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About Willamette farmer. (Salem, Or.) 1869-1887 | View Entire Issue (June 22, 1883)
.. k 4 ki V, VOL. XV. orrejJoniIcitc Ohio Correspondence. Leokardsburo, O.. June 4, 18S3. Editor Willamette Farmer : It seems queer to our Ohio readers to read in the' Farmer the advertisements of his own neighborhood. But none sur prised me more than my old friend Waldo F. Brown, unless it was James J. H. Gregory, who went from Marblehead clear across the continent to advertise squashes and drumhead cabbages. I saw also the notice of Storrs, Harrison ife Co., of Prinesville, Ohio. Would it not be well, in inserting these advertisements, to say, "Sitka papers please copy." With regard to the farming prospects here everything is in a most backward condition. The month of March, for all practical pur poses, was fully equal to April or May, nothing in Miirch coming near in severity to the blizzard of the 20th, 21st, and 22d of May, whilst even now a cloudy, chilly and too wet a spell of weather prevails, half the corn planted being a total loss of both time and seed, and will have to be re-planted. Lust year's corn will not ger minate and sometimes $2 old corn will not either. Wheat with us is not a half crop, and the theory that corn stubble ground was as good as any, and late thin sowing better than early, is by all sensible and well meaning persons from past ex perience now considered too thin. Our corn crop at this date is yet to be consid ered as yet to be planted. The continued and excessive freezing of last winter put the ashen hue on many a forest tree, and orchards on low.ground that.cscaped with half the number of trees they contained are considered as having done well. And yet Chicago papers blow on four hundred millions of bushels of wheat "which will leave one hundred and eighty millions of bushels in excess of all demands, to splice on to and bridge over the failure of this year's crop. But the village of Chicago meddles too much with wheat matters, and generally (to bo personal) Chicago in such instances is a liar when speaking of grain, for it is policy in speculative rascals to make it seem that crops are full, and hencd these high colored accounts of crops. Curing the past year a mania for turn pikes has prevailed here to an alarming extent, and the commissioners have been enterprising enough to work the business up to a livelihood for themselves and enci- beer. But lately these turnpikes have become subjects of litigation, and the if courts have laid many of them quietly Vaway to rest, whilst the actions of the 1 wommissioners and several old political ;X? scabs as principal petitioners have been ?Wiown up in the most odious light. From ersonal experience 1 believe that among he evils which exist in old communities, Synd which more than counterbalance tho yftarrlahinaiinfl nrivations of t ft new com munity, none are moro prominent than & that selfish feeling which tho aecumula- non of property begets, and which is mur der in the first degreo. to any social sys- fieni. And hero let me add that where llii.T.uuiH nrrn tln nni rl,lftj fM milna around would turn out to a log rolling or cabin raising, now would scarcely take time to attend their grandmother's funeral, or vote the Democratic ticket. I believe it is a moral if not a physical fact that the same blow upon a man's pocket book kills him quickerthan if inflicted on his bead, and yet, notwithstanding peculi arities, it takes everybody collectively to make this little mundano sphere which it takes twenty-four hours to roll over once. Don't let anybody fool your readers with tree-beans or Besseraba com. I remain yours still again, John Waters. ( "FaradUe Loit." Oristown, Tillamook Co., June 6, 1883, It Editor Willlatnete Farmer : LWe are just now beginning to realize hat a ereat country is opening up hero Jflf "on the Pacific coast. When Milton wrote i his "Paradise Lost," ho undoubtedly de ll scribed such a grand climate as is here. I Taking all the advantages and disadvan h tages which a new country must necessa- !t cnoer will now run weekly, a passenger express, to and from Grande Round, which Connects with McMinnville express to the Little Festachee bay and coast. Travel ers can b accommodated. This will bo a i pleasant wav for people who wish to stop a week in the mountains, at the Sulphur Springs and dnnk of that "balm of gilad" to invalids. There is a superb tavern kept here by a noble land lord, as can be found :i the State ol Oregon. He is reauy to ive any one a night or week's lodging at very moderate rates ; that they may drink of this gushing fountain of white sulphur springs. Ihe toll roail is open for a horse man or wagons. Wo now have a good store