Albany Democrat-Herald from Albany, Oregon • Page 1

ALBANY 3 EVENING HERALD VOL. XXVI BANY. OREGON. TUESDAY, AUGUST 1, 1911 NO 111 ASKED FOR MANAGEMENT OF COMMERCIAL CLUB Board Held Earnest Executive Session Last Night. EMPLOYMENT OF MANAGER TO BE VOTED ON MONDAY Abaqua Lumber Company President Discusses Matter of Moving Saw Mill to Albany- Merging of Alco and Commercial Clubs Considered, The executive board of the Commercial Club met last night in reguJar weekly session.

Bills to the amount of $22.15 were read, and President Eastburn appointed J. J. Collins, P. D. Gilbert and F.

M. French an auditing committee. The bills read were passed on by the committee an dallowed. President Eastburn also appointed J. S.

Van Winkle, A. C. Schmitt and Dr. Shinn a finance committee. A letter from the Astoria Centennial publicity and promotion department urging attendance of the centennial by a strong delegation from Albany, and suggesting that a special car could be arranged for provided there was a sufficient number and stating that similar arrangements were being made for other towns in the Willamette and Rogue River Valleys.

On motion the following delegation was authorized by the chair to attend the Centennial on the 14th, 15th and 16th of August, the dates on which the Northwest Development League will hold a convention at toria: W. A. Eastburn, president; C. Tebault, vice-president; C. H.

Stewart, secretary; Wm. Bain, treasurer, W. G. Ballack, J. J.

Collins, Geo. H. Crowell, F. M. French, P.

D. Gilbert, A. M. Hammer, Hawkins, W. H.

Marvin, F. P. Nutting, A. C. Schmitt, Chas.

H. Stewart, C. E. Sox, W. R.

Shinn, Wm. Fortmiller, S. Van Winkle, C. B. Winn, E.

H. McCune, J. C. Hammel, H. H.

Hewitt, Willard Marks, E. H. Rhondes, M. Senders, L. E.

Hamilton, C. C. Page, E. D. Cusick, J.

R. Hulbert, Al. Senders, P. R. Young, Wm.

Eagles. J. S. Van Winkle was appointed spokesman of the delegation at the Development League of which he is first vice- president. Of course any one who may care to visit Astorin with the above delegation may do so, and enjoy the special railroad rate which will be announced later.

A communication was read stating that Interstate Commerce Commissioner Lane would hold a session at Portland Sept. 4th to take further testimony concerning the freight rates from California points to Southern Oregon and the Willamette Valley under the new long and short haul section of the interstate commerce act, and uring the Albany people to prepare for representation and a report at that time the same as other commercial clubs in the territory of the section affected are doing. The following committee was appointed to look after the matter: E. H. McCune, P.

D. Gilbert, S. E. Young, J. R.

Hulbert, L. E. Hamilton and A. L. Swornberg The monthly report of the secretary of the club, Miss Ora Harkness, was read and showed that 652 inquiries had been received during the month through the Portland Commercial Club, miscellaneous 62, postals 6, total inquiries 720.

Letters written during the month 103, Chautauqua matter 161, total 264. Literature distributed, community booklets 141, homeseekers' invitations 125. Collections for the month were paid out for Chautauqua postage $12.99, total balance deposited $271.49. The application of Miss Orah Hark(Continued on Page 3.) FOREST FIRES RAGE IN UMPQUA VALLEY One Hundred Men Have Been Sent to Fight Flames in Douglas County Timber Belt. Roseburg, Aug.

by stiff breeze, which rose unexpectedSunday morning, the several forest fires the Umpqua National reserve are reported to be spreading with alarming rapidity. In order to cope with the situation, Forest Supervisor Bartrum yesterday dispatched 100 men to various parts of the county to assist the army of fire-fighters previously sent to the fire-threatened districts. Of the 18 fires thus far reported at the Roseburg forestry office, the conflagration in the heavy timbered districts above Tiller appear the most serious. A mesage received from that district late yesterday is to the effect, that the fire is spreading and that 200 more men will be required in fighting the flames to advantage. Another fire which is said to be beyond control is located in the Quartz Mountain districts above Peel.

Other than the conflagrations confined to the Umpqua National forest reserve, there are said to be about 20 fires on private. property. These fires are being fought under the direction of F. A. Elliott, state forester who arrived in Roseburg yesterday.

