Wednesday, May 2, 1900 THE SUMPTER MINER. PRAIRIE CITY PROPOSITION. Plat of Townsite Finished and Activity Inaugurated. Lon and E. E. Cleaver, who are hand ling the Prairie City townsite proposition, have been in Sumpter more or less during the past week. They make a talk that interests, astonishes and convinces the most hardened townsite skeptic; claiming the while that the proposition needs no booming, that the hardest task they have on hand is to convince the public that one half of the unadorned truth regarding that section of country Is not the siren song of the professional boomer. At first glance it might appear that they were bringing coal to Newcastle, In car rying on their missionary work here in Sumpter, but such is really not the case. This is the headquarters, the center, the heart of all such operations In eastern Oregon. All that country Is tributary to this camp and will continue so until the Columbia Southern railroad Is completed to Prairie City, when there will be a par tial realignment of commercial, industrial and speculative operations. Prairie City is lining up for the position of the most important town in Grant county, or any where west of Sumpter. Engineer Philbrlck has completed the plat of the Prairie City Land company's additions to the town, consisting of 364 acres. The original townsite contained about eighty acres. The additions are situated south and west of the old town. Much of that on the west has been re served for railroad purposes, yards, depot, repair shops, etc. South of the river are 340 acres of platted ground, where the company will endeavor to build the me tropolis of John Day country. Mr. Phil brick says it Is the handsomest townsite in eastern Oregon, being a gradual slope from the foothills to the river bank. This land has been under cultivation for years, being planted In wheat. Part of it was used for the race track and fair grounds. A bridge will be built across the river on Johnson avenue, which thoroughfare Is Intended for the main business street. The avenues running north and south.are 100 feet wide; the streets east and west are 80 feet and the alleys jo feet. Lots are 50x125 feet in size. Street grades are already being established. It is claimed that the finest water sup ply in the West can be secured from a lake up on the mountain top five miles away, at an elevation above the town of about 2000 feet, and that a company from Portland will construct a system of water works there this season. Mysterious Dead Sea in Lake County. The following paragraph, relative to a body of water well known to Harney county people, is taken from a Wallowa county exchange: A wagon has been discovered in Albert Lake, a large body of water situated about forty miles north from Lakeview, In Lake county, Oregon. The wagon is in the lake near the eastern :hore, in about twenty feet of water, and just under the rimrocks. It is supposed to have been there for twenty years or more, but how it got there nobody knows. It is difficult to reach that locality, as the trail to the desert lies on the opposite side of the lake. This lake is a remarkable one. It Is another dead sea. ' It is about twenty miles long, from one to ten miles wide, and from one to seventy five feet deep. It Is fed by a number of springs and small streams and creeks, and the Chewaucan river, but it has no outlet. Its rise and fall is perciptible; and its waters are so heavily impregnated with alkali that no animal can drink or live In it. At the mouth of the small streams j that flow Into it, hundreds of dead fish are found that have drifted into its waters and died. At the mouth of Chewaucan river tons of fish can be found, and the shores are composed of fish bones. Ducks and geese only approach Its waters at the mouth of the fresh water streams, and no living animal is ever found on or in the body of the lake proper. Another Fool Father Given the Slip. An irate father, with blood In his eye, was at the court house yesterday. He was on the warpath, and didn't care who knew it. He accused Joseph Mannry of committing the crime of perjury in order to obtain a license to wed his daughter, Miss Myrtle Lee, of Raker City, and he left vowing vengeance upon the man who had robbed him of his daughter. It seems that when the young people in the case decided that life would be one great blank unless they could spend it together, the father was approached and put his foot down on the proposed marriage. The young people thereupon dedcided to wed, notwithstanding the objections of the father, and Monday, boarding the train at Baker City, where the young lady resided, came to Boise. Arriving here .on the 5:30 train, the young man ap peared at the auditor's office and made the required affidavit for a marriage license, which specifies that the ages are what the law requires. There was nothing in the appearance of the young man indicating trouble, and nothing to do in any event but issue the license after the affidavit had been made. Deputy West thereupon did so.- The young man-hastened back to the office of Judge Herrick, where the young lady was anxiously awaiting her lover's return, and the judge promptly tied the knot in his most approved and courteous style. Boise Statesman. The Walla Walla Feed Yard WM. KITCHEN, Prop. DEALER IN HAY, GRAIN AND ALL KINDS OP FEED. FREE DELIVERY. Good Feed Yard and Stables For Freighters. Warehouses and Offices, Sumpter Valley Railroad Track. Milk-Dairy in Connection SUMPTER, OREGON FIRST BANK OF SUMPTER (lH0.-O..T-.) Capital Stock $20,000 OFFICERS. J. II. Robblns Prr-kiiltnt J. W. Scrlbtr Vice-President Jimts NewlinJs Caihler DIRECTORS. J.W.Scrlttr R. H. Miller J.W.MmJ Clerk SnyJe J. H. Hobblns Transacts a General Banking and Ex change Business. No Interest Ptli 00 Deposits. WE BUY ALL OUR GOODS IN CARLOAD LOTS WHOLESALE AND RETAIL C. J Johns' Big Store New Spring Goods will begin to arrive daily next week, and we can promise the handsomest n. line of DRESS GOODS ever shown in Sumpter. I ! 1 I lit ll! . Men's and Boys' Spring Hats are here now, and others are arriving from time to time. SPECIAL a beautiful line of Ladies' Mus line Underwear. Must be seen to be appreciated. The HARDWARE DEPARTMENT has been fully stocked up again with everything in shelf and heavy hardware, builders' tools, iron and steel and miners' wares; also largest stock of paints, oils, sash, doors and window glass in East ern Oregon. New goods are arriving constantly. & C. J. JOHNS, Sumpter Ho! for Lawton The Coming Metropolis of Eastern Oregon Lawton is only iwo months old, yet has a representation of all branches of trade. Lawton is the natural gateway to all the producing mines, such as the famous Red Hoy, May Queen, Little Giant, Cougar, Magnolia, as well as the Concord, O. K. and numerous other properties which will become producers before another year. Secure a business or residence lot at once and get the benefit of the low prices. We Give a Warranty Deed. " Lawton Investment Co. LAWTON, OREGON. "Just around the Corner" THE MAZE NERRGoApt!uOOKK Fine Wines Liquors and Ggars. NEILL BUILLING SUMPTER, OREGON