salem, and by them advertised and shown at various times, to men wanting farms for one whole year, at $12 per acre, Tho owner finally traded it off for other property and the purchaser recently went to the same firm to have it placed on their books at $22 50 per acre. Being refused be soomed to think he was not very fully appreciated in bis endeav or to furnish some poor weary immigrant with a farm. One of these high-priced men was asked what his ;land was assessed at, his answer was, "That was no criterion in the country; it don't work out Jn tbe country as it does in town." He had beon oilered five times as muoh for his land as it was as sessed for. Let the County Assessor stop right hero and moralize on tbe discrimina tion between city and country property. Some Portland real estate agency has en gaged the servloes of persons of no knowl edge of lands to go ovor the country aud contract with owuorsof lauds to soil for their account at such prices as they imaino their lands are worth. Who over heard of ono of those agents making a sale. Echo answers, "Who?" We are of opinion the iffort being mado to advance lauds is premature, and will not be sustained, and will only do tin injury. Nothing Is gained by blowing up n imapiuary value never to bo realized with out further improvoinouts. an uiiSEiivru. McGbee Ofobbiriffgldwr "' Mr. Editor; Tho linportarico-'pfany means of rendering productive Industry inoro.,efU1 clent Is mr excuse for asking, place la your columns for the subjeot of this paper, which is so simple and plain iu its construction that but for tho little iron used therein, it Inight pass for a copy of tho first plow used in till ing tho soil, in tho shape of a forked stick. As it is now mado it is simply the Instrument commonly known as a bull-tongue or scooter plow, to which is afllxod a cutter, by a holo mortised through the center of the beam, so fir forward of the working point of the plow that the cutter, which Is to be made rounding or slanting off at tho point, like a Turkish sclmetar, of as good steel, oud kept as sharp If possible strikes its work at an angle of about S0, causing the plow to rise upward and jump over Any obstruction that the weight of the plowman thrown on tho handles will not enable tho team at a strong pull to cut through. The plow Is worked by an .en tirely dlflerent application of power from that used with the common plow; with that,whou you wish, to throw your plow out of the ground, you weigh down on the handles with this you ease up and let tho point of the plow beam lower and bring tho cutter against root, stump, or other obstruction at a still grouter angle, thereby allowing it to jump an obstacle with less application of power from the team. The one I have beon 'working with such results as to cause the writing ot this article is so formed and adjustod that the working position of tbe plow is a half cirole, with the slanting point ot the oulter project ing an inch or so below it that being neces sary to prevent the point of the plow from becoming wedged in under roots, grubs or stumps. The chief use of the plow being to work land reclaimed from timbor growth with the labor of grubbing. Mr. McUhee, who was the first to use the plow, as I havo endeavored to describe it, tolls me that farm ers do not think of grubbing land now In the district of Tennessee that he came from, pre ferring to use this plow aud get tho man u rial bonefit of tbe gradual decay of roots through a series of years. J. Misio, Stock Botsing in Eastern Oregon. It Is Well' tinderstood.that a great ,piirt, of! eastern uregon is merely a grpziug uuuiury, Prof. Prentice's Concert. SALEM, May 10th. The Cascade Mountain Eoad. Likes Ouecio:, Mr. P. P,Wa(t,Loroy Illinois, nncle of Mayor Wright, who camel here an inwalld a few weeks ngo, bos gained flesh and health and strength so sines his arrival that Ao has nUout concluded that this is tbe country bo is looking for. He now would lliluk nothing 6Xtraordlniry of walk lug teu jnllen a day, wkero.w lie could staree iy wallciislf a mile whon he left. He talks of beconiloc a permanect resident In our be neficent clfniato.and we sincerely hope he will conclude to do so. The Stba.Vkr Oaio. Tills little craft on Uer last tripvwut up to Springfield and took sa 20 tons of ll our from that place. This is tKe first boat that has reacted Sm-invrinlri for about six wars. She had en 150 tons. il " "" It, Bnd tUU line so centrally of which came from Eugene acd above. A turouu " sute. wi-l PfH-ar of no