Polk County observer., October 21, 1910, Image 2

Polk County Observer
J. O. HAYTER,
TDITOt. AND PUBUSHBH
Published Semi-Weekly at (1.50 per
Tear. Strictly in advance.
Entered as second-class matter
March 1. 1907; at the post office at
Dallas, Oregon, under tne aci oi ton
gress oi Marcn s.
DALLAS, OREGON, OCT. 21, 1910
Tk way to build up Dallas is to pat-
roniz Dallas people.
REPUBLICAN TICKET.
Governor,
JAY BOWERMAN. -Congressman,
WILLIS C. IIAWLEY.
Supreme Justices,
HENRY 3. BEAN,
THOMAS A. McBRIDE,
GEORGE 11. BURNETT,
FRANK A. MOORE.
Secretary- of State,
PRANK W. BENSON.
State Treasurer,
THOMAS B. KAY.
School Superintendent,
L. R. ALDERMAN.
State Printer,
WILLIS DUNIWAY.
Labor Commisslonei",
O. P. HOFP.
Railroad Commissioner,
PRANK J. MILLER.
x State Engineer,
JOHN H. LEWIS.
Water Superintendent,
JAMES T. CHINNOCK.
Circuit Judges,
I. II. VAN WINKLE,
PERCY R. KELLY.
Joint Benator,
O. L. IIAWLEY.
Joint Representative,
FRED W. CHAMBERS.
Representative,
IRA C. POWELL.
Sheriff,
W. L. BICE.
County Commissioner,
JOHN B. TEAL.
County Clerk,
E. M. SMITH.
County Treasurer,
JOHN I CASTLE.
County Surveyor.
B. F. BEEZLEY.
Coroner,
B. L. CHAPMAN.
MORE COLD FACTS.
Pursuing its Investigations further.
in an effort to ascertain true condi
tions in Polk County, under "dry'
rule: not seeking to influence any
voter's opinion or Judgment by its own
argument, but simply presenting him
the facts, as ascertained from the city
and county records, which are at all
times open to examination by any per
son, the Observer comes now to the
subject of city taxes and to the an-
Bwer of the question, "Are taxes high
er under "dry" rule than they were
under wet rule, or are they lower?"
Pojk County was voted dry in the
Summer of 1908 twenty-seven
months ago. The first tax levy under
"dry" rule was made in December of
that year. For the purposes of compar
ison, it would seem fair to consider the
last two wet years In the city, and the
laat two dry years. Examining the rec
ords, we find that the assessed valua
tion of property and the levy In mills
for these four year are as follows:
Wot Years.
1906 assessed valuation, 1700,670;
levy, 4.1 mills; revenue from taxation,
12872.
1907 assessed valuation, 1724.710;
levy, 6.3 mills; revenue from taxation,
$4565.
Dry Years.
I ft (IS omhpnmhI valuation, $787,920;
levy, 8.3 iiiIIIn; revenue from taxation,
$8(1 It.
1909 aMHCmril valuation, $1,03.1,
000; levy, 8.8 mills; revciiuo from tax
ation, $0108.
The reul amount of revenue raised
by taxation In this Inst year was $10.
SDO, but this latter amount Includes
the water tax. As the law provides
that enough water tax must be levied
each year to pay Interest charges on
the bonds and to retire one-twentieth
of the principal, It will be seen that
the water tax la a fixed expense, and
for this reason it has not been Includ
ed in the table of figures -given above.
While property-owners of Dallas paid
taxes to the amount of 110,360 this
lost year, the amount raised for gen
eral city purposes was only 11108.
It was hoped by the council when
this last enormously high levy was
made a levy unequalled In the his
tory of Dallas that the revenue de
rived therefrom would run the city
through to the next tax collecting
time. But It appears that already the
officers find the treasury empty,
with no more taxes to come In until
next April or May. Five months of a
"busted" town! And Indebtedness pil
ing up at the rate of several hundred
dollars ft month! Truly, the prospect ts
not pleasing.
