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

©Shauna Williams

At the western extremity of one of the arms of the Willamette valley, which merges into the foothills of the Cascade range of mountains, is located the prosperous little city of Brownsville. The place is within the limits of Linn county, and the site which the town occupies is one of the most picturesque points of Western Oregon. Two buttes are conspicuous features of interest to the north and south of the town limits of Brownsville, while on the east rise the rugged outlines of the lofty Cascade range of mountains. The Calipooia river, a mountain stream, which at all seasons carries a good volume of water, flows by the town, and the banks of this stream are the scene of considerable industrial activity.
     Brownsville was first laid out as a town of 1850. It is today one of the most important manufacturing points in the Willamette Valley. Its present population is about 1,000. All-rail communication is afforded with Portland, 95 miles north of Brownsville, by means of the Woodburn-Springfield branch of the Southern Pacific and the main line of the same company through connection with Woodburn, 60 miles north of Brownsville, and with all points south in the valley, through connection with the Lebanon branch of the Southern Pacific at Lebanon Junction, 13 miles south, the latter line forming a junction with the main line of the same company at Albany.
     Brownsville is located in the midst of a rich farming and timber district. It occupies a site perfectly adapted for the establishment of manufacturing industries on a large scale, and it contains an enterprising population. The Eagle woolen mills, among the few great woolen mills of the coast, is located at Brownsville. A lengthy description of this most important industry is published in connection with the present article. In addition to the woolen mills, Brownsville is also the seat of a patent roller flouring mill, with a daily capacity of 50 barrels and a saw and planing mill, with equipments for turning out sash and doors, and a tannery. An immense water power at this point, which is also mentioned at length elsewhere in the present article, runs all of the factories mentioned above, and there is sufficient reserve power in these falls to run all the factories of the Willamette valley.
     While the country in the immediate vicinity of Brownsville is perhaps more undulating and hilly than are other parts of the Willamette valley, it is no less fertile than are any of the best sections of this great agricultural and fruit belt. In addition to its special adaptability to the growing of cereals of all kinds, fruits and vegetables, this hilly land is especially adapted to the raising of fine horses, cattle and sheep. Wool-growers in this section find exceptional opportunities for disposing of their wool crop in the large woolen mills located at Brownsville, and wool here always bring good prices.
     The general merchandise store of R.N. Thompson, which was established in 1880, will serve to give an idea of the volume of business transacted here. Mr. Thompson's store, as shown by the accompanying illustrations, has a double front, and occupies a prominent corner, 44 x 90 feet in dimensions. The value of the stock carried is between $15,000 and $20,000. Besides an immense local trade, Mr. Thompson enjoys a large patronage from the farmers, a trade that reaches a section of rich county within a radius of 20 miles distance of Brownsville.
     In Brownsville, on the opposite side of the Calipooia river from which the large business establishment mentioned above is located is the mammoth general merchandise store of G.C. Cooley & Co., of which Messrs. G.C. Cooley, W.C. Cooley and J.D. Irvine are proprietors. This firm carries a stock valued at from $15,000 to $20,000, and enjoys an immense local and country trade. The Bank of Brownsville is a strong financial institution of the city. The officers of the bank are: J.M. Moyer, president; W.R. Kirk, Vice-president, and L.L. Say, cashier. The capital stock of the bank is $30,000.
     Brownsville is not behind any other point of the valley in an efficient system of public instruction. A handsome new four-room school building has recently been erected at this point at a cost of about $7,500. An older building, with two rooms, is still occupied here for school purposes. The number of teachers employed in the public schools here is five, and the average daily attendance of scholars is 250. The schools are graded, and correct rules of discipline are enforced. The city supports one weekly newspaper, The Times, and a good public library is maintained. Six church organizations are supported at Brownsville, and some of these occupy very handsome church edifices. The denominations include two Presbyterian, two Methodist, one Baptist and the Christian. A good opera house, with a seating capacity of 500, is located at this point. The town has two hotels, and good livery accommodations are afforded in one stable. With every advantage of an unexcelled water power, with an abundance of the finest timber near at hand, with the richest of farming districts tributary, Brownsville enjoys every facility for making steady and solid advancement in the future. It might be assumed that good farming lands in the vicinity of as rich a town as Brownsville, and exceptionally located, would command very high prices. On the contrary, choice acre property can be bought here, according to a statement by Mr. O.P. Coshow, whose long residence in Brownsville, and whose familiarity with land values are well known, for from $10 to $50 and $100 per acre, the value of this land varying according to improvements made on it and proximity to town.

