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About Corvallis gazette. (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 19, 1904)
) HAPPENINGS HERE IN OREGON SAVES STATE $5,000. Result of Private Investigation by State Land Commissioner West. Salem By conducting a special in vestigation on his own account. State Land Agent Oswald West saved-the state some $5000 last week. Last spring the State Land Board sold a section of newly surveyed land at auc tion and the successful bidder offered $14.25 per acre. The land was heavi ly timbered and was favorably locat ed. As soon as the sale had been made it became known that several persons had filed homestead claims i;pon the land and claimed to have made settlements before the . land was surveyed. If they made actual settlement before survey they could hold the land and the state would lose it, being entitled to lieu land in stead. As the land is valuable and had been sold at a good price, Mr. West undertook to establish the state's title. He made inquiry as to the persons who filed the homestead entries and from what he learned of the occupation and place of abode he had reason to doubt whether they had made settlement at the time al leged by them. He learned further that the men had been voting in Al bany during the time they claimed a residence back in the mountains. With this information in his posses sion he met the homesteaders with the suggestion that they cease to as sert a claim to the land. They de murred at first, but when West gave them a hint of the evidence m his possession and backed this up by fil ing contests in the General Land Of fice they came forward with relin quishments, thus leaving the state with clear title to convey to the pur chasers at auction sale. Mr. West's experience shows what can very often be done in the way of overthrowing homestead entries made by speculators if some one interested will take the trouble to investigate the facts regarding the entry and the term of residence. bTOCK OUTLOOK IS BKIdrlT. M1d Winter in Malheur Mas Enabled Cat tle to Keep in Condition. Ontario Now that there is pros pect for a "break-up" in the weather, stockmen are beginning to discuss their prospects for 1904. The heavy loss of stock last spring on account of the weak condition of the animals, occasioned by scarcity of hay and feed combined with the 'high price paid for hay last fall and the low price of stock caused gloomy fore bodings as to the year 1904. But the winter has been mild, al lowing the stock to consume the hay without waste,, and to put on flesh rapidly, so that when spring opens they will be well prepared to pull through the mud to do their feeding on the- new pastures. There will be good reasons to expect large increase with little loss. The mildness and short duration of the winter weather will result in con siderable hay left unfed and to be sold by the stockmen to other buyers. With 1903 hay on hand the ranchers will sell the new crop of hay at a lower price than last fall. The cattle men are expecting an advance in prices, so that with all these condi tions in their favor the future is much brighter than it was last fall. 5ELLINQ QRAND RONDE APPLES. Many Carloads are Now doing East Uood Sale in Oregon. La Grande The fruit growers of the Grand Ronde who did not dispose of all their apples in the fall are now disposing of them in large quantities at from 35 to 40 cents per bushel for the Eastern markets. The Blue Mountain Fruit Company, of La Grande, now has a large force of packers at work, and many carloads are being shipped East, while many of them are being sold in Oregon. The Oregon apples are in great demand in the Eastern markets. Many of the fruit growers in the valley are preparing to set out young apple trees this spring, and most of them are of the winter varieties, in cluding the Jonathans, Roman Beau ties. York Imperials and Yellow New towns. L. Oldonberg. one of the big gest fruit growers near La Grande, set out 3500 young trees last fall, and the remainder of the order, 2000 more, will be set out in the spring. This amount will cover 120 acres. Will Build M1U at Paradise. Enterprise James Winters, who lives in the Paradise country at the extreme north end of this county, was in Enterprise recently, stating that persons in his vicinity are making preparations to build a new flouring mill at "Paradise the coming spring. They expect to have the mill com pleted by harvest time. This will be a great convenience for the people of that section, as they have neen heretofore compelled to haul their grain 40 miles on a wagon to get it to a mill, some bringing it to Lostine and Enterprise, while others haul to the mills at Asotin and Lewiston. Wallowa Herds Depleted by Cold. La Grande Reports come from Wallowa County that a number of sheep have been