davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1897-07-23
p. M. Zierolf.

Milk and honey" were the words
used by the ancients to signify good l1v-
ing. The expression 'Zierolf's grocer
les conveys the same meaning to Cor
Wallis people, and groceries from Peter
Zierolf's store have been gladly well
coined by Corvallis households for over
I6 years. Mr.. Zierolf commenced bust
ness in Corvallis in 1881. By upright
dealing and good management his bust
ness prospered, and outgrew its original
quarters, so in 1892 he erected a hand
some two-story brick building, wherein
is located his large store. Mr. Zeiro1fs
custom is not confined to Benton coun-
ty, but he is patronized by people from
the several boundary counties. He buys
from the best wholesalers, and can safe
ly recommend the goods he sells. He
keeps an excellent stock of staple and
fancy groceries. Special attention is
called to his teas and coffees They
cannot be surpassed for quality, and the
price is no higher than that asked for
many poorer grades. He carries fine
line of crockery and glassware, and il
is worth a visit to his store to look al
the French Haviland china there. A
large assortment of lamps, including
the well-known student lamp, are kept
constantly on hand Mr.. Zierolf is d
native of Ohio. and is AZ years old. He
is one of our solid citizens, and an active
Trustworthy business man.
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1897-07-23
Other business Houses.

Among the other business men OF
Corvallis are T. D. Campbell, second
hand store; Calvin Thresher, proprietor
Hotel Corvallis; A. F. Hershner, M. ].
Young and E. B. Horning, grocers; J..
H. Harris, prominent dry goods mer-
chant, and George w. Henkle & Co.,
in the same line; d. c. Rose & Bro,
cigar manufacturers; Phillips & Trask,
photographers; J. c. Taylor, Charles. E.
Hout and G. Stedtler, meat market; E.
P. Griffoz and u B. Vogle, jewelry;
w. T. and c. E. Small, confectionery,
ETC.; Jesse Spencer, Bowers & Case, and
R. l.. Taylor, BARRIERS; Miss May War
rem and Miss Pernot, variety stores; r.
M. Wade & Co., hardware and farm
machinery, branch of the well-known
Portland house of the same name; Gra
ham & Wells and Graham & Wortham,
druggists; Mrs. ]. Mason, Misses john
son, and Misses Whitaker and Housley,
millinery; ]. T. Phillips, James Horning
and Mr.. Porter, blacksmiths; Cam.
Hemphill, harness and saddles; George
Bingham, soda water manufacturer; Al.
Johnson, Kirk & Germanson, B. Woldt,
and Julius Wuesterfeldt, saloons; Thos.
Eglin, livery stable.
Corvallis has two newspapers of gen.
eral circulation, the Gazette, weekly, re-
publican, and the Times, semi-weekly,
democratic. The Oregonian recently
said OF theses papers, "as purveyors of
news, they stand unsurpassed among
country papers," Two other publica-
tions have recently started, the New
Dispensation, monthly, populist, and
the Union, supposed to be Cleveland
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1897-07-23

being preferable and commanding a
higher price In this section good land
properly titled will yield from rs to 30
bushels of wheat per acre, while the
average yield of oats under similar CON
ditions would be from 40 to 90 bushels
per acre. The soil and climatic condi-
tions here seem especially we'll adapted
to the production of the latter cereal,
oats usually overrunning from S to 20
pounds per bushel, machine measure.
Benton county's annual production Of
cereals will not fall far short of 1, 600, 900
bushels, and of this vast amount of grain
between 6oo,o and 100000 is wheat,
approximately 2oo,o 900 bushels is oats and
the balance barley, rye and corn. Hops
of an excellent quality are also grown
in this county in large quantities, there
being several hundred acres of Benton
county soil devoted to this paying in
dustry. An endless variety of garden
vegetables is also raised here. Potatoes,
beans, peas, beets, parsnips and in fact
almost everything fourishes here that
generous soil and temperate climate
will produce.
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1897-07-23

