Build the St. Heleps-Pittsbnrg Road. Keep the Promise St. Helens
Made
OFFICIAL PAPER OF COLUMBIA COUNTY
PIONEER PAPER OF COLUMBIA COUNTY
VOLUME XXXVI.
ST. HELENS, OREGON, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1917
., t M7ccTTr.ATi5n
. . otiip r r cttt?
AS LUUUHNVJ x. .
Purchasers of TIiiiImt Mk InMo.
.,f U Hi.Tfront Mid Facilities.
IIMW
uirh i view toward obtaining the
moat nctvimtuicc-ouB site for a termln
iii of their proponed logging railroad,
rt.precntnllve of the Kcclo Interest,
which recently bought the 27.4 20
...... tmi-i nf timber from the Duliol
company. 'r In Ht. Helen Friday.
In Hie puriy wor David Kccle. head
f tho concern; Charlo T. Early and
ltmond Kurly. who ore connected
.villi the Oregon Lumber Company,
nd ' Dntea, of Portland, who
.. .. .1 ..it, llipnnvh tiim
nPKOlinK'U ..... -
.leal. Chun. It. McCormlck. presl
lent of the Bt. Helena Lumber Com
pany; K. Morryman, vice presi
dent, and II. F. McC'ormlck, the local
manager, met the party of tlmbermen
mill anor a murougii iimpi'tuou ui
the waterfront and the facilities for
'lumping log r.nd boom ago grounds,
ilia party went by apodal train over
the IokkIiik rullrond of the lumber
company. Mont of the day waa apimt
In looking over the ground, recent
urvi'VH, pruhublo grades, etc., and
Hie visitors rot u mod to Portland late
r'rlduy evening.
While Mr. Kccle would give no
definite Information aa to tho pro
posed pinna of the company, he Inti
mated tliut Ht. Helena would be
riven fuviirahlo consideration. There
aro aeverul feasible route from the
rant body of timber to the tide wa
ter and several concerna are making
overtures to tho company, but Mr.
Kccle und Mr. I lutes attitcd that no
announcement aa to their plan
would Im innde until the cruisers
have finished checking up the timber
and the surveyor have made a final
report. From good authority It la
learned that several route would be
surveyed and then the beat route
chosen for tho logging railroad. Mr.
Kccle stuted that at the least esti
mate Uiey had two years' work ahead
of them hefnro they could begin on
the construction of a sawmill, a the
logging railroad waa the first con
sideration. Ho stated that the log
ging ratiroad would cost from
000, (hid to $2,000,000, nnd that they
wanted a road with a maximum
undo of I Vt per cent. With the
scarcity of labor and railroad ateel,
Mr. Kccles would not prophesy how
muni ma ruau wimiiii i ib rompifuen.
(Inn definite statement Mr. Kcclu
made, however, waa that the timber
was not bought for speculation,
which means that railroad building
nnd IokkIiik operation are to be
pushed uh fust aa possible.
The logging ml I road of the Bt.
Helens l.umhor Company extends
from tho YVIIInmotte slough about
eight miles In the direction of the
Kccles timber, and according to opin
ions of those boat posted a, logging
railroad could be built from the end
of their line to tap the Kccle hold
ings without having to go to extreme
ly heavy conatructlon work. It I
also pointed out that between the
large timber tract and tho end of
the present line lay largo p.nd deslr
able bodies of timber, the owner of
which would probably take advant
age of Dm logging railroad to cut
nnd market tlinlr timber.
As atulod, nothing definite has
been derided upon, but with Ita fine
waterfront, rollwuy and boomage fa
cilities, Ht. Helena stand tin equal
chance with other Bite toward se
curing favorable action from the
Kccles.
COLUMBIA CO. BOY
WINS NAVY HONORS
Hy hitting the bulls-eye with un
erring sum from the atandiug, kneel
ing r sitting position, Franklin K,
Woods, of Bcnppooso, this county,
nns qualified a a ahurpahootor In the
Uilted Htutoa marine corpa, winning
he medal of a horphootor and an
increase of pay, according to an offl
cla 1 bulletin from Washington.
hie keen-eyed young man ro
c'n Ills preliminary Instruction In
gunnery at the Marine. Fort Hoyal
training station, and when but little
""'re than a novice he made a splen
did
Bcore at "alow and rapid" fire.
