East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1906-10-03

ulltion of $50 is a busy railroad CEN
ter, the junction of the Oregon and
Washington divisions of the o. L. &
n, and landing place for boats or
the Columbia river.
The county is we'll supplied with
transportation facilities, compared to
other sections of the west Pendeton
is situated on the main line and Spo-
kane branch of the/Oregon Railroad &
Navigation company's lines and on the
Washington & Columbia River branch
of the Northern Pacific and lis con-
nected with Pilot Rock. Alba, Ukiah'
Nye, Gurdane and other postofflces
and towns in the county by daily stage
lines. II
The towns of Adams, Athena, Wes-
ton, Freewater. Milton, Echo and
Umatilla are situated on the o. r. &
n. lines and Helix Is situated on the
w. e C. II. Pendleton has 10 daily
mail trains besides her stage lines.
An Educational Center.
From the very beginning Umatilla
county encouraged schools and edu-
cation and today she has 100 school
districts, with over 5000 school child
ren, and each district enjoys from six
to nine months school each year.
Teachers wages vary from $45 per
month in country districts to $500 |
per year for city superintendent.
Besides her excellent public school
system. there are three academies, one
business college and one state normal
school in the county.
Excellent school buildings are owned
by all the districts and the work ac-
complished in the public and private
schools is of the highest standard.
As an evidence of the keen intellec-
tual spirit of the people of the county
| Libraries are maintained at each school
and eight weekly, two semi-weekly
and two daily newspapers are well
supported in the county.
The church denominations are well
represented and some of the finest
church buildings in the northwest are
found in the county. The fraternal
orders are especially well represented
and are thrifty, progressive and strong.
Industrial.
The total amount of taxable prop
erty in the county for the year 1906
was $40, 100000 on a one-third cash
valuation and the county and state tax
amounted to but 19 mills.
This property consists of farming
land. range land. orchard land, sheep,
horses, cattle. hogs, manufacturing
enterprises, mercantile institutions,
banking and other lines of property.
The farming land of the county con-
sists of about 100000 acres which is
divided into three classes-two classes
of wheat land and irrigated land pro-
ducing fruit and alfalfa.
The first-class wheat land COM
prscs about 100000 acres, produces
from S5 to As bushels of wheat per
acre and is worth from $50 to $50
per acre. gsI
The second-class wheat land COM
: priscs about 100000 acres, produces
from 20 to 80 bushels of wheat per
acre and is worth from SIS to $40 per
acre.
This land is increasing in produc-
tlveness as better farming methods
are applied to 1t and is advancing in
price rapidly.
The alfalfa and fruit land comprises
about $4,000 acres in different parts
of the count yand 1t is worth from
500 to $500 per acre, according to its
location and improvements. The al
: falfa lands produce three and four
5 crops per year. making the annual
! production about eight tons of hay
! per acre, worth s6 in the stack as
e soon as harvest is over. The fruit
!. lane produces from $3.50 to $3.50 per
A acre IN .,uit and berries annually.
+ There is practically 1000, 900 acres
e ot land in the county open for entry
{ now This land is timbered land,
{ range and arid land which can be
brought under cultivation through ir-
= rigatlon. In the range districts small
n farmers and stockholders thrive. Land
d is there worth from SO to $40 per acre.
: The cost OF producing wheat in
s U'matilla county is from 2S to 80 cents
per bushel. The total annual crop of
a wheat is harvested largely by combin-
h Cd harvcsters which cut, thresh and
= sack the wheat, ready for the wheat
IS hqulers. for SO per acre.
r These harvesters are pulled by from
i 20 to 80 horses and cut about 80 acres
rer day. During the harvest season
n 1909 acres are cut by each harvester
6 where conditions are favorable.
s. Wheat prices range from so to 70
l. cents and perhaps 100000 bushels OF
al the crop are exported. while about g.
I. 100000 bushels are ground into flour
d in five large FIGURING mills in tbs
county.
Diversity has added spice and pros
|. perity, and aside from her immens,
w farming interests, Umatilla is a lead
l. ing livestock county in the state.
a. Her livestock consists of 100000
At head of high grade sheep valued a
in Slips. 900: 10000 head of cattle worti
n $i50.O00; 10000 head of horses wortl
ct 500, 900, and 500 hogs worth from
te to s cents per pound.
nj The wool clip amounts to about g.,
s. 100000 annually and sells at. from 1
a to 80 cents per pound. About 1000, 00'
,e pounds OF wool from Umatilla an,
Of adjoining counties are secured anC
" baled for market in the Pendletoi
ia securing mills and a large quantity |
IN woven into Indian robes, blankets an,
m cloth at the Pendleton woollen mills
of The average weight of fleece in tn
of county is 9h pounds and 80 per cen
ed of lambs is saved each year. owing t
,d the congenial climate and favorabl
re conditions for sheepraising
ch Climate.
nd The average rainfall Of the count