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About Willamette farmer. (Salem, Or.) 1869-1887 | View Entire Issue (April 11, 1884)
'- " W Kill vi I I F mt Ji tS ';- VOL. XVI. cntfymuhntq. FREIGHT ON THE N. P. RAILROAD. SpraciTj W. T, March 20, 188 i. KJitor Willamette Farmer: As you invito correspondence from different portions of the country, with your permission I dosire to say a few things with regard to the X. P. railroad on the freight question. Just ns our hopes wero budding into promise, and we wero beginning to feel tho good ef fects of direct communication with the East, by one foil swoop of unauthorized power on tho pait of the uhovo named railway company, our hopes wero blast ed and our realizations ate gone to tho four winds of heaven. What I refer to is the disciim nation of freights on tho part of said company, between Portland and inland towns to tho eastward. Tho railroad sid of this question has been discussed vciy freely both by the railroad company and also by certain papers whose interest- all cen ter in Portland. But as yet I have scon nothing from the class most into esfed, viz. : tho con sumers along tho lino, or adjacent to said railroad. Mr. Muir, of Portland, tried to explain this matter through the Oregonian a short time ago, but the rights and best interests of the people are so manifestly ovonidden by tho pol icy of the railroad company, that his explanation and nil others that have been made seem to be far-fetched and about as clear as mud. Mr. Muir staled that the matter of freights under the old regime wore unsatisfactory to the railroad company,to Portland merchants, and also to the inland merchants. That they were unsatisfactory to the two for mer I admit, but tho latter I unhesitat ingly question. And, in proof of this, I refer to tho piotesh made by tho in land merchants against this outrageous and unwarranted discrimination of freights, calling for a repeal of the same and reinstatement of tho former sched ule of freights, or something similar. While tho raihoad company say they are trying to mako matters satisfactory to tho merchants along the lino, they ig nore the fact that tho consumers aio the ones most directly intei ested in this mat ter. For, if tho inland merchant has to pay twenty-fi vo or thirty per cent, more for his goods at Portland than ho would in an Eastern market, he just charges "that over to his customers, and they are "the real sufferers. The only way that it will materially injure the inland mor li mts is this : that goods being so much higher in price, tho people must econo mic' and buy loss; hence their sale will be restricted. It is a fact well understood in this up per country that a large share of the people who have come hero aro poor, and, with the best rates they could se euro from tho railroad company, it has been exceedingly hard for them to keep abovo financial ruin. Through tho highly colored representations of the railway company and othor interested parties, hundreds of people havo out a comfortable little homo in tho and come west, only to find tlieirlhsans nearly or all used up in getting lre, and very little or nothing left withvhiuh to begin lifo in a new country, hero near ly every thing that they hive to buy, which is transported over tho railroad with high freights, is neces-arily much higher than Eastern prices, and this is the class ofj people that have a right to bo hoard upon this qua-tion. Look at the flagrant injustice of this new freight schedule. Xot satisfied with charging us tho highest through rates to Portland, they still add tho local rates which are very high, from Portland back to the inland point, wherever the cargo may be landed. Now, I ask, is not tills an unmitigated usurpation of power, against which tho people should fight until it Is overcome. Wbra sou it SALEM, OREGON, FRIDAY, are our Congressmen, and what aie they doing for tho bettering the condition of tho massos of tho people? Let the peo ple sound tho clarion note of war in their ears and send in petitions for ti law regulating both freight and passenger rates on thoso transatlantic railroads, to tho end, at least, that they shall not dis criminate in freights to different points on tho roads. It is very clear that the railroad company not only intend to feather their own net by tho late act, but also to build up Portland by the hard earnings of tho people inland. It is a well known fact that Portland merchants and capitalists havo made millions of dollars from tho trade of this upper country. But they are not satisfied with sapping all its best interests for the last twenty years, but by this ungenerous act on tho part of the n ilroad company they still proposo to hold on to us with their iron hand of oppiewion, and com pel us to buy our goods of th'-m at then