VI
i -If
il
LOCATION;
In the Norrh-vestern part of Oreinn, oo the Columbia
River. with about 70 miles of river frunt.
A REA :
A boa: TOO square mllea. 122.502 acres.
TILLABLE LAND;
15,725 acres. This ia land that is actually in enitivacion
anJ cleared, exclusive of town lota.
NON-TILLABLE LAND:
4X.7i? acres, which rr.elu.les ail timber where there is
more than 100,000 feet on a quarter section. al ail Jojr
jred off (ami which is not suitable for and in no e&ruiitioa
for cultivation.
TIMBER
Aboot seven and one half to eijht billion feet.
ASSESSED VALUE OP TIMBER: in.tfT.Itt.
ASSESSED VALUE OF TILLABLE LA.VI. miJIZL
TOTAL ASSESSED VALUATION OF ALL PROPERTY:
1 13.000,000.
MILES OF COUNTY ROADS:
500 miies, some of which w in first eiaaa condition, some In
fair condition and some in very poor condition.
MILES OF RAILROADS:
Abort 125 miles which inciodes the main line of the S. P.
S. and the various loa'srinjjr roads.
POPULATION:
Census of 1910 fives ljift but a earfal estima this
year jp'vea it at least 15,000.
CLIMATE:
Temperate. Darir.gr the summer the thermometer nreiy
reaches 100 in the shade and in the eol.ieat weaker of
winter zero weather is almost nr.Jcnown. During the
winter months there is considerable rain, but not too much.
Just enough to insure crops. Crop fail ares are unknown.
PRODUCTS:
F ruita of a!! kir-da, especially apples, pears, plana an.i
berries; Grain and frames; garden trueic of ail kinds and
dairying.
SHIPPING:
Ships from all parts of the world carry Columbia Connty
products down the Columbia River and to the markets
of the world. A through line of Railroads traverse the
county from the North to the South. River boat carry
local products to local markets at low rates.
LAND:
Thousands of acres of first class land can be pureha&id at
reasonable prices upon which are stamps left from the
timber operations. This land especially suited for
farminj?, fruit raising and dairyir.?.
THE "INSIDE" OF THE RECALL ELECTION
Ulterior Motives Actuated by Outside Influences Controlled by Misrepresen
tation and Deceit Held Responsible for the Attitude Assumed
by the Public, as Seen by an Outsider.
(The Tax Liberator.)
Incompetencr, want, extravag
ance, hlackmall and a reeall election
directed aa:nrt as good a County
Conrt a ever he;l office have re
salted from the attempted road isa-
proveroenu in Columbia County.
And a to what is back of it all,
the public appears to be In eomplet
Iftnoraiice, bat this much tfcev it be
lieve, or are- coming to believe, tht
some powerful and f.'oandatljf well
equipped machine or enterprigo is
doing everything posdlbl to ealn a
profit at the expense of the taxpay
er. CA lU-An Meeting.
And this they know late In J 1 2
there was a series of good road r
viral meetings all over Colombia
County. Speakers In great number
were sent to Colombia County, Im
ported from various parts of Oregon
and even Washington to tell the tax
payer what a crying need there wa
for a fine road from Portland to the
sea. What a grand and glorious
thing It would be for the citizens and
what tren endous financial advant
age would accrue to tha property
owners If only such an accomplish
ment could be realized.
Engineer Appear.
Then appeared State Highway En
gineer Bowlby on the scene. He fully
, explained the working of the 1913
legislative law which created the
Highway Conimlsnlon and provided
that the utate Improve and maintain
the trunk lines a state highway.
The pfsoplo by Oil time were anx
ious to have their main lilgh'way Im
proved and to secure all state aid
benefit ponnlblo, so a bond Iwtue elec
tion was authorized and they voted
1360,000 for load purpoe, $260,
000 of which wa to be used to con
struct a permanent level road from
the Multnomah to the Clatsop county
line.
KxceMNlve Coxt of 8urvy.
The surveys were to colt approxi
mately $10,000 according to Mr.
