toots jJo Dnito Courier V *W V k' I, ■ ~ VOb. XI., No. fl. __________ awkmiated pkmm MKKvict " VNITED PEEKS SERVICE —«I OKANTW PAM. JOHgPHINB OOVNTT, OREGON. MATIRDAY, DE< EMBER 11, IPSO. WHOLE Xl .MBEK 31 IS. I Region is an Agricultural Empire in Itself and Holds Potential Fortunes in Development of District • 1 Valley Im-ludre Many l-arge and Beautiful Tract« Producing Va­ der Progrraalve Methods Yellow Metal Formerly Take» From Surrounding Hills Now A survey of the Illinois valley re- I solves Itself Into an Individual sur- ! vey of the tribute which j are to be found the chief farming operations of this section, and leav- I ing the valley of the Rogue, the first Comprising within Its territorial ly. The Illinois vslley Is entering lutke Itigli on Mountain to I m - Made of these is Deer Creek. Iti-eervoir Which Will Give limits u small agricultural empire In Its transition period. The region of most highly devel­ | grain for hay, and 40 acres which Today the Twenty miles southwest from Itself, that part of Josephine county land holdings are In tracts of consid­ Ample Irrigation Water Grants I’ass. on the Crescent City oped farming operations throughout had been in grain, lying fallow this known by the general term "the Illi­ erable size The land holdings of highway, you reach the top of Hayes the lilinios valley is the fetrile val­ year for pasture. The red clover nois Valley" 1» a mountain reservoir tomorrow will I ms lodsy’s homesteads Hill and look over the valley of the ley bottom drained, by Sucker creek, yielded 14 tons the first cutting and ot accumulating wealth that will of 1660 acres and up subdivided Into Already a movement has assumed Illinois. Three miles more will car­ and here Is to be found the bulk or 12 tons the second, while the grain some day furnish the power for tracts of 30 to 80 acres. Instead of 1 definite form In the Illinois valley ry you down the slope iptq the valley the cultivated acreage of the entire hay went 25 loads, of practically 25 (Operating within Itself s hum of In­ cropping the land to grain year after which will bring muob needed relief floor of Deer creek, and you are district. This section includes also tons. The 40 acre tract which has dustry and progress marked by great year, wearing out the soil, or depend­ to the farm land« of Sucker creek ready to survey the first important Alehouse creek, a smaller tributary, been pastured is now being leveled Industrial opportunity. ing upon the land merely for winter and the Althouse region in the so­ tributary acreage In the Illinois sys­ in which are several very productive with a tractor and after being placed This section which Includes the feed for stock, these «mailer farms lution of the water problem. As has tem. You will later find two other farms, and a valley capable of con­ in tip-top condition will be sowed to extent of the Illinois river Itself, and will be the dairy farms that mean been pointed out elsewhere, only a creeks also of greater importance tn siderable development in the way of clover and alfalfa. They will put particularly the valley floors ot aec­ success to the country. Already the fraction of cultivable land in this the production totals of the region, increasing cultivated acreage. In the the entire place in crop rotation and oral very Imimrtant tributaries, has tendency toward thoroughbred stock, district is now tilled and Irrigated, namely Sucker creek and Althouse course of this review we note as well, will go into the beef and sheep game. had a varied and extremely Interest­ building up of soil and rotation of and until relief Is found no addi­ creek, and numerous other smaller what farming there is about Tak­ The 59 acre .arm of George Ben­ Ing history. What we may term Ita crops Is beginning to make Itself no­ tional lands will be placed In cultiva­ systems. On the broad valley floor ilma and the upper Illinois. son is the next one up the road, contemiKirary history dales baca to ticeable In The Sucker < 'reek District tion. Tlie situation In short is sim­ of the main stream lack of water has where there are some 4 or 5 acres the golden-hued days of *50 and *51, Out of Kirby and on the Holland in grain for hay. an acre of orchard Only a small percentage of the ply that the present system of irriga­ long since halted any