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About Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 9, 1915)
folk mm VOL. 27 (TEE HOME PAPER) DALLAS, POLK COUNTY. OREGON. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 1915. (TWIOE-A-WEEK) NO. 73 MAY WITHDRAW HELP COUNTY FAIR APPROPRIATION NOW SEEMS DOUBTFUL. Complaints Registered by Tax-Payers May Have Effect of Eliminating It From Budget. That the county court will include in its next budget an appropriation for county fair maintenance seems to be questionable, Judge John a. Teal holding that the benefits derived from the annual exhibit are not suf ficiently great to the tax-payers as a whole to warrant the expenditure, and, further, that there should be cur tailment wherever possible in the tax levy, which must necessarily be heavy. Complaints are registered from sev eral sections of the county against this piece of alleged extravagance on the part of the court, and this pro test will undoubtedly have a tendency to strengthen the opinion expressed by Judge Teal. ; It is asserted by those opposed to the appropriation that the fair benefits comparatively few peo- pie within the county ; that it is prac tically a Dallas institution, and as such should be maintained from that source rather than to burden proper ty holders throughout the entire coun ty with the additional assessment necessary for its support. While the argument, is faulty in the main partic ulars, it is bound to have a certain amount of effect. It is admittedly true that the fair, outside of the school, industrial exhibits, is not wide ly beneficial in its scope, but this un fortunate, condition obtains largely because of lack of interest on the part of those who would condemn it, the want or whose encouragement ana assistance, other than financial, alone prevents it becoming one or the larg est and best county fairs of the state. But there is a combination of cir cumstances surrounding the enter prise that augurs to its disadvantage and those opposed to the fair being made a permanent institution through county aid are making the most of these counteracting influences. While, perhaps, appreciating. the fact that all residents of Polk county enjoy the same privilege of participating in the event, a large majority electing not to do so, .the opinion appears to pre vail quite extensively that an ap propriation for its maintenance is but -an extravagance expenditure of public funds. The fair management has not as yet submitted its annual report to the county court, as provided by law, but will file the document within a short time, and this may have something to do with finally determining the matter. As it now stands, iowever, rtpie likelihood of an appropriation from the county is considered doubtful. about two weeks ago. Left a widow with a large family, Mrs. Krebs came to Oregon more than 30 years ago, settling near Brooks, in the Willam ette valley,, where Bhe acquired about 700 acres of raw land and went into the business of raising hops. She is survived by the following children: John, Frank, Conrad and Michael Krebs, the latter two promi nent hop growers near Independence; Mrs. Pauline Thiel, Margaret Krebs, Cordelia Kettingen, Mrs. Josephine Holton and Mrsi A. B. Gillis, wife of Dr. A. is. Uillis or balem, Uregon. Besides there are 20 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. Educators Visit Schools. Mr. Harrington, industrial field worker for the state, and Prof. Barr of the Agricultural college, are at work among the rural schools of Polk county, assisting Superintendent Sey mour and Supervisor Parsons in their work ot improving conditions. These educators spent the greater part of last week in this county, during which time they visited a large number of schools. They are loud in their prais es of Mr. oeymour and the good work he is doing in the promotion of edu cation. Monthly Sales Days Now Give Promise of Success BRIDGE OPEN TO TRAFFIC INTER-COUNTY STRUCTURE UNDERGOING REPAIRS. IS Yet Under Strict Regulations, Engin eers Hold That Span Is Un safe to Travel. ASHLAND IS ENTERPRISING. Would Re-erect Oregon Building Af ter Panama Exposition. If the Southern Pacific .will haul the Oregon building to Ashland free of cost, it is not wholly improbable that the famous Oregon Parthenon will grace the wonderful park being developed at Ashland througn the ex penditure of $175,000 secured by bond issue tor this purpose and tliat or de veloping the Lithia springs there. Just now there is no great hope that the government will decide to main tain the building, and contract calls for its removel within ninety days af ter the close of the exposition. The best offer that the commission has had for the building is $1,000 the con- cern making this offer agreeing to re move the structure and put the ground in the shape required by the contract. It will cost from twelve to fifteen thousand dollars to wreck the build ing and Mr. Greer is confident that he can secure that amount in his home city, providing the Southern Pacific will agree to transport the wreckage to Ashland. It is understood that the Spring commission already has avail able a considerable sum tor the con struction of a casino in the park, and there