Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1893-08-24
\ Letter from Friend RAIDER
Toledo, Ore, Aug. K. 1909


me into that county, and having a
little time at my disposal l conclud-
ed to combine pleasure with busi-
ness and renew portion ofmy old
time friendship. Having been at
one time a citizen of old Linn, it is
with sensations of both pleasure
and pain that l note the great
changes which have taken place
there III the past few years. A
great many places have changed
hands i'll whole or in part and l
lind many strangers where once all
were known to me. | see also that
there has been a great deal of im-
provements made. Alarge amount
Of grub land has been cleared up
and put into cultivation. A great
deal of fencing has been done, and
many fine new buildings have been
erected. These things show signs
OF progress, but there is look
about all that seems to indicate that
the progress came to a stand still,
or very nearly SO, some months
since. BE sure, the towns are
larger than few years ago, but
they are not growing this year. A
good number of farm houses were
built last year and year before, but
scarcely one this year. Some cause
has operated to stagnate all this
spirit OF progress, and naturally we
ask, What is the causel In no
place which l visited is this more
noticeable than at Sodaville. This
place SCENE to be at an absolute
standstill despite the effort to push
it ahead by an appropriation by the
state. Why is it? 1t is a nice
place, healthy and we'll located. It's
mineral springs are the only ones
owned or under the guardianship
OF the state and are famed for their
excellent quality. Many people
visit here annually for the benefit
OF the mineral water on their health,
and the place has wide reputation
as health and pleasure resort. 1t
Is also well supplied with churches
and schools, and is a no-saloon
town, it being deemed sufficient for
its people to become intoxicated
with scenery and soda water. There
are III fact many things here Tor the
accommodation and pleasure of its
summer visitors.
next visited the little town of
Waterloo, the future Lowell of
Linn county. Here / was greatly
surprised to find such a change as
had taken place in the last few
years. From wild, wierd spot in
the woods it has grown to an i'm
posing town. 1t was only a cluster
of two or three tumble down houses
by the river few year ago, Now
1t is a manufacturing town with
great possibilities. But short
time ago the Waterloo Develope-
ment Company secured one hun
dred acres for a town site, includ-
ing the falls of the South Santiam
river and a vast waterpower, as
well as the mineral spring, which
had heretofore given the place a
local notoriety. The Company
has laid out town and erected a
large hosiery factory which is now
beginning to turn out goods. This
is but the nucleus OF large amount
of manufacturing. The situation
OF the place is such that the whole
volume of the river can be handled
and used as power to drive machin-
cry, and lively town has grown
up around the factory. As health
resort it is becoming famed and It's
claims for a pleasure and simmer
resort are Of the best. It's surround
ings are picturesque and its loca-
tion offers superior camping
grounds for such rs prefer this to
the hotels Its morale is about a
par with summer resorts elswhere
and being easy Of access, it is well
patronized.
The personnel Of the Waterloo
Development Company embraces
number Of wealthy men headed
b. the veteran wool manufacturer,
Inos. Kay, Of the Salem mills,
which speaks wei for for its sue
cess. Their building was erected
last year. and their plant is esti-
mated to have cost in the neighbor-
hood Of $4,000. Some building
has been done here this wear. but