lllfii
v
I
A
J.
VOL. XXII.
COUNTY COURT TO
'LOOK UP ALL ROADS
No Work Undertaken Until Judge
and Commissioner Make
Exe.minei.tion.
County Commissioner J. T. Logan
arrived in Grants Pass Friday evening
from his home near Waldo and re
mained over until Monday when he
and Judge Stephen Jewell drove out
to Placer to examine the Grave Creek
road, a change in the location of a
section of which is asked for by a
number of the settlers of that local
ity. The change asked for is a section
of the road extending from Placer
down Grave creek for a distance of
two miles. The purpose of the
change would be to avoid the present
route over a steep hill or of cutting
a new road aronnd the base of the
hill along Grave creek. To do this it
is proposed to change the ronte and
open a new road on the west side of
the creek, crossing the oreek at
Placer and then crossing back two
miles below. Judge Jewell and Com
missioner Logan looked carefully over
the two proposed new routes and
they found that cost of grading and
blasting a road around the foot of
the bill wonld be but little in exoess
of opening a new road on the opposite
side of the creek and of building the
two bridges. As the bridges would
have to be rebuilt every 10 years,
while the road when once opened
around the hill would be no further
expense other than a little for repairs
it is quite likely that the county
court will decide on the route aronnd
the hilL Commissioner M. A. Wertz
ha 3 examined the routes last week so
did not accompany Judge Jewell and
Commissioner Logan.
In the near future Judge Jewell and
Commissioners Logan and Wertz will
go to Holland to examine the route
for a new road in Sucker Creek Valley
that the settlers have petitioned for.
At the suggestion of Judge Jewell a
rnle has been adopted by the county
court that no road or bridge matter
will be acted on until the judge and
commissioners have fully investigated
it and personally inspected the pre
mises. Fiom the imperfect knowledge
that the members of the court get by
depending on the reports and often
conflicting, of the interested persons
the members of the couit are not al
ways able to decide what is best for
the county's interest. By the mem
bers of the coanty court making a
personl examination of all proposed
road and bridge work they can get
the highways in better condition and
at the same time save money for the
taxpayers by cutting off unnecessary
expenses.
COAL LANDS ARE WITH
DRAWN FROM ENTRY
The President Issues Order to Pre
vent Coal Barons Confronting
All the Fuel.
By direction of the president, all
vacant public lands in townships 25
and 2, S. R. 13 W., in Roseburg
Laud Office, have been withdrawn
from entry, it being believed part of
the land is coalbearing. The presi
dent has ordered this land to be ex
amined, and such as has commercial
coal will probably be permanently
held by tbe government and be leased
to coal operators. This is part of the
general scheme to prevent monopoly
of coal in the west.
VsViVBVaVeiVbsVaeVaViViViVi
i 1 Sell
$ 7
FOR AN EXHIBIT AT
JAMESTOWN EXPOSITION
Henry Blcvckmsxn, of Heppner.
Is Working Up Interest
In Exhibit.
Heury Blackman of Heppner, and
one of the most prominent men of
Eastern Oregon, was in Grants Pass
Tuesday working up an interest for
an Oregon exhibit at the Jamestown
fair. Mr. Blackman, who is a
wealthy retired merchant and who
was one of the main promoters of the
Lewis and Clark fair, has been ap
pointed bv Governot - Chamberlain
one of a commission of five, the other
four members being Tom Richardson
a nd A. H. Devers of Portland, Jeffer
son D. Meyers of Linn county and
Sheriff D. H. Jackson of Jackson
oonnty. This commission is to work
op an interest over the state for an ex
hibit at Jamestown next year aod
will present the matter to the legis
lature this Winter to seoure the fuods
to defray the cost of the exhibit.
