Vale is the Center of Vast Development. Drilling for Oil Finally Inaugurated. Warmsprings Project Assured. Willow-Alder Project making Headway. Owyhee Project Progressing. The t ro s "t less
Brogan Country More Prosperous than ever. Great Drainage Projects Going Forward. Dairying Rapidly Gaining. Sheep, Cattle, Hogs, Higher than ever. Malheur County is a Mecca for Investors!
VOLUME VII, NO. 51.
VALE, OREGON, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 1916.
SUBSCRIPTION, $2.00 PER YEAR
JUDGE WILL R.
KING LECTURES
ON IRRIGATION
Condemns Malheur County
Settlers For Doing Noth
ing but "Sucking Their
Thumbs" for the Past 20
Years-Thinks The Jones
Bill Will Be Amended and
Passed.
Judge Will R. King was in Vale
Monday night and made a talk at the
Court House on irrigation with ref
erence to some plan by which the
government might build storage and
distribution systems for all worthy
projects.
The sum and substances of the plan
as outlined by Judge King, is for
the government to guarantee the in
terest and principle of irrigation dis
tricts after proper examination and
report by government reclamation of
ficials. Condemning the Jones bill as a
farce the Judge stated that it had
passed the Senate and it was under
stood generally that after amendment
it might pass the House.
Settlers Scored.
The Judge condemned the settlers
of this district for sitting still and
sucking their thumbs while the plums
were being distributed to other states.
"If you will not present your claims
to Congress," said Judge King, "Con
gress will do nothing for you. There
are more than fifty other large pro
jects, many of which are being pushed
by their promoters, and which will
receive consideration from Congress
and some of them probably favorable
attention. You must send a delega
tion down to Washington to repre
sent your district and to show just
what you have. You have to my
knowledge the best and cheapest pro
ject in the United States, and I am
acquainted with all of them.
Cannot Make Promises.
"Of course," continued the Judge,
"I cannot speak for the department,
for the Secretary nor for Congress,
but personally I want to see the pro
ject built by the governsent and the
load of interest taken from the farm
ers, and it is well worth while for
you to send a well informed and de
termined representative, like Judge
Davis or C. W. Mallett down to Wash
ington." Judge King reverted to the past
failures which were caused by gov
ernment demands being first too se
vere and later by the supineness of
the people. Asked if the refusal of
the department to give us any en
couragement meant anything the
Judge replied that: "You can expect
nothing but the formal statement of
conditions from Washington in reply
to letters. There is no one able to
promise anything. It must be by per
sonal effort on the ground. Others
get their wants recognized and why
not you when your wants are worthy?
Well Represented.
"Again," continued Judge King,
"while you have as good representa
tives in Congress as any state in the
Union, they have a thousand demands
on them and it is simply impossible
for them to give their time to any one
matter. They work continually and
faithfully but every demand from
Oregon must' have their attention and
you must do as others, send someone
down there to help them and they
will give you every opportunity to
present your claims."
There were a number present and.
the meeting was presided over by
Col. R. G. Wheeler who first intro
k ducd Mr. Burr, one of the agents of
the Reclamation department now lo
cated at North Yakima.
Mr. Burr spoke a few minutes on
the necessity of unity of effort and
organization in carrying out irriga
tion projects and greatly favored the
district organization in conformity
with the desires of the department.
Disclaiming any but cursory know
ledge of the Warmsprings project,
Mr. Burr was confident that it was
one of the best in the country.
Th"e fact that there are many things
that money won't buy isn't much of
a consolation to a man who is broke.
Much of the proscrastination in
this world is devoted to the post
ponement of writing letters.
Women excel in certain respects;
no man could get as much in a re
frigerator as his wife does.
A man who carries a key ring us
ually carries a lot of usejess keys.
Brothers Scrap
Bound Over
Joseph and John Conselmo, broth
ers owning the Idanha Orchards, got
into a row down on the Boulevard the
other day and shooting took place.
One bullet penetrated the rear end
of an auto and woundod a young lady
in the thigh.
Taken before Judgo King at Onta
rio, Joseph was fined $50 and John
bound over to the grand Jury.
