The Hood River news., April 23, 1913, Image 1

THE HOOD RIVER
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VOLUME 9, NUMBER 17
HOOD RIVER, OREGON. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 23, 1913
SUBSCRIPTION, $1.50 A YE AR
Electric Rates
Out Before Commission
An agreement was reached at a
conference Thursday evening ag to
what shall constitute an equitable
schedule of rates to be charged by
the two local electric companies,
Present at the conference were rep
resentatives of both companies and
the committee of four acting for the
Commercial Club. Manager Albert S.
Hall and Attorney John Laing of Port
land represented the Hood River Gas
& Electric Company; President Evans
of the Hydro represented that corpor
ation and the committee acting In be
half of the citizens Included M. E.
McCarty, H. F. Davidson, C. K. Marsh
all and R. E. Scott.
Roth of the companies made con
cessions to the committee and their
rates will be practically upon a par
after May 1, when it is believed that
the Increased ' schedule will go Into
effect.
The most substantial concessions
were made in regard to the rates for
residential lighting and cooking ser
vice. Manager Hall declares that
these are now the lowest obtained in
any city of the state and considerably
below the average charged through
out the country.
Lighting Rates Reduced
In Its original schedule the Hood
River Gas & Electric Company pro
posed to charge 10 cents per kilowatt
hour for all residences using up to 30
kilowatt hours per month. This was
reduced to cover only those using 15
kilowatt hours or less. All using be
tween 15 and 30 kilowatt hours will
get Juice for eight cents and all over
30 w ill get a 5 cent rate. The month
ly minimum charge for lighting will
be 1.
One meter will be used for both
lighting and heating and there will be
a minimum monthly charge of $2 if
current is used for both lighting and
cooking or heating.
Schedule R, covering commercial
lighting, wag changed so that the 10
cent charge will be made only for the
first 45 kilowatt hours Instead of the
first 60. The charge for the balance
of use will be at six cents per kilo
watt hour.
After an agreement was reached a
communication was directed to the
State Railroad Commission stating
that the conferrers signified their ap
proval of and acquiescence in the pro
posed schedules of rates proffered by
the Hood River Gas & Electric Com
pany with the exceptions mentioned
and recommended the adoption of
these schedules by both companies.
They agreed to the proposed rates
and schedules with the understanding
that should such rates hereafter prove
Inadequate or Insufficient the matter
may again be brought before the Rail
road Commission for Investigation
and adjustment. This recommendation
was signed by the committee and by
Messrs. Hall and Evans.
The recommendation was as fol
lows: To the Railroad Commission of Ore
gon, Salem, Oregon.
Dear Sirs:
The undersigned being a committee
appointed by the Hood River Commer
cial Club to represent the people of
the City of Hood River and county in
the matter of the applications of Hood
River Gas & Electric Company and
Hydro Electric Company for author
ity to file new and Increased sched
ules of rates for electric service to be
WILL ENCOURAGE
PUPILS TO GARDEN
Great Importance Is to be laid by
the state department of education this
year upon work in agriculture carried
on by pupils In the schools. County
Superintendent of Schools Thompson
has Just received from Superintend
ent Alderman a communication stat
ing that creditable practical work in
ngrl ulture will entitle a pupil to
credit In the eighth grade examina
tions. The letter follows:
"Please announce to the teachers
that the following plan will govern
in the eighth grade examinations In
agriculture:
"1 Twelve questions will be sub
mitted from which the pupils may
choose ten.
"2 If the pupil has a garden or has
done any creditable work In agricul
ture, the teacher may give 30 per
cent for such work. In this case the
pupil need answer only seven ques
tions out of the twelve submitted.
"3 If a pupil falls low In thlg sub
ject the county superintendent may
add not more than 25 for a creditable
exhibit at a county, district or state
fair."
Threshed
effective May 1st, 1913, do hereby slg
nify our approval of and acquiescence
in the proposed schedules of rates
proffered by the Hood River Gas &
Electric Company with the exceptions
hereinafter mentioned, and recom
mend the adoption of said schedules
by both companies with the following
suggested amendments:
In lieu of proposed Schedule "A
(residential rate) the following:
Residential Cooking and Heating
rate One meter.
