The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1897-12-24
TOWARD THE SUNSET.
Rambles Of a Roamer in the
Western Mountains of
Benton County.

During two days of raging |
storm l enjoyed the genial COM
panionship of comrade Georg sc
Wamsley and his family. at Blod
gett. His wife, although an in
valid for many years, still infuses
sunshine into her home. The un-
selfish devotion of this happy
couple to one another, gives the
lie to the oft repeated cant, ''mar-
riage is a failure"
Here We met Scott King, who
lives nearby and who enjoys the
distinction Of being justice of the
peace, and also being recommend
ed by the Oregon delegation i'll
congress for the position of post
master at Blodgett. Mr.. Wood,
the present incumbent, still holds
the fort, however.
Blodgett alley is an ideal local
ity. 1t is surrounded OH all sides
by lofty hills covered with fir
timber, whose dark green foliage
makes a striking contrast to the
delicate green of the growing
grass and grain. Laughing brooks
take their rise IN these hills, and
come surging down into the valley
furnishing the purest of water Tor
man and beast. The sea and
mountain breezes are tempered by
the warm air of the valley, so rsr-
flying the atmosphere that but lit,
tie fog exists in this section. =
The O. @. & Z. r. r. runs
through the southern portion of
the valley, giving good facilities
for shipping the large tonnage of
gr;.i, grown here as we'll as trans
porIation for stock to the seaboard,
or directly into the Willamette
Valley. At Blodgett station
would be a good opening for a
blacksmith. The valley is settled
with intelligent and thrifty farm
ers, whose comfortable homes
shelter the wayfarer, and beguile
him into hours of ease, which he
would gladly let run into days and
week, were it not that stern duty,
that memorable master, demands
continuous and unceasing devotion.
Among the prosperous farmers
and ranchers in this fertile spot
are, Scott King, Abner Woot, W.
B. Kiger, Nr. Shray, Doc. Blodgett,
F. H. Francis, A. A. Laskey, w.
A. Gellatly, whose ranch consists
of about 1900 hundred acres of
land, much of which is good grain
land and the balance excellent
grazing. Will. as he is familiarly
called. keeps everything about the
big ranch moving, being ably sec
onded by his wife. On this place
are now being stable-fed three car
loads of cattle that will be ready
for the Alaska market about the
first of March. Sheep, goats and
swine are also grown for the mar
ct here.
A. Cadwalder has "a ranch one
mile and half west from Gellat-
ly's, OH top of the mountains
shat is surprisingly rich. Mr.. G,
takes just pride in his farm of sc
acres, which produces good well
matured corn, wheat, oats, hay.
iruit Of var Gus kinds and veget
ables in abundance. The writer's
pockets were filled with fine ap.
Piles grown on this place. They
I were perfect in flavor and color
Codling moths cannot live here
the mountain air Is too healthy
for them.
On all the foothills surrounding
Blodgett valley the grass grows
luxuriantly and stock of all kinds
thrive and are free from disease.
Feed consisting of roots and hay
is raised to provide food for the
stormy days of winter. Mr.. Van
Melts and Jeff Wood have ranches
on the same mountain as Cad
i walder.
These people are all prosperous
to n greater or less degree, are
making substantial improvements,
drive good teams, read the current
literature of the day, are content
ed, happy, sociable and take great
pride in their country school, over
which Miss Anna Denman pre-
sides, dealing out ethics, grammar
and mathematics justly and sue
cessfully TO the devoted pupils.
"Roamer'' was cordially greeted
and made welcome in the homes
of the people he met in the valley
and was asked to repeat his visit
which he hopes TO do when milder
weather prevails. All seem pleas
ed with the increasing business ac-
tivity of the country and hopeful
for the future. A universal ex-
preston of confidence was given
in the Mckinley administration
fervent wishes for Cuban liberty
and a generally prevailing opinion
that the treaty with Hawaiian ISL
ands will be ratified by the senate