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About Willamette farmer. (Salem, Or.) 1869-1887 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 27, 1882)
as w VOL. XIV. CALIFORNIA IN OCTOBER. ; llmpsea of the Golden State Fruit Growing and Packing Land Monopoly In Cali fornia Free Homes In the Paclflo Northweit Comparison ot Advantages. Business matters do not often require that the editor of the Farmer shall journey very (far from home, and for many j-cira Ms travels f havo been cinQned to the Pacific Northwest, but some interests were lately involved that nade a visit to San Francisco advisable. For (rears past we have felt a desire to learn, by ersonal observation, something of the fruit- rowing districts to tho south, as an incentive Hor moro vigorous prosecution of the same production with us, so aymdden, inspiration eceived favorable consideration, and one day l early October the better'half of the Wil iMETTE Farmer, who conducts the Jlome Circle, and ourself, were booked and embarked board the good ship Columbia for the olden Gato, It was night before we went n board, and it was morning when we steamed lown the Lower Columbia to Astoria. Kino rears ago, when we made the lsst ocean jour loy of the kind, the lino was stocked with the old hulks with which Ben. Holladay I served the people of Oregon. They were Kpvooden crafts that had long outlived their usefulness; indeed, they were a floating ,'ij menace against life and property, so unworthy Jffiiit HAnRilanfiii fVf1lin TTnllnrlv nmforriil llinA .irfivnl ni fiflfi tnilpn In vpntnrincr his existence ......... ... Dn any steamship he owned; that nas the im pression his overland journeys made on the observing public. Times havo materially changed since 1878; to-day' the Columbia nvcr trade is supplied by a fleet of steam- nips that would no credit to any ocean or frny nation. The Columbia is a splendid ship, M safe as tho care of man can make it, and elegantly appointed, so that the most f astidi Sous taste cannot complain, unless, indeed, .-'persons complain that there is occasion to go ito sea at all. A heavy surf was breaking all across the harbor's mouth, and the Columbia prudently MraitecV day for it to grow smooth. We had r , . .-.. : l .. 1 .st&xiappeneu t-o appoint our juuruvy iu uivnb buc jdfirst storm of autumn, and when we did get fwkcross the bar and out on tho greatest nf oceans, we found white caps toeing and great Jewells of ocean threw our sli.p about in a iff manner that soon discomforted the stomachs of hundreds on the Columbia, so that they PXfnvpA u'tip.n tlin shin did. end sometimes when it did not. THE C.OLDEN GATE. There were gulls skimming the seas and riding the wave crests, and we envied their ease and comfort without being able to equal it. Tempting meals were spread three times a day, but the majority of the hundreds of passengers laid in their lerths until smooth sailing, after two nights ot wave tossing, told that we had passed the Golden Gate, when the passengers brightened up and with fresh toilets made appearei on deck to drink in the sunshine, and view the beautiful scenes of San Francisco harbor, Tho recent rains, unusual in that latitude for October, had dressed the hilly shores with tender green that was grow- $V ing deeper in color every day, Lighthous'a crowned the prominent points aloug the coast as we neared the harbor's mouth, and ere placed on the heads and on the points and islands of tho inner bay. A strong fortifica tion frowned seaward trorn Fort Point, and forts and earthworks that eeim impregnable face the flett that may threaten the peace of San Francisco from the rocky side of Alcatraz island. We passed the military works of the Presidio, the various mills and factories at the Mission; Angel island and Goat island lay to leaward as ne rounded Telegraph hill, and the great steamer went past the multitude of hipping, anchored in the stream or moored to wharves, in search for her own berth, and when we finally landed the crowd of possen- "iy'gers poured on shore and dispersed in all di rections and oar voyage was ove'. It is re markable to notice how soon we forget tho discomfort of sea travel and the agonies of ea sickness, bat so it is that when again on bore and able to resume the full control of one's movements, tho traveler laughs to think 'how the discomforts of a voyage were magni- jfied until they became, for the time, almost 'too grievous to be borne, it is evident that much is due to the narrow qu irters one is able to command on shipboard, and the crowding several persona together in small rcoms, as well a to the nausea that grows on one when others are sea sick; hut there is usually only a short probation of it, for in a few days the voyager i certain to eet his "sea legs" on, and then he abandons hii state