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About Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 22, 1915)
to mam DALLAS, POLE COUNTY. OREGON: FRIDAY, OCTOBER 22, 1915. (TWICE-A-WEEK) NO. 67 VOL. 27 (THE HOME PAPER) EXAMINES THE BRIDGE EXPERT DECLARES STRUCTURE OVER WILLAMETTE UNSAFE. ' Prohibition of Vehicles Such As Now Make Daily Use of Bridge Rec- ' ommended By Holmes'. ' The inter-county bridge across the Willamette river at Salem is unsafe to travel and traffic thereon should 'be prohibited, according to a report of Howard W. Holmes, assistant Btate engineer, and a bridge expert. The structure has outlived all practical usefulness, and should be condemned without further delay, says the en gineer after having made an exhaus tive examination of its physical con dition. The principal feature of the report refers to the deterioration of the metal at the connections, which lias depreciated so that the bridge is in danger when carrying heavy loads. With the report of the engineer it looks as though Polk and Marion counties would be compelled to join in the construction of the proposed new bridge, ithe estimated cost of which is around- $250,000, although Polk is desirous of evading any un necessary expense, which would be in cluded in the forthcoming budget. The report of the engineer in detail is as follows : Top Cords These members are built up of plates and angles with double lacing on the lower side. Con siderable deterioration has token place throughout these members, particular ly at the connections, where rust pits greater than one-sixteenth inch in depth were noted. Water has also percolated between the splice plates, which, originally, had not been brought to a proper bearing fit, caus ing rust and scale which now is ful ly one-eighth inch in depth. Between connecting points, the metal is in a fair state of preservation, particular ly considering the apparent lack of maintenance during "Hie early life of the structure. Generally the reduc tion of a sectional area is not. over 5 per cent of the original section. Ab the connections, however, the re duction in area of effective metal may be considered as high as 10 per cent. . n . . 1 1 ,.. A Tew case wfre noieu wnonj" mc metal had deteriorated to the extent of 20 per cent of the original area. The principal weakness in the top chords is that caused by excessive sag or bending at the third and fifth pan el points from each shoe, this de flection varying from one to two inch es. A deflection from one-fourth to three-fourths was also noted at mid section and directly over the sub posts. This bending is accompanied by a slight deflection in the subver tical located directly above the star connections. The bending above re ferred to could be slightly remedied by the adjustable counters; but as the trouble is eaused primarily by exces sive .loading which, undoubtedly, has caused severe stress in the extreme outer fibers of the metal, the adjust ment mentioned would afford only un certain and temporary relief, with reference to the top chords, under regular traffic conditions. Bottom Chords and Web-Members. The bottom chords and web-members in both spans are fairly well pre served excepting in the immediate vi cinity of the connections, where rust pits and a general reduction of about 15 per cent in the original effective area of metal was observed. All in termediate and end posts were found to be badly rusted below tlie floor level. Five of the main end posts and the plates connecting them to the shoe, ad well as the shoes themselves, show a large reduction in area of met al due to excessive rust. Sub-posts which tend to support and maintain the top chord in line show considerable deflection and clearly indicate that they are carry ing greater loads than that for which they were originally designed. As an indication of the deteriorated condi tion of the end posts and other mem berg above mentioned, it may be of interest to state that in determining the depth of rust and scale on the main end posts a wire nail was inad vertently driven, without effort, through the metal with the aid of a common clawhammer. Laterals and Wind Bracing. The top lateral system was found to be in good condition and well adjusted, although they offer only small resist ance, extending as they do, over two Unoth AH wind hracinff mem bers are in fair condition, excepting at tneir connections, wmcn uutr show a marked depreciation in origi nal strength. , The bottom lateral system is en tirely out of adjustment and the con necting