TTTR MORXING OREGONTAN. THURSDAY, JULY 22, 1915.
UNION EXPERIMENT
STATION. AMAZING
SCENES AT EASTERN OREGON BRANCH EXPERIMENT
STATION.
; NOW ON
r's Great Clean-Up
Farmers Only Too Glad to Buy
Seed Grain From State
Agricultural Post.
A popular new model
In patent nnd dull ralf
msapn with wrrm-r eloth
MUCH GOOD BEING DONE
Hesalar XM value
I STATION. J
I f i ,,,.,m. i. , . ij..yui . I".' ' i 1
1 - - t .- ! a- " - - - i
t
Ir : : -if
J - , i- . v -
t : - v -w "J, ' ' t
Bake
Landowners Learn to Kely on Su
perintendent for Advice New
Types of Grain Best Adapted
to Climate Being Evolved.
BT ADDISON BENNETT.
UNION, Or.. July 21. (Special.)
When we arrived at La Grande we
were met at the depot by a large num
ber of the members of the Commercial
Club, headed by the president of that
live-wire organization, J. G. Snod
grass. We were ushered into autos and
taken to the Sommer House, where
we were served a splendid lunch by
that club. As it was raining quite
hard as we wended our way on the
train over the Blue Mountains, and
was still raining when we reached La
Grande, we felt rather depressed as we
pot off the train. But the loyal way
in which we were received and the
tine lunch soon warmed us to La
Grande and its citizens.
After lunch we were taken in auto
mobiles by various members of the
club to Cove, a beautiful little town
about 18 miles north of La Grande.
This trip took us clear across the val
ley, and it is "some" valley in extent
and more in conditions. Almost every
body knows that the Grand Ronde
Valley, as it is called, because the
river of that name runs through it
every reader of The Oregonian knows
or should know that it is one of the
most beautiful, productive and pros
perous valleys in the West. It con
tains, perhaps, 50,000 acres of the best
agricultural land known. It has but
one defect the climatic conditions,
for there is an annual precipitation of
only 15 or 18 inches. But if you were
to examine the growing crops of
trains, grasses and fruits you would
say there is plenty of precipitation for
maturing fruits and grasses and
grains, for you could see with your
own eyes some of the best agricultural
successes in the state. There is some
irrigation practiced in the valley, but,
as a rule, the precipitation and a sort
of sub-irrigation unite to produce these
splendid results.
Grain Crop Fine.
We found the grain crop fine. There
has been but little loss through bad
canditions in June as happened in many
sections. Much of the wheat will run
50 bushels to the acre, barley 80 bush
els and oat3 100 bushels. Walter
Pierce, the largest farmer in the val
ley, having four solid sections, 2560
acres, told me that he harvested a lit
tle more than 10.000 bushels of oats
from 100 acres lastyear, and this year
the yield will be fully equal, if not
better.
But I have not the space to dwell at
length on the valley as a whole, havln
come here to tell something about the
inspection of the branch experiment
station maintained in the valley, near
Union, by the state. The branch sta
tions at Moro and Herraiston, which
our party went over, are maintained
jointly by the state and the Federal
Government. The Eastern Oregon
Branch Station, as it is officially
called, was established 14 years ago
by the State Legislature, and it is
maintained solely by the state, the
nsual appropriation being $7500 per
annum for carrying on the work.
The site comprises 620 acres of land.
In quality it was, when selected, conid
ered an average tract of the valley. The
superintendent of the station is Robert
Withycombe, a worthy son of his fath
er, the Governor of our state. Robert,
or "Bob," as his intimates call him.
has been in charge for 13 years. He
was educated at the Oregon Agricul
tural College, and then took a four
year course and his degree in the Uni
versity of Illinois. After his college
career he went to work at this station
as a farmhand at HO a month. When
It was found a change in management
was necessary "Bob" got the job and
every landowner in Union County who
has had any dealings with or who has
any knowledge of the work being
done on the station farm, will tell you
that he fits the position as a glove
fits the hand.
Work Known All Over Country.
He is as fine a speciman, physically,
mentally and temperamentally, of a
splendid young man as we have In
Oregon. As for his knowledge of the
labors he is placed here to perform, let
it be said he is not outclassed by any
person in the Northwest, if in the en
tire country. ' His work is known all
over the country, for his station is
heralded abroad, as standing away up
at the head of all farms of the kind in
the United States.
I hope the reader will not expect me
to tell all of what is being done on
the hundreds of tracts into which the
farm is divided. To tell fully and
clearly of the work conducted for one
year on one tract would take a page
of this paper; to tell of them all and
also tell of the work of rotation year
after year would take anyhow two
years and would fill half a dozen pages
every day.
