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About Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 24, 1911)
VOL. XtVU. GRANTS PASS. JOSEPHINE COUNTY. OREGON. FRIDAY, XOVEMBEH 24, 1911. NO. S3. y u i mi ii. THREE SMITHS UP FOR CITY'S MAYOR THE VOTERS CAN HAVE THEIR CHOICE OP INITIALS. E. V., DR. J. S., ROBERT C. Socialists Put Full Ticket in the Field Councilmen Nomi nated. For mayor of Grant Pm E. V. Smith. For treasurer of Grant Pa James Holman. For treasurer of Grants Paes-i-G. P. Jester. It was one of the "quickest" poli tical conventions on record that mass meeting at the Fuson theater last night to nominate candidates for mayor and for city treasurer, and as a result the town is confronted with a formidable array of Smiths in a free-for-all race for the mayoralty. Five hundred residents of Grants Pass packed the pit of the opera house, so much so that a number of both the pompous and the timid had to seek roosting places where the gallery gods usually hold forth. For mayor of Grants Pass J. C. Smith. For mayor of Grants Pass R. G. Smith. Joseph Moss was elected chairman and James Slover was named as sec retary. Th chair then anuounoad that nominations for mayor were in or der. M. J. Anderson took the floor and nominated Dr. J. C. Smith. C. W. Hunton nominated E. V. Smith, socialist, and president of the Rochdale co-operative store. Isaac Best nominated Attorney R. 0. Smith. It was then moved and seconded that the convention not ballot in con vention but allow all names to go on the official ballot. Carried. Justice James Holman was nomi nated for re-election as city treas urer. George P. Jester, socialist, and cashier of the Grants Pass Banking and Trust company, was nominated is Justice Holman's opponent. The convention then adjourned after being In session only about 13 minutes. From Thursday's Dally. The qualified voters of Grants Pass rallied in the four wards of the city last night, did politics with a vengeance and as a result four faces which have been seen around the council table In the past will be seen no more in deliberations in that classic hall. Eight men, two from' each ward, were nominated to run for the four vacancies, the four candidates get ting the highest vote at the next city election to be declared the win-' nera. The method of procedure in all wards except the fourth was the old New England town meeting, wherein those two candidates receiving the highest number of votes on a single ballot received the nomination. In the fourth ward, the caucus" adopted other procedure, and as a result four ballots were taken before two men were chosen. At the opening of the caucus, somebody moved and somebody seconded the following: "Resolved that this meeting shall proceed to nominate candidates in the following manner, viz: That the 9rBon declared to be the nominee hall receive a majority of all vot cast In such ballot or balloting. If two candidates aro to be nominated, that we proceed to eWt one at a time and then proved to nominate and elect the second one by the same rule." A n Then the balloting proofed, on the first ballot. W. E. Kvrrton. soc ialist, rclved W nvrl and was declare Pnmlr.a'ed. Then the caucus prordd to ballot on the second man. The first ballot result- ed in a tie between M. J. Anderson atd C. D. Smith, 28 to 26. Third ballot, Smith 31, Anderson t S. No nomination owing to the fact that two ballots were cast for Ever ton and one a blank, thereby giving no majority over all. Fourth ballot, Smith 31, Anderson 26. Smith and Everton, nominees. In the first ward, R. D. Cole was elected chairman, W. M. Haury, sec retary. The balloting resulted: G. M. Caldwell, socialist, 25; Frank South, 23; J. G. Rlggs, 4; and one complimentary vote for H. P. Tracy. Total, 53 votes. ' Caldwell and South, nominees. Second ward, J. A. Plttinger, soc ialist, 12; Tom Williams, 35; C. L. McPherson, 4; S. W. Phillips, 9; Angus McLean, 16. Williams and McLean, nominees. Third ward, H. J. Clark, 15; 0. W. Sturgeon, 10: Herbert Smith, 4. Clark and Sturgeon, nominees. NEW AUTO FIRE TRUCK AWAITS OFFICIAL TEST That $5500 American-La France auto fire engine for Grants Pass has arrived from Elmlra, New York, and has been placed in Oldlng's garage until a company expert lands in the city to try out the machine for the city powers that be. , The engine Is yet in the ownership of the company, and will be accepted by the city when tested and found satisfactory. The new' machine Is an imposing one, and seems to be able to do all that was promised for it. It is 70 horse power, double chain drive and painted a flaming red, as all fire ap paratus is supposed to be. It carries cushion tires, the rear tires being of the dual type. Hose capacity 1500 feet, and with 200 feet of chem ical hose in addition. It is equipped with one 22-foot ladder and one 12 foot ladder. A large searchlight sets high and is llghtedautomatlc ally. Two Babcock Are extinguishers form part of the equipment, and can be taken into a building to extln qulsh a small blaze, thereby not dis turbing the larger chemical appara tus. A wide foot board at the rear will accomodate six firemen, easily, and in emergencies more can ride. Two seats in front accomodate the driver and assistant. Other firemen can pile on indiscriminately and al together