ROM HISTORICAL SOCIETY ,BLIC Vl" OR P alette tKmess Volume 50, Number 40. HEPPNER, OREGON, THURSDAY, Dec: 6, 1934. Subscription $2.00 a Year MM DECLINE OF RACE F Socratic League Discus sion by Lions Reveals Birth Rate Drop. AID FARMERS' FIGHT Club Opposes Proposed Increase in Freight Rates; To Sponsor Luncheon for Woolmen. Present statistical trends show' ing proportion of births to deaths indicate that by 1956 deaths will exceed births in the United States, according to the Socratic league program discussion led before the Lions Monday noon luncheon by Edward F. Bloom, superintendent of city schools. The discussion was preluded by a statement of facta, in which was Included a plea from Robert S. Beddow, ex-president of Lions International, for serious con sideration of the problem by the people. The statistics quoted, tending to verify the discussion topic of "Race Suicide," showed a gradual gain of deaths on births in the country over the last several decades. "Where families of ten and elev en children were quite common, now families of five or six children are considered large," it was stated. "It is also evident that large fam ilies are not found among those people more able to afford them. A continuance of the present trend can only mean the eventual suicide of the race. As one of the tenets of Lionism is 'Our Nation's Safety,' Lions cannot ignore this problem, according to the declaration of Robert S. Beddow, then-president, at the last International conven tion." Various responses were made to a number of questions on the sub ject, showing what local Lions be lieve to be contributing factors to the statistical trends. The tendency toward more centralized population and congested quarters has dis couraged the rearing of families, it was believed. Times of depres sion were also said to discourage parents from bringing children into a world which at the time seems to afford Blight chance for them. While the birth rate has been decreasing, at the same time the Infant mortality rate has been cut, it was pointed out. The latter was accredited to great strides by the medical profession in saving chil dren at birth. Not sufficient time was had to discuss the topic deeply. One Lion, however, quoted a recent statement of an official In Seattle as giving food for thought. This official in addressing a meeting said, "Gen tlemen, there were eleven children born yesterday. Ten of them were Japanese." Time was not afforded to answer the question, "Are men or women, either more than the other, responsible for the decline in births?" A bachelor tax was cited as one measure taken in It aly to effect more births. Lions endorsed the movement of the Eastern Oregon Wheat league and Northwest Farm Rate coun cil In their fight to head off the railroads in the latter's demands for .higher freight rates. S. E. Notson, who presented the matter, linked in the work of the Inland Water ways association as a worthwhile movement in bringing about lower transportation costs for commod ities raised In the county. But the river improvement though essen tial, is still in the future, whilei the other matter is immediate in nature and demands quick action, he said. Arthur M. Geary, Port land attorney, is now drawing up the farmers' brief, and an addi tional hearing on the matter is expected shortly. Morrow county has been asked for $400 to help with this fight, which If won will give ten-fold returns. Of this amount some thing over $100 has already been sent in, reported Chas. B. Cox, chairman of the local committee for the wheat league. Lions voted to sponsor a lunch eon for visiting woolmen on Mon day, January 13, the opening day of the Oregon State Woolgrowers convention here. The committee on arrangements Included Joe Bel anger, J. O. Turner, Dr. R. C. Law rence, J. D. Cash and Jasper Craw ford. Mrs. Crocket Sprouls and Mrs. Hubert Gaily sang two duct num bers, accompanied by Mrs, J. O. Turner, which were well received. ENGAGEMENT ANNOUNCED. Rev. and Mrs. Joseph Pope an nounce the engagement of their daughter, Frances Lorraine, to Mr. Carl Anton Llndstrom. The mar riage will be solemnized at a public wedding on the evening of Decem ber 23rd at 8 o'clock at the Meth odist Episcopal church in this city, and all friends of the family are invited. WITH PORTLAND SYMPHONY. Laurel Beach of Lexington was recently chosen a member of the Portland symphony orchestra un der von Hoogstraten. He has the special tenor solo work for the concert to be given January 7. He expects to spend the holiday season In the city in preparation of the work. Farm Bureau Program Aids Christmas Cheer "A bigger and better Christmas tree," Alpine Farm Bureau's