Historical Society. Oregon Ashland SUNNY SOUTHERN OREGON ASHLAND THE BEAUTIFUL VOL. XXXVII ASHLAND, OREGON, THURSDAY, JULY 18, 1912 NUMBER 15 Tidings WOULD REPEAL ORDINANCE MKT HO I) OF STKKKT ASSESSr MKXTS OBJECTED TO. BUTLER OFFERS SEVEN REASONS Routine Matters Occupy Council in Short Session Ordinances in Preparation for Storing of Explo sives Mayor Granted Vacation. Routine matters occupied the at tention of the city council In a short ession last Tuesday evening. Sev eral communications were read deal ing with water rates and water usage and referred t the proper commit tee. The street committee reported considerable work accomplished. The matter of the storing of ex plosives within the city limits was brought up, the ordinance committee being granted more time for the drawing up of an ordinance govern ing this matter. Chief Oien gave considerable enlightenment on the subject and suggested that a concrete house be erected at some safe point where dynamite might be stored. Jt .was pointed out that a large quantity of dynamite is at presenl stored with in the city. Mayor Neil was granted a two weeks' vacation. The important thing of the meet ing was the consideration of an ordi nance to repeal the one now in ef fect governing the 'assessment of street improvement against abutting property. Under the provisions of the present ordinance, no street work in excess of $50 can be undertaken by the council, as all in excess of that amount must be assessed against the abutting property owner. The new ordinance seeks to repeal the old and make it possible for the council to make needed improvements with the money now in the treaasury for that purpose. The ordinance was laid over for the second reading at the next regular meeting. - . In speaking against the existing ordinance Councilman Butler made the following statement: "There is only one thing that I find in favor of this ordinance, 'and that is, it would keep the council from showing any personal favors, and if that is the reason that this ordinance should stand, then there is not a councilman that should stay on the council another day, for when this council reaches the stage that 1t cannot trust itself with the ex penditure of the taxpayers' money, then, as I said before, it is time they were resigning. Points Against the Ordinance. "1. The paving of some of the streets cost the taxpayer at large over 37 per cent of the total cost oi such grading, paving, etc. "2. It falls upon the taxpayer at large to pay for the upkeep of an the paved streets, such as sweeping, cleaning, repairing, cutting for sew ers and water mains, etc. "3. The taxpayer at large paid for the grading, upkeep and repair of all the streets before they were ordered paved. "4. Under thermovisions of this ordinance the council cannot spend one cent of street money on the streets, unless it is to remedy an ac cident that has happened to the streets (with the exception of street intersections). "5. Ninety-five cents on the dollar of every dollar that you have spent on the streets since the passage of this ordinance has been a violation of the ordinance. "6. A levy of 2 mills on Ashland property was made by the county court of Jackson county .for the re pair and upkeep of the streets of the city of Ashland during the year 1912 and it is a violation of the state laws to use this money for any other pur pose, and it is a violation of the ordinance to use it for the purpose as indicated by the state law. What are you going to do with the money: "7". Under the provisions of Sec tion 2 of this ordinance the council is required to advertise for bids for street improvements in excess of $500, .and the letting of a. contract on such bids, while Section 22 of Article "VII of the charter of the city of Ash land provides that the council shall advertise for bids for all improve ments in excess of $500, and if the council fails to receive satisfactory bids the council may, by a two-thirds vote of the council, undertake and j erform such improvement under the direction of said, council. Now you can readily see that this ordinance is in direct conflict with the city charter. "Which should prevail, the city charter or illegal ordinances?" EXTENDING CITY LIGHTS. Ixwer laurel Street Will Soon Have Electricity. ; The city light zone is being ex tended beyond the railroad track in the north part of the city and that portion of the city will within a' few days be provided with electric lights. The new line extends to Helman Baths and in crossing the railroad right or way the wires are put under the tracks, this method being found cheaper and better than the over head wiring. Screen doors, any description or size. Carson-Smith Lumber Co. ELECTRIC IS COMING. Prophecy That Line Will Parallel S. P. From North. That the Oregon Electric Railway is to be extended as far south as Roseburg in the near future is at tested in a suit filed in the circuit court of Marion county at Salem on Saturday, say the Umpqua Valley News. The suit is in the form of a condemnation proceeding and was brought with a view of acquiring a right of way across certain land said to be situated between Albany and Roseburg. Other than citing the ti tle of the case, the complaint says the Oregon Electric Company. desires to extend its line to Roseburg and thereby is compelled to resort to the courts in order to acquire the right