Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1910-06-23
WILL PLACE BIG
TRACT ON SALE
-FOUR HUNDRED AND THIRTY
THOUSAND ACRES OF FARM
ING LAND IN SHERMAN COUN-
TY TO BE SOLD.

Opening of the last tract of road
grant lands in Eastern Oregon was
announced yesterday afternoon by
Walter S. Martin, of San Francisco,
who is the accredited representative
of the Eastern Oregon Land Com
pany. This company acquired the
holdings of the old Dalles Military
Wagon Road grant several years ago
and has been holding it OF the mar
ket since.
Mr.. Martin says that Balfour.
Guthrie 6 Company have been made
the local agents and that plans are
being perfected for putting these
lands, aggregating 100000 acres,
out for purchase by settlers. Selling
agencies will be established and this
land sold at prices which will vary
from that prevailing for good farm
acreage to cheap grazing tracts.
The first unit to be offered is a
tract of $4,000 acres of improved
grain land in Sherman county which
has been under lease to farmers,
most of whom own adjacent lands.
This land is served by the Columbia
Southern, and will be sold in 160 or
640-acre tracts, the lessons being
given the refusal at the prices fixed.
1t is the announced purpose of Mr..
Martin to have these lands offered
at from $25 to $50 an acre.
1t is probable that 10000 acre
tract in the John Day valley will be
the second unit prepared for the
market, AS the Sumpter valley rail-
way has just reached Prairie City,
the heart of this valley 1t is expect
ed that these lands will move rapid
ly Rich bottom lands will be sold
here at SIS an acre, bench lands at
from Sc to $40. This is wonder
full valley which the world is just
able to reach comfortably, and when
proper transportation rates are given
for its produce, no doubt is enter
tanned that it will become one of the
richest of the state. Sale of the
grant lands will give the district a
great impetus.
Following that tract of about
$1,000 acres of yellow pine land
along the headwaters of the John
Day will be put on the market. This
land is cruised at 55O,OOO,OOO feet
of standing timber, and occupies al
ternate sections with the tracts with
drawn to create the Malheaur Ma
tional Forest There is hope that
the purchaser of these lands can Sc
cure cutting contracts from the ma
tional government, which will ena-
BILE logging operations to proceed
over both at the same time.
Cow valley, in the Malheaur basin
has about 10000 acres of land
which Mr.. Martin believes is good
for agriculture, and this will be
colonized, or sold in a tract to some
concern that wants to take up such
work.
In Willow Creek valley there are
5000 acres subject to irrigation and
10000 acres under the Boice-Owy-
hee project. Such portions of the
company lands as are not desirable
now for settlement may be withheld
for some immediate disposition, as
soon as the necessary arrangements
can be made.
This grant originally contained
$4,000 acres, and extended from
The Dalles in a curved line to Nyssa,
on the Snake river 1t was in ear
lier years sold down to about 430,-
900, which is now offered the pub
lie, The lands were bought in 1874
by Edward Martin, father of the
present manager, from the old road
company, and have been held since
in direct title or through the East
ern Oregon Land company, which
was organized to handle the tract
Portland Telegram.
Stomach Troubles.