Eugone,
Ore'
CITY
The annual meeting of the stock
holders of Clackamas Co. Fair will be
held in Oregon City, Saturday, Feb.
7, at 9:30 A. M.
If you want to buy, sell or trade, try
small ad in The Courier the best ad
vertizing medium in Clackamas County
and you will get the desired results.
31st YEAR
OREGON CITY, ORE., THURSDAY, JAN. 22, 1914.
No. 35
OREGON
COURIER
Who Knows?
Our friend Silas Wright of Liber
al was in the other day. He is some
thing of a philosopher, quite a think
er and a man who likes to ask hard
questions. Here are some he asked
the Courier editor, and he "passes
the buck."
You have seen hundreds of white
horses, why did you never S,e a white
colt? Why does a horse eat grass
backward and a cow forward? Why
does a hop vine twist to the left and
a bean vine to the right? Why does
a horse staked out by a rope unwind
it, while a cow winds it up into hard
" kinks? Why does a horse get up on
his front feet and a cow on her hind
feet? And why does a dog always
turn around tnree times before ly
ing down?
High School Boys Win
Oregon City High defeated Canby
High School last Saturday evening
in the Armory, in an exciting basket
ball contest. The final score was
17 to 14, and the Canby boys put up
a game fight throuout.
The fast Canby aggregation play
ed the Oregon City boys off their
feet in the first part of the game,
but the home team' braced up and
came to the front in the last half.
The playing of Coleman of Canby,
' and Orem and Green of Oregon City
was a feature. This was the first
game for the local team, and a large
crowd attended.
A CASE IN PARTICULAR
An Illustration of How the Tax Ex
emption Bill Would Work
(By Alfred D. Cridge)
A farmer in southern Oregon some
weeks ago "flew in the air" at the
suggestion of the Home-Tax Exemp
tion amendment.
"I am willing to pay my taxes," he
said, "and this measure wouldn't help
me for I own over $25,000 of assessed
values in this county, and most of it
is land I can't sell the way things are
now. If you will put in a little time
Mr. Cridge, in trying to sell my land
I will give you a good per centage for
every sale made by you directly, or
indirectly.. That will pay you better
than working for this sort of single
tax measure. I don't believe it will
reduce any man's taxes, for it requires
just so much money to run this
country and if the farmer is ex
empted on his house and barn it will
be taken up on his land."
"Would you be willing to give two
per cent to any person who would se
cure the sale of your property?" I
"Sure!" he replied. "Show me!"
"Then you should get some signa
tures to this petition, and help it out
financially," I said. "It will bring
thousands upon thousands of people
to Oregon to buy home places, and to
build them. It will bring to your
door ten people where you now see
one lboking for a home. . People al
ways come where they are not taxed
on the product of their industry and
thrift. Oregon wants the men with
small means now going elsewhere to
build where they will not be taxed on
houses and fences, live stock and other
things."
"But how will it reduce taxes on
the home: it requires just so much
taxes, anyhow?"
I showed him that it would not in
crease taxes in his county more than
eight per cent, and probably five per
cent. He finally admitted that it
might increase taxes less than 10 per
cent, and we proceeded on that basis.
It requires same figuring but it
amounts to the certainty that a farm
er's taxes would be the same if he had
the full amount of improvements and
personal property allowed by the
amendment exempted ($1,500) and
had land and other property to the
assessed value of $13,500 not exempt.
A small farmer with land to the value
of $2,700 would only have to have im
provements and personal property ex
empted up to $300 to be even; and he
would be encouraged to put $1,200
more into improvements as the taxes
would not be increased thereby; or he
would sell part of his land and do so,
and pay less taxes.
"Then," said my land owning friend
"while it would increase my taxes if
I kept my land, it would induce people
to come to Oregon and buy it, and en
able me to pay off my mortgage and
improve my property and live more
comfortably. I am no land hog: I
honestly want to sell nearly all my
land."
"Precisely!" I replied.
"Well, great Jehosophat!" he ex
claimed, "why don't those real estate
agents send you round in a palace car
to whoop this measure up?"
"Because, my friend," I replied
smilingly, "Real estate agents are as
blind as you were a few minutes ago,
and they wait for orders from the
higher-ups before they allow their
brains to revolve, which I see you are
able to do without any orders."
