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About Willamette farmer. (Salem, Or.) 1869-1887 | View Entire Issue (June 2, 1876)
V IKl tt $3.00 per Year. SALEM, OREGON, JUNE 2, 1876. Volume VII I. Number 16. OREGON AND CALIFORNIA RAILROAD Letter from Mr. Villard. Portland, Ob., May 21, 1873. lid i lor of the Oreuonian: A short time since you publiHhpd in your valuable paper tin editorial in which it wa stated in substance that ihe construction of the Oregon and Cal ifornia Railroad, as fur as it is in opera tion, ought "not to have cost raoro titan two millionsof dollars. No one has a better knowledge of the sins of omission and commission of the former management than myself, and nothing is further from me than to take the dofense of the great wrongs inflicted upon those who furni-died the jnoney to build the road. But for rea W)U8 appearing below I feel called upon to correct the erroneous impression un der which you labor in regard to the amount of money required to construct the road from Portland to Roseburg. tor this purpose I beg to submit the ollowiug letter: KlTl.Nnr-Mw 21. 1876 H. VlLbtltD, T3.i . President O te t). R H. Co. My dear Mr: About thrr-e yars so hv reouestof ceru.il) ueiitlemen eent to P rt land Hi. tbHt time in the lntf.rW of the hold ers of the bonds of the Oregon and Calif, iro'a Hail road Company, I made a rAiinewhat elaborate and xhausiive estimate ot tbe actual cost of constructing Hurt equipping tbe rood. The extlmaie for tbo creator portionof '.he road was bsml upon mr own personal knowledge of the amount and cost ol the work as It had been perf rcned under tnv own supervision. The eot of that portion of it that bad been done el'hsr previous to jny taking charge of the work (tbont twenty luiln)or i.f such expenditure, the account of winch were at that time not aoslble lo me. I ts'iniMed iu accordance with tnv own .be' judgment Thar such work would coat taking Into consi(letatlop;ieaoal and un .avoidable coudltlaDauuder which it had bfu.dobev.t, ,jv;-1av.'v v. . pyoox5n,rfflttft lTwmn5ru here with' wlth'an'VTtrnct of' the statement made by one at that ttine: - -' 1-i-enylh of road from Portland to Rnseburg '.. 197K miles. Xengtb oi sidetrack W'A " terpri-e under our control, but we shall certainly abstain front making the large outlays incidental to their exten sion if we should find a disposition to dispute our right to receive what is really but a very moderate return upon the investments already made. There was another statement in the leading article referred to calling for some comment on my part. You made it appear substantially that the value of the land grant being the basis of the Oregon and California railroad enter prise, it was really the State that fur nished the means nfstarllng tho latter by giving the lands donated by the U. S. government to the company. Now, so far from having been a bene fit, the land grant as yet proved only an unprofitable burden. The aggre gate cash outlay caused by the efforts to market the lands so far has been $100,000 while the actual total cash receipts to date have not exceed !?M, 000, although wo have had entire con trol of tho land department of the com pany bince tho fall of 1874, managing it as economically as possible, tho expen ditures have exceeded tho receipts in that period by over $20,000. Nor can it bo riarhtl.v maintained thai the grant has a large prospective value. The truth is, that only a very small per centage of the lands will ever prove saleable owing to their broken and hil ly character. We should be glad in deed to get rid of this elephant at a low price and invite bids from all quarters. Respectfully yours, Hknky VimjAIW, President O. & U. R. R. Co. Important Transfer. Negotiations, which havtbeeti pend'ng for some time between the "Oregon Steamship torn nun v ana iu&w)iiAaieiie rrantponaiKm A Trip to the Foothills. We have lately eoioyed arfdeot twenty six rail eg,' from Sclera eaatward, up tho waters of the Santlntn, to Smith's ferry, hlch lien among (be foothill, of the Cascade range, and is the key to the Fox