Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1915-11-02
AE HAS ROSY HUE
Is OF UPPER LUCKIAMUTE
1NEIGHBoRs BRIGHTEN.
sumption Of Industrial Operations
and Influx Of Settlers Must En-
large Business Scope.

ClOnS UnaC are PROMISED Tor ais lily
within the near future leads cor
respondent at that place to believe
that better things are in store for the
people Of that community. An influx
of settlers to the timbered regions of
the Siletz basin, increased acreage in
prunes and smaller fruits, the intro
duction of dairying, and the resump-
tion of logging and sawmill opera
tions in the city by the falls are
among the reasons given by this au-
thority for an improved condition in
that section of Polk county, which is
recognized as the center of logging
operations for number of mills.
With the erection of sawmill at
Falls City in 1905 growing business
community sprung into existence. Fir
logs cut from virgin forests in the
neighborhood Of Black Rock, near the
summit of the Coast range of noun
tains, have since that date found
their way by rail to Falls City, there
to be manufactured into the mer-
chantable product, the plant under
the management of the Falls City
Lumber company employing about
400 workmen in woods and mill. The
ceasing of operations by this com
pany because of financial troubles
brought temporary disaster ITO the
community, but the news that soon
another strong corporation is about
to resume work brightens conditions.
and when the industry is again in full
swing after the first Of the new year
Falls City will be characterized as
one of the lively towns of the val
ley. Under normal conditions the
output of this mill is 100000 feet of
lumber per day, approximately two
and half million feet per month.
Three years ago shipments reached a
record Of twenty million feet, but a
stagnant market naturally decreased
the output. An enormous value is
represented in the standing timber.
Within the borders of Polk county are
1920 acres-150,00 privately own
ed and 1920 in the national reserve.
White pine, oak, larch, hemlock and
cedar are found in considerable guam
titles, but Douglas fir is the principal
variety. The Willamette Valley Lum-
Der company of this city has exten-
sive timber interests above Falls City,
from which source it gets its log sup
ply.
Falls City activity in logging has
prompted recent review of the early
economic development of the Upper
Luckiamute valley. Early-day set
Tiers left the best lands and built
their cabins on the barren hillsides
where timber had been burned off by
the Indians. Roads were built to the
mills and as the influx of settlers in
creased the falls became the logical
center of trade, for considerable
surrounding territory. A postotiice,
established one land one-half mixes.
east Of there in 1881, was moved to
Falls City in 1885. Churches and :
schools came. An early grange was
the first economic organization which
bound the inhabitants together and
led to incorporation III 1889.
The arrival of the railroad in 1903 :
marked the beginning of the second :
period in industrial development. The :
donkey engine came, logging opera :
tions were extended and the annual :
output leaped. Thousands of cattle :
during the past year have been placed :
to Craze on the logged-off area of the :
Falls City country. Tests of stump :
ing methods are being made and one
process of burning the stumps has :
been adopted by owners of small
tracts.
The prune industry has taken firm 1
root in the hills near Falls City, but
the increase in acreage waits on the I
of the stumps. Many or I
chards are ten years old. The ex- I
tension of the dairying operations in I
the surrounding country since its re I
cent introduction shows that the real I
future of the Falls City valley lies I
in the development of dairying. A I
is on for the development I
of the tile and brick industry there. I
The soil is ideal and farmers are de- I
more of the product. I