kept by Mr. Phelps. This is a great countrj' for health, no sickness here, no need of doctors just at the present time. This country will soon settle up with a thrifty class of farmers, as it has so many advantages in every tioint of view for stock raising. Cattle, sheep and hogs do remarkably well hero, and require littlo or no feed. This country has proved to bo well adapted to the linest garden lands in Oregon and besides butter and cheese making. The production of wool is of the finest and best quality ; and poultry do very well hero. Now theso items are very important to the farmer. Hens lay the year round, is properly housed and fed oatsor barley. The land here is not level like the Willamette valley, but it is in such n shape that the farmer can get from 50 to 00 acres for oats, barley or any other grain that he desires to raise. I know that people in the wheat growing parts of Oregon say and many of them believe that wheat docs not grow here, but I am informed by our best of farmers that is does well. Timothy, clover and almost every kind of grass grows here. Potatoes, carrots and vegetables grow also in great abundance. Boens flourish hero as in California. Fish abounds the year round, and then the coast, so beautiful and grand. There are some wonders at Sand Cape and Cape Lookout, which I have not yet visited. Slab creek or Conawanda's an cient home, is a most remarkable place. Large caves that are tho habital of seals and lashing waves. Moro anon. J. B. Franklin. More about Warehousing. Brooks, Or., June 15, 1883, Editor Willamitto Farmer : In your article two weeks ago you gave my idea as I tried to convey in the talk wo had at Salem, only you did not give tho full extent and cover all the ground. I will try and give my views on the ware house system. At all railroad stations sites can be had that farmers can purchase chccply, suit able to build warehouses on, that do not belong to or controlled by the railroad companies. Building sites can be pur chased, also, at all landing places on the river. Let a few farmers, near Sa'em, go north, outside tho corporation, buy a site first combining under stringent agree ment that each interest in such warehouse cannot be convoyed except with tho con veyance of the owner's farm. Consider ing it a necessity to the farm, as a matter of business, to have a warchouso to store its grain as it is to havo land to produco it. Each should belong to the other and always bo transferred together. I believe such agreement could be made legal. Do not incorporate in joint stock, as has been done, in which case tho law can force sale of stock and so annul tho effect of the agreement, but make tho granary a part of eacli farm, by privato ownership When threshing haul the grain from the field to warehouse, putting each man's grain in his separate bin, and so use as few sacks as possible. The saving in sacks will bo quite an item. It costs tho farmer more to handle his grain since the field sacking system of California was adopted here, than when we used to put it in our granaries. It often occurs that mills have a surplus of sacks after they have run awhile on each crop and have had time to empty, and when sale is made to tho mills they will sond sacks for grain at shipping points and are able to pay three to five cents more a bushel for wheat so handled than they can by the sacking sys tem now practiced. There is no good ex cuse for fanners to allow themselves to remain at tho mercy of early rains, that often catch grain in tho fall, when in sacks in the field while waiting for tho price to reach a selling profit to tho grower. The advance does not always come. The ex porter wont buy when his ship is not here. But tho mills have commodious ware houses! Even they do not care to pur chose but will let tho farmer store by having a refusal to purchase before all others. This excludes comjetition. They tell the farmer: "If you storo with us and sell to us, we will charge you no storage." Do they do so? When warehouses are built as I now recommend, at stations and on navigable rivers, then, as your article said, gravel and make good roads to ride tracks and land ings, put your grain in the granary as you thresh it, get it insured, then, if you wish to sell in rainy or muddy weather, order your sacks, take a team from home, and some help, clean with good fanning mill, sack as cleaned and haul to cars. Do not pass it through a warehouse. The idea is to do judicious business on correct principles, liave more liberty, and PORTLAND, OREGON, respect yourself and be respected. Keep in the advance ; be alive to your interests ; don't roost round like you didn't know what to do. If you still store with millers, or any one else, agree to pay a given