Willamette farmer. (Salem, Or.) 1869-1887, January 05, 1877, Image 1

Willamette farmer., January 05, 1877, Image 1

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Newspaper Page TextMMMHMHBBiMiBBV m . W S 1"' -V ' T r $2,50 per Year. THE NEV DEMAND FOR BEEF. In conversation with Mr. W. S. Newbury, of Portland, who has lately visited the upper country, wo learn that the canning of beef at Astoria has caused such a demand for beef cattle as to seriously affect tho supply in the vicinity of tho Dalles. If this result is perceptible already we may expect that a continuance of the beef-canuing business will call for all tho fat cattle that tho Columbia riv er region can supply. We do not nee why tho canning of beef should not provo as largo a business as the canning of salmon, that is, if the article supplied answers tho demands of commerce and that seems probable, from the fact that the price has somewhat advanced since canning commenced early in tho Fall, and there is no reason to expect the de mand to cease, but rather that it will increase, for all vessels that make long voyages need some fresh meat, and it will tako an immense amount of the canned meat to supply the wants of commerce. There aro several' reasons why this business can bo carried on hero to great advantage, and may result in making cattle as profitable to the stock-men of Eastern Oregon and Washington as bheop husbandry. First: Wo have the vast extent of bunch-grass pasture lands to dopend on for range, and it is evident that tho beef fattened on those pastures is of a superior quality and calculated to satisfy a very exacting demand. Second: Tho climate is suit able to beef-packing, especially at As toria, where the weather never is warm, being tempered jy tjra sea nir. -Again: ThocannerioT having tslied the season and disposed of tho salmon catch in ihe month of August, aro pre pared to begin tho beef-canning in September and continue it until April, the season of tho year when such work can be done to the best advantage and when the beef will bo in best order. 'Tho cauueries being already construct ed and in profitable use, aro so much capital available for tho business of can ning beof, which is no small item, as it enabled tho gentleman who conceived the idea of canning meats to put the experiment to actual, and it appears to .successful teat. The demand for beef cattle will provo pit great encouragement 10 1110 scock ' men of all tho interior and increase settlement of tho Upper Columbia country. Something was needed to lend a little more prosperity to those who are struggling to make a living in that part of Oregon and Washington, and also to encourage tho settlement and cultivation of all the good agricul tural lands there, which is desirable, because tho more importance that coun try possesses, tho more inducement there will be for Congress to construct the needed improvements to naviga tion on tho Columbia river, and tho sooner we may expect railroad commu- uication with the East. Tho Upper Columbia offers a great empire for the future, and each year wo receivo more and more proof of its vast resources and tho wldo extent and great fertility of its agricultural lands. The time is not distant when governmont will securo free navigation from tho sea to tho confluence of tho Columbia and Snako rivers, and with euch improvements perfected tho rich agricultural fields of tho Upper country twill bo peopled and dwarf both the fproducts and the population of the rWestern valleys. The improvement ?f stock-raising will do a great deal to wards bringing nearer tho prosperity JS"fthe future. aWo do not know that Dr. A. C. Kin- was tho first man who evor con- ived tho idea of making Oregon beef liable by canning it for foreign mar- but he seems to Jiavo been tho &. fM, T h ii'.,ia&s:lL!to - j 't, SALEM, first to put tho idea into practical and successful operation. We have a great respect for tho intelligence and enter prise of that gentloman, and have been pleased, in the past, to count him among tho most valued contributors to the columns of tho Faiimeu. Ho Is an investigator, and in snmo measure de votes himself to studying matters that relate to the best interests of tho peo ple of Oregon and tho development of tho material resources of our State. Tho State owes much to all such men, aud the people of Eastern Oregon should recognize that Dr. Kinney has done perhaps moro than any other man to make it known that tho obstructions to navigation at tho Cascades could be and should be removed. Another year the Messrs Kinney will make some improvements in the beef