He wn transferred recently aboard
the big dreadnaught South Carolina,
"ow somewhere oo the Atlantic, alert
mid watchful to answer a call In tho
defense of the Unltod State. Frank
who formerly resided with his
imcln, Matt Knglert. of Scnppooae,
nllstod In the United State marine
jorps at Ita Memphis, Tenn., recruit
lug station, on October 6, 1916.
TO GET THE COIN BY
GROWING POTATOES
Harley Turner, who for the past
jevornl year ha been head salesman
n the store of James Muckle A Son,
m r08lBnd position, effective
March 1. He will be a real farmer
trm that time on. He ha leased
acre from U. 8. DeHpaln on hi
Jncliolor Plat farm nnd 12 acre from
'h. Kngllah, near Deer Island, and
w plant the 24 acres In potatoes,
'larley Bnys he likes to measure cali
li'i'n k 'le tll,nlls growing potatoo
"ill bring him more actual coin and
satisfaction.
TEACHERS' INSTITUTE
HERE FEBRUARY 24
Many Signify Intention of Attending
mut-miing rrograJn Outlined.
The local teachers' Institute will
be hold tomorrow (Haturday) In the
high school auditorium, and many
touchers from Warren, Hcr.ppoose,
Ihwr Island, Yankton and other near
by points will he In attendance. Su
perintendent Alien baa arraged a
most Unresting program and the pub
lic la cordially Invited to attend tin
Institute. Dr. It. W. Del'usk, of the
University of Oregon, will be the
principal speaker or the day. He
will give a lecture at 10 o'clock In
the morning and another one at 2
o'clock In the afternoon. Mr. Allen
wishes that tho patrons of the school
will manifest their Interest In school
affair and attend both morning and
afternoon sessions. Tho following Is
the program:
Opening 1'rogram Ht. Helena
Hchools, Supervisor J. H. McCoy
"The Ear Murk of a Uood Teach
er'' I.. L. Baker
I'rlmury Heading Mis Harnett
Discussion
Cause of Itetardatlon
Dr. D. W. Dellusk
Good Citizenship M. E. Miller
Noon.
Music
Subject Selected
Discussion
Critical 1'eriods In the Develop
ment of a Child
Dr. D. W. Dellusk
Civil Government O. W. Drown
Dlacuaslon
Exercise Second Grade I'uplls.
Miss Mathews
Song H. 8.
REP. A. W. MUELLER
BACK FROM SALEM
ItopresenU Columbia County Well at
Session of legislature.
Representative A. W. Mueller re
turned Wednesday to St. Helens to
resume his law practice, after forty
daya of strenuous work at the Ore
gon legislature. Mr. Mu oiler states
he Is glad to again take up the du
ties of a private citizen and prefers
It to being a member of the Oregon
law-making body. Mr. Mueller has
ably represented Columbia county,
and for that matter the entire state.
In the lower house. Ho Introduced
some fifteen bills, many of them by
request, and eight of the bills be
came laws. Although It waa his first
term as a legislator, Mr. Mueller had
the esteem and confidence, of his col
leagues and accomplished much by
hard and fuithful work In the house
of representatives.
RUN OF SMELT IN
COWLITZ RIVER
A good sized run of smelt arrived
In the Cowlitz river Sunday night,
and the fishermen In the vicinity of
Kelso and the mouth of the river
have boon busy dipping the tooth
some little fish. It is supposed to
bo the same run which passed Clifton
nnd Muyyer In the Columbia river
the first of last week, and the pre
sumption I that they came straight
for the Cowlitz instead of loitering
about lu the Columbia, a ha been
their habit for the past several year.
More dippers than usunl are operat
ing on the Cowlitz, and the catches
hue been very good, though nothing
exceptional because the fish are not
bunched. So far as can be loarned,
the fish have not reached the vicinity
of St. Holens or the Lewis river,
where a few years ago there was a
very lurge run.
WASHINGTON'S BIRTH
DAY IS OBSERVED
Washington's birthday was fit
tingly observed in St. Helens. From
the courthouse and several other pub
lic and private boildings flags flew
In honor of the country's father. The
posted Ice observed the usual holiday
hours and the bank was closed for
the entire day. At the public schools
each grade had exercises, though the
main exercises were held in the high
school auditorium. Principal Lake
of tho Mcllrlde school In Went St.
