Corvallis Times
Offldal Paper of. Benton County.
CORVAUUS. OREGON.
TUESDA' EVENING JAN.. ,
TUX FRAXCIUSli.
In the opinion of the Timks, the
city council made a mistake in fas
tening a -o year's franchise on Cor
vallis. Is, oris not, Chicago suf
fering because of the long franchises
she has granted in the past? Why
were both parties in the last Chica
go municipal election vigorous in
the denunciation of the franchises,
and loud in the demand that they
be bought by the municipality,
even at a fearful cost in cash ? Did
Yerkes, one of the beneficiaries" of
those franchises, become fabulously
rich while Chicago poor became
constantly poorer? Did, or did not
New York rally to and probably
elect Hearst recently as a protest
against the fabulous profits fran
chises are giving to Tammany fav
orites and Manhattan millionaires?
Is there or is there not, almost ev
ery day, a protest in Portland pa
pers against the iniquities resultant
from long franchises that have
been bestowed in that city? Do
all these ringing protests and bitter
denunciation of the policy of grant
ing long franchises mean anything?
A light franchise touches every
hearthstone in Corvallis, and with
the town tied for . 30 years to a cor
poration that boasts that it owns
the light plants in Silverton, Wood
burn, Salem, Albany, Eugene, and
practically now . Corvallis, what is
to be the outcome?
. The Times hopes its opinion
will turn out to be wrong ? It hopes
time will so'demonstrate; but when
from every cfty in" the country
there is arising the bitterest of pro
tests against the franchise system,
protests that all the country cannot
help but hear, wherein and whence
is there assurance that the Corval
lis council has not made a fatal
mistake ? Who knows that it has
not? , r v
the state can be taxed. The scheme
is the slickest thing in the world,
as a device tor dodging taxes. It
will not be business for Mr.
Geer to pay the remaining $ 1,000,
and so lie U not likely to do it, un
less required ho to do by the State
aud Hoard. That is a thing mat
may happen. Sheriff Burnett has
taken the matter up for the purpose
of forcing this farm to pay its just
share of taxes. He is in corres
pondence with the clerk of the
school land commissioners, who
have matters of that sort in charge,
lie has called their attention to the
I abuse that arises out, of the con
dition and is urging that something
be done to force the title to pass
where it belones to, the end that
the Geer farm may be made : to
pay taxes like tha rest of . the
farms and homes., I: ' , . i
BILLS ALLOWED.
GRANTED THE FRANCHISE.
ESCAPES TAXATION.
Big Farm near Corvalfs No Taxes
Paid on it for Several Years.
There is a half section of land a
mile west of the college, about
whose status there has for years,
in the absence of information, been
much speculation. It is known as
the Geer farm. It is owned and
managed by By Geer, ex-stats land
agent. Though about as good a
half section of land as lies out of
doors; it has not been on the tax
roll. Some kind of hocus pocus
seems to have prevailed in its case,
wherein no sheriff, assessor or oth
er functionary could make its own
er pay his proportion of the taxes.
The tract was formerly a part of
the John Osburn farm., Away back
in the Pioneer days, it was one of
the Mulkey donation land claims.
It is what is known as the east half
of donation land claim 57. As a
consequence of the Osburn financial
trouble, a mortgage on it was fore
closed and the piece went to the
state. That year, Sheriff Burnett
made a sheriff's assessment on it
and got tax mooey W. H. Odell
claimed to have purchased it, and
he was compelled to pay the taxes
that year. But since that time,
not a dollar of taxes has been col
lected on it. None will-be collect
ed this year unless something de
velops. Assessors have not been
aoie 10 una a way to get " the pro
perty on the rolls. By Geer came
onto- the land, and with his boys
occupied and farmed it. That was
lour or five years ago, and' while
other property owners have regul
arly paid in their money, this farm
has gone on untaxed. , . -
11 is untaxable now It cannot
be taxed because the owner man
ages to have the title remain in the
State of Oregon, though he is. in
deed and in fact, the rightful own
er. it is a stranee condition hut
oeiignuuiiy true, at least to Mr.
Geer.
