1
ORECOM HISTORICAL SOCIETY
PUBLIC AUD1TOR.UU
PORTLAND.
alette i
Volume 48, Number 39.
HEPPNER, OREGON, THURSDAY, Dec. 10, 1931
Subscription $2.00 a Year
fieppec
lues
BUSINESS DISTRICT
STRICKEN BY FIRE
Three Firms and Six Or
ganizations Burned Out
In Morning Blaze.
WAS OLD LANDMARK
McMurdo Building Once Minor Ho
tel; Victims Have Insurance and
Flan to Reopen Businesses.
Fire which struck the business
section of Heppner early Tuesday
morning for the third time in two
months completely gutted the Mc
Murdo building, causing three bus
iness houses to suspend business
temporarily and leaving six organi
zations without a Home. The or-!
ganizatlons met in the American
Legion hall which occupied the up
per story of the two-story, wooden
building. ,
The business houses are Dick
Wells' barber shop; F. W. Turner
& Co., real estate and insurance of
fice, and Art Bibby's pastime. The
organizations left without a home
are the American Legion, Amercian
Legion Auxiliary, Woolgrowers'
Auxiliary, Lions club, Boy Scouts
and Woman's Relief corps.
Consumed by the flames were
the charter and flag of the local G.
A. R. post which gave up its char
ter a few years ago because of de
pleted membership. These had
been left in the keeping of the
American Legion.
All Have Insurance.
The total amount of damage is
difficult to estimate. The building
is considered a complete loss. Dr.
A. D. McMurdo, owner, carried
$3000.00 Insurance on it Each of
the business firms carried insur
ance sufficient to cover their losses,
it is believed. The American Le
gion auxiliary had $600 insurance
on its properties in the hall. An
adjuster was expected in the city
today.
The Masonic building adjoining
was estimated to have been dam
aged to the extent of $500 by water
seeping through the walls and
loosening plaster as well as damags
to ths roof from the tramping of
firefighters. Wilson's store was
damaged by water seeping into one
show window and ruining the ar
ticles on display, and by smoke
which filled the store.
F. W. Turner & Co. and Dick
Wells have made arrangements to
move their businesses into Hepp
ner hotel building, occupying the
space recently -vacated by MacMarr
stores. Mr. Bibby has not secured
a new location, though he expects
to reopen his business, it is an
nounced. The various organizations
are securing temporary meeting
places until they can again become
permanently located.
Dr. McMurdo has made no plans
for rebuilding, saying only that he
would like to rebuild and that it is
possible he may do so.
When the fire was discovered and
the alarm turned in at 3:30 o'clock
Tuesday morning, the flames were
shooting high into the air. The
light shining Into the room of Mrs.
Glen Bryant, sleeping in the Gil
man apartments just across the al
ley from the rear of the burning
building, awakened her and her
screams gave the first warning.
These awakened Mark Merrill,
named fire chief Just the eve
ning before, who was sleeping in a
near-by apartment and he rushed
for the fire truck while Mrs. Bry
ant sent her boy across the street
to the corner of Humphreys' Drug
store to turn on the siren. Merrill
had the truck out of the garage by
the time the ' siren sounded and
with the assistance of the group of
men who had rushed to the scene,
three hoses of water were playing
on the flames within five minutes
from the time the alarm was
sounded. An additional two-Inch
hose was brought into action from
the protective system of the Ma
sonic building and it was not long
before the crown of the fire was
laid low and danger of its spread
ing minimized, though the fire
proved stubborn and It was several
hours before it was completely ex
tinguished. Cause Unknown.
The fire apparently started in the
upper story, though the exact cause
was not determined. The Ameri
can Legion had held a meeting in
the hall the night before, but all
of the Legion boys were reported
to have left the building by 12 o'
clock. The flames had such a start
that it was impossible to save any
thing out of the hall.
The old wooden building, half of
which was torn down several years
ago, was originally built for a ho
tel, and was known for years as
the Minor hotel building. It was
one of a few original landmark of
the Heppner of old, though long
since it had been shorn of its1
wooden awnings and its lower
story had been made over Into mod
era store rooms. A few years ago
the top story of the remaining half
of the building was renovated and
made over into a hall to accommo
dote the American Legion who held
a lease on It and shared it with
other organizations.
