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About Willamette farmer. (Salem, Or.) 1869-1887 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 11, 1876)
TWW-ne II if 1 WfelilMMWSP4 P O 3.00 por Year. coos county. Improvement of the Coqnillo River. Coos County, OuKoorr, 1 Deo. 30, 1875, j To tie Honorable. tbe Senate, and Houe of Representatives, lu Congress assembled: We your Petitioners, olliz?ns of tlio Stato of Oregou, respectfully pmy your Honora ble Body to irpropriato the mm of $100,000 for the improvement of the mouth of the Ccsjulllo lilver. In Cons county, Oregon? and, In this couneoiion, wedeslra 'o mill your cs pocial altontfon to tho following facts : The Coqulllo river eniptiesi It8 waters into tlw Pacific oceau 15 miles tumtb of Cape Ar- go, lu Coos county. It drains a seciioo of ccnntry of DM sqturo miles, almost every oore'ot' which i- covered w Itli a dnnsn growl h of the finest limber iu the world, oou(iiitInii of ample, ash, .ill I or, muzeroue, live oak, yow, myrtle, white cedar, spruce, and thht Wogof'shlp building timber, fir. All this timber is accessible by the Co quillo'river, and lis tributaries but millions of feet are hoing destroyed yearly, by mouti falcfires, set Kceiriemslly, or nioro often to "bnru over the laiitfe," tor slock; nml to oleardund lor agricultural purposes., the tim ber being valueless Without a wy of getting it to uinrkei. The laco of the cotm'ry ia diversified with valleys und low, rolI.HK mountains, and tin) mountainous portion, (comprising pnrbaus one (bird of the land,) In almost a contin tiotiH coal field, and besldis contains iron, gold, etc. Thin wealth of minerals on be jut Into boats on the Coqulllo river very eas-ily-atid cheaply. The name may be said of the limbnr.and It also proper to add that unJos the river can be used as an outjat, the i-.utoral wealth ot tblrtglon will Ho dormant lor goueratlous to comn;for the position is such that no other avenue of otfrt.Hu can b found which Is not rendered luipr&ctlcible by reason of the ex pense. In such portions of the valley ns are suited to agriculture, the soil la extremely ricu, and produces enormnnsly of very vegetable, fruit, or cereHl usually raised in this latitude. jNo liner orbrtter flavored fruits, no fatter or sweeter beef, no butter more deserving tho appellation of "gilt edged," no healthier eheep, producing anterior wool or mutton, can bo found iu the United States. Fr nill,lne's and equability of climate, and health of the people, this valley blonds unrivaled by any part of the Union. The mercury never goes down to zero in winter, or up to 100 in buunuer; tbo nights ure al ways cool enough to be enjoyable, and hick-' ness is so rare that tho country cannot be fcitid to have any "prevailing disease." Springs of the purest and softest water flush from every bill, und run In every ra ylne, and there is ecurcily a fairu in the county but what is thus watered. The Ctqullle river v.111 average 150 yard, -wide for 3U miles, fiom its mouth, aud Is nav lgaKo lor that distance by vessels driwing 14 feet ot water, and by light draught steam ers forttO miles more. It is a most betutttul stream, having very much tbo appsaranca of a natural canal; jlecp, still, placid, Its bvnks steep and over buug witji wood, not rock, sbo.il, rapid, orotherobsiru3:iin to navigation save it few jsnags which can be easily removed, if nec essary. No obstacle exists, then, to the carrying of tbo Immense wealth of this region (of which those who have never seen the forests of this coast can (onn no conception) out to tbo mai Icetaof tho world except at the immediato mouth of the river. All else 1 eleir and iu It remarkably favorable condition. But at tho mouth the roiks uresodUpos d that only about one fourth of the wuter of the river can now be made available tor