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NO. 23
DALLAS, POLK COUNTY, OREGON, TUESDAY, MAY 18, 1015.
(TWICE-A-WEEK)
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QUITS PASTORATE HERE
REV. GEO. H. MITCHELL RESIGNS
TO ACCEPT CALIFORNIA CALL.
Announcement Comes as Complete
Surprise to Presbyterian Church.
Served Two Years.
Rev. George H. Mitchell has resign
ed the pastorate of the Presbyterian
church of Dallas, after having served
that congregation faithfully and well
during the past two years. The resig
nation came as a surprise to the
church, no inkling of the pastor's In
tention having been given prior to the
...
announcement Sunday morning 101
lowing the regular service. The resign
;-1
nation will become effective June :
immpnintelv after' which date Mr. an
Mn Mltphpll will leave Dallas for Le
i-
moor, California, where Rev. Mitchell
has accepted a call. When asked by
The Observer what caused the resig
nation, he replied that he felt that his
work had ended at this station; that
his relations with the church had been
perfectly harmonious throughout his
pastorate, and that he was taking his
leave on his own motion with the
very best wishes for the future spirit
ual and material welfare of all his
people.
During the two years Rev. Mitchell
has presided as head of the local
Presbyterian church it has gained
some twenty-five or thirty members,
and has prospered financially. Prior
to his Dallas charere he had been a
laborer in the vineyard of the Master
for four years, having been oraainea
in Hpattlp Wnshineton. following
graduation from the University of
Pennsylvania and the Alleghany Tneo
irnrlpnl Seminarv at Pittsburg. Rev.
Mitchell's first regular charge was at
Camas, Washington. Later he was
called to Milton, Eastern Oregon,
where he was married In 1913, imme
dintelv hefore coming to Dallas
George H. Mitchell was born in the
north of Ireland of Scotch parents,
and came to this country while still a
babe in arms.
FANS FOR INDIGENT INVALIDS.
Oregon Power Company Makes Offer
to Those Unable to ray.
ThA Orpernn Power comDany's free
electric fan service to indigent invalids
has been so much appreciated by tne
nnhilp In the cities served by it that it
has decided to continue the practice
In 1915. This service consists ol mail
ing fans and in some cases running
temporary services and installing wir
inir In order that sick persons in ad
verse circumstances may receive the
benefit of: electric fans during hot
weather. In order to obtain the free
Rprviv.e rpnnests must be certified by
the attending physician, who must
state that the patient or his family
nro unable to Day for same. This
prvipp has nerformed much good in
Dallas and elsewhere and has received
commendations from physicians, city
officials and citizens.
This vear the company adds a new
feature, namely, the addition of an
electric toaster to the free Invalid
carvina Tnnat well nreoared is a nec
essary article of diet to nearly all In
valids. In manv cases it is difficult to
prepare the toast properly and serve it
in an appetizing condition with the
ordinary cooking faculties.
Whenever it is desired, and so cer
tified by the attending physician, Man-p-pr
Mnrtin is authorized to lend eith
er an electric fan or toaster, or both,
on the same conditions governing the
free fan service.
MEMORIAL EXERCISES SUNDAY.
Loral Grand Army Post Accepts Invi
tation to Visit Monmouth.
Memorial day exercises will be held
in Dallas on May 30, when Rev. Tap
scott, pastor of the Baptist church,
will deliver the address at the armory
at 3 o'clock In the afternoon. The
members of the Grand Army post, ac
companied by relatives of the dead he
roes, will visit the cemeteries In the
forenoon and strew flowers upon the
graves of departed comrades. On
Monday the post will go to Monmouth
In a body to attend the exerciBes to be
held at that place, which will also be
participated in by the Independence
post. The program there will be quite
elaborate, and will be held in the Nor
mal assembly hall.
Monmouth Has Road Day.
Saturday was good roads day in
Monmouth and the highways within
the city limits and In five directions
from the city were thoroughly worked
by men with teams and scrapers. The
growing number of automobile owners
in that section has led to better roads.
