Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989, December 11, 1916, Image 4

Historic Oregon Newspapers

Medford mail tribune., December 11, 1916, Page 4, Image 4

Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR

About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 11, 1916)

Prev Page of 6 Next Prev Issue Next Text PDF JP2 (2.6 MB) Clip/Print Image

Return to Top

Prev Page of 6 Next Prev Issue Next

Newspaper Page TextJT jiirjUrunu jviAiu ininiiivr), Aiciyrwiu;, wui'iuw. iui;.M;,u iiia r..u i-r.u 11, i.m ii ilEDFORD MAIL TRIBUNE AN INnKI'BNUKNT NEWSPAPER PUBUSHKH EVKRY AI'TEHNOUN EXCEPT BUNHAY 11Y THE MEUFOHU PHINT1NO CO Office Moll Tribune nulhUng. 25-27-28 North Kir Htreol; t?leilunu lb. Tim Liemoprnllo Times, the Medford Mall. The Mmifnrd Tribune, The Bouth. rn Oiesonluil Tim Anlllulld Tribune. GKOHOB PUTNAM, Editor , ffUBSOBrPTIOHBTEII One ywir, by muil IS-J One muntll, by innll..... tv Per month, dt-llvered by currbM- In Medford. Phwnix, Jacksonville ml Ventral Point fsr-turduy only, by mail, per ycur.... 2. no Weekly, per yeur , 1 -&0 Official 1'nper of the City of iUdford. Official Paper of Jackson County. Entered UH Becond-clriHM inutler at Medford, Or- Bon. under lhi act of .Muruh , 187S. Sworn Circulation for 19152466 Full leased Wire Ansocluted PrcHS dispatch. EM-TEES CriHlSTMAS AT 1IOMI5. By CHAUI.ES II. UKISCOM,. "Are you coming liomo for Christ mas?" wroto a widow to hor son. Ho slKhcd, and shoved tlio lotter In his pocket, As ho murmured, "Yes, I ought to, but I'd in Iks a lot of fun, . And my Sally would go skyward Wic 8 rocket!" Now this Sally Is a chicken villi n peek of scrambled hair. And her eyelid Is a slowly moving curtain; When she looks at Hob ho muttcrB, "Alabastor! She's a bear! My goat Is In her paddock now for certain!" . So Hobble talked with Sal awhile, and this is what ho wrote: "Dear Mother How I'd like to grace your table! And how I hato to loll you in this hurried llttlo note That I've Just received a very prenB- Inn cable! The boss can't do without me, so he called me lip to say That I'll have to spend tho holidays in Turkey; So I hope you'll have a very, very merry Christmas day, Though for mo the sky may look a little murky!" Bob's still carrying that letter In a pocket of his vest, And I hope ho'll still havo gensc : enough to burn it, Bron though IiIb sea-eyed Sally puts his mettle to tho test By gazing at his head as if to turn It! . . , Congress Is now In sesBlon. The bakers ought to 'no ablo now to cook up a good excuse to raise tho price of doughnuts still higher on account of the shoilbge of nir for tho holes. I1 YOU KNOW You can't drown a goldfish and you can't g'.vo lilm too much witter? A Toledo wonder has InvcnteJ r. machine that Is much supcrlo.' tlun nature's method for splitting pens. Ills machine makd: a much thinner split and saves tho splits. Ho finds the splits siivcd from 507 peas is equal to 2 1-8 peas, , If a guinea pig had a tail like u peacock and could wag it, he'd find it would be easier to wag himself than the tail. A Dos Moines native Is about to give lo tho worl.1 lilt reinnrhnh.'o epocli inaHng discovery a seh'-slurt-Ing spoun. e . Rubbing the face nil over tho sea;) Isn't any morn conomlrul thai) r ib blng the soap all over the face. Very few farmers use a lieHt egg for raiding cggpU:iU. A I.onlhvllel mechanic lias per fected a machine for boring boles in butter. It 1 sthotight by master me chanics tills machine, solves tho but ter boring problem. Ol'lt OWN' TK.W KMKJI'K. Wooweoliloo Is one ot tho queer est provinces of Ashtray. Tho roads nil run sideways and the mountains are so low It is hard to detect them from tho rest of tho laud. I On account of the meadows being1 fo narrow and riinnlng'ln one direc tion the cows aro so thin they aren't even lean. When the cream from these cows Is churned it produces drawn but ter. CHRISTMAS St(;fiKSTIOXS. A silver mounted Kngllsh walking stick or a birycle would luako an ap propriate gift fcr your friend In tho penitentiary. , Onco upon a tyme a woman hnked a cake and found no fault with ye cake. There was nothing wrong with j oven or yo frosting. OUK STI CK, J . "Inspector Itafterty characterized the case ns the most remarkable lie: bad over dealt with." I WAR AGAINST ENGLISH SPARROWS THE LEAGUE OF AMERICAN SPORTSMEN has declared a nation-wide campaign against the Eng lish sparrow. The war is to last at least three years, by which time it is hoped these pests, if not completely exter minated, will be so reduced in numbers that it will take many years for the survivoi's to recuperate to anything like the sparrow population of today. The federal