Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1903-08-28
PROSPEROUS OREGON
Local Banks in Every County Of the
State Are dOrged With Deposits.

apprehension among oregon farI
ers over the prevalence OF col
rains in the latter part OF Spring
the crops Of the entire state ar
good, and there is no complain
from any section. In the William
cite Valley the outlook for grain
fruit and hops was never better
and even in the old fields wher,
wheat has been raised for forty
years, the grain crop proves very
good, and as farmers expect good
prices, the outlook is excellent. The
hop harvest, which begins this
week, will employ thousands Of
families, who will enjoy the health
ful and profitable outing.
In Southern Oregon, where the
peach crop has been somewhat
shortened by the unusually late
frosts, crops Of all the other fruits
ere good, while grain and hay are
considered fair. The apple crop Of
that section has become an inn
portant article Of export, and this
year whole trainloads will begin
leaving for the East for shipment
to Europe in the Fall. The Winter
apple Of that section has become d
source Of large profit, as it has in
the Hood River district, in the
northern part Of the state.
In Eastern Oregon the grain crop
is turning out we'll, and even in
the wider part Of the Columbia
River Valley, where less rain falls
than near the foothills, from fifteen
to twenty bushels is recorded where
two months ago the farmers feared
an almost total failure. In Una
tilla and Wasco, as well as Sherman
and Gillian, the output Of wheat
this year will be little short Of the
average.
The prune crop Of the entire state
is expected to 60 far beyond all
previous years, as the trees are we'll
loaded in all sections. New dry
houses are building, and the
capacity Of the older ones is being
extended in many places, and the
prunegrower this year is assured Of
good prices, owing to the shortage
abroad.
The placer mines Of Southern
Oregon have done we'll the past
season, and the total output Of gold
dust from such counties as Jack
son, Josephine and Douglas would
prove very large if there were any
way Of getting at the figures. The
gold dust, however, usually finds
It's way into the banks and express
Offices without any flourish, as the
miners desire secrecy in transport
ing the precious metal from the
mine to town. The output Of the
quartz mines has kept up equally
well, and there is no falling off re-
ported anywhere.
The livestock raisers of the state
are all in very prosperous circum-
stances, and have money to loan.
Money, however, is seldom needed
by the farmers, who are usually |
The best borrowers, and SO the local
banks in every county of the state
are gorged with deposits. Although
money is said to be tightening in
the financial centers Of the East,
all the farmers and stockmen of
Oregon have money to loan at rates
hat discourage foreign money
lenders from sending more capital
mere.
On the whole, Oregon was never
20 prosperous as she is now. And
never before was the tide of immi-
grafton turned toward her BORDERS
Is it is at present. There is no
boom, and no boom is wanted, but
he prospects for a continuance of
he present prosperity are exceed
ngly good, and there can be no
slump while the world wants our
products and the markets of the
Did and New World continue to
expand before our expectations.
Yet prosperity is no new thing
n Oregon. We have become SO