Most of the fires are burning in isolated sections of the county, cessible to trails or wagon roads, and consequently it is difficult to get men and supplies to places of advantage. In some instances swamping out of trails through the canyons is necessitated in order to reach the flames. Last night every available man was employed by the Roseburg forestry office and appeals are being sent to other cities for recruits. SUSPECTED OF IMPLICATION IN LOS ANGELES DYNAMITING Last night's Corvalis Gazette-Times says: There is a suspicion that men connected with the Los Angeles Times dynamiting outrage are, or have been in this section. A farmer near Corvallis talked with three men on his brother's farm Saturday and, incidentally the dynamiting case came up in the conversation.

One of the men was warm in his defense of the perpertators of that crime and the others sympathized. The argument waxed warm, but at a critical moment the men shut up "as tight as a clam" and refused to talk further. Though the men had agreed to stay on the farm until fall, they said nothing and left yesterday. The farmer who talked with them Saturday thinks they left as a result of that conversation. No other reason can be assigned He came to Corvallis and asked for pictures of any of the men under suspicion of having been concerned with the Los Angeles outrage, but could not get any here, so proceeded to Albany to look into the matter.

Doubtless the men are entirely away from this section by this time. LOCAL BREVITIES. While accompanying his wife from Los Angeles to the East in the hope that she would improve in health, A. W. Benney, 65 years old, a retired business man of Hollywood, dropped dead last night on the Shasta Limited, near Shasta, while the train was proceeding toward Portland.

Congressman Hawley has recommended the appointment of C. V. Johnson of Corvallis, as appraiser of customs at Portland, and will apparently land him. Johnson will take the place which has been vacant since the death of General Owen Summers. Johnson is a merchant of Corvallis and former mayor of that town, says the Portland Journal.

F. J. Lee and M. C. Archart of Spokane arrived in the city last night and have been looking for a location to engage in the mercantile business.

They went to Eugene at noon and will be back tomorrow, when they will probably arrange to engage in business here. Mr. Lee has been here before and has been muc himpressed with the appearance of the town as a business center. AN E. PLOYEE OF 5.

P. AT ALBANY FORTY-ONE YEARS A. D. Barker Retires After Long and Faithful Service. CAME HERE WITH FIRST CONSTRUCTION ENGINE One of Company's Most Trusted Employees- Retired From Service Last Night At Age of 67 on a Pension From the Road.

After serving the Southern Pacific Railroad Company continuously and faithfully for 41 years, A. D. Barker of this city retired from active duty at 8 o'clock last evening. Barker's long service has included everything from selling tickets and handling baggage and freight to train director, and through all these years he has been active and industrious in the discharge of his duties. He was one of the company's most trusted employees and will retire on a pension which has been awarded him in recognition of his long service, by the Southern Pacific company.

Barker, who is 67 years of age, came to Oregon from Iowa, coming to Portland by steamer from San Francisco. When the Southern Pacific began constructing its line up the Willamette Valley, in 1869, Barker came to Albany on a construction engine which was the first to reach this city. Arriving here he accepted a position with the company as baggage master in which capacity he served until the present depot building was built, when he was given the position of train director. The first station agent at Albany was James Elkins, formerly county treasurer of Linn county, who now resides in Prineville, and the depot at that time was a small building containing a baggage room, a ticket office and waiting room. The only employees at that time were an agent and operator, and a baggageman.

Elkins became poor in health and resigned, soon being succeeded by N. M. Hart. When Barker came to Albany it was then a town of some twelve or fifteen hundred inhabitants with no buildings south of Fifth street and but a few scattering ones east of Lyon, and the only hotels here were the St. Charles and, the one now known as the Albany Rooming House.

A hotel which was owned and built by a man named Comstock and which was known by the name of the Hotel Comstock, was burned to the ground in 1878, the proprietors Edgar Odeneill. After a short time the Southern Pacific Company rebuilt the hotel which was opened under the management of J. A. Gross and sold later to the Van Dran brothers who kept it, finally moving it to its present location near the new hotel. At the time Barker arrived in Albany there was no city water, no electric lights, nor telephones.

During his 41 years of service Mr. Barker has only been off twice, both times on account of sickness, and he has worked under nine different agents. Mr. Barker resided for 36 years in a home just south of the depot, until three years ago, when he moved into his fine new home on Ellsworth street near Tenth. The tourist traffic to Newport has been booming for the week and from 200 to 400 persons a day pass through Albany each day to the pop.

ular resort town, while Sundays the number reaches close to 800 or 900. The new Abbey hotel opened this year is a great convenience and has been a drawing feature of the city by the sea. GOVERNOR WEST WILL NOT BLUFF Deschutes Land Company President Stirs Oswald's "Irish" -May Find More Trouble. Salem, Aug. West denied last night that he had any inat tention J.

