The Warmsprings Reservoir, the Willow River Irrigation District and Bully Creek Project Assure the Prosperity and Supremacy of Vale
IfC THEBEST ffl
MEDIUM
VOLUME VII, NUMBER 21.
VALE, OREGON, SATURDAY, APRIL 29, 1916.
SUBSCRIPTION, $2.00 PER YEAR
PROPAGATE
GAME
Vale Sportsmen Organized
for the Purpose of Re
plenishing the Field and
Stream.
MAKE ORGANIZATION
COUNTY WIDE
Expect to Form Clubs in
Every Precinct.
To replenish Malheur county's fields,
forests and streams with game fish
and game birds, and to protect and
preserve this game till the county
is again returned to its former plen
tiful supply in this line, was the pur
pose of a meeting held at the Cham
ber of Commerce rooms last Monday
night, when some two dozen local
sportsmen formed the neucleus of an
organization, which it is intended to
extend throughout the county.
V. B. Staples was elected temporary
chairman and George J. Singer tem
porary secretary.
After considerable discussion of the
objects and intentions of the proposed
organization, the following committee
was appointed on permanent organi
zation: J. E. Roberts, George Carey,
Frank High, Earl Neely and George
F. Carter. A committee on member
ship was also appointed as follows:
Erbie Hayes, Homer L. Roberts and
H. H. Williams. George J. Singer and
Erbie Hayes were appointed to pre
pare and present a form for constitu
tion and by-laws.
The meeting adjourned to meet at
the Chamber of Commerce Monday
night, May 1st, at which time a per
manent organization will be formed
and permanent officers chosen.
HOMESTEADS ARE NOW
IN DEMAND
Those who read the column of U,
S. Land Ofiice notes cannot but note
the immense business being tarnsact
ed before the Vale Ofiice.
The enlarged homestead act has
brought large numbers of homeseek-
ers into the country and enabled those
who were already located on smaller
tracts to extend their holdings.
Upper Willow river is rapidly be
ing closed up and the rumor that the
Eastern Oregon Land company will
really put their holdings on the mar
ket is stimulating to a large degree.
Inquiries are daily coming to the
Chamber of Commerce in regard to
vacant lands and when the 640 acre
law passes Congress, as is expected in
the near future the local office will be
overrun with business.
STORAGE SITE ON THE
OWYHEE
In rejecting the application of T.
A. Sullivan for a right of way over
government land withdrawn for power
sites on the Owyhee river for the rea
son that the land would be submerged
by the construction of a dam at Dun
can's Ferry, the Commissioner of the
General Land Office notes that a dam
at that point 100 feet in height would
reservoir 190,000 acre feet: That if
the dam was built 150 feet in height
it would store 480,000 acre feet of
water.
These many items indicate the pos
sibilities lying dormant in Malheur
county. Possibilities which seized up
on and improved would make this
county the richest in Oregon. We
will wake up some day.
MORE RURAL CREDIT
SYSTEMS
Representative Morgan, of Oklaho
ma, has introduced another rural cre
dit bill which together with the Moss
Hollis bill would place the rural cre
dit banks in a position to give all the
remaining followers of the adminis
tration a job for at least four years
after its passage.
This bill also stands in for a five
per cent commission from the farmer
who wishes to borrow money. The
12 banks it proposes to start with an
appropriation of $12,000,000 from the
general government and after that
the farmer will do the rest. It now
appears that there is no real inten
tion to give the farmer a real chance
in the money market.
First they want long time paper
and a high rate of interest for the dear
investing public in the east. Then
(Continued on page 6.)
TnE PROBLEM OF FARM CREDITS
If ten or more farmers who have
confidence in one another, enough con
fidence to be willing to trust one an
other financially, can get together and
hold together, they can eventually
work out their credit problems. T. N
Carver.
In "How to Uso Farm Credit," by
T. N. Carver, Director of the Rural
Organization Service, Department of
Agriculture, the author strips the veil
of mystery from esoteric "finance"
and eliminates the magic from the
necroamncy of "money" and "busl
ness" robs them of their terrors to
the uninitiated. That which to the or
dinary farmer may hitherto have been
obscure and hidden is made plain and
simple. He speaks to the farmer in
the language of the farm.
