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About Willamette farmer. (Salem, Or.) 1869-1887 | View Entire Issue (June 1, 1883)
- f"-fT 'T "-""tr"-7T"T 7"fiT"1"-"'i'T1 "FrVC!"" ;"' nlrMf -, V v jw . -1'P L 4 WILLAMETTE FARMER: PORTLAND, OREGON. JUNE 1. 18. . k 'At u 'In f J M MMed srery Week by the WIIAAMhll K s-AKMKK rlULIgHIlKl . TERMS OF BUB8CH1PT10M 0st,CPoetaM paid). In ad ranee SIM to sMnlM (Fotwe peld), In adrance .. . . l.SS LaW MM M monthi will be, , permonU) 16 ADVER8I81NO RATES i A4rwMtWinUwlll be Inserted, prorMlnfU an fewrttM. at tht foUowinjr table ol rate : MtttenM space per month f 2.60 pm toshes of ipac per month 6.00 , w-kuf eelamn per month,.,, ,,.. 16.00 0t wl limn ptt month M00 nVennrsle oopies lent free on application. ruuuuiliou ottlce: Mo. 6 Washington Street up aire, loomi no. s ana d the roil undoubtedly induces greater evap oration and results in increased rainfall. come here more freely, and soon the rate of interest will como down. The present It is also true that springs break out on j tendency is to maintain a high l ate of ALL PA1'ER8 DISCONTINUED AT THE EXP1RA HON OF THE TIME PAID FOR. Notice to Subscribers. Ornci or Wlimmztti Farmeb, ) February 28, 1883. to on Biaiim : We publish only a sufficient number ol the Firkjr At fiippljr actual prepaid eubtcrlber and we cannot tup fUj back numbers. II It ll deelred by lubtcrlbera to secure all hides they mint arrange to send In their renewals in ample time to reach tnli office before eiplratlon. X3TAU subscribers can tell by the printed tag ondl ty their paper exactly when their time wilt eiplretts Another Important point: ALT. COMMUNICATIONS AND LETTERS SHOULD RE ADDRESSED TO THE "WILLAMETTE FAKMEB," ' Drawer 13, Portland, Oregon. A pleasant feature of the late session Of the State Qrango was the attendance of all the Masters who havo presided over that body in ten years since the order was instituted hero ; also, all tho Over seers, with one exception, were present. There was a general good feeling and harmony evident that was very satis factory. land where there were none before, per haps owing to tramping the surface by stock. Some assert their belief that tho hying of iron rails up tho Columbia, with branches in various directions, affects the magnetic currents and epualizes condi tions with a happy effect on sections that have been dry and sometimes unreliable for crops. The present conditions are f.ivorable to the future of farming east of the Cascades. There is inducement enough in crop prospects at the present time to fill all the eastern region rapidly with a reliably energetic population. The increase of production there is great but cannot easily bo estimated so as to base a statement upon figures obtainable. The usual estimate is that the counties cast of the Cascades will send down 200,000 tons or about 7,000,000, bushels of wheat. The best estimate we have seen places the total of export from the Columbia river at ten millions of bushels. Thousands of far mers who commenced last year, and thousands more arc plowing this year to nut in crop next fall. Tho increase of production cast of the mountains will as tonish tho world in 1884 and thereafter, but Western Oregon will stand still in that respect and show progress in mixed hus bandry called for by new conditions that must bo met. Some weeks sinco wo copied a very in teresting sketch of Lane county from the JJugene Journal, taking particular pains to indicate tho authorship. The printer omitted tho credit and it went to tho world jm original. Worse and worse, some of our cotemporaricH aro copying it and crediting it to tho Farmer. That is a mortification to us, liecauso wo aim to bo honest and liberal in copying from our brethern of the press, and nover omit an opportunity to reproduce whatever relates to tho country and its resources. Wo ten der this explanation to the editor of tho Journal. Long beforo ho complained of the piracy wo gavo the composition room A plain talking to, with instructions to never set up reprint without finding out and giving proper credit. We hear very general complaint that wild oats aro coming up in land re-sowed in March. Of course that is not true of nil land then sown but no doubt a great deal of wheat land is ho troubled. Tho question has becomo important as to how farmers aro to rid their land of this pest. J t seems easy onough to soo what is tho best course to tako with fields whoro wild unts como up with tho wheat, Wild oats and wheat combined mako tho best of liny and such fields should bo cut early, beforo any oats can shatter, and boforo they nro ripo onough to seed. Hay is al ways valuable and tho man who will iitillw his fodder to make beef for Port land market next winter has a rather uro and safe thing of