The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1882-12-02

but as vet not mined. The Coal of
this valley, will however, prove more
lasting and valuable industry than all
others. The coal so far mined on this
western coast has been confined near
the coast and convenients~to to shipping
and from its quality has occasioned a
very prevalent opinion that none OF
our Goals date back to the carbon niferous
age. It is there mostly non-caking'
bituminous coal, being classed as Gig |
nite;" and no workable anthracite coal
has SO far been discovered, except as.
recent explorations prove, in Douglas
county, and thence cropping at fre-
quent intervals along the interior OF
Coos and Curry counties. Hele val
liable coal has been discovered, mainly
found on the western tributaries of the
Umpqua, the headwaters Of the Co
guile river in Coos county and OF
Skies river in Curry county. This
coal is fonnd suitable for steam, coke
and gas. 1t has been subjected to
practical uses as we'll as scientific tests.
1t works satisfactorily in the FORGE and
foundry. With. the railway extension
south, and a road to the coast, this
must prove of great value to the State
Lime of su rerior quality is found in
abundance near Roseburg and has
been shipped abroad, much being used
in the construction Of the State Uni
versity at Eugene City. Owing to
cheap competition and importation
from California Of the famous Santa
| Cruz and San Juan lime our own kilns
have not been worked during recent
years.
| SANDSTONE AND BUILDING ROCK IS
confined to few localities. That in
Coles Valley and near Oakland on the
line of railroad has been much used.
Much of thai fine, blue rock near Oak
land was used by the government in
the Custom House at Portland. In
ferior grades are found in many places,
| and used for chimney building.
THE TOTAL TAXABLE PROPERTY OF DOUG
LAS COUNTY
as assessed t'e pre- sent year
amounts to $2349.2lo; valuation of
lands, $1.597. 800 There are 112.222
sheep, 1852 horses and mules, 1928
swine, and 1864 cattle The wheat
produce in 1880 was Al, 1888 bushels,
, as against l04,246 bushels in 1870
OF oats there was 347,132 bushels III
1880, and lS8,76l in 1870. The -ap-
, pie produce in 1880 amounted to 257,-
476 bushels. OF fruit, apples, plumbs
and pears, are most productive, and
! never failing, and are subject to none
f.: oe the diseases and blights so common
to the fruits Of the Atlantic States, and
many of the more western Of nc
crops-either cereals or esculents-
, can it be said that there has ever beer
a failure. Crops are planted from fail
to spring, there being no snow and ict
to interfere in the winter months as il
the East Wool growing is leadin!
industry. Umpqua wool is classed t,
itself. Merino and cotswold are pre-
/ ferred, and much money expended i
! importation of fine breeds from Vel
0 mont and Kentucky. Unimproved land
S range in price from $3.50 to $5 pc
n acre, and improved lands from S. t
s $40 per acre according to quality, an
s value of improvements, the more usus
price per acre being $40 for farm land
well fenced and with comfortabl
d dwellings, small orchards, etc.
e THE RAINFALL
y as taken from the dail
+ observations of the U. s. Signal Offit
g in this city is 1927 inches annually +;
1t observed for four years last past. TT
le mean temperature in June, July an
Al August is 636 degs and in Decembe
g January and February 423 degs.
THE O. AND C. r. R. IS COMPLETED
in this county over d;stanc
t. of about IS miles, and within
rs months hence, it is predicted we sha
: be in railway communication with Ss
Ell Francisco. To the local interests
Of the Umpqua valley, perhaps no unde
Or taking will confer SO many adyantag
e, as the enterprise now SO enelgetieal
is labored for, as the railway from tt
te city to deep water navigation in Co
3 Bay, and thence transportation
m ocean shipping to all par
n and is zealously fostered by capitali.
f and public-spirited citizens OF S
Id Francisco and Oregon. The disance
en- Coos Bay is about 90 miles. When the
no outlets to the markets of the we
c. shall he completed we can then
= oia;po. ttSura1y the land wharan +