Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1908-05-15
PROSPEROUS FALLS CITY
President of Willamette Development
League Tells What He Saw
There.

and few days later his paper, the
Salem Journal, contained three
column story of the Colonel's observa
tions in and around Polk county's
live lumber town. Among other
things, he said:
Falls City held the first Booster and
Development meeting at the opera
house last Monday, and will now
gather facts of production and prepare
advertising matter for a publicity
campaign.
On May 23 there will be a big Wood
men of the World convention held
here, with an all-day program, prizes
and parade, public speaking, grand
ball and picnic. Fourth of July will
be celebrated on fine scale and with
all the usual features of an Inde-
pendence Day celebration.
The Salem, Falls City and Western
railroad, which doesn't start at Salem
nor stop at Falls City, is doing a fine
business, hauling trainloads Of logs
daily to Dallas and Newberg. 1t is
being extended into the timber as fast
as new camps are opened.
1t was revelation to the writer to
go to. Falls City this week and spend
few days in its clear mountain air,
beside its clear mountain stream, and
realize the remarkable growth made
by that little gem Of Oregon cities in
the past few years. 1t is question il
it does not hold the belt for having
made the most rapid growth Of any
town in the state. 1t is L. Gerlinger
and, sons town, and the protector Of
the Salem, Dallas, Falls City and
Western railroad has warm place In
the hearts of the people here.
The natural beauty and advantages
of the place are great Besides an
almost inexhaustible timber supply,
that keeps from three to five logging
camps running, as many sawmills
going, and a large planning and re-
saving mill in the city itself, the rail
road is being extended into the coast
range more and more. The local
manager of this manufacturing plant
is W. T. Grier, regular captain Of
industry, who also manages the Falls
City sales agency for the rest Of the
mills in the mountains, a distributing
business that amounts to millions Of
feet annually.
People are coming slowly to realize
the fact, that the entire foothill coun-
try from Dallas west and southwest is
Just as fine a fruit section as Hood
River. Annual productions and ship
ments are increasing, and hundreds
OF acres are going into orchards where
the solidest apples, that for high color,
flavor and shipping quality are going
to be world renowned, are produced
plentifully and profitably. These
lands are still to be had for a song.
One orchard we visited was Glen
alder fruit farm, owned by Miss Nellie
Collins, for many years a school
teacher, but who has become an
enthusiastic orchardist. She has
built big cozy mountain home for
herself and her sisters and father and
mother, Judge Collins and wife OF
Dallas, when the Judge gets ready to
retire from law practice.
DIR. W. H. Becker Of Salem has
located here and has a good practice.
1 found two old Journal office en-
ployes. Alvin Bowman, former press
man, and Billy McAdams, who sold
papers for me when he was kid.
G. L. Starr, now secretary Of the state
normal schools, has been the live
newspaper man Of the town, and one
OF his brothers here is on the school
board. 1t has run in the blood Of the
Starr family to have more or less to do
with school matters for several gener-
atoms.
Falls City has a ten-grade school
conducted by f. S. Crowley. There
are five teachers, and branch school
at Black Rock, the upper lumber
camp, with two teachers. The school
board are Ira Mehrling, secretary OF
the Commercial club, @. NJ. Tice, Wal
ter Williams and II. f. Starr. This
board is not afraid to run a good
school and employ bright and capable
teachers and pay them good wages.
Falls City has its full quota OF
churches.
The beautiful waterfall at Falls
City is owned by W. E. NeTsom, Of
Portland, who has converted part OF
the power into electric current for
lighting the city. The scenic beauty
OF the falls attracts people from far
and pear The canyon is overhung
with frs and alder, hawthorn and
syringas, and other towering shrubs,
and has great scenic beauty that
should be preserved. Il will always
be one Of the greatest drawing cards
Of this city to have these falls and the
natural beauty Of this canyon pre-
served
Falls City has two ine hotels either
OF which would be a credit 70 Salem
They do q large business with home
steaders. timbermen, and tourists and
travelling men, who all like Pals City
for its hotels. The Tavern IL con-
ducted By n. Fugitf and family. .
California hotel man and real estate
booster uho cane here several years
ago. The Walker is run By Col Nat