Farmers are becoming extensive users
of cars and there is more Interest In
hard-surface processes than ever be
fore. Independence Shooters Win.
TniienendencA sportsmen won from
the Albany and Corvallls delegations
in thp social shoot held on the grounds
ol the Albany Gun club. Corvallls
wo. oond. onlv two Dolnts behind the
winners. Out of a possible score of
250, independence scored 205, Corval
lls 201 and Albany 1st. A bad wind
inurhnJ materially with the shoot-
' inc. Johnson of Independence made
the high score of the meet, out or
MUST NOW APPLY ANEW
WIDOWS PENSION PROVISIONS
CHANGED BY LEGISLATURE.
Under Now Law Old Applications for
Relief Have Become Invalid.
Other Changes.
Owing to several new laws going in
to effect on May 22, several changes In
county court procedure will be noted
in the June meeting and everybody
should be acquainted with the condi
tions before they present bills or trans
act other business. The chief item ol
interest in the new methods is the
widows' nension situation. When the
new law goes Into effect the applica
tions under which women are now oe
intr TniA simh npnnions bv the County
are Invalid and new applications must
be made. This should De oone neiore
the next meeting, as it will save those
who are receiving pensions and also
the county court trouble and delay.
The county is paying out a consider
able amount of money for widows'
pensions, but there Is no danger of any
being stopped If the recipients attend
to the business of making out their
new applications. '
Another matter which the law has
chnnired Is the necessity for having
all bills sworn to. This plan, while
strictly proper and better than the
naw wnv hnil this drawback: People
who swore to bills had to pay some
notary a fee for having nis or ner unm
Qpinwlprie-erl. Tn most counties of
the- state the county court allowed
twentv cents for such acknowledge
ment. Many, however, did not become
nnnvangnl with the custom and al
wavs naid their own fees. This change
was made in the law through the big
cost the taxpayers wefe burdened with
on account of the acknowledgements,
which amounted to a large sum at the
end of a year. Bills, however, must be
ok'd by parties who secure supplies.
CURIOUS DENIZENS OF THE SEA.
Mr. Clodfelter Exonerated From Mis
representation by Coast Press.
The other day F. M. Clodfelter came
Into The Observer office and told the
man in charge of the piscatorial de
partment that he had seen, wnue ang
ling in the La Creole below Dallas, a
strange flsh, the head resembling that
of a human being while the body was
at lpost tnn fppt In length. Mr. Clod-
felter's description of the flsh excited
some interest in the inner circle of tne
sporting department, the information'
evidently being authentic In its char
acter, and a special correspondent was
Immediately dispatched to the spot
with instructions to capture one of
the flsh and deliver the same Into the
presence of Izaak. II. After hours
spent on the wooded banks of the La
Creole, alias Rickreall, the special re
turned with the report that only the
place where the curious denizens of
this picturesque waterway had once
cavorted for the amusement of Mr.
rinHfpitpr nnnid he found. So earnest
was Mr. Clodfelter in his contention
that he was of sound mind, and had
aptuaitv vipwpri thp strange creatures
with his own optics, that he was not
discredited by the flsh editor.
thp Marshfield Record
with a story in corroboration of the
Dallas man's statements. That curi
nm flsh like unto those described by
Mr. Clodfelter have been seen In the
streams of that locality Is vouched
for bv deeD sea fishermen, they claim
ing them to be salt water eels. Other
coast newspapers have reported like
sights during the past few weeks.
From the evidence at hand it would
appear that these fish, or eels, found
thpir wnv Into fresh water from the
ocean, and that their stay was of brief
duration. The Observers Informant
snvs the "what-ever-it-was" were
beautiful in the extreme, and "as play
ful as kittens." He sat at the water's
p,v twn full hnura watching their
pranks, now and again undertaking to
induce one ol them to take his bait.
rhnnira Cornea Next Saturday.