There is now some $60,000 in the state
treasury that was left over of the
frxiO.OOO for the Lewis and Clark ex
position and it is proposed to have
this turned over to meet the expense
of the exhibit and it is thought to be
ample and no tax will have to be
levied for additional money. The
members of the commission are serv
ing without salary and Mr. Blaokman
is paying his traveling expenses, he
being willing to do this to help push
Oregon for he realizes that a complete
exhibit of the state's products at tbe
Jamestown fair would be tbe best
advertisement ever made for the
state. Within 600 miles of James
town live 21,000,000 people, a greater
nearby population than any other fair
bad to draw from. To wait until the
legislature meets and appropriates
money for the use of an eshibit pro
moting committee would be so late
tbat tbe state could not be properly
represented at this great fair and it is
due to tha public spirit of Mr. Black
man and the other members of ihe
commission tbat a creditable exhibit
will be prepared before a dollar o
money is available to meet the ex
pense.. .. ZZ)S!t$iil
Mr. Blackman met witb stroug en
couragement from the business men of
Grants Pass and there is every cer
taiuty that Josephine coanty will
have a most creditable exhibit at
Jamestown. " Heretofore Josephine
oonnty has only advertised its mineral
resources and a mineral exhibit was
all that was made at tbe Lewis and
Clark fair. As it is now apparent
that the county's agricultural wealth
is quite as (treat as its mineral wealth
the plan will be to have the couuty
represented at Jamestown by a full
showing of its products. The Grants
Pass Fruit Growers Union will make
ever effort that the coanty has a
creditable fruit exhibit and co-operate
with tbe Medford and Ashland Unions
to have a Rogue River Valley froit
exhibit that will equal any other sent
from the Pacifio Coast.
Peevrs Wanted.
Tbe Grants Pass Fruit Growers
Union will make a shipment of Bart
lett pears East about next Wednesday
and will accept merchantable pears
for three boxes np, delivered in Grants
Pass from growers whether members
of the Union or not. Call at the
Secretary's office in Courier build
ing or on President Reymers for an
acceptance and for rules for picking
and hauling. 8-10 It
Fine commercial printing at the
Courier office.
Real Estate
AND
Rent Houses
W. L. IRELAND.
&a Real Estate Man.
Ground Floor, Courier Bldg. 1
Grants Pass, - Oregon.
GRANTS PASS. JOSEPHINE COUNTY, OREGON, FRIDAY, AUGUST
TO MAKE ROGUE
RIVER NAVIGABLE
Plan to Blow Out Rocks That
Boats May Take Freight
to the Mine.
At the meeting of the Commercial
Club held Tuesday evening a number
of matters were brought up and con
sidered, the most important being the
project of opening Rogue river for
flat boat navigation for the purpose of
floating supplies and machinery to the
mines and ranches tributary to tbe
lower Rogue river country. At the
present time machinery and supplies
are landed at West Fork by rail and
from there are freighetd by pack train
to tbe mines at an expense of from $3
$5 per 100 pounds and the worst feat
are of the freighting business from
West Fork is that tbe packers will net
pnt in full time and freight is apt to
lie untouched for several weeks or
months and with no certainty of its
reaching its destination at any
stated time. Grants Pass is the
natural trade center for all that terri
tory and a few hundred dollars spent
in opening up tbe river wonld divert
trade to the Grants Pass merchants
to the amount of from 136,000 to $50,
000 annually.
R. E. Gilbert, manager of the
Rogue River Mining and Development
Co., and also connected with the Gold
Bar Mining Co., of Iilahe, has been
looking up the matter of an open river
and it was stated at the meeting thai,
the only real obstructions were tbe
big reck at the entrance of Hells Gate
about IS miles down the river, and
the falls below Galice, which are
about live feet high. It ws pointed
out that these obstructions could be
removed at a moderate expense, the
rook by blasting, and tbe falls could
be made passable by blasting away a
rim of rock whioh backs the water up
forming the falls. Witb these ob
structions removed flatboats or scows
carrying from Ave to seven tons oould
make the trio as far as Mole creek
with ease and safety. It would be
necessary to build the boats at Grants
Pass and abandon them at the end of
tbe trip or sell them for the lnmber
contained. This the freighters oould
well afford to do as the expense
would be less than $30 while the
amount realized from freights would
be from $100 to $200 for each trip,
requiring two to three days.
The Club authorized its executive
oommittee to secure the services of a
river man to investigate and report on
the probable cost of the undertaking.
This is a matter which will have to
receive prompt attention for it is im
portant that the mines down the river
secure their supplies before the Winter
sets in as it is impossible to get sup
plies over the mountains from West
Fork after the rains set in, the snows
piling np on the mountains there to a
great depth.
It is estimated that nearly 123 tons
of supplies and machinery have been
taken in over the trail this season,
and next year the amount will be
much greater. Mr. Gilbert states
that his company requires more ma
chinery but have not purchased owing
to the uncertainty of being able to
get it to the mine.
ENDS HIS LI EE
WITH A RIFLE
Chas. McGinnls Living Near Glen-
dale, Leaves the World by
the Suicides Route.