the machine can take a big load of men to a blaze. Lettering on the machine reads "Grants Pass, No. 1." Lower Insurance Hates. The underwriters organization of the coast has a man here now map ping the city with a view of lowering the insurauce rate. A ten per cent reduction Is promised with a pos sibility of 12 or 15 per cent cut. The city government plans to keep two paid men at the fire house, both of whom are to perfect them selves in the mechanism of the new auto apparatus. When the new fire wagon makes a run now the volunteer firemen will have to get a speed-ball move on, or they will not be in on the work. It is expected that a complete reorgan ization of the department will result from the purchase of the auto mach ine. The company's expert Is due here and is expected to arrive on any train from the north. He is sent from the company's branch office In Portland. Until be arrives and the machine is accepted, the company will pay garage expenses. COD HILL FOLKS BURY MOSSBACK SPIRIT In tbe enthusiasm of carry a $25,000 Improvement bond Issue and charter election by a flve-to-one vote citizens of Gold Hill Monday night buried In effigy a "mossback" and the old city charter two elements which they declared have long been In the nature of millstones about their necks, In tbe march of progress. (Vibrating citizens lowered the ef fltry form of the fast fading "moss back" Into a hastily dug grave, and in hi hands rested th old charter. Dr. C. H. Smith delivered a fun eral nrnt.-n. The meat of his talk was tha?. Hold Hill was entering upon a T)w era of prosperity. S. P, RY. CHIEF AT GRANTS PASS JUDGE R. S. LOVETT AND OTHER OFFICIALS OX TOl K OF LINE. WILL NOT BUILD TO COAST Puts End to Speculation Regarding Harrimun System Extending to Crescent City. Jud obu & LuvMt of Testa and New York, executive head of all the Harriman railroads la the United States and Republic of Mexico, ac companied by a group of other of ficials of the various Harrlnun lines, were la Grants Pass Tuesday after noon at 3:50 o'clock. Judge Lovett waa on a tour of In spection of the Harrimau properties, arriving tw0 days ago la Portland. He id traveling iu a special train, and among the officials accompany ing him on this trip to the south are William Sproule, president of the Southern Pacific proper; A. A. Cal vin, general manager Southern Pa cific; D. W. Campbell, general sup erintendent; H. E. Lounsbery, gen eral freight agent, recently promot ed; L. R. Fields, superintendent Southern Pacific lines in Oregon; T. Y. Younger, master mechanic South ern Pacific lines, in Oregon; C. P. Robinson, general freight agent of O. R. & N., and C. C. Price, President Lovett's secretary. Speaking of Judge Lovett's pres ence in Portland, the Oregonlan said in part: :Tor the first time since the HarrU man railroad system was reorganized seven weeks ago, the presidents of the three big roads of the system met yesterday with Judge Robert S. Lovett, Mr. Harrlman's executive heir, and conferred on questions of policy concerning the future conduct of the business. "The plan to bring the roads Into closer relationship with the people seems to be uppermost in the minds of the Harriman officials, and what ever steps are necessary to accom plish that end will be taken. Details of carrying out. that Idea will be left In the hands of the heads of the var ious divisions J. D. Farrell, of the O.-W. R. & N. company; William Sproule, of the Southern Pacific, and A. L. Mohler, of the Union Pacific. "Judge Lovett declared yesterday that the situation In the northwest Is very satisfactory to him and spoke hopefully of the future." From Wednesday's Daly. Those trusting souls of Grants Pass and Josephine county who have hoped against hope that the South ern Pacific Railroad company would build a railroad from Grants Pass to Crescent City, on the California coast, thereby enabling an outlet to a harbor, may as well ceaRe from further solicitude In the matter, be cause Judge Robert S. I)vett, execu tive head of tbe Harriman lines In the United States and Mexico, gave It out flatly Tuesday afternoon in Grants Pass that his corporation would not build a railroad from this city to Crescent City, or elsewhere from this place to the roast. The statement of the Harriman chief came In answer to a quetslon propounded to him by the city edi tor of The Courier. Yet, from other remarks made by the official, It was learned that the company may with in a year, two years or some other number of years, build a line Into the Illinois valley, not to be extend ed however so far that It would dip Its rails Into the blue Pacific and rut that present $25 a ton freight rate In two. Judite Lovptt and his party gave only a quarter of an hour to Grants Pars In their Journey south on a tour of inspection. There was ne stopover, no dinners, no speeches, no boquHs, verbal or otherwle: neither did the party take a spin over the town. Thrn was a renerous father ing of business men at the pasemrT station to greet tbe officials when they arrived on their special train and, as most of the railroad men are known here, their stay, though brief, was pleasant. Realizing the stop was but for a few moments, the representative of The Courier decided to get some au thoritative expression', If that be pos sible, from