A J (I ' Grook County Jour Ho , VOL. Vlt. PRINEVILIK, CKOOK COUBTV, OBEfiON, JANUARY 8, 1903. NO. i mSL WAR UPON SHEEP Grant County Settlers Urge Limit Law. , Would Prohibit Sheep Prom Griulntt Within Two MUob of Habitations -FlKht Out aldo Bhocip, Grant and Hakercounty cattle men anil settlers are agitating or a two-mile limit law, similar to tlmt in operation in Mulio anil Califor nia, by which sheep ranging is not permitted withinjtwo miles of any settlors habitation. This putt a new jihue on the bitter and bloody range lend that cxiHtB in this county between home unci foreign stockmen, for while thu 'move in Grant county is apparently one uf settlers against sheep owners, it in really a step UKtiiitHt thu invading hordes o( Morrow, Gilliam, Wheeler, Crook und other county sheep which pour in here annually fur summer range. Simultanooiislyjiomcs the tidings that Grant county stockmen ro preparing for organization sulli ciently strong Upkeep out then sheep and reserve next season's range for home stockmen. It makes thu outlook for trouble in Spring brighter than ever, though the brilliant outlook for range war in 1102 was more than Infilled. Active, organized resistance to the annual campaign of outside sheep against Grant county range, a campaign o successful that of late yeurs the range has had no ehow at all, is proeipiluU-d this season by the general stirring up caused by the prospective establish ment of the Ulue and Struwlmrry mountain forest reserve, whose temjiorary lines ciiibraoe 3,200,000 acres of mainly summer range ter ritory in Grant county and vicini ty. The settlers of Grant look on the forest reserve proposition ns a scheme to roll them. They regard it us "a colossal steal." Tho In fluence of big outside sheepmen who range here in summer wan partly probubly unjustly blamed for inspiring tho reserve. This was beforo the guilt in tho eyes of Grant settlers was finally laid on school land grafters, but it served to make the stern prejudice against foreign sheepmen fiercer than ever and to rouse a sentiment whose re sult has been preparation for early and concerted opposition. That the stockmen of the county intend to make a clean and thor- oligh job is evidenced by tho fact that they aro getting ready to re- gist both through the stato law and through themselves. If the Legis lature this winter passes the two niile law, us is hoped, it will le made very uncomfortable for . vis iting flocks, which would then have the law against them in addition lo the menace of the settlers rifle. If the law does not pass, the sett lers do not promise to let the sum mer season sheep get in at all, "taking the question1 of keeping them out in their own hands. Last year they were all let in, but the intermittent spit of the long Miss ouri rilles served as a partial de terrent for the alleged range des troyers. There will be some internal dis sension regarding the agitation for the two-mile law. Cattlemen are a unit in its favor, because it in sures the absence of sheep from the doorsteps of the home residents and hence undisturbed grass for local cattle in all the settled dis tent-!. Sheepmen look askance on it for obvious reasons, Thev claim in addition that it will permit un derhand work by cattlemen who mi Ul throw up numerous settlers' shacks over the range country, oc cupy them and force sheep back into tho remotest hills. One shack would command un area of four miles range each way.' It is necessary to glance at the resident conditions of Grunt to clearly understand the. unique and complicated situation. In this rugged mountain county, a land of ranges und rocks covered deep with snow in winter, and tho best of sheep and cuttle range in summer, smAll but fertile valley settlements are scattered all through along the oreek und river bottoms. Humpies aro Fly Valley, the Bully creek country, Austin's Settlement, the Long creek valley, Indian creek, Bear valley and tho bottoms of the John Day. Hero settlers have taken up their claims and made their small improvements, their main holdings consisting of little bunches of cattle, because there are no transportation facilities for grain, even if they had tho land to raise it. The small herds of cattle are fed on the claims in winter on alfalfa, while In summer they are ranged in the valleys and the ad jacent foothills. A large portion of tho shooting affrays of Grant are caused by the trungression of sheep into the val ley settlements and into the foot hill range, which the settlers or small cattlemen claim for their very own. The two-mile limit law is designed to keep sheep off these settlements altogether. It would result