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tl'
THE PRESIDENT'S CONDITION.
Dm ing tlio wnk past the 1'icsidcnt's t on
Jition has icmuincil vciy critical, with con
itant and almost lioiuly reports fiom the sick
room, which show that he has made little if
any gain and his death may occurat any time.
His stomach refused food for a while ami he
was sustained by injections m liquid foim, but
again lie was able to take a small quantity of
liquid noiuislin cut mid foi sonic days past hi
stomach has b'tn stionger, so that his food
is digested bcttei. A swelling of a gland un
der the left tin Ii.ih caused appieliciiHion, but
this softeiKil and when opened disclmiged
r small portion of healthy pus, and seems to
cause no particular iilaim, save as they fiar it
ma be follow ed by otlui simil.u aircctions.
II19 condition is that of ixtiuuu weakness
owing to drain on the system and inability to
assimilate hearty food. He lies almost un
conscious, noticing only his wife much of the
tune, and when ho awakens he is for a time be
wildered, but coon comes to himself and is
sensible to all passing eventswhen appealed to.
Such is the condition of the president and
the whole nution waitH the issue with great
appciihensioii. His physicians uio not, up
parently, as sanguine as they siemed awhile
since, hut endeavor to send forth cheerful bill
lctini, while outsido authorities show- gieat
disbelief of Ins recovery. The foiegomg sums
up the substinco of many columns of dis
patents. The wound it-elf seems to be heal
nig well mid causes little appieheiisiou,
BETTER TIMES.
'I Ik iiuptovcil pnee of wheut, the u ell mis
tamed price dime theiise commenced, ami tho
eonfidonco gioit opeiators show in the tuturu
of the nniikct by making heiv pint liases to
be coiuplt tid ill coining mouths, all civo lea
son to expn t bcttu tlim-H and will give s-itis-faction
.mil relief to many uhi liae bieii
heavy luier of liti ye.as. As we show at
length III out comliKiciiil ai tide oil the List
page, we cannot look fur low ci freights soon,
and cannot expect to leulio a high piucfor
wheat, but wu can hope to riceive a price that
will be fan iimiinciatioii for l.iboi and tiuoiii
anoint nt to all faiiuois. Shipping is not only
in gieat demand the whole world ovci, but
the dtpieukion in commcico a few yeais since,
that gave us cheap tonnage and good puces
tin wheat in past yoais, has caused ueglc t
of ship building! mid, now, when coinnieicial
activity is iiiiiimmiI among all peoples, the
supply of ships is found inadequate foi the
demand of couiuiuce, and ships eveiywhtie
eonmiand a high price, which tenets iIiwih
liously on 111, bic.uisn so long a voyagi- is re
quiied to cany our giain tn in.ukct.
Ship building will be nnuo actively uniuid
011, no doubt, no th.it wo may look foi some
lelief fiom iuciiasn of tonnage, but wo see m
out own helpless situation mi illiisti.iUon of
the suicidal policy of our government in sub
mitting ship mi mm to :m enormous lax, that
tflcotunlly pinbibits our becoming a coiniiu't
ciiil nation in any great -himi. 'I ho cost of
building ships in tho United States is one-hulf
hoik IIimi it in lo build them III l.ngland, and
f our lawn allowed Auiirtoans to puiehaie
foreign built ships and register tliim ill the
United NtatiK, no doubt the enterprise of out
eoiiiitijiniu would be shown by their possess
ing ss line a merchant lie t as sails the ocean.
but this minims policy leans us without a
merchant nnv, and we must depend on foi
eign shipowueiH to inrry urn eiopa to maiket.
Hue. 011 the I'aiilic, we see thu usult of
this policy luoio plainly than elsiwheie, when
the fai mem of this coast aio taxed ten millions
of dollars Hi one ycai, bic.tusti tonu ige la
seaiee and luighls high. Tim yoir to tome
the CtiliuntuH inn and Han Francisco Rill
have ,'iO,lHHl,(HMI bushels of giain to stud to
in.ukit, and will bo taxed fully 20 cents a
bushel otei a good piling freight rate, wheie
as, it Amciif.iiis could own ships at then cost
111 laiglaud, we should bo independent of the
w 01 Id, and not ai'tuilly pluudeitnl of our haul
e.11 iiings. Tins is .1 matter w e should bear ill
iiiitid, sous to use what influence we ham in
Ctiugrva to ttoomu a, rndtcal uuel ieMounb1
change in mil navigation laws.
