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About The Sunday Oregonian. (Portland, Ore.) 1881-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 18, 1914)
OREGON'S BIG NEED IS MORE SETTLERS Thousands of Acres of Vacant T Land in State Are Avail able for Settlement. . LOWER PRICES KEYNOTE Accurate Data Compiled by Accred lied Agencies to Safeguard Inter ests of Xewcomers Colonists ; : Movement to Be Big. - .. BT CHARLES W. MYERS. Oregon's great need today Is the de velopment and reclamation of its thou Bands upon thousands of acres of vacant lands, but the greatest need is a popu latlon of sufficient volume to settle upon them and convert them into pro ductive farming- properties. The agri cultural possibilities of Oregon are al most unlimited. Its fabulous wealth of natural resources is only partially developed. Jiow to attract people to these lands and to see that they are established properly in order to become successful producers are important questions. Quality of soil, to what uses it Is best adapted, transportation facilities, mar kets and land values are problems to be . met. These questions have con fronted the various commercial organi zations in the state and while much liia been accomplished by these bodies, there still remains much to be done towards aiding the settler, the home steader, the newcomer. Important agencies In the land de velopment campaign are the Oregon Immigration Commission and the Fort laiia Commercial Club. During the past year the Immigration Commission made a. thorough survey of the state's nat ural resources for the purpose of seg regating and classifying the various kinds of lands. Complete data is now available for the prospective eettler. The Portland Commercial Club, In supplementing the work of the Immi gration Commission, has acquired accu rate information in regard to farming opportunities in the various sections of the. state and is able to give valuable assistance to the prospective settler and land purchaser. It is therefore now possible for the newcomer to se--lect the kind of land he may desire, at prices within his means. And above all, safeguarding the Interests of the new comer and helping him to become a satisfied and successful citizen of Ore gon is the chief aim of these agencies. In regard to the prevailing land prices and the speculative features of land ownership, the question was dis cussed by Colonel C. E. S. Wood before the Portland Realty Board last Friday, lie pointed out that two essential things must be accomplished before Oregon and Portland would be able to reach their proper development that of im proving the river channel to the sea and' providing cheap lands for the homeseekers and the flood of immi gration that will come to the state fol lowing the opening of the 'Panama Canal. "What Oregon needs is more people to work In mother earth; we need more actual producers," said Colonel Wood. "The land speculator Is the chief enemy of the state's progress. We have no right to hold land at prohibitive prices when there are thousands of men who are eager to use and develop the land If" rt can be acquired at attractive prices. It Is up to you realty men to lind some way to give the immigrants, who are preparing to come to Oregon, cheap lands. Unless you do that you will be building a barrier against a healthy, constructive population." "JLow and reasonable land prices will rre a great boon to Oregon," declared A.-,. Wunderlich. of the immigration department of the Northern Pacific, who was in Portland during the week. "Ijnnd that there is plenty of good land available and some of It here in the Willamette Valley is held at very rea sonable prices, considering the advan tages of the transportation systems, markets and the growing population. fThe outlook for the Spring and Binmer movement of homeseekers to Ocpgon and Washington is very good, bit the bulk of the inquiries and the travel of permanent settlers will be to. wjrd the cheap lands in non-irrigated aittl irrigated districts where practical plans have been worked out permitting cay terms of purchase. I have been colonizing people for several years, befth on my own account and for cor porations, and the only way to make a sut-cess of many sections is to arrange for a large number of people to go to gether and make a community of their otfn. The single venturer often be cotvies discouraged and pulls out. The coj-operatlve idea in colonization proj ects is the most successful way." Jhat the movement of settlers, home seekers and farmers from other states ami Canada will be much greater this your than prevailed the past two years Is indicated by the large number of In- - S3 -- . A : ; : : I $5 in i Ka HllJlK Of r.IIJIl Iv. JEFFERY, The handsome home of Oliver K. Jeffery, recently built by the Oregon Home Builders, is located at Mult nomah and Thirty-third streets. In Laurelhurst. It is one of the finest modern homes in the city. The Interi or Is one of unusual beauty. The rooms are large and the Interior finish extremely artistic. - The floors In the living rooms are of quarter-sawed oak. In the kitchen the range is hooded, the walls being tiled A built-in refrigerator Is a feature, ice and vegetable supplies being put In from the outside The basement contains the heating plant and a laundry plant. . . -- WITHIN AREA Morgan and Piatt Structures