. EASTERN CLACKAMAS NEWS Devoted to the Interests of Eastern Clackamas County V olume 10, N umbkr 11 E stacada , O regon , T hursday , N ovember 30. 1916 $1. P er Y ear SPECIAL ROAD TAXES VOTED NEARLY ILL LOCAL ROAD DISTRICTS INCREASE LEVY * < 'j / * & f FORMER GARFIELD PIONEER DIES F u n eral Services for H enry E pperson H eld T uesday Tw o D istricts T o Hold M eetings As usual, the building of good roads i n Eastern Clackamas County during 1917 will be con­ tinued and. as usual, the bulk of the expense will he cared for by special road taxes, voted directly by the taxpayers. On last Saturday, November 25th, all but two of the local road districts held their annual meetings and with one exception voted the levy outlined at the former budget meetings. But a small number of taxpay­ ers attended the Estacada meet­ ing, but voted a 10 mill levy, amounting to about $1700., which sum will be largely used to pay otf outstanding road warrants, excepting a small amount to be paid for the plank­ ing of Second Street. Lower Garfield District No. 10 voted a 7 mill levy, which will amount to over $2,000. the ma­ jority o' the money to be expend­ ed on'the main road leading from Ingli^h’s corner through to the George Armstrong place, known as the Zion Road. It was with sorrow that word was received Saturday last of the death on Friday evening, Novem­ ber 21th, of Henry Epperson, for many years a resident of the Gar­ field district. Mr. Epperson, who for the past three yea*s had made his home near Dufur, had been in poor health for sometime and a week previous to his death had under­ gone a serious operation at a Port­ land hospital. Owing to his weakened condition, his remain­ ing strength was not sufficient to withstand the shock, although for a day or two hopes were held out for his recovery. The deceased was 60 years old, having been born in Iowa and at the age of six years, with his parents immigrated to Oregon, having resided in this county the majority of the time since and leaving behind a host of friends. Up to within recent years, Mr. Epperson had always taken a leading part in the local develop­ ment, being especially instru­ mental in getting the present railway up the Clackamas Valley, District No. 49 in upper Gar­ having personally purchased the field voted its regular 10 mill tax right-of-way over the majority of and went on record as favoring the route. the appointment of Elmer Davis The deceased is survived by a as supervisor, to succeed Ralph large family and many relatives, Lemon, who is now working in among them the widow and seven the central part of the state. children, being Mrs. Henry Ep­ This tax will amount to about person, Calla, John, Eva and $5,000 and will be expended on Kate of Dufur; Olin and George the Davis-Diver, Fall Creek, Hampton of the same place and Cecil Hampton of Pendleton. Rawlins and Kemp-Lemon Roads. He is also survived by two The Currinsville district, No. sisters and three brothers, being 4. voted a 3 mill tax. amounting Mrs. R. G. Palmateer of Garfield; to about $1700., which will be Mrs. Nancy Myers of Vancouver; used to improve the Main, Sating, Marion Epperson of Centralia; Ira Epperson of Vancouver, B. Taylor, Steinman and Heiple C. and George Epperson of Bar­ Roads. ton. A 5 mill tax was voted in A large throng of sorrowing I Springwater district. No. 33, the friends and relatives paid their resulting $3500. or more to lie last respects to the departed on placed on the Kahdle-Closner, Tuesday afternoon, when im­ Reid-Stormer, Shibley and Gen- pressive funeral services were serowski-Keller Roads and on held at the Estacada M. E. the hills near the Kilgore and Church, Mr. Walter Givens of­ Mahr properties. ficiating. Interment followed at Viola district. No, 55 voted the Lone Oak Cemetery. full 10 mill tax, amounting to over $2.000., which will be spent on the Creason. Oregon City, Jubb, Hively, Mattoon, Clear Creek and Portland-Springwater Roads. In Barton district, No. 58, the meeting voted down a tax, being the only local district to date which has failed to vote a special levy. The annual meetings in Dis­ tricts Nos. 9 and 43, beingGeorge and Eagle Creek, will take place November 29th and in the George district it is likely a full 10 mill, tax will be voted and altho Eagle Creek last year made no special levy, it is hoped that the next meeting will result in a special tax. With the exception of a change in District, No. 49, the present road supervisors were retained for the coming year. According to last year’s statis­ tics, of the 58 road districts in Clackamas County, 28 of same voted special taxes, being large­ ly the rural districts, with East­ ern Clackamas districts leading in the voting of the higher levies. Statistics also indicate that in many districts where no special tax is levied, the county is ex­ pending many thousands of dollars in building hard-surfaced highways, which is contrary to tie rule that the ‘‘Court helps them that help themselves.” Business M en M eet a t L unch The first of the Estacada busi­ ness men’s luncheons was held Tuesday noon, at Mrs. Adams’ restaurant, where after partak ing of a fine dinner, several mat­ ters of importance to this com­ munity were discussed. It has been a hard matter in the past to keep up interest and attendance among the Estacada business men, but the innovation of having a dinner, luncheon or supper first, seems to promise a way to hold the business men to­ gether. Messrs. Givens and Standish were in charge of Tuesday’s gathering and Messrs. Wright and Ewing will take charge of the next meeting, w hich will oc­ cur within a couple of weeks. TAXPAYERS’ LEAGUE MEETS MONDAY Program Includes Election of Of­ ficers and Discussion of County Budget On next Monday afternoon. December 4th, beginning prompt­ ly at 1:30 o’clock, a meeting of the Eastern Clackamas Tax­ payers’ League will occur in Estacada and every taxpayer in this community is urged to be present. Through the courtesy of A. E. Sparks, the Family Theatre has been donated for the gathering and in order to allow of everyone returning home at an early hour, the meeting should start prompt­ ly on time. This league, which during the year of its existence has done much good, is not an exclusive organization or one necessitating any dues or initiation fees, but is organized to draw the tax­ payers of this part of the county into a working unit. Its prin­ cipal objects being the creating of more interest and knowledge in local, county and state matters. For the past year, the officers have been John C. Miller of Bar­ ton, President; R. M. Standish of Estacada, Secretary: and Fred W. Bates of Garfield, Treasurer. These men have worked hard to make the league an important and live factor in community development and now another set of men should be electeil to carry on the work. This meeting is the most im­ portant of any during the year, as the annual county budget and its appropriations will be discus­ sed and the taxpayers of this part of the county are urged to go on record for or against such appropriations as they may de­ sire. This meeting also hopes to result in obtaining a gdly num­ ber of taxpayers to attend the annual budget meeting in Oregon City on December 9th. Mr. Taxpayer, not only you and your wife should attend this meeting, but you should person­ ally aid in having a gtx>d dele­ gation of your neighbors there, for it is the saving or wasting of your tax moneys that is involved.