9
COUNTY, ORE.
THE HEPPNER GAZETTE, THURSDAY, JANUARY 1, 1903.
MORROW
A
Great Stock, Wool and Wheat Country
Where Good Opportunities are Offered
to Settlers Seeking Homes.
LAND VALUES RAPE! INCREASING
With the Development of Extensive Coal
Mines, and the Many Natural Resources,
Insures a Bright Future.
Av. ' - : v 'V
The faot tbat Morrow oonuty with
over 1,300,000 acres of 1bd3, extending
from the Columbia river southward (or
a dutaLoe of G5 miles, with bo average
width of about 35 miles, aod with a pop
ulation of ouly from 5000 to 6000 people
to the persoD not acquainted with the
actual oooditioos, it would look like
something was wrong. But such is not
the case. Like u great territory of the
Inland Empire in Northeastern Oregon,
or in fact all that portion of Oregon ly
ing Eist of the Casoade Mountains, we
have been passed by by settlers and
bbmcseekfTs who have gone to other
Bcotiona that have had the benefit of
more nysto'ruatio and better advertis-iatf .
IN-opIc Well To Io.
T j extreme isolation can be attributed
tiie main oauee for this. People bate
failed to oome here end investigate and
good opportunities have been lying dor
mant for all tbese years.
People who did oome here have been
successful and are very prosperous in all
kinds of industry. Tbe people of Mor
row county are, generally speaking, well
to do.
Tbe faot that the great commercial
highway, tbe O. R. k N. railroad passes
through tho extreme northern portion of
the oouutry going through what is termed
the sand country, it in a measure, or fit
would be batter to say in former years,
a barrier to immigration and especially
trsangera, not from any fault of this
splendid railway system wbiob follows
the easy grade of tbe Columbia river, but
from tbe desolate appearance of tbe
country.
Tbe Sand Country.
For tbe entire width of the county
there is a narrow atrip of arid land only
about eight miles wide on an average,
covered with shifting sands from tbe
winds that sweep up and down the great
Colombia.
This disintegration caused by the
waters of the great river which from tbe
erosion of ages have gradually settled
into a permanent bed aod left tbe sands,
gives to tbe stranger as viewed from tbe
river, tbe appearauce of a great desert.
Thia arid district is deceptive to tbe
eye. Thousands of head of sheep, cat
tle and burses range in this sand and
wax fat upon tbe luxuriant native
grasses tbat grow in this sand. AH that
this laud needs to become highly pro
ductive, is tbe introduction of water,
and tbe time will oome when this coun
try will be irrigated with government
aid, tbe movement for which is just now
being started and agitated. With plenty
of water this would become one of tbe
greatest fruit distriots in the Northwest.
The altitude ia such, coupled with tbe
proper climate that it makes a very fav
orable combination of conditions for tbe
growth of Hoe fruit.
Formerly Val Knnge.
Twenty years ago, tbe .territory now
inclnded ia Morrow county was a vast
rarjge and was not considered, fit (or
anything else. Ia tbe early 80's farm
ing was introduoed by a few people in
tbe Eight Mile and BUck Horse districts.
The results were satisfactory and it was
demonstrated tbat tbe bunob-rass land
wbiob was heretofore considered worth
less would produce cereals aid bay if
properly cultivated.
County Named.
Prior to the year 1885, tbe territory of
Morrow ooonty was included in Uma
tilla, bat as tbe country beoame settled
the inconvenience of such a large oounty
became an importaut question, aod
through tbe efforts of Hon. J. L. Mor
row, who was a member of the Oregon
Legislature, a division of the county was
scoured, and by act of tbe legislature
tbe present boundarifB or Morrow couuty
were established. For bis untiring
work, tbe oounty was named after tbis
venerable pioneer.
.Stock and Wool I'roduction.
Io tbe matter of stock aod wool pro
duction Morrow is o'oe of the principal
oouoties of the state. Climatic condi
tio! are most favorable. The natural
adaptation to animal husbandry brings
to tbe stockgrower a sure aud Ligb per
oent of profit wbioe has stimulated the
industry until tbe stock and wool busi
ness has attained a high state of per-
Cittle shipments amount to about 900
bead, and at the least calculation were
worth 25 00 per bead.
