davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1909-04-23

while it took considerable time for
him to get started, h used every
diligence whea he finally determined
TO commence work
After the necessary capital had
been subscribed and a contract for
the water and the { 'llen Drift dam
had been signed It was in orde, to
commence construction. The first
step taken was to ask the people of
Josephine county to visit the dam
and participate In the ceremony Of
inaug rating the work. An eycur-
sion train was secured and several
hundred people left Grants Pas. en
Thursday afternoon, February is, 70
see the commencement of the irrlga.
tion project It was indeed a pro I'd
'ny tor all the ex'ursionists. Ar
rivlng at the dam they found iper-
intendent G.. II. Garner on the
ground with his big teams, pl0w3
and scrapers at the point where the
great gravity canal would start The
American flag, In the hands of a
civil War veteran, proudly waved
over the spot, and at given signal
It was announced thpt America
would be sung by the audience Nay
or Kinney leading After tho singing
the assembly was called to order
by President Gllkey, who acted as
master Of ceremonies. Rev Robt
Mclean lel In prayer while tho vast
audience stood with uncovered
heads After the prayer President
Gllkoy spoke substantially as fol-
lows.
President Gilkey's Introductory Talk
Ladies'. Gentlemen, Fellow Citizens
Our gathering here today marks
Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1909-04-23
PEAR GROWING IN
ROGUE RIVER VALLEY
y Successful OrChardist, One Who
Has Made Good in Practice
and Theory.
(By F. j. BurkeD

Conservatively speaking there is
no other section in the United States
where the pear reaches the same de-
gree of perfection as Rogue River
valley Writing from my own ex-
perience in fruit raising, find it
both profitable and pleasant. Owing
TO the perfect climate experience
no difficulty in keeping my trees
free of disease and pests. grow
Bartlett pears as speciality and it
is nothing out of the ordinary to
pick IA boxes of perfect fruit from
one tree; though | have some trees
which yield 20 boxes. The pears are
shipped to the New York market
where they never fail to bring the
top prices, In preparing the fruit
for market, we pick in the cool Of
the day and spread the pears on the
ground over night. In the morning
expert packers wrap each pear sep
arately in paper and pack in neatly
labeled boxes, three and four tier of
fruit to the box. 1t is Immediately
placed in the shipping car and reach
es lis destination in perfect condi-
tion, hence the excellent price.
This section of Oregon has estab-
llshed great reputation for pears
and justly. Visitors arriving here
last year from the east were filled
with wonder at the sight of trees
loaded to the breaking point and
every limb propped, while in other
states where pears used to be eX-
tensively grown, It Is now impos-
sible to raise them at all. Eastern
commission men say the whole
world Is looking towards this valley
for their future pear supply. An I'M
mense acreage is being set to pears
this year. There Is nothing expert
mental about this. Just as surely
as man sets out and properly cares
Tor an orchard in this valley, will
he reap his reward. The demand far
exceeds the supply as there are so
few localities where pears can be
successfully grown. All varieties,
Comice, Winter Nellis, Clapp,
D'Anjou are just as prolific as Bart
lett.
Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1909-04-23

the opening of new era for the
Rogue River Valley and more es-
pecially Josephine County. Febru-
AIRY is, 1909, will be date long to
remember in the years to come when
this valley shall be made to "blos-
som as the rose" by reason of the
perfection of the enterprise we now
inaugurate.
1t only remains for our citizens to
push the work to early completion.
We are depending on 40 outside pow
ers, no governmental machinery to
complicate, hinder or delay our pro-
gress. We can, If we will, have a
system of irrigation to cover our
lands as'rapidly as tne said lands are
ready for the water, This means
more to us than the most optimistic
Of you have ever dared to dream.
All kinds of questions are being
asked. Why was this particular pro-
iect chosen? Why not go to Savage
Rapids, Rock Point, Gold Hill or
some other point farther up the river
and take out a gravity line and save
the cost of pumping, etc, etc? Do
You realize, friends, that 1t would re-
Quire a ditch no less ;aan 140 miles
Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1909-04-23
IRRIGATION FOR ROGUE RIVER VALLEY