"It is a cinch," said Mr. Land Own
er, "that things can't be much worse,
and taxes are going up every year on
any man wh'o tries to use his land and
develop the country. Give me a pe
tition; I can get some signers."
"How about that two per cent com
mission?" "Eh!- Eh! Eh!" he laughed. "Say,"
if this measure carries and I sell that
land I'll send you one per cent on
general principles."
While I am afraid I can't do any
banking on his promised one per cent
I know it will be coming to me on and
after next November.
The exemption of the home from
taxation in Oregon up to $1,500 of
assessed values on dwelling house, live
stock, tools and other labor values
means the most unexampled, prosper
ity for all classes of people; and will
not leave the land owner out in the
cold who is willing to let go while let
ting go is good, and it will be good.
The land speculator who hangs on
to his empty lots and acres can afford
to pay the increased taxes, and will,
cheerfully do so, while the land user
will pay less and get more for his
products.
NOTICE. The big ad. of Elliott
Bros, in this issue has the date
Monday, Jan. 27. It should read
Monday, January 26.
WANTED
CHANGE
1
VIEWS OF DIFFERENT MEN EX
PRESSED AT LUNCHEON
WHAT IS THE NEEDED CHANGE
Present System is too Expensive to
Be Borne by County
Roads was the problem before the
Live Wires Tuesday noon, and it was
the livest and warmest topic the
Wires have taken on in some time.
. And here are the outline express
ions of the men present all agree
ing on the main principle, but differ
ing in details:
Judge Dimick strongly condemned
the present system of 49 supervisor
districts and declared that the best
results would never come from the
system. He stated that back in Judge
Kyans administration $29,000 was
raised for roads and bridge work:
that this had gradually increased to
the present year to $318,000, and that
results were in no way proportion'
ate, because we are turning the
morjey over to road supervisors who
have no Knowledge of practical road
building. He compared the work be
ing done at Pendleton, under a com
petent roB engineer, and said that
county .j getting lasting roads at
$o,uuu a mile, and that the great se
cret of these roads was drainage.
He cited the deplorable condition of
the roads between Oregon City and
Canby in contrast, with a consider
able of the latter road under- water
for want of drainage. He stated that
every dollar of road work in Marion
county was now being done under
practical plans, under an engineer.
Mr. Dimick called attention to the
law which requires all districts ex
pending $1,000 to let the work by
contract to bidders and asked how
this could be done unless specifica
tions were submitted. He stated that
in four years this county had expend
ed over $40,000, and we had poor re
sults for the expenditures. "I don't
blame the county courts," concluded
the Judge, "but the system. Our road
supervisors have no training for the
work. One man, appointed by the for
mer court, and a man who had never
paid a cent of taxes, said he did not
know road building but he was go
ing to learn. It is the duty of the
Commercial club and others to work
with the County Court for a better
system. I am bitterly opposed to the
present system, under which 60 per
cent of the 59 supervisors have had
no road building experience.
George Randall stated that
in district No. 16 a boy had been ap
pointed overseer, who was not even
a taxpayer. He advocated the letting
of road contracts by the mile; that
the present system was - throwing
away money.
' F. M. .Swift said one fault with
our roads was the use of unfit rock
for top dressing; that field stones
were good for road base, but wear
ing rock should be used on surface.
H. E. Cross stated that two years
ago some of the men worked hard
for a change in the present system
but nothing came of it. He held the
county courts were entirely to blame
and responsible for the present sys
tem. He opposen the proposition
which is being ionsinered, of the rit
ies taking 'all their road 4noney
which the courts have held they may
do, as he declared this would get
them in bad with the farmers. He
advocated that the people take the
money away from the county courts
unless the system be changed.'
E. E. Brodie stated that if the
court abided by the law and appoint
ed a road master it must be done, ac
cording to the law, in January.
Livy Stipp said as he construed it
the court could appoint at any time,
but he did not think they would ap
point at all. He cited how new sup
ervisors were appointed by every
court; some learned the work, others
did not; some of the present appoint
ees were good, others very unsatis
factory, but under the present sys
tem cannot be helped. "It has been a
matter of experiment going on for
15 or 20 years.' :
Jesse Hazell said we should get
the farmers in with us, and that if
the work succeeded it must through
therri. He cited how 59 supervisors,
with a following of ten each, became
a power that county courts would
listen to, and that only through co
operation of the farmers could we
get enough strength to change our
system.
