Roseburg review. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 1885-1920, 1888-01-06
DOUGLAS COUNTY.
A Land of Magnificent
Climate and Won
derful Resources.
AN EMPIRE OF AGRICULTURAL
MINERAL AND TIM;
BIER WEALTH.
4.900 soUiRE NILES OF TERRI
TORI IN ITS INFANCY.
1mri,es steady Gro,rth and More Rapid
Development.


Development.
Douglas cpunty, Oregon, in the fact that its
boundaries are principally those made by
Nature, is an empire within itself. Separated |
freGl the Willamette valley on the north by
the Calapooia mountains, bounded on the east
by the Cascade range, with the Rogue river
and Canyon mountains making its boundaries
with Jackson county on the south, and the
Coast range and, for narrow strip, the Pa
CHIC ocean forming its western boundaries,
Douglas county occupies a uniqae and an
important position upon the map Of Oregon
These natural boundaries give it distinctive
peculiar to itself, differing, in
more or less degree, in topography, climate,
resources and vegetation from the Willamette
valley to the north, and the somewhat Cali
torna-like valley of the Rogue river on the
southern boundary, and differing greatly, in
conjunction with all western Oregon, with
those counties lying east of the Cascade range.
Ii comprises within its boundaries the water
course Of the Umpqua river, with Its numerous
tributary creeks flowing IN all directions max
ing il a perfect region in regard to water
supply. The basin through which courses the
umpdua is termed the Umpqaa valley, but in
the term in which valley is synonymous with
plain, ii cannot be properly so-called, for run
ming from the Cascades on the east and the
Ceast range on the west are mountain spurs
and foot hills, giving in succession plain,
table, mountainous and broken country.
This irreguiarity OF the country but adds to
the variety OF the resources of the county, and
tend in turn to make it a self supporting en-
pre- within and of itself. The bottom land
along the water courses, the numerous sue
cession OF valleys, the table lands and the
foothills being unsurpassed for all the various
uses of agriculture, OF grain and fruit growing.
While the miidness of the winters and the
Uholesnme ranges through the rich pasture
lan,i { the hills and the more elevated table
lands make it all that can be desired for
stock region; and there remains untold wealth
in tie forests of pine, iir, cedar and other tim
beF sat cover the mountain ranges, not to
speak of the vast mineral riches that those
moun;aiiS must contain.
Thus i1ciJs-tl within itself. Douglas county
comprises an area af 1900 square miles Of
territory, equal Ia extent TO the area of the
great state of Connecticut, and probably also
the eqdal of that state in resources and unde-
Yeioped wealth. At least capable of support
ing population as numerous, in prosperity
and happiness. Irregular in shape, Douglas
county averages some ninety miles in length
from its northern to southern boundary by
fifty miles in width. Along the Cascade
range of mountains on the eastern boundary
comprising whole townships Is an SHimtable
forest of timber, comprising the sugar pine,
white pine, varieties OF fir, cedar and other
valuable timber. With the future develop
ment and progress of the county, this timber
will be most valuable source of wealth.
The same remarks hold true of the magnih-
cent timber found upon the Coast range to
the west. As yet saw mills of limited capac-
ity, have made no impression upon the for
esrs, in simply supplying the local demand.
Along all the streams can be found the fer
tile valleys. rich in Productiveness and of new
er failing crops Days cfeek, Cow creek,
Myrtle creek, and the head water of the
South Umpqua, all with numerous smaller
tributaries flow through the southern section
of the county, all OF them watering valleys and
rich bottom lands, which generally bear the
name of the stream. The South Umpqua
through this section watering a splendid
ssteckraising region, but this remark would
be lnvidious, il il were not in turn used in the
description of the entire county. For the eli
mate, soil and general character of the coun-
try is alike, and is unsurpassed, owing to the
fertile grazing lands and mild winters, and
perennial vegetation, forstock purposes. Cat
tie and sheep thriving through the entire win
ter with but little or no feeding.
Lying west oil Roseburg are the fine agricul
tural regions of Ten Mile, Camas and Looking
Glass valleys, where can be found prosperous
settlements Coles valley and French settlement
TO the immediate north and northwest are of
the same character, while the fine valleys Of
the Deer creek, Roberts creek and the Mt
Scott settlement are tributary as regards trade
TO the east The northern section oil the
Il. Il. /
county, with the hne section surrounding
Wilbur and the magnificent territory Immedi-
ately tributary to Oakland, extends northward
through the foneoiia valley to the thriving
town OF Drain thence westward to the coast,
with the trading points OF Eikton and SCOTS
burg on the UmPqua, and the enterPrising
town OF Gardiner at the head OF umpqua bay
as the most westerly point. This is most
interesting section of country comprising the
: area swept by the main Umpqua, with its
large tributaries, Smith river, Elk and Gala
pooia creeks. The Kellogg bend of the river
from Oakland to Elkton passes through rap
idly developing region. This cursory and
general review has grown too long and must
be closed give room for description of differ
ent localities IN particular, and to statistical
statements concerning the climate, to which
we have hnt briefly referred IN this article,
and which probably it may be sufficient here
= TO say, that in common with all Western Ore
gon, there are but two seasons in fact, the
wet and the dry, and of about equal duration
These facts can be found elsewhere IN thu:
edition.
RosEBURG
The countv seat of DOUGLAS county. in tbs
n,;dst of ! rich anYicnI,nraI and craving die
,r;r, surrounded On ali sides bv tRrivin9 set
t.emenis is q nrosnerons citv Of ZOO nonuia.
ton and in noint Of location exceeds IN beau
,ya,v town in the state Surrounded by
Kills On all sides with the South ITmnous
80 1,,,;r, s,,;s,,,' -, the COO On ,h. 49,
hndar'. So - ~ ,1 srsss ~ tha 'a' I.a',, !
e.s.... -. a., - -
has risd .be sagr9,,I,i!na h;IIs ,,;,h ,hs ,,sr
- :. ,ta s.sse,,, T'bs ~. t,sss H.. go,
- =. s..s c,.t - a..
are thsn saer in ali the;r s,lend,, .nd
SI - t..,,, ,f ~ eL;,f sIs.,s.,-,s ),
.h teodara,,e n ali The a,,rac,;onr nacassor,
aL ..'e az =, s,.;st o :, iii -.
10 easel ,sis :. a. ~. -.
inoie s'i.u .e 80. lne -
oi tue piactess' niai, VI Ai,aiis' nature aS u'i
most Klhaiy WIN i'o'sias county, anu no
~here IS TINS remark more !lue, .n1n n N ~
aPpiicauoh 70 'he progressive Guy VI nose
ouis
NoseouIs Is thds situated at Tue Junctufe o.
Deer creek with the South Umpqua river, ane
Is on the donation Claim o. Aaron hose wne
settled mere IN 1851, ana VINO IS sun living II
prime Old age In the city which ne founded
and IN which Tor nearly forty years he ma
taken the greatest interest. Being the cehte
of a most favored section of country, Rose
burg has grown and prospered with the devel
oPment OF its surroundings. Its main dePen
dence has always been upon tne farming com
HiunItY, OcCupylap the feft1le heldS ana Splen