Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1905-11-17
CONSTRUCTION is RUSHED
Dallas-FaIls City Railroad Now In
Fine Timber-COaI and Fire
Clay Is Found.

Work on the extension of the Dalla,
& Falls City railroad into the noun
tains west Of Falls City is beine
pushed as rapidly as men and teams
can be secured to carry on the con.
struction of the line. The new track
has been completed to a point on the
Luckiamute river three miles above
Falls City, and 1900 feet of additional
grade is ready for the ties and steel.
Track-laying is in progress at this
time, and it is expected that trains
will be running over the 1900 feet OF
new track by tomorrow night The
remaining $500 feet of roadbed between
the present western terminus and the
mouth of Black Rock creek will be
completed as soon as possible, after
which, work will cease for the winter.
L. Gerlinger, president of the road,
came up from Portland. Saturday,
and spent several hours in consulta-
tion with Chief Engineer j. W.
Coovert and General Manager L.
Gerlinger, Jr., concerning plans for
future construction work. On Sunday
afternoon, accompanied by these Off
GERS and party of invited friends,
Mr.. Gerlinger went out to the front by
special train and inspected the work
that has already been done. The
coach was taken to the end of the line,
three miles above Falls City, frequent
stops being made to inspect new sid
ings, log roll-ways used by the lumber
companies in loading cars, etc. The
roadbed in the mountains is in ex-
cellent condition, considering its recent
construction, and good time was made
over the mountain extension.
Leaving the train at Cones siding,
where Mr.. Gone is locating the log
ging headquarters for his new saw
mill in Dallas, the party proceeded on
foot to the end Of the grade $500 feet
west Of Black Rock creek. The road
from this point to the western terminus
Twill run through a comparatively
level river bottom, and the remaining
construction work will be easily ard
quickly accomplished if the weather
continues favorable for the next few
weeks.
The new road runs through the 80
acre timber tract Of Mr.. Cone, and the
logging for the new sawmill will not
be difficult. Mr.. Gone has a force of
men at work building cabins and
other necessary buildings, and will
begin cutting timber i'll the near
future. The Knapp logging camp
further down the stream is already
scene Of activity, and several thousand
feet of fine timber is ready for ship
ment to the mill in Dallas.
Mr.. Gerlinger informs US that the
country along the line of his new road
is rich in natural resources, every one
Of which will be fully Investigated.
The coal prospect at the mouth Of
Black Rock creek will receive attention
as soon as the railroad work is fin
ished. A diamond drill will be in
stalled, and the prospect will be fully
developed. Iti believed from present
indications that coal will be found In
paying quantities at this point
The vast deposits of clay near the
mouth of Sans creek are already
being investigated, samples having
been shipped to prominent brick and
pipe manufactu rers in Portland for
tests. Mr.. Gerlinger is of the opinion
that this clay will make a first-cIass
vitrified brick, and will spare no
expense in carrying out the proposed
tests. II his judgment Of the quality
of this clay proves correct, arrange
ments will at once be made to ship the
raw material to Portland or to install
a first-class brick factory at Dallas.
Clay from these beds was used in
lining the boilers in the mountain
sawmills above Falls City and was
found to possess all the qualities OF
the best imported fire clay.
The Dallas and Falls City railroad
is now in the very heart of fine
timber belt, and the problem OF secur-
ing logs for the sawmills in Dallas is
at an end. Enough timber is now
within the reach of the road to supply
the mills for many years to come, and
the forests Of the Luckiamute and
Siletz basins farther west are extensive
enough to make western Polk county
the foremost producing lumber-pro-
ducing region of the world.
Legal Blanks for sale at the OBsER-
p