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About St. Johns review. (Saint Johns, Or.) 1904-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 7, 1913)
ST. JOHNS Has seven churches. Has n most promising future. Distinctively a manufacturing city Adjoins the city of Portland. Has nearly 6,000 population. Has a public library. Taxable property, M500.000. Has large dry docks, sow mills Woolen mills, iron works, Stove works, asbestos factory, Ship building plant, Veneer nnd excelsior plant, Flour mill, planing mill, Box factory, and others. More industries coming. St. Johns is the place for YOU. ST. JOHNS REVIEW Devoted to the Interests of the Peninsula, the Manufacturing Center of the Northwest VOL. 8 ST. JOHNS, OREGON, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 7. NO. 13 Another New Theatre Mothers' Responsibility Building Permits Express Individuality High School Notes Council Proceedings Status of Water Question ST. JOHNS li iccond in number of Industrie!. Is teve th in population. Com to Portland every 20 min. Mat navigable wnter on 3 (ides. Has finest Ras nnd electricity. Ha; two strong banks. Has five large school houses. Has abundance of Jpurest water. Has hard surface streets. Has extensive sewerage system. Has fine, modern brick city hall. Has payroll off 95.000 monthly. Ships monthly 2,000 cars freight. All railroads have access to it. Is gateway to Portland harbor. Climate ideal and healthful. Wo have the assurance that St. Johns will have another thea tre building, and on a larger and grander scale than any other the city now possesses. Monday afternoon C. A.Metzger, manager of the People's Amusement com pany, visited this ofllce nccom- panicu uy ma iirumii-u., uu stated that negotiations had prac tically been completed for the erection of a theatre in St.jJohns, and that within the next fort night work would bo under, way. The new building, he stated, would be two and one-half stories high, not less than 50x100 in size; that it would be devoted entirely to theatre purposes; and that it would be of concrete con struction with a white tile front, .and finished in an elaborate manner throughout. The total cost, ho said, would not bo less than $30,000. The theatre will be devoted principally to vaudeville and traveling shows, although mov ing pictures will also be shown. Mr. Metzgcr remarked that the People's Amusement company had long had an eye on St. Johns, and that negotiations had been pending for several months, which now had about been satis factorily terminated. However, ho declined to state just where it would be constructed, except that it would be on Jersey street in the business district. He stat ed that his company now owned twenty-five theatres in different parts of the country, and that they had a good circuit attract ion of their own, which will be put on here. If it comes to pass that this structure will be erect ed, as Mr. Metzger has given assurance, it will prove a sub stantial and ornamental addition to the business district of St. Johns. Will Change Locations C. C. Currin, tho enterprising pharmacist, will occupy new ' quarters tho finjt of March. He has secured tho room in tho Hol brook building formerly occupied by T. P. Ward, and it will be made over into one of tho finest pharmacies in tho Northwest. A now front will bo placed, with French pinto glass and pretty trimmings. The interior will bo handsomely embellished in white tile and other decorations. No expense will be spared in adding to its attractiveness nnd conven ience. Tho namo of tho phar mncy will bo changed from tho North Bank Pharmacy to "Cur rins For Drugs." Mr. Currin has found his present quarters too cramped to permit of tho dis play nnd stock of goods that ho desires to carry, nnd tho more commodious room will afford him tho opportunity he has long de sired of possessing ono of tho finest nnd most modernly ap pointed pharmacies to bo found anywhere. Finest in the State The postoffico inspector visited St. Johns last week and ho stated that St. Johns has. without doubt, the finest postoffico of any in tho state. The office is most con veniently arranged. A thirty day clock adorns the wall, various cabinets, tables and lockers, all of oak, are conveniently arranged so that no time is lost in finding what is desired. Convenience and attractiveness is the keynote to tho entire office, and expense has been lost sight of in making it as fine as money and skill can make it. St. Johns should feel proud of its new postoffice and also of the enterprise of Dr. McChesney, the owner of the buliding, in making it so con venient and attractive. Conferences have been held looking to the arrangement of dates for a "Country Life Fort night" in Portland during the Fall and Winter months when dairy show, land show, stock exhibits, gatherings of horticul turists, creamerymen, wool growers, poultry and goat rais ers, florists and similar organi zations will be held. In this way it is thought meetings of interest to farmers can be grouped so that events in similar lines can be held simultaneously, or fol lowing each other, and those in terested can attend them all without losing much time from their duties at home. Work (or a Greater St Johns. The following paper was read by Mrs. J. N. Keeler at the Mothers' meeting at the Library Monday afternoon : Tho subject under discussion today is one of so great import ance that 1 feel that I can scarce ly do it justice, but I sincerely wish I could arouse mothers to see just where their responsibil ity lies? First, 1 will ask the question: What is this White Slave Traffic of which tho world is ringing today V Is it some new form of vice? No, it dates back as far as the time of Babylon. when her terrible wickedness and vice led to tho downfall of that beautiful city. Even then wo see the hand of God in the swift vengeance taken on that city. So today wo should strike just as boldly, for this is one question on which all nations can unite. In tins day and age no young girl is safe; from fourteen on is the dangerous age. A prominent judge of Portland savs lie has more girls brought before him for immorality at this time than at any other. The girl at this time is just budding into womanhood, her form is chang ing, her ideas, she begins to loam of her nowcr to attract the opposite sex, decks herself in all kinds of jewelry and furbelows, becomes more or less independ ent of her mother. Then it is, O mothers, watch over her; see that tho host of life is put before her: be careful where she goes and with whom she associates: place before her only tho best of reading (some of the late fiction is not fit for older people, let alone young girls.) First of nil, make a companion of your girl. Talk freely to your children of the mysteries oi lifo and at an early age. Let them feel freo to como to you with questions, and do not turn them away. Talk just as freely with the boy, for I believe ho will never po free of this cuwe-until wo can tench tho boy to shun and abhor such places. I believe more girls havo gone wrong lrom pnrenis paying no attention to where they nre going than for any other reason, ino madams wno pro cure those girls are constnntly on tho watch for girls whose par cnts are careloss and indifferent to what they nro doing, lheso traffickers in human lifo nro to bo found ovorywhoro- no plnce, however good, is freo from them. Not long ago ono of those mad ams joined ono of tho leading churches of Portland, nnd before it wns d scovcrcd who sho was, had under tho cloak of religion, secured a great infiuenco over tho inr a. but. fortunately, .she was found out before any serious harm had been done. They are also to bo found in tho stores. Ono of them entered ono of our lead ner drug stores, bought an article of n young girl, told her she wns too pretty to bo working behind u counter.nnd if slio would como with her sho would find her a place whero she could have the finest of clothing. Tho promise of fino clothes is n great power of attraction to tho young girl. Tho moving picture show is an other source of downfall, not that the show of itself is bad but that tho influence at work here, The white slavers gather here and watch for tho silly, vain girl and begin with flirting with her, and little by little lead her on until ruin is accomplish ed. Then, rather than face her parents and friends, sho enters this den of vice nnd becomes dead to the world. This explains tho disappearance of hundreds of girls. After they enter these dens it is almost impossible to escape, for all street clothing is taken away from them. In Chi cago alone there are over 5000 women leading a life of shame, and it is found that only about 40 par cent enter this life of their own free will. This shows that sixty per cent are led into it by some scheme, entrapped and sold. And at least two-thirds of this number are from our own coun try, being inveigled from towns, farms and countries. Think of it! The slavery of war times was as nothing com pared with THIS slavery. I be lieve the foreigners coming into our country, especially the Greeks, are a curse and menace to it. One-half of the white slav ers who have been convicted here in Portland have been amoncr the Greeks. The knowl edge of this evil has become so . t xi i. t .1 ;ri wiuespreaa mat it manes u uuii cult to secure the girls, conse quently the price for them is very high