it. Don't lot wild oats ripen and tako tho Holds for if you ilo, you will not live long onough to ever pet rid of them. The fruit crop of tho wholo North Pa- ciflo shows tho effects of tho season. Western Oregon and Washington will have small yield of all fruits, owing to tho premature opening of spring. Tho pleas ant month of March induced tho flowor iug of fruit trees earlier than usunl. Then canio n month of cold rains that chocked the How of sap and fruit blighted. This is unusual, and wo do not ivoolloct in all tho history of tho country it.ti-h a failure. Somo varieties do much Inttcrthan others. Tho cool wonthor of May has not favored orchards nud young fi nit fell from tho troos all that month. JJast of tho Cascades orchards suffered from sovoro .winter woathor. Fruit will ho light in all directions. Those who havo a good yield aro forunnto and will find a nndy murkot for all thoy have. Tkb groin crop of Western Oregon will 1n a fair avorago, though it is early yot o say positively concorning wheat put in in March. Tho weather has been so cool that crops horo havo not como forward inpidly. Grain all through tho Willam ette valley lias a good aspect and is im proving fast. Tho usual comment is that we shall have mora whoat than last year and perhaps as much as in 1881. That would givo Western Oregon four million bushols for export. East of tho Cascades tho universal re tort is that wheat could not promise boi ler that crop prospects aro perfect, Tho newspapers of the upper country all, tell the sAino story. All person wo moot from there, and all who go there, unite in pro dieting that tho yield from ever' county and district will be all tho land is capable pi; the heaviest known in all the history of fanning east of Uie Cascade There it common belief, that under modorn Influences the conditions of that Upper Cojutryare modifying. Cultivation of THE MORTGAGE TAX LAW. The Legislature of last fall enacted that mortgages should be taxed in tho county where tho mortgaged property lies. Tho courts have sustained tho law and it can not bo set aside. It is tho paramount law of tho land. But the courts also decide that money loaned by foreign corpora tions is not liable to Oregon laws ; that a foreign corporation can loan money at whatever premium it chooses to demand, and it cannot be taxed hero when it pays taxes in another country. So foreign capital is independent of our tax laws, and they only apply to homo loans. Capital resents tho law, and money lenders say thoy will not loan in our State unless tho borrower pays tho taxi So, virtually, tho law is inopcrntivo, or rather our usury law is inoperative. Even foreign money declines to invest in a State that interferes with it in this manner. Tho complaint is not so much that money is taxed, but that it is unfairly taxed, and that it is so wo havo repeatedly shown in tho Farmer. Our laws pretend to assess and tax all property equally. Real and personal property is assessed at 40 to 50 per cent, of its valuo. That is tho custom through tho Stnto. Tho tax on money is for its full faco ; therefore it pays over twico as much tax, as other property, and under this unfair condition of taxation tho monoy lender evades tho law in whatever mannor ho can. Probably two-thirds of tho monoy in Oregon goes untaxed be cause of this oppressive and unjust dis crimination. Wo do not uphold tho man who swears to a valuation that leaves his monoy unnsscssed. Ho is a criminal. But tho law is at fault that gives him this much oxcuso for being dishonest. Before tho Legislature sat wo called at tention to all theso things, and took tho position that it was necessary to adopt somo system as law that wouL insure that all proiwrty should pay taxes in tho county and district where located. As capital to tho extent of ten millions ovaded taxation, and existing laws seemed to offer inducements for dishonest returns to assessors, wo showed tho advantages, that would result from exempting money and'its equivalents from taxation. The constitution of Oregon Bays all propeity shall bo taxed alike. Under this supremo law there can bo no change to relievo tho money louder, and ho is driven (as ho says) to oviulo taxation. Exempt money notes and accounts and tax nil property whorovor found, and there would bo no ovasiou, no corrupt practices, no fulso swearing, no unequal division of taxes. Wo will review tho arguments in favor of such a course. Now tho conscioutious man who loans monoy is doubly taxed, while the unscru pulous money lender "swears oft"" in his return. That is u hardship to honest men, Wo showed, three years ago, that 110,000,000 of money evaded taxation. It is probably much greater now, Tho former law did not tax property that was mortgaged, and in consequence many