M VOL. XXIII. GRANTS PASS, JOSEPHINE COUNTY; OREGON, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 7. 1908. No. 45. READY TO UNWATER THE GRANITE HILL All PrtparsUlone Hm Been Made to Lowtr Flood in Mine and Rium Operation. A representative of the Courier this week visited the Granite Hill mining camp, and was ihown over the prop erty and through the works of the American Gold Fields company by Superintendent Charles Morpby. As the stated Jin the Courier a few weeks sinoe, the company is makiog preparations to on water , the mine, and again resume operations' A crew has been constantly employed in and around the mine, since it was forced to oloee.down because of the in rush of water on the lower levels. The mill, and hoist, concentrating plant, and power plant are all in ex cellent condition, and are ready for operation on a days notice. Splendid rock ballasted roads have been built in the camp, connecting the mill with the Bed Jacket mine, and also with the sawmill and wood camps. A fine ekid road connected the company's sawmill with the timber camo, and the logs are skidded to the mill at email cost ; in fact, the entire cost of catting the logs, skidding to the mill aid tawing into lumber is but 46 per thousand feet About S00 cords of wood have been ut and delivered at the mill, and an equal mount will be Jpiled ia the -woodyard within reach of the boiler room, within the next few weeks. The rockDallasted road allows this wood to be hauled at one-half the former cost. The wood will be nsed in supplying fuel for the furnaces while the mine is being pumped out. The entire works have been over hauled, repaired and pot in shape to operate with greater ( ease and less ost. The main idea of superinten dent Morphy is to out the operating expenses down, and widen the margin Of profit. The value of the Granite Hill quartz is a known quantity, aud it remains to mine and mill the ore at as small cost as possible. He has demonstrated that the ore can be re moved from the lower levels, crushed, milled and concentrated at a coet of 1.85 per ton. The rock road con-' necting the Granite Hill mill with the Red Jacket allows the ore to be hauled from the latter property at a cost of but 25 cents per ton for trans portation; and this can be done win ter or summer. The big hoist, with its immense double drums and twin engine, has been plaoed on new and deepset concrete foundation, the head frame has been better anchored aud new mortar blocks placed under the mill stamps. The benoh at the collar of the shaft has been widened by re moving a portion of the mountain side, giving greater room for the ore tracks, shops, and hoisting phnt. The power house has been set farther back. In truth the whole oamp has been oleaned up and improved, so that ft is one of the neatest aud beet kept mining towns in the state. ' The buildings, residences, mess boose. rooming house and offices are electric lighted, with mountain water piped verywhere needed. Foreman Thomas has remained on the mine. He has mined in many of the best districts of the world, and in some of the biggest and richest propretites, but he considers the Granite Hill, in the matter of its ore composition, stableness aud general character equal to any he has seen of the same class. With the prepara tions that have been made, re peeially in the matter of road work and cainp improvements, the mine cu be onwatered in less time and at mach less cost than before. Every thine is in readiness, so there will be no delay; once the skips are started they wilt be operated day and night till the mine ia drained. Superintendent Morphy states that he can nnwater the property in 40 days time, aud that within four months frooi the time the slips are started, he and his foreman will have the tunnels aud ilr fit rvtiuibere't, the stopes cleaned, an everything iu shape to begin milling. The 20-stanip mill will crush 100 tons lot ore daily, operating day and night, and there is enough ore blocked out on the 400 foot level alone to keep the mill pounding eteadly for many months. The owners of the Granite Hill, all of whom are Eastern people, have act lost faith, even through the mis fortune of flooding and the conse quent suspension of milling and min ing operaions. Many of them have visited the mine in person, are ac quainted with conditions, and are determined to yet make the property win. It is these sort of people.that the