In the first place one of the principal
labors of Superintendent Withycombe
is as a breeder of grains, grasses and
fodder plants. That is at work as ne
cessary as any that can be done for
our landowners. For instance, look at
a wheat field and note that in many
spots the grain is "down," 1. e., that
the straw has broken or bent and the
neaas are close to or on the ground
Kemember the loss in harvesting
"down" grain and then figure up the
annual loss to the state. Now sup
pose "Bob" Withycombe or some other
practical scientist could breed a wheat
that would have a straw strong enough
to withstand adverse air currents and
heavy rains and maintain its upright
position: would not such a man be
as great as a Burbank? Would not his
labor be of more benefit to his fel
low men than can be conferred bv all
the wealth of a Rothschild? And do
you not suppose that all practical eclen
tists intrusted with duties like Su-
, perintendent Withycombe are by day
. and night trying to create grains and
grasses and plants that shall be im
provements on those already known?
New Grain Types Created.
What has Superintendent Withy
eombe done along that line? Come
wnn me to the exhibition room over
the offices and see the several hun
dred bundles of grains and grasses and
you will find that on this station sev
eral hundred new types have been cre
ated. Some of these may become bet
ter and better until, like the Burbank
potato, they make the name of their
creator famous. But remember that as
a rule it takes several years to fix
a type in vegetable or animal life so
firmly that it is beyond reversion.
Walter Pierce, who Is one of the
regents of the Oregon Agricultural
College, was with ns as we passed over
the farm. He has always taken great
pnae in tne larm and in "Bob's" work,
Mot only that, but he Is the best
1
4
1
TOP, GRANGE DAY SCENE AT STATION, JUNE 1. 1915.
HES1DECE OK SUPERINTENDENT.
BELOW,
customer the station has for seed
grains. Mr. Pierce being the foremost
farmer in the county, his word goes a
long way with other landowners,
hence the station finds itself short of
seed grain, every season. That shows
that the farmers believe in the superin
tendent and in his work and that they
have chosen to follow his methods and
his advice. For after getting the seed
from the station, and paying a full
price for it, they are not foolish
enough to put it haphazard into ground
that is not properly prepared or under
weather conditions not favorable.
To go down into the hog lots we
find the same conditions a constant
striving for the animal that will be a
better money maker than any now
bred; a constant breeding towards a
type that will make a name for the
farm and its superintendent. Do you
not see the possibilities lying before
a young, energetic, enthusiastic expert
like Superintendent Withycombe and
can't you see what such a success as
he no doubt often dreams of would
mean to him personally, to the farm,
to the state and to every man who
could get hold of one of the new
animals?
Benefits Are Untold.
Suppose only a partial success can
be gained (and it is more than pos
sible that some of the wheats and
barleys now being raised on the farm
in increasing quantities will become
winners when the seed is sold. Mr.
Pierce thinks they will) by getting a
wheat that will produce two more
kernels to the head! Why. if that can
be done it will be of more benefit to
mankind than the finding of many
gold mines.
Do the people believe in and lean
on the experimental station?" When I
was assigned to accompany the regents
and President Kerr on their tour of
inspection the parting injunction given
me by the editor of The Oregonian was
in those words. I can safely say that
at the stations visited I have found
a splendid feeling of confidence among
the people residing within reach of the
stations. I did not glean my informa
tion irom the superintendents alone.
aitnough rrom them and their books I
learned about the number of visitors to
tne station, and the number of tele
phone calls. I went around the stre. :s
and inquired of farmers and business
men, and questioned farmers as we
went around looking over the country.
i wisn to say, without fear of con
tradiction, that these stations are of
far more benefit than any person can
imagine without getting into the run
ning arrangements of them and finding
tne racts as to co-operation. Whv is
it, lr you cnoose to argue that the work
is not a complete success, why is it that
at the stations we have visited we find
that they cannot begin to supply the
aemana lor seed grain? I heard
farmer say yesterday that -he would
take every bushel of wheat from a cer
tain 20-acre tract we were looking at
and pay two bits above the market
price in Portland for it on the first day
of October.
Farmers Express Confidence.
Others expressed similar confidence
in the results attained in both wheat
and barley.
I wish I had the space to touch
half hundred things that struck ma
forcibly as we passed over the farm.
i can tell you I, as a citizen of Ore
gon, feel mighty proud of that farm.
I remember that I felt last Winter,
when I heard that a member of the
Legislature had stood up In his seat
and said the farm "didn't pay" that he
was uninformed or else the work had
run down since I saw it. Of course it
doesn t pay cash dividends back into
the treasury in visible coin. Neither
does the elevator in The Oregonian
building, nor the sidewalks on the city
streets, nor the fire departments of our
cities, nor the views of Mount Hood.
