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About St. Johns review. (Saint Johns, Or.) 1904-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 9, 1904)
t, ... C f MilJ ST. JOHNS REVIEW Devoted to the Interests of the Peninattln, the Mnmifactttritifl Centre of the Northwest. k)L. i. ST. JOHNS, OREGON, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1904. I - 1 - NO. s . J j OTES AND OBSERVATIONS 'arious Topics of Local and General Interest Briefly and Tersely Treated. lincly Matters Dealt With and Interspersed with Timely Sugcs tions on Local Affairs. s let. kit ! Hi l i,r e hear the rcnl ostnlo ( 1... 1 1 those who ileal in rcnl , li nnil f-cl! spoken of light . nnil occasionally with . 1 is generally 1I0110 by the . , or the "knocker," or . nlccks," or some one who , t.i this category of useless np i to the community. Ocna K, however, pcoplo who mo rc i 1 - being good, progressive citi : insinuating reinnrk is drop '.,.it the rcnl cstnto mull. Tho r !M.nk with an innate ilcslro knocking;" the latter speak t thinking. If e would just r a moment ami consider how uv to the progress unit thrift 1. s nnil all communities tho legiti .(real cstnlo dealer in, tho good ti 1 would not iter n single dc- . .itorv word. The renl live, legiti- .to rNtl 'estate donlcV is just as im I'nt.t, just as necessary an adjunct the business community as tho bul- it r, the grocer, or any other line of -More so. in fact, for ,11 ucli the efforts nut forth by him 1 mndu possible for other brandies ' business to be enrried on. Without in there would be few cities on this ititincnt, Tho rcnl estate man is tho niicer of all trrenl towns and through labor and energies great business id industrial enterprises aro mndo hsible. Cliieiwo, Hi. Paul, Minnonp ii, Ken I lie, Tncnmn, and Portland, ,. our ovn city fSL Johns, each 1 pvcrv oue.owe their greatness anil vilopini'iit direclly, not indirectly, t directly, to the exploitation ami dun;.' In tho rront by the ever alert .ilir 111 real estate. Clivu the devil . d ii', mid nil fair-minded cop!o do, il till us why this class of business ; composed as it is of Homo the brightest nml most progressive inds id the age, be referred in lii'iiio other Ihnd of tho most pert fill. 1 Take Si. Johns us an example. The calmii, the natural advantages, the Ivornlilc wnler-imni conditions, 111 Lot all the resource which is "now ,.MH'd, have been hero from far Ivoiid thu time Now otU City was Illicit country village. Tho renl init ial condition is no better today limn was then. Yet they lay dormant r . 1 ..n 1 .1 ..11 lull lilies were neiiig iiuiincii 1111 I. '.mil us. Through what agenecy lis it.ir resources brought to tho ir:'.ti( ii of the industrial world? Not ti ilmg men who occupied this ills , M , ... .1 I .!.. !ii i r inrmiiig gnu inner uoun-suc ns s, Not a bit of it. It was If nnl estate men who lirst discov- 1 these natural advantages, and, iridi their energy and alertness aro lla.v being heralded broadcast In :i:.li the laud, and men of means Ive been and are now being, nttraet- (o this iHiiut, and note tho result. 11, those who decry tho legitimate bd honorable real estate men are babbling infants, and know not licreof they speak. The writer happened to be on a 1 it I cur the other day. Sitting bo le him was an elderly gentleman, i t develojMMl in course of con- nation, owned four lots up the (insula. In course of conversation, e efforts made by n number of wido- vake ond progressive men to secure e 1 cation of the Lewis and Clnrk Imposition grounds 011 the peninsula uio up. Tho writer remarked that, tl.9 elTorts put foith by these gen men had been successful, great and stir benefits would have accrued Pie whole peninsula. "Benefits," ic'U tho grim visaged gentleman, yes, the man who bad these brush !s to sell would be benefitted, but fcoice-owners in tho district would t If tho fair was held here it ould mean street improvements, side- alks and sewers. No, no, it was a nrae ot real estate men, and I op posed il." c were somewhat nmnzed lint as our moss back friend alighted at his unimproved ntul muddy street, wo hnd no chance to reply. The tend er cnu estimate what it takes to satis fy men of this stamp. If the penin sula was composed entirely of n liko population, whnt would bo its present stnliiH. Let tho render reason out thu result. When one citizen meets nnuthcr citizen on llio sheets of l'ortlnnd theso