Entered at the Post Office at Athena, Oregon, as Second-Class Mall Matter
VOLUME 49.
ATHENA, UMATILLA COUNTY, OREGON, FRIDAY MORNING, AUGUST 3. 1928
NUMBER 31
FIRES
E IN
UMATILLA FOREST
Big Forces Fighting 10,000
Acres of Burning
Timber.
The United States forestry office
reports to the Morning Oregonian
that three new fires, one of them
covering 10,000 acres in the Uma
tilla national forest are spreading
rapidly. Two old fires, both m the
Olympic national forest, are also
drawing on the fighting strength of
the -forestry service.
Twenty-five fires were set in the
Umatilla forest by lightning, and all
but eight have been extinguished, of
ficials said. Three hundred nrengnt
ers, under the leadership of F. H
Brundage, assistant district forester
in charge of fires, who rushed to
central Oregon Monday, are battling
the flames south of Heppner. lhe
blaze, creeping through the parched
woods, is spreading over an undeter
mined area, more than 10,000 acres
already having been covered.
An airplane was dispatched to the
Heppner region to aid in reconnais
sance. W. B. Osborne, fire specialist;
Major John D. Guthrie and J. V.
"Kummell, all of the Portland office,
hurried to the Umatilla fire. It was
reported the fore part of the week
that the flames were out of control
and licking their way rapidly through
the pine timber.
A wide area of timber in the Cas
cade national forest is threatened by
a fire east of Oakridge, which now
covers 50 acres on the McKenzie
river, near Nimrod. Fifty men are
engaged in trying to keep the blaze
from reaching more fir timber. The
cause of the fire is undetermined, but
officials believe it was started by
campers or smokers.
The lightning storm in eastern Ore
gon swept south starting 31 fires in
the Freemont national forest near
Lakeview. Twenty-five of, the fires
are on private timber and in the
Modoc national forest across the line
in California. All of those in the
Freemont timber are under control,
according to forest rangers, who said
the lightning storm was the worst in
30 years.
Convention Visitors
To See Oregon Caves
Through the cooperation of Grants
Pass and Kerby Post with the Med
ford Convention Commission, visit
ing Legionaires at the 10th Annual
Legion Convention will be given a
trip to the famous Oregon Caves
Sunday and Monday August 5 and 6.
In addition to this feature, Kerby
Post No. 70, the "baby post" of the
state, is arranging a big free barbe
cue at the junction of the Oregon
Caves road and the Redwood High
way all day Sunday and Monday.
Starting at 10 A. M. Sunday, the
Kerby Legion and Auxiliary will put
on a continuous barbecue up until
Monday night when a big Legion
dance will be staged at the Red,
White & Blue Pavilion.
Crescent City Post has also offered
to pick up visiting Legionaires at the
Junction and take them on a trip
through the Redwoods. It is an
ticipated that a large number of
visitors will take in both the Caves
and Redwoods trips before returning
home.
Cresswell Manager
Frank Ames who has been the man
' ager of the Standard Oil Company at
Athena for a number of years, has
been transferred to the Standard Oil
plant at Pendleton. Mr. Ames took
over the duties Friday morning of
last week. He will continue to make,
his home in Athena until it is pos
sible to find a residence in Pendleton.
The managership of the plant at Ath
ena is now in the hands of James
Cresswell, who has been on the force
here under Mr. Ames for the past
two years.
A Pesky Pipe Leak
Water Superintendent Taylor en
countered one of those pesky leaks
that happen once in a while in the
city water mains, and which are hard
to repair. In this instance water
gushed from a broken main on upper
Third street, shortly after dark Mon
day evening, and that portion of the
city was without water for several
hours, while repairs were being made.
Summer Conference
The annual Summer Conference of
the Oregon Christian Endeavor Union
will convene at Turner, Oregon, Mon
day, August 27 for one week, ending
on Labor Day, September 3. The
mornings will be devoted to class
periods, the afternoons to out-door
recreation, and the evening to in
spirational addresses and bonfire
meetings.
Teacher Joint V. of O.
UNIVERSITY OF OBEGON, En-,
gene Thomas H. Gentle, prominent ed-j
ucator and for many years head of the'
training school at Monmouth Normal'
School, has been appointed to the staff;
of the Universityof Oregon, and will,
teach education under the extension ser
vice. Prof. Gentle will have a roving'
assignment, teaching, classes at Salem,;
Portland and Astoria. The appointment!
of Dr. Gentle is regarded as one of the'
most important made to the university
staff this year, due to his prominence in1
educational circles and his recognized'
proficiency as a teacher.
