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OREGON HISTORICAL SOCIETY
PUBLIC A 'J D I TO
PC
Volume 56, Number 44
Wool Growers to
Meet at Burns
First of Next Week
State Convention
Opens Sunday With
Committee Meets
Attention of woolmen of the state
will center on Burns this week end
when the annual convention, of the
Oregon Wool Growers association
will be held. Weather permitting,
it is anticipated that this will be
one of the outstanding conventions
in the history of the association as
reservations for living accommo
dations indicate a heavy attendance.
Morrow county sheepmen will be
well represented, although a com
plete count of those going from here
was not available this morning.
Those going from here will drive
through, unless a shift in weather
conditions within the next day or
two makes that method of travel
inadvisable. An effort to secure pas
sengers for a special Pullman which
the railroad company proposed to
run from The Dalles failed here as
the distance by rail is much greater
and requires more time than most
of the woolmen wish to spare.
One matter that seems certain of
receiving much attention at the
Burns meeting is that of reduction
of grazing allotments on the nation
al forests. It is a subject agitating
local growers and doubtless those
of all sections of the state. Accord
ing to reports drastic reductions
have been made in numbers of sheep
and cattle to be grazed on the na
tional forests in 1940, reductions
which the stockmen feel are not jus
tified. -
Committees meeting at 1:30 p. m.,
Sunday, include those on Grazing
and Public Lands, Mac Hoke, Pen
dleton, chairman, Garnet Best, En
terprise, secretary; Legislation and
Taxation, Robert L. Weir, Lake
view, chairman, Victor Johnson,
Lakeview, secretary; Transporta
tion and Marketing, Fred Phillips,
Keating, chairman, P. T. Fortner,
Baker, secretary; Wild Life and
Predatory Animals, Wayne Stewart,
Dayville, chairman, Ralph Brooke,
Canyon City, secretary, and Gener
al Resolutions and Organization,
Ralph I. Thompson, Heppner, chair
man, R. M. McKennon, Ontario,
secretary.
Subjects to be discussed are the
New State Brand Law, by Dr. W.
H. Lytle, state department of agri
culture, Salem; Oregon Land Use
Problems, F. L. Ballard, vice-director
of extension, Oregon State col
lege; What the National is Doing
for the Oregon Wool Growers, F.
R. Marshall, secretary National Wool
Growers' association; The Sheep
Business in the Immediate Future,
Orlo H. Maughan, director of re
search, Federal Land Bank of Spo
kane; Building Western Livestock
Ranges, George Weaver, in charge
AAA range program, western div
ision; Forestry and Livestock, John
Kuhns, regional forester, Portland;
National Parks and Livestock, Jay
H. Dobbin, Enterprise, and The
Federal Range, E. N. Kavanagh,
chief of range management in the
grazing service.
The wool growers' banquet will
be a feature of the entertainment
side.
Rangers to Issue
Grazing Permits
A new ruling on the matter of
issuing grazing permits for use of
the national forest now makes it
possible for applications to be made
at rangers' offices. Heretofore the
permits were issued only at the su
pervisor's office.
All applications for the 1940 sea
son should be submitted prior to
January 31 to receive consideration,
according to F. F. Wehmeyer, ran
ger in charge of the Heppner office.
Jail Terms, Fines
Given Wreckers
Arrested and placed in jail on a
disorderly conduct charge, three
members of Camp Heppner are now
serving out long jail sentences on a
more serious charge. The three
youths, Forest Guy Miller, Mark
Gorton and Farrel West, were pick
ed up Saturday evening by Night
Marshal Homer Hayes when it be
came evident that too much indul
gence in holiday spirits had gotten
the best of the them. Hayes first
picked up Miller and West and when
Gorton attempted to intervene for
his pals the marshal took him also.
Launched in the county jail, the
youths continued their jamboree
so rudely interrupted by the mar
shal. Windows were broken to let
in fresh air and just to round out
the night the pranksters broke up
about all the furniture.
