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About Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927 | View Entire Issue (June 25, 1915)
Ihlk 8 VOL. 27. (THE HOME PAPER) DALLAS, POLK COUNTY, OREGON, FRIDAY, JUNE 25, 115. (TWICE-A-WEEK) NO. SS TAXES TO BE REDUCED RAILROAD WILIi NOT PAY FULL LEVY ON GRANT LANDS. Decision of Court Make It Compul sory Tliat Tracts Be Sold at $2.50 Per Acre, as Agreed. . Considerable Interest was manifest ed in Polk county over the decision ofl the court in the Oregon & Cali fornia land grant case, rendered on Monday, against the government and in favor of the railroad company, this county having 87,017.79 acres of land in the grant, on which ap proximately $28,000 is due for tax es for the past two years. By the decision the railroad company is pro , hlblted from making any further sales of the property until such time as congress shall by some appropriate legislation provide some manner for the disposition of the lands. This means it is now up to con gress to provide some way by which these lands may be opened for set tlement. When congress has acted, . then the lands can be sold In no other way than that provided by congress. As the lands are sold, the railroad ' company will get $2.60 an acre and no more. Inasmuch as the court has declared the lands to have an actual qash value of only $2.60 per acre, and assessments for taxation being made on a basis of 60 per cent of cash value, the court's decision will greatly reduce the sums collect able for the two years' delinquent, taxes due the several counties in which the company holds grant lands under this ruling. In the case of Polk county, instead of recovering the $28,000 levied against- these lands, If the assessment obtains at the val uation fixed by the court, only about, one-tenth of tha( amount would be due. There were two original land grants, one called the east side grant and the other the west side grant The total amount of land received un der these grants was 3,182,169 acres. Prior to the commencement of the government's suit the company had sold 821,677 acres, leaving unsold 2, 360,492 acres. The value of the un sold land la estimated at all the way from $30,000,000 to $60,000,000. Evi dence given In connection with the case shows that the railroad com pany has already received from the lands nearly $2,500,000 more than It has paid out for all purposes con nected with them. live In obscurity the rest of my days, but I would rather be plowing in a field than to feel for the rest of my life that I had that man's blood on my hands." In his statement exhaustively, ex plaining his reasons for commuting -Frank's sentence. Governor Slaton re viewed the circumstances surrounding the murder of Mary Phagan in the National pencil factory at Atlanta on April 26, 1913, the conviction of Frank and hiB appeals for clemency. Continuing, the statement reads: : "The murder was a most heinous one and the offender deserves the punishment of death. The only ques tion Js as to the Identity of the crim inal. The responsibility is upon the people of Georgia to protect the lives of her citizens and to maintain the dignity of her laws, and if the choice must be made between the approba tion of citizens of other states and the enforcement of our laws against of fenders, we must choose the latter -al ternative." ' GROUNDS ARE SELECTED CHAUTAUQUA WILL BE HELD ON THE COURT HOUSE LAWN. Next Tuesday Hog Been Designated - as Ticket Day, When Committees Will Visit Citizens. NOW READY FOR TRAVEL AUTOMOBILES MAY NOW GO TO NEWPORT VIA FALLS CITY. Grades Have Been Materially Reduced and Line Straightened, Making It .'. An Ideal Highway to Coast. FIGHT GOES MERRILY ON. WUtomlns, Oiai-Jus Tlwt Paving Job ' Wa Below Specifications. A ''tight Is on with regard to the case 'IV Dennis & Christenson, con tractor,! vs. city of Wlllamlna over paving work done more than a year ago. The contention or the council and citizens there is that the work was never done according to con tract. Some stormy sessions ofl the council were held last summer In an attempt to settle the matter, but no settlement was reached. Some time ago the contractors began action for 14200, the amount they claimed un der the contract, City Attorney Snel llng, assisted by Attorneys Holmes and Conner of McMlnnville, prepared a defense and went into court. When the case was called the Judge decided that the council had delegated Its authority to Mr. Flagg as city en gineer, and that he had accepted