room and treads the deck with full apprec'ation ot the wonders ot the sea, watches the spouting and rolling n bales, ths leaping dolphin and porpoises and t-o ungainly grampus. It is a wonderment to watch the denizens of the deep, as well as to observe the babiti of tho sea birJs that always follow a ship on her voyage. But tho voyage From bar to bar hr.s been accomplished ia 36 to 4; hours, 'and the passenger seldom gets over his'qualniish feel ings until the voyage is over. When thn rail road is finished sea travel will be light, and as there arc now 0,000 men at work on the Oregon side, and tho California company will commence work as earnestly north of Bead ng next month, the spring of 1S84 will see the railroad completed from the Columbia river to the Sacramento valley. The present season is unusjal in Californii, becausi the fall rains c mmenced early in Oc tober, before they were ready for it Com plaint is made that lite grapes are damaged, but whatever injury tin early rains have dono must be more than e ompensited for by the revival of pastures eurywhere and giv ing the wheat growers opportudity to plow their land and put in crops early. SAN FRANCISCO Is a wonderful city; Oakland, across the bay, is only a tributary to its greatness. Here, within leach of virion, as one stands on some one of the hills on whi.h the city'is built, are clustered the lmnes of as many people as occupy the hills a d val'eys of all thy broad domain that now constitute Oregon and Washington. Below yon, in tlio center of trade, rlso palaces for the uses of com merce, And oulside the business scope are other palaces, where wealth courts luxury in its lordly homes, while of charming residence there are thousands. On the waters of the bay and along the crowded wharves rise liter-. ally a forest of masts, ships of all natiors. argosies of trade that have navigated every sea to enter the Golden Gate. And only 35 years ago these shores weie silent, arid those hills tuat are covered with beautiful homes were drifting sondheips where the wild sage brush contended for scanty life. Now, the care of man has, by irrigation, made the wil dcrness to bloom with exotic luxuriance, and created garden spots and plats of greou that rival the tropics, ith shading trees on every side. ' THE CABL6 ROADS. There is probably no city in the world that possesses such charm of location and such grandeur of views as does San Fran cieco, which would not be a matter for pride if the great improvement of recent years had not subdued the flights tint surmount the city and made them available as sites for homes. The w hole broad pemnsult is literally grid ironed by a system of street railroads, and where the streets climb abrupt bights that no horse could take a loaded cir to, a system of cable roads is established by which cars move by unseen power and go up and down steep hills with speed and safety. One such road climbs California street and goes out, over several hills, to Lono Mountain, four miles and-a half, a single wiro rope almost ten miles long being stretched to make the circuit for a double track. An itnmtfns) engine house stands midway and mannfectures the power that moves the numerous cars at the rate of nearly eight miles an hour; the long cable is kept in ceaseless motion, awl cars are so arranged that they crn grasp this under ground cable and let gs at pleasure. Two cars go together, one an open one from which the passenger can view in a'l directions. If was like a journey from the wonderful stones of the Arabian Nights to bo seated on this cir and go rushing over the steeps and among beautiful homes and palaces as grand as money can create, now climbing, now descending, until we pass frrm the city crowds and leave the beautiful ccenery of the nearer bay and harbor behind to catch glimpses through the misU of the towering portals of the Golden Gate. THE GOLDEN GATE PARK. Out some seven miles among the sand hills, and far beyond where vacant lots commence to show thick growth of the original sage brush of this once desert land, is located the City Park, where nature 'and art seem to vie for a preference. The hills have been studi ouslyplanted with shrubs and tr;rs, including many evergreeos. to resemble nature, and from a high point you look out towards the Northwest to see the Northern Head of the harbor, with ths sea beyond, with drifting sands in the near view, while to the South you look down upon a buin iu the bills where the art of roan has created a paridis'. Descending three flights of broad steps, with the hills be-H sile them converted into beds of geraniums, fuschia and other flower iu full bloom, that are ever blooming in this climate, aud you come down to the little valley that calls to your memory the Haj py Valley in lUs.elaa, or some scene from