I
I
"tfiLLAMfirlr. PAtlMlti MitlLAT), OUKOO.V, FEBRUARY K, lsVi.
tho narrow gauge Bystj-m fin the Went aide of
the river, in Vaniliill comity, nn.l this year
Irna Ken itt extension from thu point of junc
tion on thu Willamette to Silvcitoii, .Scio,
Wntion and Hronn.villc, and survoyora aru
now looking out tlio Ijett pa.s over tho Cas
cades to eairy it another year in n direction to
cross tho mountains and make a connection
v itli the Nevada Northern at tho State line,
nuar Ooosu Like. Tho company's lino to
I'ortlaml, on thu West sido of tho Willamette,
in on thu in.il, 'mt ""' 'et constructed. At
present its commerce with tho metropolis is
by means of a lino of steamers on tho Wil
lamette to where tho river is to bo bridged, at
the junction, anil tho stein lino to I'ortlaml
will lie push il through to a speedy comple
tion another year.
Tho Willamette river is navfgablo at high
water as far up as Kugciic, and generally
through tho winter to Harrisburg, and oirers
n cheap way of transportation liy btcamlioats.
J t will Im wen that this valley, forty miles
wide, has four railroads ami a navigable, river
through itsbest comities, and competition In
tr-)lisHirtntion seems to ho permanently cer
tain. The river Mas obstructed by abrupt
falls, at Oregon City, twelve miles above
I'ortlaml, where the hills eloso in and tho
liver hoi lied its way through a run row gorgo.
This obstruction has been obviated liy tlio
construction of a ship canal ami locks, mado
nt great cot with masonry, or cut through
wilul rock, liy this means steamboats can
pay icasonahlo toll for freight actually carried,
nun coinpciitinn Is nuureil. lliU great wort
has saved Vu farmer of tho Willamette Vol
Ivy alieady, during ten yearn, an iminvusesuin
in cheapening transportation.
IHH'III.AX COU.NTV,
South of tho Willamette, Valley, after pass
ing by easy grades over tho Calipooia rango
that forms its southern boundary, which is
covered with magnificent flr forests and con
tains much laud that will eventually bo valu
able, thu Oregon and California llnilroad
winds ilou n into the great Umpmia Valley,
which is a region distinct from all others and
jMissessing especial valun for tho production of
sheep and wool, This county contains 3,700,
(HK) acres ifaiea, and has half that quantity
of surveyed laud. It covers tho region drain
ed by tho Unqiqim river and its tributaries,
and extendi to the ocean, but its availahlo
lands are found lack from the. ocean chiefly,
ns thu UniKu,i reaches thu sea by passing a
fearful canyon, wheio it euU its way through
thu coast nuigo. l'or its full width of 7
mile tho railroad and stage io.ul pas among
Ix'autifill hill and romantic valleys. Coming
down from thu Culipnoi.i rango wo enter tho
Youealhi Valley, which is one. of thu most
beautiful and frit il.i spots in tlio .State. Tho
valleys are numerous, though not extensive,
and are well cultivated, and tlio bills aro cov
eted with scattering oak groves that struck
us In '51, when wo wero Irrsh from Kastcm
States, with their rcsninhlance to many old
New Imgland applu orchards. Kvcn then tho
especial Lvuity and fertility irf Yoncalla valo
had caused tho Applogato brothers, to well
known as Oregon pioneers, to maku their
bonus tliero to en .'ago in stock raising. To
day tho Uinpqtia alley has but ten thousand
inhabitants, while it is larger than at least
two Kasti m States and has resources to sup
port n heavy population. Tho region may bo
ilcciih.d as hilly, but tho hill soil is rich and
lasting, while thu valleys that nestle contin
uulK mining theau hills posneis every beauty
iwtiiio can give mid aro adapted to thegrowth
of ult tho cereals, including corn, which ripens
with moro certainty than in tho Willamette.
