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Grook County Jour
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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