plates at the shoes are almost tA am-av Tt n fonnd that the lateral connections at the end of floor beams in both spans are held in posi tion by an 8x8 inch timber on top of u. tCf hmm Am this timber is m borler than the lemrth required, the connections nave shitted towara ine center of the bridge, resulting in a sag of from three to four inches at the center of the lateral rods in ques tion. Approaches The timber trestle ap proach at the east end of the bridge (a kn in rrniA .nnillhnn Tk. nraof a rtntYlu. h has almost Olltliv- ed its usefulness. Many of the tim ber piles were louna to oe naaiy ue- uaj'eu ms g.vu ...... , with a special amount of repair work and replacing certain timber joists which are now broken, this portion of the structure may be serviceable for another year, providing traffic move ment is maintained under strict con trol. General The examination made ai.nn.a ,n,at all tha TTiAfnl tVnrk has de teriorated and the metal at the con nections has depreciated to such an ..fant thaf fViA afnuctiim CAnnot be depended upon to safely carry the loads now imposed upon it. ims con- .litinn 4a further Ptrmhflgi Zed bV the fact that certain plates connecting the lower laterals ana snoes nave rusieu .iirth an ovtillt na t.O Almost lllflke the passage of traffic over the struc ture somewhat venturesome ana uaz ardous. The expansion ' rollers under the ..ni.aiiallv email for RlunR nf IUUC BIC uuuatwu; t the length of those in question, and nave oecome lueneu uy cuuuoiuu ilia ahnaa aanainp. under the influence of temperature changes, additional tension stresses in tne aireauy oyer mffactmrl hnttnm chord. This addition al stress is somewhat indeterminate (Continued on last page) HEROISM HAS REWARD VETERAN OF CIVIL WAR REC OGNIZED BY UNCLE SAM. Harrison Rhodes Passing Declining Yean of An Eventful Life on Rickreall Farm. TTarriann .T. Rhodes of Rickreall, who on Monday last received a check from the. national government for $300 pension, this sum having ac cumulated since he made application, and an allowance of $21 per month inrin-r liia lifetime, lives alone on a ranch, his wife having departed this life some years ago. uuring uie er Ha. Jovo of the vir he served with an Iowa cavalry, but was enlisted in spy service by uovernor ruiKwoou of MiasoHi-i. He was paid is cash, or h ananlra .ont. fi, lfn." RhodCST'Cnd consequently it was with some diffi culty that He estannsnea nis ngui, m a vLnainn Imvintr received no dis charge at 'the close of the war. The government requires mat evidence 0i,n-;,i,r three months service shall be presented before a pension shall ' if. m AU be grantea, out tnis mr. nnuura uiu l,a,.a hut npvprthplesH throueh Congressman Hawley's efforts the pension was forthcoming 'after sever al months or investigation. Althniio-li Mr. Rhodes is in his A4a.l.tv-nraf vAiir he. is hale and strong . s J .... --m- i ,ror one or. nis years, xue Keen visuuu which he still retains is shown from ti.A la trot rAaanHv he shot and killed a rabbit with a pistol at a dis- tanca ot seventy-nve yarns, iuims v.:- in tho. Missouri country as II lO 1.V . ' ... .v a union spy he was not infrequently called upon to use nis trusty weapuu tV Uia -mm . nrpservnrion. and it IS said that he made good use of it on divers occasions, ne posea as a peu dler, and as such invaded confederate lines at will, taking chances of de tection and 'speedy death, but he fal tered not in his mission, and gained much valuable information for the northern army. He was the mark of bullets, but escaped witnoui navuig kaan unnn.lo,! KflVPr did ll6 C81TV upon his person documents -of any kind tliat mignt reveal nis meiimj hostile bands. Sometimes he appear a,l ammo tliA confederates as a preacher, and on these occasions he would appeal to those around mm to accept the gospel and be saved. Following tlie ovennrow oi me ur . iinn mnnnrphv. Mr. Rhodes acted PnofliHpnt Dnlp. as chief of the secret service police, and there made an enviable record for himself and 'his government. His children are iAnn ainoA awtirn in manhood and wo manhood, and are scattered through out the United otates, wane una Uxr rataran is nASsinflT the evening of an eventfiJ life practically alone in the rural realm near iui of Rickreall, at last rewarded in a for the part he played in pre serving the union. SLATON FINED FOR TRESPASS. Salem Barber Pleads ' Oniltr to Charge by Frank ranner. hii-iw-r from Salem, paid a fine of $25 and justice court . - t tML.nAes.no An tka lnnd of Frank Fanner. Farmer complained aeainst the tonsonai anisi om much for trespass as for the assault that the man made wnen me lana owner accosted him. Slaton was ar- mmmA mt TitMitiT afternoon ov Sk.nfF Di-r n ' rpnucsted Dostpone- ment or ncanne in nis rase uum torner J"bn McNary concluded a cir- ... : , avnrf hrial in m lllfh h WAS CH- gaeed. Slaton wanted to plead not m,.ltr knt m-hrn MeN"rv heard the evidence be advised the barber to en- ... . nu Af -miltr Justice Holman levied the prescribed fine and this a guaranieea oy Jir. jac.