enchanted story. Here are liroa'l waits lor footmen and carriage drlv s; at one side a palace of crystal contains a cs-servatory of plant that includes the! PORTLAND, OREGON, Victoria Itegina water lily, w hich is wonderful in iUelf, aud many magnitlctiit specimens of palm trees and beautiful tree ferns, with thoimnds of vines and exotic plants that seem to convey you to otliT zoms. ANOTHER CABLE ROAII Leads from Montgomery street by Montgom ery nvenue and Union street to the Presidio, where the military headquarters of tho Pacific are located. This is even a more wonderful route than the other, for it c'imbs sleeper hills and givis grand views of the beautiful harbor, tho islands and the distant shores. It makes one shudder to seo tlrj opt near rise toa hill top and glide swiftlydown the otler side, where a team could not go at all with a load, and can only descend with a dead lock. 'I he wonder is that oie can take tin so roads and enjoy this virion of wonder for tho single charge of five cents each way. Tins j cable r. ads will, sometime solve a problem for Portland, as by such moans tha city can climb the hills to tho west of it, and be as wid spread as time may care to build it. The hills of the peninsuli on which San Wan cisco is bu'lt are no less steep than are tho mountains back of Portland. HUHT FARMS IN ALAMEDA. We have spent a little time in describirg San Francisco and it sunoundings, but have no intoi tion to particularize anything con cerning city or country, further than nuy give glimpses of our travel and amuse the reader awhile, and shall proceed to ds 'rib j fruit growing as we found it carried on suc cessfully in the region surrounding Sari Fran cisco Bay and in the Santa Clara valley, which section of that State much resemb'es the cli mate of Western Oregon, and produces many of tho fruit grown in the Willamette Valley. During the summer we had some corres pondence with Mr. W. H. JeBaup, whoso talk and writings concerning fruit growing we have often read in the Pacific Rural Press, On arrival iu California we addressed a note to Mr. Jessup, which was coon answered by a cordial invitation to visit him at his home, near Hay ward, which is across tho bay and 18 miles from San Francisco, To reach there we took tha Oakland ferry and Central Pacific road, and soon arrived at Hayward to find that Mr. Jessup lived quite near by. The road passes through a valley that is between the bjy and the coast range, a beautiful stretch of level land, exceedingly fertile and well cal culated for gardens, grain or Truit. Wo were surprised to find so few market gardens along the road, but much of the land is held in large tracts by rich men who are hotting for tho time when city people, or those who do busi uess in the city, will wish to have sifburban residences, and will find them in this beauti ful region. A MODEL FRUIT FARM Whilo the villago of Hayward is nearly a mile from the station, the farm of Mr, Jessup is only a few minutes walk from it. We found other peraons from the train also intending to visit him, one being the Chilian Consul, Mr, Ccrdo, who was there to learn whatever he could of fruit growing that could prove of benefit to his own country. Also, by happy chance, a young lady whom we had met the evening previous in San Francisco, was going to the same place, and kindly acted as our cicerone. Wo first entered the cherry orchard, which consists of large tree that have made ten years' growth, and which bore full and proved very profitable this season. Mr. Jessup was heading these trees in close, to make more perfect and healthy growth. He is evidently not afraid to prune, a feature of fruit growing that most of us do not appreciate. Mr. Jessup is a ptain man, with an en'.l.u siastic appreciation of afiuit growing, and a determination to grow the best fruits in the best manner. Around Hayward there are many fruit farms, including those of Mr. Lu elling and Mr. Meek, who went away year ago from Oregon, The climate of this section, and of the Sanla Clara valley, that no after ward visited, is tempered by the winds and currents of the Pacific Ocean, and they grow here the varieties of fruit that we grow in Oregon more nearly than they do in any other part o' California. It was for that reason that wo particularly visited this section and inves tigated its products, with the wish to seeif we van grow the same fruit in Oregon as success fully and as profitably as they can be grown in California, and we confidently say that we can do to. Mr. Jessup' orchard contains apples, pears, plums, prunes and cherries, with few peaches and apricots, but some almonds, among which were a fw trees of paper shell almocds, with shells literally like paper, and very excellent fruit. As we learn that almonds are successfully grown in this