business. It is thought thai tho meat will keep safer ami also bo moro palatable if slightly corned before can ning: they will also make a superior article of dried beef for shipment to Europe, using tho hams for that pur pose. They have been tho leading operators in the canning of beef up to the present time, but other houses, in cluding West t Co., and Dudolct & Co., have engaged in it with success, and there is no reason to doubt that it can bo continued on a largo scale if cattlo can bo furnished at the rates they are able to pay. Canning mutton has also been experimented with successfully, but not so profitably, as it costs much more to tako tho meat oil" tho bones of mutton than of beef, which makes the business loss profitable and more tedi ous, but we seoind reason why the cm ulna of mutton' should not bo carried on to a great extent. " Tho canning establishments utilize all parts of tho animal; hide, tallow, horns, hoof and bones aro made to lend their respective values in some mer chantable form, all is saved and noth ing lost. Gradually we aro working into moro thorough business methods and the country feels tho benefit of past ex perience. It is timo that tho careloss business habits and thriftless ways of a now country shonld.give place to moro careful management and more practical husbandry, and every great enterprise that proves successful assists in round ing out and perfecting our proportions as a State. A DELIGHTFUL WINTER. Those persons who wintered the first timo in Oregon, one year ago, experi enced a season romarkablo for ltd pro tracted rains and general discomfort and discouragement; that ended with a less yield of wheat, on tno average, than had been experienced in all tho years since the first settlement of the country. Many of these now comers pronounce tho season preferable to the extremo severity of tho cold weather they had formerly known andsonio be came extremely disaffected. Tho winter of 1875-0 was remarkable for its long cominued rains. There was very little frost and no snow, and tho worst that could bo said was that fanners who depended, as uual on plowing low prairie in March or April, or oven in May, could not get their crop in as they expected; It was a year when the hills yielded bettor than theprairies, and hill farming was tho pleasantest because tho land could be plowed at almost any timo during tho winter. Tho general estimation of tho farm ers of this valley is that tho present winter has been most favorable to their operations and one of tho pleas antest uver known. Thero was consid erable rain from tho 18th of October to tho 1st of November, but not an un usual amount, not more than was avail able to soak tho ground and raise tho rivers to a navigable stage. Since tho J svi. fa. OREGON, JANUARY first of December wo have had some frosts and fogs together, when tho ground was lightly frozen, but not so that tanners could not plow in tho after noons. Tho latter pait of December was really delightful weather for that month, cloudy, with but little rain and at times warm and pleasant enough for April. As n consequence of so f.iv orablo a season the amount of ground plowed is largo and tho wheat fields look splendid. A largo area is being grubbed and plowed to increase tho acreage of wheat, and without somo most untoward events In tho future we shall have a large crop of wheat and increased surplus for sale. Plums and Prunes. Portland, Ogn. Dec t)lh 1870. ' Editor Willamette Earmur : I do not wish to ndvanca inysoir as a criterion of fruit without being liable to orror, as wall as others, but I do widh to make a lair state merit that I think Will be found to ho true. I notlcod on article In your papor by S. Lualliug Jr. rotative to tho Poach Plum, lu which ho i-aid the Plum as now raled and sold by O. W. Walling as tho Poach Plum was not tho Poach Plum described by Chas, Downing, Mr. Luelling Is right, I noticed that tho plums tent to tho Centennial Kxhlb itiou as tho Peach Plum from G. W. Walling wore called by tho Fomological Examiners Walllng's seedling- That there was no re teiiiblaiico to tho Peach Plum of ChasDown- ir:g, Im t that Mr. Walllng's was a much finer fruit. Koverthelbes it Is not tue Poach Plum, and should not be Bold under that name, but i-bould beent to somoPomolopi- cal Society and a name and class given it, for U surely merits clasa A.No. 1. As to tho Garuisn Prune I do not think we have tho true German JPniWi In. Oregon ; I mean bf that, ino prutiU that is rained mid dried for o.tport lu Germany. The prune described. by Downing as; such is this: "Fruit long,' oval, near