Valley nnd Rings Prairie region of Linn county, as well as of an extensive reach of good land that, lies tn Marion county, on both sides of the Little Fork of the North Fork nf tbe Santlam. This region is fast developing and has peculiar infractions anil advantages that will insure its speedy settlement. "'' Leaving Salem we took through the Waldo Hills, coining down'lnto Mill Creek Valley this side of Aumsvllle. Our destination was i he new town of vVeatherford, as the village "prlnglug up at Smith's ferry will probably be called, named for our fellow citizen J. W. Weutbnrford, who baa taken such a fancy lo the locality, bth on account of its situation and the refreshing and health giving moun tain air, that be has bought a few acres of Mr. J. X. Smith, close to the river bank of the main North Santiam, with a long vista of river reaching down tbe 'atresia, and a charming view up stream that includes the junction nftberiveie, near at baud, and the .reen promontory that auiiles betweeu them. Our friend Weatberrord was going up to accept the premises he had built there, tor a sumiuer residence for bid i family, and know ing that 'we had Interests also in that neigh borhood.he gave the Invitation we were glad lo accept, to take a seat In bis light "wagon" and enjoy the ride ik his company. That was bow we happened; h'b on, pur 'way last Saturday toward tbe Cnde foothills. The people of Ihe j&plon about Smith's ferry are very much ftjiereHed In a bridge across the Little Noftf ?Fork; which la the iuiiial poJBt also JoiHjuiinto 'Pas road Daty.baitHt YrttTYwr nriiteir?TPMPltt ... .. : . j . m ' .1 . " ' i . ... . -. . :. , .. .. maueror am mim me county ior tne saia bridge, and weUierefore pursuaded'.Tudge Total length of track 211 miles. conurncci'ioif ACCOUM. Oradlnjt $ 798,140 Bridging 071.132 Ties .". 13i,430 Iron ISTKSHfl Track -iJ7,'J3i jidildiugs, lutiliitliog the iOuks at Portland 120,21)2 it'ghtof way.ffiioinn, tflegrpb,eu- eineering, law, Ac 224,515 i&juipmeu: 4110.10 lr J4.1C2,0.,0 This estiniate dues not 'include tbe pur chase of a considerable atnnant of laod at East Portland, as the same wax incurred In Trioe" of only the future necessities of the road, neiibfr the many, almost daily, In .cldn il expHii4ft inn irred out-Ile of the ensiueeriog department, nor tho dUoouut Id the sale of bnd, nor the interest paid upon the same during tbe construction of tbe mad while tbe same earned liiliaor nothing (and which last Item alone would aniouut to ovfr half a million of dollar), which all are rollj legitimate charges In the cuactruclion of the road. Yours reaoectfuily, 7V H, Thiemjjn. If there should be any doubt of the strict correctness of the foregoing state ment every opportunity will bo gladly given by mo to test it. I will add that the cost of the road, as shown iu Mr. Thielsen's letter, comparas favorably with thatnf roads in the Eastand in Cal ifornia, built at (Zip mine time, as will be affirmed by any railroad expert. I have a particular object in placing this sub ject in the right light before the pub lic at this time. For some time past the freight rates on tho road have been altogether too much in favor of our shippers. The company cannot afford to carry at tho low rates prevailing in 187."-'7o any longer. Tho net earnings of tho road for 187" were only -,'05,000; that Is a little over -I per cent, on the money actually invested, and less than 2 per cent, on the amount of outstanding bonds. So one with ordinary sense of justice can maintain that the holders of the obligations are not entitled ton better income, such cannot he oiitaln- ere-Dufd be glad to do a large business at lower rates, but us long its the business of tho country is so limited that, except dur ing the wheat shipping reason, tho road is not worked to one-iourth of its tiapavity. m as to return barely tho -operating expenses, we cannot be just ly expected to transport at rates yield ing an income of loss than one-half the usurti Interest in this State. Moreover, we are about incurring largo extra ex penditures for the construction