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About The morning Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1899-1930 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 23, 1908)
THE MOHNLNU ASTOIU ANY ASTORIA, OHKGON. SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 19C.1. , II. P. Ahlberg, of Swede Park Farm, who keeps the most systematic aud thorough record possible of each of his cows submits the following figures which are absolutely correct: From November 1, 19(K, to November 1, 190 Herd averaged, 17 cows; number pounds of butter, 6208 j average number of pounds per cow, 365 3-17; average amount cash received from each cow, $10$. At Pond Lily Dairy, owned by C. Sorensen, 44 cows produced in 1907, 16.5(H) pounds of butter. Most of the other farms on Gray's River do as well. The division line Itetween hill and bottom land has been sharply drawn heretofore. The hill land always being considered worthless, stive for fruit and little more attention has been paid to its culture than was necessary to meet the requirements of the family. But of late years, J. W. Lawrence, 0. K. Rice, and V. T. Kersel have been experimenting with apples and they are very sanguine over the prospect. It is indeniably true that rnles raised on the hill land are of exceedingly superior flavor. Straw berries and small fruits are very successfully cultivated also dn the hills, but few have gone into the business. It remained for Mr. and Mrs. R. J. Greene, of Fern Hill Farm, to demonstrate conclusively that hill land could be utilized successfully from a financial standpoint. Against the advice of their friends they bought an abandoned farm composed entirely of hill land and opened a chicken farm starting on a very small scale and working on strictly scientific principles. They fed an exactly balanced ration and cared for their fowls in the most approved way in every particular. They have the Leghorn breed and have averaged 60 chickens for the year. ' These have produced 6584 eggs which cost them 12 cents per dozen for production, They were sold at an average price of 25V& cents per dozen or $143.82, 211 fowls were marketed averaged 45 cents apiece which brought $92.84. Mr. and Mrs. Green are experimenting on caporizing chickens and so far have had good results. They intend increasing their stock to about 250 or 300 chickens and cater to the fancy trade of Astoria. There would also be a small fortune coming to the one taking up market gardening. All vegetables grow in profusion and asparagus and such vegetables are grown to perfection. Owing to the lack of transportation facilities in earlier years attention was attracted from this industry but it is one which could not fail to be profitable. The hills on each side of the valley are covered with the finest of timber and its logging interests are extensive. The river is divided into sii branches at its source which makes it very fine for driving purposes. It drains about 140,000 acres of the finest timber land on the coast as shown by the Government Forestry maps. This timber is mostly fir, cedar, spruce and hemlock. It will cut all the way from 25,000 to 250, 000 feet per acre. A reasonable estimate of the lands adjacent to Gray's River would be about four billion feet. These figures, while sartling, are veracious. There are several logging camps in operation on the river but the country is practically undeveloped. Capitalists, with money to invest would do well to inquire into utu Umbering in dustry of this region. That this country has a future before it is certain. There is abund ant opportunity fur shingle or sawmills, creameries, milk condensers, logging shows and logging railroads. That a little town will sometime spring up here is certain. That the country is prosperous is evidenced by the fine new store building of AV. N. Mesorve which is just being completed. It was built at a cost of $7000 and is the finest building in the country. It would require a lot 150 feet long and 60 feet wide. Besides the store-room and warehouses, it contains the postofllee, and a line bowling alley is on one side. The upper story is devoted to a large hall and line stage, Mr Meserve will install an electric light plant and light it with electricity, Mr. Meserve has been in business here for the past eight years and in that time has increased his stock from $1000 to $8000. He him a! way steod for anything that would be for the betterment of the noighborhm' and has always been prominently identified with the progress and tie. velopment of the community. It has been largely through his effort that the daily mail was secured for this place, that telephone connections were secured with the outside world, and the suspension bridge aero the river opposite the hotel was built. F. A. Durrah has the second largest mercantile stuck on Gray' River. Mr. Durrah was born and reared on this river and is thoroughly known to the citizens of the county. He carries a goml line of goods; is pleasant and courteous and is doing well in his business. 