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About Willamette farmer. (Salem, Or.) 1869-1887 | View Entire Issue (April 7, 1882)
VOL. XXV. tyvrvefymuUntq. Assessment and Taxation Again. New Era, Or.. March 25, 1882. Editor Willamette Farmer: 1 see I have got into trouble about my idea of taxation, but then, through the medium of the Farmer, even as weak subjects as our selves may cause a faint ray f f light to fall upon a daik subject. In reply to II, E. Hajes, Farmer Sweeny and others, I will make some statements in regard to indebted ness First, it is a voluntary contract entered into bctw ecu two parties, and from a business point of icw; there is no unfortunate force work about it. A agrees to u-c a certain arm unt of money belonging to B for a speci fied hire or interest. The money or its equiv alent si ould bo in A's hands, and all that B holds is n piece of piper, its valuo dependent entirely upon A's responsibility financially. If A has overstepped himself, got too much money and pajs too big an interest, is B to blame for it? B did not forco the money upon him. Another class gets into debt by running stoic bills. They send to town after tobacco, tea, coffee and a hundred other things, with tho order to book them. Thi merchant books them correct, but the farmer does not. The merchant watches its growth, but the farmer does not. The farmer thinks truck and trade, such us eggs, butter and many other such things don't pay to bother with; grain is what he is after, but somehow it did not turn ( ut as well as he thought; he did not get as big a price for what no had as he expected, and his store bill was a great deal larger than lie thought for. Tho mer chant must hae his pay, so away the farmer goes to the money lender (m ike a note of this, the money lender did not go to him). Now, Mr. Morey Lender figures (exactly w hat the farmer didn't do). Want 800, ah ? 100 acies. Homestead title. Ask 3,000 for it. Land buyer olleis 2,400. So note, 10 per cent, in terest, and mortgage finishes up the business. But the money lender still figures : Placo worth $2,400. Farmtr owns SI, COO; I own SSOOinit. Assessed at 51,200. He takcB out SS0O indebtedness, and pa) a tax on 400, at 2 per cent, interest, equal to 8. The farmer pays 10. So ho gct3 off with fivo mills on the dollar for the pioperty. He, in fact, owns, while tho farmer pajs. Money lender still soliloquizes : While the laws discriminate so unfairly againBt me I must hold a stiff bit and look out for myself. The laws may pamper bad management as much as they please, but still they cinnot .prevent disaster coming in time, I have been in debt, and know how it pinches. X started out careless, and the first thing I knew my biat was nearly full of water, but I did just what the farmer had better do, sold at a sacrifice, and started with a clean slate. Now we will consider tho banker with his $200,000. Ho holds forth in Portland. He his all his money loaned out at 8 per cent., and leceives, $10,000 interest annually. He pays 2 per cent, taxes or 4,000. Multnomah county get it. Clackamas Mation, Linn nud other counties deduct the 200,000 as indebt edness, at tho rate of two dollars for one, and exempts (admitting the 200,000 is there and assessed) still 200,000 from any 'taxation whatever, which is unfair to every man in those counties who is out of debt. Another proposition : Had the banker lent at 0 per cent., as he could have done, and it would bae been all the same to linn if he had toe hae had the taxes to pay, would not tho taxes have gone to where they more properly belunged, in those counties where tho money went to, and the pr. perty, in fact, exists that is security for it. Again, two men own an equal amount of prnpertv or places valued at the same amount after all debts were paid. A is out of debt, and pajs 100 taxes. B is in debt, and through the diflcrcneo between money and real estate assessments, escapes with but 50 taxes. It looks that w ay to j our scr aut, Thomas Bcckmvs. Letter from Turner. Turnkk, Or., March 2S, ISS2. Mr. It. D. Sandford, of this place, the man who is demonstrating the solution of the problem: How to make a living on twenty acrea of land, lu set out tour acres to straw berries this spring. Mr. Sai.dford believes that strawberries can be marketed at a price that all, rich or poor, may eat their fill, and yet leave a handsome profit tor the producer, and bis faith in this is shown by bis works. Tw o j oung men of this placs solved