The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1905-11-28
ATHENA.
(Pilot Rock Record. }

Readers of the Record should not
make the mistake that Pilot Rock and
Pendleton are the only two marts of
trade in Umatilla county where dwell
happy, contented, prosperous people.
There are others. Have you ever
heard of Athena? Well, Athena is
located seventeen miles east of Pendle-
ton on the o. r. & NJ, and is also con
nected with a branch line Of the
Northern Pacific. Athena is in the
very center of the famously rich wheat
belt, the value of whose fertile lands
is just now turning mems heads. The
wheat land craze has become epidemic
and in the rush for more land many
transfers have been recorded which in
almost every case has meant larger
and larger farms, with correspond
ing falling off in the rural population.
Athena is not Deserted Village" :"
although it must needs feel the effects
of condition that means loss of its
sturdy peasantry. The lines, then,
of Goldsmith
Ill fares the land to fastening ills a
prey,
Where wealth accumulates and men
decay
cannot be said to be applied 10 Athena
at this time and under the laws of this
country may never be. The tendency,
however, to acquire large landed es-
tates-that is surely food for reflection
among the already rich farmers Of
the wheat belt is the temporary dis
advantage under which Athena today
labors, and the one drawback to it be-
ing the sweet Auburn it should be.
But God in his infinite wisdom willed
against man living always, and as
farmers, as a rule, have large families
the estate in time will be divided
among the childen. And, again, di-
versiied and intense farming may
become necessary which will mean
smaller farms and the employment Of
more labor in their cultivation.
Athena enjoys population of about
1000 and is noted for big things other
than her surrounding farms, namely,
big stores, big warehouses, big -four
ingmill, big lumber yard and big
hearted hospitable brainy citizenship.
The Preston Parton Milling Co. with a
capacity of $50 barrels day is oper-
ated by electricity and every piece Of
machinery about the mill is of the
latest pattern. The mill is now at
work on high grade brand of flour
which reduces the output to 480 bar
rels per day. The largest warehouse
on the line of the o. R. & N. outside of
Portland, is at Athena. It is 480 feet
long and so feet wide. All the stores
carry immense stocks for town of
that size and in all lines there is COM
petition, except in banking, furniture
and the newspaper business. All these
three fill we'll their respective fields.
The banks last statement shows
deposits aggregating $400, 900. The
Touring mill employees number seven
teen. The town is instinct with life,
dotted over with beautiful homes,
adorned with beautiful school build
ing, crowned with temples of worship
and the surrounding country beams
with smiling fields, all radiant with
glow of progress-the home of the
Hon. T. J. Kirk, that old warrior of
many hard fought political battle,
who has never yet met with defeat.
Mr.. Kirk owns land ON all sides of
Athena, but in contrast with big prop
erty owners in other towns he heads
every movement whose object is i'm
provement of the town. With grav-
ity system of water works, electric
lights and we'll paved streets, what
more could be expected? In addition
to all these modern comforts Athena
has good newspaper, a good lawyer
and business men who pull together
and work for the best interests of all.
Chavif fSc ColA