But we would not like to part with all
of our elevators, sidewalks, fire depart
ments ana mountain views because we
cannot count up daily a cash profit
from them.
Farm Not Run for Profit.
This farm would pay as well as snv
nice amount of land in the state if
larmea lor pront. The entire plant and
equipment, taxing everything as it
f tan as toaay, is worth about $125,000.
it would De no trouble to rent it nn
that basis at 6 per cent net. over and
above taxes. Insurance and depreciation
cnarges. l nere are a dozen men In
this valley who would grab at it mighty
uuiuiv ana erow ricn lr they got It.
When we got to Union the annual
cherry fair was going on and we not
only saw about as fine a display of
cuerries as can be turned out in any
portion of the state but about as large
a display. The town was crowded with
people. I did not hear an estimate of
the number, but I should say there
were weu over 3000 strangers hero-
There was a fine programme, liter
ary and musical, besides the crowning
of Queen Anne and King Bing. Then
Governor Withycombe. Walter Pinri
President Kerr, Jefferson Myers and
otners spoKe.
We were then taken over to th r
periment farm, and after our lnr. Ac
tion we. were driven to Hot Lake, where
we had a splendid dinner as the' guests
oi rvooert witnycomDe.
Our next stops will be Ontario, Vail
Juntura and then Burns. '
RANSOM
TO BE PAID
Relatives of Kidnaped Rancher
Ask Officers to Give Up Hunt.
DEATH OF CAPTIVE FEARED
a .Norwegian scientist has artvanrd the
theory that Saturn's rinirs are elm-trlrl
nomena. producer! by tire radiation of lumln-
vu pariR-itB intm toe planet, which con-
The Japanese Red Cross has nearlr z.OOO.-
" 4jicsuiur uu a-u endowment OE X 13.UO0.
Sheepherder's Horses and Supplies
Arc Taken by Three Armed Men
Xear Scene of Abduction of
Wealthy Idaho Stockman.
BOISE, Idaho. July 21. (Special.)
Following the kidnaping last Monday
of E. S. Empey, the wealthy Bingham
County rancher, for whom a ransom of
$600v has been demanded, a reign of
terror is reported in Long Valley.
Sheepherders are flocking into Idaho
Falls, declaring that they have been
forced to abandon their flocks and
leave the country by a band of armed
men.
Fosses were organized today at
Idaho Falls and Blackfoot to search
for the unidentified desperado, believed
to be Hugh Whitney, who is holding
.ir. cmpey.
When the kidnaping was effected
the two sons of Mr. Empey were sent
back by the abductor with a letter
containing his demands for the return
of his prisoner.
Owing to the fact that this letter was
not mailed, the Federal authorities are
said to have refused to take up the
case. The matter of state aid has been
proposed by Governor Alexander, but
no action has so far been taken. South
eastern Idaho authorities are left to
capture the bandit.
Desperado Nintri Terms.
Sheriff Mulliner today forwarded to
Governor Alexander a copy of the letter
containing the demands of the bandit.
It ifl unsigned and is as follows:
"July 16. 1915 Mrs. E. S. Empey and
family: To save the life of your rela
tive, who is now my prisoner, comply
with the following demands:
"At 10 o'clock P. M.. July 24. 1915.
take $6000 (six thousand dollars) in
United States gold coin and start from
the ranch where the prisoner was
taken, drive south on the main road
that leads to Henry via sawmill in an
open-topped wagon, keeping lighted
lantern In plain view all the -time.
When a man Is heard to holloa 'hay'
turn the rig round and then place the
money, which must be in a white can
vas bag, in the road In plain sight be
hind the rig. using the lantern and
doing it in such a way as to show an
observer what it is, then drive back
to the ranch, making no stop.
'The place where the prisoner Is
kept as well as other places along the
road are loaded with explosives and
men placed to watch them, who will
blow to atoms any one going contrary
to orders.
Dentil of Reseners, Is Threat.
"To kill or capture one of us would
mean the certain death of the prisoner.
and your only safe plan is -to keep
this from the officers. We are bound
to keep our word, and you must not
expect anything else.
"Only the one word Tiay' will be
spoken and no argument or jangle will
be tolerated. The prisoner will not live
till daylight the next morning if our
orders are not obeyed. Let only two
men accompany the wagon, one to
drive while the other holds the lantern
In plain sight.
"To find the prisoner would be to
kill him and the finders by an ex
plosion. We cannot afford to release
the man who could identify us unless
we get the money."
