The Sunday Oregonian., March 04, 1917, Section One, Page 16, Image 16

16
THE SUNDAY OREGOXIAN, PORTLAND, MARCH 4, 1917.
ASTORIA BASE-SITE
OWNERS ASSAILED
Mayor Harley Charges Greedy
and Unpatriotic Attitude in
$70,000 Demand.
PRICE HELD EXTORTIONATE
Victory in Fight for Naval Station
Is in Sight When Alleged Hold
Tp Is Encountered Method
of Valuation Explained.
A deliberate conspiracy to hold up
the Government for an extortionate
sum in the sale of the proposed sub
marine base Bite on the Lower Colum
bia Is charged by F. C. Harley, Mayor
of Astoria, and during the past year
and a half an Indefatigable campaign
er In the interest of the proposed
work. The most 6ordld motives are
responsible for the recent move, de
clares Mayor Harley, and a careful
analysis of the situation, he main
tains, will reveal the full culpability
of the interests which are attempting
to benefit unfairly from their owner
ship of certain desired properties.
To demonstrate the attitude of Asto
rlans as to the need of the proposed
submarine base, a number of publlo
meetings have been recently held In
Astoria under the auspices of the city
government, and public opinion thor
oughly sounded.
Value Problem Considered.
"At the last meting," said Mayor
Harley. in reviewing the situation. "I
took up the real estate situation from
the very bottom. I had a large map
and went over all of the properties
which the Government desires. I placed
an estimate of $35,000 upon the chosen
.site, and have given a full opportunity
for the owners to prove a greater value.
Notwithstanding that no evidence can
be produced to support their claims,
they have stubbornly, greedily and uic
patriotically held out for a full pur
chase price of $70,000. This claim has
no foundation in equity.
"I placed six chairs on the platform
at the meeting, and reserved them for
any who would represent the claims
of the interests holding the submarine
base site property. No one appeared
to defend the claims which have been
Imposed. The necessity of the base
to the people alone Is the reason for
the excess valuation which they im
pose." Base Campaign InterestlnsT.
The history of the campaign for the
naval base at Astoria la marked by
many interesting events, and culmi
nated in the report of the commission
headed by Rear-Admiral Helm, of the
United States Navy, which has Just
been made public.
If the recommendations It contains
are favorably acted upon by Congress,
San Diego will have an aviation and
submarine base, Los Angeles will have
a training station, San Francisco will
be the only pity in the country with
two naval stations, and the naval in
stitutions at Bremerton will be
strengthened.
But the mouth of the Columbia
River, which serves as & natural con
necting link between Puget Sound and
San Francisco and at present practical
ly devoid of naval defense. Is not men
tioned, although It is probable that
recommendations, if any, for this port
will form" the ubJeot of a subse
quent report.
Mayor Reviews Fight.
In reviewing the fight which was
conducted In the interests of the base.
Mayor Harley recalls that only by . the
unified effort and good will of all peo
ple in the Columbia Basin could helr
purpose have been realized. "The cam
paign was perhaps the strongest of its
kind ever attempted," said Mayor Har
ley. "Our position could not be assailed,
for our claims were based on Justice
and necessity, and when the Commis
sion headed by Rear-Admiral Helm vis
ited our shore we were Juptly Jubilant.
We knew that our port complied with
. all the requirements of a naial base
and we were convinced beyond perad
venture that our geographical location
asid the important relation which our
harbor bore to the rest of the country
were such that they would necessarily
serve as Irrefutable arguments in our
favor.
Battle Regarded as Won.
"In this we were not mistaken. JVnen
: Rear-Admiral Helm and his colleagues
arrived they were escorted up and
down the Columbia River. The neces
sity and desirability of a naval insti
tution was apparent and we were cer
' tain that the battle for naval recog
nition was won. Our hopes were fur-
ther encouraged when Rear-Admiral
Helm and his Board returned quietly a
few weeks later and went into confer
ence with me, as a result of which
conference Admiral Helm gave me a
communication in which he asked for
information covering the following
points:
What Is the county's valuation, for as
sessment purposes, of the above upland
and tldeland. either per acre or lump sum.
and what can be stated as regards the ratio
of the assessed valuation to the true
value ?
