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About Willamette farmer. (Salem, Or.) 1869-1887 | View Entire Issue (Sept. 7, 1883)
EVX)L. XV. tyoM$ttutnt$. "Coming Events Cast Their Shadows Before Them." Portland, Sept. 4, 1883. Editor Willamette Farmer : The connection is made. Another band of steel spans the continent and brings us in closo connection with the eastern shore. Ere this is placed before your readers the grand cpremonial shall have passed into history of driving the golden spike ; the imposing pageant in this metropolis of the New Northwest to celebrate the consummation of this grand event in the history of this nation. Thirty-one years ago I crossed the inland em pire arriving in this city after a six month jourpey ; now it cari,lb done in six.dnys. Are' wq prepared fdr. this event? For the changes it, will bring us, for (he now con ditions (ind circumstances that .will, sur round, us?"' Is Oregon, are the business mch,i are the farmers, prepared for the chance? The foundations now being laid for the new mammoth terminal hotel in this city, the recent call upon .our citizens to throw opon their doors, and the use of the sev eral large passenger steamboats to impro- iso hotel accommodations lor tlio lntlux of visitors which this celebration brings among us, are all proof that Portland was not prepared for the change, Hie im mense shipments of dairy products, fruit snnd vegetables by every steamer from California, is evidence that tho farmer is not prepared for tho change. We have had ample warning that the iron horse was coming for the past six months tho daily pulsations along the telegraph wire have lecorded its progress ; have- inform ed us day by day how the intervening distance was being narrowed down till at last, on tho 24th of August, the connec tion is made, and trains can pass from ocean to ocean. It is a proud" achicv inent, and a grand triumph for those who have' been foremost in carrying forward this great w6rk to a successful termina tion, and we heartily join with all classes in giving them a princely welcome. But what concerns us most is how tho new condition of things will affect us ; afreet the Stat at large. Fourteen years ago tho Central and Union Pacific were join ed together making tho first continuous line from tho Atlantic States to tho Pa cific shore. Some of us have not forgot ten the grat changes which that event brought 'us. In thoso days California was everything ; it was the land of "gold and silver. We had semi-monthly mail and steam communication by way of the Isthmus. Our position had been isolated, but for years California had made regular large shipments of gold and silver and was the wonderful country to which all eyes were turned. Oregon was then known as a place on the map way up about tho Columbia Itivcr, where they raised big apples, big trees, and, made lumber, and if she did raise superior wheat California, got tho credit of it in tho outside' world. - This now event gave'us the telegraph, a daily mail, and daily and constant communication with all parts of tho older. States. California was ready for this change as she thought,- great wero their anticipa tions ; towns and cities wero mapped out beautifully on paper; corner lots and lots near the corner were way up ; every; body was ready, like The auctioneer who lias his flag up and his goods displayed, 6alo to commence at ten o'clock. There was a great rush from the older States to see this wonderful country and participate in the golden harvest. They came, they looked about, they saw, they held their breath, they hesitated. They couldn't seo the valuo in corner lots without buildings ; they couldn't see the value in lauds in a state of nature ; they saw gold and silver was not picked up in tho streets, but was dug out of the mines by strong muscle and brain, by the most laborious and sweat producing processes. The result was our Eastern visitors did not invent ; they quietly went back home. Another result, the keen business men and sharp traders among them saw a splendid opportunity, and directly they undersold us in everything at our very doors. Our currency was gold and all our business ojierations were on a gold basis. Our business men opened their eyes, they too, saw that 50 jwr ct. profits and 23 per ct. added mode on exchange, was no longer ouiamauie. iney saw that they must adapt themselves to the to the new order of things, and come dow n to a more moderate scale of profits or take a back seat, and they wero not slow in adopting the only alternative left J them. Corner lots tumbled real estate depreciated 50 to 100 per ct. below the inflated prices; building improvements sioppeu; "io LET," was placarded on thousands of houses in San Francisco. The lumber trade and kindred occupa tions, that flourished with improvements, was paralized. In short, a general revo lution in business matters and methods took place till all