Oregon City enterprise., June 25, 1875, Image 1

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DEVOTED TO POLITICS, NEWS, LITERATURE, AND THE BEST INTERESTS OF ORECON.
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OREGON CITY, OREGON, FRIDAY, JUNE 25, 1875.
NO. 35.
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Clackamas County.
it-
EXTEST TAXATION RAILROAD
AN"
SCHOOL LANDS ETC., ETC.
Clackamr-.s connljy is in extent from
north to south, thirty-two miles; and
from east to west, forty-two miles
and contains about one million fifty
four thousand acres of land. There
U fullv three-fourths of the above
amount of land thjit is well adapted
to agriculture, ftjr the purpose of
grain, fruit and gijasscs.
There is about three hundred and
twenty -live thousand acres of this
county that has passed into private
hands There is! about fifty-eight
thousand f.crc of this amount that
is owned by the Oregon & California
Railroad Company. There is prob
ably about fweiity-two thousand
acres of school laijds in this county
now owned by thistate of Oregon.
Thi-i would' malu Aie amount of land
that has already sod from the con
trol of the gene iV' government into
the hands of th State and private
individuals, three hundred and forty
thousand acres.
This last amount deducted from
fie number of acres of land in Clack
a uas county would leave in the
hands of the g -ncral government
about seven hundred thousand acres
of which amomi'. there is at least
throe hundred JLid fifty thousand
aixs that is wolf V lapted to settle
ment, and whenlce put in cultiva
tion will bo fully equal to many of
the older settled plae.is-of this conn
tv. The last nam d amount of land
is subject to hoir stead and preemp
tion settlement. There are no lands
i-i this county tat are subject to
public entry.
The asscel vahieof three hundred
. . 1 1 1 r. . , f 1 .1 .1 1
t!i-t are owned l;jrriva:e individuals
for the year 1S74,
1 u
a
CO
nut-
at an a-.
:;?. of about three
uuiaro per acre,
vith t tie lmprove-
va
r
r. .
valuation of
all
prop--thiV-o
i:i this county, for the year
r.'.i!
foid poj-soual, is
about
The
', mills
mi!
t dollars
r oar was .1
9
it.
0:1 t;
t':.'.
1.7! f
i 1 h.:
t.tx for said
! dollar; cou
ity tax, 10 mills on
..ll..r; pul
ic school tax, 3 mills
lil.ir. After dedneting the
daoss of thi various persons
the conntv from th.: cross as-
.1 s--d value of all property, it leaves
v.bout one milium eight hundred
t'.iousand dollars worth of property
ia tliis county subj.-ot to tax for said
vi- ir. The tax, State, school and
t- .i:ity, in round I -.umbers amounted
to thirty f 'ir t'Aus.md dollars for
:,.dd year. The rovage levy on the
,'. '!.ir during tho past ten years in
this county for State, school and
- .;uitv tax has Veil fourteen and
.:;.vhalf mills on the dollar.
The ll.1ilro.1d I.mds are valued at
from three to eight dollars per acre
Jo the settlor and ample time given
for payment tlurofor. The State
school lauds can be bought for from
one twenty-live to six dollars per
acre. Then; is (p'ate a large amount
of the land of this; county yet unsnr
veyed. AGUlCULTt-KVL AND HORTICULTURAL.
c Clackamis county, Oregon, lying
on both sides of tjic Willamette river
iMiibraces r.n are:oi more man uuu
million of acres
The greater jior-
tion of the coui
lies on the east
side of the Willa!
:te river, extend-
nx on the east r
"he summit of the
Cascade Kar.go of mountains.
Oregon City, the county seat sit
uated at the falls of the Willamette
river is . healthful and has a water
power unsurpassed in the known
world. The land of this county may
be denominated timbered, there
being but a small portion of what
would be called by a western man
prairie. Dumepu:uui" ..w...
most common is ir,
of the several
varieties, red, vuite and yellow.