( In case the Government should desire to
acquire this tract of land for naval pur-
poses, what would the county and city of
Astoria regard as a fair price for th tinned
States Government to pay for this property,
and would the city of Astoria and county of
Clatsop guarantee this price as one which
would not be exceeded If the United States
Government desired to purchase this property?
In case this tract of land should be ac
quired by the Government, what arrange.
; raents would the county or city be willing
to make In order to extend a highway to
' Its boundary T Also, what arrangements
would be practicable as regards bringing the
city water and electric light and power sup
ply to this tract?
Favorable expressions and written opln-
Say! You Fellows
Who Drive Your Car
You need a new Spring
suit that will not show
spots that will not lose
its shape that is sold to
you on the quick selling,
little profit, upstairs sys
tem. If you're a judge of
values come up.
$
Men's
Suits of
High Values
In hard-finish weaves.
ALTERATIONS FREE.
20
If I had these suits in a high-rent, ground-floor
location I would price them $25 and $30.
jimwx Dwm mm
ORIGINAL.
UPSTAIRS
CLOTHIER
TRADE
UPSTAIRS
SAVE $10.00
OPEN SATURDAYS UNTJL JO f?M.
Z Man's Letter Answered Z
Dear Sir: In the year 1913, Z
month of March, I read in my
newspaper a recipe or prescrip-
T tion and had It filled, as I was
in run-down health and was par-
ticularly nervous, weak and worn
out. 1 was despondent and un-
able to work part of the time.
The medicine at once revived my
energy, will power and strength
and nave felt like a "new man"
until just recently. Have lost
the recipe and would appreciate
your publishing: it again for my
benefit and others needing such a
grand medicine to restore health.
H. H. B.
Answer The prescription re-
ferred to Is herewith given. Any
well-stocked drug-grist can mix it.
It really is a wonderful strength-
giving tonic for nerve-broken
men, and women, too:
Tincture Cadomene Comp.,..lox.
Comp. Essence Cardiol 1 oz.
Comp. fluid Balmwort ioz.
Comp. Syrup Sarsaparilia. . . .3 oz.
Mix. Shake well and take a tea-
spoonful before or after each
meal and one at bedtime for sev-
eral weeks.
DR. LEWIS BAKER.
Note Clip this out and retain
it, as it will not appear again.
Ions were obtained from all Interested to the
effect that the matter of roads, water sup
ply, power and electricity would be satlstao
torlly taken care of. The only information
that remained was the price which the own
ers of the property wanted that the com
mission sought to recommend.
Land Owners Scored.
"This property consisted of a tract
of land known as Tongue Point and
water frontage along Cathlamet Bay.
The owners of the property are the
Hammond Lumber Company, the Co
lumbia Investment Company and the
Van Dusens. Because of the fact that
part of these Interests owned hundreds
of acres north of the tract desired by
the Government, It was thought that
the matter of price adjustment would"
be of secondary importance, but our
experience in this direction has been
eadly to the contrary. It was discov
ered that patriotism, civic pride, fair
ness and equitable dealing were absent
factors, and the net results to date are
nil.
"Now that the Commission's work
la practically ended and the various
ports clamoring' for Governmental Im
provements have practically obtained
all that they possibly could under pre
vailing circumstances, it behooves all
of us of the Northwest to Interest our
selves in this tremendous project and
see if we cannot by some concerted
effort bring such pressure to bear as
will very forcibly Impress upon own
ers of the land desired by the Govern
ment that their personal greed must be
subordinated to the needs of the people.
Value Are Calculated.
"The map shows that that tract of
land sought by the Government con
sists of approximately 244 acres. Of
these. 110 acres are assessed at $60 an
acre; five acres of water are assessed
at $400 an acre; four acres of water
frontage are assessed at $20 an acre,
while 125 acres of submerged land are
assessed at $10 an acre, making a to
tal assessment of $9930. Since land
In Clatsop County is assessed at 68 per
cent of Its true value, the real value
of the land in question would be worth
approximately $17,150. Considering
the length of time that the property
has been held, the taxes that have been
paid on It, $25,000 would have been a
sufficiently high figure to set; but
after careful deliberation It was deemed
advisable to recommend a price of $37,
500. "The owners of the tract, who have
entered into a pool agreement for that
purpose, seek to exact from the Gov
ernment a price of $75,000, and this
figure no conscientious realty man fa
miliar with values could possibly rec
ommend. By carefully analyzing the
figures and deducting conclusions from
facts placed before me, I framed the
following hypothesis:
That the Hammond Lumber Company's
share In the pool consisted of &4 acres of
upland, assessed at StJO an acre, or total
assessment of $3240, for which they were
asking $17,500. or nearly $300 an acre.