days, the first question is: In whnt deportment of tho city govcrn mcbt 1ms robbery ntul corruption been found today? It's getting very odor iferous up the river these days. A prisoner, who was arrested for some petty misdemennor, and locked up in tho Portland bnslilo over night, alleges that lie was robbed while in durance vile of his ockotbook, which contained $T- Itobburics and linlil.iiiw inn nolle common In "Tho City of Hoses," silica tho sheriff slop ped gamming, ami sunt on 1110 politi cal "grarturs." Tho chief of police denies thu charge of his unwilling guosl. The city olllclnls who attended di vine services last Sunday, put a good deal of earnest in tho words when they joined in singing that beautiful sacred song: "Who'll Uo the NcxtT" Hut such Is Portland 'official life. If you haven't read the proposed new charier, Mr. Citlr.cn, you hnd bet lei get a copy of Tho Review of last week and jieruso- it carefully. Don't jump at conclusions, but study the document. It is important, easy lo correct now, but a veyr exjiensivo operation utter tint legislature passes upon it. The Utile interest manifested in fire protection is certainly to bo won dered at. Men who are engaged in business pursuits would not daru show such neglect of (heir nlTairs. If they did their business would soon "go to pot." Then why will men who own business blocks, liable to bu wip ed out without 11 moment's warning, neglect so important it matter? It is neglect bordering on tho criminal. It is duugemus to themselves and maiii feslly unfair (0 their tenants. If the council won't do anything, they aro your servants and' you can force them lo act. A big fire is almost a cer tainty, mid has been the fato of al most every new city on tho coast. A fire in tie business center means its total destruction, ami Jolnl destruc tion means a diru calamity and u ser ious set buck for the city. Men, act, and act at once. Unlets you do, make up your minds to reap the inevitable, It's coming, sure. (Siuco tho above was tint in tyiH) tho people have mov ed and thu council responded favorably). The council should placard tho pools and tmuhliules of unexplored depth along somo of the strcetswith large signs bearing the words, "Danger, steer clear." Rarely, if ever, bus there been a more inviting and promising field for the investor than is presented on tho peninsula at thu present time. Values uro low compared with any other lo cality wo know of, that presents one half as good prospects for future in dustrial development as exist hero at tho present time. It is no mild (light of fancy or tho expression of an over zealous optimist, to predict a city of ten thousand people and a eontinuous line of industrial concerns extending for several miles along the river front. See what baa been done fnside of four years I The man who invests in St, Johns now, and does not get "cold feet," will in a very short time re ceive a big return. The croakers and ive; they ate boing crowded out. About People Who are Goinp; and Co mi up-to and r hnv must mmrnto to whero condi- 0 ilouhting Thomases can't stop it. The" development stngu is beyond their ileiith. 'and tho other fish in the pud dle arc too largo to permit them to live; they ate being crowded out. Tli pa must iniifrntn (o whoro condi- tiiHis aro nioro fitting for tlicir size; Tho trnde-at-homo sentiment is growing in St. Johns. This is ns it should he. People who, by tho aid of the progressive spirit shown by a number of our citizens, find it pos sible to get employment.!!! tho fac tories ami mills, nre beginning to realize tho importance nf patronizing and supporting homo liwjcsinon. Our merchants, ton, are wakUig up to thu iniM)i tance of carrying .bolter stocks to select from, nnil as their expenses of doing business Is lcsSJhan in larg er cities, arc making thejpriecs right. If the goods nnil tho rTrlccs nre ns they should bo, tho "bimjllo brigndo" which may be seen nlighting from tho street enrs dnily, will sooii be conspic uous by its diminnlivoncss. When this is accomplished yiffi will seo n different condition among' local busi ness men. The question of a chihlrcns' court is being ngitntcd in Portland. Splen did ideal excellent. A chihlrcns' court would fit tho conditions right now. It would be a "sphere of use fulness." and tho juvrhllo nclions which hnvo marked thS' conduct of certain attorneys in tho'hrcuit court recently could 'find a