(sbsatrtev
VOL. 27
(THE HOME PAPER)
DALLAS, POLK COUNTY. OREGON. TUESDAY. NOVEMBER 16. 1915.
(TWICE-A-WEEK)
NO. 74
AID FOR WORTHY POOR
NEEDLEWORK GUILD ANNUAL
meeting: is success.
Hundreds of Garments Contributed
for Distribution Among Needy. '
Beautiful Decorations.
The worthy poor of Polk county will
suffer a great deal less from cold, due
to insufficient clothing, this year than
they have in the past, as the result of
the work of the members of the Dal
las branch of the Needle Guild of
America that came to a climax at the
home -of Mrs. M. M. Ellis on Friday
afternoon. The object of the nation
wide organization is to aid the worthy
poor of the vicinity by furnishing
proper covering for the body, warm
. clothing at night and, so far as pos
sible, supplying other needs. The an
nual meeting on Friday, therefore,
was an important one, for it was at
that time that the results of the
year's work on the part of the ladies
ws displayed. Almost eight hundred
articles were received at Mrs. Ellis'
home on Friday, and among the great
piles of stout stockings for the chil
dren and, in fact, garments for the
entire family, there is not a single
piece of fancy work. The articles thai
are contributed are of the very best
and all are new. Second-hand goods
are tobooed, at the annual meeting,
although the Guild ladies do use some
worn articles in their crusades of
charity
The decoration of the rooms were
especially attractive, and elicited
much favorable comment from the ar
tistically inclined among the callers.
Folding doors separating three rooms
were thrown into one spacious parlor
for this auspicious occasion, and these
were beautifully decorated in white
and green, Oregon grape and white
chrysanthemums predominating. , The
colon scheme in the dining room was
pink, and the arrangement of the dec
orations gave a most pleasing effect.
The large centerpiece was of pink
roses rare at this season of the year
while pink chrysanthemums and pink
candles were in profusion. Autumn
colors prevailed in the garment room,
where the many useful articles were
deposited and displayed, being a
forceful reminder that the time of
need in many an unfortunate house
hold had arrived. Amid these beau
tifulsurroundings large numbers of
charitably inclined citizens, both men
and women, assembled to tender their
good offices and to extend to the so
ciety engaged in this laudable under
taking their congratulations upon the
pronounced success of the annual
meeting.
During the reception refreshments
were served throughout the afternoon,
and consisted of sandwiches, cakes,
tea and' coffee and other dainties
During the afternoon 215 guests were
received and toward evening many
gentlemen called to enjoy the lunch
eon and to see the great display that
the eollection of garments made. Mrs.
J. G. Van Orsdel, Mrs. Eugene Hay
. ter, Mrs. C. L. Crider, Mrs. L. D.
Brown, Mrs. Conrad Stafrin and Mrs.
Kirkpatrick assisted the hostess about
the house and Mrs. MacGregor and
Mrs. I. N. Woods assisted with the
pouring.
The heavily laden tables in Mrs. Ellis '
home where the eight hundred arti
cles are being classified presents the
appearance of a well-stocked stove
for every imaginable wearable is in
the collection. There are many suits
of. underwear, all warm looking and
as really good as they are warm; there
are great piles of stockings for chil
dren and grown folks, although the
ladies and children receive the major
attention in the work of the Guild;
there are hats, shoes, dresses, waists,
garters, everything, includinga good
ly donation in cash to defray inciden
tal expenses in the year's work. Cer
tainly the families supplied from that
bountiful stock of wearables will be
fortunate, if such can be said of the
many souls whose poverty is the great
est misfortune to the society of a
great nation. But that condition, la
mentable and disastrous, is by way of
being greatly relieved, not only in
Polk county, but throughout the Uni
ted States by the magnificent work
that is being carried on by the Guild.
The Dallas branch figures prom
inently in this work, and the interest
and enthusiasm that has been engen
dered in the organization here makes
it one of the foremost branches in the
west, where the society is less exten
sively represented than in the eastern
states. In fact there are only two
branches of the Guild in the state of
Oregon, the Dallas branch and one at
Portland. The local organization was
started six years ego through the ef
forts of Mrs. George Gerlinger, and
everv year its work has multiplied
until it is today the eounty's fore
most and most effective charity organ
ization. It has as officers ladies whose
time and energy are nnflaegingly de
Toted to the exalted duty of relieving
less fortunate brothers and sisters,
and for whose aims, ambitions and
accomplishments they command the
respect of the community which so
well knows its benevolent activities.