Along the stream-,, cedar, ash and
maplo abound. In the mountains
spruce, hemlock a id larch are found.
As will be seen fro.m the above list
the prevailing forett trees are resin
ous and evergreei. some ef which
grow to the lieiiltk of 300 or 400
feet an d from cig to twelve feet in
diameter. The sCj ams of water in
this county several of which rise to
the magnitude of ivers ire in what
may he denominated canyons. The
country between constituting an ele
vated plateau or r olling table-land.
These streams afford almost unlimit
ed water power.
On almost ever quarter section
of laud living water of pure limpid
quality is found, (it may bo taken
s approximately Afreet that there
0
bored yet large tr;Lts where the tim
ber is'not thick ffldense, The land
mav properlv be V lied hilly, some
portions quite brVen. The timber
are within the limits of this county
half million acres of land susceptible
of cultivation; most of the remain
der, more than a half a million
of acres, affords luxuriant and abund
ant summer pasturage. The hill lands
of this county are of a reddish clayey
soil with a clay sub-soil and are
readily and permanently improved
by the application of the various
manures used in agriculture. Owing
to the rolling position of the lands
the water cannot stand on them and
hence may be plowed at any time
during the winter or rainy season,
within forty-eight hours after the
heaviest rainfall; a very important
advantage over the level lands where
the water stands for weeks. Another
redeeming quality of these hill lands
is that they do not bake during the
dry season of the year as do the Hat
lands. These lands by thorough
cultivation are wonderfully produc
tive yielding from fifteen to forty
five bushels of wheat per acre ac
cording to the cultivation and the
wheat is of the very best quality.
These lands are noted for their
adaptability to the growth of fall
sown or winter wheat. The yield of
oats is from twenty to eighty bush
els per acre. Rye, barley and flax
grow well though not much cultivat
ed. These lands are also well adapt
ed to red clover yielding from two
to four tons per acre and by the cul
tivation of -which the farmer may
prevent the exhaustion of his lands
sown to grain, keeping up a regular
rotation of crops. These red hill
lands though not the natural home
of timothy will, by good cultivation,
and the use of manure produce fair
crops of timothy and other tame
grasses. Most kinds of vegetables
grow on these hills; potatoes yield
ing from two to four hundred bush
els per acre.
As to fruit for the production of
which Oregon is so noted, the apple,
pear, and plum grow to great perfec
tion on these hills. Some varieties
of the cherry and the grape grow-
well, also strawberry, gooseberry,
raspberry, currant and blackberry.
The above remarks as to the crops
apply to the hill lands because they
predominate in this county. Though
there is considerable extent of
bottom lands with black alluvial
soil in the comity well adapted to
the growth of such crops as are pe
culiar to such lands. There are
sparse settlements spread over say
two-thirds of the arable lands of this
county and in every settlement there
are lands for sale at from three to
forty dollars per acre owing to ex
tent of improvement, nature of soil
and location. Tho remaining third
of arable land is yet unoccupied, the
odd numbered sections embraced in
tho grant to the Rail Road Company
which aro offered for sale at graded
prices. The even numbered sections
still belong to the government which
are subject to homestead and pre
emption entries; these together with
tho school lands and swamp or over
flowed lauds belonging to the State
embrace a vast area of land some of
which are as good as any that have
been taken thus affording ample op
portunity to hundreds, even thou
sands who have the wish to make
homes for themselves by the labor
of their own hands.
As the lands of this county are
timbered, it requires labor to pre
pare them for the plow. When the
land is cleared of the timber and
this has to bo done once for all
time. The nearness of these lands to
ship navigation saves an annual ex
pense which must be incurred in
transportation of the products of
land more remote from the marts of
trade. Portland, the metropolis of
Oregon, which is a port of entry
where steam ships or sailing vessels
arrive and dejiart almost daily, and
with which Oregon City, the county
seat of this county, is in daily com
munication both by rail road and
steamboat affords facility and cheap
ness of transportation which amounts
yearly to a considerable item worthy
of consideration in selecting a home
by the farmer. The distance from
Oregon City to Portland is fourteen
miles.
