Oreg
1-11
GOUT.
o VOL. VI.
UNION. OREGON, THURSDAY, JANUARY , 1890.
NO. 29.
ON
'V
The Oregon scout.
An independent weekly Journal, issued ev
ery Thursday morn Ins lv
JOiVES & OHAKCEY,
Publishers and Proprietor.
, K. .J ONUS,
Editor. )"
, 15. ClIANCliY,
Foreman.
i:at::s or suissoiui'tiox:
One copy, one yoar
" fcix month-
" " Three montos
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lm.irlubly Cash In Advaiwe.
by chance subtciiptions arc not ptid till
end of year, two dutUirs will be chunjnl.
llatci of advertising made known on ap
plication. USQrCorrcspondcnco front all parts of the
country solicited.
Adress all communications to the Okkgo.n
Scout, Union Oregon.
PKESBYTKltlAX CHUKCH. Services
every Sabbath at 11 a.m. and b p. in;
babbath school at 10 a. in; prayer lucetiiij;
Wednesday, at 8 p, in. The Ladies' Mi
sionary boclety meets on the fourth Friday
of every month at 2 :M p. m. All cordially
invited. It. 11. l'AUKKll. Pastor
I'KOFKsSSION'Al
Tt. Eakin,
J. A. Kakin,
Notary Public.
J E AKIN , & BROTHER,
Attorneys at Law,
Union, Oregon.
CSfl'roinpt Attention 1'aid to Collect. ons.
JOIIX R. CRITES,
Attorney at Law.
Collecting and probate practice special
tios. Olliee, two doors south of post-olllce,
Union, Oregon.
W. Sueltox. J. M. Caiikoll,
J HELTON &, CAIIKOLL.
Attorney!
at
Office:
Two doors south of posK-dice, Un
ion, Oregon.
Special attention given all business en
trusted to us.
r 11. CRAWFORD,
Attorney at Law,
Union, Oregon.
Otliee, one door south of Centennial ho
tel.
3. F. Wilson.
Notary Public.
A. .1. Hackktt,
Notary I'ubhc
LSON .t HACKKTT,
Attorneys
at Lav.
Collections and all other business entrus
ted to ns will receive prompt attention.
A complete abstract of tho land of Union
county in our olllce,
Managersof theUNlON HEAL ESTATE
ASSOCIATION.
OFFICE: UNION, OK.
J N. CROMWELL, M. J). ,
Physician :nui Surgeon.
Olllce, one door outh of J.
store, Union, Oregon.
Q II. DAY, M. D,,
HOMEPATIIIC
Physician ami Surgeon.
ALL CALLS l'ROMl'TLY ATTENDED TO.
Office adjoining Jones IJro's store. Can
bo found nights at residence in South
west Union.
L. DANFOKTII, M. D
Physician and Surgeon
North l'owder, Oregon,
II I S K A S l: S OK W OMEN A 81'ECIAL T V.
Calls attended to at all hours.
W
M. KOENIO.
Architect and Builder,
COVE, OREGON.
Drafts, Plans and Designs for Dwellings,
and ISridges furnished on application.
Shingles For Sale!
An unlimited amount of No. 1 shingles
constantly in hand and for sale ehi-ap.
Order ;roin all partR of the country so
licited. S. 15. llUKKoroiLS,
3-1 1 tf Cove, Oregon.
City-Ieat-Iaitet.
Main Street, Union. Oregon,
BENSON JmOS. rnOl'IUETOUS.
j
ICp coiuUntly on liaud
BEEF, I'OHK- VEAL, MUTTON, !
SAUSAGK, HAMS, LABI). Etc.
Fine Line of Watch
THE TAX LEVY.
Jmlse Gaodill Discusses tUe Subject and
Corrects a few Misrepresentations.
Uxion. Or., .Iil'i. 1, lKl.