The eight hundred or more articles
that were collected for the annual
meeting and reception will supply
many needs throughout the coming
year. There is nothing that could be
desired in the way or warm ana ser
viceable clothing that cannot be sup
plied from this store, and every case
of poverty or adversity that is report
ed to the society will be given prompt
attention. All have' a right to report
worthy cases to the Guild ladies and
have the assurance that an investiga
tion will be made with the result that
wants will be supplied if the case is
worthy. - '
Where clothing is not the prime es
sential reports will be given to the
county court, or the ladies will handle
the matter themselves if within their
power. But in the mere distribution
of clothing the ladies are doing a
great and noble work.
Refuge cases, adversity and poverty
are those most commonly cared for by
the Needle Guild. Last year at least
thirty families received aid from the
ladies and the stock at that time was
much smaller than it is now . The col
lection becomes larger each year and
this year it has materially increased
over last. Donations are made to
worthy families after investigation
has proved the worthiness. The rules
of the national organization require
that each year a donation be made to
some hospital, home or other worthy
institution and the local branch has
lived up to this rule as well as pos
sible. There being no such institu
tions in this vicinity the ladies have
sent many valuable articles to Port
land homes, including the Boys' and
Girls' Aid society, the Salvation ar
my, the Visiting Nurse association
and the Baby home. They also help
ed to equip a ward in the local hos
pital when that institution was estab
lished here. The members are requir
ed to make at least two donations each
year, and where more than one article
is donated it is required that at least
two of the same style and size be giv
en. That is to say, if one person
chooses to buy stockings for her share
of the, year's work, and buys more
than one pair, they must be alike.
If some such ruling were not observed
the donations would present an incon
gruous mass. The local organization
is made up of a set of officers and
twenty-six directors. Each director is
required to enlist ten members and be
responsible for the collection of the
donations from that number. The ma
jority of the directors here has many
more than the required number of
members and the spirit of the organi
zation has been instilled into each one,
so that the accomplishments are great.
Each director must have one cash
member. By that is meant that at
least one of the required number of
members must eive cash in place of,
or in addition to, the regular articles.
In this way is the branch financed,
getting money to defray incidental ex
penses and to pay dues to the nation
al headquarters at Philadelphia. The
officers of the Dallas branch or tne
Needle Guild are Mrs. M. M. Ellis,
president; Mrs. Eugene Hayter, vice
president ; Mrs. B. Casey, second vice
president; Mrs. Oscar Hayter, secre
tary and Mrs. I. L. Smith, treasurer.
The next important gathering of the
Guild will be sometime just before the
end of the year, when the ladies will
gather to elect officers for the ensu
ing bi-ennial period. The great col
lection of wearables that has been
made will 'be stored in the Guild's
room in the county court house until
demands are made upon the stock by
cases that are reported to the Guild.
COUPLE MARRIED MANY YEARS.
Rev. and Mrs. Joseph Hoberg Cel-?-
brate at McMinnviUe.
Rev. and Mrs. Joseph Hoberg, hon
ored and well-known residents of Jfe
Minnville, and parents of Mrs. Ella
Metzger of this city, celebrated thir
64th wedding anniversary on Satur
day. Many happy friends called to
congratulate them on this occasion.
Mr. and Mrs. Hoberg are well-known
all over the valley. They had lived
at Lafayette for 21 years. They have
twelve children, thirteen grandchil
dren and one great-grandson. Mr.
Hoberg was born in Prussia in 1828,
comine to America with his parents in
1842. Mrs. Hoberg was born in Phil
adelphia July 4, 1930. They were mar
ried November 13, 1851.
Elks to Meet Friday.
At the instance of Mayor Kirkpat
rick. Dresident .of the local Elks club,
Dallas members will hold a meeting
at the council chamber next Friday
evening at 7 :30 for the purpose of dis
cussing plans for extending aid to un
fortunate ones during the holiday sea
son. This fraternal organization's
greatest mission is to scatter sunshine
into the dark places along the path
way of the unfortunate, and Dallas
Elks purpose seeing to it that no home
is cheerless at this gladsome season.