found their level under the new order of things the advent of the railroad had inaugurated. Such was the effect in California. How will it effect Oregon? Answer next week. J. B. KxArr. Weather Report for August, 1883. During August, 1883, there was no rain ; 2 cloudy days, the remaining 29 days be ing smoky, the smoke obscuring the face of the skv. Tho mean temperature for the month was 02.84 deg. ' Highest daily mean temperature for the month, 00 deg. on the 20th. Lowest daily mean temperature for the month, 01 deg. on the 17th. Mean temperature for the month at 2 o'clock P. M., 75.81 deg. Highest temperature for tho month, 87 deg. at 1 P. M. on the 20th. Lowest temperature for the month, 55 deg. nt 7 A.M. on the 19th. Tho prevailing wind- for tho month were from the north during 20 days, southwest 3 days, south 1 days. Diirinc August, 1882, there was 0.03 inches of water fell, on tho 23d ; 27 clear and 3 cloudy days. Mean temperature for the month, 03.21 deg. Highest dailv mean temperature for the month, 74 deg. on the 30th. Lowest dailv mean temperature for the month, 53 deg. on tho 23th. T. Peahck, Eor.A, September 1, 1883. A Prolific Pea. Teniko, W. T., Aug. 26, 1883. Editor Willamette Farmer : As you publish a good agricultural pa- per,whosecoluninsare always open to the farmer, I ask room for a description of a prolific pea which I planted near a small cherry tree that it might have support from tho tree. It came up and put out at the top of the ground three stalks and further up it put out other shoots, the tallest of which niensuicd five feet six and a half inches, and in all bore fifty nine pods with six peas in a pod. I havo tho vine entire to show. If any farmer or gardener that reads tho Willamette Fakmeu can beat that, please come out. JoMErn Davis. The Harvest In the Chehalls. Ciieiialis, W. T Sept. 3, 1SS3. Editor Willamette Firmer: I send you posters for our county fair, ro you will see tho programme. Tho harvesting and threshing is about over. Wheat is turning out better than expected, tho best fields of fall wheat making from 40 to 50 bushels per aero ; early spring sowing, an averago crop ; late sown grain is very short, hardly worth qutting. Fruit and vegetables aic poor crops. No apples in the country. Yours truly, W.M. West. Land Entries. Permit mo through your paper to an swer the following letter which may also serve as a reply to many inquiries made of me of like character. Palouse Cm-, July 10, 1883. H. Grass, Esq. Dear Sir : Since tho government has commenced an investi gation of tho way in which settlers are procuring lands, many who have recently proven up are offering their land for sale, and I wish to inquire would a person be safe in buying such lands? If it was after tho purchase discovered that there was fraud practiced in making the entry would or could the government interfere with the title or entry to prejudice of tho purchaser. Please answer and oblige. In reply to the above inquiry, I answer that a person who buys land of the party making the entry before the entryis ap proved by the, department at Waaliingtou Citv will not be treated or protected as innocent purchaser. The action of the officers of the local land office is not final, but is subject to revision, approval or rejection by the gen eral laud office, and if it is ascertained that the land was acquired by fraudulent practices the entry will be canbeled with out regard to tho claims of the subso nuent purchasor. I tie jiarty making the purchase takes onlsuch right or interest as the party . making the entry acquired, and if by PORTLAND, OREGON, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 1883. false swearing or failure to comply with the law, etc., the entryman is without equity in the premises, his grantees must also bo without equitable standing. The legal title does not pass from the govern ment until the approval of tho entry at the general land othce. Thero will bo a careful examination made of the proof of residence and all matters connected with each entry, where patents hae not issued, and if it is made to appear that fraud, such as I have indi cated, has been practiced, tho entry will be canceled, and the purchaser left to his recourse against the party from whom he purchased. The fact, however, that the patent has alreadv issued will not relieve tho guilty party from liability to a criminal prose cution. Hexhv Gkass, Special Agent General Land Olhee. Walla Walla Union. Philadelphia Wool Market The following is taken from Maugcr & Avery's monthly wool circular. They say : During the past four weeks the wool market has remained steady, far as prices are concerned. The sales in tho aggre gate have been large but wo doubt if the margin of profit has been sufficient to encourage a repetition of the business, and this opinion is confirmed by the amount of wool still held in the West. The Reason in the country has been marked by much