the work of the contractors, therefore no evidence was admitted. Believing that they can support their conten tion in the supreme court, the attor neys have given notice of an appeal, and are now preparing the papers. The work done was far below specifi cations, according to statements made, and an effort will be made to show that this was the case. "The new road to the SUetz basin will be ready for travel by Thursday, the work being well nigh completed for this year," said Judge Teal to a representative of The Observer on Tuesday. The highway has been changed In many respects, and dis tance has been saved by taking out crooks and turns wherever possible. This has necessitated felling Innum erable monarchs of the forest, and the blasting of stumps from the road way, but the Improvement Is said to be worth the money and labor ex pended. Several automobiles are now traversing this road, three having come out from Newport by this route on Tuesday. The crew of; road workmen Is now working back towards Falls City, cleaning up places here and there that were left incomplete, but In passable condition for automobiles. In several places the road will be widened In order to provide turn-outs on narrow grades. There are some short turns In the canyon over the mountains, but to avoid these the construction of wider bridges would be necessary, and these the county court does not feel itself financially equipped to build at this time. None of these places, how ever, are dangerous, but travel at these points must be slower In order to avoid possible accidents. This new highway to the coast at Newport shortens the distance be tween Portland, and other lower val ley Doints, to this famous resort by about fifteen miles, and affords the tourist a most picturesque route over good roads. The heavy grades nave been reduced wherever possible, most notably out of Falls City, the line having been changed at this point In order to avoid a long pull up the mountain. The sixty-five miles be tween Dallas and Newport may be covered eaatly In four or five hours. The big Chautauqua tent will be pitched on the east half of the court house square this season, and the en trance will probably be from Jeffer son street. This has been made pos sible by Judge Teal's generosity in granting the request of the committee in charge of the affair. The Chau tauqua will open on Sunday. July 4. and will continue throughout the week. The list of attractions, already published in the columns of The Ob server, is of an unusually high char acter, and cannot fall to meet with the approval of those attending this second annual event. The committee finds it necessary to dispose of 2511 season tickets In add! tlon to those already pledged, and in order to make quick work of it has appointed several sub-committees and named next Tuesday as ticket day, on which occasion every part of the oity win be visited with a view to dispos ing of the required number. Those who have already subscribed for tick ets will find them .at the drug stores after next Monday, and are especially requested to take them up without unnecessary delay. Quite a number of persons who subscribed for tickets prior to the close of the Chautauqua last season have removed from the city, and the committee is anxious to know how many of those pledging themselves to again support the Chau tauqua this year are going to make good. Rev. Miles, who is here from Se attle In the interest of the Chautau qua, Is very optimistic over the com ing entertainment, and believes that It will be even a greater success than It was last year. $200 FOR A HOMESTEAD SUGGESTED THAT GRANT LANDS BE SOLD BY DRAWING. Divided Into Tracts of Forty Acres, Fifty-Seven Thousand Persona Would Get Homes for $200. JESSIE SMITH DIES AT HOSPITAL Pneumonia Claims Victim After Ill ness of Short Duration. Miss Jessie Smith of Corvallls, who was brought to the Dallas hospital from Independence on Sunday, died at that Institution on Monday from pneumonia, after an Illness of only a few days. The remains were shipped to Corvallls from Chapman's under taking parlors. The body was aecom- CLASS GIFT ABOLISHED YOUNGSTERS MAY USE POWDER. Mayor Kirkpatrirk Issues Permit, Ex cept In Business District. Mayor Klrkpatrlck, believing that the youngster Bhould be allowed to smell powder on Independence day, has Issued a permit for the discharge of firecrackers and fireworks on July 8 between the hours of 5 o'clock in the morning and 12 o'clock at night, except In the