Dernoniii
Entered at Vernonia, Oregon,
Poatoffioe as Second-Class Matter.
Council Has
Shortjession
Petition Is Granted To Improve
East Side Streets
ChangeParkBoardMebting
City To Buy Three Street
Intersection Buttons
With Reflectors
The city council enjoyed the
shortest session of the year Mon­
day night, with all present except
Ray Emmott, who was out oil
town. A petition to improve a num­
ber of streets on the east side
was read and approved. The streets
are to be graded and surfaced
with crushed lock and gravel.
Since George McGee has left,
the city is without an engineer.
It is necessary that a licensed en­
gineer make an estimate on the
street work. The council voted to
secure a preliminary estimate and
County Roadmaster Hall will be
asked to make the survey. If l.is
services cannot be secured it will
be necessary to find another en­
gineer.
A petition was presented by the
park board asking that the meet­
ing night of the board be changed
In the ordinance from Tuesday
night to the first Wednesday night
of each month. The change was
made by the council.
A motion was made that a res­
olution be drawn by the city at­
torney and presented at the next
meeting that would requite fire
hazards to be cleared away. The
resolution will be aimed particular­
ly burned buildings that are of no
use rnd are a menace to nearby
structures as well as giving an
unsightly appearance to the city.
Marshal Kelly reported that the
city needs good street in’. 'T3ection
buttons to prevent accidents. Be­
cause of short lefthand turns made
by some drivers on acocunt oi the
absence of street fate ••ection mar-
ln.s, nct.i •» • occ- . nc.r.’i« »very
«■cek. J-in-3 taken in
violations
will more ’ban pay the cost of the
buttons, according to Marshal Kel­
ly. It was decided to purchase three
second-hand butons, with red re­
flectors, from the city of Port­
land where they are being re­
placed with stop-and-go signs, and
put them on Bridge street at the
following intersections: Weed ave­
nue, Third street and Second street.
Grade Schools Hold
Open House April 8.
The Washington and Lincoln
grade schools of Vernonia will hold
an open house Friday, April 8, for
any visitors who are interested in
the pupils’ work, when parents and
others are invited to view the ex-
hibitli of work and the classes be­
ing conducted.
Principal O. A. Anderson says,
’‘You are welcome to come and vis­
it each room, listen to the classes
you are most interested in, and
see each child’s work. We expect
you. Remember, April 8, 9 a.m.
to 4 p.m.
ALICE PEARL CLARK
Alice Pearl Lake was bom in
Kentland, Indiana, December 25,
1883.
She came west with her
parents, locating at Stayton, Ore­
gon, in 1895. They lived in the
west but one year and then re­
turned east. They returned to Or­
egon in 1898, where she has re­
sided since.
In October, 1903, she was mar­
ried to Jessie Martin, to this un­
ion four children were born. May
13, 1915, she was married to W.
Weaver Clark.
To this union
three children were bom.
In May, 1922, the family moved
to Vernonia where they continued
to live. She became ijl March 3
with influenza, which developed In­
to pneumonia and acute Bright’s
disease. She passed away on the
morning of March 17.
She leaves to mourn her depar­
ture, her husband, Weaver Clark;
and seven children: Kenneth Mar­
tin, Clare Martin, Velma Martin,
Elinor Martin, Dale Clark, Kyle
Clark and little baby Keith W.
Clark, besides many other rela­
tives and friends.
Mrs Clark was a member of the
Evangelical church.
VOLUME 5, NO. 33.
VERNONIA. OREGON, THURSDAY, MARCH 24, 1927.
Slow Time Made In
Women’s Relief Corps American Legion
Pigeon Contest Flight ¡Grade Schools
Postpones Dinner To To Build New Home
The two pigeons which flew from
(By A. D. Moe)
Vernonia toPortland in the Sperry
Havana, Cuba, Feb. 27, 1927.
Are Crowded
Thisjfear, Planned flour
Judson Weed's Birthday
guessing contest flight Thurs­
We were very fortunate in hav­
day made slow time due to adverse
Tourists Throng Cu­
ban Metropolis
ing good weather in crossing over
from Key West to Havana. The
past week in Miami had been
stormy and has been followed by
calm slightly cooler weather. The
trip across was delightful and we
did not notice anyone sick. About
half way across we left the Atlan­
tic and entered the Gulf stream,
about 35 miles wide at this point,
the water a dark blue and warm.
The 90 miles of water took seven
hours to cross from the time we
left Key West until we arrived in
quarantine in Havana harbor.