purpTftos of navigation, the remainder run Ding among rocks which net an a strainer, so to apeak, aud exclude all vessels. At one point, vessels of S fret draught nan nter safely, andaateam schooner of .' ton register has run regularly, carrying lumber to San Francisco, fur two years. j There la plenty of water, if tho roclw were out of the way, to admit vessels of 10 fet draught. Tho average rUo of the tide Is bX foot. Accordinpfo the V. S. Ooa Survey of JS01, whereof Com. Jta. Alden, U. S. N, w..v-omu)ander, and A. D. Biche, Nuperni. -nil.VU, the mouth of tb river whhh mile north of its present jxwill n, ws i of a mile widi', Au straight out- itit.r (he m, with 0 feet of tvatet un tbo bar at livwest tidf, at d no Impao.'iient to navigation .VE.'sted. Now t U forced lir (be drifting panos fcalDit tbe ortbern sld' of the rock bound blulT, end A Four-Page SAI&M, runs out through a rocky strainer. What has been, can bo again. A sea-wall one-fourth of a mile louir, will not only turn the river into its former channel, but will so narrow ami cou line that channel, that dec per water than bft.iro cm bn readily Sf cured. Or the rocks can bo removed from tbe pics oot channel, anil deep wafer bo had there. In either oasc, millions ot cipltal, hun dreds of men, and dnzen- of vessels, will bo Immediately employed to pi cure, and eairy out to market tbo available productions of this rich valley, Tho condition of tho mmrh of this river has em.cttmlly provmeil the development of the country heretofore, nnd cati&rd it to ra main In obscurity; but it hat been Btlrj-ntini; more attention within tho Inst two or thrco years, and is rapidly settling up in cotiue fpinnoo. Thpre are now on the river two srw mill':, one of which has been nhipplnp: cedar lum ber to S,in Frauc'nw for two years at a fair profit. Another ntw mill is bulldln.;, and will be in operation by May. A titer is uNo building for the bar, and one, if not two ves sel, to ply between herd and H-in FrrtncKco, will be builtdnrhigtho eomius? dimmer. HumIiioss point, the ntn'Ir.1 of future towns, aie located; school. pnt,t odlcs, ,Vc , are In operation: nnd tbo embryo of a com munity of business lmportnnce to tbo conn, try tit largo Is now established in thin wilder. nes. Nothing has been done in coal except mme prospecting. Nothing eau bo dono lthout an nutlet to sa; and the immenss deposits of thin mineral, and of iron ns well, will be uiidlstnrtiod In their mountain buds until tho mouth of this river is improved. One illustration will sulllco to show the inemsoof population Bud business in thin vallev. A post ollice uas established nt Co- qnille, in this valley, in the year 1871. Dur ing that rear, thi value of stamps hold was J1017. During 1872, tbe vabin wns gal 18. During 1871, the Tallin was 121.11. Dutints 1875, tlio value w as 191 79, All tho post ofDcpK, tchoola, elnution rec ords, &c, will fchow a corresponding ratio of increase. With a fair prospect of tho mouth of the river being Improved, tho population and business of this valley vvill quadruple in a year. YetMj. N Mlchlfr, Corps of Engineers, U.S.A., in his repojt to Ur.'ir. Gon. A. A. Humphrey, dated Poitland, Oiegon, March 12tb, 1874, f.ays of this prejt : "Thomot nitnral v,va.v to reach tbe wa ters r.f tho I'aeifin oi-cufi from tbo UncjiillU, rivir, would be by psi-s'ug out through lis mouth This wuh), of course, newssitalc theimprovemntnf tne latter, whinh, from ihe olmr'ir'rer of the entrance, would prove a. very dilllciilt nnd expensive operation." And yet Maj. Micbier had never seen tho mouth of tbe liver in question, and Lnew nothing whatever of it fiom porsnniil obor. ration. Notwithstanding tnis fct, bo pro ceeds to make u mrvty and eMlmntes lor tbo dinging or a canal for small steanibi-atp, (a mere ditch 30 feet wide and 4 foot rtceri at low