HEPPNER GAZETTE TIMES, HEPPNER, OREGON, THURSDAY, FEB. 10, 1927.
PAGE THREE
What's Gone Before.
It is 1868 and tht Pacific Railroad
has reached its newest "farthest
west" Benton, Wyoming, a town de
scribed as "roaring," as each new
terminus, temporarily, was.
Frank Beeson, a young man from
Albany, N. Y., comes here because
he is in search of health and Benton
is considered "high and dry."
Edna Montoyo, a fellow passenger
on the train from Omaha, impresses
Beeson with the beauty of her blue
eyes and the style of her apparel.
Equally she astonished him by taking
a "smi;e" of brandy before breakfast.
A brakeman tells Beeson she has "fol
lowed her man" to Benton.
Jim, a typical western ruffian whom
she knows apparent well insults and
is floored by Beeson whose prowess
impresses the passengers.
Desert Dust.
wnat snail 1 say of a young man
like myself, fresh from the green
Last At New York and the Hudson
River, landed .. expectant as just
aroused from a dream of Tare beauty,
at this Benton City, Wyoming Terri
tory? The dust, as fine as powder
and as white, but shot through with
the crimson of sunset, hung like a
fog, amidst which swelled a deafen
ing clamor from figures rushing hith
er and thither about the platform like
half-world shades. Two score hands
grabbed at my valise and shoved me
and dragged me.
"The Desert Hotel. Best in the
West. This way, sir."
"Buffalo Hump Corralll Free
drinks at the Buffalo Hump."
A deep voice boomed, stunning me.
"The Queen, the Queenl Bath for
every room, Individual towels. The
Queen, the Queen, Bhe's clean, she's
clean."
The promise of "individual towels"
won me over.
We left the station platform and
went ploughing up a street over shoe
tops with the impalpable dust. The
noises as from a great city swelled
strident. But although pedestrians
streamed to and fro, the men in mot
ley of complexions nnd costumes, the
women, some of them fashionably
dressed, with skirts eddying furious
ly; and wagons rolled, horses canter
ed, and from right and left merchants
and hawkstors seemed to be calling
, their wares, of city itself I could see
only the veriest husk.
The majority of the buildings were
made of canvas faced up for a few
feet, perhaps, with sheet iron or flim
sy boards; interspersed there were a
few wooden structures, rough and un
painted. I was ushered into a widely-open
tent-building whose canvas "sign de
pending above a narrow veranda de
clared; "The Queen Hotel. Bets f3.
Meals $1 each."
Now as whitely powdered as any of
the natives I stumbled across a single
large room bordered at one side by
a bar and a number of small tables
(all well patronized), and was brought
up at the counter under the alert eyes
of a clerk, coatless, silk-shirted, diamond-scarfed,
pomaded and slick
haired, waiting with register turned
and pen extended.
"I wish a room amd bath," I said,
as I signed.
"Bath is occupied. Show the gen
tleman to Number Six, Shorty."
"Your runner distinctly said 'A bath
for every room'."
Bystanders laughed nudged one
another.
"Quite right, sir," the clerk assent
en. "So there is. A bath for every
room and the best bath in town. En
tirely private; fresh towel supplied.
Only one dollar and four bits. That,
with lodging, makes four dollars and
a half. If you please, sir."
A bitter wave of homesickness
welled into my throat as, conscious of
the enveloping dust, the ttcr shams,
the alien unsympathetic onlookers,
the sense of having been "done" and
through my own fault, I peeled a
greenback from the folded packet in
my purse and handed it over. Rather
folishly I intended that this display
of funds should rebuke this finicky
clerk; but he accepted without com
ment and sought for the change from
the twenty.
"And how Is old New York, suh?"
A hearty, florid, heavy-faced man,
with singularly protruding fishy eyes
and a tobacco-stained yllowish goatee
underneath a loosely dropping lower
lip,' had stepped forward, his pudgy
hand hospitably outstretched to me:
a man in wide-brimmed dusty black
hat, frayed and dusty but, in spots,
shiny, black broadcloth frock coat,
spattered down the lapels, exceeding
ly soiled collar and shirt front and
greasy flowing tie,' and trousers -tuck
ed into cowhide boots.
