Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1908-09-11
SOME RAMBLING THOUGHTS
Notes By the Way From the Former
Editor of the Polk County
Observer.

ShOAASuo pLOuuCJlOu Vi mlueT6
wealth, ranks high among the Western
States as producer of fruits and
vegetables. Peaches and melons from
the country surrounding Grand juno
tion are shipped to all parts of the
United States, while Rocky Ford
watermelons and cantaloupes are as
we'll known in the Eastern markets as
are Hood River apples, Willamette
Valley hops, prunes and cherries OF
Rogue River pears. Apples, however,
do not thrive in the higher attitudes
Within the last ten years, hundreds OF
acres of apples have been planted in
the Arkansas River valley, neal
Canon City, but the experiment has
not been profitable to the orchardists.
The trees have made rapid and lux
uriant growth, but their bearing
qualities are not to be compared with
the productiveness of the orchards in
the more favorable climate of the
Pacific Northwest. Already, large
numbers of farmers are planning to
dig up their orchards and plant the
ground to vegetables and alfalfa,
crops which will assure a profitable
yield every year. Colorado probably
leads all states in the production of
the sugar beet; and potatoes, corn,
cabbage, tomatoes, and other vege-
tables thrive in the irrigated soil. The
Arkansas River valley is highly
fertile strip of land along its entire
length, and here the juicy cantaloupe
and the luscious watermelon most
nearly reach perfection. Which re-
minds me:
Over at the Arkansas Valley Fair,
held in the city of La Junta, Thursday
of this week was set apart as Water
melon Day. This day has been the
big feature Of the fair for many. years
past, and has gained National fame
through its very novelty. 1t is a
veritable watermelon feast, and people
go from every part Of Colorado and
the adjoining states to participate in
it's delights. Old and young join in
the festivities, and watermelons by
the wagonload are served to the visi-
tors without money and without price.
Just think Of that, you boys over in
Polk county, Great, juicy water
melons-as big as your mothers
churn-whole rows and stacks OF
them And all fellow had to do was
to get out his jackknife and help him
selfl Just think of burrowing your
nose in a great slice of ice-cold melon,
with the juice running down your
chin. and the big, crisp, red heart
fairly melting into sugary sweetness
In your mouth Wouldn't that be
great? Well, that's just the kind of
fun the boys in Colorado enjoyed
yesterday, and they made the most of
the opportunity. Every white boy and
nigger boy and Mexican boy in Trini-
dad that could raise the price Of
ticket went on the morning excursion,
and all had the time OF their young
lives. When they arrived home at
night, happy as larks, some of the
boys looked like they had swallowed
their melons without slicing them.
I have often wondered just how
much good hard cash that word "Web-
foot" has cost the State OF Oregon?
Tom Richardson places the amount
at $1,000 900. IL 1 remember cor
rectly-and, for oncein our lives, Tom
and 1 agree. The estimate is possibly
too low. Started as a joke by some
unthinking wsg, the name has clung
to the state through all the years, to
be used by every smart-alex para
grapher in the country, and, worst Of
all, TO be scattered broadcast from our
own cities and towns through the
medium Of postcards, souvenir
spoons, and the like. thus advertising
the state as a place where the sun
never shines, and where weeping
clouds cast perpetual gloom over the
landscape. Slander, most foul and
damnable, and that one word, "Web-
foot" responsible for it all
The figures are not available, but /
remember that there are a half-dozen
cities in the United States whose
annual rainfall is greater than that OF
Portland, Oregon: New Orleans. for
instance; and Galveston, Texas, and
Detroit, Michigan, and a number Of
cities on the Atlantic coast. 1 only
wish that 1 had the Governmentfigures
at hand, 80 that might name them
all. Do you ever read in the news
papers Of the excessive rainfall 10 any
one Of these latter citiesl Have you
ever seen one Of them referred 70 as
being located in q country where It
rains thirteen months 10 the yeari"
Oregon owes II TO herself, in her own
defense, to give these Government
reports the widest possible publicity.
They should be advertised far and
wide to counteract the impression
created IN the minds % Eastern people
By the Jokes about ~WebfOot weather. "
Every mis-statement should b
answered with facts. Just ss the writer
answered = Promioeut Colorado news
paper last week. when IN az attempt
% Be fscetious. ifs editor had asked /:
"Hou do the people live up in Oregon,
uhera n raIns AL he fimefs AnsHer