Vol. XLH.
Corvalus, Benton County, Oregon Tuesday, March 21, 1J)Oo.
No 3
BENTON COUNTY.
As Written Up by the Pacific
Homestead Man Facts of .
Great Interest.
If there is any section of that
garden spot of the Northwest,
toe wmameue vaiiey, mar ae-
ton county.
Situated as it is with its 44,000
acres in the very heart of the
valley, embracng every desir
able feature of soil and climatic
conditions, its mild equitable cli
mate, free from extremes, being
especially note worthy. The hu
midity in the . winter warps the
country within its folds, warding
off its' injurious frosts, while the
breath of the tropics wafted along
the coast by the Japan current en
ables the residents of this favor
ed section to enjoy the : fragrance
of ever-blooming roses and to la
bor in open air the whole winter
through. ; The prevailing winds
here come, from the south and
southwest and there are practical
ly no Hard winds. . there is uo
oppr"i;ive summer heat, no sun
stroke, iio sweltering, restless
nights ; for no matter how warm
may be the day, the evening
brings with it the pleasant, in
vigorating breezes of the sea.
While the East is wrapped in the
relentless embrace of the bliz
zard, or gasping for air' during
the long summer nights, Benton
county sees its citizens working
in the fields, planting for '."-the
coming, harvest, or gathering the
golden grain, sure ot a . cool, re
freshing - night's rest after the
day's work is over.
Not only this, but it is favored
with every variety of soil, to be
found in. the Northwest, from the
deep sandy loam of the river bot
toms, the DiacK and lighter color
ed alluvial soils of the vallevs.
to" the red soils of the uplands.
These soils produce every' variety
ot cereal known-wheat," barley,
rye, speltz, vetch, ' clover, flax,
and oats, yielding from 20 to 100
bushels to the acre, according to
the soil. - , ,
While the uplands do not yield
so bountifully of cereals.- they are
excellent lands fori pastures "for
all kinds of stock, abounding
with many springs, , abundant
with grass, and with oak and ash
timber. These uplands are the
natural home of goats and sheep
in fact,' some of the finest flocks
of "Angoras in the United States
are to be found on these upland
: pastures. - .' '-'.
Not only does Benton county
produce over 1,000,000 bushels
of grains and thousands of tons
of hay, but the fame of the coun
, ty as a hop-growing section is be
coming world-wide, a . yield of
1,500 pounds per acre being com
mon, and, taking into consider
ation the fact that the average
price of hops for the last five
years has been from 10 to 30
cents per pound, it can readily be
seen that the labor of the hop
grower is. not without reward. v
Potatoes grow to perfection
here, yielding from 300 to qoo
bushels per acre, and the price of
late has been very' good. The
labor of cultivating has been re
duced to a minimum, as there are
no potato bugs for the growers to
contend with. v ; ;
Beans, peas,, cabbage and all
other vegetables do - exceedingly
' stock, yield from : 20 to 30. tons
per acre.
.' Everywhere in the county can
be found trees and vines bending
beneath a weight oi luscious fruit
of every description, and, though
' the fruit industry in Benton coun
ty is as yet not fully developed.
the apples,-prunes,: etc., owing to
their general excellence, find ready
sale in the markets oi Europe,
; the eastern : part of the United
States, China, Japan and Mexico.
Dairying, while yet in its in-
. fancy in this county, is sure to
become a great industry in- the
near, future, for owing to the cool
days and nights, the absence of1
mos4uitoes and oth r pests, make 1
it unnecessary to fei-d stock such !
quantities as it requites in the
colder climates. This reduces the,
cost of production of cream and
butter, thus making dairying a
profitable pursuit for one under
standing the business. ;To . such
as fear the market is over-stocked
it is but necessary to say that car
loads of butter and tons of cheese
are annually shipped into Oregon"
from the East and Middle West,
and through the state to .Alaska
and the Orient, which could be
manufactured much cheaper here.
