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About Willamette farmer. (Salem, Or.) 1869-1887 | View Entire Issue (April 29, 1887)
1 4 I 5 fe- if &, VOL. XIX. SALEM, OREGON, FRIDAY, APRIL 39, 1887. OREGON PIONEER HISTORY. SKETCHES OF EABEY DAYS. MEN AND TIMES IN THE FORTIES DYS. ACLAtlKE. LX V Copyright applied far. All rlrfita rerreJ. Philip Kits and Mi Friends-Coming- to Oro-gon-Dr. W. F. Tolmle'a Contribution to History. Y- In tho spring of 1850, n littlo compnny of futuro Orcgonians wcro assembled at Iowa City, waiting for tho grnes to grow on tho broad plains to tako tho road to mo moacrn ji uornuo. Tlioy woro Alfred B. nnd Harvoy Moacham, Gcorgo E.Colo and rhlllip Ritz. Thoy wont westward with horso teams, ono or more, nnd their aim was to reach Call fornia to join tho countloss, changing throng of gold seokors and workers on tho farthest shore When thoy ronched Council Bluffs, or tho placo now so callod, thoy woro partners in n groat ox podition Mint had Bovcnty-six wagons and numbered 112 mon ablo to bear arms. Thcro wcro no families, not a woman or child was enrolled in tho moving throng, and whilo thoro woro many reckless mon, nnd somo who woro among tho dosporadocs Hint haunt tho border, thcro was a fair proportion of good material and a. fow of sterling worth and such determined will that inoy nciu mo uespcrauoos in good con trol, though far from law and civiliza tion, for long and weary months. Whon thoy reached tho Missouri river tho offer was raado to Phillip Ritz to stay and locate thcro. His outfit of team and wagon was nppraisod nt 1-100, and tho owner of a good quarter section of land well improved, nnd bearing al ready a crop worth $-100, offorcd to docd him tho land for his outfit. Thoy mero ly wcro to chango situations Ritz bo como a farmer nnd tho other join tho train. Tho offer was so tempting that Ritz wished to nccopt it, as ho had been a thorough farmor in Fonnsylvania, but tho protests of his companions prevailed, and ho kopt on with them towards tho "golden shore." That tempting quarter section of land is now in tho hoart of tho heart of tho thriving city of Council Bluffs, though at that timo no such placo was known in fact, or ovon in fanoy. On tho west of tho river, oppo site, was then only a barren and un claimed shoro, whoro now stands tho great Nebraska emporium, Omaha. Timo'a changes aro wonderful. There was then an Indian mission villago n milo bolow whero Omaha grows so rap idly now. That was called Bcllvlllo, now absorbed by tho spreading metrop olis. Thoro wns this reason for tho set tier wishing to sell his land : Ho was a Mormon, and as tho train restoJ a few days at that point, ho becamo acquaint ed with several of his co-religionists who wcro in tho company and becamo anx ious to join them and journey townrds Salt Lake. So much to show what growth has vuitcd tho tlion wostorn frontier sinco tho discovery of gold bo gan to draw myriads across the plains. When thoy finally reached tho placers, and Colo mined during tho autumn on tho American rivor and tributaries, find ing plenty of pay ground whilo water lasted, though in some instances tho pay spots wero email. They averaged $20 a day, yet were somowhat demoralized be cause ovory day tuere camo along un happy devils who said they had boen on tho prospect sinco California was first known, and had never 'struck" it yet Our boys found themselves with some cash in their purses as tho wintor drew near, and said to each other: "As so many can not find anything hero we may come to tho same fato when wo work out tho littlo ground wo have loft, so wo may as well leave California whilo wo have something to go with." With this idea in mind, and Nicaragua and Central America in view, they went down to San Francisco in December. Ono day Bits taw an auction going on, where the business wm selling town lots NO. 21. 1 in Winchester, Umpqua valley, Oregon. To assist tho buying, tho enterprising owner had provided spocimons and pro ducts of soil and climate, including largo plump, whito wheat, such as farmer Ritz novor saw in Pennsylvania. Ritz hurried back to his companions with a small handful of thin whito wheat, that all Oregqninns nro familiar with, and declared that whatovor country pro duced that grain was good enough for him. Ho nnd Colo nnd Bush W.Wil son took passngo by vessel to tho Ump qua, to bocomo Orcgoninns. Thoy mov cd on to tho Willnmotto vnlloy, and lo cated at Corvallis, known as MaryBvillo until tho classical genius of Gcorgo K. Shicl christened it Corvallis. Ilitz nnd Wilson woro good carpenters, and put up tho first framo dwelling over built in Bonton county, as well ns 'tho second frnmo storeroom over built in Corvallis. A. G. Hovoy was thon ono of thoir littlo cotorio, and thoy four immediately