The record-union., 1897-03-23

best known but it is by no means the
best and in all probability the deposit
it not the largest. Columbia River
coal is said to make good coke, and as
it lies close to extensive iron deposits
the contiguity means much for the de-
velopment of future manufacturing en-
terprises.
THE TIMBER PRODUCT.
This country produces an excellent
timber for farming implements, the
manufacture of which would employ
machinery and men to supply a con-
stantly increasing home demand. a
species of ash covered large tracts when
the white man first came and there is
still enough to supply the demand until
more can be grown. This wood makes
good handles, horse rakes, boxing for
threshers, cleaning machines and is ad-
mirably adapted for use in all apparatus
constructed for strength and lightneSs.
1t has been used extensively in the man
ufacture of furniture and the result is
an article that will compare favorably
with that of other factories. The cedar
of the Coast Range makes fine finishing
| lumber and there ought to be a large
export trade in this commodity. Oak
maple, cherry and yew are plentiful
but there is no one to utilize it. Yellow
fir, of fine grain and soft texture, known
all over the world as Oregon pine, grows
in large forests along the hills adjacent
to the Yamhill division of the Southern
Pacific lines and red and white fir
flourish in many places and in quantity
to render them profitable for manu-
featuring purposes. The madrOno
thrives better here than in many places
that have attained poetical fame from
association with this musical word ap-
piled to tree common throughout the
Coast Range from Santa Barbara to
Clackamas. The Oregon madrono at
tains size sufficient to be used in fine
finishing. Its handsome, close, dense
grain takes a rich polish and the wood is
very durable. In Japan or Switzerland
the manufactured product of the man
drono would be a source Of large profit
on the Pacific Coast il is merely a
beautiful shrub to enliven a fair land
scape and fit musically into the un
profitable product of poets.
The myrtle, white and black. covers
entire townships. This wood is so heavy
that it sinks in water, but it is as tough
as hickory. Many of the trees are two
ana three feet through and logs fifty
feet long are easily obtainable The
wood takes a beautiful polish, rich as
satin, and the curly myrtle has shade
for every light. 1t makes durable wagon
hubs and is an excellent material for
any purpose in which its weight would
not be a disqualification, but it is best
fitted for the manufacture of furniture
of the more elegant character Nut
trees do we'll and eventually become an
important product of the valley. The
chestnut black walnut, English wal
nut butternut, almond. f1lbert pecan
and hickory nut have responded to Gull
ture and experiment proves that they
stand the climate well. The hazel nut
is a native and grows luXuriantly.
OPPORTUNITIES ROR ENTERPRISE
The sugar beet will grow successfully
in the Willamette Valley. A great fu-
ture awaits this industry based upon
the product of the rich soil and favor
able climate of this region. Three hun
dred million dollars worth of produce
has been placed upon the American
market by foreigners, every pound of
which sould have been raised at home.
Of this importation over a hundred mill
ion dollars worth of sugar, the cultiva-
ton and refining of which would have
given employment to vast numbers of
American farmers and workmen, many
of whom, for lack of such employment,
have been almost deprived of the ne