1 His is the way the farm has for
the past several years escaped tax
ation, It was bought of the state
by, W.H. Odell for $5,500. The
sum 01 4,500 was paid on it. A
cemncate was issued, but the title
will remain in the state until the
remaining $1, 000 is paid, Mani
icsuy. uueu nas sold the place to
Geer, or else he bought it for Geer
in the first place, for within a short
time after the foreclosure. Geer an.
peared on it and related that he was
its owner, bo long as the $ 1,000
remains unpaid, just that long
jvir. jeer s iarm win . be non-tax
able, because the title is in the
state, and nothing that belongs to !
The Council did Eight Votes for, and
one Against Bill not yet Signed.
At a meeting last night, the city
council, by a vote of 8 to 1, gave
to A. Welch, a representative of
Eastern capitalists,, an electric light
and power franchise for ' a period
of 30 years, and turned down an
offer of P. Avery of $4,400 for a
similar light concession. The
light franchise does not take effect
until the expiration pi the Porter
franchise. That is to say, as soon
as one of them ends, the other be
gins. The advantages Corvallis is
to gain from granting the fran
chise, were explained to the city
council by Mr. McNary, of Salem,
attorney for the people represented
by Welch. Mr. Porter, one of the
holders of the present franchise,
and who is interested in getting the
extended 30 years franchise, also
explained to the members some of
the benefits of a 30 years' conces
sion. ' ;'- '
The only opponent on the floor
of the council was Mr. Avery. He
made several speeches against the
measure. He claimed the best way
to get cheap lights in the future
is not to be tied , up with fran
chises when the Porter Errant ex
pires eight vears hence. If then a
new franchise steps - in as is propos
ed by the measure, there will be
no bidders to offer cheaper lights
He finally offered the council the
sum of $4,400 pr $200 per year- if
they would grant to persons whom
he would name a light fran
chise for the period proposed.
In his address, asking for the
franchise, Mr. McNary, the lawyer
for the corporation, stated that his
company owned , light plants at
Woodburn, Silverton, Salem, Al
bany and Eugene. He explicitly
stated that his company had no
purpose for the present, of building
an electric road to Corvallis, and
that it must be understood in ad
vance that uo such promise is held
out.; The belief of many people is
that the corporation in question
will ultimately get in its grasp all
the light plants of the Willamette
valley, and become a gigantic nion
opoly under which the people will
suffer many an exaction in the
future.
Councilman Covell made:; a
speech in advocacy of the franchise
He said Corvallis has lain dormant
too long already and that she Should
start out for progress, Councilman
Wiles expressed some doubt as to
the long period of 30 ' years, but
thought that if a c small per cent of
the gross receipts could be provid
ed for when the new franchise be
gins, that the dose might be easier
to swallow. The mayor said, that
in view of Councilman Avery s of
fer of $4,400, for the franchise, and
Mn Wiles'. . suggestion, he might
have to veto the' measure even
the council passed it. One member
promptly insinuated that if the
mayor dared to veto it, that , the
council would have something
say afterwards. -
After some discussion a commit
tee was appointed to put in the
Wiles provision which provides
that two! per cent of the gross re
ceipts shall be paid to the city on
the new .franchise. . Of course the
lawyer for the company promptly
accepted the change. -
The provisions of the franchise
were explained in the Times last
week. The only change made since
is the two per cent draw down the
council gets after Porter's franchise
ends, The rates now in effect
both for city and for private use are
fixed as maximum, above which
any new rate may not go. - The or
dinance has not, so far, been signed
by Mayor Johnson. ; ) (:'!)
