liwH CITY GOU
0
34th Year
OREGON CITY, OREGON, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 1916
Number 28
L
KER
RETIRES
L
SECOND ANNOUNCEMENT OF
WEEK IS SURPRISE IN FI
NANCIAL CIRCLES HERE
T. F. RYAN NEW PRESIDENT
Dr. Hugh Mount Takes Office. Dir
ectors Remain Same. . Le-
roy Walker Sells.
The second important announce
ment made in local financial circles
within a few weeks came Tuesday
when the board of directors of the
Bank ot Commerce of this city an
nounced the retirement of Leroy D.
Walker from the presidency and the
election of Thomas F. Ryan, former
vice-president and" present deputy
state treasurer, to the position. 1 Dr.
Hugh S. Mount has been elected to
Mr. Ryan's position in the bank.
Mr. Walker has severed his con
nection with the institution and
his stock has been absorbed by
the other stockholders. Mr.
Walker has not ? definitely an
nounced his plans for the immed
iate future, although he will be kept
reasonably busy attending to heavy
interests in banking houses at Esta
cada, Canby and Molalla.
Mr. Ryan, vice-president and Dr.
Mount, member of the board of di-.
rectors since the opening of the bank
last December, are well known in Or
egon City and Clackamas county and
they, together with John R. Hum
phrys, cashier, will have direct charge
of the affairs of the bank; Mr. Ryan
and Dr. Mount have been residents of
Oregon City for many years and have
been identified with , every interest
that tended to the upbuilding and ad
vancement of the community. Mr.
. Humphrys has been active in the fi
nancial life of the city for 18 years
and is counted as one of the city's
most capable business men.
These eXZ'-'l be strongly gup-jprv-jited
ih"sr endeavor to keep the
" Sank of Commerce in the front rank,
to which position it has steadily grown
.since its establishment less than a
year ago, by a board of directors com
Fill
BANK
posed of some of the most prominent
and influential residents and property
owners of the county, The Bank of
Commerce has had a steady yet rapid
growth and today shows resources in
. excess of $259,000!
The directors of the Institution,
. aside from the officers named, are
Joseph E. Hedges, attorney, Oregon
City; George H. Brown, farmer New
Era; W. F. Harris, stockman, Beaver
Creek; E. IV-Dedman, county record
er, Clackamas, and Charles Risley,
farmer, Risley.
NEW PRESIDENT.
Oregon City Athletic Club Will Hold
Real "Varsity" Rally.
The recently organized Oregon City
Athletic club has changed executive
heads with the resignation of Ren
Holsclaw, who retired to attend col
lege, and the election on Tuesday
evening of Harry G. Smith, former
Oregon Agricultural college athlete
and with an enviable record n the
gridiron, diamond and- track. Mr.
Smith has already assumed the 9u-
ties of the club's presidency.
Saturday is to be tag day for the
club. This is the plan devised for
financing the organization and several
high school girls and others have vol
unteered their services in the attempt
that will be made to raise funds.
In addition to the tag day plans
the club will hold in the near future
a real old college day rally with a
program of stunts and street capers
that will be designed to give the un
suspecting ones an insight into the
festive activities , of the college ath
letic season. The rally, the date of
which will be announced soon, will be
followed by a "jitney" dance.
The first football game -of the new
club will be played in two weeks and
active practice has already started.
There are to be a first and second
team of football players and games
will be arranged for both. The first
. team will receive sweaters purchased
from club funds at the end of the sea-
Case Under Advisement.
The case of A. D. Young against
Eva and H. D. Griffin was tried in
the circuit court here Tuesday and
Judge J. U. Campbell ordered - that
briefs be presented and took the case
under advisement. Plaintiff holds a
mechanics' lien for carpenter work on
the homestead of plaintiffs, whose at
torneys allege that a lien against a
homestead entry is void.
Barretts Divorced
A divorce decree was awarded to
day to Mrs. Daisey Barrett, from
Miles F. Barrett, former Portland po
lice officer. Barrett lost his position
with the metropolitan police depart
ment when he married Daisey Gor
don, proprietress of a lodging house
at Portland. Twenty-six days after
the wedding ceremony Mrs. Barrett
filed suit in the local court alleging
cruelty.