mines of southern Oregon need peo ple who will not Rive up and bark down at the first appearance of trouble, who will overcome every ob stacle, wbo will not give up. It is just snch bull-dog determination and grit that will make the Granite Hill a great mine. ' Fight the Fruit Peeta. A meeting for the fruit growers was held at the opera house last Saturday which was well attended by those in terested in frail growing and a goodly number of prominent.'speakers were present. The pear light was one of the leading topics discussed. Prof. O'Gara, of the department of agriculture in charge of the fight in California against the pear blight gave an address on the subject and told how to recognize it and how to eradicate it. This pest has ruined the pear industry in the East aud sotne Mparts of Califor nia and should it get firm foothold in the Rogue River valley woold ruin the pear industry. Every froit grower and any other person who has an interest , in the fnture of this oounty should carefully examine every pear tree which they come across for signs of the blight. The county court should appoint a permanent fruit in spector whose duty it will be to at all times visit orchards with authority to destroy any trees infeoted with a disease. It has come to our notice that peach trees with the blight have been shipped into Grants Pass from nurseries within the state. It has been the duty of inspectors to examine trees shipped into the state bot no account has been taken of trees ship ped herefrom a nursery within the state. The county cannot afford to be without a fruit inspector for a single week. , ROGUE RIVER FAIR AT MEDFORD THIS YEAR The, .commissioners of the First southern Oregon 1 District Agricul tural Society met in annual meeting in Ashland Mnndav to elect officers. transact business routine, and select the place for holding the 1903 fair of the society. Those present were L. B. Hall, Granst Pass, president; A. T. Marshall, .Grants Pass, secretary; H. L. Gilkey and Chas. Mese've, Grants Pass; J. A. Perry and John D. Olwell, Medford; E. T Staples, Ashland The Board after doe consideration voted to hold the 11)08 fair at Med ford, to be known as the Rogue River Industrial Fair, and to hold the fair of 1D09 at Ashland. New officers: J A Perry, presi dent; J D Olwell, vice-president; J E Watt, secretary; John 8 Orth, treasurer; J A Perry, J D Olwell and E T Staples, exicmive committee. Joint Deb&te. The members of the Bethany Frater nal Club, an organization for the benefit of the boys of the town, has arranged for an entertaiumeut to be held at the opera honse, Wednesday evening, February 12, in tWe nature of a joint debate on the subject: Re solved, "That the jorv system should be abolished." Attorneys Blanchard aod VanDyke have the affirmative and Attorneys Norton and Clement! the neiiative. A very entertaining musical program will also be ren dered, which will Include vocal se lections by the Bethany choir and Ibe male quartet, ladies chorus, and Mrs. W. L. Ireland, also inueio by Miss Palmer aod M-ssrs. Cheshire and Whartou. Frank Fctscli and family have had since New Years Day as a part of their diet, new potatoes grown to maturity in their own Harden since September of last year. This ia quite unusoal. but Mr. Fetsck vooohes for the truth aod has had the potatoes on exhibition to spak for themsevlss. He explains ,.tbat part of the; far den was planted to potatoes and at maturity those were dug with the ex ception of a few which migbt have been missed and covered up. Cab bage was -then matured on the same plot and the ground plowed. The potatoes left in the ground sprouted and grew, blossoming in the usual time aud on New Years day the pota toes were ready for the table. i BEAUTIFUL Valentines from 1 cent up. Howell's Music Store. 