List of Warrants Ordered Paid
at January Term of
Court. . . -The
following bills were allowed
by the county court at the regular
January 1906 term'thereof, Benton
county, Oregon, towit:--;
R. H. Colbert JurorCir. Ct. $ 8 00
A. J. h- Cator " 11 20
John Bier "...V.l ...... 800'
Robt. Richardson... ".'..:. ...... 16 00 j
J, S. Ireland.".'...:.". ,i... ..13 20
J. P. Gragg is 20
Peter Bilyeu t 8 00
M. L. Barnett. . : . ......16 00
John Cresswsll..'.'.'!''.....'. .."L...11 60
Chas. Hector., 11 40
R. Dunn ...:..."...:.. ......15 20
Geo. Bennett ..10 80
J. P. Anderson......" ....17 20"
G. E. Barchard "............15 60
W. A. Beal ...J'. ......... 11 20
Paul Johnston " 12 00
F. Buchanan " 12 00
F. Aldrich.. " 8 00
Walter Maxfield "..... 16 00
T. A. Logsdon " 10 40
W. N. Alford " 10 80
Iohn Lemon ".... 16 00
I,. Caton 16 80
Lee Henkle ". 6 00
H. Hammersley 8 00
asper Hayden " ....20 00
B. Arrants " 11 20
H. M. Fleming " 6 60
W. Buster " ......1200
W, A. Bates '. 6 20
Edward Buxton " 2 00
Elvin Witham " 200
E. J. Harrington . . ' 6 00
D. D. Bermau ". 2 00
Henry Witham .. . 2 00
... 2 00
. ' 2 00
. . . 8 00
.... .600
. . ; 6 00
.;23l4
23:40
. .' 8 20
-.19 50
8 80
- 2 00
.... '8 00
....1000
.... 6 00
...'-51 00
. ... 4 00
... 8 00
.... 800
.... 6 00
.... 2 00
. . . 4 00
....3 40
For Rent.
. 56 00
to
W. R. Hansell .
S. L. Henderson....'.' ... .
Ruthyn Turney . . "
H H Cronise ."
Benson Martin..
B. Woldt wit Cir. Ct.... J
D Mann......".......
Asa Taylor...,'1
Chas. Winant..:"
F Powell;..;'., ......
J. D. Wells..
G A' Houck;.
Peter Whitaker... " ......... .
John Kiger....i...". . .... .
G W Plaster......",.........
E A Miller......"..........
Seorge Wyatt..."
G JH orning
W Lenger...."
G E Lilly...-..". ",
John Kiger...." :
W D Morris Con. fees.. . .
J Fred Yates court reporter
fees......
R C Kiger stock inspector. .25 00
J D Wells janitor 40 00
Corvallis I. T. Co telephones. .4 50
Corvallis Gazette printing. 5 00
Glass & Prudhomme tax re
ceipts. .40 00
C J Ralls sawing wood poor 4 75
Mrs D Huggins care county
poor..... 119 57
E Bennett county physician 32 00
H S Fernot co. health officej:. '4 64
H S Pernot . . . ." . . . . . ".. . i.59 00
Glass & Pr udhomme election ,
supplies . : . .Vi.'.-.67-Q0
Leder Brothers road work....'..-' ,2 00 1
R M Gilbert ... :: ..'V:.V i. 10 50
G A Cooper.. . . . " 3 00
D H Fleming:........".. ... . 4 40
B a Woodridge. .-. . . . 2 50
J R Smith & Co road snp.. ,.17 68
O W Beckwith road work . , 1 00
tJ K JBallard " 14 50
Green Fawver " !3 75
J R Crow " 9 00
Geo Dixon " ; 3 00
C A Woods " 6 50
ID K Tom.... , " 27 50
Jasper Hayden........."... .....22 00
M Hayden " .ioodI
E M Kimball.........' ., ,.i8 00 1
Continued in next issue,.,-
For the Christmas and New Year ,s
holidays tbe following rates are author.
ized between all points on the 0. & B.
One fare for the round trip, minimum.
25 cents. From Philomath to Oorvallls
tickets will be sold on tbe 19, 20, 33, 24,
25. 2Q, 30, 31 December and Tannarv 1.
The limit of tickets for return Is January
o.
A fine line of fishing tackle and
the best shells in the market, cheap
at rlodes gun store.
Nice office rooms to rent in my
concrete building. ' Also cheap
back room.
B. R. Thompson.
Remember Nolan's Great Annu
al Mid-winter Sales will begin Sat
urday morning December 30th at 9
o'clock. This will be a Bona Fide
Sale in every respect,
r Railroad Lands for Lease.
Lands of the Oregon &. Calif or
nia Railroad Company, in Oregon,
will be leased for the yea 1906
subject to sale. Owners of farms
and ranches adjoining railroad
lands should file their applications
not later than February 1, 1906, al
ter which date applications' from
others will also be considered,
1 Address: Charles W. Eberfein,
Acting Land Agent,
'f- 1035 Merchants Exchange,
San Francisco, Cal. j
Seeds.
