The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1883-08-24
ssla. other. rAlA. Of oar tssasr,.

/ -
Mr.. Il. r. Bacon, who was Ia the city
several weeks recently writes very In
terestlng letter TO the oskaloosa Qowa)
"Herald," }" In which no mentions several
Albany people, once from Iowa. and has
tho following 70 ssy about Albany and
Linn county ;-"AJbany has n population
ofabout 1000 inhabitants, and II the conn-
BY seat of Linn county. The county has
population OF 1000 and covers an area
eight times as large ~ Mahaska county.
But considerable portion OF this territory
extends Into the mountains, and is not
available for farming purposes. The
Willamette Valley ct this point Il, per-
haps, 30 inilos wide, bat this Is much
wider than the average width Of the VAL
Icy. In this Immediate vicinity the land
In quite levol, making IL easy for cultiya
ton. The farms are generally large, too
large for healthy growth aud the rapid
development Of the country. Wheat Is
the principal and about tho only crop
grown. The soil and climate seems 10 be
peculiarly adapted TO tho ONCE Of bring.
Ing this cereal 70 perfection, but tho con.
slant application Of the one crop system
without change, which has been followed
here for 20 and 80 years, IL beginning 10
toll upon the crops by gradual decrease
Ia tho quantity raised 20 tho acre. This
mode or farming will most likely continue
until these old farmers arc gathered 70
their fathers q change would necessari-
ally cause additional expense snd labor,
and no greater misfortune could befall
these ressful and contented people. Fruit
and vegetables do well, but no attempt In
made at raising corn-ssye some small
early varieties for roasting ears. Some
good pork In nado by feeding wheat and
mill feed, The bsst hogs tha. have seen
would be rated, In Iowa, a. inferior scrub
stock. far removed from any kinship to
the sleek porkery Of Kline Primes. How.
ever, not wishing 10 discourage my Ore
gon friends In this branch OF industry,
can say, In all truth, that not many years
back the hog or Iowa was even q less
porkly looking iarder than the stock now
raised In Oregon. The Willamette river Il
navigable for steamboaGs the year round
up as far as Albany, aud during the
rainy season the boats ascend q long dis.
tance above this place, and during high
water large shipments Of wheat aud -four
are carried on boats 10 Portland. The
tariff on bushei OF wheat by boat, Is
nine cents aud by rail- twelve cents. The
distance from this poiat TO Portland by
rail IL eighty miles. Thus you sec the
ianstlAKd sFsk KK4AAa a..
session Of his hundreds Of golden acres,
for every dollar he puts In hIs pocket
no puts two In tha pockets Of
thess corporations. Large warehouses
arc found here and at all shipping points,
whore farmers, upon thFeshIng, haul and
store their wheat, where {. can remain
without charge urtil. such time as the
farmer wishes TO dispose Of II, The three
tiouring mills located here turn out from
200 TO 200 barrels of -four per day each,
tho large portion OF which IL shipped di-
rect 10 Europe. Tho surplus wheat II re-
shipped at Portland and sent 10 the Same
market. These mills, aud all other ma
chinery used here, II driven by water
power. the present supply being brought
by ditch from the river Sautiam, . dis.
tance OF fourteen miles. The supply Eu
unlimited, and can be increased 10 any
extent neceAsary. II would not be the
proper thing TO say that envied Albany
Ia the use OF this stuPendous motive pow.
| or. but can say most emphatically that ]
/ wish oskaloosa had q like privilege. In
dependent Of this motive-pOwer tho city
has system OF water.works-s something
/ after tho plan Of our works nj oskaloosa
tho pumps being run by water instead oi
nieAsn. This entire valley In peculiarly
favored with water privileges that, some
time In the future will be utilized for
manufacturing purposes. Al present the
tide OF emigration IL mainly directed into
the newer portions OF this coast and else.
where east OF the mountains, and the pres.
ent apparent dnllness and the inactive
stale OF business In all branches OF trade
and commerce existing here and elsewhere
In the older settlements can be attributed
mainly 20 this tidal wave that Is now di.
rectIng emigration 10 other and less de-
sIrable sections Of country, but nothing
can rob this valley Of the advantages be
slowed by nature. The present genera.
ton may sleep away these days OF oppor.
tunIty, but the time will surely come wher
this valley will be literally filled with tn
sweet music caused by the humminI
shat and spindle.