ents had been engaged to make talks
but the enthusiasm of the occasion
would drown the liveliest orator.
Next in order was the distribution
of grape vines to every person in the
immense gathering. With the vines
was a stake ? inches square and 80
inches long stained the color of the
Tokay grape. The vines were to be
planted and the stake driven near
the vine to give warning to the
passerby that a Flaming Tokay
grape vine had been planted there.
The distribution went on rapidly un-
til everybody had been served, until
200 vines were given out.
One hundred dollars is offered in
prizes running from 81 to SIS for
the best cared for and most thrifty
vines. The prizes are as follows:
On the three days following vines
were given out near the post office
to each passerby who would pledge
himself to plant and care for the
same, The first day a thousand were
distributed in this manner. Fifty
vines and stakes will be sent to each
school house in the county that can
be reached by train or stage line
from this city, and these vines will
Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1909-04-23

In pear raising as In anything else,
It never pays to De negligent Spray
lng must be done at the proper
time, and as TO the pruning, prefer
10 do that IN the summer Properly
cared ior pear orchard viii ,iold
% return OF from $500 TO $1,000 per
acre.
Apples. peaches and cherries yield
prolIfIoally
Among mr young trees ! raise
boules and tba yield ls simply onof.
NOUS We have not shipped our
berries, as SO FAR have not been able
fo supply tho homo demand a man
Do moderate circumstances can easily
make a living and gain a start on an
acre Of land In fact ! believe that
.small tracts intensiyely farmed brlna
Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1909-04-23
TO FURNISH WATER
FOR IRRIGATION
Has n Capacity of 5000 Gallons Per
Minute Operating Under
i30-Foot Head.

The great Ament dam across the
Rogue river which is to furnish the
water for the inigating bitches of
Josephine county has a history which
dates back to 1902 when its con-
struction was commenced. This dam
is Il substantial structure made in
crib form from l2X12 sawed TIM
Ders. The base of the dam is 195
feet in width up and down the river.
~ feet in heighth giving a per-
pendicular drop of 20 feet and ESQ
ieet in length crossing the river.
a substantial bulkhead 80 feet In
heighth, so feet in width and 12O
ieet In length, resting upon the river
Dank and bedrock cement, all filled
with heavy boulders and cement
gravel and planked over with double
3-inch planks and spiked with 12-
inch spikes, The race-way is cut
Just beyond the bulkhead In the
main land with a head race IS feet
In depth and the tail race 80 feet
In depth and 120 feet in width. The
power house site is situated beyond
the raceway on the river bank 200
feet from the river on bed rock. The
entire structure, including the wing
dam Is 720 feet over all, requiring
100000 feet of sawed lumber to
build at a cost of nearly a third of
a million dollars exclusive of the
thousand acres of placer mining
land adjoining the property. The
raceway gates are IL in number,
each 10 feet in width. the pen stock
Is furnished for 16-400 h. u. turbines
giving 64O0 horse power. When
completed IT. will have capacity of
5000 h. p. Four wheels are installed
and attached to steel gears, all
coupled up and harnessed to a TO-
loot line shaft running in Phosphor
Browns ring olling boxes, and at
tached to a mammoth five-step high
liit centrifugal pump weighing SS,-
600 pounds, that has capacity of
5000 gallons per minute or 10000
600 gallons per day went operating
under n l30 foot head, It being the
largest high lift centrifugal pump In
the world. This pump Is connected
with a 22-inch steel discharge pipe
1900 feet in length, with full
equipment of high pressure cutoff
gates and monitors, terminating at
the point OF diversion aud is capable
of delivering a 22-inch stream OF
water to an elevation Of $50 feet
continuously from power derived from
4-iOO h. D. turbine water wheels in
stalled tandem.
This dam was built and equipped
with power for placer mining and lr-
rigation purposes During the
month OF February, 1909, a contract
was entered into with the owners of
the great dam by the Josephine
County Irrigation & Power Company
for supply OF water for their ditch
es. The gravity bitches to be sup
piled direct from the dam and the
water for the high line canals TO be
pumped by the great centrifugal
pump. The utilization OF this dam
and power made It possible to supply
water for irrigation during the pre-
sent season, The irrigation company
has an option on the dam which Will
run until 1911 at which time Il is
expected that the entire property
VIII be taken over by the irrigation
company.
Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1909-04-23
THRIVING DISTRICT
OF FRUITDALE

