The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1917-04-19

as the Diamond t. ranch. This
place contains about 1400 acres,
from which the owner sold about
$4,000 worth of wheat the past sea-
son. Mr.. Benedict gave us an invi-
tation to 60 home with him and have
lunch and he would show US some
farming country. We accepted his
invitation and went to his home. He
Is now finishing a $4,000 residence.
After dinner our kind host made good
his promise and showed us over a
large portion Of western Morrow
county and eastern Gillian county,
where large acreage of fine land is
lying idle for lack Of farmers to cul-
tivate the land. The large tracts are
owned by syndicates who are hold
ing 1t for speculative purposes. Mr..
Benedict informed US that the main
reason why that county is not more
thickly settled was on account Of lack
of water In former years. as every
one had to haul water for all pur-
poses; but this difficulty has been re-
moved. as most Of the farmers now
have bored wells, varying in depth
from $50 to 400 feet. and which fur
nish An endless supply of water. Mr..
Benedict is we'll equipped for farm
ing, as he owns all kinds OF machin-
cry from q plow to q combined har-
vester, also some so or so head of
horses and mules.
There is another farmer Of whom
mention should be made-Mr. Pal
mateer,, brother Of our fellow towns
man, Henry Palmateer. The gen.
tleman of whom l write moved into
that country seventeen years ago
with $3.50 and two old skates (you
know what they are). Mr.. Palma
teer went In debt for 400 acres of
land and machinery sufficient to
work 1t. After three years farming
he paid of his 400-acre ranch and his
machinery. Today he owns 500
acres of fine land. has large and
modern barn. a large, two-story res
idence that would rival any In the
valley, a large machinery shed filed
with all kinds Of machinery, owns q
complete equipment of everything in
that line from garden cultivator to
a threshing machine, large bunch
Of good work horses and bank &C.
count sufficient to buy another 300
acre ranch. Although we are not
lately from Missouri, show US val
ley farmer who has accomplished 50
much In the same time.
Farming in the sections We trav-
eled over is carried on much more
economically than in the valley.
There they plow and SOW from 40 to
50 pounds Of wheat to an acre. Dur
ing harvesting It is estimated. thas
enough wheat scatters out for : sec
/ ond crop, and al that h neceasAfy Z
| to disc tho Land. and It produces I
good crop, even though not pound
has been sown the second year. Land
in these sections range in price from
$12.50 to $40 per acre.
We will now leave these lands for
short time and proceed homeward.
Before doing SO, let us not forget to
state that Morgan contains many
comfortable dwellings, q large mer.
chandise and implement store, post
office, q large graded school under
the supervision OF Miss Echo Citizens
of Estacada, Clackamas county, q
large dance hall and l. o. o. F. hall,
and most of the men of this place and
surrounding country belong to the
"chain gang"
When leaving there the sun shone
bright and the roads In most places
were dry and dusty. Now II we
should take some Of our eastern Ore
gon neighbors for drive on some OF
our CO muddy roads and he should
incidentally inquire the value Of good
tillable land adjoining these roads, II
would be necessary for US to stand
him up against post and examine
his heart before telling him the price
ranged from 500 per acre up, and
then you would undoubtedly notice
him search his pockets to see II he
still retained his return ticket to
take him back to the land Of sun
shine and waving wheat fields. The
writer is so favorably impressed with
that country that he anticipates TAX
ing another trip before harvest.
| MATTHEW GIBSON,
Shaw, Oregon.