THE HOOD RIVER "NEWS
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VOLUME 9, NUMBER 11
HOOD RIVER, OREGON. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12, 1913
SUBSCRIPTION, $1.50 A YEAR
CONSOLIDATION BEING PLANNED
Four Local Shipping: Concerns Recommend That Mar
keting Interests of the Valley Should be United and
Agree upon a Proposition for Accomplishing This End
Meeting Is Held and Resolution
Mass Meeting for All Growers of the Valley.
A general massmeetlng of all the
growers of the valley has been called
for next Wednesday morning, March
19, at 10:30 o'clock at Hellbronner
Hall for the purpose or organizing a
central selling and shipping associa
tion with a view to properly distrib
uting all the products of the valley.
The call for this meeting Is made by
the Hood Hlver Apple Growers Union,
the Davidson Fruit Company, Hood
Hiver Apple and Storage Company
and National Apple Company all the
shipping organizations of the valley.
At the same time and place a spec
ial meeting of all members of the
Union has been called for the same
purpose. Oificial announcements of
both meetings appear elsewhere In
this paper.
Plans for uniting the selling Inter
ests of the valley were undertaken at
a meeting held Saturday afternoon at
the Commercial Club when represen
tatives of the shipping organizations
and others who are particularly inter
ested, including all of the local bank
ers, met to consider a proposition for
effecting unity in time to eliminate
local competition as far as possible
in harvesting this year's crop.
The meeting was an informal one.
It was originally planned to have it in
clude only the dire tors and repre
sentatives of the shipping organiza
tions, but a few others were invited
anl nearly a hundred were present.
The meeting was the outcome of a
number of conferences which have
been held recently between the four
organizations. All of these are now
agreed that the competition which was
this year established in the marketing
of the local crop has been disastrous
to the Interests of Hood Hiver and to
every grower in the valley.
The action towards unity does not
originate with any one of the organi
zations. It is rather the concensus of
opinion which they have all been com
pelled to accept following this year's
experience and all are agreed that the
move is Imperative for the future wel
fare of the apple industry in this val
ley. As a result of the conferences that
have been held between the associa
tions it Is now proposed that an orga
nization be formed to market the pro
duct of the entire valley. This orga
nization would be formed by coalition
of the Hood Klver Apple Growers'
Union and the Davidson Fruit Com
pany. The organization thus formed
would purchase the cold storage plants
and other marketing facilities of the
National Apple Company and the Hood
Hiver Apple and Storage Company
Both the Union and the Davidson
Fruit Company would retain their Iden
tity as corporations, but would tease
their property for a number of years,
probably ten, with the understanding
that an option to either renew the
Dairying to Be Subject
of Discussion Saturday
If the cow can be made to co operate
with the hen In supplying the farmer's
larder and providing "mother" with
some pin money the condition of the
local ranchers will be more enviable
than ever, according to not a few mem
hers of the Commercial Club. With a
view to bringing the cow into her own
here in Hood Hiver an open meeting
will be held at the club next Saturday
for the discussion of this subject.
Not long ago the Commercial Club
Investigated the opportunities which
await Mrs. Cow here by finding out
how much butter is shipped into Hood
Hlyer. Statistics were secured from
the grocers, hotels and largest hand
lers and it was found that the figure
ran well up towards 2500 pounds a
week.
With these figures before them the
directors of the club went over the
matter a few days ago with Professor
Kent, the dairy expert at the O. A. C.
They say that he left in their minds
some very valuable information which
they are willing to pass along for the
benefit of all.
lease or to purchase would be In
eluded.
This plan is only tentative, but It
is the one to which all of the four or
ganizations have agreed as being the
most feasible and the one which they
believe it would be practical to work
out with the least delay and with the
smallest percentage of risk.
As now planned, the affairs of the
larger organization would be adminis
tered by a board of nine directors,
four of whom would represent the in
terests of the Davidson Fruit Company
and five to represent the Union. Mr.
Sieg and Mr. Davidson would be as
sociate managers of the new organi
zation. Plan Meets With Favor
All afternoon was spent in a discus
sion of the proposition and there was
a unanimity of opinion that it was
advisable to submit it to a massmeet
ing of local orchardlsts. Charles Hall
made the motion at the conclusion of
the discussion that It was the Bense of
the meeting that the plan be endorsed
and also that a tentative constitution
and by laws be prepared by those who
have had the preliminary plans in
hand and that they be submitted to a
massmeeting of all the growers of the
valley. Chairman Dickerson put the
motion and it was unanimously car
ried. A. I. Mason did not agree with the
proposition as submitted. He declared
that the identity of all existing corpor
ations should be merged into the new
and larger organization and that both
the Union and Davidson should be dis
solved as corporations. He suggested
that the larger organization should
purchase all the other plants by means
of a bond issue. His argument was
that all possible factional feeling
would thereby be wiped out and that
the overhead expense of conducting
the separate corporations would be
materially decreased.