tendency to­ then the overflow from the tremen- total acreage of cultivable land la tion Is such that the lands now in ward agriculture, but the building of road, we come to the 500 acre tim­ and some garden, and beyond this dous Influx of gold-seekers to the now under cultivation through that cultivation are using up all the pres- 1 •torage systems will make this ex­ ber tract owned by Mrs. E. M. place the little tract farmed by Geo. California fields swept over the region, but before thia further sub­ ently available water for irrigation. tensive tract available for the pur­ Thompson, whose little home is a McDougal. mountains, always pushing fsrther division and further farming can lesson in what a little care and water Water Master Kays Practicable poses of production. We now leave the main road for and farther In the search tor the El take place, one great obstacle must will do toward beautifying a place. a short distance and turn to the Water Master Ojidycke is partic­ HalM-rman Roach Beautiful Tract Dorado, the mother lode which was I m » overcome. ularly Interested In developing the Returning now to the Deer Creek Her brother. Frank Thompson, has a left to the Babcock farm, a 248 acre the source of all free gold. Relief Needed In Irrigation water for this region, and has fur- 1 valley, we turn west at the town of saw mill set up on his property and tract with some 68 acres In produc­ Was Gold 4'enter The Illinois valley today Includes ntahed figure« to show »'hat may be Selma, and running do*n under the Is milling the timber. The next pdace tion. This Is all irrigated, and the After the first force ot the great the limit of cultivated land which accomplished by concerted action* in very shadow of Eight Dollar moun­ is the farm owned and operated by J. entire tract is capable of cultivation rush of Immigration In the south had can be Irrigated from the present the matter. tain arrive at the fine tract ownSd J. Fulk. This tract has an acreage after the timber has been cleared. It Is estimated at the Water Mae- and operated by Haberman Brothers, of 336 acres total, with 150 acres There are now on the farm 8 acres spent Itself, this Illinois valley re­ sources of water, and some solution, gion become In Ila turn a maelstrom probably through storage reservoirs, tor's office that there are now some a 400 acre farm of whiclt 320 acres which can be placed in cultivation of alfalfa. 20 acres of grain, making of frenzied gold seekefs. who must be accomplished before It will 3000 acres irrigated In the Sucker can eventually be cultivated to ad-; and first class shape tor heavy pro- hay ot some and threshing some, the brought after them the first vestiges become profitable to clear up and creek region. Thia irrigation is ac­ vantage. This place was formerly duction. There are at present 135 wheat going 15 bushels and the bar­ of farming or ranching, and then cultivate added acres of land. complished through a targe number known as the Riggs tract, now in the acres cultivated with water for ir­ ley 18 bushels. Thirty-five acres of of private and Individual ditches possession of Henry and Will Haber­ rigating 117 acres, though the meadow produce a yearly tonnage of calming down to a more exery-day Situation Serious ‘ sort of life, saw the coming of an era * It Is conservatively estimated at forming a veritable net-work of ca­ man. who have 130 acres now in cul­ drouth this year hap cut the water 35 tons of hay and pasture after the when agriculture returned greater the water master's office that some nals crisscrossing tho district and tivation. The tract covers the broad, short. Mr. Fulk had 60 acres first cutting. Seven cows make up aggregate of wealth to the district 12,000 to 15,000 acres can be placed aggregating an enormous mileage. | level _________ ,___ — grain, cutting ten acres tor a yield the nucleus ot the dairy business valley floor ______ and Is — the — last — farm and to the country than did the min­ under irrigation to good advantage The loon in this widespread net over on Deer creek, the canyon beginning ot 20 tons of hay. and 50 acres, conducted on this farm, and are ora la. In the Sucker creek and Althouse a consolidated syatem at canals in at the west end of the tract, where wheat, rye and barley for threshing. backed up by a herd of 8 