Based on connected load Flat ir
ons, toasters, sewing machine motors,
or any electric domestic appliances
not Included In connected load no
load to be considered at less than one
kilowatt.
First 15 kilowatt hourf per kilowatt
of connected load at 10c.
Second 15 kilowatt hours per kilo
watt of connected load at 8c.
Third 15 kilowatt hours per kilo
watt of connected load at 5c.
Balance kilowatt hours per kilowatt
of connected load at 3c.
Minimum monthly charge for light
ing, $1.00. If cooking range Is used
$1.00 additional.
And, that Schedule "B" (commer
cial rate) be changed so that the first
45 kilowatt hours per kilowatt of con
nected load be charged at 10c instead
of the first 60 kilowatt hours the
balance of the use at 6c per kilo
watt hour; the schedule otherwise to
remain unchanged.
Signed M. E. McCARTY.
H. F. DAVIDSON,
C. K. MARSHALL,
R. E. SCOTT,
Secretary.
For the Hood River Commercial Club.
We hereby agree to the foregoing
proposed rates and schedules with the
understanding that should such rates
hereafter prove Inadequate or Insuf
ficient the matters above mentioned
may again be brought before the rail
road Commission for investigation
and adjustment.
HOOD RIVER GAS & ELECTRIC CO.
By Albert S. Hall, Manager.
HYDRO ELECTRIC CO.
By N. C. Evans, President.
Agreement Is Contested
Clyde B. Aitchison alone of the com
missioners came up Monday for the
Jiearlng as it was supposed that there
would be no contest, the agreement
having been reached ag above stated.
However, when the hearing opened
Attorneys Stearns and Derby an
nounced that they represented cer
tain clients and S. W. Stark stated
that he represented himself and
clients. Both protested against the
agreement.
As a result of the protestg the hear
ing was held and officers of the two
companies were cro!s-examined for
several hours by the protesting attor
neys. The end towards which all appear
ed to be working was to discover ex
actly what the proposed rates meant
and how much of a concession the
Commercial Club agreement embod
ied. This was made clear when Com
missioner Aitchison produced one of
his bills for light which he had
brought from Portland. It was for $3.
lie then had the bill for the same
amount of service computed on the
basis of rates as applied for by the
two companies. This showed a charge
of approximately $3.85. He then had
the same bill computed upon the basis
of the rates agreed upon between
the companies and Commercial Club.
This showed a result of about $3.25,
proving that the agreement entered
Into meant substantial concessions for
residential lighting. The same was
true of the rates for commercial light
ing. The rates were also compared with
those in effect in other cities of the
state. It was the understanding that
the cost of production Is not so great
a factor in determining the rates as Is
the comparison with other rates in
effect throughout the state. The hear
ing continued from 10:30 a. m. until
about four In the afternoon, when
Commissioner Aitchison took the case
under advisement.
One of the principal points made
clear at the hearing was that the
present contracts will be of no effect
as soon as the railroad commission
make known Its decision. A section
of the public utilities law passed by
the recent legislature provides that all
existing contracts are void under such
circumstances.
Commissioner Clyde B. Aitchison,
ho was here Monday In charge of
th
e rate hearing, left that evening for
Washington, D. C, to represent the
state In a case appealed to the United
States Supreme Court.
HERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY
So many are the expressions of Interest on the part of the citi
zens of the valley and city that the library committee of the Woman's
Club hopes soon to announce the purchase of 25 feet additional land
on the E. L. Smith property. All that remains Is to transfer the
good will of the citizens into dollars and cents and this is being
done this week by many determined women. This additional piece of
land will be given to the city.
A most generous gift hag already been made of $800 which con
sists of $200 apiece from Mrs. W. M. Stewart, Mrs. J. F. Watt, Mrs
O. J. Nelson, and Mrs. Elmor Rand, given in honor of their father and
mother, Mr. and Mrs. E. L. Smith. This assures Immediate succesB.
This money Is given with the expectation that the Woman's Club
will raise no less than $1200, which together with the $8'J0 will make
possible the purchase of the 25 feet.