of u tie w bridge across the Clackamas and -other necessary Improvements. We have conivreliensi ve plans for the rflevelopment of the transportation en- wharvea. eto . of! the former to thn-faUer nor. poi-atlon, were cont'tlmmared last Friday, end Saturday tbe necearv twiners were ex ecuted. The sale includes the tramfer"f tb following property; The steamers K X. Cooke, Bonanza, Success, Dayioj, Fannie P-Uon, Alice, tbe tsin at the fails, tbe wa ter privilege, the work shop, wharf at Or egon City and at other points along tho river, in short, nil the right, title and interest of tbe O S. S. Co.. in and to all their property on the Upper Willnmette river. Nominally the purchase price was $23,000, and was so stated in the bill of sale; but what other valuxbln considerations are iuvolted in the transfer (and there certainly must be) are known only to the sellers and purchasers, and conse quently do not concern the public. By vir tue of this transfer, tbe Oregon Steam Navi gation Company becomes the possessor ot all the river Mestuers on both the Upper and Lower Columbia and Willamette rivers, wph the exception ot two boats, the Ohio and Citv oi saiem. rue Willamette Transportation ano idea's uomptnv was tbe ostensible pttr. chaser, but It is welt known that the O 8. N. Co. bus the controlling interest in all the property belonging to that corporation, so tuat really tbe latter company has the actual conttol ot llm locks and a large lleet ol boats. AH the vessels now belonging to the O. S. S. Co:are tbo John L. Stephens, Orifliinme and Ajur, the steamers California and Gu sle Ttltdir navlng (sojve are Informed) nev er lKen transtenuJ from tbo old Nurth Pjcittu Trurpgrtnilon Co. lo Ue foi trior corporation. Since the trauster of Saturday tbe O. IS N. Co. ia In posset-slou of tbe fol lowing U;et of boats, besides a very largo annum ofothor property: ocoiuaut, tirleut, Pfeblea to accompany us and share tbe pleasure of tbe trip, so tbat lie could ascer tain the public teeling and judge for him. elf by actual otaf rvation of the practicabili ty of tho work as well as of Its necessity. So ne crossed the Waldo Hills, stopping at the farm of the Judge to take him on board. Nature is putting on her ruost beautiful garni'.ure of spring at the present time. Every thing was In bloom or glowing with deetxst green. Tbe doy whs delightful, the roads not rjuite settled but very pa.-i.able, the teuin was hi One ppiiils, aud by the middle ol the aftmioon we reached our des tination, havirg In the meantime Interview ed the thriving town of Stayton, which allows decided thrill, eiowtu aud enterprise. Here are mills and other manufactories and several stores, and the presence of wfigone from the country aud tuauy persons in tu ktoros aud stieets shontd that Siaytou is proiparotu, and l'.g Ui'tacco from tbo rail road secures Us ccutluul growth. Smith's fciry loo shows life, or rather tho town of Weatherlord tbat is growing up thero teems to piomiso well, aa a store is already opened theie by Mr, Philemon Morris, late or Sublimity, -who is building and improving close by. Mr. Morris te of the valleys aud hill sides thereabout, and tbe other natural advantages of tbosituation, incline him to tbe Idea of selling ontnnd trantsrring his Interests from New York State to Oregon. Should be and his connexions Bottle at Weaiberford tbey will probably construct and ofra'e a flouring mill there and make other Improvements to add to the advantages of tbe plaro. It is to be hoped tbat they will do so, especially as the acquaintance we briefly made Jusilflea the belief that the old gentleman would make a valuable citizen of any community. Wo lonnd tbe people about there much interested in the bridge question, and learn-. ed that a meeting of all those interested Is called lor next Saturday, to ascertain, bow much can be done by private means, aud take s'eps to raise money by contribution so as to justify (be county court In maklDg ap propriation tnwardri iu construction. During most of tbe lime for thfj past six months, and at the time of our vi?!lt bis