hogs, Po- There are places now marked on creek regions alone, and when it Is which the main body of water for all there is a magnificent eminence on There are 11 acres of timothy that land China type, and 45 head of the map with names that offer to­ considered that some two thousand users would be carried In centrally which are grouped the farm build- make goodjtay and 6 acres just put stock cattle. day tn support of the dignity of the acres were added to the Irrigated located ditches properly cemented or Ings Irrigation has not been devel- into alfalfa. IxMtnard Farm Extensive name nothing more than a weather­ acreage last year, bringing the total prepared against loss by seepage, is | oped there in the past to any extent, Fulk's Clover Patch Next is one of the most completely beaten. ram-shackle group of ruins now to 6,224 acres throughout the such that the volume from present. as the land is well sub-irrigated, but The really remarkable production hidden and yet the largest in total and a smoldering memory of days entire length of the Illinois valley, sources would be increased by 100 next veer will see all cultivated lands on this place was made on a 9 acre acreage of any tract in the Illinois, when hundreds of men. with the fust the gravity ot this situation can be per cent by some such plan. Duty under ditch. This year there were field of red clover, and has not been the Leonard Estate. operated single- for gold In their eves swarmed about more fully comprehended Six thou­ of water for present users would also; 40 acres of grain producing 85 or 90 equalled in the Illinois valley, nor In handed by R S. Leonard. There are Ilka ants around an ant hHt. . but sand adtea now In cultivation and ir­ b« greatly augntented by more level-! toni oT bay.' ic’^’^h’eat’a^d southern Oregon. This 9 acre tract 475 acres in the one tract and C01 if nr Ing of land land nnd and httlMln« building •«•« up «.# of •>.«.. the oats which threshed about 500 bush­ was fertilized with super-phosphate acres outlying, totaling well above down on the valley "bottom where rigated using up the available water in soil with proper humus content. How­ els. 20 acres of young alfalfa and 8 at the rate of 100 pounds to the acre, 1000 acres. Of this acreage, 250 those gruff miners disdained to spend for Irrigation, and ten times that their time are now the real mines number of acres capable or cultiva­ ever. considering the above 100 per acres of Yellow Dent corn. They and yielded back the fertilizer with acres are cleared, in cultivation and of the country, extracting the gold tion In the length of the valley. Of­ cent increase which would be ac-1 I have about 65 head of beef cattle. a big profit. Mr. Fulk had water to all under irrigation, with irrigation of butter-fat from the green fields ficial surveys have shown that since compllshed. this means that the J with excellent range on the Forest irrigate the first two cuttings, tak- rights for the entire tract. Of the the time ot stringency exists for onl.v| lands Irrigable under it would be in­ reserve adjoining, and will expand ing from the field 39 loads on the 1076 acres total between 800 and of alfalfa and clover. a period of elx weeks the storage creased by 100 per cent or that pres­ this number very shortly to 300 first cut and 20 woads on the second 900 acres lie on the valley bottom Mine« Brought Farms But the fact of gold mining made available will be sufficient and that ent water could be made to irrigate 1 head. They have headed their stock "cut. aggregating 50 tons for 9 acres and can be placed in cultivation. 6000 acres of land in the Sucker i ; with a pure-blooded Hereford bull ia two cuttings. The third cut was On the Leonard place crops now in­ a reality ofsthe fact of farming, for the plan Is practicable. creek region by elimination of un­ and will breed up to pure blooded light as the water for irrigation clude 40 acres of alfalfa. 35 acres of Spirit 1'rogrreslve It was on the present Trefethen place Even today the farmers ot the Il­ necessary seepage. at Holland where two brothers first stock as fast as practicable. There did not hold up. Besides the aibove, red clover. 