Helen also arranged a very interest
ing program. Taking It all in all,
the city as a whole paid homage to
the founder and father of the coun
try. INTERSTATE BRIDGE
GOOD INVESTMENT
The sum of $287.76 was received
by the Oregon-Washington Interstate
Bridge commission on the first day
that tolls were taken. Tolls for
otreetcars amounted to 138; pas
sengers on streetcars, $93.10; per
sons on vehicles other than street
cars, $71.26; self propelled vehicles,
$70.36, and animal drawn vehicles,
$14.30. There was no congestion at
any time. During the summer
months, when the weather is much
better, the traffic tolls should amount
to a large sum. Computed on a basis
of tho first day's business, tho total
receipts for a year would roach more
than $106,000.
PORTLAND LAWYERS
ARE PATRIOTIC
lawyers' Auxiliary to Oregon Naval
Militia Offer Hervlee.
It waa the good fortune of a rep
renuntutlve of the Mist to be present
ot a luncheon In Portland Tuesday
given by the Lawyers' Auxiliary to
tho Oregon Naval Militia. Kalph
Dunnlway presided and Cnpt. G. F.
lllnlr, commander of the Oregon Na
val Militia, was tho principal speaker.
Captain lilair a few days ago re
turned from the convention of com
manded of the naval militia which
was held In Washington and extend
ed by representatives of every state
whore a naval militia Is maintained.
The captain atated that the United
States was bettor prepared for war
than the public at large considered.
Many of the plans of Germany are
well known and steps have been
taken to moot emergencies that might
arise. Every vessel of the navy,
either In active service or on the re
serve list, has been apportioned a
full crew, and should hostilities oc
cur. In twenty-four hours the officers
In the several states and the naval
uillllla under them would have their
orders as to whore to report and
what vessels to man.
The following letter, drafted by a
committee on resolutions, was adopt
ed and forwarded to Senator Cham
berlain, chairman of military affairs
In the United Stutos senate:
"Portland, Ore., Feb. 20, 1917.
"Senator George E. Chamberlain,
United States Senate, Washington,
I). C.
"Dear Sir: Hy unanimous vote of
the members of the Lawyers' Auxili
ary to the Oregon Naval Militia, we
are directed to address the follow
ing communication to you, for such
use aa you may think best:
"Our nation has come to the part
ing of the ways, and a choice must be
made between a policy of feebleness
nnd a policy of strength. Moved by
deep love of country, we demand, the
choice of the latter, and we urge you
to give your energies and talents to
secure from Congress the necessary
legislation for immediate and ade
quate military and naval prepared
ness. "Such preparedness, we believe. Is
attainable only by universal, compul
sory military training. The people
have awakened to a realization of
tho nation' peril In consequence ot
our present military weakness and
are ready to support such a program.
"The development of a wide na
tional consciousness, of a more whole
some democracy and the healthy,
continuous growth of our people are
the rich rewards certain to flow from
such a system.
"While the nation is In the shadow
of a grave danger, neither the fears
of the timid, the dreams of the Ideal
ist, nor the objections of the petty
politician should have a place In the
councils of our chosen leadors.
"Respectfully,
"W. P. LA ROCHE,
"GEO. N. WOODLEY.
"E. 13. SEABROOK,
"Committee."
Other matters pertaining to the
welfare of the nation in the crlnls
now imminent were discussed. The
lawyers twice a week go to Com
mander Blair for military instruc
tion, so that In case they are called
on to defend the right of this coun
try they will be efficient. The next
meeting of the club will be held the
coming Tuesday, and an invitation
haa been extended to the lawyers ot
St. Helens to participate iu the meet
ing. St. Helens will also be asked
to furnish members for the naval
mllttla, and If a sufficient uumber
can be enlisted it is probable that a
training ship would be ordered here
anil a separate branch of the naval
militia maintained.
$C,000,000 ROAD BOND
ISSUE PASSES
Issue Will Oo Before the People of
Htato on June 4.