T. W. Sullivan said the work
started by H. E. Cross two years ago
was showing results now, and if the
people kept up the agitation a change
was bound to result; that present
system was expensive and wasteful;
it was time to get action, time to
convert men and change the system.
Justice Sievers pointed Out that
under the law passed by the 191J
session road engineers are already
provided in the county engineers in
every district that expends $1,000 or
more Another column on this page
gives a more extended notice to this
law. '
Mr. Randall declared that the far
mers were already interested in
changing the road system; that they
would contribute and work for it,
but Mr. Cross replied they were in
terested singly, and the result was
often big expenses on side roads with
main roads, like the Molalla road, un
completed. ; '
THE CITY'S DUTY
What J. W. Thomas Thinks of Our
Jewel ?) Filter and Water Source
Editor Courier:
Having read with very much in
terest all that has been said, through
our country , papers, about Oregon
City's present "Jewel" (?) water
system for the past two years, and
before tho gem (?) or Jewel (?) fil
ter was installed to transform the
Willamette River water into the
"purest water on earth," according
to government test.
. The writer, being 'just from an
extended trip on the head waters of
the beautiful , crystal Clackamas,
snow-fed mountain stream, could see
no comparison with this source of
water and the proposed working over
of the Willamette River water into
the pure,- undefiled article Of "cold
chuck." More than a quarter of a
century ago it was suggested to the
old Oregon City "moss-backs" to pipe
in the Clackamas water as it could
be relied on as the equal of "Bull
Run," or any other run of water.
Then the City Dads' minds could
not see any further, past personal
interests, than down at the mouth of
the Clackamas, where it empties in-
to the Willamette, that both waters
tasted about the same to hem.
Increased population with the mul
tiplied filth dumping for all these
years, has more than swamped the
installed "Jewel" filter, with all its
chemical auxiliaries, failing at last
to hold public confidence to the reg
ister point, where the job was cer
tainly performed in screening out col
on bacilli.
These annual typhoid bugs, jump
ing thru the filter gate, have be
come a horrible menace to humanity.
as evidenced by our friends spending
many months between lite and
death.
Oregon City owes it to herself and
her neighbors to NOW SECURE
WATER OF UNQUESTIONABLE
PURITY.
J. W.. Thomas.
PROVIDES NEW SYSTEM
New Statute Places Supervision of
$1,000 Jobs With Surveyor
Tuesday's meeting of the Live
Wires, of the. Oregon City Commer
cial Club was devoted largely to a
discussion of the roads of the coun
ty, and the need of a different sys
stem of control. It appeared to be the
concensus of opinion that there ought
to be appointed a competent highway
engineer to plan roadwork and to
prepare specifications.
When this opinion had been voiced.
Justice John M. Sivers called the at
tention of tmr meeting to a law pass
ed at the last session of the legisla
ture, which provides that in each
road district where $1,000 or more
is to be spent, the county surveyor
shall have supervision of such work,
and shall prepare plans, estimates
and specifications. It was apparent
that the existence of this law was
news to the gathering.
the law :3 contained in Chanter
142 of the session laws of 1913, and
is the outgrowth of house bill 312. It
provides that the county court shall
determine at its first term each year
the moneys to be expended in each
road district and that if the "amount
be $1,000 or over, whether apportion
ed out of the general fund or voted
by any road district for permanent
road or highway construction or
both, to be expended within said road
district during the year for which
the same was apportioned or voted,
the county court shall instruct the
county surveyors or county road mas
ter to prepare plans and specificat
ions oi tne proposed improvement
within said road district as to line.
grade, drainage, material or mater
ials, and file the said plans and speci
fications together with an estimate
of the probable cost thereof in the
office of the county clerk of said
county." ' ,
Ihe law further provides that af
ter such plans have been approved
by the county court the clerk shall
advertise for sealed bids for the im
provement. When the bids have been
received the county court may use its
discretion in letting a contract for
the work to the lowest or some other
bidder, or may reject all bids and re-1
advertise, or may make such im
provement itself under the dnection
of the surveyor or road master.
