THE
VOL. XIV
H ermiston
HERMISTON, UMATILLA COUNTY, OREGON, SATURDAY. JANUARY 3, 1920
CARDS ARE LAID FACE UP
TD RAILWAY OFFICIALS
Publication by The Herald during
the past four months of the freight
and express shipments handled by
the O.-W. railway at Hermiston has
been the means of bringing to the
attention of the people of this val­
ley in more concrete form the stu­
pendous revenue the railroad com­
pany Is deriving as a result of the
ever increasing production of market­
able commodities on this project. It
has also been the means of the peo­
ple asking themselves what they are
getting in return in the way of reci­
procity, and whether the station is
maintained simply for the benefit of
the company to rake in the shekels
from the farmers and the public in
general, with no thought of conven­
ience for the town or country that
makes its operations at this point so
prosperous.
The O.-W. is due for a rude and
just awakening from its lethargy in
this connection, for ere now the of­
ficials are no doubt taking note of
the trend of public sentiment toward
the railroad as embodied In the fol­
lowing genteel but pithy letter to one
of the railway officials from a com-
mittee-of the local Commercial or­
ganization;
HERALD
pubic is to receive the consideration
to which it is entitled.
The committee would like to hear
from you as to what, If any, remedy
you have to offer to relieve such an
unsatisfactory condition of affairs.
Should' you desire to meet with
the Commercial Club and further
discuss this matter, the Club extends
a cordial Invitation to you to do so.
We have regular meetings every
Tuesday each week at noon, but if
such should not meet your conven­
ience we would be pleased to arrange
for a special meeting for any par-
ticular time you may wish.
Trusting we may have your coop­
eration in this matter, we are
Yours respectfully,
Geo. A. Cressy,
C. W. Kellogg,
F. V. Prime,
The Committee.
Still Open Season
Although the hunting season on
ducks and geese closed Wednesday
night, it is still open on book agents,
and will from now to next November
remain the same on politicians, who
will soon begin buzzing around the
voters with their spiel of the "office
Mr. W. Bollons, Supt. O.-W. R. & N. seeking the man” and such bunk.
Co., La Grande, Oregon.
Dear Sir: The undersigned were
Matthew’s Sells Ranches
appointed at a meeting of the Her­
A. M. Matthews of Columbia Dis­
miston Commercial Club on Decem­ trict this week disposed of his home
ber 23rd as a committee to take up place of 22 acres and 15 acres near
with the proper officials of the O.-W. Columbia school to F. M. Adair of
R. & N. Co. and the Railroad Admin­ Weiser. Idaho, who with his wife and
istration the matter of improvement son came from the Gem state a
in the service now accorded the trav­ month or more ago. The considera­
eling and shipping public at this tion was $8000.
station.
No complaint is made
against the personnel of the present
force as individuals, but -complaint
Is made of the services received, due
to the inadequacy of the present
force and facilities at this place.
The condition at this station has
A rancher from the Furnish pro­
steadily grown worse for the past
ject
southeast of here while in town
it
has
reached
such
two years, until
a state that the public is demanding early this week said that fifty head
that something be done so that it of high grade dairy stock had been
may receive, in part at least, the ser- imported to and distributed among
vice for which it pays and is justly a dozen Stanfield farmers.
Of these 15 registered cows and
entitled to. That the present force
two
bulls were bought from J. C.
and facilities here are inadequate to
the demands made upon them, your Brown of Shedd. Ore., and 11 regis­
attention is invited to the following tered cows and 27 grade cows were
comparison of business done at this purchased from J. C. McConnell, near
time and that prior to the year 1917. the same place. This stock is known
There are three employees at this to be some of the best In the Willam­
station. The total man hours work­ ette valley and will be of inestimable
ed during the 24 hour day is 25 benefit in building up the herds
hours, five hours of which the depot about the neighboring town of Stan­
Is closed. The freight revenue is field.
from $15,000 to $19,000 per month,
Harvard Won
express $1200 to $1500 per month,
Much interest by local fans cen-
and the number of cars shipped out
(car loads) each monili is 100 to tered in the football game between
160. Several years ago when the Oregon ’s crack team and that of
business was less than 50 per cent Harvard at Pasadena. Calif., on New
of what it is at the present time Year’s day. The home boys made a
there were four employees at this great showing against the easterners,
station working approximately 40 and only lost the game by one point,
man hours a day. In other words the score being 7 to 6 at the finish.
there has been an Increase in busi­
ness of 50 to 100 per cent and a de­
Everybody Danced
crease in the working force which
It just seemed as though everyone
in effect amounts to 37 per cent.
