Editing Dallas, Oregon (section)

===Gerlinger family===
After [[Louis Gerlinger, Sr.]] incorporated the [[Salem, Falls City and Western Railway]] Company late in October 1901, he announced plans to build a railroad from the [[Willamette River]] at [[Salem, Oregon|Salem]] to the mouth of the [[Siletz River]] on the [[Oregon Coast]], a distance of {{convert|65|mi|km}}.<ref name="Catherine A. Baldwin 1982">Catherine A. Baldwin (1982). ''Making the Most of the Best: Willamette Industries' Seventy-Five Years.'' (Portland, OR: Willamette Industries, 172 p.).</ref>

In 1902, Louis's son [[George T. Gerlinger]] organized a group of investors to build related railroad lines in the area. On May 29, 1903, the first train ran from Dallas to [[Falls City, Oregon|Falls City]]. At the end of June, passenger trains began regularly scheduled, daily trips to and from Dallas and Falls City; the {{convert|9|mi|km|adj=on}}, 40-minute, one-way trip cost 35 cents.

[[Willamette Industries]] was founded in Dallas in 1906. At that time the company name was Willamette Valley Lumber Company.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bio.net/hypermail/agroforestry/2000-November/015974.html|title=Weyerhaeuser tries to take over Willamette Forest Industries|website=www.bio.net}}</ref> [[Louis Gerlinger, Sr.]] was president of the new company and [[Henry Pittock|H. L. Pittock]], vice president. [[George T. Gerlinger]] served as secretary and manager, and [[Frederick Leadbetter|F. W. Leadbetter]] was treasurer. George Cone served as director and mill superintendent.<ref name="Catherine A. Baldwin 1982" /> In 1967, Willamette Valley Lumber and several others merged to become Willamette Industries.<ref name=sec10k>{{cite web|url=https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/107189/0000892917-00-000022.txt|title=SEC 10K for 1999}}</ref>

In the early 21st century, this and other local businesses were taken over by others from outside, which eventually affected the local economy. In March 2002, Willamette Industries was officially acquired by [[Weyerhaeuser]] Company in a hostile takeover. In early 2009, Weyerhaeuser's Mill formally closed the Dallas operation. Similarly, Gerlinger Carrier Company in Dallas was taken over by Towmotor.