Independence Defeated.
The Independence high school eleven
a-ma dpfoatpd hv tha Washington ju
nior high at Salem last Saturday by
a score or 19 to 12. The Folic county
team was -outclassed throughout the
tram which VM ATI tit intP!PStinl?
plays'and stubbornly fought. The Sa
lem lads were from Htteen to iwemy
pounds heavier than the Independence
players.
SOLVES A BIG PROBLEM
PATTERSON SUGGESTS WAY TO
RAISE MONEY FOR BRIDGE.
Wonld Put Half the Necessary Amount
in 1915 Budget and Provide the
Remainder Next Year.
Messrs. Patterson and Parks of,
Eola were Dallas visitors Saturday,
and while- here discussed the inter
county bridge with the county court
The farmers of that locality are great
ly inconvenienced by the unsafe con
dition of the structure, and are in fa
vor of the county providing ways and
means for the construction of a new
bridge. Mr. Patterson suggested to
Judge Teal that the bridge be awarded
in two contracts, thus making it pos
sible to raise the necessary money
within two years. Half of the amount,
he says, might be incorporated in this
year's budget, leaving the approaches
and possibly the draw tor next year.
Under any circumstances the work of
construction eould not ba commenced
until July, and it would require until
December to complete this portion,
when the remainder of the appropria
tion could be raised and the work con
tinued without intermission.
Mr. Patterson told a representative
of The Observer that he had person
ally made an investigation into the
condition of the bridge, and that he
considers it unsafe to travel. While it
might stand a considerable length of
time after repairs had been made,
there is a possibility, he thinks, of it
going to destruction at almost any
time in case of a heavy wind. The
people of his section are afraid of the
structure, and will hereafter use it on
ly when absolutely necessary. Salem
is the most convenient market for? a
large number of Polk county farmers,
and these appear to favor considera
tion on the part of the court of some
feasible plan to get a new bridge.
Mr. Morris, an expert bridge en
gineer, has but recently completed a
thorough inspection of the inter-county
structure, but as yet has not sub
mitted his official report to the pow
ers that be. When his findings are
made known there is a possibility that
the bridge will again be closed, not
withstanding the fact that Salem bust
iness interests will be hard hit by
having the trade of a large section
taken from them by so doing.
EDWARD BIDDLE PASSES
WAS A WELL-KNOWN AND HIGH
LY ESTEEMED CITIZEN.
Funeral Service Tomorrow, Conduct
ed by Dallas Masons Brief
Biographical Sketch.
A circle of friendSj that includes
practically every resident of Polk
county, maarns the death of Edward
Biddle, former mayor of Dallas, and
for more than a quarter of a century
one of the city's most prominent cit
izens. Mr. Biddle passed away quiet
ly on Monday, after several months
of suffering, from a slight paralytic
strobe and a combination of asthma
and heart trouble. For more than a
month before his death Mr. Biddle
was confined to his room and was at
times only partly conscious. His life
was one of activity, one which made
the man a valuable asset to the city
and the state for his participation in
civic and commercial undertakings,
and for his hearty support of people
and plans that had for their, ideals
the upbuilding of ft hettpr eonmnnity
and a better life for the people there
in. Mr. Biddle was born at Greece,
Monroe county, New York, on Decem
ber 9, 1844, and as soon as he was old
enough he worked on the home farm
until he was twenty. At that time
he was apprenticed in the machinists
trade, which he followed in different
Darts of the east for four years. He
left New York and came to San Fran
cisco, by way of the Isthmus of Pan
ama in 1868, and was employed at his
trade soon after at Sacramento. Lat
er, and for a. rjeriod of six years he
was chief engineer of the Sutro Tun
nel company, a famous mining prop
erty at Virginia City. In Virginia
City in 1879 Mr. Biddle took as his
wife Miss Josephine Davis, who died
in Dallas in 1906.