Hut, foi all that, we can hope for better
times, and while wu btsitato to gio any ad
vice, it set ms as if our lu at growcis could
rely somewhat on the inaiktt, and not foice
their heat olf under presmm. Any one can
see that a rush to sell mom than there shall bo
ships to load will dtpiess wheat, vvhcioaa to
keep the cxportil supplied only with light
stocks, and anxious to aeeiiro a supply, will
sustain prices.
All through tho coutiti) them are fair ami
often rt ally good crops, and tho Uiincii, as a
class, aio hopeful of better times. They have
worked hard ami w sited two long J tars, and
now ale able to appreciate any hletsiuga that
may come, to their ahaie. 't shall try to
furnish thsm continually with such lufcrua
ttou as they can rely on, and can base their
cartful judgment upon.
1
IH'lUMl the past two wteks the oditois of
the r'tliutlt have been absent most of th
Iliac, taking a summer vacation in one way
or another, and if them is any lack of original
matter in the paper our reader must attrib
ute it to that causa and we hop will accord
us our biief vacation without conn Unit
Sotui aaiu wu shall bo at work in the old
stylo and will tiy to make up for snv dili-
TRAVEL IN POLK COUNTY,
editorial 1'orre.Miondeiice.
This wtek 1 made a huriied trip Ihiough
parts of I'olk county, leaving Salem on Friday
morning, dossing the Willamette theie, and
over the Kola hills to Bethel, through tho
beautiful bill country that has so many posi
tiic attractions and furnishes such excellent
rewards to the farmei. Theso hills are Hutu
ral sites for oichaids, and produce tho finest
fruits, and indeed pre tluco everything that
(trows in Western Oiegou, ono peculiar ad
vantage being that they easily shed water, and
can be plowed almost any time in the in
ter, so that tin y are cultivated to much bct
tei advantage than oulinary prairie hud,
which dries olf slowly; besides which this
lull country is generally und'rlaid by heavy
strata of marl, or decomposed rock th it is
porous enough to let the water dram ofl
through it, and so Ins a natuial drainage that
is of gieat advantage; it is this peculiarity
that especially suits the giowth of flint ticcs
in this legion.
A pleasant 1 idc of ten miles look us to the
hills overlooking the charming Salt Cluck
valley, before teaching which we looked fiom
a steep bluff ov ei tho charming landscape made
by Spiiug alley, with hills to the north of
it. In this valley are such old residents as the
Walkers, who eaino thcie a third of a ccnttuy
ago, Aid now have old places that possess
ever) quality of home and comfort; in this
valley rue the 1'ui vines, I'lnllips, and the
fai 111 originally loca'cd by Jesse 1). ailing,
aetiiiilly siinoiinded by splendid orehan Is, is
conducted by Mrs. ailing and her son 1 his
spot was the scene ot early settlement. Its
shipping point is Lincoln, on tlie river, and
Ztna is a postollico, wheie a group of build
ings and shops aic clustered under grand, pi
tiiaiehal oaks, that aie very beautiful in their
outlines; passing over the intervening hills,
wo came to Bethel, w hich is now shadow ed by
the ncighboiing railioad station at McCo.
Bethel and Z-na nro not successful fiom a
lmsiniss standpoint; the West Hide railiotd
has changed tho order of things, and McCoj
claims tho advantage that belongs to a rail
load town, but it is too new and unlornieil to
be ntti active but that may como with time.
Around Itithcl is n choice faimiiiL' countiy,
both in the hills and in the vallej to the west.
It is some years since I have been past line,
an 1 time has biought many chingts, and
in my new comers have homes nestled among
the hills. The countiy H gradually tilling up;
funis me biing subdivided, and population
inei cases, .lust now, in evtij direction the
busy hat vest is in mtlvo piogiess, and the
self-binder or htadt I is sreu in all directions
cutting down the goldtn gi.uu. It is wonder
ful to sic tho pcrfietion to which firming ma
chineiy has attained; twenty joins ago a gang
of hands were ctiidling, inking and binding
toilsomely by nantl, wheiias to-day the self
binder goes over the irmunil, and with piticnt
mid untiling skill g.itheis up all the gi am it
tuts, and leavts, instead of the waving heads
that foi in an ocean of color, lows of sheaves
all bound seem ely and leady foi the tint shot.