The hope is that as many as possible will give $25 or $10 or $5,
but it ought to be remembered that smaller amounts are as essential
to success as the larger sums. We wish every man, woman and
child In the county might have a share in the library site if only to
the amount of 25 cents. Any sum is welcome. Those wishing to
help are asked to bring or send their contributions to the library
and obtain receipts. The campaign closes May first.
In a letter sent by Judge Castner to the Woman's Club the state
ment Is made' that the county commissioners agree to place the Car
negie Library Building on the present site of 40 feet or any addi
tional adjacent ground that may be purchased.
Here is a splendid project nearly completed and it awaits only the
prompt action of interested citizens.
COMMITTEE OF THE WOMAN'S CLUB.
PORTLAND NOW HAS
SOME "BIG SISTERS"
Any young woman planning to go
to Portland will be interested to know
that Portland has a "Big Sisterhood"
which Invites the interest and co-operation
of mothers and daughters and
other members of families through
out the state of Oregon. This society
is quite Informal In its organization,
its aim being to give friendly aid and
counsel to girls who are alone In Port
land or who for any reason are in
need of a "Big Sister." The work of
the society is not offered as a charity
but is Just the friendliness of one
woman for another, or a "Big Sister"
for a "Little Sister."
So many girls going to the city from
the country or small town have fallen
Into misfortune through the want of
a friend, or in some cases have been
utterly lost to their home people, that
these Portland women have associat
ed themselves to extend the friendly
hand to girls and women who need
any kind of help whatever.
If girls, or the parents of girls, who
are going to Portland will write to
the "Big Sisterhood," care of the Peo
ple's Institute, arrangements will be
made to give them such attention as
they may wish on reaching the city
and their welfare will be looked after
by "Big Sisters" who will take pleas
ure in knowing them and helping
them. So many sad things happen
every day to girls who come to Port
land from small towns and the coun
try that the Importance of this ac
quaintance with the "Big Sisters" is
urged upon mothers and daughters
throughout the state.
MUNICIPAL PLANT
IS BEING PROPOSED
Representative C. H. Stranahan is
among the local business men who
are proposing that a municipal light
ing plant may prove to be the ulti
mate solution of the problem here.
"It was noted by quite a number at
the hearing Monday," said Mr. Stran
ahan, "that the commission bases its
findings upon a comparison with the
rates prevailing in other cities of the
state. Apparently no notice is taken
of the fact that Hood River has limit
less water power within a short dis
tance of the city. This fact should
certainly be taken into consideration
and I believe we have a right to ex
pect lower rates than prevail in other
cities.
"The city now has available an
abundant supply of water for power
purposes from the old Coe Spring.
Now that we are going out to the
Tucker Spring for our city water
there will be an abundant supply
from this spring going to waste and
It might readily be used by the city
for this purpose. I believe that a
plant to serve the city could be In
stalled with distributing system com
plete for about $20,000, whereas now
we are supposed to pay rates that
will provide Interest and profit on two
plants with a capitalization of more
than half a million."
Mrs. Robert Tazwell of Ruthton sus
tained a broken shoulder the last of
the week. She wag driving to town
and in passing another rig the wheels
of the two carriages became locked
and Mrs. Tazwell was thrown out.
She was brought to tho hospital
where the fracture was reduced.
TO HELP THE LIBRARY
LOCAL TRANSFERS
OF REAL ESTATE
Oregon Lumber Company to H.Mor
ioka, lot 22 and 27, First Addition to
Riverside Park.
H Morioka to H. Ogata, lot 22 as
above.
H. Morioka to G. Harashima, lot 27
as above.
Thomas II. Larwood to J. B. Dog
gett, 20 acres at ML Hood, $4000.
Charles I. Thomas to Clara I. Darr
and Margaret N. Quigley, west 20
acres of tract at Trout Creek.
Otto E. Reade to Elishu F. Booker,
25 acres In Upper Valley.
Jesse W. Rigby to Samuel E. Doug
las, lots 16 and 17, block 32, Hood
River Proper.
