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About Willamette farmer. (Salem, Or.) 1869-1887 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 15, 1884)
" VOL. XVI. SALEM, OREGON, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 18$- NO. I orrtonHctic Senator Slater and the Protective Sjstem. Caxhy, Or., Feb. 11, 1S84. Editor Willamette Farmer,: In your issue of the 25th tilt, there is a review of Senator Slater. That review contains several falacios; I am not dis posed to criticise it at this time, but ask .i brief space in your paper to show something of tho injustice and inexpedi ency of a high pro'tectivo tariff, which was tho aim, object and end of Senator Slaters letter. I may be somewhat in the condition of tho author of tho review as I now havo on hand a small quan tity of wool, the cntiro clip of two sea sons, the selling price of which has been reduced as the result of reducing the luty on wool. But my littlo losses do not make any tariff just which would otherwise bo unjust. This glorious gov ernment is mine; it is the government of tho lordly manufacturer, and the prince ly merchant and bankers; and no more theirs than mine. And it is as much tho government of every other farmer, stock 'or wool crowcr, every mechanic and laborer, every armless soldier and every other deserving fellow-citizen, as it is mine. Tho theory of our government is that it is a government of equal rights it ought to bo" so 'practically. If "this government is really a government of equal rights then exclusive rights should be excluded. Tho manufacturer says ho has no exclusive privilege because tho tariff law piohibits no one from becom ing a manufacturer and all who arc manufacturers are protected alike. There is no provision in the tarifl" law or any other statute law, which prohibits the beggar from being the owner of an iion foundry. There aro laws, however, ocr which no human courts havo jurisdiction, Jaws as potent and iron-clad as tho laws of nature, which prevent very many from becoming tho owners of cotton and woolen factories and iron ioundries these laws aro tho laws of situation and conditions and circumstances. Tho pecuniary circumstances of the most of the farmers' nnd mechanics' and 1 iboring men aro such as to absolutely preclude them from becoming the own ers of factories and foundries. Impos sibilities are as prohibitive as staututcs. Stnator Slaters letter was written explo sive of his convictions upon tho great subject of equal lights. Wo beliovo i that this government ought to bo, if it is not, the impartial dispenser of equal and exact justice to nil. We believe that desirable andconiiuciuiiililo legislation is that which benefits the whole, or at least a majority of the people affected by it, and not such as benefits a few at tho ex pense of the many. As between the wool growers and the great nianufaetur- ers who shot tho present tariff law through Congress, the reduction on wool was unquestionably wrong murderous. ly so if you please but neither Senator Slator or the Democratic party commit ted that murder ; it was committed with malice afore thought, and in determined haste by the Republican party goaaed on by the great manufacturers, regardless of e cry thing whUh would not bring tolls to their mills. If a law which pro tects the manufacturer more than it does the wool grower) is unjust to tho.wool grower, then it ib still more unjust to those who aro not protected at all. If it is unjust to thoso who are not protected at all. If it is unjust to make a distinc tion in favor of tho great ronnnfacturers against the wool growers, then it is still more unjust to make a distinction jn favor of thoso manufacturers against the farmers, mechanic, lawyers, doctors, clergymen, nrtizans, miners and laborers who" are all cpnsumers. If the govern ment gives or secures to one citizen 1,000 and to another f 100, he who re ceives only the 100 may complain of partiality, bat certainly he has' not aa jiut cause of complaint as those who receive nothing and are taxed to pay the whole. If this government ws not in tended to be, and is not and ought not to bo a government of the people, by tho people, and for the people; but is in truth and of right ought to be and remain a government of the few, by the few, and for the f jw, then Senator Slater should obey tho "command" of the wool growers because the wool growers aro just as good and rnoro deserving than the long protected manufacturers. The review closes with two significant suggestions : One that " semebody will got hurt," and the other that factories are multiplying in the South. "Confes sion is good for tho soul," and " self-pres-orvation is the first law of nature ;" "ho who inns may read," and know that the present tariff, which increases the duty on some woolen goods,reduces it on wool, was enacted by the Republicans at tho command of the great manufacturers. Peihaps some insane net of the gicat manufacturers was a necessity fur the entiro opening of tho eyes of tho whole people to their ielatio position, inter ests and dangers. The piosent tariff would not have been what it is except upon the command and demand of the great manufacturers, empowered by caucus mandate; but it is what it is, and " somebody will get" hurt." Yes, factories aro multiplying in the South. They havo changed and they will change, and they generally change as business wisdom indicates. Pi It is sad that-pigtiron at this timtv is hwWg-manufactured in the South at a price bo low that it is impossible for foreign pig iron to compete with it in the United States. There is a bioad fiold in the South for wool growing and it is the homo of cotton. Something is saved in transpor tation ; something in fuel, and labor can be obtained a littlo cheaper there. In tho North, now, factory operations aio seriously intercepted, while in the South factory operations nro much loss inter cepted. Our great Hour mills, agricul tural implement establishments and many other enterprises hao struggled up under heavy tariff imposed burdens, and can now challenge competition at home, in all the European marts and in tho remotest corners of tho woild ; brains for their chief capital, and skill and energy for their chief 6tock in trado, have brought triumph, and I rejoice in that triumph. Tho great manufactur ers of iron, cotton and woolen goods and other highly protected article-, havo had a "good thing" and there was no great necessity for economy, or gie.it enter prise or energy as long as they could hold on to that "good thing," and they desire to hold to it forover and forever more. The South, which asked for the tht tariff, is now in it new life and en foiced energy, seemingly advancing in demonstration of the fact that American manufacturers aro capable of competing with foreign manufacturers. And New England, which opposed the first tariff, and was then for free trade, will in the not far distant future, a, and -when business wisdom hids.it, go back to her first love. Aaro.v E. "Wait. Letter from Folk bounty. Crowley, Or., Feb. C, 1S81. Eiitor WilUinctte Farmer : The Farmer of February 1st is before me full of interest to the Oregon farmors. Those articles headed, "the farmors and the law-makers," as also "What we say," are worthy of serious study and reflec tion. There is too much truth in what tho Salem hardware merchant told yon in regard to taxation. It is a well know n fact that before tho passage of tho mort gage tax law tho moral and truth loving people of the State paid the bulk of the taxes, and the system ef evasion has only lecn half eliminated by tho above named law. And we freely confess, after reading your comments and reflec tions on the same, that there is but one right way to do justice to all alike who have property in this Bute, or derive a benefit from our laws and government. And in giving.our crude views on the the system of taxation, we would beg of tho readers of the Faio'ikk to reflect on the same before they rush into print to condemn the ainc, iz. "All property claiming protection fiom the courts should pay a just tix, or be refused that ptotection." A. Sinnett. Here we havo nn'axim on which to frame a just and equitable asossment law that will bring to light all the prop erty in the State, if the law will be fram ed right. ' All mortgages, bonds, notes of hand, ceitificatcs of stock, or other evi dences of indebtedness, should bao tho stamp or sign of the assessor for eacli and every year since issue or since the pas-age of the law, or be refused adjudi cation in our courts. What right has a person, .whether native or foreign, to make uo of our expensive courts if he refuses to pay his just share of the ex penses of such protection. As to the question of not as-'sing in visablo property, we would y in ans wer, that we have already too much in visablo property in the State th.it escapes taxation, and the honest taxpayer does not desire to see the list increased. Tho object is to bring all property of any value in the State to light before the assessor. The next question that money would be cheaper if not taxed, will not hold water, because money is taxed in ever' State in tho union, except New York. And where is legal interest higher than in Oregon? Jay QoiiW says there -tsJf2QO,000)00 lying-idle in one ttreet of New York