The Columbia Register.
Ari RrM wi Marc 1 u.
THAT ROCK CRU8HEK.
0
BLISUtU EVSBY rIOT
K. II. MITt'MKLL. K4lf e.
"kiiumpttow i .M r rr la !
Our Flagg Flops Overn Little,
Under the caption "Are our county officers thieves"
MOl'LTOX, ORE, MAKC11 24. the Oregon Mist reprints an article from the Columbia
Register. We here reproduce the article ami Mr.
Flags' s comment along with a few facts concerning
the Aurora No. 1 Rock Cruhcr:
W' truat wry man in Columbia county will wad the fol.
totting from the Columbia K-vUtcr:
County CvniuitMioner label it repairing tlie Irak in the
oU engine for the rvk erualivr. It appear aa though the
boiler m lef; latt tall with water in it and when the cold
nap came laat winter the crown ahcet waa Joreisl loo to the
extent that it l-aked. It ia posaible that the old Juuk can be
lmtchvd ui lor another campaign, but it never waa intended
to do duty aa a motive power (or an engine en the road or to
drive the cruaher. The aooner the county quit playing w It!)
Advert feint tmtr rrawnabl.
1-lagg defends the rock crusher
graft.
If your neighbor docs not read
June against grafter.
the Register, tell him he is missing
a good thing. Loan him this issue
....I ..! a M..l mlr crilvb.
. . i .1 c nf tl d quwtioa and geta down to bnalnrw, the U tter oil It
erart.de. It may 1 the "tear of I cruBlirp mJ UiJ do,n,WM ,n
getting him to subscribe, and ve Joultwn county in gold coin W00. It la aafe to av
need all the subscribers we can get tjt a private individual coukl now, or could at the time the
A suliscription to the Register mav I investment waa made, have duplicated the cruaher and en
be the means of getting a vote nrxt ! sine for $ITV. What became of the other $ia? The Regie.
let nay nave more 10 y on uiw uum-niug ivi hi
facta can be aacertained.
Here are the exact figures as taken from the records
in the clerk s office:
Aurora rock crnaher So. I. f. o, b, war in Chicago...! I W
Sexnd-hand engine, f. o. K car. lVtanl, , .. IDM
Freight on crnaUer from ChWc ind oa engine nd
ami cruaher from Portland to iloulton llrt
Water tank, etcetera W
Total I-'M
This does not include the roller which could have
been ruirclussd for $100, but cost alxmt $300, which
brings the sum total up to within $12 of the amount
i stated in round number, Wing $3000.
Brother Flagg never opens his mouth any more m
what he sticks his foot in it. His comment last week
follows:
"lit re la a direct charge that in a transaction of $ i000 the
aum of l:J0O waa grfu4 pr atolen by county officials. The
board at that time waa compu of Commissioner Colvin
and Caae and Judge Pon Mr. Colvin I tiit a DicrjilUT ?
the board, and Meafra. Caae and Poan are reaidenu of thli
county. The amount charged i so large in proportion to the
total parchaw price that ignorance of the value of mach'nery
can not I uwd aa an ajense. Mr. Colvin, in particular, i
a auccenaful bninea man wha U a j-'J informed a to the
ralue of machinery. If thi county Ipald flaw mar fcr til?
rock cnuher and engine than they were worth, it was hi
duty to know it and stop the atonl. Thi charge of Mr. Mitch
ell's should have HUM definite resnlt. We trust he w ill keep
hi word and probe the matter & the Iwttom. Of course he
must know what he la talking alwyt for Brc,' no "
would be so infamous aa to make such a nUUuilRt Ihrfiujsji
niallu OT partisanship. Generally bis charges are so vague
that no atUfctigo is paid to them, as they are believed to be
merely the wild fgs of an agitator, their only purpose
being to stir up strife. Ui tl froth that exudes from the
mouth of a mad dog, they are hut the only way to
prawnt the trothing is to kill -he dog he caw uU Injured.
But let it something direct and tangible, and either the
parties accused or th fine making the accusations should be
punished according to la, it i a matter for the attention of
the grand jury, and those who are olnwgal aitli malfeaaanre
in plfuT sltould demand that it be investigated by that body.
If ttila cjpty has been Koverned by thieves, the people have a
right to ktww it, Jf, on the other band, honest men have
been slandered, that k)mW be known."
The Register did not nay Ifjdt h? Qfiicers who
bought the crusher and engine were to bUnui if) lhs
matter. And in defense of them we think they acted
with pure tnotrvfS .and as honorable men so far as they
knew how. Mr. CotvHt not an active participant
in the purchase of the rock crM engine.