bird census shows that in many portions of the country English sparrows now outnumber all native birds, and are rapidly replacing the useful and needed American song birds. Only the robin has been able to hold his own against the discordant, destructive, filthy, pug nacious hyphen. "Wrens, bluebirds, orioles, martins, mock ing birds, warblers, vireos and many other song birds are being driven away and exterminated by this imported nuisance which destroys vegetation and fruit, as well as works havoc in grain fields. Garrett P. Serviss, one of the best-known naturalists in the country, says that "the English sparrow has not one redeeming feature," and his opinion is echoed by all who have studied the matter. Even the federal government is taking a hand in the warfare and advises extermination as essential to the protection of the fanner and the elimina tion of insect pests. , ' The principal method of carrying on the war will be by trapping, and under proper police authority, shooting. The United Stales biological survey, "Washington, de scribes several successful traps in .Farmers' Bulletin, No. 49.'5, which cm be had upon application. Sparrows feed in flocks, and when assembled large numbers can lie killed by a charge of No. 10 or VI shot. They can be baited by grain scattered over long narrow areas. Good results can also be obtained by shooting them when they congregate to roost after nightfall. Sparrows are very suspicious, and a wounded bird will spread terror among others but baiting soon attracts them back. English sparrows are already becoming plentiful in the Rogue River valley, though mostly confined to the towns. However, they are rapidly spreading into the country, and unless the warfare is begun against them, will soon drive away our native songsters, to the loss of our or chardists and farmers. IRRIGATION OBJECTIONS. T N A COMMUNICATION printed elsewhere, -Attorney -I A. E. Reames summarizes objections to the proposed ir rigation district. Like nil who oppose the creation of the district, he purprots to be in favor both of irrigation and the district plan, but opposes this particular plan and there is none other in sight. No matter what plan is of fered there will always be objec.tors and if we halt be cause of them, we will continue to lose each year in crops more than the entire cost of an irrigation system. Mr. Reames thinks the government engineers estimates are wrong, and that because arid lands of eastern Oregon require an excessive quantity of water, the semi-arid soils of this district will require similar quantity., lie doubts that an adequate supply can be procured. AH these issues are beside the mark and for determination later. The present question is the election of five director for the (ration of the irrigation district and these directors will investigate and settle the problems raised by objectors. The amount of water required by land depends alto gether upon the soil. The arid, volcanic ash of eastern Oregon cannot be compared with the clay loams of the Rogue river valley and the experience of those who have irrigated here furnish a satisfactory base upon which to work. This is out' of many problems the directors of the proposed district must work out and all the people are asked to do at the present time is to give them an oppor tunity to begin. Before the 'million dollar plaster" referred to by Mr. Reames, is put upon the distinct, the directors and the land owners will be assured both that they are going to secure sufficient water and that the supply is permanent. But to get anywhere, we must begin, and that is what the land owners are asked to do at the election, make n beginning. COMMUNICATIONS STOP as you pass llaskin's Drug Store "Window and sec the MYSTERIOUS GIRL in the BLACK MASK DO YOU ENOW HER? She says: "I am looking for a Husband, but he Must Use a DURHAM DURHAM DUPLEX GET THIS $5 Durham Duplex Razor for $1.00. HASKINS for HEALTH To The Editor: I had promised myself 'to keep out of this discusslun as to the creation of the proposed irrigation district. This letter Is directed particularly to the statements In the editorial of this morning's Sun. I do not propose to sit quietly by and be called a liar as to the statements heretofore made by me in regard to the water Bupply .of tho Canal Company. This same campaign of vlllificatlon of everybody who opposes the so-called public- en terprise, was worked to a finish in a recent bond election. The public has a right to know the facts and a man ought to bo permitted to state them without being made the subject of pub lic vindication. Personally I am in favor of irrigation; likewise I am in