own prices. The Oregonian would fain havo us beliovo that this has not been done in tho interest of Poi land mer chants, and that thoy will deal veiy mer cifully with us in the inline. But we can only judge the futuie by tho past. These same merchants and capitalists havj held an iron sway over this coun try for many years past, and never did thoy let up their grip until we had di rect communication with the East; and now that we aro placed in their power again by tho railroad company, wo may expect to be tortured by high prices to the bitter end. Human nature has not changed. It seems that tho lailroad company feel bound to show great re spect to the millions of Portland by throwing all this upper country into their hands. But to the laboring class and those that till the soil and furnish tho means by which the carrying trado on'the railroad is sustained, thoy virtual ly say "Your rights we cannot respect." Like the old Southern slavo-holdors said by their agents in Congress, "Tho negro has no rights which tho whito man is bound to respect," so they say to tho producing and consuming class, "You havo no rights in this matter ; it all be longs to us." But the slave-holder was taught by the strong arm of a bloody civil war that ho must respect tho rights of his vassals, and, if nothing else will do, mo nopolists may bo taught the same lespon in a similar manner. But to avoid this, T call upon producers and consumers to unite in ono grand effort everywhere, and try tomovo our Congressmen and legislators to take this matter in hand, and, by tho strong arm of tho law, legu late these matters. But some lender footed one may say, "Why, yon must not wage war with tho raihoad com pany F So far as that is concerned, I would just as soon wage war with them for justice and right as with anybody elso ; and, if such a war is to transpire, in whatever shape it may come, I hope it will bo hastened on, for I am getting ol.l in years, and I want to take pait in iteforo I dio. C. Misxci:. The Spring Valley Farmers' Club. Zexa, Or., April 7, 1S8I. EJitor Willamette Farmer. Tho farmers of thin vicinity mil last Saturday to consider tho report of a committee appointed at a previous meet ing to draft by-laws for a local club. The leport was adopted as amended, and embraces but twelvo short article?, totting forth, First The name (which appears at the haul of this artielo). Second Tho object, the promotion of friendly interc uirte among its members and the adoption of tueh measures as may bo deemed necessary for their w ol fare. Third meeting, the fin-t and third Saturday in each month. Fourth Officers, executive, secretary and treasurer. Fifth Their duties. Sixth Elections, quartcr'y. Seventh CoaynitteeH, such a from time to time tlio President may find necessary. i Eighth- Me n ibership, actual fanners and their sons, and when no objection is raised, anyone not an actual farmer; only those over 21 aro eligible to vote. Ninth Election of officers. Tenth Fines, fot' absence from regu lar meetings. Eleventh Funds, by assobsmontonly. Twelfth Amendments. You will readily soo that theso by-laws only aim to put tho club in working or der, and do not limit its range of useful ness, tho latter part of artielo s-oeond al lowing great latitude. Tho order of business embraces, to gether with regular routine woik, tho following; Quieries, suggestions and discussions on agriculture; discussions of political oi general topics. Under the last head tho question of Local Taxation will be discussed at the next meeting (April 10.) Tho club has such men at the head of it as Major Walker, Geo. Eilers, Geo. T. Wait, Jackson Purvino, C. 0. Walker and others, whoso experience and judgment will no doubt prevept tho adoption of rash measures, nnd whose solidity and steadfastness of (purpose will insure tho permanency of tho club. This is, to be sure, something of an ex periment with us, yet wo believo will lead to good rosults. There will bo friction of thought, and that must lead to tho wearing away of erroneous opin ions ; there will bo. combination of ac tion, and in union there is strength ; there will bo social, intercourse, and that, will strengthen our fraternal feelings. Jas. It. SimruACK California Beet Sugar. Wo call attention to thoadveitise ef the Standard Sugar Refinery iij this number of our paper. It is assorted by those who should know that pure whilo sugar can be produced from beets on this coast in almost unlimited quantities, at a prico not exceeding tho "grocery grades" of yellow sugar imported (duty free) from the Hawaiian Islands, and that strong refining grades can be pro duced from beets, suilicient to furnish all the refineries on this coast, for at least ono per cent, a pound less than tlio same grade of sugar can be procured from any other