tide.) to connect the tenters of Coos Tiny with those of tht Outjuillc river, t a cont ot WW&ViiO; when responsible Turtles could oahtly have been found, nnd can be f tund yet, who would have undertnlicn to ituprovn the mouth of the liver in a saU&fiieiory man ner for one third of the money. The sources trom which Maj. Mlehler ob tained Intoniidtlon regarding the iuutb of this river, equlro notice, aud wo quote agsln front his report: " No survey has as jet been made hv this otlice o ascertain llm ualute and cost of biicn an unoeriaKinc, out, ly an nam Inn- tln or die fo-t Kurvey Pilot nnd Charts, and through iufonu.vtiou gained from other sources, a correct conclusion o, 11 bu reached.' The Coa,t .Survey of I8ul. bofnre mention ml. Is certainly very Ur from Junifying Maj Mlctilerin his "coticltsions," and bis "oth er i-ources" of ItifiirtiMlion aro believed to bo Individuals Jnti rested in "connecting the w.fc-rs" of C'rxw lUy wlih thofcp of the Co- quill river, und their represents!"!) r.n bo totiili,- Invalidated by dosne of human wit nesses, und a)bo by the mouth of the rlvtr iUelf. Mai, Micbier further Kavs: "It isnvnrv. Uilllcultentranue, und is seldom attempted." The Captain of tho "Cordelia," who lias run this lareucco4tiilly fur two yoars, ntiil many other seafaring men, ucquJltited nith tbe untr.mc In pio-tlon, will .iy that It Is no more difficult (Jij tact it Is letter, tbo bar being short) than uuy o'bnr harbor 011 tl.U ejoat,fur thetlavb -it VLmtU adupud to its depth of water. Attain, he Kay: "A. reckv Tfof extends aoro I. vvliluh at low vatt r la almost lure. Tin 011 gh this n nxpsiis'vo cut will havo to be madn to reader it pvublo by tea-going ve'sel." Thljrccf U la!d,aud tbo vriUiU tLU Uppleinent with tlid OREGON, FEBRUABY found twelve feet of water on It at low tide, when tbe river was at its lowost stago last su minor. "Almost hare," linked! Moreover, this reef is exactly In tbo place where a sea-wall nhoutd lie built to turn tbe river into Its old channel, and will thus preat ly fioilitste tbe proposed Improvement, by furnishing a most excellent foundation to build n wall on. Material of excellent quality and in unlimited qtuntlty for a wall, is lu, aud 011, thea'.!,j.icefit bin IV. Af.er ilii-poi-lug of the question of the Im provement of the mouth, Maj MIchlcr pro ceeds to comment on tho river above, and treais tbo t-ubj-ct with even banded justice, and the only apparent roisous for the unfa vorable conclusions at which bo arrived re garding tbe river's mouth, which om be en tertained without seriously rt-ll-etlng upon Mij. M , i, that ho allowed himself fo bo nicely huuibuirged by parties Interested In the intbmus canal soheine. Now, therefore your petill, nors, who cotnn b-fn-0 your Uonorablo llody by petition, asking aid to open this river, and let tho put-up wealth of this ioiIon flow out, ro ('pevtfiilly ask that the river in question maj1 have an equal show with nlhnr places claim In.' jour attention; firm in the belief that our prcjwt will stand on Us own merits, and praying that Government ofilcors may not ag-dii hold to us the delusivn phautom of promise to the ear, to break it to the hopo. T. B. WILLARD, ALKX SIMON, - F. S. MATTE SON, Committee or Arrangements, on the part of t!ie I'bunlu. For thovWillamctto VnrnKr, Coaunon-Sanss View of Soils. "ARCAXA TKftltKSTKI." Written by request of leveral farmers Chemical analysis of soils has not fulfilled the expectations of tbo friends of science. It would not do, however, to ignore tbe debt we owe to agricultural chemistry. While willing to admit that, chemically considered, there may be many constituents of our soils, absolutely necessary, which are yet In so small a deVree distributed that nounalysi?, however minute, can litrtoct; yet their pres ence is known by tho growth of plants