*
Entered at Vernonia, Oregon,
Postoffioe as Second-Class Matter.
in County Local 40 at 8 Voilore March Sees More
First Half of I 6 iG , Cows
Tested in February Stages Large ‘'Wreck” Employment In The
Taxes Are Due
Pacific Northwest
Here On Saturday
County Taxes Are Higher Than
Last Year
Valuation Is Increased
Vernonia Has The Highest
Special City Tax In
The County
The sum of $1,046.134.25 is
now due towards tht tax of Co
lumbia county, beginning Monday
March 7. The levy is slightly high
er than that of last year.
The first half of the tax must
be paid before May 5, and inter
est will be charged after that date.
Taxpayers must pay their amount
in full since it simplifies the book
keeping and reduces the expense
of collections.
The total amount of taxes has
been raised over last year by about
$9000. The general fund has been
increased from 13.2 mills to 13.8
mills for 1927. The general road
fund has been raised slightly from
3 mills to 3.5 mills.
Six districts have a special road
tax which will net a total of $119.-
166.50 District No. 5, 7 mills; No.
6. 10 mills; No. 7. 10 mills; No. 8,
10 mills; No. 9. 10 mills; No. 16.
6 mills.
During 1926 nine dis
tricts raised $147,922.62 by special
tax.
Vernonia has the highest special
city tax of 34.9 mills. Columbia
City comes next with 25 mills.
The four union high schools will
raise less money this year, the to
tals being $91,370.25 for 1927
against $104.024.68 for 1926.
Seven drainage districts levy tax
es on the acreage within their dis
tricts.
The fire patrol tax levy
is .12 mill against .105 mill for
1926.
The total assessed valuation for
Columbia county is $21.428.645,
which is an increase of almost one
million dollars over last year. The
valuation of Vernonia is $430,700.
:an increase^ of $4.735 over last
year.
The county assessor, ,W. S. Rob
erts. has turned the rolls over to
.the sheriff for collection.
Mrs. Sarah Spencer entertained
the Woman’s Missionary society
with a basket dinner at her home
Wednesday of last week. Thirteen
visitors and 27 members enjoyed
the social hour and good eats. The
society will meet April 6 in the
social hall of the church.
All
members andfriendsareinvited
members and friends are invited to
come and bring their baskets for
a “Pot Luck” supper.
The Missionary society of the
Evangelical church held an all
day meeting Wednesday of last
week at the home of Mrs. David
Spencer.
At noon about 40 la
dies sat down to a bountiful re
past, after which the business meet
ing was held followed by an in
teresting program.
A pair of carrier pigeons were
let loose in front of Miller’s store
Thursday and all school children
were asked to guess how long they
would be in flying back to their
home on the Sperry flour mills
tower in Portland.
A collision between a motorcycle
•driven by W. Parker and a Buick
coach driven by C. D. Thomas of
the Thomas garage occurred Fri
day evening at the entrance of the
O.-A. hill.
Both vfehicles were
slightly damaged.
Monday, March 7, was “Daddy's
night” at the P.-T. meeting and
the program was in charge of
E. S. Thompson, who secured C.
Merton, treasurer of the Miller
Mercantile company store, who
gave an address on his European
trip. A packed auditorium listen
ed with great appreciation. He dis
played the flags of the various
nations, also souvenirs and pictures
of the most noted places. The pic
ture of Mount Vesuvius in erup
tion and bits of lava rock were
the center of interest.
Miss Mildred, Bell of Vernonia
has had her name placed on the
freshman scholarship cup at the
University of Oregon for having
the highest grades of the fresh
man class last year.
«S’"
Vol. 5, No. 31
VE tNONIA. OREGON, THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 1927
A total of 610 cows were tested
during the month ol' February ac
cording to the report of L. J. Bar
tholomy, the tester. Their average
production was 707 pounds of milk
and 27.8 pounds of butterfat. Sev
enty cows produced moi. than 40
pounds of butterfat during the
month. Seven cows were weeded
out and sent to the butcher.
For pure bred herds under II
cows, Jack Anliker of Goble was
first with an average production of
1120 punds of milk and : 9.0
pounds of batterfat for his five
registered Holsteins.
Rudy Anli
ker of Goble was second with an
average production of 1011 pounds
of milk and 38.0 ppunds of fat
for his three registered Holst ins.