Since tho railroad has Ih-vii completed wheat
farming has grown in importance and it will
lie keen that Douglas county harvest a largo
rop of oats. It also stands third in produc
tion of hay. Tho stock interests aro para
mount. Sheep husbandry is especially adapt
mI to this region. After his vico-1'rtsidciitial
campaign in I NIC General Jo Lono retired to
h:s ranch in the bills of tho Umpqua ami do
voteil himself to sheen raising, The ox
ccllciico achieved by Umpqua breeders Is
nhownby the fact that Umixpia wool rates
at tho highest prico paid for wool on this
coast. It commands 'J to ,1 cents a pound
moro than Willamette Valley wool, and 8 to
7 cents a iouiid moro than wool grown in
ICastcm Oregon, l'roltably this excellence is
dun both to good breeding of sheep and ex
cellence of tho native postures. There aro
many ipiito wealthy men in Douglas county,
made so by farming and stock raising. Lauds
can lw purchased in favorably locations for a
very reasonable price, and stock mnges can bo
wvured for those who prefer that business.
The are of unsettled government land that
has been surveyed is quite largo. This valley
has especial attractions tj the farmer, and the
f i uit grower cannot but like it. Karly vegeta
bles come to tho 1'ortland maiket from there
and command a good price. Tho railroad is
completed to Itiueburg, w hich Is tho county
seat and a very thriving place, with cxtentive
trade. Along the railioad aro Drain's, You
uilla, Oakland, Wilbur, Itiueburg, uul on the
stage iwvl south aro Myrtle Creek and Can
Vimville. Scottsburg is at the head of navi
gation on the Umpqua river and the town of
(iarduer is at its mouth. There are other
thriving towns in tho county. We canu'it
give in a brief sketch anything liko a complete
ldi of the importune wf this great valley or
ilepict its topographical features. Wo havo
manv tuhicmier.i their and know that thev
no stirring and thriving' people a.i I h.uc u
couhty possessing woitikiful rcsuui ics.
hol'iiikiin our.no.v.
We have paid little attention to the pre
cious metals that are found in thu Willamattu
counties and to some extent mined for in tlio
Cascado range, but wo aro coming to a part of
tho State that has turned out millions of gold
in the past ami will be scientifically mined in
tho future. Mines aro found in Douglas
county, and gold placers have I Ken worked
there. Also thcro is a commencement
of development thcro in tho direction
of gold qusrtz ledges, and wu hear of
rich prospects in thu Ciunab.ir mines.
Coal is found in Douglas county, lately dis
covered, said to possess especial value. South
of tho Umjjcjiia mountains we como into tho
Itnguo ItlvCr Valley, which is both a rich
mining and farining'region, l'lacer mining is
earned on extensively in Jackson and Jose
phiuu counties, ami Jackson county hns the
agricultural portion of Koguu lliter Valley
within its limits, Jackson count v has a fair
sharo of sheep and cattle, and ini'-e.s some of
the best horses to be found on tho Pacific
Coast. Jacksonville and Ashl.iml aro very
thriving places, and at tho latter n woolen
factory is in siicccsiful operation. The eli
mato of Koguu Kivcr Valley is wanner than
tho UmiHiua. so that com. snruhiiui. peaches
and graiies succeed very well, Tho counties
south of tho Uinpip.it aio not really tributary
to tho Columbia river to any great extent,
and do not como diicctly within the scope of
our purpose, which is to describe in n scries
of articles thu Columbian region, Tho con
struction of tho railroad through Southern
Oregon would wakothat section to life and
prosperity, whilo as yet they aro dependent
chiefly on a homo market and tho demand
from tho mines for salo of their products.
The stock interests have great iinpoitaucc,
because they can bo driven to market.
LAN I S Oft'KllKI) lllll M.M.K.
llesidcs the Government lauds which arc
oiTcred on tho usual terms, and constitute the
great bulk of lauds unoccupied, it must be re
membered that tho Stato of Oregon was en
titled to two re'ioni in cjcIi tow i.ship for
support of common schools, ami also to GOO,
000 acres granted originally for aid of public
improvements. Tho State ins n No a universi
ty land M-ant, lands granted for tho Agricul
tural College, Salt Springs, swamp lauds and
tldo and overflowed lauds, constituting in tho
nggregato millions of ncrc.i, which have been
elected ami located by tho State and aro now
offered for sale at Prices ranging from $1 l!S to
$'J 00 per aero. We cannot givo all paiticu
lari in this issue, but allude to it tl'crcnt
classes of lands so that any stranger who sees
this paper can have a general idea of tho sub
ject. Tho Oregon and California Itallroad Com
pany havo also a large laud grant which they
offer for sale at prices averaging $'J CO an acio
for tho best, Tli'ir lands extend through for
two hundred miles south of I'ortl.ind, to
Itoseburg, covering the odd lections of a ter
ritory varying from (JO to 80 miles w ide. Tho
grant was made in lSOO uild as the liest valley
lauds had been claimed More that time by
actual settlers, the grant to k only unoccu
pied portions, am) mostly His in tho foothill
regions of tho C.ucado and Coast mountains.