To attempt to adequately present
Dr. Carver's paper in any but his own
language is to rob it of its charm, its
value and its effect. Nevertheless, on
account of lack of sufficient space to
reproduce it in its entirety, we print
here a few of its most telling points,
condensed and abbreviated, with due
apologies to the author for liberties
taken.
Credit is a powerful agency for
good in the hands of those who know
how to uso it.
Credit is dangerous to those who
do not know how to use it.
Almost as many farmers suffer
from too much as from too little cre
dit. Only those who know how should
use it.
Capital is tools and equipment as
well as money.
More capital is required by farmers
on account of improved agricultural
machinery than when they made their
own tools.
Capital is created in one way only
by consuming less than is produced.
He who earns two dollars and saves
one becomes a capitalist.
Ho is still a capitalist if he spends
the dollar in a spade.
He ceases to be a capitalist if he
spends the dollar for confections and
eats them.
If he needs the spade and hasn't
saved the dollar to buy it, he may
borrow it or borrow the dollar to buy
it, The process is the same whether
it be a dollar or a million dollars.
Capital may bo acquired in two
ways by saving by borrowing.
Borrowing is an advantage to se
cure tools and equipment to be used
to produce the money wherewith to
pay the debt and thus shorten the time
of accumulating such capital.
That is the only advantage of credit
in any business a great advantage
to those who know how to use it.
Borrowing should be avoided by
shortsighted people who do not keep
accounts and do not realize how fast
tools wear out.
Borrowing for productive purposes
is not disgraceful, borrowing for con
sumption is a sign of incompetency.
Borrowing to produce more than
enough to pay off your debt, principal
and interest is a profitable enterprise
business sagacity not to be asham
ed of.
Borrowers should be sure that the
enterprise is productive and will be
profitable before borrowing to invest.
Borrowing for non-productive pur
poses leads to sure default in pay
ment of interest and principal, there
fore to distress.
Lending for non-productive purpo
ses should be frowned upon by public
sentiment.
Repayment of the principal sum is
more difficult than the interest. The
question of whether farm loans shall
be at 5 per cent or at 7 per cent
is of less importance than whether or
not the principal is to be used so as
to provide for both.
Borrowing $100 to buy fertilizer
that adds $125 to the crop value en
ables the borrower to pay both prin
cipal and interest and realize a profit
If it is used so as to produce only
$75 he can pay neither in full. It
makes little difference in the result
if the interest charge is only $5 or $7.
Make sure that the purpose for
which the borrowed money is used
will produce a sum greater than need
ed to pay the debt
It is more important that one shall
borrow only for productive enterprise
than that one shall borrow at low
rates of interest
Interest rates like all other expens
es of the enterprise should be looked
into carefully.
Borrowing on contract to repay be
fore the productive benefit is realiz
ed is bad business. If one agrees to i
repay the $100 borrowed for fertilizer ,
before the crop can be marketed, he
is unwise for he must either get
the loan extended, procure the money
from some other source, or be sold out
Borrow only on contracts to repay
at the most convenient time; that is,
when the borrower is most likely to
have means to repay.
Borrow only for the time required
(Continued on page 6.)
FARMERS UNITING FOR CONCERTED
ACTION ON IRRIGATION
The Coming Election on the Warmsprings Irrigation District is Another Step To
ward Placing the Organized Farmers in Complete Control of the Situation.
AN OPEN AIR CONCERT
BY THE BAND
Sunday, April 30, 1916, 4 P. M.
The Vale Concert Band will give its
first open air public concert, at the
square, on the above date.
PROGRAM
March, "America First". Losey.
Baritone Solo, "Serenade"....Schubert
Mr. Wheeler
March, "Light Cavalry Poet and
Peasant" . Lake
Solo, "Song of the Roses" Rollinson
Mr. Bronk
Selection, "Tannhauser" .Wagner
Intermission
March, "Washington Post". Sousa
Duet, "From Vienna's Past"....Wagner
Miss King Mr. Bronk
Grand Religious Fantasia Rollinson
Waltz, "Wedding of the Winds"....Hall
Final, "STAR SPANGLE BANNER"
Arr. by Greissinger.