not been prudent to ford the Little North Fork at 'the usilal point, and tbore Is no other point wbere It can be attempted easily at auv lime. The people who live over there are heretore under many disabilities, and many who would like to setile In (be Forks are discouraged from so doing by the faot that 'onunuuicrttlon is cut oil' mi muoh of tho time. There is good reason for asking help from Marion couDty and alto from the rail road company, which has extensive land interests linolved. As an Initial to the cou s'ructlon of the mountain wagon road tbe movement tor a bridge aW has great publio itniorUiiice. The vicinity of Smith's ferry will booome yearly more and more popular to people of Salem aud the valley as a aummer resort, where they can camp out, go flab'og, hunt- -'- .. . . . .-''. i. ing,- ana uerry ingy ana wen as pipasure,,v vruue innsiing tne pare mountain air. The scenery is romantic mountain spurs, beautiful valleys, new homes clustering on the bill aider, and the music of dashing waters from tbe swift- pouring mountain streams. The road from Salem is almost a dead level, well graveled, and so good that even at this season, when the rains have not crated, our journey home only ocupied tour hours and a half of an afternoon. t'd, however, under the low rates her toioro charged. Tne company worn wuiam.'tte Chief. Governor Graver, Beaver. Members with pride that Abraham Lnu-oln Champion, AlloB'.twiias, fJtfcw.'Fjonte wto oM frft.J.f Ms, and relates bow "tbe martyr , President" waa a- member of his f unity when be chopped and mauled out those historic rails, that cut tucb a promi nent figure in tbe presidential campaign of 1800. lie ia not too ol J, for all that, to take part in bulldlDg up tbe fortunes of a new section, and pins his faith on the successor tbe new town ol JVeatherford. The mountain sir Itself furnishes ono with all the excuse needed for an excellent appe lite, and the added inducements of Mrs Smith's ttble lendrrcne excusable for actual voracity. The forrj hon.e is famous lor gord cheer, and we can promise all who vMt her bountiful board tbat they will both enjoy and remember it well. Our friend J X, Smith nas done much to induce settlement of tbat region and possesses industry and enter prise tbat la commendable. As tbe couinry above tnd around there ia occupied and cul tivated, his town will grow and thrive and become more and more popular as a sum mer resort. We found at Mr. SmirVa bouse bis eldat t brother, recently arrived from tbe States, who ia making an exploring and health ex pedition to see his friends and perhaps look out homes here for bis own folks, constitut ing in all group of seven families, being those of his sons and sons-in-law. Mr. John Smith ban uvrtn In central New York, and after several months' tay up (here be finds he baa regained hi health, so tbat, a be ex praMM It. Jt Is "a well aa bo waota to be," Tab) bet, aMl faW obawraiioB of tfc fertility Patton, H M Cooke. 13 uuut Havyrard, Dlxlo I 1in.ll.hJ.lN l!.nt,n T7.l ....aM Y..uf .t . .T.... OneoutH. Onward, Itescue, lUy Alnswortb, Idaho, Yakima, NewTeuino,Dayton; thenar. ues Auiocrat, Columbia Chltf, Columbia, Nez Pernes Chief and Htiulresn. In addition tbe company are building two new steamers, h bich will be completed tbe proseut season. Ol egomon. ProCOSKI) MllDIKlCATJON OP '11IB TnKATT WITH China tlie Coiumilteeot Commerce int ve Hiitrjoru-d Pipirtu make n strong le p jrt lavorable lo a joint re-oliiuon uquest mtc the Preaidlntoi neuoiute an additional article iu ihe Hiirliiigime treaty subatautially iio lotlows: Tile Uuued S.a-es do hereby r liereby reheno tbe right toreguiaie, nmtrit, and prevent the ttutnit-'ration of Clt'iiese eu b-Je-ts Inuj the United .Slates exiept for com inercUl pu-ititJ; and reoipn clly, tho Km peror of China dots rexrrve the tiii tit to reg tilAie. reslrjin, and prevent the iiniuigraiioii' ot chi.tfiiH iff tbe United Stat ioto China except lore iiuinerctal purposes. Thltt pro p isliion d.tl'-rs from (Unoriginal In exempt ing from the rsstriotive clause alt Chinese eraigrauia who come