While we do not wish to make in
vidious comparisons between this
and other counties of our young and
growing State, we do not think for
variety and beauty of landscape, sa
lubrity of climate, and abundance
and purity of living water, our coun
ty is surpassed in this or any other
State.
IRON ORE AND OTHER MINERALS.
Iron ore s found on both banks of
the Willamette river between Ore
gon City and Portland, also in vari
ous other parts, of the county in
practically, unlimited quantity. The
Oswego Iron Company has a furnace
eight miles above Portland on the
river bank and directly, and indi
rectly, gives employment to two
hundred and fifty men, as miners,
coal-burners, wcod-choppers, team
sters and operatives about the stack.
The iron is all made with charcoal
and is of a quality that commands
five dollars per ton more than any
other American iron and ranks above
"Scotch Pig' in the San Francisco
market. This is the only smelting
furnace on the Pacific coast and was
begun as an experiment; but it has
already demonstrated the fact that
our county will soon develop an in
dustry that Avill give remunerative
employment to a large population.
The product of the furnace is about
eight tons per day, and is run con
tinuously throughout tho year ex
cept when necessarily laid up for re
pairs. Limestone and coal are also
found along the foothills of the Cas
cade mountains. The limestone is of
a fair quality, but not equal to that
found in other parts of our State;
while the coal is believed to be equal
to the best, but has not, as yet, been
sufficiently tested to warrant an
opinion as to its actual quality.
First rate building stone mostly of
an igneous character, is found in
abundance and is easily marketed in
Portland by means of rlatboats and
also by rail. Some indications of
gold, silver, and copper aro also
found, supposed to be the outcrop
pings of rich leads; but nono of them
have yet been worked sufficiently to
test their real value.
nsii
Of the finest quality abound in all
tho streams. While the Willamette
and Clackamas swarm with salmon,
the brooks and creeks aro full of the
smaller varieties, of which the most
desirable as well as most abundant,
is the far famed speckled trout. The
falls of the Willamette river, at
which Oregon City is located, has
also been one of the favorite fishing
grounds of tho Indians, where by
the use of nets, immense quantities
of fish are caught each year.
CLIMATE.
The climate is about like that of
the Willamette valley generally.
MINERAL SPRINGS
Have been found in some portions
of the county, tho most celebrated
being "Wilhoit's Soda Springs," the
water from which is said to resem
ble tho celebrated "Congress Water'
of Saratoga, N. Y. It is situated
about twenty miles south east of
Oregon City, and is resorted to every
year by large numbers of invalids
and pleasure seekers who avail them
selves of the medicinal properties of
its health giving waters.
GAME.
Elk, deer, bears, grouse, pheas
ants, pigeons, and quails aro found
in abundance, while the streams,
lakes and marshes teem with water
fowl of almost every variety known
to the temperate zone.
SCHOOL FACILITIES.
There aro sixty-four school dis
tricts in Clackamas county, in which
schools are taught from tliree to nine
months in the year. In most of the
districts the schools are in a very
good condition, and a great deal of
interest is manifested in the subject
of education.
The salary of teachers ranges all
the way from twenty to one hundred
dollars per month.
Number of school children, as per
report of 1S74, drawing public school
moEey, are 2,832; the amount of pub
lic money distributed among this
number, 10,000; number of school
houses, C5, valued at 820,000. At
the county seat Oregon City an
excellent school is kept ui the whole
year, with a good attendence; and
also at Milwaukie and Canemah,
where good teachers are employed at
a salary of $70 to $100 per month,
and all the higher branches of an
English education taught. A tax of
three mills on the dollar in Oregon
City, on the assessable property of
the town, with the public money
drawn, sustains the school the entire
year.
