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About The Madras pioneer. (Madras, Crook County, Or.) 1904-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 24, 1907)
Pioneer Published every Thursday by THE PIONEEIt PUBL1SIIINO CO, SUBSCRIPTION RATES! 9110 ycr.., $1.50 Slnontfi8 .85 T.lireo months 50 AtWRltTISINO 11ATE8 ON Arn.lCA.TION' Entered na second olnss matter August 2, 1PM, at the Postorflco nt Mnikns. Ore., ijlidorliio Act of Congress of MilfS, 1879. THURSDAY January 24, 1507 FACTS AND, EIQURES. The onlv wav in much, we Qan guage the ability of the proposed Jefferson county to maintain its county govern ment economically and without an increase in taxes, is, to compare it with some similar county, and for that purpose no Other cf the small counties ere ated out of the original big counties of Eastern Oregon offers so fair an example as doea Sherman county. Similar in its compactness and yx the character of its principal indus try, that county presents an object lesson which is at once an, inspiration and a hope. For this reason an abstract of the tax-levy, assessment, and expenses of that county was obtained, and those figures throw an interesting and most encouraging light upon the claims of this section that it is ready for sell-government. In 18S9,when Sherman county was created, that county only had $(517,572 of taxable prop erty, which with the tax-levy of IS niUl& that year produced $11,116; Jefferson county will have in round figures $1,350,000 of taxable property, more than .double that of Shernian, and at our present tax-levy of 15 mills, more than 2.0,000 will be col lected this year, to pay county expenses. When created Sher county assumed of Wasco'd indebtedness $11,586.70, while Jefferson county would start into business without a dollar! of indebtedness. With this kind of a start, Sherman county developed and grew until today it has more than three million dollars upon Its tax-roll, with, the ldw rate of 16 mills taxation. In May 1901, and with a lax roll of 1,500,000 at that - time, only a trifle more than Jeffer son county will have to begin with, Sherman county had ex pended for buildings and other improvements $17,045, had paid all county indebtedness, and was paying her county warrants as they were issued. Dniing the past seven years, during which time the county's finances have been in good Bhape and she may be presumed not to have unnecessarily stinted her self, all of the expenses of con ducting the county have aver aged only $13,500 per annum, and those figurr s represent the annual expenditure for schools, roads, and all county purposes. Jefferson county would have nearly $7000 more than that the first year, and its taxable piop erty is increasing as rapidly as any other section of Ihe state of Oregon. These figures are secured from the county records, and are incontrovertible evidence of the preparedness of this section fur maintaining its own county government. The history of Other email counties has been similar, and no stronger argu ment can be made for county division and smaller county areas, than is found in the .records of those smaller coun ties themselves. Crook count' is top large; it coyers more tejri tory than several of our states do; and the increasing cost of maintaining it should contemn t in the eyes of the Legislature in favor of the smaller, more compact and more economically maintained counties.. OFF FOR SALEM G-. Springer of Culver left Saturday for the state capital, where lie goes to urge ihe crea- tion of Jefferson county, in which movement he is taking a leep interest, In this cfmnec Hion it may be stated that Mr. Knviinrr'H interest in the new The Madras ' j county movement arises from a firm conviction tliat tlio propos ed county division is demanded '"fcSMipr the best interests of ihe ' "eisidBnts and taxpayers of the affe'oted district. He is one of the old settles of the district and has seen this section of prook develop from a sparsely settled stock country into a. populous farming diatriot, wtfh An increased demand for the benefits of community govern ment and relationship. That these benefits oan best be ob taiued in small compact counties w,hetea oommunity ot interest, exists, the experience of half a dozen, n&wly created counties in this state has proven. Mi Springe hna observed these things, and having at heart the best interests of this section of Crook, he believes tha,t the time has arrived whe.n our people should conduct their own conn ty affairs, and reap the benefits that accrue from taxation. He is a representative citizen 01 the territory which desires self-government he cannot be charged with having a county- seat ambition to gratily, tor 111s private interests lie ntteen miles away from the proposed countyseat, and his endorse ment and support ot tne new countv movement are a slion guarantee the merit