It would not be fair to say that all
of this extra taxation has been caused
by the toss of the saloon license. Other
cities In Oregon, whether wet or dry,
hare higher tax levies thsn they had
ft few years ago, for the reason that
they are making Improvements that
cost tnonev. But It rests with the tax
payers of Dallas to say whether Dallas
has Improved fast enough to Justify ft
levy nearly four times as high as It
was four years ago. Has the city growa
that fastT j
One thing Is certain: The revenue
of the city is IJ40 less each year
than It was four years ago, and this
amount has to be made op by taxa-
tion. A city has only three wirs of.
raising money by taxation, by license.
The foregoing figures prove it, and
there Is not one of us but knows It is
true. ...
A few years ago, property-owners
found their city tax to he only a frac
tion of the amount they were obliged
to pay as state and county tax Exam
ination of the writer's tax receipt
this year discloses the fact that his
city tax was more than his state, coun
ty and state school tax combined. He
finds that It is only $3.64 less than
his state, county, state sofcool, special
school, and special road district tax
combined. While this newspaper will
never stand in the way of any needed
public improvement, no matter what
its rightful cost may be, It realizes that
there is a limit to public Indebtedness
beyond which no city may safely go.
Crossing that limit means disaster and
lifelong regret.
' The moment taxation passes the
limit of safe business the moment It
becomes cruelly and unjustly burden
some that moment the town or coun
ty wringing such taxation from Its
people will cease to grow and pros
per. That moment It will be avoided
by homeseekers ond by men with
money to invest.
The Observer , asks the people of
Dallas to carefully study the figures
here presented and to honestly ask
themselves the question, "How much
further will It be safe for us to go?"
The Observer would respectfully ask
its readers to consider this question:
Who are the more Interested In the
welfare and prosperity of Dallas and
Polk County, the editors of the Dal
las newspapers or the traveling speak
ers who visit the town to speak on the
respective sides of the prohibition
question? The publishers of these
newspapers are residents of Polk
County. All the money they have Is in
vested here. They help to pay the
taxes; to support the schools, the
churches, and every other worthy In
stitution. Not only do they pay their
money to help these institutions, but
they give hundreds of columns of
newspaper space every year to the up
building of churches, schools, free li
braries, and all else that helps to
make Dallas a more moral and a more
prosperous city. And it must be re
membered that every line in a news
paper costs the publisher money. On
the other hand, the traveling agitator
has no interest here whatever. He has
never seen the town before; he never
expect to ste It again. He is paid for
what he does. Do not lose sight of that
fact for an Instant. Which, then do you
think has your best Interest the more
deeply at heart the editor of your
home newspaper, who digs up his own
money vcry week of the year to help
your city and your business, or the
stranger who comes to talk to you,
because his expenses are paid and he
gets a salary for doing it? Which Is
the more likely to be careful to tell
you the truth? Which will you believe?
MAYOR SHOULD TELL ALL
LETTER GIVES PART OF TRUTH,
BUT NOT ALL OF IT.
Observer Will Supply M inning Figures
by Printing City Recorder's
Certified Statement.
DT TCnTCCC T-N1ATC 1
Christian Clirircli News.
Last evening Prof. Caldwell's or
chestra met to practice with the choir
for the first time. The result was far
more satisfactory thun the expecta
tions of the most sanguine. The choir
loft was filled with singers and the en
tire front row occupied by players
with Instruments. The music was sim
ply fine. With the , practice they ex
pect to have from time to time It will
make the church services a most grat
ifying one to music lovers. The orches
tra makes Its first public appearance
at the Christian Church Bible School
10 a. m. Sunday next. Everybody will
be there and you are welcome.
Sermon 11 a. m. "The Lord's Sup
per."
Christian Endeavor 6:30 p. m.
Sermon 7:30 p. m. "The Laboring
Mnn and a Square Deal."
All are Invited, Laboring men espec
ially urged to be present.
LEON MYERS.
Minister.
Now Is the Time.
Now Is the time to have your photos
taken to lay away for Christmas re
membrances. Any friend will love you
better if you give them a fine photo
of yourself. Nothing appreciated so
much, or kept longer. Ixoking at a
fine photograph of an absent one
makes the heart grow fonder. Mr.
herrlngton certainly makes the line
ones. r ir.
Has (khI llword.
Tracy Staata has lived In Polk
County practically all of his life, and,
his record as teacher. Deputy Assess
or, Deputy Sheriff and bookkeeper are
easily obtained. He has always satis
fied his employers, dealt honestly with
his customers and been gentlemonly
and courteous to every one. If elected
to the olllce of County Treasurer, the
eople can rest assured that he will
gain make good, and that his records
nd accounts will always be neat and
orrect.