Mr. Mason's suggestion prompted
considerable discussion. It was the
opinion of all those who spoke that
Mr. Mason's idea was a good one to
wards which to work in case the pro
position first submitted proved suc
cessful, but that it would be much
more difficult if not impossible to ef
fect, the bonding proposition being
deemed impractical at this time,
while both the Union and Davidson
Fruit company -would thereby be burn
ing all bridges behind them and also
abondoning the brands which it has
taken many years to establish In the
markets of the world.
Would Retain Brands
Mr. Sieg took up the matter of the
brands. He Bald that the advantage
of maintaing the established brands
of the Union and of the Davidson
Fruit Company was fully realized and
that It was the purpose of the larger
organization to retain these brands
until they could be abandoned for the
"It's going to be an 'experience
meeting,' " says Secretary Scott. "Ev
erybody that's got a cow or more than
one w ill be made welcome, while those
who haven't will be duly Initiated into
the mysteries of the cow game. Those
who would like to own a cow or two
and don't know how to get them will
also be welcome. The directors have
an idea that it is possible to get cows
for those who wish them and who
don't know how to get thorn, perhaps
from a lack of ready money."
When Dr. Wlthycomb of the O. A. C.
spoke at the horticultural chautauqua
last summer he was high In his praise
of the cow and strongly recommended
the keeping of small nerds by the or
chardlsts, not only because of the val
ue but also on account of the valuable
fertilizer thus secured.
All are Invited to the meeting Sat
urday afternoon at 2 o'clock.
Mr. and Mrs. O. II. Marsh of Under
wood were guests over the week end
of Mr. and Mrs. George I. Sargent at
Oak Grove.
Passed Calling for
I general Hood Hiver brands of the
' 1 ., .. 1 I DnU that
they also fully realized that it would
take time to establish such brands in
the markets but that it was the ulti
mate intention to make several
brand so that three or four salesmen
could be maintained In the larger mar
kets handling the different brands of
Hood Hiver apples. He also stated
that it was the opinion that only the
fancy brands should be continued and
that the choice grade should be pack
ed and shipped In a different manner.
P. Davidson also spoke of the advan
tages of having such a single organi
zation, particularly because it could
establish and maintain a uniform
grade for all apples shipped from Hood
Hiver, something which could only be
accomplished when it was marketed
by a single organization.
C. H. Sprout of the National Com
pany was among those who spoke. He
said that be was entirely in favor of
uniting the shipping interest of the
valley and that his company stood
ready to cooperate in making some
such arrangement. M. M. Hill of the
Hood River Apple and Storage Com
pany said that he also was in favor
of the movement towards consolida
tion. Others who spoke in favor of the
proposition included E. H. Shepard,
J. L. Carter and Truman Butler.
No "Trust" Planned
Mr. Mason thought that Hood Riv
er would put herself in the cla.s
with the Steel, Harvester, Oil and
other big trusts If the consolidation
were effected and said that it might
be In violation of the Sherman antl
trust law. Mr. Sieg, however, put all
fears on this Bcore at rest by stating
that he had consulted the best legal
advisers in Portland and was as
sured that there would be no viola
tion of the anti-trust law inasmuch
as no restraint of trade was contem
plated and only a small part of the
product would be controlled.
Davidson Favors Plan
H. F. Davidson was unavoidably-
absent from the meeting Saturday,
but he declares that he is heartily
In favor of the plan for consolidating
the valley's marketing Interests. "I
believe the proper time has arrived
for this important step," said Mr.
Davidson. "We have had a bad year,
but I believe that we have now hit
the low spot and that conditions will
improve. There will certainly be a
greater opportunity for Improvement
if we can get together in this matter.
It Is not an attempt to form any com
bination or "trust" but simply an
effort to unite the interests of the
valley in order that we may market
our fruit upon a more economical and
advantageous basis.
TAKE IRRIGATION
SYSTEM ON OPTION
Directors of the East Side Irriga
tion District met Saturday and re
ceived an option which the East
Fork Irrigation Company gave to pur
chase the system for the par value
of the capital stock plus the indebt
edness, but the figure shall not exceed
$110,000.
This option gives the district im
mediate possession pf the entire sys
tem. Not to exceed a year's time is
given in which to consider the op-
lon to buy. The system is turned ov
er to the district to operate In the
meantime without any cost except for
maintenance. The district has taken
possession. J. W. Mar Don aid was
employed as superintendent and he is
now engaged with a crew of men In
cleaning out the ditches and flumes
In order to have the system in readi
ness for operation April 1.
