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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 25, 1908)
4 J..:j'n,4 - ...IV EIGHT PAGES. DAILY EAST OHEfiO.VIAN, WENDLETON, OKEtJON, TUESDAY, AI GtST 25, 1008. PAGE TURKS. h Great fwe- Sale Continiies I OSM WEST DDE HHi HI fT. UK 8TE Onwald Went, member of the ra.il road commluuton, has gathered fig ures and fuels regarding the Oregon railroad und wagon road grunts that will be of Inestimable value to the state. The fucts are now being used by Mr. West ,Jn a number of addresses he is making on behalf of the Wil lamette Yulley Development league which will hold a congress at Marsh field next week. Mr. West concludes from the fucts he has at hand that a guaranteed land tax should be Im posed on the holders of these grants o that they may m opened for set tlement. Until they are he maintains Oregon will continue to be undevel oped. "About one-eighth of the area of the state has been given to corpora tions to aid In the construction of rail and wagon roads," said Mr. West. "The grants are as follows: f Acres. Oregon & California and Ore gon Central It. K. ........ 4,500,000 Oregon Central Military Road company 800.000 Corvallls & Yaqulna Day Wugon Koad company. .. 90,000 Willamette Valley & Cascade Mountuln Wagon Road comjuny 850,000 Coos Day Wagon Road com pany '. 115,000 The Dalles Military Road company 685,000 Total 7,000,000 "These figures are based upon the mileage of the several rouds, but are not exact us some of the lands were lo8t to the companies on uccount of overlaps, adverse decisions, etc.," continued the commissioner. "These grants have a total area of 11,000 square miles aitd would make a tract of 100 miles square, which Is as large or larger than any of the New England Mates and as large as Maryland and Delaware combined. It Is equal to the combined area of Clat op, Columbia, Tillamook, Washing ton. Multnomah, Clackamas, Yam hill, Polk, Marlon. LJnn, Benton and Lincoln countle. or In other words as large as ail that part of Oregon lying north of Lane county and west of the summit of the Cascade moun tains. Stllcis Xot rjicouroged. "Perhaps one-half of the acreage Included In these grants hus been sold, but the balance Is still Intact. The owners, have never encouraged Immigration with a view of placing settler on their lands but on the con trary have withheld the lnnds from sale and have not only shifted the burden of the development of the country to the shoulders of the small settlers, but have for years (systemat ically dodged the payment of their Just share of taxes. "The largest shnre of the grants Is the Oregon & California railroad grant which parallels the Southern Paolflc company's main line and Is controlled by the Hurrlmnn Interests. Iet us see what this company has done In the matter of tax dogdlng. "Tht Oregon & California Railroad company postponed the procuring of patents In order to escape taxation and during the 25 years following the date of the grant but few acres had been listed for taxation. During this time the total taxes paid by the com pany did not exceed $75,000. "Slnco 1S91 the assessors have gradually been getting these lands on their tax roll and now, practically all are listed. The assessed valua tion plnced on them in past years was very low and the total amount of taxes paid down to and Including 1907 does not exceed 11, 000,000, an average during the past 40 years of about 40 cents an acre. "In early years the corporations es caped taxntion by not having patents for their land. Later on, when they procured pntents, It led the assessors to believe that their Interests were limited to $2.60 an ncre as that waa the selling price fixed by law. The result was that the lands were assess ed at about 50 cents an ncre and even down to 1002 the amount paid was a small Item. Since 1002 many coun ties have had these lands cruised and they arc now bearing something like their share of taxes. The 2.000,000 acres remaining unsold In 1907 were assessed for that year at about $18, 000,000. "Under the terms of the grants of 1866 and 1870, the two rallroadB were entitled to about 4,600,000 acres of land. On account of overlaps and other causes some of the grant was lost and patents have been secured to only 