E. of Morsen, hurling a president steel paperweight schutes Land company, during a heated session of the Desert Land Board behind closed doors yesterday. Those who attended the board meeting say that when Morsen and the governor had become excited, Morsen ordered the state's chief executive to sit down, and that the governor responded as follows: "You can't make me sit down. No man can come into this office and tell me to go to hell. I am going to talk here long enough to tell you what I think of you and the whole matter." The trouble arose over the question of dealings of the Deschutes Land Company.

"Morsen has had the boards bluffed in the past," declared Governor West in explaining his side of the situation. "Conditions have been such on that project that there has been no protection for the settlers. At one time the company was in default on its contract and the board had leverage on him. When we grante dhim an extension of time it was only on his personal bond and the bond of his father-in-law to back him up." J. K.

Weatherford, and sister, Annette, of Harrisburg, children of R. L. Weatherford, returned home at noon after a very pleasant visit with their grandparents Judge J. K. Weatherford and Mrs.

Weatherford. The Judge end his wife are both greatly devoted to their grand-children and the visit was mutuilly felicitous. THE NEW AUTOMOBILE LAW BECOMES EFFECTIVE TODAY Today, the first of August, the new automobile law goes into effect. Up. to midnight last night a total of 3118 automobile and motorcycles had been registered, says the Salem Statesman.

This means $12,796 for the state treasury. The number of autos registered during June was 1090 and collected for licenses, $4696. In July 2028 licenses were issued, a collection of $8100 in fees. Secretary Olcott has issued postal receipts which will be sent to all those who have not yet received their numbers, this card showing that the registration fee has been received. The numbers will be issued as rapidly as possible.

The card will protect autoists who have not yet gotten their numbers in case any trouble arises with the authorities after today. Because of the number of licenses issued, the automobile department has had to work nights in order to handle the business. LOCAL BREVITIES. The county court will meet in regular monthly session tomorrow. Mr.

and Mrs. D. P. Mason went to Newport at noon to enjoy the sea breeze and rest at the bay. J.

F. Hertzel, president of the Abo- qua Lumber who own a sawmill near Silverton and who are contemplating the removal of their plant to Albany, arrived here yesterday and is spending a few days here looking over the town and for a suitable location. Asa Alexander captured a very large "bat" in his home the other evening. The night visitor measured 13 inches from tip to tip and for a time Asa thought he was chasing a mallard duck. The ordinary "bat" measures no more than six or eight -Corvallis Gazette-Times.

Another evidence that Albany is fast becoming a metropolitan city was the appearance upon the streets of the business district this afternoon of a modern "white wing" with his wheel cart and broom. His duties are to keep the pavement free from refuse which gathers daily there and after his first round the pavement presented a much improved appearance, The man war garbed in the customary suit of white duck and attracted no little attention. S. P. WILL BUILD FROM EUGENE TO COOS BAY AT ONCE This Important Announcement Made By O'Brien.

WILL REQUIRE TWO YEARS TO CONSTRUCT Route Will Follow Siuslaw River to Florence and Then Run South to Marshfield Will Tap Large Timber Bodies and Coal Deposits, This morning's Oregonian publishes the following: Immediate construction of a railroad from Eugene to Marshfield, at a cost estimated at $8,000,000, was authorized yesterday by the Southern Pacific company through J. P. O'Brien, vice-president and general manager in this city. Preliminary surveys already have been made and six engineering parties are in the field locating the permanent line. Although the definite course through which the new road will be constructed has not yet been selected, Mr.

O'Brien said that the general route will be along the Siuslaw river, through the Coast Range to the coast, thence south to Marshfield, where it will connect with the Coos Bay, Roseburg Eastern railroad, now operating a line two miles long from Marshfield to Myrtle Point. This road also is owned by the Southern Pacific company. Construction of the road from Eugene to Coos Bay means the abondonment by the Southern Pacific of its project to build to Coos Bay from Drain, 38 miles south of Eugene, at which place several million dollars was spent in preliminary construction work immediately previous to the financial depression four years ago. Part of the improvement used on the Drain line, it is believed, can be utilized on the new project. The Willamette Pacific Railroad company, incorporated under the laws of Oregon, June 14, 1911, will build the road.