section, we commend this variety to the atten tion of all fruit growers, believing it will do well in4be up;r valley of the Columbia and Snake river, where the peach and apricot FRIDAY, OCTOBER 27, 1882. thrive. We know that almonds aro raised iu this city, and as they prove very profitable in California, it will be worth while to seo what can be doiio here. Mr. Jessup had a fruit drier running on plums and pears, making very excellent fruit, but the season was so nearly over that he had not much dried fruit ou hand, and his choice samples were on exhibit at some country fair. Giving him all the credit ho can ask, for ex cellence, we unhesitatingly say that Oregon fruit posesses all the qualities that are desir able, and that our fiuit driers an turning off a product that will compare with anything that is made or can It made, a fact that of itself was worth the joun ey to California to know. Under tre applo trees were piled heaps of beautiful apples, and hereafter, when any one says they do not grow sOperior apples iu Cali fornia, jou need not believe them. Tlioy cer tainly do, but we several times heard the dis interested remark made that our fruit was superior in flavor. It probably has a finer flavor than most of tho fruit mown in the world, which is duo to our climate being pecu liarly adapted to its perfect development; btit it if not necessary to detract from the excel-, Icnce of California products to find a market for our own. The pears had been mostly mar k'ted. Some plum's held on to the trees still, or laid under them, of a variety that fortu nately dries and retains its excellence instead of immediately decaying. This was the Bea trix Imperatrice, ai excellent pruno to dry whole, and possessing great llavor. As it is a late bearer, and lasts well when ripo, fruit growers will do well to plant it. mlCE'OF LAND THERE AND HERE. Our day was delightfully spent, and our hest. though a very busy man, gladly wfl corned thoso who camo to him, though from other lands, in pursuit of information; he freely gave us both his time and the benefit of his experience There was nothing selfish in his views, and he seemed to ho one of thoso who aro always ready to learn. He had dis posed of some of his land that was not planted in trees at 9500 an acre, retaining thirty acres, all in fruit, that must stand him in as worth $20,000. The curso of California is that it land is held by speculators in gicat tracts, and is appraised at an extraordinaty value, No poor man can go to California, as ho can come to Oregon and Washington, and locate a pre emption or homestead. Tho curse of Mexican land grants has covered every available dis trict, and they have passed to thft possession of capitalists, who will only sell at an exorbi tant price. The same quality of land that ia held at $100 to $500 an acre in Caliiornia, can be bought for $15 to $40 an acre in tho Wil lametto Valley even, where the land is old settled and supposed to command a high price. The best fruit land we have lies in the Red Hills and in the Cascade foot hills, and of the latter the Oregon & California Railroad Company offers its alternate sections of land grant at prices ranging from $2 t'i S5 per acre, To be sure, such land will have to bo cleared, but even then its cost is only a trifle compared to the cost of land in California. A great por tion of Kastcrn Oregon and Washington sjffers far greater inducemcrts for wheat growing than any portion of California docs, aud that region lies vacant, in great part, to bo taken up in homestead claims, while land of less value in California cannot be purchased for less than $50 an acre. It only requires aglance at the land monopoly in California to see that our corporations (say, for instance, the North em Pacific with its land erant) offer induce ments for actual settlers in placing their best land at low figure. Hitherto, land in the Palouse and Spokan regions have been offered to actual settlers at $2 CO cash an acre, but is now being graded and classified, and will be put on the ma ket according to value, prices to be reasonable, and lung ttmo granted when desired. Compared with the opportunities offered for settlement anywhere else West of the Kocky Mountains, our Pacific Northwest presents nnrivaled advantages. Here there is far more certainty of ctop', and more assur ance that seasons will be propitious. Tho average wheat yield per acre in California will not nearly reach tho Palouse and Walla Walla districts of Washington, and ban never equaled the average production in tho Willamette Valley. While leaving this branch of the sub- jeet for future treatment, we cannot refrain from drawing comparisons as to the induce ments each portion ot our coast offeis to new comers. MANTA CLARA VALLKV. While iu California we paid a visit