slogan when it sponsored its annual pie social for Christmas funds, will In deed be fulfilled. But how could it be otherwise when an enthusias tic and cooperative group filled the Alpine schoolhouse to capacity last Saturday night. Sections far and near were represented, including Butter creek, Lena, Lexington, lone. Hcppner, Hermiston and Pendle ton. The big surprise came when W. J. Doherty, president, announced the program would be presented In the nature of a radio broadcast. Grad ually the voices of a quartet singing the final strains of "Strawberry Roan" were heard. As the curtains were drawn, a broadcasting station came into view with the master of ceremonies advertising "Slap Bang" mouse traps, and speaking into an "honest-to-goodness m i k e." Two hours of entertainment and fun followed as station AFBS present ed such nationally famous perform ers as Bing Crosby, Harry Lauder, Jackie Cooper, Shirley Temple and others. Also included were tap- dancing, highland fling, recitations, musical readings, short plays and skits, singing, music and a beauty discussion by Madame Sylvia. Pine City and Strawberry contributed successful numbers. Announcers Alex Lindsay and Lawrence Doh erty interrupted at intervals long enough to give several humorous "sales talks," at one time giving a fine example of static which caused much uproar. Following the broadcast, as the pies were brought in, G. L. Bennett, well known local auctioneer, found willing buyers and the bidding was brisk and spirited. Thus, another annual pie social opens the festive Reason at Alpine and surrounding communities, with thoughts of Christmas sweets. Contributed. Elks' Departed Brothers Honored at Sorrow Lodge James Hart, Charles Thomson and Arthur A. McAtee, departed brothers of the last year, were paid solmen tribute by Heppner lodge 358, B. P. O. Elk3, in appropriate public ceremonies at the lodge hall Sunday afternoon. A fitting ad dress, based upon the teachings of the order, was well delivered by C. J. D. Bauman, past exalted ruler, in which he named each of the de parted as one who loved Heppner and who contributed much to the community in charity, justice bro therly love and fidelity. Invocation and benediction were pronounced by Joel R. Benton, Christian minister. Mrs. J. O. Tur ner played the entering march and accompanied the quartet, F. W. Turner, J. O. Turner, Dean T. Goodman and John Anglin, who sang "The Wondrous Cross." Bert Evans, high school English instruc tor, recited Thanatopsis. The lodge and audience sang "Auld Lang Syne," which with the lodge ceremonies, presided over by Jas. G. Thomson, Jr., exalted ruler, com pleted the program. LEXINGTON TRIMS LOCALS. Lexington high school and town teams were victorious in both gam es of a double header played in the local gym Tuesday evening. The town team game, nip and tuck throughout, ended 26-25, after a last minute rally by the locals featured by several long scoring shots by Al Massey failed to overcome the visitor's lead. Joe Green led the scoring for the local high school to get their part of the 19-12 score. The outcome of this game was in doubt until late in the final period when Lexington opened up a series of flashy scoring plays. Harold Buhman refereed both games, and a good sized crowd attended. The next high schoom game is slated for Saturday night at lone, and the local town team hopes for a double header for the evening. MASONS ELECT OFFICERS. At a regular communication of Heppner Lodge No. 69, A. F. & A. M., Saturday evening, the annual election of officers was held. Mar vin R. Wlghtman was chosen Wor shipful Master; Lawrence Beach, Senior Warden; J. O. Turner, Ju nior Warden; Frank S. Parker, treasurer, and Spencer Crawford, secretary. Installation of the elect ed and appointive officers will be held later in the month and will be a joint affair with the other Ma sonic bodies of the city. Clams were served following the lodge session. ON ANNUAL STAFF. Frances Nickerson, son of Mr. and Mrs. F. B. Nickerson and a freshman at Oregon State college, has been appointed to a position on the Beaver, college yearbook, staff. Other activities of young Nickerson include secretaryship of the fresh man class treasury and a place on the class debate team. CALL FOR WARRANTS. Outstanding warrants of School Dlst. No. 12, Lexington, Oregon, up to and Including warrant No. 501, will be paid on presentation to the district clerk. Interest ceases with this notice. DONA E. BARNETT, Clerk, Dlst. No. 12. CLAM FEED SET. Rhea Creek grange is sponsoring a clam feed for Saturday evening at their hall, with all grangers Invited, according to announcement by Mr. and Mrs. O. C. Stephens, in the