llttlo slight accident occurred above Hairlsburi,' ,u,poruIK ,n ,ue "UD" provided a practl- by vajch they ran Intoafna and .jlit the I , pass W,BU DB"a through the Cas- rtora, The next tiip will be on rinrsdjy, "uo """"I""- . rr. iMiar-jiAN, Mil. Editor : I recently received tho en closed letter from W. W. Chapman, and as tho subloctls of public interest, I will pub licly answer the questions raised by thollet ter. I think un exploring and surveying party might go to work now in the Sanllam Pats and find no snow to hinder their work. I think, also, that if ever a survey is made for the purpose of a railroad, the Pass will bo found to offer such easy facilities for grade and construction as compared with Die Columbia river valley, that the incidental branch will be tho first constructed through tbe Cascade Mountains. J. Misto. Portland, Or., May 5, 1875. Hon. John Minto, Dear Sir ; Should our contracts for the construction of tho Port land, LUlles and Salt Lake railroad branches be ratified, it will be our purpose to explore tne line for the branch from Baker City by Canyon City and the Santlam, some llrao during the season, aud I shall bo glad to learn from you how soon tho snows will IormIt conveniently snch exploration and survoy.. You remember that at the last ses sion of, tbe Legislature such a branch was provided for, and when our Encllsb con-t.-aetors ahtll ratify our contract, I shall de sire to make them fully acquainted with the buI fleet of this branch as Incident to tbe main line. Of course, at this time, vory little In terest fa felt in regard lo this branch, but tbe const.Twtlon of the main line will lead at once to the consideration of all branches con- A good audienco grettod tho concert last evening and the arrangements were all ex cellent. Several pieces toward tho com mencement vcro omitted, because of tho in disposition of May Prentico and Miss Ella Eord. Tho vaiioim piecesand choruses sung by the class wore all good, indeed excellent, especially the solo, duet and quartette, "Wo shall meet by tho IJuautlful Gato," which was sung with best vtUfl. Miss Eannlu Barker and Miss Epsio Cox ma'ntaiued their reputa tions as our favorite tclo fingers. Miss Sallie Clarke mado her first nppoaianco in that lino In a lively, humorous ballad, and Miss Ella Lawronco sang a ong that touched the young folks sympathetically. All 'of these wore encored. The class ronderod sooral anthems well. Tho young gentlemen gave valuable- assistance all through, aud N. It. Cox's solo,, comic, was well received. It struck us that tbe goutlemen's voices, which were of bweot tono, often lacked volume and plainness of enunciation. They could hard ly fill that houpe with full efforts, and should uot bo afraid to use more lung power. Mrs. Woodworth did excellently at the plsno end organ, and Prof. Prentico was always present to give lifo and expression to every part. inn auuience certainly cr. r.vel a verv not adapted to cultivation and farming purr 'poses, but a rolling upland region that pro duces the Nutritious bunoh grans that grows largo animals and fatteus oxoellont bcof and mutton, but especially tho l'ormor. Thoro are occasional oroeks and rivers digging their way through those treolo.s regions, and on these are sometimes found rich but narrow bottom lands where (ho ranches nro located, and tho upland plains afford raugo for tho htock herds that depend on tho creeks for water. Our fellow-townsmnn, Mr. M'.FIsk, return ed yesterday from a two months' visit to his ranch (tho ranch of Fisk S Walker; on the north bank of tho Columbia, in Washington Territory, about fifty miles above the Dalles, and a description of their ranch will glvo some Idea of tho character aud magnitude of tho stock busluesseast of the mountains. Chapman's Creek puts into tho Columbia there, and about three miles up tho creek is a small valloy containing about 300 acros of rich arable soil. Here th ranch is located, and here thoy have a fine farm for grassos, vegetables and cereals, with a good orchard, but that is the only arable land with in a circuit of fifteen milts around, and as a consequence there Is no other settle ment to Interfere with them In all that dis tance. The cattle of Eisk and Walker ought to number at least a thousand head, but there is uo easy means of counting them. Thoy aro inhabitants of a range 200 miles In extent, at least some of them stray over tbat extent of country. Thoso gentlemon havo taken pains to improve their stock by the in troduction of Short Horn