4 4 A I MnuMtltaMtti) A ilAYIN O SC E N K, U R A S K I V f. K. FARM OF A. SORENSEN. GRAYS RIVER. ' A jtS it . . p RESIDENCE OF H. P. AHLBERG. Among the logging companies, that of L. Saldcm is probably the largest He is just finishing up a fine show and is preparing to open up a new body of timber farther up the river in the spring. He uses five donkeys, two locomotives, and about eight miles of track. The "Willamette Pulp & Paper Company are logging on upper Gray's River and employ about 75 men. They constructed a large dam in connection with their work which cost about $40,000 and re quired about two million feet of lumber to build it. Peter Morrel is logging one of the finest bodies of Rpruce in the country. He has about 30 men and three donkeys. Meserve Brothers began operation on Gray's River about five years ago. The cost of getting their first donkey in was about $5000. They now have four donkeys and about 25 men. They are logging a fine body of timber and have also been obliged to construct a dam. Lewis nolden operates on Hull Creek and has the very best of spruce, fir and cedar, ne has two donkeys and fifteen men. Another Gray's River logger is Messrs. John Swanson & Son, Theo dore. They are logging about 15 miles from tidewater and have a fine body of timber. They employ 15 men and 2 donkeys. THE ASTORIA NATIONAL BANK UNITED STATES DEPOSITORY Astoria, - - - - Oregon Capital and Surplus $116,200 OFFICERS. Geo. H. George, President. Geo. W. Warren, Vice-President, J. E. Higgins, Cashier. C. R. Higgins, Assistant Cashier. PRINCIPAL CORRESPONDENTS First National Bank, Portland, Oregon. Bank of New York, N. B. A., New York. Continental National Bank, Chicago. ' Croker National Bank, San Francisco. DIRECTORS Geo. H. George, W. H. Barker. Geo. W. Warren. Aug. Scherneckau. L. Mansur. But Gray's River has not devoted herself to the dairying and tim bering interests to the exclusion of intellectual ami social pursuits. The IM'ople Iiave striven for a well-rounded development in all lines and .is a community stands well to the fore in thoso attainments. An or ehestra lias been organized under the direction of It. J. Greene and has iiiiiiIa vnr ctvilitnlilx nrnoreH. It in iiimlc tin of the followilllf IX'fSOIlA: First violin, R. J. Greene; second violin, Mrs. R. J. Greene; bass viol George Sorensen ; comet, T. C. Badger; pianist, Miss F.bba Ahllierg. Considerable benefit and much amusement has been derived from the Grange Dramatic Club. Its leading spirits are Mr. and Mrs. C. W. Laughlin. K. W. Smith, W. C. Kersel. P. C. Spooner, F. C. Badger, Miss II. May, Miss Bessie Oleson and Mrs. M. Mattieson. Our maidens have had splendid opportunities for musical instruc tion, several gtsnl teachers having had classes here. For two successive summers Miss Kathleen Lawler. one of Portland's best known vocalists, taught large classes here. Among the best soloists are Mrs. R. S. Barr, Mrs. E. R. Spooner, Miss Bessie Oleson and Miss Julia Brim. We can boast a good male quartet composed of Messrs. Worrel, May, Imughlin, and R. S. Barr. A splendid choir sings every Sunday at the church under the tutelage of Mrs. V. X. Meserve. Among the leading families might l mentioned II. P. Ahlberg, whose beautiful home is the scene of frequent gayeties. His charming wife and two beautiful daughters are factors in the social life. The home of Mr. and Mrs. C. Sorenson is ever an hospitable one. Their family consists of two sons and a married daughter, Mrs. T. C. Badger. Mr. T. S. Barr is a thoroughly representative citizen and in every "V ,.,.,4' a M'KUCE LOG. l-.iblic cause is on the side of progress. He and his family are promi nently identified with the church work. The family of Mr. and Mrs. W. A. Brim, lately from Missouri, are a great acquisition to the neighborhood. They live at Sunnysido farm and no gathering is complete without their four accomplished daughters 1 Mrs. h. . bmith and Mrs. C. R. Worrel frequently entertain at dinner in most hospitable and lavish manner. While the families of G. R. Durrah, J. H. Krys, J. W. Lawrence and A. Uranberg are in dis pensable in the circles of the church. Mr. M. Matthicson, who has lately bought half of the Redfield Farm, is prominent in the affairs of the river. He is muster of the Grange and in ably assisted by Mrs. Matthicson. i Mr. and Mrs. C. "W. Laughlin have lived here since his employment by Mr. V. X. Meserve and are very popular. Mrs. Laughlin possesses a pleasing personality and is an indefatigable worker in church and grange. Mr. and Mrs. L. E. Oleson mid Miss Bessie are leading members of the social life and are always interested in things literary or musical. As a community Gray's River is a well-satisfied people but theirs is not the content of sloth. They realize there is much yet to be accom plished ere their little nook has attained perfection, but they are anxious to draw nearer to it and will spare no means or labor at their command to make this truly an "Eden" in all the modern application of the ever suggestive term. Mrs. Alta S, Mksrrve. r r ' jJ : ,riL' ' win m ' in in in i i i ! I I I" I t 'I, I I II )ttm P S. SCHMIDT & CO.'S COLD STORAGE PLANT, ASTORIA.