Fritz Anliker of Goble was third
with an average production of 1133
pounds of milk and 36.1 polin '- of
butterfat for his four registered
Holsteins.
For the grade ' herds under 11
cows, Bill Widmer of St. Johns was
first with an average production of
658 pounds of milk and 27.7
pounds of fat for his five grade
Holsteins.
E. J. Brocks of Cor
nelius was second with an average
production of 533 «pounds of milk
and 27.2 pounds of fat for his sev
en grade Jerseys. B. S. Golden of
Goble was third with an average
production of 542 pounds of milk
and 25 pounds of fat for his three
grade Jerseys.
For the pure bred herds of over
10 cows, Hammer Bros, of Deer
Island were first with an ave -age
production of 1112 pounds of milk
and 37.4 pounds of fat for their
20 registered Holsteins. Lyons &
Dimmick of Sauvies Island were
second with an average production
of 1144 nounds < f milk and 36.6
pounds of fat for their 25 regis
tered Holsteins. Behrmann & Bur
bank of Cornelius were third with
an average production of 632
pounds of milk and 32.7 pounds of
fat for their 21 registered Jerseys.
For grade herds of more than
10 cows, Beeson Bros, of Clats
kanie were first with an average
production of 717 pounds of milk
and 34.4 pounds of fat for their
27. grade Jerseys and grade Guern
seys.
Herman Leibenow of Cor
nelius was second with an ave -age
production of 651 pounds of milk
and 34.35 pounds of fat for his
11 grade Jerseys.
Fred Uhman
of Scappoose was third with an av
erage production of 783 pounds of
milk and 32.2 pounds of fat for
his 19 grade Holsteins and grade
Guernseys.
The high pure bred cow of the
association for February is Sena,
a registered Holstein, six years
old, owned by Ilimmer Bro
at
Deer Island. She gave 1952 po inds
of milk and 60.5 pounds of fat
during the month of February’.
The high grade cow of the as
sociation is Bigun, a five-yea -old
grade Holstein, owned by Beeson
Bros, of Clatskanie. Sic gave 1509
pounds of milk and 78.5 pounds of
fat during the month of February.
Gfiners! Frank Aiken
Visits F. McSarron
General Frank Aiken, command
er in chief of the Irish Republic
army, that for several years har
assed the British army in Ireland
was a visitor at the home of F.
McBarron 'recently. General Aiken
is Eamon De Valera’s personal re
presentative in America. He was
accompanied on his visit by J.
Creegan secretary of the Portland
branch of the American Society
for the Recognition of an Irish
Republic.
At the council
eting Monday
night many complain ts were beard
which took up much of the soTons'
time.
Bills were n:assed on and
a disagreement with the marshal
over hie duties str;aizhtened out
satisfactorily.
Bids for the lm-
pro-ement bonds wi 11 be opened
Monday. Wr\ Prir” ■ asked per
mission to b'ild a smell building
next to the V.'hi’ ■ I umh. It was
referred to the fire b nd water eom-
mittee for action.
E. S. Thomp-
son was appointed on the park
board to succeed Wm. Pringle, re-
signed.
Mr. and Mrs. Wm Warner sold
the Horseshoe rr«ta urant to Mr.
and Mrs. T. C. Bum s, formerly of
Enid, Okla., the fir t of the week.
Mr. Warner says thley are unde-
cided as to their future location.
Vernonia Voiture 907, La Societe
des 40 Hommes et 8 Chevaux, in
itiated 13 candidates at their first
“wreck” of the year here Satur
day night. Part of the fun was
staged on the main business street
and in a local dance hall for the
benefit of the public.
Visitors from out of town who
were present for the initiation were
G. W. Wells. George Consky, Mel
vin Wilson. Shirley Kirtland, Sheri
dan; Matt Matheny. Geo. Parker,
Loren P. Davis, Jake Hammel, Al
bany; Neil Morfitt. R. H. Hoskins,
Dick Smith. Mike Cosovick and L.
Wadsworth of Astoria.:
THE HIGH SCHOOL AFFAIRS
There is a great deal of sick
ness among the high school pupils
at this time. Some are out on ac
count of mumps and others suffer
ing from an attack of the flu.