city Tuesday. CHANNEL WORK ON RIVER SET $400,000 for Next Year to Make Columbia Navigable by Barges as Far East as Umatilla. Walla Walla. Annou n c e m e n t has been made from the United States district engineer's office in Portland that the $400,000 PWA ap propriation for the channel im provement program on the Colum bia river between Celilo and Wal lula will be available next year. Completion of the open river work will permit barge operation where today only river steamers are ply ing. This provides an improved Columbia river as far east as Uma tilla to date. The brief asking the $400,000 ap propriation was filed August 22 and this announcement was made No vember 26. That the appropriation has been granted is evidence that repeated urgings from granges and chambers of commerce of the three Pacific northwest states are being heeded. An outstanding development from the standpoint of the Inland Em pire Waterways association, which filed the brief asking the appropri ation and which directed the bar rage of letters and telegrams on the PWA from the northwest, is the perfecting of regional commit tees in several districts of Wash ington and Oregon to handle Its membership activities. This plan was first put into operation in Whitman county, Wash., where O. E. Barbee, Pomona grange master, called a meeting of key men from subordinate granges. The regional group plan developed. Since then it has been extended to The Dalles where a similar com mittee was formed. Others are be ing organized in various other dis tricts, especially at Arlington and in Yakima county, Wash. Mrs. W. W. Smead, 88, Celebrates Natal Day Thanksgiving dinner was cele brated on Friday at the home of W. W. Smead, Heppner's mayor-elect, the day's postponement being oc casioned in order to celebrate joint ly the 88th birthday of Mrs. Smead. The dinner was tendered by her daughter, Mrs. Lena White, and guests for the occasion included Mrs. Jennie Elder, Mrs. Anna Q. Thomson, Miss Anne McNamee, Mr. and Mrs. F. W. Turner, Mr. Smead, Miss Mary White, Mrs. Lida Met- calf. Dr. and Mrs. A. D. McMurdo called later and spent the after noon. Mrs. Smead was the recip ient of several gifts and many words of cheer. Mrs. Mattie Thornton Smead was 88 on Friday, November 30. Though practically bedfast for many months due to infirmities of age, she has maintained a bright mind, taking much interest in life. Friday's party was especially enjoyable to her. LEXINGTON By BEULAH NICHOLS Funeral services were held at the Congregational church at two o' clock on Friday afternoon for the young son of Mr. and Mrs. Giover Peck who died Tuesday evening following a short illness. James Robert Peck was born on Dec. 24, 1933, and passed away on Novem ber 27, 1934 at the age of 11 months and 3 days. Besides his parents he is survived by one sister, Dorothy Irene, and two brothers, Ronald and Lyle. In the basketball game at Hepp ner Tuesday evening the Lexington high school team defeated the Heppner high quintet, the final score being 19 to 12. The Lexing ton town team was also victorious pver the Heppner town team with a score of 25 to 20. Teddy Leavitt, who is holding a revival meeting at the Christian church in Heppner, will preach at the Christian church here on Sun day afternoon at two o'clock. A pot luck supper was served at the Christian church Wednesday evening. Miss Gertrude Skow, home dem onstration agent from Oregon State college, conducted a course of in struction In recreational leadership In Lexington on Monday and Tues day. The course consisted of in struction in leading group singing, quiet games, noisy games, grand marches, etc. The various organ izations of the county were repre sented at these meetings. Installation of officers will take place at the meeting of Lexington grange Saturday evening. A pot luck supper will be served after the meeting. The following item is from the Colome Times, printed at Colome, South Dakota, Nov. 22, 1934. The Mr. Gentry referred to Is Buster Gentry, graduate of Lexington high school and son of J. E. Gentry. "The football game between Winner and Colome on the local field, Tuesday, developed Into a real battle and was conceded by everyone to be the best game of the season on a Rosebud gridiron. ... A few weeks ago Gregory nosed out Colome in a hard fought game 9 to 6. A week or ten days ago Winner defeated Gregory 56 to 0. Tuesday Colome held Win ner, undisputed Rosebud cham pions, to a 7 to 7 tie. Figure It out for yourself. Colome's team Is com posed mainly of Inexperienced men, many of them first year men. Un (Continued on Paso Four) Illness of Cast Member Delays Junior Class Play Presentation of the junior class play, "The