Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1889-10-01
UPPER SANTlAM COUNTY.
Thrifty Towns Springing lp--Pros-
porous Farmers - Timber Land
Stealing-i,aiIrOad Building.

llpn llbE W llutl a 'OuDlN VI
years ago, to region of prosperous
farms and thriving little towns all
along the line. This has been large
ly the result of the building of the
Oregon Pacific railroad, which has
made a demand and an outlet for the
timber product, and which has slim
ulated the raising of stock and other
products of the farm, for which Il
ready sale and convenient market
are now found.
In coming down the river the first
vile, about twelve miles above
Mehama, at which point good
wagon bridge crosses the river for
the convenience Of the thrifty set
tiers of Kings prairie, Il beautiful
strip of country Nesting under the
mountains in Linn county. This is
the Rock creek country to which so
many Salem people repair for health
full air and fine fishing every sum
mer. BY the way, Capt. w. w.
Martin, the jeweIer, owns IA beauti-
ful farm here. Henness brothers are
comfortably fixed here at the head
Of present wagon "navigatiOn, and
provide a comfortable, well supplied
stopping place for travellers, besides
having large band of cayuses that
can climb mountain with the
agility OF chamOis goat.
AT Gatesville is IA railroad station
with a daily train, arriving there
from Albany at noon and returning
at one O'Clock. Here are two hotels,
one of which is run by Mrs. Gates
and does a good business. Here is
to be found that popular and reliable
pioneer, Don a. Smith, who, with
his partner, Prof. Il. J. McClary,
well known as an educator and
business man of ability, has just
built fine new store building aud
is now spreading upon its shelves
an $4,000 stock of general merchan-
disc, embracing everything needed
in any community, and the people
of the surrounding country are high
ly overjoyed at the opportunity af-
forded to trade at home with more
than city advantages.
The next town this way is Mill
City, at the railroad crossing of the
Santiam, where one of the best
equipped sawmills in the state is
kept working to its full capacity all
the time with large orders constant
ly ahead. The company owning
this mill have secured some five
thousand acres of the choice timber
land Of that country, with road
privileges thereto and they certain
ly have a prosperous future ahead.
hnifn I,itot tlin,r hn., hAn,, h,,ilt
up around it with all branches OF
business hourishing.
On the other side of the river,
almost opposite Mehama, is the rail
road station, Lyonsville, which has
built up very rapidly and has be-
come already an important shipping
point.
Mehama maintains its supremacy
as the best hotel town on the coast,
Mrs Smith being still queen of
hostesses. The town will always
lie apleasant place to stop or goto on
business, its merchants being wide
awake and agreeable, and carrying
good stocks. The railroad will
make little, If any, difference with
them.
Stayton is building up somewhat
this year and its people feel justly
elated over their new bridge, which |
is rapidly nearing completion. The
false work was taken away from |
the main span Saturday and the
structure is handsome as we'll as
durable.
The actual settlers along the upper
Santiam have had their indignation !
aroused to the kicking point by n
system of timber land stealing |
which has been going or there this
season. Heavy numbering syndi-
Gates from Puget sound have been /
sending in stool pigeons 10y the
score, gobbling up the best
bodies of timber, so that in another
year of such work there would not |
be an acre worth taking left for the
actual settler. Men who have busi- |
ness interests through there, have
taken measures To put stop to this !
and they should be ably and honest
ly seconded by the officers of the
government. The law was made i
for the actual settler aud not that !
nonresident monopolists and rich |
syndicates might steal the public |
domain, but in this MS in many other |
eases, the law has been bascly pros
tituted.
The q. Z. Railroad is moving
slowly with the work of construc-
tion, but there is no doubt of its
completion 10 eastern connection
some time. They have about IL
miles of steel on hand, which will
be laid this season. The track is
now laid Ia Sardine creel, six miles
above Gatesville. The people along
the road sigh for the time when
work will progress with regularity
aud raipdity,
FOUND HIM GUILTY. OK LIHEI..-
\ dispatch from La GraAde, says
that in the trial of Rev, q. NJ. Irwin
by the NJ. T.. conference, now in
session al this place, n conclusion
was reached to-day. All the charges
except that of libel were Withdrawn,
and that was sustained, the confer
'nce finding him guilty. The judg-
nent is that he be reprimanded by
he bishop, The charge grew out
II some indiscreet publications by
llm while he was editing the East
'rn Oregon Republican, lie was
he leader in the prosecution of J, !
D, Flenner, who In turn attacked
he character Of Mr.. Irwin, In ne ,
Mr.. Irwin made some dam
Lyinf StatRnauIS npainst Hlannar l