Entrou Ounuon Scout:
1 avMi (o beg of you n little space to
reply to nn article in lust issue of the
Lit Grando Gnxette, concerning the
tax levy of Union county for the year
1SSU.
Said article commenced by saying
Hint the tax levy will be about 28 mills-.
How tho writer of the article learned
what the levy is or would he, he did
not explain. The county court of Un
ion county has not yet been informed
on that subject, though it is pretty
generally expected that the state levy
will be unusually high, as tho last leg
islature was very liberal with the peo
ple's money; but so far as I know the
stato board has not fixed the state levy
vet.
The Gazette asserts that tho present
levy will be within two mills of that
made by Judge Alberson, (.'10 mills)
when the total assessment was only
$000,000, leaving tho inference that
that was the only levy of I!0 mills that
had ever been made in the county, nor
did he state the fact that at the time
Judge Alberson made this .'10 mill levy
Union county scarce owned a bridge
or road ; that nearly all the bridges
j and roads in the county, such as they
1.1 ,....!!
wore, iieioiigeo 10 ion companies.
The writer of said article states that
a little over two-thirds of this levy of
30 mills is for county purposes, and
says that any one attempting to ex
plain why a fund of $f)0,00() is neces
sary for the legitimate expenses of this
county for one year will have a job on
his hands, and that there is a motive
in this levy not hard to gue.-s; that the
present county board is favorable to
retaining tho county seat at Union,
and this levy was made to handicap
La Grande, etc. ; that such a tax levy
can have no other purpose, as tho
county is hardly more than nominally
in debt, and asks what is a county
fund of between $50,000 and $00,000
to be raised for just at this time? and
answers his own question by saying,
certainly not to defray legitimate court
expenses and officers' fees; that this
fund is Hiifiii ient to pay all such ex
penses and build a dozen expensive
bridges, besides that this levy is simply
a bare-faced attempt to hoodoo the
tax-payers.
Well now J fear the Gazette man is
the worst hoodood individual in the
county. 1 wonder if this is not the
first instance of a county board being
charged with making an unnecessary
and high levy for political capital.
What has all this got to do with tho
county seat question? I thought La
15. Eaton's j buildings gratis. If tho writer of this
article had informed himself concern
j ing the subject treated ho need not
j have made a donkey of himself.
Now as this is a matter in which the
tax-payers are interested, and tho arti
cle referred to is calculated to deceive,
if not corrected, I wish to point out
Borne of its most glaring errors. First,
as to the county being "scarcely moro
than nominally in debt." I most sin
cerely wish that was true. I refer tho
writer to tho county clerk's last finan
cial exhibit, which I have not before
nic, and which tho Gazette man surely
could not have read or elso his readers
had not. That exhibit mado tho coun
ty's indebtedness at considerable moro
than tho present levy for county pur
poses, oven if his figures wore correct,
which they uro not, as I will show
presently.
Tho lotal taxable property of this
county as returned by tho assessor for
tho year 1809, is $2,830,700, not $:i,
000,000 as ho has it. Tho tax levy on
this for county purposes is 10 mills,
which is not, I believe, a littlo over
two-thirds of 28 as ho has it. This levy
of sixteen mills, if it could bo all col
lected, would raisoa fund of $l.r,202.1G,
but as a matter of courso a considera
ble portion will not bo collected. Of
tho tax levy of 1888 $2,118.10 has been
lost alroady, stricken ofi' by the county
court, and thore is nearly $-1,000 on
the delinquent tax list. yet.