rate of storage subject to your own order. Do not give any body tho right to use your wheat for any purpose until you have sold it and got tho money. S. D. Nohthcutt. Marlon County Pomona Orange. Salem, June 18, 1883. Editor Willamette Farmer : Please say in your very valuable paper that Marion County Pomona Grange meets in the hall in this city on Thursday, July 5th, at 11 o'clock A. m. Members of the order, please take notice. Your pres ence is absolutely necessary j "let us reason together." E. Stroxo, Secretary. Work on the Railroad. The Oregon Pacific railroad has recently finished a large cut on the line of their track some eighty feet deep near Wiser's point. They are now working on another- large cut at Uneatta in the tear of Parker's saw mill. Quite a 'arc,) force are at work at this place anil they are at work at both enda of the cut. Much blasting has to be done owint; to the rock that they meet with. It will ft quire at least six weeks to finish the Ust named cut. A larg- amount of cribiug is being put up across a large slough beginning at one end of this cut. The work is progressing finely on all three of the tunnels. At tunnel number 3 a tiessle across the Yaquina river has been made upon which the company run all timber and material from the .opposite aide of the river to the tunnel. Col. Smith has con cluded to give his special attention to these works and he is now giving about three fourths of his time to them. Gazette. The Benton Leader talks enthusiastically about Yaquina Bay as follows ; In our local column J may be fonnd reports from Ynquiua that ought to prove encourag ing to us who are so much interested in the improvement of the Yaquina bar. But a short time various Oregon papers found pleas ure in publishing statements to the effect that this bar could never be improved enough to allow it to figure iu the maritime interests nf this State, alleging that there were only nine feet of water, etc. Since that time a meagre and wholly inadequate appropriation has been applied to its improvement. Yet so marked has been the manner in which it yielded uy its obstacles to deep navigation, that its ene mies no longer decry it. Its improvements, susceptibility to further improvement, at d prevent advantages as an enterance are facts to patent to sutt'er misrepresentation. The ease with which a heavily laden 70) ton ship recently crossed in and out ; the marked in crease of water on the bar brought about by the government breakwater as reported by the engineer in charge, a little tale unfold, that the Leader has told and reiterated many time viz: Yaquina is bound to be the best harbor and entrance on the cast Are you troubled with such symptoms of dyspepsia as belching, tasting, of the food, heart-burn? Brown's Iron Bitters will cure you. The Bank of Cheney Failure. The situation at Cheney is still problemati cal. Nothing further has been heard of Mr. Davenport, but the general impression is that he has gone to Chicago, and, as friends claim, will make an effort to raise money to re-establish himself in the confidence of the town which owes so much to his energy and public spirit. lie is known to have stopped at Hath drum on his way east, and borrowed $240 to pay piy his expenses, and it is inferred from this that be cannot be accused with having abicjnded with the dep sits in bis bank. On tho other hand, it is discovered by his credi tors that his assets, which were hoped to have been sufficient to cover his liabilities, are either sea tered and injudiciously invested, or else conveyed toother parties and realized on. The First National Bank of Portland has pos tension oi the bills leccivable, but as yet it is not known to what amount. Confusion and mystery shallow the situation, and it is pre mature to offer comments, Spokane Chronicle. X&. Fast, brilliant and fashionaole are the Diamond Dye colors. One package colors 1 to 4 pounds of good; 10 cents tor any color, Beatty's Beethoven Oriran Over 1,700 Bold Durtnc the Month ot May. We have been reliably informed that Mayor Beatty, of Washington, N. J,, is making and hipping a Beethoven organ now every ten mluuies, aince he ha improved the case and added two new and valuable improvement. So ereat is the demand for this nonular in strument that the factory ia taxed to it ut most capacity to supply the demand. Over seventeen hundred were sold during the month of May, being th largeit bualneaa of the kind on record. Read hii advertisement. Art the Kidney " Vital Organs 7 -Decidedly, yea. Without them life ia Im possible ; and they appear to be peculiarly aunceptible to severe and fatal derangement. Thy are, moreover, exceedingly difficult to treat, and the ailment affecting them are liable to end at any time