The quarterly of the Oregon Historical Society, Vol. 4, March, 1903-December, 1903Oregon Historical Society
History
The quarterly of the Oregon Historical Society, Vol. 4, March, 1903-December, 1903
Oregon Historical Society
Oregon -- History -- Periodicals
But the dreams of the dreamer broadened as time passed. In 1866, when
divisions led to his withdrawal from the woolen mill, the crop of
wheat in the valley was unusually large. The wheat industry had been
increasing for years. Oregon was rapidly passing from the fur trading
and pastoral stages of industrial life to that of agriculture. With
an ever-increasing supply the market was restricted, and here was a
problem to attract the mind of Watt. Shipments of wheat were made to
California, but the markets beyond had tempted only the most daring.
One line of steamers had been established between Portland and New
York and four or five vessels had been drawn into the trade. The Sally
Brown was the first to make the trial and Watt was the man who
gathered up the cargo which she carried from the wheat fields of the
Willamette. Ever in the van through life Watt conceived the idea that
a cargo of wheat could be sent to Liverpool, the market of the world.
With him to think was to act, and in 1868 he went through the valley
gathering wheat for the first cargo to the greatest wheat market in
existence. It was an adventure in magnitude exceeding anything that he
had tried before. Failure would mean a heavy loss, and success would
usher in a new day for the industrial life of Oregon. The cargo was
gathered and the vessel set forth on the long voyage. The destination
was reached and the grain inspected. It was unlike any that had ever
been seen before on the docks of the great market. The inspectors had
never seen kernels of wheat so large. The decision was pronounced that
it could not be right, and the whole cargo was condemned as water
soaked and unfit for the market. The loss fell heavily upon the
consignor of the cargo, but a beginning had been made that was
destined to grow until Oregon's industrial isolation should be ended.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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