Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1910-08-12


Of good people, good land, good water,
and everything in most gratifying
state of prosperity, and the Polk
County Observer the favorite news
paper.
Airlie is a beautiful town, situated
at the terminus of the I. & M. Rail
way, about 10 miles southwest of Mon
mouth. 1t has two general stores,
hotel and butcher shop, and is sur
runded by fertile valleys of as good
land as will be found anywhere on the
Pacific Coast.
Stores Are Modern.
The general store of Miller, Alcorn
& Company has large stock of dry
goods, groceries and other merchan-
disc necessary in a general store.
The firm has been in business seven
years and has been unusually prosper
Gus. w. s. Alcorn, the present man
ager, has been in charge about year.
BY courteous treatment of his custom
ers and fair dealing with the farmers
of the surrounding country, this store
has built up steady, liberal trade. In
addition to his work as manager of
the store, Mr., Alcorn is filling the Of
flee of Postmaster He is well pleased
with Airlie and the growing business
of his firm.
The Simpson Brothers store Is own
ed and managed by d. H. and PLY
Simpson, both old residents in this
locality and good business men. They
started in business six years ago. They
are pleasant men to meet, socially or
in business way, and their store is
popular as trading point
Their large trade extends up the
valleys in every direction, drawing
much business that would be consid-
cred beyond the territory of Airlie,
They carry everything in general mer-
chandise, including groceries, dry
goods, paints, oils, shelf hardware
One remarkable thing about this firm
is that it turns" It's stock every three
months thereby assuring its custom
ers new and fresh goods at all times
Busy Telephone Office.
Mrs. Lettie Harrington and her
daughter, Bertha, have charge of the
central telephone office at Airlie, and
their courteous, conslderate treatment
of the patrons of the system has done
much to make 1t popular. 1t is nc
easy task to manage q switchboard
and satisfy the demands of an exactine
public 1t is safe to say that II the
average patron could take the place
of central" for but one day, there
would never be any but words Of SYM
pathy from that quarter thereafter.
The Airlie system has about 25O
phones, and has over 5000 free con-
nections. 1t is owned by j. M Staats
Mr.. Stats has lately been adding 9
front porch to the central office and Ii
planning to put in q new switchboard
with copper cables, thus giving the
public even better service.
Mr.. Staats is one of the most expert
enced telephone men In the country
He built the first mutual line into
Corvallis; also into Dallas. Independ'
ence and Albany. He is now prepar'
ing to establish an all-night service al
Airlie.
Other Business Concerns.
C. T. Allen drives a wagon for A. b
Lewis meat market and supplies al
of the surrounding country from
Buena Vista and Wells, on the one
side, to Upper Pedee on the other
Mr.. Allen is popular with his custom
ers, and his market uses every effor
to give its customers the best valu'
for their money.
Mrs. w. d. Rose manages the hote
in Airlie. Her place is a favorite will
travellers. The patrons Uf this hote
are aways sure of good meals and
comfortable beds.
DR.. v. c. Staats, a son of one of th'
pioneer families OF the Luckiamut'
country, is the physician at. Airlie Hi
practice covers large territory, sons
of his rides taking him far back int
the Coast mountains.
Any description Of Airlie would b.
Incomplete without mention OF Ton
williams, one of the Oldest resident
of Polk County, and Mayor Of hi
town by common consent Uncle Ton
helped to build Luckiamute Falls, an'
he remembers the day when BALI
Mountain was a large, circular hole II
the ground. He was present to do tn
honors demanded by the occasion
when the first railroad train pulled In
to his town over the old narrow gauge
He says this train consisted of a rov
OF drygoods boxes on wheels, draw
by a tea kettle. Uncle Tom is
kindly. jovial old gentleman and enjoy
the highest respect and esteem OF tn
people Of his town.
Beautiful Pedee Valley.
The Pedee Valley is about six mile
long and presents a scene of wonder
full beauty and wealth. If natura
scenery could be turned into availabl
collateral, the people up there woul'
all be millionaires. The hr-toppe'
hills and mountains and the rich, fer
tile valley. present an appearance tina
impresses the visitor with admiration
and surprise. No one can describe Il
but do not think you have seen all tn
beauties Of Polk County until yol
have visited this wonderful valley.
The people who make their home
In this part Of the county are quite a
admirable as the valley itself Indus
trious. hospitable. and pleasant I
meet, they are the kindof people tha
make Oregon a delightful state &
which to live. Many OF them do no
realize what a world OF wealth ther
is In this valley. but none Of then
seem to want to leave. Not a man q
this valley spoke of desiring 70 sel
out Scarcely an acre Of ground cal
be found here but offers immens
possibilities in fruit raisnig- As orch
ard land II IL not exceiied.
One Of the most progressive farmer
OF this valley IL Frank GILLIAN HI
farm includes some excellent pastur
Iland. Here he has his 20 head Of nm
, rheep. His place u well Improves