following districts: That part of Main street between Oak and Washington streets; that part oi Mill street between Jefferson and Church streets, and that part of Court street between Jefferson and Church streets. This Includes the business district of Dallas, and the mayor's enforcement of the ordinance covering this subject. Is a precaution against the destruction of property by fire, and should be rigidly obeyed by all his loyal subjects. In the restricted district the use of explosives of any kind is prohibited The firing of bombs, giant crackers and dynamite In any part of the city Is forbidden. NORMAL STUDENTS GIVE $100 FOR LOAN FUND INSTEAD. Registration Opening Day of Summer Term Sets Record Girls Must Have Chaperones. sister's death. Funeral services were held at Corvallls Wednesday aster noon, and were conducted by Rev. H. H. Hubbell. Deceased Is survived by father and two brothers, none of whom reside In this vicinity, Miss Smith had been employed In dining room service at hotels at Inde pendence and Salem for some time past. panled by her brother, Orvll Smith. who came here upon the news of hlsJwitht some exceptions. Is well worth One suggestion made for the dls- posal of the unsold 2,800,000 acres of grant lands of the Southern Pacific company, declared by the United States supreme court Monday to be a proper subject for congressional leg islation, would bring about the big gest land drawing by homesteaders ever known. This suggestion Is that the entire area be cut Into 40-anro tracts, to be drawn by lot by bona fide citizens, Irrespective of sex, un der the direction of receivers an- polnted by the United States district court, me arawmg to take place In Portland. Subdividing the unsold lands of thn railroad company in Western Oresrnn into 40-acre tracts would make ap proximately oi.ouu of such tracts, and if only halt of that number were tak en by homesteaders of families, the unoccupied lands of the Southern Pa- cifio In the Willamette. Umnaua. Rogue river and adjacent valleys in a rapid sequence of events would have, an additional population of more than 126,000 persons, estimating five persons to each entryman, a low av erage for a farmer's family. The merit of fixing 40 acres as the unit and limit land to be taken by an entryman, Is that it would en able the filling of all the applications of the 20,000 or more who sought to obtain a homestead on these lands and were doomed to disappointment. On the basis of 160 acres, the unit fixed for the sale of the grant lands originally, there would be allotments for only a little more than 14,000 ap plicants. The price proposed to be fixed for the lands to be sold will probably oe about is an acre instead of the original price of $2. SO. The Increased price will be Justified, it is declared, on the ground that according to the supreme court's opinion, the railroad company is entitled to the original price of 12.60 and In pursuance of the equities enunciated during the trial and not denied, plus reimburse ments for taxes paid and cost of ad ministration and Interest on the amounts disbursed. It is estimated that the land ought to sell for enough to cover these additions to the original price and that the land. benefit to the state as a whole. With the holding of such meetings, the sen timent of the people most directly concerned can be learned and with that much accomplished the congres sional delegation will have a basis to work on In framing a bill to be Intro duced In congress. Adjustment of the problem of un paid taxes due to the 18 Western Oregon counties trom the Southern Pacific company will reauire a high order of Ingenuity on the Dart of public officials and legal lights. The 2,300,000 acres of unsold lands In the railroad grant were assessed In 1918 and 1913 on a basis of about $10 an acre, and the aggregate taxes for these two years together with inter est amounts to approximately 11,000, 000. But In view of the fact that the United States supreme court has decided the railroad company's equity in the lands is at the rate of (2.60 an acre, the amount of taxes and in terest to be recovered will undoubted- (Continued on last page.) RACES DRAW. CROWDS INDEPENDENCE BUSINESS HOUS ES CLOSE DURING AFTERNOON - Results of Contests Thus Far Polled Off Meet Comes to End To morrow Afternoon. SIEFARTH LOSES CASE VERDICT FOR SOUTHERN PACIFIC IN $30,000 DAMAGE ACTION. Present Deputy County Clerk Falls to Recover For Serious Injuries Sustained in October, 1013. Rev. Mitchell