About an hour before we land­
ed the outline of the Cuban hills
could be seen, and 30 minutes later
the buildings of Havana loomed
up, with Moro castle an outstanding
mark at the entrance to the har­
bor. The formalities of quarantine
and passed through the Custom
house were quickly dispatched and
we were met by automobiles and
conveyed rapidly through the nar­
row streets to our hotel, arriving
shortly after 4 o’clock. The balance
of the afternoon we spent in a
short wa!)k to Central Park, a
large open plaza in the center of
the business district. Sitting on the
park benches, shaded by the tall
buildings, we watched the throngs
and listened to the Spanish con­
versations on all sides. Old woman
selling lottery tickets and Chinese
peddling peanuts wandered around
the park. Several of them address­
ed us in Spanish, probably think­
ing I was a Cuban, as I have ob­
tained a real tropical tan, but I
had to tell, “No saby.” The guide
at the hotel told us if we got lost
to inquire of a cop with a white
helmet, as he could speak English,
or if unable to find one, to give
a hotel card to a taxi driver, who
would take us back for 20 cen­
tavos. We noted several landmarks
on our way and got back without
any trouble. It was not long, how­
ever, before we learned the way
around the shopping district with­
out any trouble.
In the evening we took a trip
with a party to see some of the
night life, stopping at a Chinese
theatre for a little while, then go­
ing out 12 miles to the Casino, the
Monte Carlo of Havana. No one
is admitted there to play without
being in full dress, but tourists
are allowed in with guides in or­
dinary dress. However, we were
told after reaching the place that
it was so crowded that we would
have to come another time, so
we passed it up. Coming back we
stopped at a cabaret and watched
the dancing, getting back to the
hotel afteg midnight.
The hurricane in October did
about as much damage in Havana
to trees and vegetation as the
September storm in Florida, but not
many buildings were wrecked. Past
experience has taught them how
to build. So we were disappointed
in not seeing more tropical flowers
and shubbery. About the only tall
trees standing are Royal palms and
coconuts, although much of the
fruit of the Latter was blown off.
Royal palms are native to the
country and grow to perfection
here. The October storm broke
some of the water mains, and they
are still rebuilding them. Thursday
one of the large conduits broke
again and the city was without
drinking water until Saturday, ex­
cept what was brought in. Our
hotel was without water for drink­
ing for a day, but we could get
plenty of mineral water, wines and
liquors, so the hotel did not worry.
Thursday was a holiday, so bus­
iness houses were closed. Friday
morning we took in Moro castle
and Cabanas fortress, a very in­
teresting trip. We were shown
where the Maine was sunk and tak­
en all through the castle, which
is 300 years old, and shown the his­
toric spots, our guide giving a very
comprehensive and complete his­
tory of the place. The fortress
is now used only as a place for
sight seeing, with part of it a
training camp for the nayy. Cab-
a.nos fortress is but a short dis­
tance away, and part of this is
used as a federal prison, con­
taining about 200 convicts, with
other quarters as places of resi­
dence for officers. We passed
through a long tunnel leading to
dungeons, were shown where polit­
ical prisoners during the reign of
Spain we-e either locked in dun
Pie- ise turn to page 8
The observance of the ninth an­
niversary dinner by the Vernonia
Women’s Relief corps has been
postponed from March 29 to Jud­
son Weed’s birthday on April 14
at the Weed home, it was decided
at the meeting of the corps held
in the grange hall Friday.
All
charter members are requested to
attend the dinner, which will be
a pot lunch. Cars will leave the
bank at 10:30 a.m.
An all-day meeting was held Fri­
day over which Nannie B. Hall,
senior vice-president presided in the
absence of the president, Gladys
Smith. Five new members were in­
itiated. An excellent dinner was
served.
Advises Local Folk
To Stay In Vernonia
Ashland, Oregon, March 14, 192?,
To the Editor. Of my many ac­
quaintances in Vernonia there are
several who I count as close friends.
