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About Willamette farmer. (Salem, Or.) 1869-1887 | View Entire Issue (May 9, 1884)
G?s'S$jjgjW"' MVf jylrmr MJYF$ft,'. "UT;ns.3 wwi ii-t f B(pf J J- w. nv-w e itn I WILLAMETTE AEMEE: SALEM, OREGON, MAY 9, 1884 issued STerjr Week by the rXTIlKAMRTTE FAltWKB PsTBUUILMl CO. W TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION. 0ns year, n?ostaa;e paid). In advanc J-W Mx months, (Postage paid), In advance.. I.M Lass than six month will be, per month ADVER81SINO RATH : AdrertlsemenU will be Inserted, prodding tn are ipectable, at the following table of rate : One Inch of tpace per month Oreelncheeol pace per month J rne-haU column per month gn oolumnper month aM" wusampie copies BcnuiBowM-i'F""""". . ,. Publication Office: No. 6 Washington Street Up lain, rooms No. 6 and 5 J ' Notice to Subscribers. We publish only a sufficient number of the Fawn to supply actual prepaid subscriber and we cannot sup ply back numbers. I! it I desired by subscribers to secure all Issues they net arrange to send In their renewals In ample time reach tnis office before expiration. BTAH subscribers can tell by the printed tag onJ rthelr paper exactly when their time will eipire. tfci tnother Important point: AM, COMMUNICATIONS AND LETTERS SnOULD BE ADDRESSED TO THE "WI1XAMEITE FARMER," of great areas, finding men to swear to whatever is necessary. It is bad enough for our nation to let all the world come hero and take lands for the asking with out haing tho choicest acres of tho public domain usurped by speculators who violate all law to carry out nefar ious schemes. The land laws need amending and simplifying, so that only actual settlers can get land, and cultiva tion as well as occupancy should bo a requisite of ownership. As a nation wo havo given awayourheritage worse than Esau did. Our children of tho next generation will have to pay dearly for tho land we should have preserved for thorn to make homes of. STANYONE RECEIVINGS A COPY OF THIS PAPER WILL CONSIDER IT AN INVITATION TO SUBSCRIBE. According to current rumor there is mtno nrnnnsition for the abolition of tho Yaquina customs district, or somo suggestion looking to a lessening of tho importance of that point ns a port of entry, but wo hardly belicvo it is serious ly intendod by tho dcpaitment, or even suggested by any individual, to detract in any degree from tho importance of that placo. Yaquina Hay is looking up, and promising to becomo a commercial nnintof importance. If the rumor is based on somo economical view insido tho Treasury Department that merely proposos to savo ovpenscs to tho govern ment by combining nil tho ports on tiio Oregon coast in a singlo customs dis trict, thero is no icnson to complain, if bo doing does not lcnlly work injury to commerce. Tho idea of loform romes in to suggest economy in conducting business. To croato several full cus toms districts within tho limits where ono chiof ofllco can conduct all necessary business is o.ponsie. It may croaro fat offices to bo fillod, but it is not con sistent with true economy and reform. Wo feel liko insisting that Yaquina shall havo ovcry facility sho needs, and rccog- nizo that tho now port of entry will bo a solid benefit, but v,o also insist on econ omy in conducting all government busi ness; not penny-wise economy, but Bound and .consistent economy that groes with tho way other districts aro managed. Governor Stoneman, of California, recently called the Stato Legislature together in extra session for tho express purpose of enacting a law to govern the management of railroads in California. Tho people elected men pledged to that purpose, but the regular session went by without securing any legislation of a satisfactory character. To secure tho desired object, if possible, tho Governor called this extra session, and it has proved a failure. It really seems as if railroad money bought ap every man or body of men that tho people there elect to look after their interests. This sort of thing will bring riot and confu sion on tho country if it continues. Railroads should receive full compen sation for all work done and servico rendered, but they should bo subservien to public interests and not bo despotic ruler i of tho country. In California tho IIouso seems to havo passed a stringent bill, but tho Senate amended it so ns to mako it negatory. The Senate is al ways a smaller body than tho House, in every Stato ; so it usually is tho caso that tho Sonato performs tho will of cor porations. Thero aro fewer