SPECIAL EDITION OF THE TILLAMOOK HEADLIGHT.
are pheasant and quail, besides coon, wildcat, bear and cougar, deer and elk.
In common with the rest of the county the river-bottom lands are of the
richest, and produce immense root crops, and are especially adapted to the growth
<»t all leguminous plants; white clover in particular being indigenous and ever
lasting, while timothy and other grasses yield from three to four tons of hay per
acre. This, with our never tailing rains, makes it an ideal dairy country, and quite
a lot ot the best of butter is made and shipped to the Astoria and Portland
markets.
A creamery was established here and commenced operations this season, and
will be the means of dairymen rapidly adopting more modern and scientific
methods than hitherto in vogue.
CRANBERRY CULTURE.
One Thousand Bushels of Berries to the Acre—Is Destined
to Become a Large and Profitable Industry.
)
Around the bay are tidelands, which, when dyked, are the most productive of
all lands similar lands at the mouth of the Columbia river, which are dyked,
yielding five to seven tons of hay per acre, and are equally well suited to the pro
duction of roots and garden-truck.
At present they produce an abundance of natural grasses, affording fine
grazing for stock, of which quite a number are driven to the Astoria market,
I »esides others butchered to supply the local demand.
But few counties in Oregon can lay claim to raising cranberries, but of that
few Tillamook stands out pre-eminently as the leading county of Oregon fitted to
monopolize this industry, and the one which afrords plenty of opportunities for
those who want to get into the profitable occupation of raising cranberries.
Conditions in Tillamook county are such that the cranberry industry is bound
to grow to large proportions and become a great factor in the development and
industrial prosperity of Tillamook county, whether it is developed by local
enterprise or by those seeking homes in the northwest, where they can make
comfortable and independent livelihoods.
A few years ago cranberry raising in Tillamook county was only in its experi
mental stages. Today it is a demonstrated fact that those who first experimented
( )
in cranberry raising are now possessors of valuable cranberry bogs. It has sur
The bench and hill lands furnish fine pasture, when cleared of timber, besides
passed all their expectations, the bogs having turned out a gigantic success. To
lieing excellent fruit lands.
give a correct and concise idea of the cranberrv industry in Tillamook county,
The business part of Nehalem is situated on the north bank of the river, one
which the H eadlight may state is only in its infancy, no better qualified person
portion having recently been incorporated as a city. It has deep water frontage,
is able to give information and particulars than Mr. W. C. King, of Sand Lake,
and is on sightly ground with good drainage. The coasting steamers, drawingfrom
commonly known as the Cranberry King of Tillamook county, and whose ability,
eight to twelve feet, ply between here and Astoria and Portland. It has three hotels,
energy and jierseverance in introducing and experimenting with cranberries made
three general stores, one hardware store, one butcher shop, one barber shop, one
it an assured success.
saloon, one blacksmith, two carpenter’s establishments, an excellent physician, one
What Mr. King has accomplished in this respect every industrious person
dentist’s office, one salmon cannery and one sawmill—with another of each situated
can. Like every other industry it requires labor and a certain amount of capital
lower down the river—two halls for public meetings, fraternal orders, &c. A good
to develop, and with these two combined, success awaits those who turn their
school-house, and there are five others within a radius of as many miles; one
attention and energy to cranberry raisingin Tillamook county. Mr. King says:
church (M.E.) with a resident preacher. Nehalem post-office and money order
“I commenced the culture of cranberries in the sping of 1893, and have each
office, also a notary public and U.S. Commissioner’s office, before whom any legal
year since added some to my bog.
work can lie done, or proof upon claims made.
“I find that the vines are well adopted to this climate. They grow vigorously,
The county is bounded on the north by the Onion Peak range, which terminates
and where the bogs are properly prepared they are enormously productive. While
at the Ocean with the famous Nekahni mountain, which is bald on its west and
picking my crop last year (’98), I measuied off some ground and picked them
south slopes, and is both grand and picturesque. Somewhere on the south slope ( carefully, and found that they produced at the rate of one thousand bushels to the
(
is said to have lieen buried the Spanish treasure that so many have tried in vain ) acre. Allowing one dollar per bushel as a net profit, I do not know of an agri
to find; and which has baffled all the divining rods and occult art that
cultural product that will compare with it, and placing the net profit at one
have been brought to bear. Here, too, lives the hero of Thos. H. Roger’s
dollar is placing figures at the lowest.
novel, “Nehalem,” Dr. Thos. Moore. Along the ocean beach in this vicinity have
“It costs from two to four hundred dollars j>er acre to prepare the ground and
been found and marketed tons of beeswax, supposed to have been part of the
plant the vines, including the cost of plants. The land which has timber standing
cargo of the same Spaniard who cached the treasure, bound from Manila to the
on it is the most expensive to prepare, although none the less adapted to the
Spanish missions of Mexico
raising of cranberries so long as the land is made up of vegetable muck or peat.
There are two natural passes into the Nehalem country; the Foley divide I
“The bog must be so situated that it can be drained by means of ditches to the
south, and the divide of the North Nehalem, and Nekanicum rivers on the north.
depth of at least fifteen inches, and one must also have control of plenty of water
Some seven or eight years ago a route for a railroad was surveyed through these
for irrigation and flooding purposes Although 1 have seen some marshes that
tw’o passes, and there are good prospects now of a railroad being built within the
were a success with out any water supply, I do not consider it safe in view of a
next few years.
large outlay.