-ijiri. DECISION IS NOT GIVEN TESTIMONY IN INDEPENDENCE INJUNCTION CASE. V Judge Belt Goes Fishing Will Ren- dor Decision in Important Case Sometime Next Wek. The injunction case, entitled Hart versus the city of Independence and relating to the changing of street lines within the limits of that city, has been taken under advisement by Cir codt Judge Belt and he will probably render a decision sometime next week. The case came up in the circuit court early in the week, with a large audi-, ence of Independence people, and it took several days to present the great amount of testimony in the matter. Expert witnesses were summoned and property owners and city authorities were on the stand at different times. The county surveyor, . who established new- lines, thus making it necessary for property lines to be moved back had not the injunction been filed, was carefully questioned by John McNary of Salem, the attorney for Hart, and by B. F. Swope, city attorney of In dependence. , The old street has been established for many years, fences have been built and property titles established and re-established. In the survey made by the county surveyor the lines were moved several feet and property owners were requested to accommo date themselves to the new conditions. It stirred up considerable interest among the residents on the property affected and ereated much attention from others. When Judge .Belt left for Newport yesterday he said he would probably be ready to hand down an opinion soon after his return. Judge Belt went to Independence early in the week to look over the road in question and to investigate conditions, that he could be in a bet ter position to render a decision. Dur iiig the progress of the hearing a great number of Independence- people whose property is ettected by the pro posed line change made an interested audience. The property owners, who are behind the injunction, seem to have the sympathy of the people of Uie. July i a .. . .r-. ...... .-..- Variety Store Changes Owners. The Ash variety store on Main street has changed hands, John Voth being the new owner. Mr. Voth was preparing to leave for Oklahoma last week when the purchase of the Ash store suggested itself to him. The consideration was part in cash and part in propertv owned by Voth in Oklahoma. Mr. Voth will run the store along the same, general lines as maintained under the management of Mr. Ash. Mr. Toth has taken charge of the store and Mr. Ash has made no definite plans for the future. He expects, however, to remain in Dallas this winter. Church. Nearly Ready. The renovated, painted and electric lighted Baptist church 'will be a de light and a surprise to the members of that congregation when tney as semble for worship on Sunday morn ing. Mr. Jackman, a new resident in Dallas, did the painting and dec orating and Fred West had charge of the lighting. MUST FURNISH LISTS NEW LAW IMPOSES FURTHER DUTY UPON COUNTY CLERKS, Names of Voters in Each Precinct to Be in Hands of Election Board for Reference. Immediately prior to the next elec tion Count v Clerk Asa Robinson must furnish the election boards, of the county with the names of voters in their respective precincts, and every other clerk within the state must do, likewise, according to Attorney Gen eral Brown, who rendered an opinion on the subject by request last Tues day. The opinion is the attorney general's interpretation Vtf chater 209 of. the session laws of 1915. The act is an amendment to the old law although the old law relating to vot ers' lists was re-enacted bv the last legislature in passing a bill cutting down the nnmper of election judges Attorney, General Brown says that the intention of the legislatuie was down the number of election judges. and that the re-enacted provisions are superfluous. Chapter 225 of the session laws makes provision for, the permanent registration of voters and it also makes provision that the election boards be furnished with list of voters, but the attorney general holds that chapter 209 poverns because the primary intent