RELIGIOUS BODIES.
The Episcopals, Baptists, Roman
Catholics, Methodist Episcopal, Pro
testant Methodists, United Brethren,
Old School Baptists, Congregation
alists and Christians are all repre
sented in the various parts of the
county, and religious services are
held by the various denominations.
In Oregon City, the Episcopalians
have a Church, rectory and an excel
lent Sunday School, with a resident
minister; the Baptists 'have a fine
new Church and Sunday School, with
a resident minister; the Methodists
have a Church, rectory and Sunday
School, with a lesident minister; the
Roman Catholics have a good ohurch
edifice, rectory, Sunday School and
resident priest; the Congregational
ists have a Church, Sunday School
and have stated services twice each
month. They all have good congre
gations. The county and' city are
well supplied with Churches and
school facilities.
THE WATER POWER AND OTHER ADVAN
TAGES OP CLACKAMAS COUNTY.
The water, power facilities in
Clackamas county- are probably
greater and more varied than all tho
other counties in the State combin
ed. A number of streams flow into
the Willamette on either hand which
would furnish, if necessity called it
into existence, an abundance of
power to found the nucleus of man
ufacturing towns; while at the Wil
lamette Falls in Oregon City tlere is
at least one million of unused
horse power which might be utiliz
ed; (not over five hundred horse
power now in use) besides the above,
the following streams within the
county give opportunity to be, or
are in part utilized: Tho Tualatin,
Clackamas, Molalla rivers, and Clear
creek, Rock creek, Butte creek, Milk
creek, Milwaukio and Beale creeks,
and Sucker Lake, and a great many
lateral streams tributary to these
named, near the foot hills; and al
together.as was before remarked, pre
sent an arrav of possibilities for
manufacturing that will
an immense water power.
aggregate
Thero are three first class flouring
mills in Clackamas county, two at
Oregon City and one at Milwaukie;
they are mostly occupied in grind
ing wheat raised farther up the val
ley, and thus naturally assert our
claim that this county 13 the manu
facturing center for the State; there
aro besides, three or four custom
mills, five or six saw mills, one large
first class woolen mill, tub and buck
et factory, paper mill, and iron ore
are reduction works in the county,
and altogether gives token of its
greatness, in leading in the several
productions and manufactures nam
ed, and presages still greater thing;
for its future. There aro many
trades still unrepresented in the
manufacturing line that ought to be
in operation here, where water power
could be employed as an aid thereto
Clackamas county with its varied re
sources of soil, topography, timber
and water power, presents a combi
nation which within itself contains
the essential elements of empire: its
development although slow, is sure
j-ear by year the statistician notes an
increase of the cereal, fruit and vege
table rrodnctions. acre bv acre, is
being redeemed from tho timber or
brush, and the same indomitable
qualities of character, that sustained
our ancestors, to hew out an empire
of the wildernesses of New York and
Pennsylvania, are at work to reclaim
the wooded and inhospitable parts
of our county; what our success wil
be, we instance what theirs has been
and those who study intelligently
tho possibilites, and wish to locate
with a view of being at the center o
a vast commercial and manufacturing
nucleus, when the demand of the
country shall, (as it will) call it into
existence, cannot bo persuaded to
believe otherwise than that Clackf
mas county is the only one that offers
such an opportunity.
The lands of Clackamas county on
account of its greater proportions of
timber are cheaper than in any other
county in the Willamette valley
this is an anomaly not easily under
stood; but should be availed of by
those seeking homes, while such
state of things yet exist, for it oan
not loner remain so. Clackamas
county wheat is unexceptionably bet
ter than any other produced iri the
valley. The rolling lands on which
it is raised seemingly gives a plump
ness and color not to be had from
that of the flat, lands of the upper
valley, and produces quite as much
to the acre as the average of the said
lands where properly cultivated
Its fruits are also preeminently in
advance of those raised in any othe
county; the polling lands give fre
quent opportunity for planting or
chards in unexposed places, and are
less liable to be injured by frosts
some of the oldest and most pros
perous orchards in the State are lo
cated within the county.
