Rogue River courier., November 26, 1909, Image 1

Ik J I ' 4 4
VOL. XXV.
No. 35.
THE WATERS
CAME
DOWN
THE RAIN AND MELTING SNOW
BROUGHT HIGH WATER
POWER HOUSE GOES OUT
The Rig Pump at the Anient Dam
Dismantled but Damage Easily
Repaired.
The rains of the past throe weeks,
especially of Friday night and Sat
urday of last week, together with
the molting snows in the mountains,
brought a flood in the Rogue river
which filled its banks to overflowing,
raising its banks to a point five feet
above high water mark of last year.
It is remarkable, however, that so
little damage was done by the water.
The lower bottoms in the vicinity of
the Shank orchard and the Allen
place was flooded to some extent, but
we arc Informed that no great in
Jury was sustained. The highest
water was on Monday but the flood
subsided quite as rapidly as it made
the rise. The edge of the Riverside
park was flooded to some extent,
likewise the Elsmann country club
grounds at the south end of the steel
bridge.
The machinery pit of the Rogue
River Water Co. was filled with
water to a depth of seven feet, cov
ering the big electric motor and
pump, making it necessary to con
nect the emergency engine on the
bank of the river to do the pumping
of water to supply the city.
The breaking of a log boom be
longing to the Rays up the river,
filled the stream with logs which
made a strong showing of drift as
they passed along. Some of the
Grants Pass people caught enough of
theso floaters to supply themselves
with firewood for the winter. There
was some excitement In regard to
the Rogue River Electric Company's
plant. First the service was very
weak all day Monday and on Tuesday
It gave out entirely, but it was
learned that some polos were down
and during the day they were re
placed nnd the power and lights came
on again.
The all Important thing was the
damage done at the Anient dam.
This being important the Courier
asked Chief Engineer Hall, of the
Irrigation company, to make n report
regarding actual conditions which
he very kindly did nnd wo submit his
report under this head.
Editor Courier. Nov. 2fi, 1909.
Dear Sir: In reply to the many
rumors and questions that have been
asked since the late high water, I
ehall be glad if you will give room
In your paper to the following state
ment: The Important questions are:
What damage was done the Anient
dam and the ditches of the Josephine
County Irrigation and Power com
WINTER'S HERE
GOT THAT NEW
Enameled Bed
Yet? If not, get it now. Best assortment we evor
had i ron.lv, nn-1 specially low prices are offered jus
toemp'ia.izetho fact that this is the store most
capable of virin: for your needs.
Wo oll'.T a full-size Iron Hed, in nf sorted aa
colors, at 4VU
We oiler a full-si) uiulersupported Spring -
that you pay elsewhere more money for $LLO
(let our prices before buying elsewhere
WE WILL SAVE YOi: MONEY
R. H. O'NEILL-:-Home Furnisher
pany, and how will It affect the de
livery of water for Irrigation the
coming season? Anyone standing In
the vicinity of the dam when that
great flood was rolling toward the
Pacific, carrying with It forest trees
torn up by the roots, and filling the
air with a deafening roar, would be
Impressed with the feebleness of hu
man effort to withstand the forces
of nature, and because certain struc
tures that formerly stood high above
water are now submerged, he feels
that all is lost that It is gone. But
it is not gone. The Anient dam stands
firm. The water has now receded
far enough to admit of inspection
and no break or settling can be de
tected In the main sncture. The
fact that six feet of ater poured
over the deck of th meant two
things 'of whi'-h th ml observer
could realize but one. He saw that
a great force was at work In front of
the dam trying to push It out of the
way, but he did not see that there
was a great weight of water on top
of it trying to hold it down; and it
did hold it down.
Much fear has been expressed that
the south end of the dam, around
which the state receutly built a fish
ladder, would go out with the first
high water, but it is safe and unin
jured. This fish ladder Is cut through
a stratum of conglomerate that is!
hard as concrete, and the most care-'
ful examination discloses no crack or '
rupture of any kind, and since It hasi
withstood this test we are Justified
In believing that it will stand any to
come. Just what did take place lsi
this: North of the main part of the I
dam, extending from the original
river bank toward the railroad, a
distance of a hundred feet or more, '
a wing wall was constructed to turn j
the floods to the south over the dam, ,
Instead of allowing them to inun-
date the north bank of the river, i
where are. situated Bhops and other j
small buildings. This wall wasi
made of timber with Its foundation
above low water mark where It 1
was alternately wet and dry, and, as
a consequence, the timbers were :
more or less rotten and not able to '
withstand the enormous pressure
thrust upon it. If there were other
fhusfs'"Contributlng to the weakness
of this wall we have no way of know
ing it. The cause given Is sufficient
to nccount for It. This wall went out i
nnd took with If the pump house,
which was a small frame building
adjoining the north end of the dam i
and entirely separate and Independ
ent of it. The flood poured through
the gap nnd undermined the concrete
foundation to which the pump was
anchored, letting It down Into the.
liny. The timbers of which the dam
Itself Is made, with the exception of
the planking nnd some of the posts
of the upper deck, ennnot rot Tor they
nre wet the year around and Instead
of weakening with age they will be
n9 firm in a hundred years as the
day they were put in pla'e.