of thorn to control. California will not stand this tyranny long. Wo Bhall seo stirring times there if tho will of tho peoplo shall continue to bo thus thwarted. If this corporation shall also attempt to rule Oregon wo shall soon begin to "know how it is ourselves." of natural beauty should grow more beautiful from man's embellishment, and show the presence of finer taste and culture. As the years pass, these landscapes will grow in beauty and bo recorded by travelers as possessing great attractions. These valleys that are shrined in among western wilds and overlooked by wonderful pinnacles, will bo known as thn most beautiful of all the regions that border tho Pacific. They will ever bo prolific and wealth producing, and possess a highly cultur ed population, tho hills and valleys blessed with schools and churches and the towns tho seat of great industries, driven by our numerous water powers. Tho greatest city of tho northwest will call for tho products of our valleys ; there will be many beautiful cities along tho iron way that shall join tho Columbia to tho Sacramento. These towns will bo seats of learning as well as homes of industry. Tho wisdom and culture of the old world will be trans planted to these shores of tho Occident. We who have lived here during tho third of a century since the discovery of gnld assessed at 30 to 40 per cont.of its actual worth, tho effect will bo to drie capital out of the State, and ruin tho borrower who is forced to pay up. Of course, some will carp at our posi tion, so wo will plainly say that wo per sonally know thoso who stand in tho po sition wo havo described. The lender says : Pay mo my money, and to be com pelled to pay will bo to sacrifice tho earnings of a lifo time, the savings of many years. Wo know that the posi tion of our laws to tho money lender places hundreds in very critical circum stances. Wo see no cause to blame tho money lender for wpnting his money and demanding it. Tho law is unjust to him. So wo endorse tho platforms of these parties, that assert the principle of tho mortgage tax law to be correct, and favor such changes ns shall make it work equitably. If tho law is to stand and be enforced as now, capital will leave Oregon, and many will be mined by being compelled to summarily pay their debts. We see no reason why tho man who loans $1,000 on property worth $2,500 would kill them both on sight, and a favorablo chance to kill him would be as he came home from Bass' mill. They wont to waylay him, and when ho camo by Drako fired a shot gun and rovolver at him, v hen he fell from tho wagon. They then mounted their horses and went home. Swartz lived until tho noxfc day, but made no statement, not gaining consciousness. Tho tragedy was delib erately planned and executed. It re mains to be shown what oxcu&o there was for tho unholy deed. Swartz was a very unkind man in his family and was disliked by many. His wifo com plains that ho abused his little boy as well as herself, and it is notorious that wbilo he was well off ho did not provide his family with comforts and clothes that were needed for decent appoar- DRAININO. brought the world hither havo seen Uo $3,000 should pay tho whole tax and We prkdictcd, n fow weeks ago, that no further work could bo oxpectcd on tho railroad to California until tho Con tral rncifio pooplo could get possession of tho wholo lino. Tho difficulties that attend our railroad system sinco tho failure of Villard makes jt possiblo for that great corporation to extend its con trol to Orogon. It has boon rumored that tho central management has nl icady got control of tho O. It. & N. Co., and wo are informed on what wo con sider good authority that such is tho caso. Ono reason givon for tho declino in tho stock of tho O. It. A X. Co. is thnt pooplo nronot willing to purchaso stook in a company under Central Pacific control. Wo lnny oxpect tho railroad interests of Oregon to pass under that manngemont, mid then our peoplo will boo tho difference between tho policy Villard pursued and that of other rail road men. Wo always thought ho wns dUposed to build up tho country and felt that ho had unusual liborality for a man controlling great transportation interests. Tho pooplo of Oregon will learn something If tho Central Pacific management get control of tho Oregon rod. Among tho rest they will have an opportunity to llud out if tho Far mer is disposed to bo a railroad organ or to s.tand with the people, and thoy n ill need somebody to stand with them if that takes place. Wo seo no reason