and tney are now vai ued in the thousands. And now I am going to relate No. 5 To F. P. Drinker to erect a garage on Buchanan street between Stafford and Jer soy; cost $200. u little incident that happened here in Portland, for I believe we can get a better lesson of white slave methods from what we see with our own oyes than what we have read. This mother had a family of nine, and in stead of teaching the girls to work and take an intere3t in the home, she allowed them to roam the streets at will. Tho girl at 1G went out to work and remain ed at the place only two or three weeks, and then left under the influence of a woman she nnd her chum took up their abode in n Portland hotel. Tho lady who had charge of tho hotel called tho mother un nnd told her sho 'thought she ought to come and look after her girl, as alio had overheard a conversation be tween tho parties concerned, and she felt that nil was not well. The mother called the girl up, and she told her mother that sho ought to know that everything was all right, that she was just staying there till she could get another place, so the mother, instead of investigating, left the girl alone. Soon the papers were full of tho disappearance of tho girl, detectives woro put on her track, but could find no trace of her. Finally Mrs. Bald win traced her to a house of ill fame in Tho Dalles, where she had been placed by two chauf fers, one of them posed as her lover. In the meantime the life had be como so distasteful to tho girl that she came homo of her own accord, barely ablo to drag herself along. All four of the part'es were taken beforo tho cou, but nt tho first trial they col' d not got tho girl to testify against them. They wero mys tified thut so young ajrirl could bnfFlo them nt" every turn, but Inter she wns taken to tho hos pital nnd nn operation wns per formed for a loathsome disease that sho had contracted and the nurse found a code of signals that tho chauffer hud sent for the second trial. She was to watch him; if ho put his hand to his face sho wus to answer yes, if down, no. As soon as sho was able, an aunt took tho girl homo with her an kept her away from everybody until tho second trial. In tho meantime tho white slavers wero doing ev erything that could bo done to get hold of the girl, called the parents up at all times of night and day, threatened them, even put boards up to tho windows and peeped into the house so sure wero they the girl must be there. In tho second trial the girl's fear of tho men was over come and sho testified against tho two chauffers who when they found they could not save them selves pleaded guilty and this let them off with a light sentence of ono year and $250 fine, and no way did sho complicate tho wo man although tho judge Baid he thought thoy wero just as guflty. The woman who ran the house was a handsome girl of only 18 and as sho laughed in their faces, said they could send her up for ten years and when she came out would Btill bo young woman and would go back in the same business. Mrs. Baldwin said in this resort were a number of Portland trirls who would not give their real names and in all "..-l.t.flSi.f t 1 .1! .l proonuuiucs nuu uiHUijj-m u from their homes and wero mourned as lost. From this tragedy there are four lessons to be learned first, interest your girl in the homej second, know where she is going, and with whom sho is associating; third, warn her never to accept candy, favors or rides with a stranger; lastly beware of the woman who pretends to take an interest in the girl nnd wants to take her away. Such tragedies as this are hap pening all over the country. It is time for decent people to wake up, realize what is going on and take measures to protect their daughters and neighbors' daugh ters. I will close this paper with a strong appeal to the mothers to rise in the dignity of their motherhood and to give to the child the protection that she should be her heritage, Don't forget to register. The books are now open at the city hall. Don't wait until the last minute.and then forget all about it. Do it now as soon as you have read this reminder. La dies, don't be bashful. Perhaps more than anything else, do clothes serve as a medi um for woman's self expression, and to denote to a very large ex tent, her individuality. Indeed, most often women are judged by the clothes they wear, and the- general estimate of her character and degree of refinement, is high or low, according to the tone of her clothes. Much talk there is now from the leading fashion artists and coutouriers, about the necessity of making clothes suitable to one's individuality, instead of just merely following the stylo of tho moment, regardless