plneo In such it court, unless tho children would re gard the aforesaid attorneys too childish to tolernte. if V There nre n few citizens who think thu new charter should provide for (ho election of chief offiolicc. The Idea is decidcdlv uroviiieinl' and but few cities of any imporlttlr?, liBUwhal have long since discarded the prao tire, and tho ience olllcers uro ap pointed by the mayor and council or n eoinuiisiioti. Thu rciumi for this is obvious. Most of tho ofllcial cor ruption, hlaclvmailiug and malfeas ance in otllce first finds its way in and through the jHilico departments, and exHrieiicu has taught municipalities that these things can best bo control led by tho mayor and council having thu Hilici olllcers under direct control. It is much easier lo get rid of 11 cor rupt and inelllcient olllrial so apimiut ed than it is of one elected by tho IH-ople. Tho practice of electing city marshals and chiefs of polico is now almost obsolete, except in somo of tho smaller towns. Tho same is true of Uro department chiofs, and several other of the minor olllces. If the Civic Improvement Lcagtia would resolve to discouritgo thu "bundle, brigade" which comes off the street cars daily, and creato a habit among its members to do their trading, and all shopping jHissible with our enterprising homo tradesmen, they could, help build up tho city amazingly. Onu of the aims of the Commercial Association is to encourage homo in dustry. Wo wonder if any of tho members of the association set n bad example by buying goods awny from homo that they could get of St. Johns merchants T It is hoped not. Some of tho Portland jobbers sell goods direct to somo of the St. Johns consumers at wholesiilo prices and then expect to do business with our retailers. In days past this practice was regarded as illegitimate. The Roviow is compiling a list of tho job bing houses who do this tricky busi ness, and will furnish a list of same to tfie-dealers through the paper. Somo of tho big grocery firms of Port land are porticularly guilty of this petty practice. It is an underhanded system. While you aro casting about for a Christmas present to send to a distant frieud, don't forget that TUo Review would prove an acceptable one. It only costs one dollar to have it mail ed regularly for one year. Come in and see us about it. A newspaper pub lished "away out west" would suit some eastern friend exactly. PERSONAL AND OTHERWISE From St. Johns. And dosslp of a 'Lively Nature of ' Happenings In and Around Our Prosperous City. 0. R. Downs, of Korot Orovjj, Or., wns in the city Wednesday. John Ilorlon loft this wck for (!nll. fornia, where he will spend the win ter. 11. F. and Frank Midler, of Wnsco, Shermnn county, Or., were in the city Wednesdny. Geo. Weiss, of Portland, bus bought the Rev. Colo residence and hns mov ed hero with his family. .Tiulgo and Mrs. li. F. Wicker, of Knlama, Wash., spent Saturday and Sunday with Mr. and Mrs. Allen Illnckhurn. Mjs. Nnucv Cnples, and her dntmhter Miss K. Cnples, lefl Wednesday for lis Angle, Cnl., where Ihcy will spend I lie winter. City Treasurer Frank Ijivcnnore, having sold his home in SI. Johns, has tnken up bis residence nl Clod dnrd station temporarily. 1 Ion. Lop A. Johnson, of Sunnyside, member of the Washington legisla ture, visited St. Johns Saturday, lie predicts a great ftiluro for our lown. Uco. A. Dyson, of Kimono. Or., was in the city Wednesday returning from n three weeks' trip to Spokuito and Ilosslnnd, I). C. He wns on his way home. F. 0. Crego, of Ml. Pleasant, Mich., was in Ihn city Tuesday, tho guest of J. II. Pond. -MrJCrego Is worklnjrifi the interest of the Gold Reserve Life Association. Mr. and Mrs. J. II. Smll)i, of Drill al Veil, Or., were in SI. Johns Satur day, anil purclinscd a homo nud three lots. They expect to become )Hiinnu cut residents soon. Col. John Riilpatluof Paget Sound, nn old iicipiiiiuluuco of yo editor,' wns a visitor in thu city Monday. The colonel was favorably impressed with the prospects and growth of St. Johns. A. S. Shaddock returned from Pendleton, Or., Monday. Ho reports quite nu interest being manifest in regard lo SI. Jolms, and that it num ber of people in Kastern Oregon con template coming here soon, Mr. and Mrs. G. A. Knox, of Kl lensburg, Wash., were in tho city Sat urday, with (ho view of locating. Mr. Knox received his first impressions of St. Johns by reading Tho Roviow, a copy of