That the share of the Columbia Land
Company was 50 acres of upland, five acres
of water and four acres of water frontage,
the whole of which was assessed at $5440,
although only 61 acres were of value; for
which they were asking; $45,000, or nearly
$750 an acre;
That the share of the Van Duzens In the
pool agreement was 1125 acres, which were
assessed at $10 an acre, and for which they
were asking, $125,000, or $100 an acre.
Courtnouse Sale Cited.
"Now, let us determine to what ex
tent these men are endeavoring to hold
up our Government. In or about the
month of November, 1915, an execution
sale was held on the Courthouse steps
of the Clatsop County Courthouse and
at this sale two-ninths shares of the
whole Columbia Land & Investment
Company were sold. These two-ninths
shares carried with them the owner
ship of a proportionate Interest in 225
acres of land embracing about 65 acres
now Intended to be conveyed to the
Government, the remaining being ad
joining land, better located and much
more valuable.
"The plaintiff in that sale was a
member of the same Columbia Land &
Investment . Company, and he quit bid
ding around $4500. The property was
then sold for about $5000; or approxl
matley $2500, for one-ninth, share. So
that,, according to those best qualified
to know, these 225 acres were then
worth approximately $22,500. A por
tion of the land included in the sale
on the Courthouse steps is marked in
blue. It will be observed that it con
tains about 55 acres, which are as
sessed at $400 an acre.
Further Figures Given.
"Thirty-six of these acres were re
cently sold to the Hammond interests
at the assessed value of $400 an acre,
or $14,400, leaving the remaining 19
acres at $400, totaling $7600, and also
an additional 109 acres, more or less,
assessed at $20 an acre, which, at the
same ratio. Is worth approximately
$2180.
"Adding these totals namely, $14,
400, $7600 and $2180 we obtain the
sum of $24,180, which, divided by nine.
gives us the value of one-ninth, ap
proximately $2500 a share, or just
about what It brought, so that, accord
ing to their own estimation, they could
not have valued the land desired by
the Government at more than about
$17,000.
"The question then arises. Why
doesn't the Government condemn the
land? Or why doesn't the city pur
chase the land and give it to the Gov
ernment at the Government's own
price? To these questions it Is suffi
cient to reply that the Government has
declared Its Intention to station a few
boats off Fort Stevens rather than pay
an exorbitant figure or become In
volved in legal proceedings. So far as
the city Is concerned. It Is doubtful
whether It could bond Itself for that
purpose, and even If It could the delay
incident to the procedure would be al
most fatal.
Owners Called Greedy.
"Admiral Helm expected to receive a
completed report by the 20th of Feb
ruary, last, and I could have presented
such report long before that time, but
the owners of the land deliberately de-
iayea naming their price for nearly
eight days, and when it was flnallv
received it was. as already indicated,
too exorbitant. The situation was
crucial, and all that could possibly be
done to bring the owners to their senses
and make them realize the impossibil
ity of their position was done.
"Newspaper articles were written. A
mass meeting, to which all were Invited
to give their views, was held, but not
a single voice came forth in their be
half. The whole deplorable situation
was again made public, and invitation
was again extended to these arrogant
owners to justify their position, but
at this writing nothing has happened
that would indicate any change of
heart in these selfish and greedy In
terests.-
STYLE SHOW IS SUCCESS
Pendleton Theater Crowded Both
Days of Exhibit.