Prices range from 17 to 40 cents
per pound for good butter, while
cheese brings from 10 to 18 cents
per pound, according to class and
quality. In connection with the
butter and cheese there is an un
limited ; demand v for condensed
milk at good prices. So taking
it all in all the dairying industry
in Benton county presents unlim
ited possibilities. ' '
The poultry business also " has
advantages unsurpassed in any
country, as there is , an abundance
of green food the year 'round and
grain food is inexpensive. The
weather seldom gets cold enough
so that hens cease laying,' and
they are. healthy, and' prolific.;
Cholera, roup, or gaps, so "preva-
ent. in the -East, is- unknown
here, iiggs sen at irom 20 to 35
cents and chickens from $3 to $5
per dozen and ducks - and geese,
and turkeys at from 12 to 18 cents
per pound gross. The local de-
mana is not suppneq even, ana
this requires that large shipments
be made into the state each vear
n order to meet the ever-increas
ing necessity of its people; The
reason the industry is v not more
fully developed is that the aver
age person does not realize the
profit to be derived from a proper
ly conducted poultry; farm, and
when the people take up poultry
raising in earnest Benton county,
with its mild climate," cheap grains
and abundant green foods,- will
become famous far its poultry and
eggs. ,';;' : -4 ,:
At present the county has not
which are of a very Commodious
character, fitted for . both pissen
ger and freight-service, and do a
good business between the valley
towns and the city of Portland.
This daily service bv rail and
water brings the people of Ben
ton county into closer touch with
all "the ; rest of the state, and es
pecially; the Willamette valley,
the sea coast and the Oregon me
tropolis, having as a matter of
course its effect on its social . life.
There is a large and growing
trade with Alaska, Mexico, Cen
tral and South America, the
Sandwich Islands, the. Philip
pines. China, and Japan : - These
countries have just awakeued to
the fact that the products of the
Northwest are unsurpassed and
properly fitted to their needs, and
with the Lewis and Clark Expo
sition this year as an obiect les
son of what can be done, a great
demand for Oregon's products is
sure to arise. -:' - '
Anyone desiring to invest cap-
itai in enterprises wiiere the re
turns are sure, or anyone desiring
a homem a land that for its pro
ductiveness cannot be excelled.
might well consider Benton county-:''.i';3;-v
V:-:'--;v:v':'
. Benton county is well eduip-
ped with public schools, and in
addition to its common 'i grades,
there is located . the State ; Agri
cultural College, one of the best
educational institutions in the
state. 3 There practical agricul
ture is taught in all its branches;
military "instruction,, is given the
boys of the school by- a , regular
army omcer, and the scientific
and -i literary course is as usually
taught in first-class colleges, f ;
Benton county, has .the usual
social privileges, churches, liter
ary organizations, and other
meaas of bringing people together
in social, harmonious life. .
CHARGED WITH MURDER.!
The Law Takes Its Course De.
. velopments of Sharratt '
Case. ?
Prohibition Contest.
Ut late more tn an usual in
terest has been 1 manifested in
prohibition by various adherents
of this doctrine and in ' conse-
the manufacturing industries her queace the Prohibition League
resources warrant, yet there are at UAL is ma healthy condition
six"; flouring mills with a daily The League holds monthly meet
capacity of 650 barrels, eight or ings and ; each meeting sees an
ten. saw mills which supply the increase in the membership. As
local market and shin several mil- a rule, there J is much discussion
ion feet of lumber annually to of interest at -these - gatherings
other markets, one sash and door land an impromptu program ren
factorv. one ice factory, a furni- dered
ture factory, one organ and car- .Next fnday evening-a contest
riage factory j one hard-wood man-1 will be held at the college for
ufactunne olant. which turns the the purpose ot deciding who
excellent, hardwood timber- for shall have the ; honor of repre
which the valley is famous into sen ting O AC at the State Pro
wa?on eearinsi" suDDlies. besides hibition contest held in McMinn-
Recently this paper his several
times referred tp the case of E.
