The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1902-01-21
EASTERN OREGON
VERY PROSPEROUS
Business Conditions Are All
That Could Be Desired in
That Section.
SENATOR FULTON RETURNS
Says Mining and the Sugnr-Bect
Industry Are Reaching Pro-
portions, but Passes
over Politics.

IIur. G. W. Fulton returned ycStcr-
day from IA trip TO Eastern oregon. He
had been away for week or ten days
On pleasure. An Astorlnn representa-
tive who called on senator Fulton
ycateriay afternoon asked him about
his trip and conditions generally In
the eastern portion of the state. Mr.
Fulton said
4 visited Baker city. La Grandc and
Union. Al three places are cxpcep-
,lonhlly prosperous raker CITY. In
particular. ir enjoying "a remarkable
growth IN both population ana busi-
ness. Ncw buildings ar" under con
urnetlun ln every part of the city
Hnc business blocks and beautiful resi-
drnrrs while an air ~ thrlt; pros
pcrity and energy is everywhere In
evidence. Baker Is the supply point
f,r an the vas, and rich mining region
Inr ihat section whore numerous rich
mine, afr being worked and many
others ~ great promise are being de-
I,rlopcd Capitalists from all sections
of the country are daily arriving at
nakcr. seeking investment In mining
property. fpr the fame of her mines Is
unw worldwide
Excepting the Hotel Portland. the
Grturr Grand. Of Baker, is surpassed
10y no hotel In oregon. LIS arrange
ment Is perfect, It's finish elegant and
It's table service and appointments In
every respect all that one could wish,
Il Is a credit to any city. wish As
,oria had duplicate ot IT,
'Wuth La Gnndc and Union give
every evidence Of substantial growth
ana prosperity Their citizens are
IwIdc.awaEc. energetic and confident OF
great future for that locality, and
| am Just as confident that they VIII
not be disappointed The sugar r-bcet
Industry ot the Grand Ronde valley
has now passed beyond the expert
mental stage and has taken rank as
one of the great and important Indus
| tries Of our state. Those engaged In
beet growing, however, have had n
long. hard struggle. attended by many
dlscouragrmcnts and severe losses.
Fortunately for themselves and for
Oregon. they possessed the wisdom and
courage to perscverc In the face OF
every obstacle and the result Is as
surcd success and prosperity for them
selves and an additional and valuable
industry for Oregon.
The early stages Of sugar-beet cul-
turo are attended by many difficulties
that experience only can overcome. In
the first place, It is only after the third
or fourth crop that the ground Is In.
or can be brought to, the required con-
dition for profitable production. Then
u certain amount OF experimental
work. extending through a period OF
years. must be done In every new
locality. In order to ascertain what
soil and conditions are there most
suitable. before that degree " success
which makes profit possible can be at
talncd No matter how much
Experience you may have had
in one locality, going to n new
one you cannot avoid this expert
mental work. Often times In the same
field the soil OF one portion will prove
suitable for beet culture while that OF
another portion will prove wholly un-
suitable.
These considerations induced me,
In 1898, to support the sugar-beet boun-
ty bill, then pending before the legis-
lature, for | thought the burden OF In
PRODUCING a new industry, so important
20 our state. ought not to be borne by
few. however cnterprlsing and cour-
agcous they might be The bill, how
ever. failed. but the farmers of the
Grand Ronde refused to abandon the
struggle, and. although many OF them
We're badly crippled In the early part
Of the engagement success has finally
crowned their efforts. Last year the
product OF the Ia Grande factory
was nearly twelve million pounds or
sugar, The coming season will see
about one thousand more acres in
beets than last. Those engaged In
beet growing are now making money,
was told Of one gentleman, one OF
the principal growers, who netted
s32 per acre on his beet crop last year
That, you will observe, Is per cent
per annum on a valuation Of $lOO per
acre and there are thousands of acres
Cf equally as good land in that most
beautiful OF valleys.
There has been no winter yet, In
Eastern Oregon, this season. Indeed,
the miner, lumberman and farmer
alike are considerably concerned lest
] there shall not be a sufficient snow