Ashland tidings., January 20, 1913, Image 1

Oregon Historical Society.
ASHL
SUNNY
SOUTHERN OREGON
IDINGS
ASHLAND
THE BEAUTIFUL
VOL. XXXVII
ASHLAND, OREGON, MONDAY, JANUARY 20, 1913
NUMBER 08
T
AND
S. P. TRAIN SERVICE IS BADLY DEMORALIZED
Snow in the Mountains Hinders Traf tic and Many Snow Shovelers
Are Called to Help Clear Track
Train service has been pretty con
siderably demoralized the past three
days because of heavy snows in the
mountains. Today No. 13 was an
hour and a halt late. Yesterday
nearly every train was late, and
there was a large crowd of men left
Sunday morning to shovel snow on
the Siskiyous, and today one small
freight left with eight engines. The
clear weather today, however, will
have a tendency to improve condi
tions. The train service on the Southern
Pacific was badly demoralized on
Saturday by the snow and the rain.
The trains from the north were all
more, or less late because of snow
between the Rogue and Umpqua riv
ers, and by soft track caused by
rains and snow. Two feet of snow
was reported at tunnel nine, the oth
er side of Grants Pass.
OKKGOX MKT All PKOIHCTIOX.
Jackson County Third in Amount of
io!d Mined.
For several years there has been a
decline in the metallic output of the
state of Oregon, more especially in
its geld and silver, but preliminary
returns for 1912 chow that this has
now been checked, according to
Charles G. Yale of the United States
Geological Survey. The mine report
of the Survey for 1911 showed an
output of gold valued at $633,407
and 45,221 ounces of silver. The
preliminary returns for 1912 indicate
that the Oregon yield was about
$657,000 in gold and 86,951 ounces
of silver, a marked advance in the
silver output. Moreover, the smelt
ers received about 100,000 pounds
of copper, compared with 93,196
pounds in 1911, and 38,000 pounds
of lead, whereas there was no yield
of lead in 1911. More placers are
being worked thau formerly in Ore
gon, mainly by hydraulic methods.
The grade of ore in the deep mines
has been much lower than formerly,
although more of it is treated. The
lowering of the average tonnage
value is due to the lagre quantities
of old tailings handled, their average
yield being taken with that of the
new ore in making up the totals and
average values.
The largest producer of gold in
Oregon is Baker county, as has been
the case for some years. Following
In order of rank are Josephine, Jack
son, Grant, Lane and Malheur coun
ties. Eleven counties of the state
are now producing gold, Josephine
leading in the production of placer
gold, and Baker in that from deep
mines. In silver yield Baker county
holds first rank. Most of the ore in
Oregon is milled very little of it
being shipped to smelters for reduc
tion. Neither the southwestern nor
the northeastern counties of Oregon
are producing as much gold as a few
years ago, although the estimated
figures for 1912 show that some lit
tle advancement is in progress. The
state badly needs the advent of capi
tal to open and develop its deep-min
ing properties, many of which are
lying idle for want of means to place
teem on a productive standing.
Ashland to the Fore,
Ellery chapter of the Daughters of
he American Revolution, Newport,
R. I., includes within its fold not
ly a goodly number of the noted
"400," but of "Distant Daughters"
ore or less globe-trotters on our
American domain. This year in
February Ellery chapter devotes
an entire session -to the consideration
f papers specially prepared by "Dis
tant Daughters" upon some topic
with which, from local residence,
they may have become familiar. One
f the February contributors is Mrs.
Henry G. Gilmore of this city, who
has chosen for her theme, "Ashland
and the Rogue River Valley Coun
try." Mrs. Gilmore has said a good
wany nice things about the Granite
City, and sincerely trusts that the
'Ashland Commercial Club and Ash
land manipulators of "Mother Earth"
may be kept busy the present year
in furnishing homes for effete east
erners on the hillsides of unique and
ozone-giving ' Ashland.
Get your pruning done by a
practical pruner of 18 years' experi
ence. Contracts taken for large or
chards. J. A, Orchard, 1167 East
Main. 68-tt
Traffic on the Shasta division was
even more demoralized. The first
trouble was the derailment of a ca
boose on the Siskiyous on Friday af
ternoon, which delayed No. 13 in
Ashland until nearly 4 o'clock. That
night the trains from the south' were
about ten hours late, 14 and 16 not
going north until between 3 and 4
o'clock Saturday morning. The lim
ited followed close behind them, be
fore the track had a chance to fill
again, and was only about four hours
late. The southbound limited, Sat
urday morning, was also about seven
hours late.