was at the dance held in this city
There is urgent need for an opera­ New Year's Eve., for the Auditorium
tor here. Under the present condi­ was crowded with a happy care free
tions the agent is compelled to han­ throng that immensely enjoyed the
dle all Western Union as well as all dance music doled out by Bowker’s
railroad wire work, and the demands Portland orchestra.
upon his time, as well as the other
employees, are such that it is impos­
Idaho Visitors
sible for him to arrange and divide
Mr. and Mrs. F. Stamy of Payette,
the work In a manner to promote Idaho, visited at the home of his
economy of time and efficiency of nephew. Ell Winesett, Monday and
service. It is almost impossible to Tuesday of this week, leaving Wed­
get any information from the station nesday morning for Portland. Ta­
over the telephone, the employees coma. Olympia and Seattle on a con-
being too much occupied with other tinuation of their journey through
work to pay attention to phone calls. Oregon and Washington. Mr. Stamy.
The trackage room for unloading who is a Virginian, during his stay
and loading cars, and the depot it- met many former residents of that
self. Is much too small to handle the state who have settled here.
volume of business now transacted
here with any degree of satisfaction,
Family Reunion
this being especially true of the
Mr. and Mrs. W. L. Boynton of
freight house. It is so crowded at Pendleton and Mr. and Mrs. Lyle
times that much of the freight is of Boynton of Helix participated In a
necessity left out on the platform family reunion at the home of their
exposed to the elements. and the on Christmas Day. They returned to
congested condition in the freight their respective homes the latter
house necessitates the rehandling of port of last week.
much of the freight several times,
incurring added expense to the com­
The Ladies of the M. E. Aid will
pany and delay to its patrons.
meet at the home of Mrs. Waterman
We are of the belief that there Is on January 8th at 2:30.
no other station on this line where
the volume of business is as large as
C. E Glasgow of Irrigon while
it is here and handled by as small here one day last week purchased a
a force. The need of additional help three year old Percheron colt from
at this atation is imperative if the Attorney W J. Warner. *
DAIRY COWS SOLD TD
STANFIELD RANCHERS
Conflicting Thoughts
/ MOTHER,
1$ The
/
y
7 /
COAL
SCoTTLE
EMPTY?
g
§ |
COUNTY CLERK IN ROLE
. OF DOO TAX COLLECTOR
And now comes forth County Clerk
R. T. Brown in the role of dog tax
collector. We don’t presume he likes
the job, but it seems the last legis­
lature wished it on him when It cre­
ated the new dog law as contained in
Section 8, Chapter 186, session laws
of 1919, which provides that each
person in the county who owns a
male or female dog over the age of
eight months shall apply for and pro-
cure from the county clerk a license,
paying the clerk the sum of $1 for
male and $2 foi a female dog. If
all dog owners that have not already
procured a license will hurry now
and get one, the clerk agrees * to
throw in a collar for the canine.
He says many applications have
already been received, but none of
the applicants thus far state the
length of collar desired. These col­
lars are made In 12, 14 and 16 inch
sizes. If the applicant making the
application will state the length of
the collar he wants, the clerk says it
will aid his office very much.
COLUMBIA NEWS NOTES
«piemAL
SPECIAL copprspounEcE
CORRESPONDENCE
Herbert Hall went to Pendleton
Tuesday morning, where he has se-
cured a position in the Royal Saw-
tell Jewelery store.
Mrs. L. Brownell of Umatilla is
spending a few days at the home of
her parents, Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Sim­
mons, while her husband is in Port­
land at the bedside of his mother,
who is quite ill.
The Neighborhood Club will meet
Tuesday afternoon. January 6, at the
home of Mrs. W. H. Simmons.
LANE IS INVITED TO
IRRIGATION CONGRESS
The ninth annual convention of
the Oregon Irrigation Congress will
be held In Portland January 8, 9 and
10 at the Portland Chamber of Com­
merce. It was originally planned to
hold the sessions on December 29. 30
and 31. but on account of the spe­
cial session of the legislature and the
state wide storm the dates were post­
poned until the week immediately
preceding the convening of the state
legislature.
Inasmuch as important matters
concerning irrigation are to be
brought up at the special session, all
of the members of the legislature
have been invited to attend the ses-
sions Of the Oregon Irrigation Con­
gress by President Jay 11. Upton of
Prineville.
Various matters of importance re­
lating to irrigation will be discussed
and prominent speakers representing
the Interior Department and the var­
ious Irrigation enterprises of the
alate will be heard at the convention.
Among the speakers Invited to attend
ere Franklin K. Lane, secretary of
the interior, and Elwood Mead, chair-
man of the Land Settlement Board of
the state of California.