It's superb entertainment THE
CUBAN LOVE SONG at the Star
theater, Sunday and Monday.
GRAND JURY GIVES
THREE TRUE BILLS
Indictments Returned Against John
Akers, Robert Burnside, Travis
And Hubert McCullough.
Indictments were returned by the
grand jury in session last week
against Robert Burnside, burglary;
John Akers, operating a still; Trav
is and Hubert McCullough, larceny
of horses. The three true bills were
returned on four cases investigated.
A not true bill was returned against
Charles McGirl,- charged with as
sault with a dangerous weapon.
It Is thought all three cases will
be disposed of when the December
term of circuit court convenes Mon
day. Judge C. L. Sweek of Pendle
ton will preside.
Burnside, who was arrested last
Thursday evening, entered a plea
of guilty.
The grand jury, Frank Saling,
foreman, H. A. Cohn, E. A. Bennett,
Clyde Denney, T. J. Jones, G. Guy
Shaw and Charles Vaughn, return
ed the following report.
We have been in session three
days and have inquired Into all vio
lations of the criminal statutes of
the state of Oregon, committed or
triable in this county, which have
been brought to our attention or of
which we had knowledge. .
We have returned three true bills
and one not a true bill.
We have examined the officers
connected with the administration
of justice and find the records prop
erly kept and the officials in charge
courteous and efficient.
We have examined the jail and
county poor house and find them
in good condition.
Having completed our duties, we
respectfully ask that we be excused
from further attendance upon the
court.
Business Women's Club
Backs Christmas Event
The Business and Professional
Women's club at its meeting Mon
day evening voted to assist in the
sponsorship of the community
Christmas, joining forces with the
Elks, Lions and American Legion.
Mrs. Agnes Curran, Miss Helen
Curran and Miss Lucille McDuffee
were hostesses for the meeting at
the Curran home.
Mis Ruth Furlong, a member of
the club who recently underwent
an operation in Portland for goiter,
was remembered with flowers. It
was decided to discontinue the wo
men't gym class until March. Mrs.
Harriet Mahoney reported the na
tional president's address at The
Dalles. The club voted to give a
scholarship to the outstanding girl
In 4-H club work in the county.
"Evolution in Education Since the
13th Century" was discussed by
Mrs. Lucy E. Rodgers. "Education
and Child Welfare" was discussed
from the grade school point of view
by Miss Beth Bleakman and from
the high school point of view by
Mrs. Elizabeth Dix.
MASONIC BODIES ELECT.
On Thursday evening last, Hepp
ner Chapter No. 26, R. A. M., held
their annual election of officers,
choosing R. C. Wightman, high
priest, J. J. Wightman, king; G. M.
Anderson, scribe; Frank Gilliam,
treasurer; E. R. Huston, secretary;
Harry Tamblyn, captain of the
host.
Heppner Lodge No. 69, A. F. &
A. M., had their regular communi
cation Saturday evening, when they
elected E. R. Huston, master; L. L.
Gilliam, senior warden; Earl Gil
liam, junior warden; Frank S. Par
ker, treasurer; Spencer Crawford,
secretary; appointive officers will
be announced later. In conjunc
tion with Ruth Chapter No. 32, O.
E. S., who hold their election on
tomorrow evening, Joint installa
tion of Heppner Lodge No. 69 and
Ruth Chapter will be held on Sat
urday evening, Dec. 19th. Heppner
chapter R. A. M. will install next
Thursday evening.
STOREBREAKER ARRESTED.
Robert Burnside was arrested
last Thursday evening for breaking
Into the store of Thomson Bros.