RELATIVES TO PAY RAXSOSt
Officers Asked to Give 1 Hunt,
Death of Rancher Being Feared.
IDAHO FALLS, Idaho, July 21. The
father and relatives of E. A. Empey,
the cattle and sheepman, who was
kidnaped from his ranch east of here
last Saturday, decided today to pay
the $6000 ransom demanded by the
abductor. The father asked the Sheriff
to withdraw his posse of cowboys.
Relatives fear that efforts to cap
ture the abductor will result In
Empey being killed. The letter the
abductor sent to Idaho Falls with
Empey's son, giving directions for the
delivery of the money, according to
relatives, rives the officers no chance
to capture the abductor at the time
the money Is delivered.
A sheepherder arrived here this
morning from the neighborhood of the
abduction and reported that three
armed men visited his camp Monday
night and took nis horses and provi
sions. He was obliged to come here
to outfit again.
Empey's relatives are convinced that
he is In the hands of men who will
carry out the threat of death.
Several hundreds of men volunteered
to Join la the bunt for the abductors.
$2.45
Rt polar new
'ront Inee
model In while
bark, with pat
ent trlmmlBKH.
A trmilM bis;
valne at the
reanlar price
f 5.e.
Positively the biggest styles event in our history because of more
and better styles bigger and better values. Many of our newest
and best models; front-lace boots in all the popular combinations.
This is a positive and complete Clearance of all remaining Summer
Footwear. These Shoes must be cleaned up prices have been cut
accordingly. Don't fail to take
advantage of the opportunities,
this great event affords.
odel
stna
Men's new i
Inee boots in
metal and Ki
t n n with colored
eloth top. Reanlar
fT,.00 values.
Children's Tan Calf Barefoot Sandals
Values from ai.OO to si.35
Sizes S to 8. now 75. C r
Sizes 8Vj to 2. now J J
Women's Shoes Broken Lines
ten lines In all QC
lers are included XJ H rial
mazing values if M
Values to f.OO
All badly broke
styles and leath
in this lot. Amazing
you can be fitted. Clean-up
price
Mens this seaMOn's Ox
ford In tan and black enlf
with eloth tops
to match. KrK.
as.oo valaes.
Women's
high and low
sport shoe In
white .Nnbnrk
with toe eap.
hall strap and
eonnter la
black, tan and
leather.
Nothing; hnt
"!" to
these.
S3.85 555SiSs1J
Women's Shoes Complete lines
Itesmlnr S-TJn Values f
At this clean-up price you will DylL
find plain and strap pumps .JJ If LL 1
button and laco boots in pat- T Mr mJ
ent and dull leathers with W
cloth tops of fawn, grav and Lj
black. Exceptional values. aanas
This new Oxford we have
In patent eolt nnd dull ealff
vnmpH. with black, array
nnd fawn eloth tops, ileat
st values ever
offered.
$2.85 -3
985
Women's SHoes Complete lines
H.no and S...OO Vnluen f
Sport thoca hiBh a ifcd low li.
button and lace fclgh shoes. J)
Oxfords and pumps in all pop- i
mar color combinations. Hun
dreds of attractive hoe values
at this clean-up price of
Men's and Women's Shoes
KsF-Kular 9-..00 'alnea
The season tjt novel t ies in
button and lace toots and Ox
fords and n w modl pumps for
women and button and lare
hoots and Oxford for nttn. All
nw and popular fttvles and
color combination, now
Many Other Bargains Too
Numerous to Mention
& 1.!
Si I;
I m
$2.85
Ilia
Thin
nnmp
ent eolt nnd d
vampo with
calf and hla
ray eloth J
Itesrnlar S-XAO
$085
la pat- 1
II e.lf X
white
ck nnd j S
artrra, 1
vnluea. A
$3.85
Many Lines
Children's
Shoes
Reduced
Many Lines
Nettleton
Shoes
Reduced
Largest Retailer of Shoes West of Chicago
380 Washington Street, Corner West Park
270 Washington Street 270 Morrison Street
km lha authorities refused all but I
cowboys and frontiersmen of experi
ence. .. .
ui,w,tvi,tin1t arrivlnar from ball u
City were taken to the scene of the
kidnaping In an eirort to iraca .
ranchman and his captor. Indications
were that the kidnaper had taken his
victim In the direction of Sheep Moun
tain, a heavily forested nin au mues
from the scene of the abduction.
Empey was forced at the point of a
gun to leave his ranch. 40 miles east
of here, last Saturday night.
ROBBER IN DUEL PAROLED
Governor Acts on Recommendation
of ex-Pol Iceman Making Arrest.
eii.BW rr . Jul v 21. (Special.)