seeking secure interest at 2J or 3 per cent, with good security. "Why don't some of this money come here for invcbtment? Is it on account of our tax laws? No, sir! for that would leave them at least 8 per cent, clear after pay ing all of tho taxes assessed. Those moneyed uien had rather wait and then put their money where it will do most good. Gno. H. Em:ns. Renewing Old Orchards Hew to do It. Scholia Fkury, Or., Feb. 7, ltS4. Cilitor Willamette Farmer ; Under the head of Faun Talks 1 wish to seo each good farmer express his views. There are as many ways as thcic aro farms in this valley. All that b.ib been said about renewing old orchards has certainly been to the point. My ex perience is: First, I let one go to ruin by not cultivating and pruning; and, second, I raibed one from the same c6n dition. I bought a farm with an old or chard upon it that had been neglected until it had nearly quit bearing, with quite a forest of young firs started amongst it. I slashed the brush and burned it and commenced to plow; plow ed it from six to eight inches deep and sowed to wheat. It made nothipg to speak of as a crop. I choppod and Haw ed out the .dead limbs from the trees, and a few medium as a result that year. Continued to cultivate by plowing and sowing grain for five years. Hight hero let mo Eay that by plowing I don't mean skimming or scratching. In the centre, between the rows it is plowed to the depth of fifteen inches or more. I be lieve root pruning is rs essential as to prune the top. I cut off some roots one inch through. Last summer I plowed the orchard and sowed nothing on it, but this fall when I plowed it I found tho ground full of young roots that had come from roots that had boon cut off, a thriftier orchard is hard to find young or old. There was some growths over six feet long made this year, and as fine apples of tho kind as there is any n hero. My obe ervation has been that orchards as a rule, if pruned in tho latter part of the spring and let go until the next year, is a great mistake. Trees that are prun ed as soon as they start in the spring will shoot out thousands of water nprouts that must be taken off as soon a thy start, except tho-o that are to form tho top of the tree. If you do not dq this your tree are ten-fold worse than they were at first But if this in done and thoroughly, in two yean you will have an orchard that will surprise you and your uciglibois. Thorough cultivation is necessary, and to do this plant potatoes, cairots, mangel wurtzels, rutabagas or all of them, and you will have enough feed to pay you for four work, Mr. S. Miller living two miles west of Oregon City, has done this same thing even after" his trees were from four to six inches through. The root crop ho fed to about 100 sheep, thieo or four cows, two to,four horses and had plenty to use and plant. We gio one, but might give ihniiy more, if it was necessary. All who $e liberal attention havo good orchards. S. P. I.noham. S,t The Sixteenth Amendment. '" Xi:w E ka, Or., Feb. 1 1 , 1 SS 1 . KJilor Willamette Farmer: ' While it is a good thing for the people to discuss tho various topics that nie agitating the minds at tho present time woul(l it.not bo well to consider tho con stitutional amendment that is to bo de cided W our votes next Juno. For my own part I bhall support it and do all I can for it from tho fact that I have never seen any ill result from being ready on our part to grant every privilege toothers that wo ask for ourselves, and in grant ing to our mothors, wives, sisters and daughters the liberty of a choice wlie we are selecting those who are to bo our officers we are doing but a simple act of justico, and in withholding, as we are doing now, wo aro casting a reflection bpoh their 4500d.8en.so and judgment. But it is not my object at present fo enter into a lengthy discussion, only to call attention to tho subject. The polit ical privileges of one-half of our people is certainly of as much importance as transportation or taxatian. Thomas' Rik km vn. Grange Meeting. Ikvino, Or., Feb. 11, 1831. Editor Willametto Farmer. Lane County Pomona Orange will meet with Springfield Oiango on tho fourth Saturday in February. All fourth degree members in good standing are cordially invited, Impoitant public questions will bo divu'hcd, and a full attendance isdt"ired, Hespectfully, A. C Jkvnixcs', Sec'y. Little White China Hogs. Scholls Feiiuy, Feb. 7, 1S81. EJitor Willamette Farmer: I would like to know whero 1 could get what is called the littlo whito China hog. If you or any reader of tho Wil lamette Faiihfii, know where I can get them I wish they would do so through the columns of this