Haled before Justice of the Peace
J. 0. Hager Tuesday morning the
youths pled guilty and after giving
all angles of the case due consider
ation the justice meted out six-
months jail sentences for each and
fined Miller $50, Gorton $100 and
West $200. Gorton and West had
previous counts against them which
Justice Hager felt entitled them to
a heavier jolt than their pal.
Jail sentences will be suspended
if the prisoners come forth with
the fine money. This conduct on
the part of the youths automatic
ally discharges them from the Civ
ilian Conservation corps.
Cosoba League Play
Starts Against Condon
Heppner high's Mustang basket
eers begin defense of their Uppter
Columbia league championship Fri
day night in a game with Condon.
A second team game will start at
7:35.
The Mustangs expect an uphill
battle to maintain their league lead
this year as five of the members
of last year's squad are gone. How
ever a good showing is expected as
the four returning veterans will be
aided by last year's unbeaten sec
ond team.
In a four-game pre-season sched
ule the Mustangs succeeded in
breaking even, winning two and
losing two. This was considered a
fairly good showing for an inex
perienced team that played three of
the four games away from home.
Nothing is known of the Condon
team's strength as there have been
no reports on their games. It is
expected that they will bring a
strong team as they are now playing
in a new gymnasium which was
completed last spring and is one
of the finest in this section of the
country.
Heppner's squad includes Doug
Drake, Hugh Crawford, Harry O'
Donnell, Howard Wray, Bob Pinck
ney, Jack Merrill, Norval Osborne,
Claude Snow, John Skuzeski.
Tax Collections Go
Over Good in 1939
Tax collections in Morrow county
during 1939 proved highly satisfac
tory to county officials, according
to County Clerk C. W. Barlow,
who cites figures to bear out the
statement.
The current tax roll at the begin
ning of the year was $281,489.99. At
the close of the year the balance to
be collected was $44,437.19. Not
alone were current taxes paid up.
Delinquent taxes in the sum of $68,
580.93 were collected during the
year. Payment of delinquent taxes
has shown a decided increase the
last two years.
Assessor Tom Wells and deputies
are winding up the tax roll exten
sion this week with their attention
directed to the final summary.
Elaine Nelson and Jane Huston,
students at the University of Ore
gon, returned to Eugene Monday
after spending the Christmas vaca
tion at their homes in the Goose
berry section.
Heppner, Oregon, Thursday, Jan.
Court Withholds
Action on Claim
For Sheep Loss
Dog License Fund
Not Enough to Meet
Bill of Ray Wright
Loss of 372 head of sheep in a pile
up last Thursday night is causing
members of the Morrow county
court to scratch their heads. The
court, in session Wednesday and
Thursday of this week, was present
ed a claim for damages by Ray
Wright, who suffered the loss of the
sheep.
The loss happened at the Wright
corrals due, it is asserted to dogs
stampeding the sheep. Based on
present sheep prices, Wright pre
sented a claim averaging $10 per
head. This amount is far in excess
of the fund which is accumulated
through the sale of dog licenses, as
the licenses issued average between
300 and 350 yearly.
Before making a payment of any
nature the court proposes to make
an investigation and will base its
action on such findings. It has not
been made clear that one or more
of Wright's dogs did not participate
in the stampede.
Aside from the usual routine
business, the court is making selec
tion of election boards to serve dur
ing 1940.
DIRECTORS ACCEPT
C. OF C. BY-LAWS
Presentation for Adoption to
Be Made at Membership
Luncheon January 12
One more step toward completion
of organization of the Heppner
chamber of commerce was made
Wednesday evening when the board
of directors read and approved the
by-laws as drawn up by P. W. Ma
honey. The next step will be pre
sentation of the articles to the mem
bership at a luncheon meeting to
be held Friday, Jan. 12, at Hotel
Heppner.
Directors settled the matter of
one- and two-year service periods
by the process of drawing names.