As one acre of Clackamas county
land yields as much of any cereal, as
any where else within the valley, we
hold, on account of its greater prox
imity to market, (Portland) that its
lands are therefore relatively of
greater value, than of districts far
ther away from the emporium in the
ratio of the difference of freight
rates on each acreage of freight; for
instance of general productions it is
safe to compute that one acre of
land will produce one ton of freight,
which if transported from Albany to
COURTESY OF BANCROFT LIBRARY,
UN IVERS TTY nV n.fcT.T-EYADMTA
Portland costs $3, if from Oregon
City to Portland, 75 cents; the dif
ference $2 25 being twelve per cent
interest on $18 50. From this it is
easy to deduce that cultivable lands
h Linn county should be worth
18 50 less per acre than land of a
similar character in Clackamas coun
ty; therefore, whoever buys a farm
in the last named county enjoys an
advantage- of $2 25 per acre of his
cultivable lands per annum oyer the
inn cdunty landholder; the same
comparison holds good as regards to
other agricultural counties within
the valley, tho freight rate given
being about an average for the val-
With a diversity of climate rang
ing through various gradations until
ho top of Mount Hood is reached;
with gold, silver, plumbago and iron
ore beneath her surface; her salmon
fisheries not open to any other agri
cultural county in the State; her
vast forests cf cedar, pine, Avhito and
red fir and maple; her celebrated
Soda springs, whose curative, prop
erties have in ado it famous; her in
exhaustible water powers, her hills,
valleys, agricultural and fruit grow
ing and besides all these, those
other favorable qualities common to
the balance of tho State, present a
bewildering array of natural advan
tages, and combine all the essential
requisites to make the motto intend
ed to summarize for the whole State,
a prototype for Clackamas county
alone, viz: "Alis rojat propriis" "She
flies with her own wings."
MISCELLANEOUS.
There is a population in this couu
ty of about 7,000, of Avhich the great
er part are farmers. Tho number of
voters at the last general election
was 1,031. Thero are twenty post-
ofliees in tho county, as follows:
Beaver, Butte Creek, Canby, Clacka
mas, Clear Creek, Cuttingsville, Da
mascus, Eagle Creek, Glad Tidings,
Highland, Molalla, Milla, Milwaukie,
Needy, Norton, Oregon City, Oswe
go, Sandy, Springwater, Zion. These
postoflices are all located in the cen
tro of settlements, and supply ample
mail facilities. Canby is a railroad
station, and has a store, blacksmith
shop and drug store, and is the poin
of supplies to what is known as Bar
low's Prairie, one of tho finest agri
cultural sections in Oregon, twelve
miles south of Oregon City. Clack
amas is a railroad station, four miles
north of Oregon City, has a store
and blachsmith shop, and has a good
country around it. Clear Creek has
a flouring and saw mill, and a very
fine country surrounding it. Cut
tingsville, fourteen miles southeast
of Oregon City, has some of tho fin
est agricultural land around it in the
county, and a great deal of vacant
land is yet to be had in this locality.
There is a fine opening for a business
place here, and a frame is already up
for a grist and saw mill, with a most
magnificent Avater power. At Eagle
Creek there is a store, and the coun
try in that vicinity is avoII settled,
and some fine farms aro under cnlti-A-ation.
Milwaukie, seven miles north
of Oregon City, is a railroad station,
and located on the Willamette river.
The celebrated Standard flouring
mills are located at this place; a
chair and furniture factory, with an
excellent water power. It is in the
midst of the best fruit-growing sec
tion of Oregon, and many persons
have realized large fortunes in this
occupation. Needy has a fine store,
and is surrounded by some of the
best agricultural lands of Oregon.