One business in Corvallis has two
nicknames. 1t is popularity known as the
White Store" and also the Big, Busy
Store. The proprietor, Mr.. S. L.
Kline, owns the handsome building
which the store occupies, and of which
a cut appears in this issue. This build
ing has a 45-foot front and is 100 feet
in length, and is crowded with one OF
the largest and most valuable stocks oi
goods i'll the Willamette Valley. 1t is
ison street is Mr. Kline's large ware
room, 25xIoo feet, and two stories high,
filled with heavier articles of merchan-
disc The stock includes dry goods,
clothing, furnishing goods, shoes,
crockery, hats, groceries, hardware,
trunks and valises; in fact, it is one of the
modern department stores. Mr.. Kline
is also big buyer of grain and wool.
Six clerks are kept busy in this estab-
lishment. Twice year Mr.. Kline Wis
its San Francisco and personally selects
his stock. Mr. Kline is a native OF
Ohio, being born in Cincinnati, Decem-
Der I8, 1856. With his parents he came
to Oregon in 1864, locating in Corvallis,
where his father engaged in general
merchandise business. S. L. Kline
in 1882 succeeded to his faith
er's business, then in the Fisch-
er building, and later moved to the
Kline building, now occupied by G..
Stett1er. September I, 1890, he moved
into his present handsome and commo-
dious quarters Mr. Kline is an alert
and discerning man, takes keen inter
est in public affairs, and is esteemed
as responsible and useful citizen.
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1897-07-23
FRUIT AND GARDENS.
Our Horticultural Interests as They
Appear to Practical
HorticulturiSt.
[BY PROF. E. X. LAKE.

The horticultural interests of Bentor
county are in their infancy. 1t is scarce
ly more than ten years since the people
of this county began to direct theiI
attention to the growing OF fruit foI
commercial purposes, and while this Is
but one phase of horticulture, it is the
one of chief economic Importance in tbs
|State.
The estimated average acreage ol
young orchards just beginning to beai
lis about $500 acres. The larger part
|of this is prunes, though the other
hardy fruits do as we'll as the prunes
The ease with which the prune was for
merly put into marketable condition has
been the feature which induced planters
to set largely to this fruit. The physical
makeup of the county is such that
ample opportunity is afforded for the
selection of orchard and garden sites
The undulating surface allows wide
range of aspect Air and water drain
age are excellent in all the best locali-
ties for orchards On the river bot
toms are to be found some of the best
small fruit and vegetable gardens in the
state. While the soil of the county
is chiefly a heavy basaltic loan, along
the river bottoms it is sandy, alluvial
deposit, open, warm and fertile; and
while the air drainage is not SO good
as in the higher sections, some OF the
most fruitful prune, and the only sue
cessful peach, orchards are to be found
along the Willamette river.
This year will witness the first real
commercial fruit crop of significance to
the county A large acreage of prunes
set out about 1890 will yield its first
crop, climatic conditions over the state
at large, being against the prune crop
in 90. While some sections, especially
in irrigab1e localities, claim to fruit the
prune and other orchard trees in from
three to four years, these trees here re-
quire from five to six years before one
can expect any returns of consequence.
Our heavier soil tends to induce wood
growth to the disadvantage OF fruit
buds, though this longer period of un-
restricted wood development is held to
be an advantage in respect to the vi
ta1ity, vigor and longevity of the tree.
Eight or ten years ago, when these
young prune orchards were set, few peo-
pie had any idea of disposing of the crop
otherwise than by evaporating; but dur
ing the past three years there has been
developed an Eastern market for the
fresh fruit, which, according to present
indications, offers much better field
for the best grade fruit than evapor-
alton.
Our leading prune is the Italian,
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1897-07-23
M. Schmidt.

The jolly host of Corvallis leading
hotel, the Occidental, was born in Ger
many in the year I843. He came te
America in 1867. He was at San Fran
cisco IS years, during which time he was
in business on very large scale. He
was one year in Portland and six years
at Yaquina, and the past six years ne
has spent in this city. Mr.. Schmidt
has been an extensive financial operator
and occasional reverses have not blind
ed his eye for business. He is an ideal
landlord, has never had cause to COM
plain of lack of patronage. His dining
room has an established reputation
Mr.. Schmidt's family, besides himself,
and wife, consists of three boys and
two girls. A cut of the hotel appears
in another place Mr.. Schmidt owns
the Corvallis street railway system.
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1897-07-23
The Cash Store.