to doubt that it will tnko placo, and ono groat monopoly control tho rates of transforation for tho wholo Paeifio Const. It is vkrv nuiuh like locking tho stable door after tho hon-c is stolen to now commence looking into tho ways usixl by great bodies of capital to acquire public lands. Congress is finding out that English corporations are formed for that purpose, which use names of peoplo who never were in this country to locate publio lands and thus acquire great extent of territory, Tho pioneer who goes Into a now country does not wish to fight u lawsuit or to epend time, and money pisputing title, when lands can bo bought without it. Thoy find entries mode at tho land offices and cannot My they are unfair. In this way corporations or Individuals get control I A BEAUTIFUL REQION. Wo read of bcautif nl regions through which ploasant roads and shaded aven ues are mado, and besido which aro fields, mondows, orchards and gardens that speak of homos as attractive as earth can show. Thoy aro of courso in old countries that havo had centuries of cultivation. Tho homes of old England ana ..now ji,ngiana are sometimes very beautiful, and naturo has givon variety of hill and valo to lend attraction to thoso scenes. Wo offer a comparison that challenges' tho world for natural beauty and attractiveness, between tho valloys of Wostorn Oregon and any re gion tho sun shines on elsowhoro. Tho over present mountain ranges and their dominating snowy peaks surround these valloys with grandeur inimitable. For over a hundred miles in length and half that width within this mountain wall, naturo has disposed herself in changing landscapes, oven varying from hill to valo, meandorod by silver streams, belt ed with forests, the hills covered with groves of oak, Such is tho Willamotto Valloy, and tho Umpqua, though not of bitch oxtent, has features still more ro mantic. This is a region that will im provo in beauty as man embellishes tho charms of naturo with his labors nnd calls out its beauties by his appreciation. Through tho wido area east of tho Cas cades tree planting will bo necessary on a largo scalo to mako landscapes beauti ful with foliago, whilo this sido of tho mountains naturo has provided a growth of trees and foliago not surpassed by any other region. It is already a third of a century sinco this region was first settled, but tho oc cupants havo not always dovoted much attention to making their homes attrac tive. There should bo trees planted along the roads and effort made to render evory prospect pleasing. Tho prevalence of running streams makes a difference between landscapes of East ern and Western Oregon. In tho dryer regions trees can be planted and mode to uccocd well, audso lend grace 10 every country roau u tno people can he induced to make the effort Some how vho world fails to appreciate tho vaiuo oi beauty, tint tne nomo surround cmI by such attractions as wo havo indi cated makes the possessor much happier and also gives pleasure to all who pass by it. "A thing of beauty is a joy for ever." What man or woman does not look back with enjoyment upon tho re collection of beautiful homes and beau tiful scenery T Whoever plants a tree confers a joy upon posterity. Whoever makes a home attractive does something wise and beoeicent, calculated to make hapineaa possible. The time afeeuld much of growth and improvement, but our children will seo these crude begin nings crowned with greatness. The village of to-day will become the city of tho future ; tho waters that pour down the hills and mountains will be tho seat of manufactures; tho schools wo rear will becomo colleges. A score of years will not pnss without pouring such new life and energy into this land that 'the pioneer of '49 would not know his han diwork. By then the mountain foot hills will glisten with homes and farms, and tho very shores that overlook and border tho Western sea will bo alive with labor and possess abundance with prosperity. When the ages shall have ripened this Western shore and filled its now waste places with homes it will possess charms vnrying from mountain wilds to ocean shores that tho world cannot excel. Best of all, tho peoplo of to day aro planting hero seeds of true civilization that will mark this as among tho States best nurtured in tho principles of liborty and true freedom, in which tho spirit that animated tho founders of our great republic, that possessed tho souls of thoso who first tottled tho Atlantic shore, shall be firmly plAntcd for all time, that is precisely what