PROGRAM AT M. E. CHURCH
The M. E. Church will give a con
cert and musical program on Thurs
day evening at 8 o'clock. A silver
ofTering will be taken. Following is
the program, as arranged:
Selection by the choir.
Recitation, Margaret Humphrey.
Piano Duet, Misses Helen and Vina
Mueller.
Solo, Where the Pour Leaf Clover
urowa, Mrs. u. u. xoung. 1
Recitation, Bemlce Colo.
Piano Selection, Mrs. Arthur Moody
Solo, (Selected) Mrs. H. R. Dunlop.
Reading, Ella Betterly.
Instrumental Selection, Miss Wild
man. Reading, Scotch Jn'B Story, Mrs.
M. H. Doollttle.
Solo, (Selected) Mr. Kimball.
Selection by the choir.
MOOREVILLE HOMESTEADER IN
TOWN
J. E. Young, of Mooreville, was in
town Friday on' business. Mr. Young
is well pleased with that country but
complains that there or some van
dals frequently passing through that
section that pick up everything that
is loose.
Election Returns From Official Count
Below may be found a summary of
tho official count in Malheur County.
The complete count shows as did the
incomplete returns published last
week, that Malheur county has gone
democratic. Mueller and Weaver be
ing the twin republicans elected.
The Tax Limitation Amendment
lost in the county by 87 votes but
won in the state. This means that
whatever the amount of money rais
ed this year it can be exceeded next
year by only six per cent, except by
holding a special election.
Should there be a desire to build
the connection with the John Day
Highway care must be taken this
year to provide funds in such on
amount that the work will be kopt
up as rapidly as in other counties.
The cost for Malheur will be light
Grant and Wheeler counties will have
the heavy work and Baker will spend
a large sum in branch connections in
order to retain her hold on the inter
ior trade which might Blip to Mal
heur county.
The state is "Bone Dry" by a large
majority. Thirsts will remain un
quenched unless the legislature fails
to perfect the bill which ia unlikely.
There seems to be no penalty attach
ed to violation and alcohol may be
imported for other than beverage
purposes.
Lora C. Little failed to convince
the electors that smallpox was a good
thing and the Anti-vaccination law
fell into the scrap heap.
Oregon will have none of the U'Ren
single tax scheme. Nevertheless ru
mors are abroad that a new bill will
be framed at once. Malheur county
hit it hard.
Lack of understanding caused Ne
gro Suffrage bill to be beaten. Hun
dreds of voters thought they were
voting on the right of Negros 'and
American bom Chinamen to vote.
Sufficient explanation was not given
and the electors failed to read the
book sent out by the state. The fact
that it was merely to clear the stat
utes of dead timber was not dwelt
upon by any of the press to any great
extent.
It is also generally admitted that
voting on the Sunday Closing Law
was also at cross purposes for the
same lack of understanding. Word
ing of repeal laws is ambiguous gen
erally. Should the question be put:
"Shall the bill be Repealed?" Vote
Yes or No. Understanding would be
less uncertain.
President.
Hughes, 1689.
Wilson, 1987.
Hanly, 54.
Benson, 294.
Callahan, 8.
Wilson beat Hughes, 248.
Representative to Congress.
Barkley, 498.
Sinnott, 2606.
Secretary of State.
COONS TO CELEBRATE
AT 'RISTOCRATIC CLUB
BIG MEETIN' PLANNED
Posters are being printed announc
ing the meeting of the "Coonville
'Ristocrat Club" at the home of Ras
tus and Mandy Johnson, popularly
known as The Rex, on Friday even
ing, Nov. 24. It is also made known
that the "meetin' will be called to
ordah" at 8:15 p. m. promptly by Rev.
Ward Bleacher Jenkins.
That the Vale High school has a
good amount of talent for a negro
and musical entertainment, has been
demonstrated in long ago, and it is
hoped the people of Vale will turn
out and give the students the audi
ence they deserve. There will be plen
ty of music, and the Jolly Pickanin
nies will be there. Seats can be re
served at the Vale Drug Store at 50c
for adults and 25c for children.
Sleep is also essential, and no af
ter dinner speaker should try to talk
until breakfast time.
