Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1888-11-29
LSrDS AND HOMES.

Marion county is situated in Ui,
heart of the magnificent Willametl,
valley, the central gem in the clLs
ter of rich counties that form thai
princely domain, and is the banner
commonwealth Of the great nortiI
west in all the essentials that go to
wards making it profitable abidiu;
place, and a home for the thrifty
farmer, the cunning artisan and the
industrious mechanic,
Rich in it's agricultural resources
In it's cultivated and uncultivated
lands, in it's water powers, anu
minerals; rich in its colleges and
schools of learning, and with a
climate unsurpassed for its salubrity,
it presents to the immigrant from
the overcrowded 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 Il
stretch of the imagination to COM
prehend, and numerous complaints
are heard from the class who have
been misled by them, 30 in this
brief sketch the writer desires to
avoid exageration as to its present
and prospective advantages, asking
those i'll 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
within it's borders, but
only as truthful description Of Il
land which, if it does not ''flow
milk and honey" contains within
it's bosom wealth and resources equal
to any other country on the Pacific
side of the Rocky mountains.
BOUNDARIES.
Marion county is bounded on the
north by the Willamette river and
Butte creek which separates it from
Clackamas county; on the east by
Clackamas county and the Cascade
which separate it from
Wasco county; on the south by the
Santiam river and the north fork OF
the Santiam, separating it from
Linn county, and on the west by the
river.
PHYSICAL FORMATION.
The county contains, includnA
valley, prairie and mountain lands
about 100000 acres.
There are two main divisions, IT,
and the valley. Tbs
latter extends from the Willamett,
river to the foot of the Cascad
distance Of about iii!
teen miles.
The mountainous portion contains
some fourteen townships of mostly
Insurveyed land; lying in u strii
5welve miles north and south by
'orty miles east and west, and COM
Orises all classes of land, from rich
narrow valleys in the passes, up
through all the grades of rolling,
lilly and broken, to that of rock
pound canyons and inaccessible
,raggy peaks. 1t is generally heavily
,imbered, and in the near future
will be valuable for its lumber sup
plies. These hills and mountains
.ford a wonderful summer range
or stock, and many of the more ell
farmers are availing them
selves of this opportunity, and when
he cold frosts of autumn approach,
he stock are brought out to fresh
thus enabling them to sur
1--WE the winter storms with little
are.
GREAT ADVANTAGES.
A decided advantage Marion coun-
y has over many others is the di-
farming interest that can
)e carried on throught the entire
year; Notwithstanding this is a wet
climate during the winter months,
he uplands are seldom too wet tc
work, and long before the prair,
armers are through with their seed
ng, the hill farmer is preparing for
lis summer work. And yet the
ow lands are much preferred by
many; the yield per acre is generally
greater, and perhaps less labor is re-
luired to place the soil in proper
for crops; and then should
he season prove dry, the bottom
ands are sure to bring the best
rops. No better farming land can
,e found in the United States than
hat on the noted Howell prairie,
french prairie, Santiam prairie and
salem prairie. The soil of these are
wonderfully productive. With good
forty bushels of wheat
md sixty of oats per acre can be
eadily secured.
. FACILITIES FOR MARKET.
The Willamette river, with two
ines of railroad running the entire
ength of the county from north 10
outh, with the Oregon Pacific road
rossing the southeast corner of the
ounty, affords ample facilities to
each a market in any direction.
SALEM
Is the capital of the state and
ounty seat of Marion county, stu
ted on the Willamette river-and |