Heppner gazette., January 01, 1903, Page 22, Image 22

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THE ITEPPNER GAZETTE, THURSDAY, JANUARY 1, 1903
A WHEAT I
m
in
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Eight Mile the Principal
Grain District
OF MORROW COUNTY
Plateau Lands Rich in Wheat
Producing Qualities.
LARGE TRACTS FARMED
In Past Few YciirKt'armi'rs Have
lleeii Spreu tlinjf Out by II Hy
ing ,11 ore l,uud--lii-
C'rensed Acreage.
In speaking of Morrow county and de
scribing tba resources in general, and
especially when different sections are
mentioned, the Gazrtte's New Year
number would not be complete without
something to Bay of the most favored
agricultural district known as tte Eight
Mile country. The name Eight Mile,
originated from a creek which flows into
Willow creek, eight miles from the Co
lumbia river, and from this fact the creek
was named Eight Mile. In later years
the whole conntry drained by Eight Mile
creek was given the name of Eight Mile.
The intention of this article is to deal
with what is known as upper Eight Mile,
which oomprises that portion of oountry
lying between Rhea creek on the East
and Dry Fork on the West, this territory
embracing about 150 square miles of fine
farming lands.
Farming operations were commenced
in this fertile district in the early 80'a,
and among the pioneers of husbandry
can be mentioned J. H. Jones, A. B.
Stanton, Bruce Haints. A. S. Haines and
others.
This distriot of plateau lands is a
great wheat oonntry and is farmed ex
tensively. The soil is very rioh in wheat
producing qualities and consequently
the farmers ere prosperous and wttll to
do.
Early farming was carried on with
considerable diffioalty. With the first
crops, for lack of cultivation, the yields
were light, bd3 the inroads of squirrels
and rabbits cut deeply into the farmer's
profit.
With cultivation the land has been
greatly improved, and with the advent of
civilization, the squirrels and rabbits
have about disappeared. Today the
farmers are growing big crops with not
a great amount of labor compared with
other wheat growing countries. Most
of the land is summer fallowed, however,
ns many as three crops are harvested
with one plowing.
During the past year there was a big
acreage in wheat. Eighteen bushels
would probably be about the average
yield on summer fallowed land, the grain
yielding all the way from 15 to 25 bush
el per acre.
While this does not look big on paper,
like reports from other wheat districts,
where from 40 to 50 bushels to the acre
are reported, a comparison of conditions
will show that the Morrow county farmers
have as great a profit, after expenses are
paid, as any plaoe in the country. Farm
ing land is cheap and the lard- are easi
ly farmed. A farmer witti one hired man
0n easily farm 500 aores. Th farmer
in this district, as a rule, use three hot
torn gang plows drawn by eight horees
and one outfit oan plow from six to nine
acres per day. One man oan plow 500
acres in a season.
J. W. Beckett farms from 350 to (550
acres. W. R. Robison cultivates about
tbs same amount as Mr. Beckett, and
among other large farmers are Luther
Huston, John and Charley Huston, C. E.
Jones, Peter Brenner, J. S. Young, D. S
Barlow and others.
In the past few years, farmers have
been spreading out by buying more land
and increasing their acreage.
Most of the best farming lands are in
cultivation in the upper Eight Mile
country. Io the past two years land
values have increased from 25 to 50 per
cent. Good improved farms are now
worth about $10 per acre. Land recent
ly sold, brought 81000 to $1500 per quar
ter. Being asked as to the advantages
claimed for the Eight Mile country, a
prominent resident of that distriot said:
"I believe that the man with small
means and who is willing to work, oan
get a start easier, and oan come as near
making money here as any place in the
United States. The same amount of
energy expended here as is required in
the East and other places, will bring
success to any man."
For many years the lack of water has
baa been a great handicap in the Eight
Mile country, but this difficulty is now
being eliminated by the sinking of wells.
These wells are being drilled by a pro
fesional driller, aod plenty of water it
found at a depth of from 90 to 175 feet.
Tne expense of drilling these wells is
not great.
Eight Mile's publio school facilities
are very good considering the tact that
it is a new country and sparsely settled.
The principal disadvantages of E'ght
Mile are the faot that it is anew country
and handicapped by isolation.
