Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1911-11-03
SHOWING MADE BY SALEM,
FALLS CITY g. WESTERN
RAILWAY COMPANY AL
TIERS VIEWS HELD.
Project of Polk County Oil, Gas &
Land Company and The Oregon
Oil g. Pipe Line Company Receives
Endorsement - Preparations For
Angora Goat Show.

One of the liveliest and best at
tended meetings in the history of the
Commercial Club was held in the
court house Wednesday night. From
start to finish the interest was sus-
tanned, and oratorical flashes and
verbal decorations kept the atmos-
phere vibrant The subjects up for
discussion ran the scale from crude
oil to "Angora venison', from rail-
road rates to prunes, and frOmprunes
to railroad rates and finally to peace
and harmony and general exten-
sion of the "glad hand.
The principal feature of the dis
cussions was brought about by the
passage at a former meeting of a
resolution to bring to the attention
of the state railroad commission an
appeal from the Falls City CONNER
cial club for lower rates on lumber
from Falls City to Dallas over the
Salem, Falls City & Western rail-
way. After an explanation of the
matter by Mr.. Gerlinger, on behalf
of the railway, the subject was
dropped.
Not Understood.
Among other things, he said, that
he believed that if the club was fa-
miliar with the conditions that it
would not have taken the question up
in that way. He did not believe that
they could obtain a reduction Of
rates if it did, as it had been before
the commission on several different
occasions, and each time the commits
sion has decided that the rates were
equitable and that it saw no reason
to reduce them. The rate averaged
about 31a cents per hundred pounds,
as compared to cent rate for a
like haul on any other road in the
state. The expense of getting logs .
to the mill at Falls City is about
equal to that of getting logs to the
railway company's terminals at
Black Rock. If the Dallas mill can
operate so continuously and so sat
isfactorily to itself and the commu-
nifty at large, why could not the
Falls City mills do the same. Any
move to take away the mills from .
Falls City would hurt the railroad
as much as the town, as there was
no one that had more at stake in
the case than the railroad.
Earnings Small.
In the past year the entire q miles
Of road had earned but $4,000. Any
reduction in rates would mean
corresponding decrease in the earn
ing capacity and means for develop
ment. The company was willing, Mr..
Gerlinger said, to confer at any time
with a committee from the CONNER
cial clubs of Dallas and Falls City
and representatives Of the Falls
City mills. They objected, however,
to being hailed before the commission,
as it meant a useless expense Of sew
eral hundred dollars and much need
less loss of time and work. Oscar
Hayter, representing the railroad
company, explained what proceed
ings before the commission meant
to the company.
Same Stockholders.
Answering the criticism that the
Salem, Falls City & Western had
been sold, Mr.. Gerlinger said that he
could assure the club that the
stockholders were the same now as
for the past seven or eight years.
An invitation from the secretary
Of the Oregon State Horticultural
society 10 mske an exhibit Of Polk
County fruit at the coming apple
show in Portland. H A. Woods and
TTrrfn Tarnhzon and Gcorsa Epriiu-