On Saturday afternoon conditions
were even worse. All southbound
trains were delayed, 13, due here at
11:35 a. m., not arriving until late
in the afternoon, and No. 15 being
about three hours late. Both trains
14 and 16, from the south, were an
nulled because of a big land slide
the other i:;de of Dunsmuir.
IIAXDLK WITH CAJIK!
Lecture on Safe TiansKrtat ion of
Dangerous Kxplosives.
I'uder auspices of the American
Railway Association, a representa
tive of such organization will deliver
a lecture on the safe transportation
of explosives and other dangerous
articles, at the Star Theatre in this
city, Tuesday evening, January 21.
The address will be illustrated in a
manner to convey a special object
lesson in the handling and shipping
of explosives, the safe transportation
of which is not only demanded by
the railways but also by the public
at large. This lecture is thoroughly
educational in its scope, and the gen
eral public is invited to hear the pre
cautionary measures advocated by an
expert along the lines mentioned.
Although the address is free, in or
der to confine the merits of the same
to such as would naturally most
profit by the advice given, admission
will be by card, the tickets being de
livered without charge at the door.
A record of the attendance will be
kept in order to know how many de
sire to be posted regarding matters
embraced in the practical talk.
Oiga Steeb Has Immense Kepertoire.
Although scarcely emerged from
her 'teens, this remarkable young
woman has the largest repertoire of
any living artist, and as large a
repertoire as any artist in the his
tory of music. Any number of the
eleven hundred pieces she has mem
orized can be playfd by her in- con
cert on from one to two hours' no
tice. As a child Miss Steeb showed
most unusual talent and at the age
of six years was playing Beethoven
Sonatas. At this age it was discov
ered that she had absolute pitch, she
then- being able to name any tone or
combination of tones without the
least hesitation, even if placed in a
room away from the piano. At ten
years old she could play from mem
ory the entire forty-eight preludes
and fugues of the Bach "Well Tem
pered Clavichord," a remarkable feat
for one bo young.
Technical difficulties do not exist
for this artist and her tone is some
thing most extraordinarily beautiful.
Under the auspices of the Sun
shine Society Hiss Steeb will play at
the Elks hall on Monday evening,
January 27.
Ticket for Olg.i Steeb Concert.
Reserved seat tickets for the con
cert to be played by Miss Olga Steeb,
the world's greatest woman pianist,
are on sale at Lane's Confectionery,
the prices being $1.50 and $1.
Miss Steeb is one of the world's
very great artists, and it is only by
reason of her having one day's time
open between Portland and San
Francisco that will permit her play
ing in Ashland. The concert will be
the season's greatest musical offer
ing and social event. A brilliant so
cial affair and reception is to be
given by the club ladies for Miss
Steeb.
Miss Steeb will play at Elks hall
on Monday evening, January 27, un
der the auspices of the Sunshine So
ciety. Bargains in shoes and dry goods
before invoicing at Ashland Trading
Co., phone 122.
Do your trading at Enders',
where yon get anything you want at
prices "theowest."
GOES UP FOR 7 YEARS.WATER WASJHUT OFFjDISCUSS THE COST OF
Southern Oregon Orchardist Who
Turned Bandit Unique Page
in ('rime Annuls.
Kansas City, Mo, Jan. 17. Wells
Lounsberry of Medford, Ore., who
last August robbed a mail car on
the Union Pacific Overland train be
tween Kansas City and Lawrence,
Kan., was found guilty today in the
federal court at Kansas City and
sentenced to seven and a haif years
at Leavenworth.
This closes the last chapter of one
of the most unique and unusual
criminal careers in the annals of
train robbery. At home on his
ranch near Central Point, Lounsber
ry was an ideal citizen, loving his
family of three, with furnishings of
art in his abode, scores of friends,
and honored as a neighbor and a
man. Away, on mysterious missions,
he was a bold, daring bandit, rifling
mail coaches by an entirely new
method, escaping on the train he
robbed.