idon tifiod thcmsolves with tho prosperity of Benton county. In tho wintor of '60-51 Hovoy taught school in Corvallis; Colo taught not far away, on Mary's rivor; Bitz nnd A. C. Giblu, (who enmo tho samo year as they, and started with tho writer of this from Now York harbor in April, 1850) worked all that wintor hew ing out squaro timbers on tho Umpqua for building wharves in San Francisco. Bush Wilson wont to Portland and work ed thcro at carpentering until spring, thon camo up and worked in partner ship with Ritz. Tho noxt wintorfil.'52, Ritz taught school on Oak Crcok, near Corvallis. Among his pupils woro Mar ion Mulkoy, Mrs. J. N.' Dolph, Mrs. Odcnoal, Mrs. Armstrong, Prof. John Johnson, and others. Ho did carpenter work summers, and taught school winters. In 1852 Ritz bought a land claim that sinco Sonator Slater has occupied, and in 1856 started a nursery on tho placo. This business ho followed many years, but romoved to Walla Walla in '02, whero ho carriod on th3 samo buslnosa on an onlargod scalo. Ho has followed it twonty-nino years, and no doubt has boen prospered financially and materi ally in so doing. The Hudson Bar Company. It iabovond doubt that tho immigrant who crossed tho plaitiB in tho early days of Oregon had a strong projudico against tho Hudson Bay compnny. Tills is set forth in Joseph Watt's story of tho party ho was with, nnd was truo of nonrly nil othors. When tho writer camo to Or egon resident Amoricnns had mora or less of projudico against thai company and woro glad whon tho evolutions of trade freed thorn from tho Vancouvor monopoly. It was common for thorn to go thcro for articles thoy needed and no particular fault was found with the charges imposed, but this compnny had been to a great extent a monopoly, and tho natural feeling of all communities rcsont any such restriction. Tho truth seems to 1k that thiH ompany was of untold advautaga to tho Bottlers and did not imposo heavy charges upon them, but tho settlors rejoiced whon other avenues of trade wero opened, as is nat ural to humanity. It is not strange that injustice has boon dono tho Hudson Bay company to some oxtent extent, by writers of history but at this timo we can dispassion ately survoy tho past and afford to bo just. Dr. W. F. Tolmie, now doceasod, was intimately connected with tho Hudson Bay company for years, and rose to high position in its service. His word is beyond question, and in tho pro ceedings of tho Pioneer association for 1884, wo find a letter from him that re plies to charges made in several publi cations, showing that instoad of the Hudson Bay company being actively hostile to American emigration, it highest officials approved tho courso of Dr. McLaughlin in furnishing aid to needy American settlers. Whilo beyond donbt tho Hudson Bay company would havo proforrcd to havo this region left in tho possession of tho Indians, it is truo that its oflicors wero very consider ate to tho emigrants. Dr. Tolmio says : "In 18C0, when ox- nminingDr.McLaughlin's privato paporsl I found a lottor to him from Sir. J. H. Polly, bnrt, governor of tho London bonrd of directors, approving of his nt fording, from tho company's stores, nid to needy Amorican immigrants. This letter to tho best of my recollection, was written in 1843." Archibald McKinley, Esq., wroto to Dr. Tolmio : "I havo alwoys contendod that tho advanced mntlo tho Americans wcro not so muoh' tho causo of misun derstanding botweon tho directors, Sir Gcorgo Simpson nnd tho dootor, as tho troublo and biokcring occasioned by tho latter holding so persistently to the Or egon City claim. Tho company wns advorso to meddling with any part of tho country south of tho Columbia." Ho nlso writes: "Sir George said to myself, verbally, In 1841, and by letter on moro than ono occasion nftcr, strong ly recommending tho cultivation of a good, neighborly understanding with tho mcricfin immigrants. Sir Gcorgo held, as a fact not to bo doubted, that tho Col umbia would bo tho boundary, and that tho company could by good management establish a very lucrativo trade with tho Americans." Dr. Tolmio adds: "I foot justified in generally corroborating my friend's statements." Ho also says : 'What is abovo given goes to disprovo charges mado that Dr. McLaughlin was callod to London to answer tho chargo of violating a rulo of tho company in furnishing supplies to naked and half-starved American emi grants coming to Oregon." In 1820 tho doctor took his Oregon City claim, soon after commonoing its improvomont. In tho wintor of 1838-0, ho was in harmon ious combination with tho directors in London, organizing tho Pugct Sound agricultural as8ociation,which camo into full operation in 1840. As early as 1830 if not boforo, thoro woro Fronch Can adian settlers on Cowlitz