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About Heppner gazette. (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 3, 1905)
FRENCH-ULKNN RANCH HOUUIIT Christian Federation Gets It For Colonization Purposes. The day of the cattle King has paseed, and the largest stock ranch in Oregon, and one of the largest in the United States, where 20,000 head of cattle and 1000 head of horses have been handled annually for years, will be converted into homes for 10,000 people, if the plans of the Co-Operatiye Christian Federation are carried to success. Contracts were signed in Portland last night for the sale of the French Glenn ranch of Harney county, com prising 164,000 acres, to the Federation. C. F. Lusk, of San Francisco, attorney and general manager of the company, approved the contract for the company, and the local executive board members J. Fiank Watson, Samuel Connell, N. J. Blagan, R. L. Durham. L. 0. Ralston, C. E. S. Wood, Wallis Nash and II. s. Wallace signed for the Fed eration, agreeing to pay $l800,000, the first installment of which must be forth coming within 30 days. The property is 60 miles in length, 25 miles wide, has more than 500 miles of fencing, and the price for the land is $10 an acre, with $400,000 for personal property, and is considered a low valuation. Of the real estate, it is stated that fully 100,000 acres can be irrigated without storage other than a series of low dams along tna Blitzen river, more than 50 miles of which is absolutely controlled, together with numerous tributary streams be tween the Stein Mountains and Malheur Lake. HISTORY OF RANCH. Peter French and bis partner were pioneers in Eastern Oregon, realizing the opportunity there presented for one of the greatest stock ranches in America. As early as 1872 they started acquisition of lands, first claiming spring and streams and running a small herd of cattle. Additional acreage was pro cured from time to time, the number of livestock multiplied until the standing number of the herd has been for years kept at about 20,000 cattle, with a very great number of horses and some other stock. Small ctockmen came into the region later and the range wars that called for human sacrifice op the altar of greed centered at this vast estate. Peter French was killed in one of the conflicts by being shot, and the death of (ileiin followfd a few years Liter from natural ranges. Then the heirs organ ized a California corporation that, has since operated the pr petty. Whf n the fou: Jprn acquired the land it, was with due regard for the physical features that enabled building of fence? on their own propeity along bo!h fi(le? of the Dlitzen river, up to the mountains at the north, thereby enclosing hetwer-n their successive linos of ranches an area several times gscr.'er than the depded acreage, larger than many coun ties of Eastern stales and without viola tion of the rulings of thr Interior De partment prohibiting fencing of public lands. FIRST TO UK Cl'T IT. This will be the first of the big ranches to be cut up for homes of set tlers in the Northwest. Its desirability has long been realized by persons seek ing large holdings and the Mormon Church lias been one cf the recent prospective purchasers making inveMi gatifns, while agents of an Eastern pymlicata were also after it. The di rectors nf (he Co-Operative Federation therefore lost no time in bringing nego tiations to a close after receiving re ports. The time before the first pay ment falls due will be consumed in ob taining an expert examination and re port upon the property, and it is the purpose to have the property ready for colonization at an early date. ccording to the reports submitted, the ranch comprises 45,000 acres of meadow, 45,000 acres of sagebrush and bench land, 14,000 acres of upland and hill, 45,000 acres of tule swamp lands, and 16,000 acres of other grazing lands. Themeadyw land may he adapted to almost any desired agricultural purpose and the bench and sagebrush land is of the Bame character of the richest and most productive w heat lands of the In land Empire of the Northwest. It has been well demonstrated that all kinds of grain crops mny be grown with sue cess. Ill tell Contract Let. The last week has witnessed im portant progress in two projects. The Echo r ditch