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About The Oregon statesman. (Salem, Or.) 1916-1980 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 23, 1947)
t The) Stat most. Balnea, Omcjon. Suaday. Nyrnmbnr 23. It47 Price Attractive? Trading in Gold Dust, Pigs. Wheat Feature By Winston Staff Writer, Th Statesman (Pictures ea Page 1) Butter at 20 cents a pound, shoes at $2 a pair, even calico in the latest, brightest colors at 33 .cents "per yard with pigs, fence rails, lumber, wheat or a day's labor accepted in part payment those were merchandising conditions in Salem 100 years ago this winter, when Thomas Cox opened the city's first store, at Ferry end South Com mercial streets. . Only a plaque on the modern building now on that corner, the northeast, reminds Salem of the original building, which burned in 1863 jmd-has Jbeen successively replaced by maeiy structures and types of establishment. A few sketches of the building as it was in 1858 are still extant in Salem (see picture). But a journal and a day book keep from 1847 to 1852 are in the state library here, showing that the business opened its doors Oct. 17, 1847. The books are owned by Mrs. Chester Cok, whose hus band was a great grandson of Thomas Cox. Staple 1b Demand The books reveal that calico, shawls and boots ($4) were in considerable, demand, along with silk and linen thread, "shugar" (126 cents per pound), "pluges toback" and coffee (25 cents a pound). Tea was $1.50 per pound. The store- also sold several hun dred starts for pear and apple trees, doubtless the beginning of many mid-valley orchards. . One purchase was of 11 yards of calico to be paid for with three bushels of wheat. Other means of settling debts were split fence rails, cattle, swine, leather, beaver skin, butter and lumber. But per haps the most intriguing today is payment by gold Oust,. lor Cali fornia gold was discovered within a year after the store's founding, and many from Salem joined the southward trek, including William Cox, son of Thomas and associat ed with him in the store. Customers' Name Historic Well-known pioneer names are Included in' early transactions re corded in the books the Rev. David Leslie, who first claimed the area now known as Bush's pas ture; J. L. Parrish; Dr. W. H. Willson, .who platted the Salem townsite, the Judsons and Mc Leans. Thomas Cox was born in 1781 in Kentucky, the son of English emigrant Joseph Cox.and went later to Indiana -and Illinois. In 1847 he joined the- westward trek to Oregon, along with brothers Peter and Gideon and sister Millie Raines, all of whom settled near Silver ton. Cox brought from Wilmington III., 11 ox-drawn wagonloads of merchandise, over the Oregon trail, past Fort Hall on the Co lumbia river and through Barlow Gate. He opened business, with his son WilLiam, in the JudSon house, according to the historic plaque, "about 950 feet to the northeast" of Ferry and Commer cial Streets. The next spring, in 1848, they built a two-story house at the new site. Fostoffire Opened At this time Turner Crump join ed the firm and was named Sa lem's first postmaster by Presi dent Polk. The elder Cox retired to a farm near the mouth of the Santiam river, and the store be came William Cox-and Co. A new partner, Stephen Coffin of Port land, was added in 1849,'payment for his share being $3,000 in gold dust at $16 per ounce.. Brisk business continued until 1853, when 'William Cox closed the store and retired to the farm for. his health. The day book shows sketchy entries following this time to as late as 1873. According to a book recollec tions by James W. Cox. grandson of Thomas, and himself formerly fin the grocery business and a mail ""carrier in Salem, all the store's merchandise was shipped around Cape Horn, except the opening stock. Store Fire Victim James' sons were the late Ches ter Cox, for 33 years associated with Ladd ic Bush bank here, and Ralph Cox, now of Boston and a high official in the Railway- Ex press agency. Next disposition of the building is uncertain but, evidently during the. '50s, a building was joined to lU north side which had been built as a house by Thomas Pow ell, a blacksmith. It was moved to the site from a block west. The full unit served as the Union House (see picture), one of Salem's earlier hotels, until its destruction by fire in 1863, along with much of the remainder of that block. After the fire, that area both' business and residential at that time rebuilt rapidly, and com prised a considerable portion of 's 465 State SL Needham of Salem's H. Taylor Salem's business district for sev eral years, it appears from a Sa lem directory for 1871, owned oy Judge L. H. McMahan. Saloon on the Corner How many buildings or firms occupied the site in their various turns is not known, but MCJVia han. whose family has been in Salem since the 1840s, recalls a saloon on that corner in the late '80s, run by George Schroeder and Pete Fox. During