Ma and Mrs. Biddle came to Ore
gon in 1880, and he was employed as
an engineer and machinist for the
Narrow Gauge Railroad company.
with headquarters in Dallas, for sev
en years. In lsns he established and
conducted the Dallas Iron works. This
plant he sold to Morrison and Edgar
in March, 1912. After selling tne
iron wo!ks Mr. Biddle retired from
active life and the strain of sudden
cessation after years of labor was
such a shock that it rapidlv brousrht
him down in health. In 1905 Mr. Bid
dle was elected mayor of Dallas and
(Continued oa page two)
SALEM WOULD ANNEX US
"PERSISTENT DISCUSSION" OP
GOBBLING WEST SALEM.
Polk County Incorporated City of
Seven Hundred Inhabitants Want
ed by State Capital.
, Although City Attorney Ernest Blue
of West balem declares that he has
not heard the matter discussed in his
community, the Capital Journal in
sists that there is a persistent rumor
afloat to the effect that preliminary
steps are being taken to merge Salem
and West Salem for their mutual ad
vantage and the convenience of the
Polk county people. The caiptal pub
lication says the people of West Sa
lem 'believe that their interests would
be best served if the boundaries of
Salem were extended to include that
city, and it is said that a merger would
eliminate several problems that now
embarass Salem, among them being
given by The Journal in the following
story about which no one except that
office appears to know anything:
"The municipal bathing beach would
then be inside of this city and under
the jurisdiction of the Salem police
and the West Salem people would be
in better position to work for a new
bridge across the river at this place.
The proposed merger would affect no
change in the county lines but would
simply extend the oity limits of Salem
across into rolk county. West Salem
is incorporated and contains about one
square mile of territory extending
from a point about opposite the Salem
reservoir north along the river lo a
point about opposite the end of Che
meketa street. The end of the steel
bridee is in Polk county and outside
of the city limits of West Salem.
: "West Salem has about vuo iiiiiar
itants and its property valuation is
approximately $150,000. Last year
West Salem was taxed 20 mills for
road and county, 10 mills for city and
8 for schools. It has a bonded in
debtedness of $9000 which it incurred
in building its municipal water plant,
electric light and sewer systems. One
of the principal advantages to West
Salem cited in favor of the proposed
arrangement is that the 60 pupils of
West Balem who aiteno me oniem
High school -would not be obliged to
nav S20 annual tuition per head, and
would receive fire and police protec
tion." .
CONDITION OF FUNDS
CITY OFFICIALS SUBMIT QUAR
TERLY REPORT TO COUNCIL
Aldermen Consider Street Improve-
menta and Make Extension of
Tim for Uglow Avenue.
The auarterlv report of the auditor
anil eitv treasurer as presented last
evening at the meeting of the city
council, reveals the amounts ot tne
vnrimiR mnnieioal funds and puts the
city's indebtedness at $58,028.42. The
meeting was well attended by alder
men and laymen, uouncnman mesit
over being the sole absentee, and the
taken ud was principally
concerning road and street improve
ments. W. IN. Ash presented a peu
tinn simiod hv th orooertv owners
affected, that was granted giving him
the right to fence in tnai pan oi
Plum ati-Mtt between east of Main
and west of Jefferson for pasturage.
Wr A ah will h iriven a form of lease
and will give up the right to the prop
erty on demand or tne city, ine res
olution called for in supporf, of the
Holloa hnn.1. which would make pos
sible the appropriation of funds for
maintenance irom me cny irwwuij,
was referred to the ordinance com
mittAA far minor chancres and will
be reported back by next meeting.
The matter of patent infringement
in the construction and process of the
city's sewage disposal plant was re
ferred to the health and police com
mittee.
By unanimous vote the council
rmirtj an axtpntion of time until
September i, 1916, for the Uglow ave
nue improvement wort inis exien
tion was made necessary by the de
lav that has been occasioned through
bad weather and it is understood that
no additional cost will be borne by the
property owners because of the delay.
Street Commisioner Greenwood sug
gested several street and cross-walk
improvements that he was empowered
to make and the matter of putting in
a nnmW of much-needed street
lights was referred to the fire and wa
ter committee for report, lue com
mittee will determine the best places
t imt iwh lirrht are added to
the city system and will report to
trie power company, A gravel nu
vta nrAtrA on th south end of the
bridge over the slough on Main street
and several other improvements will
be given attention. Aceoroin 10 m
investigation and report made by Au
ditor Gregory the city pays approxi
mately 70 cents a yard for rock
from the city quarry and crusher.