and good graded males and excluding male scrnbs,and at least one-third of their large band aro now from half to seven-eights Short Horn stock. As a coneequenco they show great improvement. It has been supposed by many that Short Horn's were too tenderly raisod to bo valua ble on a wild range with largo herds, but Mr. Fisk informs us to tho contrary. Their grade steers aro as largo at two years old as tho common stock at three years old, aud tho grade cattle stand tho sovoro winters far U'ttor than tho common stock. Tho losses tiro invariably oi common stock, if auy, and that too with tho thosamo care. During the just wintor Elilc and Walkor ouly U)ft about twenty hoad, th.it thoy know of, by the sovore wintor, mid brought through considerablo hay without uslnj: It, cut in their valley. Thoy oven had a num ber ot good fat steors roudy for market, off tho rang'), whoa wintor was ovor. Tiio snow lay ou lo bo sura, but tho winds uhvoys blow It off tho crown of the hills and tho exposed hill side.", eo tint tho bunch grass oilers good feed, and tho cattle aUo Hod winter broweo lutho brush along the cieojc. Tho bast boof offdrod for markot this spring caino oil of Chapman's Crook, on tho Washington side, aud from tho Johu Day's Valloy on tho Ore gon side of tho Columbia. Cattlo aro now reveling on tho fresh pastures and rapidly improving, and beef will soon bo abundant or the very best. Walt?r Jackson brought down IJ5 head on Monday, that averaged 1,400 pouuds live weight, and ono animal went up to 1,700, aud would net 000 pounds of meat. That fact glvos an Idea of tho pas tures of Eastern Orogon, ovon as tho rosults or a moat seyore winter experlonoo, chasing young cattlo at Walla Walla, intend ing to drive them south. In addition to thin cattle owners aro Intending to spay a great number of inferior cows and heifers and thereby, increase tho bef supply, but also docroase tho future production and Improve the grniio oi their hands. This will all havo an importaut effect on tho future cattlo mar ket of tho enstorn countlos of both Oregon ,nud Washington, and Mr. I'iskoxpressos the belief that in two years from now the da-, maud will bo greatly improved. Selling prices in that socttoti aro said to bt rtt tho present timo about as follows: Year lings $5 to $i), two year olds 4) to $11, three year olds $15 to $1G. BURNED TERRIBLY. A Caso of Somnambulism. charming ovenlitg, nnd imvo reason to bo Speaking of stock raisers, Snlnes. wLoso nlrmnAf! with tlm nrnnf rAm.lit.wt M,nl ". . ! .--, ... .. - . . ' ' w Jess admirable homo" latetu. IK,S' I " , , Mr. Hewitt Itintr, who lives near Tamer's Station, eight miles south of Salnm, brings nows of a torrlblo accident that bofol Mrs, It. Sullust of that vicinity. It appears that In n state of somnambulism she rtroso from her bed about 5 o'clock this morning, and fell in to tho fire, upon her luck, burning tho body from tho hips to the head, mid tho right arm, in a frightful manner. She then rushed out lutothoyard with her nigbtclothosall ablnzo, wiioro she was seen by Iter husband, who was out In the barn, and ho immediately came to her rescue and put outtho lire. Mr, King, who rents tho farm of Mr. Sallust, camo Immediately Into town for Dr. Oarponter,vho wont out early this morning to attond tho pa tlout. We are Indebted to Mr. Jamos Coffijy for tho particulars. A Hoy and CalfStory. a story Is going" the rounds of tho press that has been evi-1 dontly purloined from Oregon and we pro pose to catch it and bring it back homo. A few years ago an enterprising lad over towords Monmouth, lu Polk county, had a pet calf, and he ono day yokod himself and tho calf togolher for au oxporlmont. The ex periment didn't work woll; the calr got frightonod and loroatonnd recklessly, nearly lerking tho boy's hoad off, and vory likoly tho ontcrpiislng youth would havo been choked to do.Uh only that his brother camo to his roscuo and nommtneed lo tako off the bow from his btulsed nock, which drew from tho two logged calf tho remonstrance: "You dang loot, why don't you unyoko the calf? I'll aland." Camu NiiAH Dnow.viNO. flopo Fra.ler, a small boy who lives up on Pluty Hill, camo near drowning while fishing off n plaulc lust oenlngon tho south sldo of tho Salom llour lug mills, tho facts wero nbouliwfollows: vvhlio walking on tho plank ho stopped on somo wln'.it thnt caused him to slip, falling down Into tho wuUr that cornea nut from und'jr tha mill nt that place. Ho sink twico and was just Hived whtlo folng down the (bird tlmo by