He was seen to enter a rear win
dow about 7:30 o'clock by Ed Gon
ty, whose home is within view of
the rear of the store. Mr. Gonty
sent his son to tell the marshal,
who with several men conducted
an. Investigation. Burnside was dis
covered behind a pile of dresses
and when asked what he was doing
there, replied that he was looking
for a place to sleep. Marshal Dev-
In placed him under arrest His
case was Investigated by the grand
jury in session next day, and on
returning a true bill, Burnside
plead guilty. It la expected sen
tence will be given by Judge Sweek
shortly after court opens Monday,
STUDY CLUB TO MEET,
The regular meeting of the Wo
man's Study club will be held on
Monday evening, Dec. 14, at 7:45 at
Pariah House. This change in the
meeting place has been made neces
sary owing to the fire of Monday
night. The following papers will
be given: "Spain Under the Mon
archs," Mrs. Gienn Jones; "Span
ish Religious Crusaders, Mrs. Har
old Case; "The Spanish Republic,"
Mrs. Edwin Ingles. A special fea
ture will be Christmas songs sung
in Spanish by Miss Charlotte Woods
and Spanish speaking skit by mem
bers of the high school Spanish
Qlass under the direction of Miss
Dorothy Straughan.
T
SET
Lions Again Take Part
In Sponsorship; Re
lief Work Cited.
MANY GIVEN HELP
Questions and Answers Bring Out
Interesting Information; Women
Invited to Attend Meeting.
The Lions club meeting next
Monday will be held at L O. O.
F, hall dining room, due to the
fire which destroyed the for
mer meeting quarters. S. K.
Notson, Chas. Thomson and Al
Rankin, the committee appoint
ed at the executive committee
meeting Tuesday evening to in
vestigate housing accommoda
tions, made this report yester
day. Another joyful community Christ
mas is aasured the kiddies, the ex
act nature of which is yet to be de
termined. This was brought out at
Lions club Monday when the Lions
voted to Join in the sponsorship
again this year. Gay M. Anderson
of the Elks committee presented
the proposal. Last year more than
300 kiddies received treats at the
community tree under the joint
sponsorship of the Elks and Lions
at the Elks hall.
That the central committee for
unemployment relief has been doing
a good work was brought out in the
report of Charles Thomson, the
club's representative. Sixteen fam
ilies or individuals had been help
ed. Eight received food and cloth
ing, one food only, and seven dott
ing only. Clothing and bedding dis
tributed included 230 garments or
pairs of shoes or stockings, 1 mat
tress and 2 quilts. Four men had
been given one day's work and one
woman a few hour's work. Most of
the relief work had been done in
cooperation with the county, some
had been local, some in Hardman
and some, in the mountains, with
ages of those helped ranging from
babies to old people. "Some with
tears couldn't thank you enough,"
the report said.
The main entertainment feature
of the meeting was the questions
and answers time in charge of Earl
W. Gordon, program chairman.
Many interesting questions of an
amusing or educational nature were
answered. It was learned that
Wasco county was once larger than
the entire state of Oregon, then
known as Waco territory. Waco
was the name of an Indian utensil
made from horn. White men
changed the pronunciation to Was
co from which the present Wasco
county received its name. The first
incorporated county was said to be
Tualatin in the Willamette valley.
No scientific information was ob
tained on the question, "Why is it
that flies will not molest meat that
Is hung more than twenty feet in
the air?" One question asked for
the exact number of persons drown
ed in the Heppner flood. The an
swer was 219 that were buried at
Heppner, though S. E. Notson de
clared that one body was uncovered
the next spring north of town, and
two were buried at Lexington, mak
ing the total 222.
On behalf of the club Charles W.
Smith, president, was presented a
baby blanket for "Cub Gerald" who
arrived last week at the Smith
home.
An Invitation was extended to the
Business and Professional Women's
club to meet with the Lions at their
meeting a week from Monday to
foster a better understanding and
cooperation of the two organiza
tions in their community work.
Visitors included F. A. McMa-
hon, state policeman from Arling
ton, and Hugh Snyder, local man
ager of the Union Oil company, a
member of the La Grande Lions
club.
Departed Elks Honored
In Lodge of Sorrow
Appropriate ceremonies in honor
of their departed members were
held by Heppner lodge 358, B. P. O.
Elks, at their hall at 2:30 o'clock
last Sunday afternoon. The roll of
departed for the year had but one
name, Thomas A. Hughes. Joel R.
