Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Aurora observer. (Aurora, Marion County, Or.) 19??-1940 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 15, 1921)
The W orld to Oregon— 1925 1925—Oregon W orld’s Fair Aurora Observer $1.50 a Year Published E very Thursday AURORA, MARION COUNTY, OREGON. Dec. 15, 1921 VOL. XI. FAIR FOR OREGON IN 1925 - The 1925 W orld’s Electrical and Highway Exposition will be held in Oregon, on a site to be chosen, near Portland. It will cost $6,000,000. to stage the big fair and $3,000,000 of it is to be raised by taxation out side of Portland. This means $1. per $1000 assessed valuation for 3 years. The Fair will be worth a great many times that amount in many different ways. The educa tional advantages alone will be worth hundreds of dollars to you and your children; the land values of Oregon will be enchanced, teu mill ion tourists will leave ten million dollars in the state— W e’ll all get part of it. Of all the visitors many will buy properity and remain in Oregon, it will give work for two yrs. to several thousand Oregon laborers every state as well as foreign nation Hop Culture In Oregon By Henry L, Bents o f Aurora - will have exhibits as well as erect buildings and send money to Oregon it will be the one big opportunity for the eastern people to visit us, and the means of getting them to locate here, it double our populrtion and more people means lower taxes. It will be the one big means of giv ing Oregon her neglected publicity. It will mean Prosperity, Marion County will share big and Aurora will be greatly benefited. Aurora, locatec on the Pacific Highway will be the half-w ay point for travel, anb if Aurora dont reap a harvest it is our own fault. W e will gain new comers and money here in spite of everything. Here’s to the biggest most magnificent Worlds Exposition evor attempted; and we are to have it here at home. Hop growing for commercial pur poses began in the Valley almost a half century ago. During the latter part o f 1870, a few farmers secured some sets from E. Meeker, o f Puyal lup, Washington, (who was at that time and for some years the most ex tensive grower o f hops on this coast) and planted to hops some 30 or 40 acres all told. I f the writer remembers correctly the growers who pioneered the hop industry at that time were: J. S. Vaughan, C. H. Cone, F. W . Geer, Geer o f Waldo Hills, R. Wells o f Buena Vista, Oregon, and perhaps a few others. MURDER AT MOLALLA empty. There was no evidence o f a Yards at that time were small a 10 struggle and nothing in the house had acre field would have caused com Mo la 11a, Or., Dec. 12.— (Special.) been disturbed. ment because o f its size. — Everett E. Davis, a homesteader From the first planting o f hops the living seven miles south o f Molalla trailing vines, loaded with fluffy and a lieutenant overseas during the clusters, were an assured success. R oad W ork Donations war, was found to have been murder From the small beginning as above ed with an ax when neighbors inves In our article, last week, mentioning outlined jl gigantic industry was tigated today following his nonap the subscriptions to the fund for the * built up, until this valley produces pearance around his farm for about Meridian Road work, in Supervisor upwords o f 180,000 bales o f hops, or two weeks. Forest E. Mills' district, we failed to about 3,600,000 pounds, yearly. Davis apparently had been killed state that $27 of the fund, sudscribed The immediate financial returns while asleep. His head had been cut! by four individuals, was not paid m. It were on the average quite satisfact twice with the ax, which was found should be deducted from the receipts ory. At that time and for some time about 40 feet from the house, andj published, as it was not received. after hops could be and were pro his purse was lying open on the bed,! duced at a cost o f 9 or 10 cents per pound and would net a handsome profit when sold at 15 to 20 cents per pound. Years there were when short crops caused a keen demand high as $1.00 per pound. Again other years be cause o f large crops, the entire out put would be sold at a serious loss. No farm industry in Opegon has passed thro so many criseses as hop culture. No markets for any other crop have been so fluctuating. Fortunes have been made in the growing o f hops and large sums have been lost. The writer remembers the high price year o f 1882— when grow ers were offered high as $1.15 per pound for their product. Growers were then very liberal spenders. An acre o f hops produced about $1,500 at that price, so that the profit was immense, but as stated heretofore the acreage at that time was not large. The writer also remembers several very unprofitable years, when good