Wo shall allude again to these lands moro
particularly. While thu company's lauds me
rather remote and gi nei.illy hau to lio clear
ed of moio or le timber or undergrowth, we
know by personal ex p. nemo that they
possess great value fur sentiment.
Land grants covering three sections to the
mile, have, Wn innde to several wagon load
companies One bads from The Dalles south
and through tho Illuu mni-.iitaiiis towards
lloise City, in Idaho; another road inns from
Kucene, across tlio Cascade mountains by t!iu
Middle 1'ork of the Willamette, and south to
tho Klamath tvuntry, then follows Spingiiu
ltiver Valley to tho cast Still another hind
grant 'overs a lino from Albany over the Cas
cade rangu by way ef I.elumm and Sweet
Home, cnukis inubllo Oiegou ru.l to the
Idaho line, a tlistaucu of over .'WO miles.
These grants now belnnif to piivatu individu
als or iorK, rations and aie held puicly on
peculation. A 'ami grant also lies on the
wagon road constiuctcd over the coast range,
between Conallis and Yaquiuu Ri), in lieu
ton county, Theiu may be other grants we
do not call to mind,
i.vnp.s sriivKvr.n s rxcmni.
The following table is made up from state
ments kindly made by he liegister of the U
o. i.aniui!iceaiiircgoii.-,y,iu. ,,--, iLiiiii,
and by W. K. llenjainl.i, Im., ItegUteruf the
U. S. Land Ollico at llu.elu:gi
IWlltotl, . .
ll-ukimu, .
CtsUop.
CtuuibU,.
IKiu.'Ik
Lsus
IJnn
Al-uloil, .....
ilullu lush...
folk ,.,..
Tltlsaioek . .
WuhlllgldO...
VsualU
TuUlArtL(nit ll'hun)'M!tiV I
i,iu;,uo
nv.nu
.J,0
9V,0l
S,7li,er)
I.lM.K 0
7M) l.,
d.00J
ll,l
J,01i,e..i
137,e-o
ts,eoe
TJt ,
JlTK.
l.lNi.-
I..i.
ll,lV
t74.e.0
t07,C.O
acs.'ioo
K,vuO
lM,niji;,f.i
H'l.e0h,is.0)
5tVvll ,ei
ti,m n. ,uki
l,v'6,mi iO'.ivii
l,7iv.ivi wn.uv
IIJ,(k(MiJ,,UO
ll.
l.tS,'4)l
n.v
lil,u
37,l
IW.IVO
iw,ui
"IMs
V 1,0110
ui,iMll.-J,tAJ
jionnrs for draft. I
Mr. Jerry l.uckv, u Lino county farmer, is
j!-o a Wco county stock-grower, and has a
ni'i -h l"-ar I'li-iesxilln, in liastcni Oregon, at
Uie hc.i watn ; of tho Deschutes river. He
expresses. .urp'. o at tho gteat Advancement
mado in our State during tho past eight yearn
In the breeding of heavy work horses and bo
is well posted on stock matters. During that
eight years tho hurso men of this valley have
seen S. (!. Heeds' trail Clydesdale stallions
brought here from Scotland, and Washington
county has had the liencllt of their pretence. '
W. C. Mycr, of Jackson county, has favored
thu upper counties by bringing from tho South
his magnilicciit 1'eix'heioii homes, White
I'lince, (leiiiral I'linry, nnd 1'iideof l'erch,
which wero impoited from lYnnee; and
G'riciwn and I'ngh went back to tho valley of
tho Clyde and brought hero Merry Mnsonnud
Itob ltoy. Thei-u were all choice Miim.ils of
tliuir race, mid as if to cap the climax. Major
lliueo bought his grand stallion, (ilcu Kid, at
I'liilaiklphia, whciuitwas one of tho pri?u
winner at tlio Centennial.
Mr. Lucky has in llaeon's stable in this
ilty, waiting transporti tion to liistein Oro
son, n gland bono ho purchased of Mr. A.
Dodge, of Lebanon, Linn county, for .1, II.