Tbe above shipments do not iuolude
several crloads of boss, as well as the
surplus 2-year-old cattletbat weredriven
out for feeders. About 30,000 head of
sheep were also driven out.
WheD it is considered that a good
portion of Morrow oounty is deeded
land ar.ul nuder fenoe, arid that for the
yearl902, the county produced 1,250,000
bushels of wheat, (his seerr.8 au enor
mous output, no' ouly for the eizs of
the territory but for the o rnpftrutively
few people in tbe ccrjDty to handle.
Natural Ailvuiifnjrrs for- Sl U.
Such a stock output would not be pos
sible if it were not for the peculiar ad
vantages tbat tbe oonnty possesses for
the growing of stock.
Such a vast number of hoofs are not
and could not be kept entirely within
tbe borders of Morrow tbe entire year.
A long aod narrow western spur of the
Blue Mountains skirts tbe extreme south
eastern portion of tbe county, nod to
tbe east spreads out spider like into n
great range of mountains wboi-e bigb
peaks and bills pieroe tbe clouds at bigb
altitudes. In this range of mountains
covering a great territory, rests the s -
IF ff
. ate .v- 43w re
fection. This is the home of Ibe cele
brated bunob grass, and the wonderful
amount of nutriment tbat it contains
has given tbis Dative grass a wide repu
tation. From careful observation and good
authority a conservative estimate plaoes
tbe number of stook in Morrow oounty
as follows:
Sheep, 225,000, valued at $500,000.
Cattle, 6000. valued at $150,000.
Horses, about 4000 head of work and
range horses worth all the way from $10
to $100 per bead.
It ebould be remembered that in giv
ing the amount of stock at tbis time,
tbe holdings of stockmen are not heavy
for stookraisers have reduced tbeir flocks
and herds to the minimum ic order to
cut down as much as possible the cost of
winter feeding.
Stock Shipment.
From reliable information tbe stock
shipments for the year are as follows:
Horses, 1600. These horses were mostly
animals from the ranges unbroken. Such
horses are worth from $10 to $25 per
head.
Sheep, about 60,000, worth at a con
servative estimate $120,000.
oret of the possibility of Morrow county
making snob a great showing in tbe bus
iness of stock growing. Tbis vast terri
tory of mountain land is principally
owned by the government. Tbe heavy
snows of winter aod being covered witb
timber makes a great reservlr tbat
holds moisture all summer. Everywhere
when not overstocked, there is an abun
dance of native grass. In tbe spring
stockmen commence moving fheir herds
to tbe mountain ranges, where they are
kept nntil late in tbe fall.
Most of tbe ftockmen own larje
rauches in the county. While the stock
are being raDged in tbe mountains tbe
grass on the home ranches ia allowed to
grow during tbe summer, and when the
berds oome in in tbe fall fat and sleek
gras9 on tbe home ranch is ready for
eood winter pasture, B0, after tbe stock
man bas turned off bis surplus, there in
plenty of range for the winter.
Government land is now abont
all taken in Morrow county, how
ever there are a few claims that
are still vacant that aro worth
taking.
NOBLE &
CAMPBELL
Manufacturers
of
Saddles and
Harness.
Being located in the heart of a great stock country we
have an opportunity to study the details of scientific sad
dle making. Years of experience enable us to make a
saddle for ease to both man and horse, tha'. is unexcelled.
Our trade extends all over the Northwest. Write for
prices and photographs. Heppner, Oregon.
THE BELVEDERE.
The best brands of Wines,
Liquors and Cigars.
The Best Orchestra in the City.
The Belvedere is situated in a new stone
build ine with all the modern fixtures to
make it comfortable. Obliging Mixolo
gists on duty day and night. -
lb
Street
Heppner,
Oregon.
J. J. ROBERTS
General Contractor and Builder
Stone fronts built and remodeled;
Cottages put in up-to-date style;
Plans and estimates given on all
kinds of work
?QV SHORT NOTICB 1
Also does general repair work and
guarantees the best of satisfaction.
OFFICE ON MAIN STREET.
W. P. Scrivnen
General Blacksmithing and Repairing.
Wood work and wagon making, and
Special attention given to Horseshoeing.
First Class Work Guaranteed.
Shop oq Main Street, hjeppoer.
low is
time to Sn We