in Bright' Diaeate. In our opl'iion, formed upon the conclusions of many skilled phyaiciana, Hunt' Remedy, tie great kidney and liver Medicine, i the beat ever administered lor Kidney, bladder, bladder, liver and urinary diseaaei. It curea like a magic spell. FRIDAY, JUNE SOUTH-WESTERN OREQON. We met at the late Pioneer celebration with Col. John K. Ross, who is one of tho pioneers of Jackson county as well as among those who came to Oregon at an early day. Col. Ross is a Rogue river far mer whose place is only three miles from Jacksonville. He is well informed, of course, concerning that region and says it oilers great inducements to new settlers. Rogue River valley, including the terri tory from Umpqua mountain on the north to the Siskiyou mountain on the south, is forty miles wide, north and south, by sixty to seventy miles Ioiik, cast and west. Of this the land and open country of the valley that is already settled is about equal to onc-tourtii of the total. Tho remain der is a hilly region, covered with under growth in part, but when cleared makes the best of vineyard and orchard land. If we only cluim one-half of the whole val ley to be availablo for agriculture, that will leave ns much vacant land, subject to entry, or purchase from the railroad company, as is now cultivated or owned in Jackson and Josephine counties. There is diversity of soil in Jackson county. Part is clayey soil, well adapted to vine growing or orcharding. There is consider able granite decomposition that has been tried for orchards, with success. Wo met the other day with a gentleman who for merly lived in that region, who told his experience) in planting an orchard on de composed bench land. Of tho whole area described as within the limits fortj; iy sixty miles, the open prairie lands of tho valley, that constitute tho fanning region of Jackson county, form not over one-fourth, the remainder is. generally vacant. Within a few months tho O. & C. railroad will reach that sec tion and give it all the necessary facilities of transportation. Tho natural outlet of Southern Oregon is towards tho north, where its products will find a market. The soil and climate of Roguo River valley favor tho products that are natural to California, on the south of it. While it produces well all tho corals, fruits and vegetables that grow to the northward, it also grows corn, grapes and peaches that do not succeed with certainty in tho val leys north of it. Tho climate of South ern Oregon is pleasantly modified so that it has not the hot summers, nor tho fear of drouth that are so common to Califor nia. Its winters havo not tho excess of rain sometimes known in our own section. Wo have often asserted that Jackson coun ty iwssesses advantages of climate over any other part of Oregon. Its southern location, midway between Oregon and California, secure for it the best features of each State. Oregon needs corn, and settlers in Rogue River valley can raise that cereal to ad vantage with certainty of a market close at hand. Market gardening will pay well there because a market for early vegeta bles will be secured at Portland and other noitheru towns. We already receivo early fruits and vegetables from Douglas coun ty, in the l.'mpqua region, ono hundred miles north of Rogue River valley. The soil of the Roguo river country is epuick and responsive, similar to that of California, and can be depended on for curly production. Wo have cjioken of tho different soils. We look to tho futiiie with certainty that there will bo great population in cities, and that Roguo River fanning will bo calleel on to supply the demand of these northern cities for the products it can raise, which tho rest of Oregon cannot grow with certainty, Rogue River vineyards make excellent wine and grow very fino graiics. It will lx) natural for the future cities of Oregon to seek their supplies from and Oregon source in preference to going to Califor nia. As to peaches, also, we shall requiic extensive shipment. But fruitgrowing there can include all varieties known in the Willamette. Tho fruit grower can work with a certainty that he can cornjcte in all respects with the fruit grower of any other section. Ho can dry or can hisproeluctorship it green and be able to do each to advantage. We do not mean to intimate that fruit J 22 1883. glowing is the only resource in Rogue River valley. The people of that county carry on farming ewtonsively and are stoek raisers on a generous scale. We an! re ferring to the new lands, overgrown with brush, that abound in that portion of Oregon. Our effort is to show their espe cial value, where proper locations aro se cured, for fruit growing. We have also shown the especial adaptability of Jackson county for that