lost from the herds in that county this winter on account of the cold, and in -some places the t attle have Offered intensely. There have been no" reports as yet of the loss of sheep or cattle in Union County, and in many places in the valley cat tle have had good picking the great er part of the winter. The farmers all report an abundance of dry feed, and the cattle never, was in better condition than they ate this winter. Plows are Started. Pendleton Because of springlike weather many farmers have already started their spring plowing. This is nearly two weeks earlier than in pre vious years. Very little spring wheat sowing will be done this year, as a large acreage was planted last fall. . GRASS IS GROWINQ IN QRANT. Winter Has Been Very Mild Miners Ex pect Early Clearing Off of Snow. Canyon City The cold storm that prevailed so generally near the Pacific section during the past week was hardly perceptible here. Although much snow has fallen it has been mostly on a rising temperature. Grass is growing nicely on the pro tected slopes, and a large number of horses are still running on the range. Some of these are thin, but many of them are in good condition. All dan ger of a serious feed shortage has probably past, but stablemen and others who must buy are compelled to pay $16 per ton. Grazing, farming and mining will probably have one of the best . sea sons for a good many years. Old miners say that there is now more snow in the mountains than they ever saw before at this season of the year. In the near-by mountains it lies on the ground at a depth of 1 feet, and on the higher ranges is four or five feet deep. As it is' mostly' loose it is likely to melt early in the season, and miners expect to be able to start operations earlier than for several seasons past. EXPENDITURES WERE LESS. The Secretary of State Hears From All the County Clerks. Salem Secretary of State Dunbar has received the last of the annual reports of County Clerks, showing the expenditures of the several counties for the year 1903, except for road pur poses. The reports show that in the state as a whole the expenses were $100,000 less than for 1902, the de crease being due largely to the ab sence of election expenses, the repeal of the scalp bounty law, and a re duction in miscellaneous expenses. In 1902 Baker County's expenses were swelled by reason of the ac quirment of the Panhandle country from Union County. Morrow- County had an expense of $47,634 in 1902 for a new court house and has $10,000 ex pense on the same account in 1903. In 1901 Wheeler County had an ex pense of $11,000 for a new court house. Baker's School Evhiblt Ready. Baker City The school exhibit for Baker City, to be sent to the St. Louis Exposition, has been made up. It is said to be the best exhibit ever sent to any exposition by the schools of this city. Baker City schools cap tured a medal at the World's Fair and the Pan-American Exposition at Buffalo, and the members" of the school board and Superintendent Churchill have good reason to hope that when the medals are awarded at St. Louis this fall the Baker City schools will not be overlooked. The exhibit will be sent to St. Louis some time during next month. Power From the Walla Walla. Pendleton The Washington & Ore gon Power Company, which will fur nish electricity for Walla Walla, Pendleton and other towns, has ap propriated 9000 inches of water from the Walla Walla river. From the source to the plant site, just above Weston, in the Blue mountains, a 50 inch feed pipe will be laid, covering a distance of six miles. The plant will be constructed at a cost of $150, 000. Isaac Anderson and eastern capital are back of the company. Reorganizing State Oranges. La Grande J. Voorhees, of Wood burn. Ore., is in La Grande for the purpose of organizing a grange for the State of Oregon. Mr. Veorhees' intention is first to make a complete canvass for membership and at a later date call a meeting and com plete organization. Twenty years ago there were four prosperous grange organizations in Union Coun ty, and Mr. Voorhees intends to" re establish them, PORTLAND MARKETS. Wheat Milling quotations: Walla Walla. 75c; bluestem. S081c; Val ley. 79 80c. Barley Feed. $21 per ton; brew ing. $22; rolled, $22. Flour Valley, $3.753.85 per bar rel: hard wheat straights. $3.90 4.10: clears. $3.553.75; hard wheat patents. $4.204.50; graham, $3.75; whole wheat, $4; rye flour, $4.50 4.75. Oats No. 1 white. $1.101.12; gray. $l.071.10 per cental. Millstuffs Bran. $18.5019 per ton; middlings. $26; shorts. $19.50. 20: chop. $18; linseed, diary food. $19. Butter Sweet cream butter, 32c per pound; fancy creamery, 30c; choice creamery. 25271c; diary and store, nominal. Butter fat Sweet cream, 31c; sour cream. 29c. Poultry Chickens, mixed, 12 124c per pound: springs, small. 