would be no difficulty about n nancing the reconstruction of the Ore gon building. If the Parthenon is not to be maintained there, it ft reas onably certain that all Oregon would delight in its reconstruction at Ash land. That city ie spending a very large sum to develop great resort and the beautification of the mountain park practically in the heart of that city is now in the hands of McLaren, father of Golden Gate park's land scape beauty, and also responsible for the wondrous beauty of the expo sition grounds. The Oregon Parthen on would have perfect surroundings there, and as a convention hall, muse um, casino, or something of the sort it would serve a good purpose and advertise Ashland as nothing else could and result to the great advan tage of Oregon in general. Death of Cordelia Krebs. Mrs. Cordelia Krebs. a prominent bnsiness woman and early resident, died at her home in Portland. Thurs day at the age of 82 rears as a re sult of a stroke of apoplexy sustained The inter-county bridge at Salem is open to traffic. The bars were thrown 'down last Saturday morning, and Salem again enjoyed the feel of Polk county coin of the realm, over which it was greatly agitated during the brief period the big structure was officially closed. Kepairs to the bridge will go forward as rapidly as possi ble, and in the meantime restricted traffic will be permitted. During this period which will cover about a fort night, loads as heavy as 7,000 pounds, including wagon and team, will be al lowed to pass. The Capital Journal of Saturday lias the following con cerning the work: Workmen are tightening the later als in the center of the bridge, and replacing the beam under the first panel east of the center. With this center sectknrof the bridge strength ened, autos, with a gross weight of not more than 6,000 pounds will be permitted to cross, 300 feet apart. The regulations will require the same dis tance between wagons, with the gross weight of 7,000 pounds. Autos will slow down to 10 miles an hour, and wagons, four miles. Ill order to lighten the weight on the bridge, the sidewalk will be re moved, as the engineers feel that the reduced weights on the spans, by the removing of the sidewalk, will add greatly to the safety of the bridge. The ends of the, batter posts will be re-enforced with steel plates riveted on, and the intermediate posts will be strengthened bv having timbers clamped on. The bottom cords are to be re-inforced with torn-buckle rods, to take care of the deterioration of the cords. With the opening of the bridge traffic will be permitted 16 hours a day, and the traffic will not be interfered with only at times when the repair work may require. B. A. McClain, superintendent of the work m charge tor the Loast ?ange Bridge company, stated today that the repairs should be considered as only temporary, and even after all the repair work had been comploted, the bridge really will not be safe. "According to the weight of traffic and weight of metal in the structure, the bridge cannot be made safe, said Mr. McClain. The primary purpose of establishing a regular monthly Sales Dav on the last Saturday of each month is community advancement along material lines by bringing the city and rural district in closer business and social contact. It must be admitted that, practically speaking, the interests of all residents of Polk county are' identical what helps one individual or one community augurs td the good of the whole. It has been fully demonstrated elsewhere in the Willamette valtev that a periodical gathering of the farmer and city folk on one common ground enhances mutual interests and redounds to the benefit of both, financially and otherwise. It is the aim of the Dallas Commercial club to exert its influence and good offices for the benefit of the rural sec- tions of Polk county as well as its cities, and hence the promotion of this undertaking, in which the participation of every farmer of the county is most earnestly requested. It is absolutely necessary to have the co-operation and support of the rural population in order to make Sales Day a success, and to this end it is proposed to offer every pos- sible inducement to bring this about. Sales Day is not a one-sided proposition it is for mutual interests, as is herein shown beyond a shadow of doubt. . The first sale under the management of the Commercial club will be held on Saturday, November 27, at the corner of Main and Oak streets, where a commodious building has been secured for the accom- modation of stock, vehicles, machinery, farm implements, or anything that the farmer may have to offer for sale or exchange. Farmers may leave whatever they wish to dispose of here at any time during the month previous to Sales Day, with assurance that it will be carefully looked after. Stock, for which stalls are provided, may be brought in on the day of sale, or the previous day, as the owner may elect. Op- portunity will be afforded during the forenoon of Sales Day to farm- ers and others to "strike their own bargain" if they choose; and at 1 :30 in the afternoon such articles as are not disposed of will be sold at auction to the highest and best bidder by the Sales Day manage- ment without one cent of charge