I
THE SUNDAY OliEGONI&X. PORTLAND, AUGUST 13, 1905.
FI LOSS IS HEAVY
Forests Burning in Valleys of
Rogue River Basin.
COUNTRY IS VERY DRY
Sawmill Man looses His Homo While
He Is Fighting the Flames
From His 31111
property.
GRAFT'S PASS, Or., Aug. 12. (Spe
cial) Property losses by fire In South
ern 6regon have been very heavy the
past ten days, due to the excessive dry
ness of -the soason. The rainfall for
last Winter and this Summer has been
Jess than or several years past, and
the ieast spark at once starts a fire.
In almost every valley of the Rogue
Itlvcr Basin forest fires are raging and
much timber Is being1 destroyed. The
farmers are losing- much fencing- and
several buildings have been burned.
At John Ranzan's 100-acre hopyard
the warehouse -was burned with a large
quantity of sulphur, burlap, spraying
chemicals and a steam power spray
pump. Loss about $1400.
W. I. Doll lost his barn, outbuildings
and considerable fencing.
Harry Smith, while with his men,
was saving his sawmill from a forest
fire, but lost his house and most of its
contents, the house being in flames be
fore it was discovered.
The sawmill of Stevens & Son, near
Jacksonville, was burned, together with
considerable timber.
The Pacific States Telephone -Company
lost some 20 poles by fire of its
overland line on the Louse Creek sec
tion. With no rain likely before Septem-?
bar, the loss by fire In Southern Ore
gon Js quite certain to be very heavy.
The hills and mountains 'are full of
fires, set out by hunters, prospectors,
stockmen, careloss campers and hood
lums, and now fires are springing up
almost daily. Smoke is filling the air
and the mountain peaks can no longer
be soen.
BARTENDER IS UXDER ARREST
Sequel to Destruction of Brewery at
Grant's Pass.
GRANT'S PASS. Or., Aug. 12. (Spe
cial.) Henry Smith was arrested for
arson as a soquence of the destruction
by fire Wednesday night of the brew
ery. Ice works and saloon, owned and
operated by August Fetsch. Smith was
bartender for Fetsch. He was arrested
Thursday night as he was boarding the
nortb-bound train to leave the city.
Several features connected with tho
burning of the establishment, together
with Smith's contradictory statements,
led to his arrest. Fetsch had been in
San Francisco for the past week, seek
ing a partner in his brewery business,
nnd is to arrive home today. Smith's
examination will probably bo held
Monday.
The fire that led to this serious af
fair took place late Wednesday night,
and the buildings of the brewery, ice
works and saloon were, totally de
stroyed. This was the second brewery
for Grant's Pass, and the third Ice
plant. The buildings were erected early
last Spring and the brewery and ice
plant liave been run but little. The
Kaloon was opened, but it met with bit
ter opposition from the residents of
South Grant's Pass, as the establish
ment was located across Rogue River
out of the city -limits.
Fetsch's petition for a license was
beaton by a remonstrance, nnd since
then he has been selling liquor without
a county license. He was preparing to
apply at the September term of court
for a license, but so strong Is the op
position to having- a roadside saloon
outside of the city and police control
that the Grant's Pass .Municipal League
would have been likely to have again
defeated the application..
The loss by the fire was about $10,
000. with $6400 Insurance. As to wheth
er Mr. Fetsch will rebuild is not given
out yet.
Fires Near Mount Jefferson.
ALBAXY. Or., Aug. 12. (Special.)
Fires in the timber east of Detroit, at
the foot of Mount Jefferson, are spread
ing and d61ng great damage. A consid
erable tract of timber is already burned
and the flames are spreading eastward.
A large force of men Is fighting tho fire,
but making little headway against it,
owing to the high wind usually blowing
up the, Santiam canyon.
BAILIXGER XA5IES DELEGATES
All Agree to Be Present at Commer
cial Congress Convention.
SEATTLE, Wash.. Aug. 12. (Special.)
Mayor Ballinger this morning forwarded
to the Chamber of Commerce his list of
the official and lay delegates to the con
ference of cities to be held in Portland
from August 14 to 19, Inclusive, .and also
his list of delegates to the Trans-Missis-,
slppi Commercial Congress, to be held In
the same city from August 16 to 19, In
clusive. Some of the best-known men
of Seattle are named by the Mayor and
his selection has proven pleasing to the
officers of the Chamber.
The names of those selected follow:
To the conference of cities: Official
E. F. Blaine, Irving T. Cole. H. W. Scott.
A. L. Walters and L. B. Youngs.
Lay delegates Ira Bronson, Joslah Col
lins, J. E. Crichton. Judge A. W. Frater.
John P. Hartman. J. B. Loughary. Ellis
Morrison. John Powell, George B. Klt
tlnger, William Pigott, John W. Roberts,
John Rlplinger, Joseph Shippen. C. J.