PENDLETON. Or.. March 3. (Spe
cial.) Pendleton's first annuta.1 com
munity style show was a decided suc
cess. The theater, where the
held, was crowded both days of the
performance. The Spring styles were
worn by Miss Lucia Callison, Miss Mar
tha Hudeman, Miss Nadyne Blakelym,
Miss Inez Hall, Miss Claire McDonald,
Miss Mildred Guyll, Miss Hazel Gillette,
Miss Nellie Moyer, Mrs. Wade Privett'
Miss ina Kaneaster and Mrs. Gladys
Slaughter, all of Pendleton, and Miss
Mable Vaughn, a New York model. The
men models were Ernil Beck
11 Fair Xlst Xi-ices Vjgfg Fair Treatment: B
o
CD)
ETVTBEADTII
(S:O-0
TATHEN a Goodrich Black Safety Tread Tire is
vv sent from the factory of the B. F. Goodrich
Company, it carries Goodrich's avowal that it is free
from imperfection of material and workmanship.
" It is the best non-skid fabric tire, the oldest, largest,
most skillful rubber.manufacturer can make. YottSeem
Goodrich Tires are Stocked
jx must render service worthy of the good name it bears the
high service Goodrich requires of it.
If, as occurs In rarest instance, it fails, the B. F. Goodrich Com
pany is more eager than you that its shortcoming be made good.
Fair Treatment Open-Handed
Goodrich Fair Treatment will not let you hold a just grievance
against a Goodrich tire.
, Goodrich Fair Treatment lays down this law: "The buyer of a Goodrich Tire
must be satisfied."
The B. F. Goodrich Company courts honest fault - finding with its tires.
Goodrich Fair Treatment will meet these complaints with adjustments, quick
and square will make these adjustments gladly and generously.
It will not permit a Goodrich patron to feel that a Goodrich tire owes
him anything. wants back any Goodrich tire you feel owes you anything.
The B. F. GOODRICH COMPANY, Akron, Ohio
Also maker of the tires on which Dario Resta won the official 1916 National
Automobile Racing Championship Silvertown Cord Tires
LOCAL BRANCH ADDRESS: BROADWAY AT BURNSIDE ST., PORTLAND, OR.
Ask Your Dealer for Them I mm
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SILVERTOWN'S DOMINATION OF 1916 AUTO RACING
The 1916 automobile racing season brought forth amongst a half hundred Silvertown victories
the following especial triumphs of the ONLY two-ply, cable-cord tire :
National Automobile Racine Champlonatup, won by Dario Restm with 4100 point.
15,582 points scored toward tbo championship by Silyertown to 7,176 by ALL its competitors COMBINED.
Eighty per cent, of all the prize winning- positions of A. A. A. sanctioned races.
31 Firsts to 5 Firsts by ALL, Its competitors.
BjjljPI
51 -S I K3n I Zi'JBestr in tHc Xtortg "V- rr. x w-g j n
Chapman,
and Ray
Hassell, Nat Kimball, Ray
Weston Lake. Al Llngren
Snyder.
Bond Bros, was awarded tho Royal
Sawtelle cup for having the best win
dow display during the show.
Villa's Disability Confirmed.
SAN ANTONIO, Tei.nr. 3. Advices
received by General Pershing tend to
confirm the report of the Illness of
Francisco Villa. Army officers are of
the opinion that Villa has ceased to he
Wesley a factor of much Importance.
MAP SHOWING SITE DESIRED BY GOVERNMENT FOR NAVAL
BASE AND ASSESSED VALUE OF PROPERTY.
Assessed. At 406.
per Sic re.
rosy gzsjeS
ir.s.z.jf. I I r
a wotr s m
. Assasse-J mmZ sr V
4 I yfssessJats
l 3 3 X V i
1 r
J&o Sler-s
3J
POISON OSED IN MIXUP
WOMAN' IS IN HOSPITAL. AND SAYS
HUSBAND GAVE HER. TABLETS.
Sponse Says She Waa Unfaithful and
Tried to Commit Suicide Tiro
Men Held In Jail.
with alienating his wife's love. Rogers
will be held for the present on an
Investigation charge.
A. Jealous quarrel In
Hotel. 142 H First street,
noon, terminated In the
Mrs. Robert R. Emerson,
th GILman
yesterday at
poisoning of
30 years old.
TosKue Point, on Lower Columbia. Location Chosen by Admiral Helm,
of Naval Bus Committee.
now In Good Samaritan Hospital, who
is said to have declared that her hus
band forced 'bichloride of mercury
tablets down her throat. He is under
arrest on investigation charges, but
tells a story utterly at variance with
that told by his wife.
