Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1919-1980, 1922-10-24

With five big trucks, followed
by trailers, hauling from SO to
60 tons Of produce a day to the
state hospital from the colony
farms Of, that institution in Polk
county, the state is realizing an
enormous dividend from leases
which 1t entered into In May,
1921, for river bottom lands along
the Willamette River about seven
miles from Salem. These lands,
all virgin soil recently cleared,
are some Of the finest in the
world. Over 100 acres in garden
truck, one Of the largest individu-
al truck gardens in the state, Is
furnishing such an abundance Of
supplies for the institutions that
each institution viii be over
stocked with these food supplies.
The main institutions such as
the penitentiary and the state
hospital are located on lands
which had their top soil largely
peeled off for the purpose of
manufacturing brick, which went
into various state buildings, in
the main. AS result truck
gardening has been exceedingly
difficult. Even with the cottage
farm. owned by the state and
operated in connection with the
state hospital but about four miles
away, 1t was difficult for the hos
pital to secure all of its immense
supplies needed for the sustenance
of the army of people housed
therein. AS a result it was forced
to go outside and lease lands and
for the past 15 years it has been
compelled to lease various tracts,
some adjoining the institution,
some farther away. These leases
have been on a basis of five years
generally, the first two years the
state clearing the land and get
ting the use of it for nothing.
From then on, until the expiration
of the lease, the owner received
one-fourth of the crop and the
state the balance. Efforts were
made to lease for longer periods,
but without avail.
Farmers Reluctant
The time came when these
leases were difficult to secure.
Superintendent Steiner of the hos
pital and former Warden Comp
ton of the penitentiary, combed
the territory surrounding Salem
to make more leases, but without
avail. Farmers with lands suit
able for these uses declared they
would refuse to lease for as high
as 500 an acre,
Dr.. Steiner and DR.. John Evans,
a physician at the state hospital,
with Judge R. w. and H. L.
Marsters had purchased large
tract of virgin brush land on
Willamette river in Polk county.
Lands adjoining this had sold for
$500 an acre and the land was so
rich it paid for itself the first
year from crop of baby hops.
Finding it impossible to secure
leases from others Steiner, Evans
and the Marsters entered into
leases with the state for their
lands, 230 acres in all, the state
to clear the lands and to receive
all of the produce for two years
After the balance of the two years
the owners were to receive one
fourth of the crop and the state
the rest, these leases being along
identical lines to those always
made with farmers.
Profit Over $4,000
AS a result these lands, with
over 120 acres now cleared, have
brought to the state over $4,000
worth of produce up to October 1
and will show net profit of over
$500 after every item of ex-
pense has been taken out includ-
ing all charges for depreciation,
interest and every other charge
For the next two
years these lands will be operated
at minimum expense, as all
heavy costs of clearing are met,
and will operate without a single
cent of cost to the state for leas-
ing. Enormous profits will be
realized from these farms for the
next two years, in fact for the
balance of the time of the lease,
and the state has the option of
the leases at the end
If any year it cares to.
With total Of 1908 acres
sither owned or leased the state
hospital here has produced from
is farms an almost inconceiyable
mount of produce. Up to October
/, 1922, for the two years the total
lmount is shown to be $446,894, II
With profit of $99,975, after de- \
lucting every cost possible to de-
Iuct.
To enumerate all of the prod
lets here would be impossible,
tut at random may be cited 20S,-
so pounds of tomatoes; 273,215
,ounds of cabbage; 2,523 dozen
antaloupes; 26,391 bushels of :
'otatoes, and the list could be
trung along through scores of
TENS showing similar results.
he poultry department produced
yer 100. 900 dozen eggs. while the /