The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1889-05-31
LETTER FROM OREGON"

LETTER FROM OREGON"
A copy of the Sentinel, of Fitchburg,
Mass. was received at this office ON
Wednesday, and in it is found letter. as
follows:
''The following letter, received by E. F.
Starkey, will interest many of our readers:
Corvallis, Or, May 6, 1889.
NV Dear Starkey-As I promised, some
six weeks ago, to write and tell you how l
foupd Oregon. I feel now as if could give
a few facts.
We left Boston, March 22l. OH the excur-
sion over the Canadian Pacific railroad in
charge of Conductor Spaulding, who ac-
compauixd us through to Tacoma, w. T.,
and our trip was pleasant from first to last
Mr.. Spaulding did all in his power to make
the party comfortable, and advise any one
coming to Oregon to join one of these ex-
tcursfous.
The scenery is fine along the roal. We
spent few days in Portland. then took the
river boat for Corvallis. The trip along the
Willamette river was grand. showing the
I fine farms with grain from six to eigh-
teen inches high, and fine fruit orchards all
along the river bank. Everything seems to
flourish here.
We arrived at Corvallis, April 2, and
found beautiful town of 1000 inhabitants
situated on the banks of the Willamette
river. The streets are laid out with beautl-
| fal maple trees for shade and most every
yarl is filled with roses and all kinds OF
flowers now in bloom. We soon bought us
a lot aud house and went to housekeeping.
We cannot say too much in favor of the
people we have had the pleasure Of meeting
here. We have attended several socials
and found every one glad to welcome a
stranger. have visited the country with
| in twenty miles from Corvallis and l have
not seeu one acre of land but what was OF
the very best, and prettier sight could
fuot be seen than to stand Oh the hill back
of the town and look upon the many thou
sands of acres of wheat, and also the fine
orchards all over the valley. The apples,
cherries, prunes, plums and pears are IN
abundance here and do finely; the currant
gooseherry. blackberry, raspberry ami
strawberries. also grow everywhere.
The hills are now carpeted with wild
Strawberries and wild flowers perfume the
air for miles around. In fact could not d.
this country justice. l can only say, afte'
living in beautiful California most twent,
wears, that if l had known what fine
country Oregon was I should have beer
e here long ago, as 1t is far ahead of Califor
/. MIA. You may say t" your friends tina
there is yet good government land obe ha'
twitllin so miles of this town and fron
. one to twenty miles from the railroad
! This town is growing and lots of new buf'd
ings can he seen going up. A new cour
house has just been completed, costing $50,
f 900, and it looks as if the town was to hav
s boom during the coming summer and fa
+ There are three papers published in town
the Leader, the Times, and the Corvalli
e iGAzETrE which is the leading paper 1t
y columns being very newsy.
Ynn wanted me to write about game
:, Well. the hills are full of deer and bear, bu
K have not lost any bear SO am not lookin
l. for any. The blue grouse and partrids
. . are abundant here, the China pheasant al
also plentiful, and the farmers complain
If the amount of grain they take away; geese
e duck, snipe and all kinds of water fowl al
e plenty; in fact, this is the hense of game.
N There is room here for thousand goo
8. lpeople. With five acres of fruit man Ca
IT make better living than he can on an
= farm in New England. Living is low; son
things are lits!e higher than in the eas
re Fresh eggs are l2l cents dozen, butter
u cents pound, p,tatoes 25 cents hushe
sirIoin steak l2a pound, lamb ten cents
ID pound, vegetables of all kinds are chea
a. -four 81 per barrel, 81 per sack of 80 lbs.
n The weather here is beautiful II
:. winter lasts about six weeks, seldom CO
,r ennugh DO freeze. The stock feed the ye;
in round in the pasture. All can cay Is,
y you want to live in land of plenty, cor
~ to Oregon. Should you want reference
ee write to u. NJ. johnson, as he is the mi
Of that wrote to me about this country and
&c &c can say I have found every statement
- made to me is true to the letter al
=. the country far exceeds his description.
ly Yours fraternaliy, e. A. LOUD. =