The matter of adding the cost ot
cleaning of the crusher to the asess
ment to taxpayers met with the sup
port of the council, and all expense,
except repairs to the crusher will be
charged to the street improvement
fund for 1915. Before the meeting
closed Mayor Kirkpatrick appointed
a committee of three to draw resolu
tions of sorrow for the death of ex
Mayor Biddle, whose death cast a
shadow of gloom over the meeting of
the aldermen last evening. '
In the report of the auditor and
treasurer the following funds and
balances were shown: General fundi
balance, $4.28; road fund, $1446.71;!
armory fund, $286.17; waterworks,
$1102.22; interest fund, $179.26; sew
er bond sinking fund, $388.43; im
provement bond sinking fund, 1909,
$3.44; Improvement bond sinking
fund, 1910, $12b.ou ; improvement
bond sinking fund, 1911, $64.20; im
provement bond sinking fund, 1912,
$60.66; . improvement bond sinking
fund, 1913, $84.16; improvement bond
1913 hard surface, $68.57; sewage dis
posal fund, $185.06; county fair and
city park fund, $225.12; sewage dis
posal bonds, , $47o.lo; improvement
bond sinking fund, 1914, $158.51;
street fund, 1915, $34.68.
WAITING FOR STEEL RAILS.
Oregon Portland Cement Company
Hag Work Well Advanced.
As soon as the Southern Pacific sup
plies rails for the extension of the spur
to the property of the Oregon Portland
Cement company, near this city, the
remaining mile of track will tie laid,
the limestone qnarry opened and rock
shipped to the big plant at Oswego.
The four miles of track from1 the
main line of the Southern Pacific sev
en miles below Roseburg is also wait
ing for steel, or rather the greater
part of it. Over three miles there
has been graded, and the remaining
mile will be completed within a short
time. Engineer B. ts. Taylor, who is
in charge of the work, both here and
at Roseburg, returned on Friday from
the latter place with good reports of
the progress being made. According
to this authority the cement company
hopes to have everything in readiness
to begin operations at Oswego the lat
ter part of February, and with this end
in view is -rushing its outside work with
all possible speed. Thomas Fitzger
ald, who was in charge of local oper
ations, has completed track laying at
the plant at Oswego, and is now at
Roseburg awaiting the arrival of steel
for track-laying there. When Mr. Tay
lor left Roseburg there were forty
workmen engaged in grading.
SCHOOL HOUSE DEDICATION.
Splendid Program Rendered at Black
Rock Saturday Night.
The new $2000 school building at
Black Rock was formerly dedicated
on Saturday night, -when a most in
teresting program was given by the
students, who are under the direction
of Miss Alice Quint and Miss Lor
aine Haley. The attendance was large,
and all present showed marked inter
est in the progress of the school. As
sistant State Superintendent X. &.
Carlton delivered an address, in which
ha drew a comparison of the present
day school with that of a number of
years ago, tending to show the remark-!
able nros-ress of educational methods.
County Superintendent Seymour spoke
of the workings oi ine sianaaruizauuu
plan as adopted by folk county, in
dustrial work and the benefits to be
.derived from the play shed, not for
getting to compliment the farent
Teacher associations for the good they
are performing in advancing educa
tion and in creating interest in the
work. A luncheon followed the pro-
ornm
The new school building at Black
Rock is modern in every respect, and
is rated among the most complete two-
room school houses of the county.
Opposes Preparedness.
rtit C : 1 T.v ADAM;tiAn nf Falla
1 nr oniric o-A '"'
City has adopted resolutions oppos
ing the administration's preparedness
nroeram, asserting that such appropri-
r.-. ' it.. A th. in.
auora as uini oiupwvu -
, mi. mititarV MtahliflhtTlPnt
"are dangerous to the welfare of the
country" and "will compel an in
crease in taxation with an added bur-
pen upon the poor.
Recovering at the Hospital.
Harry Wood, who underwent a surgi
cal operation at the Dallas hospital
for ulcerations of the stomach, last
week, is rapidly recovering.
Mrs. Allen, who was operated on
some days ago, is getting along nicely,
and will soon be able to return to hen
home.
Pitches Headlong Into Well.