(Paid Advertisement.)
Glancing over the pages of the Inde
pendence Enterprise, our attention is
attracted by a column of argument
for a continuation of "dry" rule In
Polk County. This Is the column in
which It is asserted that "men are
coming from wet cities to work In the
Dallas mills In order to get the pro
tection from liquor afforded them in
dry towns." As this mis-statement of
fact has been effectually squelched by
Manager Gerllnger, of the Dallas
mills, we will not refer to it further.
Reading on down the column, we
come to a signed statement by Dr. J.
P. Wallace, Mayor of Albany, telling
of desirable conditions In his town.
This statement bears no date, but
somehow it has a familiar sound. It
reads very much like the statement
that was used by the "dry" forces In
the campaign two years ago until it
was worn, "slick." However, we are
not certain about it, so we will reprint
It and see if any of our readers rec
ognize It: It reads as follows:
The building activity has beer.
much greater since our city went dry.
The closing of the saloons has not re
tarded in the least the growth or de
velopment of our city. We have paved
with blthullthic pavement fourteen
blocks of our streets, and have under
oontract'nine more. We have also laid
about eight or ten miles of cement
walk since we went dry. The tax rate
before the closing of the saloon was
eight mills. We were then receiving
$5000 for saloon license, but the mu
nicipality was then running -behind
and our public debt was increasing.
Since the saloons are closed, we have
raised our assessment values, and
have put our tax rate at six, seven and
eight mills respectively each year, but
we have also paid all running expenses
and applied $5000 to the reduction of
our nubile debt, and this year we will
spend at least $10,000 In public im
provements.
(Signed) Dr. J. P. Wallace,
Mayor of Albany.'
At first glance, this would seem
remarkable statement. But when one
investigates all facts connected with
taxation in Albany, there is nothing
remarkable about it. Desiring to as
certain the true conditions for him
self, that he might give them to his
readers In return, the editor of the
Observer wrote to Albany the first of
the week for Information. Last night
he received a sworn statement from
the Recorder of that city, setting forth
tho figures as shown by the city rec
ords. This statement shows that Dr.
Wallace did not give all of the facts In
his rather peculiar letter. It shows
that he did not say anything about an
8-mlll levy raising $9062 In 1905 and
the same levy raising $23,863 in 1909
But let us give the Recorder's sworn
statement: ,
Recorder's Certified Statement.
"Albany, Or., Oct. 19, 1910.
"This Is to certify to all whom it may
concern, that the assessed valuation of
all property In the City of Albany,
Oregon, as per the assessment roll for
the year 1905 is $1,131,630; tax 8
mills.
"The assessment roll for the year
1906 is $2,668,620; tax 6 mills,
"The assessment roll for the year
1907 Is $2,602,110; tax 7 mills.
"The assessment roll for the year
1908 Is $2,722,940; tax 8 mills.
"The aHNCHHiiiont roll for tho year
1IMI9 Is $2,082,000: tax 8 mills.
"In witness whereof f have hereunto
set my hand and the seal of the City
of Albany, affixed this 19th day of
October, A. D. 1910.
(Seal) F. M. REDFIELD,
Recorder of the City of Albany.'
There you have it complete. An 8
mill levy in 1905, (a wet year,) raised
$9062, while an 8-mlll levy In 1909
raised the enormous sum of $23,863.
In other words, Albany Is taxing near
ly $15,000 a year more out of the pock
ets of Its people than It did In 1905
and It Is doing it with the same 8-mlll
levy. How does It do It, you aBk? Just
like Dallas and other towns do It
by raising the valuation of property
when making the assessment. For In
stance: Suppose the assessor comes
alotig and asseses your house and lot
at $600. An 8-mlll levy on that valua
tion would cause you to pay a tax of
$4. But, suppose that he comes along
and tells you he Is going to assess the
same house and lot at its real cash
value, and puts the valuation down at
$2000. What would an 8-mlll levy
cause you to pay then? It would cause
you to pay $16. Just four times as
much tax as under the old method of
assessment, without changing the
number of mills In the levy.
