Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1914-01-06
MONMOUTH
PROSPEROUS
HEALTHY GROWTH DURING
PAST YEAR
Industries Show Substantial Gain in
1918. City Population Increases

The following from the Sunday
OMgonian gives Monmouth nice
write-up:
The year of 1913 has passed witt
Monmouth and the surrounding fam
ing district are enjoying period OF
prosperity in the various industrial
branches. The year has been one OF
great activity and it is doubtful if
any year ever has equaled the present
one in its accomplishments. Not only
has there been a constant increase IN
the amount of money brought to this
district, but the population of this
city has increased.
Monmouth is situated in the south
eastern part of Polk County and is
the center of a rich agricultural area.
Several years ago the farmers and
dairymen in the surrounding farming
districts met here and promoted plans
for a creamery, which was built. This
was the second to be erected in Polk
County, the first one having been bnllt
at independence. The concern is
owned by farmers and dairymen and
has twice paid substantial dividends
Not long after the meeting for q
creamery was held, the fruit growers
met and organized the Monmouth
Evaporating and Canning Company
A eannery and drier were built, and
the growing of all kinds of fruit was
encouraged. Many acres were set out
to various kinds of fruit trees, and
each year a large quantity of prunes
has been handled. The plant is OPP
Grated by Monmouth capital
Grain Grown Extensively.
Considerable money has come to
this district as result of extensive
grain raising by the farmers. in all
dition to the regular grain crops,
much clover has been planted wilfin
the past two years. This crop gives
excellent pasture to sheep, produces
one good hay crop each year, and Il
valuable seed crop. New varieties of
grain were tried out this year. The
greater number proved successful.
Two warehouses are located in Mon
mouth to care for the grain crops
and the stone mill makes the we'll
known Monmouth brand flour.
One project, which is receiving
much attention, is the oil well pros
pect, two miles north of this city
on the Whiteaker farm. The well is
more than 1900 feet deep and gases
were evident during the last part of
the drilling.
In addition to numerous street and
sidewalk improvements in Monmouth,
new garage and brick building were
built on Main street. As the result
of a complaint filed by the people of
the city and adjacent country to the
Oregon Railroad Commission against
the station here, a new depot was
erected at the intersection of the In
dependence, Dallas & Airlie tracks
Gin this city. The new structure is
modern and fully adequate to handle
the increased business. The fare be-
tween Monmouth and Dallas, dis
tance of about eight miles, was cut
from 80 to 25 cents, and the different
branches of railroad service are i'm
proved.
City Owns Water Plant.
Monmouth owns its own gravity
water system, the reservoir of which
is located on Cupid's Knoll, west of
the city, and is about 110 feet above
Main street. Meters are established
and a sufficient pressure attained.
The city has superintendent en-
ployed.
In favorite location is situated the
Oregon Normal Scheol. the only Ore
gon state institution for the training
of students for teachers. A new
girls dormitory and heating plant
were built for the school and large
gymnasium is now in course of con-
struction. The attendance at this
school grows yearly. The public
grade school. located in a separate
building, is used as a training school
for the Oregon Normal School, where
the students get practice in teaching
under the best critics. The Mon
mouth High School, situated one block
east of the Normal building, is an
independent school, the enrolment
of which is greater this year. Mon
mouth has no saloons, billiard or pool
halls.
Famous throughout the United
States are the sheep and Angora goats
of the Monmouth farming district.
For years the stock has won prizes
and shipments have been made to 9TH
er countries. Monmouth 3 reputation