of the important fact as to whether it is becoming or not. The simplo little dresses now worn so much afford splendid opportunities for introducing an odd touch hero and there, a re verse cut or shaped a hit uncom- monTy, or an fnsct panel quaint ly used, and thereby unmistaka bly adding that which lifts it from tho commonplacc.and lend ing a tone of originality, which is quite desirable. The first dress illustrated here is remarkable for the number of striking features that charac terize it. and mako it at once smart, stylish and decidedly unique. Of course tho material employed also plays a great part in tho general effect, as for in stance, in this case, thcro is a very attractive and harmonious combination of color and so on. Ribbed or corded cilk in taupe is used with Persian silk for the inset panel of tho skirt, applied yoke of the waist and also for tho cute little Hohespiorro collar and dainty little turn-back cuff. Isn't it chic. Tho other simplo yet charm ing model looks exceedingly noat and becoming in any of the soft woolen small check fabrics or homespun ratine and velveteen can bo used very effectively with a dark shade of satin for the odd ly shaped collar that extends into the graceful long rovors. The chemisette that is worn with this dress is rcmovablo and can bo made of net, allovor or Bohemian lace. lor afternoon wear under the long top coat nothing could bo better. John Thornton Dead John Thornton of 1020 N. Leonard street, St. Johns. Ore gon, died, January 27, 1913, fol lowing an operation. His age was 66 years and 15 days. The deceased was a native of Ohio. In 1877 he was married to Miss Alice Rice. To them was born three sons and five daughters, two of which have been laid away to rest. The others are Mrs. D. J. Sellard, St. Johns, Mrs. E. J. Deedon, Portland, Mrs. F. W. Davis, St. Johns, O. Z. Thornton, North Bend, Ore gon, and one son Harry and daughter Georgia reside at home with their bereaved mother. The deceased was a member of the S. D. A. church in the East. The funeral services were con ducted at the undertaking par lors of St. Johns. Elder bt. John of Portland spoke nice words of comfort. A goodly number of friends were present and accom panied the remains to the Rose City cemetery where he was peacefully laid to rest. A friend Tell us when we do not please you in our service. Your satis faction is our prosperity. Our first aim is to please you. CUR RINS FOR DRUGS. The McMinnville High school team defeated the James John team by the score of thirty to twelve, in a basketball game last Saturday evening. This team is out for the state championship, and seem in a fair way to win it. They outweigh tho James John boys by several pounds to the nuin, and, in addition to this, they showed a greater knowl edge of the game. They are the fastest team that has visited St. Johns this year. However.Jamcs John still claims the Columbia River Championship, for Mc Minnville defeated our keenest rivals for that honor, Clatska- nie, by a larger score than we suffered Saturday night. Mc- Minnvillo's coach is a lornier U. of O. star who was all star for ward of tho Northwest. The program given by some members from each Rhetorical division last Friday was enjoyed very much by those present. The musical numbers were very nloasing: especially, the boy's chorus, which we hope will ap pear again soon. The recitations proved both amusing nnd enter taining. The singing of the old familiar songs by tho whole school was a now feature and everybody entered into it heart ily. On Friday the report cards will be given out. Every ono is looking forward to Friday to see what his term's work has brought forth. On Iriday a new class will en ter James John. This class numbers about fourteen. James John will do their best to give a hearty welcome to these now students. Iriday evening tho James John donating teams for the sec ond time argued tho question of tho electoral college and direct vote. This time our opponents wero Park Place, in dual debate, the ncgativo team of each school going abroad, tlib affirmative re maining at home. Park Place brought with them enthusiastic support and they had tho oppor tunity to rejoice, for tho visitors succeeded in winning two of the three votes. Their sneakers had an effective dolivory, tho socond speaker being especially clear in argumontaud presentation. At Park P ace, howover. James John won the unanimous decision, which, with tho ono vote for our affirmative, gives us a total of live points out of a possible eight. The judges woro: At James John, Miss Larrabeo of Lincoln High. Professor Campboll of Jefferson, Professor Hughson of tho Portsmouth school. At Park Place, Profossor Bishop