The Corvallis Times

Portland Feb. 24.—"I am going back after another load," said R. L. Duval, special excursion agent for the Northwestern Railroad, as he swung upon the rear platform of a Pullman car at the Union station this morning, "There are thousands of them back there and they only need stirring up. I will bring another load out next week."

Mr Duval was speaking of home-seekers. He has been engaged for several months in piloting toward the Pacific Northwest those who wish to locate in God's country, and in comparing present conditions with those in the past he said:

"I have been identified with Western immigration for a long time, but never have I seen as high class people take advantage of the excursion rates as are doing so now. They have money to pay their way know what they want and have a pretty good idea where to go to get it. And I do not class them by their coin alone, they availed themselves of the settlers' rates last year or two years ago. I do not say that this applies specifically, but it certainly does in general."

Mr Duval was asked from what particular locality the immigration into the Northwest was coming. He said:

"From every part of the compass except that which points toward the Pacific Ocean. The Middle West, South, East and Atlantic Coast is each furnishing its quota. I bring my trains out from Chicago. The people gather there from all over the country and come West by droves. All passenger trains are leaving there in two and three sections."

Last week Mr Duval brought 400 to the coast, by far the larger percentage of whom came through to Portland. He said their surprise was great when, after crossing the Rocky Mountains, they entered a country where snow was seldom seen, and where the climate was that of spring, indeed, and not spring in name only until very much later in the year, as is the fact where the majority of them come from. Even those from the "Sunny South" were delighted to find conditions so nearly like those they left behind.