I know of a few of your splendid
citizens who have voiced their in­
tention of, some time, locating in
Southern Oregon. I wish to state
to them the wisdom of first think­
ing it over very seriously. Take
it from one who has traveled over
most of Oregon, that at the pres­
ent time, Vernonia is the best city
they can find, for it*B size in the
lint of business. In southern Ore­
gon there is only one city and that
is Medford. Medford is a very de­
sirable place to live. All other
near by towns go to Medford to
trade on account of the Medford
business men being good adver­
tisers and they certainly back their
advertising up with splendid stocks
and fair prices. They are all boost­
ers and full of pep. Ashland is alow,
contented and not growing in the
least. Sleepy, old, cement covered
Gold Hill is a better town for"
business, next to the best in Jaskson
county. Medford has everything
needed and may offer some good
business opportunities if the strang­
er comes with unlimited capital
and is prepared to stay with it a
year for nothing in order to get
acquainted and work up a bus­
iness. If it is a job one wants, he
may get it in or out of Medford,
but the chances are as good in
Vernonia as here. Medford has a
good climate, but it rains all win­
ter as much as it does in Vernonia,
and I have spent more for wood
in two months than I would spend
all winter in Vernonia.
To the members of the Harding
Lodge K. P. is entitled flowers
for their socialibility. They are not
bashful to meet a stranger and
at least offer a hand occasionally.
I find more of this socialibility
and welcome in N. W. Oregon than
I do in southern Oregon. I like it
here, like Medford, but it certain­
ly takes time and lots of money
to get established, and the grand
scenery and perfect roads make
a life of pleasure enjoyable, if
one can afford it. Klammath Falls,
J was there last week, is a mighty
good town to stay away from. It
is crowded, is rushing, is building
fast, but no place for one with
only a few hundred dollars. It is
overdone; two many stores and
2000 idle men at present, is my
estimation of a day’s observation
and talk with their business men.
No openings there, unless it would
be for a bootlegger.
PAUL ROBINSON.
Shower Given Mr». Helen
Fields of Trehame Friday
A miscellaneous shower was giv-
tn in the Treharne district Friday
on Mrs. Helen Fields at the home
of her mother, Mrs. Arthur Kop-
lin. Light refreshments were serv­
ed and a general good time enjoy­
ed. Those attending were:
Mrs. Paul Gilbertson, Mrs. Hel­
en Voitcheff, Mrs. Bettie Johnson,
Mrs. Edith Pierce, Mrs. Beulah Bas-
lington, Mrs. Olga Cook, Mrs. L.
M. Smith, Mrs. Wm. Voshell, Mrs.
Henry Beaver, Mrs. M. V. Thorp,
Mrs. Carl WIencke, Mrs. Lena Bea­
ver, Mrs. H. W. Pitrct, Mrs. Glad­
ys Morton, Mrs. Helen Patterson,
Mrs. S. Baker, Mrs. J. A. Lindsay,
Mrs. Anna Hodge, Mrs. Ora Glaas-
ner.
Webstar-Mawhinn/
Hilda Webster became the bride
of Ed. Mawhinney at Vancouver,
Wash., March 14 at 3 p. m. The
young couple, who will reside In
Vernonia, are well known locally.
Mr. Mawhinney is one of the driv­
ers on the local stage line.
Ha ng already decided to build
a pet lanent home for Vernonia
post, imerican Legion, the local
post, after making a detailed in­
vestigation, decided to construct
an inexpensive club house mainly
for the purpose of holding meetings
that would reduce the overhead ex­
penses to a minimum. A fund of
several hundred dollars already ex­
ists for this purpose and as soon
as practical a means of financing
the rest of it will be worked out
and construction started.
More than 70 were present at the
meeting held in the Legion hall on
Tuesday night, which was consid­
ered exceptionally good. The mem­
bership campaign is on in full
swing, closing at the end of this
month, and the local post is anx­
ious to retain the cups won last
year for the greatest membership
percentage increase in both the dis­
trict and state. ‘It is also said that
M. E. Carkin has a better chance
of winning the trophy for personal
membership record in the state this
year.
More than $100 was turned in
to the building fund Tuesday night
by the legionnaires of West Timber,
who sponsored a dance at that place
Saturday. The local post now has
about 20 members in West Timber.
H. C. Zimmerman of that place
was elected second vice-commander
of Vernonia post Tuesday night In
recognition of his services in pro­
moting the interests of the local
post in that vicinity.
A feature of the evening was
the interruption of regular business
by M. E. (Jack) Carkin, whose
“black” eye and disheveled condi­
tion, accompanied by a rope around
his candidate’s neck, betrayed the
fact that he “brings ’em in” In
spite of opposition.
Legion Show Monday.
