The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1885-11-20
INDUSTRIAL SUGGESTIONS.

for this is, its lack of ability to furnish en-
oloyment for the growing population through
its ability to give adequate payment to la
modities justify-hence, if there are no out.
let's of creative character it is readily per-
ceived what the outlet must be.
If there were no other outlets visible in
this county, or, if they were other than
tangible, this communication would be
useless, but as we have good evidence as to
the statement we shall make we have no
hesitation in calling the attention of our
people to the following suggestions:
1t is not necessary for us to search history
to go to other lands to find ont where
wealth centers. for we have plenty of ex-
anpies in our own country. No one can
suppose that cities like New York, Chicago,
pittsburg and San Francisco are built up
solely by agriculture. While this calling is
powerful and underlying all others it must
have help and assistance from other indus
tries or it will stagnate-hence the sagacity
of man In seeking for other and varied i'll
dustries and in relieving himself from the
crowd and pressure of competition. This
sets to work millions of busy hands to fash
ion things useful for man and enables all to
live IN II manner more appropriate than
be possible under only one creative indus
try.
Now we have in our county a territory
bordering on 1000 square miles. This at
present is given up to agriculture and lit
tie stock; though not over one third is capa-
ble of being used for the former if we take
into consideration its costs of labor. Most
of this land is owned by private individuals
and subject to taxation. The question is,
We possess? This question is forced upon us
by the large increase of population and the
largely increased facilities we enjoy for
transportation, through the building of the
Oregon Pacific railroad, and unless other
industries come to the front, squeezin times
must be looked for.
If we cannot have the things we would,
let us make the most of that we have. But
domain, much CT it is elevated from Il few
feet, to hundreds of feet, now gently, again
abruptly. 1t is not necessary to enquire
the reason fo1 this peculiar make up, sutii-
cient and well is it if we enquire aud find
out if there is any wealth laying there 9TH
er than the grass and timber exposed to
view. This we take it is the correct meth
od-for, as a rule, cotton must be grown be-
fore it can be spun. Sheep must be raised
ald the wool clipped before it can he woven,
aad ores Of iron ob.ainsl before we eau
fashion the knife, the sp .de or the hpe. In
word the raw material must pressed man-
featuring
Having devoted much of the past two
years to az investigation of the Geology of
a strip. some. few miles wide, running
through the cuurty east and west, we have
recently, as things became more developed
been astonished at the outlook of what may
be turned into wealth, and the good pros
poets for other material sufficient
labor can be bestowed 50 as to bring the
same to light.
We have before mentioned coal at va
quina. This can now be extended to east of
the Summit. Iron seems everywhere and in
time the point for labor will be chosen.
Clay, so important in the industries are of
remarkable development and easily procur-
ed. But it is to our immediate vicinity we
wish now to call attention.
Standing in Corvallis and looking at the
hills to the west of us, few would suppose
there was any marked difference i'll the ma
teiial of which they were composed, for their
general outline, their color and timber is
similar; yet an intelligent investigation re-
veals facts scarcely conceivable. Taking the
sharp and abrupt mountain about one mile
south of Philomath, the rocks here are the
oldest known. Going up on the south side
we find at the base basalt as if from sand
stone Above Is another basalt of different
texture. Those two rocks running up two
,r three hundred feet seem to form base
,or the upper two or three hundred feet and
crown OF the hill. The latter is gueiss.
This at the base is hard and compact but !
brittle, composed largely of felspar, copper
md iron mica. AS We rise this rock be- |
comes darker and duller in color, in fact,
often. Upon the fanks of this mountain
n different directions lay tons upon tons of
excellent fire-proof paint, seemingly with
,ut clay, with only a few minute grains of
MICA as before mentioned The point of in
crest in this mountain is this. The guessic
ocks in Europe and Asia as well in South !,
America, also in Montana are the great
mineral bearing rocks of those countries,
nd the rule is the older the rocks in geolog-
C age, the richer the mineral. So here,
light in view, stands a field well worth
arefui Investigation.
To the north and west of Philomath the
ills are of very different age, and of the
most recent igneous character, hence. while
urious and instructive, they can not be of
fha mt hofn