in the preservation of foot hill range for cattlemen also, us isolated cabins always are scattered back some distance from the bot tom communities. If the two-mile law fails to pass, it is not certain what steps will be taken by tho cattlemen to keep out foreign sheep. Settlers and sheep men are reported to bo combining on this proHsition, and vo be ready to lay aside their own internal dif ficulties in the face of tho greater trouble from abroad. Tho invas ion swceis across Grant county from the west and north, und ex tends clear into Baker and Union counties. Sheopshearing is earlier in Morrow and the Columbia river counties than in the higher, colder regions of Grant, and the flocks ef the former a.e c!ipx'd, the wool sold and away onto Grunt's sum mer rango before the sheepmon of this county can get a start. Thus the spectacle is soon of the choicest locations' and the earliest and best grass going to sheep outside the county. Home stockmen say this is not fair, when they pay the piper in the shape of taxes. As it has been demonstrated in years past to be impossible to drive the foreign ors out, once they aro in, an effort is to be made next season to keep them out in the first place. This is bound fo result seriously in the face of the varying attitudes of the homo and foreign stockmen. Tho Grant people claim they have a right to first and best grass be cause they maintain tho county. Tho invaders say any stockman has a divine right to summer range, no matter where he live. Both sides have shown a readiness to enforce alleged rights with the family riflc.-i-Eagle. 4 ' The people at Newsom creek on joysd a well arranged Christmas tree at the new sohoolhouse. The program consisted of recitations and dialogues by the school and was well rendered. The tree was well ladened witl presents for the little folks and a real good time was enjoyed by all present. The Oregon Weekly Journal, a Demo cratic newspaper, 16 Daaea. full of newi all of It! $1 a year to any addresa. The Journal, J O. Cox Ul. Portland, Or. THE COUNTY NEWS. Letters From Our Cor respondents. Interesting Letters. Prom Our Corps of County Write Lower Crooked River to The Front. rook4 Hirer Happening.. We understand that Mr. Forest has sold his beef cuttle. School is again progressing nice ly after holidays. Montgomery brothers are haul ing straw from Mr. Harris place. Mr. McDowell killed his hogs last Friday. The West brothers were present ut the social. They aro hauling hay to their home at Lower bridge. Mrs. F. Forest, and children and Miss Kinan were guests of Mrs. Montgomery last Sunday. Welcome to tho New Year may each one be happier this year than the one just gone. Mr. Ben Jones was down in this neighborhood on business last Fri day and Saturday.. Messrs. Brown, Frank Taylor and Jesse Tetherow were bidders at the social. The holidays are now over and every one has turned over The Now Leaf, and gone to work in earnest. Mrs. Johnnie Tetherow, son und daughter were over from the Des chutes bridge to witness the com ing of the New Year. Mr. B. F. Wilhoit, wife and daughter went to the city on busi ness Saturday and returned Sun day evening. Frank Arnold, of Sisters, came over to Crooked river valley Tues day on business. Ho visited his aunt, uncle and cousins while here and returned home Wednesday. If enough are interested in sing ing, a singing school will be start ed with Mr. S. E. West as teacher. Come and help the good thing along. Misses Ktta and Clara Mont gomery were down from Prineville visiting their parents. They at tended the aociul with a pretty basket, and returned to their work ill the city Friday. 'Mr. Butler, wife and children came over from Haystack and sjient New Years Day with rela tives. Mrs. Butler is a sister of Mrs. Forest and Mrs Merril of this place. The question for debate Friday Jan. 9th Is Resolved: "That the Introduction of Machinery h been beneficial to Mankind"? Leaders are Walter Messinger and Oliver McDowell. The business meeting of The Young People's Society Friday was very interesting although onh a few were present. All play ami no work makes Jack a dull boy. We hoie the next meeting of thi kind will he well attended. Mrs. Joe Claypool ond son Guy accompanied hy Mrs. Wood were visitors of the Wilhoit last Mon day evening. They were on their way home from Prineville where they had been to take the four lit tle children of Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Lister. Mrs. Chiypool has been caring for them while their mother was away. Tho basket social on last Wednesday evening was a great success-. The house was filled and the entertainment good. Mr. Mc- Gonigal was selected auctioneer, and by his jokes and many re marks kept the hoys bidding, and the audience laughing. Twenty- one baskets, filled to the brim with good things to eat, were sold and the proceeds, which were $22.