I his section of law also provides
that the county surveyor or county
road master may order such repairs
to roads as may be found necessary,
so that the roads shall "at all sea
sons of the year, be firm, smooth and
convenient for travel."
This law apparently opens a wav
for a change in the system of roa'd
maintenance in Clackamas countv.
so that consistent highway work may
be carried on, and the various lines
of travel placed in a condition that
will make them a credit to the coun
ty, and also make them useful at all
seasons of the year.' Though the Live
Wires took no action in the matter,
it is hoped that the county court, in
its wisdom, will adopt as far as
may be possible the new plan, so that
consistent road work may be carried
out here according to a uniform plan.
Dates to Remember
Registration closes May 1;
Primary election, May 15.
Registration re-opens May 16.
Registration open to Oct. 3.
Biennial State election Nov. 3.
All who wish to vote must recris-
ter or have their votes sworn in.
Register at county clerk's office, or
with the cierK s deputies.
All taxes payable before April 1.
Half may be paid before April
1, and half before Sept. 1. second
half to carry a penalty of 1 per cent
per month until paid; if not paid be
fore Sept. 1, becomes delinquent. Bub-
ject to 10 per cent penalty and 12 per
cent interest, and after Uct 1 fifteen
per cent interest on sheriff's
certificates.
The county treasurer will be ready
to receive tax payments on cr about
Feb. 13.
Wnntril WOMEN
it aniui
and Girl
(over 18 years of age)
To operate SEWING Machines
In garment factor'
Oregon City Woolen Mills
COUNCIL
ES
BOTH
FRANCHISES
CLACKAMAS SOUTHERN ROAD
AND CARVER LINE FIXED
SEWER PLANS ARE DISCUSSED
Fencing in of Division Street near
' School Reported; Babcock to Act
Franchises for both the Portland
& Oregon City Railroad the Carver
line) and the Clackamas Southern
Railroad (now to be known as the
Willamettee Valley Southern) were
passed by the council at its special
meeting Wednesday evening, no dis
senting votes being cast, and all the
city fathers except Councilman Metz
ern one. , Mr. . Albright also moved
Oregon City road is given 90 days in
which to accept its franchise, the
document having been drawn bythe
city attorney after the road's own
submitted franchise had been vetoed,
Councilman Albright moved the
final passage of the Carver franchise
and Councilman looze moved the fi
nal passage of the Claodcamas South
em one, Mr. Albright a'lstbo moved
the final passage of the ordinance ap
propriating $300 to pay for an ex-
amination of the H. A. Rands survey
for a pipeline from the South Fork
of the Clackamas river, and this or
dinance also went through with a
unanimous vote. Other than this
there was little accomplished by the
city lathers.
Sewer Problem Reviewed
Presentation of an estimate for the
extension of the new Seventh street
sewer was made by City Engineer
Noble, who placed the cost of the
work at $0,070. The estimate was
contained in a special report of the
special sewer committee, which recom
mended that bids be advertised for
upon the work. This section of the
sewer is a part of the trunk sewer
system devised by Commissioner
Robert Dieck, of Portland, when he
was acting as consulting engineer for
the city.
Councilman Myer rose to a point
ui iiiiuiiaaiiuu unu inquired wno was
to pay for the new sewer, as the dis
trict was already served oy an older
.. e : i i i i i
arain, wnicn naa Deen paid for py
property owners on that thorough
fare. Mr. Noble said that an assess
ment district covering a large area
nad already been created for this pur
pose. Until such assessments were
collected, however, the city would
have to furnish the money for the
work.
Street Superintendent Babcock
urged that work on the new section
of sewer be started at once, so that
the surface drainage cotdd be cared
for. Under present conditions this
water is not carried off and frequent
flooding of property results.
Unfair Charges Alleged
Complaint was made by property
owners that sewer assessments upon
ine nui nao been levied in the past
in a manner that was strane-e and
weird. Instances were cited where
lots on one side of a block had been
assessed $49,50 each, and lots on the
other side but $20 each for the same
sewer work. It was also charged that
when the original Seventh street
sewer was laid, lots on the south side
of Seventh street had been assessed
$50 each, and that later property on
Eighth street was connected un with
the same sewer at the city expense,
and with no charge at all to propetry
owners .