and Professor Melendy of Joflorson. and Rov. Mr. Landsborough of Oregon City. Thoro are now left in tho field Tho Dalle, Woodhurn and St, Johns, who must moot in a final contest for tho district championship. Johnston Cheney loft on Wed nesday morning for Tacoma whore his people havo boon for noarly two wooks. Jamos John reirrets exceedingly to havo him go, and moro especially at this time, for he must drop out ot the final debate. Ho remained at considerable sacrifice to take part in tho dobato of last Friday and did much in securing the victory for tho Bchool. James John appreciates his loyalty. Tho members ot tho debating teams and seniors wero dolight fully entertained by Miss Run dall Saturday evening after the basket ball game. The table was tastefully decorated in rose and silver gray, the senior class col ors. and rosos wero given ns fa vors. Tho party also partook of tho nature ot a larewoll to John ston Cheney, who left this week for Tacoma, where he will make his future homo. Reportor. A strong demonstration has been made in favor of tho pro posed interstate bridge between Oregon and Washington, cross ing the Columbia River at Van couver. Joint committees from the two state Legislatures went over the site chosen for tho structures and looked carefully into the merits of tho project. At a later meeting in Portland, attended by citizens of both states.strong support was arous ed for the bridge and it scorns likely the plan will be accom plished. Yniifinn trot vour favorite mair- nvinn linro.iinri wft will tnkfi voiir subscription for any magazine published. CURRINS F O R DRUGS. . At the regular meeting of the city council Tuesday evening, at which all members were present, City Attorney Stroud read an or der of the Railroad Commission relative to the water rate situ ation in St. Johns. The first hearing took place in the rooms of the Commission in the County Court House Saturday last, and the order was the outcome. It suspends tho water rate ordi nances passed bythe city dur ing the time the case was pend ing before the Commission, and also stays any criminal action instituted for violation of tho rate ordinance until the commis sion had decided the case. Ital- so'advised payment of tho old rates from tho date of the hear ing, and if the Comission finds that" they are .exorbitanffand makes a new rate, the wutcr.com- nnnv will bo foiced to refund the difference to the paying patrons. The' city attorney statedlthat the city had gained'great advantage by this ruling, thut there was a possibility that tho Commission wouldrmako .the rates even lower than tho city had attempted ,to do.fand that'hislunderstanding.of it was that the patrons who had not paid for water between the pasage of the ordinance in Sep tember to February 1st, need only nay tho' rates for that period prescribed by tho council. A representative ol the warren Bros. Paving Co. aaked'the coun cil to investigate their product, antUinvitcd the body to inspect the streets of Portland, which the council decided to.do Wednes day of next week. A report from the city engi neer stated that it would become necessarykfor the city to acquire a thirty foot strip in Buchanan Street before improvement of same could bo instituted. Mut ter was he Id over lor ono wook. A resolution was adopted di recting thounrrlneer to prepare tho necossary data for tho im provement of Richmond street e c...fil ." i.. l.i i roin aimiu uvemiu iu .'i-anvimuii street. A resolution" providing for tho improvement of Willamette boulevard 'from the North Bank bridge to Richmond street with a thirty foot strin of hithulithic imvomont and sidewalks on both sidon'of 'i the t thorough faro was also adopted. An ordinance assessing tho cost of paving Dawson street from Columbia boulevard to Ida street was passed. A Farewell Party Mr. and Mm. J. N. Kcolcr en- tortained Ben C. Crow and his closest friends last Monday even ing at their homo on Smith nvo- nue. it was to bid inr. urow farewell, us ho leaves St. Johns, and to wish him tho best of suc cess and greatest good possible wherever his work may tako him. Tho evening was very enjoya bly spent. "Nuts to Crack" were pasted to each person, and when opened a clipping was found inside containing a coml cal story or a joke on some ono musically inclined, which, when read, added groatly to tho amuse ment of overy ono. A musical program was givon by Mr. Crow and a lew ot his pupils, Mr. Crow sang" Remember Now Thy Creator," "Oh, Dry Thoso Tears," and a series of Indiun lovo lyrics. His pupils who sang were Miss MeNiven.Miss Smith, Mm. Ovorstreet and David By erlee. Miniuturo banjos wero givon for tho most perfect list of ten musical tonus represented