All kinds of clovers and grass ; seeds
Grub oak wood, all sawed. Vetch hay
- Jj. If. Brooks.
This cold chilly weather you
need something to protect your
chest and . lungs. Nothing will
protect you like one of those
'Frost King" or "Frost Queen"
Chamois Vests, at Graham &N
Wells.
36tlL ClEiBAli'sALE 361
A.T
Jhe ( People's Store
, Tfrne to clean, up how, before spring goods begin toarrive; time to cut the prices
deep enough to make sure the work of Clearance in the next thirty" days. Every depart
ment, contributes special features. Money-saving sales are to be lurched ; in every sec
tion.1 Your interest is obvious if you want to save money.
"- ' : Corsets ;
Jn order to make room for new styles of
Thompson's glove fitting- corsets, we hare
gone through our stock and sorted out bro
ken lines of W. B'sl which we shall discon
tinue. Regular price $1.00, Special 39c
i " 1.50, " 74c
Men's Suits and Overcoats
All our mens high grade suits and over
coats, in worsted, fancy tweeds and cheviots
styles of this season showing in Hart, Schaf
fner & Marx hand tailored garments.
$25 00 suit and overcoat ia 95
20 00 " 15 95
18 00 " 14 40
16 50 " i3 00
15 00 ' I2 00
12 50 ' 1O 00
10 00 " 7 95
GROCERY SPECIALS
Some people don't know that we have a grocery department, so we
are making prices that will cause yon to get acquainted.
.Diamond C soap regular 5c, special 8 bars 25c. ' , .
16 cz. cans Schilling's Baking Powder, special 45c.
"Best" Cornstarch regnlar 10c, special 5c.
15 candles full weight 12 oz. 25c. '
30 pounds best beans $1.00. ' U -,; - -
K. C. baking powder 25 oz. 25c." " " '" '' '
16 pounds best No. 1 Rice, $1.00. :J'-U; ,.,
' 1 pound package bird seed with bone 8c. - ' . . . .
. I X L Tamales regular 15c, special 10c.; , , -. . . , .
I X L mascarohi and cheese regu'.ar loa, special 5c.
Elite,1 Bixby, or Wh'ztemore's Shoe Polish regular 25a, special 14c. f ,
Long's Woodlawn maple syrup; guaranteed best grade on the market,
regular 75c, special 60c. .
Star tobacco per package 45c.'
Armour's waehing pawder regular 250, special 15a.
Cut nails per pound 2c. "
1 pound oysters per can loc.
Decorated mush bowls each 5c.
"DAIBY SALT'.' 50 pounds regular 5oc, special 3oc. .
! !
Great Qearance Sale of all Waists . Rubber Boots
Wool, flannel, albatross, and fancy waists We have an over supply of rubber boots and
plain and trimmed, black, white, "red, blue and we don't want to carry over a pair. We are go-'j
green. All the newest and prettiest styles, log to let "Clearance Sle Prices.'" do the work.:
$1.25 waists," each - .69 . Men's Thigh Saag Proof Boots $5.2l
: r . 1.5o '. '' .78 " Short " ' ..." " 3.58
2.oo " If" 1.19 Thigh Friction 4 17,
' :2:oo - " , " 1.38 ' Short " 2.8i
. ,3.oo.. :: " ! " 1.53 " ' " Pebble " ' 2:81
. 3.50 . ,' " 1.74 Boys' " Friction " 2.22
Values up to $lo.oo each, all at low prices Women's Pebble " 1.64
' ' ','u- ' Knit Goods
' Ladies jknit skirts all wool blue, red, brown and black
Regular 85 cent, special 64 cents Regular $1 25, special 93 cents!
" $1 .50 u $108 ; , Golf vests regular $2, special 98 cents
You eai saue rnopy by uisitip our stor?
duriij tle pext 30 dayj
Every department offers surprising values. Watch this space
for further bprgains next issue.
25 per cent discount on remaining holiday goods
li IkTI JMP
- "' .- . '11 i- ' . ; - '
f ! ihe Peoples Store .
':!.i'.J.-
Corvallis,
Mail orders filled
- Oregon.
Sale prices during the month