E. H. (Skinny) Washburn, In
charge of the Legion vaudeville
show, to be presented at the Ma­
jestic theatre Monday, reported
that a complete and finished pro­
duction will be presented Monday,
with two performances that even­
ing. He stated that many should
plan to attend the second show,
since tickets enough for the first
were already sold out. Most of
the program is said to be of a
comical nature, and their money’s
worth of enjoyment is promised all
who attend. Dr. Geo. Pasto is di­
recting the production.
SCHOOL NEWS
Sophomores.
Last week Bob Whitsell had to
stay home from school on account
of the mumps.
Four sophomores were among the
group of honor students whose pic­
tures the photographer took last
week.
In Miss Goodin's class the sopho­
mores have just finished Dickens’
“A Tale of Two Cities.” The story
was said to have been enjoyed very
much on account of the vivid pic­
tures and exciting action.
The French class is nearly
through with the text, which should
be covered in one year. Stories
from a French reader will be taken
up next.
“Caesar must have been a pretty
good general,” say the Caesar stu­
dents.
But sometimes they wish
he would get defeated, just one
good defeat. There is only one of
his campaigns left to translate.
Kathryn Hoffman returned to
school Monday after a short ill­
ness.
Lois Engen is back in school
after a few weeks sickness of the
mumps.
Marvin Hult is in school again
after a few weeks sickness.
Norma and Irene Anderson have
come back to school after having
the mumps.
Eva and Edward Roles are ab­
sent from the junior class on ac­
count of sickness. Eva is the school
artist and has completed her work
in spite of her confinement.
After the civics class has given
its talks all the members of the
faculty will deliver a 10- to 15-mln-
ute talk to the senior class.
The seniors are practising their
play, “Cyclone Sally,” and will
give the performance some time
in April. Also the junior prom will
be held in the near future.
The athletes turned out for a
meeting and a line-up was obtained
on the track program. Practice will
start next week.
weather conditions. They required
three hours, 20 minutes and 15 sec­
onds to reach Portland. Only two
of the pigeons brought here to fly
were released. The rest were said
to be in improper condition for the
trip. The winners and the guess­
es they made at local stores were
as follows:
People’s store: Dennis Davis, 69
min. 11 sec.; Nessene Ellis, 68 min.
11 sec.; Mrs. Ruth Raynor, 68 min.
7 sec.; Dennis Davis, 67 min. 8 sec.;
Mrs. J. C. Moore, 60 min.
King's grocery: L. L. Morris, 110
minutes.; Mrs. Van Doren, 72 min.
40 sec.; Dora King, 70 min. 20 sec.;
John Wardle, 70 min.
Miller’s: Mrs. Frank Smith, 90
min. 10 sec.; Mrs. Essie Nance, 78
min. 1.5 sec.; J. W. Barker, 74 min.
10 sec.; Charlotte Brady, 61 min.;
R. A. Heacock, 60 min. 30 sec.
Nehalem market: Mrs. J. E. Tapp,
3 hrs. 30 min. 26 sec.; Mrs. J. E.
Scott, 90 min. 40 sec.; N. F. Brown­
ing, 53 min. 10 sec.; G. T. Blan­
kenship, 51 min. 3 sec.; Mrs. Glass
nes, 50 min. 30 sec.; S. A. Mor­
ton, 50 min. 2 sec.; G. T. Blanken­
ship, 50 min.
Raymond Hall Wins Pigeons.
Raymond Hall, son of Mr. and
Mrs. Evan Hall and a pupil in the
second grade of the Vernonia school
made the closest guess sb to the
timo of the fight of six carrier pig­
eons from the Miller Mercantile
company store to the Sperry Flour
company in Portland March 3.
The exact time of the flight was
63 minutes and 41 seconds. Ray­
mond Hall’s guess was 63 minutes
and 45 seconds.
Another close
guess was made by Edward Oberst,
who guessed 63 minutes, 35 seconds.
All the pupils in the grade schools
were given an opportunity to sub­
mit guesses as to the time of the
flight
The winner of the contest will
be given a pair of carrier pigeons
by the Sperry Flour company. W.
J. Kelly, city marshal. Mr. Kelly
judge of this contest. Mr. Kelly
also gave a prize to each of the
two boys making the nearest guess­
es.
Cultures For Legume*
Go To Oregon Farmers
Legumes unlesB supplied with
certain types of bacteria do not
serve their purpose in crop ro­
tation, since they rob the soil of
fertility just as grain. The whole
system of permanent agriculture
is based on leguminous crops to
build up soil fertility. This is de­
feated in soil lacking fertility to
start with unless bacteria are sup­
plied in cultures. Such cultures
are prepared in vast quantities by
the experiment station and sent
to western Oregon farmers.