That Is exactly what has been dune
In Albany. Property In that city was
assessed at $1,131,630 In 1(05. Last
year It was assessed at $2,982,900
nearly three times the old valuation.
It Is probably true, as Dr. Wallace In
dicates, that Albany has made good
growth In the last four years. But It
Is not true that It has grown to be
Try an Observer "Want Ad."
The cost of an advertisement in the
Observer's "Wanted" and "For Sale'
column Is small and the farmer tell
us they bring results.
(Advertisements under this head
are charged at the rate of 1 cent per
word, nrst insertion; ft cent per word
for each Insertion thereafter; 30
words or less, $1 per month. No ad
vertlsement inserted for less than 16
cents.
-Wanted.
Wanted, energetic young man re
siding In Dallas -to act as our local
representative, selling fruit and pro
duce to the dealers in Dallas, on a
commission basis. Address Page & Son
Portland, Oregon. 10-21-lt.
Rooms With Board.
I can accommodate two men with
board and rooms. Mrs. F. Whitney,
800 Levena Street. 10-21-tf.
Harness Repairing.
For all harness repairing, come to
Farnham's shoe repairing shop at 508
Main street, Dallas. Satisfaction guar
anteed. L. R. Wilson. 10-21-lm.
For Sale.
Good home two blocks from Court1
house; plenty of fruit will pay the
taxes; five-room house; cosner lot 75
xlOO feet. One-half cash. Ed. C.
Dunn, Dallas, Oregon. 10-21-lm.
Mare ftfr Sale,
For sale, bay mare, with foal;
weight 1600 pounds; nine years old,
sound and true. A. H. Craven, Mon
mouth, Oregon. 10-18-2t.
For Sale Cheap.
Set of harness, good as new, also three times as large as It wasour years
ne hlh wheel wagon, at ft bargain, ago, and every sane man knows It
T R. Thompson, Monmouth. 10-21-21 The great Increase In valuation of
.property Is accounted for by the new
Percy R. Kelly
of Albany, Oregon
method of assessing property at Its
cash value method adopted by
IJnn. Polk, Benton and every other
county In the state.
The Mayor of Albany waa careful to
Republican Nominee as one of the'u(,. figures In showing that the tax
wo Circuit Judges to be elected No-l)eVy In mills Is no higher under dry
vemher 8, 110, Is forty years old, has rule than It was under wet. but he was
resided In Albany, tregon, thirty-nine Just as careful to suppress the figures
years, la ft graduate of Albany Col- showing how much money that levy
lege, has practiced law more thanjia raising umler the new method of
eighteen years, served as a State Sen- mnmmnit
For Sale.
Pony for sale; automobile broke;
children can ride or drive. Lee Smith,
Dallas. 10-14-tf.
Phonograph Records for Sale.
Seventy-five Edison Standard phon
ograph records for sale at only 15
cents each. Splendid selection; In ex
cellent condition. Apply at this office.
10-11-tf.
For Rent.
Fifteen acres of land, with Improve
ments. Good house and barn; good
garden land; two miles of Dallas. In
quire at this office. 10-11-tf.
New Photographer.
Portraits, views, postcards, copying
and enlarging. Eaton the Photograph
er, Burns Building, Dallas, Oregon.
10-11-tf.
Kindergarten Teacher Wanted.
Wanted, teacher to take charge of
Kindergarten In Dallas; probably 12 or
more pupils. Good opportunity for
right person. Apply at Observer office.
10-11-tf.
Strayed. ,
Strayed, from the Oliver Smith farm,
southeast of Monmouth, one brown
colt, three years old, no marks or
brands. A reward will be paid for any
Information. Phone Oliver Smith, or A.
E. West, Falls City. - 10-11-tf.
For Sale.
Clean vetch, rape, clover seed and
gray oats; also, baled clover hay for
sale. Ralph Davidson, Phone 56x, In
dependence, Oregon. 9S0-8t
Female Help Wanted.
Wanted, a girl or woman to do gen
eral housework. No washing; good
wages. Write or apply' to Mrs. N.
Sullg, Falls City, Oregon. 9-J7-tf
For Rent.
For rent, the Francis Wrlghtson
place of 240 acres, In Pedee precinct
Oscar Hayter, Agent, Dallas, Oregon,
-23-tf.
Wanted.