The Nekahni mountain coal is attracting a good deal of attention just now,
“A bog, once set in the proper shape, will last indefinitely. The first cost,
and it needs but a few’ miles extension of the Seaside road to reach these coal j
though quite large, cuts little figure in the long run.
beds; ora tramway of two and one half miles would bring it co tidewater on
“I find that the cranberries grown here are of a darker color than those grown
Nehalem Bay. As to quality, the analyses show’ the Nekahni coal to be higher in
in
the
east, and they are much superior in flavor, and also weigh more to the
fixed carbon and combustible gasses than either Nanaimo, Seattle, Coos Bay,
bushel; the size of the berry is about the same.
Rock Springs, Wy., or Roslyn.
“According to mv experience, the McFarland cranberry is the best variety for
Between the mouth of the river and Tillamook Bay, to the south ; is a fine
this coast. It is the largest and most prolific, and a splendid keeper, and by all
stretch of beach nine miies long, and immediately back of the sand levee, runs a
odds the liest seller.
chain of fresh water lakes which find an occasional outlet through the sands into
the ocean. This beach affords a splendid summer resort for pleasure seekers, and (
“In the east this sort was considered a poor keejier. But it apjiears to lie
establishments for their accommodation would be a paying investment. Such
lietter adapted to this climate and grows« to perfection.
an establishment is now In contemplation.
“I have had good success with the Cherry & Bell variety. They yield well and
Two teams run here daily and are met by gasoline launches for up river
are good color, and their flavor is excelled by none and they are of good size,
points.
though not as large as the McFarland.
A telephone line also runs along this beach giving Nehalem connection with the
“The picking season is usually one of pleasure, for several reasons, to both
outer world.
picker and proprietor. The weather is generally fine—September and October—
There is a wagon road from Tillamook Bay, parallel writh the beach some
when men, women and children come for an outing in the cranlierry fields.
I hev
miles back, running through a farming community, and connects with a trail for
come with a camping outfit, prepared to enjoy the pleasure of out door life and
Seaside and Astoria, and over which droves of cattle are taken to market. A
the health-giving ocean breeze amj a rest from the city and home toils.
daily mail is carried over this route between Nehalem and Tillamook Bay.
“Lines are stretched across a plot of ground three feet apart, and each picker
There is also a wagon road and trail via Nekahni mountain and the
works between the lines, the vines making a complete carpet upon which to work.
ocean l>each to Seaside and Astoria, and a daily mail runs north over this route.
They hang on uprights about six inches high and ar* a most beautiful sight to
Both carriers keep horses for the accommodation of travellers, and in the summer
look upon. The lierries, a bright red color, and in many cases three and four deep
the southern carrier runs a buckboard. The northern carrier connects with stage
and touching each other completely hiding the ground ami vines beneath.
at Cannon beach, w hich again connects w ith the railroad at Seaside.
“The pickers are given a six quart measure to pick in, and arc required to pick
North of the river is another fine strip of beach to Nekahni mountain, at the
the berries clean as they go. When the measure is full it is emptied into a bushel
foot of which may be obtained mussels and rock oysters. The flats in the bay
box, and when the box is full they arc given a check which is good for 50c. Yard
teem with clams, and crabs may lie caught near the mouth of the river.
men are in attendance to oversee the pickers and carry off the boxes.
Nehalem is destined to become an important lumbering center, and will lie one (
“Mv liest pickers last year picked about three bushels a day.
of the first places to feel the effects of, and profit by, the building of the Nicaragua
“In the East the vines are often infested with insect jiests, and if the growers
canal. This country is in marked contrast to the southern part of the county,
have not the control of the water the whole crop is in danger. I understand the
being all covered with virgin forest, as yet almost untouched, and w hat Nehalem
pests have been imported here at different times in shipping plants, but they soon
most needs is the advent of the lumberman and millman, to cut and saw this
disappear as they cannot thriven this climate.
immense crop, for the markets of the world; to be followed by the dairyman and
“There are many acres of cranberry land in this county situated nt different
stockraiser w ith clover and grasses, to make this one of the finest portions of Uncle
places. The land in its wild state is worthless, but properly treated and planted
Sam’s domain.
CHAS. PYE.
to the standard varieties of the tame cranberry they can lie transformed to one of
The Snell Lumber Company of Au Sable. Mich., has purchased a number of
the most paying pieces of land.
claims on which some 50,000,000 feet of timber are supposed tn lie standing in
“The chief requisites for a successful cranlierry bog, according to the liest
the tree, and negotiations are pending with a view to the purchase of 500,000,000
authority, are, a good peat bed, entirely free from any clay or loam, good drainage
feet more. This firm has not bought the timlier for speculation, but for the
at least to a depth of 15 inches, plenty of water supply and a coat of from three to
purpose of sawing it into lumber. A large saw mill will be built at the mouth
six inches of clean lieach sand over the entire surface.
of the Nehalem this fall by the Snell Lumber Company at a cost of $ 150,000.
“There is money in the cranberry business and the many bogs of Tillamook
This is only one of the lumliering firms which will soon be operating big saw mills
county are waiting for the men with means and energy to develop them.”
in the Nehalem country.
; )
( )
*~--------~a-