which wns sent him by n friend. Councilman Guy Heche and wife left Sunday 'for Castle Rock, Wash., to visit their sick daughter Mrs. Hub hers. The oldest daughter of Mr. Ileoho has also been at homo having her eyes treated, also returned homo lo Castle Rock, her eyes very much improved. II. A. Thompson, n formor treasur- nr of Rhenium roimtv. visited our city Tuesday. ITo expressed himself as very tavorauiy impresscu wnu 1110 future of St. Johns. Mr. Thompson wn nn lit wav homo to Mora from Sail Francisco, whither ho hod been to visit his father ami mother. A. H. Woolev. of Wasco. Or., was in tlin eilv AVmlnesilnv and made tho Roviow a call. Mr. Wooley is en thusiastic over tho prospects of St. Johns. Ho will como buck in tho spring to resido permanently. ' He will bo n most desirable addition to the community, and men like him will bo welcomed. J. L. Hnnnon. who has been in tho Sautiam mountains for tho last eight een months, prospecting, returned to St. Johns Saturday. He brought with him somo excellent specimens of gold and silver ore. Ho will return to the mountains about April first. Mr. Hannou is the truest of W. J.' Bailev. who is also interested in min ing in the Sautiam district. ' 'n Mrs. L. F. Chaso gave n progressive whist, parly nl her home, comer Kdi son nnd Ilnrtman streets, Thursday evening of last week. Thoso present were: Miss Parker, M.iss Lurn Pen nington, Mrs. Ililderbrouil, Mrs. Ada Pennington, Mr. nud Mrs. Tnllmnn, Messrs. Sober, Chnffce, nnd Pnrk ers. A most enjoyable evening was stetit. Refreshments were served iu tasty style. Miss Lurn Penningt.oh' wns awarded the honors of the even ing, Jmving won the most points in progressive whist. Firo Mooting. A public meeting will be held in Peterson's hall next Tuesdny evening, Dee. jn, for tho puropse of organiz ing n volunteer lira company. Tho council will purchase heme, reel, etc., and it is hoped a good live company will ho organized to use the equip ment, if necessary. BIO DEAL CLOSED Tho Electric Mill Proporty Leased for Twonty Years. The Ituviuw is informed on tho most reliable authority, that the elec tric sawmill property, embrncing tho water front, has been leased by a ' ship building company, and will bo used ns a ship yard son after Jan- liarv first. The tinrtieti inlnrnulml In this.drnkartKfoen of mmdo .nnati.. f and figure on inventing ll)t),000 fti , imiiiiiiigs nmi equipment, rinus arc being arranged for thu amalgamation of two companies, and thu business conducted by the new company. About two hundred men will bo em ployed in thu yards. Further details of the enterprise aro not to bu given out until next month. Another Big Enterprise The following from thu last isiuio of the Vancouver, Wash., Columbian, is of interest: "Tho Woyerhuouescr Timber com pauy has announced that 11 large ship building yard will ho constructed, at St. Johns by that cororation iu tho near future. At first it was intended lo build the ynrd nt Vancouver, but the authorities nt St. Johns gave more advantageous offers as regards a site. Thu timber lo bo used will, however, nil como from CJnrke county, nud the company will continue, to operate its immense: logging camps along tho IajwIs river iu order to get a supply of logs." St. Johns Prices Cheap. Statements have been made tu the effect some of our merchants charge f nun 10 to 'St xtr cent morn for goods than prevails iu Portland, referenco bring made to the matter of meat, particularly. In order to get at 'the facts, The Keviow called on three meat dealers iu Portland and gut their prices at Which they sell to the consumer, nud found that instead of prices higher in Si, Johns, (hoy are lower, by from 0 to 'JO jwr cent. Tho prices charged by St. Johns butchers, and Portland, uro given below: bt. Johns selling prices: Portorhouse and loin steaks fo per lb; beef roasts 10o; boiling beef He; leg of mutton 10c; mutton chops lOo to lU'jc; venl 10 to lfic. Portland prices; Porterhouse and foin steaks 18 to 20o; roasts 11 to 20o; boiling beef 8 to 10a; leg of mutton 12'u; mutton chops 10 to 15o; veal to Lit. Other meats and cuts nre tho snmo price as bore. Iu no cuso wns it found that St, Johns prices aro higher. Tho prices were obtained from reputable dealers, who do many times over inoro business in a single day than is done by both our dealers hero. Tho same rule applies to all stuplo lines carried by our home dealonj. I, ! I: I ill ' I 1