The five men chosen to serve one
year include D. M. Ward, L. E. Bis
bee, C. J. D. Bauman, P. W. Ma
honey and Charles B. Cox. The
two-year directors are B. C. Pinck-
ney, Frank W. Turner, D. A. Wilson,
W. C. Rosewall and Hanson Hughes.
At each annual election, which will
be held on the second Tuesday of
January, five directors will be chos
en for two years.
Several projects of interest not
alone to Heppner but to the county
were placed on the calendar for
immediate attention and these will
be presented to the membership for
approval. Indications point to a
busy year for the .chamber of com
merce and after the January 12
meeting the president will appoint
committees to carry on the work.
Gooseberry Station
Reports on Rainfall
Precipitation for the year 1939 in
the Gooseberry section ambunted
to 7.25 inches, according to V. L.
Carlson, observer for that district.
Rainfall for the month of December
was 1.70 inches, eight points less
than recorded in Heppner.
From Sept. 1, 1939. to Jan. 1, 1940
the precipitation was 2.61 inches,
Carlson states. Compared with 1938
this was a shortage of 10 points, the
fall that year amounting to 2.71
inches.
Reports from all wheat growing
and grazing sections show that the
recent rains have penetrated deep
ly into the soil and that growing
conditions are excellent.
4, 1940
1939 Driest Period
Recorded Locally
Midnight Sunday marked the end
of the driest period in Morrow
county since the official recording
of precipitation was started 30 years
ago. Although December showed a
decided improvement, with a total
fall of 1.78 inches, the total for the
year was still less by .39 inch than
1928, when the total was 8.20 inch.
Compared with 1937 when the
precipitation amounted to 14.76 in
ches, 1939 was a dry year. It is
pointed out, however, that moisture
fell at the right time to aid the
crops, resulting in a fairly good
yield over the county. Observers
state it is a peculiarity of this sec
tion that unless rain comes in May
or June, or both months, crops are
apt to be short, whereas, rainfall
coming in those months is fairly
accurate crop insurance.
The rain which started early in
December and came at first in minor
showers, gradually developed into
steadier precipitation until towards
the end of the month it became
steady. Very little snow fell and
the accompanying fog has tended to
prevent frost, permitting the mois
ture to penetrate the surface of the
ground.
Range Checks for
County Received
The first group of checks in pay
ment -of 1939 range conservation
practices were received in Morrow
county January 3, according to E.
H. Miller, chairman of the. local
ACA committee. Mr. Miller stated
that 47 range operators whose com
bined holdings total over 400,000
acres were signed up in the 1939
program.
Mr. Miller went on to say that
program. , payments are intended
primarily to encourage range con
servation and are made to cooper
ating ranchers for carrying out rec
ognized range improvement prac
tices, such as natural reseeding of
native grasses, by non-grazing dur
ing growing season, development of
springs and drilling of wells to pro
vide water for range stock, artifi
cial reseeding of over-grazed and
denuded areas to adapted pasture
grasses, erosion control, and many
other practical improvements.
The range program is important
in that it gives operators a chance
to learn the value of practices that
otherwise would have to be post
poned or put off altogether. Prac
tices approved under the program
will contribute to a better range
for years to come.
Home Ec Meetings
Set for Next Week
Third in a series of home econ
omics meetings on food preparation
and table service will be held in
Morrow county next week. Lucy
Case, foods and nutrition specialist
from Oregon State college, will con
duct the meetings. The first meet
ing will be held at the Frederickson
home in Irrigon, January 9, with
Mrs. Fred Houghton as chairman.
January 10 a meeting will be held
in the Rhea Creek grange hall with
Mrs. Carrie Becket as chairman;
and a meeting will be held in the
new grange hall in lone, with Mrs.
Vida Heliker as chairman, January
11. The last meeting will be held
January 12 in the Boardman grange
hall with Mrs. Neal Bleakney as
chairman.