Shortly before noon William Car
rinna, landlord of the hotel, 'heard
screaming from Emerson's room. He
entered and found Mrs. Emerson in
great agony, brokenly declaring that
her husband had forced her to swal
low poison. The Ambulance Service
Company conveyed her to Good Samari
tan Hospital, where she again repeated
her statement.
Searching the room. Detectives Crad
dock and Swennes found a partially
filled bottle of bichloride tablets, while
a dozen of the poison pellets were
scattered about the floor. Emerson
could not be found, and It was said
that he had left the hotel after high
words had been overheard. A. baby
daughter was being cared for by other
roomers.
While . the investigation was being
made Patrolman George Huntington
answered a telephone call, and learned
from Emerson that anxiety over his
child had determined his return. A
few moments later he entered and sub
mitted to arrest by Detective Craddock.
Emerson told the detectives that he
had proof of his wife's infidelity, and
that he had upbraided her and made
preparations to leave. She seized the
bottle of poison, crying that she would
take her life, and Emerson struck her
hand as she sought to swallow a
number of the tablets.
"I called the other roomers to wit
ness that I had. not gl' en her poison,"
said Emerson, "and went out. believing
that I never would come back. Then
I thought of our little kid, and I had
to come."
In an adjoining, room Detective
Craddock found and arrested Frank
Rovers, a cook.' charged by Emeraon
22 IN ABERDEEN RACE
Several Contests- for City Offices
Are Being Hard Fought.
ABERDEEN, Wash., March 3. (Spe
cial.) Twenty-two candidates for city
offices will confront the voters Monday
at the annual primary election, at
which a Mayor, Treasurer. Clerk, Police
Judge and six Councilmen are to be
nominated. A Republican nominee for
a city office here is regarded as certain
of election, and therefore the primaries
are being hard-fought. The registra
tion is 3903.
Roy Sargent, ex-City Treasurer, and
R. A. Wiley, ex-Assessor, are running a
neck-ani-neck race for the Mayoralty
with Guy Andrews. T. II. Hill, incum
bent in the Treasurer's office, is x.
pected to be re-elected over W. W.
Maxey; and Glen Snider Is leading Ira,
N. Gardner for Police Judge. P. F.
Clark, veteran City Clerk, is without
opposition.
For Councilmen, W. J. Egerer and
James Empey, of the present Council,
are unopposed. B. F. Loomis also 19
unopposed for the Council.
Cottage Grove Apples Make Hit.
COTTAGE GROVE, Or., March 3.
(Special.) Were any further proof neo
essary that Cottage Grove apples are
the Jinest in the world, that proof is
found in the fact that the Grange
market has shipped six boxes of fancy
Baldwins to Redmond, Wash., In direct
competition with the fruit of the fa
mous apple districts of that state. The
apples were consigned to a man who
had been visiting here.
Read The Or"gonian classified ads.
Mrs. Heflin Is Saved
From Operating Table
Brother and Sister Both Re
lieved by Remedy Avail
able to Any One.
In her gratitude for a remedy that
saved her from the possible necessity
for an operation; Mrs. Carrie Heflin. of
Coats. Kans., writes: "Had It not been
for Frultola and Traxo I might have
been on the operating table by now. It
relieved me of at least one hundred and
fifty gall stones. It surely does work
wonders. My brother also had suffered
for years and has been greatly bene
fited by Frultola and Traxo."
Frultola and Traxo are compounded
from the ortginal Edsall formulas at
the Plnus laboratories in Montlcello,
111., and can be purchased In drug
stores; a doctor's prescription is not
necessary. Frultola Is a pure fruit oil
that acts as an Intestinal lubricant and
disintegrates the hardened particles
that cause so much suffering, discharg
ing the accumulated waste, to the suf-
its efficacy.
MRS. CARRIE HEFLIN.
ferer"s Intense relief. One dose is usually sufficient to indicate
Traxo is a tonic-alterative that is most effective to rebuild and restore the
weakened, rundown system.
A booklet of special interest to those who suffer from st-mnch trouble can De
obtained by writing to the Plnus Laboratories, Moiiol)o, Illinois.
r