TY COURIER
34th Year
OREGON CITY, OREGON, THURSDAY, JULY 27, 1916
Number 19
OREGON
RECRUITING LOCALLY
STOPS TEMPORARILY
GANTENBEIN WISHES OFFICERS
TO ASSIST IN ENLISTING
FOR THIRD OREGON
Local activity in connection with
the organization of a volunteer infan
try company to be a part of the regi
ment in course of formation in this
state by Colonel C. U. Gantenbein,
haa come to a halt, temporarily and
perhaps finally, as a result of the let
ter sent to all officers of the proposed
regiment by its commanding officer
late last week.
In Oregon City the letter and other
things caused the abandonment of the
recruiting office that had been estab
lished and a cessation of all efforts to
add others to the list of 46 names of
men and youths willing to join a vol
unteer company. The men themselves
foresee no immediate prospect of bor
der or foreign service and the spirit
that prompted them to ally themselves
with Colonel Gantenbein's regiment is
in repose until such a time as actual
enlistment is asked for.
The war department has announc
ed that no troops shall move from
this state, except the men now as
sembling at Clackamas to fill up the
ranks of the Third infantry and other
Oregon units now on the border, until
congress increases the quota of troops
for this state. In other parts of the
state, according to the statement of
Colonel Gatenbein, a number of his
prospective recruits have enlisted in
the Third infantry and will go to the
border as soon as enough men have
enlisted to make the chartering of a
troop train possible. A congression
al enactment will be necessary, in any
event, before volunteer troops can be
called out. '
The letter from Colonel Gantenbein
to his officers says, in part:
"Refute all stories of a contro
versy between myself, or the propos
ed regiment, and General White of the
Third Oregon. I started the organ
ization of this regiment under an
agreement with General White, and
allowed him to designate the date on
which enrolling was to begin.
"Moreover, it has been and is our
policy to support the regiment now at
the front in every way. You are in
structed to urge any men, enrolled
with you, who desire active service
immediately, to enlist for the Third
Oregon. Please assist in the recruit
ing of that regiment wherever you
can. We are working for the best in
terests of Oregon in our undertaking.
"At present we have 1,148 signa
tures for the organization, a sufficient
proof of the widespread confidence in
the undertaking. I am satisfied that
in the event of a call for troops the
regiment would be recruited to war
strength in a rush. -
"Our slogan is preparedness. We
fully believe that sooner or later there
will be a call for troops to aid in in
tervening in and pacifying Mexico.
When it comes we should be ready."
YOUTH COMMITTED
Gladstone Youngster Steals Bicycle
and Goes to Reform School
Arthur McKinnis, 14-year-old Glad
stone youngster, was sent to the state
reform school at Salem on Monday by
County Judge Anderson because of
his incorrigibility. Arthur and his
cousin, Robert McKinnis, stole two bi
cycles from a Gladstone home last
week and were taken in charge soon
after by Sheriff Wilson.
The cousins maintained their inno
cence by saying that the wheels had
been given to them, but when Judge
Anderson questioned Arthur on Mon
day the youth confessed and was or
dered to Salem. This committment
came after his sixth appearance in the
juvenile court.
Robert was to have been given a
hearing yesternoon afternoon but he
did not appear at the county judge's
office. It is not thought probable that
Robert will be sentenced to the reform
school as this is one of his first offens
es. IMAGINES FACE TWfSTED
Sheriff Incarcerates Man Supposedly
Insane. To Be Tried
Steve Zassey, of Milwaukie, imag
ines that the dentist who worked upon
his teeth at Oakland, Cal., some time
ago, put his face all out of shape; so
badly out of shape, in fact, that Mr.
Zassey suffers from lack of company,
for, he says, no one will associate with
him because of his facial appearance.
Mr. Zassey is the only person who no
tices the distortion, as his face ap
pears to be normal.
Zassey was arrested late yesterday
at Milwaukie by Deputy Sheriff Riley
and was taken into custody last night
by Sheriff Wilson. A charge of in
sanity, leading to a medical examina
tion; will be filed against him today.