two inches long;, peculiarly nwol leu oa one side, and drawn out toward the stalk, luster distinctly walked, shin puple with a thick bluo bloom, Stalk throe fourths of an inch long, slender, slightly Inserted, llosli firm, green, sweet, and ploasant, sep arates from tho etone, which is tiat, a little curved, and very long, ripens 10th of Sept. He further slates that the fruit preserved is ud as a substitute for buter. The German Prune of Oregon is far from sweet, in fact is so acid that one tasto sourod mo of It forever, tho stone is not long, pointed no mora tnan au ordinary plum, and is not curved, which is a special feature of the Ger man Prune, and as a substitute for butter, the cow would have to be fed on sorrel, that would yield butter, so that tbo Gorman Prune ol Oregon could be a substitute. Thy German Prune of Oregon as I under stand it is no him a or lens than a needling, raised by Moek it levelling, and ought to bo and Is callod In California Luolllng's JSsod- Unrc. Tho Fellinbasrg or Italian Pruno w' shall wo.v-.y oilt ? lint first hit me ask havo W3 go1. 11, or Is thii frurta ho oailo.l, anothor of Oregon's uuiillIugK. You mujt under stand thr.t X am rather credulous about Orc gon'a nomologists, The Follonbtirg of Orcgou, to my obser vation docs cot rsaembl'i Ilia Fellenburg of Calllornla iu any ropect, but which Is tho true Fi'llenburg ii yet to be decided, I think tho prune raised in Orf gun is ii very xupei lor iruit, hut I think it will be iound un profitable for drying, aa Is ih eo very large, and will U.ke too long to dry It. and It you nit it, it its no longer a prime but a plum, I hopo to heir from other iiult growers. Xion, An Old Mason Dhad. Mr. Jos. W. holmes departed this life iu Portland Sun day, after n brief lllnoss. Docoised was without doubt tho oldest Musou in thh city, If indeed not tho oldest man. Mr. Holmes was born In the State of Virginia in the year 1785, and at the time of his death was In tun Olntyoar of his age. Ho joined the Masonic fraternity iu 1811! 01 years ago nnd has ever been an honored member of tun order. ilo served honorably in tho war of 1S1L and resolved a wound in the leg under "Old Hickory." Mr. Holmes also lought through the Mexican war. Tho rtecaanod was fwher of Joephus Uolinos,lato of Salem, and now living lu Portland, and lust July oauio to this coast on a vlli to his children. XIU residence was In Minnesota. An Idaho paper of Deo. V3J says: Two months of our winter havo paasd and the weather has l)F,pnmu"tagrt.'Cah26tbr(;Ughout quite different from that of lmt year for tho same ptnmi. two monins moro win push uu well along toward tpring, when tho roughest of the sc-r-son will probably Loovtr. li. 5, 1877. ' TERRIBLE RAILROAD ACCIDENT. Pr.Kvr.uxn. Dftn. 2!). About 8 o'clock this evening an oxprois train on tho Lake Shorn railroad went through 'he bridge a ipmit r ot a tniloeast of Ashtabula station, wlinrn tho ro.ul crosses Ashtabula crook. Tho lialn Included 11 cars and wasdnnwi by two engipcs. A minding "now storm was falling and driven boforo tho furious gale, makina it impossible to oco moie than a short distance. Of tin) olevou urs slx were coichiand contained dining-room oars, all of which went tlmvii tho plunge of T." teat. As fr as can now bti IparutM. there wore Iij n.i.hoi)cers on tho train, of whom between :0 and lit were killed outright. A special train, with tho nincors ot the rout nnd all tho physicians that could bo hntily sum moned and appliances for tho enro of tho Mounded. left Cleveland fit 1) o clock, ao cauto (or tho n"oident c.ui bo ascertained. Tho train whllo moving slowly, broke through tho bridge. The cold and storm aro vorysovore, ana tno won: ot recovering i no bodlos prit;resos slowly. Tho scene Is do pcribud ns terrible biyond precedent. Ono of tho Injured is Edward Truworthy, of Oakland, California, his who and daughter are both probably killed. The storm has somewhat abated, but tho weather is last growing cold. It soenis tho falling train and bridge smashed tho Ice In the creek, and those not killed by tho fall or burnod up by tho buruiug cars, wero held down by tho wreck nnd drowned before they could bo oxtrleitod. Many, too, will be, or havo boeti frozen. All the InrKn-heartcd cit izens of Ashtabula are at tho wreck, anil as many as can aro worklni; to loscuo those not already dead, while hundreds of strong arms, stand ready to lollovu those who bocomo ex hausted. The work poison very "lowly. Chicago, Deo. 31. Tho TiiOwie'x special from Ashtabula Bays: Tho proportions of tho AshhAjula horror aro now approximate ly known. Daylight revealed