- 65. will go to The Young People's Library Society to purchase books for the library. After the contents of those pretty baskets were dis posed of the young jieople enjoyed themselves by spelling and play ing games until they bid farewell to the old year and welcomed the new. XAX. Afthwaod Ileal. E, G. Graves, of Antelope, was in town the first of the week in the interest of Stockman County. Win Loftin will leave the Morn ing Star mine soon for McKay Creek to assist his brother in the sitw-mill. Mr. Ed Marshall, of Pendleton, was in town Monday, looking after mining interests. Mr. Marshall informs us the Roy Company con template doing extensive develop ment work in the near future. Messrs. Larry Maloney and Jack Brogan have rented the new hotel from D, 8. and Chas. Hamilton, and will take charge January 1st. They will put a bar in the room now used as a sample room. We are informed that Lot Shreve the genial manager of Irvine & Hamilton's store, has tird of single life and will soon join the ranks of the henpecked. We only hope he will remain in Ashwood, not that we want to wit ness his misery but we hate to loose a good man. . With tha departure- ei 1002, Ashwood passes another mile stone in her march to the destination of being known as one of the produc ing camps in the United States, and if present indications count for anything, New Year's day 1904 will Bee us with the journey in a fair way of completion. With the opening of spring per manent work will be commenced on several properties, and that under headway now will be con tinued and the year of 1903 will see much more work done that we have been waiting for since 1900. Ashwood has never had a boom and does not want one. The most of the work so far has been done by home capital which has estab lished a confidence with all who have investigated the mines. And now that we have passed the stage of uncertainty, outside capital has begun to seek us again, and ere long possibly before we ee another New Year Ashwood will surprise the mining world. A little over five years ago the first claims were staked out and within a year from that time every available piece of land that show ed any sign of mineral whatever. had on it a mining notice, every thing pointed to a speedy develop ment of the cap. Outside capital had begun to look toward us for investment, and every indication pointed to a steady, and healthful growth. then came the litigation over the Oregon King mine that for a time retarded development on many other properties, as the owners did not want to expend any more money than lecessary until such time as they could pro cure a patent for their claims and thus eliminate the possibility of some "knocker" , causing them trouble as in the King case. The past year has .von more real de velopment work done than any time since the opening of the first prospect hole, and in every case the work has shown the prospects to be far in advance of the owners exudations. NEWS BRIEFLY TOLD Items of Interest Gath ered Here and There Some Stolen, Others Not Culling- Prom Our Bxchanstes- News Notes of the Week Timely Topics. The Crown Princess of Saxony who recently ran away, not with out male company, says the Crown Prince is a "beast." Very likely, and she is a "beaut." A New York millionaire has gone to live in the slums of that city for the purpose of reforming wicked people. But no philan thropic reformer tries to save the 400. A Connecticut man has been selling crushed stone coated with tar for coal. He must be a lineal descendant of the Yankee who in vented the wooden nutmeg. A son of Sitting Bull is working as a grader on a railroad track, and he can reflect that in these modern days of peace and indus try the bright shovel is mightier than the rusted tomahawk. The statement, emanating from Europe, that Venezuela has had 104 revolutions in 70 years, is be lieved to be a slander; it is doubt ful if more than 99 really separate and distinct revolutions could be counted up. But perhaps nobody has kept count.. The Tingley believes in killing all love between little children and their mothers. The world lill, to better off when the Tingley's sonl shall follow the example, accord ing to her notion, bf tile late W. P. Judge, and thansfer itself to a dog though it would be hard on the dog. ' The supreme court has decided that the shade trees in front of a man's residence, although on pub lic property, belong