G. Sharratt, who is supposed to
have been murdered on the night
of Jan.' 21st. ; The scene of the
tragedy was at the home of Mr.
and Mrs. Fred Green, at Lutjens,
Or. ' Lutiens is situated in Lin
coln county, not far from Wald-
port. ' r 'i:--'-:': ' :
Of the subsequent arrest of
Mrs. Green, in Portland, and of
her husband, in Lincoln county,
each charged with the murder of
of Sharratt, mentioned was also
made. The following notes are
from the last issue of the Toledo
Reporter: ; .
Sheriff Ross returned from
Portland by Tuesday's train hav
ing in custody Mrs. ' Green' who
is jointly with ner " husband ac
cused of murdering E. G. Shar
ratt.- A very serious charge.
Sheriff Ross with Mrs. Green
in charge, who is arrested under
the grave charge of murder, took
the Wednesday's train for Wald
port, where she will have her
preliminary examination. 1 At
torneys B. F. Swope and B. F.
Jones goes as prosecutors. , The
prisoners will be defended by
C.-.E. Hawkins, and W. S. Mc-
Fadden and 7 Fred' Yates of
Corvallis, the -sheriff also con
veyed prisoner Green,, probably
as witness. Green is the husband
ana has had , his hearing and is
committed without bonds: Judge
J. J. Whitney, 1 of Albany, came
as far as Toledo; but seeing there
shquld be a limit even to attor
neys, remained over ; night in
Toledo, returning : home, by to
days train, burely this case is
getting to be an important one
as the people will realize later.
the parties who did the shooting,
it it was d-Hie bv others tba?
himself. ; And et how easy i.
would have been fr him to have
solved the problem. ;
' M r. Green . was p t rested las
Friday at Waldport, and abou
the same lime - Mrs. Lrreen was
arrested in Portia nd, both charg
ed with the muidtr of Mr. Shai-
ratt. ' " ' . -
Mr. Green was tTied n Satur
day by Justice WaVcfield an
was committed to await the cir
cuit court. , Mrs. Green will b
taken before Justice Wakefield
for examination. Deputy Dis
trict Attorney B.i E.' Swope has
charge of the prosecution and C.
E Hawkins appears for the de
fendant.
The
Corvallis
Gazette
Draws Attention to Signs.
Editor Gazette..
It str.kes me, and will likely
appeal to others in the same way,
that great improvement could
be made in the appearance of
ihe town in many ways. ' I notice
that in a good many other towns
of the Valley, the various Citizen
Leagues are taking hold of things
with a will. To profit by the
experience of others is always a
safe and wise thing to do.
. By the way, of improvement
in other towns the people ' are
giving heed to the character of
signs posted. Also where they
are posted and the manner of
doing the." work. There are,
about -Corvallis, innumerable
signs that look like"Sam Patch."
Some were horrid to start with,
and others .are torn and on the
ragged edge generally. , Further
more, school children and others
are in the habit of throwing
papers and that class of rubbish
along the walks. All unneces
sary as it is unsightly. It seems
as. though something could be
done in a matter of so much
importance to us during this, of
all years. C.
A twic$-a-week newspaper
containing 72 columns each
week of the current news of
Benton Count; 4
Semi-
Weekly
shipping over three hundred car
loads of lumber to San Francisco,
Portland and ; other points for
maufacturing ' - purposes every
year. ' -
, The county's resources offer
abundant.material for the manu
facture of paper, leather, : excel
sior, starch, wooden-ware, woolen
goods, and many other things.
