The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1905-06-03
CENSUS RETURNS.

lation OF Astoria during the past fiv'
years of about fifty per cent. In near
ly every country precinct the returns
show a falling OF. in some Instances q
per cent. The decrease is more no
ticeable in the farming districts. and q
very poor showing is mads. From the
returns 1t may be deducted that there
are no new farmers coming to ClatsoT
county. II is an admitted fact thai
thousands OF farmers from the Eastern
states are coming to the Pacific coast
but Clatsop county has not received
or added to lis population one single
farmer. A number of farmers have
come here and Investigated the con-
ditions. They found an abundance of
the best farming and dairying lands
at reasonable prices, but the principle
obstacle was the lack Of county roads.
Clatsop county has been settled for
100 hundred years and there is not so
miles of good roads in the entire coun-
ty. Not a half mile OF county road
has been built a year, although thous-
ands Of dollars have been spent on
roads. Last year the county court
spent nearly $50000 on county
roads and bridges, with very little to
show for 1t. There is something wrong
somewhere. 1t is impossible to people
county with the enterprising farmers
of the east and middle west unless a
way is provided for them to get their
effects to market without the use of
pack-horse.
In the east, the sons and daughters
Of farmers, raised on farms. as a rule,
continue in the farming business with
a few exceptions. In Clatsop county,
as soon as they are old enough TO
leave the farm they go to the ciI-s.
There Is no inducement for them to
waste their lives trying to make a liv-
ing on a farm when there is no facili-
ties for transporting their products to
market Every young man has, or
ought to have ambition, but it appears
to be lacking in the sons Of Clatsop
county farmers. They are just as de-
sirous of making a good living and ac
quiring competency as the young
men who live in cities and the attrac-
tions In the city are greater than in
the country.
The trouble is, there has not been |
sufficient attention paid on the part OF !
deliberate and commercial organiza-
tiops to the farming interests Of the |
county. Thine is no county in the |
state, or on the coast, that has as fine
agricultural and dairying lands as In
Cla;sop county. There Is no soil more
productive, yet nine -tenths Of all the
farm products consumed in Astoria are
shipped In from other stat 8. A fall
ure Of a crop, such as has been raised.
was never known in this county, but
farmers do not attempt to raise any
more than they need for home con-
as there are no facilities for
getting in to market. II CIatsop 4
county was settled by 1000 thrifty
farmers, the salmon industry would
rank second in importance in the rev.
enues distributed throughout the
county. Even now number Of farm
ers are compelled to kave their farms
and come to the city and fish in the
summer to make sufficient money to
support themselves and families dur
ng the winter.
There is not enough interest taken
~ the residents OF Astoria in the
arming industry. They have become
30 accustomed to depend upon the
isbing industry that all other re-
iources have been overlooked with q
good farming community Astoria
would have a population Of 10000 and
would grow and prosper It's growth
uring the past five years can be at
ributed solely to the increase in the
shing and lumber industries, and mad
ne farming industry kept pace with
hese, there would be an appreciable
Increase in population and wealth.
Good advice TO women. II you want :.
beautiful complexion, clear skin,
right eyesf red lips, good health, take
Rocky Mountain Tea. There
nothing like 1t. 35 cents, Tea or