to San Jose, going there by the Southern Pa:il!c Railroad, that passes down the north siiln of San Francisco bay. The dintance is fifty miles, ami the routa is through a pleasant vari- ty of country. Iaviuu the ci'y we found the sub- urbs somewhat rnualld. as is alwav the cue ( near largo cities. Occasionally wo found dairy Bhed, or stable-, with cows in great number" occupying adjoining lots. The bay Ttie bay is ou to the left, and tho hills on the right aro turning crou'with the fall rains. Wo have a good glimpse of the way the city branches out and occupis ihc level reaches near it; but tho train speeds along, and wo soon roach the opn country, pas through a deep cut und havo reached tho ocean sida of the coast range. Off to tho right, all of a sudden, we catch a glimpse of tho ocean, only a narrow strip of land separating it from the lake from which the Spring Valley Water Com pany pumps tho water that supplies tho city. THE GARDEN OK THE GODS. The roail passe through a beautiful valley region of'cn occupied by fine places. The bay and its marshes are'.closo by ; tho valley wid ens, and we nro pointed here and there, by follow-travelo! s, to tho magnificent country seats of railroul magnates and mining million aire. At Menlo Pari' Ex Gov. Stanford baa created a paradise; at Milbrao D. O. Mills h is madu a home that surpasses elegance; at Bel mont the wonder-working Ralston made for himself a country residence and grounds, that have often been described. We are satisfied to catch glimpses of turrots and towcr, and pass on, wondering what wealth and luxury can do. What interested us most was that somo fine dairy farms are located on this roal, at one of which Jersey stock predominates It is a good thing that millionaires occasionally havoa practical (urn of mind, and invest thtir money in such manner as to nid the country by improving its stock and developing its licit resources. FRCIT BCSt.NfeM AT SAN JOSE. San Jose is a beautiful city and tho capital of the Santa Clara Valley, whioh extends for some distance, lying between the Coast Range proper and the Santa Cruz Mountains, that border tho rcenn. On favorablo locations along the Coast Rango, much fruit is grown. We visited the fruit-packing esUblihmnt of A. Lusk & Co., near tho depot, and watched with interest the great business that was go ing on, thinking how soon it will lie that Ore gon will possess similar demand for fruit and require such a system for disposing of it. The premises are extensive, and include a largo house whom great ovcr.s nro erected, in which thoy dry fruit. Teams aro constantly coining in from the country, unloading fruit, princi pally apples at that time The boxes are opened and tho fruit carefully assoited. Whatever is small or injured in any way, is culled out to be put throueh the paring and coring machine, and then dried. Choico fruit was carefully wrapped in paper and packed in light boxes that are easily ventilated, aud are then ready for shipment to Chicago or any way points, for all the interior region looks to California for a fruit supply and crcatea a wide demand, just as the region on the North ern Pacific road, this side of Chicago, will soon look to this end of the line for similar products. This house carries on a great trade, and has its extensive drying facto y to utilize all that will not do to ship. The driers wera at that time at work on what they call French prunes, which ore rually tl 0 Petife prune d' Agen, many of which we had raised anil dried this season. It was a surprise to sen that this prune lasted in California several weeks after it wn out of date in On gon. Hoinu way, tlm result of drying them was not satii f ictory, for while wo were there the mauigcM were i'i consultation as to tho best method to fix tbein up for market. They hadn't a good ' olor, and the lust customer, thoy laid, wouldn't pur chase prunes of that appearance. We left them stu lying what soitof iiiixtnu to dip iu, and then dry them over; but lit fine wo left, we told them that wo had made a ton of such prunes from our own trees in Oregon, and thut every una was like a gem of amber. Our fruit needed no "doct ring" to make it salable. Across the way was a similar establishment, owned by I'M win T, Karle, which we also vis ited, and were shiwn around with kind atteu tion. Mr. Karle has a large drying concern, acting on a different system, ro that the fruit is elevated ami depressed at pleasure; but, though superior in some respo.ts, it lack some of tie qualities necessary ti dry fruit with a good color. Owing to low temperature of heat at the start, too little air draft and too much moisture from evaporation, the pioduct has a dark, oxydized appearance, ami lacks the clear, amber appearance that should make it attractive. So the result nf careful obser vation ( the way dried fruit ii prepared in California satinfie us that wo cannot learn an) thing from them, a yet, and that we have ai good proccvain use here at can easily ho in vented, SOMETHING) WE LEARNED. The further rtsult ofM.nr nlwervation, i that in goo 1 locations in Oregon and Wash- iii'.tmi u'm rrtiftiMt thn fthllltv in L'TtiW tletir- .able fruit ir. ai great pvifecHou as they ca-i ... ... , , .