less excitement than usual, and also by the fact that manu facturers have sought to a greater extent than formerly to get their supplies at tho place of growth. Tho demand in the Eastern markets has been mainly for stapled wools, and the choicest high blooded Ohio fleeces ; medsum clothing has received less atten tion, while quarter blood, at low prices has sold in quantities. By a material curtailment of production tho woolen mills have avoided an increased surplus age of goods ; but it is still an undeter mined question whether the wants of tho country will absorb the production, if the machinery now idle should shortly bo put in operation, as almost tho only question affecting the valuo of domestic wool to day, is tho supply and demand. The wool Imver has to consider tho influence of the curtailment, which the Journal of Commerce estimates equivalent to ten million yards of goods, and the prospect of a continued largo stoppago of ma' chincry for an indefinite period. They quote Oregon wool at 'JOG? zhc for un washed, and,2830c for combing. Vacant Land in Marlon County. There is in the Willainetto valley plenty of iuiitful land known as foothills. It is heavily timliered and covered in most part by a deiiso growth of firs but is good rich soil and will eventually prove good farming land. A late issue of the Silverton Appeal speaks of u section of this kind. It says: Land of every description is being taken up in the vicinity of tho Forks of Abiqua. Germans havo lately home steaded and purchased 900 acres in a body, and desire 100 acres apieco for at least four more persons, adjoining tho large tract already taken. They are Ger man Catholics and are a part of the col ony recently brought by Father Adelhehn from Germany. Our informant learned that it was the intention of tho settlers up on tho Abiqua to put in a portable sawmill somewhere in their neighborhood to be used m sawing out lumber for im provements'. OET UP CLUBS. The Fakmeu is making an cllort to enlist in its behalf all tho reading and thinking portion of the farmers of tho North West. Subscription has been reduced as low as we dare venture in the belief that we can double our list of paying "ubscribers and greatly increase its influence and popu larity. The Faidiek is closing its fifteen year of publication. It is no new venture, no uncertain thing, but well founded and ably conducted. Any single subscriber can remit 2.00 and receive tho Fakmeu one year from date of payment. llioso who write and lend in a club ol five, all paying at once, can havo th Faiimeii one yar for $1.75 each. Old friends of tho Fakmeu can easily 6ecure among their neighbors fivo or ten names and secure their pajier at ifl.o or 1.50 ier year. We lio that many will get up cluhs and vindicate our fuih in their good will towards their old tune friend, The Willamette Faumek. TIMBER LAND3 IN THE PACIFIC NOTHWEST The world's supply of forpst grows shorter every year and tho value of tho remiilning woods becomes more and more apparent. It is a matter of great inij.Krt- ancQ that the valuo of our forest should be thoroughly understood by tho world, and we shall now go over the difl'erent sections of country West of the Rocky Mountains to show tho difl'erent woods that exist and the character and quanti ty of the same. Along the coast of Ore gon nnd Washington there are immense groves of fir. There are three variesties of this fir, commonly known as tho red, yellow and white, all of which nio valu able for building puiposcs, the last being used for finishing work chiefly, the two former being excellent for framing and flooring. The best red fir would answer for making a great part the agricultural ma chines in use by our farmers. These va rieties of fir and spruce, aro found in great abundance aldng the coast and on Puget .Sound. They are general through West ern Oregon and Washington and consti tute a means of wealth boyond estimate. Cargoes of spars, timber and lumber now go from tho Sound and the Columbia river to difl'erent countries at the ends of tho earth. This trado is already immense and growing greater every year, Tho world is our customer and tho market is unlimited. Forest fires have devastated a great area of tho coast and Cascado mountains and eten portions of the forests of West ern Oregon not mountainous, destroying millions of valuo that no less than centuries of time can replace. Tho re maining forests are of great extent and immense value.but tho time will soon como when what is thus destroyed will be needed for commercial uses. Every possible pains should be taken to pro- serve what is loft of the primeval forests of this region. From tho Summit of tho Cascades to the Pacific ocean for a hundred miles cast and west and fivo hundred miles noi th and south, from California to tho British line, the greater portion of the country is covered with these forest of fir. In tho mountains of the Cascade