Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1914-06-23
A PROSPEROUS SECTION
THE OBSERVER MAN VISITS
THE RURAL REALM.
Ballston, Perrydale and Mccoy Farm
ing Communities Show Much
Thriftiness.

Whether because of DR.. Stats SYM
pathetic nature, or because he needed
ballast, the automobileless para
grapher of this great moral educator
and family journal was afforded an
opportunity last Friday afternoon to
inslnuate his presence in three diff
ferent neighborhoods of Polk county
for the first time, and to say that
what he saw was revelation to him
is but mildly expressing it. He had
not infrequently listened to the ex-
preston "good old Polk" but he new
er before fully realized how much
that expression meant The round
trip from Dallas to Ballston, Perry
dale and Mccoy is through a most de-
lightful agricultural territory, and
thrift and prosperity is apparent on
every side. Generally speaking, the
fields, orchards and berry patches
show great care, the one essential to
success in the fertile Willamette Val
lev One further evidence of the pros
perity that is seemingly universal is
the number of new buildings under
way, and the liberal additions being
made to structures already built.
Gazing about from the top of each
roadway eminence one could not fail
to be impressed with the thought that
these agriculturists must be enjoying
the fruits of their labors, for new
buildings were discernible in every
direction. Some of these sturdy till
ers of the soil are erecting more COM
modious dwellings, others larger barns.
and still others are making more ade-
quate accommodation for vehicles and
farming implements by building shell
ter for them. All these structures are
of modern architectural design, and
the residences in particular may well
be the envy of the city cousin. At
Perrydale large addition to the ele-
vator is under way.
As the scribe bowled happily along,
filling his bellows with dust-laden
ozone, the disciple of Aescalapius
would now and again call attention
y some particularly attractive field or
orchard, briefly relating the recent
history of the place, his words in each
instance painting pen picture of
thrift and hard knocks. Several
dairy herds, sleek and well-kept, were
seen contentedly grazing in the green
meadows, while on slopes sheep and
goats nibbled away, unconcerned
about the declining price of wool and
Several extensive hop fields
were passed, and from general appear
ances the crop in that vicinity will
be above the average.
Much good work is being done on
The highways along this route, grades
being reduced in some places and fills
made in others. The character of the
work would indicate that more mod
ern ideas have been injected into
'oad-building. for the width is great
,r and the ditching deeper, most of
he thoroughfares having a good
'rown. This work is being carried
IN under the direction of Roadmaster
Finn, who, the workers say, is not
'nly very capable but enthusiastic in
,ehalf of good roads. Several small
teel bridges, recently put in, were
cen on the route traversed.
Ballston. Perrydale and Mccoy, all
taid rural villages, show growth. and
he business people at each place re-
'ort conditions very satisfactory.
1r. J. E. Yoakum, who has big stock
f general merchandise at Perrydale,
5 highly gratifed with his trade,
which comes from a large tributary
ountry.