Governor Withycombe Tuesday paroled
Charles Brown, serving a term in the
penitentiary for a robbery committed in
Portland, upon the recommendation or
P..n. nfrlor Teller, who as a police
captain In Portland in 1908 arrested the
man after a pistol auei. nro wn s com
panion in crime, Al Miller, was par
doned by Governor West.
H. R. Lester, committed from Mal
heur County for obtaining money by
false pretenses, also was paroled to
day. Parole Officer Keller said he had
obtained employment for both men.
WAR CARGO IS ANTIQUATED
Guns of 183 and Cheap Shells Are
Found on Annie Iarsen.
ABERDEEN. Wash.. July II. (Spe
cial.) Inspection of the war munitions
aboard the schooner Annie Larsen, now
being unloaded here, show them to be
only of the oldest. The most modern
Springfield rifles the shipment contains
are those of 187i. and many of the
boxes are filled with guns of 1865.
On some of these boxes are the names
of Federal forts, and It Is probable thst
the arms were originally Intended for
use In the Civil War. Others of the
guns show much use and have the
names and initials of men carved on
their stocks, The cartridge also are
of the cheapest kind. Fome of them
are center and some rim-tire. The car-
trldge belts are cheap canvas ones.
In fact, none of the goods is modern
or high-priced. Officials believe that
the cargo Is worth only 125.000 rather
than (300,000. as i-et forth In the ship's
papers.
TACOMA LOSES PHONE SUIT
Sam-erne Court Vpholds Right
Operate Vnder IYanchise.
to
OL.YMPIA, Wash.. July 21. (Special.)
Reversing the Pierce County Su
perior Court, the Supreme Court today
decided that the Sunset Telephone Com
pany of Tacoma. may operate under the
old Home franchise, which the Bell in
terests purchased at court sale, after
the Home Company's Insolvency. The
Tacoma city authorities brought suit
to forfeit the Home franchise on the
ground that It had been revoked by
sale without the city's permission and
by the failure to furnish automatic
service. The Supreme Court holds that
the sale by court order disposes of the
first objection and that the provision
for automatic service Is not a manda
tory one. The original Bell franchise
was about to expire when the com
pany bought in the Home nroDertv and
service now can be continued for a
long term of years under the new
franchise.
GRANGE EXHIBIT EXPECTED
Races at County Fair In September
Regarded as Probable.
GRESHAM. Or.. July 11. (Special.)
From information received by H. A.
I-wis. president of Multnomah Countv
Fair Association, he thinks eight of
the county granges will make competi
tive exhibits at the fair in September.
Sandy wl'.l hold a local fair before
the county fair, and has promised to
send the best of the local display. The
local granges have appointed commit
tees of arrangements and they are at
work preparing exhibits.
The outlook, for races at the fair tils
year Is favorable, and a tentative
agreement has been made with the
racing sssoclatlon. A meeting of the
directors of the fair association will
be held the first Monday In August, at
which tln-e the details for the racing
programme will be settled.
LOSS TO GROWER IS SHOWN
Canada Not to Imitate lYult Mar
keting, Plan Says Commissioner.
NORTH YAKIMA. Wash.. July It.
(Special.) That Canada will not fol
low the methods of marketing fruit
used on this side of the International
boundary, but seek, through Govern
ment action, a more direct route from
the grower to the consumer was the
statement last last night of'r. John
son, cf Ottswa. Canadian fruit com
missioner. Mr. Johnson and Robert I.
Clark, of Vancouver. B. C. chief
fruit Inhpector for that province, are
visiting Northwest fruit districts.
Mr. Johnson thinks the grower'does
not rect-tve a Just proportion of the
ultimate selling price of the fruit. A
car o-Hppl,..i recently traced by Cana
dian officials brought the grower t0.
while tbe dealer who sold the fruit
to the retailer received $000.
In therrvlnca of Ontario thre am. In
cluding klrwWcartcns. nient achoola. hlti
achool. coilciilate limtKuira and continua
tion cla.ara. r.04? public acbnoia all f r
i yearly attnuanr of pupi: beinc 50'-
$20 Value
MEN'S SUITS
$14.75
The profit for high rent is elimi
nated. I he elevator saves
your dollars.
Pants $2.50, $3, $3.50
A few bargains in Summer Suits
bizes 35 and 36 only left over from the
season's business. They walk out at a
loss. $7.50 EACH SUIT. A few classy .
Norfolks in this lot.
JIMMY DUNN
Portland's OrifiinsJ Upstairs CloiJiier 315-16-17 Oregonian Bmlfling
ELEVATOR TO 3d FLOOR
o
n g , -
i J