The officers of this concern are G. X. Wendling, of San Francisco, president; S. O. Johnson, of San Francisco, vice-president; R.

M. Cross, of Portland, vice-president; S. R. Bodine, of Portland, secretary; C. H.

Barrell, of Los Angeles, treasurer; C. R. Breck of Eugene, chief engineer; R. L. Hughes and J.

D. Miller, of Portland, additional directors. Mr. Wendling is a wealthy timber operator and has extensive holdings adjacent to the Southern Pacific property in this state. Most of the other officers are identified in various ways with the Southern Pacific, Mr.

Breck being assistant engineer in the employ of that company. The Willamette Pacific Company was capitalized at $1,000,000, dividedinto shares of $1000 each, all of which are held by the Southern Pacific interests. As soon. as the engineers now in the field can return sufficient data to provide plans for construction work, bids will be called for and contracts will be let. Mr.

O'Brien said yesterday that he expects the road will be completed in approximately two years. Trains likely will be in operation over the Coast Range to Coos Bay by January 1, 1914, at the latest. It will require perhaps two years to build this road. The road will be 125 miles long. Mr.

and Mrs. A. M. Hammer left this morning for Newport where they will spend a week on the beach. THE WEATHER.

Fair tonight and Wednesday. Temperature yesterda, 50 to 82. A CONFESSION OF MURDER PUZZLES Washington Governor's Office Flooded with Letters Saying Wilson Is Not the Man. Olympia, Aug. the past week the authorities of Thurston county have been deluged with letters in regard to the murder of Archie Coble and his wife at Rainier, on the night of July 10.

One received from Emily A. Fenis, Jefferson street, Portland, written to Governor Hay, reads as follows: "Pardon me, but may I plead for the poor fellow Wilson, now held as suspect? The cruel 'Third Degree' has caused him to lose his reason. I hope to prove to you, dear governor, soon, and place in your hands proof of his innocence. The man, a logger, and who killed the Hill family, committed the deed. Detectives are now on his trail.

Please see Wilson is cared for. He says he 'don't Prosecuting Attorney Wilson may investigate the letter, as the governor has placed it in his hands. A woman from Seattle says she saw in a dream "a woman kil Ithe pair," while a man writes that he knows G. H. Wilson who has confessed to the crime, but later denied it, is guilty because he used to talk foolishly on the section.

Swan Peterson, arrested at the instance of Wilson just after the crime, was released yesterday. LOCAL BREVITIES. H. F. Merrill went to Portland this morning.

Murray Marshall went to Harrisburg at noon. J. C. Donovan went to Springfield this morning. Miss Anna Judkins left this mornilk for Brownsville.

Rev. S. A. Douglas returned to Niagara this morning to join his family who are camping there. H.

N. Cockerline returned home yesterday from Milwaukee where he has been spending a few weeks. H. P. Wellborn, of Snyder, who is visiting here, went to Detroit this morning to look over that section.

Miss Avis Chapman of Albany returned home yesterday from Newport where she has been spending several weeks at the beach. A marriage license was issued today by County Clerk Marks for the marriage of R. Earl Calavan and Mildred S. Burmester, both of Scio. Manager D.

E. Green of the Oregon Power accompanied by his father-in-law, Dr. J. C. Sexton, of Rushville, who is visiting here, left for Portland this morning.

Wm. Bain, president of the Albany State Bank, left today for Foley Springs where he will spend a couple of weeks and take advantage of the mineral water baths afforded at Foley. H. C. Dowlin of the Linnhaven Orchard a accompanied by his brother-in-law, H.

C. Gambrill of Rapid City, S. who arrived here last night, went to Portland this morning. Mr. and Mrs.

Roy Pirtle and son Keith of Coburg are visiting in Albany for a few days at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Grant Pirtle. Mr. Pirtie is now one of Coburg's leading merchants.

Riley Lobaugh, agent for the Satjurday Evening Post and Ladies' Home Journal, tipped over in his wheel chair on South Lyon street last evening and got a severe bump on the back of his head, but was en the job again this morning. N. Cockerline returned home last night from the annual convention of the numerous agents of the Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance held at Milwaukee, Wis. He reports a pleasant time despite the warm weather. He says crops are somewhat short in the Dakotas and Wisconsin, but that from reports of agents from various parts of the country business conditions are comparatively good with excellent prospects for greater prosperity as soon as the present crop is moved..