The Eagle Woolen Mills-The Eagle Woolen Mills, at Brownsville, have been in operation for more than 25 years. Since the present company acquired ownership, five years ago, the sound of looms and spinning machines has been uninterrupted, except on Sundays, for the mills ran steadily, both day and night. New machinery has been added as required, from time to time, since the building of the mills, so that the present equipment is almost all modern and in first class condition. A dynamo, with generating power sufficient to furnish electric lights for the entire woolen mill plant, has recently been added.
     The mills may be designated as two-set, but with four-set capacity, which is explained by the statement that in operating the spinning and carding department both day and night, and the other machinery having double their capacity, a four-set mill is the result.
     An immense water power is derived from the Calipooia river, across which, four miles distant, a dam has been built which turns almost the entire river into a race conducting the water to the mills in an inexhaustible supply. This water also furnishes the power for the Brownsville Flouring Mill, which is also owned by the woolen mill company. The grinding capacity of this mill is 50 barrels per day. It has the new roller process and manufactures three grades of flour, which have attained a reputation for excellence.
     The Eagle Woolen mills manufacture into the finest fabrics 300,000 pounds of wool every year. All of this wool is grown in the state of Oregon. Linn County, in which the mills are located, is especially adapted for wool growing, and a large proportion of the supply comes from this source. Thousands of cords of wood are also required for the engines in generating heat and steam for the cleansing, bleaching dyeing and drying departments. It is thus seen that, outside of the mills proper, employment is afforded to a number of men. The mills furnish direct employment to more than 60 men, women and boys, and the monthly pay roll of the company amounts to $2,200. The operatives all have their homes in Brownsville and, in most instances, in near proximity to the mill. The general air of neatness and healthfulness pervading this section of the city is apparent at all times.
     The Eagle Woolen Mills Company have a large wholesale and retail store in Portland, at 164 and 166 Second street, to which the entire product of the mill is shipped as soon as manufactured. From two to four shipments are made every week. In connection with the Portland store is an order, cutting and fitting department. A stock of $150,000 value, consisting of the finest grades of blankets, flannels, cassimeres and tweeds is constantly kept on hand, from which to make selections. The latest designs in pattern are closely followed, and it is the boast of the manufactures that every piece of cloth bearing the stamp, "The Eagle Woolen Mills," is guaranteed all wool.
     The officers of the Eagle Woolen Mills Company are: W.R. Kirk, president; I.D. Boyer, Secretary, and J.M. Jaeger, superintendent, all of whom resides in Brownsville. Mr. Jaeger has had 30 years practical experience as a woolen manufacturer. The directors of the company are W.R. Kirk, J.M. Jaeger, J.J. White, John Brown and Hugh Fields.

The Oregonian's handbook of the Pacific Northwest c. 1894

©Shauna Williams

Albany, about twenty-five miles from the capital. This city is the county seat of Linn county, generally considered the best agricultural county in the State. This county extends from the Cascade mountains westward to the Willamette river and has a variegated surface, largely prairie, and a very fruitful soil. The city is situated at the junction of the Callapooia with the Willamette river, where a rich prairie abuts against the river, and about fifty feet above it. It is very near the center of the great valley and a vast outlook over prairie, and along the great mountain ranges on either side of the valley, is enjoyed by its people.
     Albany is a very handsomely built city. Its churches are numerous and of very creditable architecture, and all its public buildings show the wealth and culture of the city. Its educational facilities are of the best, for, in addition to its excellent public schools, it has the Albany College, the leading educational institution of the Presbyterian Church in Oregon. Its business is large, consisting of all the ordinary branches of trade, and besides it has a very large milling establishments, it being the center of one of the best wheat growing sections of the State. Its water power is exceptionally good, the enterprise of its people having created a large canal, some twenty miles long, conveying the waters of the Santiam river, a bold, clear, sweet mountain stream, down through the wide prairies into the very heart of the city,-a thing of beauty and of utility, as well.
     Albany is something of a railroad center, it being one of the most important stations on the Southern Pacific road, the point of junction of the Lebanon branch with the main line, and also the place where the Oregon Pacific crosses the Willamette river, and the Southern Pacific in its course eastward from Newport on Yaquina bay toward Boise City, and whatever may be its Atlantic connection. From these general statements it will be seen that Albany is not only now, but will always be, one of the most important cities of the State. Its population is about 8,000, and has a very excellent reputation for all that is superior in human life.

An Illustrated history of the state of Oregon, 1893

©Shauna Williams