- Then it fs nf the Uiup rite zone all do well here. While grapes and peaches may not thrive to perfection in this part of Oregon, they crow well in Rogue Riv't'r Valley, and in many favorable locations Kiat of (lie Mountains. Wo have often as serted the bcliof that Rogno Itlvi r Valley pos ses'es great advantages for fru't culture, and are mora than ever confirmed in the belief that fruit growers there can rival tho most fa rprcd districts of California iu growing grapes and peaches, while they can also prodbcoall the frnits that can be grown here. While in San Francisco, wo went through tho o.xtei sis 0 building occupied by the Cut-jj-ij Pat King Co., one of tho largest can ning and picking hoii'cs in the world. They havo i everal fruit and vegetable canneries outddo of San Frincisco; also, salmon can neries on tho Sacramento, two on the Colum 1 i , and ono 111 A'n-ka. They pursno the busi ness on .in immensi scale, and tho manager, at tho request of Mr. Isham, of the Studcbaker Mf'g Co., very kindly showed all thoir opera tions. A viovv of this groat concorn nnd a re-, cital of iti branch csUhlUlimcntn, is only a premonition of what ou; own country must require at 1111 diituut day. To gu abroad and look on tho world's industries,- shows any in telligent mind that our country has been nil these years in tho background. - OUR OWN FUTURE. But .1 foik months moro will bring us imme diate Connection with tho great world, and open tho way for the introduction of unlim ited capital and the encouragement of every indiis'ry aud tho development of every re source. Tho past will be forgotten in the ex pansion that tho futuro will bring. We have a country to be proud of, a region that will respond to progress and tho oponing of through railroad communication by turning off tuch a quanti'y cf staple products as will woll repay tho ontrrpriso that builds our roads, and tho capital that is fast seeking em ployment hero. While Oregon and Puget Sound have beem peopled for one-third of a century, that popu lation has been sparse and entirely insufficient to develop the resiurces of tho country, Whal o havo dono ia 1:0 criterion of what oan be done here. We are yet in the fonnativo peri od, and rannot npprociato the expansion ami growth that must follow the eons' ruction of railroul hues to put na in direct coininiinica. tion with tho gruat world. Ono of tho points to bo borno in mind is this : that to-day th finest body of unoccupied land in tho national domain exists in tho Picilie Northwest. Pop ulation must como here rapidly when commu nication shall bo direct. The growth and de ve'opment of a very few yeats will place this region on a par with California, and open a -commerce with Am as well as with America, and the result will bo a demand for nil that we can produce. Oregon nud Washington constitute to-day the moat inviting region for settlement in N. rth Amcricr., Why She Talked to the Ply Bcrosn Man. Rho knew ho was the fly screen man by the simples under his arm, but she held the door open, und permitted him to say 1 "Madam, t notice that )OH haven'c a fly screen nt any door or window." "Not a nut)," thi unb..cuu. "You inii't bu nverruu with'iliesf' "Wo aro." "Flies ate a terrible nuisance." "Yin. iiidco.l," "And this scorns to bo a good locality fur nto'q'iitoes?" 'Oil, cs, sir." "I presume thoy bother you nights?" "Very much." "And a great deal of dust blows into a lioiuc i.ot protected by screens," "A great deal, sir." "And how many win lows havo you in the house!" "Sixteen." "Kach "no ought to have a ball ni." "Yes, sir." "And I can make,thein cheapei foryouthau any other man in the business," "I think von can." "!)' jou piefcr plain green m iJ0iircd I" "Well, 1 always did liku plain giton." "Very well; I will treasure jour windows, and UUu your order." "You needn't trouble yourscll any further," she quietly replied. "What! Don't sou want screens?" "No, sir. The other day the womau across tho street bad ten minutes' conversation with a tin peddler, and bho' had her novo in the air over 1110 ever tince. A lly screen man la about thrco times as high as a potato man, and I've b en talking with yon to let her see tha', she lii' the only lady in lown who can pat 011 air Silo's mad as a Inn by this tiun , and li'.w y 11 git up and 'lust, r I'll havo my dig run you c1' nt t tho rivtr -Ddroit l'i(r I'r i. It" produced in any country