Oregon State College
Farm Market Review
The general tone of the wheat and
rye markets was weaker again last
week. The movement of hard red
winter continued very heavy and
spring wheat prospects were general
ly quite favorable. Premiums were
paid for dry grain suitable for mil
ling.
Soft red winter wheat did not fol
low the decline in hard winter. Soft
red winter was quoted from $1.40 to
$1.65 in central markets. Latest of
ficial information indicates a world
bread grain supply probably a little
smaller in 1928-29 than for the year
just past.
Corn markets held steady but
barley and oats declined sharply.
The prospect for larger and earlier
crops of barley abroad as well as in
the United States was a weakening
factor, although demand for feed
grains has been keen because of
scarcity of old stocks.
Seasonal dullness with prices mov
ing toward a new crop basis charac
terized the hay markets. Supplies of
top grade alfalfa have been limited
but much damaged hay is offered.
Statistically, the hay situation is
much firmer than a year ago. Feeds
in general were also lower because of
seasonal influences and fair pastures
throughout the country generally.
Muling of alfalfa increased in July
well above previous months and ex
ceeded July 1927 by 13,000 tons.
W. C. T. U. Meeting
The W. C. T. U. met in the Chris
tian Church basement Tuesday after
noon, the regular business meeting
being conducted by Mrs. Kibby. A
solo was given by Miss Kidder and
a duet by Margie and Jeanne Perry.
Three new members were added to
the roll, Mrs. Dow, Mrs. Kibby and
Mrs. Blanche Crawford, Mrs. Clar
ance Tubbs and Mrs. O. H. Reeder
served refreshments. The afternoon
was enjoyed very much by all. All
members are urged to attend these
meetings. Next meeting will be with
Mrs. O. H. Reeder on Tuesday August
28th.
The Bright Young
Fellow Who Loafs
Through High School
University of Oregon. The bright
young fellow who "loais" his way
through high school without much
studying, who then comes on to the
University of Oregon, receives a
rating higher than average in the
mental tests, and then thinks he ran
loaf and have a good time here is
doomed to disappointment and in
many cases an early trip homo. This
is revealed in the study of the mental
tests given to entering students here
under the direction of Dr. Howard R.
Taylor, professor of psychology,
t On the other hand, the plodding
type of student who found it neces
sary to study in order to keep up
with his high school classes, who
comes on to college and receives only
an average or even a below average
rating in the mental test, still has an
excellent chance of passing ; his
courses here creditably, and at least
has little difficulty in remaining in
the university.
The explanation for this is simple,
says Dr. Taylor. The "bright" student
never formed any study habits in
high school, and is unable to adjust
himself to the demands made for
passing scholarship in the univer
sity. The slower student has his
study and work habits formedv and
it is only necessary for him to apply
himself vigorously to succeed. These
facts have been definitely proved by
statistics compiled as a result of the
tests in high school and college
records studied.
Freshmen are given mental tests
upon entering the university and are
then rated in six different classes.
This rating is not used as a basis of
awarding grades, nor is it allowed to
influence instructors in any way.
Classifications are as follows: I.
highest five percent; II. next 20 per
cent; III. next 25 per cent; IV. next
25 per cent, (first group below aver
age); V. next 20 per cent, and VI
lowest five per cent.
Students in the first two groups
usually have little trouble in mak
ing good scholastic records, and it
has been proved that these students
are on the whole superior in their
work, both in high school and in the
university; '
Chase Garfield Moves Here
Chase Garfield, of Walla Walla,
with his family, has moved into the
Herr property, recently purchased by
Mrs. J. F. Templeton, of Seattle. Mr."
Garfield is well known here, being a
brother of Mrs. Templeton, and a
prominent newspaper man of Walla
Walla and Spokane for many years.
He will later farm the land holdings
of Mrs. Templeton northwest of Ath
ena, and will at once begin improve
ments on the house which he occupies.
Veteran Physician 111
Dr. S. F. Sharp, veteran Athena
physician, is again in the hospital at
Walla Walla, where he is receiving
treatment for hemorhage. Dr.-Sharp
spent a couple of days in the hospital
last week, and returned to the hos
pital, where since his condition has
been serious. His daughter, Mrs.
McSherry, is also a patient in the
hospital.
