I i N ( 6 j ; Crook .County VOL. XIII PRINEVILLE, CROOK COUNTY, OREGON, JANUARY 7, 1909. NO. 4 U3 A Heaviest Snow in Two Years Winter It On in Dead Earnest Over Central Oregon The heaviest mow in two yean fell here Tuesday, lomi nine inches of the beautiful covering the earth between Monday midnight and Tuesday afternoon. Another inch waa added Tueidsy night, while additional flurriei have increased the depth to about one foot, with fulling weather atill prevailing. The anow waa driven by a gale of wind in ita flret stages, making the weather exceedingly disagree able. The aun ahone forth bright. ly Wednesday morning, causing the whole countryside to retemble a fairy acene but very much like winter. From a temperature of 40 above xero at 10 o'clock Monday night the mercury fell to 1 degree below the cipher early Wednesday morn ing. The week before Christmas the bulb regiatered around tero for three daye in succession without any anow, the maximum being 3 degreea below. Ed Parker Hurt in Runaway . Caught in the wheel of a run away wagon and dragged bodily, awinging and cruvhed, over a rough road, Ed Parker, a Bear creek rancher waa eerioualy hurt about a week ago half a mile tbia tide of the Mike Mayfield place. Although badly bruiied, with one leg probably fractured, he will recover. Parker bad lot a horse on a recent trip to Madraa and on hit return to Prineville obtained an other horae to drive home. The Utter waa fractioua and near the May Held place ran away, throwing Parker out and entangling him in the wheel. After being flung free of the wheel, Parker dragged himself the half mile to Mayfield'e. lie reached there exhausted and bad it been a rod farther could not have made the goal where aid awaited bira. , Rough Joke on Don Steffa Crook Arretted and Booked in Newapaper Man'e Name Frienda of Don Steffa in this city are condoling with him over a re port publinhed in the Portland Telegram that he had been ar retted for thefts committed in the Portland poHtoffice. "The news paper story also painted him as a dope fiend. The Telegram itory is as follow: A yoiuiir nwin who cave the name of I. Stoffn waa arrentl In the corridor of the poxtofilce this after noon on miMplrlon of Ih-Iiik connected with the recent dltmpjiefirHnee of vnrlotiH artlclin around the building and wim booked at the police station on a charge of vagrancy. Elmer Lilian, engln-HT of the building, has for Motne time siiHpected Steffn, who hiiN Ikn-ii mru hanging around the corridor during the punt few montlm, and when Llllard attvinix'd to qucf. tlon liliu Sti ff ji made n break for the front door, but won caught by Andy McIioIIm, a Government ideuth, who turned hlni over to I'atrolman Ilurke. A aenndi of HU-ffn's jhthdii revealed a complete hypodermic out. fit, and further examination proved III in to ! a continued dope fiend. It was all a mistake, due to a practical joke. The man arrested refused to give his name, and as Steffa had been police reporter for the Portland Journal and waa on familiar terms with the deek ser geant at police headquarters, an other roan present suggested, aa a joke, booking the prisoner aa "D Steffa." This was done. Mr. Steffa waa formerly an owner of the Crook County Journal. For a long time after going to Portland he acted as police reporter (or the Journal but is now telegraph editor of the Telegram. Mr. Steffa has a right to feel "soro" He has the sympathy of the Journal and the state press, but being a newspaper man him self ho "knows how it is. Get This Separator.' Kharple Cream Separator No. 2; will sell or trade for stock, rows preferred. Separator nearly new. For particulars see J. H. Smith, Prineville, Or. 12-31-2tp HOMESEEKER'S INFORMATION Facts and Figures Con cering Crook County REPLY TO LETTERS OF INQUIRY Resources of This District Opportunities Offered Intending Settlers aud to For Sale. One second-hand 3,'i-inrh wspnn, (10 12 -31-2t J . II. Dki-ohc, Prineville, Or, SALE BEGINS SATURDAY JANUARY 2d Odds & SALE lids 10 PER CENT FREE GOODS GIVEN AWAY Every year we have succeeded in putting on a stirring, sensational and important sale, to get us ready for spring goods. Owing to our rapidly growing business our fall purchases covered a larger variety of goods and lines than ever before and heavy sales have practically broken our stock into little "bits". From our whole store we have gathered these odds and ends and we propose