Phe sophomore play is meeting
with its share of reverses. From
two to four of the characters In
the play have been absent each
day during the past two weeks.
This play will probably be post
poned until after the senior play
is given.
These are busy days for the sen
ior class. Their play, the annual,
the commencement program, and
their daily recitations make up a
full program for the remainder of
the school year.
Referring to the seniors, one fac
ulty member has made the state
ment that this year’s class ranks
veiy high intellectually. The sen
iors, of course, are quite ready, to
agree with such a statement. In
deed, the members of the class
have thought that this was true
for some time.
The civics class has just about
completed their text book.
The
work in this subject will be sup
plemented by reports made by r*it
class on outside problems connect
ed with community life. Two weeks
will also be given to the study of
etiquette.
C. Merton, treasurer of the Mil
ler Mercantile company, made a
very interesting talk Monday ev
ening in the high school auditorium
on his tour of Europe. Mr. Mer
ton was the speaker at a meeting
of the Parent-Teacher association.
It is regrettable that the entire
high school student body could not
have heard his talk, since It was
truly an educational one.
The next social occasion in the
high school will probably be the
annual banquet for the boys and
girls who have participated in bas
ketball during the season just end
ed.
The school board and their
families will no doubt be honor
guests as they were last year.
This is the one really formal func
tion of the school year.
April 8 is visitors day at the
Washington school.
The teachers
have prepared a special program
and exhibit of the pupils’ wort.
W. O. W. Receive Praise ..
For High Membership
One of the most progressive of
our local orders is Vernonia Camp
655, Woodmen of the World. Hav
ing its beginning in January of
this year with but 16 members,
the local lodge now boasts a mem
bership of 72. and was given hon
orable mention in the Pacific
Woodman as being the highest in
point of new members in the
month of February in the state of
Oregon.
Many interesting entertainments
are being planned for the near fu
ture.
A ladies auxiliary, namely
“Women of Woodcraft” is in the
process of organization, and will
soon be a reality. This camp meets
at the grange hall every Monday
evening at 7:30 and every meeting
is enlivened by something new and
entertaining.
There is no horse
play permitted at initiations. The
candidates enjoying the work of
the degree team as well as the
older members.—Contributed.
The Birkenfeld second basketball
team played Vernonia’s second
team Friday night, losing 11 to
it. The Vernonia first team won
fr< m the Birkenfeld first team
53 to 0.
J. Roswurn was injured by a
fall at the O.-A. mill Wednesday.
It is not definitely known how bad
ly he is hurt.
Mr. and Mr». J. O. Cameron
and Mr. and Mrs. J. Kell of Hood
River spent Saturday and Sunday
with their brother S. Cameron.
Portland, March 7.—Compared
with last month at this time em
ployment in general throughout the
Pacific northwest has shown a sub
stantial increase, althougti employ
ment levels in various industries
are not so high as they were in
March 1926, according to the 4L
employment letter published here.
The letter points out that there
were fewer night shifts at work
in either fir or pine sawmills than
was the case one year ago. Re
ports to the 4L office from some
of the more important employment
centers of the northwest were as
follows:
Portland — Fewer unemployed
here than in February. Reopening
of several logging camps has help
ed the situation. Lumber produc
tion normal.
Raymond - South Bend, Wn.—
More resident labor now unemploy
ed than has been the case at any
time in three years. Logging about
60 per cent active. Sawmill indus
try also on a slow bell.
Aberdeen-Hoquiam, Wash.—Log
ging about 70 per cent active. Sev
eral shingle mills and cedar camps
down on account cf shingle weav
ers strike. Clamming season in full
swing with hundreds employed on
the beaches and in factories.
Tacoma—More men than jobs
here. All but one sawmill operat
ing.
Major logging camps busy.
Labor turnover light.
Seattle—Logging in this district
85 per cent capacity.
Railroads
putting some extra gangs to work.
Number of unemployed has de
creased in the past month.
Spokane—Pine sawmill activity
in the inland empire gradually In
creasing. Woods work is at sea
son’s peak.
Log driving will be
earlier than usual. Unemployment
here fewer than in February.
Klamath Falls, Or.—Most of the
major sawmills here are still down.
Few camps running.
Large sur
plus of both skilled and unskilled
help in this district.