Benton, pastor of the Church of
Christ, delivered an appropriate
and forceful address. Other num
bers on the program were:
March, Mrs. J. O. Turner; open
lng ceremonies of the lodge; invo
cation; "There Is No Death," Amer
ican Legion Auxiliary trio, Coramae
Ferguson, Lenore Poulson, Eva
Marble; "Thanatopsis," Mrs. Paul
Menegat; roll call by secretary; vo
cal solo, "Recessional," by DeKo-
ven, Miss Charlotte Woods; cere
monies of the lodge; "Auld Lang
Syne," American Legion Auxiliary
trio; closing ceremonies of the
lodge; benediction.
EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
Rev. S. W. Creasey will celebrate
holy communion Sunday morning
at 11 o'clock at All Saints' Episco
pal church. The service will be
held In the parish house.
At 3 o'clock in the afternoon the
Rev. Creasey will hold services at
Cecil.
s
SAFER ROADS AIM
OF DRIVER'S LAW
New Act Calls for Obtaining of
license Every Three Tears;
Division Manager Visits.
When one stops to consider that
more people are killed in automo
bile accidents each year and a half
in the United States than there
were fatalities among the American
Expeditionary forces in France dur
ing the World war, one may well
believe it is high time something
3 done about it The state of Ore
gon is attempting to do that some
thing through Its new automobile
operators' license law, said William
H. Hammond, manager operator's
division, department of state, who
was in Heppner yesterday.
To accomplish the purpose of the
new law it has been necessary to
set up considerable machinery, and
before old licenses are called in for
renewal and holders of the old li
censes are required to take the op
erator's examination provided for
In the new law, it is necessary to
get the new machinery to running
smoothly. Hence it will be from a
year and a half to two years before
the old licenses will be called In.
Also, out of fairness to those who
had paid a dollar for their license
just before the law went into effect
July 1, it was deemed advisable not
to assess them another 50 cents too
soon. In the meantime all chauf
feurs and those who have not had
drivers' licenses before are required
to take the examination.
For the purpose of giving these
examinations, travelling examiners
have been sent over the state since
July. An examiner has visited
Heppner every two weeks, on Tues
days from 8 to 12 a. m. He was
last here December 1 and his next
call will be on the 15th. His head
quarters are at the courthouse
where anyone desiring to take the
examination may do so.
The new law requires that li
censes be Issued for three years
only, making it necessary for ev
eryone to take an examination ev
ery three years. By this means
any physical defects that might af
fect his driving ability which an
operator may have developed since
he last acquired a license, will be
uncovered, andTthe highways made
safer.
While there seems to be a gen
eral impression that the examina
tion is very difficult and that it is
made as hard as poesibW for anyone
to get a license, Mr. Hammond said
such was not the case. All ques
tions asked are reasonable. There
are no catch questions. And any
one may have a copy of the ques
tions for study before taking the
examination. Questions and an
swers are both provided. Appli
cants for license who have not had
a license before are asked to take
an actual driving test, but this is
not required of holders of old li
censes. What the state wants to know is
that everyone driving an automo
bile is physically and mentally qual
ified to do so. Similar examina
tions put Into effect in other states
have lowered accidents as much as
28 per cent If that good a record
can be made in Oregon, a good
work will have been done, Mr.
Hammond believes.
Farmer Brown Absent;
Officers Talk at Lex
Farmer Brown, who was to have
addressed a meeting of the Morrow
County Grain Growers at Lexington
last Friday, was unable to appear,
having been called east In his
stead, A. R. Shumway, president of
the North Pacific Grain growers,
and Orris Dorman, director, ad
dressed the meeting.
Mr. Shumway discussed the rela
tionship of the various organiza
tions the local, the regional and
the national organizations to each
other, and the relationship of these
to the federal farm board. Mr. Dor
man talked on general cooperation.
Information was given by Mr.
Shumway concerning the salaries
received by the various officials.
George Milnor, manager of the
grain stabilization corporation, re
ceives $50,000 a year, he said.
Cancellation of Notes
Gives Return to Growers
What amounts to an 18 per cent
dividend no their stock will be re
ceived by members of Morrow
County Grain growers through can
cellation of their two-series notes.
This announcement was made by
the directors following their annual
meeting last week. Cancellation of
of the notes was made possible by
earnings received from the North
Pacific Grain growers, regional or
ganization, and does not take into
account earnings of the local itself.