Lafollct mid his son, friends of the Taumkh
over in Ochoeo Valley. Mr. Wallet has Ih'Mi
breeding Noi man hones for yean past and
hss now a line lot of well bred work males
mil Mr. Luckv his (elected for him lllnck
I'rlnce, of Knglish Draft stock, weight 1, 7M
pounds and height 1(1 bauds, .'I inches, lllack
I'lince is u daik brown in color, long liodied,
well tinned bead mid neck -not too large
and his frumo woik is stout enough to hold up
the temple Sampson tore down. His legs
look like thu pillais of Hercules on old Span
ish dollars mid nre as shaggy from thu knees
down as a liear. He is a magnificent speci
men of old lliitish draft stock and his progeny
in Limi comity cinco D7S speak his breeding
qualities. This horse was I mi Killed to Cali
fornia from Kucliiid in lbT.'l bv David Luso
and was brought to Oregon by Mr. A. Podge,
of Lelmiion, in 1S7S, so lie has made threo
iiasous in Linn county.
Wo could extend our account of grand
draft stallions indefinitely, for thcro aio many,
such as IMiiionUon, Kedmond, and many
others who own stallions of heavy draft in
this valley, and during thu past season we
have ntorded tho arrival of many fust-class
work stallions, many of whom went up tho
river for 1 -is tern Oiegon and Washington, but
wo uainu a few to illustrate our improvement.
,Iu addition to these large bleeds our Statu
has very many stallions classed tui "horses of
all work," and "roadsters," that produce a
class of stock needed for ordinary farmingand
road woik, that como up to thu best qualifica
tions known for that purpose. Of course our
breeding mires that now como on thu stage
show-tho rll'cct of Xo. 1 sites and we shall
rank higher than ever in horse bleeding as a
Statu from henceforth. Hunch grass ranges,
ICast of tho mountains. produce horses without
a dollars' cost from the dav they aio foaled
until they aro icady to break, and better
horses inter glow than this bunch grass
country makes.
Witfiinafewycarslt basbecn found that hor
se are in a measure natural to the bunch grass
country and tbeio are now many iicuoiis who
own largo lands of horse mid make a ocial
ty of tho business. The bono usually Win-
tela well, evtu if he has occasionally to paw
nway the snow to get at the dry grass, which
cures when it dues und piesirves its nutri
tious qualities idlwiutcr.a fact wu hvlicvotruo
only ot this variety of native, grata. Kasttrii
hoi so men arc constantly bringing good stal
lions into the Willamette Valley, which is tho
br cdiug ground for good stock of thu whole
Columbian rigiou, or they are importing them
dliect from California! this insures steady im
provement in thu produce, which In many
cases commenced with Indian mares, or halt
breed fillscs,
VALUE OF BEAVER DAM LAND.
licavirtoii it sitiutnl on thu West Side
railroad, a few miles from I'ortlaml, on thu
nlgo f Washington county, and derives its
name fioui ll0 acres of rich liottam laud
caused by the 1 burs of the hcawr in past
ayes. Some of this laud is in gcod cultivation
and all of it Las Uei well drained atgieitex
peiKu. and i.s cum nt value is. fJOO an aero.
Mr. Tuiker, of litate'itou, an old sul&crihcr,
during a liuiiu-i cell avo us valuable infor
mation ot his m:.-,'i-i. in cultivating this land,
of which ! e owns ten ai re , and as there Is
siuh l.ii.d to le found in eveiy direction in
ti.is vultry, the same will Lo useful to those
fin tuiijtt- in bung its owners, most of whom
nunly utili.e it lor pasturage without trying
to dnii . nnd cultivate, it. Like Libisli, near
Sab in. mut haxu oer a tlious.ind acres of
such h.nd in one Wly, merely a swamp in
which tattle fir I and browse on the swamp
growth of bushes.
Mr. Tucker my l:o bas-cut four tons of bay
to the aero on th.s gia s, but it is too rank to
btft'f lint quility, and stock do not relish it
as well as g'ii growu on other and dryir, as
well as less futile land, and it sells for about
$2.00 ton le4 prico tlun good timetby hay.
OBEaOH STATE FAIR.
Tho board of inanagen ol tho Oregon Stato
Agricultural Society met in Salem last weak.