of way under dispute. The Oregon Electric line is said to be owned by the Welch interests, which in reality are known to be backed by James J. Hill and bis associates. According to the present surveys it is almost certain that the Oregon Electric line will parallel the Southern Pacific road as far- south as Ashland. In substantiation of the above it might be well to state that the Welch interests only recently purchased the local water and light company, here tofore owned and operated by Ken dall Brothers of Pittsburg, Pa. With the losal light and water plant in their possession, the Welch interests are now prepared to furnish electric ity with which to operate the pro posed . road upon its extension to Roseburg. Buy your peach boxes of Carson Smith Lumber Co. MINING SESSION OPENS Yreka Scene of Large Gathering Delegation From Ashland Left Tliis Morning. A larpe delegation of mining men from this city left this morning for Yreka, where the Southern Oregon and Northern California Mining Con gress opens its session tomorrow. Some excellent samples of ore from this district have been forwarded to Yreka. Mining enthusiasts' are en-, thusiastic over this meeting and state that it will be the biggest event of the kind ever held in the district. Ashland men have a prominent place on the convention program, Messrs. Watson, Burns and Dozier being slated for speeches. The program has just. been com pleted, and shows a choice of sub jects covering the entire mining field. The people of Yreka have done themselves proud in the man ner of the entertainment which they have provided for the visiting dele gates, and there will not be a dull moment from the time the train stops this afternoon at the Yreka de pot till the conductor calls "all aboard" when the time comes to leave. Thursday .evening the dele gates will be entertained at a free ball given at the pavilion in Recrea tion Park. Friday the regular pro gram of the congress will be ushered in by an address of welcome by Mayor Barham on the part of the people of Yreka. H. L. Herzinger, president of the congress, will re spond. Following this the program for the two days will be as follows: Opening address "Siskiyou Coun ty," B. K. Collier, Yreka. Address "Geology of Siskiyou District," Hon. C. B. Watson, Ash land. Address "Mining Generally," C. W. Anderson. Medford. Address "Leasing of the Public Lands," R. H. Burns, Ashland. Appointing of convention commit tees. Afternoon Session 2 O'clock. Address "Mining in Josephine County." W. S. Bacon, E. M., Kerby. Address "Mother Lode of North ern California," Hon. John Daggett, Black Bear. Address "Freaks in Ore Depos its," C. J. Dozier, Ashland. Address Subject to be chosen, O. S. Blanchard. Grants Pass. Address "How to Encourage Min ing," Prof. H. M. Parks, state miner alogist of Oregon. 1 Evening Session 8 O'clock. Selection by Yreka brass band. Address by Hon. W. H. Storms, state mineralogist of California. Selection by Yreka brass band. Address "Copper Resources of Shasta County and the Copper Mar ket," M. E. Dittmar, Redding. Saturday :30 O'clock. Address "Leasing of the Public Lands," L. D. Mahone, Portland. Address "Prospecting for the Un usual," S. F. French, Corvallis. Address "The Merlin Distrlcti" W. M. Richards, Merlin. Business meeting. Reports of committees. Adjournment. Following adjournment, (he after noon will be given to a social session, and visiting delegates will have an opportunity to see the sights around' Yreka. At 1 o'clock autos will leave the headquarters, taking all who wish to go for a tour of Scott valley, including receptions at Etna and Fort Jones. In the evening there will be a free entertainment and farewell reception. For all who will remain over Sunday, however, auto trips to Shasta valley and a recep- tion at Montague have been ar-" ranged. Excursion to Colestln. The Southern Pacific will run a special train Sunday, July 21, leav ing Ashland about 8:40 a. m., re turning in the evening. Fare forthe round trip, 60 cents. ACTIVITY IN IRRIGATION MATTERS FILINGS MADE ON WATER IN KEENE AND EMIGRANT CREEKS-WILL BE SUBMITTED TO RANCHERS IN AUGUST Irrigation activities, that have been evident in various parts of the valley this summer, are now assum ing definite shape about Ashlanu and it is hoped and expected that within the next thirty days the own ers of land across Bear creek will be given an opportunity to sign up for water. A party of ' surveyors passed through Ashland early in the week, and, when asked where they were bound for, stated they were going to Hyatt Prairie to make a week's sur vey. This is on Keene creek and Is adjacent to the Keene 'creek reser voir site recently surveyed by Ash land engineers. The men were said to be representing T. W. Osgood of Medford in the interest of the Keene creek irrigation project, it oeing ru mored that Mr. Osgood had filed on dam sites and water rights on Keene and Emigrant creeks. When called over the telephone yesterday, Mr. Osgood confirmed the report that he had filed on water in the above named creeks and further outlined his plans. "I have made filings on the water on Keene and Emigrant creeks," said FINE WATER SYSTEM. Jacksonville Now Boasts Superiority Over Valley Cities. According to the adjusters of the Equitable Underwriters of Portland, Jacksonville has the best water sys tem outside of Portland. The new reservoir