PARENTS DIE
IN SHORT TIME
Surveyor elect, B. F. Farmer, has
received word from Mrs. Farmer that
both her father and mther have pass
ed on.
Mrs. Farmer left Vale some time
since for the home of her parents up
on receipt of the news that her fath
er was not expected to live. A day
or two after her arrival her mother
died and later the father also passed.
Their .home is in California near
Colfax.
Cannon, 443.
Olcott, 2835.
Justice Supreme Court.
Bright, 443.
Burnett, 1660.
Hosmer, 445.
Moore, 1519.
Oliver, 1254.
Food and Dairy Commissioner.
McKinnon, 508.
Mickle, 2412.
Rempel, 276.
Public Service Commissioner.
Corey, 2417.
Start, 588.
Judge Circuit Court.
Dalton Biggs, 3047.
Joint State Senator.
Graham, 1474.
Hurley, 1836.
Joint State Representative.
Crandall, 2501.
District Attorney.
Duncan, 1721.
Swngler, 1866.
Sheriff.
Bean, 263.
Brown, 2022.
Cole, 1627.
Clerk.
Moody, 1911.
Sears, 285.
Staples, 1669.
Treasurer.
Mueller, 1818.
Sears, 397.
Soward, 1480.
Assessor.
Carlile, 1926.
Hill, 1617.
Keller, 281.
School Superintendent.
Fay Clark, 1958.
Estelle Conklin, 1627.
Surveyor.
Farmer, 1611.
Johnson, 427.
Miller, 1426.
Coroner.
Payne, 2823.
Winterowed, 407.
County Commissioner.
Green, 336.
Lamberson, 1433,
Weaver, 1688.
Justice of the Peace.
Basin, C. C. Quackenbush.
Beulah, Geo. Love.
Bib Bend, John Holly.
Bully, Henry Hyde.
Grange, F. M. Vines.
Jamieson, C. II. Zevely.
Jones, G. F. Friesz.
Jordan Valley, J. E. McDonnell.
Juniper, W. G. Thomson.
Juntura, R. J. Reed.
Malheur, Geo. II. Bod fish.
Nyssa, J. A. Boydell.
Ontario, Cairo, Fair, G. L. King.
Owyhee, E. M. Blodgett
Riverside, H. Fairman.
Riverside, A. E. High, Constable.
Rockville, Clarence Mullinix.
Rome, W. T. Stone.
Skullsprings, Sam Gould.
(Continued on page 6.)
BUDGET
COMPLETE
Court Will Meet on Decem
ber 8, Will Listen to All
Advice and Make Final
Levy-Brichoux Case Cost
County $2500--People Will
Demonstrate Their Wants
LISTEN TO COMPLAINTS
Tax Limitation Law Was
Passed-Next Year's Bud
get Can Be Only Six Per
Cent More Than The Am
ount Raised This Year
Except By Election.
On another page will be found a
Budget which shows the proposed ex
penditures of Malheur county for the
ensuing year.
The divisions are made in this pub
lication showing those items, over
which the County Court has no jur
isdiction; has no power to change.
Tho items for Circuit Court are of
course estimated and tho fund pro
posed may be ample or insufficient
as the business of the Court can be
only partially foreseen.
The Brichoux case cost the county
about $2500. Two or three such cases
would absorb the entire appropria
tion.
Special school taxes, special road
taxes, head tax on school children,
widow's pensions, high school tax, all
officials, tate tax, are ffcyond 'the jur
isdiction of the County Court.
Caro of the indigent, expense at
tached to juvenile court, can only bo
approximated, but money not spent
is in tho treasury subject only for the
purpose appropriated.
Now is the time for examination
of the Budget; investigation of the
needs of the county; and upon the
time set citizens interested should
appear before the court and state
their opinions and desires.
Those who have complained of ex
travagance have now an opportunity
to show the Court what is proper for
them to lop off; what to reduce; where
to save.
The people in council demanded n
low roll, and it is now only fair and
right for them to show the Court
how to make a low levy.
They afterwards repudiated the
low roll, it is true, but it is now up
to them to demonstrate to the Court
that they know just what they want,
and how to get it.