by article-! placod on u tnble and tho correct numos of great sing ers whoso pictures woro placed on tho wall. Mr. Ovorstreet was rowardod in the first in stance and Mr. Crow in tho lat tor. Delightful refreshments of cake, punch nnd saluds woro served. Thoso prosont wero Mr. and Mrs. J. N. Keeler, Mr. and Mrs. M. B. Groon, Mr. airtl Mrs. G. W. Ovomtroot, Misses Edna Smith, Flora McNivon.Mao John son, Alda Ovorstreet, and Jack McNivon, David Byerleo and Bon C. Crow. The bill making appropriations for tho improvement of rivers and harbors for tho coming year has passed the House of Repre sontativos and has gone to the Somite. Out of the 89-1 Congres sional Districts in tho United State, tho largest appropriation carried in the bill is for tho Portland, Ore., district, amount ing to $1,060,000. Tho City Attorney has made an explanation of the City's po sition in the water controversy, which we quote below: Tho following is the Order en tered by the Railroad Commis sion upon the first day of Febru ary,iyi3: "Upon hearing this day had in this cause, the parties being present by their respective at torneys, it is now here, upon mutual agreement of both par ties to this cause, ORDERED that upon the conditions hereaf ter set forth Ordinances Num bers 502 nnd 522 of the city of St. Johns, prescribing water rates, bo and are hereby tempor arily suspended from this date. "That the defendant Company, upon tho fixing of n rate by this Commission, shall refund to any and all consumers who have paid the rates prescribed by Ordi nance No. 16 the difference be tween tho rates so paid under Ordinance No. 16 and the rates prescribed by the Commission, from the date of this agreement to the date of the fixing of a rate by the Commission, such pay ment and all proceedings under this Order to bo without preju dice to any rights which the de fendant may havo or claim under Ordinance No. 16 nnd without prejudice to tho rights which the plaintiff may claim under Or dinances Numbers 502 and 522. or to any rights of either party, it being expressly understood that this order is entered on stipulation of the parties as a matter of temporary compromise and adjustment only." This Order was entered in or ler to save the costs of litigating 2 suits involving the same ques tions at tho same time. Under this Order the people should pay tho old rates of tho Water Com pany from February first on, ami the Company is under the duty to refund whatever ditVerenco there may bo betweon the old rates and the rates found by the Commission from February first Mil 1 I It. on. This unior lias no bearing whatsoever uiion the controversy between tho City and tho Water Company prior to February flint. From August 127th to iebniary first the City still insists that the rates prescribed under Ordi nances Numbers 502 and 522 are in full force and elfoct, and legal in overy way. Payment under Ordinances Numbers 502 and 522. prescribing the new rates.should ho made to February first, and after February first tno payment should bo made in accordance with tho rates prescribed in Or dinance Number 16, Leaves St. Johns Mr. Bon C. Crow, soloist and vocal instructor, loft St. Johns, Tuosduy morning for Independ ence, Orogon.whoro ho is to work as singing evangelist durng this month and then goos to bpoKuno to enter school. While horo Mr. Crow lias made many friond and numberless admirers of his musical ability, who of ono ac cord are freo to say that he is superior to any othor vocalist thut hus over boon horo and that lie has unlimited prospects as to a future. Mr. Crow has been teaching voice culture for tho past fow months in St. Johns with studio in tho First National Bank building. Ho oxprossod much rogret in leaving St. Johns and tho good and growing class ho has but only got wollstablisli- ed hero. Howovor, ho oxpooU to accomplish greater works and do moro good in leaving. Tho dis cernible improvomont in his claw iroos to show that ho is an in structor of no moan ability, and it has been plainly shown that his class much disliked giving him up. Many havo expressed thoir wishes for his success whoro he may go anil that it may not bo long until ho again returns to St. Johns. T"i M Hunrlno nt mm timet fld- itor of this papor, left Tuesday to take charge of the Willamina newspaper, which was formerly pnnrlnftnil hv 'P. 'P. Pnrkur. who was formerly a well known at torney of at. Johns. The noui ia flrat nlnaa from Jl newsnanor- man's standpoint, with a large and rich country district to uraw from. That Mr. Byerleo will mako a success of his vonturo we aro fully assured, and the best wishes of tho Roviow will go with him to his now location. His family will remain in St. Johns.