THE
MINER
VOL. I.
SUMPTER, OREGON, NOVEMBER i, 1899.
NO. 8.
SUMPTER
... , ' i
'
4
$100 A FOOT FRONT
THIS PRICE RULES FOR SUMPTER
BUSINESS PROPERTY.
J. G. Council Makes a Bif Buy From
Mayor Gleason Syndicate St Ik $50,000
Worth of Lots . L. Vinson Tabs a
Flyer on Inside Property Other Import
ant Realty Transfers.
Every week breaks all previous records
in the Sumpter real estate market, but it
is doubtful if as much property changes
hands here in any consecutive seven days
(Sunday included) for some time to come
as was transferred since the last Issue of
THE MINER up to last evening.
The highest price yet 'paid for a lot was
the I2700 which J. Q. Counel received
from the First Bank of Sumpter for the
twenty-live feet on the corner of Center and
Granite, amounting to f 108 a foot front
for a vacant lot. But Mr. Connel had to
pay almost as much for sixty feet at the
head of Center street, fronting on It to
the south, before he could persuade
Mayor W. H. Gleason to part with
It, and even then it was regarded
more as an act of friendship than a busi
ness transaction. This property is 60 by
200 feet and has a comfortable dwelling
on it. The price paid was S6000, or t 100
a foot front. Mr. Council expects to build
a tine brick hotel on the property next
spring. -
But when it comes to volume, the
Sumpter Townsite syndicate did what Is
termed in some localities, a land office
business. No mention will be made of
the small transactions engineered by the
various real estate brokers. Three deals
have been consummated, aggregating
twenty-nine blocks, $80 lots, the money
received therefor, In round numbers,being
$50,000.
Down the line somewhere, W. L. Vin
son met Joseph McCabe, than whom
there , is no more widely nor favorably
known railroadman in the West. Hebe
longs to a family of railroaders, every
one of whom Is known, in the technical
language of the freight brakesman, as a
"brass collar." This particular one of
the McCabes Is vice-president and general
manager of the Columbia River Railway
company, and for years was superintend
ent of the coast division of the Northern
Pacific. Well, Mr. Vinson saw him down
the line, as stated above, and brought
him home with him. Asked by a MINER
man what he was doing here, "Oh, just
rubbering around," said Colonel McCabe.
But before he left town he had bought
three full blocks, for which he paid $$,
000. This is for himself and some of his
friends at Walla Walla.
"A Spokane syndicate has bought
through correspondence ten blocks for
118,000. This deal has been closed all
except selecting the property.
The Cobban, Casey, Day Company,
Butte brokers, have engineered the sale
of sixteen blocks, for about 127,000.
H. M. Grant, representing the German
American Insurance company, a friend of
W. C. Calder, has secured an option on
some property and will organize a syndi
cate of insurance men and invest about
f 10,000 In Sumpter realty.
Of course W. L. Vinson Is In on all
the good things going. JDurlngthe past
few days he has taken a flyer in real es
tate, playing choice locations open. He
first bought of F. E. Gelser lots 6, 7 and
8, block 5; South Sumpter addition," for
$4000. Monday he purchased for his
wife, Mrs. Alice G. Vinson, the too feet
square and Improvements thereon, located
at the southeast corner of Mill and North'
streets, the consideration being 3ooo.
The dwelling now there will be used as a
place of residence and a well arranged
building will be erected at once on the
south portion of the lot for Mr. Vinson's
general offices.
Lot 5 in block 4, 50 by it;, next to the
Sumpter Lumber company's office on
Mill street, was sold by the Sumpter
Townsite syndicate to N. T. Collett last
week, under the conditions that a two-,
story brick building be erected thereon.
These Improvements will be made this
winter if it is possible to get the brick.
Another lot was sold to Mrs. Collett Im
mediately across the block, in the rear of
where the new brick hotel building is to
be erected. The lot south of the Basche
Hardware company, on Mill street, owned
by N. T. Collett was sold Monday
through W. C. Calder to Beta Kadish, of
Baker City, for 12500, spot cash.
CITY COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS.
Four Ordinances Passed and Routine Bus
iness Transacted.
