East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1904-11-03

month in the east convinced w.
p. Temple that he would not exchange
Umatilla county for whole state in
the corn belt, as home.
Mr.. Temple, accompanied by his
wife and daughter and sister, Mrs
Eta Simmons. of Lane county, spent
nearly month in the states of Iowa
Nebraska, Illinois and at St Louis
He returns home well pleased to face
the few disadvantages of the West
in preference to the many disadvan-
tages and drawbacks of the Central
states. After visiting and becoming
familiar with the conditions of the
common people, who own small
homes and who have been in debt for
years, he is not surprised that so
many of them are rushing to the
West.
Kansas Wheat Very Poor.
Mr.. Temple states that he saw
wheat threshed in Northern Kansas
that made from but three to 10 bush
els per acre and tested from 40 to so
pounds per bushel. Corn crops this
season are very good, although the
cold spring hindered seeding and
some of 1t will not fill properly. Cat
tie are very cheap. cows selling in
many places at from SIS to $16 per
head. Calves are worth from Sc to
$S, and heavy horses in the Chicago
market are about the same price as
in Pendleton. Mule colts are worth
$50 each and yearling mules are sell
ing at $50. Very few Western horses
are seen in the markets of the Cen
trail states.
Never Heard of Lewis and Clark.
II met intelligent men, of the
best business ability and standing,
everywhere" said Mr.. Temple, "who
had never heard of the Lewis and
Clark fair. After 1 told them some
thing of it and explained the scope
of the fair and its meaning to the
Northwest, they promised me that If
rates were reduced. they would visit
Oregon next year. was dumb
founded to think that men of more
than average intelligence, and men
who average up we'll with farmers
and business men in any community
in the United States, should have
never heard of our exposition after
the large amount of publicity that
had been given it, through the press
and through personal correspondence.
People Lack Energy.
THE people seem, to be at a
standstill," said Mr.. Temple. 'There
is very little push and vigor among
them. The terribly hot climate seems
to stultify them, in a measure, and
they have not half the energy that
people have in this country.
II know men in Southern Iowa, |
who have resided on the same little |
narrow tract of land for is to 25
years, and are just now getting out
of debt. If they make 800 or $3.50 |
per year clear of expenses they are
doing we'll In the school district |
where 1 attended school 25 years ago, |
the same old house is standing with
out paint, and with the same old |
seats in it. that l sat upon, and whit
tied quarter of a century ago. That |
school house was built in 1913, and |
iiiS Dttli constantly uScu ShlNt lltIls ]
with very little repair.
There is little change in the per-
sonnel of the settlements. Chill
dren grow up and buy a tract
of land in one corner of the |
old home place and raise their
families there. under the shadow of
the same roof that has sheltered two
three or four generations
Burn Buffalo Chips.'
Where visited in Western Ne
braska. they are still burning Buffalo
chips, 'as the same Rock Springs |
coal that we get here for 81 per ton |
costs them IS there. There is no |
fuel competition there. Boys have |
grown to manhood in Western Ne
braska, who never saw a pile of cord |
wood.
THE worst blizzard 1 ever saw oc-
CURED in Western Nebraska, on Oc-
tober 20. The snow fell, the wind |
blew a gale and 1t was one of the |
worst days 1 ever experienced. Cat |
tie drifted out of pastures and run
before the storm for 20 miles in a
night
Need Oregon Literature.
''The most urgent need of that
overcrowded country is some whole
some literature about Oregon. to
open the eyes of the younger genera
ton and get them to thinking of get
ting out of the old rut. Very few of
them are satisfied with their lot
They take conditions as sort of
unavoidable and necessary burden
and don't worry.
'In the 10 years since 1 made my
last visit to Iowa, there have been
but few changes. In one neighbor-
hood that visited, but one new
house and one new barn, had been
built in distance of 10 miles. The
little towns are settling up with the
older farmers who are ont Of active