The excavation at the head of the
gravity Irrigation ditch was connect
ed with the dam by a flume. This
flume, a light frame structure, was
destroyed when the wing wall gave
'way. The directors of the Irrigation
company knew when this flume was
constructed that in a few years at the
most It would have to he replaced by
a more substantial structure, but It
thought that It would answer
was
GREATER GRANTS PASS
Ai hW TO BUILD IT
Immediate Needs of the City that Must be Un
dertaken Public Work in Detail as Laid
Out for the Coming Year.
Now that the city election is upon
us, we naturally look about for like
ly material with which to fill the
several stations which must be
provided for at no small amount of
personal sacrifice. And at this time,
while the question is up, we may
with propriety look about to see
what Is to be done tn the way of
public Improvements, and what the
new officers may In conjunction with
those already in the work, be able to
do during the time of the administra
tion, in the way of city building.
Grants Pass has reached the point
which conies in the growth of every
town, when certain public works can
no longer bo overlooked, If It Is to
keep pace with the neighboring
towns from Portland to San Francis
co. Excellent work has already been
aconiplished, In what may have
seemed a rather slow way, In pre
paring for the first important move,
that of organizing and declaring the
Intention to Improve "Paving Dis
trict No. 1," as termed by ordinance
already passed the final reading, and
has been Blgned by the mayor. This
work has taken some time, It ts true,
but It has been done with the great
est possible care and study on the
part of those who have had the work
in hand. The united efforts of the
Citizens committee with the street
committee of the city council, has
been a commendable feature. If this
spirit of co-operation Is continued
during the final draughting of ordin
ances, plana, specifications, forms
for bids, bonds and contracts, there
Is no possible danger of error In the
final work. Street pavements, side
walk construction and drainage has
been carefully looked Into at Med
ford, Ashland and Rnseburg, as well
as the larger cities, and we shall be
able to profit greatly by their ex-
prlenuc.
There are a number of standard
street pavement, details of v. hlch
all need until such a time as the
finances of the company would admit
of permanent construction. Aside
from the tarrying away of this flume,
no daniiu'e has been done to any of
the company's property, ror the
past month men have been at work
placing large drainage boxes In the
ditches now constructed so Hint they
are as secure against washouts as It
Is possible to make theiu.
Just how or what ia to be done
now It Is a little too early to state,
but the receiver In charge of the dam
says In perteral It will follow these
lines: The dam will bo placed In
better condition than ever. The
Winn wull will not be rebuilt. The
pump will be raised and put In place
In a new pump house. A new flume
will he built. These new structures
will be made of reinforced concrete
and placed low on the solid rock
foundation that has been laid bare
by the late flood, bo that high water
In the future will hare the right of
way over them Instead of being with
held by them. Much of this work
can be done this winter, even though
the water remains high, and by hav
ing all of the material on the ground
It can be completed before the open
ing of the Irrigation season.
Kvery dollar that tho Irrigation
company will now be obliged to upend
on these headworka must have been
spent there within tho next threo or
four yearn, even though no inch
break had occurred, and the late
flood hna cleared away the overlying
gravel and disclosed bed rock so that
tho work can bo done now at less
expense and In a more satisfactory
I manner than It could hare been done
i a year ago. I can nee no reason why
'this mishap should delay the delivery
i of water for Irrigation purposes a
single week.
I Respectfully,
HORACE C. HALL,
Engineer for the Josephine Co.
Irrigation and Power Co.
cannot be taken up at this time, but
we may mention such as "Sheet As
phalt," by American Asphaltum &
Rubber Co., of Chicago; "Oiled Re
inforced Cement Macadam," by E.
M. Chadbourne Co., of San Francis
co, nnd "Bltullthl." by Warren Con
st ruction Co., of Boston. Careful
study of conditions and prices will
uuide In the selection of the right
kind.
Of great Importance to the appear
ance of the new city, as well as for
sanitary protection for its people, Is
the, care of the surface or storm
wuter. Uefore Sixth street plans are
completed a thorough investigation
of thu topography to, and along Fifth
and Seventh streets, should be made.
This work should not be left to the
engineer alone. Those Interested In
the property affected, street commit
tee, citizens committee and every
body else should go over the field
with him and become familiar with
tho conditions, for their ideas and
suggestions will be helpful. Grades
should bo established In all directions
from such an expensive Improvement
as contemplated, so that tho drain
age plan may be carried out without
a break, as far as future. Improve
ments may be extended.