J' Students Released
Several members of Company G, 0
N.j doing patrol duty on the Mexi-
canjaorder, will De realeased irom ser
vice early in September if the
troops are not mustered out before
that time, as a result of a decision of
the war department this week effect
ing student soldiers. The depart
ment has decided to allow college and
high school students with the troops
to return to their school work at the
beginning of the next term.
TUXES TRIPLE
TIE PAST
E
ASSESSOR JACK SAYS BLAME IS
UPON PEOPLE, AND NOT
UPON COURT
U. S, RESERVES HALF COUNTY
Road District Taxation Brings County
$312,909.58 Through Court and
Special Levy'
Taxes in Clackamas county have in
creased more than 386 per cent in the
last ten years; taxation brought the
county, all funds included, $211,622.48
in 1905 and $819,318.99 in 1915. The
special road district taxes of the coun
ty have increased 2,576 per cent in a
decade. And for all of this the county
court is responsible for only a small
fraction, while the voters are directly
to blame for the greater part of it.
These are statements made by
County Assessor J. E. Jack, in an ad
dress Before the Eastern Clackamas
Taxpayers' league at Barton school
house on Monday evening on the sub
ject of "Assessment and Taxation."
"The increase in tax assessment is
not the fault of the county court, as
most people are anxious to believe, or
of any other group or person connect
ed with taxation, but blame should
rest directly upon the people of the
county and state," said Mr. Jack.
Figures showing the percentage of
increase in taxation within the past
decade were presented by Mr. Jack,
who, with E. F. Riley of Portland ad
dressed the taxpayers' meeting.
Mr. Jack brought his statements
home to his audience by dealing in
facts concerning Clackamas county
and showed the extent of and the rea
son for the tax increase in the ten
year period closed with the assessment
of 1915. This increase amounts to an
average of 917.5 per cent. The com
pilations of the county assessor are
astounding, but they serve to refute
absolutely the belief that taxpayers
love to cherish to the effect that their
government, their county court, their
school district officers or other groups
or individuals are responsible for the
heavy increase in the assessment each
year. Average annual increase in the
Clckamas county assessment for all
purposes has been very close to 40
per cent, according to Mr. Jack's com
pilations. The following tabulations, showing
the exact sum of the increase and the
source of the same, was prepared by
Mr. Jack. It will be noticed that in
the summary of taxes for 1905 the poll
tax is included and in 1915 the timber
patrol tax is included. If the poll tax
were omitted from the compilation the
increase of .1915 over 1905 would be
considerably larger.
Taxes for 1905
Poll Tax.. $ 1,180.00
State School, Road, etc.... 171,078.03
Special School tax 26,087.93
Special Road tax 2,625.60
Special City tax 10,650.92
Total tax for 1905 -.. $211,622.48
Taxes for 1915
State, school, road, etc....$ 545,916.57
Special School tax..., 141,711.38
Special Road tax 70,281.28
Special City tax 61,075.55
Timber Patrol tax 334.53
Total tax for 1915 $819,318.99
Increase in Taxes for 10 Years
State, School, Road, etc. (by coun
ty levy) 214 per cent.
Special School tax " (by vote of
people) 443 per cent.
Special Road tax (by vote of
people) 2,576 per cent.
Special City tax (by vote of people)
473 per cent. ,
Total per centage increase, 386
per cent.
From these figures it is evident
that Mr. Jack's statement as to the
blame for the increase is undoubtedly
correct. The county court has in
creased taxation in its department in
10 years to the extent of 214 per cent.,
while the people themselves have vot
ed an increase, which they have in
their direct control through the ballot,
amounting to 652 per cent. There is
little wonder that the good citizens of
Barton exclaimed aloud in their
amazement when these facts were
presented to them.
The greatest increase has been in
the road department, and the entire
amount of the increase has been voted
by the people. The same good folk
are those who complain about the in
crease, according to tax authorities
here. In this department the total in
crease in the past decade has been
2,576 per cent. That is in contrast to
the total increase for all county court
expenditures in all departments of 214
per cent. In 1905 road assessments
partment received from taxation
$70,281.28.