to sell them for CASH during this sale at the lowest and severest cut prices that this town has ever known. Not only this, but every purchaser will receive absolutely free 10 PER CENT FREE GOODS to be selected from the remnants of our Holiday Stock, including Dolls Doll Buggies, Toys, Etc,, as long as they last. Sale includes odds and ends of Dress Goods, Furnishing Goods Clothing, Hats and Shoes. Space does not permit details. Sale' begins Saturday, January 2nd we cannot get ready Sooner. '0$k A110dds& ME!J Ends KUa LadieS' ' wKmW Waisls One-Half Price Odds and Ends Children's Underwear, One-half Price Children's All Wool Sweaters, in white and colors regular $1.50 reduced to . . .97c Children's Cotton Ribbed Hose, reg. 20c, at pair 12 Jc Children's Gloves, reg. 25 and 35c, now pair 17jc Children's Caps, odds, value 35, 50 and 75c 25c Misses and Children's Coats, odd lines . . . .One-third off One-Third Off on All Ladies and Misses Suits and Coats Dont overlook this department many new suits and coats re cently received, & being bought at a bargain we can snow you the greatest values of the season Infants Fancy Jackets Beautiful finish, (15c, now 40c Knit Jai'kutH, extra wirui, (1.25 now 6io AllWool Sweater Jackets, 76c to f 1.25 Stork Diapers, 1.00 to f 1.25 per set Embroidery, Laces, Veiling, Ribbons Remnants of Embroidery, Laces, Veilings and Ribbons at less than half price. Yarns, regular 40c at 30c Shetland Floss 3 for 25c LADIES FURNISHINGS Ladies Fine All Wool Vents, Hlnck, reg. $1.(15 '. 89c Odds and Knda in other lines at one-tlunl oh! Ladles Heavy Wool (i loves, 50 and 75c odd pain at 33o Oild pairs of Ladies Winter Hose in both Fleeced and Wool, Shawls FaHcinutorB, Flannelette Wrappers, Klmonas, at less than first coat Men's Clothing Odd Suits, values $12.50 to $20.00 at leas than half price. Odd Pants, values $2.50 to $6.00 at one-half price. 4 doz. Odd Dress Shirts, values $1.50 .to $2.50 98c 5 doz. Odd Hats at 85c Overcoats closing out odd lots at One-third off. Boys Short Pant Suits MOTHERS We are putting out about 2 doz Boys Short Pant Suits, ages 3 to 10 years, at one-half regular price all good weight, but odds. Don't overlook these. Our Shoe Department Fairly Shines With Odds and Ends Which Have to Go in a Hurry Odd pairs Ladies Felt Slippers 75o to 05c Odd pairs Oh lids and Mioses Red Felt Slippers 03c to 7i)c Odd pairs Misses I) ess Kid Shoes, reg price 2.00 to $2.75 at.. .$1.62 Odd pairs Mens Slippors 45o to fl.00 73 Odd pairs Ladies l)ress Shoes, less than half price d.j. XT Pillows, genuine feather, reg. wJi'ihbku!:: Willi: Knitting cotton for tieing com- ' W f f lltf ffl iui ve lur zoo " Cotton UlanketB, Genuine Army Blankets, Sheetings, Comfort Outings and Calicoes, all with the profit taken off. The Odds and Ends are worth the. money Odds and Ends of Crockery, Glassware, Tinware and Kitchen Specialties at about half price IF YOU CAN'T COME, SEND YOUR NEIGHBOR C. W. ELKINS- Big Department Store Prineville, Or Bo great is the demand for in formation concerning Crook county and its resources that the Journal this week publishes some facts for the benefit of those who are reek ing homes in a new country. Let ters of inquiry come from nearly every state in the Union and each ono contains a list of questions pe culiar to the section from which it is sent. As it is impossible to answer all questions the following facts are given with the view of covering the ground in a general way, leaving those who may desire specific information to write for it. Crook county, Oregon, contains a large part of the few remaining bodies of cheap lands and free lands cow open to the person of mederate means who is seeking an opportunity to become an owner of part of the soil. The county is very extensive, being 108 miles across from east to west and 84 miles from north to south. In round numbers it contains about 8,000 square miles. From this it will be seen that Crook county is six times as large as the state of Rhode Island, four times as large as Delaware and about as large as Massachusetts. It lies in the heart of Oregon and is a veritable un exploited empire in itself. This vast area in 1900, the date of the last government census, had a population of 3 896; today it has possibly 7,000. Were Crook county as densely settled as Rhode Island it would sustain a population of 3,500,000, surpassad only by the states of New