With only four dissenting votes
the $6,000,000 road bond measure,
amended to provide for Its submis
sion to the people ot the state at a
special election June 4 noxt, passed
the senate Monday aftornoon. At
12:30 o'clock Tuesday morning the
Joint conference committee from the
house and senate agreed on all dis
puted points in the bill. The house
passed the bill Monday night.
The legislature adjourned sine die
at 2:30 o'clock Tuesday morning.
President Moser of the senate sug
gested that the first million dollars
be used to Improve the roads between
Portland and Astoria. Tho highway
hill carries an emergency clause as
far as the special election Is con
cerned, to avoid having the bill re
ferred and carried over to November,
1918, and provides that out of the
$6,000,000 bond Issue $600,000
worth of the bonds shall bo issued In
denominations ot $600 or less.
A favorable vote of the poople on
the bond tsnue would mean much to
Columbia county, as the highway
from the Multnomah line to the Clat
sop county line would be hard sur
faced by the state aid lnstaad of a
taxation of the people ot Columbia
county.
BUSINESS CHANGES
IN ST. HELENS
Pioneer Firm of Tills City Hell Out
to Newcomers.
Two deals were consummated this
week whereby old established firms
have sold their businesses. J. Leavltt
of Portland has bought the entire
stock or Morgue & Son, and A. E.
Austin, of Woodburn, has bought the
stock of James Mucklo & Son. It
Is understood that Mr. Leavltt will
Immediately place on the market the
goods bought of Morgus & Son, and
after looking over the town and Its
sdvantages he might decide to re
main in business. Mr. Austin, who
has bought the stock of Muckle &
Son and leased the building. Intends
to permanently remain in business in
St. Helens. Mr. Austin has been in
business In Woodburn, Oregon, for
the past fifteen years and has the
largest clothing and gents' furnish
ing store In that live town. After he
gets settled it is his plan to bring
his family to St. Helens.
The firms which have disposed of
their business are among the pioneer
mercantile firms of St. Helens. Muck
le Brothers established a store in St.
Helens about forty years ago, and in
1909 they were succeeded by Jas.
Muckle & Son, who, since that time,
have conducted the business.
Henry Morgus came to St. Helens
In 1898 and purchased a small gro
cery store then conducted by W. A.
Harris. From that small beginning
he has, with the aid of his wlfo and
son, built up the business to its pres
ent large proportions.
While regretting that these pio
neer places of business will cease to
be conducted under the names which
are linked with the growth ot St.
Helens, the Mist extends the hand of
welcome to the newcomers who have
shown their faith in St. Helens by
buying the stocks and trade ot the
retiring merchants.
MAJOR GENERAL FREDERICK
FUNSTON
Major-General Frederick Funston,
commander of the Southern Depart
ment ot the Unltod States army, who
died suddenly In San Antonio, Tex.,
February 19. General Funston was
recognized as one of the most able
generals of the army and his death
is loss to the whole nation.
FOR BEST ESSAYS
The Oregon Society of tho Sons
ot the American Revolution have of
fered a series of prizes to the pupils
of the public schools of Oregon for
the best essays on topics connected
with the war for American indepen
dence. Three prizes will be awarded:
Twenty-five dollars for the first; fif
teen dollars for the second, and ten
dollars for the third best essay res
pectively, written by pupils ot the
grado or high schools of the state on
the following topics:
1 The Siege of Yorktown.
2 The Influence of Benjamin
Franklin Upon the American Revolu
tion.
3 The Part Played by the Colony
ot Massachusetts In the American
Revolution.
Prizes will be awarded on the fol
lowing poluts: Originality; accur
acy of statement; manner of treat
ment; syntax and punctuation; neat
ness and legibility. The prizes are
offered to encourage love of country
and the study ot its history. A list
ot books best adaptod to the subjects
mentioned or any other information
needed will be given by addressing
Wintlirop Hammond, 127 Sixth St.,
Portland, Oregon.
TO BE FARMERS
Wilbur Muckle plans on leaving
the first of the coming week for Day
vtlle. In Grant county, where he and
Lloyd Hattan have leased a 1400
acre stock ranch. Mrs. Muckle, after
winding up the affairs of tho firm of
Jas. Muckle ft Son, plans on joining
her husband at his ranch home about
April 1.
r
t
"4 . i I
1 VV f
GOV. WITHYCOMBE
EXPLAINS HIS VETO
Give Reason for Vetoing House
Utll No. 4 in.