2-7 It DEMOCRATIC ELECTORS INVITED TO OREGON Delegation to National Democratic Convention will Be Urged to Corns to Portland. Special Correspondence Port and business men have deter mined to make a united and most en thusiastic effort to sec ore for the Trans-Continental Passenger Associa tion a special rate through to Portland and other points in the Pacific North west for delegates and others who will attend the National Democratic Convention t ) be held in the metropo lis of Coronado next July. This was the topic of a meeting held at the par lors of the Portland Commercial Club Friday night and letters were for warded Saturday to the meeting of the Passenger Agents now in session at Colorado Beach, California. The round trip rates that will be in vogue from Portlana and other Oregon points to Denver will make it easy to organize a party of representative business men from all parts of the State and seud them on a speoial train to Denver where an extraordinary effort will be made to oonvlnce tbe delegates In attendance upou tbe con vention of the special attractions of the Oregon climate daring the hot season. February 22d has been selected as "Rose Planting Day." Five thous and bushes will be planted that day ia tbe city parks, and it is confidently believed that 60,000 more will be pat out in the yards .aud gardens of Port land and vicinity. An exteoded editorial in tbe Bill ings, Mont., "Gazette" speaks of tbe vast s amount 'of advertising Oregon is receiving through the newspapers of that state as a direct resultjof the prize offer made by Jtbe Portland Commercial Club. Three hundred persons were in at tendance npon tbe third annual ban quet of the Hood River Commercial Ulub on the evening of Janaary Slat. A special Pullman sleeper went from Portland, filled to its capacity with representative business men of the metropolis. Amoag the guests .was Governor Chamberlain. A number of Eastern people are anxioos to establish btnks in Oregon, particularly those with a capital of from 115, C00 to 125,000, with the new comer putting in.from$5000 to $16,000 Portland has determined to aiv the great "Inland Empire Excursion," which spends all day Saturday, Feb ruary 8th, in this city, a most oor dial reception. Two hundred and fifteen persons compose this prtrt he trip Is made onder the auspices of the Spokane Chamber of Commerce and Walla Walla Commercial Club and the entertainment they receive here will be an index of that exteoded at other Oregon points where they make stops. The purpose of this exenrsion is to in duce the thousands of tourists now in California to return to their homes by way of the Northwest route. Big cargoes of lumber are leaviig Portland to be used in the'oouitruolion of the Panama canal. K. of P. Elect Of ficera. Thermopylae Lodge, Knights of Pythias held their annual election of officers at their looge hall Tuesday evening, resulting in the election of the following persons to hold office for one year : C C P P Proctor. V O W H Hoggerth. K of S Lincoln Savage. M F-M T Ultey. M E Jos. Moss. M W-W T Cobnrn. 8 A Jos. Chau'se. , I G Morgan Powell O G T W Williams. After the election tbe members aod wives and the Rathbone Sisters sat down to an elaborate feast aod lis tened to interesting speeches. Tbe installation of ofdeers will be held Tuesday. February 18. Betheiny Church Election The aunaal meeting of Bethany Presbyteriaa church was held at the chur.h Thursday eve. Reports from the various departments of church work were read aud the following of ficers elected : Elders, J Pardee and P H Harth, both re-elucted ; Deacon, George H Parker; Trustees, H O Kin ney, four years, T P Cramer, two years. W E Willis, one year. Treas urer, Geo. P Cramer ; Clerk, A E Voorhles; Sunday School 2 Super intendent, II C Kinney; Assistant J Superintendent, Mrs W L behind. APPLEGATE VALLEY TELEPHONE CO. GROWING Eighty Phonea Will Soon Be Place Conetitullon and By- t Laws of Organization. in The Applegate Valley Telephone Conipauy, organized under the laws ol Oregon less than two years ago now has a membership of nearly 200 fully paid up stockholders and a list of 60 phone subscribers. This will be increased to 8.1 or more when the two additional lines which are now nnder oonstruotion are finished. Since the company was organized it has constructed 19 miles of line, not in cluding about 89 miles of line which the company assisted in erecting into the forest reserve. When the. two lines now under construction, which are each 10 miles in length, are com pleted there will be nine linas run ningt to the company's central at Provolt, and extending to Grants Pass, Williams Creek, Thompson Creek, Steamboat and Blue Lead, at the headwaters of the Applegate river. The of fioers of the oompany who are chosen at the annual meeting in January are C O Bigelow, president; H DKubli, vice-president; W S Bailey, secretary and John W PernolL treasnrer. The tvlephone company ia order to form a more perfect organization for the transaction of the company's business, and the enforcement