Recently ITHIN an area of six blocks fac ing Broadway and Washington, Stark and Tenth streets. In the downtown district, new buildings ju&t completed and under construction rep resent a total cost of approximately $2,600,000. Less than a year ago there was not a single structure of the modem, fireproof type in this small area. The sites that have been improved contained old frame buildings, except a part of the Fechheimer half block, wnicn stood a two-story brick building. The only building of im portance that has been razed to make way for the progress of the district was the old Central Library structure. at Stark, Park and Broadway a handsome stone building that for many years was one of the attractive land marks of the city. Two fine structures completed a few months ago are the Morgan and Piatt buildings. The Morgan building oc cupies the Fechheimer half block on quirles Teceived by Portland realty dealers. Even now prospective land buyers are arriving in Portland, many coming from Alberta and other sec tions of Western Canada. These people are looking for medium-priced lands adapted to diversified farming. 1 can locate 5000 people this year if I am able to find the class of lands that are desired,' said Dorr E. Keasey yes terday. "Up to the present time Ore gon has not been able to hold a large proportion of homeseekers for the rea'. son that the newcomers fell into the hands of unscrupluous dealers. The agents frequently have tried to make too much of a profit by holding the land at too high figures. If it is pos sible to offer logged-off lands at from $12 to $20 an acre on such terms that will permit the settler to pay for the land from the products of the soil, it would not be long before we would see thousands of settlers on the cut-over tracts." HOME BCILKKHS ARE ACTIVE Umbdenslock & Larson Close Suc cessful Business Year. At the annual meeting of the Umb denstock & Larson Homebuilders In vestment Company, held Tuesday, re ports submitted by officers of the com pany showed that a prosperous busi ness was enjoyed during the past year. The company Is completing a large number of homes, operating extensive ly in the Jonesmore and Cumberland districts. "The prospects for a brisk activity in homebuilding this year are very bright," said J. Fred Larson, president of the company. "Already we have closed several deals for the construc tion of homes for clients, Wage-earn- --j " jT:ii l4f minify i - ;: lZzzs.ri - - Jill n - " jJf? P n- 1 till ?i ii ii i 1 jkii rtz??1' ' if f -.yi jt - " - ! i j J- "G". UP1X;2' ILATT Bl IItDe- """'EX, BlILDING-4, PITTOCK BLOCK-,, S1TE OK B ROTit7vVA Y THBATEH. ... . ..... .t...... ........ HANDSOME DWELLING RISES IN LAURELHURST. 4i :XNiiis:xd(. .-. 133 OF SIX BLOCKS BUILDINGS RISE, COSTING NEARLY $2,500,000 Completed and Stevens and Pittock Buildings Are Well Advanced Work on New Broadway Theater to Be Started Soon Same District Void of Fireproof Structures Year Ago. the south side of Washington, between Park and Broadway. It is eight stories high and is of reinforced concrete con struction, with , an exterior of red pressed brick trimmed in white terra cotta. It was built at a cost of $600, 000. Immediately south of the Morgan building is the sixstory Piatt building. It occupies a lot 50x100 feet at the southwest corner of Park and Wash ington streets. It is of reinforced con crete construction, with a white pressed brick and terra cotta exterior.J It was built at a cost of $150,000. Adjoining the P'att building on the south Is the 12-ptory Stevens building being erected by T. B. Wilcox. The building is of steel construction with a light pressed brick and terra cotta exterior and is similar in design and finish to the 12-story Wilcox building at Sixth and Washington streets. The interior ;s designed especially for the use of physicians. The building oc cupies a lot 50x100 feet in size at the southeast corner of Washington and West Park streets. Work is well ad ers and salaried people seem to be more interested than ever in acquir ing homes on a rent-paying basis. There is every indication that Portland will witness a larger record in . dwelling c.nstruction this year than ever be fore." PKOSPEROIS YEAR IS EXJOYED First Development t nit Completed bj ' Willamette Valley Land Co. . t The Willamette Valley Irrigated Land Company, which held its annual meeting Tuesday, closed a. prosperous year in the development of its project at West Stayton. The first unit of 1000 acres has been completed and at the present time there are 22 families lo cated on the tract. Most of the set tlers were attracted from the Middle Western states. They are engaged In Intensive farming along modern and scientific lines. The company plans ul timately to reclaim and develop 20.000 acres. Its acreage is located in Marion County.