2,900,000 acres. But the Ore gon A California . Railroad company has applications on .file for about 200,000, and is clulmlng about 1, 000,000 ucres more. No further pat ents will be Issued, however, until th question as to the forfeiture of the grant has been settled. "The Oregon & California Railroad company hus sold over 800,000 acres of its lands and has realized neur S4, 600,000, over $5 an acre. The lands sobl during the year ending June 30, 1907 brought an average of $37.96 an acre. If the bulance of the land is sold at prices equal to its present as sessed valuation tho company will realize $26,000,000. The deduction of $5,000,000 for taxes, cruising, office and other expenses, would leave $20, 000,000, or $5,000 -per mile for the 400 miles of road for which the grant was made. Wagon I loud Grants. "There are no figures available showing how much the wagon road companies have received from the state for the sale of their lands, or the number of acres remaining un sold. . "The Dalles military road grant extends from The Dalles southeast through Wasco, Sherman, Wheeler, Grant and Malheur counties. "Tho Wlllumette valley and Cas cade mountain military road grant extends from Albany cast through Linn, Crook, Harney and Malheur counties. "The Oregon ccntrul military road grant extends west from Roseburg through the heart of Douglas and Coos counties. "The Coos Bay Wagnn road gran extends west from Roseburg through the heart of Douglns and Coos coun ties. "The Corvallls and Yaqulna Bay wukon road grant extends west from Corvallls through Benton and Lin coln counties. , "The construction of these roads was about the biggest graft ever worked In this or any other country. Circuitous routes were followed- with a view of securing the most desirable lands. It Is about 300 miles on a di rect line from Eugene to Jordan val ley, but by the way of the Oregon Central military road It Is 420 miles. Many of these roads for hundreds of miles were nothing but a wagon track through grazing or wild hay lands of eastern Oregon, and the only cost at tached to their construction was the survey of the route for the purpose of filing maps In order to secure pat ents to the granted lands, and many miles followed roads constructed by settlers; yet the company claimed and secured patents for a distance of three miles on either side of the road. "Many acres of the mountainous nnd worthless lands acquired under these grants were worked Into forests reserves and became available as base or forest rescre scrip, and In that way sold for $5 and $6 an acre. Graduate! Ijind Tax. "The way to break up these large holdings Is by taxation. The consti tution should be amended so as to permit the levying of a graduated land tax on unimproved values, as they do In New Zealand. In New Zealand every land owner, large and small, pays an ordinary land tax of abotlt four mills upon unimproved values, but holdings, the value of which amount to $25,000, are taxed an addi tional ono-quarter of a mill and this Is gradually Increased until It reaches 12 mills the rate on estates valued at $1,000,000 and over. "Non-resident owners pny an addi tional tax of 50 per cent of the amount of the graduated tax. In other words, the large land owner pays four or five times as much per acre as the small land owner does. An acre of wild land Is assessed Just the same as an adjoining acre of highly Improved dand. The result Is that It becomes unprofitable to hold these large tracts of land, and they are put upon the market and sold in small tracts. w 'E are sorry that the great crowds of people that attended the first two days of one of the most saving Price Sales that ever was placed on foot in our city could not have the proper service, but it could not be helped. I have now arranged the stock so that you can help yourself. Prices low ered as the short end appear. The Sale will continue until Saturday, August 29. Supply your needs for months to come. No time to quote prices .'