of the Inlanu Irrigation Company, commonly called the Furnish ditch, after the president and manager, W. I. Furnish, which will irrigate 10,- 000 acres in Umatilla County, is now. it is stated, placed under contract, the ex cavation work to be completed by Jan uary 15, 1906. The water is to be taken from the noith side of the Umatilla river above Echo. Thirty miles of ditch will be constructed, the main ca nal being ten feet wide on the bottom and four feet deep. An interesting feature of this system in operation will be the use of Winter irrigation. This u ethod requires a sub soil tbat will retain much of the water. In Central Oregon, the enlargement ot the Pilot Butte flame by an addition al ten feet wide to the existing flume is to be completed by August 10, if no un toward accident intervenes. The two canals to be supplied from the enlarged flume are expected to irrigate about 60,000 acres. The Government supervising engi neer, I. B. Lippincott, has advised the Water Users' Association that the reclamation will nbt be undertaken un til the owners of the two tracts, known as the Kerns tract and the Miller tract, and aggregating 7200 acres, have joined the association and waived their ripar ian rights. This acreage, representing 10 per cent of the total area, or 23 per cent of the private holdings, the atti tude of the Government engineer is. ex plained. The cost of the reclamation is to be borne by the owners of the land in the association. But the lauds ot the nonassenting holders woald share the benefit with the others. Rockefeller Kconomikes. New York, July 29 John D. Rocke feller is cutting down his expeiii-es. How many of his employes will be dis charged, how many salaries will be cut before Mr. Rockefeller feels his existing financial strain is eased, are purely n at tern of speculation. Like most good business men when they re.ilize that liny :ire living dan gerously close to tfceir inconue, Mr. Rockefeller has begun to cut don his luxuries. Tha first of Mr. Rockefeik-r'w luxuries to fall afoul of his new pi.-licy of economy is his I.akewood ee-tale. No tice has been terved on the 8iiprin tei'dent of the tstsie tlu.t hi seivic.s will not be required afrer July Jl, an I all employes have hern informed of a reduction in wages. The reduction will be f oin 10 to 20 per cent. The superintendent's helpers who have been paid Si 50 a day, wiil have to be content wirh $1.25 hereafter . As there ate five of these men employ ed in golf links and grounds, Mr. Rocke feller will nthieve a saving of $1.25 a day. Tliis, in addition to the salary reductions among the rest of the force, will cut as much as $2 a dav out of Mr. Rockefeller's salary list. This will help to restore Mr. Rockefeller's income to its normal figure of $100,000 a day. A big saving will be made by the discharge of the superintendent. He was paid $100 a month and was an ex pensive figurehead. Mr. Rockefeller thinks, as he intends in future to per sonally direct the care of his Lakewood estates. Wine Has Full Powers. London, July 31. The Daily Tele graph's correspondent on board the Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse, on which M, Witte, the Russian peace envoy, is a passenger, sends an interview which he has had with M. Witle, in which the latter said that if Russia and Japan had agreed upon a common basis before ep pointing peace plenipotentiaries it would have been much better. As it was M. Witte said he regarded himself rather as an imperial courier Bent to ascertain the terms of Japan. He was prepared to make peace, never theless, he added, as his powers were very complete, and he would discuss the demands based on Japan's actual military and naval successes in a busi ness like spirit of give and take. "But I cannot and will not," con tinued M. Witte, "entertain demands based upon expected military successes in the future. I am conversant with the humane intentions of my imperial master, and 1 will do everything com patible with Russia's honor and dignity to establish that work of which I have been an unswerving advocate. My first task, however, in the New World will be to search for a basis for fruitful discussion." On Ells Wedding Trip. A fel'er what has a little sheep ranch out lone way came into town last Sat urday on his way to Portland