Rv an act of the last legislature on
Saturday next Sheriff Jonn w. orr win
become tax collector for Polk county,
iipceedinr County Treasurer Fred
Holman In that capacity. The state
tor pnmm laslon has notified county of
ftclals that the law does not specify
any particular method to De rouowea
in making the transfer, but suggests
that the treasurer make his return to
the county court, verified by a proper
pprtlflpntp AA reauired bv law. showing
clearly the state of the tax roll on the
conclusion of his duties as collector,
and this plan will be followed.
Hotel Improvements.
The new management of the Imper
ial hotel will soon begin an important
improvement to the lobby of that hos
telry. The stairway will be moved
about thirty feet to the rear, thus af
fording additional office room. Mes
srs. Hoyt & Quigley also have In con
templation other betterments which
cannot fail to meet with the approval
of patrons of the house. They are live
wires and are fast making a reputation
for The Imperial.
While enroute home from Salem
Saturday night the gears of an auto
mobile owned by Paul Hunter were
stripped, and the machine was towed
in by Mr. Sells; of Falls City, who
found the party stranded near Rickreall.
GORGAS TO FIGHT
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Photo copyright by American Press Association.
Surgeon General Gorgas of he United States army, who cleaned tip Pana
ma canal zone, asked to Join Rockefeller foundation to save stricken Servla.
TWO LIVES ENDANGERED
MRS. TOOZE AND MISS SCOTT
HAVE CLOSE CALL FROM DEATH
Eating Canned Shrimp While Attend
ing Dance at Falls City Causes
Ptomaine' Poisoning. ,
Ptomaine poisoning came near caus
ing the loss of two lives in Dallas last
Saturday night, the victims being Mrs.
Walter Tooze, Jr., and Miss iNaida
Scott, both well-known resldents-Phyl
sicians labored with these patients sev
eral hours before they considered them
out of danger, Mrs. Tooze being the
most severely affected by the poison. In
company with Attorney Tooze the la
dies had attended the baseball dance at
Falls City on Saturday night, and
while there had partaken of canned
shrimp for lunch before leaving for
home, before midnight. About 1 o -
clock both became ill, and each, un
known to the other, summoned physi
cians, Dr. Starbuck attending Mrs.
Tooze and Dr. Bollman attending Miss
Scott. Prompt treatment in both cases
probably saved the lives of the victims,
the case of Miss Scott being the most
stubborn, she no) being considered
wholly out of danger until late Sunday
afternoon.
DALLAS MAYOR IS IMPROVING.
Mr. Klrkpatrick Will Not Have to
Submit to Operation.
The condition of Mayor E. C. Klrk
patrick, who has been ill at the Imper
ial hotel In Portland during the past
week, is greatly improved this morn
ing, and the probabilities are that he
will not have to submit to an operation
to get relief from his ailment of the
Intestines. Yesterday forenoon it was
thought that an operation would be
necessary, but the patient, under skill
ed medical attention, has been brought
through the trouble without It. Mr.
Klrkpatrick will be at the Imperial
some days, however, before he will be
able to return to his home here.
There was much anxiety over his
condition yesterday, and frequent tele
phone messages were received from
those who are with him In the me
tropolis. Last evening Just before the
council convened word came that the
chief executive was much Improved,
which intelligence was received with
much rejoicing among his co-workers
and also among those present at the
meeting.
Club Meets Tomorrow Night
The Commercial club will convene
In regular semi-monthly session to
morrow evening, and a full attendance
Is desired, as there is a considerable
amount of business to come before the
club. It is probable that the question
of maintaining a band during the
summer months will be up for discus
sion. Fire Board to Meet.
The regular monthly meeting of the
Polk County Fire Patrol association
will be held at the office of the secre
tary in this city Thursday, May 20.
Several matters of importance relat
ing to the protection of Polk county
timber from forest fires will be taken
up at the meeting.
Cancels Booth's Patent.