All homemakers are invited to
these meetings whether they have
attended the other two meetings or
not.
DISCUSS FARM ACCOUNTING
All farmers who are interested in
the keeping of farm accounts are in
vited to attend a meeting to be held
in the county agent's office at 9 a.
m., Friday, January 5. The use of
the recently published farm account
book will be discussed, as well as
various time in the keeping of farm
records.
Subscription $2.00 a Year
Lexington Civic
Leader Succumbs
After Hard Battle
W. F. Barnett, Mer
chant, Farmer, Vic
tim of Heart Disease
Victim of a heart ailment which
had confined him to bed for more
than three weeks, W. F. Barnett,
merchant-farmer and civic leader
of Lexington for many years, was
called by death Friday, December
29. Funeral services, attended by a
large number of relatives and
friends, were held from the Lex
ington Christian church at 2 o'
clock p. m., Sunday, Dec. 21. Case
mortuary of Heppner was in charge
and Rev. Cecil Warner of Hermis
ton officiated. Assisting in the ser
vice was Rev. Moffatt Dennis of
Lexington who sang three hymns
selected by Mr. Barnett a few days
prior to his death, "O Love That
Wilt Not Let Me Go," "No Niglht
There" and "Beside Still Waters."
Interment was in the Lexington
cemetery.
William Frazer Barnett came to
Morrow county in the spring of
1884, coming from Milton where he
had stopped a few weeks after ar-
! r . r a 1 A
riving in uregon irom rKansas. a
native of Tennessee, where he was
born November 30, 1858, the son of
L. W. and Julia Ann Barnett, he
spent his early youth in that state
and moved from there to Arkansas
where he grew to manhood. On
October 14, 1880 he took as his bride
Miss Mary Ella Nichols, the wed
ding taking place near Mountain
Home, Ark. Two daughters were
born to this union, Mrs. Trina Par
ker and Miss Dona E. Barnett, who
with the mother survive. A brother,
T. L. Barnett of Lexington, and a
sister, Mrs. Julia Cypert of Ta
coma, Wash. There are also several
nephews and nieces.
Mr. Barnett homesteaded when
he first came to Morrow county.
His first filing was on a piece of
land near Lexington and he later
abandoned that in favor of the
Blackhorse section. He farmed the
Blackhorse place for many years
and in 1900 bought the present Bar
nett farm about five miles northeast
of Lexington. In 1902 he moved to
Lexington and engaged in the gro
cery business, occupying a small
building formerly used by Nichols
& Leach as a mercantile establish
ment. Changing conditions in Lex
ington presented an opportunity for
Mr. Barnett to expand and in 1915
he enlarged the building to its pre
sent size and engaged in general
merchandising. His enterprise was
rewarded with success and the W.
F. Barnett & Co. store is one of the
substantial mercantile establish
ments of the county.
Always manifesting an active in
terest in the well being of the com
munity, Mr. Barnett served as may
or, councilman and school board
member with credit to himself and
benefit to those served. This inter
est never diminished, even after he
was stricken, and he spent his de
clining days planning on improve
ments to his farm and business. He
also took an active part in church
work, being a member of the Chris
tian church which he served faith
fully for more than 50 years. He
was also a member of the Oddfel
lows for more than 30 years.
Relatives coming from a distance
to attend the funeral services in
cluded Mr. and Mrs. R. E. Nichols,
Puyallup, Wash.; N. A. Leach, Mr.
and Mrs. M. H. Dopplemeyer, Port
land; Mr. and Mrs. H. C. Miller, Sa
lem; Mr. and Mrs. Milton Loney,
Walla Walla; Mr. and Mrs. Gerald
White, Hermiston; Mr. and Mrs.
Neil White and son Vivian, Hida
way Springs; Mr. and Mrs. lone
Gilbreath, Dayton, Wash., and Dr.
and Mrs. M. A. Leach and son
Jimmie of Pendleton,
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