of the proposed division. COUNTY DIVISION Crook county is large enough and has taxable property suffi cient to maintaiu the three counties into which it is asked to be divided. It is not many years since the old county, with all 01 its tremendous area, maintained its county govern ment and paid all of its expen ses upon a less amount of mon ey tliau either of the two proposed new counties will have from the first year's taxes. And the compactness in form means decreased mileage bills and easily maintained roads, which will greatly reduce the expense account of each of the three counties into which Urook would be cut. It has been many vears since Crook county cut off from Wasco. It had a tremendous area ana a corresponding!' small tax-roll. And yet Crook county soon distanced the par ent county, paying on the in debtedness which it had assumed, and maintaining itself at a rate of taxation lower than that paid in the parent county. Sherman and Wheeler likewise were created out of portions of Wasco, and they in turn pros pered. Sherman countv is today the envy of every other county in the state, with Us treasury box full and a very ow tax rate. And the proposed Jefferson county is similar to Sherman county in its compact ness, its dense settlement and the character of its industries, while Jefferson county would begin business with more tax able property on its rolls than Sherman had at the time of its creation. County division in Crook county from this time fofward will be a live issue until it be comes an actuality. The old county is unwieldy in size, and notion which exists between the old regime, whose interests center in Prineville, and the newer population who have settled in this section and in the irrigation district to the south, will only be aggravated with the postponement of that divis ion. Opposition to division arises only from purely selfish motives at the countyseat, for Crook count', after Jefferson and Deschutes are-cut off, will still have more property on its lax roll than it had last year, and twice as much money Irom one year's taxes as it took to run the entire county fiveyears ago. With,, Fuch a showing the countyseat patriots will have difficulty in presenting any good reason why both Jefferson and Deschutes should not be created, and the taxpayers of those districts be permitted to maintain their own county. Cascade county, zens of Hood River to' create out of a Wasco county, is which oiti are trying portion of before the the Legislature again this ses sion. Itis,thouglit that Cas cade will have pretty hard sled ding as the three representatives from Wasco county in the two houses of the Legislature are said to be opposed to the n w county. One of the most bitter fights in the legislative session of two -years ago developed ovr the Cascade county fight. SUPPORT FROM PRINEVILU IJho Bend Bulletin enye, "There Ib no. light ngalnst tfrinevllle. All Wes tern Crook y.anta 1? square deal." Tlio Bullellu mny say Ihia, but It lf the private opinion of many Unit nil Bend wanta has 110 llinltB. Ami we mlgh add that tbero uovor was a light against rrlnevlllo until Bnd came into existence, and after It Laid law and Madras. Theso three lowiia are doing all the fighting now. Tuore Is oertainly none olsewherej and a few people arouud have expressed them selves as not only willing but anxious that tho two counties be taken from Crook, just to get rid of a bunoh of kuooUers. Vrluovlllo Review. Our brother talks like a prophet. Until Western Crook county and 'Bend, Laidlaw and Madras grew -strong enough to voice a protest, Piineville had things all her own way, -but with the growth and develop- opment of Western Crook has 'also developed a desire to par ticipate in the benefits of county government. And now, with the Prineville Review favoring the county division movement, we move to make it unanimous. ith unwonted enterprise the Crook County Journal last week "scooped" all of its com petitors in the Crook county newspaper field, by naming the officers of the proposed new counties of Jefferson and Des chutes. With a certificate from the county official organ of Crook county those officials might begin right now to draw their salaries. Long familiari ty with "ring politics" at Prine ville has made the Journal an adept at fixing up a "slate", and so it tenders its services to the proposed new counties al though some people might think u was none oi the Journal s business. Hard pressed for an argument against the proposed county division in Western Crook, the Prineville Journal was forced to resort to personalities last week. The Journal simply had to say something, iust as at other timeain the recent past it had to say nothing, in order to earn that 350 prize it draws down annually from the county court. It is a wise Journal which knows when to keep silent and when to "holler". CRAM NOT