At the city council meeting Saturday
evening these ordinances were passed:1
No. 39, establishing' the width of curb
lines on all streets; No. 40, regulating the
placing of telephone and electric light
poles; No. 41, prohibiting the use of
opium and regulating its sale; No. 42,
dtrecting the city engineer to establish
grades on Gracker, Center, Mill and Aus
tin streets.
The matter of procuring hose, hose cart
and placing fire plugs was referred to the
committee on fire and water.
Councilman Parkinson withdrew from,
the committee on fire and water and A. W.
Ellis was substituted.
The committee on? public property was
Instructed to inspect the engine house and
report on needed repairs.
The council then adjourned until last
evening, but at that time a quorum failed
to materialize and no meeting was held.
Shutt Denies the Rumor.
L. P. Shutt, of Hood River, arrived
here Sunday to remain a few days, look
ing after his mining and real estate Inter
ests. He is having several more houses,
for rent, built on his residence lot in
Parkinson's addition. Mr. Shutt Is agree
ably surprised at Sumpter's rapid and
substantial growth, and expects to spend
the greater portion of next summer at
this place. He says there Is no founda
tion to the report, as mentioned elsewhere
In this paper, that he Is preparing to es
tablish a paper at Granite, as he has no
desire to engage In the newspaper busi
ness at present. He will spend the win
ter on his farm at Hood River.
Fire Insurance Survey of Sumpter.
W. W. Alverson, representing the At
las Assurance company, and H. M.Grant,
of the German-American, both of Port
land, and John W. Murphy, the local rep
resentative of a number of leading com
panies, are making a fire Insurance survey
of the town. Mr. Alverson is accompa
nied by his wife and child.
Lumbermen Lookfaur Over the Ground.
' Mr. Allen, a lumberman from Tacoma,
wnf tfril 4tr In Cnmntar ft hie tuLf
sizing up the situation with a view to en
gaging In business here.
Steam Wood Saw Here.
I have a first-class steam wood saw and
am In the field to saw,1 cord or slab wood
in any lengths desired, on short notice.
My office is anywhere you hear or see
the saw. P. AtPqrrelli Proprietor,
BUILDING BOOMING.
Work on a Number of New
Business Houses Started.
J. G. Connell has decided to build a
brick building on the lot adjoining the one
sold to the First Rank of Sumpter. The
structure will be of the same dimensions
as the bank, 25x60 feet, two stories high,
and In addition will have a basement.
Work on both Is now being rapidly pushed.
Next to W. C. Cnlder's store, a hand
some two-story frame building, 25 by 100
feet, will soon be erected. Mr. Calder
will move into the new building and his
present quarters will be for rent. J. H.
Robblns, president of the First Rank of
Sumpter, who has come here from La
Grande to reside, Is agent for the prop
erty. Except so far as the erection of the
new building, Its affairs are rather unset
tled. Mr. Robblns says he has been of
fered f too a month for the corner, to be
occupied by a large mercantile establish
ment, but the offer lias not been definitely
accepted.
The Basche Hardware company Is hav
ing built on the railroad right-of-way, just
east of C. J. John's, ntthe Cracker street
crossing, a warehouse 30 by 75 feet.
South of the railroad track, near Cen
ter street, Hoffman & Wilson, recent ar
rivals from Spokane, have begun work
an a large building, to be used as a feed
and grain store. They report that It Is
Impossible to get carpenters, and with
some amateur assistance are laying the
foundation themselves.
Gontractor White has begun work on
the twelve cottages for Harrison & Bar
chard, east of the school house.
S. P. Shutt says he thinks he will get
started today on three cottages in the Par
kinson addition, but is finding much
trouble in securing both lumber and work
men. C. S. Van Duyn Is having a handsome
two-story home erected on Columbia
street, near Auburn.
Johnson & Davis, from Baker City,
are enlarging the residence on the corner
of Mill and Sumpter streets, to be used as
a candy factory and bakery.
Work on the Wilson brick block, south
Mill street, Is being rushed by a large
force of stone and brick masons. The
foundation is completed.
A. P. Goss expects to have his brick
block finished and ready for occupancy by
the middle of this month.
MEETING OF SUMPTER CLUB.
' r
President Vinson Appoints the Various
Permanent Committees.