The supreme court yesterday affirm
ed the decision of the -circuit court
of appeals canceling five patents for
Oregon land held by the Booth-Kelly
Lumber company of Portland. It was
held that the initial applications were
made fraudently.
SERVIAN TYPHUS.
FIRST STEMS TAKEN
PLANS FOR NEW NORMAL BUILD
ING ARE AUTHORIZED.
Tuition Fee for Each Semester Reduc
ed One-Third By Board of Re
gents Saturday.
At a meeting of the board of) re
gents of the Monmouth Normal school
last Saturday arrangements , were
made for plans'and specifications for
the "new building authorized by the
last legislature, and for the construe
tion of which an appropriation of
$50,000 was made, when Governor
Withycombe was appointed to name
a committee of three to secure an
architect tonerform the work. The
recent legislature appropriated $50.
000 for the building. The revenue of
the Monmouth school for 1915 and
1916, will be approximately $46,804,
of which $37,296 will be derived from
millage tax and the remainder from
tuition fees and other sources. It was
decided to expend $41,845, leaving a
working surplus of $3,358.
The board of regents, reduced the
tuition fee of each semester from $6
to $4. Tuition for the summer school
remains $6.
Because of the board having no
means of protecting the property it
was decided to turn over the Normal
school buildings at Ashlartd and Wes
ton, which have not been used since
1909, when the legislature reduced
the number of normal schools from
three to one, to the local school dis
tricts for use until arrangements are
made for reopening them as normal
schools. The Ashland district useu
the normal building last year.
Polk County Students Honored.
Lamar Tooze, son of Mr. and Mrs.
Walter Tooze of Salem and formerly
of Polk county, has been paid the
highest honor within the power of th.e
student body of the University of Ore
gon. In his election to the presidency
of that body. Leslie Tooze, his twin
brother, was a candidate for the office
of editor of the Emerald, the student
body official publication, but was de
feated by a narrow margin of twenty
nine votes by Max Sommers of Port
land. Cleveland Simpkins, a graduate
of the Salem high school and a resi
dent ot Polk county, was chosen senior
member of the student council.
Ready for Business.
All is in readiness at the municipal
quarry to commence the crushing of
rock for street Improvements. leo.
Stewart, the superintendent, has fin
ished the work of installing a washer,
and has about 300 cords of rock blast
ed. The quarry has a sufficient
mount nf rock uncovered to iai
throughout the season. As soon
subgrades can be prepared the crusher
will be started and rock placed upon
the streets.
' Thursday Will Be Circus Day.
The Sells-Floto circus and Wild West
show will exhibit at Salem next Thurs
day afternoon and evening, and the
probabilities are that Polk county win
send its full quota on cnuaren, ac
companied by parents to care for
them. If Col. Cody's aggregation of
Indians, riders, soldiers and caqueros
i. to lu. there, as advertised. It will
undoubtedly be well worth the trip,
Bkryrle Thieves Operating.
One night last week some unknown
person, or persons, took from the
porch of the A. W. Brf nett home two
bicycles belonging to his sons, but one
of which has since been recovered.
CONTESTS ARE BEGUN
STUDENTS AT MONMOUTH SCHOOL
STUDY. MARKETING.
Specialty Made of Potato Growing, but
Skill in Work and Accounting Also
Count in Race for Prizes.
A thorough knowledge of the ele
ments of seed and soil, skill in plant
ing, efficiency lri'marketing, and prac
tice in accounting are the principles
set by the Agricultural Department of
the Oregon Normal school to govern
the school garden contest among the
students of) the Training school In
Monmouth. A tract near the campus
recently was cultivated and each pu
pil received a plot six feet wide and
nine feet long. A specialty has been
made of potato growing. ,
Early in the year instruction was
begun In the classroom concerning the
preparation of seedbed, selection, cut
ting, dipping of seed, planting, caring,
and cultivation of potatoes. When the
season opened, each contestant was re
quired to use his own judgment in
everything.