Now, as to tho statement, or infer-
onco at loust, that tho levy of 30 mills
made by Judge Alberson was tho high-
etit levy over made and the only levy
mm,e ,,f 30 ,,,i118' 1 '! without going
back further in tho history of tho conn
ty than 1870 that tho levy for that year I
es, Clocks, Jewelry,'
and the two years following was 110
, mills and the school tax then was only
; t mills, whereas since 1SSG that has
been f mills. 1 suppose the Gazetto
: man is aware that tho school tax is
! fixed by statute, and that the county
J court can only make tho levy. The
levy for county purposes in 1S70 was
20 mills; in 1S77-S, 10 mills; in 1S70 it
was 17 mills and we bad very littlo to
slinu fnr it. hi flio wnv nf rnmit.v rn;ils I
, , ., ... .
mill lirwlirnc llion tttlwtt " in fuv
tlllVt L1 IVIVO) bliVllf VtkllUt I i 11 Vt.V j
levy or county purposes for the year
1SS9 is just one mill more, than for tho
year 1SSS, and that was made necessa
ry by tho extraordinary heavy ex
pense incurred in the last year for
roads and bridges, which appeared to
tho court to bo demanded by tho ne
cessities of tho count'. Tho court has
had constructed fourteen now bridges
within the last year, besides the bridge
over Wallowa river, for which Union
county pays one-half, besides repairing
old bridges at quite a considerable ex
pense, in addition to which the court
has appropriated more money to tho
improvement of the roads of the conn- j
ty than has been expended for that
purpose in any previous year. I find
by reference to the records of the coun
ty that since January 1, 1SSS) there has
been issued in countv warrants for
road and bridge purposes a sum which
added to the cost of a bridge just fin
ished in Eagle valley, for which war
rants have not yet been issued, aggre
gating $20,;i50.79, a sum far in excess
of tho expenditures of the county for a
like purpose for any previous year in
tho history of tho county. While the
wisdom of the county court in making
such heavy expenditures for this pur
pose may be questioned, by some, the
court certainly acted in good faith in
the matter. Quito a number of tho
old bridges had bccoino dangerous and
were replaced by a better class of
bridges, and a number of bridges were
built in now places where they wero
much needed. A number of appropri
ations wero mado in the last year for
tho improvement of roads in answer to
petitions of tho tax-payers, and more
road Jtools were bought than usual,
such as plows, scrapers, etc., which
wore much needed.
1 can assure tho Gazette man that
tho subject of making the levy for
county purposes was considered at con
siderable length and pretty fully dis
cussed, pro and con, and finally made,
as before stated, in view of tho stern
facts set forth in this article, and I can
assure all concerned that tho county
seat question had nothing whatever to
do with it. I do not believe that it
was thought of at tho time by any
member of tho court.
While I believe it is a fact, as stated
by tho Gazotto man, that tho county
court, or at least a majority of it, "are
opposed in sentiment, to a removal of
tho county scat, at this time, and that
it would bo unwise and entirely un
necessary. Wo, or at least I am per
fectly willing to leave tho question
to the freo expression of the legal vo
ters of the county at the polls, and 1
must confess that I would be complete
ly at a loss to deviso a scheme for tho
county court, to influence that vote if
they wished. O. P. GOODALL.
SANGER SIFTINOS,
Miss Legoro' formerly of Indian
creek, is visiting her mother in Sanger.
Mr. Scott Eonghas returned to San
ger, after ten day's absence. He looks
as pleasing as ever.
A masquerade dance was given at
Sanger on Now Year's eve. Jt was a
grand success. Big creek was well
represented, and it was enjoyed by all
present.
Born, to tho wife of Thomas Allen,
December .'10, 1889, a son. Wife and
baby getting along nicely.
Only four feet of snow and still
snowing. A good water eeason next
summer is expected by tho placer
miners.
Mr. Sam George is preparing to open
up a placer mine on Eagle creek,
about four miles from Sanger. He
will run u hydraulic pipo. Wo wish
him success.
Mr. Biley Dean has returned to San
ger. He is u first-class miner and we
uro glad to sco him with us onco more, j
Sanger has thrco stores, about four- j
teen families and no saloon. 'I his is
speaking well for Sanger. Everybody
is busy and no idle men in camp if
they want to work.
Silverware, Guns
Y7ASinHC5To:J.
An Intcrestlns Letter from Our Hegular
Correspondent at the C&vitil.