I grasped the hand wonderingly. It
enclosed mine with a soft pulpy
squeeze; and lingered.
"As usual, when I last saw it, sir,"
I responded. "But I am from Albany."
"Of course. Albany, the capital, a
city to be proud of, suh. I welcome
you, suh, to our West, as a fellow
citizen." "You are from Albany?" I ex
claimed. .
"Bohn and raised right near there:
been there many a time. Yes, suh.
From the grand old Empire State, like
yourself, suh, and without apologies.
Whenever I meet with a New York
state man I cotton to him."
"Have I your- name, sir?" I inquir
ed. "You know of my family, per
haps." "Colonel Jacob B. Sunderson, suh.
at your service. Your family name
is familiar to me, suh. I hark back
to it and to the grand old state with
pleasure. Doubtless I have seen you
befoh, suh. Doubtless in the City
at Johnny Chamberlain's? Yes?" His
fishy eyes beamed upon me, and his
breath smelled strongly of liquor.
"Or the Astor? I shall remember.
Meanwhile, suh, permit me to do the
honors. First, will you take a drink?
This way, suh. I am partial to a
brand particularly to be recommend
ed forlearing this dammable duBt
from one's throat."
"Thank you, sir, but I prefer to tidy
my person, first," I suggested.
"Number six for the gentleman."
announced the clerk, returning to me
iny change from the bill. I stuffed it
into my pocket the Colonel's singu
lar eyes followed it With uncomfort
able interest. The runner picked up
my bag, but was interrupted by my
new friend.
"The privilege of showing the een-
tleman to his quarters shall be mine."
"All right, Colonel," the clerk care
lessly consented. "Number Six."
"And my bath?" I pursued.
"You will be notified, sir. There are
only five ahead of you, and one gen
tleman in nowr Your turn will come
in about two hours."
In No. 6, there were three double
beds: one well rumpled as if just va
cated; one (the middle) tenanted by a
irowsy headed, whiskered man asleep
snirt-sieeves and revolver and
boots; the third, at the other end. re
cently made up by having its blanket
covering hastily thrown against a dis
tinctly dirty pillow.
"Your bed yunduh, suh. I reckdn."
prompted the Colonel (whose accents
did not smack of New York at all).
i gazed about, sickened.
"There are no private rooms?" I
asked.
' "You are perfectly private right
here, suh," assured the Colonel. "You
ay strip to the hide or vou mav
sleep with your boots on, and no
questions asked. Gener'ly speaking.
gentlemen prefer to retain a layer of
artificial covering but you ain't
troubled much with the bugs, are you.
Bill?"
He leveled this query at the frowsv.
whiskered man, who had awakened.
I m too alkilied, I recon," Bill re
sponded. "Varmints will leave me
any time when there's fresh bait han
dy. That's why I likes to double up."
me iolonle turned to me. "Shake
hands with my friend Mr. Bill Brady."
ine frowsy man extended his hand.
"Proud to make yore acquaintance.
sir."
"The bath-room? Where is it. een-
tlemcn?" I ventured.
"If you step outside the door, suh.
you can hear the splashing down the
hall. It is the custom, however, foh
gentlemen at tub to keep the bath
room door closed, in case the ladies
promenade. I judge with five ahead
of you and one in, the clerk was
mighty near right when he said about
two hours. That allows twenty min
utes to each gentleman, which is the
limit."
"What is your line of business?"
Bill invited.
"I am out here for my hea'th, at
present," said I. "I have been rd
vised by my physician to seek a place
in the Far West that is high and dry.
Benton" I. laughed miserably, "cer
tainly is dry. And high, judging by
"I wish a room
and bath," I said,
as I signed.
"Bath is occu
pied. Show the
gentleman to No.
Six, Shorty."
"Your runner
distinctly said 'A
bath for every
room',"
Bystanders laugh
ed nudged one another.
the rates."
"Healthily dry suh, in the matter of
water," the Colonel approved. "We
are not cursed by the humidity of
New York State, grand old State that
she is. Foh those who require water,
there is the Platte only three miles
distant. The nearer proximity of wa
ter we consider a detriment to the
robustness of a community."