The public is invited to attend.
C. M. CRANDALL, Director.
WHAT CAN BE
DONE?
The rapid settlement of the interior
of Malheur county is having great ef
fect on the demand for roads from
every direction.
Those who are making efforts to dry
farm' on upper Willow river are more
than enthusiastic over the possibili
ties of a state highway through Ba
ker, Grant and Wheeler counties to
connect with the Columbia Highway.
Agitation for a better road connect
ing Ontario, Vale and Burns is com
ing to the front while there is an in
sistent demand for a decent road from
Ontario and Vale to Jordan Valley and
the Watson country.
Potash development is making its
demands as well. Harry Wilson, rep
resenting the American Nitrate com
pany, working Borne 20 men in the vi
cinity of Succor creek, is greatly dis
appointed at receiving no assistance
in getting' roads to his property.
It is evident that some method will
have to be devised to supply these
necessary improvements.
There are several good jokes, but
the man who acts a lot more import
ant than he is always gets the loudest
laugh.
LOOKS LIKE A GRANDPA CAMPAIGN
T f'WK 1 It'S All tJETi Ltt. 1 GRANDPA K5feO
c(l fggW9 KNOW WHO.WfU VOTT aj w CV2 X.
p 3Sir for-qRANDPAJ I WHO J
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
Warmsprings Irrigation
District
A candidate forcjirector who
may desire his name printed on
the ballot must present a peti
tion to the county clerk signed
by ten land owners ,in the divi
sion in which the candidate
owns land, at least ten days
prior to the date of election.
This necessitates the filing
of such petition on or before
May 19, 191C.
As there is a treasurer to be
elected at large, any candidate
for that position must file a
petition as above i stated for
directors, except that the sign
ers may be from any division
in the district- r
There will be spjice left on
the ballot for writing in the
name of any person the voter
may desire for director, whose
name is not printed thereon.
$$$$$$ $ as $ e as
Let there be no misunderstanding
about the election to be held May 27
for the organization of the Warm
springs Irrigation District
This election does not carry any
obligation of any nature except that
the people have organized themselves
into a unit with five of their own
number as directors.
After having organized the direct
ors will examine into the most feasible
method of going on with the work
proposed and understood to bo the ob
ject of tho organization. Any plan
they may decide upon as best, will
have to be submitted to the land own
ers before any expenditure can bo
made thereon. If the owners agree
to the proposition the directors will
then go ahead but not otherwise.
Tho boundaries of district are such
as to just encloso the area occupied by
the present ditches and their possible
extension, therefore the present or
ganization cannot build any high lino
or expensive ditches.
The boundaries wero thus made and
the whole idea has been to give the
present owners of cultivated land,
and of water rights, complete control
of tho situation, simply getting them
together in order to enable them and
LAND PRICES ARE
REQUESTED
Daily inquiries como to the com
mittee on irrigation for information
on the Warmsprings reservoir project
From Everett, Wash., and Galves
ton, Texas, have come interesting
communications as to amount of wa
ter per acre which can be furnished
and prices of land.
At present, these inquiries can only
be answered in a tentative way. As
soon as an organization is effected
something definite can be stated.
The Oregon-Western Colonization
Company are making preparations to
bring in settlers as soon as they are
able to assure them water on tho Mal
heur valley lands.
From Canada comes an inquiry or
land for 100 German families who are
anxious to get away from that coun
try where they are not favorably
treated.
NOTES FROM CIRCUIT
COURT
Tho time of the Circuit Court, has
been well occupied the past week in
the trial of tho case of Cooloy vb.
Snake River Irrigation District. Tho
case is a suit for extra work on a
contract for a pumping plant, pipe
line, ditches, etc., furnished by Cooley.
Mr. Cooley is represented by At
torneys Coulter and Ryan of Wciser.
The defendants by Attorney John L.