Patsy," scheduled for presentation at the gym-auditorium tomorrow evening, was en forcedly postponed because How ard Bryant, one of the actors, has the chickenpox, according to an nouncement from the high school this morning. The new date for presentation is next Tuesday evening. LOCAL NEWS C. G. Blayden, Rev. H. B. Thom as and E. W. Peck were Boardman residents here yesterday to meet with the Morrow county relief com mittee in the consideration of re lief work for the north end project. Other men from there were George Wicklander and T. E. Hendrix and all of the gentlemen appeared be fore the county court on matters pertaining to roads and other im provements In their community. Hugh Currln of Pilot Rock and his sister, Mrs. Agnes Wilcox of lone, were with their parents, Mr. and Mrs. Geo. J. Currin at Gresh am for Thanksgiving when all the family were gathered together for a reunion and a grand good time. After spending a few days visiting with relatives and friends in the Clackamas country, Mr. Currin and Mrs. Wilcox returned home Wed nesday. Mr. and Mrs. A. E. Burkenbine and two younger children returned home last night from a trip to Dor is, Cal., where they visited for sev eral days with Dr. and Mrs. A. B. Gray, former friends here. They report the Grays nicely settled at Doris, where they moved recently, and enjoying life in their new lo cation. Miss Juanita Crawford of Adams, Miss Lois Hewitt of Milton and Mrs. Ritchie of Freewater were of ficers of the Columbia C. E. Union in Heppner over Sunday. They went to Hardman Sunday afternoon and assisted in organizing a C. E. there. They had been in Gilliam county on a similar mission. C. Gertrude French, M. D., of The Dalles was in the city on Sun day to attend the funeral of the late Mrs. Bertha D. Gilman. Mrs. Gil man had been making her home with Mrs. French for some time prior to her death. Clark Stephens and wife were in Heppner on Tuesday from the ranch on upper McKinney creek. Moisture and mild weather have combined to prodift an abundance of good fall range on the hills in that vicinity. Harlan Devin, manager of Safe way stores at Condon, was here over Saturday night and part of Sunday. He came for his wife and son who had been enjoying a visit of several days with relatives in this city. The Willing Workers of the Christian church will hold their an nual bazaar and cooked food sale at the church parlors on Saturday afternoon. They will welcome and appreciate your patronage. Mrs. J. F. Daniels of Weston and and her friend, Miss Kathryn Nor een of Pendleton, were Thanksgiv ing visitors at the home of Mr. and Mrs. J. E. Gentry, parents of Mrs. Daniels. Mra Carrie Vaughn returned home on Sunday from a visit of several weeks with her sister and family at Sunnyside, Wash. Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Vaughn drove over for her. Rev. Ralph V. Hinkle of Pendle ton will be in Heppner on Sunday evening and will hold services in the Episcopal church at 7:30. The public is cordially invited to attend. Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Ingles were In the city Tuesday evening from Boardman, taking in the basketball games. Mr. Ingles coaches the Boardman high team. C. J. D. Bauman, sheriff, depart ed for Portland Wednesday where he is attending the convention of Oregon sheriffs being held in the city this week end. Miss Margaret Woodson, attor ney, was here overvthe week end from her home at Los Angeles. She was looking after her property in terests in this city. CAMPFIRE GIRLS ORGANIZE. Nakomis Camp of Campfire Girls was organized Monday night with Miss Dale as their guardian and Miss Peregrin as assistant guar dian. The new camp has 16 char ter members. These are Kathryn Nys, Margaret Tamblyn, Frances Egan, Kathryn Thompson, Clara Belle Adams, Margaret Doollttle, Lois Jones, Shirley Wilson, Jean ette Blakely, Helen Egan, Norma Christenson, Virginia Swendig, Car olyn Vaughn, Zelma Eskelson, Frances McCarty and Bettie Ma rie Adkins. The officers of the new camp are Frances McCarty, presi dent; Carolyn Vaughn, vice presi dent; Helen Egan, secretary-treasurer; Shirley Wilson, scribe. The camp members hald a candy sale at the basketball game Tuesday eve ning. AUXILIARY MEETING. The American Legion Auxiliary held their regular meeting In their hall on Tuesday evening. Follow ing the regular business, plans were made for the Christmas party which will be held in the Auxiliary hall, Tuesday evening, December 18. Hostesses for the meeting last Tuesday were Mrs. Ada Eskelson and Mrs. Helen Christenson. TWO TRUE BILLS UP TO COURT Grand Jury Clears Criminal Dock et for December Term, Mon day; Demands Publication. Two true