25 acres of grain, 30 linois valley are seriously contem­ Can Irrigate 12,000 Acres entered Into the biMlness of raising are also 35 head of Shropshire« and there were some 6 acres In pasture acres of grass meadow and 1 acre of Now starting with this possible 15 head of hogs. Farm convenience« meadow. Four cows make up the potatoes. The alfalfa yields 4 tons beef that the miners In the moun­ plating the various means of increas­ tains and rocky canyons might have ing the volume of Irrigation water, 6.000 acres as a basis, the Water are assured by a power plant of a 25 dairy end of the farm, and 26 hogs, to the acre, with three cuts, and real man-food, meat, to spur them and we view this district as it is Master again figures that oevelop- h. p. wheel operated by a 110-foot largely full blooded Poland China, clover yields 5 tons from two cuts, on In their frantic search for nug- about .to take the step Into the new ment of the Bolon lake project would pressure of water from Squaw creek. the other part of it. Mr. Fulk is in­ with the use of phosphate for ferti- era. the new period of Intensive cul­ make another Increase of 100 per They plan installing a dynamo with terested considerable in the beef iizing. The wheat yielded 653 bush- Nets raising 'business and has a herd of els or 25 to the acre, besides a small And just as the west want move­ tivation. a greater population and cent in water available for the 400 lights capacity. 50 head ranging on Grayback. The stand of barley and vetch. The grass ment of Yankee blood has penetrat­ smaller but more highly productive drouth period In midsummer or cap­ Schnre Farm dairy stock runs to Durham strain meadow of 30 acres yields 60 tons of ed the great western country, first farms The district, which once fed able of caring for an additional 6000 Adjoining this tract and continu­ Its production to the country by way and the beef cattle are Herefords. acre«, making a conservative total with tho pioneer In search of furs or hay. The dairy stock consists of 5 ing it to the main highway, is the old C. H. Seward op the Clyde Hayes Jerseys. and the stock cattle include gold, and has 'been followed by an of Crescent City as the only means of of 12.000 acres which would be irri­ Gilkey farm of 210 acres, with 150 era of ranching, so In the Illinois outlet. Is now one of the most Im- gated In this district if the water acres cleared and 100 acres cultivat­ place is next up the road, where he some 40 head. There are 35 hogs. valley, cattle-ranching was the first |x>rtant tributary systems of the now flowing were conserved with able. and irrigation for all in cultiva­ is cultivating the 30 acre tract. He including 4 thoroughbred Hamp- has irrigation for most of it, and the shires, the only ones of the form of business enterprise after the Rogue river valley with the outlet the practicable means at hand. breed in tion. This placé is now owned by A. crops include 3 _ acres ____ ________ of corn, 4 ___ of the Illinois valley. Initial gold-rush. Then as the search via Granta Pass. To Store in Bollon ld»kc Schare. who has in crop some 45 for precious metal became less In­ The Bollon ’lake project contem­ acres of grain for hay and threshing. alfalfa. 15 of oats and 2 of potatoes, i The McGann Farm Tha rxnfa mada a haat-v vigxlrl hnv tense. the miners were followed by plates storage ot water in this high 20 acres of new alfalfa and 1 of or- The oats made a heavy yield of hay. On the main road toward Holland homeaoekers bringing their families. mountain lake by means of a dam. chard. Mr. Schare had an exception­ and all produce is converted in ready again, we come to the Ed McCann These people took up homesteads and diversion of the stored water In­ al stand ot wheat on 32 acres, and cash by the dairy route. 4 cows mak­ farm, a tract of 634 acres with a throughout that country and went to Sucker creek as needed, an addi­ believes 60 bushels to be a conser- ing up the machinery. F. J. Smith good part cultivated and 49 acres Into regular farming operations an tional dam to be located at or near vative estimate on it. He plans to has 20 acres just back of this with Irrigated. This tract is well situat­ they knew It In the east. the Junction of Sucker and Grayback dairy with a herd of 10 cows, expect­ all of it in cultivation and producing ed on the south side of the valley creeks forming a small storage res­ ing to get into the Shorthorn and hay and garden truck. n