Smith and A. S.-Kerry.
To the 16th annual session of the Trans
MississlppI Commercial Congress: Offi
cialA. S. Korry. Ira Bronson, William
Pigott, J. D. Farrell and Judge Thomas
Burke.
Lay delegates M. F. Backus, James
Goldsmith. N. H. Latimer, J. W. Cllse. E.
F. Blaine, John P. Hartman. Joslah Col
lins, John Powell. John W. Roberta. Me
rits Thomsen. Joseph Shippen. F. W.
Baker, C. J. Smith, John Schram and H.
C. Henry.
The Mayor selected his list of names
only after a consultation with each one
of the delogates. and all those he has
chosen to represent Seattle have agreed
to be in attendance at the various ses
sions. PROMOTE VANCOUVER OFFICER
Hifle Team Xamed to Represent
Washington at Seagirt.
'MPIA. Wash., Aug. 12. (Special.)
r issuea d.v tne Adjutant-General
-mounces the promotion of First
Int Burton E. Bowen. of Com-
Vancouver, to be Captain. Cap-
i;n is granted a six-months leave
i to attend tho Infantry and
thool at Fort Leavenworth.
of Second Lieutenant R.
E. Detrick to he First Lieutenant of the
same company Is also announced.
The same order gives the make-up of
the rifle team which will compete at the
National rifle match at Seagirt. K. J.,
this month. Several changes in the team
have been made since the selection was
first made. ,The team is composed as"
follows: '
Brigadier-General James A. Brain, team
captain; Major C. T. Dulln. team coach.
North Yakima; Captain Matt H. Gormley.
team Fpotter. Seattle; Captain J. Howard
Darlington, Seattle; Capaln Frank M. Beech
ert. T a co ma; Captain John M. Curry. Second
Lieutenant O. D. Huztablea. Regimental
Color Sergeant George Van BuMtlrk. Flrat
Sergeant W. Jt. Howe, Company E: Sergeant
A. C Pierce. Company E; Sergeant P. R
Rlchardfon, Company E; Sergeant C. J. Iver
son. Company E; Corporal M. R. Humphrey,
Company E; Private W. A- Berg. Company
E, North Yakima; Sergeant J. B. Potter.
Company M. Belllngbam; Corporal E. L. Col
burn. Company K. Everett; Corporal E. M.
Hatton. Company D, Seattle; Musician Fred
Fenton, Company B Seattle.
FIRE WARDEN" IS WIDE AWAKE
Arrests Farmers for Burning Slash
ing Without a License.
OREGON CITY. Or.. Aug. 12. Spe
cial.) F. Hendricks, deputy fire warden,
last night discovered J- R. Hunt. A. M.
Lull and D. O. Leavens, of Willamette
burning slashing for which a permit had
not been procured of the County Clerk.
The men appeared before Acting Deputy
District Attorney ITRcn this morning and
pleaded ignorance of tho amended law
with the proi-islons of which the people
of this county are not acquainted. Agree
ing to immediately obtain the required
permit, tho men were not prosecuted.
Mr. Hendricks Is patrollng the entire
county and posting notices warning set
tlers against the miscellaneous starting
of fires. In order to get ardund the ob
jectionable feature of thellaw which re
quires a permit to be obtained ten days
prior to the time the fire is to be started,
the same to be burned only three days, a
groat many farmers are renewing their
applications for pormlts every three days,
thus giving .them practically indefinite
time in which to wait for favorable
weather. Otherwise, the weather during
the three days covered in the original
application on which the porznit is
granted being unfavorable, the settler
must experience a further delay of at
least the required ten days that inter
vene between the Issuance of the permit
and the starting of the fire authorized
thereby.
GOBBAN IS NOT GUILTY
MONTANA JURY DECIDES AFTER
THREE HOURS' DELIBERATION.
N'lue Other Chariest Agalnat Man
Cleared of Subornation of Per
jury In Land Case.
HELENA, Mont, Aug. 12. After delib
erating aboiit three hours, the Jury In
the case of the United Statog against R.
M. Cobban, charged with subornation of
perjury in the United States Court, this
afternoon returned a verdict of not guilty
and Judge Hunt discharged the case
against him.
There are still nine other charges
against Cobban, and Special United States
Attorney Maynard told the court he was
roady at once to begin the trial. Judge
Hunt will consider the mattor Monday or
Tuesday.
TAXES ARE NOT COLLECTIBLE
Attorney-General Decides on Rail
road Lands In Clark.
OLYMPIA, Wash., Aug. 12. (Special.)
The Attorney-General will hold that the
.taxes assessed by Clark County against
railroad lands, on which the Government
has accepted homestead entries and given
the railroads lieu lands, are not collect
ible. A large part of Clark County was in
the. original railroad grant, but home
stead entries were received under the
Wilson act from settlers thereon. Before
the passage of the act, taxes were assessed
by the county against the railroad and
tho latter allowed them to go delinquent.