he does now. The principle of the law that requires land to pay taxes in the district or county whero it is located is very necessary. Let us enfoice that and make money pay its fair proportion of the taxes. MIXED FARMING. THE PARTY PLATFORMS. Illt LATI The two politicnl parties in thoir plat forms have endorsed tho principle in volved in tho mortgage tax law, recom mending amendments to secure uniform valuation of real and personal property, so that taxation shall bo equal and tho law abovo question ns to its fairnefb. So much has been said in tho public prints concerning this law, that it is well un derstood by voters gonerally. Its inten tion is to insure taxation of nil monoy, and, as the mortgages on record aro a plain proof of loans mado on real es tato, and cover tho greater part of tho ac tual money owned or loaned in the State, thoso records afford tho easiest proof of tho existence of such property. Quito lately the Sheriff of Multnomah collected about 510,000 in Portland of taxes on such loans, which was done un der authority of tho old statute. This tax levy we understand was equal to 3 per cent, on tho full amount. Much of this money was loaned at eight per cent, somo probably higher. It will be evi dent to any mind that 8 from 8 only leaves i per cent., and in any case will mako loaning of monoy in Orogon un profitable, when the best of security can bo had in Washington at 12 per cent, per annum. It wo do not need money here, or if thoso who havo borrowed it can stand pressure, then imposing such a tax will do no harm. Tho Farmer has been accused of fa voring tho money lender, when it has only contended that monoy shall pay an equal tax with other property. No doubt this sentiment ha" done us injury with somo who do not look into tho matter dispassionately. Our view of it is that if a man borrows on property and, off setting the debt, pays no tax, whilo his property is actually worth three times the sum borrowed, ho has all the benefit tho law can give. Tho law compels the money leuder to pay enough iax on 3,000 or 14,000 borrowed of him to an swor for property worth $10,000. lie is a fortunate man, to some extent The money leuder has told him not to hurry; all he wants is his interest, and he allows post due notes to run, if the interest is paid up. Wo know that this is the cose with many. But this new law changes the feelings of the capitalist. He con cludes to invest elsewhere, and demands his money. Then whero is the borrower who is in arrears? If the mortgage Us law is to stand and be construed as at This country is passing through its eaily career and will soon omerge from an unfinished and uncertain stato of things into permanence and more as sured prosperity. Tho basis of all true national prosperity is tho soil. If tho soil is fertilo and tho peoplo industrious agriculture will build up a thriving com munity. There is in varied production the groundwoik the foundation on which to build up gieatnpss. Tho more cer tain tho progress of agriculture the more certainly will other interests grow up and prosper. This region that is tribu tary to tho Columbia is only commencing to develop but its products already in crease in variety as well as in quantity. Wheat lias boon tho prime staple and must continno to be so for years to come, but in that we must stand compe tition, not onlv from tho extending fields of the Northwost.Minnesota and Dakota, but from new fields in Asia and Europe. Wheat is being produced in such quan tity that scarcity or high price hardly seem a possibility. The world is expect ing a great wheat harvest in 1884, and this coast will furnish more than its average. The price of wheat will not bo such as to induce those who hae other resources to devote their entire nttention to wheat growing. It is a satisfaction to seo other pro ducts taking tho attention of farmers. Here in Western Oregon and Washing ton the range of production is gradu ally increasing. Hops thrive and bear so prolifically that they will repay the grower better than back East, where tho vines blight nnd tho yield is so much less than with us. Corn and barley can bo grown to good advantage anu should bo produced in parts of the country that do not now grow them. oorgnum succeeds wen in somo parts, and it remains to bo seen if sugar or syrup can bo mado from it. It can be grown successfully in Jackson county, but should be thoroughly tried else whore. Every man should try to do something in tho way of experiment Thero aro grasses to try ; many plants can bo tested