later years such tenants were there as a bowling alley, a junk shop and a house occupied by a Chinese family, it is recalled by Roscoe (Tad) Shelton, Marion county assessor. Milton L. Meyers remembers a billiard parlor there. The present brick structure was erected about 1915 for an early day Salem garage. Now owned by Mrs. George Waters, it has for the past 17 years housed the local Goodrich auto supply store. Farm Bureau's Head to Retire CHICAGO, Nov. 22 -(JP)- Ed Ward A. O'Neal III, 72-year-old president of the American Farm Bureau Federation and veteran lobbyist for legislation favorable to the farmer, will retire next month to the Alabama farm he left nearly a quarter century ago. In the 24 years since he stopped active farming to become presi dent of the Alabama Farm Bu reau, O'Neal has fought for con gressional enactment of measures to aid the man with the plough. O'Neal served 16 year eight consecutive terms as president of the federation. School Thief Takes Linens Table linens, quilts and hand made "fancy work" were stolen from storage space in the Living stone school, 1913 Broadway St., city police ; reported Saturday night. They said the school had been entered through an unlocked window Friday night or Saturday during the day. School rooms were ransacked and some small change taken, in vestigating officers reported, as well as some of the belongings of Mr. and Mrs. C. Cj- Mooney, 1730 N. Water st1., which had been stored temporarily in the school. ; Another school break-in report ed from the county sent a deputy sheriff Saturday night to investi gate at Hazel Dell school. Portland Police Changes Readied PORTLAND, Nov. 22-GP)-Po-lice Chief Leon V. Jenkins will step down to a subordinate post in a police department reorgan ization to be inaugurated within a month. Mayor Earl Riley said today. The reorganization will follow recommendations of August Vbll mer, Berkeley, Calif., expert Jenkins, chief here from 1919 to 1933 and again from last April until now, said he had accepted the chiefs post only on an emer gency basis and did not feel able to undertake the "arduous" reor ganization. 1st Flight Today For Biggest Plane SAN DIEGO, Calif., Nov. 22-JP) A nine-man crew will be aboard Consolidated Vul tee's giant XC 99 military transport when it takes off from Lindbergh field on its maiden flight tomorrow.afternoon, company officials announced to day. m The craft, the world's largest land - based plane designed to carry 400 troops, will have an all civilian crew two pilots, four flight engineers, two test engin eers and one radio operator on tomorrow's flight. I I "J ' Cfcoot yours now wki wt R&bofts, Cofrjf, Tigs ami ScVi Christmas Cards Boxed Assortments Christmas Note Paper Book Store Phone 5802 4 First Store Tudler Jim' Davis, Moose. Leader, Dies WASHINGTON, Nov. 22-JPh Funeral services for James J. Da vis, former Pennsylvania senator and secretary of labor, who died early today, will be held at rrns bureh Tuesday. Pfi vate Services will be held on Tuesday morning with the body to lie in state Monday at funer al home. t Davis, director general of the Loyal Order of the Moose for the past 40 years, died at the age of 74. " His death was attributed to kidney ailment: He had been patient in Tacoma Park hospital since September. A native of Tredegar, Wales, Davis came to this country with his parents when he was seven years oldl While still a boy, he en tered the steel mills and by the time he was 16 had become qualified steel puddler. Proud of his nickname, "Puddler Jim," Davis once wrote: "A land where a boy can enter the mills at 11, learn two trades, acquire a sound business educa tion and make a competence in his 30's-is not such bad country as the hot-headed reds would have us believe." Argentina Sets Grain Bonuses BUENOS AIRES, Nov. 22 Argentina announced, today a pro gram of higher prices and bonuses to her grain producers to speed the movement of their harvests to the market. The government is the sole ex porter of Argentine wheat, and some sources said this move was aimed at getting the crop now being harvested to market as soon as possible ahead of the next United States crop. (There was no indication in this dispatch whether Argentina would raise her export price on wheat. She is known to have received as much as $4.02 a bushel delivered alongside ships, which is well above the prevailing , Chicago price. Argentina has been accus ed in the United States of ex ploiting the European food situa tion by selling her grain for high prices abroad, and reaping a large government profit in the differ ence between sales price and the Lpnce paid to her growers.) Portland House i Fire Hurts Five PORTLAND, Nov. 22-JP)-Ylv persons suffered minor injuries today as fire swept through frame apartment house, chasing occupants from four second-story apartments. Firemen brought the blaze un der control in 45 minutes with da mage confined almost entirely to the