Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1888-10-01
Lr7DS AND HOMES.

LK7DS AND HOMES.
Marion county is situated in th
heart Of the magnificent WillaMcu
valley, the central gem in the c!.-
ter Of rich counties that form tha
princely domain, and is the banne
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 thritt5
/ farmer, the cunning artisan and til,
industrious mechanic.
Rich in its agricultural resources
i'm its cultivated and uncultivatCd
! lands, i'm it's water powCrs, and
minerals; rich in its colleges and
schools of learning, and with a.
climate unsurpassed for its salubrity,
II 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 q
stretch of the imagination to conf
prehend, and numerous complaints
are heard from the class who have
been misled 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 truthful description Of II
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.
BOUNDARIBs.
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, including
valley, prairie and mountain lands,
about 100000 acres.
There are two main divisions, tho
and the valley. The
latter extends from the Willamette
liver to the foot of the Cascud,
distance of about fiji
zen miles.
The mountainous portion contains
Iome fourteen townships of mostly
land; lying in n stril
.welve miles north and south 10y
Orty miles east and west, and com
lrises 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
Jound canyons and inaccessible
,Hggy peaks. 1t is generally heavily
and in the near future
win be valuable for it's lumber sup
llies. These hills and mountains
.iiord wonderful summer range
or stock, and many Of the more en-
farmers are availing Them
elves of this opportunity, and when
he cold frosts of autumn approach,
he stock are brought out to fresh
pastures, thus enabling them to sur
i've the winter storms with little
are.
GREAT ADVANTAGES.
A decided advantage Marion coun-
v has over many Others Is the di-
'ersifiod farming interest that can
~ carried on throught the entire
'ear; Notwithstanding this Is wet
climate during the winter months,
he uplands are seldom too wet I,
york, and long before the prairie
armers are through with their seed
ny, the hill farmer Nv preparing for
lls summer work. And yet the
ow lands are much preferred 10y
many; the yield per acre Is generally
greater, and perhaps less labor is re-
luired 20 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
" found In the United States than
hat ON the noted Howell prairie,
'rench prairie, Santiam prairie and
salem prairie, The soil of these ART
wonderfully productive. With good
forty bushels Of wheat
md sixty of oata 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 To
outh, with the Oregon Pacific road
'rOssing the southeast corner of the
'ounty, affords ample facilities 10
each market In any direction.
SALEM
Is the capital of the state and |
'ounty scat Of Marion county, situ- |
tied ON the Willamette river-and |
m the q. a &. nAilroad. Costly |
have been erected, among |
which the state capitol building, |
,ounty court house, Chemekete hotel, |