Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1893-1895, 1895-01-01
THE WILLAMETTE VALLEY.
A Good Description Of oregon's Rich
est Pruit and Farming Sections.

est Pruit and Farming Sections
Below is given letter written by man
now living in Salem to a friend in the east
and is printed ia the JOURNAL because 1t an
swers many similar questions that come TO
this Office. lie says;
The Willamette valley has been settled
for more than fly years and Is not bowling
wilderness filled up with wild Indians as
many suppose, The question na'urslly arises,
Why Is il not better settled, ele.' You must
know tina, early settlers, halfa century ago
experienced great hardships, and after they
GOT here we're entirely cut of from the world
and lha, II {, only within The past decade that
Oregon has had the benefit Of railroad facili.
ties aud contact with the markets Of
the world. The valley is $50 miles long, by
60 miles vide, and Il is not too much to say
that with It's varying landscapes, its fertile
Wales and charming scenery, its crystal
waters no valley on the Pacific coast Will
compare with it. The Southern Pacific railroad
runs through the center Of the valley. Two
other lines run parallel, called the EAST and
West" side roads. The Willamette river
is nayigable nearly the whole length Of the
valley. and steamers run down the Columbia
fifty miles to the sea, The country is dotted
with villages and railway stations, and in
num.rable wagon roads lead all over the
country the same as in the more thlckly set
tied states. Marion county, for instance,
has fifty postofices. Good, cleared lands can
be bought at from sI2 to S25 per acre and not
but a few miles from transportation, but
lands near Salem, the state capital, will cost
somewhat more. The early settlers here were
given lands in large tracts, more than they
were ey.r able to till, and these big ranches
are low bling gradually cut up. The valley
is composed Of prairie and rolling lands, with
some spots OF timber, mostly along the rive'
and foot hills, so persons can get 1t Just So
they want it. 1t is not necessary here TO re
deem land from the mammoth timber as ir
the Puget Sound country, although some of
that is done, but there is still plenty Of clear
prairie land at low prices.
Since civilization began here there is nc
record Of failure Of crops. Rains come with
a certainty not known in any other section o.
the Union, and there is no lack Of water fol
any purpose. The valley i, destined to be.
come one OF the greatest fruit countries in the
l A. Epn nj q
bearing and more fruit is being raised here,
the caaer 1t is to find good eastern markets
and much green fruit is now being shipped
east, as well as being sold from the trees tc
| local dryers. Prunes and other dried fruit.
here, vixen put up in proper shape foI
market. are being sought from farm to farm
by local and eastern buyers. Apples and
punes begin to bear the fifth year after set
ting out and hundreds Of farmers dry theil
own fruits, while Others patronize large dryers
on shares, or pay for drying the same as a
grain farmer takes bis wheat 10 mill.
Clover ami timothy can be raised here in
abundance, and the hay crop is a valuable
l onS lo many lailiNl'' lHE liestHt lOH pllAt
Of wheat will no doubt lead farmers to more
diversified farming just asit did in the east,
ern states some years ago, aud more general
prosperity Is sure TO follow.
All small gains grow here to periec ton.
Potatoes yield bounuiully and usually bring a
good price, while vegetables Of all kinds
produce IN abundance
Beucf poultry was never raised than
iu the Willamette valley, AMI we have no
cold to fight against log, and all kinds Of
stock are profitable.
Our school privileges are good here, and
there is usually a demand for good teachers
The early setJlen here had no money and
had none oi the advantages we now possess,
bat by an energy and perseverance they
built lhemulyes comfortable homes, and aye
a air criterion as 10 what Others can do who
will follow lheir example, even with limited
means, and i.e mofe favorable eireumstances.
lhe ssulls depend gIesuy upon lhe indi.
Yidual himself hcp as ryeyahgfc.