of chapter 225 is to provide tor permanent registration and the list provided for in chapter 209 contains more columns and is more complete in every respect. LOAN IS MADE BY CLUB FAIR BOARD GETS ADVANCE I FROM COMMERCIAL CLUB. Matter of Helping to Lift Mortgages Discussed at Meeting of Club. Directors Meet. Although the county fair took in more money this year than it did last year by appropriations, donations and fees, a much larger amount was spent this year in preparation and the pur chasing of premiums and other ex pense. It was necessary for the fair, board to borrow $500 fro, the Dallas Commercial club at the regular meeting of that organization on Wed nesday evening. H. L. Fenton, re- Nnne president of the tair board, ap peared at the meeting to request the advance from the club treasury until the first county appropriation is made. The precedent in this matter was es tablished last year when the club as sisted the fair board until its owrn funds were available. Other business of the club was of a routine nature. A proposal was made by W. L. Soeh- ren to interest some capable person in the proposition of taking over the Dallas Brick & Tile company, with the aid of the Commercial club, and operate the plant as one of the city's important manufactories. This mat ter was brought to the attenti6n of Mr. Soehren by holders of mortgages against the plant and it wiH probably come up for further discussion at another time. 5 The meeting of the board of direc tors of the club was just before the regular club meeting and it was at the first meeting that the' matter of the loan was disposed of. F. E. Davis spoke briefly regarding the business men's mass meeting at the W. 0. W. hall tonight, and announced that A. L. Fisher of Albany would be the speaker at that time in the interest of market and sales day plans. A let ter, similar to dozens that are receiv ed by the secretary from so-called community builders, was read and Mr Loughary was instructed to take v.p with this gentleman the delaits of ex pense involved in a trip to Dallas with a view to suggesting ways ana means t. bolstee up-th.lubJ. BXraven presided at the meeting of the board of directors and N.- L. Guy, vice-president, held the gavel at the regular club meeting. LEVI GILL AM BURIED TUESDAY. Pioneer of 1852 Survived By Two Sons Living in Polk County. The body of Levi Gillam, a Polk county pioneer, was laid in its final resting place at McMinnville on Tues day. Mr. Gillam came to this coun try in 1852 and was oi years old when he passed away at the home of his son near Perrydale. He was the father of a number of children, of which Elmer Gillam and Henry Gil lam are the only ones remaining in Polk county. Other sons anq daugn- iters live in Dayton, McMinnville and Washington state. Mr. and Mrs. Conrad Stafrin, who were neighbors of Mr. Gillam in the east, when the lamented pioneer re moved from Oregon to live in tne east for several years, attended the funeral at McMinnville. DALLAS TOPLAY MUTES MUTE SCHOOL TEAM WILL CON NECT WITH DALLAS HIGH. Fast Game Promised on Local Grid- iron Tomorrow Afternoon Both Teams Well Prepared. The Mute school football team will pit its gridiron generalship and its muscle against the Dallas high school brigade on the high school field at 2:30 tomorrow afternoon, and if the local boys are to uphold the rec ord they established last year in not sustaining defeat on home ground, they will have to play a good game against the fast Mute team. Every member .of the team is aware of this fact and the last few practice nights this week were spent in the stiffest workout the team has had this year. Coach Clarence Rudder is in charge of the boys, his fellow worker. Jim French, being in Portland, and he be lieves the team will be very materially better than it was last Saturday when it defeated the Silverton hieh school team. The Mute school aggregation matches very well with the Dallas team as to weight and the first garoe on the home gridiron win n wmi.i by the speed and execution shown. Last year the Dallas boys played the merry tune of defeat to the Mutes, but they are taking no stock in past performances and expect if they win to so by hard fighting. ' Practically the same' team as that which appeared against Silverton will line up against the deaf and dumb lads here tomorrow. But Coach Rod der will change the players as he sees fit after the game is started and the work of the boys becomes apparent, either Rudder nor his team cherish any hope of mounting up such a score against the