this problem during the winter just passed in this wise : Taking 75 of their summer's earn ings, and instead of l)i"g around tov.n all the Winter aul investng it in grub and beer, they invested it w nlles, trap, grub and camping outfit, and struck out for the Cas cade mountains, without a thought of how cheap Chinese labor had mine 1 them. This was in November. They have just returned, and hae 175 deer skins, 15 wild cat, 2 cata mount, 2 beaver, 1 fisher and 1 otler, and over 1,000 pounds of dry venison to show for their winter's work, besides any quantity of fun they had. Now they are ready for the season's work with over 100 cash in their pocket', their rifles and traps foi next Win ter, and a largo fund of hunting experience to spin yarns on. Tho Frc-ident may veto the Chinese bill whenever h pleases for aught that kind of men care.. B. O. Hlksian, Protect the Birds Lfbos, Or., March 21, 1SS2. Editoi Willamette Farmer: Will you bo kind enough to publish a little item in jour paper in regard to some golden pheasants that O. N. Denny sent to this State to be turned loose for the benefit of the State. I hope it will be advertised in all the leading papers warning hunters against killing them, for a number of years at least, so that they may have a chanco to increase and scatter all over the State. My brother wrote me that he would send or had sent abont thiity of them. I went to Portland, and brought chem up to Linn county, and turned them loose on Wash ington Butte (sometimes called Peterson's Butte) twentj-four or twenty-five in number, when turned out, seven of them males. It is to be hoped that no one will kill them. There is no danger of mistaking them for oar wild Oregon pheasant; they are much larger ami far better colored. 1 he males ha e a rather greenish head and neck, and a white ring around the neck; tho tail feathers are very long, and altogether a very beautiful bird. He also sent tome from China twenty Lang Slunjowls, ten Peekin, five Mongolian (these are curly) and fivo Japan Bantams, all of which landed safe. He also sent some ducks from Peekin; they all died but one. If you sec fit to publish this, or part of it, all right; at least print a notice in regard to the pheas ants, for I want every one warned against killing them. No more at present. Respect fully yours, John Dlnney. The Scotch Fife Wheat. Philomath, Benton Co., March 20, 18S2 Editor Willamette Farmer: In your issue of the 3rd I saw a communi cation from Mr. Belshaw. in which he speaks of the Scotch Fife wheat in a rather disparag ing manner. Now I do not intend to enter into an argumcut with the gentleman about the matter, or pretend to re as well posted, but w hat little I do know I know certain, and that I am inclined to think is not the ease w itli Mr. B. in regard to the Fife wheat. I laued the Fife in Minnesota for twelve yean-, and three years ago I procured four pounds from there, and as w heat had rusted there the year before, it was badly shrunken, as our spring wheat here was the same year that I first sowed the Fife. -I sow ed it on black laud at the edge of a slough, and the last week in April. It is a well known fact that nearly all wheat sown at that time and on that kind of soil was not worth cutting on ac count of rust. The Fife grew nicely and showed no signs whatever of rust. I ne glected to cut it as soon as it was ripe, and thepreket gophers destroyed a good deal of it, but I saved just 15 pounds. Hie next March I sowed the peck on a measured half acre of poor, heavy fern land, and by tho side of the little club which was sown in the fall, H bushel to tho acre; the club onlj yielded 10 bushels to the acre, and from the half acre of Fifn I got 74 bushi Is strict mea sure of clean wheat. Li March I sowed the 7J bushels on seven acres of stubble bj the side of summer falluw which was sown to fall club. 1 ho Fife yielded 34 bushels more to the acre than the club on precisely the came kind of land, except that the laud w hi:h the club had been sown on had been summer fallowed. Now, of course, all this does not prove any thing in regard to the quality of fie wheat or tho tlour which it makes, but a refertnee to the quotations of the Eastern and Euglish markets it will be seen that tho Minnesota tlour brings tho highest price. I had my year's flour made from Fife wheat ground at Corvallis, and shall do the same next fall, and if Mr. B. will call and seo me I will treat him to as light, white, and well flavored bread as can