The district does not obligate Itself
to buy the system and whether this
will take place or not depends upon
the success with which the Issuance
of bonds meets. The directors expect
to call a special election to vote on
the Issuance of these bonds In the
near future. Attorney George II. Wil
bur Is now Beting as secretary and
legal adviser for the district.
HYDRO FORFEITS
DALLESJRANCHISE
The Dalles Chronicle of Friday had
the following to say about the propos
ed invasion of that city by the Hydro
Electric Company:
According to all appearances, the
Hydro Electric Company of Hood Hiv
er will not furnish electric power and
light to The Dalles, Its franchise hav
ing expired Wednesday.
An ordinance which passed the coun
cil December 5, 1911, gave the Hydro
Company the right and privilege to op
erate In this city. The company was
given the franchise with the provis)
that an acceptance be made within
60 days, the sum of $1000 to accom
pany the acceptance. This much the
company complied with.
The ordinance further provided that
work should begin within nine mon'I.s
after the date of the passage of the or
dinance, and that the plant should be
in operation six months later. It wis
stipulated that should the company
fail to comply with the provision.) of
the ordinance it would lose its fran
chise and forfeit the $1000 filed with
the acceptance.
W. G. Chaffln was arrested inMosier
the last of the week by Sheriff Levi
Chrlsman on a charge of assault with
a dangerous weapon. The charge was
made by D. D. Hail. Chaffin states
that Hall owes him wages and it is
over this that the 'trouble started.
Will Have an Election on
the Library Proposition
A special election Is to be called by
the city council to vote on the library
proposition. At the meeting Monday
Councilman Staten made the motion
that the Judiciary committee be direct
ed to take the necessary steps tow
ards calling such an election to give
the council authority to purchase a
library site. At the present time the
charter places strict limitations upon
the council's power and it has no au
thority to purcha ftuch a site.
No conclusion has been reached as
to the exact amount of additional land
which would be purchased, but 40 to
50 feet will probably be necessary
in order to provide a suitable site for
the library and this would also give
room for a small city park.
A petition was circulated Monday
ARMED REBELS
NEAR BORDER
Douglas, Ariz. Encamped within
striking distance of several border
town, are 8500 constitutions troops
while insurrectos among federal gar
risons have strengthened materially
the rebel forces.
The last word received from the
besieged city of Nacozarl wu from
the telegraph operator, who flashed
"too hot for me here," and left his key
before all wires between Douglas and
Nacozarl were cut.
Open revolt and scenes of disorder
have occurred among the 260 federal
defenders of Agua Prieta, and the mil
itary officials there gave warning to
all Americans to leave the town.
The best citizens of Agua Prieta
generally fled to Douglas, while the
drunken and rebellous soldiers pa
raded the streets crying "Viva Made
ro!" "Viva Maytorena!" and "Viva
Diaz!" Brawls between politically es
tranged companions in arms added to
the confusion and terror which held
the town in its grip.
Opium Will Be Burned
Pekin. The National Antl-Oplum
congress, with a view to assisting
China to suppress the opium trade.
will nppeal to the Young Men's Christ
ian association nnd missionary socie
ties throughout the world to open
funds for the purchase of as large
portion as possible of the opium stock
at the treaty ports. The stocks will
be burned.
Annexation of lila of Pines Desired
Pittsburg. Announcement hat been
mad by Thomas J. Keenan, president
of the American association of the
Isle of Pines, that a petition directed
to President Wilson and the senate,
requesting annexation of the Island
will be put In circulation In this coun
try and the Isle of Pines.
Mrs. F. M. Norrls of Mason City,
Iowa, arrived Saturday to visit Mr.
and Mrs. George I. Sargent. She Is
enroute home from a stay In South
ern California.
BODY OF UNKNOWN
MAN IS DISCOVERED
Section hands working a couple of
miles east of town Friday discovered
the remains of a man lying beside
the tracks. The body was much the
worse for exposure to the elements
and the man had probably been dead
for two or three years. A revolver
lying beside his body told the tale
of how he met his death. His identity
has not yet been discovered and there
are few clues to follow.
Th man wore link cuff buttons
which bore the initial "II". This gave
rise to the belief that he might be
John Hammond of White Salmon.
Hammond came to Hood Hiver with
his wife about three years ago. He
left the hotel in the evening and has
never been heard of since. Friends of
Mr. Hammond's were called from
across the river Saturday to see the
remains but they stated positively that
it was not he. The head was gone
from the body and only the lower jaw
remained. There was a stickpin found
and the revolver was a 38-calibre.