nothing save the lact that two out of evnry three passen gers on thn train aro lost. Of IliO whom tho conductor repoils as having been on board, but 511 can bo accounted for. Tho disaster is dramatically complete; no olotnont of hor ror la wantlug; llrst tho ornsh of tho bridge, tho agonizing moment of suspense, as soveii laden cars plunged down tho fearlul leap to tho ley river bod, then tho 11m which camo to devour all that had been left alive by tho crash; then the watpr which gurgled up from undor tho broken ice and olio red au- other form of dea li, anally the bitlnghtast !led with snow which froye aud benumbed loose wno nf.il ercapeu tne water and lire. Th iron structum was a single span, 1&0 'lee; long, crossed by a double track, 70 feet above the wators. TXie descout Into tho valley on oithersido was precipitous, and as tho hills's Mopos aro piled with ImivV drills of snow, there wan no little difficulty in reaching the wreck after the disaster became known. The bridge has been considered oh ono of tho very best of its kind in tho country, and had been tested with six locomotives and trains, which had frrquently crossed on both tracks, and simultaneously, without caus ing more than n slight deticctton of the structure. Tho disastor ocouriod shortly bo fore 8 o'clock. It was the wildest winter night of the year; the train was moving less than ten miles mi hour; thohoau lamp throw but a short dim Hash of light In Iront. so thick was the air with drlvluu snow. Tho train crept across tho bridge, tbo leading en gine had reached the solid ground beyond, and its driver had Just given it steam, when something in the undor gearing of the bridge snanned: for an instant thero was a crack ling of Mams and girdors as the whole train but tho leading ongiuo broke through tho framo work and fell in a heap ol crushed and splintered ruins at the bottom. Not withstanding tho windstorm tho crash was heard by people within ttoow half a mllo away. For a moment thoio was silence! then arose the cries of tho maimol am suf fering. Thof.& who remained uuhiul hasten ed to n?capo from tho shattered ems. They crawlnl out of tho windows Into freezing water waist derp. Men, women and chil dren, with limbs broken, bruised, and pinched botween timbers, and transfixed by jagged splinters, begged with their lat breath for aid that no human powor could glvo. A moment later the (lames broko from tho smoking and the baggago cars, and the flrH coach piled across tuo other near tho middle of tno stream. In less than ten min utes after tbo catastrophe oery car iu tho wreck was on (Ire and the (lames, fed by tho dry varnishod work, licked up tho ruins ns though they had been Under. Tho destruc tion was so swift that men who, hi tho be wildormqnt of tho shock, sprang off and reached solid loo, and then went back again after their wives and children, found them niiflbcatliig and roasting in thn (lames. Neighbors residents, Martlod by tho crush, were lighted to the scene by theconflagration whloh made oven their prompt assistance too late. Ily midnight the cremation was com pleted. Tho storm had subiddod, hut the wind blew vory cold, oven more lnten"o. All witnesses so far agreo as to main facts of tho accident. Suddenly und without warning the train plunged luto tho abyss, the forward locomotive alone getting across in safety. Almost Instantly the lamps and stoves set fire to tho ears, and many who were doubtless only stunned and who might otherwise have b6tn saved, fell victims to tho (UlIKH, New Yoiuc, Jan, 1. Several pApers have t-peclals to tho effort that tho lire department of Ashtabula had orders not to play upon the burning earn, ostensibly tint the paxuen ger might not bo drowned, but milly to hantho bodies burned bevond if-coirnliiou. ho that the rllioad would not bo responsible in uauiuyin. One Iidli. alias Emerv. has been arret ed In Portland for (urging n check on the First National Hank of that Lily. n 0 Volumo VIII Number BY TELEGRAPH. Chicago, Doo. 29. A sucw slorm Is re ported all over tho country to-night, extoud Iugasfar couth as Ltttlo Kock, where six luches of snow tell WASUIJ.OTON, Jan. 2 Tho cabinet lo-day" did not linally dispose of the petition of tho Louisiana legislature asking for government motoelion against violence. Tho govern ment Rtlll believes enough troopsaro already thereto nice; any dltUcultlea which would propel ly demand military Intorterenoe. Tho cabinet docided not to change orders to troops iu the South. The Sonato committee on counting tho electoral voto hold another nicotine to-day. Prommont niBiubors say the geuoral