somo other boys who hold a llshingpolo a tlnt ho could catch hold ol It. Ho helil on till ho was drawn out nil sato ami sound. Thl.safioruoonAo was ell light nnd will soon bo out for another good Uruo ll.ihlug. TEE INQUEST. Gen. O. O. floivrd !w& returned from vis- Honv Found, Tho body of tho man latelv drownod in tho Sanllam, wbllo driving logs, was fouud last 8onday, about 0 miles below whore th6 accident happened. Vo woro mistaken In tho name; his uamo was Eobort Boguel, not Itobert Logan. Word was brought to this effect last evening by ono of tho men. Fimisued. That champion bat, of which we spoke tbe other day which CoL Cann is going to present to tbe champion club of Marion county, is now finished. The handle Is ornamented on tho end with a silver plate on which Is Inscribed "Marlon County Champion Bat." And now presonts a very fine appearance. Go for It, boys. aiiEBP killed. Mr. Charles MrCm who lives on Crooked Finger Prairie, near the Claokauiasline, had forty head of sheep killed by wolves one night last week, so rmr Srlvcrton corroepolident Informs un. Tho fettlera there bad nu Idea that wolvos wero not to trouhjo them. The Oregoxian eaye 1 ho mate of tho Jlora was washed overfcoerd on a recent vcvc6 irom 6-an FranCsco. A piece or plank vra.v " umaiiua, wells ,'aiia,ana ome por- DiED.-At tho residence of Hon Samuel thrown in bin. n Lant lavrrnl nn,? ), .n. I tliTMOl U.C triu Ix na!d to li-lva bfcn nr I T-,.... i ...... . .. . """ avcJ. haruV runs in tlig Ynklrm country and on th tiliacio reservation, ;s upposJ'l to own 2,600 luau or cattlo, aud probably lost COO head tho past wintor. Ho has taken pains at groat expense to Improve his herds and hna aiinmliororthoroughbrodiwlththom. Fisk A Walker lost this spring 30 head by eating the wild larkspur, which is vory poi i ououi. It oomos up early lu tho Spring be- loro the grass bocomes green and cattlo aro only Uab'e'to eat It thon as thoy never touch it alter, other gieen food cornea. It acts the same as the stagger weed, but Us victims aro easily saved If taken lu timo. Whoro stock are widely scattered it is not possible to alM'uys find tho sick ones. Weeding In tho upper part of the mouth Is a suro cure. If tha blood will flow tho animal will recover, anil recovery Is poislblo In the vorv last stages. Great numbers of cattle are to bo driven, this spring, from the countlos of Wasco and Urimtllla lo tho railroad lino through Nova da, which offers u good markot forelock. Mr.Fisi: kno, or U.800 bond idrealy 'pur- chased for that dettinatlo.i, 1,200 of which have been bought by )Vn. Cosper of this Tho inquest hold upon tho victims of tho explosion of the etoamor Sonator having been complotod, tho jury gavo tho following vjuidiot ; Wo, tho nridflralgticd Jury, empannolod by the coroner of Mullnomth rounty, Oregon,, sud sworn to inqulni Into tho causo of th& deatli of Dauiel McGill, John Cosgroyo, George Wnrnrr, John Cro wJev and other ner. ..'CP8 HUPrVMOd to bo doadi and other dancer. oiHl wounded; wh'jn, where and by what nuwriM tlipy enmo to their death, or were wounded; anJ whethftr any person anil who i Erown, In this txur4y, My Sth, Mwy Vena . . .. .' " Cw,l' ol " Uo,a8edIlywrd )",wyst"'J1J,JrVeM- "!lly Another bnyer has bought 1,000 ji, ki ii jtora. toad, A numbur of arsons aro ttisa pur- .s iuiity p a orluio, thereby: do ,'lnd Tli ou thb fl.Ii .!:.v Jf..rf 1375. the. botlarof tho steamboat Senator wis eAn,otrt'-i natr tho loot ufAldnr street, in tho Wiila.' oils river, at tho city of Portland, In said MtillnomHh iinnnty; that bv means of said iXllloslon IKtllel MeUlll. John ('m.trnvn (,eor Warrior, John Crowley, and also, as wo bollovo, J. D. Locev and others, wero kljlftd; that Daniel Mi-Gill was csptaln of said fcUiamor, JohnOotgrovo wasadfck hand (hereon, Ooorgo Warner was n fireman, and J- ,." WowU'y wa also R leok.band; thot l el x Evans, a passengor, Charles Grant, n dock-hand, and lu all probability others w hoso names wo could not obtalu, were eri fiusly wounded; thalsld explosion occuriml bv roaxon of an limnlMMiinmr nf .ni.. i Mild boiler; that John V. Smith, onglnoorof said boit, acted lu the iiromlrs without duo caution or circumsjxrf'tfoi, as It seems to us, by the testimony of competent witnesses, find was thereforo guilty of nrlmlnal nngll- tneo. JltlLS J''. Clwr.Kn. Fornninn. J. L. AtiujrsoN, E F. Iliiuov, b. C. l'.iiciti;, It. A. Wijitjj. B. G.VKKK, TIlO Orettontim lum tin mnrn lmiltt Imv. Veen recovered ttva thi Sjuetor, to. ...J.dtJW-Mliht'w.i ... .. . . Ja-r..