During his residence in southern
Oregon Lounsberry frequently made
long trips, and on one of these he
was arrested for the robbery of the
Union Pacific near Topeka, Kan.
He was identified by means of a let
ter to nis wife, and tried to commit
suicide when capture came, resisting
the officers determinedly. When
the news reached Medford, the idea
that he was the man was scouted by
men who had known him for years.
The convicted man is now 40 years
old, and with good time allowed for
his sentence he will be released in
five years. His wife and two little
boys who do not k-iow of their fath
er's predicament are with him, and
will make their home on their ranch
until he is released.
Cheese Special.
Our cheese department is com
plete. We have Camembert, Neuf
chatel. After Dinner, Cream Brick,
Swiss Block, Liraburger and Mac
Lareu's Imperial, all at the right
price. IDEAL GROCERY CO.,
Phone 156.
Hat Sale.
Call at Miss Porter's and get your
choice of about 50 hats, all colors
and prices, from $3.50 and up, all
going at $1.25 to make room for
spring stock. Sale lasts for this
month only. 68-2t
Special Meeting to Consider
Railway Franchise
There will be a special meeting of citizens at the Commercial
Club rooms this Monday evening, January 20, at which there will
be a general discussion of the promised electric railway franchise
wltich is to be asked for by the Minney company at the city coun
cil meeting iiext Tuesday evening. As this franchise will come
lefore the public to be voted upon, the general public both nude
and female is cordially invited to attend the club tonight and voice
an expression of opinion concerning same. In addition to the
franchise proposition there will also he discussion concerning the
scheme recently inaugurated by Portland for protecting its water
supply and the imssibility of adopting such a plan in Ashland will
be taken up. These two matters are of vital importance to every
responsible citizen and there should be a good representation at
i
A BASKET BALL GAME
Chosen Friends of Medford to Play
Asldand All-Star Team o
Thursday Night.
On Thursday a basketball game
will be played at the Natatoriuru
between the Chosen Friends team of
Medford and the Ashland All-Stars
which promises to be ono of the fast
est and most closely contested ex
hibitions of the season. The Med
ford aggregation has defeated some
of the best teams in the valley and
as yet remain undefeated, while the
local boys under efficient coaching
have developed a wonderfully fast
five who expect to make a name for
themselves before the season closes.
Manager Patterson is in communi
cation with some of the fastest teams
in the northern part of the state,
and should present prospects mater
ialize the local public will be given
a rare treat in the athletic line.
One more week of slaughter
prices on suits and coats for every
one. Enders' Big Store.
City Devoid of Tire Protection Sev
eral Hours Saturday Morning
Trouble Hemedied.
The city of Ashland was without
water for either domestic use or fire
protection for a few hours in the
early morning Saturday last. It
stems that the men at the power
houe failed to keep watch of the
scr&Mi at the tinner intake ami it be
came so clogged- with rubbish that
no water could enter the pipes.
When this occurs the water drains
outflf the pipe over the Crowson hill
and it is necessary to siphon it over.
Superintendent Rosecrans and one of
his men were called in the wee sma'
hours and closed the dam gate at
the lower intake until the pipes
filled to the level with the intake,
after which by manipulating the
gates it was possible to start the
flow over the hill. It was about C
o'clock when the system was again
put in good 6hape. Mr. Rosecrans
says they can swear it was raining
during the time they were out.
Buy Where the Sun Shines Days
in the Year.
On easy payments, in Planada, 159
miles southeast of San Francisco, 87
miles from the Yosemite Valley, the
great natural wonderland and tourist
resort, and 46 miles north of Fresno,
a prosperous, bustling city of 30,000
people. It has an elevation of 171
feet; a dry, healthful climate, free
from fogs, with 325 days of sunshine
every year. There is no better cli
mate anywhere. Outdoor life is pos
sible the year round. The man with
a family will find here just the con
dition for which re has been seeking
a good place tc make a living,
good schools and churches within
easy reach, and the right kind of
neighbors. Come in, let us talk it
over. Cecil A. Townsend, realty of
all kinds, phone 82. Aiken block,
East Main street, Ashland, Ore.