Now that the settlers are rapidly acquir
ing title to the lands in question, the
county desired to hold the land a-allable
for the delinquent taxes.
POWDER EXPLODES IX FACE
Idaho" Man Loses Eye and May
Lose Life.
BOISE, Idaho, Aug. 12. (Special.)
Percy White, of Silver, has been terribly
and perhaps fatally, injured by an ex
plosion of dynamite at the ranch of Louis
BermsconI, in Owyhee Count. The dy
namite was in the Icehouse. The structure
took fire from sparks from the blacksmith-shop.
White rushed to the door, and as he
opened it the powder exploded. His face
was terribly cut and one eye destroyed,
while he was injured about the body.
BermsconI was also badly hurt by flying
boards.
Fined for Illegal Liquor-Selling.
OREGON CITY, Or., Aug. 12. (Spe
cial.) Mr. and Mrs. A, Corrigan and Mr.
Cunningham, proprietors of a saloon at
Estacada, were found guilty yesterday of
selling liquor without a municipal license
and wore fined ?30 each. Cunningham
paid his fine, but Corrigan and wife will
appeal. The defendants contended that
under the provisions of a license ob
tained from the County Court last April
they were regularly licensed to sell
liquors, but the Estacada City charter
provides that the state law shall not ap
ply in the licensing of saloons and the
traffic in liquor. This provision of tho
charter became operative January 31, and
the city's attorneys held that the license
granted by Clackamas County was void.
Invited Her to Warmer Region.
OREGON CITY. Or.. Aug. 12. (Spe
cial.) Because her husband invited her
to visit regions more tropical than Ore
gon, slandered her and assaulted her with
a knife, besides otherwise maltreating
her. Nettle C. Rich today filed suit
against Clark A. Rich, to whom she was
married in Multnomah County In October.
1900. The wife asks to resume her
maiden name. Nettle Chapman. T. N.
McKnight Is plaintiff in another proceed
ing against Issebelle McKnight, whom ho
married In Ohio In 1879, and charges with
desertion in 1902.
Idaho Delegates Appointed.
LEWISTON, Idaho. Aug. 12. (Special.)
President Morris announced as his ap
pointees to the Trans-Misslsslppl Com
mercial Congress, John P. Vollmer and
R. Schleicher, who will be in attendance
on that date. He also announced as ap
pointees to the National Irrigation Con
gress, James E. Babb and J. Howard
Howe, who will be in attendance.
Bridge Over Gray's River.
ASTORIA. Or., Aug. 12.-(SpecIal.)-The
Board of Commissioners of Wahkiakum
County. Washington, at its recent meet
ing awarded a contract to Ferguson &
Houston of this city for tho construction
of a hridge across Gray's River, near
the Bergman place. The cdst of the
structure will be about $3000.
QUARTZ VERY RICH
Strike Made on the Route of
the Alaska Central.
LEDGE IS TWO FEET WIDE
Assays of Samples Found Thirty
Miles From Seward Run Be
tween $2000 and $5000
to the Ton.
SEATTLE. Wash., Aug. 12. (Special.)
Steamer Santa Ana. of the Northwestern
Steamship Company, brings news from
Seward of a very rich strike of quartz
along the line of the Alaska Central Rail
road. 30 miles north of Seward, on Trail
Lake. The ledge 1 two feet wide. A
sample knocked off from the surfaco and
assayed at Seward showed between $2000
and XO -per ton.
It is not expected that the whole ledge
will prove so rich, but large quantities
of the ore brought into Seward the day
the Santa Ana sailed were as fine look
ing samples as have ever been produced
in Alaska, so the officors of the Santa
Ana state.
The rails on the Alaska Contral Rail
way are now extended to the Trail Creek
Lakes, and the grading is almost ready
for the rails as far as Moo?e Point. 45
miles from Seward. Three dally train
are In operation on the Alaska -Central
principally engaged In hauling rails, ties
and other equipment to the front.
The Valencia has arrived from San
Francisco with 475 men and a cargo or
material for the Alaska Central, and
-thore were then 1GW men employed by
the railway company.
The Alaska Central headquarters build
ing, costing $59,000. was completed to th
top of the first story. The foundation i
of concrete, the middle part Is of brlcV
three stories high, and the wings, oacb
of two stories, are of wood nnd concrete
Clearing had begun for the new Bask
of Seward building, at the oornor o
Fourth avonue and Adams stnjot. It Ik
to be a concrete building'. 3Gx&, two
stories high.
A Chamber" of Commerce has been or
ganized by the citizens of Seward, with
F. G. Hale as president and Frank L
Ballalne as secretary.
The Seward School Board has decldod
to employ two teachers this Winter and
provide facilities for 300 pupils.