completed last Tuesday contains 40,000,000 gallons and the entire business section is covered with pipes and most of the residence section. For domestic pur poses the water has tested absolutely pure. The new reservoir is supplied by mountain springs through Jackson creek and the underwriters who vis ited the- county seat were loud in their praise of the same. It is claimed in Jacksonville that the new system is better than the systems in Medford, Grants Pass or Ashland. Lady Camicrs Looking for something to embroider, don't fail to see the beautiful line of art needlework at Lane's Art and Novelty Shop. 47 North Main. FIRE IN LABORATORY -NEARLY PROVES FATAL F. A. Kormann, Chemist for Hygicnol Chemical Company, Overcome by Fumes Water Damages Hardware and Drug Stocks Fire which started in the labora tory of the Hygienol Chemical Com pany on the second floor of the Swe denburg building last Monday after noon came very near causing the death of F. A. Kormann, chemist in charge, and has been the means of putting the company somewhat behind with their work besides doing considerable damage to apparatus and supplies in the laboratory. The origin of the fire is not known. First signs of the conflagration were seen about 4:30, when smoke was noticed coming from an open window. Immediately the odor or gases permeated the air and the alarm was turned in. Attempts were made at first to get at the trou ble with fire extinguishers, it being thought water would not be neces sary. This proved impossible, how ever, because of the terrible effect of the fumes, and the hose was trained on the building. The fire was extinguished without great dif ficulty and when all was over it was found that the greatest damage re sulted from the water. Mr. Kormann had a narrow es cape. As soon as the fire was dis covered he rushed into the building in the hope of rescuing the books and formulas of the company. He made several trips with a sponge over his (face, but was finally over come by the fumes and was hurried WILL SUPPORT STATION. Coos County Court Appropriates $;,(() for Experimental Work. Marshfield, Ore. The sum of $3, 000 has been appropriated by the Coos county court for the establish ment of an experiment station. This is given as a basic fund for the insti tution and on condition that the state appropriate an annual maintenance fund. ' Since the visit of a number of the fruit experts to this locality recently the people have been enthu siastic about having a station in this county. The Fruit Growers' Association has taken up the matter and decided that the station should be located at some point east of Myrtle Point away from the ocean winds, as that part of . the county is best adapted for fruit growing and general farming. The plan Is to establish a station for the benefit of both horticulturists and general farmers. An Irrigation ditch has just been completed in the Hood River section that has taken six years to construct at a cost of $150,000. Mr. Osgood, "and have made surveys of, four reservoir sites on these creeks. I am now completing plans and will take up at once the cost of putting the water on the land. We should have this ready to submit to the ranchers by the middle of next month." Whet, asked as to the extent of the area to be covered, Mr. Osgood said it was the intention to cover land between the reservoir sites and Talent. He said any land about Ashland would be subject to irriga tion from the canals but that in the area named there is about four times as mu h land as the water will cover and the first to make application will be provided. "I have capital interested in the project with ample means to swing it if they can be shown that it is feas ible," said Mr. Osgdod. "1 am con vinced that It is entirely so up to this point and the project will be put through if sites and rights of way can be secured without the payment of exorbitant sums or without ex pensive litigation, these matters be, ing tne only things that will block it development." FIRST SHIPMENT OF PEACHES. Few Boxes of Alexanders Went Out Tuesday. The firBt shipment of peaches from this district was sent out by the Ashland Fruit and Produce Asso ciation last Tuesday. The shipment consisted of a few boxes of Alexan ders and were sent to Portland. The number of Alexanders raised about Ashland is small and carload ship ments will not be made until the Early Crawfords come in, which will be about the middle of next month. Holdup at Newport. Don't get held up on your way to Newport. Keep your checks and save money. Bains Transfer Com pany meets all incoming boats. We have no solicitor along the route or on board the trains. We simply give the public a square deal and solicit a share of the patronage. 