upper floor. Plane Crash Kills 8 In Czechoslovakia JICIN, Czechoslovakia, vNov. 22 (JP)- A Romanian - Soviet airlines plane flying through rain and fog crashed and burned on Tabor peak last night killing eight of those aboard and injuring 18 oth ers. Ten of the injured were in a serious condition. HURT IN COLLISION Alvin R? Mqier, 1965 N. 5th st, incurred leg' cuts when his motorcycle and a car driven by Thomas E. Garrison, Gervais, route 1, collided at Cherry and iHighland avenues about 9 p. m. Saturday, city ponce reported. Another police report last night indicated the parked car of James Carlin, 2372 State st, had been struck by a car operated by Jim Hackett, 2590 Brooks st 2-DAI1D Pradio Even for short wave feces tion yon nood no outside serial or ground with this new General Electric radio. Clear natural color tone standard broadcast and short wave t eception one piece cabinet MODEL S3 . w,-;$47e3-" trfastk. Only . II. L Elfsfrca Co. S4t Cewt Ph. 1221 Ok BT r . Freedom, Wi IrH---- K HAKRtSBUKG. Paw Nev. 22 For ship trains creased paths at Harrisbarg, capital ef Pennsylvania. As several thousand spectators cheered, the Friendship train, with tta decorated boxcars leaded with feed for a hangry Earepe, smiled In at rixht beside the Freedom train (extreme left). After brief ceremonies, daring- which snore ears were hooked onto the Friendship Statesman). Police 'Aid' Shoplifter KALAMAZOO. Mich.. Nov. 22' (iP)-Police who were called to ar rest an 80-year-old woman on a shoplifting charge took up a col lection today so the poverty stricken widow could buy the siirtple things she craved to bight en her Christmas. j The woman admitted to officers responding to a call from a local store that she had picked up some Christmas cards and a jar of face cream. She said she wanted the cards so she would have some thing to send relatives for Christ was. And the face cream she wanted, she said, "to make me beautiful again." Officers escorted her to her home, which she maintains with old-age assistance, and gave her cash to buy the cards and the cream. They refused to divulge her name. Roulette Winners Take No Chances, Keep Fund Intact RENO, Nev Nov. 22-4VTwo young fellows who ran a $300 pot beyond $7,000 at the roulette wheels by betting continuously on No. 9 took another look at the game today then decided to stay out and go Christmas shopping in i stead. "We found a few discrepancies in the system (the system, - un disclosed, hinged on the variety of the bets on No. 9) and we in tend to work them out," said Al bert Hibbs, 25, of Chillicothe, Ohio. . "when that s done, we may come back to Reno or maybe visit Las Vegas along about next March." Hibbs said ho would mo with his partner Roy Walford, 23, of San Diego, to San Francisco and then to Walford's home. After that, they contemplated a cruise to the Caribbean where Walford, a p re-medical student, hopes to study tropical diseases. "We ve got enough to buy . a boat that floats," Walford said. "When we came here, we didn't have enough to buy a plank out of It." Breaking of Custom Brings Woman's Death JOHANNESBURG, South AM ca, Nov. 22 - UP) - For 60 years Francesca Mary Rose. 81. spent every November 20 in retirement because that day in 1887 her fi ance was killed in a train acci dent. This year she wanted to se the royal wedding celebrations and went out. Five minutes later she was killed In a motor acci dent KARAKUL KAfoPET ... is the) NEW reversible floor covering made from Kara kul wool ... beautiful plain colors and heathers ... long wearing . . . Inexpensive; an Ideal wall-to-wall Karpet, and suitable for small runners of various sizes. Brovmsvillc Uoolenllills Brownsville, Orecon (Oldest established woolen mill in U. S. west of the Mississippi) CREATORS OF KARATUL KARPET are now taking special orders lor de- lirnry within on or two wpnks Ginmndiatn delivery In certain colors). This Karpnt 1st 100 rirgin wooL woven , ; , . ; ' ; through and through and in finished I font wide. The prlen It 45 par squaro yard phis fhs cost oi laying. Fres sflmcrtst upon tsqosst, - " - ' ' s Raymond JPag iST' Rcprescntalirt If Ne Answer Can S3 84 Friendship Trains Meet ---'-1'' C'V-vjr-- " ' the first time ea their tears el the train; the mercy train left for Marshall Reaches 11 fP- ' ,i ; "' (I l. : I f v A l 'a- 4 ii i"4 i' LONDON, Nev. 22 Secretary nf Sta,te George C UarshaiU (center) walks from Us plane at Nerthelt airport. London, after flight from Wnahlna-ton to attend the eomina meeUng el WUg Four forelgst min isters. Marshall wa welcosned by Lewis Denglaa-(left), nmbaesa der to London, and Prince Bernhard (right) ef the Netherlands who was awaiting a plane for Holland after attending; the royal wedding. (AP Wirephete to The Statesman via radio from Leaden). Factories Slate Rating of Trucks DETROIT, Nov. 22-(JP-The Automobile Manufacturers' asso elation today announced that be ginning. Jan. 1, 1948, most truck manufacturers