Street Linos,
Up to the present time, there has
been kept but little record of the
orlglnnl surveys for street and prop
erty lines, and the -result Is that
private Improvement, such as beau
tiful hedges, expensive shrubs and
trees, are far Into the street lines,
and the further the error Is carried
the grater It will become, and the
more difficult and damaging to rec
tify. Monuments should be proper
ly set nt the street Intersections and
from theso the property lines for
further building may bo easily and
economically located and carried n
Indeflnntely, without tho chanco of
rostly error.
Sewerage.
The sewer system of tho town Is
far ahead of other Improvements.
Natural conditions are perfect for
the laying out of a model three-line
system, If taken in time. Thousands
of dollars In taxes nnd assessments
may bo eliminated if tho plan Is
properly mapped out and followed.
At the present time there Is about
four thousand feet of sewer lateral
lines In the town, of which there Is
no available record. Surveys have
been made, no doubt, and work per
formed in ai'ordonce with plans, but
tho lack of facilities for official re
cords In the engineering department
has' allowed theso Important records
to become lost or destroyed. Hence,
at this time, when It Is necessary to
extend thfKC" llneB, or connect new
work therewith, It Is rendered lm
pohslble to do the name with any de
gree of Intelligence, except at an un
necessary expense, which Is very
liable to be evaded, and the work
rendered only a temporary makeshift
at the best.
In connection with these works,
the city council should be prorlded
with a detail map of the city, from
which may bo seen at a glance, the
correct location of all street lines
and grades, sewer mains and laterals
with connections, location of water
pipes, fire hydrants, etc. Such re
cords and Information as this would
have saved more than their cost with
In tho last two years, and the saving
In years to come Is Incalculable.
Ow-lied Itixk.
The crusher plant, which has been
Inspected and passed upon by those
who are In a position to Judge such
construction, as the best plant of Its
sire In tho stato. Tho supply of
rock h Inexhaustible, and tho qua!
Ity Is of the best for street building
and repairs. This plant should be
kept running at all favorable sen
sons, until tho main thoroughfares
leading In to tho city are properly
drained, graded and surfaced. Then
with the business streets pared as
contemplated, the cost of such Im
provements will have been forgotten,
and other districts In tbe city will be
taken up for Improvements of a simi
lar nature and Grants Pass will be on
the list of train calls at the Union
Depot at Portland along with Rose
burg, Medford and Ashland.
These are the Immediate needs
of the town along the line of muni
cipal Improvements, and are some of
the things to be seriously considered
when your councllmen are being
selected. With your ballot cast,
your work Is not ended. Work ever
after with the men of your choice.
Your responsibility is no less than
theirs. A united effort and an ever
lasting effort is required to start the
things which are absolutely essential
to the beginning of a modern city.
Candidate for X'lty Offices.
This has been an Important week
In municipal matters ns the prelim
inary steps for the annual election
to city offices have been Inaugurated.
On Monday evening ward conven
tions took place nt which were nom
inated candidates for councllmen as
follows. First ward, Lee Calvert nnd
J. E. Hair. Second ward, J. T.
Tuffs. Third ward, John Saner, W.
H. Hair. Fourth ward. AVm. Hug
glns, R. L. Hyrd.
On Tuesday night was held the
general convention at which candi
dates were nominated. These were
H. D. Norton and J. C. Smith for
mayor. For treasurer, Col. Johnson,
At all tho meetings deep Interest
was manifested and the signs point
toward a hotly contested election.
Tho candidates for mayor arc both
prominent men and have
many
friends. II
D. Norton is the state
senator from this district and Is an
attorney of reputation and ability,
The other candidate, Dr. Smith, hns
been a resident of Grants Tass many
years. He was mayor for two terms
In succession, was nominated for a
third time and was defeated by II.
C. Kinney.
ROGUE RIVER KING OF
APPLE GROWING SECTION
The Rogue River Valley Gets
Gruml Prize ami also Dent
Honors.
(lie
The National Apple Show at
Spokane has bestowed royal nnd
lasting honors on the Roguo River
vnlley by awarding It tho grand prlzo
for the best car lot exhibit of apples
of any variety to tho car of Spltzen
bergs from Tronson A Outhrlo or
chard at Eagle Point. Tho prize was
11000 and carried with It tho title
of "King of the Apple World."
The first prize for tho best car
lot of Yellow Newtown apples was
awarded to Chns. Pope, of Ashland.