Those members who have already
paid their notes will be given a
check for the amount, and those
who had paid up in full will receive
a dividend In the same ratio, am
ounting to 18 per cent of the total
ahiount of their stock, the directors
announced.
APARTMENTS RENOVATED.
The apartments In the Case
Apartment building, damaged by
fire last week, ere being rapidly
renovated and will soon be ready
for occupancy, says M. L. Case,
owner.
THE CUBAN LOVE SONG will
be shown at the Star theater Sun
day and Monday,
FIRE ORGMTI
STARTED BY 10 MEN
Mark Merrill Is Chief,
R. B. Ferguson Captain
of Volunteer Squad.
SEE QUICK ACTION
Enthusiastic Start Made Before
Time for First Practice When
Main Street Blaze Bursts.
"If we must fight fire, we want to
do it right" That's the idea that
caused ten public-spirited young
men of the city, .whose experience
in the recent epidemic of fires had
taught them that unorganized ef
forts of fire-fighting were at least
discouraging, to ask the council for
permission to take charge of the
fire equipment and organize them
selves into a capable organization,
and who after receiving that per
mission Monday evening, later per
fected a preliminary organization.
Dean T. Goodman was chairman
pro tern of the meeting. Mark Mer
rill was elected chief and R. B. Fer
guson was named captain. Named
for the squad were Harlan Devm,
Leonard Schwarz, Vinton Howell,
Carl Cason, Stanley Reavis, James
Thomson, Jr., Ray Wise and An
drew Baldwin.
After deciding to have their first
practice at 2:30 Tuesday afternoon,
the boys had not much more than
touched their heads to their pillows
before they saw real action, as the
siren called them out to the fire on
Main street at 3:30 o'clock that
morning. Though no opportunity
had been had for each to acquaint
himself with his Job, the enthusi
asm engendered by the meeting
told in the manner the boys at
tacked their job, and there is little
doubt that better work was accom-
plished through having the nucleus
of an organization.
In their papers of organization
the boys asked the city to pay each
member of the team $2.50 for each
fire attended. They asked that
they be given full charge of the
equipment with the city to pay ex
pense of upkeep, the boys agreeing
to clean and roll up hose after a
Are, and to have equipment ready
for call at all times. They discussed
the probability of staging a fire
men's ball for the purpose of rais
ing funds with which to buy hel
mets, gas masks and other indi
vidual equipment
Deciding to start actual training
at once with the city's permission,
preliminary placements were an
nounced, with Mark Merrill, Ray
Ferguson and Neil Shuirman nam
ed as truck drivers, and Harlan
Devin, Leonard Schwarz, Stanley
Reavis and Carl Cason, hosemen.
Practices were slated for 2:30 o'
clock each Tuesday afternoon.
The organization papers will be
presented to the council for ap
proval at its January meeting.
Cup Held by This Paper
To be Awarded Again
University of Oregon, Eugene,
Dec. 9. The best weekly newspaper
in Oregon, to be determined by
judges selected in the near future,
will be awarded the Sigma Delta
Chi cup at the Oregon Press con
ference at the University of Ore
gon, January 21, 22 and 23. This
is the third successive year in
which the organization, men's na
tional journalistic honorary, has
conducted the contest
The Heppner Gazette Times is
the present holder of the cup, and
according to the terms of the con
test, cannot enter competition this
year. The Hillsboro Argus won
the cup the first year of the con
test, and will be allowed to compete
again in the forthcoming contest
News and content editorial page,
front page, mechanical make-up,
and advertising are the main points
on which the papers will be judged,
according to Robert Allen, Eugene,
in charge of the contest, and Ralph
David, Woodburn, president of the
organization. Bi-weekly newspa
pers will be Invited to enter the
contest as well as the weekly pa
pers, those In charge state.
IS SEVERELY BURNED.
Victor Lovgren was burned se
verely at the farm home In Eight
Mile when a blow torch he was at
tempting to light blew up. When
it refused to work he lit a piece of
paper and placed it under the Jet,
which was apparently plugged, for
as the gasoline in the tank be
came warm it expanded and blew
out the filling plug. His right hand
and forearm, face and right ear
were badly burned. He was taken
to Heppner hospital for treatment
and is reported to be progressing
nicely.
AUXILIARY TO MEET.