paper. S. J I.NOUAM. VlUard to the Board of Trade. Xew York City", Fob. 1, 1881. To tho Portland Hoard of Trade: Gentlemen I have tho honor to acknowledge the receipt of a certified copy of the resolutions which your honorable body pa-sedontho lltb nil. in relation to iny retirement from the several corporations formerly under my management Once more I am thus indebted to the Portland board of trade for great kind ness. Your action on this occasion, Is however, far more welcome to mo than any previous evidence of your good will for it has taken pluco in these days of my disappointment and misfortune, and shows that my fate has not changed your former just appreciation of my mo tives and aims. Let me assure you that 01 the numerous messages ol generous sympathy and undiminished regard that have reached tnu from all parts of this country and from Europe, none has been more cheering and bracing to to mo than your kind words, I havo spent tho ten most active years of my life in promoting conscientiously and to tho bent of my ability, and wel fare of your city nnd state, as well as of tho North Pacific coat generally. I had to carry a burden than which a heavier one hardly any man ever carried in this country, J' finally broko down under ita crushing weight, Tho know ledge that 1 still'havo your esteem and confidence helps nie much in my distress. Your truly anil gratefully, If, YlLLAKI), TK.LAMOOK. Mr. J, (J, lieu ley, son of Nunc l!v ley, formerly of the Red Hills, near Salem, now lives in Tillamook. Wo met him in Portland tho other day and had a pleasant talk about that country. It is shut off from this alley by the coast mountains, and its products arc conveyed by steamer or sail vessols to Portland. The voyage from Portland to Tillamook has been made in 12 hours, and from Astoria in five hours, but this voyage is sometimes rough and people don't generally like tho dangeis of tho sea. It is necessary to havo a good wagon load from Portland by some direct route, as that is tho best maikct to trado in. The loud via Yamhill is very lough and mountainous. Mr. Uewloy was at a bottlers' meiling mid was appointed 0110 of a committee to look out a good road, lie said ho made a trip across by an oasy route, us fol lows: Leaving tho uiihoad at Forest Grove ho went up Galo's crock, cjosscd by an easy routo to tho head of Wilson crock, and thon down that crock to tho shores of Tillamook Hay, or Kelchis, which is Mr. Rewley's home. IIo was astonished to find so good a loute. There was no bad hills to climb ; no sevcro grades to ascend. IIo went with Rev. Wm. Robciij), who was then very feoble. They only mado a few miles a day, and Rowley kept asking his com panion, who had been (Over tho route, when thoy would get to the mountain part. Ho says thoy found no difficulty, and there was no place whore a road can not bo mado over which an oidinary team can haul a usual load. Fiom FoiestGrovo to Kolchis, down Wilson creek, is about 10 miles, tho total (lis tanco from Portland ib notoer 70 miles by a piacticablo road. Tho bao lino of Oregon surveys commences nt Portland. The duo lino froirj Portland passes through Mr. Rowley's fium, -18 miles west of that city. Tho practicability of the loute via Gale cieek 011 t',:o east and Wilson creek on tho west seems beyond doubt, and the scltleis aro intoicsted in having it opened. Portland should tako some interest in this matter and can af ford to do so becauso that country will ho a good customor. Tho coast region is not appreciated at its actual value. Tillamook county contains much excellent country and will support a largo population. On tho bay largo lumber mills aro being elected ami tno mngmiiccnt lorests of that le giou will soon find 11 market. Tho ridges back from tho bay aro heavily timbered and streams from the const mountains aro well calculated to float flown logs for supply of these saw millF, Tillamook county has a vast wealth of timber, also prospects for coal that never havo been followed lip. Tho forests south of thoro Voro sonio yoara ago de vastated by a terriblo fiio that swopt over the foot-hills of the coast range hut spared tho grand growth of centuries cast of Tillamook Uay. Tho alder is re markably fine, with some maples. The larger growths aro fir, spruce, cedar, hemlock, etc., and of tho best quality, Tho bottom lands of Tillamook and tho streams adjacent aro wonderfully fer tile, 01110 of them aro settled far into tho mountains. Around the hay thoro is a great deal of tide lands that extends up the streams in some instances. It is a good stock country, and dairying is very profitable there. People all havo soin 0 money and aro reasonably