TIMBERMEN REQUEST
ADJUSTMENT OF TAX
NEARLY ONE MILLION DOLLARS
WOULD BE CUT FROM ASSESS
MENT. HEARING MONDAY
Timber interests are highly dis
pleased at the tax assessments against
them in this county if the claims they
have presented to the board of tax
equalization are evidence of theif feel
ings. ' Through C. L. Starr, whosa
business it is as tax attorney to han
dle complaints for several of the ex
tensive timber owners of the state,
the owners of the forests have asked
for reductions in their several assess
ments, totalling $1,354,126, of $733,-
764. In other words, the assessments
against the timber owners represented
by C. L. Starr, amount to $1,354,126
and the attorney believes the total
amount of the assesments should be
only $620,362.
ine weyernauser Land company
has the heaviest kick to register and
takes a bulky document to set forth
its claims. Others represented by
Starr are Frank E. Dooly, E. S. Col
lins and the estate of T. D. Collins; W
R. Burt and the estate of George S,
Lacy. The petitions for reductions on
assessments against the properties
owned by these interests will be consi
dered at a special meeting of the board
of equalization to be held at the court
house today. In addition, -a petition
for reduction presented by Thomas
Boggess will be heard.-
The board of equalization met here
on Tuesday to consider requests for
reductions. Of this number 12 were
denied, two .held over, ane exempted
and six granted. The exemption was
in the case of the First Presbyterian
church. of Portland, which owns land
in this county and makes use of it for
charitable purposes.
The following is the official record
of the action of the board :
Hans Larsen, denied; Agnes Shin-
dler, Automatic Call building, Mil
waukie, denied; trustees .First Pres
byterian church, Portland, exempt
from taxation, had been assessed at
$380; John Z. Olson, reduction of $450;
E. F. Riley, granted; E. F. Riley,
66.86 acres in Samuel Miller D. L. C,
reduced from $3700 to $33300; Griff H.
Perrott, denied; Wilhoit Springs, as
sessments on improvements reduced
from $4250 to $2000; H. Gerson, de
nied; Maria Wannemacher, denied;
Minthorne Springs Water Co., as
sessed at $1000, denied; W. G. Frank,
acreage assesed at $400 reduced to
$300; E. F. Riley, allowed $500 re
duction on non-tillable land; E. C.
P. Westergard, denied; H. P. Bush
and A. E. Borthwick, denied; C. L.
Starr, hearing set for October 3; T.
Boggess, hearing set for October 3;
J. J. Fraser, assessment on non-tillable
lands reduced from $2050 to
$4250, leaving - total valuation at
$1800; B. F. Linn, cut from $800 to1
$460; J. Seaquest, reduced from $1460
to $1100; Emma M. J. Spangler, de
nied; W. H. Howell, denied; D. M.
Lloyd, denied; Anna and Andrew B.
Westlund, denied; Rose Berger, re
duced from $850 to $750. . ,
CATTLE SALES STRONG
Portland Market Opens For Week
With Light Offering of Hogs
Cattle sales were made on a good
strong basis Monday at the Portland
stock yards. . Receipts were a little
more liberal than last week. Feeder
buyers were liberal bidders as well
as killer buyers. Steers brought as
high as $7.00 with the bulk around
$6.75. Cows were in demand at $5.00
to $5.50 for the best. Bulls were as
high as $4.10 Receipts 1300.
Hog receipts were light, 1900 being
yarded. The' market was a brisk one
and went to $10.05 with the bulk
$9.90 to $10.00. The market closed
strong. , '
Sheep receipts were lighter than
usual with prices oh a strong basis.
FINE FLOWERS SHOWN
Mrs. J. J. Cooke Takes Nine Prizes at
Guild Flower Exhibit
Thirty-five varieties ' of dahlias
were displayed by one entrant at the
second annual dahlia and fall flower
show held by the ladies of St. Paul's
guild here on Saturday. This large
display was made by Mrs. Frank T.
Barlow, of Gladstone, whose flowers
were, a feature exhibit at the recent
county fair. Mrs. J. J. Cooke, wife
of Postmaster J. J. Cooke, displayed
19 varieties of dahlias. Prizes were
awarded for the best dahlias as well
as for roses and other flowers of the
season. Mrs. Cooke's exhibits won
nine awards.