of soch roles and regalations as the'oompany shall deem necessary to protect the individual interests of each member, as well as the oompooy at large, have adopted tbe following constitution and by-laws: Section 1. This oompany shall be known as the Applegate Valley Tele phone Company. Its principle place of business shall be at Provolt, Ore gon. This company shall have power to do a general telpehone business and to build, own, lease lines and install eentral office at such places as its business may warrant. Sec. 3. The Capital stock of the Applegate Valley Telephone Company shall consist of 11000 in shares of $8 each, and the amonnt of this stock, or the value of the shares shall neither be Increased nor decreased, nor an assessment levied on tbe stock except on two-thirds affirmative ballot 'of all the stockholders. This ballot to be taken only at a regular meeting of the stockholders and of which 30 days notioe has been given by notioes posted at the central stations nfthis Company. Sec. 3. Only "stockholders of this company can become subscribers for telephones, and only one vote shall be allowed for each fully paid op share of stock. A stockholder drginug to transfer his share of stock shall first give this oompany the preference to purchase same, aud s''all not receive for it more than the par value of $V Any stork so purchased by this com pany shall be held as common stock until such time as it can bs sold to new members. Sea 4 The Applegate Telephone company shall equip and maintain all central offices and shall ereot all wire lines connecting these offices, and also all connecting wires with the systems of other telephone companies with which traffic arrangements may be made. All branch lines connecting t lephouea with the centrals shall be erected at the expense of the stock holders usiug such liues, such coo- stroctioa work and installing phone to he done nnder the rules and regnla tions of this company; the proportion ate cost of such lines to be adjusted between tbe builders on a basis es tablished by this oompany. On tbe completion of these branch lioee they shall become the property of this oom pany and be maintained onder the general regalations governing the lines of this company. Sec. 6. All traffic arrangements with other companies shall not be in effect until approved by a majority of all the stockholders of this company. The fixing of monthly telephone does aod of salaries of officers shall be made on two-thirds ballot of all the stockholders. See A. This company shall have the power to make such rules and regalations governing the installing aod eslng of telephones as tbe ef ficiency and economy "of tbe service may require. Whether the telephones used on this company's lines shall be owned or leased by each stock- bolder or owned or leased by this company shall, be deoided by a two- thirds affirmative ballot of all the members. Sec 7. No property of this com pany shall bs sold, transferred or leased except lit is authorised I by ' three-fourths vote by ballot of al the stockolders at a meeting of wb ich 30 days notioe kaa beeu given by post ing notices at all the Company's cen tral stations, said notioes to state the proposition to be voted on. Sea 8. This oompany shall, im mediately after the adoption of this constitution, and aunually there after, elect a board of nine directors by a majority ballot of the stock holders present 'at such meetiug, who shall serve u itil the next annual meeting, or until ttieir successors are duly elected and qualified. The directors elected at such meeting shall qualify by taking tbe prescribed oath of office. Seo. 9. The officers of this com pany shall consist of a President, vioe- president, seoretary aod treasurer, wbo shall be elected aunually by a majority ballot of the directors at a regular meeting. Officers elected at such meeting to serve for one year, or until their successors are elected and qualified. Any officer who re moves both his place of residence and business from the territory covered by the telephone system of this oompany shall forfeit his office. Sea 10. The president shall pre side at all meeting of the oompany and of tbe board of directors and be shall decide all questions that may arise on points of order, subject al ways to an appeal to the bouse, and preserve order and decorum in tne meetings and see that the rights of all the members are respected. He shall enforce tbe provisions of this constitution aud by-laws and sot in conjunction with the directors In se curing the best possible efficiency in Continued on fourth page. IN REGARD TO RAILROAD LANDS Office of the Commissioner, Depart ment of the Iuterior, 'General Land Office, Washington. January 2. 