Indica tions seemed more hopeful for agreement than at tiny previous mooting. Anothor member says ho canuot porcolvo that tho committee has mnde any progress towards harmonizing conflicting views. Tho streets to-night are fully knoo keep with snow. A disagreeable snow storm prevails, but thogonoral holl lay .reception at tho execu tive mauslon began at unon, when tho foreicn ministers wero received, followed by nionibor4(if the cabinet aud ladles. Judges ofthoU. S. Supremo Court, Senators and Representatives in Congress, judges and others, held public receptions at - o'clock. .St. Louis, Jan. 1. Governor Grovnr of Oregon passed through ham to-night, ens roulo to Washington. OiuoAoo, Deo. '2 Tho Tribune'3 WRshlng tnu special says: Democrats will give Grover a reception Wednesday, aud havo engaged a building for an imposing Tilden inaugura tion. Nkw York, Jan. 2. Tho 'Tribune's Albany special says: After ltobinsnu's inaugura tion to-day, Tilden left, with friends, from Now York. It was n strla'ly Democratic company uud no sceptics woro present as to tho certainty that Tlideu was on hid way to Washington. Even mon who brought down the goxernor's intuitu proclaimed they wero to be checkod through to fho Whilo House. Toronto, Dec. .10, Tho encluo drivers of the Grand Trunk Hallway struck this even ing. This, Jngolhor with tho snow storm, brought p.TH!)ii;i;r t radio to a standstill. Ni:w Ouluans, Jan. 1. 'A sleet aud snow storm last uiicht nxtonded as far south as ()aka. Two feetof snow (ell at Jackson and Vfaksburg, a foot of snow at Monroo and? fourincheu at Ov&ka, delaying trains and bruaklug dowu telegraph wire. unit Inter rupting communication. IJKNMiNQToN, Jan. 1. A turrlblo wind, storm Saturday did groat daniago, the loss amounting to fully , ,000, The splro oftho liaptlst church was blown over, and ,tho creator portion of the knitting mill of A. Ii. Vallentino was demolished by tho falling of tho largo chimney. Numorous houses and barns wero wrecked. Ninv Yoiik, Jau. 1. Full a foot of uow fell to-night. Itii.'iiMoNi), Va., Jan. 2. Fourteen to twenty Indus of snow In tho Western part of tho State. Trains aro snow-bound ow most oftho roads. Chicago, Jan. -.--Tlio managers of tho trunk Hues havo decided to advance rates on grain and fourth-class freight botween horo and New York (Ivo cants' The rates tako ef fect to-day. Nkw Orluans, Jhii, 2. Tho situation la unchanged. Everything is quiet. The legis latures aro constituted as loltbws: Htato House 8 holding over Senators and 11 re turned by tho board; Hoin.0 08 members roturnod by the board, 22 of whom tho Democrats clftlm woio not elected. St. Pat rick's Hall: FHiuito I) holding over, 8 ro turned by tho board mid 4 who were count ed out but claim they woro elected; House 10 returned by tin) liourd and 112 who claim ihey wero elected hut counted out by th hoard. DISASTROUS SHIPWRECK. lono Island, Dec, HO. At -1 A. M. tho ship UarasMau went ashore at tho bar oil Knilfto Hampton, an thesouth shore of Long Island, and was entirely broken up by southeasterly gales and lost, together with -J lives. The Circassian went afhoio In a storm tho night ofthu 11th Inst, At that time thn crow and olllcurs were saved. Tho storm of yesterday caught HI mon, employes nl'thuC'oust Wrecking Company, on board, and .i t-liort time after midnight the ship wont lu pieoes with an awlul crash. Accord lug to account four nirvivors washed ashore this morning, moro (loud than alive, on frag ments ofthu wreck. No one of the remain Ul havo been seen or hoard fiom up to tho present time, aud there Is but lltilti doubt all have perished. Tlio Clieasslan was insured for $100,000 iu London, aud hercarrgn, for 000,000 iu this city. Hho was consigned to Swan it Co. Only about 400 hundred tons of cargo woro saved. In obedlenco to a summons from the Sear-gont-Ht-Arms ot the Senate, Mr. A. F. Wheeler, telegraph operator in Salem, took his departure this ufWuoon for Washington City, to glvo ovldonce of what ho knows about the Crnnln-Walts case before the Uonato com mittee. During thn absence of Mr. Wheolor, Mr, J. II. Heed, will have charge of the tel egraph ollleu aud Justice Johnson will act an Deiiputy County i'leasuror, transacting tho buiuissat his olllcx iu thn Court House, J. M. Johns started to Washington to-day also. Mercury. The llaptlt Suuday fohool convention will li't h'ilil In Oregon City during the third week of January, i-omiuenelug on Tuehday oi enlng, Jan. KMi.und continuing In ses sion two or three days. Essays aud adrosses on luiiig topics will ho presented, aud freely discussed by the oouventl'ju, 47.