It is in the vicinity of what is called
the Molalla prairie. The nearest
market to this place is Hubbard's
station, which is five miles. Norton
has a fine store, blacksmith shop and
a fine Masonic hall, and a flourishing
Lodge. It is surrounded by a well
settled farming community, and is
twelve miles from Oregon City.
Oswego has the famous Oregon Iron
Works, has two stores, blacksmith
shop and a laboring population em
ployed about the Iron Works. It
has facilities for an excellent water
power, and will, at no great future
day, become one of the most impor
tant places in our State. Its Avealth
is unlimited. At Zion, there is a
store, and the country around it is
of the best quality for making good
and prosperous farms. Sandy is a
new settlement, but the rich land in
its vicinity is fast being settled up
and a most prosperous neighborhood
has sprung up. There is yet consid
erable vacant land in this locality.
In Oregon City, the Odd Fellows,
Masons and Good Templars have
flourishing Lodges and the latter
have Lodges throughout the various
localities in the county. The Masons
have a Lodge at Norton's. The State
campmeeting grounds are located
near Canby, and the Spiritualists
have a camp ground about five miles
south of Oregon City.
WESTERN OREGON.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION.
Oregon is the most north-westerly
State in the Union, being situated
betweeen the forty-second ond fovtv
sixth degrees of northern latitude.
It is bounded on the east by Idaho,
on the Avest by the Pacific Ocean, on
the north by the Columbia river and
Washington Territory, and on tho
south by California and Nevada. It
extends, on an average, for 350 miles
east and west, and 275 miles north
and south, and contains tU2 4 square
miles, with an area of about 00,000,-
000 of acres.
The Cascade mountains, Avith taeir
lofty, snow-capped peaks, stretch
across the State from the nortu to
tho south, at a distance of about 110
miles to the Pacific Ocean. They
divide the State into two distinct ge
ographical sections, known as East
ern and Western Oregon.
The latter that is, the region
lying between the Cascade moun
tains and the Pacific Ocean is far
more advanced in civilization than
the former, and Avithin its natural
boundaries nine-tenths of the pres
ent population of the State are living.
In mildness and healthiness of cli
mate, richness of natural resources,
and beauty of scenery, Western Or
egon is unsurpassed by any part of
the United States.
Another chain of mountains, the
so-called Coast Range, also running
north and south, at a distance vary
ing from 40 to 70 miles from the Cas
cade mountains, and proportionately
nearer to the Pacific coast, divides,
in conjunction Avith the last named
chain and the spurs of both, West
ern Oregon into a number of more
or less extensive Aalleys. Tho most
important of these is the great valley
of the Willamette river. Tho Wil
lamette flows from south to north be
tween the Coast Range and Cascade
mountains, in which it has its origin
Tho Willamette valley, the ac
knowledged garden of the Pacific
coast, is about 150 miles in length,
and from 30 to GO miles in Avidth.
The Aallev at large comprises many
minor valleys, traversed by the nu
merous tributaries of the lllam
ette. What Avith the towering
mountains bordering it on the east
and west, and its cliaimmgly diversi
fied surface of rolling prairie, dotted
with wooded hills and fringed with
thickly timbered bottom lands, i
forms a landscape of rare beauty
Nearly the whole of its area is of ex
traordinary fertility, but of the u,000
000 acres included in it only about
400,000 aro as yet cultivated. With
in it are the most important towns o
the State and reside fully two-thirds
of its population.
In tho southern part of Western
Oregon, the largest A-alleA- is that
the Rogue river, Avhich rises in the
Cascade Range and Hows westerly
into tho 1'acihc. It is neii botu 111
agricultural and mineral resources
Between the Rogue river and the
Willamette valley lies that -of the
Unipqua river, another tributary of
tho Pacific. This valley is 75 miles
long, with an average width of 40
miles. It is also very productive
C L.I ?I ATE SALl'UKITY.