Mutes as the team made last year, but they have that fighting spirit that spells victory "on the foot ball battlefield. The high school boys are selling tickets lor the Contest and have advertised it widely in hope of getting a large attendance. The team is absolutely self-supporting and must look to tlie returns trom its games at home to finance it throughout the year. . The expense of uniforms and equipment, as well as the expense of bringing the opposing team to Dallas must be borne by the team itself, and the high school students are playing against odds in hoping that the slopes about the. field will not be lined with ticketless onlookers at the games this year as- they have been before. The students themselves are loyal in sup port of their team, but complain that so many onlookers enjoy their games without helping in any way tq finance the sport. There is nothing to keep spectators away from the game other than the individual sense of right and wrong, but that factor, say the stu dents, will be influence enough to make the usual attendants buy the tickets that are on' sale, The game starts at 2 :30 tomorrow afternoon. TAX BUDGET DISCUSSED PROGRESSION TO BE WATCH- WORD CITY COUNCIL. Councilmen Meet Tonight to Act Farther on Tentative Cost Sheet for Next Year. "Keep Moving," was the slogan adopted bn Wednesday evening at an informal meeting of the city council men, when they met to discuss and prepare a tentative budget of taxation for 1916. The best government that can be maintained, and the most pro gressive government, within the limi tations of conditions and circumstanc es will be the keynote of action in JJallas next year, and to live up to these ambitions the counbil is faith fully .trying to prepare a suitable ex peBse.udge More.work must be done on streets; and "sidewalks; "the street cleaning department needs funds for the purchase of equipment, and there are wan-ants to be retired. In the face of these things the council is taking its own time to prepare for the conditions by adopting a tenta tive cost sheet that will not take city taxes beyond all reason, but one that will allow the necessary civic development in connection with the progression of Dallas. The work done at the meeting on Wednesday was hampered somewhat because the council was not altogether conversant with the new Bingham law which makes it necessary to keep tax es .within 6 per cent higher than eith er of the two proceeding years. But from the discussion that was held re- mnvlintr tha fTonoml cit.V flind And the funijj it the opinion of Mayor Kirkoatrick that the assessment will not be more than 2.5 mills more than that of last year. The general fund assessment will'be approximately 7.7 mills, or .4 higher than last year; retiring warrants will cost about 2.3 mills and the road fund will require the amount that can be gained by an assessment of 3.5 mills. The armory will be cleared, up this year with a .8 mill assessment if things work ac cording to the plans discussed at this meeting. Other funds covered in the budget will probably remain very much the same as they were last year. . Because they were not conversant with the Bingham law, and desired to stay within the provisions of that law. the council adjourned until to night and directed the city auditor, Charles Gregory, to confer with the state tax commissioner in the mean time: Mr. Oreerorv visited that dig nitary at Salem yesterday and will be prepared to advise the council regard ing the law at the meetine tonight. More detailed discussion will be held tonight, and more conclusive results will be obtained regarding the budget. The tentative budget will be offered to the public after the meeting to nierht and next week a pnblie hearing will be advertised to take place in about twenty days. At that time the puhlie will be able to raise the bud- tret if such is round necessary. 