THE WAIL BE AN EAST­
ERNER-HUT HELL STAY
A fellow signing himself Frank
wrote the foilowng doggerel just af-
ter reaching Oregon during the cold
snap of last month. He is not the
only one to be surprised at weather
conditions on the Oregon coast, how­
ever, for old timers were, dumbfound­
ed, never having seen anything like
it during all the years they resided
in the state.
Here’s what Frank
says:
We were born in Minnesota where
the howling blizzards roar, and wc
thought to move out westward where
we would feel the cold no more. So
we sent for many pamphlets telling
of the golden west, telling of the
Willamette valley as the place in
which to rest from the howling winds
of winter and the summer's wither­
ing heat, so we choose McMinnville
city as the place of all so sweet. Sell-
. ing out and moving westward is not
what it's cracked to be; but never
mind, wo’ll like It better away out
there close by the sea, where we’ll
see the roses blooming, and the flow­
ers that always grow, even when old
Minnesota is all covered up in snow.
So we thought, and sold our home­
stead—sold our pig and mule and
cow—sold everything that held us
back there, for we were 'going any­
how. Yes, wc are moving west, by
jingo, out where the balmy breezes
plày, out where the grass grows
green In winter as it ever does in
May. Out where the birds will sing
on Christmas just the same they do
in June. Just the prospects made us
happy, for we'd reach there pretty
soon—so good bye old Minnesota, for
we’re going far to stay; we’ll soon
leach the land of summer, never
more to come this way. But. by
jingo, when we reached here on this
coid December morn, there must have
been some change of climate every­
one looked so forlorn. There was
snow on every housetop, snow piled
up on every street, all men looked so
blue and frozen, talking 'bout their
chilly feet, that we wondered why
in blazes we ever thought of coming
here—wondered if this kind of wea­
ther Is dished out so every year.
But may be thebe's some mistake,
may be 'twont be always so. May be
some time 'twill be summer, then
we'll forget about the snow. But
we’ve got to stay thia winter for I’ve
bought a cord of wood, and It took
near all the homestead—yes. 1 guess
we're here for good. Yes, we'll stay
here till next summer, may be stay
here right along, for this town looks
good to mother, for I hear her little
song.
To Serve Short Orders
With the beginning of the New
Year the Oregon Cafe has decided to
inaugurate a short order system of
catering to the public. This new
ovation of serving meals means that
the Cafe will be open all day between
Weather Report
the hours of 6 a. m. and 8 p. ni.. dur­
The maximum temperature during ing which time short orders will be
the past week was 47 degrees and served to all who desire them. Reg­
the minimum 1. Precipitation was ular meals, of course, will be served
.08 of an inch.
as before at the usual hours.
NO. 16
ARE THE CITY LIMITS OF
HERMISTON TOO LARGE?
Who Owns the Package?
There is a package In the local
postoffice that was evidently being
sent as a Christmas gift to Mr. and
Mrs. Beavert of somewhere unknown
| to Postmaster Skinner, whose occult
powers have not been strong enough
| to penetrate the abiding place of
| those people. He’d be a wonderful
| postmaster, we claim, if he could
. send that package to its intended
destination, for the only address on
■ it is “From Eva and George to Mr.
| and Mrs. Beavert.”—just like that.
So It still reclines on a shelf in the
postoffice waiting for "Little Eva”
or George to come and readdress it.
Taking Inventory
All places of business In this city
| have been busy the past few days
, taking inventory to ascertain how
they stand with the beginning of the
new year. It will take several of the
larger concerns a week or more to
complete their inventory.
Nice Wall Calendars
Th.e First National Bank has this
week mailed to patrons a wall cal-
endar that has a picture of the bank
building on it, which makes of the
monthly reckoner an attractive
well as a useful article.
Probably the finest calendars to be
distributed in Hermiston so far this
season is that bearing the name of
, Hitt's Confectionery. They are 1
large and carry a picture above the
calendar part depicting the retun 11 of
a soldier boy to his loved ones at
home.
FLOODS DAMAGED
ROADS IN COUNTY
County Commissioner Dunning has
been making a survey of the damage
sustained to roads from the recent
floods that caused washouts in sev.
oral places in Umatilla county. His
opinion is the damage to highways
will set the county back about $20 -
000 to $25,000.
The washout of the large fill cn
the old road leading into Stanfield
from this end of the county will cost
considerable to repair, but probably
the most expensive will be the re­
pair of the bridge and pavement near
Saxe, which were washed away by
the recent flood In Wild Horse can­
yon. Roads in the Milton-Freewater
section suffered from damage also.