In a fit of despondency. Chas. Mo.
Ginnis of Glendale shot himself with
a 32-40 rifle last Saturday. Tbe scene
oi toe snooting was on the bank of
Cow creek a few rods from tbe old
Palmer ranch near the Meadow, now
occupied by Wm. Ruggles. One bnl-
let entered the lower Dart of his cheat
shattering a rib and causing a very
ugiy wound and the other bullet
tered the roof of the mouth and
lodged in the head. Deceased was a
native of Cow creek. He leaves be
sides his parents several brothers and
sisters. He had worked tnr
time at the Victory mine and recently
with the rairload bridge tarnr west of
town. His remains were interred on
Wednesday in the cemetery near John
Gilham's place. Glendale News.
Fine weddina-
y mv.
Courier office.
RAILROAD TO CRESCENT
CITY A POSSIBILITY
Record of That Place Give Good
Presentation of Advantages
of This Kosvd.
"Several weeks ago tbe Rogue
River Courier, in publishing an arti
cle ooncerning the coast railroad pre
dicted that it wonld give an outlet to
Crescent City and to the timber of
Del Norte county and the copper
mines of the Preston Peak district
which would be a serious handicap
on the getting of a railroad built from
Grants Pass to Crescent City or any
point on the coast.
"The Courier further stated that
Grants Pass bad neglected its oppor
tonities and let tbe time slip by for
getting a railroad to the coast.
"The people of the ooast section
prefer a railroad from the interior
well knowing that the upbuilding of
Southern Oregon means much for
Crescent City and the entire county,
When the survey was made from
Grants Pass to this place, several
years ago, it was promised tbat a
railroad would be built as soon
rights of way oould be seoored, but
tbe matter of beginning work has
been put off month after month, and
of course our people lost interest in
it The promise of 'work will begin
early next Spring' has lost its charm
and we are beginning to believe the
party in charge had no intention ot
building the road, - merely holding
the rigbt of way as a speculation.
No matter what the promoter's inten
tion was he brought oat tbe faot that
a railroad can be built from this place
to Grants Pass on easy grade. And
tbat the building of the road would
open np one of tbe richest mineral,
timber, farming and fruit sections on
the coast. Anyone who has resided
in Southern Oregon knows of tbe per
manent quarts mines that have been
opened up; the vast lnmber industry;
the choice fruit raised, etc. The
northern sections of Del Norte and
Sisklfoa are similar to tbat of South
ern Oregon and a railroad to tide'
water is required to open them op
properly.
"It remains now for the people of
Del Norte coanty and Southern Oregon
to confer on having a railroad built
The Draper survey, to near the sum
mit, was made on a two per cent
grade, following along Smith River
aud the Middle Fork. The survey
crossed Smith River eight times and
we are certain that a good route could
be had along the south bauk of the
river, requiring only bridges across
Mill creek, South Fork and the Mid-
del Fork. From what we are able to
learn no right-of-way has yet been se
cured from this place to where the
railroad would cross over into Oregon
and if local people took the matter in
band there would be but little trouble
about getting a right-of-way. Let the
citizens of both sections call meetings
and agree on a plan to build this
much needed road."
ROSEBURG SOLDIERS
TO GO EAST
Win Honor of Taking In Natlone.1
Marksman Tournament at
Seagirt. N. J.
Five militiamen of Co. D , O. N.
G., of Roseburg, comprising the team
which won the state trophy at Salem
a few weeks ago, have been selected
as members of the 'state team to be
sent to Sea Girt, N. J., to compete in
the national tournament, in whioh
both volunteers and regulars will
participate. The personnel of the
marksmen is as follows: Lieut Geo.
E. Houck, inspector of ordinanoe;
Capt. F. B. Hamlin, Corporal O. 8.
Jackson, Private B. F. Shields aud
Corporal A. Q. Johnson.
These men will leave witb their
companv next Friday for American
Lake, Wash., to attend tbe 10 dav an
nual encampment of tbe northwestern
militiamen and regulars, after whioh
they will proceed to Sea Girt They
will be absent about five woeks.
Houck, Hamlin and Jacksoo were
members of the Oregon team at Sea
Girt in 1906.
'The team to be sent from Oregon
will be comprised of 13 regalar mem
bers and three alternates. A news
paper dispatch announces that U. S.
Rider and R. L. White, of tbe Salem
militia, have also been chosen as
members of tbe team. The remaining
members will doubtless include Up
ton, Swan and Royle, of Portland,
all of whom were among the leaders
at the recent state shoot.