File Late Suit
The tenth divorce suit filed in
single week was entered in the cir
cuit court here late yesterday by at
torneys for Mary A. Day ,who asks
separation from Charles W. Day, to
whom she was married at Portland on
September 25, 1884. The complaint
alleges cruelty and asks for the cus
tody of two minor children. Mrs.
Day says she left her home becauss
of unkind treatment on March 15,
1913.
Take advantage of most unusual
clubbing offer. Read advertisement
at top of page 8.
SOLDIERS DESERT
CLACKAMAS
CI
TAPS SOUNDED FOR LAST TIME
. ON SUNDAY NIGHT. ALL
MEN AT HOME
THE LAST DAY WAS PAY DAY
Troopers Now Members of Combined
Federal and State Corps. "
" ' Physically Fit.
The history of the 1916 call to arms
is being written. The last taps was
sounded at Camp Withycombe, Clack
amas station, on Sunday night and by
noon of the following day 1200 sold
iers were comfortably dressed in ci
vilian raiment, the garb that they
packed away in June to respond to
President Wilson's call for service on
the Mexican border when trouble
threatened. The Third Oregon regi
ment was mustered out of the federal
service, after nearly three months of
duty, on Monday.
Monday saw the completion of the
mustering out ceremonies at the big
mobilization camp, saw the men paid
and saw the spirits of hundreds of
men mount high as the prospects "of
"home" and civilian clothes loomed
large before them. By Tuesday morn
ing all the members of Company G
of Oregon City were at home and
many of them took up the labors they
left weeks ago almost as soon as they
arrived home. '
The' ordnance stores and animals
that have served the Third Infantry
during the recent tour were mostly
shipped to Vancouver and the supplies
that remained were hauled to the
trains at Clackamas on the regimen
tal wagons. As soon as the supplies
were turned in and checked over by
the proper officers the men boarded
the trains' that carried them home.
Colonel Clenard McLoughlin, com
mander of the Third Oregon, had
charge of the camp and the details of
the demobilization. Captain Kenneth
P. Williams, U. S. A., was mustering
officer in charge of the ceremony that
made the Oregon boys citizen soldiers
again after many weeks as federal
troops. The big parade and review
planned for Monday was not held be
cause of the wet condition of the pa
rade ground at Clackamas and the
mustering out proceeded without in
terruption until the last man had tak
en the new oath of allegiance provided
for in the recenfc congressional legis
lation. .
There were very few teara shed as
the boys realized that their tour of du
ty in the service of the flag was nearly
done. There were very few regrets,
for the boys have had enough idleness
and they were anxious to get home
and to their respective civilian duties.
There was very little joy for them dur
ing the past few weeks at Clackamas)
they were idle and many of them with
out the money that makes such a qui
et life interesting. They were glad
it was over with but. if another call
should come tomorrow Oregon boys
would respond and among them would
probably be all mustared out this
week. And every one of that lot
would be the better man, soldier and
citizen for the service he had seen and
for the life he had led as a soldier of
the United States.
When the troops were ordered back
to Camp Withycombe from Imperial
Beach, there was about $30,000 to be
paid the men, but the colonel deferred
the payment until the Oregon camp
was reached. Payment of .the men
began at 11:30 o'clock with Quarter
master Sergeant F. Staples, U. S. A.,
Lieutenant F. J. Baker, U. S. A., and
Camp Quartermaster George Schu
macher in charge of the $38,000 being
distributed. Just as a matter of pre
caution, the money was guarded as it
lay on the table by Sergeant Paul
Hathaway, U. S. A.; Sergeant
Schwartz of the 3rd Oregon and Cor
poral Sweeney of the 3rd Oregon. The
first man to draw his pay was Colo
nel McLaughlin, who received $431,
which included pay, mileage and cloth
ing. None of the captains was paid
nor will be until the property for
which they are personally responsible
has been checked.
First, of the companies to leave
Camp Withycombe were those of the
Willamette valley. Theso began en
training at 1 o'clock. . Receptions
were planned at Corvallis, Woodburn,
Salem, Dallas and McMinnvile when
the companies of those towns arriveil
at their armories. The ex-soldiers
left Camp Withycombe with their un
iforms, arms and equipment, the
equipment to be stored at the armories
until wanted.