In answer to a communication ad
dressed to him as to his. reasons for
vetoing house bill No. 416, Governor
Wltbycombe wires the Mist as fol
lows:
"St. Helens Mist.
"Gentlemen: Replying to your
wire my veto message Is cs follows:
The object of this bill was to transfer
authority over county roads within
the limits of the city of St. Helens
from the county court to the city
council.
"It Is set forth by many representa
tive petitioners resident of the city
of St. Helens that such a course
would very much Interfere with the
progress of work now started and
under contemplation by the county
court. I have attached my veto in
view of the ract that the objections
to the proposition seem to more than
offset tho probable advantages there
of. "The petition seemed to be very
extensive and I also found that Mr.
Mueller, although believing in his
bill, still felt that there were two
sides to the case and that he did not
object to a veto.
"JAMES WITHYCOMBE."
It will be noted that the governor
states that the objections to tho pro
position seem to more than offset the
probable advantages thereof. How
ever, the same day, in conversation
with the governor, he admitted he
did not Investigato tho matter but
acted solely upon the petition con
taining 26 names which asked him to
veto the measure. Neither the gov
ernor nor many of those who signed
the petition asking for a veto, really
understood the bill. The city of St.
Helens asked that all county roads
within the city limits be declared
streets and that the city council have
Jurisdiction over them. They also
asked that 70 per cent of the money
raised oy taxation within the district
for road purposes be expended in
such proposed road district. The
county court states they Intend
spending $4,000 to $10,000 on hard-
surfacing the St. Helens-Houlton
road, and this amount is in excess
of the amount asked by the city coun
cil by $5,000, so the residents ot the
district outside of the city limits
would have been far better off if tho
measure had paused. The commer
cial club has gone on record, how
ever, as favoring the expenditure of
the money on the St. Helens-Pitts-burg
road Instead of hard-surfacing
the road within the city limits, and
It will be interesting to see if the
county court will abide by the wishes
of the mass meeting which met with
them recently -nnd recommended the
Nehalem road In preference) to a 16
foot strip of hard-surfacing for a dis
tance of a milo, and at a cost ot from
$8,000 to $10,000.
BUSY SESSION OF
CITY FATHERS
The city council met in regular
session Monday night, all members
being present except Councilman J.
W. Allen. Several building permits
for the erection of small buildings
and repairs to old ones were granted.
Ordinance 200, which provides for
the license on peddlers selling beef
and meat was read the third time and
passed.
A communication was received
from the St. Helens Shipbuilding
Company asking that bettor landing
facilities be provided for the boats
which dally carry more than 200 men
to work. Councilman Ballagh sug
gested that a permanent dock be
built at the foot ot St. Holens street,
and a committee was appointed to
meet Wednesday morning and in
vestigato the matter.
It was ordered that the city at
torney take in hand the claim against
Frank L. Smith for use and damage
to the city's firo apparatus and If the
claim was not settled promptly to
Institute suit against Smith.
Bills ot Mike Fresh, street super
intendent, covering charges for the
fill on Willamette street were read
and after same were checked ud the
rocordor was instructed to draw war
rants In payment ot the labor claims.
Many other matters of minor Im
portance were taken up and disposed
of and the council adjourned to meet
Monday, February 26.
LOAN CREDIT PLAN
The state lund board directed Clerk
E. O. Brown to immediately prepare
rural credits loans application blanks
and sond them to the state land board
attorneys In every county of the state.
State Treasurer Kay estimated that
a million and a half dollars' worth
of rural credit bonds can be sold the
first year by making that sum avail
able for the state farmers. The state
plans to purchase the first Issue of
$60,000 five-year bonds, using the
state industrial accident trust funds.
Within ten days $60,000 will be
available, for loaning to farmers at
6 per cent interest under the rural
crodlts law provisions.
JOY RIDERS HAVE
VERY CLOSE CALL
Driver Injured and Woman Compan
ion Buffers Ilroken Arm.