be made from Oregon whitu wheat flour. The great flouring mills of Minneapolis Minn., grind nothing eUe but flint wheat, the leading anc-ty of w hith is the Fife. Many other var.eties of wheat have been tried there, but none of the solt wheats make as good flour there as the hard wheat. We used to ruse one kind called there the China Tea or mammoth wheat, a white, soft wheat, very much resembling the Chili Club, but the millers could not or would not nuke as good flour from it as the) did from the Fife, and as that and all other soft wheats brirg fiom 5 to 10 cents less in the markets they are not very extensively raised. Having spoken a good word for an old friend, which I always like to do, I will leavu the subject to better writers. Yours respect fully. K. II. Ciiaim -. The weather east of the mountains has been ery warm for some weeks past. PORTLAND, OREGON, FRIDAY, APRIL 7, 1883. GENERAL NOTES. The Eagle Valley c rrespondunt of tho Baker City Democrat as: This valley will compare tavorablj- with any portion of t'io State, and it is far ahead of many places. The soil and climat" aro well alaptcd to the lais ing of fuiit, vegetables and grain. Wo also have a very desirable location for stock rais ing. Hoises do well on the range without at tention; cattle need but a small qunntity of hiy during tho winter months; hogs do first late, with but' little care or expense to the owners. What we now need aro industrious, energetic families to fill tho places of bachalors who are admitted to be a detriment to the pr giess of a commiiiiily, by not lending theii assistance to pr cure go d schools, Jacksonville Times: E. P. Pickens, of Ta ble Kock informs us that H. Hilvcr, ot Ben ton county, is now in the valley for the pur pose of purchasing 75 head of good horses of medium size for lho company of capitalist" and farmers engaged in tho construction of the railroad between .Corvallis and Yaquii a Bay. Ho is desirous of obtaining Jhe entire number heie, and will piy a reasonable price. The horses of Jackson county sustain an enviable reputation throughout the coast. L. Leonaid, a heavy dealer in stock, this week, purchased GOO head of wethers fiom Wm. Bvbeo and L. Solomon, pajitig $1)00 for them. He has purchased a largo number of cattle and sheep in this section, as also m Del Norte ami Curry comities during the past few mouths, bujing 2700 head of wethers in tho last named county alone. They will be driven to his ranch in Lake county first and from there to the California market. A heavy immicration to Southern Oregon is expected from east of the Rooky mountains next spring. We aro constantly receiving let ters inquiring fur information concerning this section, and propose presenting a description of our lesourcesut length in some future issue. A very largo number of peach and pruno trees aio being planted this season to supply the demand for these favorable fruits. There ought to be plenty of apple and pear trees in every orchaid, however, as their fruit is als i qui' e sa'able. Weston Leader: The Willow Creek coun try, between Heppner aud Pendleton, is des tned inside of a month to become a tccne of the liv ehest agricultural stir. Immigrants are pouting in rapidly, and hundreds are waiting for the opening of fair weither to take up claims, it is fair to assume that before 18S3 i-ll the most desirable portions of Umatilla county will be, not only claimed, but be pre pared for cereals. Of course, this docs not in clude puts held exclusively for stock ranges. Many people in the Eastern States charge that our reports of the productiveness of Umatilla county are too highly colored, ami that we aro simply tiying to induce immigra tion here. Wo will just instance one caso to illustrate, what has been done hero by hoi est industry and quiet attention to business. W. M. Htlmer, one of our thriving men, came here four years ag with SI, 000, bought a ranch for 1,800, nml has paid off tho debt and cleand over $1 000, besids, with no unpaid ma'e help. He has now a comfortablo homo and well stocked ranch, aud has all the con-veui-mccs for fanning. Now, why cannot others cc me and do as w ell ? Lake County Examiner: The lorg continued cold weather is beginning to tell on the stock in this section, and if a change does not come soon the consequences w ill be serious. There is a sevrcity of hay in the valley, and if what there is should be consumed before the snow gets off, so that cattle can do for th'iiisclves great loss must ensue. In