to the owner. There will be no fee exacted for accommodations or for sales effected through the manage- ment. A regular auctioneer will do the crying. For Sales Days the merchants; of Dallas will offer for the consid- eration of the purchasing public bargains in their respective lines, thus affording a money-saving opportunity to all who visit the county seat on that day. These bargains fill be announced through the local press during the month, and must peoessarily prove an added induce- ment to the economical buyer, whoi would make a dollar do more than ordinary duty, to attend these monthly events. Thus, it will be seen, that while the introduction of a Sales Day, such as are now being successfully carried on in other communities of the Willamette valley will operate to the interest of all concerned the resident of the rural realm who participates in it will get the big end. Every farmer has something on his place for which he has no use, now or hereafter, while another may want that very article badly. Opportunity is of- rered by hales Day to make an exchange that would prove beneficial -to both? or a chance to buy off selladvantageously. "?r,"'- The committee in charge of this monthly Sales Day invites the farmers of Polk to give the undertaking their co-operation that it may be made one of the permanent institutions of the county. The plan 1 has worked successfully in other places, and there can be no good and sufficient reason why it should not be successful here. It is at least worthy of a trial. Anything left at the stables of Burk & Shepherd, Main street, will have the best of care pending Sales Day. heaps of ashes with piles of tin cans and an occasional iron stove or simi lar article interspersed. Mr, Stark of Eugene, owner of the building, arriv ed in Independence today to appraise the damage, and it is thought prob able that a substantial building will be erected on the valuable corner. The buiTding o the stocks in it could not be insured to anywhere near their value because of the hazard of the old frame structure. But with the amount of stock taken from each of the affected establishments it is prob able that no great loss was suffered except by the owner of the building. The total loss is estimated at $25,000. Gosso Returns to Reformatory. After tramping to within a few miles of Oregon City and almost fam ished because of lack ot food, Char ley Gosso of Dallas and George Stind- ler of Freemont, who ran away from the state training school Tuesday, vol untarily returned to that institution in the week, willing to subject them selves to the punishment in store for them. The boys stole a gun from Captain Spong near Lincoln, but ac cording to their story they met two other larger boys who relieved them forcibl" of the weapon, claiming it as their own. OLD POLK WINS AGAIN SECOND PRIZE COMES TO POLK FROM BIG LAND SHOW. Great Honors Awarded County Exhib itMorrow County Scores First But Has Big Advantage. INCREASING HOP AREA POLK COUNTY GROWERS PRE PARING FOR BIG CROPS. Buena Vista Correspondent Says Equipment Is Being Renewed and New Lands Cleared. 4.4. Granges May Consolidate. The growth of the Monmouth Grange since its organization several years ago, and the extending of its scope in farming activities, has led to talk of consolidation with granges at Lewisville and Buena Vista of the Luckiamute valley.' No definite ac tion has been taken, but the advan tages of consolidation have been wide ly discussed. The grange movement has been widening in Polk county since the meeting of the State Grange at Monmouth in 1913. Offers Reward. It having been reported that Theo dore Bergmann had disposed of his interest in the Theo. Bergmann Shoe Manufacturing company of Portland, that individual offers a reward of $100 to the first person furnishing evi dence that will convict any salesman or manufacturer of shoes who circu lates the false story. Mr. Bergmann is still on the job as president and manager of the companv, and as such is making his competitors go some. Another theorr which does not work ont in practice is the one to the effect that the collar-button rolls un der the dresser. Instead, the collar button drops at yonr feet, and too step on it while hunting it. DEATH UNDER WHEELS SON OF A DALLAS BUTCHER MEETS UNTIMELY DEMISE. While Attempting to Board Freight Train,. Young Man Is Throw Beneath Oars. While attempting to swing himself aboard a moving train at Salem on Saturday last, Clifford Busey, whose lather, William Busey, is employed in Dallas as a butcher, was instantly killed, the wheels ot several cars passed over the young man's body. The accident was witnessed by the rear brakeman, and several passersby. Young Busey had, according to eye witnesses, made two attempts to board the train. One of his arms was slightly crippled from a former acci dent, and it seems that he failed to secure a proper hold and was jerked off his feet and thrown under the train. No inquest was held, the blame for the accident being attached to the unfortunate young man himself. Upon receiving the sad intelligence, the grief-stricken father departed im mediately for his home. The family resides at 108.5 Cnion street, Salem, from which place the funeral was held. School