Washington, (!. C.) Vvc. i!;, KsD.
Editor Okkoon ?coit:
If a "green Christmas" be repugnant
to the idea of merrymaking, what must j
ho said of a Christmas day that is so
balmy that overcoats have to bo (lis-
lAlllll'U, illlU W1U .III IS 11V.I Y ailll 1I1U121
' and overvthinir one totiches tickv
i
and everything one touches is sticky
from it? That was the sort of Clirisl-
mas day Washington was favored with
for this year of grace.
Tho family arose betimes in tho
White House and by seven o'clock the
wild shrieks of childish delight rang
through the corridors of tho mansion.
There never was a family that evinced
stronger atleetion between all its mem
bers. Mrs. Harrison's mourning over
her sister, Mrs Lord, is tempered by
none of that fashionable philosophy
that curbs sisterly allection as it exists
in these advanced days. The Presi
dents direction for his grandchildren
comes as near idolatry as his nature
allows. So you may be sure that
stockings were filled in tho orthodox
manner and there was a Christinas
tree loaded with tho usual presents.
President Harrison, learning with
probably little regret that there would
be no service at his church, tho church
of the Covenant, spent all day with the
children, assisting in their amusements.
There wero picture books and dolls
and cars and wagons galore.
Tho only member of tho cabinet
absent from tho city on Christmas day
was John Wanamaker, and the only
one to attend church was Secretary
Tracey. All tho cabinet families spent
tho day very quietly, save that Secre
tary Rusk had such of tho Wisconsin
congressman as happened to be in town
at dinner in the evening.
v.uno a milliner o, congressmen
spent tho day in the city, not feeling
v i , . p
loio u spare r ume w Ko mm.e. ,y
great many, including Senators Chand
ler and Ingalls, iiad their entire fami
lies with them.
Tho ancient social argumont about
the order of precedence in the leceiv
inglino at the White House receptions
has revived for tho winter, and is now
being waged with all the weapons of
worny wanare. i no occasion ,s
found in Mrs. Harrison's appointment
of her daughter, Mrs. McICee, to rep-j
. . nil . ? ?
resent her at the New Year's reception,
as bho herself will bo obliged to be
absent in view of the recent death of
Mrs Scott Lord. The discontented
allirm that tho place of honor in tho
enforced absence of tho President's
wife belongs to the Vice-President's
wife. They go further in saying that
Mrs. McKee's husband having no place
in ollicial life, she is not entitled to
tho recognition.
Another row is raised by the pro
vision for receiving tho judges of the
supremo court of the Distiictof Colum
bia with tho justices of tho United
States superior court, while senators
and representatives cool their heels in
waiting. Tho difference between our
twcedle-dee and tweodlo-dum is very
strongly marked in our democratic
country.
On the last train to carry people
north for the Christmas holidays was
Senator Evarts. Amid a merry (mat
tering throng of young people, the old
man crouched far down in his chair,
silent and listless. On the hook abovo
his head, danced his ancient sill: hat,
looking moro dilapidated than over by
contrast with tho elegant surroundings.
Thero is something pathetic in tho
picture of a tired and feeble old man
going homo to a Christmas dinner
that his stomach will not allow him to
eat. Senator Evarts has aged terribly
in a year. Tho temples havo wasted
to tho last degree, tho complexion is
liko parchment and tho lack-lustre eyes
take no notice of surroundings, save
when he is in conversation, He will
sit by the hour buried in a big chair,
with his legs cio.sscd and his right
hand thrust into his trousers pocket,
without a movement. With tho ex
ception of "Pig Iron" Kelloy, tho
father of tho house, hu shows hid ago
moro than any man in congress.
And yet in that New York ollico of
hj(i ,,0 wi HI,0I1, lmlf tho ,loU(Hy fc0u.
SOn planing tho ablest legal battlos
known to tho profession.