The American Legion auxiliary
will meet for its regular meeting
next Tuesday evening at the home
of Mrs. P. M. Gemmell. All mem
bers are urged to attend as there
are several things of interest to be
discussed and decided upon. This
Is also the date of the annual
Christmas tree party. Each mem
ber Is asked to bring a small re
membrance, not to exceed 25 cents,
Mrs. Gemmell, Mrs. Raymond Fer
guson and Mrs. Alva Jones will be
hostesses.
TWO-THIRDS GOAL
MADE IN SEAL SALE
Boardman Leads Per Capita Sales
With lone Second; Time Yet
To Go Over the Top.
With the close of the first full
week of the Christmas health seal
sale, the total amount sold In five
community centers throughout the
county amounted to $92.59. This
amount does not include the rural
districts whose returns would add
consdierably to this amount
Boardman leads the entire county
with the amount of per captia seals
sold, with lone coming in a close
second. The amounts sold are as
follows: Boardman $21.74, lone
$28.76, Heppner $30, Lexington
$10.24, Irrigon $1.85.
The total amount of the first
week's campaign is within two
thirds of the quota for Morrow
county this year, which is placed at
$225, according to Edwin T. Ingles,
county chairman of the seal sale.
While the early returns are con
sdiered generally satisfactory, the
chairman is appealing for the coop
eration of every section of the coun
ty in order to assure the success of
the drive. This is not only a nation-wide
drive, but it is a county
drive to promote the health of the
less fortunate ones in our own
county. Nearly one hundred dol
lars was spent in the local commun
ities last year, not for tuberculosis
alone, but for any disease or sick
ness which might impair the health
of the children of the county. This
money was raised by the sale of
Christmas seals, and the Morrow
County Public Health association
solicits the help of all the county
to carry on this work.
Second Drive on Rats
Slated for December 17
Another united drive on wharf
rats in Heppner will be made the
afternoon of Thursday, December
17, announces C. W. Smith, county
agent During the afternoon baits
will be distributed free from his
office, and everyone molested by the
varmints is asked to call for them
and cooperate in the attempt to
eradicate the rats completely.
Not nearly so many baits will be
required this time, as the drive held
a few weeks ago had wonderful re
sults, said Mr. Smith. There were
no adverse reports from the drive
Whatever and many people report
ed much less sign of the pests. It
was hoped that two drives would
result in the desired extermination,
and if equally good results can be
had from the coming drive as were
had from the first the hope may
be realized, Mr. Smith believes.
Deputy Exalted Ruler
To Visit; Events Slated
Heppner lodge of Elks, whose so
cial calendar includes a dance next
Saturday night at their temple for
Elks and their ladies only, is look
ing forward to the evening of De
cember 18 when one of the major
social events of the season will be
staged, says Garnet Barratt, ex
alted ruler. On that evening W. A.
Ekwall of Portland, district deputy
exalted ruler, will make his official
visit, and in his honor a big tur
key dinner will be served. There
will be a full evening's entertain
ment for both Elks and ladies, in
cluding a lodge session with init
iation.
The exalted ruler especially ex
tended a cordial invitation to all
visiting Elks to attend these events.
Train Wrecks Power Line
Putting Out Lights Here
A crane mounted on a freight
car going up the Deschutes branch
about 11:45 Friday morning tore
out a section of the Pacific Power
& Light company high power line,
disrupting the service at Heppner
as well as at other points In the
Sherman district No report was
made of the accident and it was
necessary for employees of the
company to chase down the trou
ble, and materials for repairs had
to be carried in on foot causing the
service to be out until late that
evening, reports Paul Marble, local
manager.
Local requirements were met for
a time by the local steam plant,
but the load proved too heavy;
causing a valve seat to blow out in
the steam engine. .
HUMORETTES.
Her You used to say that you
were unworthy of me.
Him Well, what if I did?
Her Nothing. Only you seem to
be spending your married life try
ing to prove It
Fay I'm trying to find a face
powder that can't be kissed off.
Ray Won't you put me in charge
of your proving grounds?
Trainer Say, I wanta congratu
late yuh on this article you writ for
the newspaper it's the berries!
Pugilist Yeah, dat's what dcy
tell me. By golly, I wisht I could
read!
