The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1884-01-18

prices Than wheat from other localities
The entiro county Ia finely wAtered bJ
mountain streams Of which the follow
ing are principal snes The Willamett
River,which for a circuitous distance o
about fifty mites forms the western
boundary. The North Santiam which
for distance Of thirty miles, forms lh'
northeast boundary. The South sAnti.
am which rises on the eastern boundary
Of the county and runs west through
the entire county and forms Junction
with the North Santiam and then empt.
les into the Willamette. Besides these
there are numerous other small streams
all rising in the Cascade mountains aod
emptying into the Willamette or its
tributaries. The water in these streams
Is clear and pure and furnishes abund-
ant water.power for manufacturing pur.
poses ss we'll AZ afording excellent
drainage and stock water.
The Oregon and California Rail
Road is constructed from Portland TO
near Ashland Ia Southern Oregon, and
within eight months or year q juno
tiou will DO formed with the California
and Oregon Railroad in California,
which 10 being pushed forward 10 COM
pletion as rapidly As possible, which will
then connect this region with San Fran
cisco by rail. This road enters Linn
county on the north about sic miles east
OF the Willamette River and runs about
ten miles south west to Albany, and
then runs due south about twenty-five
miles, from whence IL bears south west
seven miles TO Harrisburg.a mile above
which point il crosses the Willamette
river aud passes on south through Lane
county. There Is branch railroad
from Albany sass to Lebanon, 9 dis
tance Of fifteen !nilea These roads,
with the Willsmstte river, afford trans.
portation facilities both by rail and
steamboat.
| As before stated, the best agricultural
portion Of the county is belt Of cOun.
try lying on the west side Of the ooun-
ty and varies from twelve TO twenty
Eve miles in width. Along the borders
Of the Willamstte and Santiam rivers Is
9 rich bottom Of timber and brush land
from half to q mile in width, which,
when cleared Of the brush and timber,
will produce grain and vegetables in
abundance. Many portions Of these
l-nis are in cultivation already. From
thu liver bank TO the level Of the plain
the rise ID very gradual one, the plain
Ieing about twenty-five feet above high
water mark. The land lying between
the Willamette and SAutiam rivers
forms n delta, about two thirds Of which
10 rich. productive. flrst-class agricul-
turAl lands the remaining one third il
billy, rolling lands, covered mostly with
brush, scrub oak, fir, ash, willow, alder
and hemIoak. Water in all these prai-
rie and hill regions can be had by dig
ging fifteen to twenty feet. From thii
point to the south boundary line Of the
county Is one continual open plain from
the Willamette river 10 the foot hills
being distance Of from twelve 10 twen-
ty miles. OF course along the William
ette river is belt Of timber varying
from few rods to . mile in width
Then there are narrow strips Of timber
along Muddy, Calapooia Oak and othe
} creeks which rise in the foot hills and
find their way through the plain to th'
Willamette river. In all this plain th'
i, land is all taken and converted into 6n'
, farms which arc worth from fifteen Il
, fifty dollars per acre. Many of th'
farmers settled here in early days, tax
ing up GAO acres Of land as ''donatioI
. claim" which tracts ware given by Con
gress to all settlers upon condition the,
would reside upon it continuously for
, period OF Eve years. Situated in ant
/ rising cut Of this plain are quite anum
! Der ofbuttes or single circular hills from
three TO Eve hundred feet high, covere,
, more or less with timber or brush
= though some of them arelargely destitut
, Of both. Fine springs ere found on th
/ sides of these hills or mountains whiol
0 make them favorite and most enticinl
/ places for picnic excursions and othe
outdoor gatherings of the people. Th
sides of these buttes furnish excellen
: early grszing for stock. Around AM
q at their bases are situated some of tn
finest farms in the county. The sol
!, generally on this plain is black ola,
: loan, though there is diversity in tn
kind of soil even on tho same farm AM
: same field. Although this plain i
usually spoksn Of as level, yet it is no
: literally true, as there are many lo'
!, places, where, in winter, the immens
Q quantity of water which falls. is carrie
y off and emptied into the streams abov
q mentioned. When the rain ceases i