Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1888-03-01
LANDS AND HOMES.
In the Garden Spot Of the
great Northwest.
Fertility Of Soil salubrity Of Climate, Whole
some Water, Excellent Timber and
Delightful Scenery Health,
Wealth, Prosperity

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,
in 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,
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 a
stretch of the imagination to com
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 a
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 the
north by the Willamette river and
Butte creek which separates it from
Clackamas county; on the east by
Clackamas county and the Cascade
mountains, which separate it from
WascO county; on the south by the
Santiam river and the north fork of
the SantianI, separating it from
Linn county, and on the west by the
Willamette river.
PHYSICAL FORMATION.
The county contains, including
valley, prairie and mountain lands,
about 5000 acres.
There are two main divisions, the
mountain and the valley. The
latter extends from the Willamette
river to the foot Of the Cascade
mountains, distance of about fif-
teen miles.
The mountainous portion contains
some fourteen townships of mostly
unsurveyed land; lying in a strip
twelve miles north and south by
forty miles east and west, and COM
prises all classes of land, from rich
narrow valleys in the passes, up
through all the grades of rolling,
hilly and broken, to that of rock
bound canyons and inaccessible |
craggy peaks. tits generally heavily |
timbered, and in the near future
will be valuable for its lumber sup
plies. These hills and mountains
afford a wonderful summer range
for stock, and many Of the more en-
terprising farmers are availing them
selves of this opportunity, and when
the cold frosts Of autumn approach, |
the stock are brought out TO fresh |
pastures, thus enabling them to sur |
vive the winter storms with little
care.
GREAT ADVANTAGES.
A decided advantage Marion coun-
ty has over many others is the di-
versified farming interest that can |
be carried on throught the entire |
year; Notwithstanding this is a wet |
climate during the winter months,
the uplands are seldom too wet TO
work, and long before the prairie
farmers are through with their seed
ing, the hill farmer is preparing for
his summer work, And yet the
low lands are much preferred by
many; the yield per acre is generally |
greater, and perhaps less labor is re-
quired to place the soil in proper
condition for crops; and then should (
the season prove dry, the bottom
lands are sure to bring the best l
crops. No better farming land can I
be found in the United States than |
that on the noted Howell prairie,
French prairie, Santiam prairie and
Salem prairie. The soil Of these are
wonderfully productive. With good
cultivation, forty bushels Of wheat
and sixty of oats per acre can be
readily secured.
FACILITIES FOR MARKET.
The Willamette river, with two
lines Of railroad running the entire
length Of the county from north TO
south, with the Oregon Pacific road
crossing the southeast corner Of the
county, affords ample facilities to
reach market in any direction.
SALEM
Is the capital Of the state and
county seat of Marion county, situ-
ated on the Willamette rivSr-and
on the o. g. railroad. Costly
buildings have been erected, among
which the state capitol building,