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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.