Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1911-05-09
POLK,s HEAVY GAIN.

statistics based on the last census
and compiled by the Portland Com
mercial Club, show that the rural dis
trlcts Of oregon have made a gain OF
20 per cent in population in the iast
ten years, as compared with an aver
age increase of 70 per cent in the
towns and Incorporated cities.
In the growth of agricultural
communities, the largest increase OF
population was in the district com
prising Wasco and Hood River Coun-
ties. which made the enormous gam
of 1876 per cent. The phenomenal IN
crease in the percentages of nearly all
of the Eastern oregon counties is due
TO the fact that they lie in compar-
atively sparsely settled portion OF
the state, where any addition to the
nopulation counts far more in inereas-
ing the percentage of gain than IL
would in the more thickly settled
counties Of the willamette valley
and Southern Oregon.
Among the Willamette valley
counties, Clackamas County comes
first with a gain of 54 per cent. POLK
is a close second, with an increase OF
AZ per cent. Other gains are: Ben
ton. 23 per cent; Lane 39 per cent;
Linn, Is per cent, and Yamhill, Is
per cent. Marion County shows a
loss of $40 of one per cent The
population outside of the cities OF
that county in 1900 was 1888. Ten
years later it was only 1854
ont in Southern Oregon, where the
newspapers never miss an opportun-
ity to refer to the Willamette Valley
as the "mossback country" the gain
in population for the last ten years
has been small. In that portion OF
the state, Jackson County leads with
a gain of 25 per cent. Douglas Coun-
ty gained per cent and Josephine
shows an increase of only per cent
In showing a gain next to that OF
Clackamas County (Which lies SO
close to Portland as to entitle 1t to DE
classed as a suburban district) POLK
County has made a 10-year growth
that is highly gratifying. Among the
farming counties of Western oregon
its nearest rival is Lane--a county
whose enterprising residents have
spent more money in publicity cam
paigns in the last five years than nave
those of any other county save Multi
nomah, and, possibly. Jackson.
The creditable growth made by
Polk County without the aid of pub
licity work, leads one to speculate
how very much greater the Increase OF
population might have been had the
county spent a generous amount OF
money for printers ink in making Its
advantages and resources known
throughout the Middle and Western
states. Polk is one of the counties
that would profit highly by liberal ad-
vertising, for the reason that 1t has
something to advertise. Those blue
ribbons for blooded livestock and fruit
and grain, won at the leading fairs
and expostions of the Northwest In
the last ten years, mean something
SO far, they are the only advertising
the county has received. This adver-
tising is good as far as 1t goes, but II
does not go far enough. We know
here at home that we have the best
county In the best state in the Union,
but we should never rest until we
have made the people of every other
county in every other state know 1t,
too.
And while we are advertising the
towns of Polk County. we should not
neglect to advertise the country as
well. II any discrimination Is made
1t should he i'm favor Of the country
If we build up and develop the farm
ing communities OF our county, the
towns will be able TO take care OF
themselves.