Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, October 20, 1911, Image 1

Historic Oregon Newspapers

Rogue River courier., October 20, 1911, Image 1

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About Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 20, 1911)

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Newspaper Page TextVOL. XXYIL GRANTS PASS, JOSEPHINE COUNTI", OREGON. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 20, 1911- NO. 20. NEW JOSEPHINE FORMALLY OPENED OVER HUNDRED GUESTS GATH ER AT BANQUET. HAWLEY IS TOASTMASTER Elaborate Mono, Music and Toasts, Pretty Dresses and Fair Women. MEM. Oyster Cocktail. Canape Dunas. Consomme Bretana Puree of Chestnut. Filet of Bass, Joenvllle. Pommes Duchese. Vol au Vaut a la Toulouse. Sweetbread a la Itallenne. Haricorts Verts Punch Romalne Roast Stuffed Young Turkey, Cranberry Sauce Mashed Potatoes. Shrimp Salad, Mayonnaise. Vanilla Ice Cream. Assorted Cake. , Cheese. Crackers. Cafe Noir. Monday evening October 16, 1911, will be remembered In, Grants Pass ag an evening which marks the for mal opening of one of the most mod era and attractive hotels of the west -ot, whM lui guests sang, laugh ed and feasted amid shimmering light In a rich banquet hall made doubly attractive in red and gold of autumn decoration and haudsome costumes of many vivacious maids , and matrons. The New Hotel Josephine wus dedicated in a manner that brought joy to Its proprietors and keen pleasure to the people of the city. As a semi-public affair it far sur passed anything of like nature here tofore attempted in Grants Pass. Congressman W. C. Ilawley made an Ideal toast master and his quips and sallies at the expense of this or that speaker kept the banquetters in rare good humor. Music by the Com mercial Club orchestra, which Is composed of some 'of the leading business men of the city, was appre elated in the extreme. Mr. Ilawley and the various speakers eulogized the Metschan brothers for their enterprise in cre ating the new hotel and congratu lated the people of Grants Pass on the completion of the attractive car avansary. The majority of the speakers (ail ed attention to the fact that Grants Pass now, in its possession of the new and modern Hotel Steward, a hotel with' beautiful furnishings, and the New Josephine possesses ho tel facilities that are unsurpassed la any western city many times the population of this one. . The banquet hour began at 7 o'clock and It was midnight when the feasters rose. and. referring to Messrs Metschan, sang "For They are Jolly Good Fellows." Senator II. D. Norton. Attorney II. D. Nortod, senator from this senatorial district to the Oregon legislature was assigned to reply to the toast "Hotel Legisla tion." Mr. Norton dealt with the question la i truly humorous fash Ion. An excerpt from his address follows: "Of legislation we seem to bare no end. We seem not satisfied now with all the legislation we have, the Initiative, etc., for I am Informed that propositions are now under wsy In the state to submit about 20 con stitutional bills, and In the leglla- ture we will have, possibly, 100 reg-j ular bills. Our friends count much on the future, but we hope for the I best. "As to hotel legislation, we ran not kelp but realize that our hotel frteeda have had many vicissitudes COY. WEST REFUSES TO CALL EXTRA SESSION Replying to County Judge Ste phen Jewell, In which the Josephine official proposed to Governor Oswald West that he call a special session of the legislature to create an enabl ing act for the existing bonding law for good roads, Mr. Wes: writes to say that he will not call the legisla ture together and says In effect, that it would not be a popular move. Gov ernor West's letter to Judge Jewelr reads as follows: "Hon. Stephen Jewell, Judge, Jose phine county, Grants Pass, Oregon "My Dear Judge: I acknowledge yours of October 10. I have given the special session question a good deal of careful consideration, and I have definitely decided, because of the very evident disfavor with which the people eye a probable session, not to call one. "I am sorry that the condition set out by you confronts your county, and I trust that adequate legislation will be enacted either through the j initiative at the next election or by the next legislature, which will en able U3 to construct good roads In a sane and conservative nranner. "With kindest personal regards, I am, "Very sincerely, "Oswald West." This means, that unless the su preme court of the state acts on the case favorably, that Is, declares the law complete as It now stands, Jose phine and other counties which hope to Issue bonds for roads must wait practically two years; then a year more before bonds are sold ani road work well under way, or a total of three years before they can get sat isfactory action. Judge Nell of the county octirt of Jackson county has stated, so he la quoted by a Medford paper, that his court will Initiate a move to get the bonding law before the supreme court and hopes for an opinion with in 60 days. If the high tribunal pro nounces the law sound, then bond buyers will no doubt purchase and all counties with good roads plans can move ahead. Without a favor able decision by the supreme court, the outlook Is discouraging at bast for two years. L. M. Williams Dies