In concection with the increase in
the road department Mr. Jack told
his audience at Barton that tax shav
ing would produce greater results all
around in any other department and
he advised voters to leave the road
business alone that the good work of
improvement might go on. He en
couraged economy in all departments
EGAD
JUDGE DECIDES DRY
LAW IS VIOLATION
CIRCUIT JUDGE MORROW MAKES
DECISION EFFECTING
PROHIBITION
Circuit Judge Morrow Tuesday ren
dered decision from his bench in Port
land overruling demurrer to the com
plaint in the suit of Wadhams & Co.
against the San Francisco & Port
land Steamship Co., which, in the
opinion of the district attorney of
Multnomah county, practically puts
Oregon's prohibition law out of busi
ness if the decision should be sustain
ed by the higher courts.
Judge Morrow holds that the pro
vision of the prohibition law limiting
to wholesale druggists the right to im
port alcohol in large quantities is in
violation of the interstate commerce
clause of the federal constitution. He
holds that any genuine manufacturer
may import as much alcohol as he de
sires for his own use.
"The Webb-Kenyon act, which was
relied upon by the state in this Auit,"
said Judge Morrow, "is so phrased
that it reads to prohibit the importa
tion of liquor or alcohol for use in vi
olation of law. . It applies in states
which have absolute prohibition, but
the Oregon law provides a manufac
turer can have alcohol but he cannot
import it. As the possession of slco
hol by a genuine manufacturer is not
unlawful, it is in violation of the inter
state commerce clause of the federal
constitution to attempt to prohibit
him from importing such alcohoi di
rectly himself."
PUT IN BIG LIGHTS
Hawley Mills Will Rush Construction
Work on Mill Addition
A set of three 00-candlepower
electric flood lights were installed at
the Hawley Pulp and Paper company's
mill here yesterday to make it possible
for workmen who are constructing the
new mill addition to work night and
day at their tasks. The builders fear
high water, which will put an end to
the work on the foundation and the
dam and all are anxious to have the
dam in and to avoid any delay.
It is anticipted tht the foundation
will be completed within six weeks
and then all danger from the effects
of the high water will be evaded. The
new flood lights, a modern electrical
illuminating device, were tried out
on Wednesday evening and their rays
furnish plenty of light for any kind
of work. The powerful lamps light
up the scene of activities in a way that
almost rivals old sol and thus a double
amount of work can be done by the
contractors. The power of the lights
comes from the reflectors, which are
a new departure in search-light con
struction. COUNTY SEAT PAYS $760
Mayor Hackett Receives Bill for Park,
place Road Work
Oregon City's share of the cost of
the hard surfacing of the ' Oregon
City-Parkplace road is $760, according
to a bill for the work received by
Mayor Hackett from the county court
on Wednesday. This city is expected
to pay for the improvement of 900
feet of the road which is within the
city limits.
and the effective expenditure of tax
money, but as a benefit to the taxpayers-,
farmers especially, he suggested
that there be no reduction in road tax
ation.
In summarizing his report Mr.
Jack said that 33 per cent of the
entire tax levy in Clackamas county
is voted by the people. This, he re
peated, puts the blame for any in
crease upon the public generally rath
er than upon the court or any other
agency connected with tax assessment
and collection.
Fifty-four and one-half per cent
of the entire area of Clackamas coun
ty is in government reservation, and
is entirely exempt from taxation, said
Mr. Jack. For this reason he advanc
ed the idea that the government
should contribute to the county road
fund and aid more in the construction,
improvement and maintenance of
county and state roads. The govern
ment receives as much direct benefit
from road improvement in and about
its reserves as does the Btate or coun
ty, according to Mr. Jack's theory,
and should cooperate with the state
and county in improving roads outside
the reserves and should construct bet
ter roads within the reserves.
The road fund in 1915 collected
$312,909.58 from county 'and special
levy and the total school tax collected
amounted in the same year to $241,
188.98, with an. additional $21,000
turned over to the county from the
state school fund.
Mr. Jack dwelt in his talk especial
ly upon the responsibility of the fed
eral government because of the fact
that more than one-half the total area
of the county, including some of the
most valuable land in the county, is in
government reservation, and tipon the
causes for the astounding increase in
tax levies during the ten years just
past.
