The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1885-08-14
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State Reporter" Leaving Albany, we
take boat for a ride to Corvallis, the
county seat of Benton county, which ex-
tends from the Willamette on the east to
the Pacific n the west, distance of sixty
miles. the western port N Lesrg billy and
broken. Corvallis has about 1000 peopls,
is very handsomely situated and is the head
of navi cation on the Willamette. The State
Horticultural College is located here. On
disembarking from the boat we were
marched up the street to the court house,
with brass band in front and another in
the rear, and if We didn't make good i'm
preston it wasn't our fault. At the court
house We had an address of welcome from
the mayor, which was tibtingly responded to
by DR.. McCelanh of Cedar Rapids. After
the speech making We were 'scorte,i to the
banquet, very tempting spread, hand
sonie.y served, and to which ample justice
Was done.
This section OF Oregon is undoubtedly the
oldest settled of any in the state. The
Willamette gave an outlet for surplus pro-
ducts before the advent of the railroad and
the farmers lncated here because of this and
on account of the fertility of the soil, fine
climate, etc. The towns have an older ap-
pearance and some have hal their prosperity
lntarferel with ;y yoan ger ani IN ire vi sor-
GUS rivtls There is plenty OF good farm
nls lands all throu "A Ens valley, vine It and
oats heing the lea ling crops, with nops and
E,,,, 4 l. L i
Sellers would say. Good I'm proved firms
will sell al the way from S25 to $40 per
acre. There Is pretty good class OF peo-
pie both III towns and on farms throug Ii the
valley. judging from the churches and
schoolhouses.
! Iowa paper: "The ladies' of Corvallis,
with taste, skill, bounty and h ,spitable
enthusiasm which finds its most perfect
manifestation in the female breast, and
wIich we found developed in cep.innaily
| large proportions am,:ng the Oregon la,lies,
where ever We met them, had prepared an
elaborate dluuer for the fannshed strangers,
which was enjoyed hugely. The dinner
was un Ter the auspices of the ladies' tenn
perance organization, and thereby hangs an
| incident. Among others who contributed
to the tables was a saloon keeper Of the
town, who sent a splendid cake, the decora-
tions of which represented barrels or kegs
with ''wlliskey," rum, ?" brandy" etc.,
inscribed upon them. The purp,s. was to
embarass the lady entertainers, but their
quick wit was equal to the occasion. They
wrote out and pinned to the miniature
barrels rupture quotations such wine
is a mocker," strong drink is raging" ''no
drunkerd-," "ect., wich completely turned
the laugh on the saloonist and served
| good purpose as well. Il"
Corvallis is the county seat of Benton
county and has population of about 2, 600.
1t is nicely situated on high plateau and
is well built. After reception in the
court house square grove, We had dinner in
the town hall. Here We met an old Boons.
boro citizen, Mr.. Z. P. Hammond, who
was admitted to the bar in this county and
at one time taus sht school iu our adjcent
| city. Also Mr., Calvin Smith, father of
farmer Charley Smith who lives south
! Boone The latter is well located On q
farm of 200 acres, all in cultivation, lying
three miles from Corvallis. He also runs q
dairy, selling the milk of 20 cows in town.
Corvallis Is the seat of the State Agricultural
college of Oregon. In addition to the rail.
way to Portland, 80 miles distant, it has
another line Co the coast at Yaquina Bay,
some so to 60 miles OF. Leaving at Up, m.,
| there were stops made at Independence and
McMi"nville, the latter place of 1000 in.
habit ants, and nothing particularly eyentful
| until we reached our destination Th1
| country passed through during this ninety
miles ride might well he mistaken for Iowa,
save that corn tiells were lacking and the
| wheat was plenty as in the early days of
our state. with the slanting rays of the
western sum- shining full on the tall peak
of Mt. Hood we glide down the pleasant
banks of the Willamette into Portland aud
| are banquetted in the Masonic hall the same
! evening by the Board of Trade, making
severe days work for all of US, but very en-
joyable. -[Boone Standard.
A.