It appears that Columbia county is not at
the "gold brW rpek crusher graft." Here is an open
letter to the taxpayer f CJiehalis and Lewis county,
Washington," which we give Kh fi;JJ nd also a letter
from The Austin-Western Company, Ltd., wf citi
Conderm the fact that the crusher is the same as
the one bouglit iy ijfi county and the time of pur
chase, is not very far (fc time the Columbia
county experiment was made. Here u tk K'H lter
referred to:
Chthalis, Wash., Nov. 14, 1004.
To the Taxpayer of Chfhali 1 Lewis county:
Gentlemen and Othm: It i vjth pleasure you are
addressed on the stone crusher propi(tiiit, Wf hear
about "graft" and while you close one eye and wtnW
with the other, you that are interested, I merely ask,
Some two or three weeks ago we
called attention to a graft that had
been worked on this county by some
Portland agents in the matter of
selling this county a gold brick in
the shape of a rock crusher. This
week we give some of the inside
facts. There is more to follow. A
direct bribe of $100 was offered by
a certain party to a member of the
St Helens city council if the coun
cil would buy this same outfit. A
hrile of a sixty dollar wagon was
offered the city recorder of St Hel
ens if he could induce the city
to buy this same cmshcr outfit. Of
course they would not 1 bold
enough to go to the county court
and offer a bribe of any amount
No?
' Nunc pro tunc was the desire of
the Rainier city attorney for the St
Helens Flagg. A nunc pro tunc
order concerning the salary of the
Lewis and Clark commissioner
might be in order. The people of
the county do not approve of th
acts of the county commissioners in
the appointment of a president of
the Lewis and Clark dubs for this
county, and it Is a foregone con
clusion that this county will have
nothing for an exhibit without
some other measures than the pres
ent are taken to secure it Three
months' salary has been drawn
down with regularity and dispatch;
but no effort Is being made to se
cure the stock exhibit, or agricul
tural and horticultural exbilnt
Flagg should put his time id look
ing after the matter. And if be
does not take hold of it pretty soon
the commissioners had better with
draw the order appointing him and
enter an order nunc pro tunc for a
man who will do something. Of
course Flagg thinks he is entitled
to this because he was appointed
by the court But if the court
acted without sanction of law, then
his appointment is null and void.
The Register some time ago took up
the matter of getting a site for the new
court house. A block J00 feet long by
200 feet wide waa secured without one
dollar cost to the county. A warrantee
deed baa -been made and placed on file
for the use of the county. There is only
one condition made and that is that the
county shall within two years .accent
said site and commence the erection of j Mr. Taxpayer, that you read and reflect
a courthouse thereon. The proposed
site is a quarter of a mile from the Iloul
ton station. It has as fine natural
drainage as any pieee of ground in Col
umbia county. If selected and a court
house should be erected -therern, a city
of from five to ten thousand would be
built up where now there is nothing but
a lot of basalt rocks only tit for avo
roent and building sttne. If the court
house is not commenced within the next
sixteen months, another county scat
Cgbt will be on between St. Helens nd
GlaUkanie. This latter proposition we
do not care to see, but the1 people of the
county hare rights in the matter. It is
not a question as to the rights of a few
people iivmg on the river. Where will
the court house accommodate the mwt
people? On tl e river front or near the
railroad?
TJncle Sam is having a run of legal
bard luck. He was mulcted by the
sugar trust a few days ago in a Supreme
court decision which cost him $5,O0O,O00
and now the Cherokee Indians have
won out in a suit involving the payment
to them of $l,.r00.000. "Lo, the poor
Indian," down on the Cherokee strip,
must now be accepted figuratively and
not literally.
General Knropatkin does not need to
go all the way to Ft. Petersburg to ex.
plain how it happened. The Japs can
tell all about it.
Americans will soon begin to think
that, after all, they are not so far ahead
of the French at canal making.
Last spring thht city had some talk alout buying a
stone crusher. At that time th? city had no rock. It
was rather raw work to buy a cruhr tljen, so a pro
visional order was "worked" through the 'ewuuii J by
Beall & Co., and I suppose their "local agent," and
possibly by other interested, for a No. 1 Aurora rock
crusher, elevator and tierecn to 1e ordered of the Austin-Western
Co., Ltd., Chicago, 111. "agents," Price
very low (?), $1200, with plenty of time and Intereht,
of course. Why! say, that crusher was almotit given
to the city! Such anguish at the ridiculously low
price of $1200 was nearly enough to drive one crazy,
and if not tears of anguish, it must later have lxren
tears of joy. We will see.
