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About Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 14, 1908)
VOL. XXIII. GRANTS PASS, JOSBPHINB CODNTY, OREGON, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14. 1908. No. 46 I0PGR0WERS FACING A EARL DOTSON KILLED 8Y OYERDOSE OF MORPHINE COUNTY FRUIT INSPECTOR SOUNDS NOTE OF WARNING STREET PAYING NOW MERLIN IS LIKELY TO CLAIMING ATTENTION HAYE BUILDING BOON DARING ROBBERY OF GRANTS PASS SALOON CRITICAL SITUATION 'flrewere Insist Th.l Thsy Turn Coroner's Jury Find Wm. Fehly Mining Man. Guilty of the Deed. Flnde Some Petvr Blight sxnd Ad visee Growers to Take , Every Precaution. City Council la Very Likely to Caatern Capitalists Going to' Buy up Large Trexct of Choice Realty. Secured Some Cexeh and Gun Left no Trace Behind Them. in and Assist In Fighting Prohibitionists. Take up Thle Most Import ant Matter. i I I Consternation reigns inpreme mong the bopgrowers of Josephim 'county, who find that tbeir troubles tare apparently aot all over. . At 'though the fact that they have been growing the hops t a Iom for the pait tinxr seasons was not already enough fdisoouragement now comes word from the brewers, organization, warning ( them that if they want their hops to be taken, they must get in and figVt 4ti temrjerance moTement, which bids fair to annihilate the beer and beer drinking business making all over ithe country. I Bat the Josephine growers do not (propose to be coercered after any each i fashion. In fact some of the leading growers hare declared that rather I than be dictated to after any such fashion, they will dig op their hop yards and go into the froit growing business, instead. - It is a well knoan fact that hop land is also exceptionally good for the cultivation of fruit and that it makes ideal alfalfa land. So it would seem that the hop industry in Josephine county, at least is likely to dwindle to small proportions, from existing ceo- editions. This sentiment not only seems to prevail hereabouts, bat all orer the fatate there leems to be a disposition son the part of growers to give up the industry and turn their lands into -other and mors profitable prod arte. Can it be possible that Oregon Is thus getting prepared to swing into line as a prohibition state? Will the Beaver state loin the already large f nnwMiiffli wmcn lm wbuuiuk 41 n.i ! along towards the no-saloon goal? 1 , , rKUrudu iu ariuu ui ! COT DOWN FRUIT TREES v "Spray 'em or cut 'em down," says A . r Secretary Williamson, 01 me oiaie Board of Hortlooltore, in discussing -the care of fruit trees and Tines. He is now engaged.ln sending oat the for 3 mnlas for spraying for Ban Jose scale, ? -wanly aphis, coddling moth and other things that prey on the fruit crop of Oregon. t "Now is the time for winter spray ing, and it should be done right fway," he said. "Where the trees i are not worth spraying, tbey should I be cut down and burned, so as not to remain breeding places for the various pests. Eves rose bushes should be i sprayed, in order that they may not I harbor the San Jose scale." I His circular says, in regard to I lime and sulphur ..spraying: This is J the spray to use in winter for killing I San Jose scale, and all other insects I wbioh are on fruit trees in winter. 5 It is also one of the best fungicides. I For destroying Sn Jose scale on fruit land other trees and shrubbery, use lat any time during! the winter at I fall strength of the formula given be ? low. For preventing apple tree an- thracnoee (dead spot or canker) spray I with full strength of formula about J the first of Aovemher. For prevent I ing peauh leaf-carl, apply just before it bndi open in spring. I Formula: IS pounds of unslaked ? lime, 15 pounds of flowers of sulphur. CO gallons of water. Place part of the watT in the vat or kettle and start the fire, and when the water oomea to a boll add the lime and sulphur. Boiling should be continuous for at leait an hour and i nntfl tha anlnhnr tlMM rtAPfl dissolved. The liquid will thwu be rd. It must be stirred .while the boiling is going on. Commercial preparations of the lime salphur spray are ot the market in liquid form and are extensively used. Those which are properly mads are efficient Purehaa-ri of the liquid forms of this spray should rvquire a guaranty from the manfactnrers that when such sprays are