hops sold as low as 6, 8 cents per pound. These low price years you could always spot a grower be cause o f his gloom. Several years ago another crisis arose. Prohibition was sweeping the country. The people had not the time to judge between the “ Ameri can saloon” as then conducted, and the mild brew, healthy and innocent made from the fine Oregon hops and so the new 1 ‘ Prohibition ’ ’ fell upon the just and the unjust. In addition to prohibition in the United States, the war operations in Europe blocked the transportation o f hops to foreign markets. During the Fall o f 1918, hops could not be mov ed, but had to be stored, because only essentials were then handled by our transportation lines. Growers who harvested the 1918 hop crop certain ly lacked good judgment. Such grow ers (and the writer was one) would not admit and even denied any con nection with hop growing. . Men o f keen judgment had us all NO. 42 listed as “ undesirables.” When the (D. A. Keil lot.) war ended the hop industry o f Ore- We have turned over to England gon, amounted to only a fraction o f j the handling o f our hop crop. She is what it had been, because o f plowing! now-profiting because o f our prohi- up ect., the annual output o f 1919! bition tendencies. W e have so call- was only about 35,000 bales. ed laws which prevent the manufact The future for the industry was ure and sale o f a healthy, whole indeed gloomy. It was generally be- some non intoxicating beverage, but believed that the end o f hop growing apparently wink at the wholesale had arrived. Even the most stout importation o f strong intoxicating hearted prepared to plow up, and stuff from Canada, Mexico and from engage in some line o f farming which every other part o f the globe. Our at least promised a livelihood. Then so-called laws prevent the poor from to the surprise o f everyone a vigor satisfying their desire for a mild bev ous demand arose for the Coast hops erage, but allow anyone with the from across the Atlantic. price to get all the imported brands The hop yards (gardens) o f Eu and moonshine he may want. Even rope were curtailed and very largely colleges and high schools are not destroyed by the world war. Peace now immune, for anyone, young or coming very suddenly, found the hop old, having the price and willing to fields o f Europe unable to furnish take a chance can now get it. Society sufficient o f the “ Golden Cluster” usually finds it necessary, to have a to begin to fill the demand, and when good supply on hand. Not the mild Europe found themselves deficient, kind, but stuff with a “ mules’ kick.” they at once began placing orders for Churches and fraternal societies term contracts, and for spot goods may use wine— i f they so choose— with hop merchants o f ths coast. So but the common sinner never. W hy? that the hops harvested fall o f 1918 but what is the use,— why? actually sold high as 31 cents per England is now making every ef pound and contracts were made cov fort to build up her depleted yards ering a term o f 3 to 5 years at from so that she" will supply all her re 20 cents, high as 40 cents per pound. quirements. To this end she is now The hop industry has thus been par guaranteeing her hop growers at tially saved to this valley. It is the least 42 cents per pound and has only farm industry which shows even placed an embargo on forerga- hops , a small profit this year. - so that none can be imported until However the cost at present o f en all hops grown by English growers tering the hop industry is quite are sold. Fine— for England. heavy. The future is very uncertain. - The writer has been requested by Not many new acre^ will be planted. The Aurora Observer to write a short The largest acreage planted to hops article on “ Hops.” I f this meets at present is on the rich, river bottom with your approval he is very thank land near Independence. Quite a ful, i f you are not satisfied with his large acreage along the Willamette version, then get in and give us the river near Newberg. Next in extent full benefit o f your views. about Salem. A number o f yards HENRY L. BENTS. about Aurora and a few scattering yards in other parts o f the valley. A boy seventeen, was arrested in The writer cannot but mention the W oodbum for buying a ticket to fact that among some 12,000 bales Portland for a 13 year old girl. The o f Oregon hops contracted for by girl went to her sister in Portland. one London hop firm, the choicest lot Buy your own tickets and save was one grown near Aurora, Oregon.trouble National A m ora Extends its Holiday Greetings Residents o f this Entire Community, and Wishes A ll a Growth in Health, Happiness and Prosperity Throughout the Year 1922 and A ll Succeeding Years '&#&&'*$$! #"7P7"UPUUUUP7PU