In September Beall & Co., agent of the agents etc,
wrote the mayor and city council "insisting upon some
definite arrangement lxring made with us regarding its
shipment (the crusher), while the present council who
purchased it is in power." Why "the present coun
cil" is more than I can say, but subsequent events
may tell you plainer than I could or dared to do in a
letter. A couple of weeks later along comes a man
representing what is termed National crusher. He
wrote, I believe, all the council I know he did me
saying, "I would be willing to indemnify you against
all damages which they might claim."
He also said: "We will be glad to furnish you a
machine of equal merit for at least 25 per cent less
than what you have paid for the one already ordered."
He understood the city was7 to pay $1400 for the
crusher and equipment. This would have been a
saving of something like $4.'0 to Chehalis. This letter
was read in full by me to the council on Octolier 3 and
upon motion of Councilman West, "laid on the table."
A crusher was then ordered bought and the mayor
and clerk were authorized or empowered to sign a con
tract with the Austin-Western Co., Ltd., of Chicago,
for the purchase of the Aurora stone crusher, 14-foot
elevators and chute screen, which contract was kindly
passed up by a Beall & Co. agent of the Austin West
ern Co, to the uuyor, wboobligiugly signed the same,
ana as u was very marly r.', midnight. I desired time
to look the same over and refused to sign it just then
and have not done so yet.
lt struck me that there was somvthincr wron and I
set alnmt looking up prices and different crushers.
County Surveyor C.eigcr gave me OctoU-r fi some
valuable data, catalogues, and prices and I immedi
ately saw that the price was entirely too high, hence
my original letter. 1 also find that there are many
other crasher that stand wear and tear and I con
sider that they urc away ahead of this cast-iron framed
contraption. The Trradwcll Mining Companv wrote
me that they find the "Comet" crasher the best I
thought the people of Chehalis should know something
about the financial condition of Chehalis, and inciden
tally "stone crasher" facts, hence mv letter of OctoU-r
7 that apixurcd in the Bce-Nuggctt. 'and furnished the
other paper also. When lo! and behold! up jumped
Johnny Beall, from Portland, who tried to answer my
two little paragraphs of the week before in a letter to
"A. J. Long, locul agent for Beall & Co." In his
vamping and frothing he managed tosav nothing more
than "From Mr. White's actions it would seem to us
as though he was deeply interested from some unknown
reason in seeing the city buy a National crusher."
Poor Johnny! It is too bad that I should try to
block a rakeoff of from $ 100 to $(UK) in favor of the
city, isn't it? I never did know and do not know
whatjthe National crusher is sold at I had the price
of $370 mentioned in my letter from Mr. Oeigcr, coun
ty survPYnr,
Think I, Johnny, you Juvc (.truck the wrong one
thU time, and whl go to headquarters for prices on
juiir nwciuuc, it wmiui never have done to have
written direct, so hud my brother of Cottdersjwrt, Pa.,
write for prices to the Austin-Western Co.. Ltd.,
Chicago, III., uixm just exactly the outfit and to the
very same firm this city made its order to, and Ulow
you will see a copy of the letter he received, from
Chicago. Read it. Study it Figure on it, am) then
I U'heyt! you will lPVC Mil hlva wjiy I have been
threatened to have a head put on me ttccausc I have
endeavored to do my duty. I have a few other facts
relating to other crusher deal.-, that I will not take time
or space to speak alwnit just now.
In my correspondence other crusher mauufarturcrii,
not "JiicitU," luvK wfrivivn me, and one of them said:
"The No. 1 Aurora stone crusher is their !xH size,
and we happen to know that they are sold at all kinds
of prices. We have it from reliable authority that
sales have lwen nude as low as $('.00 for the "equip
ment that you describe in your letter, and that we
know ttwiii iUiai tikiiut4 tint Hple are continu
ally discarding machines of this tyje." I dcscriltcd
the cast iron outfit attempted to be" foisted upon Che
halis at $1200, with $21. "i freight added.
Some of those instrumental in procuring this crtisncr
0itjjt claimed, so I am informed, tljat tli mrl'Vuj"r
outfit cuuUi U hail V'lw'iiaV $cU0 V, m, bM
Aurora, 111. See letter to White & VunKuren, where
the cost of the outfit is placed
at .1317 .V)
Lew fl n-r cent for cafh in :tu days gold i good
anywhere . 21 .VI
Cash price 7i!2 II"
Or only $407 difference from the same rirm. ( dwt
klOT yhat this $J07 Is fr Unless it is foolwhw,
Call It that and not by a harsher name. Kindly draw
the mantle of charity over it, but come to the front
and pay your taxes just the same, and pay no atten
tion to city matters. Respectfullv,
S. C. WlilTK. City Clerk.
We Vjaye q qur pqsscssiqtj 3 fuKiiuulc letter of
which the following to"pyi
Chicago, 111., U. S. A.. Octolier 2 11)04.