tho valleys to I he north cattle aro getting thin, having aban doned the dry grass and begun to fecilon the soft young grass which is springing up, and which has few nutritious qualities. Stock men in that section do not anticipate any lo-s as in a w cek or tw o the yourg grass w ill have gained Bullicient strength to make excellent feed for stock. Bieber Tribune: The party mentioned in our last issue, who accompanied Mr. Calavan to Laugcll valley to assist in saving his stock, returned last Tuesday, and leportcil that their trip was alni'Bt useless as they found only twelvo head of stock out of one hundred nino alivo and three dead. They slmwed a willingness, however, to help a good man in distress. They say that the eattlo I ave evi dently been driven off, is they would not have left their accustomed range voluntarily. Corvallii Gazette On March 27th, tho schooner Sea Foam, Captain Winaiit, 1 1 days from 'lan Franctsco, sailed in over tho bir on an ebb tide. .She brought ear wheels and iiou fitting fur two construction trams, cir wheels and fitting for two complete roek gangs, a large assmtment of iron, steel ami railroad material generally, and a quantity of oats aid feed for"tlie horses on the grado. As the first ship of tho fleet, and as the proof of tho steady carrj ing out of Col. Hogg's intention to have the line from Corvallis to Yuquina open in time to carry the crop now growing, tho Sea Foam was received at Yaquioa witl great do moustiations of delight. The managers of the Oregon Pacific railroad are making extensive arrangements and all preparations necessary to commence active work with a lartre force to speedily put tho railroad through from the laquina. Some large contracts. have been let, and more will, no doubt, soon be consummated. Albany Democrat: Fruit-drjing in this lo cality is Decominy quite an industry, and it is having the -ffec't of putting our orchards in good condition. There is more money now in dried fruit than in win at, and there is no chance of overstocking the market. The Democrat sas; It is now a settled fact, and one we chronicle with pleasure, as we do every addition to our business inter ests. The Albany Farmers' Company will construct their flouring mill, so that it will be leady for the fall grintllng. It will be built near the warehouse, and in direct communica tion with It, As near u can be ascertained from tho present nlans. it w ill be 3 or4 sto ies high, and ptobabty 42 by 00 feet, making it a large structure. Its cost will be between $8,000 aud 12,C00. The latest machinery will be introduced of the most approved kind. Thcie will be three run of burr-, which will give it a largo capacity. Withal it w ill be one of the finest mills in the Valley, and u decided addition to Albany. Walla Walla ktatesman: Interviews with many of our fruit glowers indicate that the iieieh crop this vear will bo ncarlv a failure. but that cherries, plums, apples aud pears will be pleutitul; apples will not bo so plenti ful as last voir as then tho trees boie too heavily, but there will be enough for all and to spate. Seittlo Pott-Intell'tuencer: A mcctine of the Si atc, Fuget Sound and Gray's Harbor Railroad aud Transportation Company was held, Thursdiy night, in Seattle. The Presi dent, Gov. New til, and other members of the Uuid, were present A leport was received from tho engineer, who had made a survey over tho proposed route, which represented that tno grading and trestle work wnullbe comparatively small. The locatiou of the ter mini on Puget Sound and harbor was not de finitely settled; Steilacoom, Johnson's, Dof flemver's and Brown's noints aud Olvmma wero carefully discussed, but no conclusion reached. 1 he load will be about titty miles in length, passing through one of tho very best aud most extensive regions of fir, cedar and spruce timber in tho Territory al'ing tho val ley of the Chehalis, well known as one of the most fertile valleys of the Sound country, al ready highly cultivated and thickly inhabited It was resolved unanimously to press tho en terprise vigorously, and, if possible, to seaure an early construction of the road. Meetings will be held along the line td interest resi dents, and to assute them that this is in the hands of residents of tho Territory who desire only its best prosperity. An agreement on the part of the present owners of tho lands of The Dalles Military Road Company, says tho Grant County Xeict, to sell to Leigh, Payno & Co , of Chicago, has bci n filed