James M. Kiser to Thomas D.
Tweedy, lot 3, block C, Barrett-Simpa
Addition.
Wilson O. Billings to B. F. Wall, 80
acres at Fir.
CLEANUP NEXT WEEK $
Hood River is to have a clean J
up week, beginning next Mon- J
day and lasting the entire week.
man's Club are to co-operate
and the few whose yards and
vacant lots are not in apple-pie
order are to be given the oppor
tunity to have them so.
Teams will be provided the
last three days of the week to
haul away all rubbish that can
not be burned. It is urged that
rubbish be ready on Thursday
morning.
Many citizens keep their rub
bish cleaned up and hauled
away at their own expense.
Each party having rubbish haul
ed next week will be charged a
nominal fee by the driver.which
will be much cheaper than if
done by individual order.
Any rubbish that is left at the
end of the week which is un
sightly or unsanitary will be
cleaned up by the city author
ities at the expense of the prop
erly owner.
Signed E. O. BLANCHAR,
Mayor.
ELOCUTIONARY RECITAL FRIDAY
Mrs. William Basil Young will give
a recital under the auspices of the
young people of the Asbury Methodist
Episcopal church, Friday evening, May
2. Mrs. Young will be assisted by
some of the best musical talent of the
city.
M. E. Church Services
Sunday School at 10 a. m. Preach
ing services at 11 a. m. and 8 p.m.
Themes: morning. "Neither Left nor
Forsaken;" evening. "The Print of the
Nails." or "The Burden of the
Cross. Epworth League at 7:00 p.
m. Prayer meeting on Thursday ev
ening at 8:00 o'clock. All are cord
ially invited. W. H. Young, pastor.
Christian Science
Christian Science services are held
In the Reading Room, Room 2, David
son Building, Sunday at 11 a. m.
Subject, "Probation After Death."
Sunday School will be held as usunl
at 10 a. m. Wednesday meeting at
p. m. The reading room Is open dully
from 2 to 6 p, m.
GANG OF BOYS IS
CAUGHT THIEVING
A gang of eight boys who have been
breaking Into business houses for the
past several weeks were caught Fri
day night by Deputy Marshal Hart In
the vinegar factory. They had made
frequent visits there, breaking into
the building and carrying off bottles
of pop. They also entered the office
of the Taft Transfer Company and
opened the cash drawer. An entrance
was forced at a side window of the
Star Grocery and the cash register
broken. They only secured a couple
of dollars at these places, however.
The same gang had groken Into one
or two other places. They were
brought before County Judge Castner
and County Attorney Wilbur Saturday
and given a severe talking to. Their
ages ranged from 11 to 16. Upon the
promise of their parents to control
them, they were given another chance.
STATE GIVES S688
FORFAIR HERE
Under a law passed at the recent
legislature Hood River will receive
$688.43 from the state towards the
expense of holding a county fair, or if
it ia not used for this purpose it will
be available for county road work.
Secretary of State Olcott says that
It is true that the last Legislative As
sembly repealed all the existing laws
providing for the holding of district
fairs and appropriating money in aid
thereof, but at the same time and in
the same law authorized the several
counties in the state to hold county
agricultural fairs and empowered the
County Court of each county to ap
point a county fair board consisting of
three resident taxpaying citizens of
the county, except in such counties
where there is already organized a
county fair board or an agricultural
county the said board shall be consid
county thes aid board shall be consid
ered the county .fair board of that
county. An annual appropriation for
the support of such fairs in the county
equal to a tax of l-20th of a mill upon
the taxable property thereof is also
provided for, so that in lieu of an
annual appropriation for the aid of
the district fairs, as in the past, the
new law apportions a certain sum an
nually to each county for the hold
ing of a fair in that county.
The secretary of state will therefore
Issue warrants in favor of the county
treasurers of the respective counties
on June 15, 1913, for the amounts pro
vided in said House Bills 428 and 633,
for the molding of county fairs in the
year 1913.
BEAT STEVENSON;
LOSE TO DALLES
In the two first baseball games of
the season played Friday and Satur
day of last week the Hood River High
School team broke even, defeating
Stevenson Friday and coming off sec
ond best In the game with The Dalles
Saturday.
