Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1912-02-23

lAllAs
Vast Tract Is Grant Land.
II is understood that Mr.. Hill and
his father have been financially inter-
ested in the company for many years,
The deal yesterday involved the inter
ests Of the United States Farm Lands
company, which concern has held q
half ownership in the property. OBJ
tanning possession Of this remaining
half interest gives Mr.. Hill and Mr..
Davidson complete ownership Of the
entire tract.
The land, which rs the last Of the
unsettled area in the western part OF
the United States, was originally
known as the Willamette and Cascade
Wagon Road grant This strip which
eastward for 400 miles, was
to be the basis for a bond issue for the
the construction Of the road. The
bonds we're issued, the road built and
the bonds ultimately found their way
into the hands Of French capitalists
These holders refused to throw the
country open to settlement, holding
the vast area in It's original unim-
proved condition and realizing moth
ing on their investment. Finally the
Oregon G. Washington Colonization
company was formed. This transac-
tion was four times larger than any
other single land deal ever recorded
in this country, and the purchase Of
the half interest Of the United States
Farm Lands companys interests in
the parent company by Messrs. Hill
and Davidson is second only to that.
PrlneVllIe IN Domain.
The land extends from the western
slope of the Cascade Mountains east
ward to Idaho and includes some Of
the best portions Of Crook, Harney
and Malheur counties. The principal
towns within the tract are Prineville
and Burns, although the deal does not
include much actual town property.
According TO the terms OF the orig
inal grant the company that agreed
to build the military road was decided
only every alternate quarter section,
80 that the property acquired by Mr.
Hill and his associates is spotted with
farms OF settlers and other large
tracts held by smaller corporations
and investors
with the purchase Of this immense
acreage, the syndicate will be able Ia
control virtually the entire water sup
ply originating along the territory in
cluded in the holdings. A large part
Of the Malheur river runs through the
eastern part Of the land. This river
drains Malheur Lake, one Of the larg-
est bodies of water In Eastern Oregon
To the northwest Of Burns the Crook
cd river takes It's source and runs in
q northwesterly course and emptlei
into the Deschutes river about II
miles west OF Prinevllle.
Water Supply Big Asset
These two rivers form the chiei
drainage system Of central Eastern
Oregon, From the fact that the devel-
opment OF the immense holdings will
depend TO great extent upon irriga.
tlon, the water supply is considered
one of the greatest assets Of the acre
age.
The land included In the original
grant parallels for a great distance
either side Of the Malheur and Crook
ed rivers, With water grade from
Ontario on the extreme eastern bound
ary Of the grant, through the entire
strip TO the Deschutes river II will
be feasible to construct a railroad line
through the middle Of the holdings
from Ontario to the Deschutes river
where connections would be mad,
with the Oregon Trunk system That
such a line will be built eventually
seems probable. Through the sectior
especially adapted to agriculture th'
construction Of electric lines as feed
eB may be included In the develop
ment plans later,
Rich Land Included.
Scattered throughout the holding
are large areas OF tillable land adapt
ed to growing Of wheat, oats, barle!
and other cereals and hay products
without irrigation. Many Of the vari
GUS valleys have rich soil and Idea
places for the growing OF fruits an,
vegetables.
II ia estimated that there is con
tained In che entire grant 100000,
900 feet Of merohantable timber, con
slstlng OF yellow pine, white pine, bul
pine, laroh and ilr. BY reason Of IN,
lack OF transportation facilities III
vast ,lmbered acrea between Prlnevilll
and Vale has remained virtually un
touched When transportation is sup
piled, Il is expected that big saw
mill plants win be established.
About $4,000 acres OF the grant ~
lns west Of the Cascade Mountains II
linn county were taken over last tal
by the Forest-Hnl Investment com
pany. This purchase included prae
tically all the acreage Of the grant ly,