| "Scio, Oregon-
Situated between the forks of the Santiam river, 18
miles east of Albany and 72 miles south of Portland is
the town of Scio. Thomas creek, which furnishes an
excellent water power at this point, divides the town
and finds an outlet in the Santiam river. A short line
of railway, two and one-half miles in length, connects
Scio with the Woodburn-Springfield branch of the
Southern Pacific at West Scio. Scio is but a short
distance north of the Oregon Pacific railroad and on the
completion of the latter road to an eastern connection
the town will be practically on the direct line of a
system of competing roads connecting with all points in
the United States, east, west, north and south.
Scio is an incorporated town
and has a population of about 550. It is supported by a
rich agricultural district which produces in many
instances 50 bushels of wheat to the acre, while oats,
flax, barley and all the grasses yield as large crops
here as are produced anywhere in the valley. The area of
the county lying between the forks of the Santiam river
is greater than that of some of the smaller Eastern
States, and Scio is the commercial center for all of
this vast expanse of territory. The water supply of this
section is unlimited, as the three rivers and all their
tributaries which flow through this part of the state
find their sources in the foothills of the Cascade
Mountains where they are fed by perennial snows. An
excellent water power obtained from an artificial arm of
Thomas creek runs the Scio Roller Mills, the plating
mill and the efficient electric light plant of the town.
The roller mill at this point is one of the best
flouring mills in the county. Its capacity is 125
barrels of flour a day. A large warehouse capable of
storing 80,000 bushels of wheat is connected with this
mill. The flour manufactured by the Scio Roller Mills
finds a large sale in Scio and the tributary country,
and large quantities are regularly shipped to Portland.
The people of Scio take something of a pardonable pride
in their perfect system of water works. Hydrants have
been placed at every street crossing of the town, with
fire hose connection. This, with the efficient volunteer
fire department, insures absolute protection to Scio
against a conflagration. The streets, business houses
and dwellings of the town are lighted by electricity.
Both the arc and incandescent systems of lighting are
used. The water works and electric-light plants at Scio
are owned and operated by private individuals.
A local brickyard has
already supplied the brick used in the erection of four
brick blocks on Scio's main thoroughfare. A number of
business houses at Scio carry very large stocks and do a
big trade in the tributary section. The general
merchandise of stores of Hibler, Shore and Holdredge
carry a stock of goods valued at $15,000, and in
addition to their big city trade they enjoy a large
country patronage. S.M. Daniel also carries a large
stock of merchandise, the value of his stock
approximating $10,000. Mr. Daniel enjoys a large trade
both from the city and country customers. The large
furniture and carpet store of W.H. Ramsey does a paying
business- a business that is constantly increasing in
volume, owing to the rapid growth of population both in
the town and in the country immediately tributary.
The Bank of Scio, the financial
institution of the town, has a capital stock of $23,500.
Its officers are, I.J. Munkers, president; J.W. Gaines,
vice-president, and A.J. Johnson, cashier. This bank is
on the strongest of financial footings and it enjoys the
complete confidence of the people of the community in
which it is located.
Scio is abreast of other towns
of equal population in educational advantages afforded
its youth. An eight-room brick school building was
completed in the town during the past year at a cost of
$12,000. It is an attractive piece of architecture and
is perfectly adapted to school purposes. Four teachers
are employed in the public schools here, and the average
number f scholars in attendance is 130. The religious
organizations at Scio are represented by the Baptist,
Presbyterian, Christian and Methodist denominations. The
Christian and Methodist organizations own church
buildings of their own. A city hall, with a seating
capacity of 150 people, affords good accommodations for
gatherings of a public nature. The Press, a weekly
newspaper, handles the town and country news at Scio in
a creditable manner. The town supports one hotel and has
two livery stables.
Land in the vicinity of Scio is
relatively cheap. Improved farms within one-half mile of
the town limits sell at about $40 an acre, and a few
miles out of town good farms can be purchased at as low
a figure as $10 an acre. Fuller information of the rich
lands in the district tributary to Scio can be obtained
from Mr. R. Shelton of this town, who is thoroughly
posted on farm values in this section. All letters
addressed to R. Shelton, Scio, Oregon, will receive
prompt attention."
The Oregonian's handbook of
the Pacific Northwest c. 1894
Contributed:
©Shauna Williams
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