1 he public, meeting is held more foil the purpose or ed neat ion than any other. Market Days for Farmers. Dallas, Eugene, Salem and other valley towns have established farm era' market and sales days. These are splendid movements to bring the farmers to the cities and providj them with markets, but some towns can t see it. Courier. Dallas people can see bow "splen did'' the movement is by the interest that is manifested in the bnsin-ss-men's meeting at W. O. W. hall to nieht "Some towns can't see it." and others do see it and refuse to be come interested. We will see tonight just how far Dallas ean "see it." GIRLS HAVE GAY TIKES "COVERED DISH" PARTIES FOR ENTERTAINMENT. ' Young Women's Section of Club Starts on Season of Activity With ' Meeting at Library Hall. The second and fourth Tuesdays of each month have been, decided upon by the members of the Young' Wo men's section of the Dallas Woman's club as regular meeting nights for the branch, and, according to another plan revealed at the first meeting, held at the library last week, ' ' Come Over" parties will be a feature of the social activity of this division this winter. The first of these parties will be the entertainment by Misses Rossiter, Sheridan Cartwright and MacDonald at their home next Tues day evening. The invitation is for a "covered diali" party and each mem-, ber is to carry her fancy work, in ad dition to a happy heart, that she may enjoy the evening. These parties are to be the regular club meetings and each evening the girls will bring their basket or covered dish luncheon and enjoy the evening meal at 'the same time as the meeting. At the first meeting the girls carried basket lunches and hot tea was prepared at the library. , mi. v TUT . lilt XUUUg VVUH1UII B tSt-UUUIl IB OIlO of the most interesting departments of that organization. It is largely of a social nature, its principal ob ject being to furnish pleasant and profitable recreation for the busy young women of the club, many of whom cannot take advantage of the afternoon sessions of club work, but wish to keep in touch with it and be identified as members of the federa tion. The Dallas club has received both state-wide and nation-wide rec ognition and commendation as the originators of 'this department of club work.. During the past year many letters of inquiry have been received from clubs in other cities which were contemplating the organization of such a section and looked to Dallas for guidance. IS TEAL AN OBSTRUCTIONIST? Charged With Holding up uonstrnc tion of Inter-County Bridge. There seems to be a general impres sion on the street that Judge Teal of Polk county, is responsible for the fact that a new bridge will not be ' built across the Willamette this year. The bridge, was inspected the early part of this week by Judge Teal and the commissioners of Marion county and Tax Commissioner Galloway, and notwithstanding the engineers ipro nounced the bridge unsafe, the con struction of a new one, it is stated, was opposed by Judge Teal. With f this, situation confronting the Marion county court, there is. very little pros pect of a new bridge, as the law . plainly states that both counties must concur in the specifications and cost of construction. Capital Journal. In interviews with Judge Teal it has been learned that while he is not adverse to building the bridge if ne cessity requires immediate action, he holds that if the present structure is not in a dangerous condition it would be bettajafor all concerned to procras tinate ajf ther year at least. The Polk county court petitioned the state en gineer's office to make a test of the physical condition of the bridge and submit a report thereon that other information than that characterized as idle talk might be had relative to its "dangerous condition." The en gineers may have pronounced the bridge unsafe, but they have not shown wherein it is nnsafe, and this information Is most desirable. Judge Teal does not feel inclined to impose a heavy tax upon the property owners of Polk county for the construction of the proposed bridge at this time unless it is absolutely necessary. If the Polk county court is shown where in the inter-county bridee is danger ous to life and property, there ean he no question about it concurring in the proposition. Marion county and Salem is very anxious that the bridge be erected, notwithstanding the fact that the present, structure has stood most severe tests during the past sea son, during which time on divers and sundry occasions it has been loaded to the guards with heavy traffic. "There's a reason." TO FISH IN YAQUTNA BAT. Ardent Sportsmen Forsaks Duties for the Call of the Salmon. Judge Belt and 3. C. Hayter left yesterday morning for Newport with abundant hopes and a great stock of sporting goods. The principal idea will be. according to the sportsmen, lo catch deep sea fish, but from an- tccedent probability there is little doubt bnt that the many creeks run ning into Yaquins bay will feel the splash of the tackle of the gentlemen. Salmon trout have a greater lure about them than the deep sea families and tbey are easier to catch at this time of year. Court matters will I rest until the judge returns.