tor commercial pursuits. This was tbe ouly form In which tbe commit tee would sanction the uronoaition. It is ob ject to some objection from fear of neina-sub. jeuc b evasion by a strained interpretation. riper ami rage minx tue resoiutiou, II It oe come a law, will lead lo a modification of tbe treaty into a purely commercial conven tion under which our federal legUlaUou can o made stringent aa uecc-aary to correct existing evils; besides, witli this Congress ional Imckiug tbey believe Secretary Kisb will e4 that tbe language of the treaty shall be incapable of misconstruction, Sargent, uowever, empoaiicauy oooaorana tne prop Ofltiunatwontslbin useless, wbiiebe tniuks it leaves tbe door widely opened a bow to Moi'gollLiof the worst class. The Walla Walla Spirit &ays: A week ago we made mention of a young wife about eighteen years old, nomed Pine gar, and who-o maiden name was Sophie J)epoe, who wits supposed to have drowned her.-nlf in a lit of des pondency in the Walla Walla river. Alter a -even days rearcn her body was found about three-fourths of a mile be low Peter Pamhrtim'ti ranche. Tito coroner, W. IX Lambert was notified o.'the fact and at once proceeded hither to iioUI an inijuest .Sunday. Verdict 'self destruction." The poor young woman IijuI a husband in Moutatra, whom oho left last fall and came down into the valley, lier native place. While here, she wrote jn her grief and lQiieliness two letters to her husband. Hut he peremptorily requested her III a harsh note, uot tv wtz ZU any more. After receivings this missive, bho felt forlorn and sad indeed, and iu order to tree her-elf from this world's sorrow aud tribulation, sought and found peace and rest in a watery grave." Fon tin: Centii.vnial. Mr. Thom as Patullo, a gentleman considerably interested in the mining claims of Car iboo, aril veil here yesterday per steam er Knterpri&e. lie will ieavo next week for San I'ranclco en route for the Centennial Exposition, taking with him (Mti o.. of Cariboo gold, -pecimens of the "back-bouo" of Hriti.sh Columbia to show our American friends that Ne vada is not the only country on the face of the globe rich in precious metals. Amongst bis exhibit- is a nice little bar oneofllitchcock'nbejl" weigh ing :)00 oz. which will compare very favorably with anything of the t-ort to be seen iu Philadelphia. Mr. Patullo left Cariboo on Sunday last and making an unusually rapid trip reached Yale on Wednesday evening. ColunM. Tho Moiintuineer is told that nn Indian, during last week, brought a message id from Itauiiuni, Yakima county, W. T.f to a gentlenmn in the Dulles, a distance of ninety-live miles, in beven hours, rifling only one hoi-sc. Tills is rather a remarkable feat of horseback riding being an average of nearly fourteen miles per hour. A Telegram from Virginia City, da ted May 20th. says, "More snow fell last night, tiie streets are frozen hard this morning." LATE DISPATCHES Washington, May Hi The Seriate this evening by 37 nays lii 20 vea, rrjecitnl a res olution ot 'Paddock, that Vm V, Belknap, having ceaned to bo a civil olHcer bv rrason of his resignation belore the proceedings of Impeachment against him by the Houe of Representatives, the y-ate cannot tako jurisdiction In thN'rava I. was tlin dcldtd hy the same vole thnt the said ttelknap Is amenable to trial rhiI Impeachment tor aos done as Secretary ot War notwithstanding h's rnvignallon, and it was ordered that the respondents and managers nn the ptrt of the House of Kepie-ontmlveo sppwkr on Thurs day next at 1 o'clock lo hear iidttitmot tho Senate. ' x Pjiii.adkm-hia, May 25 Attendance at Centennial vnrv good to-ilsv. At a meeting,, ol thejiidges. Sir Chnile Heed, of Koglanii. made peech. He said he had been at all of fbe world's great exhibitions, but could say without hesitation that this eclipses them all. Mark Twain will preside at tho opening of lie California building, which will lake place about June 15th. Philapki.paia, May 30. The attendance to-day was much larger than since the open ing. It is estimated there were 10,000 or MX 000 people on the grounds at 2 o'clock. All ot the buildings were thronged with people. The main building and Memorial Hull wore tho chief atlraoiions and during a portion of the day uncomfortably full. PltlLAUKi.l'liiA, Mav SO Tho attendance to day was alino.