which will not grow without these seemingly ab sent constituents. For 1 iusfanoo, our red bills, b v nnal vsls, show almost none a mere trace of hIIIiu, and yet vo know, from com mon sense ,bervtitinn, that splendid wheat growa on these red hills. Now, common senso teaches ns that there Is on tho bran, htikfc, leive, and sulks, a smootli, LHiuttrnl glos, which stiffens and gives slreugih 10 all these, without which the stalks would never rieabnvo thesnrtoCH of the soil; bMdes, the bian would bo of no protection to 1I10 kerntl irsott, as it would be witbour billciu acid. Hence we keo tho roa- son vlaj wiiPHt needs must have some sand In the soil on which it grows, livery farmer knows what ho can grow on tbo ful lowing noil-, aud ho knows them, too, at Bight. Aslllcious.ortandysoil; an alumin ous, or clay soil; un alluvia, or loamy soil; n calcareous, or limestone soil; a peaty, or betver-dum lake, pond, marsh, fcu.s mob soil, when drained, contains a great quantity of humus, a carbonaceous, black mould. Analysis of wheat bhows, in tho WllKAT, Ashes of 1000 drv oar's i STKAW, W) 0.1 i u7 a.i n l'.'i -1 11 68 31 Silica in '-r"' -JH MdtlKSId I'm I'eroxidh 01 iron 7 I'otSHh 237 Jioda (jl Chloriii.i uac.i. Lilpljuoo uuiu 3 l'hi.sjiborio acid 40$ vvecauuot admit, lu tho full sense ni the torm, that this Hnalysis ruprenents tho ivho'e truth, but, If it is only au adumbrallou ot the truth, It aifirdj a belter guide than no guide at all. Co in in 011 experience trachea us tnitt vvliero Hue grain grows there must bo all, or nearly all, the simple and compound bodies necessary to fill the conditions need- ed. And, if, on a trial by aualjsLs, tbo con Htltuenta In lull are not found to bo In tbe soil, aud yet wheat of tbo lx' quality is raised on the soil-what Is tho conclusion? Does tcijQco errT Or, are tbo means ust-d by tbo ohumiet tqual to the emorgeney 1 To the Jat we give a negative. Thbn, Itlsthofault of the means used, anil not ol chemistry 1-er te. 'XhU is tho coiicluiloti wo JUbl comu to. Now, while common noneo may, In most cater, be corrtcf, and chemical 8nalysw, in many Instaoctii, itcorrec?, ye: last what Iub J Farmes? ibis Week. 11, 1876. brought common sonto up to its present ex a'ted t-titt ? If common sense is a nucleus around which encircles all tho arts, fcclciiow., appliances, and experiments, has It not been built, by tho data furnished through their aid? Then, if these aro furors in tho ulti mate datum it will not do to leave) thoin out, und thus place our " commoM.spnse view of soils" within U10 narrow circle of simple experience on the farm. I Jove that plain, bouest, ommou-senee viow takcu b. tho luhsaes, for, founded In ov crj' daj 's ex periments lu life, It leads us not atiay, but yields us u basis which Is tbo realism in ac tion. Hut, while I love this, I luvo sortie thing more, I love to take a bioml and com predieusivo view which covers, us ne.tr us may be, not only tbe realistic view, present cd in ordinary buslne, but that clear men tal Illumination which, by induction Rnd de duction, given through analysis and synlbo sis, tills the mind with both practical and theoretical views more complete, bnoUHO moro universal, and theretme more correct. A pr.iot'cdl view of any subect Is alvvaj.s moro or less Imperfect. Now, let us see what nld tlio chemist's analysis ntl'ji-ds to our "common-senso viow of solla." We i-ee from our table that, in tho whest, the heaviest ingredients aro magues'.a, pot ash, und phosphoric acid; the next are soda, lime, ami silica; aud the least peroxide of iron, sulphuric acid, and a trace of chlorine. We see tho straw varies very much trom this. Tnl analysis, ir of uuy valuo at all, shows to the tanner what there is id wheat and straw. Ha learns by this their vulne, aud this knowledge is of umi to blmlutwn wajs, es tood