The 3rd Oregon, mustered out at
Camp Withycombe, is the first Oregon
regiment ever mustered out within
the borders of its -own state.
Mobilization of the 3rd Oregon be
gan June. 18, when President Wilson
issued an emergency call to the na
tional guard. June 28 the 3rd bat
talion of the regiment left for the
Mexican border. The 3rd Oregon was
the first regiment in the United
States to be mustered into the federal
service and the third to reach the
border. It was the first to be sent
(Continued on Page 8)
COUNCIL MAY LOWER
TAX LEVY OF CITY
COMFORTABLE BALANCE WILL
REMAIN FROM 7-MILL TAX
FOR PROGRESSIVE USES
A special meeting of the city coun.
cil has been set for this evening by
Mayor Hackett,"&nd the members of
the council will engage seriously, it is
expected, in the work of preparin;
the municipal budget for 1917. That
task is not to be ,a difficult one, it ap
pears, because of the economical con
duct of civic affairs in the past year.
. As a result of these economies the
councilmen face the new year with an
indebtedness of only $5000 calling for
payment from the general funds of
the city next year. There remained
on hand in the fourteen municipal
funds September f, the date of the last
report, $7120.47 to cover the cost of
the city's business until the end of the
year. With this record behind them
and a favorable outlook the councii
men may reduce the tax levy below
the maximum of 7 mills.
According to City Attorney C
Schuebel, if 7 mills are levied there
wil be a $10,000 fund in the city treas
ury to cover, progressive investments
which Jhe council hopes to make next
year. The amount of the tax levy
can be practically determined after
the council's special budget meeting
tonight.
uregon tJity derives its revenue
from two principal sources. An offi
cial estimate places the revenue from
a seven-mill levy, if that amount is
assessed this year, at $19,500. " From
the 70 per cent apportionment of the
county road tax for this district, the
city will derive approximately $15,
000. - In addition to these amounts
$4000 is anticipatedrom license fees
and fines. This total of $30,500 will
be divided between fourteen municipal
funds. Given a 7-mill levy for the
year, and a continuation of the econ
omies of the past year, the treasury
will hold a balance of $10,000.
The budget meeting may authorize
a 7-mul levy to create this balance.
Modern fire-fighting apparatus is one
of the great needs of the comunity, it
is claimed, and council favors the pur
chase of such equipment from the bal
ance that will remain when the budget
is disposed of.
- A report presented at a council
meeting last Wednesday evening
shows the following to be the- condi
tion of the city funds, brought up to
September 1: Overspent, emergencies,
$1064.81, city printing $1.99, balanc
es, health and police $1174.13, fire and
water $207.48, engineering $622.20,
recorder $470.10, treasurer $200, elec
tion $150, incandescent lights $18.01,
arc lights $1549.70, city attorney
$300, streets $2382.50, elevator $196.
35. The - amounts in these funds
must pay expenses until January 1.
It is expected, with the exception of
the over-spent accounts and the ele
vator and fire and water funds, all
departments will end the year with
small balances on hand. J
DEMOCRATS ASK FOR
PRESIDENTIAL FUND
COURIER TO AID IN RAISING
MONEY FOR CAMPAIGN IN
STATE AND COUNTY-
It is the people of the United
States who are on trial, not Woodrow
Wilson and there are many staunch
and upright citizens in Clackamas
county, regardless of the fact that the
republican party of the county has di
vorced itself of all human relationship
with those of the democratic faith
calling them unintelligent liars and
prostituters of the honor of the na
tion who want to have a part in that
trial.
The Courier opens its columns to
day for the receipt of contributions to
Woodrow Wilson's state and county
campaign fund.
Under authorization by the Demo
cratic County committee the Courier
will undertake to raise a fund to as
sist in meeting the expenses of the
campaign. Lontrmutions, large ana
small, will be welcome and will ve ac
knowledged in the columns of this
newspaper. For the expenses of this
campaign the democratic party is de
pending entirely upon popular contri
butions. .
The party does not expect and will
not take money for its campaign fund
from persons or corporations with sin
ister purposes. It abhors the practice
of catering to vested interests, and
geeks its support from the multitude.