diluted ac cording to manufacturer's directions they will contain at least 13 pounds of salphur in solotion in each 60 gal lons of spray. ATIENTION ! ATTENTION!! All members of Alalia Circle are re quested to be present at the next meeting, February 17, 18, for the pur pose of transacting important busi ness. L. L. CALDWELL, O. N. M. J. DAVIS, Clerk. Thursday morning this community was startled by the announcement that Earl Dotson. a young man 38 years old-and a member of a highly respected family, nad been poisoned by an overdose of morphine and died from said cause. The investigation held by Coroner Strioker . and Deputy Piosecuting Attorney E. S. Van Dyke, in Hall's undertaking parlors. Thursday after noon, revealed a bad state of affairs around town, some of the saloons oom ing into the limelight in a not vary creditable manner. The jury, composed of the following prominent citizens, H. C. Kinney, Geo. H. Parker, L. L. Jewell, H. L. Andrews, Elmer Hayes and R. S. Wil son, went into the matter very thor oughly and after bearing all the evi dence, rendered a verdict that ' 'The body upon whiob the inquest is held is that of Earl Dotson, who died at the Layton hotel, the cause of his death being morphine, death being caused by sn overdose of morphiue and we find that the same was furnished and supplied by one Wm. Fehly, and that said Wm. Fehly, is guilty of a crime thereby." This moraing an in dictment was accordingly entered in the court of Justice Jas. Holman, by Proseoutiug Attorney Reames and this afternoon Fehly had his preliminary bearing. At the preliminary examiaation held before Justice Jas. Holman, this after noon, a large crowd of spectator's as sembled to bear Deputies VanDjke and Reames conduct the case on behalf of the state, while Attorney R. O. Smith looked after Febly's interests. There were some 14 witnesses ex amined and then the ' state rested, whereupon the defense asked for more time to plead and the court ad journed to meet again Saturday morn ing, at 9 o'clock, when the tuattar will be resumed. , Fehly, ' who is a morphine fiend, test i fled to having 120 grains of the drug on his person, and that be bad been in the habit of giving young Dotson doses every little wbile, but he tried to shield himself by saying that Dotson bad taken four grains of cocaine, Wednesday night.' However, the testimony of witnesses seemed to fix the guilt very conclusively upou Fehly and the Coroner's jnry found accordingly. The faneral of . the unfortunate young man took place at 1:30, this afternoon, County Judge Stephen Jewell, conducting the same at the Christian church, the interment being at the Granite Hill Cemetery. "That ioqueat was an eyeopener to me," remarked one member of the body, who oontiuued, "It showed that many of the young men of the town are going to the dogs and that a most deplorable state of affairs exists. To my way of thinking this affair will pot another nail in the effort to close up all the lough joints of the city. It was dreadful to hear the disgusting testimony aud was enough to shock any citizen who has the best interests of the community at heart." "It was indeed a mighty bad nest we stired up, said Coroner Strieker, to the reporter. He was amazed at the awful oouditions that were found to exist in the quarters thus investi gated. " Announcement has been received of the first Oregon reunion which will occur at Los Angele. CaL. February 10th lost. There will be a banquet, musical and literary program, in ad dition to bits of oldtime hospitality and impromptu entertainment, lira. Martha Jane GarrUon Olds, a pioneer of 1846, is to be president of the day, and firs minute table talks are ex pected from Ex-Governor Moody, Cnpt A A Fries, USA, and many others, interspersed with songs and sentiment exchange of personal oarda, aud the adoption of measures looking towards a permanent organi sation of the many Oregon ians In that locality, who in number are sufficient to mak the proposed movement an nnanalified success, and in wkich ' laudable endeavor the friendly Cali ! fornians are leading a helping hand. Yon can bare yonr bicycle cleaned I and repaired at Cramer Bros. Quite a flurry was caused among local fruitrgowers, the other day, when it was noised abroad that some real, "for sure" cases of pear blight, that much dreaded fruit disease, had