for record in tho clerk's office of this county. Tho number of acies to bo trans ferred is C'(!2 557 09-100. Tho price to bo paid is 000,000, 180,000 by April 1st, and the balance in bi-monthly payments of 140,000 each, beginning with July 1st. It is provided that if L., P & Co. transfer tho lands to an incorporated company of London, England, the bonds of such company to the amount of 420,000 shall be accepted in lieu of tho last three cash payments, lho above lands aru situated in tho counties of Grant, 1'aker and Wasco. Stock raising is tho paramount interest in Grant county. I'ho tecent order to romovo stock from the Malheur reservation is a ban blow to that uitcicst, and efforts will bo mmn to have the o'dcr rescinded. It is impossible that stock ho moved at present, wlulo thcreis so much snow on tho ground, whatever may be tVo intentions of the government. I'laimlealer : The railroad surveys on the extension of the O. & C. road south of Rose burg are progressing with amazing rapidity. The line is already permanently located be yond the foity mile post in Cow Cipe-k can yon, whero Mr. Volk and an able corps of en gineers are diligently at work pushing the fine forward as fast as tho 'nature of tho ground will permit. Mr. Habersham's party is camped near the crossing of Cow Creek on the stage road, and they aro as diligently at work locating the line from tho tunnel down tho creek, to connect with Mr. Volk, Mr. Dolson is on the mountain beyond Grave creek, and Mr. Huilburt is in tho Siskjou mountains near tho State line. It is also understood that two more fully equipped C'impauits will soon tike the field, aside trom the engineers on construction. Walla Walla Watchman: Every new comer, w hen speaking of the excellencies of our love ly country, Would always say : "This is the v cry paradise for fine horses I how peutlo and yet how active I what perfect limbs and what power of endurance!" What causes this su eriori'j ? Is it climate? is it good treatment, or is it blood, which tells so potently ? Cli mate aud blood lmy havu something to do with it, treatment has ,ot, for horses in this couutij, as a general thing, aro tho most abused of all domestic annuals, yet they seem to thrive for all that, and must, therefoie, be come, ere long, ono of our elm f productions. The season is now at hand, when every lover of a good I ore, ought to seo to his herds and improve his stock. It is need'ess for us to urge the matter too explicitly, jet let him w ho has ears, hear, aud mbraee the oppor tunities ollercd by sundry partus, thro ighout the laud, si us to supplant our cayusts and Indian ponies, with blooded stock, which will answer for the military fcervice, tho cainagu and the pi w. Don't wait from season to sea son. Do so now, and then when your country calls for horseflesh, oti will bo able to re spond and put money in your purse. Waitsiii'i.o 7'ijnM correspondence: Sprague w ill be tho center of immigration to the upper country for the next two jeari at least. Jt is the nearest town to a vast area of nnoecupied land, and I hould not be surprised if III tune it becomes a railroad center also. I believe that the company in building branch lines will give it tho preference over other point. A is the nearest po lit to the Oolwlle Valley, and is almost as near as Ifarriitou to the Big Bend, and is quite accessible from the Palouse country via Pleasiut Valley. Already the denizens of Lord's Valley are disturbed In their dreams by the trains bound to the Big Bend via Mosquito Springs. On the other hand, the residents of Little Criekare startled by the shrill whistle on tho Harritu and Big Bend Snort Lino. I hear of an Iowa man looking up a location for sixty families that mean to immigrate to this country one ear hence. Minister Sargent, with his family, left for the East Monday, Grango Dalegatlons. Gkvmik Hvll, April 1, 1SS2. Editor Willamettu Fanner: Pursuant to law, Uiupqua Grango met in convention to elect delegates to' attend the annual session of tho State Grange to bo held in Salem on the fourth Tuesday in May. On motion, James T, Cooper was elected Chair man, aud, on motion, Brother James P. Duncan was elected Secretary. On motion, Brother James S. Coopor ami Sister Harriet Cooper were elected delegates to the State Grango. On motion, tho convciitii n adjourned line die. Jas. T. Cooi-kh, Chairman. Jas. P. DlthCAN, Secretary. HiLLsnoiio, Or. April 1, 1882. Editor Willamette Farmer: The County Convention of delegates from