STOR3IY IilFJE OP THE BURKES
Husband From Hospital and "Wife
From Jail Are at the Fair.
SEATTLE, Aug. 12. (Special. Michael
and Minnie Burke are In Portland visit
ing the Lewis and Clark Fair. Later they
will go to an Oregon ranch owned by
Burke.
This Is the end of a scries of sensations,
beginning with Burke's being carried, to
the Emergency Hospital, wittering from
strychnine poiwmlng, his cry that his
wife had attempted to murder him and
the woman's arrest on the charge. But
when Burke recovered from the effect of
the poison he refused to prowcute hU
wife and when the police were unable to
hold her he met the woman at the door
of the County Jail and begged her to re
turn to him. She did so.
Burke alleged after the poisoning episode
that his wife enjoyed i faster life than
he and she bad been running wild in Ta
coma. He came to Seattle to effect a re
conciliation and said hie wife handed
him a glass of water containing tho pol- I
son. aim iJurke telephoned for a doctor,
and Burke ordered the police. Both re
sponded and' the husband was carried to
the hospital while the wife went to Jail.
Then as suddenly as It begun the storm
blew over and the couple returned to
Oregon.
JUMPS INTO HEFUSE BURNER
Seattle Woman Commits Horrible
Suicide at Anacortes.
ANAC0RTE3. Wash., Aug. 12. Anna
Hood, aged 30, unmarried,, a resident
of Soattle, who had been visiting Mrs. W.
J. Leadbetter since early in July, com
mitted suicide at a late hour last night
by leaping into the refuse-burner of the
Baty Shingle Company's mill. The night
watchman noticed that the hole at the
elevator dump was darkened for a mo
ment, and soon afterwards heard tho
scream of someone in the burner. A
hasty examination revealed the dead body
of a woman being slowly cremated In the
red-hot furnace.
The burner was cooled by turning on
water, and the charred body was removed
and Identified by Mr. Leadbetter. Miss
Hood had been missing from the house
since S:30.' She had been 111 for several
weeks. No cause Is known for the act.
To reach tho elevator hole to tho burner
the woman either climbed a 20-foot ladder
or passed out through the mill over the
elevator frame.
aiACHIXERX FOR ST. HELENS
European Capital Secured to Exploit
Promising Property.
CHEHALIS. Wash., Aug. 12. (Spe
cial.) R. C. Lange, who recently re
turned from Europe, where he disposed
of a large block of stock for the St.
Helens Mining- Company, went to Den
ver Wednesday to purchase mining; ma
chinery for the St. Helens mines. The
machinery will be thoroughly modern
in all details, and will be Installed Just
as soon as it arrives.
The holdings of the company are con
sidered valuable, and workings on a
much larger scale than heretofore will
be begun at once. Two shifts will be
maintained, and water power in plenty
can be obtained close to the mlnos.
Surface work has shown a strong vein
Ttfhlrh viltllYo It if r-Vl ..nt-inj... ... 1.. I 1
..... - . e" aiuc3 III All
the adits and shallow shafts sunk.
Some of these copper samples run from
12 to 20 per cent in the red metal and
carry some gold.
The vein has been established as a
permanent fissure and will no doubt be
found with high-grade ore at greater
depth. Tunneling will begin at once
to get at the ore at gTeat depth. '
HARVESTING FLAX IN LEWIS
Fiber Company's New Plant Is Buy
ing the Product.
CHEHALIS. Wash., Aug. 12. (Special.)
Many loads of flax are coming into the
American Flax Fiber Company's new
plant recently erected here, and there Is
considerable of the product yet to be re
ceived. Flax is a new crop for this sec
tion, this being the first crop raised
here, and the farmers have worked under
considerable difficulty in the handling of
the crop, but the yield In general Is
fairly heavy and of good quality. Farmers
have had iome trouble in cutting the
crop, owing to the fact that an ordinary
binder will not. cut ..the flax without
changing the knives, when the yield Is
heavy.
Many of the growers are adopting the
plan of pulling the flax and it is worth
$1 more per ton when It is pulled, as the
fiber la then longer. It Is impossible to
tell what the product Is worth per ton be
fore it is threshed, but the farmer re
ceives $11 per ton when he sells the fiber
and seed together.
Clark County Bridge Contracts.
VANCOUVER, Wash., Aug. 12. (Spe
cialsBids were opened yesterday by the
County Commissioners and contracts for
bridges awarded as follows:
Gerow bridge, near La Center, to II. L.
r&rce! for S3S5.
B razee bridge, near La Center, to A. F.
Davis Tor S?0.
lielsen bridge, across Lewis River, was
let In tw contracts, one to L. G. Allen to
put in the piers and stonework at $7.50 per
yard for the stone ,and SS.73 per yard for
the concrete. The bridge proper was given
to T. D. Owens.