DAMAGED BY FREEZE No bad effects resulted to the growing wheat in this section from the severe cold weather last week, and farmers say that fall-sown wheat is growing nicely. When the cold spell came the ground was covered with snow to a depth of from three to five inches, affording ample protection from the frost. This week the weather has been unusually fine, and the snow has been gradually melting and sinking into the ground. The outlook for a good big grain crop next harvest is belter now than it has been at this season for several years past, although the area of fall sown grain is much smaller than it was last season. TEMPERATURE AT WARMSPRINC C. C. Covey, superintendent of the Warmspring Indian Reservation, was in town on Tuesday. He says that the thermometers at the weather station at the Agency showed 19 below zero to have been the coldest weather at that point during the recent spell. At' ihe Agency the water pipeB froze and the entire water service has since been out of commission. Mr, Covey says that the records of the Agency show that in the W inter of 380L62 there was one spell of cold weather during which the mercury got down lo 40 below "zero, and when the ground was covered with snow to a depth of from four to eight feet at the Agency. That was the coldest Winter of which they have any record. Com pared with it, the" recent cold spell was a Summer zephyr, BLDIpADIE joo Lane and His Wife Dla WHWix One Day of Each Other Two deaths occurred on the Warmspring reservation Inst week, old Joo Lane, a well known Indian, and his wife, having died within a day of each other. They had both been ill for some time with pneumonia. Tho wife died first, and while the Indians wore burying her remains, tho hus band died at homo where ho lmd been left alone. After tho burial of tho wife several of tho Indians wont back to tho house to look after Joe, and to attend to his horses and cattle, of which he had quite a number, and when they went into the house they found tho old man lying on the fioor dead. Ho had evidently arisen from his bod during their absence, and while trying to cross tho iloor had fallen. Joe Lane and his wife both had valuable allotments of iand on the reservation, and in addition they owned quite a number of cattlcand horses. Most of the illness recently reported on the reservation was the result of exposure during tho recent cold weather. Sup erintendent Covey says that there is very little sickness there now. I. 0. 0. F. PLAN FOR FEBRUARY 2 The local lodge of Odd Pel lows will be instituted at this place on the evening of Febru. ary 2, and District Deputy (irand Master T. H. Lafolletto and other members of ihe Prine ville I. O. O. P. are expected to be present and assist in the exercises. Local members of the order are making arrange ments to entertain the visitors from Prineville, and to make the birth of the order at this place a gala occasion. There are about 15 old members of I. O. O. F. already here, and about 8 new members will be initiated at their first meeting. WILL USE DESCHUTES POWER The Northwestern Gas and Electric Light company, a con cern owned by Philadelphia capitalists, is said to be one of the power companies which expects to utilize the waters of the Deschutes river for power purposes. This company owns plants at Walla Walla, Spo kane, Baker City, Pendleton, The Dalles and other points in Washington and Oregon, and it is claimed will generate powei from Deschutes falls for plants in both Eastern Oregon and Eastern Washington. BUYS QUARTER SECTION C.C. Covey of Warmsprings lias purchased the Frank Heath place adjoining the John Wag edblast homestead on Agency Plains, and consisting of a quarter section. Mr. Covey says that he has plenty of faith in this section of country and believes that within a few years it will be the equal of any sec tion of Oregon as a grain dis trict. He bought the Heath place aj an .investment. USE OF COUNTY FUNDS . While the legislature In imssltifl a Zavy pioyidliif,' for ti.e (Untrlhutloii of utiUe fllllll.-i lllimilir tin. 1 rt r"v w.ni.in ;i mu CIIMC, t UllOtllll .'tlsri HI'ivMm t,ni ..,,..(., 1 1 .' Bljoulil bo put at lntereKt ns well, fill.. it .. . J. . imiim-ui iiiiiuiitf comity fundi) nt IlltClCtif Ih llllll'll lllllwil-lulit I,. 11... . '. 1 , . ,,,., ,,,, llu jii-ujiHj ailll llllll'll Itinri, imiuIIv 11 .. llllllllUtl IIIHI) subject of i-tnto fuiKlH, became tho fund of Hie county would nlwnjH bo within eiiHv reu h of the treasurer, m, matter tl.l,,lt llilfllr il . ... uiiimv oiuuii u mem mm, monthly balances would brliij In nn Income wulh cli nt to pay tlio imlary of tlio treasurer. It would tnku the county funds mid Ihe treasurer's ofllco out of politics, beside,' or tho bunk blddliiK the lilKlu-st rate would have use of tlio funds,-Uast Ore-goniAii. MKICATM LAN! QOU UP It Ik understood that the D. I, & p, company Iihb been given power by the slate land board to raise the price of their land, the augmented prlee tyejn $100 for ft forty plus $15 for each Rod every irrigable acre. 