14 144c: hens. 1213c; turkeys, live, 1516e per pound: dressed. 1820c; ducks. $S9 per dozen; geese, live, 8c per pound. Cheese Full cream, twins. 14c; Young America. 15c. Eggs Oregon ranch, 2627c per dozen. Vegetables Turnips. 80c per sack; corrots. S0c; beets. $1; parsnips, $1; cabbage, l?42c; red cabbage, le; parsley, per dozen, 25c; tomatoes, $l.502.00 per crate; cauliflower. 75c S?$l per dozen; beans. 15c; celery, B5c per dozen; pumpkins, lc per pound; cucumbers. $2.z5 per dozen. 1.75 per sack, growers' prices. Potatoes Fancy, 7590c per sack; common. 6075c; sweets, 24c in sacks. 2c crated. Hops Choice. 27 29c per pound; prime. 25c; medium. 24c. Wool Valley, 1718c; Eastern Oregon. 1215c; mohair, 3235c. Beef Dressed. 67c per pound. Mutton Dressed, 67c; lambs, 7c. Veal Dressed, small, 89c; large, 56c. Pork Dressed, 8H7c. e .-Ib, 2Pork8 cmfwyshrdl cmp MONEY ON WASHSTAND-lh Witness In Benson-Hjde Land Fraud Case Makes Revelations. Washington, Feb. 15. The federal grand jury in this city is listening to testimony in the famous Benson-Hyde land fraud cases, and from evidence already submitted Secretary Hitch cock is confident that a number of in dictments will result. One of the most important witness es yet examined is a clerk in the gen eral land office, who admitted he had co-operated with Benson and had fur nished him with advance information whenever the department was prepar ing to create forest reserves. This clerk's services were engaged by Ben son, so it was testified, during one of Benson's visits to Washington. When the two had reached an understand ing the clerk was invited to call on Benson at his hotel. After a brief conversation Benson asked his visitor if he would like to wash his hands. Taking the hint, the clerk stepped into the bathroom, found a $100 bill on the washstand and promptly appropriated it. He testified that after subsequent visits to Benson he found large sums of money in his overcoat pocket, and at other times when Benson was in San Francisco he received money at dif ferent times through the mails. No letter accompanied the funds, which were invariably inclosed in blank en velopes. So great became the demands of Benson for information that this clerk found it necessary to employ a confederate, and it is then believed that Harlan, who was chief of the for estry division at the time, was taken into the scheme. Together these two men, it is alleged, by utilizing a cipher code furnished by Benson, kept the San Francisco office advised whenever and wherever reserves were to be created, and gave them such other inside information as would assist them in their operations. WENT TO D6ATH BRAVELY. Russian Bands Played .National Airs as the Chemulpo Battle Was Begun. Nagasaki, Feb. 15. The survivors from the Variag and the Korietz, the. Russian cruisers that were sunk by the Japanese fleet at Chemulpo last Tuesday still remain on board the British cruiser Talbot, me Italian cruiser Elba and the French cruiser Pascal. The situation is becoming acute, as the Japanese have twice made de mands on the commanders of the three foreign vessels that the Rus sians be surrendered as prisoners of war. The captain of the Talbot, be ing the senior naval officer, ach time replied that he was awaiting instruc tions from his government. None of the Russians are on board the American gunboat Vicksburg, whose commander considers that the Japanese are right in their demand, as the Russians took advantage of the clemency of the Japanese in re turning to the harbor, then tailing refuge on the foreign vessels and re fusing to surrender, whereas the Jap anese fleet refrained from sinking them in the open sea, as it could have done. A magnificent episode in the battle was the second sortie of the two Russian cruisers. With bands play ing the national anthem the Interna tional fleet loudly cheering the brav ery and gallantry of the Russians, the Variag and Korietz faced the Japan ese fleet in what was certain death. The position of the wrecks appears to be such that it will be easy to re cover the guns. The Russian losses were one officer and 40 men killed and 464 wounded. Will Defend Herself. Copenhagen, Feb. 15. The British government has inquired if the Dan ish government is prepared to defend Denmark's neutrality, especialy the important sea routes. Denmark re plied in effect: "We will defend ourselves." The construction placed on this inquiry here is that Great Britain apprehends the danger of Russia occupying Dan ish possessions in the event of com plications between Great Britain and Russia over the Far Eastern ques tion. In consequence the war depart ment has ordered the army reserves to be ready for mobilization. Cannon's Again Boom. St. Petersburg, Feb. 15. An offic ial telegram reaching here from Port Arthur dated February 13 says the lights of the enemy's