-it, if nut ipiite, equal to that on opening day. Nkw York, May 23 The annotincen en', was made yesterday on the Pro luce Kx clmutre that 20 vessels have been chartered to take cargoes nf grain lo Kurope-in view otf su upproanhiiig war. An advance in n eights la looked for in consequence. London. May 20 Oa Thursday and Fri day Admiral Stalk, controller of the navy, and Barnes, surveyor of docks and ysrd made an elaborate Investlitailon of the work on haml.at Portsmouth yard,- with a v lew of ascertaining the time anil money it will re quire to prepare fur sea, tbe 'various ships now building there. This vfcit n nitderablv ... ?.i?v ,.u WWKibiin ihe ImpisMjslon prevailing at. oultlrai baaltb Mrirtmotuh.tbat.ib.KOyjfiriiiuitr-rpos')s question. , ' t 1Jr t The 7'mes says since Friday afternoon inr surances at l.loyds nave been made to cover . war risks. Loniion, May 30. The following ha just been received here from Constantinople: It isouiclally announced hero, that bv the un animous will of Ihe people Abdul "Aziz bus been dethroned and the heir presumptive, Murad KtTeudl, proclaimed Sulian. Constantinople, Miy 80. Afternmn TbeiietbronedSitlran Ikep' uuder guard In a mosque, a. tboex'rtinily of tboseragMo. The ministers informed Murad Kllsnrii that he was proclaimed Sultan nn Monday night. J'he popular domoiistra.'loii took place next morning; but t o resiNtance was. lleim ui tl e new regime. Perfect trai'ij'illliiy row pie- vans, unto unnsiiaus anil iMimiiuiriaiiM ex prehs (trt at Hall-faction at the change. The city will be IllooWuateil to-night, aud the fetlvlilHH w III contiVine iliree days. The fill Mall Gazrtte ssys a private fe'e- (iram states Hist the revolution In C,nsiatiti uople was etltcuiil without tl o dlstutbaoca of public trai.qulllity. "' . J'AIUH, May 30 The ICvrning .Vrrt'D ssyw the blluatlou in Cnns'antitiople Is welt re ceived In both illlicul and tinapoial dlrcles. -It is believed that tbe settlement-nf (ho li.steru dlUlcultles ia thernhy fhotiitated. I.f.NDON, May 30 A fltadrld spiel saya the Piotes'snt school in the province of Porto Vf dra baa been closed, by order of the mln. ister of Justice, at the n quest of tbe clerical tttlhoriiies. ) la Meraoriam. Zkna. May 30. 1870 At a called meeting Of Ysl Konlls lMlge; No. 74.I.O, U. T helJ on the venlug of., the 20th Inst., the following resolutions were ottered by comiolttoe, and unaulmously adopted: Whereas, tho painful Intelllgenre has reached us lhat our worthy brother James II. Peere, the ilist member in our re ineuibrince that tbe lodge has lost by deatt during lis exl ten en of nine years, who died at Dtllas on the 25.i Inst ; and, whereas, he was an earnest and duvot oil ir ember of our lodge and an honest and iiprluht member iu the disohuritoot his (lit lifs, anil none know lilm but to ri8ituit him ID lliocoiNiii.in walks ol life; thdielore, be It H--nHel, That we mingle our eorrowa with Ida kindred, :md tbat wu will over nherih sacrf d memories of our rrother who has gone before tn that heavenly lodx". where we all hope to clap funds In a irraml reunion, in a temple not made with hands, around the kaured alUr of Faith, Hope, aud Charily. HesoUed, That onr lodge regaliaand ball bu draped in mourning, until the close of tbe iparter ending July 31st, 1870. Kesolved, Tbat a copy of the resolu'lons be sent in Iho following papers for public lion: S a-osman, Oregnnlsn, Willamette Farmer, Oregon City Kuterpilse, Oregon Culthator, Dallas Itemlzer, Pacific Chris ilan Advocate. Tbe graduating class at tbe Academy of the sacred Heart, at this year will comprise Mines M. A. Bralnsrd, A. Hoult, J. Fuller, K. f'osper, and Mollle Smith. The annual exhloitlon will take place during tbe last Wet!: iu June. Tbe Spiritualists will bold a grove mast ing on tbelr ground at Now Era, Clackamas county; beginning Juna 2d.