These remain so far as the only clues.
The body was found In a fir thicket
just south of the tracks about half
way to Masier. Coroner Dumble took
charge of them and they were taken
to Bartmss' undertaking parlors.
E. R. Moller has wired to friends
here that his father died in Brooklyn
before Mr. and Mrs. Moller were able
to reach his bedside.
asking that a site for the library be
secured on the county court house
grounds. This petition has been held
up, however, following the action ot
the council Monday and will be with
held to await the action of the citi
zens at the special election.
The ordinance calling for pavement
of the busines streets was passed and
bids will be let on March 24.
The contract for construction of
balance of the water system was let
' Five bids were received. The contract
for Division 2, which includes the
headworks, was awarded to Gibish
and Joplin of Portland. Their bid
was $2,946. The contract for Division
5, which includes the reservoir, was
awarded to E. O. Hail, whose bid was
$11,220.
Citizens in Clarke's Addition peti
tioned to have a water main laid on
Union Avenue to connect with the
one on Wilson street. Residents in
Stranahan's Third Addition asked for
a water main on Fifteenth street.
A petition was received asking for
opening of C street from Thirteenth
street westward.
Residents in Winans' Addition ask
ed for the creation of a sewer district
there.
A street light at the corner of
Prospect and Eighth streets was ask
ed by residents in that section ol
the city.
Architect R. R. Bartlett recommend
ed that the city, instead of erecting
a oO-foot fire bell tower on the Odd
Fellows Building, erect a 60-fool
tower on the city's property adjoin
ing, reporting that the latter could be
done at loss expense.
SUMMER WEATHER
ENJOYED THIS WEEK
Weather during the past week has
been more like summer than spring.
According to the temperature an road
by Professor Lawrence, local observ
er, the mean temperatures for Friday.
Saturday and Sunday varied only two
degrees. The maximum temperatures
were as follows: Friday 62. Saturday
64 and Sunday 63. The minimum
temperatures for the same three days
respectively were 34. 34 and 33. The
mean temperatures were 54, 32 and
52.
Th warm weather was accompan
ied by bright sunshine and an atmo
sphere that was clear as crystal and
delightfully balmy. Residents in town
have started planting their gardens,
while the orchardlsts have been kept
busy finishing up their pruning nnd
preparing for spraying and the ether
spring work.
The months of February nnd the
first of March have been remarkable
for the small rainfall, but the earth
was well soaked by the melting snow
In January. Monday turned somewhat
cooler and the orchardists were nut
displeased as it will prevent the fruit
buds from swelling too rapidly.
Stranahan Explains the
Local rjnanumz PnnnnH
Schedule of County Salaries under New Bill Is Given
Treasurer Will Hereafter Be Tax Collector
, Neat Income Assured for Experiment Station
Game Protected from Aliens.
Hon, C. H. Stranahan returned the
last of the week from Salem, where
he represented this district in the
Legislature. Mr. Stranahan, upon
his return, conferred with the county
court. On account of having been in
close touch with the situation, he
was able to explain the exact nature
of the legislation which was enacted
in behalf of Hood Hiver county.
The bill raising the salaries of lo
cal county officials was passed by the
Legislature over the Governor's veto.
The schedule of salaries as passed for
this county is somewhat smaller
than those of the Governor's equal
salary bill. The latter measure was
known as the Gill bill.
The present salaries of local coun
ty officials, those of the bill which
was passed and those of the Gill
bill, which was defeated, are given as
follows:
At Present New Gill
Clerk $1200 $1600 $1600
Sheriff $1200 $1600 $1600
Assessor $900 $1300 $1400
Judge $300 $900 $900
School Supt. $400 $800 $900
Treasurer $100 $500 $500
At the present time the county
commissioners receive $3 a day and
their traveling expenses. Under the
new bill they will recive $4 a day
and traveling expenses. Under the
Gill bill they would have received $4
a day with no provision for traveling
expense money.
So far as the duties of the various
officials are concerned only one change
is made ty the-new law. Beginning
with 1914 the county treasurer will
also be the tax collector, the sheriff
being relieved of this duty, although
he will continue to collect the delin
quent taxes.
- Alien Hunters Barred
Mr. Stranahan, at the request of
local sportsmen, introduced a bill to
protect fish and game from the depre
dations of alien hunters, by which
Is meant all those who are not citizens
of the United States. This measure
was passed. It provides that all per
sons not citizens must pay a hunting
and fishing license of $25.
Mr. Stranahan had also been re
quested to introduce a measure pro
tecting gray squirrels here. He
found, however, that a special act had
been enacted several years ago pro
viding protection for these animals.