the various granges of Washington county met, pursuant to call. It. Imbrio L. D wjs elected President, aud R. II. Tyson Secretary. Tho following granges wero represented: Butto Grango No. 14S; delegates, R. II. Tjson, J. A. Richardson and D, G. Olds. Farmington Grunge No. 110; It. A. Carpcntir and C. Jack. West Union Grange No. 72; It. Iinbtie, J, Freeman aud W. Mauzy. Motion made and carried that vot'S of absent members bo cast by delegates present fiom the v arious granges. Ballot for delegates to State Grange re sulted in the choico of 9. D. Powell, of Farm ington Grenge, and Sister E. B. Heath, of Butto Grango. Resolution passed, That we aro in favor of a Statistical Bureau by the National Grange, to furnish through that channel reliablo infor mation concerning grow ing crops and pros pcctive prices throughout the world. Motion earned that each giange in tho county elect five delegates, to constitute a Business Council, to meet quaiteily with tho various granges, beginning with I'nrmington Grango on the fouith Saturday in Aenl at 10 o'clock A. M. Meeting adjournal. R. H. Tvsov, Secretary. Pomona Orange Meeting. Notico is hereby given that Multnomah District Pomona Grango will convene at East Portland, in the hall of Multnomah Grango No. 71 (above Dalton's hardware store), Sat unlay, April 15, at 10 o'clock A. m. There will probably bo an address given by Bi other J. Knapp on "Butter Making," ono by A. R. Shiply on "Assessment and Taxation," and ogo by It. B. Haves on "Mixed Husbandry," and also one by Sister E II Clarke on "1'hu Home." There will doubtless bo addiesses given by other member", and an intcrestirg time is cxpi cted. All fourth degreo members aro cordially invited to attend. Please ho prompt at tho hour above stated. Jasi-kk J. Johnson, Seo'y. Blloi and Ensilage. Since issuing of tho J'louahman of the 28th of January and my address before the Worces ter South Institute, I have been plied every day with letters from all parts of the State, asking questions about silos and ensilage. Some of their comments aro very encour aging vi; that a great many small farmers, who have been ou tho fence, will now jump down and build silos at once, thanking mo for my outspoken criticism ot some of the speak ers at Bridgevvater, w ho t' row a wet blanket over silos. The small farmer now sees that ho can keep moro cows on a small farm than formerly on large farms, with not so much labor in tillage. Thi see the question solv id, as suggested in tlu I'towjhmiM, how t'i keep our sons and daughters on tho farm ami swill the tanks of progres ivo thought in old New Euglat d. Instead of sen ling oui best blood Wst, tbey will stay with us, and wo rhill see New i'ligUud lulls once mole clothed with the king of crops, corn, Another savs, after reading tho J'lotiytimim of the Sbtli, tint ho felt like firing seventeen guns for this new output for Now England ugneu tine, which will thus be lifted oat of tho ruts of prrjudi cnil formulas, which servu as a great in ubiis to"lhe New England agricultural and domestic improvemcnti!. 1 will now proo cd to answer somo of tho many questions propounded in the letters, I. Ao fanner who has a barn should wait one day before he bcyiiw a silo. Select ono conn r of jour barn, raise up v our floor foui or five feet, dig down as low as ou can, put in a light wall, the size you want jour silo, to the top of tho ground. Cement tho face two inches, double with matched boards and tarred paper lietwe-en. In this way jou can build u silo for 25 which will hold twentv-fivo tons or mi re 'lho bottom ends of the boards should project over theedgu of tho wall. Into this you can nut clover, row en, Hungarian, oats, grass, of any kind without cutting. Wilt a little, except tho rowtn, Rje and oats should wilt more than clover, tspcelally oats. Tread well and put on some poor foddcr-brakts or weeds, thtu weight with one and a half feet of stoma. Wh'.