bills and three not true bills were reported Monday by the grand jury as it cleared the crim inal docket in readiness for the opening of the December term of court next Monday. The indict ments were not made known. The grand jury, named at the June term of court, was A. A. Mc Cabe, foreman, W. Y. Ball, W. C, Cox, A. E. Wright, O. E. Wright, Frank Howell and W. L. Blakely. They were not dismissed by Judge C. L. Sweek on reporting. The jury reported as follows: "We have been in session four days since our former report. We have returned two true bills and three not true bills. "We have examined the county house and find it in fair condition. We recommend that Mr. Rule be provided with a better bed. "We have examined the county jail and find it well kept and In good condition. "We have examined the offices of the sheriff and county clerk and find them in good condition and the records protected from fire. "We have examined the publica tion of the proceedings of the county court and demand that the proceedings be published promptly each month as contemplated by law." Adams to Tell How Credit Agencies Serve A. C. Adams, general agent of the Farm Credit administration for the Pacific northwest district, who will address the annual meeting of the Eastern Oregon Wheat league at Arlington, Saturday, is no stranger at the league's meetings. For sev eral years he has been taking a prominent part in the annual pro ceedings as manager of the largest wheat cooperative marketing asso ciation in the country the North Pacific Grain Growers' Inc., of Spokane. This year he comes to the con vention in a new capacity as coor dinating officer of the Farm Credit Administration's lending agencies for Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Montana. But even though his "title" has expanded, his same for mer interest prevails in the wheat industry of eastern Oregon. In fact, units of the FCA have had an important part in supplying the credit which produced this year's wheat crop, either by individual advances direct to growers for pro duction purposes through the Pen dleton and Mid-Columbia Produc ton Credit associations, or by ef fective merchandising advances to North Pacific and its local units through the regional Bank for Co operatives and the Federal Inter mediate Credit bank. Many grow ers also have obtained mortgage refinancing loans through the Fed eral Land bank. So General Agent Adams once again will be "right at home" at the Arlington convention and will have a message of genuini interest to the wheat growers who attend, telling them how these credit agen cies serve. I0NE -y MARGARET BLAKE Mr. and Mrs. J. J. Griffith and children of Spray were visiting friends and relatives in town on Friday and Saturday of last week. Mr. and Mrs. Cole Smith return ed on Friday from The Dalles where they spent Thanksgiving for a time with his sisters, Mrs. with their daughter, Miss Mildred Smith at the home of Mrs. Smith's sister, Mrs. Hoeck. They were ac companied back by Arthur Reed of The Dalles who will visit for a time with his sisters, Mrs. Etta Shippey and Mrs. Delia Corson. Misses Eileen and Charlotte Spar ry entertained their young friends with a party last Friday evening. Games were played for a time then refreshments served after which the guests were taken to the Legion hall where they enjoyed roller skating for the remainder of the evening. Those present were Dor othy Howell, Earline Farris, Mary K. and Helen Blake, James Du bendorf, Billy Blake and Allen Howk. Mr. and Mrs. Jason Bacon of San Francisco were guests for a few days at the home of Mr. and Mrs. James Lindsay. Mr. Bacon, the brother of Mrs. Lindsay, is em ployed in the work of diving in the bay region and while here was re called to his work, cutting short his visit. Mr. and Mrs. B. F. Ak ers of Portland accompanied Mr. and Mrs. Bacon here and returned with them as far as Portland on Tuesday morning. Mrs. Akers is the mother of Mrs. Lindsay and Mr. Bacon. The old time dance given by Willows grange on Thanksgiving night was well attended and a sub stantial sum of money was raised to help pay for the new seat recent ly purchased for the hall. Mr. and Mrs. M. E. Cotter de parted last Tuesday morning for Austin, Minn., where they expect ed to spend the winter with Mr. Cotter's mother who has been an Invalid for several years. On Wed nesday morning word was received (Contnud on Pag Four) Mrs. Bertha D. Gilman, Pioneer Resident, Dies Private funeral services were held at the chapel of Phelps Funer al home Sunday afternoon for Mrs. Bertha Drew Gilman, pioneer res ident of this city who died at the home of Dr. Gertrude French, The Dalles, at 1:30 o'clock Friday