Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1888-09-28
MARION COUNTY DESCRIBED.
What The New Empire" Has to Say
Of MariOn'S Resources.

Inc appended matter appears II
the new book issued by the Oregon
immigration Board, which is being
50 largely circulated in the east:
"Marion. county covers an area o
about 500 or 600 square miles. TIL,
site of the first settlements in Ore
gon excepting Astoria) is within
its limits and it is more closely pop
ulated than any other county i'm Or.
egon. 1t is in the very heart of the
Willamette valley and contains com,
paratively little obstructed and
waste land. 1t is truly beautiful
country, bountifully watered and
wooded, varied i'm form, affording
everywhere not only practical a6.
vantages but beautiful prospects.
Its mountainous district is but q
small corner far to the east. A ride
through Marion county in any di-
rection carries one past a succession
oftinely cultivated farms. Patches
of timber are sufficiently numerous
to give variety to the country, but
not so extensive as to limit its
adaptability to general farming.
There is no vacant land to speak of,
but, as elsewhere in western Oregon,
farming-land can be bought at a
reasonable price. Figures rangeall
the way from 81 to $50 per acre,
varying with character of soil, sitr-
alton and character of soil, situation
and value of improvements. Prob
ably not half the dozens of farms i'm
the county would command high
er figure. Good farms convenient
to market may be had from Sl2 to SIS
per acre.
The soil of Marion county is very
much the same as that of the other
counties of the Willamette valley.
That of the prairie lands is a dark
rich loam and exceedingly fertile.
That of the hills is ofa reddish color
and is of the best land for cereals in
the state.
1t is connected with Portland by
two railroads and the Willamette
river, which bounds it on the west
and is navigable at all seasons of the
year to south of its southern bound
airy.
The railroads run north and south
through the county and afford am
pie transportion facilitiesto all parts
except some Of the more remote sec
tions on the east side.
Marion county has numerous small
towns, varying in population from
100 to 500, and one important city,
Salem, the seat of the state govern
ment. Salem has population of
about 5000, and is a very attractive
place. Besides tie capitol and the
several state institutions, it has
college under the general control of
he Methodist church. A free bridge
costing 100000 spans the Willamette
liver at Salem, and connects it with
Polk county. There are two large
Touring mills, an oil mill, a chair
actory, and other industrial enter
,rises. A fine water power is EN-
,loyed to supply power, and its
could be wonderfully de-
'eloped at small cost.
After remaining in a dead-and- |
live condition for many years, Sa-
EN- has recently developed an en-
spirit. The bridge above |
eferred to was built by voluntary |
aSation as n scheme of local devel-
'pment, and revived public spirit
s seen i'm new business buildings .
nd dwellings and a more active look /
II the streets. An establishment .
or the evaporation Of fruit on a
lrge scale has been built ut Salem
.urlng the past year, by the enter
rise Of newcomer. Ii is largely
n experiment, and so far il has
roved entirely successful. This en-
erprise will greatly stimulate the
reduction Of fruit, for which Ma
lon county, in common with the
est Of the Willamette valley, is
nelly adapted"