to see the the fair. He was takin' his weddin' trip, for it seems he just got married last Friday by a justice of the piece over at lone. The feller looked kinder afflicted and I asked him what the mat ter was and he said he was worried and I asked him what the matter was and be said he was worried shout bavin' to take bis weddin' trip alone, but tbey i was pretty poor so bis wife had to stay : at home and herd the sheep. He seam ed all broke upp about it. He will stay ' about three weaks at the fair. Rabbit ville correspondence, Irrigon Irrigator. &&&&&&&&&&&&& Domestic Peace in the family is not to be ex pected where a poor cook stove is used. That is only natural. Secure DOMESTIC HARMONY by furnishing your home with one of those magnificent - Snperioroi STOVES OR RANGES Economical in Fuel, Satis factory in Results, and as cheap and ood as a Ood crade of Stoves can be sold. FOR SALE ONLY BY Gilliam & Bisbee, Heppner, Ore. LEADING DEALERS IN Stoves and Kitchen Outfits PLUMBING A SPECIALTY GILLIAM & BIsBEE Incrnuacd Corn Acrenjfe. Washington, D. C. July 28 While rfportn regarding the outlook for the wheat crop are considerably at variance the reports concerning the corn crop for 1905 are nearly al! to the effect that the ouil ok is favorable for a l'.rge crcp. The total estimated acreage of corn this year is 92,236,000 acrei, an increase of 1,500,000 acres over last vear. The con dition of the crop the opening month was 88 4. Tbe harvest will, of course, depend upon growing conditions the re mainder of the season. Throughout the corn belt the crop has so far progressed nicely. The oats crop gives every indication of being up to normal, under the slight ly increased acreage. It seems safe to anticipate a yield aggregating in the neighborhood of 900,000,000 bushels, but this, of course, mny have to be modified later. The rye and bailey outlook k good. Notice. Dry, fine posts and cordwood at my plac? in Willow creek basin. Posts $2.50 per hundred and wood $150 per cork. W. H. HERREN. A Touching Story. is the saving from death, of the baby girl of Geo. A. Eyler, Cumberland, Md He writes: "At the age of 11 months, our little girl was in deolining health, with serious Throat Trouble, and two physicians gave her up. We were al most in despair, when we resolved to try Dr. King's New Discovery for Con sumption, Coughs and Colds. The first bottle gave relief; after taking four bot tles she was cured, and is now in per fect health." Never fails to relieve and. oure a cough or oold. At Slocum Drug Cu.'s drag store; 5oo and $1 guaran teed. Trial bottle free. mesne M Glared for Act ion. When the body is cleared for action, by Dr. Ki og's New Life Pills, you can tell it by the bloom of heaith on the oheeks; the brightness of the eyes; the firmness of the fla?h and muscles; tbe buoynDoy of tbe mind. Try tbem. At Slocum Drug Co.'s drug store. 25 cents. Before You Onler Tombstones, Marble or Granite Work You will do well to see Monterastelli Brothers and get prices. They have a fine stock on band. MAIN STREET, HEPPNER, ORE. Oregon Sh oi?t Line and union Pacific Onlv Line EAST via SflLT LORE M DEI1VEB TWO TRAINS DAILY. Vilo 2iS i! Mo Daily TIME SCHEDULES .S11.. Dkpakts Arrives Heppner, Or. Fast Mail For 9:00 a.m. East and West Fast Mail From East and West 5:35 p. m. Express For 9:00 a.m. East and West Express From East and West 5:35 p. ' STEAMER LINES. San Francisco Portland Route. Steam sails from Portland 8 p. m. every 6 days. Boat seryice between Portland, AstorU, OroRon City, Dayton, Salem, Independence, Corvallis and all Columbia and WillametW River points. SNAKE RIVER ROUTE. Steamers between Riparia and Lewipton leav Riparia daily at 10:40 a. m. except Saturday, returning leave Lew is ton daily at 7 a. m. except Friday. J. B. HTJDDLESON, Agent, Heppner, A. L. CRAIG, MATLOCK & RASMUS Fresh and Salted Meats Fish on Fridays Highest market price paid for fat stock IIEPPNEK. OREGON Red Front Livery & Feed StaDles Stewart &. Kirk, Props FIRST-CLASS: "LIVERY R3GS Kept constantly on hand and can be furnishes on short notice to parties .wishing to drive into the interior. First class : : Hacks and Bugijies CALL AROUND AND SEE I'S. WE CATER TO THE : : : : : COMMERCIAL TRAVELERS AND CAN FURNISH RIOS AND DRIVER ON SHOUT NOTICE : : : HepDner. Oreoon