Playgrounds Surveyed.' County Survevor Canfield made a careful survey of the grounds deeded to District 2, Perrydale, and fixed definitely the limits of the campus. It was found that the south line came within a few feet of the school build ing, cutting into the well, as well as ' remove(j. SUFFERS HEAVY LOSS FIRE AT INDEPENDENCE DE STROYS OLD LANDMARK. Alert Fighters Arrest Flames Against . Frame Structures After Loss of $25,000 Had Been Entailed. Quick and effective work on the part of the volunteer fire department of Independence saved an entire block of wooden ( structure from total de struction early Saturday morning, when fire wiped out the large frame building at the corner of Railroad and C. The blaze was first noticed about 3 o'clock in the upper rooms of the building which were occupied by Mrs. Rexford as a rooming house, and with in an hour the building was practi cally in ruins. The fire department did remarkable work in cutting the tire off when it had destroyed the one building and before it eould eat its way into the adjacent frame structure. The large building was occupied by the rooming house, the Goldman groc ery, the Whitney and Walker saloon. a restaurant, cigar store and barber shop. Of these the grocery store seems to have been the heaviest loser. Much of the stock was taken out, however, and the insurance will cover the loss. The saloon lost much valuable liquor, including that which eould have been saved but for the interested bvstand- ers who made merry while the fire went on. The barber shop was not affected by the blaze nntil the chairs and equipment had practically all been This equipment n housed some smaller buildings. However on , in a newspaper office, where the bar- the north side sumeieni grouna nib(,r continues at his trade tmtil he corded m the deed to build several can , new jo,,,; The fire was gymnasiums. The high school stu-1 ,topd Mn it hsd eompleled the dent body is busy eliciting funds, destruction of the restaurant, but its A Buena Vista correspondent has the interesting news concerning the hop industry in Polk county, which shows that with the end of the sea son growers are making definite plans to increase the acreage. Along the lowlands of the Luekiamute and Wil lamette rivers farmers are preparing land that never has been in use for farming purposes, owing to the water in the winter months. The carving out of new fields and a renewed in terest in the crop are features of the season's end, after a large portion of the crop already has been sold. While the price so far this season has not been high, growers explain that in the long run a tair proht can be obtained. A carload of hops last month was sent from this county to New York City. The shipment contained hops from the Independence, Buena Vista and Rick-, reall districts. The hophouses have been made the target for improvement, and before another drying season looms, every kiln is to be placed in maximum work ing condition, and according to the plans of the present many new houses will be erected. .Some of the houses along the Luckiamute river are com pletely dilapidated, and if weather conditions permit reconstruction will take place immediately. Repairs are to be made inside the bouses at an early date. For the first time in three years September was no barrier to the success of the harvest. Main had be come common, and led to dissatisfac tion by pickers. Although the price a box fell to 40 cents during the last season no discontent was expressed by Dickers over general conditions. "If growers will economize in their operating expenses a fair yield will return a substantial profit," said one grower. "One of the principal ex penses this year was spray. Insects made their appearance rather sudden ly and many used too much material. Drying expenses, too, can be cut with out difficulty." The yield this season was greatly varied. In the Independence district nearly every yard produced a heavy crop and picking paid. Along the Luckiamute valley the worst crop in years was received. The Buena Vista section averaged nearly the same as last year, but the upper regions suf fered. In the higher climates toward Bridgeport only small yields were the rule. At Kickreall and lMllas, tne yield varied in each district. One yard with heavy bops was bordered by a light yard. White hops were noted to be abundant in all the yards and pickers were not bothered with Canadian vines. The opinion is com monly expressed among the growers here that the future of the hop indus try in Polk county lies in the improv ed methods for the preparation of the dried product for the new gvmnasium. Less than one-half dozen persons subscribed an amount exceeding $100. Motonna Sells Hops. One of the largest hop deals of re cent weeks was closed Wednesday when Louis Lachmund bought 5"0 bales from Frank Motonna of Inde- were saved bv the well directed owner suffered considerable loss nev ertheless. A large majority of the population of Independence was aroused by the fire bells or by the booms of exploding liquor, and the streets about the spectacular confla gration were well filled with specta tors. Frame buildings on all sides ork pendenee. at 11 cents. This is about (of tbe volunteer