York, Pennsylvania, Illinois and Ohio. The county abounds in beautiful valleys and sagebrush flats, suitable for the production of almost any crop which will grow under dry farming methods. Much of the area is already under irrigation, their being nine reclamation pro- jic'.s either in operation or pro j Kited, not to mention probable United States reclamation project, data for which is bow being obtained by geological survey engineers. Water Supply and Irritation. The Deschutes river and its tributaries today furnish the water for existing irrigation areas the controlling company being the Deschutes Irrigation Power & Co., Bend, Oregon, and in this reclama tion belt lie Redmond, and Powell Buttes. Laidlaw, and Sisters, west of the Deschutes river, have reclamation companies of their own. Madras, in the northern end of the county, is in the center of one of the richest dry farming communities in America. In the great eastern half of Crook' county lies the cattle belt, where hay raising und stock raising constitute the principal industry, making of this county one of the largest breeding places in the Northwest. Crook county cattle always top the Portland market. The Deschutes river is inexhaustible, being fed by perpet ual snows on the summits of the Cascade mountains. 'Many other streams run throughout the year, Crooked river, the Matoles and Ochoco creek being the more important. Water exists in quantities below the surface, being obtained in the valleys at only a few feet depth and elsewhere at from 30 to 60 feet. Soil and What It Produce. All soil is exceedingly fertile, the natural growths being sage brush, bunchgrass and ryegrass. Juniper trees thrive in large quantities on the cultivable land, with heavy pine growth in the foothills and higher altitudes of the Blue and Cascade mountains. There are nine pecics of native woods. The valley land is easily cleared for cultivation, the earth being a rich alluvial and de composed volcanic asb, which produces abundantly. Where water is intelligently used the re sults richly reward the husband man. Wheat, oats, barley, rye, alfalfa, potatoes, corrots, beets, onions and all kinds of cereal and vegetable crops are produced with excellent yield, in most cafes without ir rigation, and some dry land farmers have this year raised corn which bids fair to rival that of Kansas or Illinois. Fruit raising is still in its infancy, though in some places all fruits of the temperate zone; apples, peaches, apricots, pears, plums and all the berry family, notably at the Cove orchard; are raised to perfection. Raiafall ad Altitade. The rainfall, as shown by govern ment instrument?, averages be tween 10 and 20 inches annually Summer is temperate and pleasant; winter is mild, rarely below zero though often below freezing, with a reasonable snowfall in the mountain?, insuring water for the season. Altidudes vary greatly, but the bulk of the county is between 2,000 and 4,000 feet rising toward the south and west. The Great Salt Lake valley in Utah and the Arkansas valley in Colorado are both higher, yet there are no better developed garden spots on earth. Imaigratioa aid Trauportatioa. Immigration into this part of the state has been heavy during the past year or two and will be come still greater with the coming of a railroad. Being situate in the largest single area in the United States still without a railroad, and with several railroads surveyed and projected, it behooves the home- seeker to come at once, for by getting in here ahead of the rail road he may still obtain choice lands. Government lands may now be obtained through a small fee to a locator or by the more tedious and uncertain method of personal investigation. The homestead law allows every unmarried person of lawful age and every head of the family to en ter 160 acres of agricultural land and by making a home thereon for five years, making also certain improvements', obtain title at the end of that time. Or, after a con tinuous residence of fourteen months the settler has the option of commuting to a cash entry and upon payment of $1.25 an acre can obtain title. The Desert Land Act gives the right to any man or woman of lawful age to enter 320 acres of land or less, no residence on said land being required. A payment of 25 cents an acre is made at the time of entry and an expenditure of $1 an acre must be made each year for three years in improve