Rand, of Baker, and Messrs. Brooko
and Swagler of Ontario.
A good deal of tho "news" is what
tho reporters would like to see hap
pen. those who have land but no water to
make somo deal whereby sufficient
water can be stored for all.
Should the directors be able to in
duce the government to let tho dis
trict have the money without inter
est and tho government to construct
the reservoir, the proposition would
resolve itself into tho easiest one in
America. There is reason to bcliove
that tho government might do this if
the people organize and show them
selves ready to unitedly co-operate
with the government. Should they not
organize it is practically certain that
nothing can be done.
BY BART
THE COUNTY AGENT AND PRO
FITABLE AGRICULTURE
The county agent is a part of a
great agricultural movement. This
movement has for its ultimato pur
pose the building up of a country life
that shall be wholesome, attractive,
cultured, efficient, and profitable.
There are many sections of our coun
try today that have one or more of
these conditions, but the sections
where all are found in happy unison
aro comparatively few. The desire of
thosQ who are thinking on rural pro
blems is that rural communities ev
erywhere shall bo wholesome, attrac
tive, and cultured, and that each in
dividual shall receive a fair reward
for tho labor done and tho capital in
vested. The county agent has one
dominant part in this program. While
ho may take other parts, his primary
function is to help make agriculture
efficient and profitable. In proportion
as agriculture is made profitable will
the community become attractive,
cultured, and a place wholesome and
desirable to livo in.
Just what is meant by a profitable
agriculture? Simply this: There
shall bo a reasonable return on tho
capital invested in farming and n rea
sonable return for tho farmer's labor
and managerial ability. A farmer,
like any other man in any other busi
ness, is entitled to just what ho earns
and no more; but what ho earns
should be sufficient to give him and
his family somo of the moro essential
conveniences of modern life, time for
study, some recreation, and opportuni
ty for education for his children. With
somo money in his pocket the farmer
will support tho church, place conven
iences in his house, mngazincs and lit
erature on the sitting-room table, and
send his children to tho best schools
with very little outside prompting.
Weekly News Letter, Department of
Agriculture.
MORE NEW SETTLERS
New settlers and land seekers aro
arriving every day arid many home
stead filings aro being made at tho
U. S. Land Office this month.
Among the new people to arrive
in Malheur County aro H. C. Lam
beth and Henry Foster of Arknnsas,
Clarence V. Loomis from Roseberry.
Idaho, Mrs. F. E. Bray from Alham
bra Springs, Mont, and Carl Pause
of La Grande, all of whom have- se
cured homesteads and other lands
through tho Percy M. Johnson Co. of
this city.
All these people express themselves
as being highly pleased with this coun
try and indicato that many of their
friends will soon come here for land.
FAREWELL TO P. E. O.
PRESIDENT
There was a farewell party given
Dr. and Mrs. Frank L. Williams at
the residence of Mr. and Mrs. II. C.
Eastham Tuesday evening. That is
it was represented to bo a farewell
party, but upon its conclusion those
who had participated decided that it
must have been a taxpayers meeting
or Verdun battle.
Advantage was taken of tho occa
sion to initiate somo new male mem
bers into a society wherein and where
by they wero pledged to many impos
sible accomplishments and were com
pelled at tho point of a broom to
promise a lot of things that made
Satan smile, as he would be sure to
get the promisors for one thing or tho
other perhaps and probably both.
Nevertheless and notwithstanding
tho strcnuosity of tho affair tho ev
ening was pleasantly spent, the re
past excellent, while the pleasuro of.
the occasion was intermingled with
regrets that Vale was to loso the so
ciety of Mr. and Mrs. Williams.
Chapter K. of the P. E. O. society
of Valo has lost one of its charter
members and Vale loses a charming
lady and worthy citizen.
Passing from tho environment of
i largo and growing city like Vale
Into a frontier town like Chicago will,
perhaps, causo this worthy couple
many regrets and ropinings but even
the cast will becomo civilized after a
whilo and, with their experience and
assistance will sometime equal the
great west Farewell and good luck.
