Crook : County Journal
VOL. VI.
PRINEVILLE, CROOK COUNTY, OREGON, JANUARY 2, 1902.
NO. 3
EARLY LEGISLATURE
Of Historical Interest to
Entire State,
HeW in Salem in 1853
Ohauncey Nye Writes an Interest
ing letter About tbe Early
Session. '
The following interesting remi
niscent letter (rora C'haunccy Nye,
wlio wiu cne of Oregon's earliest
legislators, wa received by Gov
ernor Geur recently, and contains
so much of historical intercut to
the entire state t! at the Governor
has allowed it to be copied for pub
lication:
"Prospect, Jackson County, Or.,
Deo. 23kl'J01. My Dear Governor:
I Hw in the newspapers last cum
mer ft report of your address at
Newport, giving Rome extract (rora
the early laws ot Oregon, among
them some made by tho legislature
of 1853. You alioeaid that, ai far
an known, Grovor and Koine were
the only member living of tho
comprising tint legislature.
"I wai member of that legiala
tare, from Jackaon county, and
have resided here ever since, and
aa I am in a reminiscent mood, will
aay something about that body.
"It waa a working body, and got
rlttht down to business, A former
legislature had authorized and
elected a commission of three to
make a code of laws for the terri
tory. This was done, and the com
mission's work was printed and re
ferred to both bodies of the legis
luturo at the commencement of the
session, for amendment, approval
or rejection. M. P. Deady and J,
K. Kelly, two of that commission,
had been elected to tho council,
and naturally wanted their code
adopted, with aa few amendment
aa possible, but notwithstanding
this, a grout many changes were
made.
"Ah in all bodies we had those
members of certain peculiarities
and eccentricities. There was llad-
ley, of Lane. When he aroso and
said, in his peculiar manner, 'I do
now move thut wo now adjourn,' it
was. always agreed to and adjourn
ment was had. There was John F
Miller, who wanted every subject
referred to a soleet committee, and
Tie was known as '.Select Committee.1
"There was Uncle Bill v Martin,
of Douglas, who used as littlo of
the King's English as possible. He
was pleased to find one morning,
as he took i is seat, that some one
had caricatured him on the wall at
the end of his seat, a-leaning for
ward and holding out a bill, and
underneath wag written:
" 'I want to preucnt a bil for the
pertection of warnic treas.'
"He said he knew that some
Missourian had done this, as all
Missourians used the name 'warnic'
iiiHtead of 'walnut.' Shuck, of
Yamhill, piled up the King's Eng
lish, o that it was most ludicrous.
"There was two lawyers in each
house. Politically, the council was
composed of eight democrats and
one whig Scott of Umpqua, the
founder of Scottsburg, and after
whom that place was named. The
house had 21 democrats and four
whigs. The latter were: . Goff, of
Lane; Durham, of Clackamas; Dr.
Thompson, of Umpqua, and Nye,
of Juckson, The officers of each
house were two clerks, a sergeant-
ut-arms and a doorkeeper, and yet
we got along about as well as a
modern legislative body.'
"As in all mining towns in Cali
fornia, liefo'e comity organizations
were perfected, au Alcalde was
elected in each Southern Oregon
town to administer justice in all
cases, j lie same we done in jucic
sonville. This ofllcers' authority
e .tended over everything, from a
petty offense to a trial fur life. The
day 1 arrivdd in Jacksonville a
murder was committed. The mur
derer was immediately arrested,
and the next day a jury was em
paneled, a prosecuting attorney and
counsel for the defense were ap-
pointed, the defendant was duly
convicted, and he was sentenced to
bo executed in 10 days, which sen
tence was duly carried out. Dur
ing about one year and a half this ,
was the only court held in what
now constitutes the counties of
Jackson, Josephine, Lake and
Klamath. For about one-half of
this time I wan the Alcaldo, and
had quite a numlier of interesting
cases before me.
"While in tho legislature I in
troduced a bill to lugalite all the
proceedings and acta of these Al
caldes, but Grover objected, as the
organic act of the Territory of Or
egon did not give justices ot the
peace such large jurisdiction, and
he wished the law to conform to
the organic law. My bill was thus
amended and so passed, but I did
not consider it of much value in
that shape. However, tho acts of
thesoAlcaldes were never questioned
as to their legality. These Alcaldes
had but about ft dozen laws or ar
ticles for their guidance, and no
technicalities were allowed. A trial
consisted of the statements of the
parties and the evidence of wit
nesses, if any, and the case was
decided by the court, or the jury,
if either party wished one. There
was but little dissatisfaction with
the decisions of tho court. In fact,
the whole community was ready to
help enforco tho decision if it was
necessary.
