The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-10-10

ed by a well-known agriculturist that the
dairy industry Is reaching critical stage
in Oregon. We have nearly, If not quite.
reached the point where the output of
butter and cheese is equal to the demand
for home consumption. and not having
an export trade established as yet, a
further increase in production will result
in lowering Of the sale price. But, says
this same Individual the depression will
be but temporary. The inhabitants OF
Japan China. the Philippine and Ha-
waiian islands are going to want our but
ter as soon as they learn its qualities and
as soon as it can be delivered to them
in a form to stand their climatic condi
lions. Besides, with our cheaper food
stuffs and mild climate. when we produce
in quantities sufficient to ship carload
lots, we can compete with Iowa, Mime
sofa. Illinois and other states of the mid
die west in the eastern markets. So, all
things considered. there need be no fears
entertained regarding the future success
Of the dairy industry in Oregon.
Topography and climatic conditions nat
urally divide the state into two parts, sep
arated by the Cascade range Of noun
tains. which are commonly spoken OF s
Eastern Oregon and western Oregon"
While the creameries and cheese factories
in Eastern Oregon" are yet very few
in number, this section Of the state Is be-
lieved to have great possibilities a
datrying region, particularly in the north
ern part. Indeed. parties familiar with
da1rying In southern Minnesota are of the
opinion that hits section Of Oregon will
eventually rival equal portions Of south
ern Minnesota and northern Iowa In the
quantity and quality Of its dairy produc
tons. At the town Of Milton, situated In
the locality under consideration, Is loca ted
what Is probably the most up-to- date
creamery in the state. A recognized dairy
pDthnritv after oarefl1llv irs VIC
plant, pronounced it the best-equipped
creamery he had ever seen. This estab-
l1shment Is conducted on the cooperative
plan, th' '"thod of operation being de-
cided upt Ter a careful investigation Of
creamery methods In the state Of Mime
sofa by a committee of citizens Of Milton
and vicinity.
1t Is not probable that the southeastern
portion of the state will ever become much
OF dairy region, at least, not in the
Immediate future. With an annual rain
fall Of only ten to fourteen inches, irriga-
tion must be resorted to for the successful
growing Of crops for feeding dairy cows
and it is yet an unsolved problem to what
extent this section Of the state can be
brought under irrigating systems. 1t is
believed by some Of the residents of this
region That large areas can be brought
under the influence of irrigation by the
reservoir system.
The western portion Of the state is COM
monty spoken of as the Willamette VAL
ley Southern Oregon and the Coast
Regions the latter being very important
In a consideration of the dairy industry
While the whole of western Oregon has g
greater rainfall and milder climate than
the eastern portion Of the state, the to-
pogra ply of the western portion warrants
the divisions just mentioned. The Coast
range. running practically parallel with
3,N Do, IL
tains. makes rather formidable barrier
between the coast regions and the Will
lamette valley. which greatly interfereS
with transportation between these two
sections. A transverse range Of low noun
tains, known as the Caipooias, makes
rather distinct division between the Will
lamette valley and southern Oregon. These
two latter named regions, however, are
connected by the Southern Pacific rail-
road. A person unfamiliar with the topog
raphy of a mountainous region would
scarcely realize the amount Of territory
covered by the foothills Of a mountain
cha in like the Coast range. 1t is safe to
say that a strip of country averaging
thirty miles in width and extending clear
across the state from north to south is
occupied by this range of mountains and
it's foothills. On the western side of the
Coast range these hills are usually COW
cred either with a dense growth of tim
Der, generally fir, with a luxuriant
growth of fern. And it is reported that
where the fern has been killed and cultl-
waited grasses, such as the elovers, intro
duced. they have made theirGWay clear to
the SUBMITS Of these hills, and the predic-
ton has been made that in the future this
region may be not unlike picturesque and
practical Switzerland from dairy stand
point Numerous valleys of greater or
less extent are found among these hills
wherein may be grown the necessary Win-
ter dairy feed, while the hills will furnish
the spring, summer and fall pasturage.
{ Bordering the shores of the Pacific ocean
is a belt of land with a more or less bro
ken surface In places 1t extends inland
for twenty miles or more In practically
tunbroken level stretch, while In other pla-
ces the hills extend clear down to the
waters edge. The principal level tracts
are found in Clatsop, Tillamook and Coos
counties, while there are smaller tracts OF
the same character in all Of the counties
bordering on the Pacific. All Of these
sections are abundantly supplied with
small streams Of pure water, and the mild,
moist climate keeps the grass green and
growing during the entire year. However,
growth is pretty slow during the winter
season, and the progressive dairyman
provides some winter feed in addition to
the grass supply. Dafrying is not a new
industry in these coast regions, yet there
is large amount Of land in them yet to
be cleared Of timber and brush or re-
claimed from the encroachment of the sea
water. The matter of transportation has
been a serious handicap to the coast cOun-
ties, but happily the service is rapidly i'm
proving. At present shipments Of freight
must be made mainly by ocean steamers,
as railroads reach but two points, namely,
Yaquna Bay and the Clatsop plains.
OF almost equal Importance to the coast
country as dairy region is the valley OF
the lower Columbia. For more than 125
miles the valley of the Columbia river on
the Oregon side comprises strip of level
land Of varying width, portion of which
next the river Is subject to annual over
flow from the June freshets. This over
flow land Is not adapted to general agri-
culture but does furnish most excellent
pasturags after the waters subside, while
on the adjoining land, which does not
overflow can be grown all kinds Of farm
crops in great abundance. Within this
territory are found the largest dairy herds
in the state, many Of them numbering LOO
or more COWS. The product of these herds
is largely shipped to Portland In the form
of cream, where it is made into ice cream
and butter.
The dairy industry is making rapie
progress in the Willamette valley, where
it is carried on in much the same man
sner as in the dairy regions Of the middle
west. The Willamette valley is pre-
Seminently an agricultural region, and it:
farmers are coming to realize that thu
growing of crops suited to the feeding
;of COWS is essential in the rotations re-
squired to keep up the fertility of thei
farms.