Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1915-10-08
EGGS IN ONE BASKET.

From an industrial standpoint Dal-
las is largely dependent on the wood
working industry, and notwithstand-
ing the fact that locally this has pros
pered as compared with Institutions
of like character situated in other
parts, it has been somewhat unpleas-
antly demonstrated during the past
year or more, when the traffic in lum-
ber has severely suffered as a result
of general business depression, that
we are industrially weak. 1t also is
unquestionably true that the remedy
for this defect is to be found in en-
larging the variety of our local manu-.
factures, just the same as the remedy
for so-called Zone crop" farm fail
ures is to be found in diversified
farming. In other words it would be
better for Dallas, both as communi-
ty and for individual interests, if we
had more industries devoted to metal
manufactures, or the production of
fabrics, or anything that would dis
tribute and enlarge local industrial
independence. For it often occurs
that one branch of industry may suf-
fer from business depression while
other branches are prosperous and ac-
tive, just such condition prevailing
at the present time.
1t frequently has been urged in the
past that Dallas should make more
effort to bring or launch other work
ing industries here, but such efforts
as have been made in this direction
have never met with conspicuous sue
cess. Moreover, while we have quite
a number Of comparatively small in
dustrial establishments, they have
failed to grow and expand as they
could and would under conditions of
real prosperity, so that they give en-
ployment TO only a small fraction of
the local working force and fail to
draw Others to this community. Meth
er can it be charged that this is due
to any lack of enterprise on the part
Of those directing such industries, for
they are just as keen and as ambi-
tious as the managers of similar in
lustries in other cities which do pros ,
per and grow from small start to
immense concerns, giving employment {
% hundreds and even thousands of |
'killed and high-priced workers. I
Dallas, it is claimed, has practical e
y no chance to compete in industries S
With cities which have the benefit of e
ow freight rates, brought about as C
he result of water transportation ia n
ilities, but this argument may be cas- S
y penetrated by a lower cost of d
here, where labor is cheap il
r because of the absence of unions e
nd far more dependent, an item al a
'ays worthy of consideration by the d
The freight rates ap- Il
lied by the railroad company are D
air, equitable and without disclimi- r,
alton, and withal there can be no d
Dod and sufficient reason why manu-
lctories of almost any character
'uld not be proftably conducted in
lis city. With the return of pros G
erity capital will seek new fields b,
II investment in manufacturing Z
nes, and Dallas should have an eye fl
this direction. With our splendid a
,Ticultural and horticultural resourc- in
we have quite successfully stemmed ce
e tide of business depression, but m
it'll the opening of new era there m
opportunity to still better fortify by
Irselves against a repetition of lii
dull times" and we should not be br
ind to it. ii,