An enthusiastic and well attended meet
ing of the Sumpter Club was held Satur
day evening at the Ellis opera house, to
complete its organization. President W.
L. Vinson called the meeting to order and
as preliminary matters in general had been
disposed of at previous meetings, no time
was lost in getting at the' vital interests of
the club. Mr. Vinson, in a few well de
livered remarks, thanked the members for
the honor conferred upon him, especially
since his election took place during his
absence some weelsago. He was fol
lowed by Captain C. H. Thompson, vice
president, W. C. Calder, secretary, and
A. P. Goss, treasurer, each In a neat and
Interesting speech,,, The president then
suggested the following permanent com
mittees, which, added to the officers pre
viously elected, were in each instance ap
proved by a vote of the club, and the or
ganization was declared permanent, and
the necessary steps to Incorporate will be
taken at once.
Officers: W. L. Vinson, president;
Captain C. H. Thompson, vice-president;
W. C, Calder, secretary; A. P. Goms,
treasurer,
House cemmittee: General Charles S.
Warren, chairman; William Stlnson,
vice-chairman; A. P. Goss, John M.
Burke, W. C. Calder, J. W. Mead and
Clark Tabor.
Executive cemmittee: N. C. Richards,
chairman; John M. Murphy, vice-chairman;
Mayor William H. Gleason, C. E.
Roblln, A. W. Harrison.
Finance cemmittee: C. J. Johns, chair
man; A. W. Ellis, vice-chairman; Clark
Snyde, T. D. Bellinger, P. D. Healy.
Library and Publication cemmittee: C.
H. Marsh, chairman; L. V. Swiggett,
vice-chairman, J. B. Stoddard, L. Bush
l.lvc rmore, Slmcoe Chapman, Angus Mc
Queen, John Gagen.
Propertycemmlttee: C. H. McCulloch,
chairman; J. R. Nelll, vice-chairmen; Joe
Mlckel, J. T. Parkinson, A. Hllller, Dr.
G. W. Tape, R. R. Erwln.
Reception cemmittee: Captain C. H.
Thompson, chairman; Edward Everett
Young, vice-chairman; Tom McEwen,
A. L. McEwen, Claud Rakche, Arthur
Phllbrick, John Austin, H. S. Sweetapple,
Dr. C. M. Pearce, E. Barchard, H. K.
Wheeler, Frank Sheltnn, John Cradle
baugh, John Cupid, Walter W. Looney,
Dr. L. T. Brock, Harvey Wood, Sam R.
Stott.
Membership cemmittee: Sam R. Stott,
chairman; H. S. Durgan, vice-chairman,
M. E. Thornton, A. P. Jones, F.G. Jew
ett, H. C. Wood.
The Initiation fee for charter members,
who are limited to 150, was fixed at f 10,
with dues of per month. To those
joining the club after the charter list Is
closed, the Initiation fee Is 25.
General Warren put a motion, which
was unanimously carried, Inviting the
business residents of Baker, Union and
Grant counties to become members of the
club.
How One Sumpter Business Has Grown.
Mnyor W-. H. Gleason, who has, with
J. F. Alden, been engaged in the meat
and butcher business In Sumpter for the
past six years, retires, temporarily at
least, for one year from this date, In favor
of Andrew Manns, of Baker City, who
has purchased the business and teased the
corner property for one year, where the
old firm has built up a fine trade. As an
other evidence of the growth of Sumpter,
Mayor Gleason says when he began busi
ness here he was taking a big chance
when he killed a yearling, for fear the
majority of it would spoil before he could
sell It, while at this time' they are killing
and selling on an average 50 to 60 beef
cattle, 70 to 75 hogs and 140 head of mut
ton per month. The new proprietor nat
urally steps Into a line established busi
ness, with the stated Intention of further
enlarging it and carrying one of the most
completely stocked places of fresh and
smoked meats and general packing house
products in eastern Oregon, from which
to supply the heavy orders from the mines
and other sources. Mr. Gleason will
now give more of his time to his mln-.
ing iterests in the district, of which he Is
considerably possessed.
Chicken Dinner This Evening.
A chicken dinner will be served this
evening in the new Wood block, on Mill
street, for the benefit of the church.
Live chickens for sale. If you want to
buy, leave orders at Johnson's meat mar
ket, on Granite street.