prairio. In 1839, after his long and tedious journoy to London, going and roturning, tho doctor rosumed solo chargo and undivid ed responsibility over tho Columbia de partment, roturning with 'flying colors' much to tho satisfaction of us subordi nates of Bacholor's Hall, for wo greatly llkod him. Exacting us to strict por fprmanco of duty, outspoken to tho slothful or negligent, tho doctor wns yet gonial, always high-toned, morally, nnd in tho widest senso catholic" be Whon ordorcd to Vancouver ho camo acquainted with Wyoth, who was proparing to lcavo tho country, after having been dofoatcd in his business projects by tho superior fncilitics-of tho II. B. Co., whioh put goods below cost to prevent his success, and finally bought out his goods and stations. Even during this "war to tho knifo" in con nection with all business relations, thoro provallcd tho most amicablo and friendly social rotations, and ovon oxchango of morchandlBO whoro ono party neoded goods tho other had. It would bo sup posed that Wyoth, on loaving Oregon a rninod man by tho scheming against him of tho Hudson's Bay company, would feci n bittornoss against its ohiof factor, but thoy always sustalnod tho warmest porsonnl rolalions. Tolmio nays: "Tho first production of Garlylo's I ovor road wasn volumo Wyoth sent from Boston to his whito-ha!rod,mujostio look ing friend at Vancouvor." orrtgjjamletuf. OLANDBRS. Why Farmers do not Make Monty. Dr. Tolmio Extols American Character. In this lottcr to tho Pionocr socioty Dr. Tolmio of courso strains for great ac curacy, whilo ho no doubt, and very uaturly, puts tho best face on tho acts and motives of tho company ho was so long and prominontly identified with. Ho compares British supinonoss in ro trospect "with tho onlightcncd and thoughtful energy of tho natural leadors of tho Amorican pioneers and tho intel ligent rend I noes of all for sclf-govorn-mont. Nothing else so much struck mo on becoming acquainted with tho first comers. Fur different, and much moro successful wero tho company's legiti mate efforts, as British morchants, to do- fend their fur trade, widoly dovelopod by years of risky cnterpriso and outlay." Ho goes on to show that whilo vigilantly opposing thobu who camo in trading ships to compeui for tho traflio with In dians along the cat, they "maintained pleasant bocial relations with tho Boston merchant captains pursuing their timo honored avocations of getting furs on American's Western shored for salo in China or Europo. Gladly accepting newspapers, wo bought of them books and other things. After, in 1830, and later, tho company's steamer "Beaver" by trading at tho head of navigation on tho far extended firths, or inlets, pro vented the beat furs from reaching tho onter coast, these shins ceased coming." Everything a farmor has to sell is vory low; everything, or nt loast noarly everything, that tho farmor has topuy is comparatively high. Whoat ovor a largo proportion of tho rogion in which it is producod brings tho raiser but 50 cents por bushel. Tho prico of grain harvesters and sclf-bindors, however, re mains tho samo as whon wheat was worth ?1 a bnshol in tho plnco whoro it was raised. Tho samo Is tho caso with tho plow that turns tho furrow tho harrow that pulvcrizos tho soil, nnd tho scodor that put in tho crop. Evory thing that is turned off from tho farm is vory cheap, but ovorything that is L turned out from tho factory is dear. Tho old scalo of pricos for farm pro ducts has all boen changed, but tho scalo of pricos for tho products of man- ufacturies romain unchanged. Beef, mutton, and wool nro all low, but posts and wiro necessary to fonco" a pasture cost as much as they ovor did. Tho cost or procuring materials and of put ting thorn together so ns to aflbrd pro tection to animals during storms and in wintor has not been reduced with nil tho dcclino in farm products. Tho prico of cloth is not nffectcd appreciably by tho fall in wool. A farmer may got a small prico for tho hidos ho has to dis poso of, but ho pays a high prico for tho boot, shoos and harness that ho Is ob liged to purchaso. Potatoes aro choap, but tho bags in which thoy aro put nnd tho wagon that is usod for taking thorn to market cost us muoh as whon po tatoes brought twice tho monov thoy do at presont. It is also noticoabfo that tho rates of transportation and tho com mission merchant's charges for soiling them aro as high as whon potatoes sold for a dollar a bushol. Formorly tho nrico or artiolcs ron Hir ed for food governed tho prico of nlmost an omor arucios. uno price ol alintst ovorything wns govornod by that of wheat, ns that was regarded as tho most important of all products. All this is changod now. Farmers havo notliing to do in regulating prices. Thoy tako what is offerod for their