Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1912-12-06
BRITT ASPINWALL, OF BROOKS,
TELLS OF SPLENDID PROFITS
REALIZED FROM RAISING
OF FRUIT.
GROWERS NET 5000 AN ACRE
Plans Of Oregon Loganberry Company
Explained; Commercial Club En-
dorses Two Road Projects; Contrib
utors to Unapproved Schemes to Be
Fined; Minor Matters.

explaining nIlutety the OpSEdtlOlS
of the Oregon Loganberry company
and what the company proposes to ac-
complish on its tract recently purchas-
ed east of the city, Britt Aspinwall, of
Brooks, in Marion county, one of the
most noted growers of loganberries in
the state of Oregon, addressed the
Dallas Commercial club on Wednesday
night at one of the most largely at
tended meetings in its history. His
remarks were attentively listened to
and at it's conclusion members present
piled him with questions relative to
the industry, all of which he answered
to the satisfaction of the information
seekers.
Profits Are Large.
According to Mr.. Aspinwall the prof
it's realized from the successful culture
of the loganberry are encouraging.
Giving his own experience as a critic
rion, Mr.. Aspinwall declared that the
profits from the 25-acre tract of the
Aspinwall Bros. near Brooks last sea-
son, netted something over $3.50 per
acre. He stated that the yield ap-
proximated about 1875 TONS for which
he received four cents per pound, He
said that his experience had shown
that the price of loganberries was con-
stantly on the increase year by year,
and that the crop should pay an inter-
est of 38 per cent on the Investment;
however, a return of even 25 per cent
would pay a net profit of $500 per
acre.
The gross earnings from the Aspin-
wall tract reached $400 per acre
with an expense. of about $140 per
acre annually. He explained how the
crop should be cultivated and said
that the plants should yield about one
third of a crop the first year, and
full crop the second year. The plants
were sold by the Aspinwalls at $25 per
thousand, and it required about $50
plants to properly cover an acre of
ground. They are planted eight feet
apart each way. The LaFollette tract
in Marion county was pointed to as
showing what might be accomplished
on rich river bottom land 1t was STAT
ed that this five-acre tract last year
yielded about 1900 pounds Of berries
to the acre, which were sold for four
t ents per pound.
Mr.. Aspinwall was given a vote of
thanks by the club for attendance at
the meeting and for his explanation of
loganberry culture.
Endorses Road Projects.
Chairman w. V. Fuller, of the COM
mittee on roads and highways, rerortr,
ed having made a personal INSPECTION
of the proposed Ellendale-Mill Creek
road, and was impressed with the adj
visibility of building the road. He
said the proposed route was feasible,
the grades easy and that 1t would
shorten the distance materially be-
tween Dallas and the northwestern
portion of the county, and avoid the
troublesome Butler hill. The project
for the improvement of the Dallas
Bridgeport road was endorsed by the
club and further action was referred
to the roads and highways commit
tee. 1t is understood that the proper
ty owners i'm this district have called
a special election for the purpose of
voting bonds for road purposes.
Kick on S. p. Station.
u. S. Grant registered kick on the
present Southern Pacific station and
thought that the club should take
some action calculated to secure a
new building here IN keeping with the
fact that Dallas furnishes more
freight for the Southern Pacific than
any station in oregon, outside of Port
land. Chairman w. l. Soehren, of
the committee on railroads. stated that
a committee of the club had been as
sured by superintendent Campbell
that the company would build a new
station in Dallas by the time the pro-
posed electrifcation of the road was
which would be within
two years from last spring. He also
stated that he had taken up the mat
ter OF having the station grounds flied
in with gravel, and that some work
had already been accomplished along
this line.
Contributors 20 BE Fined.
II developed that members of the
club had subscribed to donation papers
and other soliciting schemes that did
not have the approval Of the secret
OF the club. and on mo-
ton the recommendation Of the board
OF directors was agreed 20 and II was
decided 20 enforce the fine provided
for in the bylaws on all offenders.
Miscellaneous Matters.
The matter OF financing the basket
ban team was left with the amuse-
ment committee with power to act.
Mr.. Soehren. from the committee on
reported that the com
mittee had used the amount received
from the United Artisans In paying
prizes for the foot race during the fair
and for prizes In the baby show.
Financial Secretary Tracy Stats
reported s175 80 far collected for this
month. but that his work had not been
fully completed He reported that the
total amount paid out for fair ex-