Schumacker bridge, on the Baatelle road,
to It. II. Ilelsen for $125.
Salmoa Crek bridge, to two parties, the
stonework for $7.30 per yard to A. T. Van
Camp and the bridge proper to T. D. Owen
for J2S.
But one bid was offered to construct the
Dele bridge acrots the Lewis River and as
It was considered the estimate was too high.
It was rejected.
Chchnlis Gives Telephone Franchise.
CHEHALIS. Wash.. Aug. 12. (Special.)
At the regular meeting of the City
Council last Monday evening a communi
cation was read from the Sunsot Tele
phone &, Tolegraph Company submitting
the proposal following:
To provide for main line service at
$2.20 per month, business party service
at Jl.W per month, residence party line
service at 51.25 per month. Vwo main lines
free for the use of the city, and to In
stall an all-night service If so requested.
This Is the outcome of the ultimatum is
sued to the company by the City Council
some time ago to the effect that they
must reduce the cost of tolephone serv
ice In the city or remove their poles from
the streets. The proposal submitted Is
in the nature of a compromise. The terms
were accepted by the city and a franchise
will be granted.
"Wanted to Save the King.
SEATTLE. Wash. Aug. 1L (Special.)
Mrs. Orrin D. Morse is particular about
the use of her Jewelry ana to enforce her
claims to a personal use of the gems she
ap;ealed to the Superior Court for
a restraining order, preventing her hus
band from pawning more of them. Ac
cording to Mrs. Morse version, the hus
band has an unquenchable thirst that
financially embarrassed his parents when
they tried to quench it and resulted In
the loss of most of the wife's Jewelry.
Mrs. Morse was willing to stand for
pretty nearly everything- until her
mother's wedding ring was pawned. Then
she appealed for a restraining order and
a divorce. She got the Injunction.
Suit to Cancel Heed.
SALEM, Or.. Aug. 12. (Special.) W. H.
Patton. of Portland, has brought suit
against T. B. Kay and Receiver Claud
Gatch. of the Gilbert Bros.' Bank, to
secure cancellation of a deed from Gatoh
to Kay. It Is alleged that the land be
longed to C. A. Whale, but the record
title stood In the name of A. T. Gilbert
and Gatch sold It as Gilbert's property.
Patton holds a deed from Whale and
wants the land or J3CC0.
Accuses Partner of Fraud.
LOS ANGELES. Cal.. Aug. 12. George
Zobcleln. president nnd treasurer of the
Malar &. Zobelcln Brewing Company, tho
largest concern of the kind In Southern
California, has applied to the courts for
a receiver, and In connection with the
action charges Charles Joseph Mater, his
late partner, with fraud. He asks that
an accounting be obtained, tho copart
nership dissolved and the property sold.
Indians Get Fighting Drunk.
ABERDEEN. Wash.. Aug. 12. (Special.)
Roport from the Quinault Indian
Agency 'are that the Indians are receiving
liquor from some source contrary to law.
A few days ago a number of the tribe be
came gloriously drunk and fought each
other desperately. Several were severely
Injured before white men could put an
end to the trouble. The affair is to be
reported to the proper authorities.
Iake County Saved Money.
LAKBV1EW, Or.. Aug. 12. (Special.)
News of the decision of the Supreme
Court in the matter of the constitutional
ity of the migratory tax law. passed at
the last Legislature, was recolvcd In
Lake County with much approval. Lake
County, through disregard of the new
law, created no expense on account of It
in the matter of controlling the range
and collecting the tax as provided for.
"Will Employ n Big Force.
HOQUIAM. Wash.. Aug. 12. (Special.)
The big plant of tho Panel Box Folding
Company, closed for two weeks on ac
count of a serious break In the machin
ery, will be started Monday. The plant
has been greatly added to and Improved,
the outlay being about $30,000. When fully
ready, SO) hands are to be employed.
Drowns AVhile In a Fit.
BOISE, Idaho. Aug. 12. (SpecIal.)-OI-lle
Weber, the lS-year-old son of Frank
Weber, was drowned today near BcIIevue.
He was subject to epileptic fits and was
seized with one while fishing. The boy
fell into water about one foot deep and
drowned before he could recover control
of himself.
House at Svensen Burned.
ASTORIA. Or., Aug. 12. (Special.)
Word was received today that the resi
dence of Mrs. A. B. Hill, near Svensen.
was destroyed by fire on Thursday. The
loss is about $2000 with $300 insurance.
Tho fire is supposed to have originated
from a defective flue.
Insane Soldier Sent to Asylum.
VANCOUVER. Wash, Aug. 12. (Spe
cial.) Private Myer Landerman. of Com
pany C. Third Infantry, has been sent to
the Government Hospital for the Insane,
at Washington, D. C.
NORTHWEST DEAD.
Mrs. Maria -Louise Vonderahe.