After much more discussion. Coun
cilman Andrews moved that the re
port and estimate be accepted and
piacea on nie, and then Councilman
Albright moved that the city record
er advertise for bids, and that the
city attorney be instructed to look in
to the legal phases of the question.
Councilman . Templeton thought
that advertising for bids might be
useless delay, and pointed out that
the Oregon Engineering & Construc
tion company already had work upon
the street, and thought the sewer
extension might be entrusted to them.
"They are already on the ground," he
said, "and probably could do the work
as cheaply as anybody else."
This did not appear to appeal to
the councilmen, and a few moments
later Councilman Albright withdrew
his motion, and the whole matter was
laid over to a special meeting to be
held Friday erening.
Street Fenced In
O. D. Eby, on behalf of the schol
board, reported to the council that
property owners near the Eastham
school had fenced in a part of Di
vision street, and were curtailing the
playground space that by right should
be given over to the children. The
council ordered Street Superintend
ent Babcock to tear down the fences,
and to report this work as done by
the special meeting on Friday.
Complaint was made by the board
of underwriters that wiring in the
fire hall was unsatisfactory, and the
matter was referred to the fire com
mittee for investigation.
An offer from Harvey Cross in re
gard to the settlement of claims the
city has against him was referred to
he mayor, recorder and city attorney
with power to act.
A resolution fixing the recorder's
salary at not to exceed $85 a month
was also adopted, the resolution con
taining provision that he should em
ploy a clerk who should also be at the
disposal of the city engineer s office.
Hard-Surface is Sought
Councilman Tooze told the council
that D. ' C. Ely and other property
owners on Seventh stree desired hard
surface paving laid on certain blocks,
and wanted to know if there was any
way this could be accomplished. Mr.
Tooze was informed that the only
way such a change could be made was
upon petition of all of the property
owners concerned, and by their pay
ing the extra cost The street Is now
being improved with macadam.
Property owners on John Adams
street, between Eleventh and Twelfth,
asked to have that block included in
he approaching improvement of the
street. On motion of Mr. Albright
the city engineer was asked to include
this block in his plans and specinca
ions.
The street committee recommended
the placing of an arc light at the In
tersection of Seventeenth and Wash'
ington streets, and the council
approving, the committee was in
structed to ascertain the cost of such
installation.
Elevator Bonds Unsought
Either because of the uncertainty
over the working of the new income
tax law, or owing to the business de
pression following consideration of the
currency bill, little interest was
shown in the elevator bonds, for which
bids had been asked some weeks aeo.
The finance committee reported that
but one bid was received, and that
this was for 98 per cent of the par
value of the issue.
Councilman Myer said that he mis
trusted this bid, for a variety of rea
sons, and moved that the bonds be re
advertised. The motion prevailed.
Councilman Templeton complained
about tne condition of the paviner be
tween the Clackamas Southern tracks
at Fifteenth and Main streets. It ap
pears that the tracks have settled at
this point, and the original street
paving has not been properly re
placed. O. D. Eby, counsel for the
road, promised to look into the mat
ter and have repairs made.
Printing Fisrurea Asked
A retiort from the special commit
tee appointed to look into the matter
of city printing was presented, but
contained no recommendation. Coun
cilman Tooze moved that the citv re
corder write too three or more cities
of the same approximate size as Ore
gon City and ascertain how city print
ing was handled. "This will enable
us to get at the matter in a just and
fair way," said Mr. Tooze, and his
motion prevailed without any dissent
ing votes.
Mr. Tooze also inquired the present
status of the curfew bell, which has
been out of use since the new fire
alarm system was installed. Council
man Long reported that the only
bell available for such use was that
of Cataract Hose company, and the
nre and water committee was in
structed to see if this bell could not
be placed in the tower at the citv
jail, and used henceforth in ringing
cunew.
New Quarters February 1
The commercial club is preparing
to move into their new home on the
second story of the new business
block on the corner of Eighth and
r ti . ...
mam. ii is expected ine new quar
ters will be ready by February 1. We
understand the Maccabees will have
the rooms vacated by the club.
