Page Eight
FIRST ANNUAL' INDUSTRIAL EDITION OF THE LA GRANDE EVENING OBSERVER.5
Ul GRfifJDES RELIGIOUS
La Grande' churches hare large
memberships and its church Ufa is
well defined. Both the Protestant and
Catholic denominations have comfort
able buildings, and those which have
not built new edifices in late years
have plans well matured for new ones,
and within the next two years at
least three new churches will be
erected.
The Methodist church has a site
purchased for a 130,000 building of
the very latest church designs, and
the r building fund is already quite
large. By nest spring the construc
tion of the building will be com-
HtM
menced. J. D. Gillilan D. D., lately
district superintendent, but retired by
tho elapse of hlB five year's term, is
the pastor of the church, and, not
only is the church -a progressive one,
but its subsidary organizations are
active. The Sunday school is one of
the largest in the city, and its Ep
worth League Is one of the many re
ligious organizations which do much
for the moral advancement of the city.
The Presbyterian church, with W.
S, Seamann D. D..1 as minister, is also
one of the leading churches, having
with one exception, perhaps, the larg
est membership of any in the city.
The church home is about to be razed
and a more Imposing building erected.
It has a sightly location, near tho
heart of the city. The Christian En
deavor is only one of the several
branches of the church, for there a; a
active boys' and girls' clubs, which
figure conspiclously In church society
and church work.
The Baptist church has recently
built & fine brick structure costing
J20.000, and Rev. Frank E. Gray is the
pastor. The membership is not a
large one but it Is extremely loyal,
and the Young Peoples' society always
comes to the front with social and re
ligious actlvlt'es
The church is one of the oldest in
the city, having first built a. wooden
structure, a few years ago outgrew it
and built a medium-sized building
that for style and architecture is one
of the finest in eastern Oregon.
The Central church of Christ, Rev.
Ford Ellis, pastor, Is rapidly forging
to the front. .The organization has a
young and enterprising pastor, who
devotes his time and study unsparing
ly to the church's welfare. Young;
Peoples' societies thrive within its
doors; its Sunday school Is an Impor
tant one and the church Includes
many of the city's leading citizens.
It is located aliuast !n the heart of
the city. "V3-'
The Catholic church is under the
leadership of Reverend Father Aald
ers. The church Is one of the pioneer
organizations of La Grande, and In
fart, Union county. Its membership
Is. large, and the members attentive to
church work. It too Is considering
the advlBiblllty of building a new edi
fice and within a very short time that
institution will probably have a new
church that will measure up to a
standard of the best churcheB In east
ern Oregon.
Tho M. E. church of the South is lo
cated in North La Grande, and Rev.
Canfleld is the pastor. The church
has a small membership and the peo
pic in it are progressive. The time is
not far distant when the church will
rank high In membership and be the
owner of a new building. A few years
ago the church was without a home,
but It recently purchased a wooden
structure, and now Is comfortably lo
cated in a building of its own.
The L. D. S. (latter Day Saints of
Jesus Christ) is by the far the largest
In the county. Its membershlo reaches
2650 and four years ago built the fin-i
est tabernacle In the country, save
that of Salt Lake city. It cost $60.
000 and seats over 2000 people, and
whenever a large crowd are to be en
tertained 'he 'hureta Is called Into
rervke. Th building Is of brick; and
, is imposing In style and architecture.
It has filled a long felt want, nnmelv
that its auditorium gives La Grande
convention facilities which few towns
in the state can claim.
The first service according to the
EXGELLEfJT
order of the Episcopal church, In La
Grande, was held the third Sunday In
July, 1864, by the Rev. Michael Fack
ler, while on his way from the Willa
mette valley to Boise, Idaho. Two
weeks later accompanied by Bishop
Scott he held another service and pre
sented a lady to the bishop for Con
firmation. -
In ; 1870 Bishop Morris made his
first visitation to La Grande, and the
following year Rev. L. H. Wells now
Bishop of Seattle, went to Walla Wal
la to reside and La Gran.de was placed
under his care. He, however, was only
able to make an occasional visit. In
53
riinrrli.
1873, the parish received its first Im
petus when In May a class of twenty
five was confirmed and steps taken
for the erection of a church edifice.
This was completed In 1874, and the
first Bervlce within its walls was the
solemnization of the marriage of Mr.
Jasper H. Stevens to Miss Anna Webb.
The church originally was built in
South La Grande, and moved to its
present location in 1887.
The Rev. Dr. Nevlus was the first
t 1 "
w
V"-
clergyman In charge, holding definite
local appointment, and he has been
succeeded by eight others. June 14,
1895, the parochial organization hav
ing been fully completed, It was ad
mitted to the diocesan Convocation as
a parish. .