will be prepared to rate their vehicles in terms of gross vehicle weight and net horsepower. The announcement said truck manufacturers would file G. V. W. and net HP rating with state li censing officials on request. An identification plant, containing these ratings, will be attached to each vehicle to assist state licens ing officers and enforcing offi cers. OFFICE BUILDINO 80LD - COOS BAY, Nov. 22-AVThe sale of the five-story Hall build ing, Coos Bay's biggest office structure, was announced today by Sheldon Sackett, publisher of the Coos Bay Times. Don B. and Alda R. Walster, Portland, were the buyers from Times. Inc. nation, the Freedom and Friend New York. (AT Wlrephoto to The Loiidan SMALL KADIO STOLEN Chester F. Royer of Albany- route 2 reported to Salem city police Saturday night that a $45 portable radio had been stolen from the glove compartment of his parked car in the 500 block of State street between 6:15 and 10:15 p. m. Entry apparently had been made by reaching through a car window. APARTMENTS PLANNED PORTLAND. Nov. 22-OVA 12. 500,000, apartment development that will house about; 1.000 per sons will be started here next month. L. C. Binford -said todav The project, on an east side site near Kose city golf! course, is planned to contain 262 apart ments. WILLETTS Capital Drug Storo State and Liberty Streets Salens 120. bottle of regular !2iS,MCb?.. SPECIAL DRY-SKIN LOTION Rich, kind to tender skins. Use regularly on face, gener ously oa legs, arm; neck. Prevents chapping. Ik Mil : 0 'vJ' . w 111! 'I . mi M) Franzen Heads Area Engineers J. L. Franzen, Salem's city man- ager, was elected president of the newly formed mid-Willamette val ley section of the Professional En gineers of Oregon at a meeting Saturday night in city hall here. The 19 assembled engineers from Salem, Eugene and other val ley cities also elected F. O. Mc Millan, electrical engineering pro fessor of Corvallis, vice president, and Robert T. Stanley, state high way department engineer of Sa lem, secretary-treasurer. Elected trustees were R. B. Boa Is of the Eugene water board; J. C. Compton, McMinnville con tractor; A. C. Mercer, practicing civil engineer of Dallas; Victor L. Goodnight, city engineer of Cor vallis, and William C. Hill of the state aeronautics board in Salem. The professional group will meet monthly to consider problems and standards of the engineering pro fession and pertinent legislation. Members planned to meet in vari ous cities of the valley, scheduled the next session for January 9 in Salem and tentatively set the first Friday of each month for the meetings to follow. Franzen, former Oregon City manager, had been president of the Portland section of the engineer society in 1934. Mass Graves Long Known HAMMELBURG, Germany, Nov. 22-VUnited States military authorities in .this tiny - woodland town of central Germany said to night that the existence here of 68 mass graves of nazi victims had been known to allied forces since March, 1945. An announcement t h t the graves had been recently discov ered by a search team of the in ternational refugee organization was made earlier today by the LR.O. information division., UJS. military authorities in Hammelburg said the mass graves, in two groups of 34 each, con tained the bodies of 23,200 Russian prisoners - of - war, according to markers which have been erected on The site by the Russians. Stassen Sees More Ballots ST. PAUL. Minn Nov. 21-13K. Harold E. Stassen. .candidate for ine republican presidential nomin ation, said in an interview tonirht ne expects 54 first choice votes of the 114 to be cast at the GOP na tional convention by seven states he has Just visited. Nomination reauires 847 vote ef the convention's 1 OQ3 v The estimates were made bv the former Minnesota governor who returned todav from an airalsn speaking tour in Nebraska, Col orado, xexas, Arkansas, Louisiana Mississippi and Florida. The 54 delegates, Stassen said, are in addition to 100 he previously estimated he would get from the midwest. Papers Puplished After ITU Dispute fey the Associated Press Publication schedules of news. papers in Chicaeo and Detroit were nearly back to normal Sat urday alter editions In both cities were delayed because of a con Too Late to Classify FOR RENT Small store or office At trailer house. S4 N. Commercial St rOR SALE Used car. 1838 Dodee -door sedan, low mileage, original owner. tzsN. winter, ph. Z1B33. PARTLY rURN house (or rent. In quire u naay, 1U63 fcnxoa s t. BLUSTERY WEATHER LOTION Famous specialty, a boon in bitter weather. Winter essen tial for men as well as women. Wonderful for hands. tract dispute with the AFL Typo graphical union. Members of the Chicago Typo graphical union have called a meeting for Sunday to discuss the breakdown in negotiations with the publishers. -. I Chrisinas Trees I AO Sises. 5 X Free delivery with samples. I Order new. 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