Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1910-07-29
WHERE WHEAT is king

WHERE WHEAT Is kDNG
OBSERVER REPRESENTATIVE
VISITS NORTHERN POLK COUNTY.
Finds Farmers Busy Harvesting Bum
per Grain Crop-Prosperous
Town OF Ballston.
A representative of the Polk County
Observer visited the north part of
Polk County this week, spending most
of the time in the Harmony neighbor-
hood. Everywhere the Observer was
found to be the favorite in the country,
and the representative was a welcome
visitor. The country in the vicinity of
Harmony and Ballston has a record
breaking wheat crop this year, and
every field was the scene of operations
for busy harvesting crew.
One of the difficulties in the way of
profitable wheat raising in this part
of Polk County is the distance to
market and the bad roads in Winter.
One of the main obstacles to making
money in dairying or in any other de-
partment of farming is bad roads.
However, it is gratifying to note that
the old state of indifference to roads
has given way to spirit of aggress-
i've improvement, and now a great
deal is being done to assist in render
ing transportation easier. More is done
in this way now in one year than was
formerly done in five years.
William MCGEE, road supervisor in
the Harmony district, thinks the coIn-
~ should do 50 He grading on the
roads in the North part of the county.
He said: II have been road supervisor
in this district most of the time for the
spent cent on the road from Har-
mony to Ballston. They are grading
roads down Salt Creek and Mill Creek
valleys Why can't we have some work
done up here?"
George Thurston, who lives on the
road East of Mr. McGee, said:
know it would take a great deal of
money and work to put this road in
good condition. 1t is not certain yet
that there is travel enough on 1t 10
justify all this expense, but there Is
no question about it being in bad
shape. 1t is all right now but in Win
ter it is almost impossible. l had to
hitch three horses to an empty wag-
on to get over the road last Winter,
and for real business purposes the
road is of no use to us during the
rainy season."
G. w. Clark, one of the most en-
terprising farmers in the Ballston
neighborhood, said: THE roads are
for the people, and it is the people
who make the roads. When 1 moved
on my place several years ago, / saw
several men driving past get stuck in
the mud, and it was a hard task to
get the rigs out again. I said then that,
if could have my way the roads
around my place would be made pass
able. 1 found time and went on the
roads and worked persistently. Now,
there is a fine gravel road all around
my place. 1 was assisted by the county,
which gave an amount of work equal
to mine. The county will assist any
man who is earnestly working to Sc
cure good roads"
Everywhere there seems to be an
appreciation of the handicap caused
by the bad roads, and as rapidly as
possible this handicap will be made to
disappear. The county commissioners
are fully aware of the many difficult
ties in the way, and the Observer feels
certain that they will do all that can
be done to secure better conditions.
Farmers Busy and Prosperous.
An unusually enterprising, up-to-
date and energetic farmer of this To-
cality is George Thurston, living three
miles West of Ballston. Mr.. Thurston
has been on his place of 1870 acres for
only two years, but he is making mon
ey and is delighted with the country.
Every animal on his place shows the
good care of an expert in handling
stock. He is a good judge of cattle and
shrewd manager.
Mr.. Thurston has two cows which
are pure bred. One is a Guernsey and
the other a Swiss. The Guernsey cost
him S75. In speaking of the cost. he
said: THAT is the cheapest COW l ever
bought of course, l had to come down
with SIS to get her. but her milk tests
6, and this Swiss. which gives more
milk, in reality only tests 4. The Guer-
nsey does not eat as much as a scrub
COW would, and she is easy to care for.
I get almost as much profit from this
one COW as / would from two poor
scrubs. 1t does pay well to keep good
cows"
Everybody in the Harmony locality
knows Grandma" Dodson and her
love for flowers. Her yard is a verit-
able bower of the most delightful
flowers in almost every variety that
could be thought of. When these
flowers are in full bloom. the scene
might lead one to think the yard a
rural greenhouse. She has one flower
that is worth going a long way to see.
II Is a beautiful hydrangea, with the
usual five-tooth calyx. The plant was
sent from Floral Park. New York.
One Of the best improved farms I'm
Polk County Is owned by A. w. Fink
on the rural free delivery route North
of Dallas. The orchard has almost
every variety OF fruit-grapes, apples.
peaches. pears and cherries in abund-
ance. It IL a beautiful home. Every
thing about the place shows the care
Of an industrious farmer. Mr.. Fink
has two large walnut trees in his yard
which bear well every year. The OBJ
server man was favored with sample
Of the walnuts which shows that the
quality OF the yield this year will be