The Kennewick Courier from Kennewick, Washington • Page 1

The Kennewick Courier CITY OFFICIAL PAPER VOL. XI NO. 41 FARMERS TURN ATTENTION TO MONEY-MAKING PORKER Swine Breeders to E. Pratt Says Local Conditions are Company Being Promoted Realizing the extent to which the hog raising industry will grow in this valley in the next few years, a meeting for the purpose of organizing the Kennewick Valley Swine Breeders' Association has been called ior Saturday, Jan. 18, at two o'clock at the City Hall.

The need of such an association is even now being felt. With more and more of our ranchers turning their attention to this branch of farming, the supply of porkers has already exceeded the local demand so that concerted efforts toward shipping in carload lots to the city markets is now necessary. The buying of feeds and supplies in large quantities for local distribu' tion is another item in which an association may save money for its members, and in various other ways haphazard methods and consequent losses may be guarded against by co-operation. The first carload of locally-raised hogs ever shipped out of Kennewick was sent to Portland Wednesday by R. E.

Pratt of the Meadowbrook Farm and W. E. Campbell, whose ranch adjoins the brook property. In discussing the shipment and also the movement for the organization of a swine breeders' association, in which he is one of the prime movers, Mr. Pratt said: "On the Meadowbrook Farm, so far, we have been raising about fifty good cows and about a hundred and fifty hogs.

I think that there is more money in swine than in cattle, according to the energy expended, so we are going in for hogs almost exclusively. We are striving toward securing none but the very best stock. And by the way, we secured four fine gilts Tuesday from the Overbrook Farm in Milner, Idaho. They are a deep cherry red and are known as the 'Little Wonder" strain. With new pigs we expect to bettet our breed considerably, as they are pedigreed stock.

The Kennewick Valley enjoys the best climate and the feeds raised here are the best for our purpose that could be imagined. According to the best authorities, the ideal ration for either cattle or swine is alfalfa with wheat for a balance ration. The valley can produce the alfalfa and the hills the wheat. I'll put my hogs along side of the best that lowa can produce. Right now, if my hogs were in lowa and were not actually losing flesh on account of the cold, I would consider that I was doing "ell.

Here every porker is adding at least two pounds to his heft every a y. It is our mild climate that does it. Here the feed doesn't all go toward keeping the beast warm it's building fat a fat hog ifeans a fat purse. Now again, we have the very kind of markets on all sides for either dairy products, or steers a nd pork. There's no getting away from our transportation facilities, here's an important point.

To the very best profit from raising steers or pigs we must go into the business in a scale large enough permit the buying of supplies in big lots, and to ship our products in carload lots. That will all come owever, and I am not worrying in the least over that. All we need to 110 is to demonstrate that we can and there will be enough them at it. "Yes, sir, I believe that any man who has ordinary ability, and gets right in and makes a study of hogs or cattle, can make big money in this vallay. With proper care twenty to twenty-five hogs can be raised to the acre.

But it mu3t be done right of course. The opportunities are here awaiting the arrival of the man who knows." The Meadowbrook company will not be alone in the business of swine raising on a large scale if the plans of W. J. Harter, of Hatton materialize. Mr.

Harter has been in town during the past week making the preliminary arrangements for the organization of the Harter Livestock a corporation which aims to go into the hog-raising business on a 40-acre tract now owned by Mr. Harter in Section 16, about three miles southeast of town. Mr. Harter plans to incorporate the company for $12,000, divided into 480 shares at $25 each. He hopes to place $4,000 of the stock locally, $4,000 at Hatton and vicinity and will retain $4,000 personally.

Mr. Harter says: "There is money in hogs. This assertion is often made, yet few try the experiment. Like all other business it takes money to start and start right. Many a farmer who has a few hogs will say, 'there is more profit in the hog than in anything else on the Alfalfa is one of the best and cheapest feeds for hogs that can be raised, furnishing feed the year around.

"One acre of alfalfa will feed one sow and her increase and forty acres will easily keep thirty sows. The ordinary sow will raise two litters each year and from eight to ten pigs each litter. If from a bunch of thirty sows they average only ten pigs each per year, which is an exceedingly small average, this would make 300 pigs. Before they are a year old they will bring $15 each or $4,500. After the land is Once in proper condition and the fences, outbuildings and other improvements are made, the expense will be small compared to the expense of other business.