- The officers of the company elected for the ensuing year are: President, E. L. Thompson: vice president. E. G. Hopson; secretary, John L. Hartman; directors, T. B. Wil cox, F. I. Fuller, R. M. Tuttle, H. M. Haller and John H. Hartog. Lents Structure Planned. Plans have been completed for a brick and concrete building to be erect ed at Lents for C. Yager. The larger part of the building will be used for a moving-picture theater, and the re maining portion for the Lents Bank, a branch of the Scandinavian-American Bank of Portland. The structure will cost $10,000. H. E. Irish, of Lents, is the architect. " '"T: . i. 3H FIVE MODERN vanced and It is probable that the structure will be ready for occupancy by the first part of April. It will cost about $350,000. Diagonally across the street from the Stevens building is the new Pittock block, which occupies an entire block, bounded by Washington, Stark, West Park and Tenth streets. The rein forced concrete frame has been com pleted and work of installing the pressed brick and terra cotta exterior is now in progress. One half of the structure on the Washington-street side Is eight stories high and the Stark-street part of the building is two stories high, but has been designed to carry additional storiea. The structure is owned by the Northwestern Electric Company, which will occupy a part of the building with its general offices. The company will use the entire base ment for Its main West Side distribut ing station for steam heat and elec tricity for light and power purposes. The ground floor on the Washington street side is designed for stores and MANY HOUSES BUILT Oregon Home Builders' Season . Is One of Activity. OPERATIONS ARE EXTENDED In Addition to Jobs in East Portland Concern Kilters Other Oregon Towns and Future Prospects Are Encouraging. Among the house builders of the city on an ambitious scale during 1913 was the Oregon Home Builders. During the year this company built a number of pretty cottages and more preten tious houses In Laurelhurst. Alameda Park, Riverside, Waverleigh Heights, Alberta and other East Side districts. The company reports that throughout the past year there has been no diffi culty in securing purchasers for all the houses the concern has built. The firm is reported to have acquired heavy holdings of city property during the past year, with the expectation of 191SCly lncrea8ed operations during O. K. Jeffery, president of the com pany, in talking of the prospects of de velopment In Portland during the com ing year, expressed the same confi dence in rapid development in the im mediate future that has been preva lent in Portland real estate for several months past. "The Oregon Home Builders," he said, "Is setting a high mark for Itself during this year. Although this is or dinarily the quietest part of the year in building operations, we are just starting on the construction of four houses, two of them being sold. The building department is drawing plans for 20 others, which will be built as rapidly as weather and other condi tions will permit. Other Towns Entered. "The company has also undertaken building operations in other Oregon towns. Work on five' houses at Carl ton is to begin at once. It is expected a number of others will be built at that Place before Summer. In building places outside of Portland the com pany has made a practice of selling in advance. "I have great confidence in' the Im mediate growth of Portland and of the country of which It is the commercial center. It is upon this confidence in future growth that the company is founded. I have never been able to see much of anything except Portland and the Columbia Kiver Basin in contem plating the advantages to be derived from the completion of the Panama Ca nal. This is the seaport from which will always be shipped a good portion of the grain of the world and In even greater proportion the lumber de mands both of the United States, Latin and South America and the lands of the Far East and the islands of the Pa cific. Canal Benefits Expected. "Many people seem to think that the benefits from the Panama Canal will not be immediately felt. That is not my idea. I look to see large benefits during the present year. The good time coming will be recognized by the peo ple not yet here, but who will come with the purpose of getting ready to reap a harvest when the day of great er development arrives. To me It seems the upper floors for -offices. The struc ture will be one of the finest on the Pacific Coast. It will cost about $1, 000,000. . It is expected that the build ing will be completed and ready for occupancy about May 1. The latest of the group of new struc tures to rise in this small area will be the Broadway Theater. This build ing will occupy the half block on the south side of Stark, between Park street and Broadway the site of the old Central Library. The structure will be - of modern, fireproof construction and will contain five stories and base ment. The theater part of the build ing will be the special feature. The building will cost about $350,000. John W. Blodgett, a timberman of Grand Rapids, Mich., owns the site and Is erecting the building for Thomas" J. Noonan, of Chicago, and associates, who have taken a long-time lease on the property. Plans for the new struc ture have been completed and con struction work will be started as soon as the old library building is removed. certain that this year will witness the beginning of a season of errowth greater than Portland has ever before experienced. "With the beginning of last Sum mer, C. B. Hurtt, for many years a prominent figdre in the development and sale of irrrigated lands in Idaho, Montana. Wyoming and Eastern Ore gon, connected himself with us as man ager. Mr. Hurtt was then a newcomer to Portland, and had not fully deter mined to make this his permanent home. The past six months' experience has convinced