ranges aro difl'erent specimens of tho same and to some extent valuable pine and cedar. Of the latter an immense quantity is all through Western Oiegon and Washington, generally on feitilo low land, often on hill-sides, whilo along the coat is found a species of whito cedar, tho finest possible. Thero aio difl'eie ut varie ties of cedar, all of very superior quality and used for making doors and sash, as is also tho sugar pino of Southern Ore gon. There aie, thioughout the country west of tho Cascades, in every part of tho country, varieties of lumber suited to all wants. Tho character of timberehiuigos somewhat as you go south, less cwlar and more pine, with abundance of fir every where. Tho supply of building lumber is plentiful through all the western parts of Oiegon and Washington. Tho Northern Pacific Railroad land grant on the north of tho Columbia, has every variety of excellent timber grow ing on its odd sections and co has the Oregon and California Raihoad, which traverses tho western valleys of Oregon and includes areas of the mountain region with magnificent forests in both the Coast and Cascado ranges. Perhaps the best tract of forests included in any land grant is that between tho Willamette valley and Astoria, on the lino of the pro posed railroad branch from Forest Grovo to Astoria, through tho Nehalem valley, affording inducement for the completion of that road at uu early day. The Northern Pacific land grant enters tho forest region when it passes through the Cascado mountain following tho flow of the Columbia river. Down thut river for 125 miles, from The Dalles to the mouth of the Cowliti, its lauds are mostly covered with forests and much of the mountain region contains timber of great value, including firs and cwlar I Take the land grants of the two roads, the Oregon and California, and tho North ern Pacific, and they include nil immense forest region, 300 miles of the Oregon and California, and 250 of Northern Pacific, being located in forest regions. Except ing that part of tho Northern Pacific down the Columbia from Tho Dalles to Portland, the grants will all bo earned at at an early day. More or less abundant, through the mountains, can be found also, hemlock, tamarack and some other woods useful for all purposes. Hackinetack also, wo lielieve, but cannot say as to its abund ance. Tho building woods in common Use through all this region, that exist in full supply, are, fir, spruce and cedar. Hemlock is mainly used for its bark which is valuable for tanning- It exists in good supply near Astoria and a tan nery is successfully operated at Upper ABtoria. Besides these building woods, thero arc very valuable varieties of timber suited to ornamental work and furniture, and so used by the furnituro manufacturers of Portland and elsowherc. Oregon maplo is of tho finest character and is abundant. This wood is found all through tho liottoiii lands of Willamette valley and along the streams of Western Washington. It has been very abund ant, so that it has been used for common furniture and even for house furnishing. Thero is still a great supply of it obtain able and no doubt will bo shipped to other States when our industries are perma nently organized. Along tho southern coast counties is found the myrtle, largo groves of which grow on the Coquillo bottoms. Tho tree is evergreen and larger than our whito oaks, very beautiful in appcaraneo and tho wood fully as handsome as tho maplo and darker, furnishing for ornamental Uses a very elegant material. Oregon maple and myrtle should be known and used tho world over. Also, rtlong all our western n'reams, aro found extensive forests of ash. This is also used for ornamental purosos but has tensile strength that fits it for many purposes where oven red and yellow firs aro weak. It is well calculated for parts of wagon work for instance. Ash is a common aitielu of fuel and it is a pity that this beautiful and useful timber should bo wasted in that way. Through all the opon country went of tho Cascades whito oak grows and is re markably good wood. This is also used as fuel by thousands and tens of thous ands of cords every year, Tho valuo of this wood has never been well understood beeauso it has never been properly cut and reasoned. If any enterprise was pioperly nrganied for manufacture of wood say for tho construction of agri cultural machinery our ash, oak and yellow firs would bo found to afford all tho material necessary. We have iron mines and iron works, also, so that such manufacture could well bo encouraged. Cottonwood or balm of eilcad, also grows to immense size on the bottoms of all the country west of tho Cascades. Though not commonly appreciated this wood is well calculated for some imiiort ant uses. When well seasoned it is made um) of for many purposes and no doubt would make tho wood null) that is the common stock used by pajer makeis. This wood grows in largo quantity