Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 17, 1915)
THE POLK COUNTY OBSERVES, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 17, 1915, valuB fnr ovorv .. . A . fT T- X aeai or practical work has hnn I "" ' ; as rseen tsv an Observant Outsider ' Jg article by A. H. Hav ir in The Evening Tele- i tui. .Hi , e., Dec. 17. Dallas should I t shipping center for hops p ..lies. Not that the city now i in shipping facilities nor in bulk le crops go in the county. But county should specialize in the re of hops and prunes, thereby lng a strong market on account antity and quality. The agrlcul cureall doctor has done harm in county by yelling diversify! k county Tanks second among iiriy-iowr counnes or tne state in e pro tion of hops; fifth in g and p.ums; fifth in cherries to p is; seventh in strawber- seventh In raspberries; eighth Inuts; eighth in quinces; tenth iacnes; thirteenth in apples anth in grapes; fourteenth in ts; eleventh in wheat; sixth in twenty-third in barley; twenty- in rye; fourteenth in potatoes etfe in hay; twenty-fifth in alfal- evnth in Clover. In point of he countv ranks twenty-ninth: ulation per square mile it ranks rlth 22.8, In population it ranks itn. (Hence the best teacher after .8 shown tuat the land near Dal- pecuh. "y adapted to the pro- l of ho and prunes, to the pro i of o .city and quality, both als in marketing at a profit. than b.vuO acres of land have iven to hop culture, the lower being used, while more than acre of land is producing Nearly one-half as much more producing prune trees which me into bearing within two or rears. Prune growers have laking money in recent years ey are enthusiastic over the itles of prune production on lands of Polk county, where Inage Is excellent and danger is or little concern. lence teaches that the areas country suited to the produc- nlgti class prunes are limited, y limited, and by proper care opment Oregon should control ine industry, with Polk and counties leading as centers of Ion and shipment. The out prune will be more or less on account of climatic and jltlona. and the land specially o the growth of high class mid be planted in an effort to 6 industry big enough in Ore- e controlled by Oregonians as s pass and perhaps other sec- developed. ralues are high in Polk coun se the land' Is fertile and re readlly to cultivation. Yell; one acre in three in the corni er the plow. Prices have not d as badly here as in some et men do not go upon the develop it. The spirit has fard speculation, pereparing for sale, and allowing the r to go upon it and make his "he call everywhere is for women to oultivate the soil, ivestock, to produce fruit, to oes, to liv in the rural dls- mnty is rich In traditions of days when simple living was of life. Here the pioneer land and lived in the open Here city ways were slowly J. Here thrift did not re als cultivation of the soli, are really offered too much in who would live upon the I initiative and laarierahin face of the prodigality of t the surface of Polk county and ample drainaee in nm. "Snsyhlch Jow, from! the mountains toward the Willamette. most rertlle sections of the county the land is low Slid level, and except for the production of hops the land needs ditching or tiling In sections the gray loam soil predom inates and no real success In agricul- -u,0 vnu-ue nau until tins class of land u u arainea. The expense will likely range between J30 and Sfin nor- acre, but the land will carry it easily under improved mettinda nf nr-n which will naturally follow drainage. Much of the low land of the wninm. ette Valley has been soured by the heavy winter rains and the flnnrtlnir hv opruig iresneis. Tne natural lime In the soil has been washed out. and a new supply must be given, either by application or agricultural lime or by carrying tne water rrom the land, giv ing opportunity for air to restore the missing elements in the soil. Little effort has been made in Polk county to drain form lands. Much of the 'best land in Polk county was settled under the old dona tion land claim act. which allowed a man and his wife to acquire title to xvj acres or public land. As