Ilowlby and were promised by him
by February 1st, 1914, of bofore the
bond election. Well, the surveys,
ST
were not made by the time specified he appointed to art as engineer on
a a matter of fact they are not Washington highways and to whom
yet all completed, at Ieaat they have , He is entrusting much of the Import
not been tamed Into the county, but ant highway work of this state One
the bill for $2,5.2 hare been 1 crew of the boys which has been
turned In for those that have been ! wo king with a cement mixer in
completed more than two and a Clatsop county took 34 day it L
half times the original estimate made : said, experimenting with the mixing
before the bond election. If the eot ! of their cement and watVr before
of the surveys was the only thing ! they were able to obtain a proper
that showed either malicious deeep- consistency for use. And thlr
tion or gross incompetency. It would
matter but little to Columbia County
for the state agrees to refund the
cost of the survey, but the state does
not pay for the cost of constructing
the road of highway and here are a
few examples of Mr. Bowlb7's Ineffi
ciency. He estimated that S00 yard
of soft rock would have to be remov
ed, t'p to September 1. 22.810 virdi
had actually been taken out. Hard
rock show up away beyond his em-
mate, no shell rock appears In esti
mate, but to BepUmW firm. 7076
yard had been removed. There were
. .... i... ...
no 18-inch pipes estimated, but 358
feet have been used. No reinforcing
steel can be found In his estimate,
but bills have come in for 21,810
pound. You would think that any
timber Jack could estimate approxi
mately the amount of clearing that
would have ta be done on a certain
piece of land and come within 10 per
cent to 20 per cent of being correct.
Mr. liowlby estimated that 32.4 acre
of heavy cle. ring would have to be
done, but the figure for actual
clearing to September 1st are 131.3
acre, or over 400. per cent more
than hi official estimate. So it goe
on right through every phase of the
work.
An Unknown Quantity,
And who I the Honorable Major
L. Bowlby. State Highway Engineer
for Oregon. He I the tame college
professor who wa appointed through
the Influence of one Samuel Hill of
Seattle by the then governor of the
state, M. E. Hay." He Is the same In
dividual who wa removed by
the aforementioned governor who ap
pointed him. He Is the same tried
and true friend of college boys whom
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HELENS
A cry .-.n the GJomhia River. W mito fnm Purdaad. sriih population
of 2.)0 people. F'.e C.junc7 Jiac of Columhia County. A Four year
"caniiari Eifch School. MVjcW.ist. Conifrejaliocal. Episcopal and
Caioiie Chursha. All the eaiLrnir fraternal onier. Gravity atr
syitem owneti by the city suiSciens sacpiv a city of 10.000 people.
Electric litrhcj. tribal and mairatiami2ed streetj. sewers. Principal
iruiiitries are kiracwrx.ir, shiabmiiiin. ereiJtir.jr. stone quarrying,
nshinar and shippisx- T !ary mills wiA a capacity of 250,000
f-iet per day; mors than 5 million feel of lumber shipped each month;
several !ar ocean z'-ia-t vessel built each year; timber treated with
creosote and ihipped ail aioc-jr the coaat. Two big stone quarries and
rock enahinii' pianu in contin jous operation. An average of 300 tons
of Cotambia River Salmon caazht aid marketed. A farming country
back of it that cannot be eicelie.1 in the world. Several new business
blocks now ur-der construction. Five miles of sewer being built.
A PAY ROLL OF NEARLY 1100.000 PER MONTH.
Many beautiful and attractive homes.
aries went on Just as though thy
were doing the work that they were
being paid for.
Why the Appointment?
We would like to auk why Major
liowlby was appointed to take charre
of the Important office he holds?
Who investigated his former record
a to efficiency and fitness, and what
was the result of their Investiga
tions? 1 this man to be allowed to
continue In his work after the shame
ful record that has been made In Co
lumbia County? Are other counties
, T "
of the state to
be encouraged to
spend their taxpayers money and get
practically nothing worse than
nothing, a Is the case along many
places In the road now being con
structed In Columbia County?
It Is reported that In nearly a
dozen places the dry rock walls that
have been built as retaining walls for
! the highway have already broken
away.
In many places soft earth has been
put on the already rock bottom road.