The encouragement of strict econ
omy on the part of the public and its
officers and the judicious expenditure
of public money was advocated as the
only remedy for the rapid increase in
assessments.
PAVEMENT COSTS
CENTS A YARD
JUDGE H. S. ANDERSON BELIEV
ES NEXT COST BILL GREAT
LY REDUCED
COST PER MILE IS $9,308
Many Items Paid Will Lessen the
Construction Cost of All Fu
ture Work
Although county officials consider
the cost of the first bit of county pav
ing an unfair reflection upon that
which is yet to be laid, and which will
undoubtedly be accomplished ' at a
much less expense, the compilation of
the cost of the Oregon City-Parkplace
road by County Judge Anderson is in
teresting. The judge figures the to
tal cost per mile of the new roadway
at 98 cents a square yard, includ
ing the cost of bringing the road up to
sub-grade.
The fact that the stretch between
Oregon City and the Clackamas river
bridge beyond Parkplace is so short
and the fact that it is the first piece
of surface to be applied by the county
court u"nder the direction of the county
road department is presented as evi
dence that future work will cost much
less. It is said that if the first under
taking had been over a greater dis
tance the cost for each yard would
have been materially reduced.
This cost entirely eliminates any
contractor's profit as the work was
done directly under the supervision
and direction of the county road de
partment. The court purchased its
own paving plant, already owned its
own rollers and other necessary equip
ment and hired the hands who did the
work on the road. The first paving
covers the county road between the
Abernathy bridge at the northern
outskirt of Oregon City and the Clack
amas river bridge beyond Parkplace,
a distance of 7,072 feet or more than
a mile and one-third. There are
12,600 square yards of pavement on
this road, laid at a total cost for pave
ment, labor and materials, of $11,034.
69. In addition to the above costs the
county expended $1,409.64 for grad
ing and rolling the base of the road,
bringing the total cost per square
yard up to 98 cents. The cost for
the surface alone, including labor and
material, amounted to 87 cents per
square yard.
The width of the roadway is 16-
feet on the straight-away courses and
20-feet on turns and railroad cross
ings. The cost per mile of the pave
ment, as figured by Judge Anderson,
was $8,276 and the total cost per mile
of the road, including all items of ex
pense, was $9,308.25.
"There is no doubt," says Judge
Anderson, "that, as we progress with
the work of hard surfacing these fig
ures will be greatly lessened. There
were many items of expense in the
first hard-surface work that will be
eliminated; many costs estimated in
the first bill which we will have no
need to duplicate. It is certain that
the bill for the surface now being laid
will be much more creditable than this
has been. These costs are somewhat
higher than the court estimated in the
beginning, but it is apparent that they
are not nearly so great as the cost of
such work under the contract system.
"For instance, the cost of renovat
ing the plant which we purchased for
this work is figured against the Park
place road. This will be eliminated
in the next bill of costs."
In connection with the surfacing
work now being carried on, County
Roadmaster T. A. Roots said:
"Everything favors the lessening of
the cost per yard of the pavement that
is being laid on the Milwaukie-Sell-wood
road. Many handicaps were
presented in the first work, but now
even the location of the plant is an ad
vantage that 'will tend to cheapen the
cost of the work. Long hauls have
been done away with and the facilities
at hand are such that I can see no
reason whatever for not effecting a
great reduction in the cost of future
undertakings."
The county paving plant is located
at the Wills' gravel pit oh the Milwau-kie-Sellwood
road and before it is re
moved the county court plans to im
prove a two-mile stretch of the east
Eighty-Second street road.
County officials are pleased with the
feeling in regard to this road improve
ment that exists in most parts of the
county. A very few complaints have
been heard about favoritism, or any
of the many familiar crys. - People
realize that the court cannot accom
plish all its plans in one season and
are patiently awaiting the completion
of the most neglected roads before
urging the improvement of those in
other sections of the county. It is
certain that the county will be netted
with hard surface if the first few
miles produce the desired result at a
reasonable cost.
