The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1880-06-25
trrom tho Chicago Prairie Farmsrt
LETTER FROM oREeoN.
rhe Vylilame.,e valley.

east Of the Rockles,s some iacts IN fesard
to Oregon may not be devoid of inter.
est to its readers.
Each geographical division Of Oregon
has marked peculiarities of its own.
Tho first settled section was in the Will
lamette Valley in nm early day. And
although many other sections Of the
State have been settled. yet no part,
perhaps, offers greater inducements to
immigrants than this valley does. In
size, it Glasses with the largest sections
of the State; and, in It's physical aspect,
it is grand and charming. In former
times it was cet down at 40 miles wide
from east to west, and $50 miles from
north to south. This area included
mostly the level lands, much Of which
is prairie, with small portions Of lands
upon the near foot hills of the Cascade
aud Coast ranges Of mountains. Bat
recent experiments have established the
fact that tho lands upon the tops of
these hills, far up, are rich and superior
for cereals and grasses.
Hence we may now set down the
area of this valley az 75xl50 miles.
Aud of this section there is but very
small portion unit for cultivation.
Multiplying, therefore, the length and
breadth Of this valley, We have ,250
square miles, OF 100000 acres. DE
duciing for heavy timbered districts,
rocky aud abrupt hills. Eit for pastures,
one-ffih Iart, We have 100000 acres
Of arabic lands in this great valley. In
the northern portions Of the valley,
much Of the best lands are covered
with white oak, hazel, fir and vine ma
pie and willow bruah. These brush
lands, when cleared, ARE exceedingly
fertile, and l,rosluce grain and grasses
abundautly The Willamette liver III
seets this valley from southwest to
northeast. emptying into the Columbia.
twelve miles north ,f P.,riLnd---the
emporium Of Oregon. From tl'r two
great water she,ls, east aifl west "f the
valley, issue a great many creeks, rivu-
let's and few rivers, which empty into
the Willamette from both sides.
Puer water than these afford il not
found upon earth. And their water
power for all practical uses is beyond
estimate. The l'ea"'y If scenery, grHnd
ou'look. Goral daq'lay nnI perpetual
carpet Il preen. ihe ten cf the writer ia
inadequate tn lnriraT.
The soil varies. a"eerling to locality
The b.ttou i.V,.ls a'e sllusinI slrp~iis
fr.nn ii.. '.r...i.ltS 81 tie r.s,'.~. ..,cHysl
vegetable matter and water sediment.
Ti,,-,.- ar. exceedingly rich and >incx:
haustiil.. ia their prolucti,e . 'sl.n,entS.
Their color Is generally l'r,~n. Ia some
u lIifsF bhttnil4f iiieft arr tNttIiaiNt
gravel i,,Is, mixed with vegelahi.. a',d
decon. posed matter, and when the grtv-
81 does not require too much prc,lomi.
nato, large crops are raised. On the
upland prairies, the soil is generally
black, except in low places, wheTp it
becomes gray or whitish. The subsoil
is blue clay, and when brought to the
SUI face for year, is very productive.
This land is mellow, warm and friend
ly. 1t is u pleasure TO work it, az its
yield is so great and sure, never failing
to yield well if it has been properly
tended.
Along the foot hills the soil is gener-
ally of reddish cast, being impreg-
mated with oxide Of iron. Thia soil is
not underlaid with different subsoil ;
but for five, ten or fifteen feet down,
its component elements for producing
grain are the same. The red lands are
exceedingly fertile, producing each year
large crops of grain and grasses. The
soil on the grub lands is like that upon
the prairiea. Tho soil upon the high
hill lands, and to the top of the monn.
tains, is deep, moist black, and ex.
ceedingly rich and fertile. This ip the
strangest fcainre of our country, Upon
thrse ,noautalns and high hills. alder
raspberry, vine maple and other bottom
growtls of shrubbeFy abound.
Upon the mountains grow immense
bodies of valuable timber, mostly ever
green. But these lands, when dennded
of timber, adds to arabic or paature
lands. Soils here made up largely Of
decomposed mari, sandstone and basalt,
with vegetable matter, are the best
Soils Of decomposed quartz or granite
are not SO good. The greater part O.
the lands in the lowest portions Of thii
valley are located BY settlers or by rail
road grants, qld for. schools, colleges
and universities, and grants to I'll,
State from Congress, But there arr
thousands Of quarter sections Of rict
rolling lands, most Of them. easily clear
ed, balance, heavy timber, with ricl
mines Of minerals--yet vacant and sub
ject to homestead settlers, In SOM
cases there are odd sections Of railroa.
lands with these government lands, bu