Tho Nestor of .Kingman Colony
who opposes taxation of mortgages,
but in other respects upholds all law,
and, demanding tho roll bo allowed
to remain at $6,000,000, refused to
serve on a committee of investiga
tion of the roll and stated before a
Grange meeting that the roll was all
right, should now come forward and
specifically point out wherein a low
levy will produce sufficient funds to
pay bills.
Citizens might well note that the
tax limitation amendment has passed
and will soon be a law. Under that
law next year's budget can be only
six per cent more than the amount
raised this year except through an
election.
HOW THE MOTOR TORPEDO
BOATS WOULD DEFEND US
Imagine, now, an attempt to invade
the United States. Two hundred
miles at sea our fleet is engaging the
enemy's battleships in an effort to
stop him from reaching our shores.
The outcome of the battle is at least
doubtful. Meanwhile his transports
steam on. A motor scout sees them.
At once the wireless telegraphic key
of n radio operator flashes to the
nearest boat station tho number of
the transports and their bearing. The
news is wired from station to station.
A veritable swarm of motor torpedo
boats sets out. Their commander em
ploys regulation torpedoboat tactics;
a dozen boats are sent against a sin-
glo vessel; one at least will strike a
telling blow. Tho boats He low; they
are difficult to hit. The enemy's trans
ports, on tho other hand, are large
and very distinct. Moreover, tho
rango is a mile and a half. Tho pis
tols in tho war heads are set. A half
dozen torpedoes aro launched at onco
against the broadside of the trans
port. There is the thunder of an ex
plosion; a troopship dives head fore
most into the waves; three regiments
perish,
ENGINEER VISITS VALE
ON JOHN DAY SURVEY
TO START WORK EARLY
J. H. Scott, engineer in charge of
tho John Day Highway survey ui.der
supervision of tho State Engineer's
office, was in Vale Tuesday and re
ported the survey as practically com
plete from Mayville, in Wheeler coun
ty to Ironside in Malheur.
The route will be up the John Day,
meeting the Malheur county division
at Unity. The entire route will have
no grade exceeding five per cent.
It is expected that Baker will build
south and then east and west, which
will develop a great territory now
without adequate communication. Tho
Forest reserve corps have completed
a preliminary survey through the re
serve and it is now up to the several
counties to provide tho necessary
funds with which to complete this
connection with tho Columbia High
way. It is hoped that work can be start
ed on this road construction in the
early spring.
VALE WEATHER
SOME COLD!
Snake" River Valley and Malheur
county have had somo cold spell. Tho
thermometer has indicated 7 below
two or three nights. '
Many pipes have ben frozen and
the city plumbers have been busy.
Days have been clear and beautiful
and the afternoons warm and pleas
ant Thursday tho weather moderat
ed somewhat.
Remonstrance From
(From tho Oregon Voter.)
Which will you have trifled with by
politicians the heads or tho feot of
your, children?
Shall their little brains be exploit
ed in order to give some ofilceseeker
tho cheap glory that may win him his
election?
A movement to have tho state man
ufacture shoes for school children,
while it would bo silly and socialis
tic, would merely injure the children's
feet if they had to wear the shoes.
How about the move to havo tho
state write and print tho text-books
which are the foundation upon which
tho child's educational welfare rests?
Is not such a move far moro perni
cious than a state shoe-manufacturing
scheme?
Today Oregon can command nil
that is best in tho world's school text
book production. Her educators, in
the manner and form prescribed by
law, may chooso tho best from all
that are produced.
Yet, for tho sake of getting some
jobs in a state' printing office, some
printers havo started a move to have
tho state quit taking the best that can
bo obtained for tho children's educa
tional texts, and go into the business
rof writing, printing nnd binding such
inferior publications as a state can
produce.