-n it k3 settled, open and fill again. It should remain shut for four or five weeks My friend Clemens hat four silos, I have NO. 8. three, and a friend another 25 ilo nud will build moic. If any one doubts thesn statcinuts, let him c iino to Southbridgo and see for himself. Serins is believing. Our cattle rue contented and never looked better. One burse-power and cutter should bo bought for 180. L. W. Cuhtiiii Stasia chunetti I'lomjiiitaii. IN MEMORIAM. William Coyle. At a regular meeting of Powell's Valley Grango No. 81, the following res iliitions were passed : WuriiKAs, In tho dispensation of nn all wiso Providence, death has visited our grange and icmoved fiom our midst our much loved brother and Overseer, William Coyle, ou March 7, lb82, therefore bo it ewlrcd, That we bow in humble submis sion to tho will of our Divine Master in this beicavcmont. llewtced. That in tho death of Brother Cojlothe Order has lost a valuable member, his aged mother an affectionate ran, his daugh ter an aflcctiouatu father, and the community in which ho lived a good and vuluatdu citizen. lltmhcd. That wo extend to tho family and relations of deceased our heartfelt sympathies in their great distress. Jlmolied, That lr. token of uspect to tho meiuorj of our deputed biothui, our charter bo draped in mourning, and the memb rs wear the usual badge of mourning for thirty days, Hcnolivd, That a copy of these resolutions be sent to the fnmily ot thu decease 1, a copy bo SLteul on our minuus nml u copy bo stnt to tho WliLVMhiTK Farmer for publication. Eli.kv Hoiikrts, OlIVK WlILtLH', T. K. WllLIAMH, Committee. WllHaiu B Prather. Died, Match 18, 1882, one milo south of Bucna Vista, Polk county, Oiegon, Mr. W. B. Prather. Ullle Bill, au bu watt commonly known thioughout the Willamette Valley, was born , in Frederick county, Viiginia, November 3, 1813. Ho was OS ytais and four months old. Ho emigrated to Oregon in tho vol y early his, toiy of our country in tho )car 18(4, settling on a donation claim, wheio bo has ever since resided, till at out noon last Saturday, when death enmo to his rcsjuo and boro away our aged piiueer to that country where tho good aro rewarded for the deeds dono in tho body. And if so, Uncle Bill's reward will bo great, for low men were so noted for acts of benevo lence as he. For iiiiii e than thirty-seven years hij table was cverRpicadforthohungry, with out moncyor w ithotit price And his granaries opened wido for tho poor farmer who was struggling to raise a eiop, but too poor to buy his teed to sow tho ground, or flour to feed his family while ho tilled thu soil. Tho writer is unable to enumerate tho number of persons who wero heaid to make 'ho remark : Wo should not have known how to havo got along when wo first camo to the country if it hit 1 not been for Undo Bill Prather. Aud tint thirty eight years of his Oregon lifo has beon Bpent in toiling, not only to support'and educatu his own family, but in scattering seeds of sunshine in tlkhhearts of hundreds of poor worn out and diseotiragid emigrants. One has truly said that "Thoso who feel for others' woes must himself thnio woes have endured," Mr. Prather crossed tho plains, so wo are informed, in company with Col, Ford, old man Burch (lather i f Hon B. V, Bureh), II. Helmwick, Major Thorp and David Johnson, all of whom h ivo preceded him aeiots the mystic rivir except David Johhcnu, who still resides in this county. None hut tho old pioneers of our country can rcaliu tho privations, dangers uud hardships that this baud of biavu iiiii undiiweut in en Kmg what was then tho longest and most dangerous route of travel in thu world, to build up thu foituues uud to help develop a o untiy that to-daj wo proudly call Oregon. Alinrnt thirty-eight yeara ago Mr. Pi ither it od on the hill jint west of -v Jut is now Buina Vista, ami pointing auross tho prairie to thu south towards a certain fir ttco, said to his com-ades ; "Youdei I shall pitch my tent, till tho- soil, bnild my hotiso and live theio till I die;" and tiuo to thu maxim "That the stone that keeps lolling shall gather no mos," Uncle Hill kept his word until he had gained a legacy amounting to 1,400 acres of good farm land, not left, how ever, for nttornej a and probat to m iiiipulate, but about a week beforu his ilcnth he deeded to a"h son enough land for a good farm, and after settling up all his elfccti', ho expressed his willingness to ilepait. Sjoii after his arrival into thu valley Jie was married to Mr-. Birbara Caiter, whoso husband died ou the plains, and who only preceded Mr. Prather to tho spirit Uml n few mouths. Tho notice of her death was previously announced in your paper, Luu and throat troubles were the immediate cause of Mr. Pruthcr ' death. Tho funeral sermon was preiched but Sabbath in tho .M. E. Church by Key Mathews to a large and attentive audience, after which the coskit which contains all that was left of our esteemed neighbi r was come ye. 1 to tt.u I, O. O. F 'a cemetery and interred to await the resurrection morn. It. F, W, M i ii :4 I s i '. I'll ih