ALBRIGHT FOR SHERIFF?
Councilman Reported to be Consider
ing Entering County Race
Rumors are current that Council
man John Albright is soon to an
nounce himself a candidate for sheriff
of Clackamas county. Mr. Albright
will neither confirm nor deny this,
but simply smiles and says that he
believes he has a good chance should
he determine to enter the lists.
Mr. Albright has been on the police
and health committee of the council
for some terms, and has accomplished
much good legislation for the benefit
of the city. During the time that he
i i r i 1 1 i i
nus ueen in cnarge oi men at tne icai
mills he has shown himself capable of
directing a large force of workers,
and hiB friends declare that he would
be most acceptable and efficient as
sheriff.
TALK ON STREETS
Candidates for Office, not Authentic,
Just Political Gossip
The air is full of all kind of politi
cal rumor b for Clackamas county
next fall, and there promises to be
several varieties of politics, parties
and candidates.
Here are some of "those mention
ed." Some "of these are flatly denied
by those rumored; some are openly
announced candidates; some are
thinking it over, and some are talk
ing the nomination of those wno
have never been spoken to about the
places and who are entirely in ignor
ance of their names being mentioned.
But here is the gossip mixed with
the goods:
County judge a. s. Anderson, w.
L. Mulvey. but Mr. Mulvey says this
is the worst of gossip and he will not
be a candidate against Judge Ander
son. Countv commissioner W J Smith,
and there are rumors that a certain
faction is plotting seven kind of
"deep laid schemes" to put him to
sleep at the spring primaries.
For senator W. A. Dimick, Wil
liam Stone iust street rumor.
For representative C. Schuebel,
Oregon City; O. D. Robbing of Lo
gan; William Grisenthwaite of Beav
er Creek: H. W. Hagemann of Stone;
Gustave Schnoerr of Oregon City.
And it is said the Democrats are
planning a surprise party. The So
cialists are talking M. V. Thomas of
Sandy; W. W. Myers of Oregon City
and John Stark of Maple Lane.
Sheriff William Wilson, Jack
Frost. J. F. Albright, Henry Strei
bisr. C. M. Clemsen Oregon City; H
W. Coler of Oswego; J. D. Thorne of
Maple Lane.
Assessor H. W. Robbing.
County Clerk S. L. Casto of Car-
us, M. E. Dunn, Oregon City.
County treasurer J. O. Staats,
Oregon City.
And there are more to come.
Ladies Attention
Ladies who are in any way inter
ested in sewing, either to take up a
full course in Dressmaking or for thnir
own home and personal use will
kindly call on Miss Bovill of the Scien
tific Dressmaking Aeaderr.y of Port
land, now at 509 Third street.
Mrs. Ola Oris and niece. Miss Le-
ona Gurley, of Canby, were among
1, .i-1 j
me uregon iuy visitors jsonaay.
y
ROUTE APPROVED
EAST SIDE OF RIVER FROM
PORTLAND IS FAVORED
THREE COUNTIES BACK PLANS
Delegates Participate in Lively Ar
gument at Local Meeting
Enlivened by charges of conduct
ing its business in the same manner
as did the "packed conventions" of
earlier political days, and by a lively
tilt between representatives of the
west and east sides of the Willamette
river, the Pacific Highway Associa-
ion of Multnomah, Clackamas and
Marion counties met in the parlors
of the Oregon City Commercial Club
Wednesday afternoon, and after over
two hours of exciting session finally
adopted resolutions that met with
practically the unanimous approval
of the delegates present.
The resolutions endorse the con
struction of a sixteen foot, hard
surfaced highway from the southern
approach of the interstate bridge to
be built across the Columbia river
to the state capitol by way of Ore
gon City, and urge the state high
way commission to designate route
of the road along the most direct and
feasible line. The association also
goes on record in the resolutions as
urging all communities in the three
counties to work for the further con
struction of hard-surfaced trunk and
arterial highways, and a betterment
of present roadway conditions thru-
out thes tate.
Adoption of these resolutions came
as a conclusion of a meeting that
started with the utmost tranquility.