him that nowhere else can there be found a city to compare with Portland." BETTER FEELIXG IS ' XOTED Outlook for Brisk . Trading Is En couraging, Says George Sclialk. "The Portland real estate situation is Improving and within the next three months I look for a more wholesome activity in all classes of property than has been noted for many months," said George D. Schalk, a member of the Portland Realty Board, yesterday. "Interviews with bankers and finan cial agents by myself and other deal ers lead to the conclusion that money soon will be much easier for legitimate investment purposes. By the early part of Spring the real estate business in Portland ought to be decidedly ac tive. A better feeling in all Quarters prevails. In all lines of trade the vear will be opinion.' a prosperous one, in my Mortgages Total $234,383. Mortgage loans for the past week reached a total of $234,583, according to the records of the County Clerk's of fice. Nearly all the mortgages in volved snrall considerations and were placed on residence property for build ing purposes. ' irvingtON RESIDENc'e" BUILT AT COST OF $2o"oOO. " J t ( ; ; IMW..WUW. Jg ; ' , t feIt Ji"! i J ' t sr-. ! x - f 'LI !H4Vl ilv !fl ,LJ VK.Ail r : t :., .. ,uuuj. .. -oaLi'iUis. i j-i It' :'. h ..:-.v '. .. .. .'. , i?-..'-:?a-:"A';.:.::-:..v::'-- j - :'..- j :Jfa-.Z: -r, -.x.-:. P. E. BOWMAN'S NEW HOUSE AT EAST NINETEENTH A KNOTT STUEKTS. Among the attractive dwellings to rise in Irvington Is one that has just been completed by F E Bow man & Company at a cost of $20,000. The house contains 15 rooms and Is finished throughout in hardwood It is equipped with three bathrooms and a vapor-heating system. A garage is located in the rear. The house occupies the corner lot at East Nineteenth and Knott streets. EXTENSION IS URGED Opening of East Burnside Is Live Movement. PROPERTY OWNERS READY Thomas M. Hurlburt Causes Several Surveys to Be Made, but Pro ceedings Xever Completed. Committee Working. Opening of East Burnside street from East Forty-third to East Fifty-fifth is one of the live movements for the en suing year. This extension has been agitated for several years, all through the official service of the former City Engineer, Thomas M. Hurlburt, who caused several surveys to be made for the extension between these two points, but the proceedings were never completed. There are no serious ob stacles in the way of this extension, according to the map prepared and ac cording to the reports from the prop erty owners affected. From East Forty-third to East Forty seventh street the land is owned by Albert Richu. who says he will give the right of way through his three acre tract, a distance of more than 700 feet. The next tracts are owned by George F. Hibbard and William Reid. Mr. Hibbard will donate right of way if the extension: is made according to his wishes. Mr. Keld is not expected to object to the extension. The next 400'feet is owned by Andrew Kan, who 13 understood to favor the extension. Owners of the balance of the property are' Conrad P. Olsen, the Mount Hood Company, Samuel A. , Fields. C. W. Derry, E. A. Fearing and T. Spillman. Former surveys were not on a straignt line from East Forty-third to East Fiftieth street, but on a slight curve to avoid some buildings and other ob structions. It is said that there Is no opposition among the property owners affected. On the contrary, they are reported to be anxious for the opening and will facilitate proceedings. However, there seems a halt in the proceedings some where. A committee composed of J. J. Oeder, K. G. Welter and J. R. Wid mer, from the East Burnside Oistrict Improvement Association, has this ex tension in hand, together with the Cen ter Addition Improvement Club. It is planned to urge that proceedings for this extension be hurried forward in advance of any attempt to widen East Burnside street. East Burnside is open from East Fifty-fiftn to 100 feet east of East Sixty-fourth street on a straight line. There is a jog on the north side of the B. L. Henness tract. However, this jog may be re reduced by being rounded off. The street then extends to a connection with Edison avenue and Thorburn av enue, the north branch of the -Base Line road, the road sought to be reached. The benefit to be. derived from this extension to a connection with the Base Line is considered far reaching. O. E. Heinz, president of the East Burn side Districh Improvement Association, declared that this extension will re sult in making East Burnside a great highway and will cause a large pro portion of travel from the interior to come into the city by this street. This extension is .considered even more im portant than the widening of East Burnside street. To the district between East Forty third street and Mount Tabor It will supply an outlet. Much of the prop erty on either side of the proposed ex tension has no direct outlet in any di rection, and it is largely dormant in consequence. Efforts will be made to have' the City Commissioners order the surveys, settle the route of the extension and declare the street opened. AUTO FACTORY TO RISE BEAVEIl STATE MOTOR COM PA XV TO BVILD AT GRESHAM. Work on First Vnit of Plant to Start Tills Week Building 60x200 Pert in Size to Cost f5,000. It is announced that building opera tions will be started on the factory for the Beaver State Motor Companr