Instead of it tWcu oi twenty men toiling uid
imitating, the noisy machine, needing mil a
stout tiaiii ami an intelligent diner, makes
shoit ivoik of tho onto dreaded otjciatiou. I
noticid, too, that scauely a single Ik.iiI of
giain is w.isltil; in fact, the clean Aoik done
must sive giain enough to pay foi thou hole
vvm , compiled with the wastefulness of
foimer intthods. Voluntici eiops wouldn't
innoiiiit to much, wilt I e time is not an giain
vvasttd to voluiititl
Mj coiupinion in this vvtek's join nt wasa
I it I man geiitltniau, who has itsidctl ninny
tais in Ameilcn, connected sometimes with
tuiigiatiou in.ittcts at Castlo (iaidiu, who
was tho colonel of a IVim-ii lvauia legiinent
dining the civil war, and who has setu all
pirts of Kuiope. As ho was desiious of sieinij
thu Willamette valley, 1 invited him to make
a few d.i) s' tour w ith me, w hieli he aiveptod,
and as vvo cimu down the hill points ucar
llethel, and s iw thu bright piiioinuia of I'olk
county vallcs with the Coast inount.iius for a
linckgitiiuid to the pictum, he exchitiued that
thu scene was absoluttlv beautiful as indeed
it was.
Avva oil, ttiwauls the oeeau, tho Coast
mountains icmlo ill one plate, whim the
(iiaud Hondo is nestled in among the Hinges,
ami the natural pass exists that leads by Sal
moil uvei to the sea. Thiough this low pass
the sta winds ciiiiiiuenci'd to pour as the Au
gust sun betatne oppieasive, and it was ono of
the wannest da)s of the season Just as we
weiu woudeiliig how the hot afternoon was to
lie endiireel, the sea hreoio e-anie fiom the
(I rami Kondo pas ami kindly ansvvrieel tlio
question, Of a waiiu Siimmtr day almost in
vaiiably, this cool and refieslung wind blows
fiom the west ami tempers the ras of the
harvest sun with the hieath of tho slt sea,
that 1 oil! a shoit tliy's llde distant tho
other side nt the bluo udges that wall m tho
west. The (iiand Hondo is the seat of the In
dian agency for the Coast roseivation, and wo
occasionally saw Indians, who appeared quite
vilircd, driving their wagons or on horse-
hack.
Salt Cicek alley lies west of tho rail ijad
track; Sheridan lies over tovvaids tho mount
ains to the noithwest; l'errydale, on the Nar
row tlaugo, is only about two milts distant
(rum McCoy, on the iele Gauge. This val
ley that leaches from tho hills near Hotlnl to
the Coast mountains, is one of the loveliest
ami most pioductiio portions of Western Or
euoii, ami is thickly peopled and well farinrcl.
Thtio is little flat Uud in all this rootli of
country, for the praiuea are rolling.with ooca
sional rises of land, with ranges of hills trav
elling the valley hcio and there, and a line
etreet is given to the laiteltcape by tho appear
aiivoof farms and wheat fields climbing the
outlying spurs and foothills of the Coast
lange, Thu view from tho Hvthel lulls is in-
devil pauoranuc, ami my cMiiipauion, with all
his experience of uew ami old world countries,
repeattxlly proiiounccM it to be supeib.
A trip of this kiul for which one has cnly a
fuw da)' tiiuo in which to traverse exteusire
;-,... i. .(("-"'"til"', iKWine ou Icvk
WILLAMETTE FARMER: PORTLAND, OREGON, AUGUST
away in all directions to see farms and homes
jou cannot reach, and know you arc passing
by the residences of many you know but
cannot visit owing to want of time. My espe
cial mission was to create an interest among
farmers in furnishing a display of ceicats and
grasses in the sheaf, to make exhibits at the
coming Mechanic's Fair and clscwheie, and
tl e most I could hope to tlo was to interest
those I met, and induce them to do what they
could to procure similar contributions from
their" neighbois. I almost invariably found
the fanners on diffeierit routes .quite inteiest
ed in this object, and somo had already re
sponded to request leccived from thisotlice to
make such contribution, and had tried to in
duce these neighbors to do likewise.
l'errydale, on the Nanow Gauge, is a new
looking place in tho midst of a rich section,
and will impiovc, no doubt, with time; from
heie I pushed on towardss'Slieridin, and in
ten led to isit that place and llallston, hav
ing never ytt been in thit part of Polk coun
ty; but, finding that my route would be too
long to reach Salem, ia Independence, next
day, I turned reluctantly and went direct to
wards Dallas, winding through little valles
among th") hills, and finally reaching that
place towards night in time, however, for a
gooel bed at the l'arsons' House. Dallas is an
important town, the seat of considerable trade
w ith a laige extent of farming country. It has
an old look and dates bick to early times,
though its dignity is perhaps strengthened
just at present by the consti notion of the lail
road to that place and beyond. It is likely to
lemain the county sciffor some cars to come
and perhaps always.