Geo. William? of thl? c!y Ins, re ceived word that his brother, L. M. Williams, died In Nevada last week, death caused from rheumatism. Mr. Williams spent four years In Grants Pass in the saloon busluess with his brother, leaving here about two years ago. He is survived by two children. Dolly and Albert, both well known here. Rrldal Couple Go South James Lester Coburn and Miss De Ette Pearl Tetherow, both of this city, were united In marriage at the home of the bride Wednesday even ing, October 18, 1911. Rev. Wil liam R. Jeffrey of. the Newman M. E. church officiated. Mr. and Mrs. Coburn left Thursday morning for Chl"o. and other California point. Mrs. H. C. Perkins and Mrs. M. A. Wertt went to Gold Hilt Thurs day to spend the day. We 'are now In an age of 'regula tion.' It Is regulate this and regu late that. Hotels were regulated with a' law for fire escapes. Then some of the guests left In the stilly night by way of the fire escapes, instead of by the way of the cash iers desk. Then legislation had to be created to allow the hotel man to cinch baggage with a lien. But the flh would continue to get through the net, and could not bo caught. "Then a bill was born which pro vided that all guest rooms must be provided with a rope which would reach from the window till to the ground, this to allow the tnsn who lay dreaming a chance to scoot to mother earth when be tieard the fire aopg agongtng. This bill got through committee and we all voted for It and It passed. Then Metschan cam and said of this law: 'You know what's In It? Why ft till only on add one-half feet from the (Continued oi Page Bit.) ASK FRANCHISE ELECTRIC RAILWAY REPRESENTATIVES OF CAPITAL ARE INVESTIGATING. COUNCIL WILL ASK BOND W1U Not Give Franchise and Permit It to Be Peddled About the Country. Promotors Doyle and Farren, who are seeking franchises from various towns in Rogue River valley, with a view to building an electric interur ban railroad, will no doubt be asked by the city council of Grants Pass to put up a forfeit of $5000 or $10,000 when they apply for a franchise in this city. The two promoters were to appear before the council" at Its regular meeting this evening, but postponed this program, and left Grants Pass today for the north, stating to a representative of The Courier that they would return to Grants Pass Friday of next week, when they would take the franchise matter up with the city authorities, and will probably have a chance to appear before the council before the next regular session, as members of that body will be called In speclll session for the purpose of dellberati Ing on the two proposed city char ters. , In a statement which one of the promoters Is quoted asv;naklng at Medford, and published In that town, Mr. Doyle stated that they soon will be ready to "meet any just de mands." Regarding the case Mayor J. L. Myers today stated that he is not In favor of granting this propos ed franchise to two strangers who re fuse to Bhow whom they are act ing, without demanding that they pu( up a cash bond of $5000, at least. The mayor said: "We have had enough of granting franchises to people-to hawk about over the country expecting to sell tbem, and not succeeding, allowing the mater to go by default. If a man or men cme to Grants Pass seeking a franchise for nny enter prise, If they mean business, will wll Ungly put up a few thousand dollars, especially when the enterprise means the expenditure of a large sum such as the building of an electric Inter urban railroad. "We granted a franchise for an electric road, given to John R. Allen last year some time, and allowed hlra until February to begin work. That franchise was dragged around the country until It was worn out. "I believe it correct to demand a cash bond from the present promo ters and give them all the time rea sonably need to begin and to com plete the line." Several residents of the city who are leading spirits In the business and financial world here, also spoite along the same lines when the mat ter was mentioned to thep. The con sensus of opinion seemed to be that nothing would be lost by asking a small cash bond; that it the promo ters mean business they will not ob ject; that if they are adventurers, they will be smoked out by demand for a cash bond. Messrs. Doyle and Farren declare by the great horn spoon that they are representing large capital and "mean business." Regarding the two promoters' work In Medford, the Bun of that town says: "Messrs. Doyle and Farren, who have been Investigating conditions preparatory to placing an electric line In the valley, will leave Thurs day or Friday for Feattle, where they will place the data that they have collected before the parties that are Interested In the construc tion of the line. " 'We have every reason to believe that the report will be satisfactory," said Mr. Doyle last night. 