this week on the tract purchased at Gresham from Mrs. T. L. Sails, Mrs. John Clena han and Dr. J. N. Powell. The site com prises a five-acre tract In the Powell donation land claim near the Mount Hood Railway. It has a frontage of 120 feet on the Section Line road and a frontage of 200 feet on the Mount Hood Railway. The first building will be 60x200 feet and one story high, which will be the first unit of the factory. Architect P. Chappell Brown prepared the plans for this structure. Thomas Fitch will su perintend the erection of the factory. More buildings will be erected as they are needed. The first unit will cost $25,000. P. A. Combs, of Portland, is president of the company. The machines f'. the company will manufacture will be the "Beaver Six" and a motor truck. O. A. Eastman has purchased the re maining interest of J. N. Powell in the Powell farm, near the site of the fac tory, and he will have the land platted. The tract embraces 27 acres and u ne-r the Mount Hood Railway. Mr. Hit man will have the tract surveyed and laid out at once. KEalDEXCE SALES AIIE CLOSED Several Transfers in East Side Homes Are Made. The most important sale on the East Side was that of M. I. Barnes to Eliza beth Hillis, of Irvington property on East Twenty-second street, between Tillamook and Thompson streets. The property Includes a residence and four lots. The consideration was $37,000. The deal was made in November and the deed was recorded last week. Another considerable sale was made in Rossmere, where Harvey C. Segur sold a house and lot to Anna L. Holmes for $3700. T. A. Sutherland sold to D. M. Taylor two lots and a house in Hawthorne-avenue Addition for $3200. At Sellwood George W. Clarke sold his residence property to Torrence V. Matson for $4500. In Faurer's Addition Nathan Freedman sold two lots to Mar cus Ruby for $1500. William J. Carpenter sold his Essex property to the amount of $3500. In Simon's Addition Frank C. Streyfteler sold to Wesley & Stearns a home for $3500. BUSINESS EDGE SHARPER VEAR OP PROGRESS PREDICTED BY J. W. WIEDRICK. I'rOHpective Investors Show Interest in Oft'crlnKS Portland Realty Situation Due tor Marked Activity. That 1914 will prove a prosperous year In all lines of business is the be lief of J. W. Wledrick, of Goddard & Wiedrick, a pioneer Portland real estate firm, "After two years of comparative dull ness, there are indications that the business edge is beginning to be sharp ened," saii Mr. Wiedrick yesterday. "A better feeling prevails everywhere and businss sentiment is growing stronger all the time. The money situation is bound to ease up, and by early Spring I predict that there will be plenty oi capital available for legitimate invest ment and commercial purposes. "We have received mora inquiries from prospective investors during the past two weeks than we had noted in several months. We have five large deals under way and the prospects are favorable for closing them. "In my opinion, Portland real estate . is as low now as it ever will get. Gen erally speaking, prices are held at rea sonable figures. It is only in the case cf owners who do not wish to sell that property values are .high. There, are many attractive offerings, however. The investor who purchases Portland realty now will not have cause to regret it, because the city Is destined to go ahead at a rapid rate and values are bound to increase accordingly." PAVIXG ASSESSMENTS MADE Many Streets on East Side Have Im provement Expenses Apportioned. Assessment has been completed for the improvement of the Willamette boulevard from Wabash street to the east end of the bridge crossing the Spokane, Portland & Seattle Railway, the amount being $87,742. This is a hard-surface pavement occupying the center of the boulevard. For part of the distance cement sidewalks have been laid. For the improvement of Wistaria and other streets in the northeastern district the assessment has been made and it amounts to 45,s52. This dis trict includes portions of Wistaria avenue, Brazee street, Thompson street. East Forty-sixth, East Forty seventh, East Forty-eighth, East Forty-ninth. East Fiftieth and East Fifty first streets. This is a hard-surface district. The Improvement assessment also has been made for a district includ ing East Stark street. East Forty sixth East Forty seventh, East Forty ninth streets, between East Stark and Belmont streets. The amount is $85,044. This is a hard-surface district. The improvement of Randall and Buxton streets has been completed at a cost of $8262. These streets are in Kenton. Klickitat Gets Xew Structure. KLICKITAT. Wash., Jan. 17. (Spe cial.) Jacob Tol is here making ar rangements for the erection of a two story building next to the postofflce. The building, which is to be 20x40, is to be used as a restaurant, cigar store and cardroom, with a hall upstairs for dances and social gatherings. O. N. Birkett, who has the contract for build ing it, stated that it would be ready March 1. This building will til! a long felt want in Klickitat, and no doubt will become the center of all social and political gatherings in this section of the county. Warehouse to Be Built. Giebisch & Joplin have had plans completed for the construction of a storage warehouse and machine shop to be built on Sandy boulevard, near East Thirty-first street. The struc ture will cost $10,000. - t' A A