Thomas J. Leach, aged 48. and a
former resident of the W lllamma sec
tion, leaped headlong into a well on
his ranch near Condon on Friday, and
suffered a broken neck, from which
injury he died instantly. He moved
to Condon two years atro. He leaves a
widow and eight children.
Some men look at the goods in the
show windows. Others' hope to catch
a reflection of themselves in the glass.
ASKS ROYALTY ON TANK
CAMERON CO. MAKE DEMAND
UPON CITY OF DALLAS.
Claims Sewage Disposal Plant Is In
fringement Upon United States
Letters Patent.
The Cameron Septic Tank company,
has through its attorney, John R. Sib
ley of this city, notified the city of
Dallas that in the operation of the re
cently constructed sewage disposal
plant it is infringing upon patents is
sued to their company, and that un
less the municipality sees fit to take
out a license for its use and pay three
per, cent of the original cost of the
plant an action at law will be taken
to enforce its rights in the premises.
The communication was presented to
the council at its meeting last night,
and was discussed at some length. The
letter from Mr. Sibley follows, and is
self-explanatory:
"I beg to advise you that I have
been employed to represent Cameron
Septic Tank company as their attor
ney, and as such am authorized to
proceed to collect from the city of
Dallas the claim of said company Jue
from said city on account of inf riuge-
ment of patent No. 634423 U. S., which
covers the sewage disposal plant re
cently installed and now in operation,
by said city.
"I am confident, that upon investi
gation, your honorable body will as
certain the fact of infringement and
it is my intention to allow you a reas
onable time in which to make such in
vestigations, and trust that the samo
will take place without delay, and I
assure you that. I will proceed no fur
ther, until you have had this opportu
nity.
"1 might add, for your benefit, that
the infringement lies in the use of any
tank designed for the systematic de
velopment of purification as a means
for the reduction of sewage solids,
regardless of the name or designation
of such plant, and I have no doubt
that upon investigation, you will find
that you are using the Cameron idea
in both process and construction.
"The established, recognized and
accepted terms for this license is 3
per cent, of the original Cost of the
plant, per annum, including all addi
tions thereto up to tune ot payment
of the fee, and an additional 3 per
cent, for the unexpired term of said
patent. This figures in round numbers
the sum of $416, however, I am not
pretending to quote the exact figures,
which of course can be calculated at
the above rates.
Will say that in the event of a set
tlement as outlined above, the com
pany is willing to grant the city such
license, and execute, a waiver for any
past damages on account of such in
fringement."
In an interview with City Engineer
S. B. Taylor, who constructed the sew
age disposal plant for the city, that
gentleman said he failed to see where
in the Cameron company eould recov
er from the city for the operation of
the system in question, although it
might have a patent on a way of treat
ing sewage. The matter has been up
on sundry and divers occasions in oth
er communities, and the company has
undertaken to collect royalty on sep
tic tanks similar to the one in Dallas,
but in each and every instance the at
tempt had proven fruitless.
City Attorney Coad when question
ed relative to the matter said that he
had not investigated the question, and
until he bad done so could not speak
with any degree of accuracy regard
ing the case in hand.
The patent referred to was issued
October 3, 1899 to Donald Cameron
and Arthur J. Martin of Exeter, Eng
land. It contains twenty-two claims,
covering various combinations of cer
tain elements. This patent has been
represented to cover the entire field of
sewage purification by anaeiubic and
aerobic treatment, but Professor Tal
bott, one of the foremost civil engin
eers of the United States, says that
the process has been in operation since
1897, although it was designed in 1895.
In two decisions of the Supreme court
it has been held that construction of
septic tanks of the character in Dallas
is not an infringement on the Cameron
patents.
Taxes on Lands Demanded.
The county court of Jackson coun
ty has instructed the sheriff of that
county fo proceed with the sale of
delinquent tax certificates against the
lands of the Oregon & California com
pany, included in the land grant. Tax
es and penalties on more than 400,
000 acres in Jackson county now to
tal $170,000, and the county court
wants the money. It holds that the
lands are liable for taxes, whoever
may own them, and on that ground
will issue certificates.
Two Accidents Last Week.
Only two cases from Polk county
were reported to the state industri.il
accident commission for last week.
Tbey were T. M. Thresher of Falls
City, finger crushed in sawmill, and
H. H. Meekley of this city, knee in
jured in sawmill.