A lot of politicians, ever ready to
grab at an issue that may give them
a bit of popularity because of an ap
peal to uninformed popular prejudice,
at once take up tho cry. They are
parading themselves as doughty
champions of Oregon Labor, and aro
vieing with each other in strong lan
guage aimed at tho supposed school
book trust
These reflections are brought about
by an article we have just perused in
the Kansas Teacher, published month
ly by the Kansas State Teachers' As
sociation, at Topeka. The article is
an editorial, printed in large type,
and evidently reflects tho intensity of
feeling of the teachers after having
been compiled to teach from state
manufactured text-books. They have
had the experience, and havo observ
ed the political text-book in uso
among their little pupils. Mark what
they say:
"It has been charged that teachers
do not approve of tho law that pro
vides for the publication of text books
for uso in the public schools by tho
ftate. To this charge tho most repre
sentative, most thoughtful, most pro
gressive, and most independent mem
bers of the teaching profession in
Kansas would, and do, plead guilty.
And it is to their credit that they do
not approve of the present law.
"If tho schools oxist for the good
of the children rather than for tho
benefit of the politicians', if the so
lection of a first class series of read
ers for the use of a quarter of million
pupils means more than the eavjnff
Easy Money
Is Coming
An attempt to get tho tourist tra
vel through Oregon by means of a
combined advertising campaign fin
anced by the States of Oregon, Wash
ington and assisted by British Col
umbia, is to bo made tnis coming
year.
Tho legislature is to tie asked for
$25,000 at Salem this winter. Wash
ington will furnish a liko amount and
British Columbia a l)ttto less. A bu
reau will bo established in eastern
centers and information furnished
prospective tourists as to routes and
scenery together with such other
items of interest which may be need
ed to bring the tourist through Ore
gon, etc.
Hero is the advantages and neces
sity of tho John Day Highway made
apparent. No route in America will
equal that from Ontario, Vale, Bro
gan, via Unity and down the John
Day to tho connection with the Col
umbia Highway at The Dalles.
Fivo hundred dollars per day would
bo a small estimnto for the money
Bpent in Vale nlono should this route
bo immediately established.
Tho organization will bo known as
the Pacific Northwest Tourist Asso
ciation. The President, A. E. Todd,
and Secretary, H. C. Cuthbert, are
both residents of Victoria, B. C. The
Oregon members are H. A. Latta,
Medfor; R. E. Scott, Hood River; Til
ford Taylor, Pendleton; W. J. Hof
man, Phil Metschan, Mark Woodruff,
Portland; Emory Olmstcad, Vice
President for Oregon.
California gets $200,000,000 per
year from tourists. Oregon might
easily get somo of this and some of
her own, while Malheur county would
certainly get her portion.
Far Away Kansas
of three-fourths of a cent to each
parent of these pupils by adopting
an inferior edition, then state publi
cation is without excuse or defense.
To bo able to give to tho children of
the public school the best texts avail
able and, to offer them only tho poor
est and cheapest is more than an er
ror. It is n crime. To exploit the
public school system merely to pro
vide political spoil, or to appeal to
the galleries is to play tho charlatan.
For' it is the business of the state,
first and last, to Safeguard and con
serve tho rights and benefits of thoso
whom it educates.
"So, before the coming Legislature
votes more funds for the extension
of state publication, let it investigate
most rigidly tho success with which
the experiment has met thus far. Let
it hear both sides of the question.
Let it find out at first hand how
the teachers and tho thoughtful par
ents of the state feel about this mat
ter. Let it inquire if the texts al
ready published by the state print
ing plant havo any standing in tho
schools of the country at large. Let
it have not only tho facts of those
who advocate state publication but
all tho facta available. Let it consid
er whether state publication 'may not
bo a Frankenstein in disguise.
"Parents of tho school children of
Kansas probably spend annually two
and one-half millions of dollars for
school shoes. Here is a neglected op
portunity. Let the state establish a
state school shoe plant at Lansing,
and furnish theso school shoes to the
school childrens' parents at actual
cost If we aro verging on socialism,
let us have socialism pure and unde
fined. Let's not be satisfied with
makeshifts."