The Oregon City Commercial club
has sent its regrets to the Yellow
stone Highway association, denying
its members the pleasure of partici
pation in a meeting of the association
JITNEY WILL RUN TO
OSWEGO -ML VIEW
ALDERMEN GRANT FRANCHISE
WHICH PROTECTS CITY AND
PROVIDES SERVICE
The city council on last Thursday
evening considered two requests for a
jitney franchise and granted to one of
the applicants, Harry M. Shaw, the
right to operate passenger motor
cars between Oregon City and Oswego
and between Seventh street and Moun
tain View. The franchise carried a
rider to allow Mr. Shaw to start the
service between these points at once
pending the final passage of the fran
chise, which will be taken up at the
first meeting next month.
The contract with the city, drawn
up by attorneys for Mr. Shaw is bind
ing on the part of the operator but
allows the city considerable leaway in
the matter of controlling the service.
There are to be no transfers and no
split fares at Oswego, which will pre
vent a service extending .beyond that
community. Stops at Main and Sev
enth streets in this city are limited to
15 minutes and there are to be lights
in the cars at night, with an absolute
ban on liquors within the cars.
: Three trips daily are provided be
tween Oregon City and Oswego and
return, the fare to be 15 cents one
way, 25 cents round trip. There are
to be at least 12 trips daily to Moun
tain View and return, and the operator
reserves the right to start the Moun
tain View trip either at Seventh and
Main streets or at Seventh and High
streets. The franchise covers a one-
year period. ' '
Drivers of the Shaw cars are re
quired to pass a medical examination
and a test as to their ability at hand
ling cars. Character testimonials will
also be required.
The passage of this franchise or
dinance does away with the source of
complaints from Oswego residents; a
source which aroused much strife in
that community and prompted one
person to delegate himself as an ar
dent advocate of the division of the
east and west halves of the county.
The jitney service will not extend be
yond the north boundary of Oswego
and unless the citizens of that hamlet
choose to "double cross" the city
council and establish a service be
tween Oswego and Portland the prob
lem of transportation between Oswe
go and the county seat is solved.
LITTLE GIRLS RUN AWAY
With Dolls Firmly Clasped Misses
Walk Long Distance
Raggedy dollies clutched tightly to
each little breast, childhood's visions
of life in the broad fields, in God's
great out-of-doors, before them,
Martha Heisig of Eugene and Minnie
Sheilds of Silverton, tiny misses of
eleven years, had most expended their
energies when they arrived at Wilson
ville on Monday after tramping all
the thirty-one miles from Portland.
Martha and Minnie had "escaped,"
they told Deputy Sheriff Murray, who
accosted them at Wilsonville. They
had escaped from the Boys' and Girls'
home in Portland on the previous
night, sliding down a fire-escape to
make an exit unobserved by the care
ful attendants. . That night they
walked and walked, and finally drop
ped, weary, in a thicket near Tuala
tin and spent one night at least in the
fresh air.
On Monday they were on their way
to Wilsonville where Deputy Murray
took them in charge, dollies and all.
Attendants from the Home in Port
land arrived soon to take the little ad
venture seekers back to Portland. And
they hadn't loosened their hold on the
dolls for a moment.
Martha is the daughter of Thomas
Heisig of Eugene and Minnie, whose
home is at Silverton, is a daughter of
William Shields.
MANY GO TO MEDFORD
Ten from This County to Attend An
nual Editorial Convention
At least sixty reservations have
been made by Oregon newspaper men
for the special excursion to the State
Editorial association's convention at
Medford and Crater Lake on August
4 to 7. President Brodie of Oregon
City predicts a record attendance at
the convention. A program of unus
ual interest has been arranged, in
cluding a visit to the famous Crater
lake.
Among those who will attend the
convention from this county are R.
M. Standish and Mrs. Standish, of
Estacada; Mr. and Mrs. G. J. Taylor
of Molalla; Mr. and Mrs. E. E. Bro
die, Mr. and Mrs. C. W. Robey and J.
David Olson of Oregon City. Others
may make reservations later.
ELEVATOR STOPS
Pebbles in Valve of Municipal Ele
vator Yesterday
The municipal elevator suspended
operations yesterday between 9 o'clock
in the morning and 2:30 in the after
noon while City Engineer Miller re
paired worn out valves. In the course
of his work Mr. Miller found several
small pebbles in the valves he re
placed, for which he cannot account
unless they were carried from the
water system intake on the South
Fork to the elevator.