OREGON CITY. Or.. Aug. 12. (Spe
cial.) Maria Louise, aged 79 years, wife
of Christopher Frederick Vonderahe, 4ied
from the effects of a stroke of paralysis
at the family homo near Carua; last
night. She was born in Germany, Oc
tober 16. 1S31. and came to Oregon in
18t7. She is survived by six children,
four sons and two daughters, as follows:
C W. Vonderahe nnd E. Henry Von
derahe. of Oregon City: C. L. Vonderahe,
Oak Grove, and F. C. Vonderahe, Carus;
Mrs. William Mueller. Highland, and Mrs.
Mary McCarthy. Carus.
George H. Bland.
LEBANON, Or.. Aug! 12. (Special.)
George Harter Bland, who crossed the
plains in 1S51 with his parents, died
here August 7, nged 66 years. His sur
viving children are: Mrs. John Miller,
of The Dalles: Mrs. M. NeeJham and
Mrs. L. Arnold, of Lebanon.
Christopher Honser.
PENDLETON, Or., Aug. 12.-(Special.)-Christopac
Houscr is dead at his home In
Pilot Rock, aged S3. He was a native of
Illinois, and came to Oregon In 1SSL He
left a family of seven children.
SALUTATION!
Standing upon the threshold of a new season, we extend a greeting
to our friends for the many kind words of appreciation spoken of us, and
for the liberal patronage accorded us, we are truly grateful. We trust
that each succeeding season will find this store more deeply rooted in the
estimation of the people. We now take great pleasure in announcing
the arrival of our v
FALL AND WINTER
We have the best Clothes, Hats and Toggery for Men, Boys and
Children that the country produces.
We aim to have the best, for just the ordinary sort is not good
enough for this store or its patrons.
Come to see the good things we've prepared for you and learn how
very reasonable our prices are.
Buy at your convenience, but allow us to drop the hint that early
choosers always have an advantage.
SAM'L ROSENBLATT & CO.
CORNER THIRD AND MORRISON STREETS
BELAY IfJ MALHEUR
Why the Reclamation Project
Does Mot Go Ahead.
ROAD COMPANY TO BLAME
But This Correspondent Also Criti
cises the Government The Cost,
and How the land-0vn-cra
Must Pay It.
BURNS. Or.. Augr. U.-(To the Editor.)
In recont issues 'of the Oregonian there
appeared communications and editorials
concerning the attitude of the Willamette
Valley &. Cascade Wagon Road Company
towards the proposed reclamation project
In Malheur County. The views of the
Reclamation Service are supposed to have
emanated from Washington, whllo the
position of the road company has been
ably. If adroitly, presented by C. E. S.
Wood, of Portland, the representative
and attorney for the company In thl3
state.
In view of the great Importance of this
matter to the people of Oregon, I deem
It proper to throw what light 1 can upon
this vexed question (and believe that I
am fairly well advised In the premises).
In order that the general public may form
acorrect conception of the whole busi
ness and be enabled Intelligently to pass
judgment upon the issues Involved.
The Government's position in the mat
ter is easily explained:"- After a most
thorough examination by the reclamation
engineers of every phase of tho project
In question, it was found practicable to
Impound tho waters of the Malheur Riv
er In a reservoir to be constructed In
what Is known as the Harper Basin, and
by gravity canals leading therefrom, to
place water upon about Hft.GOO acres of
land. The cost of this work was esti
mated to be about H0 per ncre by the
engineers appointed for that purpose,
after full and complete data had been
obtained. It Is true that at the Inception
of the undertaking the engineers who
went over the ground and figured on the
probable cost concluded that about $30
per acre would be sufficient to cover
everything except the purchase of exist
ing vested rights. The people generally
relied upon the correctness of this esti
mate: and the Malheur Water Users' As
sociation was organized and Incorporated
upon that basis, more than a year ago.
with the consent and approval of the
Reclamation Service. So when the board
of engineers, appointed last Spring- to pass
upon the total expenditure necessary for
the project, raised the estimate some $10
per acre, it came as a very unpleasant
surprise to those owning lands under the
project, and widespread dissatisfaction
prevailed among- all concerned. To say
the least, it was a very unfortunate af
fair, and well-nigh had the effect of
causing a complete abandonment of the
undertaking by the withdrawal of all
those who had heretofore agreed to ac
cept the Government's terms. The engi
neers partially explained the additional
cost as arising from the insertion of
a drainage feature In the proposed
reclamation, which had not theretofore
been Included in the estimates, and which
is said td be absolutely necessary for the
reclamation of level arid lands.
It Is generally conceded that the engi
neers of the Reclamation Service are
able men, well qualified for the work as
signed them. We must, therefore, accept
their findings with unquestioning faith,
as we know that they are In dead earnest
and more than anxious to have active
operations' begin on that project as soon
as possible When they tell us that the
minimum cost for which the work can
be accomplished Is $10 per acre, we should
acquiesce. Of course, to roost people this
seems high, but when we consider that
the Malheur project possesses all the con
ditions favorable to such an enterprise.