10, 1906.
TUNNEL TIMBERS BURN
AND BLOCK ROAD
Sparks From Engine Wrecks
Big Bore on the South
rn Pckcifio Road.
Tunnel No. 6, on the Southern Pa
cific, one mile south of Gregory,
caught fire at noon Friday and every
stick of timber in it was burned.
With the burning timber the sup
porters for the back and sides were
destroyed and a large section has
caved in. Tbe road was completely
blocked. The origin of the fire is un
known. Tbe blaze was discovered
shortly after 1 o'clock, but the flames
had gained such headway that a hun
dred men oould not have saved the
timbering in the strong draft. Ro
ports are that the tnnnel is filled for
75 feet with rooks and dirt Tunnel
No. 6 is 200 feet long and will have
to be retimbered before the debris can
be removed.
Eghty-five Japanese laborers are at
work in the tunnel and all the men
that can be spared on this division
will be put to work. Tha job is dan
gerous as the ground where it caved
is bad and as fast as the rooks are ta
ken out more come down in tbe tun
nel. It is thought that the Ore started
from a freight train that passed,
going south, a short time before the
blaze was discovered.
A temporary track has been built
arouna trie tunnel and trains are run
ning nearly, on time.
A large force of men -was put to
work Saturday night lavina the track
on tbe side of the bluff around the
rained tnnnel. Within a "few davs
tbe task of cleaning out the tunnel
wm be suited. A steam shovel will
be pnt to work and aa open cut made
through the hill. The railroad com
pany has hundreds of men on tbe
scene to transfer tbe passeomra from-
one end of the ont to the other.
Father Maeder, priest ' for 8t
Anne's Catholio church, of this citv.
has had the pleasure of a visit this
week from Brother - Celeatine, O. S.
B. of Monnt AngeL Oregon, who la
enjoying a raoation from his
duties as managing editor of the
mount Angel Magazine. St. Jimenh'a
Blatt and tbe Armen Seelen Freund,
the publications that are gotten out at
Mount Angel in the interests of the
college and monastry at that place.
orotner ueJesttne is a bright, highly
educated man and his publications
are highly oreditable to his journal
istic skill and management.
mm
Thomas
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Wooden ware, China, Glassware, Rocking Chairs'
O. 19.
CHARLES NICKELL GETS
A SEVERE SENTENCE
Believes That He Is Wrongfully
Convicted Given Thir
teen Months.
Charles Nickell, newspaper pub
lisher and former United States com
missioner at Medford, was sentenced
Monday afternoon by Judge Hnnt to
13 months' imprisonment ou McNeil's
island. No flue was imposed.
The crime for which Nickell was
convicted was conspiracy to suborn
perjury in connection with the Miller
Eincart land fraud conspiracy. Har
ry W. Miller aud Frank E. Einoart
are now at rving one year on McNeil's
island for the same offense. Martin
G. Hoge, city attorney of Medford,
was another of the conspirators. He
Is now serving four months in tha
oonnty jaiL His sentence also includ
ed a fine of $500. When Nickell was
called to stand, he spoke as follows in
his own behalf :
"lam fully consoious of my own
innocene and believe J was wrong
fully convicted. I did nothing know
ingly to violate the law, and if I bad
known of the existence of that ion
tract I would not have accepted those
applications."
Tbe oontract referred to was one by
whioh Miller agreed on behalf of the
mythical Einmitsburg Company of
New Zealand to purchase timber
claims from entrymen wbom he had
induoed to pay from $35 to $00 as a
location fee. Niokell's connection
with the conspiracy consisted in en-
oonraging persons to file on claims
and in permitting them to swear that
they were taking np land for their
own benefit and had made no agree
ment to dispose of it
Judge Hunt in imposing sentence
said to Nickell: "The jury mast
have found that you knew the exist
ence of the oontraot The whole
scheme was violously fraudulent and
the aggravating feature is your par
ticipation in it One word, one
caution, one Warning from yon aa
United States; Commissioner' aod the
whole conspiracy would have been
interrupted and yon would have been
spared this humiliation. Yon do not
know bow painful it is to me to im
pose a severe sentence. "
Then again calling attention to the
magnitude of the offense Judge Hunt
sentenced Nickell to 13 months on
McNeil's island. The bond was fixed
at $U0, but pending an appeal Nickell
was reloased on his present bond, r
$4000.
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