Goes to Iowa. Rev. Oeorge H. Mitchell, former pastor of the Dallas Presbyterian church, who left a fortnight since for Lemore, California, with the ex pectation of taking a pastorate there, has gone to Onawa, Iowa, , accom panied by Mrs. Mitchell. He writes The Observer from that place, but does not state his reason for not ac cepting the California call. FRANK'S SENTENCE COMMUTED. Governor Would Rather Plow Than Have Blood on His Hands. Leo M. Frank's death sentence was commuted to life Imprisonment on Monday by Governor Slaton. An nouncement of the governor's decision came several hours after Frank had been secretly taken from the Jail at Atlanta. Georgia, and hurried to the state prison farm at Milled Seville. Frank was sentenced to be hanged there Tuesday for the murder of Mary Phagan in April, 1911. Governor Sla ton In making the announcement dic tated the following brief statement: "All that I ask is that the people of Georgia read by statement of the reasons why I commuted Leo M. Frank's death sentence to life impris onment before they pass Judgment. Feeling as I do about this case, I wouKnAe a murderer If I allowed this man ff hang. It means that I must For the first time In the history of the Oregon Normal school a gradu ating class has abolished the class gift, and Instead the June class has presented $100 to the school for use In starting a student loan tuna, un der the plan financially disabled teachers who desire to enter the Nor mal may secure Installments to meet current expenses. After an influx of students to tne summer session of the Oregon Normal school since Saturday, the girls' dor mitory on the campus and the homes of that city are filed. The session formally opened Tuesday morning. Every county In Oregon, In addition to the states of California, Is rep resented in the student body. School boards In the country districts com monly have allowed the expenses of their teachers to and from Monmouth for the ultimate good of rural Instruc tion, while some have paid all ex penses there. Student rules Issued for the session provide that no woman shall ride or drive without a cnaper one approved by President Ackerman, that student walking in most cases shall be limited to the city limits of Monmouth, and it is recommended that hours of study be maintained from 7:18 to 10:30 o'clock each even ing. Assembly will be held dally, which all must attend. Tuesday's enrollment Is the highest for the opening of any session in the history of the Normal school. A del egation of fifty Portland teachers is to arrive shortly alter tne ciose oi the school term In Portland. The ratio of men to woman at the session Is 1 to 1. Whom Shall We Honor? Governor Withycombe has appoint ed a committee of seven to select some Oregon citizen in whose honor the Panama-Pacific International ex position will designate a special day. The committee Is also to fix the day, and as soon as the executive is ad vised of Its action he will make the final arrangements with the exposition authorities. 'the proposed Increased price. In many instances 10 acres will be worth the price the government will ask for 40 acres, it Is said by persons who have followed the case closely. Homestead for $200. If this is adopted, It will mean that any citizen,, man or woman over 21 years may be able to obtain a home stead location at a cost of $200 for 40 acres. It is true that many of the alternate sections are owned by timber operators, who desire to round out their possessions, but members of the Oregon congressional delega tion are known to be opposed to any thing that will result In the centralis tng of any considerable quantity oil the lands in the hands of timber operators, both senators and represen tatives standing for a policy that will aid actual settlers In obtaining areas for farms, gardens and homes. Before congress convenes next De cember, several meetings will have been held by Oregon's senators and representatives with the Portland Chamber of Commerce, and represen tative civic bodies, together with county officials, who are Interested In obtaining two'.years unpaid taxes on the lands, and various persons con cerned In the solution of the problem (Continued on last page.) The Gullota Trio Always Makes Good Rumor of Fire TJnfonnded. It was reported on the streets of Delias yesterday afternoon that Black Rock had that morning suffered a heavy fire loss, but the rumor proved to be unfounded. The Observer's cor respondent at that place was com municated