counties and country districts lost rovenuo on properly in their limits. To remedy those evils the mortgage tax passed. Ex perience shows it involves much trouble and expense in keeping record of mort gage, and money lender threaten to withdraw their capital from tho State. In any case they make tho borrower pay tho tax, which is a practical breach of the usury law. All these things unito to strengthen belief in our former suggestion that money, notes and accounts should not be taxed. Our laws have a tendency to restrain capital from coming horo for investment. interest, Tho unscrupulous man will bring money here trusting to the possibil ity of evading the tax law. Tho consci entious capitalist will stay away because of our laws. To tax all property will w ork no hardship, after the money market has time to become established under the new conditions. Tho borrower will get his loans at lower rates, and so suffer no hardship. Money will come hero more freely and bo loaned with less suspicion. Every inducement, on the part of the State, is offered to secure the change in the law, as wo will proceed to show. The defects of the old law wero mani fest, and do not need recital more fully than to show that it bred dishonest prac tices and many millions evaded taxation. Many counties suffered for want of rev enue. The mortgage tax law involves great expense to each county to keep the records required ; there is a tendency to exclude capital, and money lenders refuse to make loans. Tho operation of the law is unpleasant, and it seems to be a failure, though we may heartily endorse its object to secure a fair revenue to every locality. To exempt money, notes and accounts and tax all property where found, estab lishing a State Board of Equalization, would simplify taxation, equalize it thor oughly, and secure to the State and tho counties all tho revenues needed in the most just and equitable manner. There would bo no inducement for dishonest practices. Assessors would tax only what was tangible and visible. Their duties will be much easier than under compli cated requirements of any law for assess ing money and mortgages. Money would soon flow into the State to reduco inter est and enable enterprising men to estab lish industries that now aro not possible. So far as personal interest goes we aro strongly identified with thoso who need cheap monoy, and wo advocate this pol icy from principle. Taxation has perplexed tho greatest minds that havo over grappled with financo and always will, but our view of tho matter seems to bo simple and fair. The trouble will bo to bring tho popular mind to realize the faults of our old sys tem and to have faith that liberal legisla tion towards capital wilt bring about the results wo predict. Tho world is too jealous of capital to bo liberal towards it, but that is tho true policy. THE OREGON STATE OBANQE. much if tho members would only har monize and co-operate. It may not be that all granges need to co-operate in the same manner, for tho purchase of sup plies, as many districts possess a competi tion in trade that secures tho purchaser from imposition. There aro many ways in which granges can realize benefit from co-operation and it is the province of the grange to look up such chances. Wo can heartily commend the order to the good will of farmers. It offers social and educational benefits, and opportuni ties for business, as it is organized so as to make it possible to work in union. The want of confidence existing among farm ers, as a class, is a great detriment and hindrance to them. Association and more intimate acquaintance has a ten dency to create confidence and harmony. The farmer should bo a social being, capa ble of taking a part in everything that concerns him and concerns his fellows. The grange is certainly an educator. It tends to mako better farmers and better men and women. The columns of the Farmer have always been ojn to communications and we have always published grange notices free of cost. Considering the benefits that would accrue to tho order if its members would communicate proceedings and de bates in granges for our columns, tho ne glect to furnish us with grange literature seems to be culpable. We do all that we can for the order. If its members neglect to use the means wo so freely place at their disposal, it seems to us that the pre tenses of zeal are very hollow. The annual session of the State Grange, last week, was a pleasant reunion of the representatives of that order, and tho three days they were together were en joyed very much, from pleasant associa tion as well as from attention to tho du ties of tho occasion. Tho condition of the grange through tho jurisdiction is healthy, and in somo instances shows a very decided gain. Tho influenco of