There is no reason why a 40-acre ranch, properly bandied, should not net at least $2,500. PRETTY HOME WEDDING The residence of J. E. Burmaster on Yakima street was the scene of a very pretty wedding Tuesday forenoon, January 7, when their youngest daughter, Ella Laura, became the bride of J. C.

Willis of Richland. The ceremony was performed by Rev. C. D. Rarey.

Miss Martha Burmaster was bridesmaid and J. 0. Skirving best man. Only the immediate friends and relatives were present. The house was beautifully decorated in pink and white carnations.

Miss Burmaster attended the public schools in Richland where she lived for six years, until last August when the family came to Kennewick to make their home. During the short time Miss Burmaster has been in Kennewick she has gained many firm friends. Mr. Willis is a prominent young farmer of Richland, and is a graduate of the high school and business college in Kalispel, his former home. The young couple left for Portland for their honeymoon on the 12:55 train.

They will be absent for ten days, and will be at home on Mr. Willis' ranch at Richlandjafter Feb. 10. KENNEWICK, WASHINGTON, FRIDAY, JANUARY 10, 1913 (Governor Wilson has been presented with a cow, which will be installed in the White House stables. President Tai will take his Cow to Cincinnati when he leaves office.) in Washington Evening Stai NEW COUNCIL TAKE SEATS No Ceremony Marks Inauguration of City's Solons Asks for City Park The inauguration of the Mayor and the new members of the city council was of a Jeffersonian simplicity.

Their oaths of office having been previously signed the new members took the places vacated by the outgoing members and the board wag immediately called to order. The old body met for the last time Tuesday night, Jan. 7, with Counilmen Garber, Fisher and Haydoc absent. But one action was taker by the old board before adjournment. They purchased sump boxes for the draining of the city streets.

After ajournment Messrs. Sheppard, Annis and Reed retired apparently tickled to get out. Thej left the hall immediately, after wishing the new members many' 'happy' 6venings. The new members of the city 1 governing board Bebrmann, the Garden Tracts, Mr. Desgranges of the second ward and Mr.

Hunt ington, councilman at large, toot their places, Mr. Anderson of the first ward having been re-elected. In a short speech of welcome. Mayor Lockerby briefly reviewed the progress made during the pasl year and the harmony that had pre vailed among the city's solons. He hoped that the coming year's wort would be marked by the same courtesy.

He outlined the work done in the past year on city improvement, the actual construction of the sewer system, the installation oi street lights, the building of the best system of sidewalks ever put in, in a city near the size of Kennewick; the grading, parking and improving the streets, and the exceptional moral condition of the city; and as a recommendation suggested that the council continue the work of improvement. He asked that the new body take steps in the near future toward the securing of a site for a city park, a recreation ground for the people. He also stated that from talks with the commissioners he was assured that every time the city would build a good road to the city limits the county would continue the work. He suggested that the new council get immediate action on the securing of the state highway, and in conjunction with the city of Pasco, work toward the securing of a bridge icross the Columbia at this point. While the Mayor has not yet made ON MARCH 4.

up his list of committees for the coming year, he announced the reappointment of Chief Ferrell on the police force, which was confirmed. He also named C. E. Copeland and C. T.

Irvin, but their confirmation was withheld until next meeting. T. J. Wright was named city engineer, F. E.

Coulson, plumbing inspector, and C. Staser police magistrate, all of whom received sanction of the council. The Mayor will make the personnel of his committees public at the next regular meeting. PREGINCTS DIVIDED The county commissioners have divided the valley precinct into four parts. The portion lying ea9t of the center of Section 7 will be known as Kennewick Valley.

All that west of the center of Section 7, and east of Section 3 will be known as South Kennnwick; that lying west of that line, and south of the canal, will be the Highland precinct. The portion north of the canal, and west of town will be known as the Kennewick Gardens. The Richland precinct is also divided into four parts. The city of Richland, constitutes one, others are named Vale, Lower Yakima and Horn Rapids. A division has also been made in North Prosser, the new precinct being known as Grove.

RE-OPEN LOCAL OFFICE The Pacific Power Light announce that they will re-open the business office at the local plant. This move will meet with much favor on the part of the company's Kennewick patrons who for several months past have been put to the inconvenience of paying their light and water bills and transacting other business through the Pasco office. The local office will be in charge of Miss Minnie Munday and Manager Longmuir will be here three days in I the week. WILL TEACH PRUNING To the fruit growers of Kennewick: On Saturdays, Jan. 11 and 18, I will give lessons in pruning to any fruitgrowers of the Kennewick Fruit District who desire information and instructions in the actual doing of the work of pruning.