source. Assuming this to bo true, it is tho in terest of every farmer on this coast that has suitable land for tho purposo to avail themselves of this opportunity to experiment with this crop, as thero is every reason to believo that in a very few years beet sugar factories will be buill atall available points on this coast where good beets in sufficient quanties can bo obtained for the purpose. Comparing our soil and climato with tho sugar pro ducing countries of Europe, it is not unreasonable to believe that in less than twenty yoars wo will produce from beets all the sugar needed for h me consump tion, and will also becomo heavy export ers of beet sugar. And the lrstory of this industry in Europo.provoa that tho production of sugar is not alone a'l the bsnefit to bo derived from this industry, as it more than trebles tho amount of beef and cereals in every district whero a beet sugar factory is successfully established. Tho success of the Standard Sugar Refinery at Ah arado, in this State, is a proof of what can bo done, both in making sugar and feeding tho pulp to cattle. A dairy of 160 cows is being (successfully and cheaply fed on a portion of tho pulp of that establishment The announcement of Mr. Dyer, Superintendent of the Alvarado factory, makes it a simple matter to get the true seed and to ascertain without coat whether the leets will do for sugar making or not -Pacific 1 Jural Press. Both Clyde and Norman. Mcisri. Savage k. Fletcher offer for tho public uso this season their mag nificent Clydesdale horw Sir Stafford and alto tho well bred Norman stallion of Wi'do Awako origin, Sir floorge, to those who jircfor one cUKsk or the othor can l suited at their ttahlcs. Tho-o horses will bo found at Ford & Minto'e btahlei, Salem, from Tued iv until Satur- day and at tho home stables east of the ran Ground on Monday. No Safer Remedy can lw h wl fcr Coaid i and Col t, or any trouole of be Thn at, tban "Drauni'ilJroKh'.al Tfocktt " I'rict 23 ctt. BoUl only in lout: tent APRIL 11, 1884. rr.M TALKS The moii li i March saw (1,000 new arrivals in On-gon and Washington, and April will no doubt bring hither twice that many. May and Juno will swell the total with increased population and tho year 1881 may bo expected to add 100, 000 to tho population of tho Pacific North west. The mining excitement may add somo thousands mora but tho soit of people who run after oxcitoments aro not worth much to build up a. new country. The roport is consistent that tho now comers are of a Mipcrior class of farmers. These mo what wo need and need right hero in tho Willamette. It is not too much to say that our beautiful valley has too many people holding land hero who aio incapable of improvement. They plow and sow nnd reap and eat and work and sloop and do nothing more. They do not take lead ing matter to learn what tho wotld knows. Thoy know too much aheady. They havo no occasion to study, to experiment, to think. Thoy are not drones, either, but thoy might as well bo for thoy are dullards. Success is beyond them. Their homos possess no attrac tiveness within or without. Their in comes are uncortain nnd their fortunes on tho down grade It is a pity that all such cannot soil out and loavo. Tho next question is : where to go to? Thoy can take up land Eastof tho Mountains, to W) sure, but that country needs live also and to go anywhere is to ocoupy awhile to bo ovontually sold out. this valley can be waked to lifo and activity by tho acquisition of livo and energetic farmers who aro farmers, then Western Oregon can bo a garden spot of tho world. As it is, thero aro too many who aro too dull to win success ; who know too much to learn; who don't study or investigate or learn by ex pcrienco but simply live and reemblo Indians by being in the way. The kind of pooplo wo havo alluded to don't take the Fakmhii but you nil know them. Our orchards, as well as yours, is in bloom. The rare perfume from its blossoming is wafted far and near. It crowns a hill and friends living over in Polk can locate it by tho snowy white of a hill top a milo or so south of Salem. Wo learn that many aro iInnting out orchards. It is a good thing to do when tho prospect for reward is so good. Wo havo some words to say about fruit trees, gathered from experience. Tho south side of n tree is apt to feel tho sun and bo partially killed by the heat This is a disadvantage, of course. If you have threo or four foot clapboards handy it would pay to place ono on tho south of every tree when it is old enough to bo injured. Another matter is this; not oio man in six isfittod to work around r jos. They murdor them as indifferently as if they have no valuo. To do good work plow closse or boo about tho tree. With an orchard of thirty to fifty ncrcs it costs too much to dig by hand but every tree