I made a meager toilet.
'.'Now I am at your service during
d Bhort period, gentlemen," I an
nounced. "Later, I have an engage
ment, and I shall ask to be excused."
"A little liquid refreshment is in
order fust, I reckon," quoth the Col
onel. "And after that you have
sporting blood, suh? You will desire
to take a turn or two foh the honor
of the Empire State?"
"If you are referring to card gam
bling, sir," I answered, "you have cho
sen a poor companion. But I do not
intend to be a spoil sport, and I shall
be glad to have you show me what
ever you think worth while in the
city, so far as I have the leisure."
"That's it, that's it, suh." The Col
onel appeared delighted. "Let us li
bate to the gods of chance, gentle
men; and then take a stroll."
After a round of drinks I took
lemonade we issued into the -street.
Surely such an hotch-poch never
before populated an American town:
Men flannel Bhirted, high booted,
bearded, with formidable revolvers,
balanced, not infrequently, by
sheathed butcher-knives men whom
I took to be teamsters miners, rail
road graders and the like.
Of the women I saw several in
amazing costumes of tightly fitting
black like ballet girls, low necked,
short skirted, around the smooth
waists snake-skin belts supporting
handsome litle pistols and dainty
poignards. Contrasted, there were
women in gowns and bonnets that
would do them credit anvwliere in
New Yolfk, and some, of course, more
commonly garbed in calico and ging
ham as proper to the humbler station
of laundresses, cooks, and so forth.
How are you on the goose, sir?"
Hill demanded of me.
"The goose?" I uttered. N
"Yes. Keno."
"I am a stranger to the goose." I
said.
"It gives a quick turn for a small
stake. So do the three-card and
rondo."
Of passageway there was not much
choice between the middle of the
street and the borders.
Seemed to me as we weaved along
:iirough groups of idlers and among
busily stepping people that every oth
er was a saloon with door widely
open and bar and gambling tables well
attended.
My guides nodded right and left
with "Hello, Frank," "How are you
Pan?" "Evening, Charley," and so on.
Occasionally the Colonel swept off
his hat with elaborate deference, to
a woman, but I looked in vain for My
Lady of the Blue Eyes. I did not see
her nor did I see her peer, despite
the fact that now and then I observed
a face and figure of apparent attract
iveness. Copyright by Edwin L. Sabin.
Does our hero find the Lady of the
Blue Eyes? Don't miss next week's
instalment.
BOARD OF HEALTH
WORK INCREASING
The Board of Health of the state of
Oregon has increased its work from
1903 until the present time only to
meet the public demand. No new work
has been undertaken that was not
necessary for the protection of the
public health. Every new activity has
been given a great deal of thought
and study by the board members. In
evry case it was necessary to prove
that the new work was vitally needed
in this state. The spending of public
funds is a trust that this board has
accepted, having in mind at all times
the preservation of life and the pre
vention of disease.
It has taken many years of hard,
earnest work to build up the machin
ery that protects the health of the
citizens of this state. The popula
tion has increased from 491,000 in
1903 to 859,000 in 1926. The amount
of work required to give adequate
health protection naturally increases
as the density of the population in
creases. Public health authorities have es
timated that adequate state health
administration cannot be rendered
for less than ten cents per capita. Al
though the state of Oregon has been
increasing its. appropriation for the
State Board of Health it is now only
about five cents per capita, or one
half what it should be to carry on
the work in a satisfactory manner.
Modern disease prevention has great
difficulties to face on account of the
increased facilities of transportation.
A dangerous communicable disease
may arise in one state and develop
in another state thousands of miles
awny, and become the focus or begin
ning of an epidemic. New methods
of disease prevention and control de
mand intensive work and consequent
ly an increased personnel. Enlarged
laboratory facilities are necessary to
carry out the many tests essential in
the detection and prevention of con
tagious diseases. Intensive health
work is now being done in six coun
ties of the state, and there is an in
sistent demand that this work be ex
tended to the entire Btate. This can
only be done by appropriating suf
ficient funds to do the work ade
quately. There Is no other investment
of public funds that gives greater results,
Registered Shorthorns
To be Put on Market
The Northwest Shorthorn Breeders'
association are selling thirty bulls
and thirty females at the Spokane
Stock Yards on February 24, and the
following day the F. M. Rothrock Co.
aie aelling fifty bulls and ten females
at their Hercules Ranch at Sprague,
Wesh. These two sales offer a won
derful opportunity for the breeder,
farmer and 'range man to supply his
needs.