“Thousands of cultures are sent
out every year,” says W. V. Hal­
verson of the department. “All are
tested out on the plants for which
they are intended to be used. Re­
sults are carefully checked before
these cultures are used to pre­
pare material to make the In­
oculation. Bacteria have to be fault­
less before we know that they will
give the desired results when the
farmer gets them.
“This requires growing the plants
under controlled conditions in the
laboratory, and actually producing
nodules on controlled plants with
the cultures. Many carefully plan­
ned tests are made to be sure
that no other bacteria are pros­
ent to injure their efficiency.”
In these tests the plants are
supplied with no nitrogen but must
rely altogether on the culture for
the nitrogen essential to growth.
Any plant that does not have the
bacteria dies showing all the ef­
fect* of nitrogen starvation, while
those inoculated grow luxuriously.
About the same thing happened
in the field. If no bacteria are
present the seed makes germina­
tion and only slow, spindling growth
Occasional plants in the same
field when they happen to be In­
oculated make thrifty growth. Ade­
quate supply of bacteria in the
right form may be counted on
to make the entire field thrifty.
The station sells its cultures at
50 cent* • bottle, which 1* enough
to inoculate two acre*.
Artificial bacteria must be used
to start alfalfa and sweet clover
in the Willamette valley, it has
been found. They are also es­
sential to start clover and the
vetches on field* clean cultivated
or run to cereale for several year*.
Principal Anderson Is Woiking
For Addition
Using Basement Rooms
School District 47 Is By
Far the Wealthiest In
Columbia County
In response to repeated demands
for better grade school facilities
in Vernonia, particularly for the
Washington school ,the school board
of district 47 are investigating the
needs of the local school to de­
termine what additions should be
added to provide for the already
over-crowded
condition
of the
school and what will be necessary
in the years to come.
At present two classrooms are
in the basement of the Washington
school where they were never in­
tended to be on account of in­
sufficient light and heat for those
rooms. According to Principal O.
A. Andeison it was impossible to
heat these rooms above a tempera­
ture of 58 degrees during the
cold weather recently passed even
with the use of electric heaters.
Schools are required to have
window space equal to from one-
fifth to one-fourth of the floor
space, these rooms have only about
one-fifteenth, according to Princi­
pal Anderson. It is necessary to
use electric lights all the time
school is in session during cloudy
weather.
There is also need for a gym­
nasium, in place of the play shed
now in use and an auditorium to
handle assemblies and the various
gatherings held there from time
to time. Four extra classroom*
are needed at the present, time ac­
cording to Mr. Anderson, and he
think* it would not be unwise to
build eight extra classrooms to
accomodate the rapid growth of
the school in the next few years.
The Vernonia school district has
a valuation of $3,476,205, which
is greater than either St. Hel­
ens, Clatskanie and Rainier and
nearly as great as the three Com­
bined. Less t^an one-dighth of
the school taxes of the district
are paid by Vernonia folk resid
ing in the city limits, and it is
the contention that now is the
proper time to build, rather than
wait two or three years and be
forced to build and also pay high­
er taxes because of the decreased
valuation due to the timber being
cut. Needed improvements and
their costs will be presented at
the next meeting of the school
board.
Roads in Springtime
Sometimes Dangerous
Spring driving requires its spec­
ial precautions as well as winter
car operation, but the motorist who
has been forced to exercise res­
traint for the more severe month*
of the year may be inclined to
ignore the need for further care.
This point is raised by George O.
Brandenburg, secretary of the Ore­
gon State Motor association, who
points out that under certain in­
evitable seasonal conditions, road*
and streets in springtime can be
just as treacherous as those of
winter.
“The road that is dangerous tn
winter, because it is covered with
ice or snow, may be just as much
a menace to safety during the
rainy spring month* when a thin
film of mud covers the highway,"
says Mr. Brandenburg.
“The American Automobile as­
sociation, with which thia club is
affiliated in its far-reaching sur­
veys into accident causes ha* found
that the hard-surfaced highway
which is lightly coated with mud
is a fertile factor in producing
mishaps. It has shown that th*
well-advised driver make* the nec­
essary concession* to safety under
such circumstances by recognizing
the potential danger of the high­
way.
"It is well to remember that th*
ever-dangerous front-wheel skid, as
well as the sliding of th* rear
wheel*, is possible on road that
lie* beneath a thin film of mud.”