lor stock aud nun, aud their Importance, (sjeclally tbo btiaw, as a ma nure. AU'UA, LETTER F20H BACEA1S1ENI0. Editob Willameittk Fahmkk: Winter evenings In Oregon are proverbially the grand desideratum of all who eujoy the at tractions of homo society and the pleasures of winter eujoymeuts. Who but a uatlre "webfoot" turned loose on tho festive scenes of the Golden Stato would think It worth his while to chronicle to those he loll uMiluu something iu regard to tho adventures and amusements or this noted racilio city. Time rolls on, but, oat or west, north or south, tho amu&omeulH of tho day keep pace with the iitnesN of other things, and, among Ihem, the dance still, as lu olden times, is among tho chief attractions of youth and boauly. Sscrumento, last night, was fur tiUbod an unusual treat lu tills inspect, aud, us charity and pleasure uo hand in hand, It was decided by the family of our late xplrit od and ontorprhing niiizou of Central l'aoifiu no'orieiy, Judge E. B. Crocker, to give for the liBiielit of tbo City I.lrrory a very svlect social dunce. Tha magnificent mansion, in cluding ttio art gallery on Iho west sldo of O slice-t, between Second aud Third, were at an early hour last night thrown open for tbe nctptiou of iMiostB, and at eight o'clock the select beauty and gayety of Sacramento bad assembled at the call of tho Wrones of tho city to celehrato the privileges of the now leapjear. Tho bull, music, and dancing were in every rexpnot delightful and com pleto. Tho art pavilion, though necessarily too small for tho comfortable accommodation of so large a throug, was decorated iu a man ner becoming tbo well known wealth of Its possessors. Only used as a family auxiliary and for Iho Indulgence of tho frJondsof its owners, the ball presented at onoo tho ncat nos ond convenience of a private room aud tho opacity aud Kccommodstioti of a public ball. Sacramento was therein IN grandest and richest iwjiei't. Nowhere could It have been excolled. The richest drcs arid most polished maimers were everywhero to bo been, uor could the sterner eex havo com manded a moro magnificent management. Dancing and cards wrre in order, and gen tlemoii responded promptly to tho Invltt tions and tho galluut attentions of their fair friends, who did tbo bouorH of the occasion charmingly. Buppor at 11 o'clock found tho new "gallants" anxious to servo tbolr fa vorites with tho most fashionable) viands.- -Tha receipts were cotninensurato with tbe occasion, aud In a short time the city library will bo In tho enjoyment of many now aud useful blessings, Sacramento, at tbe preont tlui", presents a lively appearauce, and while the legislature Is bunllyem.asod fur tho "good of tho poo plo," the inhabitants of tio cl.y aro buiy jilannlug mums for Ihtirciiunaliuiieut. This Is most siicciirtfully done, and all aro happy with tbo itmlt. Tho legislature la not Doing occupieel by any ulartltng mcas ure, and but for tiro fight, for " back pay Volume VII. Numlwr 52- and ' roductiou " ol sulurles, there would bo no excitement worthy of note. Tho meeting of the board of managers of tbe California Stato Agricultural Society oo- otirrod here day befbro yesterday, and was attended by numbers irom all psrts of tlio Stato. The old board nnd otherofllceis wore re-oltclod for tho coming year, aud all nr raupements necessary wore made for tbo coming nunual exhibition of the Society lw S'cp'.euiber. The prcfhl prnjoncla for exlcndod litvoi toward tho Centennial grounds are not tbe most flattering. Added to tho doti rminalloii of Iho C. P. and U. I. It. companies to uifiko noroduciion iu lares lor the occasion, tho "blockade" fur the winter is now chilling tho mludsof the people, and leaves patriot- ' Ism, oven lu tbo Suite of California, at a low iato. Trains liom the E ist havo beon from ouo to three dayn