APPENDIX.                               67
Lake County lies in the middle of Southern Oregon. Population, 2,804. As its name implies, it is a region of lakes, all of which are of considerable size. The soil is generally light, composed of volcanic ashes. Although a high and frosty county, it has many fine valleys and excellent land. Lake View, on Goose Lake, the county seat, is a thriving town, with two newspapers.  Sprague River Valley, quite picturesquely situated, contains 20,000 acres of excellent land, the soil being a rich sandy loam. Linkville, on Klamath Lake, is a good trading centre. Stock-raising is the most prominent business of the county. Only within a recent period have the bunch-grass and sage-bush lands, which here abound, been cultivated, but the result of what was simply an experiment was so encouraging that a broad acreage of cereals will soon be produced. The estimated value of farm products was $230,000.
Lane County is situated at the head of the Willamette Valley, and extends fromthe Cascade Mountains to the Ocean. Population 9,411. Area, 2,875,000acres; surveyed, 1,150,000; unsurveyed, 1,725,000; settled, 690,000.  The surface is quite diversified. There is much mountain and foot-hill landandnd the prairies are extensive and very fertile.  In all parts of the county there are large tracts of good land inviting settlers, and especially is this the case in the western part. Fine opportunities are offered also for the stock raiser.  Long-wooled sheep and Devon cattle are successfully bred. Wheat, oats, barley, hops, fruit and vegetables yield well. With ordinary cultivation the wheat crop runs from 25 to 30 bushels per acre. The principal town is Eugene City, which, including the precincts of North and South Eugene, contains a population of 2,250. This town is finely situated and beautifully laid out. It is the seat of the State University, and promises to be the educational centre of the Pacific Northwest. Other important places are Goshen, Creswell, Junction City and Springfield, all of which are growing fast in population.
Linn County lies south of Marion and west of the Cascade Mountains. It is the great prairie county of Western Oregon.  Population, 12,675.  Area, 1,196,000 acres; surveyed, 483,000; unsurveyed, 713,000; settled, 368,000. The soil is rich, yielding often 35 bushels of wheat to the acre.  Flax grown here is of fine quality, the fibre being from four to five feet long.  Wool is exported heavily, and oats, hay, vegetables and fruit of all kinds are raised. The Oregon and California Railroad and the narrow-gauge road before described, with the Willamette River in addition, give this county excellent transportation facilities. The valleys of the forks of the Santiam River offer fine lands for cultivation. Albany is the county seat, and it is one of the most prosperous towns in the State. Here there is a flax mill for the manufacture of linen twine. Other thriving towns are Tangent, Shedd, HIalsey, Peoria, Harrisburg and Brownsville, at which latter place there is a woolen manufactory.
Marion County is situated south of Clackamas and east of the Willamette River, extending to the summit of the Cascade Mountains.  Population, 14,576. Area, 759,000 acres; surveyed, 529,,00; unsurveyed, 230,000; settled, 437,000. The section extending from the foot hills to the Willamette River is about twenty miles square. It is a good farming district, having been settled years ago.  The Waldo Hills are a high rolling prairie, having remarkably fertile soil, and south of these hills Santiam Prairie is also an excellent farming region. Many Germans are buying railroad lands along the foot-hills. There is still much vacant land in the county, but improved farms may be bought at reasonable prices. The transportation facilities are excellent, the Willamette being navigable nearly all the year, the Oregon and California Railroad traversing the valley and the narrowgauge road skirting the foot-hills. Salem, the capital of the State, is a beautiful