East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1906-11-19

Echo, Nov. l9.-Much dissatisfac-
tion is expressed here over the action
of the county commissioners in regard
from Echo up the Umatilla river. The
old road was ordered closed some lit
tie time ago, the reclamation service
wanting to use II for a right of way
for the government ditch. At that
time another petition was presented
praying for the road to be opened
along the railroad, it being understood
by all who signed the petitions, that
the new road petitioned for was to
take the place of the old route. Both
petitions We're presented and the old
road ordered closed and the new one
opened at the September court.
The railroad company, however, OBJ
jected to the new road as surveyed, as
1t took part Of their right of way, and
owing to a misunderstanding in the
petition, It was thought that con-
demnation proceedings. could not be
carried out under II. SO a new petit
ton was gotten up and presented to
the county court November :. So
the county surveyor and road viewers
resurveyed the proposed road the next
day and assessed damages and re-
ported favorably on the opening of
the road whereupon the county court
ordered the road opened, providing the
petitioners would first pay the dam
ages. which had been assessed at $40.
There is a provision in the road law
which gives the court this power, pro-
viding it appears that the proposed
road is not of sufficient Importance
to the public to cause the damages to
be paid by the county.
Those of the petitioners that have
been advised of the matter state that
they will not pay these damages,
claiming that as citizens and taxpayers
of the county they are entitled to a
road. ana that the court had no right
to close a road that has been used
since the first settlement of the
county. without providing some way
for them to get to their trading points.
For some time past they have been
obliged to founder through and over
the government ditch that is being
built in the old road. Now that route
is closed altogether and they have to
open several gates and travel along a
part of the railroad right of way in
side the fence. and can only get over
this route with an empty rig in order
to get to the postoffice.
4. C. Crawford has purchased the
w. w. White place on the Umatilla
river, near the mouth of Butter creek.
There are 100 acres in this farm, part
of II being under the government
ditch. The price was not made pub
lie.
w. A. Houser, night operator at the
depot has moved his family here
from La Grande, Ore.
John T. Whistler of the reclama-
tion service, was in town Saturday for
the purpose of inspecting the work at
the intake dam and the canal al this
end of the works.
Thomas Jacques, one OF the success
full bidders for a part OF the govern
ment ditch, is preparing to begin
work shortly, having moved most of
his outfit here.
Roy Pugsley killed large swan
Saturday near Foster, and will have
the bird mounted by a taxidermist.
A number of local sportsmen went
down to the Columbia river on goose
hunt Saturday afternoon.
j. e. Boatman, superintendent of
the creamery here, returned Sunday
morning from a short visit at Walla
Walla. His wife has been in the hos
pital there for the past month. He
reports her condition somewhat i'm
proved.
Shull Bros. of Sherman county,
were here last week looking UP a
market for grain hay. They report
that great deal of the grain in their
locality was cut for hay on account of
the damage done by the hot weather
In July.
Government Work Suspended.
The high water in the Umatilla has
caused suspension of work on the