behind time for two weeks past, vyi'li piospeo.s ot a strong blockado. The weiulior has been uu usually stormy all over California for tho lat two months, Tho streets of Sacramento ere in no better condition than tlio nversjio OregoiiMn would expeet In tlio city of Salem, aud thefarmHis of Ciilllurntj, on every hsiitl, aro beginning to uk, with tome Hnxleiy, What are wo to do with suoh an abundant yield of grain? Tho crops bero cm only bo Injured by the 'north wind.' Hpe dilators here, us a lowvesrsago iu the wool trade, havo neiierally overrated tlio grain market, and as a result tbo honest lai iiihi'h are aaln ttio v loituis ot many bunk rupts. Almo-,inuo fiHlt'the gralu-dealers, on private ucoiiur, In tho Slate, will bn lomro tor latt Ruanou's opi-rai Ions, while many have entirely failed. oiilldcnco Das sgaln been letored iu lunklng eirules. Willi a good harvest in lb70 Hiid lighter taxation, Ciiliforuia will b, I dnubt not, oncomoio ou a tounJ tlnni'olul h.sls, Your occasional. J. V. B. Smith. Sacramento, Jan. 29, 1870. Cereals for the Centennial. Euoknk Cirv, Fob. 1, 187C, Eo. Fahmku: I desire to Io notice to all the farmers of Lauo county, that tho great and grand exhibition at the centennial iscloi-o at lund, and as I am ap pointed Commissioner for this comity ou co reals an. 1 grass scds,Iwish to Infoi m through the Wiu.AMjnrr. 1'ahmi.h, all those who wlh to ptaco on oxhlbl'.ion, wheat, coin, oats, barley, or grass stibds of any kind that they must bs sure to havo It down to 1'tinUnil by tho middle ol Fcbmsiy, as It U di signed to send everything collected, off at that lime. All articles denlgned lor the Centennial, should he marked A. J, Dumr, Centennial Commissioner, Poiilsnd. They vvill bo con veyed over thorailioad ,'roo of charge. In sending cereals, iny uinouut lrom n bushel tluwu to a peck will answer: and on all nu. ples scut, pltaxe mark the name of tlio pro ducer, und naiiio of tlio grain correctly on evary Mmplu, also the location, so there will be no iiilHiiiidrslatitlliig. Now, farmers, don't bo btckward in tills pre-at ..ntnrjulee, but let us show to the world that vo arinois of Lann county aro not afruld to compete; agilust iiiiy nation with wheat raised lu tbo Willamette valley. In every instance 1 bavo taken wheat from this county to tho Stato Fulr it has always taken iho first premium; bus I would lecomiiiond sendltig noun but what is ilibt rate, wull flllisl, erleoily clean, sound, and bright. For any luriher Infer matiuu wanted plttaso li.lorm inn. CiKOKOK Blmiiaw, Co minis' loner of l;.uiooo. on Cereals. GBAlNrGE ELECT10N8. T.'ip officers elect of On-ego Ounge, No. 175, for 187tl, are: A. it. Hblpley, M; U. VV. lfrj,aut,0; V iu. I). E. Shlpluy, hi Joseph Itangor, S; L, M, Davidon, A S; W. Ccr iiian, U; Ml-d Mary Caiman, T; d. A. Dur ham, Sec; F. Fmd, G. K; Mrs. Mnry Hry. nt. f; Mrs, II, M. LU.hy, V; Mrs. F. FoiU, F; Mi E'.u Carman, L, a. X. At a regular inoetliig of Charity (Jrang, No 70, held llrat M unity m !),. lS7o, tuu oltow ng oltlicra wrnii electod to Seim us tun present wi-.-om: J. O. Uoiitblt, M; J, Siiiimons, O; Win, Vaughn, L; A. Datiham. .; .1. 1J. lomirau, A S; U.S.jUiiiaOiku, 1 Jv; A. U. Campbell, C; J. E. llott, T; A. v'ii. klns.Sec; Mrs. II. Miller. C; Mrs. J. Shu moils, F; Mrs. A. U Campbell, 1'; AIUs Uda Wilkllib, h, A. S. Shall We Plant Hedges, HUUMMITV, Teh. (Jth, 1870. Iu. Faiimui:: A low of m in our neigliborliood liavo bcun tnlkiii' about ledifiiif,-our 1'aniiH, tliin!:ltit; it would bo ultoiipur ami much moro durable than rail or polo fwicinjf, provitlotl wo can irt'thomu hedge plant rhat will do well in this diiii.ite. iiow will the Osiiiro Or.iiiirti do lion.'. II ih it ovt-r been tried, anil, if no, wiiii what huo eess'.' Will fcoiiiooi'your raider please give u& their experien'-o? Chas. F. Egoeut. m Hill