HEPPIEB fl LODGE TOWN
Maternal Societies Well Repre
sentedGood Membership.
GOOD PLACE FOR "JINERS"
The People Are Well lulled In
Fraternal ism and I'rotect lon--I-odgcii
Are Prospering.
Heppner has long been known as a
good town for "jiners" and is probably
first and third Thursiays of each month.
The M. W. is J. T. Kirk ; Financier, J.
J. Roberts, and Recorder, E. L. Free
land. Tbeir sister lodge, Kate J. Young
Lodge No. 29, Degree of Honor, meets
in the same hall on the first and third
Wednesdays of each month with 30
members in good standing. Their
principal officers are C. of II., Sarah E.
Padberg; Recorder, Mattie T. Smead,
and Financier, Effie Gilliam.
Juniper Camp No. 7516, Modern
Woodmen of America meet in the K. of
P. Hall on the first Saturday of each
month and have a list of 31 members.
Their chief officers are J. T. Kirk, C. C.
and J. S Boyer, clerk.
The Woodmen of the World meet in
it . . I
as wen represented witn secret or.Jers flie K. of P. haj on the Becond and
as anv town in Oregon, according to its f00rh Frid(iy niht8 of eaCh month
population.and its people are well united and have a membership of about 45.
in fraternalism tfnd protection. Ed Brown ia Consul Commander and
'PI. C
xi..irt louge io r.e organized m J. L. Yeager, Clerk. The title of the
Heppner was the Masonic, the charter Camp is Heppner Camp No. 60
l . . ... 1 IT -w i
iieiiiB grameu io neppner i,ouge, Io. Court Heppner No. 44, Order of For
.), A r . & A. M. June 12, 1877. They Liters, was organized during the latter
meet in their own hall on the first and part of jaet year and ha8 a membership
third Saturdays of each month and have Df about 110; they meet in the Odd Fel-
eighty members in good standing. Their hOW9 hall on the first and third Satur
officers tor 1903 are as follows: W. M.,
days of each month; T. A. Driskell is
Chief Ranger; J. L. Yeager, Clerk.
The ArtinanH have an organization of
20 members. J. P. Brown ia Master
Artisan and Mrs. J. I. Brown, Secy.
The Grand Army of the Republic is
also represented with a membership ot
about 20 and the sister lodge, the Wom
en's Relief Corps has 20 members.
The Native Sons of Oregon have a
cabin of 26 members. E. L. Freeland,
President and M. B. Galloway, Clerk.
The members of any of these orders
visiting Heppner are cordially invited
to attend the meeting of their respect
ive lodges and any letter of inquiry or
information directed to the clerk or
other officer of the lodge will ba
promptly answered. Any stranger will
finJ in Heppner the warm hand of fra
ternalism extended.
E. L. FREELAND.
There can be no mistake in buy
ing real estate here. Land values
are steadily increasing and will
continue to increase.
Oregon's death rate is very low.
The healthfulness of Pacific Coast
climate is known the world over.
The conditions conducive to good
health in Morrow county are admirable.
BLACK BUTTE COAL MINES
Reorganization for Prospecting the
Old Matteson District.
The extent of the Morrow county coal fields is unknown. It is
claimed by coal experts and geologists that the field is large, extend
ing for a distance of 40 miles east and weet.
The Black Butte Railroad and Coal Company, is the name of a
corporation composed of Heppner people, whioh was organized for
the purpose of thoroughly prospecting the Matteson district, where
the original dieooveries were made in Morrow county.
The officers of this corporation are: President, Thomas Quaid;
vice-president, Edgar Matteson: aeoretary-treasurer, Henry Black
man, While coal measures have not yet been located in this field, the
fact that coal was taken out years ago, with the poorest appliances
and with little knowledge of mining, a great many people are of the
opinion, that with proper methods, and the employment of experts,
the Matteson distriot will yet prove to be a good field. The Black
Butte Railroad and Coal Company was organized for the purpose of
deternining the extent of this field.