must bo kept clear of weeds nnd grass. Do not let a earless hand work among them, or a fractious horse. Lot tho driver bo mostcaroful and havo a steady team. Plow out tho middle and leave tho last two furrow?, then get your best horso for that work, havo a singlo troo twenty inches long and wrap tho trace and hook with olothor kl an old boot leg, cover both so that they wont tear if they hit a tree ; put tho hor) with this tingle tree to a binall plow or a double shovel plow and then work out tho grouud cloo to tho trco as well us possible. Working an orchard pays largely, if well done. Tho roots in our orchard do not show in plowing six inches deep. Tho red hill land has more subsoil that is porous, and the roots go down deep. Wo aro thinning tho growth of limbs work that should have been done long ago. It ib more necessary to thin out than to cut back. If you cut out sujier fluous limbs, the othei limbs will fill out with ido growth. Some prune trees, es men tend rf ISO. 9 pecially the Petite d'Agon, throw out limbs like vine-, that tvu'no to each other. The Columbia throws itb arms out too long. So Home trees need lo havo tho branches cut out wheie too numerous, and somo need to bo cut back. Somuj plum trees keep in almost perfect shape, as tho Poach and Heine Cl.uulo; Coes' Golden Drop needs some thinning. The Italian is a beautiful tree, solid and round-headed. Anyone who has a nat ural taste for tho orchard can get n good book and go ahead cautiously, with cer tainty of becoming an adept by intui tion. It is a beautiful business, for the most satisfactory, when mutters work well, of any work that tho farm has to do. Theic is every prospect of a large fruit yield the present season, and a few woeks more will toll the story. Nature seems trying to make full amends this year for any deficiency in hancsts of lato years. Wo shall se. Is your garden all in that can bo planted early in April? Can you look your family in tho face and assuro them that garden stuffs will bo plontiful? Can the children watch tho blooming of all sorts of small fiuits with certainty that thero will be ripe ones to pick in their season? We would like to know that every reader of tho Fajimku and all others havo planted a rich garden spot and will tend it well. Thero is money in it ; luxury nnd health go togother thero ; long lifo and happiness grow in tho best gardens. "There is no mistake about tho truth of this fact; not ono man in five actually know- what tho worth of a garden is. Xow is tho time. If you haven't made the garden, mako it as soon as yen can, and havo tho good of it. Judging from the weather, epring seeding must bo well advanced, savo in low,' wet land, and ought to bo through with thoro, if tho rains keep off a few days longer. The Wcol Buslntea. Thero aro in tho country between the Northoin Pacific and Snake rivor some thing liko ono hundred thousand head of whoop, ami at a low estimate they will yield five hundred thousand pounds of wool por annum. Heretofore nil wool grown in this country has gono to Port land or San Francisco for packing and shipping and most of the sales havo been inado by commission merchants of those cities, but things aro on tho eve of a change and an effort will bo inado to pack, sell and ship this wool at home, if tho railroad company will allow this iilaco as fair rutcs as it does Portland. Jr. Tallwtt, who has been looking up tho wool market in tho oast and posting himself ns to packing and grading, is serioUBly thinking of handling wool with his headquarters at Colfax. This will bo a great benefit to sheep men an thoy can get their crop packed, graded and stored at home, and will alho havo tho benefit of telegraphic quotations of prices which enable them to tnko ad vantage of tho market at any time, and eavo tho commissions usually gobbled by Portland dealers. If Mr. Tallott establishes this business ho will advance money on crops le't with him. I'aloilHO Gazette. Largs Transictka. Yesterday ShorhT Sears, ai tax collec tor, drew a check of .fSMO.liJS.'JO upon ho Portland Havings Bank, in favor of U'm. Showers, county treasurer. Tho amount was paid in gold coin, all except tho odd change, and carried in a wagon to the First National Hank. This is probably tho largest coin transfer ever made bore, it weighed 800 pounds, Hcides this Mini, Sheriff Sous bus turned over:'0,000 to Trea&mor Sliow erH from the taxis of 1883. Tho tieas urer is preparing hU khjUh, and will bo ready to pay county warranU about next Tuesday. Oregonian. Many eh"on raise find it a necessity to follow in tho path of tliutrrcononiicul brothem, and have taken the initiatory stoj) by commencing i hit entire iuo of Littlo' Chomical Fluid Hheo Dip, Ammcn'a Cou,li Simp tev-r fail to euro if ucl In tun') auil according to direction!. 3 i V .