Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1888-06-30
LANDS AND HOMES.

Marion county is situated in the
heart of the magnificent Willamette
valley, the central gem in the clus-
ter Of rich counties that form that
| princely domain, and is the banner
! commonwealth Of the great north
west in all the essentials that go to-
wards making it a profitable abiding
| place, and a home for the thrifty
/ farmer, the cunning artisan and the
! industrious mechanic.
Rich in its agricultural resources
! i'm its cultivated and uncultivated
! lands, in its water powers, and
minerals; rich in its colleges and
schools of learning, and with
| climate unsurpassed for its salubrity,
II presents TO the immigrant from
| the overcTOwded states, where cold
winters and hot summers, with
terrible cyclones, prevail, who
comes to the coast with some
means, advantages that no other
county in Oregon possesses.
Much has been written of this
western country that requires
stretch of the imagination to com
prehend, and numerous complaints
are heard from the Class who have
been mislsd by them, SO in this
brief sketch the writer desires to
avoid exageration as to its present
and prospective advantages, asking
those in the east into whose hands
this may fall-particularly those
who have their eyes directed towards
this coast-to peruse it carefully,
feeling that it is not written to lure
immigrants within its borders, but
only as a truthful description Of
land which, if it does not 'flow
milk and honey" contains within
its bosom wealth and resources equal
TO any other country on the Pacific
side Of the Rocky mountains.
BOUNDARIES.
Marion county is bounded on IT,.
north by the Willamette river az,
Butte creek which separates il from
Clackamus county; on the east ] -
Clackamas county and the CascaC,
mountains, which separate ii frCI
Wasco county; on the south by tB,
Santium river and the north fork q
the Sautiam, separating it fToI
Willamette river.
PHYSICAL FORMATION.
The county contains, inclUdu
valley prairie and mountain lanl.
about 100000 acres.
There are two main divisions, H.
mountain and the valley. IL
latter extends from the Willamc,
river TO the foot of the CasCpr
mountains, n distance of about
teen miles.
The mountainous portion cOntaI.-
some fourteen townships of most,
land; lying in ST.
twelve miles north and south J.,
forty miles east and west, and cyl
prises all classes of land, from riCl
narrow valleys in the passes, Il
through all the grades of rolling
hilly and broken, to that of ruci.
bound canyons and inaccessiu g |
crNggy peaks, 1t is generally heavil.
timbered, and in the near futu
will be valuable for its lumber su
plics. These hills and mountai'
afford wonderful summer RAM,
for stock, and many of the more {!
terprising farmers are aVailing then
selves of this opportunity, and whCi
The cold frOsts of autumn approach
the stock are brought out To fresl
pastures, thus enabling them TO ST.;
vive the winter storms with little |
care.
GREAT ADVANTAGES.
4 decided advantage Marion coun-
ty has over many Others is the d. |
farming interest that can |
be carried on throught the entir, !
year; Notwithstanding this is a we |
climate during the winter months |
the uplands are seldom too wet {, |
work, and long before the pIniri !
farmers are through with their seed |
ing, the hill farmer is preparing foI |
his summer work. And vet TN, |
low lands are much preferred 10y |
the yield per acre is generally |
greater, and perhaps less labor is re-
uuired tO place the soil i'm proper |
for crops; and then should |
the season prove dry, the bottom /
lands are sure TO bring the bCs, /
crops, No better farming land can
be found i'm the United States than
that ON the noted Howell prairie,
French prairie, Sautiam prairie and |
salem prairie, The soil of these are
wonderfully productive With good
forty bushels of whea,
and sixty of oats per acre can be
readily secured.
FACULTIES FOR MARKET.
The Willamette river, with two
a.. q 4
length of the county from north 20
south, with the Oregon Pacific ro0d
crossing the southeast corner of the
county, affords ample facilities 10 |
Vuch a market in amy direction.
SALEM
ia the capital of the stat, and /
.uIy s,alu. Marion county, siW-
.e' - ,he Willamette riVtr-aud I
.u %, s. e, railroad, Costly
.uu- have been erected. amouu