The purpose of this work is not to show you how pruning should be done but to teach you how to do the work yourself. The work will be done in Mr. Annis' orchard just north of town. If you have tools bring them with you, if not do not purchase any until you have received instructions regarding this matter. There will be both forenoon and afternoon sessions.

Instructions are Wm. Mekle, instructor in Agriculture, Kennewick High School. LARGEST LOCAL CIRCULATION YOU MAY HAVE THREE GUESSES On the Significance of the Northern Pacific's Activities on the River Front There's mystery afoot in railroad doings in Kennewick. The Northern Pacific officials refuse to tell what it all means and their proceedings are left to conjecture. A branch from the main line of the N.

P. has been surveyed to the Kennewick docks. In Pasco rails are laid along their abandoned rightof-way to the docks. Jas. Crowell has the contract for putting in the piling for the approaches on either side of the river.

Good authority gives out that the N. P. has placed orders for boilers and engines for a two-hundred-ton boat to be delivered at Kennewick. Now these actions might signify actual work on one of several plans about which there have lately been rumors. It might mean that thfr electric road that has been talked of for so long is going to be built shortly, backed by the N.

P. The boat in that case would be for ferriage, or it might mean the N. P. is planning on using a boat to handle their up-river trade. It might mean that the N.

P. officials know of certain development work pertaining to the river that would make control of the river approachesdesirable. It might only signify that' the Northern Pacific is running a spur to the docks in both towns. Anyway thestakesareset and certain grading machinery, of whom none seems to claim ownership, is now on the ground, and it is evident that work of some sort or other is being planned for this territory. Until the officials see fit to give it out we' 11 let you put your own interpetation upon the matter.

Margaret Stahl, Reader High School, Tuesday, January 14 WHOLE NUMBER 561 WATER PROBLEM IS COMPLICATED Suit Between Users and Irrigation Company Should be Compromised, Says Commissioner The Public Service Commission of the State of Washington held a continuation of the hearing in the case of the Water Users' Association vs. The Northern Pacific Irrigation Company, at the city hall last Tuesday. Harry E. Wilson, one of the members of the Commission who held the first hearing, was present with an engineer in the employ of the commission and a court reporter. While a report as to the rights of the Water Users will be submitted by the Attorney-General and the Commission will make a report, the matter, in the opinion of Mr.

Wilson, was not one for the Commission to decide. The Water Users tried to prove at the hearing that the irrigation company was a common carrier, that the water they delivered did not belong to them, that when they sold the land their profit accrued thereon, and that they were entitled to no more. By evidence of Engineer Roberts was shown that in several cases the weirs with which water was measured were not accurate, and that while the buyers of double water rights received more than twice the amount of the single allowance, the single water rights were cut down to the actual measurement. Mr. Rudkin, for the irrigation company, attemptedtoshow that the company endeavored to give ten to fifteen per cent more than the original water rights called for and in every case where there was trouble with the weir the company had the faults corrected as soon as their attention was called thereto.

Mr. Burrows, the engineer in the employ of the commission, testified that he had examined the books of the company and found that the actual cost for the delivery of the original contract amount of water was $1.63 per acre per annum. He also testified that if every water user on the aeree of land under the ditch would agree to take a double water right the company could deliver it at a cost of in the neighborhood of $2.20 per acre per season. At the conclusion of the hearing Mr. Wilson stated that this case was by far the most complex and difficult of any that has come up before the commission for decision.

From the aspects of the case he was of the opinion that if the case was definitely settled, it must be done in the higher courts, as he thought it was beyond the jurisdiction ofthe powers of the commission. However, he favored a compromise, and suggested that the commission procure competent engineers to make an examination of the company's system, and let both the company and the users stand by the suggestions made by the experts. In this regard he stated that in order to best get the full results from the water that had already been purchased, the users must do one of the two things, either establish a strict system of rotation or open ditches must be abandoned. He favored the scientific rotation, owing to the expense connected with the piping system. The evidence of Mr.

Roberts, the engineer hired by the users, and of Mr. Burrows, the commission engineer, was taken as well as that of Mr. Rudkin. A full report will be submitted to the attorney general for an opinion as to whether or not the case can be settled by the Commission. Mr.

promised that the commission would attempt to thresh the matter out and would submit a full report to both parties interested as soon as possible..