after noon. Rev. Joseph Pope, Methodist minister, officiated at the services. Interment was in Masonic cemetery beside the grave of her husband, the late David E. Gilman. Bertha Drew was born August 24, 1862, at Sherbrooke, Canada, being aged 72 years, 3 months and 13 days at death. She was married to Mr. Gilman January 1, 1890, at her home in Canada, the young couple coming from there to the ' Corncob' ranch, near Spray. They resided there for several years, and remov ed for a year to Dallas, before conv ing to Heppner where the family riome was made until Mr. Gilman died a year ago. Shortly after her husbands death Mrs. Gilman ae companied her friend, Dr. Gertrude French, to the coast at Seaview, Wash., and remained there until October when she returned to The Dalles. Dr. French came to Heppner for the last rites, as did Miss Lena Gil man of Hamilton, a niece by mar riage. The only surviving relatives of Mrs. Gilman are some cousins In the east Mrs. Grace Nettleton, Portland, and Mead Gilman, Ham ilton, are niece and nephew by marriage. Throughout her residence here Mrs. Gilman had the respect and esteem of all who knew her. She was a loyal neighbor and friend, ana evidenced an interest In the community and nation through her work in the Womans Relief corps, or wnicn sne was once president, and in the Daughters of the Amer ican Revolution, of which she was one. She showed a high type of patriotism, and was especially in terested in the cultural development of the country. Mrs. Laura Scott Injured In Lexington Car Mishap The automobile of Gene Gentry of Lexington went into the ditch at a point on the fill in front of the Dick Wightman place on Tuesday evening, as Mr. and Mrs, Gentry, accompanied by Mr. and Mrs. O. J. Cox, Mrs. Laura Scott and Louise Hunt were driving to Heppner to attend church. Mr. Gentry reports that he met another car at this point and the lights blinded him so that he did not realize he was too near the edge of the road until too late. The car went over on its side, but was slightly damaged, as Mr. Gentry was driving slowly at the time. Mrs. Scott received quite severe injuries and was rushed to the Heppner hospital where it was found she had suffered a broken collar bone and had a bad cut on the head that required eight stitches to close, but she seems to have received no internal injuries. She is reported to be resting easily at this time. Mr. and Mrs. Cox were shaken up and are somewhat sore as a result of their experience, while Miss Louise received quite a se vere bump on the head. Mr. and Mrs. Gentry escaped injury. FORMER RESIDENT PASSES. John Weatherford, 59, of Grass Range, Idaho, died at St. Joseph's hospital, Lewiston, on Saturday, November 24, and funeral services were held from Creel's chapel in that city the following Tuesday, ac cording to word received by friends here. He had suffered over a long period with asthma and heart trou ble. Mr. Weatherford married Miss Ivy Mitchell, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Mitchell, old-time resi dents of this county, at lone, May 30, 1900. They took up a homestead on the Chippewa near Grass Range in 1909 where the family home had since been made. Their only son, Harold, died in 1915. Mr. Weather ford was born at Dayton, Wash., April 28, 1875. Of his passing the Grass Range paper said, "John Weatherford was a fine man, a thrifty farmer and stalwart citizen and this community mourns his passing. Mrs. Weatherford will make her home in the future with the Mitchells." He is survived, besides his widow, by two sisters, Frances Barnett of Grangeville, Idaho, and Alice Dehmer of Den ver, Col., and two brothers, Alfred of Klamath Falls, and Charles. ELECT FARM CREDIT COUNCIL Spokane, Wash. Directors of thirty .Northwest Production Cred it associations in Washington, Ore gon, Idaho and Montana will this week elect their representatives to the farm credit council or govern ing board which supervises all the agencies in this district for the Farm Credit administration. Recently the production credit as sociations made their nominations of six and one of these is to be elected for a three-year term to take office January 1st These di rectors cast one vote for each class B. stockholding member in their association. In a similar way the cooperative associations borrowing through the Bank for Cooperatives will elect their representatives on the council next year, and the fol lowing year the Land Bank bor rowers name theirs. It is reported that in addition to the nearly 23,000 land bank loans loaned In the last 17 months, more than 4000 applications approved by the bank and amounting to $18,000, 000 are awaiting final action. E