Limestone, brown sandstone, salt-springs, besides sulphur and soda- springs, are known to exist; but these things are left untouched until a more numerous population calls for their appropriation and use. Salmon-fishing is carried on to some extent near the mouth of the river; and also fishing for oysters along the coast. The coast country is an excellent one for fruit-raising and butter-making; for the former on account of the absence of frost, for the latter on account of excellent and ever-fresh grasses, cold spring-water, and even temperature.
Traveling through the valley by the stage-road from the north, Oakland is the first town of much importance we come to. It is beautifully situated on a branch of the Umpqua River, among a grove of the trees from which it takes its name. Among its public buildings is the Oakland Academy, used both for school purposes and for the holding of religious services by the Methodists; and a Masonic Hall. Ten miles south of Oakland is another academy—at Wilbur—also under the patronage of the Methodist Church.
Roseburg, the county-seat, is a pretty little town of five hundred inhabitants, charmingly located in one of the oak parks bordering the Umpqua River. It has an academy, four churches, a Masonic and Odd Fellows' Hall, and public schools; and all the usual trades and manufactures of an inland town. Too much can not be said of the landscape beauty of this part of the county. It is easy to foresee that when these valleys are made accessible they will be populated rapidly; as well from their attractiveness as from the excellence of soil and climate. A United States Land Office is located at Roseburg. Farming land can be purchased at from three to fifteen dollars an acre.
