The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1869-08-28
TILLABLE LAND IN YAMHrLT
AND LINN COUNTIES.

Editors Democraf: 81
The DEMOCRAT of July 81 contains q
review Of "The Statistics" Of Oregon,
published by the State Agricultural So
eiety. / do not think that "The Stats
tics have arrived at perfection yet by
any means, and | am equally certain that
goodtempercd aud intelligent criticism
viii improve them. Among other things
you compare the estimates of land under
cultivation in Yamhill and Linn coun-
ties and express the opinion, that such
estimates do more than justice TO the for
mer anl less to the latter. As you state,
| prepared the article on Yamhil!, but I
may say here, that il was enc IN great
haste and without any idea on my part,
If its being put to any permanent use.
Your opinion may be correct, but am
inclined to think that "the Statistics" Of
Yamhill, so fur as they 90, are not far
from the mark.
Taking the Land Office map,
dated July 90, 1866, as = guide
Yamhill extends about four townships
north and south, aud about five town
ships east and vest, or "a By 80 miles.
This gives the county an area of T2O
square miles or 46O,S00 acres. OF this
area, the map shows that IA townships
are snrveyed-which is equal to 504
square miles. or 322, $50 acres. or little
more than five.sixths Of the whole coun.
lty. From personal knowledge I can af
firm that these "A townships ara in the
main, if not altogether, frst-rate tillable
land. As to whether oue.third Of it, or
in round numbers 100, 900 acres is under
cultivation. thatis at present SO much .
matter OF opinion that I cannot assert II
1nqualifedly. But I think so. and this
i is one Of the calculations upon which
this conclusion Is based. The populatioa
being mostly rural and permanent, ]
think it reasonable to assume that Of its
1900 voters in 1868, at least 500 Of then
were farmers, aud that their farm;
would average 800 acres each
This would give total of 240, 900 acres
i Tho average land under cultivation on
these farms is between 100 and 160 acre.
or one.half. The former ratio
would give $4,000 acres and the latter
!, 10000. By being under cultivation
mean land ia tame grass as we'll as grair
and the like, but do not include lane
merely fenced and in wild grass.
And now, word as to Linn county
From the map already mentlOaed Lin,
: appears to be abont eighs townships il
s extent north and south and about /
s townships in extent east and vest, or &
: BY 66 miles. This gives total area Q
: 1853 square miles. or 2,027, $40 acres
81 OF this area, as appears from such mar
: "a townships were surveyed, which
Z equal to s64 square miles or 552,96
acres. Thus the surveyed land of Lin
& appears to De equal to a little more. tn:
3 one fourth of It's whole area. While til
g lof Yamhlll is equalto fve-sixths Of
:. lown. sn
s But the map shows that Is TOWNSHIP
niequai to 500 squs.re miles or 1925
e acres. was proposed for survey. By {
T time those Is tfsWnsh sps may be s,lryeyI
| suppose ths.s the land embracesiin th,
Townships is not Rrst-eIass, or it wo,
z have been settled aud surveyed l.
y prior to July, 1866. Yet add these.
81 the q townships surveyed before i
TINA, and the two will inclv.de all she,.