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About St. Johns review. (Saint Johns, Or.) 1904-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 25, 1907)
1 7 ST. JOHNS REVIEW IT'S NOW UP.TO YOU To lubtcrlb for The Rtvlcw. Jf AH.IIM nun while It It ntwi b f MM MAtlA fall Im Mrl AAmII V GET IN THE HABIT Ot advertising In Tito Review and you'll never regret It. tie Kin at once and keep right at Devoted to the Interests ot the Peninsula, the Manufacturing Center of the Northwest VOL. 3 ST. JOHNS, OREGON, FRIDAY, OCTOHKR 25, 1907. NO. 50 YE EDITOR'S TRIP EAST THE CITY DADS IN SESSION Description of Journey From St. Johns to Iowa -Interesting Notes by the Wayside. (Continued from last week.) Nntliintr wnrthv of note occurred after lcavinc Baker City until vc readied IIuntitiRton, the second division cast of Portland on the 0. R. & N., except a "washout on the line;" not a Hcppncr flood or Galves ton horror, hut, heing Sunday, the yellow hoys working for Uncle Kd hung their semi-annual wash out on the line fence. Here the crew seemed to have received a hurry up call, for the train ran like a scared rahhit down the Snake river, through a rich agricultural and stock-raising district. The crops consisted of alfalfa, corn and small grain, the former predominating. Well kept orchards were seen on nearly every ranch, and while some of the trees were heavily loaded with well col ored fruit, there were many of them which hore no fruit at all and there will be less than a half crop. Our first stop out of Huntington, Welscr, is ti fine, prosperous, thrifty looking city with many two-storied, brick blocks and handsome residences; the natural result of the splendid country surrounding it. The 0. S. h. has a handsome depot built of brick and stone, the finest between Portland and that place. The breath of new mown hay fills the air with sweet perfume and the heart of the husbandmen with hap piness and contentment. Hetwcou Woi.scr nnd Pavcttc. near the foothills, arc some orchards. Council Meets on Tuesday Evening and Transacts Its Usual Budget of Important Municipal Business The common council met at the usual hour in the council chamber Tuesday evening, and after the preliminary sparring of roll call and reading of minutes the ball opened with a resolution offered by the Gas Light and Heat Company offering a resolution providing for the deposit of a cash surety in the amount of $5000 to guarantee their good behavior in the construction of their plant. On motion of Lcggctt the resolu tion was adopted unanimously. On motion of King the gas franchise was taken up and given third reading, and on motion of Walker nut on its final passacc. When the vote was polled it received the unanimous vote of the council. City At torney Greene, in a few well chosen remarks, urged the citizens to work together harmoniously now in the consummation of this important enterprise and instead of putting uuy obstacles in the way of the prosecution of the work to aid it in every way possible, declaring that it was his opinion that the city had granted the best franchise for gas to be found anywhere and his unreserved confidence in the promoters of the plant. Mr. Dnvitlor also thanked the council, not only for the granting of the franchise, but for their extremely riuid scrutiny of the same and for very deliberate and careful study of the situation, guarding the interests of the city and declared that he did not think any other city had so favorable a franchise for gas, light and heat. He also declared that work would be begun within a few days and that the requirements of the franchise would be complied with in every particular. The matter of street improvements was then taken up and the improvement of Polk street from Willotu- ..... I I I a. .... I.I I A .!....... ...... ..!...... t II -I...... I.... .1 of larger acreage, filial with thrifty-looking trees, indicating more liian d , , . .. . ., Hr.townllcH should also be laid and included that in the estimate and on motion of Leirirett null art, ... .1 .1. . 1 -r .1.1. ... . .. 1 .1 . 11 ni .!.!.. ..t til.., ti 11 resolution auiiioriKlilll 111c improvement 01 1111.1 mici-i 11uaM.11 1111: luuiiv.ii. 1 11c ucimuii ui ..n-Kiicr mua. mi nrillmirv littiMc.st hi horticulture. The trees stuiul upright and are very symmetrically pruned, showing careful culture and an nhwee of high winds, so detrimental to orchards in many sections. Puyctte is equally as well built as Weiscr judging from their fine business blocks mid depot building. One thing causes surprise to the visitor to this rich and prosperous section, and that is the smieriorlty of the country residences and the school houses of the rural district east of Payette as compared with those about that city on. I west of th re. In fact, the farther cast you go in Idaho the more Mibstantlal nnd elegant are the residences and school buildings in the country. The only explanation we can think of is that perhaps the eastern part of the state has been Mttled the longest and the ranchers have their homes paid for and therefore have greater means for making these improvements. The next stop was made at Caldwell where is an even more elegant and commodious dejot than those first above mentioned. There Is also here a splendid court house, which would compare favorably with that of Portland. , We reached Caldwell just as daylight was saying goodbye. 