BAKER BUYS AUTO
TRUCK
B. L. Baker, of Harper, was in the
ity last week, and took out with him
i one-tone Buick auto truck, which
vas purchased through Chas. Cope),
jf this city. Tho truck is, a late mod
si and will bo used for carrying U,
S. Mail and freight three times a
week between Harper and Follyfarm.
In the business of efficiency too
many men are muzzle-loaders,
It is easy for a politician to con
vince himself that he is a natural
leader of men.
LAND CASE
DECIDED
Important Litigation in the
Dead Ox Flat Country is
Passed Upon by General
Land Office.
THE LOCAL LAND
OFFICE IS UPHELD
Findings of Register and
Receiver Indorsed.
E. J. Patch, in 1891, settled upop
and put in cultivation some 87 acre's
of fine land on an island in Snake
river near Weiser, Idaho. In 1894 Mr.
Patch homesteaded land on Dead Ox
Flat and later offered to purchase
with scrip tho land on tho island
which ho had improved and lived on
for years.
His application was protested by
Job D. Osbourne, who, with a partner
named McCool, seized the ferry be
longing to Mr. Patch and carried over
their supplies setting up a tent on the
land. Upon being ordered off they
refused and wero arrested for tres
pass. They then attempted, through
the advice of theirj attorney, to secure
the land through filing a placer lo
cation over it
Meanwhile Mr. Patch had enlisted
for tho Spanish war being sent to the
Philippines from which place ho re
turned in 1899. After some years the
caso camo before tho Valo Land Of
fice, Thos. Jones, Register andi M. N.
Fegtly, Receiver.
After hearing the evidence the Valo
Office decided in favor of Patch., Os
borne took an appeal to tho Commis
sioner of tho General Land Office at
Washington. Tho decision of the Com
missioner arrived in Valo last week
and sustains tho decision of Messrs
Jones and Fegtly in every point
REVIEW OF POLITICAL.
SITUATION
Business has been fino the past
week or ten days. Like bees seeking
nectar from tho sweet blossoms of the
dogwood, or bears searching for a
bee tree, so hath the ubiquitous poli
tician como out from his winter den
and tho suffragist ct suffragette finds
himself or herself as helpless as a
butterfly stalked by tho wily scientist
with his not. Better by far bo a fly
pursued by tho Valo Civic Club than
an elector male or femalo.
Harney county warriors Gowan and
Donegan with General County Judge
Lovcns in command exploded a crater
in Valo and tho entire population was
captured so say tho aforesaid war
riors and to Ontario they went with
Valo in their pockets. Nevertheless
doth Brother Crandall smile and Sen
ator to be (may bo) Hurley smole
a loud smole and said: "That's what
they told ME in Harney."
Assessors have been so thick in
Valo that one might walk on them and
as for pretty gumshoo work com
mend us to our crop of assessors.
If General Pershing had the Mal
heur army of assessors with him Villa
would give up and come in to camp.
Who has tho best of it? Ask them.
Every ono of them will admit it.
Smiling Pat keeps silent and writes,
and writes, and writes, and there is
something to what he flays somo
times. Bob Duncan works at tho job
of running for ofllco just as he docs
at his law work with all his might
"If you want any thing ask for it
but grab while you aro asking:" that's
Bob, and it's a safo bet that one of
them will givo W. C. Swagler a hot
chase.
But for county clerk: There is no
moro excitement in that contest than
there is in Jordan Valley over tho
tax roll.
Ono thing suro, that Harney county
bunch has got a good general along
with them. Judge Lovens isn't run
ning for anything but you wouldn't
konw it Ho's just too nico for any
thing, Evil reports come from afar. We
hear that there is to be real contest
for the ofllco of sheriff. Tis well.
Let Big Ben have a scrap, It will do
him good, even if he wins. It bright
ens the wit, enthuses the heart and
sometimes tends to real economy for
even an incumbent to have to guess
how badly his constituents think of
him onco in a while. ,
Jolly Emory Cole and able bodied
Jimmio Wood will go to the mat May
19, the one getting the decision hav
ing tho privilege of trying on tfie
Continued from page 6)