F.aily the next morning we got away fiom
Dallas, running directly east towards Inde
pendeuce, thiough a delightful connti, level
and smooth from the banks of tho Willamette
to tho Coast range, but by no means a monot
onous landscape, for theio weie hills in view
to right and left and the high mountain-, weio
behind, and though the view was open to the
banks of the Willamette, which was marked
by tho timber hue, beyond theie rose the high
red hills of Marion county. In the distance
could be seen the foiests that marked tho flow
of the Hickrcal and the Luckiamute, so the
scene vva's v.uiee.1 and atti active ill all pal tl
culars. It is inteiesting to notice tho attempts niado
to experiment with various seeds for the pur
pose of testing the capacity of our soil and cli
mate. I often saw good patches of corn, and
Oen. Xcsmith, I think, said ho had one Held
of twenty acres. It has been reported in the
FaKMHi that Gen. Ncsinitli has made a suc
cess of growing com; instead of summer-fallowing
land giowing corn, on which his hogs
fattened well, and deriving a fair piolit fiom
the ci op. Now, if Gen. Nesmith was its fond
of w iitmg up fanning topics as of some othei
niattcis, he might tlo good by showing what
his experience has been, but he has not et
developed lileiaiy taste ill that diieetioii
nioio thu pit. A few miles cast of Dallas wo
came to the faun of Mr. .lames Hams, who
has planted seeds of various kinds, icceivcd
fiom the AuriiciUuial lturoan at Washington,
with good success. His "gold leaf tobicco" Is
making splendid growth, and lit is justly
proud of it. If we can liuso tobaeto in Oic-
gon, an 1 keep some of the mom at home
that goes away to piy for th.it unsanctiheil
wccjl, there will bn "millions in it."
Over this beautiful piaiue, pist some
chaiiiuiig homes a beautiful new house be
longing to Mr. Coolulgo was one- wo turnel
north to Dixie, wheie 1 paid a visit to Mr.
.ui .is, tho "village blacksmith," who is abo
an experienced f inner, ami then turned down
the north bank of the ltickical to stop a mo
incut at the residence of the "S.uo of the
Hickieal," who left the Senate, of the United
States to coma home and be a fanner. 'I his
gentleman has never told 'what ho knows
about fanning," but whin a mail ha" ovti 2,-
000 acies of as rich soil as lies out of doois,
and produces as much m-in and other sturl,
and i.iists as much line stock as he does, it
looks as if he might have something to s.iy,
especiilly when posst-ssmg gifts as a writi".
As wu 1 1 ached the shide of the aldci.-. in flout
of the family mansion, I urged my German
frit nd to alight, but at the suggestion of Mat
ing an evL S. Senator and well known
statesman, in dusty gear ami apparelled for
the road, he almost shiieldereil as he glanced
over his attiie, and ejaculated: "No, no, no!
1 haf not zo clothes." "Well," said I; "hold
on a moment until 1 bring the ex Senator out
here, and if ho has any clothes on, ) on call
judge how much notice he will take of our
wardrobe," I found this his tone penouage
at work in his shirt sleeves, pen in hind,
polishing till an historic episode and doing jus
tice to one of his contemporaries; his co.it was
oil, and his "tout ensemble" was such as you
would expect from a statesman on the Kick-
ileal. I stiteel my dilemma, and he went
out to elis.il in the puuctillio of my frienl, who
took one look at his host, and then unit)-
scivedly accepted his hospitality, ami drank
his cider.
Leaving the Hickueal, I pushed south to
wards Independence, alwts through a beau
tiful and level country, and just about noon
reached there. Independence is one of tho
most rapidly growing tow us in Oregon, situa
ted on the river and also on the West Side
railroad, and already spreads over a great deal
of ground. There am sev eral brick stores, a
new hotel that is a credit to the place, a busi
ness street that is full of life and has numer
ous well stocked stores, and large warehouses
am in sight, to atom the gram of the country
behind thu town. It is safe to piedu-t that
Independence will bo growing and prosperous
for many ears to come.