"While I was milling in Yrcka,
Cal., a case came before the Alcalde
that was not only summary, but
rather novel. A man from Linn
county, Oregon, had employed a
boy to drive a team of oxen to the
mines for his board, and after ar-
ri-al I hero the roan had agreed to J
give the lad a certain amouiu to!
help him in mining. After a couple
of months' work tho fellow sold
his cattle, wagons and mining
claims and was ready to start for
home, but being one of those men
who believed that a boy had no
rights a man is bound to respect,
he refused to pay the lad for his
work. Thii boy went to the Al
calde and started his case; the de
fendant was brought before the offi
cer, and did not deny the boy's
claim, but said he had no money,
so the court ordered the constable
to take and turn the defendant the
other end up and shake him. The
constable, being ft big, burly fellow,
j:j ..I.'- it. , ounu, Auum'uuuu prize, eel vi
did as he was ordered, whon a large .. .. , . ' ' ,
. , , j . , , , 1 silver knives and forks, was drawn
purse of gold dust dropped from', ,r '
hi.nnMr.1 Tb ii.M.,.i !b.v Mrs. Jesse anccy, but up to
the purse, weighed out the amount;
of the. boy's claim, and a half
ounce for the court's fees in the
case, and the same amount for the
constable, handed the purso back
and wished the Orcgonian sate
journey home, and the case was
closed, , '.
"I attended tho republican coun
ty convention at Ashland four
years ago, end had an introduction
to you, and in the short conversa
tion we had I told you . of putting
up tho first bakery in Salem in
1851. It was in the northern part
of town, alongside of Cook's Hotel,
and act oss tho street ( jfn the home
of Elijah Williams, filter of Rich
ard and George, who were then
boys. Yours truly,
"ClJAUNCKY NYK."
Sister Sittings.
Thinking a few lines from this
place might not be amiss I will
pencil the latest happenings.
Christmas has come and gone
and wo have all enjoyed tho festal
occasion. We had a Christmas
tree, one that was a surprise to all,
for the least one could say war,
"Oli, how beautiful!"- Far beyond
what one would expect out here.
It was decorated un good style and
there was hardly room for tho
many presents which it held. A
nice p- (gram was rendered consist
ing of speeches, songs and music.
Christmas night came the dance,
which was one ot the events of the
year at this place. It had been
given out that there would be a
masque ball and there were fully
100 spectators. There was a good
turn out of masquers and some
fine costumes. The judges were
unable to decide who had won the
prize of the evening. Forty num
bers were, sold and tho floor was
chock full from the time tho dance
started until six o'clock tho next
morning. Everything went smooth
ly and there were no disturbing
elements present. Tho supper was
given by Mrs,. W. T. E. Wilson and
was as fine a spread as one would
wish to sit down to everything in
abundance and of tho best obtain
able. Most every one out here has de
cided that all that is nece?sary to
have a good time is to leave off
that article called' by tho white
man whiskey and by the Indian
firewater. J. E.
Dm. 27, 1901. .
No More Uook Kxchnngod.
On Deeemhfr 31 the exchange of
school books under tho exchange lxw,
ceased and they cmi now only he
bought at the price established by
luw. We wero informed o! this fact
on Monday morning ly the distribut
ors at his place, Michel & Hisotir. It
is a mutter lh.it should have been
brought to the attention ot the pub
lic some weeks ago, hot we ihd not
liHve the information Rt hand. When
the agent ol the lte make a selec
tion of school books they should se
lect a series thut is published by sub
stantial, people and those who will
keep abreast of the times and then
these changes would not be nccessiry
so often, nor be such a nuisance to
the general public, let alone the un
necessary expense.
Tho drawing at the Beo Hive
New Years evo resulted in the fol
lowing numbers being drawn from
the box: 1st, 2240; 2nd, 2279; 3d,
jr.u". tu i : . .... t
going to press the other winning
numbers hud not been presented.
Austin Craig, charged with ap-
nronrintinir fund from thn Runic nf
tempter, was released by furnish
ing 11,500 bonds.
NEWS BRIEFLY TOLD
Items of Interest Gath
ered Here and There
Some Stolen, Others Not
Oulllnffs From Our Exchanges
News Notes of tbe Week
Timely Topics
The total deposit in the four na
tional banks in Portland on De
cember 10, 1901, were closely in the
neighboihodd of ten million dollars,
The heaviest fall of snow known
in 50 years has fallen in Scotland,
entailing great loss of sheep in
drifts from 10 to 20 feet deep. The
storm appears to be general all
over Europe.
Attorney-General Blackburn has
recently rendered an opinion at re
quest of State School Superintend
ent Ackerman that teachers are en
titled to receive and can collect
their salaries during the time their
schools are closed on account of the
prevalence of a contagious disease.
This is the case unless contracts
specify otherwise.