During the past four years several
Important improvements have been
made, the principal one being the
erection of a modern style rectory and
the formlnsr of a fund for a parish
house, which is to be put on a site,
generously donated by a member rfif
the parish for this purpose, It was
hoped that it might be accomplished
this year, but the estimates proving
so much higher than v-js r acted It
was considered advisably to postpone
operations until next year. Tbe par
ish numbers ninety-two communicants
and is maintaining a s'idy growth.
Its present rector has been In charge
since November 12, 1904.
HARDWARE FIRM'S
STOCK IS LARGE
W. H. Bohnenkamp, the hardwa
and furniture merchant, began busi
ness in the city of La Grande 15 years
ago, and It was then that he laid the
foundations for the splendid business
which he owns and conducts today.
Mr. Bohnenkamp is one of the men
who has grown up with the city, and
one of the men who has contributed
much to its general advancement and
commercial welfare. When he began
business La Grande was a small town
and he naturally commenced with a
small business. Just In the propor
tion that the town has grown and the
business demands have increased he
has added to his business until now
he owns one cf the leading hardware
and furniture establishments in the
city. He owns the building which he
occupies a mammoth affair and he
occupies all of the three floors of It.
The building presents a most hand
some exterior appearance, and Its in
terior is splendidly equipped in every
manner. One of the improvements
recently made was the installation of
belongs the distinction of having the
only room of this character In Union
county.
The basement and first floor is occu
pied with the hardware stock and the
second and third floor with furniture.
The stock carried Is of a superior
character and Is complete, and the
prices at which It is sold exception
ally reasonable, and these features
have contributed much toward build
ing up the "'business to Its present
large .lze. ;
ALL THE WORLD
HO VALLEY SO FAIR
(Continued from page one)
men can. purchase claims at. a reason
able price. Yellow pine is the pre
dominating timber, but there is aho
considerable spruce and hemlock.
There are a number of brick yards
In the county, and also a number of
excellent stone quarries. It is esti
mated that there are between 250 and
300 cars of brick shipped out annually
and about a hundred cars of building
stone.
Fine Stock Raised.
While the Btockmen were the first
white inhabitants of the Grande
Ronde valley the day of the great
Btock ranches and cattle kings are
gone. The ranges have been com
pelled to give way before the settlers,
and most of them are now converted
into rich grain fields and blossoming
orchards. In place of the cattle king
has come the breeder of fine stock,
and both blooded cattle and horses
are raised In the .valley to a consider
able extent. There are several noted
stock farms where blooded horses are
raised farms which are equal to any
in the" Northwest, and they have given
':'VY
"gf"
of fhnrrh in b Hnl4 hv yhodM.
the valley a world-wide reputation
for blooded horses.
Hogs and Poultry..
Much attention is being given to
the raising of hogs, and the raising
of poultry and dairying are two in
dustries which are rapidly coming to
the front. There is room for much
development in the first named indus
try, and the latter two are practicall
in their Infancy. Fully half of th
poultry products, and also the dairy
products consumed In the northwest
are shipped in from the Middle West
and the east, and the market prices
are splendid. All those who have en
tered Into these Industries have pros
pered, and a number of them have ac
cumulated fortunes. The milk pro
ducer, it is Estimated receives a high
er price for butter fat in Oregon than
In any other state in the Union. The
dairying Is conducted mostly by the
creameries, as the farmers so far
I have not taken up the industry but in
a small way.
I The soil of the valley is deep, fer
tile and friable and the climate is
peculiarly adapted to Its needs. There
ere about 20 Inches of rainfall dur
ing the year and the precipitation is
evenly distributed through the winter,
spring and summer. The harvest sea
son is always dry and a loss of crops
has never been experienced in the
valley. The snow fall Is so light that
it Is no more than sufficient to blank
et the winter wheat. The depth Is
seldom greater than twelve inches
and it rarely remains on the ground
longer than two or three weeks.
The winter season usually extends
from six weeks to two months. Dur
ing tbe winter season the mean tem
perature is about 20 degrees above
freezing.. There is always sufficient
rainfall , to moisten the ground for
plowing and to prepare- it generally
for the fall wheat
The climate is apparently uncon
genial to pests, and the farmers have
none to contend with. The county Is
free from drouths, hurricanes, thun
derstorms, and other ruinous disturb
ances of the elements. .
Principal Farm Product drain.
The principal farm product of the
valley is grain and the yield per acre
is always splendid. There is always
a yield of thirty bushels per acre and
it often runs as high as 60 busneis.
Tbe principal varieties grown are
Blue Stem. Salt Lake Club and Club.
The kernels attain good size , and
weight, and the market prices are al
ways the best. (
" Considerable barley Is raised la the
county and it is in much demand by
the. eastern brewers because of Its su
perior quality. The yield runs from
60 to 110 bushels to the acre.