The company now controls about 3000 acres of coal and timber
lands in this district, and as Boon as spring opens, will begin active
prospect work. The prospect is located about 20 miles south of
Heppner,
Henry Jones ; S. W., H. A. Emerson;
I. W., C C. Patterson; Treasurer, Geo
Noble; Secy , Leon W. Briggs; S. D.,
W. W. Lipsett; J. D., Robt. S. Morgan;
lyler, Thos. W. Ayers, Sr.; Stewards,
John L. Ayers and E. P. Michell.
Heppner Chapter, No. 26, Royal Arch
Masons, was organized February 20,
1893, and now has 74 members in good
BitwHiiuK. j.ueir principal orncers are
Frank Gilliam, High Priest; P. O. Borg.
King; A.Andrews, Scribe; Geo. Con-
ser, Secy., and J. A. Patterson, Treas- Y
urer.
Willow Lodge, No. 66, Independent
Order of Odd Fellows, was organized
Nov. 20, 1878, with a charter member
fhip of nine, five of whom are still liv
ing, and now have a total membership
of 71. Their principal officers are Gen.
Noble, N. G. ; E. C. Ashbaagh, V. G
A. M. Gunn, Secy, and M. Lichtenthal,
Treasurer. In 1902 the Odd Fellows
completed a handsome two story stone
building at a cost of about $32,000, the
lower floor of which is occupied by the
tu rn of Minor & Co., and the upper floor
is the home of the lodge, with offices in
front, which are all occupied. The dedi
cation of this fine building will occur
some time during the first of this year.
This lodge meets on Wednesday of
each week.
The Knights of Pythias are repre
sented by Doric Lodge No. 20, and haye
a membership of 60 in good standing.
This lodge meets on Tuesday of each
week in their Cantle hall, which is ele
gantly furnished with emblematic car
pet and appropriate lodge furniture.
Their officers for the new year are as
follows: I). O. Justus. C. C. : W. A.
Richardson, V. C. ; Thos. Brennan,
Prelate; S. P. Devin, M.of W. ; W. W.
Smead, K. of R. and S.; Frank Borg,
M. of F. ; V. L. Saling, M. of E. ; Win.
I.atrace, M. at A. ; B. B. Kelley, I G. ;
J. U. J.orchers, O. G.; Trustees, J. II
Koberts, E. L. freeland, Jas. Hart
Doric Lodge has the honor of being the
smallest lodge in the state to entertain
the Grand Lodge, which they did in
189.). Thev have also in connection the
Uniform and Endowment Ranks.
On July 7, 1897, the Benevolent and
Protective Order of Elks was organized
under the name of Heppner Lodge, No.
3.38, with a charter membership of 30.
which has since increased to over 70
ands'ill rapidly growing. They meet
in the K. of P. hall on the second and
lourtn iliursdays of each month. Their
officers are: E. R., Frank Roberts; E.
Leading Knight, A. D. McAfee; E.
Loyal Knight, J. A. Woolery; E. Lect
uring Knight, P. O. Borg; Secy., James
Hart; Treasurer, Frank Gilliam; Esq.,
U.K. Ilynd; Tyler, Harry Jol iDson ;
Chaplain, II. W. Bartholomew ; I. (.,
Geo. Lund; Trustees, Geo. Coneer, E.
L. Freeland, J. S, Harris.
The Ancient and United Order of
Workmen was organized on August 25,
1871, under the title ot Whitmore
Lodge No. 4. They have 61 members
anl other applications on the way.
They meet in the K. of f. Hall on the
When You Arrive
in Heppner
Go straight to the
STAR LODGING HOUSE
Good Room Good Bed for
We are Holding" a Room
25 cents,
for You.
For a Good Shave
V. Gentry's Barber Shop is the place.
Bath rooms in connection. Stylish hair
cuts. Expert workmen. Every thing
clean. Two doors north Palace Hotel.
Heppner,
Ore
gon.
J. L. HOCKETT
Dealer in Gents Furnishings, Notions,
etc. Wall paper in handsome and stylish
designs. Books and Stationery.
Heppner - - - - Oregon.
GENERAL BLACKSMITHING
I have a complete shop in
connection for wood work
and wagon making.
hjorseshoeiog
All kinds of horses shod in
scientific manner. All work
guaranteed.
REPAIRING OF ALL KINDS DONE
At the Old Stand, Main Street
BEPPIM, - - - OlfEGOI?.