The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1884-05-09
As Others see Us.

We gladly publish the following letter
from an observing traveller, and trust that
it will serve to interest some one in the mat
ter of securing for Benton county portion
of the vast tide of desirable immigration
that is now pouring into our state. Benton
county can easily afford good homes for
twice the number of inhabitants she now
has, and still have room for more We
earnestly hope that some of our enterpris-
ing citizens will profit by Mr.. Douglas
communication.
ED1ToR GAzErTE:-If you have space for
a travellers impressions of your city and
surroundings, would like to express myself
briefly of it, as country:
"Whe-e b; eezes be f1e heas;
Where 81 aGeG cells and messy COverts be:
Where giant trees TO heaven raise their he ds;
Where earth is free, and nsvure uncon -ineG,
Fills the soul with reverence"
When the sturdy pioneers under the in
spiration of ''Westward the star of empire
takes its way" followed the course of that
guiding luminary, until they rested in this
valley,-even as the wise men of old rested
when the ''star of Bethlehem: pointed to
the rude menger where the ''Infant
Eedeemer" was laid. AS his advent was
the genesis of the life, producing tone, civi-
lization and enlightment, so was the settle
ment of this section, the practical genesis of
the cooperation of forces, which has made
this valley the Garden" of the State.
'sHow lovely is nature!' Yes, and thous-
ands who live in barren regions would do
homage to the exquisite beauty of your
scenery, the salubrity of your climate and
soil, if inducements were afforded them to
find you. Thousands of immigrants are
coming to the northwest coast during the
summer. Many have friends selecting loca-
tions for them, while thousands of others
are undecided. but have abundant means
to secure desirable homes.
One day last week two hundred and sixty
persons arrived at East Portland. Two
hundred and fifty of them went to points
''on the Sound, - but not one came in this
direction; Why? because as 1 understand
the owners of large tracts of land in this
county are Indifferent about the tide of
immigration flowing westward. They are
going to sit cross-legged, arms folded, head
inclined in meditation for the next twenty
years, waiting for home seekers to find
them.
Another class-those of the 'sdog in the
manger' order, who will not cultivate the
land or sell to others for that purpose. The
country is not benefited by such landed
capitalists, especially in these times of
American enterprise and progress. Why
not sweep the cobwebs from their former
energy, AMI freshen the valley with the
touch of the plow so that not one nook or
corner will appear neglected.
There are thousands of acres of the best
land under the sun in this valley, idle, un-
improved, and there are thousands of home
and land seekers, who would be delighted
to find this country OF unsurpassed richness
in soil. know this, and know too, if an
immigration bureau was formed, and proper
inducements offered to persons in quest of
homes and lands. that the afternoon train
arriving here, instead of having only four
passengers besides the train men, would
have at least four coaches full of industrious,
3'well- -to-do' farmers.
WARD DOUGLAS