to him. The case in which the decision was rendered was one in which a prop erty owner sued a telephone com pany for cutting offthe limbs of his trees. The decision is of inter est to all property owners and cor porations. Ex, ' In the Argentine Republic bach elors are heavily taxed for the privilege of avoiding matrimony. Men are marriageable at 20, and from that age to 30 are taxed 15 a month; between 30 and 35 the tax is $10 a month; from 35 to 50 it is $20 a month, and from 50 to 75 $30 a month. But perhaps a good many bachelors manage to beat the tax collector. The Oregon constitution prohib its negroes from voting in Oregon. The Supreme court has decider that the clause is null and void, by reason of the national amend ment affecting the status of ne groes, yet nevertheless, our stati constitution stands exactly as ii did before with an inhibition against the suffrage of the negro. Is that one of the sacaed portions of the time-honored document? It becoming apparent that i. great many people were resorting to oil, as a partial substitute foi coal, the oil trust thought it a nici time to raise the price of oil. Be tween, tho coal ' trust and the oi. trust, the people of the Northeast em States are having another kim of warm time than they like. A Shanico man was heard to make nn ungnlhint remark the other day. In speaking of the ex peiise of keeping a family he F.rd: "I use my wife's temper for a fum ace, her feet for a refrigt rator, her company manners for sugar and as we have tongue all tho year around you see my expenses are Hot very high." Chicago also has a centennial celebration due next year, for it was early in the year 1803 that General Henry Dearborn, Secre tary of War, ordered a company of soldiers to the mouth of the Chica go River to build a fort. They ar rived in July, and built the fort, which was named after the Secre tary. That was the initial event in the history of Chicago, this fort then being the center of a vast country almost uninhabited by white people, and the event, some time during the coming year, will be duly celebrated by Chicago, as sisted by the millions now inhabit ing that region. During the year ending June 30, 1902, there were 14,983 persons appointed to positions in the U. S. classified civil service, which -was 4,692 more than were ever before appointed in a single year. If you wish information about positions of this kind you can obtain it free by writing for the civil service an nouncement of the Columbian Correspondence school, Washing ton, D. C. The civil service com mission will hold examinations to secure young men and women for these places during March and April, at Pendleton and Portland. From 3,046 appointments dur ing the first year of Mr. McKin- ley's administration, they have in creased to nearly five times that number. President Roosevelt is a firm believer in the merit system, and as long as he is president these appointments will continue td inci'nute. f f " ".' lunar Fre4's Fred Dawson, one of Lincoln! county's respectable and enter prising farmers, who also conducts a drug store and so forth at Al bany, is out with a catalogue bear ing the title, "Dawson's Traveling Clerk." At the bottom appears Fred's motto: "When business is good hustle. When it is dull hus tle more." Therein is a pointer for every business man on earth. Fred Dawson goes gunning for trade, and gets it. He is thor oughly next to the sensible idea of small profits and quick sales. A well known citizen of Toledo says Fred advertises his leading staple as follows: "Putrefied "and petri fied pills and pellets prepared, pickled, polished and packed at poor people's prices, provided pur chasers pay prior to perishing." That is a little overdrawn, but it bests the old dry, common place stylj. The pamphlet is signed "Dawson, the Pill Autocrat." To ledo Leader. A Wet Day For .Vunkrali. During the recent high water, E. F. Wilson, the popular young at torney of this city, telephoned to Dick Kiger for information re garding the wild duck situation in that neighborhood. Dick teleponed back that there were not many ducks, but that the muskrats were all treed and for Ed to hurry down. Mr. Wilson provided himself with a 32 calibre rifle and plenty of am munition and proceeded to Mr. Kiger's home. Ed was accompan ied by a friend from this city and they secured a boat, and from all reports, such a muskrat hunt was never before recorded On his- re turn to this city it is told of Ed that he hired boys to skin his "rats" and that on one occajdun if he had not been talking law, he could have sold his muskrat pelts for something like $50. Corvallij Gazette. X