been discovered in orchards .herea bouts. This created consternation among the growers, who were at a loss to know bow general the pest was to be found. Bat later developments have indicated that the growers were more scared than hurt But County Fruit Inspector, H. D. Eismann informs the Courier that while the blight has not gained any. thing of a foothold, that there is need of the greatest precaution oa the part of every grower in Josephine county, if they would effeotually prevent its spread. He states that cases of pear blight were found in the Eismann, Wimer and Allen orchards, but that thus far no other cases have been en countered. He proposes to make a most thorough investigation all over the county and he will take great pains to ascertain where the pest is to be found and then leave no stone unturned to eradicate it But Mr. Eismann does not think that Josephine county can afford to employ an inspector all the time. Under the present order of things, be puts in a portion of his time, being compensated for just what time he puts into the work. He thinks, that the taxpayers would object to the county commissioners employing a man at a good salary to spend all his time in this work. As to keepisg the "find" of the pear blight quiet, Inspector Eismaan thinks that it would be a mistake to do so, bat prefers to have the facta set forth and then tne growers will realize the importance of the matter and the need of persistent, concerted action in ridding the county of this obnoxions fruit disease. Rogue River Valley Fruit Output. In an article in the New York Fruit Trade Journal of January 7th, an estimate is made of the income derived by Hoed river growers from their apples this year, the amount being placed at $200,000, about the same as last year, in spite of a short age of 30,000 boxes in the output, owing to the better prices realized. Rogue River Valley oan beat that 1190,000 ou the income from fruit, as by a conservative estimate the income from fruit shipped from this section this year has reached the grand total of $390,000. It is not possible to get accurate figures, owing to the fact that there are to maoy different ship pers, bat the estimate may be re garded as fairly accurate, and not ex cessive. For instance there were at least 140 oars of pears shipped from the valley this season. It is safe to say that these oars would average $500 to the car, and several of them brought over three times as much, and verv few of them lies. Tht makes the tidy little sum of $210,000. Of the 180 cars of apples and small fruit 75 cars of ap ples are estimated at $1600 to the car, which would total $112,600, and 80 cars at $80u, totaling $68,000, making in all for the apples $180,000, or a grsnd total or $3UO,000, leaving 25 cars of peaches, berries, eto., snao counted for. Besides tbis there is the prune crop which is not placed in tbis estimate, as we were unable to get figures npoo it. It is safe to sar that the frait crop of Rogas River sold for over $400,000 in 1907. Medford Mail, Jan. 24. Bueineee Chevnge. J. L. MYERS has sold his barber shop on east Front street to M. Stan tor, of Eugene, who will oontinoe the bnsiaess. Mr. Myers has bought the half in terest of Nate Bates in the barber shop on West Front street, next to Schmidt's cigar store, formerly owned by Myers & Bates, and is now sole proprietor. He will conduct the busi ness and equip it in first class style. Mr. Myers wi.'l run three chairs, and will have N. Bates and M. Luckett for assistants. 1-31 tf Next Thursday evening the city council holds an important meeting. Among other matters to be con sidered will be the question of street-paving. Tbere is a very strong probability that Grants Pass may soon boast of paved streets, for it is reported that the city oouncil is likely to seriously oonsider this most Important matter. The Courier representative find that there is a sentiment growing in favor of taking snob, a step, all over Oregon. Marry other municipalities have al ready taken the initiative in the mat ter and others will soon do so. Here in Grants Pass the business men and taxpayers seem to look with favor upon the idea and shoold this sentiment become much stronger, the oity fathers are more tban likely to bring the matter np for formal action. However, jadigng from what one business man, D