Crossing the W illamette, four miles Mow
Independence, I took the road to Salem, with
the river on one stela and the hills on the oth
er. Them are spteudiil farms along the lsjt
torn, and the Western hillsides just along here
wouhl be the be-st pevmblo lx-ation for or
chards, as the vicinity of the river would be a
guarantee against damage from frost. I come
to this couelunon, bemuse on a lull top on
this tvmte, Ices tluu two uulcs from Salvm, I
have for years back been planting and tending
a large plum and prune orchard, and this
j ear, when frost has done damage m so many
localities, my oi chard is loaded with luscious
fruit.
FOI K, ll.sr. isn VIVUION CUt'ATII'S.
Hestine part of Sunday at the Chcincketa
Hotel, Salem, wheie Mr. Graves, the old time
landlord spares no pains to make his guests
fumfni tabic, I stirttd out again through the
red hills, by roads not traversed on my late
excursions, and inaelo for tho Ilnena Vista
ferry, tho carnage containing this time, in
addition to my Gcinueii friend, the editor of
the Home Circle, who is very fond of excur
sions thiough the country. Out German com
panion who wasucdto travel through the
old countries of I'.itrope and casil entertained
us w ith rcinenisences of tiai tl through France,
German, Italy and Hussia, often cxpiesscd
his delight at the many comfortable and often
truly beautiful homes we met with; ho admir
ed the physique of the people and the glow mg,
sturdy health of the children, and a!ovc all
was considerably surprised at the intelligence
that was almost universally mauifested lij all
we met. It is a surprising fact to foreign boin
visitors that our farming population is so well
read in the events of our time, which is to bo
expected where families take from thiee to
six newspapers and magazines, and often ex
change reading with their neighbors besides.
Down the Santiam bottom, towards Heuna
Vista, wo found J. S. lluckner. an American
i7ed German, whose home is on a beautiful
knoll, and whose farm has been cnlaiged by '
grubbing a gieat aica of land. Reaching the
river bottom we saw what damage was done
by the floodsof last Winter, of which so much
w as reported at tho time, .veai thetcriy we
visited Ml. William Wells, who is a Lugo
fanner and noted hop glower, but found him
unlmppil disturbed by serious illness in his
family. 'I ho hop ards thereabout show very
luxuriant growth and are Iotded with the
fruit if the term U adinissable. The tall
poles festooned with the many branching and
griceful hanging vinos aio well woith visiting
ami hop m'king is a busy season w ithout the
trcimntloiiH tax on tlie physical man that oc
curs in connection with the giain haivcst.
Mr. Wells and Mr. IHvielson, who lives over
the river in Folk, aio two of the best hop pro
ducers in Oregon ami hav e excellent diy houses
.mil other preparations for saving the crop,
and the hop picking is done by Indians fiom
Giand Rondo agency, not far oil.
'I he Hucna VisU ferry tlcscrv es a plain no
tice, foi it is worse than a nuUaucc, inasmuch
as it is intone cuicnt, unsafe, badly tended and
conducted in contmupt of the tiavel itlivis
upon. Ncithei bank is giaded suthcicntl;
the boy w ho tends the Iwat is not ov ci l.'i
je'.us old and is not ablo to handle it, so that
aftel Waiting an uuicisonablo time we weio
dually taken aeioss ami the landing was so
b id that I found it almost impossible to get
up the bank. Tho rope that is used i woiu
out ami unsafe and it villi be stiauge if onic
serious accident docs not occiu. Wo giv e this
notice because the facts .no continued bv the
uxpciiencu of othcis. ThoLetbo fmy, on the
load fiom Salem to Independence, is now
owned by D. II. Jor, who tends it punctual
ly and conducts it well. The road along the
river is excellent, and 1 advuo tiavel to go
that way when possible, both foi safety and
convenience.
Tho blulls on the river at lJueni Vista ale
mined for the clay that feeds the great pot
tci) establishment hue, w Inch gives the placo
about all the importance it has. Mr. A. M.