ROAKE NAMED FOR
T
SCHOOL BOARD WILL IMPROVE
PROPERTIES BEFORE FALL
CLASSES START
INCREASE TEACHERS' WAGES
J. O. Staats Resigns From School
Board and Enters Business
Field at Clarkes
; The purchase of a store at Clarkes
caused the removal from this city of
J. O. Staats, a member of the Oregon
City school board, and on Saturday
evening the other members of the
board gathered to elect James Albert
Roake, former city councilman, to
serve in place of Mr. Staats until the
next school election. Mr. Staats pre
sented his resignation to the board
several days before the meeting. His
successor was once a member of the
city council, and is prominent in the
industrial life of the city as manager
of the Oregon City foundry.
: The term of Mr. Staats would have
expired in 1920. Mr. Roake will serve
only until June of next year when the
regular school election is held.
Sixteen teachers in the city schools
will benefit by the new scale of wages
authorized at ; the meeting of the
school board. The new scale provides
an increase generally of $5 monthly
on the salaries of all teachers. The
first year teachers heretofore have
been paid $55 a month, but under the
new iscale will receive $60. Second
year teachers have received $60, will,
at the opening of school in the fall,
receive $65. Those teachers who have
been in the city schools for three years
or more have received $65 and under
the new scale will be paid at the rate
of $70 a month. The latter is the
maximum remuneration for teachers
in Oregon City grade schools, The
new scale is to be put into effect when
class work' is started in the fall.
As a result of a decision reached
at the meeting on Saturday evening
the. board 'on Monday visited and in
spected the two grade schools of the
city and the high school building. A
plan for the improvement of the three
buildings was outlined by the mem
era, At the high school the board has
decided to grade and level the block
to provide a gentle slope from the
building to the walks about the block.
Lawn seed will be planted as soon as
this work is completed. The science
department writh its two laboratories
will be transferred from the top floor
of the building to the basement and
there set up to provide the greatest
possible facilities for the pupils. The
rooms vacated on the top floor will be
equipped for class work by installing
the furniture now in the temporary
class-room building, which will be
utilized as a manual training shop. A
building on the Barclay school
grounds has been used as a manual
training shop and may later be reno
vated for use as a gymnasium.
The roofs of both grade schools are
in an unfavorable condition and the
board had trouble in solving the prob
lem as to which most needed repair.
On Saturday it was decided to ask for
bids on the repair of the Eastham
school roof, but on Monday, after an
examination, the members concluded
that the Barclay school roof was in
the poorer condition. Therefore, bids
will be called for upon the repair of
the Barclay school roof.
The improvement outline also pro
vides for a number of minor repairs
and changes about each of the three
city school structures. The contrac
tors who erected the addition to the
high school last year have done some
little work about the building within
the past month in order to bring their
work up to the final detail of specifi
cations. The work has consisted of a
slight retouching of painted surfaces.
and other small tasks.
PREMIUM LIST READY
Horse Show Given Prominent Place
This Year at State Fair
Th horse show is to be a feature
this year judging from the premium
list, nf the fiftv-fifth annual state fair
at Salem, September 25 to 30. En
tries have been received irom an
Sacramento. British Colum
bia and many Oregon towns. The rac
ing program is the best in years.
F.nrlv p nsinc events nave 10 entries in
each class. The track has recently
Viopn nut in rnnrlit.inn and. with favor
able weather, those who follow the
ponies may look forward to some ex
cellent racing. Enticing premiums
have already called lortn a large num
hpr nf entries in the livestock divis
ion, which promises to be the best in
years.
Relief Corps Meets
Mimrie Relief Corns met on Mon
Hnv for the usual birthday dinner and
had a good attendance. The regular
monthly session was held in the af
ternoon, with 45 members in attend
ance. The meetings are growing in
interest.