A MAGIC WAND WHICH CHANG
ES COLD WATER INTO HOT
ALMOST INSTANTLY
The variety of uses to which the
little immersion-heater may be put
will insure its popularity. It is n
cylindrical tubo about seven inches in
length, having a flexible cord with a
plug at the end which may bo attach
ed to any electric-light socket In
side of tho nickel caso microhm resis
tance wire is wound about a mica coil,
and when current is passed through
this wiro a white heat is obtained in
a few seconds, so that it heats a
small vessel of water almost instant
aneously. The cylinder is Immersed
in tho shaving mug, for instance, and
in less than a minute the water is
ready for use. A few seconds longer
and it will boil. In warming the ba
by's bottle, howover, it is best to
heat a larger vessel of water, and set
the covered bottle in it, which will
take a little longer time. This spec
ial use will be most appreciated dur
ing the cold winter nights.
WARMSPRINGS 5
HISTORY IS
REVIEWED
Organization Is Now Ready
Time Is Left For A Lot
To Be Accomplished-Matter
is Now in the Hands
of Congress, Subject to
Secretary's Will.
The Hon. Will R. King, one of the
tVi rnn mmmiflatAn.ra nnA nlon n 1 r.
ney for tho reclamation department
at Washington, whose talk is given
in another column, made somo re
marks which cause us to believe that
he is cither not conversant with tho
trend of irrigation matters in this
section or has reason to think tho
people havo been slow in taking' ad
vantage of their opportunities. His
expressions call for a little historical
sketch of the events leading up to
the present: -
Something liko twenty years' sinca
the government, under the direction
of Supt Newell, attempted to do
something in this district Mr. New
ell, a very able engineer but utterly
unable to deal with a farming popu
lation, favored the Warmsprings or
rather the Malheur project, but made
demands on the owners which were
so unreasonable that no ono of them,
would agree.
In tho discussion much bitterness
was shown and ill feeling engender
ed and the project practically aban
doned by Newell. Through irrigation
and engineering inexperience many of
tho government projects, started in
other states, proved more expensive
than estimated and it was found that
tho payment demands of the govern
ment' could not 'bo- met by settlers.
Thoy havo been modified' and through,
tho light of investigation and experi
ence thoy are all about to prove sucV
cessful.
Ono main cause of failure to rapid
ly develop was found to bo lack of ir
rigation farmers and irrigation know
ledge. Theso matters cannot bo cured
in an instant but' nro being cured and
successful project farmers are now
tho rule rather than otherwise.
Many Failures.
Now as to Warmsprings: For years
desultory attempts were mado to car
ry out somo reclamation plan in tHe
Malheur valley. In some of theso
failures Judgo King was connected.
At least so wo nro informed. Idaho,
just over tho line was able to get
help and money in vast quantities.
Oregon, contributing more than any
state under tho provisions of the' law,
received less than any state. The
proposition languished until about
two nnd one half years sinco a large
committee was formed to organize a
district
Tho committee failed to get tho at
tention of tho farmers and it was
practically abandoned.
Meanwhile we wero informed that
thero would bo no possibility of ob
taining government aid unless wo did
organize In fact tho commissioners
frankly stated that no unorganized
project would be considered by tho
department It was also apparent
that no bonds could bo sold on a pri
vate project and that any attempt to
float bonds without organization
would result, in expensive failure
Successful Method Used.
Last February tho .writer determ
ined to And out for a certainty wheth
er tho farmers desjrod organization
or not. Petitions were prepared and
circulated by J. W. Lynd, 'C. Wi WaU
lett, A. W. Trow nnd tho-,writer,
Some eighty signatures were, obtain
ed and the proposition went to vote
on tho 27th day of May, .1916,-, carry
ing by a vote of 84 to 11. The .dis
trict was organized.
Memorial.
C. E. S. Wood nnd C. W. Mallett
had prepared a memorial to the de
partment reciting many of our advan
tages and necessities as well as our
right to petition which was univer
sally signed by owners, it being pre
sented for signaturo to none but own
ers. This memorial brought forthihe
reply that the funds of, tho depart
ment wore all taken up for the pres
ent, but that wo would, receive con
sideration when fnuds were available.
Tho matter was taken up with Sena
tor Chamberlain and tho Senator ad
dressed Secretary Lano as to our
wants. Tho Hon. Secretary replied
succintly as abovo stated. Recogniz
ing tho worthiness of our proposal
and tho rights of Oregon generally,
the secretary ndvised that there were
no funds available in the department
at present Jf
(Continued on page 6.')'