A Harmon, has to say, it would seem as though the s reets of Grants Pass are exceedingly fine, when compared with some of our nearby neighbors. For instance, Mr. Harmon had occasion to visit edford, the first of the week and he was amased at the condition of the pubilo thoroughfares there. He said the main business streets must have been about a foot deep in mod, while those in the residence portion of the oity were not even graded up. He said Grants Pass streets were amaz ingly in much better oondition. The Box Factory closed iu doors last Friday evening, the oom pan y having declared its inability to pay either the employes or the creditors. The affairs of (he oonoern are repotted M be in a sad tangle and the courts will indeavor to clear np several shady looking matters. Mr. An drews, the vice president, and bis family have go,ie to Portland. Gleu dale News. SPLENDID TRIBUTE TO JOSEPHINE GRAPES One of the Portland papers recently had this good bit of advertising for Josephine county : "Charles E Short, formerly'of Portland, but now located at Merlin, Josephine county, was in the oity yesterday on a business trip. In speaking of the bright prospeo:s for the future of that district, es pecially in the fruitgrowing line, he said : "The demonstrated adaptability of the soil for prodociug the best Rogue River fruits is attracting wide atten tion in the east and several parties from Nebraska, Montana aud Michi gan have recently purchased homes and are actively engaged in improve ments. The principal enthusiasm is In grape oulture, the red hills sur rounding Merlin last year produced such wonderful clusters of the Flam ing Tokay variety that there is no looger any doubt as to the yield. "There are several large tracts suit able for apple raising, which oan be irrigated, and these will soon be out in cultivation and sold to small holders. The price of land aroond Merlin is lower than at any ether point in the Rogue River valley, it being an exceptional thing lot unim proved lanJ selling for over $10 per aore, while the orchards in bearing run from $500 np. "The owuer of the principal peach orchard in the distriot refused $5000 per sure. Iu mining there is but Jit tie movement, owing to the financial conditions and the low price of cop per, that metal predominating in the ores. " The legal fight on the Oriole group having been settled, that property'will soon open np in full blast, while the Almeda, Golden Wedge and Mt Pitt mines are beginning to show life. Workmen on the Copper Staudard re port the opening up of a large vein of vary riob ore, and the talk of a smelter at Merlin has again broken oot. The placer mines have had an exceptional supply of water and some good cleanups are looked for in the spring." Mr. Short says tbat Merlin is in need of a drugstore, doctor, box fac tory, creamery and canning factory, and tbat the townsite company stands ready to give free sites for any ia dustry that will tend to help the town. Call at Cramer Bros, on Saturday, Feb. 15th, and see the chicks batching , in the Petaluma. "Our'town aud locality are getting along nicely, thank you," was the way Merchant Chas. E. Short of the Merlin Mercantile Co., talked to a Courier reporter, as he was at the county seat, Monday, looking after tome important busiuess matters. "Yes," ho continued, "things are moving along nicely, out that way. True, times are a bit slow, but we find that they are thusly almost every other place. So we are no exception. "We are anticipating somewhat of a stir ia real estate circles, if a big deal that is now on should be con summated, as now seems more than likely. I refer to the fact that a wealthy Michigan capitalist has been looking our country over and as he expresses himself as greatly delighted with our locality and does not care to look elsewhere, we believe that he will take the 720 acres wbioh he has picked out. And if he does take it, he will proceed to subdivide it and then will sell tracts to many of his friends and acquaintances back east. In whiob event we have every reason to believe that many of them will come oat and make their future homes with us. Of oourss this makes os all feel happy, for we are glad to welcome desirable homssekeers and I might add that never before have there been so many inqurlss regarding desirable farms in our section, as