When Mr. Uowlby first approached
the County Court, It was agreed that
the new highway was to follow the
line of the old road upon which more
than $100,000 of the taxpayers'
money had been spent. That was
practical. It meant that but little
expense would be incurred. If that
plan had been followed, the amount
of money raised would undoubtedly
have been sufficient to Improve the
entire road. But it was not long
until the Influence of "the oower be-.
j hind the throne," whoever that may
bo, reran u mak It ( miluenc f, '
Agreed to Use Old Jtoad. '
The old road was abnndonod nl
moHt ontlroly. New road.i wc:o sur
-J!
vejred. Where curves In the road
were found. It was deemed sbsolutely
necessary that they be eliminated
Even if farmers' property hsd to be
cut In two, it was so arranged. Ex
pensive rights of way cut no figure.
Tho demand (after bond election)
was. "Make the road straight and
make It level." This Is not practical
In a hilly country, and although the
appropriation was limited In Colum
bia County, that was not a condition
to deter the road building plan
there.
Xo ItcKnrtl for Improvement.
Where the old road crossed the
railroad, Instead of inking under
ground crossing at small expense
and using the old road, right of way
wore surveyed through corn fields,
orchards, buildings, etc., so that the
new road would not cross the rail
road. And now, after the work has
been going merrily n for months
and the entire appropriation ha
been exhausted by the work In hand,
what have they? They have several
miles of cuts, fills, clearing, etc.,
from Tide Creek north to Clatsop
County, which is In an unusual con
dition and cannot be used without
the additional expenditures of thous
ands of do'lars.
Court Refuses to Put Up.
The pre&ent County Court has re
fused to allow any more money to be
spent by the highway commission,
and as a result, have already been
subjected to the humiliation of a re
call election, over which many of the
taxpayers of the county are Indig
nant. The pressure of the "power behind
the throne" was again felt In the re
call proceedings, and this article
would not be complete without an
explanaif n In regard to It.'
Tax for Itoads and Bridge.
At the time of the last levy In Jan
uary of thin year, ty, mills was
leviod for roads and bridge purposes
on the general tax. That levy raised
$170,000, $60,000 of which, accord
ing to the budget, wan to be used for
bridges and repairs, leaving $110,
000 for the general road fund. Under
the law 60 por cent of that $110,000
had to be spent In the various dis
tricts In which it had been collected
to be used for genoral road pur
poses off the main highway that
left $55,000 which could be used on
the main highway. So the court en
tered Into an agreemert with Mr.
Bowlby that the $65,000 would be
used from Tide Creek south to Mult
nomah County, as ALL of the bond
INDUSTRIES:
Lumbering and timber ta the principal indu.trv ,u
ing about twenty-fiv.
Columbia River U
and fruit raising; Stone quarrying; Ship buidin T
kinds of lumber manufacturing nlam. " 'U
Ol'POirrUNITIES:
...
man. fruit grower
eK..lc
THE LLLTA GARDENS:
12,000 acre of low
have recenUy been
cultivation esneciall
small fruiU.
SCHOOLS:
Four standard High
locality.
CHURCHES:
Nearly all denominations represented.
THE COUNTY OFFICERS.
Circuit Judges. J. U. Campbell and J, a. Eakia
District Attorney, W. B. Dillard
County Judge, W. A, Harris
County Clerk, H. E. LaBare
Sheriff. C II. John
Assessor. C, W. Blakesley
School Superintendent. J. W. Allen
Treasurer. R. S. Hattan
Coroner, F. H Sherwood
Surveyor, L. J. VanOrshoven
Commissioners, John Farr, Louis Ftuhrer.
OTIES. TOWN. AND VOSt OFRCES;
St, Helena Rainier Clatskanie
Scappoose Warren Dr Island
Yankton Vernonia Mist
Mayger Maishland Columbia City
Apiary Hudson i'rescott
Inglis
CI1Y OFFICER J OF ST. HELENS
Mayor A. W. Mueller
. Cuuncilmes N. O. Larabee. Chas. C.rahan, M. Saxor,
H. Morgus
City Attorney-J. W. Day
Recorder .E. E. Quick
Marshai-J. L. Chittem, L L. Decker
Treasurer H. P. Watkins
Water Commission-L. E. Allen, J. W. Aik-n, Robert
Dixon, E. A, Crouse.John Pringle
Water Superintendent-Chas. Lope
. Fire CuiEt L. E. Allen
monoy had been appropriated for the
highway from Tide Creek north to
Clatsop County. Mr. Ilowlby's sur
vey for tho State Highway more than
a bait mile west of the present high
way bad been made so aa to con
struct the road on the west side of
the railroad, and to prevent It from '
crossing the railroad. He said, how
ever, no work need be done on the
new survey, and that the $55,000
might be used as was originally
agreed, on the present road which
runs through St. Helens. Then after
getting the court to accept the sur
vey, the "power behind the throne"
was evidently displeased. They could
mi. i.i. . .
