Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 3.djvu/317

Rh ran the first market wagon in Astoria, in 1876; and that Mr. Warren owned the horse that drew the first wagon, and kept the animal until his death, which occurred at the patriarchal age, for a horse, of thirty-four. It is also to be noted that the first street improvement in Astoria, being that part of Ninth Street between Astor and Duane, three blocks, was made by Mr. Warren's brother, G. W. Warren. This was done in the fall of '53, and consisted of filling it up to the established grade with sawdust from Parker's mill; being a depth of about three feet. The work was through a swamp almost the entire distance.

In connection with the market business, quite a portion of which was in contracts for supply of Fort Stevens army post, it was found convenient to pasture cattle on the tide lands west of Astoria, across Young's Bay. This led to purchase of considerable tracts of this land by himself and his brother, P. C. Warren, along both banks of Skipanon Creek, which winds for several miles through the natural meadows laid down by the action of the tides along the Columbia River's estuary. Mr. Warren had already made some experiments in reclaiming such lands by diking, at Knappa, and was the first in this effort. He now attempted this on a larger scale and was so well pleased with the results that he at length inclosed his entire holding of several hundred acres. This was done in 1878. The land thus reclaimed has proved highly productive of hay and pasturage, and as the lower Columbia region alone has many thousands of acres of such lands, his success has led the way to a large development of resources considered before as of little value.

After fourteen years at Astoria Mr. Warren decided to retire upon his farm at Skipanon, and there made a delightful home amid the most pleasant surroundings. He has made almost a model farm, with a large and elegant