14-2t The Hub's big clearance sale is southern Oregon's great bargain event. to the hospital, where after several hours' work he was brought back to consciousness. He was out again yesterday and but for a feeling of weakness is as well as ever. Walter Hash, a member of the fire company, was also overcome by the gases but recovered speedily. Considerable damage was done to A. J. Biegle's(hardware stock and the drug store of J. J. McNair on the ground floor of the building. Acids and water soaked through the building in streams and Wherever It struck a stove or other metallic ar ticle it cut and marked it badly. Mr. Biegle was unable to state the ex tent of the damage but said it was considerable, as much of the goods can no longer be called new. The Btock In the drug store Is also badly damaged, the water hav ing soaked everything soakable. Mr. McNair is in Portland and the extent of the damage could not be learned. Dr. Endelman stated yesterday that the company could not replace its loss for $5,000, the apparatus and supplies having suffered serious ly, while in addition to this loss the company is delayed in the filling of orders by the necessity of repairs and re-equipment. He stated, how ever, that the company would repair the damage immediately and con tinue the busines on a larger scale than ever. They have been in oper ation about three weeks. PETITION DENIED. Rural Midi Koute South of Klamath Falls Not Allowed. The petition which was recently drawn up and signed by the required number of Bigners for a rural mail route south of Klamath Falls has been returned for the reason that the proposed route is partially cov ered by stage delivery, according to Postmaster Brandenburg. Many of those now receiving their mail by stage delivery travel some distance to get It, but despite this the route was not accepted. About one-third of the proposed route Is now covered by stage. Another petition has been drawn up which covers territory farther west than the first one and it is pos sible that this one may be accepted If a sufficient number of signers Is secured. Clearance Sule, For two w,eeks, in millinery, all lines, big bargains. Mrs. H. Simons. Table board In private family. C4 Third (street, phone 309-J. GRANTS PASS IN TROUBLE. City Hall Ouestion Causes Tuimoil in Council. That city hall question, like Ban quo's ghost, refuses to down, and even the awarding of the contraact has not been sufficient to make the issues that were supposed to be dead lie quiet in their last resting place. Mr. Clarke, the contractor, had commenced work on the excavation for the foundation, when a difference of opinion regarding the position the structure was to occupy on the site developed, and the mayor called a special session of the council to con sider the matter before the contract or had made too much headway. At the called session adjournment was taken to Friday night, at which time only Counclmen Wolfersberger, Caldwell and Strieker were present. At this meeting the mayor explained several features regarding the loca tion that did not appear proper to him, setting forth his objections In a written communication. Another feature that did not suit the mayor was tne fact that a surety bond had been first demanded, but that this provision had been changed in the signed contract to a personal bond, and thatCouncilnian H. J. Clarke, father of the contractor, was one of the signers of the bond. This the mayor pointed out was a violation of the-city charter. Grants Pass Cour-! ier. This month only, men's suits French dry cleaned and pressed for $1.00. On es' Tailoring and Cleaning Shop. Goods called for. Phone 141. EAGLE POINTERSUICIDES r John E. Hart Becomes Tired of Life mid Shoots Himself Through the Head. Despondent over financial and do mestic troubles, John E. Hart, a pioneer rancher at Eagle Point, com mitted suicide at his home at 210 Beatty street about noon Tuesday by shooting himself with a .38 revolver. A note written; with a pencil lay on a table within three feet of where his prostrate body was found in a pool of blood with a bullet wound through his head. "Notify Elmer Smith at Yreka, also Pete Stowell at Eagle Point," was the contents of the note, which was unsigned. That Hart had planned the taking of his life was evident by the well arranged plan which he followed. It is also believed that he intended that the cause should not be known. For several days past he had coinplaineu to his friend, J. B. Reese, that he was greatly troubled with a severe pain in the back of his head. Tues day he said that the pain had been unbearable and he believed that it would kill him within a few days if relief was not found. Reese advised him to consult a physician, but Hart said that he believed that he would go to his home and try to sleep for a few hours. "If i am not downtown this after noon, come and see nie about 7 o'clock, as I will be pretty bad." Those were the words that he told Mr. Reese about 11 o'clock. Reese and J. H. Fleener, another friend of Hart's, found the body when they went to visit with him in the even ing. According to Dr. Clancy, Hart must have taken his life as soon as he arrived at his home, for the mus cles were stiffened when he was found. Hart but recently sold his ranch near Eagle Point for $22,500. A part of this money he had invested in a patent washer, which caused worry. He was also troubled over a divorce action that was brought by his wife and was to appear in the next term of court. Hart was about 68 years old and well known in the county. A cousin lives at Yreka and a (laughter by his first wife Is In southern California. Resolution. Dear Friends: The Ideal Grocery Company have resolved that on and after August 1, 1912, all accounts entered with us will be placed on a 30-day cash basis only, the 'same be ing entitled to our 5 per cent cash discount. We also wish to announce that hereafter credit will not be extended on accounts now standing which have run over 30 days time, and we ask that all settlements