This business, while a comparatively
new one, has forged to the front as one
of the leading houses of Corvallis. 1t is
conducted by Miss Emma Crawford and
Mr.. E. A. Crawford, and occupies a
large room in the postoffice building. 1t
makes a speciality of shoes and ladies'
furnishing goods. The Cash Store
Shoes" have an established and perma-
nent reputation in Benton county, for
wearing quality, stylish appearance,
comfortable fit and moderate price The
store is the shoe headquarters for college
students In its other lines the goods
are fresh seasonable and in the latest
fashion. The proprietors are genial,
pleasant and accommodating, and there
is no hesitancy in recommending them
to the trading public.
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1897-07-23
RAILROAD TO YAQUINA BAY
Originally Local Enterprise-Career Of the Road from its
Inception to Dae-Yaquina Famous and
Popular as Summer Resort
[BY J. H. WILSoN.l

Among the early settlers in the Will
lamette valley was Mr.. ]. c. Avery,
the founder of the city of Corvallis Ar
irving in Oregon in the year I845, he
carefully examined the Willamette valley
for suitable location to found a city
After due consideration, he selected the
claim at the confluence of ST. Mary S
and Willamette rivers, which now marks
the site of Corvallis. Above this point
there is practically little river traffic,
while to Corvallis steamboats, ply the
greater portion OF the year, thus af-
fording allwater transportation for
freights from this locality to the sea,
the great natural medium by which rates
are retained at all times at, or very near
to their normal figure Those localities
which do not possess either water or rail
competition we'll know how to appreci-
ate the blessings of an open river, or a
rival railroad, the absence of which
sometimes induces merchants to haul
their freight long distances, as we have
recently seen merchants of Eugene do,
whose teams have hauled their freight
from the Corvallis depot, to their stores,
40 miles away, notwithstanding they
have railroad, connecting with this, at
their own doors.
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1897-07-23
A BRIEF CHAPTER.
Devoted to Benton County's Soil,
Industries, and Climatic Condi-
tions.-Price of Lands, Etc.

Oregon is one of the largest states
in the Union, and owing to its situation
and topography, has. greater variety
of soil, climate and natural resources
than any of the other states The
famous Willamette valley, known as the
garden spot of the Northwest, extends
$50 miles north and south, parallel with
and about 80 or 40 miles distant from
the Pacific ocean, and about midway be-
tween the mouth and the source of the
Willamette river, extending for a dis
tance of 80 miles along its west bank,
is situated Benton county-one of the
most populous, wealthy and fertile sec
tions of the state From the river the
land gradually rises to the foothills ON
the west, and between the foothills and
the mountains are located some small
but fertile valleys. Through these val
1eys small streams of pure mountain
water flow, and with the springs and
smaller creeks that feed them, afford
plenty of water for use and power, and
dispense with the necessity of irrigation.
Cereals, fruit and berries grow luxuri-
antly throughout the entire county.
while the hills and mountains and the
uncultivated portions of the valleys af-
ford splendid grazing grounds for cat
tie, horses and sheep.
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1897-07-23

In the meantime, the Willamette &
Coast Railroad Company had obtained
franchises and rights of way, and other
privileges, which were believed to be
valuable, and these, together with the
surveys and estimates, and ten miles of
grade, and small locomotive, and ten
miles of light iron, constituted the prop
erty which had cost $4,000, and con-
siderable amount of labor donation, to
obtain.
The Land Grants.
Even before the railroad idea was con-
ceived, a wagon road had been built
to Elk City, on Yaquina river, and this
was private toll road running from the
valley to tide water on that bay. In
consideration for this wagon road con-
struction to the bay, the state decided to
the road company $4,000 acres of land
comprising the vacant odd sections for
six miles on either side of the route
of the wagon road A similar road was
also constructed through the Cascade
mountains, called the Cascade Mountain
Military road And also a road across
the state to some point at or near Snake
river, in Baker county (now Malheur).
The aggregate number of acres in these
latter grants, which were decided to the
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1897-07-23
August HOdes.