It is understood that Provident Har
rison will send to congress on its con
vening after tho holidays a special
and Amunition Just1
message on the silver question. In it
J lle wiU ti,ko ,ho Kroll"l h,1(1 b' ocre-
! uiry uuiom, recommending tne
A . , 1 '! 1 , . ,
stoppage of tho coinage of silverdollars
and tho issue of silver certificates upon
bullion to be deposited with the
TELOCASET TATTLIKG3.
January. 0, 1S0O.
Finest sleighing we ever "seed."
Wo have two or three moro weeks of
school.
Prank Ixjavitt, of La Grands, is visit
ing friends in Pylo Canyon.
Rob Tombleson is shipping soino
Oregon furs to his father, in .Norfolk,
England. Wo aro well advertised in
lots of ways.
John Cates is able to bo up and
around again, after a long siego with
inllainmatory rheumatism.
John Hanson anil wife are stopping
at her father's C. H. Proscott, at pre
sent. John had tho misfortune to
sprain his ankle, badly, in North Pow
der, a fow days ago.
Wo have a telegraph ollico, now at
Telocaset. Tho name of tho city, is
also displayed on a board, to the grati
fication of many curious passengers.
Growing little by little. So did Jeru
salem. Several bands of horses and some
cuttle aro on tho hills in this vicinity.
Stock owners should take a tumble, as
grass is a scarce article on this range.
Tho dancing craze has subsided.
The dancers aro brooding with miser
caro over thick, aching craniums, and
empty purses. Schools aro running
again, after two long weeks of vacation
and tho light-toed youngsters ply their
brains over tho text-book, instead of
worrying about that "girl o' mine."
W. A. Cates and family wore called
to Baker City lust week, on the death
of , ,on L u hon Thov have tho
j m.ofouml syilll)lUiy 0f an wi,0 know
i that good man. Mrs. Ison is a sister
of Mr. Cates. Tho vacancy loft by tho
death of Judge Ison is one hard to Jill
as acceptably as ho filled it.
A younger brother of Lewis Mc
Maugh, arrived hero last week, from
Yamhill county. Tho young man
scorns to bo well pleased with tho ap
pearance of this part of the state, and
. wo hopo win renmin to b(J coume(1
j ns ono 0f us
' Charlev and Robert Tombleson had
I thru0 Yalual)lu horHOa Idllc(1 hy tlui tmill
a fow days since. The railroad compa-
ny is not the best hand in tho world
to pay for stock killed by its trains,
and persons unlucky onough to bo
thus rid of their stock do not receive
half value.
John Brooke, our gonial neighbor,
is now in Nottingham, England. Jack
will come back to Oregon in the Spring,
a married man. Ho expects to live at
Mount Tabor, near Portland. Wo
wish them all the happiiicssand wealth
and joy that mankind is heir to. May
the cares of life rest gontly on their
shoulders.
This kind of weather is hard on
noses. It reminds a man of his many
tender spots, every timo ho sallies forth
into the two-below-zoro-air. It is bra
cing. Our ears aro our best friends.
Also our fingers call on us for recog
nition pretty often. Ho who has no
work to do this kind of weathor, is
lucky above all moil I
Men in this vicinity who disposed of
their sheep interests in the fall, aro
now glad they did so. Peed is not in
abundance, generally, and this kind of
weather is heavy on hay. It is thought
we will havo tho heaviest snow-fall
known for a good many years past.
Lots of it makes good crops, so let 'or
come I
Tho snow at tho mills abovo North
Powder is just thrco feet deep. Tho
loggers went up last week to prospect,
but found tho logs covered too deep
to bo skidded easily, and returned, de
cided to wait till nature in her proces
ses shall havo reduced hor wealth of
the "Beautiful Snow."
Tho snow bird flits,
And tho sleigh bell jingles,
Hurrah for tho snow, ho, hoi
Our notes sting,
And tho girls ear tingles,
Hurrah for the snow, ho, hoi
Km Sinolk,
All tho knowing themselves to bo In
debted to me, either by book account or
note, are rcqueHted to settle at onco or costs
of collection will bo added, I need tho
inonov ami niuit Imvolt. Y. WiiitON.