prosper ous. One incident illustrates the good qualities of tho country : A man who owed f 800 wanted to sell his cows at $25 each, two or three jears ago, to raise money. He couldn't sell tho cons and was advised to milk them and make butter, He commenced in the spring to milk 23 cows that during the season averaged 200 jKninds of butter, This ho sold for 27J cents, realizing ?5' for each cow. During tho Eeason no realized $1,205 f6r tho butter,, paid off tho 800, and hail niouey lift to buy supplies. Owing to disadvantage of approach Tillamook county was not scttlod as eirly or thickly as would ho expected of a county within CO miles of tho metropo-" lis of tho North Pacjfie, and less than 40 miles distant from a railroad that can bo reached by a wagon road through an easy mountain pass. Tillamook county has ten or twelve hundred people, and has room and profitnblo occupation for thousands more. Its lands aro not nearly all claimed and sottled on, and there is no section of country where tillage pays better. A few acres will, raise an immense quantity of vegetables. Its bottom land equals our beaver dan).. Oats yield SO to 100 bushels to tho acic Grass of all kinds does well, nnd white clover is nativo thore, as it conies up fioely as soon as tho land is cleared of shado. For dairying that region is un cqualcd, as also for stock raising. A few acres of tido land will yield, plenty of hay and furnish pasturage for ealtlo. It is a countiy with variety of production and can hocomo wealthy by good man agement, Tho building of haw mills will givo rise to a lumber tiado of conse quence and aid tho commcrco of tho bay. If coal proves to be there in good quantity and quality its commorco may reach great dimensions. Mr. Uewloy says a man with half a dozen cows can inako a living there and steadily gain, property. Tillamook is said, by good authority on that question", to havo the host en trance of any point on' tho coast between San Franeisco, andtraitaof. Fqca., That was tho published opinion of tho captain of tho lovenuo cutter Shubriek. Tho entranco is easy of access, and ves bols of proper di aught can cross tho bar at any time. Portland should bo inter-o-ted in placing this interesting legion in closo connection with its own busi ness. Her merchants can aflbid to sub scribe Kiiuotliiiig towmds making a road. Washington county should seek con nection with the ocean by making that part of (ho load that lies in that county up Galo's cicck. Our Tillamook friends aio on tho ovo of greater things, Thoy must work their way out to the woild so as lo permit tho outsido (unitarians to visit their region in summer to batlin in tho suif, Tillamook county oxtends fiom tho Xohalom to below Nctaits Uay, and has all sorts of soil to offer for cultivation, Tho coast counties will soon assert themselves as of paramount importance not surpassed by tho illu sions of Crour d'Aleno gold. The Advance In tho Price of Moats. San Francisco, Feb. 10, S)iecial, Tho late rain is respousiblo not only for tho raised hopes of farmers, but also for raised pricos of beef and mutton which now prevail. Within tho hist ten daytj tho prico of tho articles of food has been steadily advancing, and threatens to ad vanco still further. Tho wholesale prico of bcof has gono as high as oloven cents for choice, whilo tho average aluo is seven cents. Mutton has risen to eight cents against fivo cents in ordinary seasons. Tho rain is tho causo, for until its appearance feed was short and cattle worn poor, and stock ranchers were compelled to sell or let the cattlo starve. When tho rain catno nt last Ijoovoh were so emaciated that it caused their death by thousands. Tho first night's riownjiour in southern counties benumbed whole beards of half starved cattlo, nearly all of which wero allowed to diet, the California Mock preferring to tako tho risk of nhortago iu feed rather than exenil a certain sum of money for hay with which to tide IiIh cattlo 01 er. Rut now that tho ruin is over and tho grass lins commouccd to sprout, such of tho cattlo as havo been sawdwill Ixj kont for fattintr nusposo. Tho pricosof meats all over the coast will be high lor tomo months. Tho company of Russians mentioned in our columns 11 short timo'ugo, fays the Itosohurg Pjaindcaler, 11 having located near (iUmilfiln. are vmrntnn'mw who never cat meat or fih of any kind, religiously believing that it is wicked to kill any animal then feed on its flesh. It is predicted that one-half tho total to bo appropriated this j car will goto tho Mississippi (?0,000,000) and that thoro is small chanco for any largo ap propriation for Pacific coast river, ' t- 71 I 'I $ ta 11 a v