Listen! This is your battle.
Peace, prosperity, justice and honor!
These are the blesings that Woodrow
Wilson has won for you; these are the
blessings that are at stake.
How greatly do you value them?
How much does faithful service mean
to you? The Courier gives you an
opportunity to answer. Send or bring
your contribution to this, office. It
will be acknowledged in the first issue
after its receipt. All receipts re
ceived by the county committee direct
will also be noted in these columns.
The Oregon City Courier and the
Oregon Daily Journal (except Sun
day) for $4.7o.
GAS PEOPLE PLAY:
MAY
LAWS GIVE COMPANY RIGHT
TO LAY MAINS WHEN AND
WHERE IT PLEASES
WANTS -BLANKET FRANCHISE
Judge Anderson Objects to Methods
of Action on Part of Portland
Corporation
The county court cannot win, so the
county court will not play in the little
ii., 1,11c
game forced upon it by the Portland
Gas & Coke company and because1 of
which the court is "up a stump."
Although no official action will
probably be taken until the October
term of court. Judge Anderson per
sonally is opposed to the petition from
the company asking a blanket fran
chise to lay gas mains and equipment
on all county roads open to or to be
opened between New Era and the
Multnomah county line.
By some hook or crook the gas com
pany slipped a little clause into a 1915
legislative session law which makes it
impossible for the county court to win
in case it enters the game the com
pany is playing. If the court refuses
to grant the blanket franchise, says
the law, the gas company may proceed
to lay mains and rip up a county road
when and where it sees fit without in
terference from the court. Therefore,
the court loses no matter how it plays.
Asked regarding his position in the
franchise matter, County Judge And
erson said:
"The law seems to make it appear
that the gas company does not have
to have the permission of the county
court in order to do as it pleases with
the roads of the county; still the com
pany asks for a blanket franchise cov
ering a large part of the county. It
is my belief that the company has no
intention of laying mains on the roads
covered by its franchise draft and I
believe the company's sole purpose in
asking this permit is to get the fran
chise through before the law giving
them such power is repealed. The
company is afraid of the early appeal
of the peculiar measure.
"I have no desire to hinder the con
struction of any improvement, such as
the laying of gas mains, and would not
oppose a franchise providing for some
particular main or several particular
mains. The franchise, however, would
turn over to the gas company most of
the roads in the county north of New
Era. 'If the cofhpany wan(;s to lay
mains on the roads for which it has
no franchise it appears that it will
have the protection of the law in the
action. The company can lay its
mains under the sanction of that law
and not under the sanction of the
county court."
TO OBSERVE JUBILEE
Father Oldermatt Will be Showered
in Mt. Angel Celebration
The golden jubilee of the Rev.
Father Oldermatt will be celebrated
at Mt. Angel tomorrow and a large
number of Roman Catholics from Or
egon City and other parts of the
county, as well as from Portland,
will attend. A special train of the
Willamette Valley Southern will
start from Portland at 7 o'clock in
the morning, leaving Oregon City for
Mt. Angel at 7:50 a. m. A special
reduced rate has been offered for tho
trip. .
Father Oldermatt, who is the
founder of Mt. Angel college, and
who is now a titular abbot, will cele
brate the pontifical mass, to be sung
at 10 o'clock, add such noted church
men as Archbishop Christie, the Rt.
Rev. Bishop Charles Rcilly of Bak
er, the Rt. Rev. Bishop Shinner of
Spokane, Mons. James Rauw of Bea
verton and Mons. Bronsgeest of The
Dalles will be present to aid in the
commemoration of the day. Mme.
Schumann-Heink, the famous singer,
has accepted an invitation to be pres
ent and will sing.
A banquet for the clergy is to be
held at St. Benedict's abbey and the
laity and alumni of the college will
banquet at the college.
Vespers are set for 5 p. m., with
benediction at 8. The Knights of
Columbus will have charge of special
features after that hour.
MRS. BEMETZ WINS.
Counter Action Brought by Husband
Was Dismissed This Week.
When a counter iction brought by
Anthony F. Bemetz was dismissed
from court uon motion of plaintiff
Tuesday, Judge J. U. Campbell award
ed a decree on the complaint filed
previously by Mrsv Belle Bemetz.