There is a great scarcity of young
steers of Shorthorn breeding. The
demand for them is almost unlimited
and will grow as the superior advan
tages of Shorthorn blood in the feed
lot, on the block and on the consum
ers table become more widely known,
says the Breeders' association.
Two steers, one sired by a grade
bull, the other by a purebred Short
horn bull, were exhibited at Spokane
recently. The steer sired by the
grade bull weighed 990 pounds and
sold for $59.40. The one by the pure
bred Shorthorn bull weighed, 1,410
pounds and sold for $112.80, a differ
ence of $53.40. These steers were
out of cows similar in breeding and
type and had been given equal oppor
tunities as to feed and care. The
$53.00 represents the value of one
service of a purebred Shorhorn bull.
At present prices for grain, can one
afford to market for cash; and at
present margin between common and
And George Did It
George T. Swearlnger, of Tren
ton, S. C, is "Cotton King," win
niny the crown and reward for
having raised more cotton per acre
in 1029 than any other planter is
Se state.
good cattle, can a feeder afford to
feed any but the best? the association
asks.
SHORTHORNSALES
Northwest Shorthorn Breeders' Sale at
Union Stock Yards, Spokane, Wash., on
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1927.
30 BULLS 30 FEMALES
FROM THE BEST IN THE NORTHWEST.
Seventh Annual Hercules Draft Sale, at
Hercules Ranch, Sprague, Washington, on
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1927
50 BULLS 15 FEMALES
Hercules Show and Feed Yard Records Prove Their Quality.
"SANDY KEITH, Auctioneer.
The railroads grant a half rate on less than carload shipments, but
when purchasers using a common shipping point buy in the Associa
tion and our Hercules Sale a carload of not less than fifteen head, the
sellers will pay one-half the freight any distance within six hundred
miles.
For Association catalog write:
J. Houston McCroskey,
Garfield, Washington
For Hercules catalog write:
F. M. Rothrock Co.
Spokane, Washington
Many breeding herds have been
disbanded. Commission men report
fewer range cattle than usual. Now
is the time to get others started with
purebred registered Shorthorns or to
improve your established herd. Prices
for Shorthorns are reasonable. Short
horns lead all beef breeds, and are
located in largest numbers in the
corn belt a significant fact. Short
horns are farmers' cattle. They reach
1,000 pounds weight at an early age
and gain economically beyond the
1,500 pound mark.
The Northwest Shorhtorn Breeders'
association will hold their annual
meeting at the Spokane hotel at six
p. m. on February 23 and the follow
ing evening the visiting stockman will
be entertained at a dinner or smoker
by the Chamber of Commerce of Spokane.
Superintendent Jas. M. Burgesa and
Mrs. Burgesa motored to Pendleton
on Friday and were guests over the
week end at the home of Rer. and
Mrs. Melville T. Wire. Mrs. Wire is
a sistt-r of Mr. Burgess.
O. E. Johnson was a visitor in the
city Saturday from his farm on Rock
creek south of Hardman. The moun
tain section is still covered with a
heavy blanket of snow in the south
end of the county.
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Heppner, Oregon
QUALITY AT LOW COST
The Farmers & Stockgrowers
National Bank
In NewQuiarters
Heppner Hotel Building
A Strong Bank in a New Location
Invites You
WE ARE pleased to announce the removal of our bank
ing quarters from die Fair Building to Heppner Hotel
Building. You will find us by the front corner entrance. We
believe old patrons will gain an added pleasure in taking ad
vantage of our banking facilities in the rooms we now occupy,
and we extend a cordial invitation to everyone to become
, acquainted with our service.
Where You Receive a Friendly Welcome
The Farmers & Stockgrowers
National Bank
Safe Deposit Boxes
Banking Service
f