A boy of ten Is seeking to cut down
expenses and early find a market
which will mean a higher price than
his competitors can secure. Simple
accounting has been taught the pu
pils during the term and a fair share
of the contest lies In the accurate
keeping of books. Debits and credits
are entered, and at given times the
contestants must have their balances
prepared. One pupil chose to econo
mize in cultivation and cut down the
expenses on his plot to 8 cents. The
pupil earning the most money will be
the winner.
POST OBSERVES ANNIVERSARY
Veterans of Civil War Entertained
Following Business Session.
On Saturday last the members of U.
S. Grant Post, G. A. R., oelebrated the
first anniversary of the organization of
the post in a most fitting manner, be
ing entertained for the most part by
musical and literary numbers. Fol
lowing a short business session, the
meeting was thrown open to visitors
and a number of ladles and Mr. H. M.
Irvin became guests of the veterans,
Mrs. Ewell, a daughter of Comrade
Leiper, gave a reading felicitating the
Grand Army, which was highly ap
oreciated by the ex-soldiers. Mr. Ir
vin, who was present as the represen
tee of an eastern newspaper and re
ported Lincoln's famous Gettysburg
address, and who was also present at
the first Memorial day services at Ar
lington, gave a number of interesting
reminiscences of these historical
events, his talk being full of Interest
to those fortunate enough to be pres
ent on this occasion. His daughter,
Miss Gertrude Irvin, musical director
In the Dallas high school, with Miss
Dorothy Bennett at the piano, render
ed a number of those grand old war
songs that inspired the "boys in blue'
of half a century ago on their weari
some marches and In camp, rounds of
applause following each. The exercis
es closed by all singing "America."
The afternoon was one of the most
pleasant in the history of the local or
ganization, and will long be remem
bered by the veterans In attendance,
numbering all but three of the mem
bership. It was a. patriotic gathering.
"THE OUTCOME OF THE WAR."
Noted Lecturer Will Discuss This Sub
ject Before Bible Class.
Mr. J. P. McPherson of New York,
noted lecturer under the manage
ment of the International Bible Stu
dents' association, will speak before
the Dallas class at the primary annex
of the South Main street school this
evening, taking for his subject "The
Outcome of the War." There will be
. rimiKBlon fee charged, and the
class invites the public to attenu aim
listen to Mr. McPherson's address, be
lieving that those who elect to do so
will be well repaid. The lecturer will
speak to the class as a class this af
ternoon. Veterans Want a Flag.
The local G. A. R. post Is without a
flag. And this reminds one of a ship
without a rudder. The primary object
of; the organization Is to promote pa
triotism among the rising generation,
and the absence of the starry banner
upon public occasions makes the un
dertaking one of half doing. Will
some society come forward with the
necessary coin of the realm for the
purchase of an American flag? The
post Is financially unable to supply
Its need.
Fords In Heavy Demand.
VIck Brothers were In Dallas on
Saturday trying to borrow a few Ford
cars from the Shreeve garage until he
could receive a shipment Mr. Shreeve
had Just unloaded a car of Fords, but
notwithstanding this, he, too, ' was
"short" After visiting Monmouth
snd Independence they succeeded In
getting three machines In the latter
place.
New Addition to Alrlte.
County Surveyor Canfteld has this
week laid out a new addition to Alrlle
for Mr. W. E. Williams of that place.
The plat contains thirty lots, and Is
located Immediately west of the high
school building. This property will be
put on the market as residence sites.
NO CONTRACTS GIVEN
STREET IMPROVEMENTS WILL BE
MADE BY CITY Or DALLAS.
Holmes & Grant Lowest Bidders for
Construction of Curb Oiling
Bids Are Opened.