Benton county1 has excellent
transportation facilities, being fa
vored with one line crossing it
from east to west, terminating: at
tide water, on the Yaquina bay,
and connected with the main line
There are many - peculiarities
of - the case, - chief of which is
that although Mr. Sharratt re
covered consciousness prior to his
death sufficiently to dispose of
his worldly possessions and to talk
over, his business affairs. Vet
when approached ; upon the sub
ject of killing he presistently re
fused to state anything about
who did it or how it was done,
and at times "refusing to answer
at all and at other .times simply
stating that he didn't know.
, There appeared to be some
reason iu his mind for shielding
SIGNS OF FAILING VISION.
When your eyes tire in reading, when
you frown or partly close the eyes when
looking at an object: when things
'swim" '"or become dim after being
looked at for some time; when the eyes
ache, smart, or water; or when you have
pain in the eyeball, orbit; temples or
lorehead.,
AH the conditions are curable by prop
er glasses, snclra9 we will furnish yon
aiter a ttcientiiic examination.-.
MATTHEWS, The Optician,
Boom 12, over First National Bank
for ehlldreat cafe, turt. Jio opiate
All the local news all of the
time, with a large amount of '
miscellaneous martet.
Splendid
Serials
An interesting serial .story
running every week in the
Gazette. '
ville next . May. . There will be
five orations . bv ' the following
persons: ' Mr. Darling:, Miss
Alice Wicklund. John J. Shroe
der, Ray Stout and Roy Harlan
A fine musical program will be
given, there will be a vocal
solo by Miss Gertrude McBee: a
song; by a quartet consisting; of
Messrs. Webber, Bouquet, Herse
and 'Bauer;- vocal solo. Miss
Bertha Williams: mandoline
duet, Miss Una Stewart and F,
M. Stokes. '
Two gold medals will be award
ed, and the winner will have the
r
For Sale.
Thoroughbred Barred Plymouth Bock
cockerels at $1.00 each. Call on F. R.
Barnes at (Tranter, South 01 Station or
address Corvallis R. F. D, So. 1.
nf the SmitWn Paoifif at Al. honor ot representing; UAt, at
banv. Also with a line of the tfae state ; contest. This will
Southern Pacific railway direct likely prove of great interest and
from Corvallis to Portland down a large crowd . is predicted.
the west side of the WilUmette
vallev. These roads give Corval
lis and incidentally, all the coun
ty three trains a day to Portland
and return, and a tram a day ; to
and fro between Corvallis arid
Yaquina Then again Corvallis
and the southern part of the coun
ty : is now promised connection
with the city of Eugene over an
electrie line, franchises for which
have been granted and work1 on
which, it t is said will- begin ere
long.
Then in addition to its railway
lines the city of Corvallis and
other points on the Willamette
river have the - advantage of
splendid steamboat ' service dur-
the Oregon City -Transportation
Company running - steamboats
" Women's Kidneys.,
Women a e more eften affected with
kidney disorders than men but attribute
the symptoms to , diseases- , peculiar to
their sex,v while in reality the kid-
beys are ' deranged. . Nervousness,- head
ache puffy or dark circles under the eyes,
pain in the back, are signs . of kidney,
tioublethat must not be ignored.or a mal
ady will result. Foley's Kidney cure has
restored tbs health of thouaands of weak
nervous, broken down women. . It stops
irregularities and strengthens the urinary
organs, it purifies the biood. and benefits
the whole system. Sold by Graham and
Wort ham,
. And save money. House-cleaning is at hand and we are prepared to furnish
? everything needed in the home, at prices that defy honorable competition i :
Our new Spring Stock of Go-carts is here. They are the latest styles fold-
ing" and reclining and abeve all, cheap. : . 1 ,
In Wall Paper we have some nice, , new patterns. - A glance at ' our racks will
convince you that our stock is large and complete a . fair quality for 5 cents and
' 10 cents per double roll . -
You Will Want carpets,, too. : We can sell you a good quality (not the best)
at 30 cents per yard, sewed and laid without extra cost. Come and see.
f . . . - " T .
'THenks, Vfs, Washers, Wringers and
SECONB-HAtlD GOODS