we are having these days. So, you see, things do have somewhat ef a rosy hue for ns and our favored section is gradually coming very much to the front. Mr Short stated th at no due as to who perpetrated the bold robbery in his etsablishment, a short time ago, when the safe was blown open and mooey and valuable papers were stolen, bad ever been discovered. Ben Slmpklns, one of the leading citizens of Merlin is dangerously ill, with pneumonia, having taken down last Saturday. His many friends are fearing that he may have a aerions time of it. Another prominent citizen, in the person of Judge Ladd has been on the sick list bat new he is on ths mand and h will likely soon ;be able to be np and around again. Some of the Merlin lovers ef "trip ping the light fantastic toe" are plan ning to ooine to the coanty seat and enjoying one of the select dances, which the understand are occurring nowadays. Tuesday evening three persons were killed and injured in a wreck of the westbound Paniflo passenger train, known as the Sheridao a local, at a point one mile west of Forest Grove. The aooldent occurred at 8 :48 o'clock on a shallow trestle from a oause un known, but believed to be due to a broken raiL Three of the five cars In the train torned over onto their aides. Tbe dead are John MoDnn.M. McMinnville Mrs. J. E. Bates and baby, Forest Grove. Big' Reductions ON- WALL PAPER To make room for Spring Stock New Goods on road from Factory Furniture and Car pets, Linoleums, Lace Curtains, Por tieres, Mattresses, Pillows, CoU, Wall Paper, Clocks, Mirrors, Window Bbsdes, Picture, Picture Moulding. (1 H. 0 HI THE HOUSEFUWISMER f ront St., bet. 6 and 7 A very bold holdup took place in the Eagle Saloon, located at corner of Front and Sixth Streets, Thursday night about midnight Three strangers eutered the door, just as Barteuder Ackerman was about to close the place aud two of them, re pairing to tue back room, engaged in a noisy row. Hearing the fight, Aokerman step ped in to quell the disturbance, leav ing hit "gun" inside the bar and jutt as soon as he had left the room, the third paity stepped behind the bar and proceeded to tap the cash drawer, seouriug $13 and carrying off Acker man's revolver. Ackerman ooold give no descrip tion of the men, having trot the faint est idea of their personal appearance and so the 'officers have not eveu the slightest blue as to the perpetrators of the deed. Other daring attempts of a like nature are reported to have been frustrated in various parts of the city, during tbe past few weeks, but tbis was the only one to be suooess folly carried oat Manager A, T. Marshall, of the Paolflo Telephone S Telegraph Co., this week received a nice order from tbe Red Bluff Rural Telephone Co., and another from the Grange Tele phone Co., both Wllderville organisa tions, as well as from the Applegate Telephone Co., for 'phones, and he reports that tbe work of installing these Josephine oounty lines will be rapidly pushed to completion and will bring all part of tbe oounty mnob more olosely in toaob with the oounty seat. NEW PLAN IS IN YOGUE FOR DELINQUENT TAXES There will be no more advertise ments of denasnent tax sales now, according jo the. as w law passed by tbe last legislature; in the interest of speculators In tax titles. The praotioe now is to Issne oerti ficatss of delinquency on delinquent property. When the' taxes on any piece of property have not been paid by tbe owner, they may be paid by the first person who applies, and to him is given the oerticfiate of de linquency. ' This certificate may he redeemed at any time within there years by the owner of the property. Interest at the rate.'of 15 per oeot must be paid by the owner to the holder of the certificate of delin quency before he is permitted to re deem. Under the old law the highest rate of iuterest that could be charged was 10 per cent At the expiration of three years, the holder of the certificate secures a deed through deo'ee of the Circuit Court and the owner must appeal within 80 days from ths date of the decree, or he can not appeal. The effect of the new law is believed to be that purchaser of a tax title se on res a title tbat cannot be annulled. Htoves and Ranges, Oraniteware, Agteware, Tinware, Wooden ware, WUloware, Cutlery, Crockery, Lamps, Glassware, Fancy China, Oo-Carts, Baby Carriages.