Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1915-09-14

major, he having Tor nearly quarIe
of century been an officer of
British cavalry, resigning only fou
years ago. This ranch is the proper
ty of Englishmen, Messrs. Wigans
Richardson, the former having bee
Major Roses companion in the arm
for many years, and for whom tn
highest admiration is cherished. Thi
explains why Major Rose, who ha
high connections on British soil, i
manager for the company operating
so extensively in Polk county, an
still another reason why he is so vi
tally interested in the success of tn
undertaking by the Englishmen whom
he represents. Last season this rancl
yielded 100000 pounds of hops from
the 332 acres devoted to the crop
while this years estimate is 100000
pounds, which estimate is considered
low. Six hundred and fifty people
are necessary to gather the hop crop
and about 5000 boxes a day are be-
ing picked. Experts say that Majol
Rose has the best crop in the valley
this season; that the hops from the
entire area will average a ton to ar
acre, but the major himself is mort
optimistic in his views, believing that
the yield will exceed the estimate
placed upon it by these authorities
This is accounted for by the fact that
spraying was early, time being taken
to do the work thoroughly and with
the best of "dope.''
The ranch is one approaching the
ideal, and reminds one very forcibly
of southern plantation, there being
the same "big house" surrounded by
commodious buildings and warehous-
es, and t'quarters" for farm help
There is a general supply store and
restaurant, both Of which are open
the year through, butcher shop and
bakery, a dance hall with floor $50
x5O feet, a moving picture show, be-
sides sixteen dry kilns 30x30 feet
each, and other buildings. Every 9th
er night during the picking season
dance is given, and oftimes more
than two hundred employees trip the
light fantastic, to music furnished by
the management, of All evening. Ma
jor and Mrs. Rose frequent the dane
ing pavilion, and not only enjoy in
dulging in the terpsichorean art but
in mingling with the men and women,
goodly number of whom have pick
ed hops on the place during the four
seasons that the major has been in
charge, and to whom more than $685.
600 will be disbursed for this season S
work. This is one of the ways Major
Rose has of studying the laboring
class.
Hops are shipped direct to London
from the Wigrich ranch. which is
reached by siding from independence.
In 1918 a train of fifteen carsewent
forward; in 1914 it required fourteen
cars to deliver the product to the sea-
board, but this year fully twenty cars
will be necessary if expectations are
realized, for 5000 bales, or more, is
the hope of the manager. In addition
to hops the ranch this year had 300
acres in wheat, from which a bumper
yield was harvested. There is IL
acres of orchard and II of loganber-
ries. The berries from this field were
sold on the vines at one cent per
pound.
AS soon as the crop is safely dis
posed of it is the purpose of Major
Rose to commence preparations for
next years harvest by the erection of
a number of additional cottages for
the occupancy of pickers. The eight
four-room houses already on the place
will be doubled in number, and to
these others will be added as the tents
now used become worthless by usage.
1t is believed to be cheaper to build
small houses and equip them than to
supply tents, the deterioration of
which is considered too great to be
economical for housing pickers. These
cottages are constructed along ave-
nues, and are fifty feet apart, each
having a porch, and modern convent
ences, made possible by a splendid
water system. The permanent help
on the place occupies eight houses,
built especially for the purpose.
The administration of the Wigans
& Richardson company is as follows:
Major j. Lewis Rose, manager; Percy
Goble, bookkeeper; F. L. Brew, as
sistant bookkeeper; Frank Luke, yard
foreman; Algier Conger, riding boss;
peace officers, Homer Mills and ].
Hayes. These are the men who have
made it possible for the Wigrich
ranch to be characterized as having
the best hop yard and the best plant
in Oregon.
Gilbert & Patterson 8 Yard.
In approaching the headquarters Of
the Gilbert & Patterson ranch at Eola
one finds it unnecessary to make in
quiry for the chief high mogul, Mr..
Isaac Patterson. for that individual
has beaten you to it. and is awaiting
your coming, even though it be unan-
nounced. with a welcome that immedi-
ately puts the visitor in good spir-
its and good spirits in the visitor. Few
are the Polk county residents who are
not familiar with this ideal country
home and fertile ranch. it being stu
ated in one of the oldest settlements
of the state, and came very near be-
ing not far removed from the capital
of the commonwealth. for it was hard
by that it was proposed in an early
day to locate the statehouse. The