'We have visited the different town In the valley and art satisfied that the move will be a good on to all par WILL AID SETTLERS, IN GETTING PATENTS Congressman Willis C. Hawley ad dressed a group of his constituents Monday in the Grants Pass Commer cial Club assembly rooms and made the leading feature of his talk the proposed reform In the administra tion of the public land office. Mr. Hawley condemned the pres ent practice of the land office in holding up for 5, 7 or 12 years pat ents sought by bona fide settlers and proposed a change by the creation of a law to take the patent matters away from the land office and allow the settler to go before a court. judge and jury, the case to be heard and patent granted, If one had been earned. "The west Is hurt by such prac tices as I have mentioned," said the congressman, and he continued: "I went through several miles of tunnels of the Blue Ledge mine on which the owners have spent, so 1 was told, something more than 1000,000. The company now wants to build a smelter on the ground In which to troat the enormous tonnage of ore blocked out, but can't get a patent; and until a patent Is secured will not build a smelter, a plant which would afford a payroll for several hundred men. It Is the same with the settler In the west; his patent Is held up for no good reason. . .If we are to advance we must get men and families on our land and the families In the east are hesitating as thousands of patents are being held up in Oregon. If you have any such cases here let me know of them and I will look Into them and get action by the land office. "One miserable condition Is that the land office sends city bred men of the east as Inspector. What do these men know of the trials and struggles of a settler and his family J thirty miles from a town? These gentlemen go back and report: "I don't believ that settler Is comply Ing with the law, and the settler had been complying with the law all the time. "i will not uphold the settler who seeks to evade or break the law, but I am ppeakfng of the bona fide BPt tlers of our state. "Then the confidential reports, which Is a practice of the land of fice, work a hardship because the settler never sees them and can't answer them. "Now, the congressmen of the public lands states have thought out a remedy for these evils and hope to have it created Into law, as our public land states will be retarded In settlement most seriously If some thing la not done to give more con fidence to eastern people who wish to com among us and make homes. The remedy that we would apply In that when i settler Is duo a patent the case should be taken Into court before a competent Judge and Jury and the case derided upon Its mer its." Mr. Hawley touched upon other subjects, but too late for publica tion. Lee Calvert returned to his home at Eugene Thursday morning. ties. If the data submitted meets with the approval of the men that we are representing we will Incor porate and return within a week to ask for franchises, ready to meet any Just demands that may be required. Also, we will be ready to start work Immediately. And we won't place a few ties upon the street to represent actual conduc tion work.' "Although the exact route of the line has not been determined and cannot be definitely stated until the report Is made, It has been general ly understood that the Unit will em brace all the towns of the' valley. Ashland will b the southern term inus and Grants Tais will hold the same position In the north. That all the other towns scattered be tween these two cities are to be touched Is the opinion current at this time. "When told that It had been ru mored that the company they repre sented was silled with the Hill In terests, Mr. Doyle said: 'Rumors do not hurt any on. It will not hurt os or Hill either.' " DEL NORTE URGES THAT AUTO ROAD M ANTS JOSEPHINE COUNTY TO HURRY UP MATTERS. DREAM OF MANY YEARS Already Talk of Corporations to Handle Freight on Auto Tracks. Attorney JDon.hue of Crescent lty, who, during the spring: and snniroer made several addressee to Grants Tass and Josephine county audiences, Is here this week and In a quassl-publle capacity represents the Del Norte Commercial club In a mes sage to Grants Pass and Josephine county regarding the proposed auto truck road to connect with Crescent City, The Del Norte people want to know If Josephine county means bu siness. If bo, the Callfornlnns, Bays Attorney Don. hue, are anxious to co-operate In the proposed hlghwny plans. To The Courier the Crescent City attorney Bald: "The people of Del Norte county are waiting anxiously for some defi nite action on your part regarding the proposed auto truck road to the sea. Already there Is considerable talk among those primarily Interest ed regarding the orgnizatlon of cor porations for purpose of handling the enormous freight that will un doubtedly pass through this point. "The people of Crescent City and Del Norte county have long realized what the' possibilities will bo when this road Is completed. For years, so I am told, It has been the one dream of our people. If we could either get a railroad or an asphalt macadamized rood we would be the one seaport town on the roost be tween Portland and San Francisco. "While this matter bag long been agitated, nothing doflnlte, has ever become of It for the reason that, If the county should build a rond to Waldo along the lines mentioned, It would be practically useless without the same kind of a connection Into this city. "Receiving jo encouragement from you. people In this county they have as a consequence allowed the matter to drop, waiting for some definite action on your part. Now that you have shown a disposition to go ahead you can rest assured that the people of Del Norte countv will follow. In