After President T. W. Sullivan of the
association had outlined tho purpos
es of the body the roll was called,
and showed delegates present from
the East Side clubs of Portland, from
Milwaukie, Oak Grove, Clackamas,
Gladstone, Jennings Lodge, West
Linn Oswego, Oregon City, Canemah,
New Era, Canby, Barlow, Woodburn,
Aurora, Gervais, Brooks and Twi
light. It was early announced that the
gathering would not try to fix the
route of the Pacific Highway, but
would merely devote its energies to
working for the construction of such
a main trunk road, and for the gen
eral betterment of all branch roads.
Permanent highway construction and
a cessation of the past waste of road
funds, was set forth as the keynote
of the work in hand. A call for funds
to carry on preliminary work was
made, and it was finally determined
that each community represented be
assessed two dollars to defray expen
ses. E. D. Olds, of Oak Grove, turned
in the first two dollars for the dis
trict he represented.
LnthUBiasm is ueneral
M. J. Lee, of Canby. reported early
in the proceedings that not only in the
districts along the proposed Pacific
Highway was there enthusiasm for
the project, but that also in outlying
communities there was a growing ten
dency to seek better roadway con
ditions. . Mr. Lee mentioned Molalla
as being a case in point, and told of
the desire of the people there to have
better roads.
E. E. Brodie called attention of the
meeting to an editorial in a recent
issue of the Molalla Pioneer, in which
the bond issue plan was criticised,
and Mr. Lee was appointed a com
mittee of one to see the editor of that
paper and show him the "error of his
ways " and to bring him in line with
the general boosting.
State Engineer Bowlby was re
ported as desiring to be kept in touch
with the work of organization; and
President Sullivan cautioned Marion
county delegates to watch out for a
reported plan to utilize all road mon
eys raised in their county in the im
mediate vicinity of the capitol city.
Resolutions start Activity
Resolutions to be sent to the state
highway commission, voicing the pur
pose of the organization, were then
demanded, and President Sullivan ap
pointed Daniel Kellaher, A. King Wil
son, n. U. Starkweather, Grant ti.
Dimick and M. J. Lee a committee to
draw up such resolutions. While the
committee was thus engaged there
was general discussion of road mat
ters, in which the present system of
building highways was generally de
plored. . E. D. Olds, of Oak Grove,
told of the experiences in his pre
cinct, where an outlay of $17,000 all
that was to be seen was some 6,bUO
feet of first class roadway. Mr. Olds
characterized the present system as
"political road building," and said
money was spent mainly witn the in
tention of getting votes for the county
court.
Mr. Hull, of Gladstone, spoke about
the cost of bad roads to every home
owner, and told of personal experi
ences. He said that on account of
the condition of roads near his home
he had to pay $6 for a cord of wood in
the winter time, while in summer the
game amount of fuel could be had for
four dollars. President Williams, of
the Gladstone Commercial Club, said
that he thought the greatest need of
the situaion was the education of he
public to the real economy of the
surfaced roads.
Location Cloud Arises
Mr. Andrews, of the East Side
Businessmen's club, of Portland, sug
gested that-a committee be appointed
to obtain data as to the most feasible
route for a Pacific Highway, and that
information that they might acquire
be forwarded to the state highway
board. Before action was taken on
this a resolution was introduced from
Milwaukie Grange, No. 27, endorS'
ing the location of the Pacific High.
way upon the east bank of the Wil
lamette river.
This brought forth a storm, in
which it was declared that the organi
PACIFIC
zation had agreed at a former meet
I ing to leave the matter of location up
to the state highway board. Final
ly a motion was adopted which would
place all resolutions dealing with lo
cation of the highway upon file.
Reading of a lengthy communica
tion from the Hood River Commer
cial club, urging ' co-operation with
that county in the construction of a
road from Clackamas county to Hood
River through the Oregon Forest
served to still the storm that threat
ened over location matters; but the
calm was of short duration.
Majority Favors East Side
Immediately following this the
resolutions committee brought in two
reports, one favoring the location of
the Pacific Highway on the east bank
of the Willamette, signed by Kellaher,
Starkweather, Dimick and Lee; and a
minority report, signed by A. King
Wilson, in which the location of the
highway was placed entirely in the
hands of the state highway commis
sion. Both reports called for a sixteen-foot
highway.