ships were seen off Inkau on the evening of February 11. It says further that advices reached Port Arthur February 12 that six Japanese battleships had appeared in the roadstead of Tatung King, on the estuary of the Yalu river, and op posite the Korean Port of Wuji, and that the booming of cannon had been heard. France Prepares for Emergency. Paris, Feb. 15. Dispatches receiv ed here from Toulon say that orders have been issued for the mobilization of additional troops for service in In-do-China. Officials declare, however, that they do not apprehend an attack on French territory in the far East by the Japanese, but that it is well to be prepared for all emergencies. IT CRIES TREASON FRENCH PRESS CONTENDS JAPAN BROKE INTERNATIONAL LAW. . Attack on the Russian Fleet Is Com pared to the Blawlng Up of the Maine in Havana Harbor-Russians Admit That Their Hope for Victory Lies In Land Forces. . Paris, Feb. 12. As the-day wore on a great wave of popular sympathy for Russia was brought out by the news of the' engagement off Port Arthur. The newspapers without exception severely arraigned Japan. The Temps, semi official, said : ' "Japan's brutality in making a night attack before a declaration of war is her second offense against the rules of international law." The Journal des Debate declares Jap an's action was contrary to the accepted rules of international law, giving prom ise that Japan proposes to conduct the war without regard to modern usages of warfare. .The Patrie gives sensational promi nence to its assertion that Japan com mitted an act of international treason, compares the attack on the Russian fleet off Port Arthur with the blowing up of the Maine, and asserts that Europe will hold Japan responsible for this treason. The authorities on international law who were interviewed on the subject ex pressed the belief that Japan com mitted a breach of' international law. Notwithstanding this bitterness, how ever, universal recognition was given to Japan's audacity, and it was evident that Japan's naval prestige had been materially increased. The Associated Press was informed by a high Russian authority that now Japan has begun war, the Russian gov ernment, following the manifesto which is expected to be issued in St. Petersburg at once, expects that the various states will issue proclamations of neutrality. In Russian diplomatic circles the success of Japan literally aroused the greatest regret. It was frankly admitted that Russia expected to be defeated upon the sea, but it was added that she would certainly conquor on land. DIVISION OF STATB IS ISSUE. Washington Congressmen Ail Agree that More Judges are Needed. Washington, Feb. 12. The house committee on judiciary today listened to arguments by the three congressmen from Washington, in support of their respective bills for dividing the state into judicial districts. These mem bers agreed on one thing only, that be cause of the immense amount of judic ial business coming before the federal courts of Washington each year, it is absolutely necessary that an additional judge be accorded the state, and that this judge be provided with a specified district. Cushman advocated the creating of a north and south district, the former to include Seattle and Spokane, and the latter Tacoma and Walla Walla. Jones contended for an east and west district, to be separated by the Cascade mountains, while Humphrey was heard in advocacy of a bill he introduced yes terday creating one district of the northwest quarter of the state, includ ing King county, and making the re mainder of the state a separate district. ENGINEER FAILS TO STOP. Fourteen Lives are Lost in Head-On Col lision Following. Ottawa, Ont., Feb. 12. Fourteen persons were killed, and more than a score injured, in a collision between two passenger trains on the Canadian Pacific, near Sand Point today. The trains in collision were the east bound and west bound "Soo" specials. Both trains were under orders to stop at Sand Point, and pass there. An official statement given out by the Ca nadian Pacific places the responsibility for the wreck upon the crew of the west bound train. Conductor Nidd, of that train, this evening admitted that his engineer had orders to stop at Sand Point, but failed to obey them. Ten of the killed were passengers. Will Be Future Blessing. . Baltimore, Feb. 12. Mayor Me Lane, when asked for a statement to day, dictated the following to the Asso ciated Press: "Baltimore will now enter into the task of resurrection. A greater and more beautiful city will arise from the ruins, and we shall make of this calamity a future bless ing. We are staggered by the terrible loss, but we are not discouraged, and every energy of the city and its citizens will be devoted to a rehabilitation that will be a monument to the Ameri can spirit." Water