With Metro-Goldwyn
Tommy Grimes, well-known Round
Up performer is now a motion picture
actor. He is associated with the
Metro-Goldwyn producing group, and
is now at Glacier National Park,
where the company is making West
ern pictures.
Rate On Air Mail
Has Dropped Lower
The new air mail postage rate of 5
cents for a full ounce air mail letter
went into effect Wednesday. Each ad
ditional ounce after the nest ounce
will require 10 cents postage. Postal
authorities anticipate the radical re
duction in the postage rate will great
ly increase the volume of air mail.
. The air mail volume of the Pacific
northwest is expected to be particu
larly aided Jby the new postage rate.
To meet this anticipated increase
three fleets of mail planes having
carrying capacities that will permit
a wide margin of overloading have
been purchased.
The Varney Air lines, operating the
northwest's trans-continental air mail
contract route between Pasco, Wash.,
and Salt Lake, have just placed in
service six new Stearman mail
planes. This is the first route of the
northwest and one of the most prof
itable in the country, according to
post office figures.
The Hunting Season
The open season on deer will be
from September 10 to October 20,
bag limit two deer with horns; blue,
sooty, ruffed grouse, or native pheas
ant, same dates, bag limit four of
any or all of the birds in one day
and eight in seven consecutive days;
China pheasants and Hungarians,
October 1 to October 30, hunting days
Wednesdays and Sundays; fishing
season closes November 30; duck and
geese season is from October 1 to
January 15.
Young Man Suicides
Said to be brooding over the death
of his mother, which took place two
years ago, Everett Ray Parks, 24,
employed on the Clifford Holdman
ranch at Holdman, committed suicide
Saturday night in the ranch black
smith shop, by shooting himself in
the head with a small calibre rifle.
The body was found Sunday morning.
He is survived by his father, Daniel
M. Parks, of Hermiston.
Legion Convention
The State Convention of the Ameri
can Legion has opened at Medford
with a large attendance of delegates
from the different posts throughout
the state. Interesting programs are
announced by Medford for entertain
ment of the delegates and guests.
Sues For Divorce
Eppa Stubblefield, formerly Miss
Eppa Piersol of Weston, has filed
suit for divorce in the circuit court
against Hanley Stubblefield, alleging
cruel and inhuman treatment. The
plaintiff is represented by Watts and
Prestbye.
Subscribe, don't borrow it.
Electric Expert Says
That Power Users
Are Overburdened
Yakima. Power users of the Yak
ima-Walla Walla district are made to
carry an unnecessary burden because
of the contrast between the Pacific
Power and Light company and the
Washington Water Power company
of Spokane whereby the latter fur
nishes the former electric energy for
disposal to consumers of the district,
Kenneth G. Harlan of Tacoma, rate
expert employed by the Yakima-Wal
la Walla district, said Tuesday in. the
opening hearing by the state depart'
ment of public works to hear evidence
in support of the districts demand for
lower rates.
"The conditions imposed by these
contracts have caused an excessive
price to be paid for the actual energy
used," Harland said, "the contract
makes it mandatory upon the Pacific
Power and Light company to pay for
60 per cent of the electric kilowatt
peak load during the entire year lr
respective as to whether it is used."
As an example he cited the year
1927 when he said instead of paying
$536,064.00 the same energy consum
ed could have been bought for $172,'
170.01 resulting in a saving of $363,-
893.99. Harlan attached no little
significance to the fact that the con-
tracting corporations are apparent
ly in the same family group.
John A. Laing of Portland, vice-
president and general manager of the
Pacific Power and Light company, ob
jected cuttingly to Harlan's opinions
being made a part of the record and
to a bulky volume from which he
read and offered as an exhibit.
The hearing is a continuation of
the district's fight for lower rates
which started some time ago. Evi
dence given in a hearing in Walla
Walla in August, 1925, resulted in the
reduction of the property valuation
of the company to $6,012,257.57.
Boy Has Foot Mashed
Caught It In Combine
Alton Lieuallen experienced a pain
ful and serious accident Monday,
when his right foot was badly crush
ed when it became caught in the
coupling between the combine ma
chine and the caterpiller. Alton was
brought to town immediately follow
ing the accident, and an examination
by Dr. Cowan revealed that the bones
of the foot were fractured. The
young man has been suffering con
siderable pain since, and it win be
some time before he is able to walk
without aid of crutches.
