Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1903-10-16
OLD POLK AGAIN LEADS
[ oft d. Brown, of Dallas, Takes First
Prize for Article Descriptive
of County.

grafton journal published IN Port-
land, recently offered prize OF $40
for the best descriptive article of any
county in Oregon. The competition
was keen, contributions being sent in
from every part of the state. The
prize was won by Lott d. Brown, the
clever young stenographer in District
Attorney Hart's law office. Mr..
Browns contribution reads as follows;
'tPolk is a county Of resources. 1t
is county Of prosperity and promise,
county OF beauty and richness, de-
lightful spot in this delightful state.
"From her valleys and fields, grain,
hops and fruit are plenteous store.
The hills contain the rich, nourishing
grasses SO dear to the heart Of the
stockman. Her lofty mountains on
the west contain the giants OF the for
ests, from which lumber is sawed and
shipped to every part of the world.
"Polk is a promising home for the
coming immigrant from the Eastern
States. These people leave the East
Of high rents and profitless labor and
come to the West, and here in old
Polk they find room for their best
efforts. If the homeseeker desires to
farm and raise grain he can do SO; II
he wishes to raise fruit, he may do soI
if he wishes to embark In the hop in
dustry, he may do that; or In tho saw
mill business, or raise stock, gardens,
or if he comes simply in search OF
employment, he finds that, too No
one need be idle In Polk County. Her
numerous mills, orchards, hopfelds
and rich farms furnish work in
abundance.
"In hop-raising Polk is the banner
county Of the state. Thousands OF
dollars are spent yearly among the
people in raising and curing this crop.
Almost as much is expended in caring
for the prune crop, which in Polk
County is large one.
"Western Polk is land Of saw
mills. At Dallas, the county seat,
and at Falls City, millions Of feet are
cut annually. These mills are in
virgin timber that as yet is hardly
touched. In Polk County are several
mills engaged in the saving Of oak
timber only. The product of these
mills has ready sale in the markets
here, and is also shipped East in
large quantities.
"Dallas, the largest town in the
county, has a population Of about
1900. Independence, the second larg-
est, is a wealthy little city on the
Willamette river, and has popula-
ton Of about 1900. Monmouth is
town of 800 people, the Oregon State
Normal School being located there.
Falls City is a promising little city of
about 500 people, and is now enjoying
a substantial growth. A railroad pro-
NOTED by L. Gerlinger, Of Portland,
has recently been built between Dallas
and Falls City, and is enjoying a fine
patronage. This road is to be extend
ed into the virgin timber on the west,
and eventually to the ocean.
"People who have come from the
East and located here are more than
pleased with our county, our climate
and our people, and have no inclina-
ton to return to the land Of blizzards,
cyclones and freezing weather.
"Old Polk truly has a wonderful
future before her. Rich in everything
dear to the hearts of the homeseeker,
and abounding in wealth and promise,
tbs without doubt the banner county
Of this, our great and glorious COM
LOTT d. BROWN"