Smith, thepiopnetor, now lesides in l'oitUnd
to atti ml to inci easing sales of sewei and chain
pipe and has after c.irs of patient toil built
up an excellent business. Leaving Hucna
Vista we went past the farm of K. U. Hall,
but no one was at home. In this harvest sea
son It is ficquently the else that whole neigh
boihoods aic assembled where the thiesher ti
at w oik, as harvesting is pleasantly done on
tuts co operative plan. Then we turned South
and took our nooning on the banks of the
Luckimute, vvheni I ftd the team and then we
toasted our meat over some coals, made a cup
of eollec, drank sweet milk and fea9ted in pio
niestle, prefenng tho al fresso icpasttoin
iloor life. On fiicud, the Colonel, waste
minded of the bivouac during tho war, and
was almost inspired to tight his battles over
again. We drank m the fiesh sta breeze for
desseit ami weio loth to break up camp, dust
over the bridge was the of family Mr. David
sou, one of the old time subscribers of the
WilijVMUTK 1'u.MHi, with whom we mads
acquaintance ou a similar excursion two years
ago, w ho came over to see us as soon as they
found we wcr.o theie, so we have double causo
to remember our noon rest on the Luckimute.
In such an exclusion wo con only hope to pass
through a district ami cieate some interest
that will spread as the intention is under
stood, ami must needs pass near the homes
of many suhseTibcrs w ho live a little ott the
direct route, while it would be mote pleasant
to spend mom time in a neighborhood. One
thing we found out to our great satisfaction
that the Willamkttk Fckmfk has nuny
frieuds through the country ana that its cir
culation can be douhleil in any neighborhood
with very little pains.
Passing on South we came to the pleasant
prairie home of Mr. J, Ik Stump, well known
through Oregon, stopped aw lule to interview
him and then turned West to tho new railroad
tow li of Suver, on the southern lssnler of Folk
county, the railroads makes matters much
moie convenient for all the people on tho West
side and they now all lme transportation very
convenient. Suver is ou the open praine and
will grow; it already has a thriving aspect.
Mr. A. C. Hamilton, postmaster and mer
chant, is agent for thu Fakmmi at this point.
I'htn I drove arouud a block several miles
teiuare, went through the fields acroas lota to
Wells station, in Henton county, where .Mr.
A. A. Williamson was very busily employed
taking in w heat from farmers, ami here w e
met our old fneud Mr. Giuglos, oftentimes a
member of the U-giil.iture lu the past, where
he won au honorable name fur U-ing a itnctly
honest politician It was getting towards
-2G, 1881.
evening b this time, hut tho warm day had
bccntompcicdhv theiefieshingsea breeze nnii
the gloiious pauoraun of the coast mountains
and the outlin0' b'lttes had passed be
fore our v ision all the afternoon. It is not
possiblo to mention eveiy locality oi note
woithyobjectth.it we met with. I'lease re
member that I only glanco at things as we
hasten along.
Passing almost uiound a squ.uu of countiy
wo turiieel Rist, towards Albany, our port of
destination for tho night; dioppingotT of the
higher praine bud we giadualiy found our
selves in tho bottom lauds of too Willamette;
pa-std b many nice f.iiinsand made fiicndl
calls along tho way to eicitean interest in the
cereal display, and just befme the se'ting sun
droppeil away behind the coast hilliwc leach
ed the Willamette liver at Albany, and weie
carefully ferried out to find comfortable beds
and excellent fale at the Rcveie House, which
is a hotel Albany may well be proud of and
te.ivellers be satisfied with, if all tr.tvcllcis
aie seivtd a well as w e were. It is tiresome
in the cxtieme to no ctamped and jostled all
day in ever so comfoitiblc a cirinigu or over
evei so good loads, and liiccomfoits of ii good
urn come gratefully to the way worn traveler
on a dusty August diy.
The day before we had uicled tlnoiiuh the
southern pmtof Polk county, and the noi th
em edge of Henton, and now our dnvo was to
boovcithc bio.nl piain'es of Linn county.
Getting an eaily start we drove out eastward,
on t le Lebanon load, making friends along
the way and finding all the fiirnieis busy vith
the haivcst. Linn county had rust two years
ago tncl had a low price for wheat hist year,
anil as rust was feaifully disastrous on this
gieat piailie tho two past ycais have been a
stveic trial to the two thousand oi mote far
mei a of this gieat wheat glowing county.