The climate of Western Oregon is
mild and equable, differing in this
from that of the Eastern States, that
it is neither too hot in tho summer
nor too cold in tho winter. Owing
to tho proximity of the Pacific and
Gulf stream of that Ocean, snow or
frost neer prevail to any considera
ble degree. Tho average tempera
ture explains this fact. The average
for spring is 52 degrees, for summer
07 degrees, for autumn 53 degrees,
and for winter 30 degrees Farenheit,
showing a mean deviation of only 28
degrees during tho year. The aver
age yearly rainfall is 4l inches
about the same as at Davenport
(Iowa), Memphis and Philadelphia.
Thunder-storms are almost unknown
in Western Oregon, and the disas
trous hurricanes and whirlwinds of
the Atlantic States entirely so.
The low rato of yearly mortality
sjjeaks well for the salubrity of Ore
gon. It is only 1 in 172, while in
Massachusetts and Louisiana it is 1
in 57; in Vermont, tho healthiest
State East of the Rocky mountains,
1 in 1)2; in Illinois and Indiana, 1 in
S7; and California, 1 in 101.
The equable temperature, the ab
sence of high cold winds and sud
den atmospheric changes render
the people less subject to bron
chial, rheumatic, and inflammatory
complaints than in other parts of the
country Avhere the extremes of heat
and cold are greater and the changes
of temperature more sudden and vio
lent. Malarious fevers prevail to
somo extent in the close proximity
to Avafer-courses, but they are of a
mild type, and yield readily to treat
ment. NATURAL RESOURCES.
Soil. In the river bottoms black
loam jire vails. The prairie lands im
mediately between the river bottoms
and the hills, forming the outrun
ners of the great mountain ranges
and known as "foot hills" consist
usually of a dark deep loam or marl,
with a clay sub-soil. The hill lands
consist mostly of red, brown or
black loam, the red predominating
in the central portion of the valley
and the black near the mountains.
Timber. On the low lands, such
eA-ergreens as the fir, cedar, pine and
yew, as well as oak, ash, maple and
alder, grow in abundance for all pur
poses. In the foot hills, scattering
oaks and firs, with a thick second
groAvth in many places, are found.
The mountain ranges are mostly
heavily timbered with tall firs, pine,
spruce, hemlock, cedar, larch and
laurel, without much undergrowth,
except near watercourses. The
growth of timber reaches what would
be considered extraordinary dimen
sions at the Atlantic States; the fir
and pine attain very great heights.
Minerals. Iron and lead are found
in various parts of the State in large
quantities. Lime stone and coal
have been found at many points.
Gold and siR-er have been discovered -
all over the State, but only in South
ern and Eastern Oregon in quantities
warranting mining operations.
Natural Grasses. The native grass,
known as bunch grass, grows all over
the State. It is A ery fine, sweet and
nutritious, and retains its fattening
qualities until late in autumn.
Water bupply. Oregon is proba
bly the best watered State in the
Union. Western Oregon is traversed
in all directions by rivers and smal
ler Avatercourses, fed by springs,
melting snow from the highest moun
tains and copious rains. There is a
regular rainy season, lasting from
earK' in November till April. Owing
to the abundant rain, the extreme
dryness that regularly preA ails in the
other Pacific States during the sum
mer season, is not experienced in
Oregon. Soft, pure Avater abounds
everywhere. Tho country is also
supplied Avith water power for indus
trial purposes. xNumerous mineral
springs aro lound in tne mamette
valley, some ot avuicu are places 01
resort for inAalids.
Fisheries. The Columbia river is
noted for its fine salmon, which, in
various forms of preservation, consti
tutes an article of export to all parts
of the world. The fish are taken in
tide Avater in immense quantities.
fresh from the ocean, as they ascend
tho river. Tho salmon catch, as
worked by nets and traps, now yields
annually one million and a half of
dollars, and a vast field is still open
for the business. Many other kinds
of fish are taken. The mountain
streams are full of fine trout.