The game with Stevenson was play
ed on the local diamond and resulted
in the score of six to nothing in favor
of the locals. On Saturday the game
w 1th The Dulles was closely contest
ed, but a lead which the Dalles boys
secured in the first Inning, when they
scored three runs on an error, was
too great to be overcome. It looked
as though the local boys might save
their laurels in the last of the ninth
when they had three men on bases
and two out, but the third out was
called before the men on bases could
be brought home and the final score
was nine to six in favor of The Dalles.
These were the first games In the
series to be played by the teams con
stituting the Mid Columbia Baseball
League, which includes Stevenson,
Hood River. White Salmon and The
Dalles. The local boys will cross bats
with White Salmon Friday.
Henry Blagg is captain of the team
this year and the line-up Saturday
was as follows: Husbands catch,
Blagg pitch. Shriim first, McGuire
second. Swartout third. Thomas short,
Joneg left field, Art Johnson center
and J. Johnson right.
SMELT REACH CASCADE LOCKS
Smelt have been running In the
river below Cascade Locks In vast
quantities the past week and many
people from nearby towns have gone
down and brought back loads of
them. This Ig the first time In seven
years that the little fish have gotten
this far up the river. In fact they
seem to get up the rapids Just about
once every seven years.
Many Districts Favor
Co-operative Marketing
H. F. Davidson left yesterday to
attend a meeting of the board of di
rectors of the North Pacific Distribu
tors at Spokane.
The meeting will discuss particul
arly the extent to which the associa
tion would handle products other
than apples. Some of the associations
in the Milton district declare that they
are strongly in favor of the association
enlarging Its scope so as to market
vegatables and other products as
well as apples and other fruits.
Mr. Davidson as director of the as
sociation has been receiving favor
able reports during the past week
from other districts of the northwest
and he is hopeful that enough of the
districts will Join this year so as to
make the action pra tically unanim
ous and to include all of the larger
districts of the Northwest.
Yakima is now ready and willing
to proceed towards perfecting the
marketing machine. Full authority
to take final action has been lodged
In the executive "committee and that
committee stands ready to sign up
with the association at any time that
a sufficient number of other promin
ent factors have expressed their will
ingness to Join so as to Insure the
success of the undertaking.
Wenatchee growers are said to be
heartly in favor of the movement but
CHILDREN'S FAIR
PRIZESJNNOUNCED
County Superintendent CD. Thomp
son has announced the premiums to
be given the successful contestants
in the children's industrial fair, the
date for which has been set for Sep
tember 13.
All school children of Hood River
County are eligible to enter. Pupils
can seek Information and advice, but
must do the work themselves. This
is imperative. Pupils will be divided
Into two classes: Class A, all over
12 years of age on September 13;
Class B, all under 12. Classes are as
follows:
Best packed box of apples, both
Class A and B together.
Best trio of large breed of chickens;
best trio of small breed of chickens;
best trio of bantams. Class B only;
best pair rabbits, Class B only; best
5 carrots; best 5 potatoes; best 5
onions: best 5 parsnips; best five ears
pop corn; largest pumpkin by weight;
largest head of cabbage by weight;
best loaf bread; best apple pie; best
5 glasses Jelly.at least three varieties;
best 5 Jars canned fruit, at least three
varieties; best display asters; best
display sweet peas; best display dah
lias. Best hand-made apron, made for and
by the pupil entering the same. To
be of any kind of material and any
color. Mechanism to count rather
than material or trimmings.
Best piece of darning or patching.
Darn to be not less than two and one
half square inches and patch to be not
less than four square Inches.
Best piece of mechanical work
(hand made).
First, second and third prizes to be
given of $3, $2 and $1 respectively.
No pupil shall enter for more than
four prizes.
STREET LIGHTING
SYSTEM 100KED UP"
Last Wednesday the Hydro Electric
Company "hooked up" onto its new
street lighting system and as a re
sult the city is better lighted than
ever before. The new system would
have been completed sooner but sup
plies were slow in arriving and the
work was held up. The Hood River
Gas & Electric Company has been
lighting the city pending the comple
tion of the Hydro's system.