This is the first major accident to
be reported in Athena harvest fields
this season. While the weather has
been unusually warm, conditions liave
been ideal for harvesting, and aside
from a few temporary breakdowns,
cutting machinery has been working
well.
Free Swimming Instructions
Sponsored by the Umatilla county
Red Cross, Harold Hatton of Pendle
ton natatorium, will come to Athena
August 6, 7 and 8 to give swimming
instructions at the Legion swimming
pool. Swimming instructions, which
will be given by Mr. Hatton will be
free of charge, and the hours selected
by the Pendleton instructor are from
3 to 6 p. m. each day he is here.
Commander McFadden of the Athena
Weston Legion Post, states that he
appreciates the cooperation of Mrs.
Holt of the Pendleton Red Cross in
securing the services of Mr. Hatton.
Anyone desiring to learn to swim
should make it a point to be at the
pool during the time Mr. Hatton is
here.
Local Moving Picture
Director O'Brien, of Hollywood,
who is making a motion picture with
many of the scenes shot on the Uma
tilla river, screened four reels of the
picture from the projection machine
at the Standard Theatre, Monday
evening. The picture, based on a
Western story features Aimee Berge-
vin in a leading role, v manna
Indians take a prominent part in
several scenes, and the familiar land
scape views of the Squaw Creek
section is the background for the
production. Mr. O'Brien was ac
companied to Athena by members of
the Louis Bergivin family.
Tomatoes Take Tumble
Tomatoes took a fall when a truck
load driven by a Milton man tumbled
out on Main street at the intersec
tion of Third. In making the turn,
the right rear wheel of the truck
collapsed. The street wag red with
tomatoes, a barrel of them being
scooped up and carted away to the
garbage depository. A new wheel
was secured for the truck, which later
resumed its trip to Pendleton.
Planting Trout
Thousands of rainbow and Eastern
brook trout are being planted in Mc
Kay reservoir. From Bingham
Springs hatchery 60,000 rainbow
have been taken to McKay, and
100,000 Eastern brook are soon to
come from the Union hatchery.
Chosen Best at V, of O.
"
t I I I 1
Boy Hcrndon, Freewater, has been
ehosen as the most outstanding man of
the junior class at the University of
Oregon, and has been awarded the
Koyl cup. He has been active in many
campus affairs and stands high in
Scholarship.
Athena Man Placed
On Socialist Ticket
Salem. The socialist party of Ore
gon has filed with Secretary of State
Kozer a full list of candidates for
state offices to go on the November
ballot, candidates for presidential
electors, a candidate for congress for
the third district and a full list of
candidates for Multnomah county offices.
For congress for the third district
Albert Etreiff of Portland is the
nominee. The nominees for presi
dentiol electors are Minnie McFar
land of Umatilla, F. B. Wood of Ath
ena, John Wehrli, M. K. Granum and
W. J. Martin, all of Portland. The
candidates for state offices are:
Secretary of state, E. R. Dobbs of
Beaverton: state treasurer, Neal
Swetland of Portland; for supreme
court justice J. E. Hosmer of Sil-
verton, and G. L. Perrine of Port
land; attorney general, W. R. Beeh
ler of Boring, dairy and food commis
sioner, Peter Streiff, Jr., of Portland.
The list was filed by George Buicke-
rood and Albert Etrei.T of Portland,
respectively chairman and secretary
of the socialist organization.
He Changed His Clothing
Weston Leader: For one reason or
another perhaps because he felt like
cooling off, or wanted to help out his
wheat crop with some mangled
fabric Gene Schrimpf fed his new
Harris combine with all his outer
garments the other day, and stood re
vealed in his "undies on the ma
chine in the pitiless glare of the sun.
The shocked crew hustled their de
nuded boss into a grain tank, took
him to the barn and saw that he was
again properly clothed. It seems that
Gene is his own separator tender and
got mixed up in the gears, which
stripped him in a twinkling of jump
er and overalls. He is regarded as
fortunate in having escaped with
limbs and body intact. His knife,
watch and purse were ground up in
the machine.
Sodium Chlorate
John Bannister who has charge of
eradication of weeds in the Weston
district is interested in the applica
tion of sodium chlorate for destroy
ing wild morningglory. Circular No.
136 issued by the agriculture ex
periment station at Manhattan
Kansas, gives the complete method of
using sodium chlorate on infested
farm lands. The cholrate may be ap
plied as a spray or sown broadcast.