the head of the combined corporations regarding the much talked of road to the coast. "Have you any word of an en couraging nature to give the people here?" asked The Courier represen tative of Judge Lovett. "Well, I don't know of any partic ular thng I can say except that you have a beautiful town," Judge Lov ett replied. Blarney was nice hut not In order, thought The Courier representative, who replied. "A live question here, Judge Lovett, is whether you intend to build a road from GranU Pa&s to Crescent City. Can yea give as an expression on that!" "Crescent City, where Is that town!" "On the California coast, one hun dred miles southwest of Grants Pass." "Oh, on the coast. No, we do not Intend to build a road from here to' the coast," was the plain statement of the Harriman chief. Then other Grants Pass men took part In the conversation and stated - to Judge Lovett that there were vast undevel oped resources rontlnglous to Grants Pass, lying dormant simply from lack of transportation. "Well, develop the resources, and we will build the roads," said the railroad chief. "But, how can we develop the re sources until we have railroads!" asked H. B. Reed, of Grants Pass and Kerby; and Mr. Reed continued: "I have a little patch of 100 acres In the Illinois valley that I would put Into fruit, but I can't haul that fruit In a wagon 30 miles to market." Then Judge Lovett said: "That question is one of the. knotty prob lems the railroad managers have to face, that Is, when and at what stage would a road be built that the road would pay In an undeveloped region; and an undeveloped region can not be developed without transportation. It takes much wisdom to decide the real time when railroad Improve ments should be made," and he con tinued: "Just you people out lu your, val ley, wait a while longer." "They have boon waiting 40 years now," replied Mr. Reed. "Well. If they have waited that long they can afford to wait one more year. Mr. Sproule. the presi dent of tbe Southern Pacific, Is look ing over this region and other reg ions with a view to finding profitable routes us feeders, and If your region Is worthy and will pay, then we will build a road. That's common sense and good business," and the train pulled out. NORTHERN TRUST CO. TO FINANCE ELECTRIC Medford Sun is optimistic regard ing that proposed inlorurbau electric railroad from Urauts I'aus to Ash land. The Med ford puper says: "The preliminary and lultlat step of the Oregon Southern Railroad company has been completed with the agreement of tbe Northern Trust company of Portland, Oregon, to ac cept tbe deed of trust for $10,000, 000 for that company and place tbe same with a bonding company. "The matter was consummated Monday and now only awaits the slg natures of the heads of the railroad before it becomes effective. With this accomplished, the financial sue cess is assured and skeptical ones who would demand to know that the backing of tbe concern may be able to know with a certainty that tho company has sufficient capital to build and maintain an electric line for a number of years at least." John Minor Booth was a passenger on the southbound train Thursday morning, going to Eugene, Portland and Yonralla. At the latter plae he will spend sveral uViys on the farm of his nephews and will enjoy a bunting trip with the young gentle men. Mr. Booth experts to be absent sorersl weeks. Classified ads. work wondws. I lit (ill II II ROADS BOND ACT VALID DECISION HANDED DOWN BY CIRCUIT JUDGE CALKINS. ROW UP TO SUPREME COURT If Decision Is Sustained Nothing Stands in Way of this Count Bonding. Judge F. M. Calkins has handed down a decision that the county court of Jackson county had all ita thority to call a bond election iiat good roads. The matter will no be taken to the supreme court, and If Judge Calkins Is sustained there will be nothing In the way of Jos ephine and other counties Issuing bonds under the present state bond ing law. Judge Calkin's opinion Is as fol lows: "The whole burden of the plain tiff's objection Is that the county act ed without authority In calling the bond election, in that said constitu tional amendment is not self-acting, but requires legislation to provide methods of carrying out Its provis ions. "A county Is a body politic and corporate with powers to make neces sary contracts and do necessary acts concerning property and concerns. "The county court has full author ity over roads. "It Is contended that the county has no affirmative authority In law to create Indebtedness, but I think that Is orroneous. That right Is not only recognized in the statutes in the provisions for caring for such indebtedness county warrants but Is also generally recognized by the decisions of the supreme court. These cases also recognize the right of the county to create voluntary Indebtedness to the limit provided by article XI, soctlon 10, beforo amend ed. "I thluk there Is no question that the county has the right to create Indebtedness for tho Improvement of Its roads as long as It docs not ex reed any constitutional limits In that regard. "Tho clause, 'but debts for per manent roads shall bo Incurred only on approval of a majority of those voting on the question Is a limita tion meaning, 'stop, unless you have the approvnl of tho voters. "The next