The decree includes the award of the
custody of a minor child and $15 a
month alimony.
Bemetz caused the arrest of his
wife here 'some time ago and was
lodged in jail himself last week' on
a charge of drunkeness. The charges
at'ainst Mrs. Bemetz were dismissed
in justice court
HAWLEY ADDITIONS
TO BE READY SOON
MACHINES ARRIVE TO EQUIP
. MILLION DOLLAR PAPER UN
ITS. WORK RUSHED
Work on the Hawley Pulp and Pa
per company mill additions in this
city has progressed so far that con
tractors and company officials are pre
paring for the completion of the new
units soon after the first of the year.
Machinery and equipments' for the
new units is arriving each day and
some of this has been assembled ready
for installation.
Among the equipment for the Main
street addition already here is a steam
engine to , provide emergency power
when the water in the river is not high
, . . , , . , , -
1"UUB" " Perale e Pla-
xiio ouuiwuiio aic w uo ciei:iyi ittui v
equipped and later it is expected that
the entire Hawley plant will be operat.
ed electrically. Other equipment on
the ground includes the generators for
the river and Main street addition
and high pressure boilers for the Main
street unit.
The river addition will be used for
grinding machinery and pulp manu
factory and its foundations are now
above high water level, so that the
structure is out of danger from that
source. This is partly due to the ener
getic work of contractors,, who have
worked night and day on the project.
Nnght work has been done in the light
of two high power electric light globes,
which shed a light almost as bright
as the light of day. The walls on
the Main street addition are up and
the concrete is set. The roof will be
added soon and then the work of fin
ishing the interior and installing the
machinery will be started. The paper
making machines for this addition
will be shipped here as soon as the
manufacturers can complete them.
This equipment is the most modern
that money could buy and is superior
tp anything now in use.
The expenditure represented by the
additions to the Hawley mills repre
sents almost $1,000,000 and will great
ly increase the employed force of the
company in addition to boosting the
tax assessment to a great extent.
W. P. Hawley, Sr., is certain that
the contractors will have their work
nearly completed by the first of the
year, that the machinery can be in
stalled and soon after that the mill i
addition will be working.
NEW TEACHER NEEDED.
High School Cafeteria Opened
Lunches at Low Price, j
The high school cafeteria opened
at noon Wednesday to serve the first
meal of the school year in the high
school building. The lunch room is
in charge of an experienced person
and luncheons are prepared at a nom
inal cost in co-operation with the stu
dents ' and teachers in the domestic
science classes. An entire meal can
be had under the cafeteria plan for 10
cents and the students patronize the
convenience in large numbers
throughout the year. A lunch room
was held necessary here because of
the fact that so many pupils live out
side the city.
The school board members an
nounced Tuesday night that a meet
ing will be called at an early date for
the election of an additional teacher
for the Eastham grade school. En
rollment has increased in the East
ham classes to such an extent that
the present staff is found inadequate.
The new teacher will have charge of a
combination class of third and fourth
grade pupils.
W. C. T. U. CONVENES
County Organization Will Hold
All-
Day Session Here
The county convention of the Wom-
ans Christian Temperance union
is to be held at the Methodist church
in this city tomorrow and an inter
esting and instructive program has
been arranged by the officers. Mrs.
E. B. Andrews is president of the so
ciety and Mrs. Ella Shandy is secre
tary. Friday morning will be devoted to
the business session of the convention
and at noon a dinner will be served
at the church. In the afternoon a
special musical and speaking program
will be held and several out-of-town
speakers will appear. These include
Mrs. Mary D. Russell, secretary of
the state W. C. T. U., Mrs. Donald-
sen, state leader of L. T. L. work,
Mrs. Lulu Horning of Hood View and
Mrs. Tuley of Molalla.
At the church in the evening a
speakers contest will be held and in
this many members from about the
county are expected to take part. A
musical program will also be rendered
at the evening session.
Circle Builds Walks.
The Ladies' circle of Stafford, at
recent meeting, authorized the pur.
chase of lumber for the construction
of board walks in that part of the
community where such conveniences
are most needed, and have called upon
the men of the community to lay the
walks. A building bee will be held
on October 5. when every man in the
community is expected to help in
building, the walks. A chicken din
ner will be served at the home of Mrs.