RK WAT SECIEDJY CITY Agreement With County Last Official Act of Retiring Council. NEW BODY SITS JAN. 7 Mayor-Elect Smead and Members of Old and New Councils At-, tending Cities League Meet. Providing of an emergency wa ter supply for the city will proba bly be the last act of the old coun cil. Though the city charter pro vides for two official meeting nights each month of the city's governing body, the mid-month meeting is rarely held, being used mainly in the case of emergency. Hence, It seemed probable that Monday night's meeting would be the last before the new mayor and council assume office the Monday following the first Sunday in January, or Jan uary 7, to be exact, and the mat ter of an emergency water supply was the last official business trans acted at the Monday meeting. The emergency water was se cured by agreement with the coun ty court the court to furnish water from its new well to the city at cost, ,in case of emergency, in exchange for a franchise permitting the court to lay a pipe line across Gil more street from the well on the courthouse grounds to a proposed new 100,000 gallon reservoir on the hill above. Frank S. Parker and George N. Peck, commissioners present, explained to the council kthat the county's new waterworks are being Installed to give fire pro tection to county records and to re- ,duce the annual Insurance premium on the court house, not to deprive the city of water revenue. The county water will be used for irri gating the court house grounds, however, the commissioners said. The only other matter disposed of, aside from transacting the cur rent business, was the council's en dorsement of a new ruling of the water superintendent, W. E. Pniyn. This ruling provides that owners of apartment houses will be held re sponsible for all water used on their premises. Under this ruling the watermaster will collect the entire bill from the apartment house own er, and tenants will pay their water bill to the owner as part of the rent Councilmen present whose terms expire the first of the year were Dean T. Goodman, W. C. Cox and Spencer Crawford, who will retire along with Gay M. Anderson, niay- ,or, the first of the year. Dr. A. D, McMurdo and Jeff Jones, the first a hold-over and the other reelect ed, were also present. Besides Dr. McMurdo and Mr. Jones, those composing the new council will be Frank Shively, hold-over; C. .W McNamer, elected for the unexpired term or c. w. Smith held until elec tion by Spencer Crawford: P. W. Mahoney and R. B. Ferguson. These will serve with W. W. Smead, new ly elected mayor, at the helm. Today members of both the old and new councils are in Pendleton attending a district meeting of the League of Oregon Cities, in which Heppner holds membership. It was hoped that some useful information with which to attack the city's knotty financial problem, as well as to shed light on the city's rights under the Knox liquor law. could be secured. Mayor-elect Smead has as vet made no statement for publication regarding his intended program, though he says he expects to have a definite program for the new council to follow when it meets the first of the year. He has been busy down" on city affairs, and expects down" on ctiy affairs, and expects to can a meeting of both the old and the new council to receive all suggestions possible In formulating me program. HERE'S SOME FOR RIPLEY. J. L. Yeairer came to the Ciar.uHo Times office the other day with two curios of more than iisnnl Internet One was an oriental poppy which naa just oiossomea forth all by its lonesome in his garden. While all the other blossoms of the species bowed their heads in August, as Is their USUal CUStnm in thin flima th. one displayed had dared the crisp December breezes in rearing its comely head. ... Of no less interest was .Mr. Yeager's exhibition of a red June apple which first saw the light of day fifty years ago. Wlzen- ea ana ariea now, to be sure, the red-cheeked fruit was given to Mr. Yeager by Mrs. Yeager fifty years ago. It was then punched full of Cloves to lend frHcrnneo tn Vila clothes closet. Today it is a dear old keepsake. . . . Then there's a freak carrot liisnlnvpil thli ..b of Ferguson Motor garage. It made us way in a local garden, growing through the handle of a broken teacut) which enB-lrdlurl Itn mMii. not unlike some of Mae West's har ness. . . . And, believe it if you will, the Gazette Times lavs clnim having the shortest toll telephone line in tne world. A hole drilled through the concrete wall separat ing the local nhone exchamm n,i the office of this newspaper, gives access to tne wire which connects the switchboard and iuuitn.r tel ephone, only a few feet apart.