tho order is sensibly felt wherever it is known, and its advantages aro enjoyed by many who aro not connected with it. There was, of couroe, much routine business. Tho session was chiefly occupied with this necessary work, but tho members found time to spend nn evening at tho hospitable rcsidenco of tho Worthy Master, Brother B. P. Boiso, who is a practical farmer as well as a jurist of great renown. Thurs day evening tho Pomona Grango was held and tho fifth or Pomona degree, con ferred in an impressive manner on a class of eight gentlemen and si ladies. The finances of tho order are on a snfo basis. Tho Stnto Grango has, fortunately, been able to redeem standing obligations that wero incurred somo years ago, with mem bers of tho order. Tho misfortunes and mistakes that occurred years ago, did lit tlo serious harm, but caused failure and loss of confidence. Tho order was launched hero under very fuvoiublo con ditions and buiiiCM ventures wero entered upon that wero not Miccossful. Tho loss of membership that resulted proved a serious drawback. Sinco then no busi ness ventures havo been undertaken with out great precaution. Considemblo suc cess has bojn realized in Yimous direc tions. Enough has been accomplished to show that safe co-operation is possible. Wo have repoatedly alluded to tho success attained by tho grango on Williams creek, in Southern Oregon. Co-ojiorntion there had a smaU beginning. A grango pic nic wns held that yielded $130. Sub scriptions added tnado a capital of $350, to commence with. Thoy selected a reli able agent and opened a small stock on his farm. That store now has 3,000 capi tal, one-half of which is earnings. It has brought to terms the merchant near by, who has grown very rich selling goods t: miners and farmers. Ho has reduced prices 25 per cent. Buying for cash that store gets goods at lowest price and commands a growing trade. Owing to the success of this enterprise tho mem bership of tho Williams' Creek Orange has greatly increased and all matters con nected with it aro healthy and sound. It seems as if every Franco in the en- Giv it all tho privilege wo can and it will i tiro jurisdiction could accomplish as RAILROAD BUILDING SOUTH. Ever sinco Oregon had a history the country south of the Willamette was isolated and peculiar. Early mining ex citement gavo prosperity to it. When mining was no longer profitable farmers were left with their farms on their hands and little demand for their products. They became stock raisers. Tho climate of tho country is peculiar. The hills are granite and sometimes tho valley land is sticky mud over which an empty wagon cannot go. Wo speak of Rogue River valley, where there is much excellent soil and a delightful climate. The want of better facilities than a daily stage affords has left Rogue river so remote and isolated. Very soon the Oregon & California railroad will reach Jacksonville, or its vicinity, and that charming region will experience such an awakening as will recall the days of its mining prosperity and excitement. Jnck son county is a mountain region with a rich jewel of prairies and valley lands, set among its hills and ranges. It will require nn immense outlay and herculean labor to make a pathway through the ranges on the north and south of it. W read with interest of the engineering that explores those wilds and shows how the road is to penetrate them. There are numerous tunnels to be made, the road will bo tortuous at its best, but another year will seo Southern Oregon connected with California on tho south and tho Co lumbia river on tho north and enable it to prepare its luscious propucts of vineyard and orchard for shipment. We know that vineyards and orchards thrive there but do not know tho extent of lands that can bo put to such uso. Wo suggest to our en terprisingcotemporaries there, that they could not do anything more useful to their section than to describe the whole county fully. Show tho extent of its arablo land and tho proportion adapted to fruit culture. For this purpose they should secure the aid of practical orchard ists, men who know what land can grow frutts to better advantage. It will bo a happy occurrence when railroad connection with California also gives us easy communication with South western Oregon. It will secure a denser settlement of that region, induced by its unrivalled natural advantages and remark able climate, which combines the best qualities and products of the country north and south of Oregon and Califor nia. Its resources includes mines of gold, silver, cinnabar, copper, lead, iron and coal, and forests of valuable timber. The southern country has resources that in sures a great and prosperous future. last week, from Mr. B. L. Gardener, dele gate to the State Grango from Baker