MacSponger Come here, Blllle!
Don't you know who I am?
Blllle Yes, I've heard daddy
speak of you often. You re moth-
er's cousin who stayed here two
months one time and never offered
to pay a cent for board.
CEMETERY
BUDGET
ACTED ON BY CITY
$125 Allotted for Fence,
Cleaning Graveyard;
Budget Unchanged.
FIRE BOYS PRESENT
Council Instructs to Proceed With
Organization; Charge for Wa
ter for Protection Discussed.
The city budget as advertised was
passed by the council at its regular
meeting Monday night To pay for
Its share of the new cemetery
fence and for cleaning up the city
cemetery, council voted $125 to the
Masonic cemetery association. A
group of young men interested In
organizing a fire department was
instructed to go ahead with the or
ganization and present the plan for
approval of the council at its next
meeting to be held the first Monday
in January. Adjusting of the dif
ference in charge being made for
fire protection in buildings was left
undecided following a discussion of
the matter. Payment of current ex
pense bills and reading of the wa
ter report for November were In
cluded In the order of business.
Earl W. Gordon was spokesman
for the Masonic Cemetery associa
tion, represented also by Frank
Gilliam and Robert Wightman. The
bill of expense for building the new
woven wire and iron post fence
about the cemetery was read, show
ing the cost to date of more than
$800. When contemplated improve
ments are completed the associa
tion will have spent $1000 all told.
All the cemetery ground, including
the present cemetery portion and
six acres of new ground recently
acquired by the association, Is taken
in by the new fence, which, with a
little patching at uneven places In
the ground, will be rabbit-tight, it
was said.
To Clean Up Cemetery.
Inclement weather prevented
putting in place additional fence
along the north side of the lane In
front of the cemetery, which will
be done as soon as the weather
permits, Mr. Gordon said. The as
sociation plans to put a man, to
work cleaning up the cemetery as
soon as the weather permits. Weeds
and rubbish will be removed, sunk
en graves filled, fallen tombstones
put in place and other needed work
done. A clause in the new deeds
will leave the digging of graves In
the hands of the sexton, who will
thus receive part of his compensa
tion. The association, while cleaning
up its own ground, will take care
of the city plot in like manner. For
their part of the fence and for this
service the council voted the $125.
Posts were placed on the line of
the city property, and will be per
manently marked, making the
ground easy for anyone to locate.
The volunteer fire fighters were
represented by Mark Merrill aa
spokesman. They expressed their
willingness to organize into a fire
fighting body, to become acquaint
ed with the flreflghting apparatus
and to train themselves in its use
if the city wanted to accept their
services. They were asked to go
ahead with the organization and to
present their plan of organization
to the council for approval.
. Discuss Basis of Charge.
The question was raised as to
why some owners of buildings in
the city were charged for water for
fire protection while others were
not It was the opinion of the coun
cil that a readjustment should be
made so that everyone would be
treated alike, though no definite
action was taken.
There was a difference of opin
ion among councilmen as to wheth
er it was right for the city to charge
for water for fire protection. Some
maintained that by installing their
own fire protection property-hold
ers were relieving the city of ex
pense of protecting the property.
Others held that the fire protec
tion was Installed by property
holders for the purpose of obtain
ing a lower Insurance rate and they
were more than compensated for
the expense by the saving made In
the insurance premiums. The city
is put to expense in the case of such
installations by having to Instill
larger lead pipe Into the building.
and some believed that only an in
stallation charge should be made.
And the.n the question arose as to
whether those already having the
service should pay the Installation
charge, one contention being that
this charge had been more than
paid by some through the $2 a
month flat rate that has been
charged for the service.
HAVE GOOSE FEED,
W. R. Poulson, Nell Shuirman
and Harold Buhman, superintend
ent and instructor In thn Inral
schools, divided the Bpoils of their
nunt with a number of stag com-
panions at a goose feed at the Poul
son home last Friday evening. In
vited guests contributed other
items of the menu. The goose was
cooked to a turn and pronounced
excellent by the men present, In
cluding besides the hosts, Earl W.
Gordon, Russell E. Pratt John Tur.
ner, Jasper Crawford, J. T. Lumley
and Paul Monegat.