It is reasonable to conclude that it is
not excessive, and that the lands Included
therein can easily bear that burden;
especially as the Government agrees to
give free maintenance for ten years.
Now, It must be remembered that the
estimated cost of construction was based
upon the assumption that the whole of
the lCO.OOD acres to be reclaimed would be
signed up. Were anything- less to be
given In, the cost would have to be In
creased proportionately, so that if any
conslderable area were withheld, the
charge would be prohibitive, and the en
terprise would have to be abandoned.
From this it will be seen that the re
quirement of the Reclamation Service,
that practically all the land that can be
watered by the system must be signed
up. unconditionally. Is not unreasonable;
and that if one were allowed the privi
lege of withdrawing-, It would be unfair
to the rest. The contention of the road
company that' it shall be granted this
privilege If It means anything means
that It takes thl3 course for the purpose
of blocking the project. No other Infer
ence can be drawn therefrom.
The road company, according to Mr.
Wood, Is willing- to sign up about 20,
000 acres, withholding- something like
5000 acres. But If that company were
permitted to withhold one-fifth of. its
holdings, a like concession would have
to be made to other proprietors. And
then what? Nothing! Everyone knows
that this company would be the great
est beneficiary under the project, as
the greater part of its land cannot
otherwise be Irrigated, and would be
of little value. Why It should be so
stiff-necked is a mystery. The aver
age price Its lands would bring would
indeed be handsome. To be sure, some
of its lands are of an inferior quality,
but reclamation projects are not in
augurated where all the lands are
first-class.
It would be useless to deny that the
feelings of the people In general liv
ing along and in the vicinity of the
road grant are anything but friendly
to the company." No other factor has
been so potent In retarding the devel
opment of Southeastern Oregon as has
the existence of several road land
grants passing through its choicest
valleys and whose owners seem to
have no other purpose In refusing to
dispose of tho same save the acquisi
tion of tho unearned increment. The
other fellow must Improve and develop
while the road, land proprietors reap
the benefit of his labors by the grad
ual enhancement of values.
Should the W. V. & C M. R. Co. stand
in the way of this irrigation project
and cause Its abandonment, tho feel
ing against It will become intensified,
and It will be said that "the sum of
Its Iniquity is complete." The present
owners, however, are not responsible
for the vicious legislation that gave
birth to this grant; but ought they not
to remember the questionable way in
which this land was taken from the
people, without valid consideration,
and to atone for tne sins of the past
by taking some little Interest in the
welfaro of the people who have hereto
fore been the sufferers from its exist
ence? It certainly does not look as if
it would be at all comfortable to be an
owner in an Institution which the peo
ple generally consider a blighting curse
upon the land. Let us hopo that those
who control the destinies of that in
stitution may experience a change of
heart and be induced to recede from
the stand taken in this matter,, and
thereby avert a veritable disaster from
the people of Malheur County and a
severe blow to the people of the entire
state.
I have no wish to In any way reflect
upon the attitude of Mr. Wood In this
matter. He has always been consid
ered a broadmlnded man and one who
loves his fellow-men. In this affair he
is simply doing the best he knows how
for his clients, and, presumably, fol
lowing their instructions. But I do
believe that he has failed to grasp the
true scope and import of irrigation af
fairs In Malheur County. He has not
had sufficient time or opportunity to
make himself thoroughly conversant
with all the details of the proposed
Government project, and thenvwhat he
has learned has largely come through
prejudiced sources from parties cov
ertly hostile or extremely visionary.
In conclusion. I will say that the
methods of the Reclamation Service
are by no means free from censure. It
has a splendid corps of men attending
to its affairs in Oregon; but. as else
where, they are greatly handicapped
by the curse of red-tapelsm. Every
matter, however trivial, has to pass
through a dozen channels, and as a
rule months elapsa before final action
I3 taken by the high priest who pre
sides over the Interior Department,
who has never seen an Irrigation
project In his Jife. The President, a
short time since, issued a sensible and
forcible edict against the red-tape evil.
Had he turned his searchlight upon the
above-named department, he would
have discovered such a network of that
commodity as would cause the eyes of
a Russian bureaucrat to turn green
with envy. This dilatory machine has
brought reproach upon the Reclama
tion Service. Men point to the fact
that a private Irrigation enterprise Is
completed in the time it takes a Gov
ernment project to arrange the pre
liminaries. These are the two causes that hold
back active work on the Malheur Irri
gation project: The selfishness of the
road company and the red-tape meth
ods of the Reclamation Service. Let
us hope that a change for the better
will soon take place.
M. FITZGERALD.
Quarantine in Idaho.