question Is, how shall that approval be had! It certainly must be an election, for It provides that It shall be of those voting on the measure, and there Is no provis ion for securing the voice of the peo ple In any other way. "It lei-ma to me the method of ob taining tbe approval Is Immaterial as long as the approval Is obtained as a matter of fact. "And the answer shows that every legal voter of the county wbb given an opportunity to express bis ap proval or disapproval that 4283 votes were east on tho question an I that 2816, a large majority, approv ed tbe creation of the Indebtedness, "The next question Is, can the county Issue bonds for such Indebted ness! If the county were to Issue Its bonds and place the money In thi treasury beforo creating tho Indebt edness there might be some question but the order of the court stat'n that the 'bonds could be so draw and disposed of as not to be Issued or to draw Interest until tho tnone should be actually received therefor and so expended for such permanen roads. "The proposed Indebtedness Is si large as to make some of the con servatlve citizens grasp, but tho )oga principles are tbe same as would b Involvi-d In cresting an expendltu re of $1500 or $1.50, for, under th present constitutional amendmon tho county could not legally croati an Indebtedness of $1.60 without th approval of the voters; and I do no believe a fair construction of th amendment will warrant the court I saying to the county court: " 'Until you pay all the indebted ness now outstanding against ' the county, and we have the cash in the treasury with which to rroceed, yon shall not spend a' single dollar vol untarily for any necessary road Im provements, because the legislature of this state has not seen fit to pro vide a method for obtaining the ap proval of the voters.' "And In arriving at this conclusion I believe the burden Is upon the one attacking the legality of such Indebt edness to allege and prove that the county has not fairly and seasonably obtained the approval of the legal voters of the county. " 'The demurrer will therefore be overruled." BEATTTE DIES IN ELECTRIC CHAIR FOR WIFE MURDER RICHMOND, Va., Nov 24. Calmly and smilingly, almost Indif ferently, Henry Clay Beattle. Jr., walked to his death In the electric 'air at tbe state prison here this Morning and paid the penalty for the murder of his young wife. He showed no Indication of physical or mental weakness. He confessed his crime. FIRE DEPARTMENT TO BE REORGANIZED The city council met in special session last night to arrange for a complete reorganization of the fire department. The purchase of the new auto fire apparatus causes the city powers to face an entirely dif ferent condition than has heretofore existed, and It was realized that some other system than the one now In vogue must be adopted. The fire And water committee, composed of Sauer, Phillips and Wolfersbcrger, submitted a written report to the council recommending that two men bo employed for the fire house at salaries ot $70 and 160 month respectively and that th . new engine be kept In tbe city hall The report was adopted. Mayor Myers then stated to the council that tho matter of reorgan izing the department was to the front for discussion and for the council to outline an ordinance to be prepared by City Attorney Clem ents, or for the matter to be placed In tho hands of the fire and water committee that It might prepare the ordinance with the city attorney. The latter plan was adopted. Tho com mittee is now at wjrk. It was brought out that leading features of the reorganization will be that the quarters ot the two reg ularly employed men will be at the fire house; that all mumbors of the present volunteer department bo In vited to become"hit"rtibers of the new one; that Instead of having a cer tain number of department members from the city at large, that so many from each ward be designated; a payment worth a man's time, tem per, wear and tear of clothes be made to members when they respond to a fire; that the city councilman be ex-offlclo members ot tho depart ment; that the two regular em ployees glvo bonds to cover their good conduct and protection to tbe new fire engine. Tho question of $70 and $60 "a month for the two regular employes was considered by some ot the coun cilman as probably too small a wage to attract skilled men, or men with ambition and Intelligence enough to become skilled sufficiently to race the big auto fire engine through tbe streets without demolishing every thing In sight. However, as the job is easy and quarters furnished, tbe pay was finally considered sufficient. There are a number of applicants al ready and the fire and water oom mltt will nominate the two men with the aid of the expert wh j Is to come to try out the machine. In discussing the volunteer force it was the consensus of opinion that the members must be paid or there would be no turn out to a fire. Yet, the question was what Is an eqult at'lo amount! The council sought to pay tho members what was Just to them, and st the same time not make tbe srale too much of a burden on the taxpayers. Tbe fire and water rommltteo will Incorporate the figures In the ordinance to bo sc repted or changed by Iho council as a whole. What the amount will be was not decided last evening.