Forces Many to Flee. Wilkesbarre, Pa., Feb! 12. The Susquehanna river began rising today and the situation is growing serious. Communication with the west side has been cut off. The water is now 24 feet above low water mark. At Plymouth 200 families had to leave their homes and 100 silkmill girls were taken from the windows of the factories in boats. Reports from Bloomsburg, Berwick and Espy are that the water is 27 feet high and rising rapidly. America Is Well Prepared. San Francisco, Feb. 12. The United States transport Sherman is scheduled to sail for Manila on March 1 with the Twelfth infantry and 400 cavalry re cruits. The transports Buford. Crook, Meade and Warren are in port ready for any emergency and the Logan is due here today. Any of these vessels could be sent to the Far East if necessary. , Butchering Outfit. Although old time customs in butch ering are to some extent passing away, hog killing is still an important per formance on many farms. A simple outfit for out of door work is shown In a cut originally contributed to the Ohio Farmer. A post eight feet high has pivoted to its top a sweep fifteen feet long. This sweep has a hook on the short end and a rope on the long end. The scalding barrel, cleaning bench and hanging gallows are all on the circumference of the circle made by the short end of the sweep. With this arrangement one man at the long end of sweep can easily dip a hog and transfer it from one place to an other, as may be desired. The cut also shows a good method of heating water. A bent piece of one and a half inch iron pipe enters the barrel in two places. A fire built under this pipe soon heats the water In the bar rel, as the heat causes a rapid cir culation of the water in the pipe and barrel. To Heainre an Acre. To measure- an acre, tie a ring at each end of a rope, the distance being just 66 feet between them; tie a piece of colored cloth exactly in the middle of this. One acre of ground will be four times the length and two and one half times , the width, or the equal of 16 rods one way and 10 rods the other, making the full acre 160 square rods. Keep the rope dry; so it will not stretch. A rod Is 16 lineal feet. An acre is 4,840 square yards, or 43,560 square feet. To lay out an acre when one side is known, divide the units In the square contents by the units of the same kind in the length of the known side. Thus: if the known side be 4 rodsv divide 160 by 4. and the quotient 40 will be the depth of the acre plot. If the length of the known side be 90 feet, divide 43,560 by 90. and the quotient 48 will be the depth of an acre plot. Either of the fol lowing measures include an acre plot: 4x40 rods; 5x32 rods; 8x20 rods; 10x16 rods; 12 rods 10 feet 84 inches square make an acre. Bran, Shorts and Alfalfa. Horsemen are loud in their praises of oats as feed for working or driving horses, and oats deserve all the praise. By reason of the fact that they are a preferred food for horses and Scotch men, oats are usually about the dear est feed per hundred pounds on the farm. Horsemen attribute this supe rior value of oats to the mythical sub stance "avenin," which no chemist has ever yet been able to discover. They claim that it Is this that puts the gin ger in man and beast which feed on oats. The Utah Experiment station, however, has found out by experiment that when a mixture of bran and shorts, half and half, can be bought at the same price per hundred pounds as oats, it serves the same purpose equally well, and when fed with al falfa gives even better results, thus materially reducing the cost of feed ing the horse as compared with oats. Home-Made Barrel Brooder. For our readers who are interested in brooders we give the plan of Mr. Normandin, who gives a description and illustration of a cheap brooder he has constructed, in the Farm-Poultry. He says: "Get a sound sugar bar- rel, and 2-inch galvanized pipe enough to go through the barrel, with an el bow to fit on a cheap lamp; also a tomato can. Cut a hole in side of can to put pipe through, and a hole in the barrel to put can in snug, as most of the heat is right above the lamp. That is the reason I put the can over the pipe. The floor can be pnt about 6 inches below the pipe. With a piece of carpet around the barrel I can get heat up to 100 de grees." By looking at the illustration most anyone would be able to make on in a little while. It should not coat yoa over a dollar." Condensed Milk Industry. The condensed milk, industry in the United States consumes 600,000,000 pounds of fluid milk yearly and makes b, 000, 000 cases of forty-eight cans each.. There are more than 200 fac tories In the United States, all using the Borden process, and about seventy of them belong to the Borden Com pany, situated In different parts of the country. The largest condensed milk