New Round-Up Buckers
Twelve new bucking horses have
been secured by Earl P. Tullock,
livestock director for the Round-Up
contests. The horses come from the
John Day district and are reputed to
be top buckers. A new herd of long
horn steers for the roping and bull
dogging contests will be received
soon from New Mexico.
WESTERN
SALES
DOUBLED
Both Western Farming and
Grazing Lands Much
In Demand.
. Northern Pacific land department
sales in the first six months of 1928
doubled the sales of 1927, J. M.
Hutrhes. land commissioner of that
railway company, said last night.
The sales this year represented in
money more than four times that in
the corresponding months of last
year, Mr. Hughes continued. Private
ly owned land sales also are on thi
increase emphasizing a sharp im
provement in demand for western
farm and range lands.
. "Western farm and range lands are
in increasing demand, as is shown by
the sales results of the land depart
ment of the Northern Pacific, and in
formation derived from other sources
regarding disposition of privately
owned lands," Mr. Hughes said.
"During the first six months of the
present year the land department
sold more than twice the amount of
land disposed of in the corresponding
period in 1927. The sales prices ag
gregated more than four times the
aggregate prices at which the sales
were made last year.
"One interesting feature this year
is the active demand for virgin farm
ing lands.. This is illustrated by ex
periences shown in the sales records
of the railroad company regarding
sales of land in eastern Montana,
largely within the Redwater district.
This is the region opened to trans
portation this summer by a 62-mile,
$2,500,000 branch line of the North
ern Pacific Railway. In the first six
months in 1927, 1458 acres of East
ern Montana farming lands were sold
for an aggregate consideration of
$26,652. In the first six months of
1928, 38,848 arces of farming lands
in Eastern Montana were sold for an
aggregate consideration of $490,712.
These sales- were all made to actual
farmers in lots of from a quarter
section to a section in extent.
"Increasing interest has been
shown in the rural districts in the
Central West in good, raw land
adaptable to farming enterprises that
may be purchased at reasonable fig
ures and on easy terms."
Eagles Have Picnic
A large number of Eagles and
their families from LeGrande, Pend
leton, Athena, Walla Walla and
Baker participated in a picnic at
Meacham, Sunday. Walter M. Pierco
was one of the speakers.
A Grass Fire
A grass fire occurred in the north
part of town Saturday, which was
put out by prompt action on the part
of several persons, after the alarm
had been sounded.
Respite From Heat
Respite from the heat wave was
experienced here Saturday and since
then the temperature has been
normal.
Standard Theatre
Picture Program
Of special interest to Standard
Theatre patrons is the announcement
that for the first time in many
months, Lois Wilson has returned to
the screen, and with Bert Lytell, will
have the leading parts in Columbia
Pictured greatest production of the
year, "Alias the Lone Wolf," will ap
pear at the Standard Sunday eve
ning. The greatest of all mystery
plays is the verdict of the public for
this big Columbia picture.
Tomorrow night the Standard pre
sents Tim McCoy in a thrilling out
door picture of South America, with
Dorothy Sebastian in the leading
role.
Harold Lloyd in "Speedy" and
Mary Pickford in "My Best Girl, have
been booked by the Standard for
showings in August. Big ones for
September are Doug Fairbanks in
"The Black Pirate" and William Boyd
in "Two Arabian Knights."
Sidehiller Upside Down
The substantial construction built
into the International Harvesters was
practically demonstrated at the "hill
side ranch of Richard Morrison, east
of Weston Saturday last. The side
hill machine was on a real hillside
and the operator of the leveling de
vice failed to function it properly,
with the result that in a jiffy the
sidehiller flopped over. Everybody
jumped clear and no one was hurt.
Chance Rogers went over and help
ed 'the crew straighten up the ma
chine, when it was found that the
only damage incurred was the
crumpling of a couple of elevator
spouts.
Hurt In a Runaway
lie Phillinn. M-hn hnH hecn employ
ed on the J. N. Scott ranch during
harvest, was seriously injured in a
runaway, Monday afternoon. En
gaged in hauling hay from held to
barn, the team became frightened.
Mr. Phillmn was thrown headfirst
from the wagon and sustained a
fractured arm and a discolored optic.
Morrow County Crop Good
R. A. Thompson made a trip to
Morrow county, near Heppner, where
he has farming interests, Monday.
He reports that Morrow county has a
fairly good wheat crop this year,
averaging from 20 to 35 bushels) per
acre. The Thompson field of 400
acres, Ss going about 25 bushels to
the arce.