There are few grocers in the William
ette valley, south of Portland, who car
boast of larger or better trade than
that of August Hodes. He has beer
in business since 1881, and for six years
was in partnership with Joseph Peroni
but purchased the latter's interest il
1887. Honesty" is the policy of his
store. Honest tea, honest coffee, honest
groceries of all kinds, honest prices ano
honest dealings with his customers have
built UP very large and growing busi.
ness. He guarantees the quality of the
goods he offers to customers. Besides
a full stock of staple groceries, he car
ries heavy line of fancy goods. Pic
nickers, campers, and all who indulge II
outings for business or pleasure will
find Hodes all timed and other deli
cacies and substantials they require. Mr.
Hodes is a square, upright citizen, ;
genial gentleman, and shrewd man o
business.
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1897-07-23
j. r.. Smith & Co,

This firm has been established since
1892, and the senior member has been
in business in Corvallis for over 10
years. The store is on the corner of
Madison and Third streets. The firm
carries complete line of heavy and
shelf hardware, tinware, etc 1t deals
extensively in farming machinery and
implements, handling the famous Plano
binders and mowers, Canton plows. Old
Hickory wagons. The firm has the
agency for the splendid and popular
Victor bicycle: 1t employs competent
timers and plumbers and is prepared
to do large OF small Jobs of plumbing,
ETC. The members of the
firm are active. substantial business
men, honest in their dealings and thor
oughly reliable.
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1897-07-23

are both skillfu1, careful and competent
pharmacists, and with their complete
stock of pure drugs they can give most
satisfactory service in the compounding
of prescriptions. The firm deals largely
in paints and oils. They make special
ty of toilet articles They carry a full
line of stationery and books of all
kinds. In school books and school
supplies they cannot be riva1ed, and stu
dents of either the public schools or of
the Oregon agricultural college will find
it profitable to call upon these gentle
men before purchasing their school out
fit. The firm is very substantial one
and the members are among Corvallis
best citizens. In business or in private,
their reliability is above question.
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1897-07-23
THE BUSINESS WORLD
Our Manufacturers, and the Business
Houses of Corvallis.
MANUFACTURING.

Benton is eminently an agricultural
county, and it is natural that -four
mills and saw mills should con-
stitute her chief manufactures OF
the former there are four, all
equipped with modern machinery,
and making frst-class grade of -four.
Two, both owned by Adam Wilhelm
& Son, are located in the southern part
of the county; one at Monroe and one
near there at place called Liverpool.
The other two are at Corvallis. The
Benton County Mills are owned and
operated by Punderson, Avery, R. E.
Gibson, John Record and Allan Will
son-wealthy citizens and good business
men. Their mills have high rating,
and their flour is one OF the standard
brands. They ship directly to all Pa
cihc coast points, from Alaska to Cen
trail America. The grinding capacity
of their plant is ITO barrels per day,
and it runs day and night
The Corvallis FIGURING Mills are
owned by H. F. Fischer, one of the
financially solid men of the county.
These mills have both steam and water
power, and can grind US barrels daily.
Their product commands the highest
market prices. These two mills give
employment to large number of men.
There are several sawmills in the
county, but the most important is that
of the Corvallis Lumber Company, To-
Gated at Corvallis This company has
first-c1ass plant, and does very large
business. E. Martin has hardwood
saw and planning mill, and ships to the
principal coast points. Messrs. Sheas-
green and Newhouse operate planning
mill, sash and door factory and box fac
tory at Corvallis, and are building up an
extensive business.
Mr. George Taylor established a
creamery at Corvallis this summer, and
its success, financially and otherwise, is
assured The plant is complete, and
can handle the milk of 1000 cows. The
Corvallis Foundry & Machine Shops
owned by Franklin Brothers, are well
equipped for doing all work in its line
Messrs. Franklin are frst-class and re-
liable machinists, and have won an en-
viable reputation as mechanics and as
business men.
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1897-07-23
DairyinE.

Dairying in this section is paying
business, and is assuming larger propor-
tions each year. The mildness of the
winters together with the success at
tanned in the growing of forage plants
in this section makes it possible to
bring dairying to its highest perfection
Good dairy butter always commands
fair prices, while choice creamery but
ter is always in demand at so and 6o
cents per roll During the past few
years the breeds of dairy stock have
been materially improved, which GER
tainly augurs we'll for the permanent
success of this important industry. Here
tofore little attention has been paid If
this locality to the creamery business
but this spring Mr.. George Taylor, ar
experienced dairynan of this county
built large creamery, which has now
been in operation for over month
This plant is well equipped with al
the latest improved machinery and ha:
the capacity sufficient to care for thu
milk from 1000 cows. Benton county
offers exceptional advantages to thost
wishing to engage in the business o
dairying
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1897-07-23
G. A. Gerhard.