At once turmoil began. Mr. Kella
her defended the majority report and
moved its adoption. Mr. Lee said that
the matter of location could not be
dodged, and that it might as well be
faced now as to any later time.
. Mr. Wilson then obtained the floor
and argued long and earnestly for the
placing of the road upon the western
bank of the Willamette between Port
land and Oregon City. He declared
that the action of the meeting would
not influence the state highway com
missioners anyway, and insisted that
his report, in which location was
avoided, was the one that ought to be
adopte4. In the course of his re
marks he intimated thai; if he had
known the matter of location was to
be broached he would have had on
hand sufficient delegates to swing the
vote to favoring the west side route.
Voting is Close
J. W. Moffatt, of West Linn, in the
course of the hour's discussion that
followed, charged that "old time po
litical methods of the packed conven
tion" were being followed, and that
adherents of the east side route had
sprung the location question because
they saw they had a majority present.
Mr. Starkweather took Mr. Moffatt
sharply to task, and demanded what
right he had to make the charge. He
also asked him how he thought the
majority of the people who would
have to pay for the road felt about
the matter.
Motion to amend the majority re
port by striking out the provision '
suggesting the east Bide route failed
to carry, the vote being 17 to 14. On
fin,-T"pasnage the majority report car
riffc by A vote of 16 to 12; a rising
vote being necessary on account of
the uproar.
M. J. Lee then made a suggestion
that the report be amended, so as to
read that the organization would sug
gest a route "starting at the southern
approach of the interstate bridge
across the Columbia and running by
the most direct route to the capitol
city." '
President Sullivan ruled the sug
gestion out of order, but later it was
moved to re-refer the majority report
to committee, and this motion carried. ,
Bond Issue Discussed
The committee retired to redraft
the report, and at the suggestion of
Mr. Andrews President Sullivan was
added to the committee. 'While the
resolutions were being remodelled,
discussion of the bond issue was taken
up. Some of the delegates opposed
it, saying that they did not believe in
"saddling a debt upon the unborn."
Others declared that probably most
of the money raised by the bond issue
would, be spent on main roads, and
that doubtless many living in more re
mote communities would therefor op
pose it as "taxation without due bene
fits accruing."
. Other delegates favored the bond
issue, and spoke enthusiastically of
it and of its chances for passage.
The resolutions committee then re
ported again, and the redrafted
document was adopted, calling for the
location of the highway along the
shortest and most direct route from
the interstate bridge to Salem.
Oswego Defeated Again
This seemed to please A. King
Wilson, but his joy was short-lived,
for a delegate from Gervais rose and
complained that such a routing would
carry the highway through Newborg,
and would leave Gervais and much of
Marion county out.
Mortimer Latpurette, secretary of
the organization, smoothed this dif
ficulty out by moving that the reso
lution be amended calling for the con
struction of the highway along the
shortest route "passing through Ore
gon City," and this amendment was
adopted with but two dissenting votes
both from Oswego delegates.
Delegates were urged by the chair
to keep persistently hammering away
in their home communities upon the
advantages of permanent highway
improvement of hard-surface vari
ety, and the meeting adjourned until
the call of the chair. There were
about 40 delegates present.
COUNTY TAX $810,914.92
Interesting Taxa Figures for the
laxpayers Consideration
The tax roll for the current year
shows some interesting figures. The
total assessed valuation of the prop
erty in the County is $30,521,902.12,
about two million m excess of last
year,
ihe total amount of special school
levies is $108,021.60. Special road lev
ies $(0,8jH.b2. Special taxes levied by
incorporated cities and towns, $46,
618.64. The State and County tax amounts
to $610,438.06 in addition to the
special levies, bringing the total of
the tax roll to be collected $840,914.
92. Of this amount $155,000.00 goes
for State purposes, $94,600.00 goes to
the general school fund. $73,200.00 is
used to defray the running expenses
of the County, including care of poor,
widows' pensions , court expenses,
etc., and $286,900.00 is to be spent
in building roads and paying off the
present road indebtedness.
Adding the Special road levies
voted by the people themselves to
the amount assessed by the County
Court for road purposes we have
$362,744.50 to be collected this year.
i