Vernonia To Have
$100,000 Bui'ding
Construction of a $100,090 bus
iness building here was announced
recently by the Acord Real Estate
and Mortgage company, a newly
incorporated concern. The building
will be designed by E?ri B. Cash,
Portland architect. It will be 100
by 150 feet and located next to
the Bridge on the north side of
Bridge street. It will be two stories
in height. The structure will be
of concrete and brick construction.
Serious Damage Is Done
By Bean and Pea Weevil
The bean and pea weevil is the
most serious stored food product
pest Oregon farmers have to deal
with, informs on C. Mote, entomol
ogist of the experiment station.
It causes an annual loss of mil
lions of dollars.
Bean and pea
crops are fumigated with carbon
bisulfide to control this insect.
Beans and peas are first attack
ed by the weevil in spring when
pods are forming.
The female
weevil
flies
about
the
plant
and lays whitish eggs, either on
the outside or within the devel
oping pods.
White gTubs hatch
from the eggs and burrow into
the tender young peas and beans,
where they remain until the seeds
reach maturity. The hole formed
heals over and is not seen.
In
this cavity the grub becomes full
grown, pupates, and changes to
adult. Thus many seeds that ap
pear in excellent condition really
have weevil grubs hidden Inside
them.
Time to fumigate is before put
ting the bean and pea crop Into
permanent storage.
Infested ma
terial is placed in a gas-proof con
tainer and treated with carbon bi
sulfide. This is poured into shal
low trays and placed on top of
the seed. The container is tightly
covered and the gas allowed to
act 24 to 36 hours. Two table
spoonfuls of carbon bisulfide so
lution is the proper amount for
a 5-gallon container.
The gas
from the liquid is heavier than
air and settles in all parts of the
fumigator.
Extreme care is nec
essary in keeping away all flame
and sparks as the chemical is high
ly explosive.
Florida’s Finances
Are In Good Shape
(By A. D. Moe)
Miami, Fla., Feb. 16, 1927.
We are getting settled here and
beginning to know the way around
town. While we think of the folks
at home in the rain, or snow, or
perhaps keeping the fires going at
night in the event of a cold snap,
we are sitting in our screen porch,
dressed in the lightest summer
clothes, looking out across green
lawns, and listening to the singing
of the birds. A few flowers are
beginning to bloom, and the trees
left standing after the hurricane, er
those which have been pushed back
up and held upright with stakes,
are putting out new leaves.
In
a year’s time they will have fully
recovered, and the new trees plant
ed will have made a good start. In
the back yards are gardens with
tomatoes, squash and beans getting
ripe, with lettuce, onions and all
sorts of green stuff. We have al
ready forgotten about winter.
It
is July and August weather here
now. Yesterday and today we have
had showers, with one heavy down
pour and a distant rumbling of
thunder, but the sun comes out
again in a few minutes, and it is
over, yet it cools the atmosphere
somewhat.
All of the summer vegetables
that we get at home are in the
market fresh from the winter gar
dens. Ripe tomatoes are especially
fine. Very good looking strawber
ries are on sale, selling from 60
cents to $1 a hallock. They are
raised only in a few localities and
cannot supply the demand.
Pine
apples from Cuba sell at 25 cents
to 35 cents each. Those raised in
Florida are quite small.
Inquiries disclose the fact that
the normal number of winter tour
ists are here. The hotels are well
filled, as well as apartment houses,
yet many signs are displayed all
over the city for rooms for rent.
Accommodations have been doubled
since last year, I am informed,
which accounts for many vacancies.
There is an absence of the spec
ulators and boomers this winter,
however.
The bubble has burst,
and the “binder boys” have sought
other occupations. Many evidences
of collapsed real estate projects
can be seen in the edges of many
towns we passed through in our
drive over the state, some out in
the wide expanses of undeveloped
country. Yet all the way down the
coast from Palm Beach to Miami
the many towns and beach resorts
every few miles along the highway
appear to be alive and full of bus
iness.
Conditions in Florida are much
better than I expected to find them.
I have had many surpises and some
disappointments.
There are some
things I don’t like, yet there is a
lure about real summer weather,
even if it is a little too hot for
comfort, during the months when
we have winter at home, that makes
a vacation here worth while. I am
disappointed in the absence of fine
shrubbery and ornamental trees,
but am told the hurricane is large
ly to blame.