with, and this worthy In formed the paper that there was nothing to it. j TT 4: a - After having been out all night the Jury In the case of Chester Slefarth against the Southern Pacific company, brought to recover $30,000 damages because of personal injuries sustained while the plaintiff was. In the employ i me ueienaani, on trial in Multno mah county, on Wednesday returned a veraict lor the company. The case was of much Interest here, Mr. Sle farth being a resident of this city at the time of the accident, and now. A considerable number of witnesses from Dallas gave testimony before the court, practically all of which was In favor of the complainant, who was represented by Oscar Hayter. The accident took place at Newberg on October , 1913. At the time Chester Slefarth was employed by the Southern Pacific as a brakeman. While attempting to pull a pin to un couple two cars, he was thrown be neath the wheel of the moving train. One leg was broken In two places and the other limb was badly mangled. while the right hand was crushed be low the wrist The unfortunate man, who.was then twenty-four years of age. 'was brought to the Dallas hos pital still unconscious, and after long weeks of pain and suffering recovered! from the effects of his Injuries, but is and always will be crippled and unable to perform manual labor. Mr. Slefarth Is now employed In the coun ty clerk's office as a deputy, and has been so engaged for some time past, being physically unable to resume his previous occupation. Negligence on the part of the com pany to provide proper equipment was charged, but the Jury, which was composed to some extent of manufac turers, ex-railroad employes and lia bility Insurance writers, did not see the matter In the light of the plain tiff, and rendered a verdict for the company. The case will not be ap pealed. The June race meet at Indepen dence this week has attracted a fair sized attendance from - all parts of Polk county. The business men are closing their doors each afternoon at 1 o'clock, thus affording opportunity to employes to attend the gathering. An unusually large number of entries have been made, and the races thus far pulled off have been Interesting. The meet will close Saturday after noon. Preceding the races an auto mobile parade was held, In which Miss Florence Burton of Independenae was awarded first prize and Dr. O. D. Butler of the same place second prize. The results of Wednesday's contests are as Hollows: Free-for-all trot, mile heats, purse 1160 Wild Girl won in two straight heats; Novela, third and second; Vel ma, second and third; Siesta and Mark H. also ran. Time, 2:21 in both heats. Flve-elghth-mlle dash, purse $126 Ada first, Alchemist second, Sturlln third; Maxwell, Lettie Ray, Pampa and Lajetta also ran. Time 1:04 , 2:20 pace, purse $160 St. Elmo won in two straight heats; Sally H. third and second; Mack N second and third; Crochet, fourth, Time, 2:19tf. The summary of yesterday's events Is as follows: First race, half-mile run Ducal Crown first, Eastman second, Lieut. Sawyer third; time Slseconds. Second race, 2:20 trot Prince Se attle first, second and third money divided between Velma Z. and Novela; time 2:21. Third race, five-elghths-mlle dash- Maxwell first, Sea Fowl second, Sally Mint third; Urns 1:03. In addition to the races there were ladles' riding contests, driving con tests, etc. Mrs. Ray of Buena Vsta won first prize in the ladies' riding contest, with Miss Eva La Libertl of Independence second. Mr. Hinkle of Monmouth took the blue ribbon for the best double driving turnout, with Hugh Hanna of Independence win ning the prise for the best single turnout. BOOSTERS TO VISIT MONMOUTH. CHAS. PRICHARD DEAD WELL KNOWN INSURANCE MAN PASSES AWAY TUESDAY. Funeral Held From Chapel Yester day Afternoon and Body Taken to Portland for Cremation. I N professional circles the Gullota Trio stand high as Individual arttsta and as a perfectly balanced organization. Tbey will come hers under ths suspire of the seven day gathering known ss Chautauqua. As attrac tion expected at large Chautauqua at Sycamore. 