fact I would not bej surprised that thoy would mart In the not distant future. "With a good wagon road to the oast you can save your morehanU at least $12.50 per ton on freight that Is now transported by rail. A road of this character will iu a very short time eliminate all of tho diffi culty now exlstant between your people and the railroad. "With this road completed to Crescent City, It will connect with the state hlOway, the building of which Is already provided for fi nancially. This will give a tourist a complete auto pleasure ride from Grants Pass to Los Angeles, When we look at the matter carefully, I can't see why you people should hes itate to build this road. Upon Its completion I vonture to say more money will be made In Josephine and Del Norte counties than any oth er set of counties In either state. "I understand from reliable au thority that the St. George corpora tion, present owners of Wooleyport, have at the present time engineers working on a right of way along the Klamath river east to connoct with some of the transcontinental lines of the east. "I wish to Mate that If the poo pie of this county mean business and will disclose It by definite action the pnoplt of Dd Norte county will work hand In band with you, realis ing that what will benefit you will unquestionably benefit them. "8lnc The Courier's recent ar ticles on this question the Dric of property tan lacreased perceptibly, SHIPPING RICH MATTE FROM ALMEDA SMELTER During the week a Courier repre sentative made an Investigation of the conditions at the Aimed mint and smelter and found the affaire there In a most mtlsfactory cou-lt-tlonr The mine employs a large force and Is taking out a heavy ton nage of ore every twenty-four hourt This ore Is, for the most part, of a high g-ac?e, becoming richer as a greater depth is reached. Work In going on in several tunnels and from each of these the ore Is run by grav ity to the smolter, where U Is rapid ly turned Into matte of a superior grade. At one time thera was rnnnM. erable difficulty in smelting, but all of this trouble has been overcome and iho product Is now turned out In Iarg, quantities, and Is at once con veyed by freight wagons to the South ern Pacific depot at Merlin. Two car"' loads of matte each week are ship ped from that point and It la expect ed that a larger tonnage will be the result within a short time. At present the roads between the Almeda mine and Merlin are In fine condition, and this enables teama employed In freighting in coke and taking out matte to haul heavy loada. It Ig not likely that rata will Interefere with Ihlg work before the first of the year,"W the chancea are that not even then. The rains, after all, will serve a. good purpose, aa they will enable the road builders to complete the nuti truck line from Leland direct to the mine. Whea that time comes It will allow thla large corporation to reduce the cost of freighting frcm the smelter to the railroad fully one-half, perhaps more. The business of hauling freight over thla road to all the mines in the. district will be a mo nopoly to be enjoyed by the Aimed company alone, as It can cut out all competition. Not alone will It be a Mnd thing fcr this company, bat will be Myhiv advantageous to all the other ntlnea In tho district. The one thing ihnt has stood In the way of tho success of mining In general around Gnllio has been tie high cost of.trnnni.oiintion. The amount of activity going on at the mine and smelter Is convincing ovldenco of tho prosperity which abounds there, 1 It has been a long pull, n strong pull and a pull all to gether proposition for more than tea years with thlo rompany, but from tho very find there has been abund ant faith Ihnt the ultimate result would be n grnnuecess. It Is true tint all the iHlficultles have as yet been ovee.ome, but the goal of pros perity In in rlRht; nnd when that la reached tho Almeda mine will be come nm of (he grent producers of wealth on the Pnelflc coast. ILLINOIS MEN I'AV n.ooo foh oit mrtn O, W. and II. T. Hubbard of l'r li'inii, Illinois, have purchased the lieiihhaw orchard, better known as the Prnltt orchard, situated on the MiikIo Point rond. three miles north- part of .Medford, paying $15,000 for the foity acres. Twenty-one acres of the land Is planted to eleven-year- old Newtown apple trees, nine acres to three-year-old Newtown and eight acres to peaches and English walnuts, Nowtown apples from this orchard took first prize at the Van couver, I). C, applo show last fall. The entire orchard Is under the Fish Iske water canst. The Southern Pacific motor car broke down at Ashland Tuesday and an engine was sent from Grants Pass to bring It back to this city. Indicating that our people have con fidence in the pr6Ject and In your purport In putting It through. So let ua get together and by united action push this matter. "Another angle from which I look at this proposition Is the population. 1 am convinced that when this road Is completed our respective counties can be Increased In population to at least double the preiont number. "These facts being aolf evident, let us all get behind the movement and push It so that we can be In a position to receive the naturally ac cruing advantages and benefits by a year from today. I am satisfied It can be done by concerted action."