-If you want a good 1912 Over-
land car cheap, cee E. V. Jones at
the Park garage. This car has been
run only 4,000 miles and cost $1,200
lastvear. It must .be sold at once.
Car is fully equipped. A real bar
gain for quick cash buyer. 6S-2t
Fine Klamath dry land pota
toes, the best on the market, $1.00
per 100 pounds at the Klamath Ex
change. Phone 4. 6S-2t
FOR ALL THE CHILDREN
Dreamland Put on Special Attrac
tion for the Little Ones Ijost
of the Week.
The Dreamland Theatre is putting
on a specially attractive feature for
the children the last three evenings
of tli is week, in the persons of Mas
ter Joe Harrity, aged 5, and little
Marie, aged 3, the youngest couplo
on the Vaudeville stage. Let the
children see them.
$3,00O to Guard Wilson.
Washington, Jan. 17. An emer
gency appropriation of $3,000 to pay
for secret service piotection of President-elect
Wilson until his inaugura
tion was requested of congress today
by Secretary MaeVeagh.
Troublesome to hold a paper
away off and not seo it well then?
Better get a pair or those nifty spec
tacles of Whited. 68-3t
Mr. Blake, the ladies' tailor, is
at Fuller's, 81 Oak.
County School Officials and Judge Tou Velle Clash Over Matter
of cost in Rural Schools of Jackson Cocniy
County Superintendent Wells and : is striking pretty close to the hearts
his assistants take exception to of the people. V.o t,rilw. in .hi.
Judge I ou Velle? strictures upon
the cost of supervision in the rural
Fchools of Jackson county in an arti
cle in Friday's Mail Tribune, and
Judge Ton Velle conies hack with a
reiteration of his claims that costs
are excessive for results obtained.
The Tidings believes both sides are
honest in their contention, but in
view of the fact that high taxes are
one of the things that most of all
are holding back the development of
Jackson county, it is glad to see the
matter thoroughly discussed. Both
articles are therefore republished in
full as follows:
Under the caption, "School Graft
is Opposed by County Court," tho
Medford Mail Tribune of January 14
publishes an article purported to be
,an Interview with County Judge F.
I L- To11 Velle, in which the school sys-
teni of Jackson county is attacked as
a graft upon the public fund and a
burden to the taxpayers of the coun
ty. Coining from the source it does,
and on account of the numerous mis
statements contained therein, we be
lieve this article demands an an
swer. It. does not appear just who
are accused of this graft, but "graft"
is a strong term to apply to the ac
tions of public officials for doing the
very things enjoined upon them by
the law. It is to be remembered that
Mr. Tou Velle brought criminal ac
tion for libel against a certain editor
of this county for the use of similar
expressions.
Says Judge Ignorant.
If the county judge is correctly
quoted In this interview, it is very
evident that he has not given much
consideration to the matter and has
not familiarized himself with the
facts in tho case, otherwise there
j would not appear w many mis-state-
r ments.
The first mis-statement, or rather
this is a misleading statement, ap
pears in the headline, "Would have
law repealed bv legislature, and en
force minimum instead of maxi
mum." As a matter of fact which
the judge ought to know, the schools
now get the minimum in the very
things he complains of. The law
provides at least $S per capita from
the county for all children of school
age, and in accordance with this pro
vision the county court levied a tax
of 1.6 mills, which is the very least
It can levy under the law. In some
more liberal counties from $10 to
$14 per capita is provided, but Jack
son county gets the minimum, $8.
The high school levy is .3 of a mill,
which is also the very least the law
permits, and this law was made ap
plicable to Jackson county by a vote
of the legal voters at a general elec
tion, by an overwhelming majority.
The people demanded this by a vast
majority, and the county provides in
accordance with this demand the
very least it can.
Ought to Pay More.
The article further says: "Tho
people of Jackson county are paying
far more for schools than they are
for state and county or municipal
government." Tho levy for county
school fund is 1.6 mills and for high
school .3 of a mill, against 1.9 mills
! for general county expense and 1.1
for state tax. This does not include
warrant redemption nor road fund.