Van Northwick for the workers.
COUNCIL MAY TRY
TO
FRANK BUSCH CLAIMS TITLE TO
SANDBAR IN RIVER NEAR
TWELFTH STREET i
CITY WANTS TO BUILD PIER
Mayor Says Construction Would Ob
struct Water and Twelfth Streets.
Law on Busch's Side
Frank Busch. Oreeon Citv mer-
MlQttf niair lnira a nlnna ft..
W..M.1V, UII.J ..MTV mo JltlllO lui me
erection or a large dock and river pier
adjoining his property at Twelfth and
Water streets here, thwarted bv the
city, when he takes up the matter
with the nldermen at a meeting to
night, according to Mayor E. C. Hack-
ett.
Mr. Busch proposes the erection of
a dock and warehouse to extend into
the river more than 100 feet from his
property, which fronts on' Water
street. The structure would make
necessary . a viaduct over ''Water
street and might necessitate the driv
ing of piling in the street, upon which
a grade has not been established.
Twelfth street, where it runs into
Water street, would probably have to
be obstructed because of plans for a
roadway over the river from the pier
in the rear of the Busch property to
connect with a trestle of the Willa
mette Valley Southern railway.
Mayor Hackett and some members
of the council are opposed to granting
any permit that will give away more
of the city's rights to waterfront
property.
Mr. Busch lays claim to a sandbar
beyond his property and some months
ago when the city gave Clackamas
county a permit to set up a county
paving plant there Mr. Busch enjoined
its construction. Mayor Hackett will
have the legality of the Busch claim
to this bar investigated and today
ordered the city engineer to estab
lish the lines of Water street accord
ing to the plats on hand. If Mr.
Busch does not succeed in getting a
permit for 'a viaduct over Water
street, which is not in use at that
point and has been partially mashed
away by the river, it will be imposs-
'W16 VUIlblWUO YV1V11 UlUlia J.UT U1H
docks and warehouses.
Mr.Busch has a federal permit for
the erection of a dock over the river
and extending into the river. The
possibility of his getting a permit to
obstruct Water and Twelfth streets is
considered remote, because of. the
stand of the mayor and other city of
ficials. Yesterday afternoon lawyers vol
untarily investigated the validity of
Mr. Busch's title, to the sandbar
which is separated from his property
by Water street. They found laws to
support their statements that tho
title was "as good as gold," and ex
pressed the opinion that Mr. Busch
would have little trouble in establish
ing its value if it became necessary to
take the trouble into court.
It seems that there is a law on the
statute books which provides that the
owner of property abutting on the riv
er has title to the shore line of tho
river. Of course, Water street would
appear to be the boundary of the
Busch property because Water street
runs between the property and tho
shore line. However, Water street
has not been in use at this point for
many years and the shore line has ad
vanced until it is now very close to
Mr. Busch's property and covers the
fciuaiei pari 01 me street at ceriam
stages of the river.
Then, if Mr. Busch's title includes
property to the shore line and the
shore line covers the street it would
appear that he not only owns the
sandbar, but the street as well. It
will be known after the council meet
ing tonight just what Mr. Busch will
do with regard to the construction he
has proposed.
COUNCIL IS PLEASED
See Demonstration of Apparatus Such
as is Needed Here
The members of the Oregon City
council are determined to provide motor-driven
aparatus for the city as a
result of their visit to McMinnville on
Saturday, where they were guests at
a demonstration of the apparatus re
cently purchased by that city. The
local delegation returned Saturday
with loud praises for their reception at
the hands of McMinnville officials and
with praise for the city itself.
Mayor Hackett, Councilmen Tem
pleton, Metzner, Cox, Rooke, Van
Auken and Moore, together with i'ire
Chief Bradley, made the trip to Mc-'
Minnville as guests of a firm manu
facturing such fire apparatus.
Mortgage Suit Is Filed
H. B. Cleveland is plaintiff in a
suit brought Tuesday tq recover $501
and interest on a note secured by
mortgage for $525 signed in Oregon
City on April 3, 1911. Defendants
are Ruth A. Labour, C. W. Labour and
the Aultman-Taylor Machinery company.
OPPOSE DOCKS