Members wero in attendance from all the val
ley countis, and somo from dlstat portions of
the Stato. Tho meeting was interesting, and
the niemncn of the board Bccm to bo well
pleased with tho result of thoir labors,
Tho reports of tlio secretary and treasurer
wo prcseutcd, read and referred to tho finance
committee! but as tho latter was only given
to the board on the last day of adjournment
thu finance commlttco wero compelled to take
homo both reports and accompanying papers
nnd documents, to that no summary of them
can bo given here. Tho secretary, howover,
informs mo that tho total receipts of tho fair
of 1SS0 were ?I8,M3 somo cents about 8-1000
over last year. Gi.to receipts wero $ 10,0.10
mid some cents.
Tho speed prograinino was thoroughly revis
ed, and while thu tiiifmcn will profit about
the same, a usual, yet, by tho arrangement of
thu picmliims several hundred dollam,
(aliout $800) wero saved to tho society.
Tho prcmiurnis are free for all, with ono excep
tion. Tho timo for holding the fair of 1881 was
fixed from Wednesday, Juno Stllh, to Wednes
day, July (1th, to include a celebration on tho
Hfi of July.
Liberal premiums wero offered for tho ex
hibit of fruits, whilo those for grain in sheaf,
tillered last year, weio continued. Several
piemiums weiu added to division appointed
fur all divisions.
The premium list was thoroughly revil
ed Geo. Downing, of Sublimity, was re-elected
chief marshal without opposition, nnd only ac
cented to gratify a special dcsiio of tho board,
Ids former economical nnd satisfactory man
agement having mot their hearty approval.
Mr. W, II. lyowiswasolectedassistantinanhal,
and it is thought ha w ill mako an cllicient and
accommodating olliccr.
Tho lloral exhibit for the fairof USI will lie
removed from tho pavilion and placed in the
lloral garden ordered by tho lioanl to bo com
pleted for the exhibition of next year. A
committee consisting o! Henry Miller, of
I'ortlaml, S. II. Lamhvrt, of Milwaukio and
the secretary of the Society, was appointed to
superintend the work. Tho erection and com
pletion of tlio building and enclosure is to lio
let to tho lowest competent and responsible
bidder. Mr. Miller of I'ortlaml, tho chairman,
will havo immediate supervision Ho is nu
thorirrd to procure from a competent architect
in l'or'land, plans and specifications for tho
floral hall ami enclosure, and when completed
to secure the service of a landscape gardncr to
arrange walks and licds for trees, llowcrs, etc.
Tho enclosure for tho present will lie 150 feet
in length by CO feet in width. Through tho
centre, running tho longest was of tho grounds,
will lie erected a building, so arranged a not
to exclude light or interfere with walks pass-,
ing through and across its foundation. Thu
ground within thu enclosuro (which will bo '2
feet high) will be tastefully ornamented with
trees, flowers and shruhhrvry, set out and ar
ranged under tho immediato supervision of
Miller. Tho lieauty of the arrangement con
sists in tho fact that whilo thu exhibit of
llowcrs in hols instead of upon shelves will
greatly mid to this feature of tho society's ex
Mbit, the growth of the trees, shrubbery,
creeping vines, ke from year to year, will
soon render it one of the most attractive fea
tures of the fair. Tho garden will be so con
nected with the pavilion as not to interfere
with it cnlargemon in tho future, while tha
sire of the garden iwy bo increased to any
capacity which may lie desired. Several
premiums on How en were added to tlio
list, so as to insure the greatest attraction
possible.
A special premium of $200 was offered for
tlio best herd of ten cattle, imported in 18S0
1, and exhibited at tho fair of 1SS1,
Several resolutions were addoptcj, and new
rules ami regulation made, to coisjvm to the
law for tho protection of tho society, which
was passed by the legislature at tho session
just closed.
Incident to our Climate.
On thanksgiving day Hon. I. W. Coso of
this city had iqiou bis table something which
but very few people, in any portion of America
at least, can lioast of. It waa nothing less
than green corn, fresh and nice, gathered from
the corn patch in his own garden.
Mr. 1'. H. llagley, of Kuappa, had ripe
lt.il t let t pean, the second crop from the same
tree tliis year, and there aro blossoms now
upon the trco for the thiol crop in I8S0.
Up in I'olk county, at Lilncoln, green pe
were served, fresh from the vines in the gar
den of Mr, Duncan, and blackberries and
strawlicrries w ere lacked.
Tutting this and that together, reminded as
w u are oftlie regions of' Winter beyond the
lEockies can any man say, as he wanders
away this beautiful day, up or down aa lie
may, that he'd rather not say in Oregon ou
account of tho climate. Astorun.