values rose the more thrifty farmers began to buy all the land that joined the old homesteads, and some of them suc ceeded to a marked degree. In Polk county are to be found many beautiful large farms, with excellent buildings, and all modern conveniences. These places are visually given to stock rais ing to blooded stock raising For the county is famous for Jersey cattle, high grade horses and Angora goats. The large holdings which interfere with development and hence have be come a community liability are those accumulations of land which show the earmarks of the land-hog. And the earmarks of the land-hog are tumble down buildings, poorly cultivated fields, much idle land, no blooded stock, few children and waning com munity spirit. Poor crops and low prices are no more certain elements in retarding real development than is the land hog. Thousands of acres of good land in Polk county is covered with oak trees. grown since the settlers drove the In dians from the country. This Is the red hill land, famous for the color and quality of fruit produced on it. Clear ing this oak land is a heart-breaking job, hence progress Is slow. Much of the land has excellent air drainage and is adapted to prune and pear cul ture. But it is held at high prices, and when the expense of celaring is taken into account men are not an xious to undertake the task of subdu ing the land and then waiting for prune or other trees to mature. On the other hand there is plenty of land now poorly farmed which could be given thorough cultivation, with profit to the farmer and the commun ity were it not for the steadfastness with which large holdings of land are being held by pioneer families. Citizens of Dallas expect to reach tidewater direct by rail within a few years. They hope for the completion of the Salem, Falls City & Western railroad from the summit of the coast mountains down the Siletz river to the Pacific ocean as soon as conditions settle, following peace in Europe. The extension of the road westward would open a great belt of timber and create markets for the products of Polk county farms. The road was opened from Salem to Black Rock a few years ago. Dallas now has car shops, employing a number of mechan ics all the year through. Dallas business men are supporting the movement for better roads in a practical way and farmers are willing to pay for constuction and repair work. Everybody, It seems, wants the work done and well done, and they have stood firmly behind John Teal, county judge, in his campaign for good roads on the plan of a "dollar in and more has been planned to be car riea on rrom year to year. All the highways leading Into Dallas havie been gravelled and are kept in condi tion ior service 12 months of the year. In Polk county there are 13nn mflon of public roads and the expenditure this year, for construction and renair work, aggregated $70,000. Men of DallaB do not lack in the boosting spirit Intentionally, at least. I found an active community spirit witn plenty to show for it paved streets, are-proof buildings, good side walks and all. I also found the best window display of Hawaiian pineapple that I have seen in a Journey of 2,000 miles in Oregon. While Polk county produces prunes, pears, apples and all the rest of the "diversity" of crops which have been the pride of the peo ple, not a good window display was to be found in which Oregon products were emphasized. This matter is not mentioned in a spirit of criticism, but Decause tne pineapple display was so mucn superior to anything offered cy the stores In cities of 3,000 people in Oregon during the European war. Dallas, in common with dozens of other towns in Oregon, seems to rec ognize the old-time tradition of Bend ing all the money out of the state, while producers at home are struggl ing to find markets for their produce and business men are joining in the chorus, "Back to the land." A few Christmas Suggestions Smoking Set Library Lamps n -. JL. SOCIETY A Fine Program Twenty voune la dies oi the Methodist church, mem bers of the Standard Bearers, spent a very pleasant evening with Miss Dollie Burke Monday. A fine pro gram