Game. Elk, deer, black and griz
zly bears, Oregon cougar, or Califor
nia lion, Avith numerous other smal
ler quadrupeds; and swans, geese,
ducks, grouse, pheasants and quails
constitute the game of the country.
Of the larger game, only the deer
frequent the inhabited portions of
the country. The Avinged game is
especially abundant.
PROBICTS.
Oregon is unquestionably tho fin
est farming country in the United
States. Every kind of agricultural
product that grows at all in Oergon,
attains a perfection both as to sizo
and quality that is rarely found in
other parts of the Union, excepting
California. This is as strictly true
of cereals as of vegetables and fruits.
Grain. Tho Avheat of Oregon is
noted for its superior quality, and
commands a high price in the grain
markets of the Avorld. The berry is
very fair and full, often Aveighing G5
pounds to the bushel measurement.
Wheat is the principal prodnet. Oats
are next in importance. The stand
ard Aveight for oats in Oregon is 30
pounds, but the soil and climate is
so Avell adapted to their grow th that
the Aveight of 40 pounds to the bush
el is often reached. Barley is also
successfully raised. Corn is grown
in many localities Avith success, but
it is not made a specialty, the aver
age summer being too cool for its
successful culture. With good cul
tivation tho wheat lands will yield
from 25 to 45 bushels of wheat per
acre; 40 to CO bushels of barley, and
from 50 to 80 bushels of oats. These
figures can be relied on.
Weevil, smut or drouth is seldom
known in Oregon. Xo failure of the
wheat crop has occurred since the settle
ment of the country, that is, during a
continuous period of thirty years.
Flax. The soil and climate of
Western Oregon seem peculiarly '
favorable to the culture of flax, but
thus far its culture has been pursued
mainly for the seed. The lint has
been tested in Europe (Dundee and
Belfast) , and competent authorities
have pronounced it, in fineness,
strength and quality, quite equal to
the best European growths.
Vegetables. A superior quality of
eA-ery kind of Aegetables is grown.
Potatoes, cabbages, turnips, carrots,
squashes, beets, parsnips, cucumbers,
tomatoes and onions grow in profu
sion. Potatoes yield from 200 to 500
bushels to the acre. Root diseases
are unknown.
Frvit. Apples, pears and plums
grow in such abundance that trees
have to be regularly propped up to
prevent them from breaking under
weight of the crops. Pears, plums,
cherries and German prunes aro very
superior. Strawberries, currants,
raspberries and gooseberries grow
abundantly, and have a peculiarly
fine flavor. Several varieties of the
hardier kinds of grapes are raised in
large quantities. Peaches grow Avell
in some favorable localities, but tho
Willamette valley cannot be called a
good peaeli country, owing to tho
coolness of the summer nights.
Cultivated Grasses. Timothy, or
herds' grass, groAvs Avell in every part
of tho State, and is the staple article
for hay. Red and white clover, with
proper preparations of soil, grow lux
uriantly. Alfala, blue grass and or
chard grass do finely' everywhere.
Live Stock Tho mild Avinter clim
ate of Oregon, and the fact that grass
remains green nearly the Avholeyear,
make it an excellent country for rais
ing every kind of stock. Oregon
wool is of recognized superior qual
ity, owing to the cool summers.warm
winters and continued green feed for
sheep. The avooI clip for 1874 reach
ed 3.000,000 pounds.
Dairies. The climate especially
favors the successful pursuit of the
dairy business. Tho cool summer
nights, the abundance of cool spring
water, the freedom from sultry and
wet weather and thunderstorms dur
ing the warm season greatly facilitate
the production of butter and cheese.
POPULATION, TOWNS, Si.
The population of Oregon is about
100,000 souls. The principal centre
of population is the city of Portland,
the commercial emporium of the
State, with a population of 15,000,
Continued on fourth page.
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