1 he next stop was made at Nainpa, a city of about 4000, or equal to that of St. Johns, hut our city Is spread over nearly or quite twice the space of that occupied by Nampa. One thing attracted our attention mid that was the poor electric light service. Tlu streets were all durk, there being very few and small lights outside the houses. We vainly sought to woo the drowsy god from this point to Pocatello but not a single bit of recognition could we win, and we gave It up in despair as daylight came creeping over the Idaho hills. All day Monday we crawled slow ly over the great American desert. We say slowly advisedly, because the greater part of the time was consumed in stopping ami starting, and night found us at Hitter Creek, Wyoming, still on the west side of the Rocky Mountains. We retired about midnight and secured two hours of nature's sweet restorer before another day was ushered in without ceremony, and we found ourselves still on Wyoming soil. During Mon day we passed the great Wyoming coal mines of Rock Springs and Carbon also some gypsum mines and we were told by an engineer we met en route that Uncle Kd Harrimau had bought his winter's supply IOOOOOOOOOOOOI GOING VISITING? IF SO, SEE THE- Portland Suburban Express Company About Your Trunks and Baggage, e asking for sewer extensions along the center of Jersey street from Tacoma to Ilurliugton street was debated and it was decided that it would not he expedient to place the sewer in the center of the street because of the street car track occupying that position now, nnd in view of the fact that there is now n sewer along the west side of this street almost that distance, on motion of I.cggett the council granted the petitioners per mission to put in a .sewer along the cast side of Jersey street for the distance asked at the petitioners' expense under the direction of the city engineer. Chief of I' ire Department Glover because of his business not permitting him to devote the time necessary for the successful management of the department resigned and on motion of Walker the same was accepted. The following hills on motion of King were allowed and ordered paid: St. Johns Lumber Co., two loads of blocks for Captain Drcdcson's kindergarteners to play with, $8; Chas. Aldersou, road man in establishing street grade, two days, $5; city engineer to pay for labor in repairing break in sewer, $7.50; I.authcr Transfer Co., barrel of cement for same job, $3.60; Calef Hros., contract for window shades as jier bid, $49.35, making n total of -173.35. Other matters of minor importance were disoscd of and the matter of the obstruction of llradford street was brought up and discussed. On motion of King the city engineer was instructed to establish the property Hue along llradford street over the alleged obstructed portion of the street. It was the sense of the council ' that in order to protect the interests of all parties abutting upon this street and place all upon the same footing that the street should be cleared and Alderman Jobes promised, according to Alderman King's report, that if his mill extended Into the street, to make the necessary "amputation ' to remove the obstruc tlon. , The grading of Harttuan street proving such n high estimate the council concluded best that the matter be referred back to the street committee to confer with the petitioners and ascertain if they were willing to stand for the amount necessary to do the work. In the matter of Portland boulevard improvement petitioned for, the matter was held up for one week because the north end of the street was closed by a corner of private property and the committee was instructed to ascertain if sufficient laud would he donated by the property holder to complete the street. On motion of Jobes the resolution for the improvement of Durlington between Jersey and Kellogg was adopted. The judgment of the county court in the case of the St. Johns Hrick & Tile company, ct. ul., vs. the City of St. Johns was presented by Attorney Dey of Dey & I Iampson in the amount of $1511.34 Including accrued costs. On motion of King the execution was acknowledged and warrant to cover the same ordered drawn. The reort of the treasurer and recorder was almost completed and will be presented next week. Mr. Touch was present, however, and reported that there was In the treasury in the streets and general fund $6375.77, in the city hall fund, $3377.43; total, $9653.30, and he stated that this corresponded with the deposits in the bank October 1, to which date the books had been balanced. The old question of "what is coming to us from the county" was up as usual and was just as indefinitely answered. No one seemed to know what was coining or what hod leen paid by the county so far as any definite time was concerned. The amounts paid were there all right hut whether they were this year's tax receipts or dated back to the year 1 no one could tell. This is a matter our city recorder will make it his business to know more about in the future. It was the sense of the council that under the charter they could not make company, legally, for a longer term than two years and the matter will he taken attorney with the water company s attorney and some tlelinlte uiitlerstantllug arrived at oeiore tne next meeting if possible. There was but one bid in for the old city hall, that of C. R. Organ for $25 which the council rejected on motion of King. Ordinance No. 157 amending ordinance No. 76 was railroaded through to finol passage and became a law with two negatives and five affirmatives, I.eggett oud I.inquist being the minority. This ordinance reduced the age limit of frequenters of bowling alleys, iool rooms, etc., from 18 to 16 years, In the hotics that the boys of the city would remain at home instead of going to Portland, believing they would le in better company here, which is doubtless