favor of an irrigation district for those whose lands require Irrigation. I ain not writing this letter as an at torney for any client, I feel that the public ought to know tho real situa tion. The lines of the proposed district are drawn according to the survey of the Canal company. The district will probably tit any other water system than that of the Canal company. If an irrigation district is to be created It ought to bo created with reference to the lands to be irrigated and not to fit some system. It Is tho pussy-foot campaign that has been conducted and is being conducted In behalf of this scheme that makes me draw tho con clusion that It is an effort of the Can al company to unload. If we are go ing to create an Irrigation district, create It fur thoso lands that want it aud need it and not according to the contours of some Irrigation company. Now, ns to whether tho Canal com pany has sufficient water: this water In litigation and no sane investor would invest a million dollars, which this bond issuo culls for, with titles In their present condition. ,Vo Confidence. Government Itonort I do not have confidence In govern ment reports ns to water supply be cause I know the manner in which they aro made. They arc not intend ed to be anything but preliminary and advisory and upon no complete data. How much water does the Canal company propose to give In acre feet per acre for this J40.00 per acre? Ac cording to tho literaturo being circu lated it certainly cannot be over one aero foot. The Slate Water nonrd In Its recent decision adjudicating the waters to the "Rogue River Valley farmers on, these various streams gave, almost universally, in the neighborhood of throe acre feet, and found this necessary. In some In stances it gave moro, Tho Tunialo Project. Tho amount ot water for the Tu nialo project was fixed by a court docree at 1.8 acre feet per acre. This is what is finally said upon that subject in the report thereon made Dorember 19, 1914: "In the adjudication of water rights of Tumalo creek the duty or water was placed at 1.8 acre feet from April 15 to October 15 of each year. This would hardly seem ade quate to meet the requirements for the soil conditions on such projects as the Tumalo. Therefore tho desert land board has adopted rules and regulations for tho operation and maintenance and distribution of water on the Tunialo project whereby they flxc.il the duty of water at 2.23 acre feet during tho same season. In order that no controversy might oc cur and in order that the duty of water, as fixed by tho courts may be revised it would seem advisable that some legislative action he taken along theso linos." In culms wi:n the amount nf water required, K. W. Allen, superin in the report of February 1916 said: tendent of Umatilla Experiment farm "The duty of irrigation w.-.ter on coarse, sandy soiW is very low. Un der avorago farm conditions on the Umatilla, project, approximately eight acre feet of water is 'being used. Tho application of eleven to twolve feet of water is not uncommon upon coar ser soils. Alfalfa should have not less than seven feet, according to present observations. The duty of water on such soils can be raised and kept at a somewhat higher point by frequent nddition of organic matter In conslderabl'3 quantities." Tho soils upon which tho above experiments were mado were largely of medium sand. The government in its Klamath project allowed two acre feet per acre; the farmers now have to buy the additional water required. Some are buying as much as four acre feet additional at high prices. Frank Adams, with a large meadow, is compelled to take it out this year on account ot not being able to pay the charges for the excess water. The instances are cited, not because they are necessarily parallel but to show how different are the water require ments of one soil from those of another. Government Xevep Said It The government never said that there was water available for 20,000 acres under the Rogue River Vallep Canal company's B.vstom. In the re port so much quoted it said: "No con tinuous record of the run-off ot the lake (Fish lake) has been kept and only a few miscellaneous measure ments are available." It then deais with the run-off of Four Mile lake which it shows to be less than G000 acre feet, and says: "Just why two adjacent drainage areas such as those of Four Mile lake and Fish lake should have such wide ly different run-offs is hard to ex plain, but it Is presumed that a por tion of the drainage area as Indicated by the surface, of the ground is in reality tributary by under-drainage to either F1sh lake on the south or the South Fork of Big