All kinds of Iron, rubber, brass, cop
per, sine and hides. Highest casn
prices paid. A. N. Halleck, Monmouth,
Oregon. 3-12-tf.
Men Wanted.
By the Willamette Valley Lumber
Co., for mill and yard work. Telephone
No. 401. Both phones. 419-tf.
Your Winter's Wood.
Order your slab wood now and be
sure of having a good dry supply for
Winter. I can sell you either slabs,
blocks, or trimmings. Can furnish any
other kind of wood desired. Plenty of
good oak and fir. Send In your orders
by either phone. Mutual, 1196 Bell,
443. AUGUST BOMAN.
W. L. BICE
i
;
jand then, when we vote, we ran vote
I Intelligently, "Our readers will note
that the Observer Is not forcing Its
own views and private opinions on
them In this campaign. It is giving
them the truth, and riling the book
and records where such truth may be
found. "
I-t us stick to facta.
and by fines. Here In Dallas, we find of lilt, llrt and
THE REPUBLICAN NOMINEE FOR
THE OFFICE OF
SHERIFF.
OF POLK COrXTT
t rrpnt rally anttctt the sepf" f
the Mm of Polk roeMy and ft
k . aader urrrrlsKta IR.IL and : "" " eanrie, e give uae iwopse Of
Wlrettea Officials mm a oiarea an -red. ' r"'lk mm J ft rleaft, anpartiaj mm
I nates Into wm H will pay yen te "nxi-es MMsMTMM or the of
d MM: was Chair- ......... i a ? --4th n
m , , i . in, i r iu.i imiuk f . - -'
that the city has Inst $Mtt ft year In man of tns Judiciary toenmmre ur- i4.IL
license, ana that the amount received ,mg the MSgi or ltl and Is at tn
time. City Attorney of Albany. Orrn
AH voters should remember that
there are tee Ctrc-att Jedge te be
A Good Pnetlna
Can be -cured by ambitious young
mra and Udiee la the field of "Wire
! or railway telegraphy. Fine
the 1-hour law became effective, end
since the Wtrelrea rompanlee are ee
tablishlng stations throughout the
country there Is a greet short are of
telegraphers. Positions pay beginners
front $; lo $ per month, with good
chance of advancement The National
TU-rr Institute of Portland. Ore,
operates mi official Institutes la Amer.
r .
V ' t i
: T
i s -
each year from fine ts merely nomi
nal. Therefore, It becomes absolutely
nmwarr to maks up this deficiency
The Fftrnter'a Fire Relief Aaaocta
tloe of Batteiille, Oregon: J- D. Wlna.
ty I r creasing taxation. Argue as we elected la the Third JedleieJ District, i
ageat. Been Vlane. Orrgo
rr.ar, e cannot get around this fact, j Vote for Two.
J L rl bleaks far sale at this e4re.
favors te swan, ed ttope te ke
i "sin are. .' 4 tth ae aaaay of the
as say Usee will (xieitt b
the ennros) on Nevesnber a, ltlft.
Yuan prapertfally.
W. U LUCE.
(Pfti4 AaverUarsneat.)
noi
ses
lire
PJgpjJJIBB efa
For
Electric LiM
fflfj gwirHir-;nMi'""' V "
es.,ft--J.e-ts
This Offer Good For .30 Pays
Beginning October 20
The use of Tungsten Lamps has reduced the cost of electric lij
bringing it within reach of all.
75 per cent of the families in Dallas are now using Electric Light.
The only reason why ALL are not using it is because many houses
are not wired.
Therefore, in order to assist the owners of these houses in wiring, we
have made arrangements to wire houses AT ACTUAL COST as per the
following instructions:
Proposition A
A five-room house, wired complete
with five drop cords, 16 candle
power lamps, and three ornamen
tal glass shades,
Proposition B
A six-room house, wired complete
with six drop cords, 16 candle
power lamps, and three ornamen
tal glass shades,
Special Price $12.00 Special Price $13.50
You can have a wall switch installed on any of the above lights for
a small additional cost.
Prices on application for fixtures installed complete on either of the
above propositions.
The wiring will be installed in a first-class manner by thoroughly
reliable workmen.
Larger and more elaborate installations at proportionately low prices
For further particulars call up our
New Business Department, Phone 24
N0RTHWES1
eJ
CMPOJATflO'fl