The city having received no bids for
the macadamlzation of fourteen blocks
of streets, crushing and hauling the
nnnl- tt.a atmal nnmmlglr)nPP Will hll
authorized at an adjourned meeting ot
the aldermanic body tomorrow even
ing to proceed with the improvements
as outlined, the work to be done by
the city the same as last year. This
would probably have been done had
bids been tendered in compliance with
the advertisement, for it is the opinion
of the council that the work should
be given to home people. The haul
ing oil the rock alone will provide em
ployment for about fifteen teams. The
street commissioner will Inaugurate
the work of getting the subgrades
ready for the rock as soon as possible,
and within a fortnight the Improve
ments will be in full swing.
Bids were opened last night for the
construction of approximately 8000
lineal feet of concrete curb, Holmes
& Grant being the lowest bidders. The .
council took all bids under advisement,
however, and will convene In adjourn
ed session tomorrow night to act upon
them. The bid of Barham Brothers
was 31 cents per lineal foot and $2
for corners. The Himes Construction
company bid 34 cents, or 29 V4 with
Independence gravel; while Holmes &
Grant's tender was 30 cents and $2
for corners.
Bids for oiling approximately twen
ty miles, of streets to lay the dust dur
ing the summer months were also
opened, they being as follows: A. F.
Roberts, Durnishtng oil and spreading,
$35.95 per mile, sixteen feet wide; the
city furnishing the oil, 1 4-10 cents
per gallon; City Transfer company,
furnishing oil, $39 per mile; city fur
nishing oil three-quarters of a cent for
spreading. This contract will also be
awarded tomorrow night.
An ordinance providing for the ex
tension of the concrete sidewalk dis
trict was Introduced by the ordinance
committee and placed upon its first
reading. It provides that hereafter all
SlUeWUlKtl 1U1U Wlllltll UW lununmB
limits shall be of concrete In a manner '
prescribed by the ordinance; All that
lying between the east side of Shelton
street and the west line side of Hayter
street and the north side of Academy
street and the south side of Ash street.
When this ordinance Is placed upon Its
final passage the widths on the sever
al streets will be Inserted in the docu
ment, and after Its adoption It will be
unlawful for any person to build other
than concrete walks within the dis
trict.
A communication from Scout Mas
ter Rempel requested the council to
grant the Boy Scouts of Dallas the
privilege ot; using the second story of
the city hall building as headquarters,
meetings to be held there twice each
month. The matter was left with the
fire and water committee with power
to act
Abel Uglow asked the council to
grant him permission to build two
chimneys less than the height pre
scribed by ordinance, which Is four
feet above the apex of any building,
and the request was granted and the
city attorney was instructed to change
the ordinance, It being unreasonable.
The Introduction of the question pro
voked considerable discussion, the
council at first holding that It could
not deviate from the law b laid down
by the ordinance. Mr. Uglow declared
that the Bttltude of the governing
body was all nonsense; that he pur
posed placing an Iron roof on his
buildings and that a chimney four
feet above the building would be Un
sightly. It was then that Alderman
Miller moved to grant the request and
modify the ordinance. This ordin
ance, passed In 1901, has never been
complied with, residents building
chimneys to a height to suit them
selves. It applies to the entire city.
There was comparatively little bus
iness transacted at the session last
night, possibly because of the absence
of the mayor. Alderman Barber pre
sided. Insubordination Is Charged.
Upon the eve oil the graduation of
a large class of boys and girls from
the Independence schools, a condition
of chaos and insubordination has grown
In the high school that is to be much
deplored and will to a great degree
effect the harmony and concord of
commencement season. Prof. Bones,
an Instructor, sent in his resignation to
the school board as he did not wish
to be further Involved In the contro
versy. Around him seems to center
the trouble. Monitor.
Read Estate Changes Hands.
We learn that the Joe P. Johnson
farm located between Independence
and Monmouth, was sold this week to
D. F. Chandler. In the deal Mr. John
son acquires a house and three lots
In this city. Independence Eater
prise.
Promoting School Plrsilo. .
The Business Men's dub has under
taken to promote a school picnic In
Amity Monday. May II. Arrangements
are being made for a good time for all
who will attend.
a possible 50.