Butte creek on the north." If the government's engineers had had a little more time to investigate they probably would have found that the big springs at Pelican Bay lodge are made by the underground seepage from Four Mile lake. At least the engineer's state ment quoted is significant as to whether the lake will hold water for storage. The government report then concludos that there would he a pos sible storage at Fish lake of 20,000 acre feet and at Four Mile lako of 12,000 acre feet, making 32,000 acre feet subject to a decrease, it says, of as much as 25 per cent In low years. So with the plain statement that no accurate records of the run-off from Fish lake are availablo and that those In 1914 and 1915 as to Four Mile lake show less than 0,000 acre feet, it would appear that the conclusion is- being drawn that these two sources would furnish 32,000 acre feet, which would be one acre foot per acre for 32,000 acres. Yet, the state water board has been decreeing to the far mem in this section, as I have said, at least three aero feet. It Is possible that upon some soils, such as adobe planted to orchard one and one-half acre feet would be suf ficient, but no man In his right senses would buy less than five acre feet for alfalfa. Water Sold for 10,000 Acres It must also be considered that the Canal company has sold water for : 0,000 acres out of this same system under prior contracts. You may think you will alwr.ys grow orchards and that orchards re quire less water than other crops, hut you are making a bond Issue for a ptrmaneut water supply and tho wat er which you buy ought to be But(!c lent to grow any kind of crops adapt ed to that particular soil. I shall not have time to follow up this discussion nor to answer every body who jumps on to mo for these sutements. However, I feel that I have done my d'liy in pointing to the sources ot information which are available to the farmers. We spent tre summer In the trial of one ques tion, to-wit: tho duty of water on lands ot two distinct character.!, namely: marsh lauds and uplands planted some to meadow und some to rlfalfa. It was shown that the uplail users whose clay and loam lauds iifd gravel sub-soil used as uuch as fou? 'acre feet per acre in each alfalfa irri gation. The court has Just entered jits decree and gives the farmers 4.S acre feet per acre for these lands and I seriously doubt ltB being suffic ient. The slate water board had given them three acre feet per acre. Before you put a million dollar planter on these lauds find out that you are going to get enough water !ner acre during the irrigation season and that the supply is permanent, tho works indestructible and that you will not have any conflict "arising from prior outstanding . contracts which would huve a first call upon the water. A. K. IIF.AMES,. Spend the Holidays at Home The eeonoinieal time of the year to travel. Holiday.' round-trip fares allow longer return limits than at any other time of 'the vear. Christmas Holidays between all points in Oregon; also from all Southern Pacific ooints to Washington und l'a ho Dee. 22 to 25 inclusive. Re turn limit Jan. 3. Between Ore gon und California Points Dec. 21 to 23 inclusive. Return limit 15 days. Ne w YearsHoliday s ; Between all"points lifOregon.ii Dec. 30 to Jan. 1st inclusive. Return limit Jan. 3rd. Oregon to California points Dec. 2C to ' 28 inclusive. Return limit 15 dnys. "Write or ask local agent JOHN M. SOOTT, General Passenger Agent Portland, Oregon ' SOUTHERN PACIFICHLINES; Absolutely Removes ndigestion. One package - ' r-'"r ol rlnin-rrists. JOHN A. PERL UNDERTAKER Lady Amlstnnt 88 S. nARTLETT rhono M. 4"in nil 47-J-3 Automobile Hearse Service. P5 DJ THE TOYS THAT CAPTURED MAN QUACffif BOGDlBm" BMf DADBIB Are in Our j, Window COME TO ' SEE - JHEtA The ToysareTthe', WISEST, FUNNIEST and HAPPIEST ever "made and theirTBook'is'as wise and funny and ood as they are. Every Child will want the Book and the Toys H Medford Book Store MMiS OUT COLDS MEDFORD ' Vulcanizing Works All work guaranteed. Auto Tire Kepairingi "We sell 1'isk and Mieh elin Tires. 36 South Grape St. Medford Automobiles Overhauled We have one of the most up-to-date machine shop for automobile work in Southern Ore gon and can take care of your wants along that line with accuracy From now on is the worst part of the winter and is the time to have the work done. Bring in your car and have it overhauled while you are not using it, and you may leave it the bal anoe of the bad weather on free storage. We also carry a good line of supplies: Firestone Tires, Spot Lights, Rear Lights Mirrors, Oils, Greases, aad RED CROWN GASOLINE POWER AUTO CO.