Linn this year will had the whole State in
pioduction of eeicals and with the rise in
wheat, even though it may not leach the far
mer's favorite price of "a dollar a bushel,"
Linn will be piosperous. With two years of
trial peop'e have learned to manage econo
mically and so arc cei tain to impiove piospei
ity when it comes. Take the old wheat held
over and the crop of 18S1 together and it
must make n oney abundant and times gener
ally good thioughout Oicgon and Washing
ton. Albany praine is wide enough to bring rich
hat vests to tho w oild. On the 1' ist it is wall
eel in by the Cascade mountains with outlying
buttcs looming up in the near distance and
giv ing the landscape charming lesults. Oiegon
scenery is famous the woild over, but the gieat
chaiin of the Willamette valluy is that the
piospects aic evei changing and vaiy ing. Now
in lolling hills; now in pi.mies, with the con
tout of hills and piaiiics constantly fnniiing
new pictnres,and the panoi.nna seems to shift
as w e pass along. The beauty of the great
valley strikes one feebly as it is Reen fioin a
railioul car, becauso the attain avoids bolh
bights and depths, while the wagon loads
nieaiidci the streams, wind through glens and
piairics, or climbs tho hills, so that tiavel by
road icveals the country with uncurling vistas
and now ly lev caled landscapes. So w ith Lum
county ; vvo had the tout ensemble of praines,
hills, buttcs and far awa ranges, ami beyond
and above all the wonder-causing snow moun
tains tow i red with gi, melon i that mocks at
w oi ds.
Mi. '. P. Ruikhait has a tine icsideuce
and a well unproved farm font miles Kast of
Albany, wheie he has planted out liuiidieils
of shade and forest tiees gathcied from tem
perate climes. Figs wue glow ing in his front
yard, though they may not iipen. The Kit
ealiptus, or HliioGum tree of Australiiwas
also growinc thcie. I have not time or space
in this letter to tell all his experiments, but
ho suctes-fully grows sweet potatoes and has
com that must be over seven feet high. Mr.
Hurkhart has n taste for experiments and has
testcil ono bundled varieties of wheat a! me,
and is pieparing for the Mechanic's Fair a
splendid display of giamof many varieties
It would bo foitunate if we had many more
farmcis with the samo taste, patience and en
ugy. Wo shall hope to receive from him au
account of the vinous varieties shown this
eeason, some of which are new to Oregon and
seem to bo well woith further cultivation. Mr.
Huikhart has a field of the Hungarian or Kin
ney wheat, plowed in Fall and replowcd and
sown in the Spring, that should fully yield 3o
bushels per acre, and he has a small field of
Odessa wheat, perfectly clean, that yields well
and is valuable because know n to be certain
ly rust pi oof. This was saved carefully and
propagated so as to leave perfectly clean seed.
We all found much to interest us here, but
we had a long drive before ns and. had to
make a brief stay.
Turning north, past Knox's butte, we pass
ed over a fine country to the Santiam. Near
the butte we found Mr. John tiuiseudorfer,
who has the only field of Fife wheat wo halo
ever heaid of, This wheat is grown success
fully in Canada. Mr. G. received a ipoonful
from a friend in Nebraska, and this he ha
carefully propagated until now he haa broad
acres that furnish a rich harvist.
Mr. Guitcndorfer planted out a large prune
orchard, seven years ago, on a high swell of
prairie near his house, and informs us that
nearly a'l his trees were killed by the borers,
while his chemei have been fatally attacked
by the black knot, and this leads to anxious
inquiry as to w hethcr prunes and plum and
cherries with us are all to be subject to these
samo evils, or if the location on the prairie is
to le charged with the result. Bo far I have
observed that hill land al way does tho best
for orchards, and that high locations am espec
ially desirable for cherry trees, and I hope
some experienced orchanlist will find time to
discuss these msttera in our columus.
Nearer the Santiam we found the pleasant
home of Mr. Silu Haight, and were attracted
by a small piece of grain growing near the
road, which proved to be White Spring rye of
which he received a fow grain by mail, and
has iuttsafully propagated it. He thinks it
is identical with the 'Moose wheat" of which
we heard some years go S. A. Clack K.
STATE NEWS.
Flour $10 per thousand at Jackson
ville. Tlio Salem Gas Co. use rock coal from
Australia.
Corvallis lias 30,000 bushels of last
year's w heat on hand.
Work has been started on tho coast
mail in Jackson county. It will cost
.$,-,ooo.
Cattle' an dying of "black log" in the
vicinity of Stc-in mountain, Harney
valley.
The old liolul nt Couledo.Coiia county,
was destroyed by an incendiary last
w eek.