true. ST. JOHNS PUBLIC LIBRARY An Institution That Deserves a Wider Recognition and More Liberal Patronage. a contract with the water up this week by tuc city Prompt and efficient service. Rates right. In formation for travelers at office of agent. Get our rates before shipping. Call us up. Phone Main 358, Portland office. W. STEARNS Phoue Woodlawn 818. Agent at St. Johns. ooo Big Channel Mining Company The mines of this compauy are located uear Merlin, Joseph ine couuty, Oregon one of the richest placer districts in the state. Stock for sale by W. H. KING or DANIEL CALKINS. LEROY H. SMITH &. CO. REAL ESTATE, FIRE, LIFE AND ACCIDENT INSURANCE Phone M 3035 Offices: Cochran Block, St. Johns 408 Ablngton Bldg., Portland MADE TO FIT YOU Suits. Overcoats and Cravenettes $20 to $40 Ladies' and Gents' Suits Cleaned, Pressed and Repaired Steam Cleaning and Dyeing. Paterson Noc, Tailor. Next to Postoffice. of coal from Iowu, Illinois and Mis souri mines; but thought his streak of economy was proving expensive as he was losing dollars through delays to the movement of trains for every cent he was saving on the price of the coal under that of the Rock Springs, Carbon and Hauna coals formerly used. The country traversed Monday was barren to a degree we had never seen equalled before. The greater part of it lies too high to be reached by the waters of any stream for irrigation and wells of ordinary depth would not reach water available for that purpose. Near Block Buttes, however, an attempt is being made to sink uu artesian well. Should this prove successful there are thousands of acres of this laud that would be made fruitful which does not now even grow cacti, fire weed or other desert plouts. Upou these great barren plains is presented an oppor tunity for Uncle Sam to exert his ingenuity. Young Cottonwood trees planted in the early spring with the soil deeply mulched for a dis tance of several feet about them to prevent their drying out, would soon cause them to root so deeply they would grow. Soon as they became large enough to shade the ground well, yellow pine, fir and spruce would grow. When these were well established the cotton wood could be cut out, made into wood or posts, and within 100 years from the planting would have changed this barren waste into a moisture conserving district of in calculable value to the government. Some day this will be done to all this desert land, which has no strata of rock too near the surface, and there are millions of acres of such land within the boundaries of Idaho, Colorado, Wyoming and Nebraska. After leaving Julesburg, Colo., the soil improves in fertility as oue approaches the Missouri river, and we arc surprised that some one This is more particularly noticeable, has not already availed himself of after passim: North Platte. The fertility of the soil has wonderfully increased since we left Nebraska 11 years ago. At that time much of the land between North Platte and Grand Island, which would not grow yellow beans, now pro duces fine crops of hoy and corn. A part of this transformation has been the result of irrigation but much more from proper cultiva tion of the soil. '1 here has been no hot winds in this section to destroy the vegetation since 1897, and although from Grand Island west this season the corn crop has been damaged to some extent by exceedingly dry weather, the peo ple there have and are now har vesting the heaviest crop of hay ever grown in that section of Ne braska. As we near Omaha, how ever, the corn crop is extremely heavy. New men have taken the places of the old ones, in our old Nebraska stamping ground, some of whom are piomoted, others serving else where, and some have cashed in their last run and gone where all travel upon passes that read but oue way, there being no return. There is a peculiar feature of the Platte river we cannot pass without a mention; it is, that along the river between North Platte and Kearney in many places the bottom of the river is 10 feet or more high er than the surrounding country 100 feet back 011 cither side of the river. This is caused by the sand blowing up and finding lodgment on either bank of the river, beiug held there by the grass, weeds and willows along the edge of the stream. Some of course reaches the water filling up and raisiug the bottom along with the sides keep ing the water near the top of the banks. This has rendered thous ands ot acres subject to irrigation this condition for that purpose. The towns of Lexington, Coad, Kearney, Grand Island, Central City, Columbus and Premout have grown remarkably, building many fine business and other .structures from brick and stone since last we saw them. At the last named place night with ebon pinion again brooded o'er the laud and we reached Omaha without beiug able to make further observations too late to catch our train east. On the train we met many jieo pie who are interested in Oregon; sonic of whom aver they shall re turn again sometime and among them Mrs. S. T. Holloway of White Cloud, Mich., who says soon as they can sell their property they will move to Oregon, At Omaha we met a sou of Mrs. Rick ey, who was so bravely rescued from drowning by Miss Hibley last mouth. He, too, expects to visit Portland and St. Johns soon. Sup erintendent Taylor, of Grand Island promised us a visit in the not distant future. We sincerely regret that we did not have several thousand leaflets stating in a con cise way the leading attractions of St. Johns for the home seeker and investor. It would have been valuable missionary work, for all are anxious to learn of our country. Tuesday morning we crossed the