riui7 m mat me money was
not going to be sufficient to complete
that part of the road upon which it
had beeu spent, and so In a very few
days County Judge Harris was hon
ored with a call from a "commitiM-
from the north portion of the county
wno demanded that the $65,000 be
turned over to Mr. Bowlby, If you
please; to be spent on the"hew high
way north of Tide Croek. And here
Is the lentle threat made to Judge
W. A. Harris and Commissioners
John Farr and Louts Kluhrer:
"Gentlemen: You are prob
ably aware that the re'a.l petf.
tlons aro being circulated. Now,
we do not Intind to use that as
a theat In any manner, but if
this $55,000 Is turned over Into
the hands of the State Highway
Engineer, we believe those re- .
call petitions can be stopped."
CouM Not Coerce.
Well, the County Court was not to
be threatened by rocaH or anything
else of a bulldozing nature, and It
politely told the "committee" that It
Intended to do no such thing as was
demanded; that It Intended to spend
that $55,000 whero It would accom
plish some real results and not ac
cording to the dictates or desires of
the Stato Highway Commission.
The recall was Instituted. Some
body had up a wad of money to get
the petitions circulated, and to
finance a deception and underhand
campaign. And the election was
carriod.
Good Record Made.
The present County Court has
made an enviable record for honesty
and efficiency. Jud ir.i. i.
practical, efficient business man. He
has lived In the countv fnr
years, and Is known o be a man of
high motives and unfailing In his
duty as a publ'o servnnt
Commissioner Parr Is a prosperous
farmer, a reliable citizen and a con
w mill. ilmtm ftnhinir i
also an imnortant n "x
- ,u- vne Urme
and truck gardener. Aln . "
, 80 ' nunjher of
lands along the Clu. n..
dyked and are now in hiKh ,uu ,
attri.4 . 01
-
Schools;
Crale sch.ml, n
Huultoa
Coble
Qulncy'
Rruben
Trenholm
scientious worker fur the good of the
community.
Commissioner Pluhrer Is a respon
sible merchant at Mayger, man who
has done much for the commnnltf.
All three are heavy taxpayers.
Recall Candldstes.
The recall candidates trt (or
Judgo A. L. Clark, the local
phone exchange man at Rlulc
Robert Yount I president of
the Columbia County Coed Itosdi
Association. Little Is known of blm.
A. E. Haivey, farmer of CIUkfll,
admits that he ran for commlulonw
on a misrepresentation of the tuu
concerning the recall, and was dumb
founded when he learned if"
reasons for It. B J. Kellun, farmer,
was another candlda'e for eommu
sloner. Would Not IMagorg.
The reason for the recall 11
you have already loarned, bean"
the court, would not disgorge that
$66,000. ' The recall "chariei"
against the present Countv Court
were that the court had bought
auto truck without advertising for
bids. The facts were that they
not required to advertise for W
(the price paid was entire' reli
able). Another charge was that l
court had not eonfoimed to sonn
lion of the code mere excuses, M
all have been proven either false of
malicious. u
What the Tax Liberator wouw
like to know is, who has put P
the money to conduct the recall
palgn?
Behind the VelL
Has there been electric T
terests behind this Columuis
.i..t tns
wayr is mat me roi" .
road must be so straight ana so
and net cross the railroad 'rMll?
is It some hard surface parlnl I
cern who wants all the K'de1"
ated that thoy may apply their P
duct?
Surely the farmers do not
any such elaborate Improvement
it seems Is trying to be forced
people of Columbia County.
and again the State Orange hM
on record as opposing the boi"
scenle hla-hwar when laHeral
k.n tnttflrai rw-
are so badly needed. .
Mr. Sum Hill's great taw
lngton has always been, "Ileduoe
cost ner ton mile of getting tl r
ers' product to market." TM n
ers of Columbia County n &
Columbia River and the 8. J-
Railroad to got their product"
(Continued on page 7, column )