fire fighters. By fnll half of the Motonna crop for this , daylight Saturdav morning what had year. The Troubles of a City. Poor old eit v of Independence I De feated in the courts over the North Independence line question, more trou ble is threatened. Sixth street prop erty owners may resist the eity and refuse to pay their assessment due next month for street improvements on the ground that they received a rock quarry instead of any improve ment and now comes sundry citizens who say they will not stand for any 30 mill levy next year because the city ha no authority to plaster that much on the poor taxpayer. All this proves how much fun a councilman get out of his job. Monitor. "Hello! Dallasf" "Yes." "Al right, we merely desire to state, cas ually and without the slightest indi cation of bragadocio, that Polk coun ty, the blue ribbon county of the state, the preferred community of ag ricultural development, the county where the crops of field, garden and orchard grow as nearly to perfection as anywhere in the land we simply want to state that old Polk county was awarded second prize for its mag nificent display at the Manufacturers' and Land Products show at Port land." That is about the way the news of Polk county's triumph came to The Observer early yesterday morning. And with the information Polk county is entirely satisfied, for Polk county is declared superior to any county in this great state with the exception of Morrow county, which was awarded the first prize. Polk county's supremacy is abso lute. Not only did she win first hon ors at the state fair, but she had the best county tair held in this part of the state, and to add laurels to her crown she annexed second honors at the big Portland exposition. Morrow county's blue ribobn doesn't detract the least bit from the glory of Polk county's premium because the former has the unusual advantage of having a government and state experiment station and the grains, grasses and other crops that can be grown there and under the direction of the ex perts stationed at that farm Morrow county can produce a very fine dis play. Polk county is denied this ad vantage, and in spite of it the next best display in the state was gathered from within the boundaries of this county. Mrs. Winnie Braden, who has been in charge of the county's participation in the various exposi tions of resources, is entitled to much of the credit that comes with this final victory. Her tireless efforts have been rewarded as well by the appreci ation of the residents of the county as by the results she has achieved. " The land show will continue through out this week and will be largely at tended by the publio spirited oitizens of this county who delight in seeing the manifest supremacy of home soil. Polk county's exhibit, in addition to winning the prize, is conceded to be one of the most beautiful displays at the Portland show, and it is a sight well worth seeing. Portland papers say tbe judges were called up on to make an unsuually close decis ion in order to give Morrow county first prize over Polk and it was only after prolonged debate that honors were awarded. Mrs. Braden says the county was very fortunate in deserv ing second place against such compe tition. The prize winning counties in the order of awards, ate Morrow, Polk, Union, Baker and Malheur. Polk county was the only one in western Oregon to take prize money. OREGON APPLES IN DEMAND. Calif ornian at Exposition Just Had' to Have One. A few days ago a lady approached one of Oregon's representatives at the Panama exposition and said: "I'm from Los Angeles; I have heard of Oregon apples all my life, but I have never tasted one. I have inquired around here in the building and they tell me there are none for sale, but I'll tell you what I'll do I'll give you twenty-five cents for just one out of that box there, and if you won't take twenty-five cents 1 might give you fifty." Needless to say, she fi nally got a fine Uregon apple, at no cost On November loth, officially desig nated as "Oregon Apple Day," all visitors to the Oregon building can get a sample of the fruit for which there have been so many requests. The commission has arranged for the distribution of something less than 200 boxes of Oregon apples on that ' day Spitzenbergs of 98-to-the-box size and during that day a program involving musie and addressee and special features will be carried out. The exposition had asked for this day and will eo-operate in every way pos sible to make it memorable. Miss Mildred Chapin of Falls City been the large building was a few' visited friend in Dallas Saturday. Mrs. Stinnett Seeks Divorce. Asking the custody of six minor children and property valued at $2184, Mrs. bailie Stinnett has tiled suit lor divorce against ber husband, Charles Eugene Stinnett, who was committed to the penitentiary at the last term of circuit court here. The couple was married on October 2, 1890, in Ten nessee, and for several years have been residents of Polk county. In he complaint filed by her attorney. Oscar Havter, Mrs. Stinnett repeat the allegations which were resjiousi ble for the conviction of her husband in his recent trial, and his sentence of from 6 month to 10 years in tbe penitentiary. .