Mr.. Gerhard is one of the young busi-
ness men of the city. He owns and
conducts the principal stationery store,
and the only news depot in Corvallis.
His stock is well selected, and wouli
not disgrace metropolitan business.
He keeps for sale all the leading rnaga-
zines and journals, and the newest pub
lications in the matter of books. His
stationery line is complete, and equal to
any social or business dernani Mr.
Gerhard takes proper pride in keeping
his business abreast of the times. lie
attends promptly to mail orders, and
our friends in the country who sant
something to read" can have that want
supplied By writing to him. e
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1897-07-23

beautiful blue-black prune, large, firm,
sub-acid, good flavor, and remarkable
keeper and shipper. This fruit can be
picked when matufe, and. if carefully
packed and handled, put upon the Chi
cago, Buffalo and other Eastern markets
in first-class condition.
Now that it is found that the larger
profit on the prune crop is probably
10 be had from the fresh fruit and that
the care and skill required to put the
best quality in the best condition on the
market, is as much, or, even more,
than that required u handle otI1er fresh
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1897-07-23
Land and Homes.

1t only remains to be said that good
land can be obtained for farming and
orchards at from $40 to $50 per acre
in the Valley, according to situation
Pasture land and the more remote and
smaller valleys afford some cheaper
land, at prices varying from So to SIS
per acre, while in the vicinity of the
towns and cities land is, of course
much higher. Considerable land is still
held in this vicinity in large bodies
which eventually must be divided into
smaller tracts. There is considerable
government and railroad land in the
county, but the best of it has beer
bought or taken up by settlers.
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1897-07-23
Climate.

That climate is the most desirable
extreme heat that enervates the mind
and body, and the extreme cold that
retards development, and that desirable
golden mean is found in Benton county.
The warm Japan ocean current flows
along Our coast, bringing the breath
of the tropics on its bosom, which is
lifted on the wings of the western wind
and waited across the valley, tempering
the rigors of winter. In the summer
months the sea breezes cool the heated
air, making the extremes of heat and
cold very much less than in CORE
spending latitudes east of the Rocky
East, we do not suffer from billiards
in winter, nor from cyclones and cloud
bursts in summer, and throughout the
year our people go about their daily
business practically without inter
ruption or inconvenience from the
weather. There are few days in sum
mer that are oppressively warm, while
the sea breeze each afternoon and ev-
ening makes the nights cool and pleas
ant. Cattle Craze on the hills during
the winter months, and seldom suffer
from extremes of inclement weather.
This equable climate conduces to
health and strength, and the highest de
gree of production in all the industries
of the country, and has made the adage
Crops never fail in Oregon" especially
applicable to the favored locality in
which Benton county is located.
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1897-07-23
Thos. Whftehorn.

The wooden building formerly oc-
cupied by Mr. Whitehorn, has been
torn down and on the site is be-
ing erected fine brick structure that
will be credit to the city and to Mr.
Whitehorn's enterprise. Elsewhere in
this paper is given a sketch and cut oi
this gentleman, who is accounted one oi
the solid men of business of this COM
munity.
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1897-07-23

past eight or ten years is ample evil
dence that this interest is one of absorb
ing moment to our people; that it is
destined to grow to large proportions in
the county and ultimately become a
factor of influence and wealth in ouI
community.
1t is only within two or three years
that the large commission houses have
directed any attention to this section;
now there are three or four Of these
firms giving special attention to our
crop prospects, certain index OF grow
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1897-07-23
#. A. Alexander.

The New York Racket store does
business on cash basis, and ther seems
to be lot of people who have cash,
for its goods go out in large quantities.
Mr.. Alexander, the proprietor, visits
the East every year, and buys his stock
direct from the factories, thus saving
the profit of the middlemen, and getting
fresh, new goods. He is an energetic
man, and possesses good business judg-
ment