Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1912-06-18
THE KNOCKER is IT.

In the last issue of the Sheridan
Sun appears a communication, sign
ed by the realty dealers of that city,
in which the charge is made that
street loafers and knockers were in
strumental in discouraging pros
pective investor in Sheridan prop
erty. The investor came from Me-
braska and his negotiations, entered
into with the real estate men, 1t is
declared contemplated the invest
ment of $4,000. The deal had pro-
gressed so far that a meeting had
been arranged with the parties inter-
ested. But the knockers that infest
the streets and the hotel lobbies" got
busy and "queered" the deal, and the
foreign capital went elsewhere.
This was unfortunate for Sheridan.
Unfortunate for the entire Valley.
But such tactics are not confined to
the thriving Yamhill county town.
These people infest every community
in the valley to a. greater or less ex-
tent and, according to the measure
of their activity and numbers, is the
advancement of every community re-
tarded. There exist numbers of men
who appear to think that any deal
in which they are not the ones to
be directly benefited, should be kill
ed Dallas has them, as note a re-
cent editorial which appeared in this
newspaper, regarding the converse
tion heard on the porch of one of
this city's hotels, when a resident of
Dallas, in conversing with a stranger,
declared that that the land prices
here are much too high" and that
"better land can be bought elsewhere
for much less money" 1t is this
spirit that has hindered the advance
ment of Oregon. The enterprising
men who have been instrumental in
boosting their town, and who have
been willing to spend their money to
see it go ahead, and have spent it,
have been characterized as fools"
and their every movement in the line
of progress has been bounded by
these obstructionists.
When the writer visited this city
for the first time contemplating an
investment here, he interviewed some
of the business men regarding the
city and its prospects. He was a
stranger in a strange land. He did
not take those he talked with into
his confidence, and for aught they
knew he might have represented cap
italsts with a fortune to invest He
didn't tell 'em he was simply news
Yet, one of the citizens of Dallas with
whom he talked, did one of the best
Jobs of knocking that we have ever
heard. He said the town was fair
little city" but that nobody ever got
rich here" IF you come here" he
said. "and attend to business. and get
in a line that is not overcrowded al
ready, if you can find one, you will
probably succeed. You'll make a
living-that's all any Of us do. The
soil here is not very prolific and has
been farmed until it is worn out.
Some people think they can raise APP
pies and other fruit here. but they'll
find that the climate isn't suited to
it. About the only fruit crop which
thrives in this county is prunes and,
even II we raise a good crop of that
product we can't get enough for II
to hardly pay for raising"
He spun that sort OF yarn until
the newspaper man had accumulated
a mighty good dose OF blues and
about the first thing he wanted to
do was to grab a passenger train and
get out. II that was the true state
OF Affairs what in tunket was the
use of squandering any OF his hard
earned ducats in a community with
fortunately for himself. (and posi-
fortunately for himself. (and posi-
bly, unfortunately FOR the peoplel,
he found others who told a different
story. and careful Investigation led
us to believe that the gloomy individ-
ual was a cynic and hadn't told the
truth about Dallas and Polk county.
So we sought the brighter side OF the
question and decided 20 stick. and we
have had no cause 10 complain. We
have found that the judgment OF the
knocker was az fault as Il always Is,
and that right here in Dallas exists
one cf the best futures % any town
In the state. Yet. this man who took
such delight in hammering his home
town and county. has gained a for
tune right here and IS today ridIns
around On a high-priced automobile.
What possible motive could he
have had FOR thus attempting to dis