Too much booze at the Bteering
wheel was the cause of an automobile
accident at Scappooce creek bridge
Wednesday morning at 10 o'clock,
when the driver lost control of the
machine and It plunged over the high
fill. The car turned completely over,
landing up side down and making
prisoners of the occupants. Mr. Olds,
the paving contractor, an another
gentleman camo by in their machine
a few minutes after the accident oc
curred and with the help of farmers
living nearby righted the machine
and released the prisoners, bringing
them to St. Helens for modicr.1 atten
tion. The man was censiderably bruised
and his hands cut by the broken
windshield, and the woman's right
arm was broken Just below the el
bow. After getting fixed up, a ma
chine vas hired r.nd the couplo again
started for Portland.
Ben Copeland went up to tho scene
of the accident Wednesday f.ftemoon,
and wl'.h the aid of a big oil truck
succeeded in getting the machine on
the road. He brought it to St. Hel
ens for repairs. The machlno pre
sents a dilapidated appearance, the
windshield being broken, thrs head
lights crushed, urn'.ng boards and
fenders smashed and twisted Rnd tho
top bedly broken nnd c-uched. The
machine was a flvo-passongor Chand
ler which bore license number 23287.
The occupants of the wrecked car
came to St. Helens about 6 o'clock
in tho morning and left for Portland
at 9 o'clock. It was noticer.ble that
both driver and companion were in
toxicated. NEW BOOKS IN
PUBLIC LIBRARY
Club Exiiends Funds for Purchase of
Additional Reading Matter.
The committee authorized to se
lect and purchase new books for the
public library has purchased the fol
lowing books and thoy are now in
the library. While the list contains
some old books, an effort was made
to get mostly new books and most,
of the latter will be placed on the
rent list:
Pastor's Wife, Heroes of Modern
Europe, Mary Cary, Range Dwellers.
Her Prairie Knight, Phantom Herd,
Flying U's Last Stand, Master of
Strong Hearts, Secret Garden, T.
Tembarom. Riirllt Prlnenan Pi-lslu
Coniston, Dog of Flanders, Iron Wo
man. Awakeninv of Holnnn Rlohlo
Personality Plus, Roast Beef Medium!
reiey aimmons ot siwasn, old Lady
Number 31, Little Shepherd of King
dom Come. Cnntnln OIH WIMfl-o
Aunt Jane of Kentucky, On tho Trail
oi urant ana L.eo, Prudence Says So,
Georgina of the Rainbows, Captain
Courageous, Mary 'Gusta, Kent
Knowles, Martha of tho Day, Valley
of the Moon, Martin Hyde, Hugh
Wynne. King of the Kyber Rifles,
Saturday's Child. Mother, Story of
Marco, George Washington, K, Tlsh,
Boy With tho V. S. Explorers, Boys
With Indians, Two Little Savages,
Arm Chair at the Inn, Kennedy
Square, MonI the Goat Boy, Penrodl
Penrod and Sam, Cry In tho WU-
derneso. When Patty Went to Col
lege, Abraham Lincoln, New Chroni
cles of Rebecca, Lightning Conduct
or, Shepherd of the Hills, Winning
of Barbara Worth, This Year's Book
for Children, Thi3tle Down, Adven
tures in tho Great Desert, Airship
Dragon Fly, Great Locomotive Chase,
Electricity and Magnetism.
"SNOW QUEEN" OPER
ETTA SCORES BIG HIT
The operetta "Snow Queen," staged
at the Watts & Price hall In Scap
poose Saturday night, scored a big
hit and all in attendance pronounced
It a success. The play is based on
the fairy tale by Andersen, and was
written three years ago by Miss Hazel
M. Watts, a resident of Scappoose,
who was then attending Wellesley
college, In tho east. Miss Watts
wrote the music while crossing the
continent on a train, and after mneh.
Ing the east produced it with a cast
of 60 children. The play received
much appreciation and credit at Its
Initial performance and was later
produced most successfully at Wil
mington, Del. Miss Watts has had
the play copyrighted and it will goou
be published.
The presentation of the play at
Scappoose drew an unusually large
and attentive audience. Sixty chil
dren participated and carried off
their parts especially well consider
ing the limited number of rehears
als. Tho cunning Snowflakos, with
their stately Snow Queen, the rollick
ing street boys and the fierce rob
bers delighted the entire audience.
The flower soloists and witch are
deserving of especial mention. In
all, the entire program was well re
ceived and heartily enjoyed by the
large audience prosent and the funds
raised were sufficient to liquidate the
debt of the piano fund.