Received at A. N.
"A PLEA TOR, SCHO0L3."
Huffnian'a Argument A Tribute to Bomo
Glorious Names.
Editok Scout:
As Mr. Moore's time is too precious
to be wasted in newspaper correspond-
j ence, it would not be courtesy in me
to infringe on him, but however much
of frivolity and absurdity I may ad
vance, in Moore's way of looking at it,
just remember that nineteen summers
are not sullicient to acquire knowledge
and enlightenment of such magnitudo
that is necessary to copo with a gentle
man who has graduated at an eastern
"college" and who has mado the sub
ject of defense of the old dogmas a
practice for years.
His fust adventure is to mako the
assertion that "I must needs again
take up my pen, oven though but for
a few thoughts." This is very com
mon with religious men. A few (and
very fow) thoughts at a timo aro all
they entertain. They scarcely over
wander far out into tho fields of
thought. Liko tho old navigators,
they hug the shore.
The position I took in my first
article, that is, that sectarian schools
should go, 1 still stand by, and by
saying "down with them" I mean that
tho present ago should cleanse itself of
all the old notions, as tho past age has;
I mean that the rising generation
should bo awako to tho needs of our
people, in establishing for them a free
and unfettered system of national in
stitutions; I mean that it is tho imper
ative duty of every man who has tho
power, and manhood, to aim at tho
total separation of religion, as it is
to-day, and education; I mean that
wo should put men at the head of our
government who will havo sullicient
interest in our public welfare to strive
to lay tho foundation of an imperish
able superstructure of national en
lightenment, freo from all sectarian
bent, and warp, freo from priesthood,
free from tho dogmas that aro taught,
and of it character that shall servo all
classes with equal charity. Largo ap
propriations arc made yearly for use
less and non-bonclicial purposes. Let
these bo cut oil", and our boasted sur
plus, which ofl'ers so much temptation
to our slick fingered politicians, bo
used in laying tho corner stono of tho
Amorican system of education and
not the religious system. Tho stato
tax at present is even heavy enough,
and a handsomo system of stato educa
tional institutions could bo started
without imposing a mill moro tax.
Do away with useless donations and
set before our legislature the fact of
our need; send mon there who are not
afraid of tho votes of tho religious ele
ment, and lot him say to tho body,
"Let theso useless littlo appropriations
ccaso and lot us turn our eyes to tho
citizon's interest."
In pointing to the thrco institutions
of liberal bent, I do so with pride, and
say again that these thrco aro just
ushering in tho stars of Freothought
that shall shino in the azuro heavens
of American free education in the
"good timo coining." I say again
with all sincerity that tho ago of free
institutions is just dawning; that tho
ago of liberal education is just spread
ing its peaceful wings over this fair
laud of ours! And I Bay, further, that
Liberals as a class are supporters and
maintainors of schools. I point to
every public school houso in Amorica
as evidence of this fact. Our public
school system is a liberal system
throughout. Beligion is not taught
there, and children .are taught tho
practical things in life to know how
to set valuation on commodity, how to
compare, and tho fundamental rules
of business. All wo need in the way
of establishing a bettor system is aid
from tho stato, that higher and more
thorough courses may be taught in
our Liberal public schools.
Infidels aro opening up tho old sys
tom. It is through their efforts that
bible reading in public schools has
nearly ceased, and by tho timo wo uro
as old in America us Christianity is,
grant tho indulgence that wo can pro
duco as many learned men, ns many
colleges, as many lights in tho nation
al arena, as many noblo and majestio
monuments of intelligence and
thought, us docs tho Chiistiun Ameri
ca to-day.
James Lick did not stamp his gift
with his peculiar bolief. Ho did not
CXintinutd on lait tagc.
Gardner & Co's.