Oats are also raised at a good pro
fit, the yield at times reaching 120
bushels to the acre, but half of that
la considered a good crop.
Every conceivable kind of hay 1 Is
raised In abundance and It always
commands the highest market prices.
Alfalfa runs from two and one half
to three and one half tons to the
acre ' without irrigation, , and with It
double that amount. Timothy will
yield t two and one half tons to the
nrra t .
The Irish potato grows in good size
and can always be depended upon to
yield ; from 150 to 400 sacks to the
acre. ? . .
Much of the land is adapted to tbe
raising of sugar beets, and they are
being raised with profit by the Amal
gamated Sugar company a large
concern. Many individuals have also
gone 'Into the raising of beets, and
have been successful.
The wheat field last year, despite
the fact that many of them have been
converted into orchard lands pro
duced an even million bushels of first
class wheat.
f Fine Fruit Raised.
Much of the land Is being devoted
to the raising of all kinds of fruit,
and each year more and more of it is
being converted into orchard land.
The land when its productiveness and
the market price for fruit is consid
ered is very cheap. Grande Ronde
apples have won renown for the val
ley the world over. They are In de
I mand in all the markets of the world
8nd the crops are generally contract
ed for In advance.
Grande Ronde cherries follow upon
the heels . of the apples. The Royal
Anne, the Blng and the Lambert are
grown and attain a size, color and
flavor which cannot be excelled.
Peaches, plums, pears and prunes,
nd all kinds of berries are also
'aised by the fruit growers. Ir
-'Ration is not needed, but where it is
available it is used.
The fact that five years ago but
50 carlads of apples were shipped
'rom the valley while today 700 car
loads are shipped out will convey an
idea bf the growth of this industry.
Five years ago the orchard area was
but 1.800 acres and today it is 4,900
acres. An ordinarily equipped or
chard never returns less than $300
per acre In the way of profits, and
there are cases where they go as high
as $1,000 and $1,500 per acre.
Union county is supplied with ex
cellent schools, and the demand for
teachers is strong. . ,
Wages are good, not only in man
ufacturing pursuits, but on the rail
roads, in the fields, orchards and the
business houses.
Many Thriving Towns
Besides the city of La Grande, the
commercial metropolis of the valley,
there are a number of thriving small
towns scattered throughout the coun
ty. North Powder, a town of about 500
people, lies in the extreme east cor
ner of the county. . This town Is not
ed chiefly for the manufacture of ice.
Down the valley from the foothills
of the mountains to the east Is situat
ed the town of Union once the coun
ty seat of Union county. The town
has about 3,000- inhabitants and. the
principal Industries are the raising of
stock, fruit and hay. At this place
an experiment farm is being conduct
el by the Oregon Agricultural College.
Cove lies across the valley from La
Grande. This town is surrounded by
a rich fruit country and produces an
nually about 20 carloads of fine cher
ries and about 100 carloads of apples,
and also considerable hay, grain and
alfalfa. Its population Is about 400.
North of La Grande, at a distance
of about three miles Is situated Is
land City. It is surrounded by a rich
grain producing country, and has a
population of about 800 people. --
North from Island City for a dis
tance of about 10 miles is Alicel. . It
is the center of one of the greatest
grain producing sections of eastern
Oregon. Imbler lies' a little further j
on, and then Summervllle, .and the
fartherest north of them all the
town of Elgin. The district surround
ing these towns produces . lumber,
wheat, and fruit, and their people are
contended and happy and generally In
good clrcumstanaces financially.
LA
ISA ,
CITY OF PAYROLLS
- (Continued from page one) "
It Is provided with an excellent water
system, a good sewer system, and a
splendid illuminating system, and its
parks are as beautiful as those of any
city of similar size in the state.
The city has made very, extensive
street improvements within the las
few years. Two miles of bltulithlc
pavement the best pavement in the
world has been laid and also a mile
of macadam. Specifications and plant
have been perfected for the laying
two more miles of this latter pave
ment, and the work will beundertaken
as soon as it is possible. Besides pos
sessing a modern sewage system th
city in the year 1909 built a municipal
water system which is thoroughly
modern, and which provides It with
the purest of mountain water. The
cost of this system was $165,000.
Educational Facilities.
The educational facilities of La
Grande are equal to those of any city
in eastern Oregon. It is provided with
four school buildings the present
high school building an . attractive
brick structure; the North school; the
White school and ta fourth building
which is' of brick ut" considerably
smaller than the others named. There
is a new high school .building under
process of construction, and It will
be completed this fall. This building
is a three story structure. It Is being
built of red brick with white brick
and terra cotta trimmings. The archi
tecture is along the classic lines, and
Is extremely beautiful. The equip
ment and apparatus will be complete
and modern.