190R. To Registers "and Receivers, United States Land Offices, Gentlemen : There has been industriously circu lated by way of newpsaper advertise ments, and otherwise, over tbe name of F. P. Rolfe, statements to the effect that Congressman Tawney, after a conference with the Commissioner of the General . Land Office, advised bis sen that perloni filing on the Ore gon and California railroad lands woold, withoot doubt, be able to se cure the lands. These advertisements are untrue and misleading. Tbe ten dency of such advertisements is to im pose upon innocent aud nnsuspeoting persons. You will please give as wide publicity as possible to the above set forth. Very respectfully, R. A. BALLINGER, Commissioner. Barney Oldfiehl, the speed demon, who broke the world's record last yeart tbe Irvlngton track has signed this year aud will sgain enter the New York Antotnobite races. Old field had annonaced that he had quit racing but tbe exoitement of tbe raoe is too much to be given op. Something Extraordinary The big sale of Graniteware is still on 20 per cent off of Marked Prices Furniture and Car pets, Linoleums, Lat Curtains, Por tieres, MattresMs, Pillows, Cots, Wall Paper, Clocks, Minors, Window 8hades, Picture, Picture Moulding. R. H. THE HOUSEFURNISHER f ront St., BIG SHELTER ORDERED FOR SOUTHERN OREGON Alevrneda People He-ve Placed an Order In Portland For IOO Ton Smelter for Gallce. Down on the Rogue river in the Galioe uiiniug district a few meu have been drilling and blasting for the past eight years, unocvering the largest body of copper bearing ore known in the Pacific nnrihwost. Work has beeu quietly done and the result is shown by the placing of a contract Saturday by the Aimed mine, a local corporation with the Willamette Iron and Steel omupaoy, for a 100-ton smelter to cost f 10,000. Bids were called for recently from manufacturers of smelters aud the local concern was not overlooked. Much to the surprise of the mine management the beet proposition was submitted by the Willamette people, who begin construction this week. The plant will consist of a standard waterjacketed furnace 80 by 72 by 84 occupying a building at the mouth of the mine 80 by 110, which will house tbe engine, boilers and ore crusher wiht charging floor of 200 square feet. The oompany owns its own saw mill and is cutting thousands of feet of lomber for the building, ore bins, etc. It ia expected that the plant will be in aotive operation by the last of April and another dividend paying property added to the already growing list of southern Oregon. Josephine oounty will then be tbe possessor of the only two copper smelters in the state. The present installation on the Almeda will be followed by farther series as fait as oondltious warrant giving employment to a large force, which will add considerably to the increasing pay roll of the oounty. Considerable of the capital In the Al meda mine comes from Iowa, whioh should be doubly interesting at the present time, considering the recent difficulties, aud speaks well for the Almeda property and its management. In the faoe of recent oondittona the carrying out of tBIs project Is cer tainly a credit te tbsj mine manage ment and should eutnuse tne mining interests of Snuthreu Oregon, for it is oue more link forged in upbulldiug of the industry that is rapidly niakinsr the sentberu part of the state, and particularly Josephine Coaoty, known throughout the United States as a section warranting the investuieut of capital iu no nnoertain manner. The Almeda property proper is loca ted on the Big Yank ledge, which is acknowledged by mining men to be the largest body of oopper-bsarlag ore in the Northwest. COUNTY TREASURER'S CALL FOR WARRANTS There are funds In the Treasury to pay all warrants registered prior to September 16. 1904, Interest will cease from this date. January 80, 1908. J. T. TAYLOR. Co. Treasurer. List Yoar Timber Hercinger aV Mitchell. Lands With 13-20 tf Htoves and Ranges, 0 HI Graniteware, Agteware, tan ware. Wooden ware, Wllloware, Cutlery, Crockery, Lamps, Glassware, Fancy China, Go-CarU, Iiaby Carriage. bet. 6 and 7 t