be made at once. Those desirous of continuing their account with us will please take no tice of the same and be governed ac cordingly. Under present business conditions it is impossible for us to maintain our present low prices and 5 per cent cash discount except on the above basis. MACKIE & NININGER. Ashland, Ore. Cotton Future Itanned. Washington, D. C. Heavy penal ties for .gambling jn cotton "futures" are provided In the Beall bill passeu Tuesday by the house by a vote of 9a to 25. The bill yet must go to the senate. Effort? were made to amend the bill to includa provisions prohibiting gambling In grains, but these failed. The bill would prohib it all dealing In cotton futures and fix heavy penalties for the purchase or sale of cotton not actually in ex istence. Heavy fines- would be im posed for the use of the mails or tel egraph for the dissemination of cot ton speculation information. Big clearance sale at the Hub now in full blast. INSTALL NEW EQUIPMENT WESTERN UNION MAKING UAIU. CAL CHANGES. WILL BE BEST OFFICE ON COAST Increased Business Makes Additions Necessary Ashland Was Uniia Mtrtant Itelay Station Four Yeurs Ago, Now the First. The Western Union Telegraph Company is making radical changes in their office equipment, whicn, when completed, will make Ashland office the best equipped relay station on the Pacific coast. The office is being enlarged appreciably by the moving back of the partition and the old relay tables will be replaced with new and larger ones, with increased facilities for handling the dally in creasing business of the company. The amount of the improvement is about $3,000, an expenditure that will complete the equipment of tuis office as a strictly modern relay sta tion. Less than four years ago the West ern Union spent over $10,000 in im provements in the Ashland office. At that time the company Installed a storage battery plant which replaced the now almost obsolete gravity bat tery. The increase in business and the importance of Ashland as a re peater and test station again neces- , sitates the enlargement of the office and the installing of additional equipment. The office will be equipped throughout with new and larger tables, switchboard and in struments of the latest types, which will make Ashland not only the best equipped and most up-to-date office on the coast, but the equal of any in the United States as well. Changes are under the direction of the plant superintendent. O. H. Sneed is personally conducting the work, assisted by Electricians H. P. Hoffer and W. D. Quinn. Changes will be complete In about two weeks. In addition to the force now em ployed, another repeater will be nec essary with the new equipment, which will make the total number five repeaters and two rlel'ks. Four years ago there were but two re peaters and a messenger and the of fice closed at 1 a. m. The public now has an all-night service. The office will continue to be operated under the management of F. C. Kout ledge. IMPORTANT ISSUE. location of State Highway in Cali fornia Causes Alarm. An Issue of great importance to Ashland and the Rogue river valley ! towns is being pushed vigorously by the board of supervisors of Siskiyou j county citizens of Sisson, Dunsmuir. lrena, jvioniague, iiornurooK ana other towns. A strong delegation backed with a heavy petition again appeared before the state highway commission of California last week and made their arguments against the proposed state highway going up the McCloud river route, which would take It to the ex'treme east side of Siskiyou couuty, making it come out in the neighborhood of Klamath Falls. The original plan contemplated sending the road up the Sacramento canyon to the state, line at Coles. The Yreka Journal states the case as follows: ' "The Siskiyou county supervisors; have established a record that will go down in history, viz.: That they passed an order that if the state highway passed through Dunsmuir up the canyon and then to Coles, they would build all bridges and give then an 8 0-foot right of way. The state commission claims that by Sis kiyou making this offer it has ratsea the building fund $0,000,000. as other counties have had to make the same offer. It virtually means that they will have $24,000,000 to work on. It is understood that the reason the engineers contemplate the build ing of the road up the Pitt and Mc Cloud rivers is on account of the saving of about $50,000, but a little saving like that is nothing compared with the accommodation of thou sands of people who visit the noted Rummer resorts of Siskiyou, many of whicli are located in the canyon,, besides 1m ing the most direct route."' WILL NOT CAMPAH.'N. President Taft Not to Make Extend ed Trip. Washington. II. C. PmsMunf- I art nas made it known that he will not personally canvass the country for votes at the November election. Such decision was announced in his telegram to the Minnesota agricul tural committee, declining an invita tion to address the Minnesota state fair on September 13 on political iv sues. "In Rending his regrets," ttits White House statement declared, "the president says he does not ex liect to make anv extemieil trliw nr- do any campaigning." Excursion to Colestin. The Southern Pacific will run a special train Sunday, July 21, leav ing Ashland about 8:40 a. m., re turning in the evening. Fare for the round trip, 60 cents.