The new town of Whitney has
experienced its first disastrous fire,
which occurred last week when the
big livery and stage barn occupied
by the Williams stage company
and C. B.Comstock & Co., was laid
in ashes. The barn was filled with
buy and grain, all of which was
burned with eleven head of horses
belonging to the two companies
mentioned.
Alexander Meldrum, who was
convicted at Baker City last week
on the charge of horse stealing, was
sentenced by Judge Eakin in the
circuit court to serv-j three years in
tlio penitentiary. Aleldrum was
indicted jointly with Manny How.-
ard last spring, but demanded a
separate trial. The first trial re
suited in a hung jury and the sec
ond in conviction.
Charles Emory Smith, of Phila
delphia, has tendered to tho Presi
dent his formal resignation as post-master-generul
to take effect early
this month, and Henry C. Payne,
of Wisconsin, vice chairman of tbe
republican national committee has
accepted a ten ier of the olliee to
which he will bo nominated after
the holiday recess.
The north and south bound
Southern Pacific coast limited
trains running beiweon San Fran
cisco and Los Angeles, came togeth
er early last Thursday morning in a
( head-on collision at Uplands. The
fireman, express messenger andl,, ,,miey wag by
imngcuiitu nejo nuitu aim iwcu-
ty-tive passengers more or less in
jured, probably none fatally.
From Lamonta. 7
FrnM Mir 1 1 1 i- nniMiiMM'ldii
1
William Sands and John Cole-!
man are making some improve -
menu by way J building another j
room to Coleman's residence and'
an addition to Sands' barn.
Grandma Newbill is home again.
She has been visiting with friends
ana relatives on mow ereex Iorjlar0 snJ lltvv lu,P) ajditionBi
tho past three week. She hus,h,lp WM rt.quirwl t0 it mit.
reached the ripe old age of eighty- j Mon uch hdp rould m.nni
fivo and still enjoys fairly good, tLe h()1, -.. ,.ookeJ dl!..r tiiro,,,,u
! health. She is of a kind and iren-
tie disposition, loved by all whojlleoI cocking the pork by piece
know her. meai ;g dispensed with. Klamath.
J. C. Rush met with ft very pain- Republican.
ful accident last Monday. He got
his right toot caught in a wagon
wheel and badly bruised:
- Our school is under the able
management of J C. Banks. Am
glad to say that due to the teach'
ers unremitting attention the pupils
have made very satisfactory pro
gress in all their studies.
Wednesday night a light fall of
snow covered the ground, barely
giving it ft white appearance. Since
it has been quite cold, the ground
freezing at night and thawing out
during the day,. which makes slow
progress in farm work. The opin
ion prevails that the present weath- .
er conditions may1 continue for sev
eral weeks.
On Christmas day the home of
J. C. Rush was open to a company
of relatives and friends who ac
cepted an invitation issued by a
member of the family to share in
their hospitality in celebrating
Mother Rush's sixty-third birth
day. At 12 m. the guest were in
vited to the dining room where a
table was spread with a dainty
luncheon. The evening was spent
in the usual manner, while the
guests vied with each other in as
sisting their hostess to make tbe
evening one of pleasure. It if
needless to say that their efforts
were successful.
It seems to me that ' beekeeping;
should receive some attention in
this county. It is one of the pleas
antest and surest ways of realizing
on ft small investment that is to be
fonnd. Any farmer who raises al
falfa, or any one who lives in a re
gion where alfalfa is cultivated, ciu
keep bees at a small expense
capital and labor and a large prof
it. The bee and the alfalfa blos
som aro an ideal combination.
Experiments made by the entomo
logical department of the Univer
sity of Kansas have' shown that
the seed crop in alfalfa upon which
the bees work is 66 per cent greater
than the crop taken from alfalfa
which was dependent for polinalion
on other agents. Tho greatest of
English bee raisers. Mr. Chesire.
describing an ideal honey, he said
a sample with a delicate, but char
acteristic aroma, a rich flavor and
leaving a distinct impression un
the back part of the palate, pule
straw or amber in color, with per-
i feet clea mess and a density amount
ling almost to toughness. At the
j meeting of the National Beekeerers
Association at Umaha two years
agoatet was made to determine
the qualities of honey made from
the principal honey producing
plants of Kansas and Nebraska.
Six samples were tested and the
a
competent judge to be the one most
nearly approaching the standard.
Jennik B.
Lamonta, Or., Dec. 28, 1901.
One dav last week, so we are in-.
fl)rn)tdi a"citizen hiKl 4 hog killeJ
or wintcr s,lppVi Tll0 nuill)al
, taken to one of the hot spring
i, ti11( ;inrniK1, i1!1V
- r i--, ....... -
scalded and the hair removed. It
was lowered into the seething water
easily enough, but being a very
rnln tnil. , ,;i Th. !., (r...