county. Twenty years ago wo resided two years in that county and knew about its circumstances. Then the east side of Powder River valley was left to its natural condition of sage and sand, but now the big sago land is known to be tho most prolific of all soil. Mr. Gardener related his suc cess in farming it, with irrigation to some extent, and exclaimed that it was now all claimed and had become very productive. There is a great acreage of such land along Snake river and in time, under tho influence of the railroad now building to the Oregon boundary, on Snake river, it will become ery prolific. We inquired of him what ho knew about tho country south of him, and he informed us that judging in part from his own observation and partly from reports that his neighbors made of their prospectiong, the country south was very valuable and would sup port a large farming population. Between Willow creek and the Malheur river, in Baker county, there is a well grassed up land ten miles wide and twenty miles long, on which tho waters of these streams could be taken and develop a farming region of great value. Again, between the Malheur and Owyhee rivers there is simi lar land of even greater extent. Mr. Gardener says the world has no real knowledge of tho actual value of the region referred to ; that it has little waste land, is not too elevated and frosty to pro duce grain and must ultimately receive a large population. So it goes, what is known of the country demonstrates its value. The good lands of Ochoco and of the Malheur rivers aro not far apart, as the mountains narrow at the head of those streams. There is much good land capable of cultivation, in the limits of the Blue mountains, that will be occupied in due time. In the very southeast corner of Oregon the map shows a largo area that is put down as " undulating table lands." This is now used for pasturage only and stock men always decry "the value of their ranges for farming pur poses, for whenever the farmer gets n foot hold the occupation of the cattle kings is gone. The construction of the short line railroad and the Snake river branch of the O. R. fc N. Co., will open tho eyes of the word to the resources of Southeast ern Oregon. These consist not only of farming and grazing lands, but of mines of precious metals and of metals used in. tho nrts and in every-day life. The tim ber lands of the Blue t mountains will bo eagerly sought for when their valuo be comes known. Opening that section of country to settlement, and to develop ment of its resources, will bo something like discovering a new world. sustained there by a tio vote. If better -evidence can bo found a new enso can be made and carried through to a successful issue. That will bo a good thing for the people as tho well is in very general use in many sections. To such an end all in terested should contribute. To recom mend that every man should stand pro vocation would bo ruinous. Law suits and lawyer's fees are expensivo luxuries. T many combine tho end is better attained, ' anu mo cosi iaus iignuy. uur readers know that wo have given no advice. We $ know very little about tho matter but have p no doubt tho courts decided on tho ovi. dence. Better evidence may win and " without better cvidenco there is no hope ' of winning. To incite nil farmers in Ore- & gon to opposo the decision of tho courts, which nro enunciations of the law, would be the rankest folly. We havo no ac quaintance with tho owners of tho patent or the owners of wells driven in accord ance with it and havo no advice to give, except to let the wells nlono if you do not wish to pay tho royalty. We hear of extensivo hop planting this spring, and learn that men with means havo ventured into the business, with the intention to remain in it and in crease their plantations every year. That this region will become a great producer of hops is evident. Thero is a great ex tent of country where hops can grow to advantage, and if there is inducement anywhere to plant hop yards it is here, where soil and climate insure larger crops and thero is no blight or insect known to injure tho crop. Thero are few countries where hop yards thrive so well and yield so abundantly as they do north of Cali fornia. We also know that thero are many prosperous hop growers in Cali fornia. The statistics of the hop trade bIiow that hops have averaged to pay well taking the price received for thirty years back as the criterion. SOUTHEASTERN OREGON. The extent of country in Oregon capa ble of sustaining an agricultural popula tion is an unknown quantity, because a great part of Eastern Oregon is undevel oped and there is no way of judging of its actual resources. Only within a few years, since the Northern Pacific Railroad has induced development, has tho