111, canceled Its en gagement unexpectedly. At the last moment Gullota and bis trie were sent lo entertain them In place of the splendid company they expected to get- Go ing before tired, waiting audience at o'clock in the afternoon on a not summer dsy. Gullota. with bis charming group, began program which simply venrbelmed those people with Its beauty and richness. The death of Charles L. Prlchard. which occurred at the Dallas hos pital Thursday afternoon after the patient had clung to life by a mere thread for several days, cast a gloom over the friends snd acquaintances of the deceased in this community, where he had resided with his family for a number of years. Death resulted from a weak heart, Mr. Prlchard falling to recuperate vitality following a sur gical operation for the removal of gallstones. For several days he lin gered at the verge of death, rallying at times and giving the attending physician encouragement, and then relapsing Into a hopeless condition. Deceased was a native of West Vir ginia, and was aged fifty years. In 1892, when a resident of California, he was united In marriage to Miss Emma L. Plumley of Bryan, that state, and to this union were born two sons, Hersehel and Lloyd, who with the widow survive him. The funeral services over the body was held st Chapman's chapel Thurs day afternoon at t o'clock, and the remains were shipped to Portland this morning for cremation. A con siderable number of sympathizing friends and acquaintances attended the last sad rites, which were eon ducted by Rev. Oeorge H. Bennett, pastor of ths Methodist church. Ths floral offerings wore many and. beautiful. Concert Band and Citizens Will, In-. ,. , satin scikkk town jsoaaay Jaw',y'. , In order to' promote the. 4 nee rests of the Chautauqua the concert- band and many citizens In automobiles will go to Monmouth next Monday even- n lng, where Prof. Marsh's aggregation - of musicians will entertain on the col lege campus for an hour or more. Manager Miles will also make a short address, setting forth the advantages to be . gained from Chautauqua meet ings. The people of Monmouth and vicinity are invited to assemble at the campus on this evening, and listen to the music by the recently re-organlzed Dallas band. Ths concert will begin at 7:46. 8200 GOPHERS TRAPPED. Millard McCaleb of Monmouth Earns $800 on Rlddell Farm. Three thousand two hundred goph ers was the msrk reached by Millard McCaleb of Monmouth yesterday, on the big Rlddell farm west of there. He received 25 cents a head, aggre gating $800. Cinch traps were used and on some days thirty gophers were caught. Farmers are conducting an exten sive war to rid the clover fields of the pests, which ea4 the roots and finally drag the plants Into their holes. Several farmers In the Monmouth dls trict pay trappers from $60 to $200 each season. Fn tarns Bring Good Price. ' Ths Oregon Hop Growers' associa tion recently made a sale of a Mock of hops for London delivery. In con nection with this transaction the price obtained r. o. k. Oregon Is particular ly Interesting. The exact amount dis posed of In this deal Is not given out Thirteen and a half cents a pound. which Is IH cents higher than any other sale thus far made, was secared. Ths hops are of the 1116 crop for future delivery. Less than a thousand bales of the 114 crop are now in the hands of ths growsrs. 4jtatesiinn. Silverton Votes for Postmaster. Over at Silverton the people re cently voted for postmaster, follow ing a plan long since suggested that community postmasters be selected by those whom they are to serve. There was an ugly fight on at Silverton, and Senators Chamberlain and Lane con cluded to permit the people make ths selection, which resulted In the elec tion of John H. Brooks by a vote of almost two to one over his opponent, George Cusslter. The senators will now recommend the appointment of Brooks, who will be the next postmas ter there. High Bridge on Logging Line. The high bridge across a canyon flvs miles abovs Black Rock, on the extension of the Willamette Valley Lumber company's logging road, will be finished about ths first of August. The structure will bs 460 feet In length snd 114 feet high. At pres ent fourteen workmen are engaged In Its building. When the trestle Is com pleted logging operations will be car ried on beyond that point. Bona Mr Hawkey Named. Governor Withycombe hss appoint ed ths following committee to Investi gate the county unit system of school administration: Senators C. L. Haw ley, McCoy: C. P. Bishop. Salem; W. T. Vinton. McMlnnville: W. K. Newell' Segners, and W. C. Bryant. Mora. Warden Appointed. Carl Shoemaker, editor of the Rose" burg Evening News, was yesterday elected state gams warden by the state fish snd game commission, and III assume the duties of bis office July L Ths ladles of ths Evangelical church will hold n bake sals at 81- mton A Scott's store tomorrow.