Cildw ell's & Dibco'b fine barn 'on
Tulo lake, Jackson county, was burned
to the giound last week.
Property holders in Coquillc City
have been taxed two per cent for the
pin pose of building ft school house.
Government work at the mouth of
the Coquillc, Coos county, stopped last
week: owing to the appropriation being
exhausted.
The J.icksonv ille Sentinel says: Three
days' lacing will take placo at Cardwell's
track near town commencing beptemiier
:29th and continuing three days. The
iniiingcinont promise a "square turn"
for everybody.
The distance between Roseburg and
Clovcrdale, Cal., the notthern terminus
of tho Donahuo railroad, is about 400
miles, and to build a lailroad that long
would requiro borne 1,00 ,000 ties and
10,000 tons of lails
Wm. Webb, the escaped desperado
mid two Fort Klaniatn deserters, are
thought to bo together in the mountains
at the head of Emigrant creek, and
btock men aro very apprehensive regard
ina tho safety of their stock.
The AsMiiwl Tidinyx says: A band
of from 150 to 200 head of elk has
been seen a number of times on the
Kel'oy tr.iil between Crescent City and
Happy Camp, at a poiut 25 miles west
of Klamath i i er. A number of them
have been shot.
TEKKITOIHAL.
Wheat is turning out well in the
vicinity of Weston.
Tlio steamer Nellie has been raised
and taken to Salem for repairs.
Sirs. B. H. Bowman, of Salem, was
injiued by being thrown out of a buggy.
Lightning melted the brass rests in
the telegraph oflice at Lowiston last
w eek.
Dr. Baker of Wulla Walla was quite
ill in Paris, vv hem ho huh been for his
health.
A new and fatal dii-ease has made it
appearance among horses of upper Dry
and ltleiu ort-kt, Wil,
Hon. Thomas Brents has become a
sturdy son of toil, having bought
Castle's brick yard.
C. W. Wheeler has assumed editorial
and business control of the Wai tsburg
Times. Success to him.
Sinco Moso Durkhicmer's advent to
the Wciser, town lots have advanced
fifty per cent and still going up.
Alfred Daniels, a weak minded young
man of Cheney, has wandered away
from homo and cannot be found.
Tho Spokane Chronicle says that the
O. It. efc N. Co. estimate that they are
making pn-paratioiis to move about
75,000 bushels of wheat from there tbia
season. This is an incienso of 35 per
cent, over last year.
Tho Spokano Chronicle thus refers to
one of Portland's former residents:
"Mrs. J. J. Browne, whoso garden is
tho envy of all who visit there, sends
us the largest and best turnip wo have
seen this season. It weighs a little over
eight pounds."
The Lcwiston Teller says: On Sun
duy, tho 14 th, a tiro broke out in Gross'
saloon at Fanuiiigton, which resulted in
the burning of tho saloon, damage
Sl,."i00 Paddock's drug store, damage
$2,500; C. W. Campbell's hardware
store, kiss $2,000; Moses Fish, black
smith shop, loss 500; Mrs. Sbeiher'a
warehouse, loss not reported; Lippitt
Bros., ten tons of oats. By extra exer
tion J, P. Quarrels was able to savo his
hotel. The origin of the fire was sup
posed to be the work of an incendiary.
print Oat tbe land.
We learn from a reliable source, says the
Bozeman Courier, that several prominent offi
cials connected with the Chicago & North
western Railway contemplate taking a trip
a-ross the the country from the Black Hill
to Bozeman during the present month, their
rrincipsl object being to ascertain the feasi
bility of extending their line from the Hill
to Montana, and thence to some point on the
Columbia river or I'uget Somrl. The great
natural thoroughfare from the East through
Southern Montana is destined to be utilized
before many years by more than one trans
continental railroad. The time is not far dis
tsnt when the travel to tho -Yellowstone
National Park, and the freight and piuenger
business of Gallatin and Upper Yellowstone,
including, ot course, it rich mine and atoek
interests, will furn'sh sufficient carrying trc'
for at least one railroad.
Omn Dzcu.ed. We understand that
Mr. Villard has made Captain FUvel, of A
toria, an offer lor hi water front property at
that place, and his tu? boats, which, not be
ing deemed sufficient, he has declined.
Tjik New Asylcu. The wall of U new
insane asylum, says the Statenan,tte rapidly
assuming shape and proportion. T"he entire
structure will be uud. r roof bv the fi'stof
January if no untoward circumtuce it.tec-reni.