Rubicon, commonly called the "Muddy" or "01' .Missouray" and lauded in our native state, Iowa, oue of the richest states in the union, and reached our home town Albia at noon. Here we had the time of our life for just a week before we started home. We met many of the old timers, some have gone on before us to that other country, many have moved west and located in all the states letween Iowa and the big pond. More about this next week. big concern, be Issued as This means There arc not half the people of St. Johns who know what they can get In the city library here. The free city library, for that Is what It is. It costs nothing for the use of the books of this library and when wo say, this library, we wish it distinctly understood that we mean every book that is issued to the public from the library at Portland, for the patrons of the library can secure any book in that immense library that is issued to the readers of Portland by making application to the librar ian here. There bos none out a wronir Impression from some source, whether intentionally or not we do not know, that this hrauch of the Portland library is n sort of dumping place for refuse books of the Such is not the case, but any book in their catalogue will freely to our readers as to the readers of Portland proper. a wonderful privilege that very few indeed tire aware of and should mean that the Horary here might have nil the patronage the librarian could possibly care for, and we believe this would be the case if every one In the city knew the facts. All one has to do to secure the use of any book on the list is to get a responsible citizen of St. Johns to vouch for his honesty mid make application to the librarian here and the book will he given him. If the hook Is not on the shelves here, it will he ordered from the Portland library mid sent out. There is a weekly de livery of hooks here every 1 uesdoy evening. If there was sufhelcnt warrant for doing so there would be a daily delivery nnd there would he double the number of the books on the shelves here there is. This is the chewiest entertainment there is to be obtained in the world mid it is lue very best; because through this library you may associate yourself with the brightest and best minds of the world, mid not only do so, hut at the same time receive their very best thoughts clothed in the bust language at their command. What better associates can one wish for? One other thing that is overlooked by our young iniople especially, and that is that in the reading room connected with the library is free access to a very large number of the leading periodicals mid magazines of the day. Any one can go to this free reading room mid peruse thuse uiaga.lu:s and other publications without even the formality of taking out a card. The rooms are open from 3 to 5:30 mid from 7 to 0 o'clock 111. There are two long tables which extend from one end of the room to the other which arc provided with some .10 chairs for the use of visitors. These tables arc covered with more thou two do.eu differ ent publications, all free for the trouble of the using. Many of our young iK'ople would like to read these paiiers ami magazines If they could afford to subscribe for them. Here they can find them without paying a cent for them. Why not make use of them instead of s.K:nd lug their time uuprofitahly at some other place of amusement? This is a veritable mine of information to the student of political economy, the student of the arts mid sciences; for the hooks and papers, the magazines and criodica!s will keep him in touch with the most advanced thought of the line in which he is engaged. This Is nil free, and perhaps this is the worst feature f it. If oue had to pay Is or I3 per annum membership fee mid 5c 11 week for the use of the hooks, crhaps there would be n greater appreciation of the value of the Institution, There Is not n business man in the city hut would feel better and do more work in his chosen Hue for having sHiut an hour with the authors here; or better still, take his hook home with him and make It two or three hours a day if he can spare the time in stead of sleeping nine or ten hours. Some of our people sleep too much, others do not sleep enough. If the man who spends three or four nights n week attending lodge as the writer tloes sometimes, would visit hut one lodge a week and spend the other evenings tit home witli his family, reading some of these books, listening to the reading of others by different members of his family and participating in the discussions which these readings will always bring up, there would be vastly more happiness in the life of our (K'ople, our hoys and girls would have 11 more intelligent view of life and 11 greater love for their homes than they do now. M. L. 1 101.11 liOOK St. Johns Land Co. The Largest and Oldest Real Estate Firm in St. Johns. East St. Johns The center of the great development now taking place on the Peninsula. We have only a lew business lots left on Lolttmbia Boulevard, which for a short time only will be sold at ;'J present prices. ;J Some fine residence lots still on sale. Choice manufacturing sites adjoining the O, R. & N. railroad for sale on reasonable terms. C. I:. UAIUY Holbrook's Addition i . We have some choice lots in the vicinity of the new $20,000 school building now in course of construe- ; tion. Call at our office for prices and terms for cither of these desirable tracts. St. Johns Phono Union 3104 QregOIl St i COLVIN & HENDERSON Rooms 4 and 5 1,1.0 Ui.ikj. Orrosmc Postoi'imck I Real Estate, Loans, Insurance jj Abstracts of Title Prepared. Accurate Work Guaranteed.