ments and placing water on the land for irrigation. At the end of that time there must be one-eight of the land in successful cultivation through irrigation and there must be sufficient water provided to ir rigate all the land that is irrigable. Water may be provided by any feasible means the entryman sees fit to employ. At the end of the three years, the foregoing con ditions having been complied with, the entryman paya $1 a acre and obtains title from the govern ment. Fencing, well digging, canals, barns, cultivation, etc., are counted in the expenditures, but a residence building is not. No person can secure more than 320 acres of public land. A person having a homestead or timber claim can take only 160 acres under the Desert Act, and a person who takes 320 acres under the last named law cannot take a homestead or timber claim. The nearest railroad point to Prineville at present is Shaniko, Oregon, 62 miles distant. Rapidly increasing population and un limited resources means a railroad soon. Attested Valutiaa at Property. Property in Crook county for the year 1908 was assessed on a valuation of $7,070,254, an increase over 1907 of nearly $850,000. The county was shown to con tain 10,088 horses, valued at $210. 974; 17 mules, valued at $310; 30,882 head of cattle, valued at $310,830; 102,880 sheep and goats, valued at $3176,645; 1540 swine at $4,402, and several thousands of chickens. The number of acres under culti vation is 59,135, valued at $367,559. and the number of acres of unculti vated land is 1,203,665, mostly timber and homestead tracts. Telephone systems, both Bell and farmers' independent lines, grid iron the county, and daily mail routes penetrate much of its area. In more isolated communities only a tri-weekly service is maintained. Crcok county is settled by Americans. There is a sprinkling o! Scotch, Irish, German, Scandinavian and Italian, in the ratio of about one in ten to the native born. It is a good country to come to; to grow up with; to aid in developing. Perusal of the of the Crook County Journal for one year gives all facts relating to the county that an intending settler would wish to know. The county has two flouring mills, one at Prineville and one at Madras; several brick yardB and many lumber mills. There is ample room for many additional manufactories. Mining is carried on in the northern part of the county, gold, coal, silver and cinnabar being the principal output. Gypsum and other minerals are known to exist. Opportaaity Kaecb For AIL For the investor there is a field of vast extent in which to his own choosing he may find the resources which will readily return to him a revenue in exchange for the capital invested. From the common field of agricultural pursuits, through the pine forests, on into the mineral belts whose latent resources are just now being prospected and developed, through the stock rais ing districts and dairying sections to the magnificent Deschutes river, whose enormous water power today remains unharnessed, there is room and there are opportunities for the man with capital, just as there are opportunities for the man with smaller means. In short, the present complexity of industrial phases in te country, future possibilities of development under capital already invested and diversity of soil, productiveness and climate, coupled with the fact that this immense area still retains its birthmark of newness, affords a field of endeavor second to none in the Pacific coast states. Come. Annex Holds Reception The Ladies' Annex New Year's reception, given the afternoon of Jan. 1, was a pronounced success. The club hall was beautifully decorated, largely with fresh car nations expressed in from Portland especially for the occasion. As the visitors of the day arrived at the door each one was greeted personally by a member of the committee and ushered into the newly fitted up library, where dainty wafers and tea were served by the ladies in charge. After this refreshment had been partaken of, the guest was asked to write a New Year's resolution, in exchange for which he was pre sented with a little souvenir of the occasion. Music, both vocal and instru mental, was rendered all afternoon. To lend a charming effect to the occasion the three halls used were darkened and lighted by candel abra. A number of club members re turned after supper and spent a most delightful evening together.