value of tho Spokane and Big Bend country been understood. Yakima and Klickitat and Stevens counties, W. T., contain mil lions of acres of arable land and will soon receive greater attention. Thero is one halt of the State of Oregon concerning which evon less is known. General opin ion says it offers few attractions and is only fit tor stock range, but we learn oc casionally facta that indicate that there is a great deal more good fanning land south of the Columbia than is commonly believed. We gained some valuable information, I MUTTON SHEEP. The valuo of meats is so enhanced that it seems as if sheep breeders should take pains to secure a breed of sheep that can command extra price as mutton. Wo hear a great deal about tho richness of English mutton. Travelers from the old country say wo have inferior mutton and good livers who cross tho ocean, assert that wo have no mutton to compare with that they ate in Great Britain. A week or so ago our correspondent "Salem," briefly but forcibly' asserted tho valuo of the merino as most profitable for all uses. Money is what regulates values ; if, as our correspondent asserts, there is more money in the merino, that will regulate the market. Ho is correct in insisting t at when the merino pays well it is good pol icy to keep on breding merino sheep. Tho best is what pays tho best. Wo have, as a people, found millions of income from merino sheep and can safely keep on rais ing them. But we hope that enterpris ing farmers will experiment and thoroughly test the value of the best mutton breeds. If they can put on the Portland market mutton that will com mand a premium and give reputation as well as profit to the producer, we hope to seo it accomplished. Without disparag ing the merino, that has yielded such a profit in days by gone, we can test the value of sheep. Tho man who cannot I afford to experiment should keep on with his old flocks, but there are enterprising men among Oregon farmers who will never rest until they produce a first class mutton sheep, fitted to stand our climate, that will-yield a good fleece while com manding a premiun for superior excel lence of its meat, MARRIED. Tuesday morning, May 29, at tho famil v residence in Salem, Sarah A, Clarke daughter of Mr. and Mrs. S. A. Clarke of tho Farmer, and Wm. J. Dyer of Walla Walla. The ceremony was performed by Rev. P. S. Knight, of the Congregational church, in presence of numerous friends. The young people have removed to Walla Walla, where they will permanently re-side. Eiiil&Si. LAXSIKC, - MICHICAJT. SOLE MANUFACTURERS VF THE Lansing Spring Tooth Harrow .AND THE., Lansing Wheel Spring Tooth Harrow. LANSING f PRINO TOOTH HARROW. J"- Jm LANSING Wlltfcb bPKUiU 100TH HARROW. Far furl Iter Information apply te the Sfnnufneturtrs nt I ansins Michigan. Stmajlia ABOUT DRIVEN WELLS. A resolution was introduced in the State Grange recommending farmers every where to refuse to recognizo the driven well patent because, notwithstanding the decision of tho courts, the patent is not rightly granted. Of course this was voted down. As some parties try to make cap ital against this journal because it docs not approve tho driven well patent, wo in vito attention to the facts. Tho patent right to the principle of the driven well has been disputed for years and carried tlirough tho courts. Tho patent was held good by tho United States District court and was carried to the Supreme court and SIOOO REWARD, aM IS MM iVICTOi CkneUrr. H ksnLfl eataae. '"nBanBamUBnaJEK (UrJMUHB rMM matud mas. NEWARK MACHINE IIWUI, o. Notice of Filing Final Account. SOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT THE UN denlgned, executor of tho will ol W illlato Coyla, ued, have filed thtlr flnal account of their admla titration of raid estat, in the County court ol the atat of Oregon far the county pf Multnomah and that Monday the 2d day of July, A. D. 1883, at 10 o'clock A.M. at the courtroom of aald court In the court houae of tho count)- of Multnomah, at the city of Portland, hat been duly appointed for the settlement of aald account. All ptraoni interacted are hereby aotiSeil to apiwar at aald line and place and present objection!, U any they hate, to luch account. T. K. 1LLIAUS, .... O.UIMBY, Executora of the eUte of William Cole, deceased. Dated, May 18th, 18S3. &R Harrington, Atty. mayzSU A First rate 460 acre Wheat and Sheep Farm for Sale. J7UTE MILES FROM SALUI K' nUUBUITUNft I acre bearer land, which Stock water In location. Trout Apply to tuntta THREE HCXD acres to culuiation. one hunaran Bakes a capital nurdow, all well fenced. Uaalthr Bile luaa through tho faisa. PA, pj. IfJMtEaL, slant, Marion County, Oragoai V t m ,, a ' I i."'Vt : :tf'M.tMWL.4fff4 t- ,. . tt .,, i 'd&dgi&M&i,?., iMJffkikr'r b . :&&, J . fie Vt