Tho Pope orchard Is In tho foothills
Just west of Ashlnnd. Those two
apples, tho Bpltzs and Nowtowns, are
the acknowledged leaders In the
commercial world and for this rea
son tho victory Is more Important
to this valley, as tho color and flavor
of both varieties exeell any grown
elHowhorc. It Is a significant fact
that Yakima growers did their best
to prevent Mr. Pope from getting the
prize on his Nowtowns and It has
since leaked out that tho report of
tho Judges was made up all at one
tlmo but only tho Tronson & Outhrlo
prize was awarded at that time as
pressure was brought to bear to have
the announcement of Mr. Popo's
prize delayed, and It was only after
a whole day of wrangling that the
second prize was announced.
These two great prizes coming to
the Rogue River ralley are worth
many thousands of dollars annually
In the market for the fruit of this
section.
Eire Los Promptly Paid.
Tho Importance of keeping well
Insured was llustrated In the recent
fire at tho Coutant home. The Insur
ance was In the Oregon Fire Relief
Association, of McMlnnvllle, which
was promptly paid within a week of
the adjustment, and was a great sat
Isfactlon although It only covered a
third of the loss, Thin company has
many rinks In tbls city and county,
secured by H. II, Hendricks, tho
agent hero, Ho has been very sue
rcHsfnl and the company deserves a
fair share of tho business of this
com tnunlty.
Leave orders for Roso Hushes at
Cramer Rros.
A NEW DEPOT
IS
S. P. PROMISES GRANTS PASS
DELEGATION TO WILD
NEXT BUDGET TO PROVIDE
Commercial Club Representative
Visit General Manager O'Uiicn '
of the S. P. .
(Oregopian, Nov. 23.)
A delegation of Grants Pass busi
ness men obtained from J. P. O'Riion
yesterday morning the promise of a
new depot for their city. They were
informed by the vice-president and
general manager of the Southern
Pacific lines In Oregon that an ap
propriation for this purposo would
bo Included In the requisition for
1910-11, and that the old, worn-out
wooden structure now In use will be
replaced by a brand new bnlldjng.
The depot now In use was built 16
years ago.
Satisfactory arrangements relative
to the trackage through Grants Pass
are also reported to have been made
by the delegation. Under tho pre-'
ent management every train stop-
llnK at Grants Pass cuts off one-half
I the town from the other, delaying
I from 25 to 200 people, and many
teams from 'five to ten minutes each
tlmo. Tho business men, who re
presented the Grants Pass Commer
cial Club, BBked Mr. O'Rrlen to reme
dy this.
The delegation was composed of
the following:
"R. L. Coo, of tho Coe Company do
pnrtment store; II. L. Andrews, sec
retary of the Commercial Club; J. T.
Tuffs, councilman and vice-president
of the Grants Pass Ranking & Trust
Company; J. a. Rlggs, councilman
and real estate dealer; H. L. Gllkey,
cashier First ' National Rank of
Grants Pass; A. E. Voorhlos, propri
etor of the Rogue River Courier; H. ,
C. Kinney, mayor and mnnhger of a
general merchandise store; George
C. Sabln, druggist, and O. S. nianch
ard, attorney.
Tho vlaitors were tho guests of
William McMnrrny, general passen
ger agent of tho Southern Pacific,
at luncheon at the Portland Commer
cial Club yesterday. In the after
r.oon they visited various sections of
tho city In automobiles to view Port.
land's paved streets, and determine
upon tho best kind of hard-surface
pnvement to use In paving 2.1 blocks
In Grants Pnss as soon as tho weath
er moderates In tho spring,
The club has recently gained 74
members and now has a total of 204.
Prohibition hns benefited rather
than hindered Grants Pass, according
to the Commercial Club delegation.
Tho town has Increased Its popula
tion between 500 and 600 In tho last
year.
Another Indication of prosperity
and rapid growth Is tho fact that la
the last 30 days I2G0.000 of Grant!
Pass real estate has changed hands.
Tho Irrigating system Is to bo com
pleted during the winter, furnishing
water to 18,000 acres of land.
Lumbering has been more exten
sire this year than for sevoral yeart
past, this being the result of better
prices and a larger demand. Th
flpauldlng Lumber Company of the
Swede Rasln Mills put a large trac
tion engine on the hill between Lovet
Station and Grants Pass this season,
hauling 40,000 feet each trip.
The gold and copper mines art
said by the Grants Pass business men
to bo unusually actlre. The Waldo
copper mine produced IS carload!
of ropper mat In a 80-day run. In
the Oallce district the Oriole gold
mine struck rich ore on the third
level. The Sugar Pin, Almada and
Golden Rod mines are all In actlr
operation, as well as the placer mlnea
of the district.
Saturday, December 4, Is the day"
you want to rtslt Cramer Tiros,
Central Grand Concert Co., Oper
House, December 2. ROr and 75e.
The New England supper will
commence being serred at 15: SO p.
m. Price ccr'.
PROMISED