Industrial freedom. [volume] (Edison, Wash.) 1898-1???, 1899-05-13
A NEW COLONY.

valley lies between the coast ana Cascaue
RANGES of mountains runs north and south,
the river flowing north into. the Columbia,
and is from 80 to 60 miles from the Paclhc
ocean.
Its main surface is almost as level as hoor
and is well watered not only by numerous
streams flowing from the ranges OF mountains,
but has plentiful rainfall during the greater
part of the year. The soil is mostly decom-
posed lava brought down from the mountains
and of course is as rich as it well can be.
Whan it was first settled the Indians had
been in the habit OF burning the luXuriant
grass. each fall, not only to improve the past
urage but to check the cncroachments OF the
timber 50 that at that time almost the whole
valley was prairie. Since the occupation OF
the land by the whites timber has sprung up
wherever allowed to do SO, but the greater
part OF the land is now in cultivation or in
pasture. The soil produces ali the grains,
grasses Of the temperate zone to periec-
zion, and III the greatest pgousion. Land
which has been in cultivation for forty years
except Tor occasional summer following raises
from fifteen to fifty bushels Of wheat TO the
acre, and averages about twenty. Oats do
furly wen ana does corn buJ the latter
does not ripen fulIy owing to the cool nights,
and is therefore generally fed green or rom
the silo. Prunes are grown as Wei as any
where ana apples, pears and piums rot ON
tho ground each year by the ton. Cherries
are OF the best favor L have ever seen and
the yield IS enormous and the same is true
OF most OF the small ruits Peaches cannot
So, 1,,..., a.
All harGy varieties OF grapes DO well, but
some d. not ripen before the fall rains, and
are liable to mould. Owing to the rainy win
tiers, the pasture does not make Us gOou sod
Us farther east, but the grazing period is so
much longer and the Winters mild that it
is much easier TO raise all kinds OF stock than
in the Mississippi valley north of the Ohio
river. Butter and eggs command good
price and chickens Go well. The Cascade
and coast ranges are covered, except where
forest fires have swept. with the finest timber
| have seen, and / have Travelled much in the
west and south. The main tree is the Ore
gon pine, which in the Cascades will average
over 200 feet in height and about 10 inches in
diameter at the stump. / measured one tree
which was - inches in diameter, eight feet
from the ground it was l94 feet to the first
limb, where the body was 40 inches in diam
eter and the total length was 2Sj feet. Such
trees are the exception not the rule. We also
have some white and some bull pine, oak, ash
and maple. The oak is good for fuel and for
furniture making, but is too brash for wag-
ons The naples make beautiful furniture,
80 does the ash.
The soil OF the valley is decomposed lava.
washed down from the hills and, as said be-
fore, nearly all very rich. The climate is
very peculiar one in that there is "a wet and
dry season rather than a cold ana hot one.
1t is never very cold and snow is seldom
seen in the valley, though it is always in
sight on the mountains. The coolest / re-
member since 1879 has been about Zero and
that only once The usual winter weather is
considerably above freezing. The rains be-
gin usually in September, enough to enable
the farmers to begin to pillow, though some
times it is late in October before there has
been enough to soften the ground for the
pillow. FrCm that time to the middle OF Jan
uary the rains increase in frequency but are
usually very gentle, and for some reason the
greater part Of it falls at night. The clouds
time so that it seems to newcomers to be
rainy weather most of the time during the
wet season. From the first of February to
the middle or last of June the rains decrease
in frequency until they cease. After that
we have from ten to twelve weeks without or
with almost no rain. This enables the har-
vest 10 be finished and the grain taken to
market without rain and while the roads are
hard and good.
This is enough for the land and climate
ctr. Now for the colony. Some years ago a
minister, the Rev. II. >. Wallace. was con-
verified to socialism, and his constant thought
since has been to found a Christian colony.
Last year he learned OF what he considered
ine opportunity to secaIe a site and at once
set 70 work TO work the matter up. Two
wee ago his labors eliminated in securing
options on several thousand acres OF this land
near Monroe, which lies on the willamette
river near bat below the head of navigation
The option includes number of houses.
barns, a store and a stock of goods Il desired
Two Touring mills, one hundred acres OF prune
trees, gardens orchards and pasture: also a
very fine water power. There Is good clay
for brick and fine building stone. and ID is
thought there Is limestone or cement near at
hand. Water power ia TO be had at slight cx-
pense in every direction, and near at hand
The intention OF those who have Joined Mr.
Wallace In this work Is to found a Christian