Hence it does not appear that the
county is paying moro for schools
than for county mid Htato govern
ment. But it ought to pay much
more. The county judge evidently
overlooked the fact that there were
employed in this county for the
school year 1911-12, 231 teachers,
while the number of county employes
is perhaps not over 35 or 40, and
cries "graft" because the county pro
vides nearly as much for these 231
teachers as it (16es for general coun
ty expenses. Of course this 1.6
mills and .3 of a mill does not pro
vide all the funds used for the
schools, but it is nil the county fur
nishes. In addition to this nearly
every district in the county is com
K;!led to vote upon itself a special
tax for maintenance, ranging from
1 mill to 10 mills on the dollar, or
even more. This tho people vote
upon themselves, and the county
court, the county educational board,
not the county school superintendent,
has anything to do with it.
People Want High Tax.
There is no tax the peoplpe will
so readily vote upon themselves as a
school tax, and any attempt to weak
en the support of the public schools
SCHOOL SUPERVISION
county receive but $50 per month
and are employed for but six months
during the year. In comparison to
the services they render the public,
there is no class of workers so poor
ly paid as teachers. The reason for
this is lack of funds, and yet tho
county judge maintains that Hie cost
is excessive. The amount provided
by the county for the schools is only
about two-thirds enough to pay
teachers' salaries alone, even at the
low salaries teachers receive. Sure
ly the county judge would not cur
tail the right of the people to vote
upon themselves an additional tax
for school maintenance.
The article goes on to say: "We
have a superintendent at $ 1,800 per
year, $200 a year more for traveling
expenses, and a clerk for him at
$300 more." The county judge also
gets a salary of $1,800 and we have
heard no one say that it is too much.
Does he think $2 00 per year for trav
eling expenses or $300 per year lor
clerk is excessive?"
Two Supervisors.
Then again: "We have two super
visors at $120 per month besides
their expenses." This also is a mis
statement. The supervisors get $120
per month and are furnished post
age, stationery, telephone expense,
etc., but pay their traveling expenses
from their salaries. The law pro
vides a minimum of $100 per month
and all expenses. The attorney gen
eral of Oregon has held that, this
means the county should pay travel
ing expenses as well as postage, sta
tionery, etc. In their desire to re
duce traveling expenses to the mini
mum the county educational board
allowed the supervisors $120 per
month and required them to pay their
own traveling expenses. These su
pervisors have traveled mostly on bi
cycles and on foot in order to keep
their traveling expenses within the
$20 per ..month. The supervisor iu
reality gets the minimum pay instead
of the maximum, as stated in the in
terview. More Mis statements.
It is also stated that "we havo tho
maximum number of supervisors."
Also mis-statement. The number of
school districts in this county enti
tles it to three supei visors, nd we
havo almost, enough school districts
to entitle ns to fon snpiiivwors, buf.
only two are appointed.
Another misleading statement:
"It (the law) permits counties hav
ing more than 60 school districts to
organize and divide tho districts into
supervisory districts," tc. The law
does not only permit but require
the county school superintendent of
any county with more than 60 school
districts, to organize and divide the
districts into supervisory districts,'
etc. The law does not only permit
but requires the count school su
perintendent of any county with
more than 60 school districts to ap
point, a county educational board
and put tho law into effect. In ac
cordance with this requirement tha
county superintendent ol Jackson
county did appoint a county educa
tional hoard,' which proceeded to di
vido the county into supervisory dis
tricts and appoint Hiiyervlwois as
required by law. fn their effort to.
economic, the pay of tho supervisors,
was placed at the minimum, the
$120 allowed them covorlng travel
ing expense as well as safctry. This
hoard had tho option to appoint one.
two or three supervisors. Two were
appointed. Helps Itntid flriuHik.
Tho supervisory law wan passed in
itio Interests of tho rural svhool, on
the ground that tho boy or girl in
the country Is entitled, to just as
good advantages a- tho toy or girl in
the city. The county over $33 !
being expended annually for the ed
ucation of the town and city pupil,
and only $13 for the conotry pupil.
There is no reason why tho country
school should not have as much at
tention as the town or city school.
In the Modford schools a superinten
dent is employed a; $2,008 per year,
and five supervising principals at
$900 to $1,500 per year, though only
about 4 5 teachers are employed in
the schools. Similar conditions pre
vail in every wide-awake city or
town. But In all the rural schools
of the county but two supervisors
are employed, and the county judge
would repeal the law that provides
for their employment.
(Continued on Page Eight.)