When we made up our mind« to
come here, many friends were as
tonished that we would care to risk
our lives or comfort in a place
where storms might come at any
time and lay the country in ruins;
where alligators filled the rivers
and swamps, poisonous Bnakea made
it dangerous to stray from well
beaten paths, and even the bathing
beaches were not safe on account
of sharks, stingeries and sand
snakes.
Yet we have seen none.
Old residents here say they are
hard to find, although admitting
they can be found in remote places.
Mosquitoes are not bad, as all sec
tions of the state systematically oil
swamps and pools of standing wa
ter.
While it is not my intention to
boost Florida as a winter paradise
(we have seen places we like bet
ter), yet I want to tell the truth
about the country as I see it. It
is my opinion that the state will
continue to grow in a substantial
way, with the speculation and gam
bling in real estate eliminated. So
long as northern people who can
spare the time can get to a sum
mer climate in 24 to 36 hours, they
are going to do so. The million
aire can find the accommodations
that he wants, and the middle class
can also be accommodated accord
ing to their means.
Good roads
now being built all over the coun
try make it easy for the motorist
Please turn to page 2.
Farm Outlook
Is Encouraging,
Oregon Has Good Prospects
Ot Better Crops
Weather Conditions Good
The Number of Horses in
Oregon Is Steadily
Decreasing.
For the United States as a
whole, agriculture enters the new
season with as good an outlook at
least as last year, although the
situation is somewhat different.
Generally speaking, the prospects
for livestock and livestock products
is better than for cash crops or
feed crops grown for market. The
situation with respect to individ
ual commodities varies, as was re
cently brought out in the agricul
tural outlook report.
Owing to favorable climatic con
ditions during the winter, condi
tions appear unusually favorable on
the Pacific coast from the stand
point of production. The situatioa
in general appears somewhat bet
ter if anything, than that for the
country as a whois.
In Oregon there is prospect et
better orops throughout ths state
than average, owing to a favorable
winter temperature and abundant
precipitation. The interest In dairy
cattle and poultry whiah character
ized reports throughout 1926 is
still maintained.
Thera is soma
sentiment for an expansion of po
tato acreage, which can scaroely
be justified in view of the demands
of the markets and growers inten
tions to increase potato production
throughout the country by 11 per
cent.
Weather conditions have bsea
good in Columbia county for the
wintering over of most of the orops
and horticultural plants; no losses
have been reported as yet. There is
considerable planting of strawber
ries contemplated for thia spring.
The potato crop is being moved
out slowly, the pries ranging from
$1.50 to $2 per sack. There la s
small supply of clover seed being
offered for sals in the county.
Livestock seems to be coming
through the winter in good shape.
Some of the beef cattle have el-
ready been turned out on the rang
es. Dairy prices are fair and dairy
cows are in demand and command
ing a very good price.
There
seems to be an ample supply of
feed in moat sections of the coun
try. although there are soma Im
portations ot hay.
Total meats in storage, both
frozen and cured, on February 1
in the United States amounted to
749,441.000 pounds compered to
696.102,000 pounds a year earlier
and 840,879,000 ths five year av
erage, poultry not inoluded. Stocks
of frozen meats, beef, pork and
mutton, are somewhat larger than
last year.
Stocks of oured pork
are materially lower.
Stocks of wool in and afloat to
the United States on December 11
amounted to $24,577,677 pounds,
or approximately 50 million pounds
less than three months earlier. The
trend during recant weeks has been
in the direction of firmer woel
prices, both in the United States
and abroad.
Trading la mohair
has been only moderate, although
there is a little Inquiry and some
low bids being made.
Contracting of new clip wool is
reported in several western states.
Bide of 28 cants for ooeres wool
and 30 cents for medium wools
are reported In western Oregon,
and in eastern Oregon the same
prices are reported to have beea
offered for fine wools, but no
definite reports cf «lips «entreat
ed have been received.
According to the figures releas
ed by the United States erop re
porting board on February 1, there
has been a steady decrease in the
number of
horses
in
Oregea
amounting to about 13.000 head
the last year and 11,000 head from
1925 to 1926. The mule popula
tion has Increased slightly
All
cattle have decreased In numbers
by 89,000 bead la two yearn, of
Please tun te page 6.