. . REMEMBER The PLACE BIG 6. STORE J. A. COBB, PROPRIETOR C. L. .Fitchard of Independence advis ing all growers of that commodity to stop selling now on future dplivery. He believes that hops will this year command a price of from eight cents to 10 cents per pound. The reason for the shortage, as given by him, Is the fact that the poor prices of Inst year have caused many grow ers to quit cultivating them. There Is less Interest in the subject In Ore gon today than for some time. "The Pacific coast crop," he snld, "will not exceed 180,000 bales, as against 294,000 bales In 1907. Ore gon this year will not produce more than 75,000 to 80,000 bales, Califor nia 75,000 bales and Washington 17 -000 bales. Old hops carried over on the coast will not exceed 24,000 bales. That leaves a net shortage of about 92,000 bales. "Under these conditions, prices should be better than last year. I look for hops to bring 10 te 12 cents a pound. Of course, some growers think differently and are selling short. 1 would advise agrilnst that practice. While the English crop Is heavy, the eastern crop r short this year, and this fact should encourage growe; not to bo in a hurry to make contracts." Mr. Fitchard is one of the largest hopgrowers In Oregon, nnd makes a special study of the crop and market conditions. cal farmers who were ready to tak advantage of the chance to lay In a supply of wood for the winter. . Under the provisions of the forest department a person is entitled to wood, fence posts and poles from the reserves to the value of $20 each year, the valu being; based on a set scale. Under this rule wood Is scheduled at 50 cents per cord and posts at 2 cents each. A person taking advan tage of the permits Is prohibited from selling the supplies, but are confined to utftng them on their own place. Corporations of all kinds are not given permits, but a member of a corpora tion may secure a permit for his prl viae use. The obect of Issuing these permits i.s to help to work up the fallen tree3 and dead wood as much as possible, and applicants are In all cases instruct ed to do so. They are also required to clear away the brush from their cuttings. Btntc of Ohio, City of Toledo. Lucas Coun ty, . Finnic 3. Cheney makes ostb that be l senior partner of the firm of F. J. Che ney Co., doing business In the City of Toledo, County and State aforesaid, and tlint snid firm will pny the sum of ONE lll'NDHKn DOLLARS for each and erery cnije of Catnrrli that cannot be cured Ur rlie use of Hall's Catarrh Curs. FRANK 3. CHRNBT, Sworn to before ma and subscribed In my presence, this 6th day of December, A. D., 1880. (Seal.) A. W. GLKASON. Notary Public. Hall's Catarrh Cure Is taken Internally, and acts directly on the blood and mu cous surfaces of the. system. Bead for tes timonials free. V. 3. CHENEY & CO.. Toledo, O. -cold by all Unmtlsts, 75c. Take Hall's Family 11) 1b for constipation. OREGON HOP CROP .SHOWS A SHORTAGE That shortage In the Oregon crop of hops is a surety, is the reason for APPI.i: MKX GOING TO WAR. DcU'i-uiinctl Fight Against Proposed Advance in liases. The advance In freight rates dis criminating against the apple grow ers of the inland empire, which is to go Into effect September 13, Is to be vigorously fought by the fruitmen's union and in all probability the case will be taken up immediately with the interstate commerce commission, says the Spokane Chronicle. A special meeting of the transpor tation committee of the state horti cultural association may be called In a few days to arrange fur ways and means for promoting the apple fight. The members of this committee' arc H. M. Gilbert of North Tnklma, one of the most Interested shippers In the Yakima valley; J. L. Dumas of Dayton, Qevrge Farrwell of Wenat chee and L. G. Monroe c.f the Spo kane Chamber of Commerce, who Is a member ex-orrtcio ana wno nas been chairman of the committee for some time. Mr. Monroe has asked to be relieved from the chairmanship of this committee, but as yet no action has been taken. The new freight tariff announced comes as a serious blow to apple growers of the inland empire. It means an advance of practically 16 cents a hundred on their entire crop of 1908. The prewnt rate from Spo kane to Faigo, N. D., is 60 cents per hundredweight, and the rate after September 13 will be 75 cents. Plneules for the Kidneys. 