occupation. A few acres, well tilled, will afford occupation to u family. The man of small means can inanago to clear a few acres and can cul tivate his young orchard in garden until it bears fruit. There aro many induce ments for setting that region and there is every reason to believe that in timo it will become the garden spot and fruitgrowing portion of Western Oregon. HOW TO SUCCEED IN COUNTRY. THE UPPER Wo met the other day with a friend and old subscriber to tho FAKMint, Mr. W. Watts, who lives in Rock creek valley, Northern Idaho, within a mile or so of thoCunird'Aleno Indian reservation. Ho went up there five years ago with six mares and little other means' and took up a quarter section of land in that beautiful valley. Rock Creek valley is ono of tho choicest spots cast of tho Cascades, but it is rather remote, being thirty miles south east of Spokane Falls. Our friend seems to have succeeded tolerably well, and wo questioned him as to his ways of farming and means of income for the benefit of now comers, who aro seeking homes in the Pacific Northwest. He explained that his sales of horse's had brought in $1,400, and he had more left than ho took there originally. Ifo raised grain to somo ox tent ; last year his oats went 2.r bushels and his wheat 15 to 20 bushels to the acre, but that was an unusually dry sea son. Other years his land prexluccd twieo as much. In 1822 there was not rain enough to wet tho rots of growing' grain, and yet it made a good half crop. Ho sold wheat at different timco at 00 cents to $1.20 a bushel, but usually fed hogs and miiilo bacon. Last year he hnd a lot of hogs fattened, Poland China, that weighed 300 pounds each. Without be ing very careful ho made 200 pounds of bacon to the hog, liesides 20 to .10 tioundd of lard, using the scraps and ribs for sau sages and other meat. He sold his cured meat at 15 cents all round, and lard at 10 cents, so that his hogs averaged not far from $35 each. Our friend had varied his product as much as jiossible, evidently with fair suc cess. His livo stock, baron, eiats, wheat and K)tatocs combined made a satisfac tory income. His cured meats averaged 10 cents per pound for his fresh iiork, besides tho lard and other items from each animal. Wo mentioned last sum mer seeing excellent Poland China swino through tho Upjier Country. ThojK'opIo there havo found a good market for ork products. Any new comer has tho same eipjiortunity eur friend had. They can invest a littlo money in stock anil then grow a variety of crops, and without ven turing largely can inako a safe and profit able beginning. Stock interests are up now, so that a small lot of cattle or sheep will yield handsome returns. Tho farmer who goeH into tho UpK.r Country now has much iu his favor that the early set tlers know nothing about j they can far sooner get to bo producers, and they havo a convenient market for all products. Columbia County It Resource duatnta. and Is- Our rradera will feel interested in thia cor rect tketch of Columbia county, taken from the Ortijon Mut, when they recollect that the land described ia all very near Portland, the metropolis of the North Pacific : Columbia county U aituated in the north, western part of the State of Oregon. It position ia a moat advantsgeoua one for com merce, aa It liu a water frontage on the Co lumbia of more than fifty miles, betides ten mile on the Willamette slough. It has an area of about 680 iquare mile and a popula tion of only 2,500. A range of bill extend NO. 19. through the county, running nearly parallel with tho river; on one sido lies the Columbia) bottoms, and on the other the famous Neha lem valley. The resources of tho county an rich and varied. The hills carry forest of valuable timber on their backs, while riob deposits ot coal and iron lie hidden beneath, Sauvies Island, Deer Island and the ad jacent bottom land is subject to overflow an uually by tho June freshet, but as the water recedes the laud is almost immediately covered with a luxuriant crop of ild red top an 1 other grasses, making a splendid pasture for milch cows, and for thia reason the daify business is carried on very extensively. Com paratively little farming is done along the river, tho people finding an easier way to make money iu getting out logs In supply thi numerous saw mills here and elsewhere. Ti.e logging business is one of the most im portant industries of the county. Every lit-tl- creek has been cleared of snags and all obstructions, to run logs during the freshet, and whenever it can be doue, logs are hauler! to the bottom land and left there till high water floats them, when it is an easy matter to raft and take tnem to market In making a tour of the county we will get off the '-Joseph