The street lights are mounted on
brackets extending from the poles and1
are equipped with Mazda lights. The!
reflectors, instead of directing a
stream of light perpendicularly dwn-
ward, are supplied with reflectors;
which diffuse the rayg In a horizontal'
direction.
In accordance with the city's con
tract entered Into with the Hydro
Company, a large number of addition
al lights have been Installed, espec
ially la the outskirts of tho city. The,
poles of the Hood River Gas & Elec-j
trie Company are used In accordance
with a leasing agreement entered Into!
between the two companies for com
mon use of the poles. I
they do not hold their annual meet
ing until May third. In the mean
time it is understood that they are a
waiting action by other districts and
that if a sufficient number Join the
association they stand ready to also
take final and favorable action.
The Rogue River Valley Fruit As
sociatlon has signed up for another
season with the N rthwest Fruit Ex
change of Portland. The former
association, however, controls only
about onefifth of the. Rogue River
crop.
In Southern Idaho fruit districts
an active campaign is being made to
organize them all into the sub-central
and good success Is reported. It Is
said that all of the districts are un
animous in favor of Joining the dis
tributors. In Montana, also, the sentiment is
reported to be practically unanimous
and assurances have already been re-,
ceived that solid support may be
counted upon there for the new mar
keting organization.
In Walla Walla action has already
been taken that Is favorable to the
new, co-operative organization and
plans are being actively pushed by
the executive committee in an effort
to perfect an organization as early
this season as possible. It Is the op
inion of the board that the assurance
of success is as great now as it ever
can be. They are greatly encouraged
by the attitude taken towards the
movement by fruit districts of the
Northwest.
In Hood River the growers have
unanimously expressed themselves in
favor of the Distributors and are will
ing to give their support to the or
ganization as far as possible. Auth
ority to take further action is now
vested In the board of directors of the
Hood River Apple Growers' Association.
THOMSENS LEAVE TO
VISIT OLD HOME
Mr. and Mrs. J. P. Thomseu, who
have been residents of the Columbia
region of Oregon for the last 20 years,
and who have amassed a fortune from
the sale of crchard lands In the Hood
River Valley and in the box factory
business at The Dalles, left Tuesday
for New York, and Wednesday will
sail for Hamburg, going thence to Co
penhagen, where they will spend sev
eral months visiting the scenes of
their childhood. For years Mr. Thorn
sen was one of the largest landholders
In the valley, but a few years ago he
began to dispose of big property at
high prices.
Nineteen- ears ago Mr. Thomsen be
gan purchasing cheap Hood River Val
ley land. He Invested all of his mon
ey in real estate, and for a time found
it -hard to pay taxes and support his
family. At The Dalles he became in
terested in a box factory. The busi
ness grew and he was able to hold
his orchard land and make improve
ments occasionally.
Four years ago the box factory was
disposed of at a profit of $12,000 and
he came here to devote all of his time
to the Improvement of his land. Since
then he has disposed of several hun
dred acres, the last tract of 200 acres
having been purchased last fall by
Clayton Fletcher, who will operate a
dairy there. Mr. Thomsen still owns
more than 100 acres of valley land
and is one of the wealthiest citizens
in the district. Oregonian.
Who wouldn't like to bo a farmer
now 7
TOLL GHARGE TO
UPPER VALLEY CUT
On Saturday the State Railroad
Commission made an order cutting
in two the toll charge for telephone
service between the upper and lower
valleys. The order fixes the switch
ing charge at five cents Instead of 10
as at present and continues the pres
ent charge of $rt per quarter for busi
ness party liin-i and $.1.75 fo resi
dence party lines in tho Upper Val
ley. A discount of "3 cents Is allow
ed yhere the rale is paid In advance
quarterly.
The commission recently held a
hearing here and some of the Upper
Valley people asked that the toll
charge be reduced If possible In ord
er to lessen 'h-ir expense during ber
ry and apple shipping time when It Is
necessary t make frequent calls to
the flipping' concerns in thi rity.