plant in the world is at Dixon, HL, which uses 800,000 pounds of milk - HOG KILLING CONVENIENCES. THE BARBEL BROODER. i;ay; the secoud largest is at New Berlin, Chenango county, N. Y., and the third is at Elgin, which consumes about 100,000 pounds of milk daily. Tbe Open-Kyed Farmer, Much has been said and written oC the man who "goes it blind." He is called a failure, and is generally re garded as a grumbler, viewing the future with doleful and pessimistic eyes. There are farmers as well as mercantile men who go it blind, and again there are innumerable farmers who continually move forward with open eyes. It is concerning the latter that we write. Everyone is glad when they come face to face with the cheerful, op timistic and open-eyed farmer, who is constantly adding to his income and who is always so busy planting or harvesting his crops that he has no time for nnvthinr nwnt tei lnnfc- nvr broad acres and fertile fields that are all his own. The open-eyed farmer is the inde pendent farmer. When he rises In the morning refreshed by Nature's chief nourisher and goes forth, it is to his own fields upon which no man can intrude without bis consent. Looked at from every point of view, the standing and prestige of the American farmer is gradually increas ing, and, unlike his city brother, he is not living under even a lowering cloud to cast upon him gloom and dis content. The fundamental principles, hard and constant work and thought which mean prosperity, are never lost sight of by the open-eyed farmer. To him they bring contentment and perfect peace of mind which permit the ful lest enjoyment of life. The open-eyed farmer Is not a man of nerves and excitable brain full ot schemes difficult to execute, which when proven failures depress all human beings. He is calm, clear headed, free and generous, and dwells in an atmosphere unsuited to the grop ing, avaricious man, shut within the narrow and contracted walls of city existence. To our mind there is not another human being under the bright blue sky of heaven with heart so cheerful, with mind so restful, and with soul so peaceful, and who has so much satisfaction in the present and hope for the future, as the open-eyed, independent American farmer of to day. Farm Life. A Handy Barrow. This barrow is designed for wheel ing full baskets, or boxes of fruit or vegetables. The floor of the barrow is level when the handles are held by BARROW FOB FRUITS AND VEGETABLES. the user. With the ordinary wheel barrow the sloping floor causes the fruit to roll out of the baskets or boxes, and the latter to huddle to gether in a heap. The exact pattern here given need not be followed, the idea is serviceable, and anyone can plan the form of the barrow to suit himself. Farm and Home. Best Corn f.ir the North. In a test of 135 varieties of corn grown for fodder or silage at the On tario experiment farm, New Delaware Dent and I'edrick Perfected Golden Beauty' gave the greatest total yields, being twenty-four and 23.S tons per acre, respectively. The greatest yields of husked ears were produced by Golden Leneway . Dent, Snow White Dent and Black Mexican sweet corn, the yields being 4.3, 4.3 and 4.2 tons per acre, respectively. Salzer North Dakota, Compton Early and King Phillip, Flint varieties, and North Star Yellow Dent, a Dent variety, are rec onrfnended for . central and southern Ontario. An average of four years tests from planting at different depths gave the following total yields: Two inches, 13.2 tons; iy2 and three inches each, 11.8 tons; no inch, 11.7 tons; one half inch, 10.G tons, and four inches, 9.8 tons. American Cultivator. The Beet as a Pork Maker. Eight pounds of mangels or carrots and about the same weight or a little less of sugar beets equal in value one pound of grain. This is the consensus of opinion of the Ottawa, Copenhagen, and several American stations. At Copenhagen the mangels were fed fine ly cut and raw, and even when one quarter of the daily feed was given in the form of roots no injurious effects were noticed on the quality of the pork. Where Kax Are Scarce Indeed. Poultrymen in South Africa should be doing very well at the prevailing prices for fresh eggs, which, are quot ed at eighty-five cents to $1.82 per dozen, according -to season. This scarcity of fresh eggs has led to a demand for condensed eggs which are made by partly drying the contents of eggs and adding sugar. In this form they run fifteen to the pound and are put up in air-tight boxes. To Make the Cows Go Iry. Frequently the question is asked how to do this. An experienced dairy man who manages a herd of cows in Pennsylvania gives his method as fol lows. He says: "To make a cow dry gire timothy hay and water, exercise the cow with the halter and skip teats in milking. By this method the anl vial will go dry in six days-"