The schools are presided over by a
faculty of 3 Obstructors with Profes
sor Stout, and able educator, as sup
erintendent. The members entering
Into the composition of the faculty are
all able men and women. There are
in addition to the public schools a
number of private and denominated
schools which are doing splendid work
in an educational way.
The religious and fraternal facili
ties are also splendid. Nearly every
denomination is represented by a
church, and every fraternal order of
national scope can lay claim to a
loca lorder in the city.
The Pay Roll City.
La Grande because of the vast
amount of its pay roll is frequently re
ferred to as the pay roll city of Ore
gon. It is a railroad division on the
main line of the O. R. & N. railroad,
and from this souroe it can lay claim
t oa payroll of $53,000 a month. The
railroad company has maintained Its
round house in the city for Borne time,
but it was not until recently that it
decided to also maintain its machine
shops here, and these are now un
der process of construction.
From its saw. mills it also draws an
Immense payroll. The Palmer Lum
ber company's payroll is estimated be
tween $25,000 and $30,000 a month:
Union County
The Grande Ronde company fn., '
upon its heels with an immen..
roll rnit If Hr,... , "Vuene tot.
roll, and it draws from the a I '
mated Sugar company each vP1?a!
000.. The whole of the city's nV"6
p CTuiu., auu conservatively
ranging between $1,500,000 and in
000 a year.. , ... , E
. l Ulll. X ... v. '
there pours into its coffers tho,,
and thousands of dollars from
dustrtes of the agricultural cT j k
surrounding tha it ..""Jab
ards, lts.farmlng, its livestock V$
and dairying. po
Its CltlzencM..
The citizenship of , La Gram, l
composed of a people, who as a )
are contented, happy, progress,11
terprlslng and public spirited V
la evidenced by tha nniv,ot '.. V
of its people to own thni'i. " slr! I
own them though they be smalLi
to preserve and adorn their or..T?
that is evidenced by the wlliingn'
its citizens and business men to iL
the burdens of taxation in order 2
the schools may be made a mor Bf
erful factor In the training of tb f
lzenshlp of tomorrow; and jn 2
that tha rro.nt r...!.. .
tilled, others added, and that the mt
vast municipal improvements may J
carried into execution;., and that k
evidenced by the hearty and harm0!
ious cooperation of its people in ,r
movements which have tor their 1
ject the making of a better md ,
greater La Grande. 1
Its Future. ;
Situated as It la In the heart of tit
Grande Ronde Valley the tides of Z
oceans of trade beat in upon its mZ
lei pal boundary lines and thft 111
of the commerce of its Industrie
farming, fruit raising, stock ratslai
lumbering. ... mlnine.. ..
meet and minirlA in Ho tror. uvT.X 1
therefore all the elements a combli f J
HUH Ul which in n HCKr rt thk
ing of a great Inland city'; and the day
Is not far distant when it will be u
far in advance of the present dreaa
of its people as it is today in advanw
of the dream of its people of fortj
years ago. . .. , '.j.
PHIAL IL
When Al Andrews left the Middle
Western states 20 years ago to play
professional base ball with the Seat
tle team he little dreamed that with
in thirteen years from that time tlU
he should locate In the city of U
Grande, and finally become one of
its business men and a member ol iti
city-council.
Al Andrews' home town Is East
Liverpool, Ohio.' That is where hi
was born. When a boy he cherished
a passion for baseball, and when hi
Decame a man so proficient had hi
become In the science of' the game
that the promoters of professional
teams sought him and made him t
member of their teams. ! He played
professional ball in the Black Hills
country, in Columbus, Ohio, and otbe
middle western towns, and then came
the call of the west, and he went to
Seattle and joined the team there.
While playin there he had the mi
fortune of breaking two ribs and that
disabled him from playing further
with the big teams. Just about this
time La Grande was launching a pro
fessional base ball team, and And
rews came here to Join It and played
with it for several years.
Like thousands of others he became
impressed with the . wonderful re
sources of the Grande Ronde Valley,
and the future of the city of Li
Grande, and seven years ago he made
up his mind to make it his home, and
enter into business. He opened op
a first class tailoring and gents fur
nishing shop, the Toggery, and ag the
years went by he prospered and no
in addition to having an up-to-date
and first class store, he is enjoying
a splendid trade.- In his tailorshop
he employes eight tailors all of then
experts and he has the largest com
mercial trade of any city in the stale
save Portland. . He carries the Stein
Bloch line of clothing and the Hannon
and Harlow line of flhoes, and bis
other good are of a superior charac
ter. , v : . ' .-.
He has ever been active in city af
fairs and several years ago the peo
ple nominated and elected him to the
position of city ; councilman. He i
now serving his third term. He is the
chairman of the committee on streets
and to him . belongs . the credit for
much of the street improvements b
ing made in the city.
Court House.
N1BJP5 1