'JJhls makes the price ol a full forty, or one all of which la IrrliiAblOi $70(1, an liiqrease of $110 over the old prloe. Bprae who wlnh to convert their holdings into qa$h are very much pleased over this, but some of us who are here to stay feel that our land is Worth just what it will produooam! tlfflt this movo addd notli hitf whatever to our wealth. Jt may uuvo a teudetioy to hasten the nettle ment of tho segregation and if It doea wo tool that It is a good thing both for ua aud for those who are coming. lledmoud Correspondent in Bond liulletiu. ANCLERS TO IE LICENCED A bill lias been Introduoed In iho Legislature provldlug that every por son over the ago ot 10 yearn must bavo a license beforo he shall bo permitted to flsh In the streams of this state, for wblub license an annual fee of $1 must bo paid. The funds thus secured nro lo bo set apart In the state treasury for the purpose of defraying tho ex poses of maintaining the Uamo Fl&h Commission and constructing and operating gume (lab hntehcrics. Tlio judiciary committee of the Uulted States Senate hue reported ad versely upon tho appointment of William C. Bristol as U. 8. District Attorney for Oregon.' and as a result IiIb appointment will be turned down by the Senate. This occurred once before, and the President promptly re-appointed Mr. Bristol, whose abili ty ns a lawyer aud freedom from the 'political taint" of tho old Mitchell wing of tho repubheau party In this btate strongly recommended htm for tho place. Unfortunately for Mr. Bristol, however, the President and aud Senator Fulton do not appear to bo able to agree upon the kind of a man Oregon needs in the (tUt'rlot At torney's oflico. A jolut memorial has been Intro dnced In the Senate, asking Congress to compel tbe owners of the Oregon & California Railroad Company to sell it Rraut lands at the price stipulated In the grant. This grant covered every alternate section' In a strip 20 miles wide and 8C2 miles long, aud it was stipulated in the, grant that this land should bo sold, to aotual millers at not lo exceed $2.50 per acre, at which price tho railroad company has refused to sell it. STEVENS YOU LOOK FOR TROUBLE If jmi eMiln a.FlfHtm of to' ful qvillt; Th upsrltnced HenUr' mil j Miftanan'i Ideal It a rellablt, unerring STEVENS FIND OUT WHY by tteetfng our popular RIFLES SHOTGUNS PISTOLS Aik your locul Iliirdwuro or Hjiortlnif Oooiln Mer chant for tlio NTHVJJNH. If you cannot obtain, we lil direct, nxpri rn- rmlii, unuii receiptor cutu- lojf l'rlco. Hend 4 cfliitu In tiuiii for 140 1'mku uuiKtriiKKl uutiwotfiliicluuiiiK circii. Inrflof Iniiut dddltloim to our lino. Contain jmlnU on liootln.nmtiiu nlllou, tlio inijinr citrnof it tlri'in in, etc., etc. Our nttrnctlvo Ton Color MtliiiKinpliuil llnnrer umllcil nnjr irliuro for hIx cuntu In Mum pp. J J. HTIiVKNH AWttH Ss TOOL CO. . V. O. Jtox Ot7 Chlcopoo I'lilln, MnBft,, IT. fl. A. a nit utn t lAMri d. rr ""i"' t. " r IVI. VI I I -1 . H V n Oi. Utnla I'D Hi t i ... DKAliKltB IN Dry Goods Clpthing, Furnishing Goods HOOTS AT) HltOKB', HATS AN, I) CjAl'8 THE DALLE8 OREGOH MAX LUEDDEMAHH NOTARY PUBLIC : MADRAS . OREGON c smith! M. A. nJ hi,. ' m iiltn"on MADI 9REQ0 CHARTERO Hoier inl r-onV tZT" R,t t'liMlo ort l!!u ton with our now 'Vrtoi WALL PAPER Oot ft Cllirtni. n.l. ... LOUCKSBROS. THE DALLES A PRIVATE TO lor tho treatment of all & J surgical diseases, exctpt tm contnuioiiH. PATIENTS MAT EMPLOY OWN PHY8ICIAS8 Train Inn School for ttutm In! lion. For Information mwm same tuldrtai 8upt. orXurwi. HOSPITAL! Hi From $10 to $21 per week, h to room, Including boi4il cf uoaru. For further information iddrtl . DRS. FEROU30N S Dl COLUMBIA $0! RAILWAY CI TIME TABLE NO, EfIecllveJu)i,ii. KoutTT Hound No. 2. i N'orJ A1 Dully tvt Lcikvo. 2.15 p.m, 2,!li.m, 'i.r i.m, Ha p.m. 3.12 p.m. .1.1K p.m, .YIl'lp.M, axa p.m, niHp.m n.ro p.m. 4.irti.m. its P.m. :tU0j 0lkMM Hlokl WMrt) Klondfke Bunmlt ll.HI.! 1I.KJ MrlK immt list. l)Uo Vnrn VVInrltll! W ;,....V'.ll'r Mill ..i 4A1i.m, ,. s.llp.m, . , ft,ai i.m, Conrton ,Wi Arrive.1 S.Mp.l 8linlkOWJi ivHmit i MM KorralMnlotl.erliUorBii""'f A.U0RAI0,flal Jt.J.Wiio.N, Agent. Sbwlko.""4 OFFICIAL DIRECT UNITED STATES Ireflcnt I'fcirtflff "B Vlrc-rrelil('f' Koorotnrriiii'i'" ielJ a of TreMiirj .n BccrctHrynf iiuorw Secretary of Wr PifcrBry of Mirj -;' victor 1 I'oiitmiwtcr wfii' " . ....... flAHHrAI T.nj Becri.-t.iry of igr.cuu- STATE cm1 Oovornor r-1 fieflrBtsry of Btato... Treftiorcr Attoriioy fletierat..-" ... . iimi.im iimtructiou ir 8 fieimton r.....nl.tr. ' ' I toiigri'simun Biipremo Judg"'-;" Juitgo ...rJ I llirlief.'i ORO0K 0UTr Judge ,,, Clcrlt ', , Bhorlff . TrcMiirof :" Bnrroyor " , Coronor CommUsK"1" KUT0H PC llmllco coutaui i""