The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1880-12-03
ANOTHER VOICE FROM The EAST.


week. To us who are familiar with
the country, it seems strange for it to
be necessary at this late day to be
describing Crooked River Valley and
the rest of it. But as / have heard
that statements have been made that
this country IS an uninhabited wilder
ness not susceptible of cultivation, it
seems right for those who know what
a perfect fabrication, Il was going to
use shorter word) that is, to unite
their testimony about it.
At present l am resident of Sweet
Home Valley, which is as you know,
the last settlement with any consid-
erable Importance this side Of the
Cascade Mountains. This valley has
population of about three hundred
engaged in farming. We have in our
midst two stores, with blacksmith
shop and other necessary conven
fences, including church and school
privileges. The land is for the most
part good, producing ali kinds of
grain and also the best of vegetables
and fruit of all descriptions. The
farmers feel very much the need of
the Oregon Pacific Railroad, and are
hopefully waiting its completion, and
so soon as, completed the yield of
wheat. which is at present by no
means contemplate, will be very
greatly increased. In this immediate
neighborhood the Company owns a
very large tract of valuable land.
Passing Eastward by the wagon
road across the Cascades, the road
Immediately enters fir timber of the
most splendid quality and of guam
tity that is inexhaustible Forty
miles of mountain road and timber
land brings us to the great bunch
grass country of Eastern Oregon.
But before quitting the subject of the
road let me say that it is one of an al
most wonderful succession of passes
through the mountains, leaving a
grade over which two horse team
can easily draw large load.
The first valleys you reach on the
Eastern side of the mountains are
Fish Lake and Clear Lake valleys
affording abundant pasture during
the summer months, but covered
with water and snow during the win
ter.
When you leave the Cascades be-
hind, you strike the headwaters of the
Deschutes river. The road passes
through one river bottom after anoth
Ter, named Squaw Creek, Crooked
River, Ochico, Beaver Creek and
Grindstone Greek. The slopes of the
hills on each side are covered with
bunch grass and in places with scat
tering sage brush.
Large herds of cattle live out in
this country all the year round. They
pasture in the valleys and creek bot
toms all summer time and get back
gradually in the fall and winter to
where there is then found all the
water they need.
Settlement is spreading very fast
upon these lands. Government land
near the road is being rapidly taken
up SO that. you must now go a very
long way East to find good location
on the road OF course there is plenty
of good land a little way off the road
all along these valleys still open to
homestead or pre-emption.
| have known this country well for
several years. This fall | have taken
a journey right along East through
the country I have described, travel
ing slowly and with view to set
Ting. What my opinion is yon may
judge when | tell yon that | have
made up my mind to settle in The
Crooked River Valley, where | shall
go with my family in the spring.
know no part of Oregon that
pleases me better Yon have the
best Of land for wheat, oats and pota-
toes. You can ge. good garden
and grow all the vegetables you
want. You have unlimited range for
your stock where they will get fat on
the natural grasses and whore you
can put up all the hay yop want.
Cattle, horses and sheep do equally
well out there. Yon are going into
healthy climate away from all fever
and ague, or any other sickness of
that nature and you are going to a
place where the land is bound to be
worth four times it's present value
when the railroad is opened:
As for any donbt that the railroad
can be built through this country,
will be bound to say that no sensible
man who has travelled through with
his eyes open has any at all. You
can see my belief in this by my
going there to live myself / don't
suppose there is any country in Amer.
ica that is going to settle mp as quick
" and produce as much as Eastern
Oregon when the truth about it is
known. As | am going to live there
myself, | am very glad to see this
stir, because / know that the truth
will come out. My best wishes and
those of all my neighbors are with
the Oregon Pacific.
Yours Truly,
JOHN G. SUMNER.
Sweet Home Valley, Nov. 81, 1880
Charles r Tonope was fonnd with