Kellogg" at Qosa's landing. in the southeast corner, on the Willamette slough, and poo what can be found on the Scappnose, At the landing there is a post Mice, storo and blacksmith shop, and some private residences. Passing the fine farm of Adam Stump, the well-fenced Johnson estate, and the school house, and continuing on for about two miles wo reach the Richland mill, on Scappooae creek, owned by John R. Watts. The lumber is hauled from this mill to Oosa'l Landing for shipment. Thero is a tine raoe course beside the county road in front of the school house. Proceeding, we pas numerous tiuo dairy farms, and two more school nouieaj crossing McNulty creek and Milton crek w reach St. Helens, the county seat, and the most important point in the county. St. Helen is situated at the confluence of four river: the Columbia, Willamette, Lewi and Lake river, hence it ha a very important commercial location. There are several oxtensive quarries in th vicinity, where a large number of atone cut ters are employed cutting blook fur street pavement iu Portland, There i a daily mail and ull tlu river steamers call for passengers, both up and down. The diatance from Port land is 27 mile, by the river. Columbia City is pleasantly situated on the river, two miles below St. Helens. It has a saw mill, two stores and several other small industriei. In regard to mines, we clip the following from the Oreaonian : "Amouir tho several scientific men who have examined the Colum bia leilses. sovon of which have been ODened. are Prof. Hilgard, of the University of Cali fornia, and Mr. Philip Kastwick, the well known evil and mining engiueer." itoi. iiugiru has reported that the iron fields of Columbia county yield the same ex cellent quality of ore found at Oswego, and they are practically incxauatule. All the mountains of that region, he says, are capped tirttli imn M. V, ttui.l. ' mrm .a niiii.ll,. favorable. The most promising ledgoa are leas than ton miles from Columbia City, one of the best deep water points on the river, and accessible by easy grades. Much iron laud is held by non-renmcnt capitalists, but greater part i owned by citizen of the county, who, secure iu the possession a "good thinz," are biding their lime. Equally valu able are the coal land of the county. They lie close to the, river, and, like the iron de posits, are practically inexhaustible. Wo leave the river and climb over the hill to Heaver valley. The road is the bo t in the county and we meet teams hauling lumber, shingles, charcoal and cord wood. There is a very largo settlement in lioaver valley and plenty ot room left. The distance from Wood's landing to River side, the first post ollice in Nehalem valley, Is about fifteen mile. Here we turn up stream and passing through a rich and fertile traot of land for twelve mile, wo arrive at Pitts burg, aud fi nil a store, saw mill and griat mill, owi.ed by Mr. lirous. Fivo miles further up there is a pott office at Vernonla. There i much good land on tho Nehalem river and creeks emptying into it, open for settlement. Mr. O. W. Dow, writing from Vernonia, say : There is enough good agricultural land iu this valley for 0,000 people, and some very fine water powtr. People are anxious to clear land and would furnish logs lor years U come, free of charge; besides, the settler In this neighborhood will require at least 200, 000 feet of lumber this summer, and lumber could be hauled to Koreat drove or St. Helen for eight dollar per thouaand. We have over twenty wagona going to Waahingtou county to trade for want of a giod road to St. Helens, but we hope to finiah the roid to the latter place this lummer. The diatance from St. Helena to Pittaburg ia twenty one miles, aud it will be for the In terest of the people at both end to have it in ado a irood road aa aoon a poaaible. There are three kind of coal here it: endleas quan tity, and gold has been found here too, but I think it would hardly pay for mining. Ihe aettlers ot the Nehalem are hopeful of a railroad via that valley from Forest Urovo to Aatoria, and they will get it in a ahort time, aa Aatoria u bound to have railroad connection with the Willamette valley. The laud ia principally covered with vine maple, alder, etc., and the soil ia very rich. From the fon going brief description It will be aeen that Columbia county offer great induce ments to all who desire to engage in any of the industries mentioned. There is plenty of room and a hearty welcome to all who may (OHIO. "When I grow up I'll bo a tnun, won't I?" aske u littlo boy of his mother. 'Yes, my son j but if you want to bo a man you must bo industrious at school and learn how to Ixihave yourself." "Why, mauima,do lazy boys turn out to be women when they grow up?"