The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1897-05-21
THE SOUTHERN SECTION.
Personal and General Notes
From a Rich Portion of Ben
ten County.

ED. GAzErTE:-Having had occasion
to visit on business the northeastern par,
of the county during the last week, the
opportunity was improved to talk with
quite number of the citizens of that 10
cality, while taking cursory view OF
the grain fields, orchards and gardens Of
that locality.
To be frank, this region has almost
been ''terra incognito" to the people
residing in other parts of Benton county
Among the reasons for this is that the
territory lies contagious to Albany, where
most of its people get their mail and
have done in years past most of theil
trading. Another reason is, our mer'
chants have not made the effort to be.
come acquainted with and secure by per
solicitation the trade of these people.
Still another reason is given by those
who live there, which is that in county
affairs they have been neglected and
their wants and needs overlooked or dis
regarded, which has had tendency to
estrange those who, being citizens OF
our county. do not feel the interest or in.
clination to become part and parcel Of
the body polite that they naturally 9TH
erwise would. had different course been
taken in the past.
How true these statements are, the
writer has,no means of knowing, but the
statements are made by very reliable peo-
pie, who would not be likely to make
any statemement that they did not be.
lieve to be true.
Several parties were working on the
road between Granger and Albany and
on the road leading from Albany back
through the hills to the Oak Grove
neighborhood and the complaint wa.
general among them that our county
court would not make any appropriations
to aid them in making good roads and
bridges, citing one instance in particu-
lar, when our county court refused to
make any appropriations to make the ap'
PlOdSh W lhC OiidSO dSlooo tAC w
ette at Albany and it was done at consid.
cradle expense to the taxpayers by dona.
tions of work.
These people pay their taxes ungrum.
blingly and are loyal citizens of Benton
county and if there has been any neg.
lect on the part of the county conrt, i,
ought to be at once remedied-not by
lavish and useless expenditures of public
money, for economy is the watchword
along all lines of endeavor, but in just
and equitable manner. The writer has
confidence in our county court and be.
lieves it is composed of honorable men
who intend to look after the public bust
ness in careful and intelligent manne,
and will not consider these people
Chronic kickers'' because they dare te
mention what to them seems an inius.
tiee. One other thing was mentioned
by several well-informed and public-spir
tied citizens of the locality referred to
which was that there is too much truth
in the criticism that in politics Corvalli.
has III the past demanded and taken the
lions share of the officers or dictated
who should be nominated in opposition
to the wishes of those living in the rura
districts. In short, these people feel tha
the officers should be better distributed
that extravasances should be cut off, sal
aries reduced and a general scaling dowr
entered upon and strictly adhered to.
The action of the county court in caus
ing the officers books to be exported and
shortages made good was warmly com
mended. 1t seems to be the desire o
these people to become better acquainted
with the different parts of the county
to get III touch with all its varied inter.
ests and to intelligently uphold its insti-
tutions and loyalty maintain its dignity
and standing among the counties of the
! state.
Many kindly expressions were heard
in favor of our merchants and busines:
people and lively interest was manifest
ed in the work of the Agricultural Col.
lege and Experiment Station located
here. 1t is believed by the writer of this,
that much trade could be divert.
ed toward Corvallis from this part of the
county if our business people made the
proper effort. 1t is, at least, worth try.
ing for.
The country along the Albany road,
about Paramount, opposite Albany,
around Oak Grove, Wells and all the ter
ritory lying east and north of Wells, that
was visited, is peopled by an intelligent,
moral, frugal and industrious class, rank.
ing easily among the best of the coun-
ty.
Altogether, the trip was very enjoyable
and conducive of better knowledge oi
the wants, aims and objects of this esti.
mable class of citizens
Among the many persons met by the
writer were Prof. Lake, manager, and
Mark Brownson, foreman, of the big
prune orchard at Granger, comprising
Ioo acres of Italian prunes. This or
chard, under the skillful treatment OF
these gentlemen is doing finely. The
ground is in good condition, the trees
are in good condition and the borers
have been eradicated.
Levi Joy, postmaster at Granger, is
still at the old stand, happy in the
knowledge of duty faithfully discharged
Geo. w. Young lives on 100 acres o.
the Walden farm. It is all under cult
vation and is good place for hops, fruit
and grain. Not being a farmer, Mr.
Yonng wants to sell.
| Anton Luther and Mr.. Monosmith oc
| c1l,,v mart of the old Walden Mace