Messrs. White & VanKuren. 'Coudersport, Pa.
GF.NTLKMF.N We are just in receipt of your
valued favor of the 22nd requesting catalogues and our
vtiv ht-if prire on the No. 1 Aurora rock cruder,
with elevator 14 It. long and chute srtcii.
We enclcse to you herewith special folder of the
Aurora crusher, and are pleased to make you the fol
lowing special price, f. 0. b, cars Chicago;
No. 1 Anrora crosdrr on sllds ffiTS 00
Trucks for mounting same, thus making it porta
ble m on
14 ft. elevator 0(1
Chute screen J7 50
T'i 3uTC constitutes the typical portable outfit. It
can be readily moved frqiu place tq place ynuwiU find
that it will give the very best of service. This ma
chine we sell under a guarantee which you will find
in the enclosed order blank governing this type of
machine. We are in position to make prompt ship
ment and hoj ihu nbqvi? (tcu, prie y merit your
order.
For cash within thirty days from date of invoice,
we will allow you a discount of three (U) per cent.
Kindly advise if you wish quotation on an engine for
running the alxn'e.
Trusting to hear from you favorably and by early
mail, we aFt, Yours truly.
THF. AU3TIN.WKSTKRN CO., LTD.
A. N, FITZSI.MMONS.
Now there is no frothing of a mad dog nor nothing
coming from a lunatic in the statements made, and if
Mr. Flagg will do the kindness to give his readers
these inside facts, they may take the matter up intel
ligently, and by and by we may get some good road
work in our county.
Now on the engine proposition we have not much to
say. The old rattle trap was a good one of its kind,
when new. Hut the first Buffalo Pitt traction engines
were like balky horses whenever the collar touched
the shoulder with a heavy load, they would rare up,
and have been known to tip up backward. The peo
ple of Iloulton remember how the contraption balked
and refused to haul the crusher why it even dug a
hole in the mud in front of Matthews' hotel as though
it would burry itself. A new engine that will haul
the crusher and this engine and its load can be pur
chased, 15-horse power, $1349; 12-horse, $1200 cash.
And it is our humble opinion, publicly expressed, that
the commissioners would do well to get rid of the old
junk of an engine at any price. The crusher, although
costing more thau it should, may answer the purpose
of the county for several years.
Do not try to frighten us, Brother Flagg, with
threats of a grand jury, for really we are in hopes the
Judge will call one next May.
iG A SIL Al
ONHOF THK F1NFST THOROrCHBRKI) COWS OWNF.D
m the Pacific Noithwcst U GASH. A, represented in the cut
above. GASILA is a prie winner. She took find, premium
on butter test at the Oregon State Fair iuthc years ltxX), W01,
PK)2, and in VM won the silver cup showu In cut.
She also won first premium in Washington State Fair in compe
tition of all hiccds on butter test, tiasila is 13 years old and ha
dropped 12 calves. Mr. West owm one of the finest stock
ranchcMii Oregon. It is locukd near Scappoose this countv.
...
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' y,;.,V-.'.-.
i 1 '
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it
-. : - . 1 v-i--- " ,
Silver Cup Won by Gasila
1 ' A
1
.
J. ,
-'.: ' -; .... V
S. M. Rice & Son,
Vegetable and Meat Market
t
RAINIEIt,
ORICGON,
WholcMnle mid retail dciilern In home grown meotft
find vcuetuhlcn. 1 Ilutient cimli price paid for ntoclc
In condition to l 1 1 1.
J. W. HAGGIN,
Paper Heinger,
Painter rmd Decorator.
RAINIER, : OREGON.
A TIE PASS for EVERY HOIK)
WHO WIHHKS TO
-ATTEND THE EXPOSITION -
AND A
!Fi rst - Class NEWSPAPER
At a DOLLAR A YEAR Is what Is offered by 1
THE COLUMBIA REGISTER.
Li X3Cr?4 I
1 a k inss!4
. - 4 tl
Our NEW PRESS FACILITIES elves us a GREAT ADVANT-
ACE OVER OUR COMPETITORS. We are now prepared
to PRINT anything you wain 1 Trom a
One-Line Calling Card
TO A
Whole Sheet Bill For a Show.
For COMMERCIAL WORK wo can HAVE YOU MONEY over PORTLAND
PRIOKH AND OUR WORK IS FIRST-PL A KH.