W.V.S. ROUTE SCENIC
ATTRACTIONS PLEASE
"BILL" STRANDBORG ENTHUS
ED OVER RICHLY ENDOWED
CLACKAMAS COUNTRY
Not long ago the Willamette Val
ley Southern railroad was built from
Oregon City into a district southeast
of Portland. The first reports were
concerned with the agricultural op
portunities along the new line. Now
it is said that it has scenic attractions
which give it a merited place. Con
cerning the road, W. P. (Bill) Strand
borg of Portland Railway, Light &
Power company, writes for the Jour
nal: 3
"What would perhaps carry the
strongest appeal to the average seek
er after rest, recreation and new
forms of diversion in hitherto unex
plored places, were he to take a trip
over the line, is the human interest
factor of the picturesque road.
"The richly endowed country
through which the comparatively new
interurban passes had, for over 30
years in fact, ever since it was set
tled enjoyed the 'agony of isolation.'
It was a splendidly promising country
and the settlers knew it, but they
couldn't get any 'empire builders' to
put the money into any form of trans
portation enterprise that would give
the products of the country an outlet
to a market.
"So after 30 years, when a more or
less hopeful plan for tapping the coun
try was projected, the farmers said
among themselves:
" 'Let s help the boys with some of
our own money and make it our road.'
"And they did.
"So the Willamette Valley South
ern is referred to by the busy and
thriving communities along the way as
Our Road.'
"So much by way of introduction.
"The average citizen would unques
tionably enjoy a trip out over the
line, for the ride itself and a view of
the country through which it runs, if
for no other reason.
"For the first few miles out of Ore
gon City, the road winds, climbs and
wriggles along forest-clad hill slopes
and crawls through canyons and gorg
es, and of these the famous Buckner
Creek canyon, 12 miles from Ore-
gon City, is of wonderful scenic beau
ty. - : -., , , . :
"The picture changes with almost
every mile. It's up hill and down dale,
through shaded stretches of solemn,
silent forest vastness, rolling, veil-
kept farming lands, whose richness of
soil is evident more and more as one
glimpses the growing crops of varied
character.
"And then the brooks, dashing
down from the mountain wilds, purl
and babble of the frisky trout, and
the true disciple of Izaak Walton need
never go home with empty creel if he
tries his luck on any one of the four
principal streams that are reached by
this electric line.
"Buckner creek has already been
spoken of. ,
"There's Milk creek,x with excellent
fishing eight or 10 miles above Mu
lino and for several miles below.
"The Molalla river, familiar to the
majority of the anglers of this vicinity
affords a fine day's sport and it
skirts the railroad for more than a
mile. North Liberal is the favorite
starting point for a fishing trip on
this stream.
"Butte creek, reached from Monitor
station, 29 miles from Oregon City, is
regarded as one of the best of all the
trout streams In that entire section.
"Molalla is reached by this road
and is an exceedingly progressive and
thrifty little city, full of energetic en
thusiasts, and has immediately back
of it billions of feet of fine timber that
some day will be seeking world mar
kets; and in the meantime, Molalla is
flourishing through the development
of rich agricultural resources of the
surrounding valley.
"Mount Angel, at the end of the
line, is a very picturesque community,
the seat of the famous Mount Angel
college and academy, and the home of
the great Benedictine Press. It
boasts the finest church in the state,'
and its community life blood is drawn
from the fertile agricultural region
around it one of the most productive
sections of tho Willamette valley.
"A little side trip may be taken
from Molalla, where an auto stage
line meets all trains and takes the
pleasure seeker over an eight mile
drive to the noted watering place, Wil
hoit Springs, and Trout Creek, where
a new summer resort has recently
been opened. These springs are said
to have curative properties and attract
many city folk during the course of
the year.
"Fine fishing is afforded from the
Trout Creek resort on the Molalla
river, the north fork of the Molalla,
and Trout creek." ,
itiessner injured
While at work Monday on his farm
near Mulino, repairing a cultivator,
John Messner, a well-known farmer,
suffered a severe injury to his right
arm, necessitating eight stitches being
taken to close the wound by Dr. C. A.
Stuart, who was called from Oregon
City. Mr. Messner was using a
wrench, when it slipped, throwing his
hand and arm into the teeth of the
cultivator with such force as to inflict
a long and deep gash.