BOISE, aho. Aug. 12. Governor Good
ing has Issued a quarantine proclama
tion against horses, cattle and sheep from
the states of Utah. Nevada, Montana.
Wyoming and Oregon. The Governor says
In his proclamation that the state veter
inary surgeon has Informed him of the
existence of mange and scabbles among
the livestock of those states, and that on
this account animals being driven or com
ing Into the state in any manner should
be subject to an inspection by either
STOCKS
a Federal or state Inspector. The Gov
ernor allows of a limit of two miles In
side the state boundary for all livestock,
except when they have been subjected
to the dipping process, which excludes
them from the quarantine order. Horses
and cattle under harness or yoke are
also excepted.
Boj's Curiosity Saves Lives.
REDLANDS. Cal.. Aug. 12. A Mexican
boy's curiosity saved 20 or 30 persons
from being poisoned by Manual Mendez
last night. - Mendez secured a dozen wat
ermelons and some cans of poisoned
wheat. He poured the wheat into the
melons and allowed the poison to be tully
absorbed. Then he removed the wheat
and Invited numerous friends to a wat
ermelon feast. The boy had seen Mendez
buy the poisoned wheat and thought the
melons were to be used for killing gophers.
When the dance was ended and Mendcs
distributed slices to his guests, be gava
warning. The guests examined the fruit,
and aftr beating their host, lodged him
In jail on a charge of attempt of mur
der. '
Hoadworkera Delegates Tamcd.
SALEM, Or.. Aug. 12. (Special.) Gov
ernor Chamberlain has appointed the
following delegates to the annual con
vention of the National Association of
Road Workers, to be hold in Port Huron.
Mich., August 23-31:
County Judges C. H. Stewart, of Linn;
John H. Scott, of Marlon: T. F. Ryan,
of Clackamas; George W. Dunn, of Jack
son, and Henry J. Bean, of Umatilla.
South Dakota' Huge "Wheat Crop.
CHICAGO, Aug. 12. F. A. Miller, of
tho Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Rail
road, has received dispatches from cor
respondents in all parts of South Dakota
telling of enormous crops. The crops
harvested will be the largest in the his
tory of the state. The acreage of wheat
was Increased by about 15 per cent and
the average yield Is fully 50 per cent more
than last year, and probably 15 per cent
greater than the average of the past
seven yo&rs.
Officer Rogers Loses His Star.
Officer W. W. Rogers was relieved
from the police department yesterday
by orders of Chief of Police Gritz
macher, and when he reported for duty
to Captain Bailey last night his star
and tools were taken from him. Rogers
has been patrolling the district In
Goose Hollow. He Is charged with neg
lect of duty.
San Francisco, Auk. 12. Arrived Steamer
Newburjc. from Cray's Harbor: steamer St
Taul. from Ejjrtland; schooner Llrrle Vance,
from Gray's Harbor; V. S. S. Solace, from
Manila; barkentlne Archer, from Honolulu
Sailed Steamer M. F. Plant, for Cooa Ba
steamer Xevadan. for Seattle: bark R. I
nitbt. for Honolulu; steamer San Juan. tnr
Ancon.
No woman can look beautiful without
1 good health. A woman's good health
I depends on those organs peculiarly femi
nine, and which so often become disor
dered, causing misery and dragglng-down
, pain. Nature's laws are perfect, health
i endures if you obey them, but disease
' follows disobedience. Tho distressing
' complaints of women are often brought
' about by catching cold at a critical
j period, breathing foul Indoors' air and
long hours of work and nervous tension.
Go straight to Nature for the cure to
! the forest. Dr. Pierce's Favorite Pre
t scrlptlon 13 JToturt's cure for the dls-
tresslng complaints of women. Prof,
i King, M. D., in his American Dlspenaa
1 tory, says of Black Cohosh or Black
i Snake-root "our early American In-
dlans set a high value on this root In
! diseases of women. It is surpassed by
j no other drug, in congeMive conditicms
; of the parts where thert are dragging
I pains and tenderness."
i Lady's Slipper root Is a "nerve stimulant
and tonic, Improving both circulation and
I nutrition oi ine nerve centers lavonng
- sleep and cheerful condition of the mind;
! of service in mental depression, nervous
! headache, Irregularities of women with
! desDondencv.', Prof. Kina. Besides the
above ingredients there are Golden Seal,
Unicorn and Blue Cohosh roots in Dr.
Pierce's Favorite Prescription.
Dr. Pierce's Common Sense Medical
Adviser will be sent free, paper-bound, for
21 one-cent stamps, or cloth-bound for 31
stamps. Over 1000 pages and Illustrated.
Address Dr. IL V. Pierce, Buffalo, N. Y.
Dr. Pierce's Pleasant Pellets should b
used, with "Favorite Prescription " whsn
cvar a laxative is required.