30 days' trial 11, guaranteed. Plneules act dl rectly on the Kidneys and bring relief In the first dose to backache, weak back, rheumatic pains, kidney and bladder trouble. They purify the blood and Invigorate the entire sys tem. Sold by A. C. Koeppen & Bros. Dakota Club Woiwn. Pierre, S. D., Aug. 25. .South Da kota club women are today pouring Into the city and will be given a re ceptlon this evening, preliminary to the formal opening tomorrow of the convention of the State Federation of Women's clubfc. One application of ManZan Plu Remedy, for all forms of Plies, soothes, reduces Inflammation, sore ness and Itching. Price 60c guaran teed. Sold " A. C. Koeppen & Bros. "Oregon Builders" Are you doing what you can to populate your State? OREGON NEEDS PEOPLE Settlers, honest farmers, mechanics, merchants, clerks, people with brains, strong hands and a willing heart capital or no capital. THe Oregon Railroad & Navigation Co. is sending tons of Oregon literature to the east for distribution through every available agency. Will you not help the good work of building Oregon by sending us the names and addresses of your, friends who are likely to be Interested in this place? We will be glad to bear the expense of sending them complete information about OREGON and Its opportunities. COLONIST TICKETS will be on sale during SEPTEMBER AND OC TOBER from the east to all points in Oregon. The fares from a few principal cities are From Denver - 530.00 From Louisville - $41.70 " Omaha - 30.00 " Cincinnati - 42.20 " Kansas City 30.00 " Cleveland - 44.75 " St. Louis 35.50 " New York - 55.00 " Chicago 38.00 TICKETS CAN BE PREPAID. If you want to bring a friend 01 relative to Oregon, deposit the proper amount with any of our agents. The ticket will then be fur nlshed by telegraph. F. J. QUINLAN, Local Agent, Pendleton, Ore. or write Wm. McMURRAY General Passenger Agent, Portland, Oregon. Negro Fair Ojwus. St. Joseph, Mo., Aug. 25. With exhibits from the colored people ot Missouri, Kansas and Nebraska, the second annual negro .Industrial fair was inaugurated today at Luke Contrary- DeWitt's Kidney and Bladder Pills will promptly relieve all Kidney and Bladder disorders. Sold and recom mended by Tallman & Co. Wyoming Ediors. Sheridan, Wyo., Aug. 25. Editors and publishers of all the leading pa pers of Wyoming are present at the session of the State Press association, opened today. ISSUED WOOD rEiniiTs. rilot Itork People May Now Cut Tim. bcr on H curves. The Pilot Rock News says of the work of distributing wood and post cutting permits In the Blue mountain reserve: L. E. Tipton, of the United States forest service, was In Pilot Rock for a few days this week Issuing wood and post permits to those W'ho are eligible. Though there was very lit tle notice given that Mr. Ttrton was to be here there was a number of lo- One of the Essentials of the happy homes of today is a vast fund of information as to the best methods of promoting health and happiness and right living and know ledge of the world's best products. Products of actual excellence and reasonable claims truthfully presented and which have attained to world wide acceptance through the approval of the Well-Informed of the World; not of individuals only, but of the many who have the happy faculty of selecting and obtaining the best the world affords. One of tho products of that class, of known component parts, an Ethical remedy, approved by physicians and commended by the Well-informed of the World as a valuable and whole some family laxative is the well-known Syrup of Figs and Elixir of Senna. To get its beneficial effects always buy the genuine, manufactured by the California Fig Syrup Co., only ,5 and for sale by all leading druggists. THE PASTIME PICTURE SHOW CASS MATLOCK, Prop. Entire Change of Pictures and Songs Every Sunday, Tuesday and Friday. SEE! SEE! The Dumb Hero Hard to Get Arrested The First Prize New Illustrated Song: ' Sweetheart Days. Admission 10c Children 5c Edison latest and best "Underwriters Model' machine absolutely fire proof. picture 4 ! Byers' Best Flour Is made from the choicest wheat that grows. Good bread Is assur ed when BYE11S' BEST FLO UK is used. Bran, Shorts, Steam Rolled Barley always on hand. PENDLETON ROLLER MILLS W. S. BYERS, Proprietor. The East Orefjonian is eastern OreKon'a representative paper. It ltads and the people appreciate it and show it by their liberal patrcsv age. It ia the advertising medium of this section.