along the Columbia and on the islands in all tho rivers. Yew is another wood that can be uiiulit use of for various puro-es and esjifeially for finishing work. Another wood that ranks with maplo and myrtle is our al der, which is abundant und very beauti ful when highly tiolished. This is a fu vorile wood with our furnituro makers. Tho abundant supply makes it quite an object to have it known and appreciated. Now settlements aro frequently made by clearing away tho alder, maple, myrtle, laurel or atli thut grow on rich lowlands. It is a pity thut instead of burning such sluehings by wholesale, this valuable wood could not bo sent to some port of the world wheie it is needed and will be I NO. 30. appreciated and paid for. We include our evergreen-laurel among the valuable woods, though it is not found in any great quantity. Tho person abroad who may wish to becomo owner of theso lands that bear valuable woods must bear in mind that railroad laud grants covor the most valu able timber regions west of tho Cascades, 'and such land can bo purchased at rea sonable prices and on accommodating terms. Whilo tho western lands of Oregon and Washington are generally covered with forests, they aro tho exception through the Eastern Country. However, thore mo valuable forest regions through that section and they aro appreciated well fdr manufacture of lumber. Instead of flrf pine usually1 prevails away from tlitf Cas cades. Along their eastern bases pinet are found and further inland are firs, hemlock and tamarack. Tho eastern slope of the Cascades has a good supply of "building woods. That region is not included in any railroad land grant how ever and the purchaser must, obtain title through means prescribed by our land laws. Oak grows in somo localities along tho base of the Cascades on tho east but the trees uro more scrubby and have not the valuo of straight bodied white oaks found across tho mountains. Through the Bluo Mountains good pine abounds. It is good enough for all building purposes. This region is also boyond the limits of any railroad land gnmt. Other woods grow through those mountains, but pine is tho most valuable of all and tho most abundant. Tho mountains aro surrounded by farming districts and settlers often haul their building material and fencing. The Bluo Mountains cover a wide portion of Eartern and Middlo Oregon, extend along the South-eastern border of Washington, aio cut through by tho Snako river and extend thence north as the Couer d' Alene Mountains, to Northern Idaho and Mon tana. They aro heavily timbered all the way and from Spokano Falls to the Hocky Mountains the ranges and hill legions afford great facilities for lumber ing. Tho best lumbering districts seem to be at the headwaters of tho Yakima, along tho eastern slopes of the Cascades, W. T., und on tho waters of St. Joseph and Couer d' Alene rivers, that flow into Luke Couer d' Alene, east of Spokano Kails. Concerning tho timber produced in that region our observation when travel ing last year show that cedar and white pine aro found in many favored localities thiough Northern Idaho and Noithwestf eru Montana. The table lauds along Clarke's Fork aro heavily timbered with cedar, pine, fir, tamaiack and hemlock, while cottonwood, birch and other small growths aro found along streams. Tho land grant of the Northern Pacific will lie immensely valuable along this portion of their line, because of tho existenco of their magnificent bench land forests though the steep mountain sides uro not generally covered with valuable timber. STATE NEWH. The roundhouse at Kosoburg Is about com plated. Hailed hay sells for (18 per tou at Kuqeua Oity. Pretty good prices that, Messrs Crawford and Miller are- erecting a large sawmill in Mohawk valliy, Linn county. The booths on the State Fair grounds wcie runted on the 1st, and brought iu several hundred dollars mora than last year. The hop house of Hon. J, Stump, so says the Statesman, was burned a few days since a short distance from lluena Vista. Wm. M. Turner has rented his interest in the Oregon Sentinel to F. M. Overbed, who will continue its publication in connection with Mr. Crane. The uood work still goes on. Near Auhurn a Chinaman shot and killed another all the same as Mehcan man. They should be en couraged iu the good work. It is sad news that the papers In Southern Oregon brinjr. in regard to that terrible disease diptlieris. It is to be much moro dreaded than the small-pox or all other diseases com bined. There seems to be quite a number of pion eers in Pouglas county who have determined to avail themselves of the opportunity to visit their old homes in the Ksstern States with the pioneer excursion. Of tho one million feet of bridge timbers '0 be put iu between Grant's Pass and (ilendale, there are only 100,000 feet sawed, which will unmfiuliiLt ilelsv the brulira work and couse jay tho bridge work and queutly the track laying.