The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1896-04-15
A MADISON PILGRIM.
Charlie Bergstreser Tells More About His
Observations in the Pacific Coast
Country.

cpCSlakS correspondence " Tx ally LC6uCI.
EUGENE, Ore, April I'm my last
letter I stated that I thought probably
farther up the valley from Portland
things would be brighter and better,
and I find them so; not 90 many idle
men. OF course this is easily accounted
for as men IN search OF employment gen.
orally strike for the larger towns. I
must say that the Willamette valley,
especially around Salem and Eugene, Is
very fine and also productive. So is
our own South Dakota very productive,
but the "kick" comes when you come to
dispose OF the products, and they kick
here equally as hard as they do there.
The people here cay there is nc money
in hops, and this used to be one Of the
main crops; and no money in fruit nor
grain. So you see SO far as the oondi-
ton OF the country is concerned, there is
but very little difference where you 60.
I spent about a week in and around
Salem, stopping with my friend John
Baker, with whom / had a very pleasant
time, going about the city md also eev.
eral trips into the country. Here is
where you can see the fruit ranches, and
you will naturally say the fruit business
is the same rs raising Accent wheat.
One trip we made was across the Villa
mette river into Polk county, about four
miles out Of the city, to what is known
as the Wallace pear rancho. This con.
sists Of 200 pear trees. The rancho is
carried on on the southern plantation
style, owned and operated by the Wal
laces, who are rich people. They en-
ploy altogether Chinese and negro labor
with the exception Of q few white over
seers. But even this large rancho, with
it's cheap labor, l understand, many no
money last year, and thousands Of bush
els of fruit wasted on the ground.
Salem Is a very pretty town, with nice
business blocks and especially tiue resi-
dence property, the grounds set out with
fruit and shade trees which grow very
fast, and the fruit trees are all in full
bloom now. The lawns and hedges are
nice and green which makes it q very
pleasant town to stop in. But 30 far as
finding employment or making money
here, we'll, that's q horse Of a different
color. Here in Salem l met an old d.
kotan, ex-Lieut. Gov. Fletcher, who is
pounding away on a kind Of evening
daily newspaper of the populist persuas-
ion. Judging from the appearance of
things. I should not think he vas 10 the
best Of pasture.
From Salem I same to Eugene, arriv-
ing here last Saturday. Here I found q
beautiful city Of about 1000 people. ]
like this place rather better than I did
Salem, as it is more compact, and q the
elevation lie considerable higher I think
it is healthier than Salem. Here I met
several old Lake county people, among
them my friend Frank Heyer with
whom I have been making my headquar.
ters, and have been royalty entertained,
There is only one thing I have against
my friend Heyer; that is, he insists that
the rain always m straight down and
that 1t does not wet q person like the
ram in the east. But I have demonstra.
ted on several trips out into the country
that the rain can come sideways and al.
90 that it is just as wet o. the rain We
have In Dakota. This 10 Q great country
for the u. 3. weather signal service. All
they have to do 10 to hoist the flag