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.