The same is true of native and China
pheasants, which are already protected.
The bill for an experiment station
here was the only one of 13 similar
Thinks Hood River Will
Be Mecca for Tourists
That Hood River has all the at
tractions which are bound to make it
a Mecca for tourists and the summer
home of hundreds of Portland resi
dents, Is the belief of J. H. Heilbron
ner, and he also believes that there
is an exceptional opportunity for one
or more up-to-date summer hotels in
the valley.
"From my own acquaintanceship
with Portland people," said Mr. Heil
bronner, "I know that there are many
Portland people who would welcome
the opportunity to spend some time
every year at a summer hotel located
on one of the many beautiful sites
in the valley. At present they must
go to the seashore with practically
no other alternative, but there are
many who would prefer to seek rec
reation amid the beautiful surround
ings Hood Hiver can offer. Here we
have the beautiful scenery, good roads
for riding and driving, bracing moun
tain air and all Borts of places to
which delightful outings can be taken.
At the same time the people of the
valley furnish a congenial society
with which the tourists and summer
visitors could mingle.
"Conditions in the fruit business.
as in every other, are bound to vary.
There will be good years and poor
ones, but with Hood Rier establish
ed as a Mecca for tourists and a
famous summer resort, as she well
tan be, there will be an income whieh
will never fail. Portland people real
ize this. William McMurray. general
passenger agent of the O -W. K & N..
has often remarked that Hood River
measures which was passed, Mr. Stran
ahan making a strong fight for this
measure. It provides $3000 a year for
two years. This money will be pay
able quarterly and dates from the
first of the present year. The fund
will be administered by the Board of
Regents of the O. A. C. and the
local county court.
Soldiers' Home Investigated
Representative Stranahan also took
a leading part in the investigation
of the Old Soldiers' Home at Hose
burg. He introduced the resolution
calling for an investigation of the in
stitution and was made chairman of
the investigating committee They
found that there was but one build
ing, which would accommodate only
156 persons. There were 1S9 actual
ly registered and nine applications
w hich could not be considered. There
were 35 of the old s ldiers, most of
them very feeble, arbitrarily furlough
ed for 30 days in order to make room
and on their return 35 more are fur
loughed. The committee reported these con
ditions and Mr. Stranahan was re
quested by Governor West to get an
estimate of the cost of a new building.
With this report he went before the
ways and means committee with a bill
providing an appropriation sufficient to
build a home that would accommodate
100 more. An appropriation of $25,000
was made for this building.
Mr. Stranahan, in commenting on
the session, said: "All the measures
Introduced in behalf of Hood River
county were passed and I was much
pleased at what I was able to accom
lish for my constituents. So far as
the county salary bill was concerned I
was not personally Interested, but I
received a strong petition signed by
about 100 of the large taxpayers of
the county and so used my best efforts
to get the measure through. I believe
it places the salaries of local officials
upon an equitable basis.
"The Legislature decided to place
upon the ballot next year the propo
sition of extending the legislative ses
sion from 40 to 60 days and after my
experience during the present Bession
I hope the measure will meet with
general support. A 40-day session was
sufficient before Oregon grew to her
present magnitude, but it is altogether
inadequate now. It is proposed that
under the new law no bills could be In- "
troducd after the 20th day and the bal
ance of the- session could then be de
voted to a thorough consideration of
all measures submitted."
people have not yet come to appre
ciate their opportunities in this line
and he declares that his own friends
would provide many guei's for a
good summer hotel here."
Mr. Heilbronner has been going ov
er the matter for some time and he
believes that the time will come when
there will not be one but many such
hostelries in this valley, soma lu
the more settled portions and others
secluded In the sylvan retreats of the
hills and valleys where those who en
joy nature in the rough can find
rest and recreation.
"It will also be a distinct benefit
to the orchardists," he continued, "be
cause the building of summer homes
here by well-to-do Portlanders will
follow and ttiere will bo a demand
for small tracts for this purpose.
Portland people are enthusiastic about
the Hood Uiver Valley and many who
prefer country to city life would main
tain their families here a part If not
u!l of t!.o year. This will bn especial
ly true when the Columbia River road
is opened, but we do not have to wait
for that with the good train servlco
between this city and Portland. When
Hood Hiver awakens to her opportun
ities in tills 1 i ii,i hhe U bound to le
i (in " a Mecca for vacationists.
W. ('. and I) U K'nry arrived Sat
urday from Fort, Collins, Colorado,
with tlnl r famillen to visit their
brother. M I.. Kmry. If bad been
nearly 2" years since they bad met.
They mav locate here.