to decide their worth. Flax for seed and lint can be grown far moro extensively than at present Stock raising interests every farmer and can be mado very remunerative if managed well. Mixed farming will build up tho farmer if he practices it properly, and will encourango the growth-of cities and the building of manufactories. Every other interest will respond to success of farming. The world waits on the farmer, and without him can do nothing. The better he succeeds the more certainly will other interests dovelope and make a great State. Wherover you find a piece of swamp that is practically useles thero is certain to exist a rich deposit of soil that is; capable of becoming immensely produc tive, yet is valueless, except for pasture at some seasons. Comparing this soil with average wheat land you find that in richnoss it far exceeds and fn depth it possesses inexhaustablo quantity. How to redeem this worthless spot is worth studying, more especially as nearly all farmers havo more or less of it. If you have only five or ten acres you should redeem it, becauso it has wealth to bestow in return greater than five times tho area of common soils. From tho Prairie Farmer wo will take tho story of 27 acres of swamp in In diana, quoted m a strong paper on "Drainage" written by a distinguished practical civil engineer : Horton Ferguson, Indiana: "The swamp contained twenty-seven ncres. and was regarded by all neighbors as utterly worthless except for hunting grounds. Mr. Ferguson, who has great faith in undordraming, determined to undertake to reclaim the land, confident if successfully done, it would bo a paying investment. Last year ho tile-drained nnd grubbed it, paying customary rates for all tho labor and tile, and this year put it in corn, with tho following result: Tli". "ps. Tile used for 27 acres $544 37 Paid for ditching 88 00 Expense for clearing and Rrubbmg .'. , , 275 00 A TERRIBLE TRAGEDY HEAR SALEM. The people of Marion countv aro n Cltfl nvnr a liinnln,. t.!l . . . -.. ,,.. .. .muuvi iiiuioi unusual in terest, because it occurs near Salem nmi involves the death of nn old pioneer ana weu-icnown citizen, though he has been accused of great cruelty and un kindness to his family. David 8wartz has lived on Howell Prairie, some soven miles east of Salem, and was shot when returning from Bass' saw mill. The wife and son and two neighbors named Joe Drake and William Henry were im plicated, and Henry seems to W turned State's evidence and tM , is oeiore Jusuce Coffey, of Salem. Total expense S0H7 7 By 2,530 bushels of corn at 00 cent8 81,265 00 Tho land nrovod to hn mmnri-nVvi., .ju having produced, as show.n ninety bushels to tho acre, and Mr. F. assures us thnt several nerns n-rnnrla,l inn bushels to tho aero. Tr, will ii,i,a v, observed that he realized tho first year of cultivation enough to pay tho entire axpenso of reclaiming nnd had 357.13 left to pay on tho crop oxpenso. Next season, if favorable, ho expects a still better yield." There aro many farmers, who could carry on mixed farming to advantago could they get their swamp land into good condition. This can only bo done underdrawing and there are potteries in Oregon now capable of manufacturing draining tile as needed. Onions nm always a good crop on such land, when inorougniy drained; potatoes grow too rank, save for seed: oats will vield 100 bushels to the acre; corn will do well even here and it grows, prodigious crops 01 nay. jnow when wo need to vary production 30 much it is necessary to bring into bearing all this waste land that possesses such great qualities. The Farmer has published many editorials" and communications on the subject of drainage but our people have never waked up to the necessity of action. If you have swamp land to reclaim go to studying how to do it, read all you can find and learn from your neighbors what their experience has been. If thn swamps of small extent were all made available for farming purposes we should have to assess land higher or not get near a full valuation on it who has held the Drolimin. -7 present, that money shall be assessed at tion. HeniVs star u ,... ir o soon coma bow when tab region so full Jits face, while other property shall be told him and Drake that her husbid DRY GOODS. uur Wceklv ArrivnlH or NOVLETIES SPRING SUMMER GOODS Will not fail to please the most fastidious. OLDS&KING, 18 First Street. PORTLAND, OR. , fc CHM ear ttdtM mmmg UrSLorabjr aUL r J L T h . l1llW..W-W- TU f 1- ' uuukJsummmmmxJL,'- . u'jeu. ffl3S!rB8S?!5ft "Jr'i pWjaWa.j1fJ