producta. Thoy aro too numerous and too widoly scatter ed to combine Tho prico of nnnrly ovory nrticlo they nro obliged to pur chaso, howovcr, h rogulatod by associa tions and combinations formod among manufacturers. Tho manufacturers of nearly ovory important artlclo combine to limit production and koop up prices. Thoy ovon comblno to prevent tho estab lishment of manufactures similar to thoir own. In many departments of manufacture thoro is no competition bo- iwccn uiiioront establishments. A uni form scale of pricos is adopted, which is rigidly adhered to. In many cases our patent laws nnd tariff system enables them to establish und perpetuate, tho most oppressive monopolies. The West ern farmer learns tho priro of wheat and pork by reading tho markot reports of Liverpool. Tho producer of articles of food in this country aro obliged to compete with tho producors of similar products In every part of tho world, but our manufacturers, whoso goods farmers aro obliged to hare, havo no competi tion except among themselves. As bo foro stated, they generally manage to prevent such competition. With such a state of affairs it u no great marvol that farmers aro not prosperous Tho Chicago Times. Salkm, April 21. Editor Willamotto Farmer: ClinONIO OIANI)Kn8 SYMMOMS. Glanders ns most commonly mot with in this country, prosont tho following signs : Tho horso is moro or loss off his feed; has a tondonoy to shiver on tho slightest cold'; its coat is rough and unhealthy; "hns lost tho bloom of health ;" it may or may not cough; tho appotito is capricious and perspiration is Induced by tho slightest oxortion. Thoro is a dischargo of a starchy or a gluoy materia), tho discharge is often timos tinged with blood. In Bomo in stances recurrent hemorago from tho nostrils Is a premonitory sign of gland ers. Tho mucous mombrano Is nnlo and unhealthy, nnd that covering tho nossal chnmbor, from which tho dischargo issues, is studded ovor with deop pink liko ulcers. Tho ulcers nro characteris tic, being oxcavatod as if cut with a punch, but nftcr n timo thoy bccoino ragged at thoir edges, irrogular, enlarged in all directions nnd confluont. Tho spaces botweon tho ulcers aro covered with yellowish pimples which soon bo como ulcoratod. Tho oyo of tho affect ed side is weak and looks smaller than its follows, and an unhealthy dischargo ofton issues from ovor tho face The submaxillary lymphatic of tho samo sido onlargo nnd form a tumor. Somo times Binglo,somotimc8 lobulatcd, which is moro or less firmly adhorant to tho surrounding tissues. This tumor coldom suporatcs; occasi onally, howovor, I havo soon it dovol oped into an nbeess aftor having dis charged a littlo unhoalthy pus, has heal ed slowly, tho tumor, howovor, continu ing ns lurgo or ovon largor than boforo tho Biiporation. If tho animal is allowed to livo theso symptoms romit, and somo of tho ulcors mny cicatrise, but tho finally inoroaso in intopsity and upon tho application of any Blight causo of disorder bocomo rapidly dovolopod into thoso of ncuto glanders. If tho horso is woll takou oaro of it may do light work for a long timo whilst nffoctod with chronio glanders. In tho courso of timo, how ovor, symptoms of farcy appear; it thon becomes n loathsomo objoot, nnd if not doitroyod, accuto glanders alts in and tho nnlmnl dies in a vory short timo. Chronin glanders is moro frequently scon thnn tlio ncuto form in tho horso, but in tho ass and mulo tho lattor Is moro frequently mot with. In acuto glandors tho period of incubation is vory short from three to seven days, whllHt In tho chronio form the period is vory uncertain, extending from a fow days to several months or ovon years. As I havo mentioned in bohio of my former papers that faracy is u kindred disease of glanders, I will cloeo this artiolo on glanders and in my next will tako for my subjoct " Acuto Fnrcy." C. W. J., V. S. An Dxcellent way to plant tho seeds of carrots and parsnips which nro especial ly liable to fail, is to uso n twelve-inch board having u strip of lath nailed on a door cnKiug. Rake tho bed love), and make the surface fine. Lay the board across it, o that the lath comes down ward, und just whero you want tho first row. Wnlk across on tho board once or twlco, and tho lath is pressed into tho soil, making a plain mark. Turn tho board over und plant tho seed in this mark, nnd instead of covering them with soil, uso fino sand, filling tho mark tUBt level full. Tho sand acts as mulch coping tho seeds moist. In it there aro lumps to hold tho plantlots down, and it plainly marks tho rows so that the bed may bo hood ovor boforo tho plants aro up. Rural Now Yorker. Do somo light seeding this spring, in an experimental way. whoro oil other conditions aro equal, und carofully note results. ' M.Vi-fa V df