It is said that all repairs now to
be made* to the damaged roads will
be of a temporay nature, just so they
will be passable. Permanent repairs
will not be made until the flood dan-
ger in the spring has passed.
Will He Run Again?
It is said that President Wilson
will disclose his intentions next week
regarding his altitude toward a third
term race for the presidency in a
message to be read at a Jackson day
banquet to be held in Washington.
D. C.. on the evening of January 8.
Quite a discussion was precipitated
at the weekly luncheon of the Com­
mercial Club at the Hotel Hermiston
Tuesday when the matter of the for­
mation of improvement districts on
the east and west side of town was
broached. The plan, as set forth,
was to establish a district on the east
side to run from the eastern city lim­
its west to intersection with Her­
miston avenue. taking in such terri­
tory as actually needed improvement
to streets and sidewalks. The other
district would extend out Hermiston
avenue to the western city limits.
Most of those owning town prop­
erty seemed to be in favor of the
districts, but it was different with
ranchers present who owned orchard
and alfalfa tracts that would be
heavily taxed by reason of improve­
ment of the thoroughfare in front or
through their tracts, and of course
they were desirous of ascertaining
where they were going to get off if
the improvement districts were or­
ganized. They held that the expense
for road improvement would set each
one of them back all the way from
$500 to $700.
This was admitted, but some of the
city fathers present thought possibly
the city should help those ranchers
by standing at least fifty per cent of
this expense. This philosophy evi-
dently did not fit well either, for at
this point the proposition of cutting
down the city limits was sprung by
one of the ranchers, the explanation
being that It was his judgment that
the boundaries of the town were al­
together too far reaching. The final
outcome was the passage of a motion
to appoint a committee to 1 ok into
the feasibility of reducing the city
limits and reporting their findings at
the het regular meeting.
The piece of sidewalk leading from
the library to the school house that
has been a dangerous eyesore during
the past two years was again brought
to the attention of the Club. This
had the effect of bringing the school
board out from under cover, to the
extent that p ssbly the walk will be
fixed by that body in the near future.
The real reason that this sidewalk
has been left so long in ita present
condition is that the school board
contended it was up to the city to fix
it. while on the other hand the city
held it was up to the school board to
do it.
The Club was notified of the bad
condition of the bridge across the
feed canal south of town, caused
from an ice jam during the recent
flood, and also that of the Butter
Creek bridge at Sheridan’s ranch.
which was moved by flood from it t
present position and was impassable.
The road and bridge, committee of the
Club is now looking into the matter
of having those repaired as soon as
possible.
Old H. C. L. brought up a discus­
sion of teachers’ salaries. The build­
ing of teachers’ cottages was also in­
cluded, but before those matters
could be brought to any concrete con­
clusion someone changed the subject
entirely by wanting to know if the
town was maintaining a sand pit by
allowing holes to be dug in the street
near the public library. Absolute
silence denoted that no one seeme 1
to know anything about this, and as
time was up the Club adjourned.
Adding New Members
The Embroidery Club had two
well attended meetings during the
holiday season, one at the home of
Mrs. H. E Hitt last week and the
He's a Booster
other at the home of Mrs. C. B. Per-
As a result of a visit to Portland
cey this week. The Club Is adding
new members weekly. Its regularía August Meyer Inst week Hermis-
meetings are held every Tuesday ton has prospects of another settler.
The gentleman who desires to come
evening
here to locate is H. E. Potter, who
In the classified columns of this is-
Poisoned Liquor Kills
see of The Herald states what he has
Twenty arrests have been made in to trade there for what he ‘wants
Massachusetts and Connecticut In here. In Wis letter to The Herald he
connection with the distribution of I tells of his meeting with Mr. Meyer
liquor containing wood alcohol, thusly.
which caused the deaths of at least
"Mr. Meyer was In this city last
67 men and women in the vicinity week, and was telling me about your
of Chicopee since Christmas.
country, so thought 1 would like to
I try it. He sure is some booster for
O. E. Blackwood, who is holding id country.”
down a position in Sawtelle’s jew-
elery store in Pendleton, passed the
New Year holidays here visiting with
Building Farm Residence
his family
O. O. Felthouse, well known Co­
lumbia District resident, la having a
Mr. and Mrs. A. W. Agnew and i house built on his ranch,
Mr. and Mrs. J. I. Agnew were New i basement and a concrete foundation
Year's day dinner guests at the are now being constructed by Henry
Netz, and on the completion of this
Cressy home In this city.
work the carpenters will begin the
erection of the building.
Subscribe for The Herald.