East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1908-05-07

Per Sack-f1rSt Market Day sue
cess-I. NJ. Kemp May BE Cashier
of Weston Bank.
Athena, May 7.-Never before in
the history of Athena and Weston
has the value of the Weston mountain
potato and berry land been so clearly
demonstrated as this spring. The last
of the 4O-car shipment of potatoes
made from this place within the past
two weeks is being sent out this week
and long lines of two and four-horse
teams may be seen hauling in the
product of the rich mountain land.
At but so cents per sack the Wes-
ton mountain potato land has yield
ed from $50 to $50 per acre and 1t is
very seldom that potatoes sell as low
as 80 cents per sack at this season,
However, this has been the price gem
orally paid for the big shipment this
spring.
This immense quantity of potatoes,
which will amount to more than 10,-
900 sacks, was raised on tracts COM
prising all the way from five to 40
acres and farmers value their land
more highly this spring than ever be-
fore, now that an excellent market has
been found.
This potato land comprises all of
the west slope of the Blue mountains
tributary to Weston and Athena and
aside from being one of the richest
potato belts in the west is also fine
land and yields an excel
lent variety of late berries which
come in several weeks after the reg
ular crop is exhausted and which
brings fancy prices. The
land is owned in tracts of from 100
to 800 acres and can be bought for
from $50 to SIS per acre, according
to location and Improvements.
Most of it will yield 500 per year
in potatoes or $3.50 in berries and is
free from frost, does not need irriga-
ton and is a rich. black loan, highly
productive and easily cultivated. It
Is one of the most favored sections
Of Umatilla county, but it is little
known or understood.
Four Will Graduate.
Four young people, two boys and
two girls, will graduate from the
Athena high school at the close of the
present highly successful term which
ends on Friday, May 20. The pres
ent term has been one of the best in
he history of Athena from many
and those who will grad
late are Benjamin Gross, Maurice
Hill, Martha Gerking and Cecil Boyd.
First Market Day n Success.
Athenas first market day which |
vas held on Saturday, May 2, was a |
Iecided success and encouraged the
BUSINESS men to continue the events |
Indefinitely. over $4,000 worth OF
was listed for sale and over
1000 worth was sold at excellent |
rices. Some fine cattle and blooded |
Iorses which were offered for sale
we're not sold for the reason that
hey were really worth more than the
armers cared to pay.
The business men raised a fund Of
so with which to pay the expenses
f the first market day and there was
% cost to those who offered property
or sale. The managers were Frank
'ooley and T. NJ. Taggart, the auction
ers were County Treasurer G. W,
'radley of Pendleton and F. G. Lucas
( Athena, and the secretary was Hen
Y Barrett.
An exceptionally large quantity OF
ousehold goods. and farming imple-
lents were sold and the farmers now
ave the market day fever. The next
ay promises to be still better.
Bank Is Prosperous.
The First National bank of Athena
one of the most prosperous small
anks in the inland empire, located
$ it is in the heart of the great wheat
cit of the northwest. The last state
tent issued showed that the bank had
n hand in cash, over So per cent of
8 deposits, a showing of which the
is very proud.
Among the many improvements no.
ID in the city is the new coat of
right yellow paint which is being
,pliel to the st. Nicholas hotel.
Joe Scott to Make Campaign.
Joe n. Scott, the popular young
erchant of this city, who has just
zen nominated as an independent
lndidate for the office Of joint rep
sentative for the Umatllla- Morrow
,unty district, will make an active
.mpaign for the office and will ac-
,mpany Governor Chamberlain's
lrty through the two counties in the
,xt few days. He is out on state
ent No. platform and is very pop
ar where known.
Meetings Continue.
The revival meetings In charge OF
ev. Israel Pntnam and Rev. Cara
ne. the evangelist Of st. Louis, con-
1ue at the NJ. e. church and great =
terest is being shown. However,
w additions are being made to the
urch membership, the meetings
wing been devoted more to the I
embers, so far, than to evangelistic
ork on the outside. The attend
ice is large and the congregation is
ell pleased with the results.
Cashier Fay s. lie Grow Of the First
ational bank, is In Spokane this !
eek on a business trip.
Mrs. T. G. Montgomery OF Pendle- I
n, who has been visiting in the city
10 raturnad 10 har homa n