and interesting mission study were features of the evening, follow ed by a jolly time, and toothsome refreshments. MuBic Section Meeting The first regular fall gathering of the Music section of the Woman's club will be held at the home of Mrs. A. B. Star- buck, on Court street, on the after noon of December 29. An especially interesting program is being arranged iui uus occasion. PERRYDALE. Mrs. J. P. Caldwell was a Dallas visitor Friday. Mr. and Mrs. Lynn returned from Portland Saturday. Mrs. R. L. Duignan from Portland is visiting her Darents hern fnr few weeks. Mr. C. L. Biatcher anil dn llP'htpr were Dallas visitors Saturday. Mrs. J. T. Friar and daughter, Miss T.nrnla anA T.-..i . ." ""u 1,iu":" -"-eyi were uauas visiiors Saturday. Miss Lucile Kevt wna a vicitn,. J luciHinnville Saturday and Sunday. xiicitj was a surnnse nnrtv vtmn o the home of Mr. and Mrs. J. P. Cald well Tuesday evening. The friends presented to them a silver set. The evening was greatly enjoyed. Notice Until further notice the Derry warehouse will be operated on Thursday, Fridav and Sn turrlnv nulir Fruit Baskets Dressing Table Pedestal Library Table Lorain Range Foot Stools Lady's Rocker Library Table Rugs Kitchen Cabinet Opening evenings until Christmas, l M EVENINGS ur ctore will be open until every night until Christmas eginning Saturday, Dec. 18. Ladles' Fancy Silk Waists, - $1.99 lies Fancy Silk Petticoats, 1.98, 2.98,3.98 lies' Fancy Silk Kimonas, - - 4.98 RUGS th Axciinster 36x72 Inches, - 3.75 th Axninster 27x54 inches, - - 1.98 th Axrrinster 18x36 inches, - .98 ch Covers, - . 98, 1.40, 1.98, 2.98 icoats for Men and Ladies range in price from - - 2.98 to 14.75 Slijr-ers for men, ladies and chil- - - - - 49,98,1.49 TOYS AND BOOKS. ' f r: a 1 Oc np. - Dolls from 1 Oc up. J f i Girls, 25c Books fgr Boys, 25c -2 f.r Children, 5c to 25c Modern Fic- tion, 45c 'A "J ARE ABSOLUTELY MNTEED ne :!den Rule S' Te strict 1 laintenarl , featnres pwmience pupies the NOTICE TO CREDITOS. Notice is hereby eiven that tlio ,,r,. dersigned, Oscar Havter. has Wn ,1,,. ly appointed by the County Court of me oiaite oi uregon for the County of Polk, administrator of the estate of Thaddena Clark Shaffer, deceased, aim nua ijuaunea. All persons having claims against the said estate are hereby reouiind tn present them, duly verified, with the proper voucuers, within six months from the Ate of this notice, to the ouiu auminiccrator at nvt ftmrm in the Dalli Citv BfnrBiiiMinr Tn Dated and first published, Novem OSCAR HAYTKR Administrator of the estate nf Thorl ueus Clark bhaffer, deceased. Nov.23-Dec.21 SOI CHRISTMAS GIFT 1GESTIS The problem of gift giving must be solved. The Great Day is near, and yon can choose well from the hun dreds of gifts at this store: Parisian Ivory Ware Manicure Sets .Ladies' Dresser Sets Mirrors and Hand Glasses Hudnnfs Perfumes and Toilet Wa ters Ladies' Purses and Bags Shaving Sets Razors and Strops Parker Fountain Pens Stationery Musical Instruments Music Bolls. Humidor Jars Cigars mere are so manv innmnni. gifts for any member of th. famiiv wis wo cannot Begin to tell yon of them alL .Come in any time and v. wut De glad to aid yon in aelacMn JOUI guts. ULLER P Main Street, Corner Mill HAS ANTICIPATED YOUR CHRISTMAS-GIFT WANTS And extends a most cordial invitation to the pur chasing public to visit the big Daylight Store, dur ing the pre-holiaay season and inspect the stock, which includes gift goods for every member of the family; all new, fresh, crisp and sparkling. . . . A beautiful line of net waists just in from the fac tory, the latest patterns. Choice assortment of the best in Christmas handker chiefs, in pretty boxes. New Handbags, an ap proprite and lasting gift. Fancy Silks by the yard. Kimonas for ladies and children in large and vari ed assortment. See our line of daintily conceived Boudoir caps. House Slippers for ladies and children. ' Shirts and Ties for men and boys. All new. A magnificent array of Toys. The latest things for the little folks. Bring in the children. -3. . Ji. wore Successor to Dallas Mercantile Co. Get a coupon tomorrow Read how on page one today. ,! -1 i 1 I