Fruitdale, a district which lies on
the south side of Rogue river and
about two miles and half above
Grants Pass is improving very ra-
pidly Twenty new families have
settled in that section within the
last year and hundreds of acres have
been cleared up from the timber and
brush and the work is still going on.
Most # the land has been planted
with grapes, but some orchards have
been put out. There Is no better
land 70 be found in any country than
there Is In this little settlement and
It IS still comparatively cheap; last
year many purchases were made
from s25 to $50 per acre. These
same lands were cut mp in smaller
tracts and sold at $50 per acre and
much of this land which has been
cleared and planted will readily
bring 500 an acre. There IS still
opportunity to buy choice lands
which can be cleared and made into
orchards Stop over at Grants Pass
and take a run out to Frultdale and
soa the country
Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1909-04-23

section of land for the purpose of
making good living, but the man
with five, ten or twenty acres under
q high state of cultivation will make
more than the one with ten times as
much half cultivated, as at present.
Continued on Page Two.)
Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1909-04-23
CANAL BUILDING
STARTED FEB, 'O9
Big Excursion to Dam---Speeches by President
Gilkey, President Anderson, Judge Jewell, Sec
retary Blanchard, Mayor Kinney

The story of securing irrigation in
Grants Pass is in many respects a
fas mating one and as it stands for
much in the way of prosperity in the
Rogue River valley, its practical
points are worth relating. Nature
had done so much for this valley in
the way of SOIL climate and loca-
ton, that it did seem that man
should be willing to do his part, and
Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1909-04-23

be distributed the same as in Grants
Pass Vines will also be sent to all
the towns in the county to be given
to the householders who will prom
ise to plant and care for them, In
ALL something over 6O00 vines will
be distributed.
In conclusion let us say that there
were nearly 100000 Flaming Tokay
grape vines planted in this county
in the year 1908, and there are now
being planted 265.OOO. If anyone
should remark that this will not he
a county of vineyards it will only pc
fair TO correct them.
Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1909-04-23

Sow g.. the time 20 buy land cheap
witch wIll soon be under irrigation.
Stop over 8t Grants Pass and satisfy
Yourself that this is the best coun-
uy ou tha north Pacific Coast
Grants Pass g. fhe most dIstin,
IyD,t American In population of ans
.,y ln Oregon ltisa city Of homes
schools and churches II has thre.
new papers. the Rogue Riyoi
Courier The oregon Observer ant
The Pacific Ouuook an published
weekly.
Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1909-04-23

II you are looking for a home and
an income you can get both around
Grants Pass for less money than IN
any other locality In the country.
>~.--,~-,~--,,.~-->-.>->--.~
the best results, as a man can give
his full attention 20 the work him
SELF and thus insure n being we'll
done.
We raise chickens as a side pro.
duct They benefit the orchard by
picking mp myrlads Of Insects that
would otherwise develop into pests.
and the poultry brings a nuo price
in The market
But as before stated, my principal
business is pear culture have four
and one.half acres for which | re.
Gently refused $4,000. as n ls not
for snlo
The Sentinel=record., 1909-10-27
PRETTY HOME WEDDING.
X pretty home wedding was solemn

A pretty home wedding was solemn ized at the home of the bride on Sun day afternoon, October 24. 1909, wit messed by a few select friends. by Justice Thomas Gladson. The con trsctiag parties were Nss LAila Mont somery of this city and Mr. William Nelson Toss of Chicago but has been employel by Rnsh Brothers for over q year ss electrician. He Is young Nan higblv esteemed by all his fel. low men, The bride. being reared in Fr city, Is also well anown and loved by all. The home was beautifully de corated and refreshments were serv- ed They will be at home to their friends at 110 Rosenfelt avenue All departed wishing the newly made pair many happy returns of the day. and may their paths be slrewn with flow. CTS, as well she may deserve it. May the pleasant and happy ties that now hind hem tcgether be severed only in death. I, H, c
The Sentinel=record., 1909-10-27
NEW PLANO aToRg

The chsistoph 1ackson piaa company are preparing to open piano Aouge a. sq5 Central av nao sumpterLittle Dur linz The firm ial composed Of F. | Shgst topher os merly of Fl Worth Texas, and J ls Jackson, . well snowa saans basins ss man of this civ and one et the own CTS of Jackson's pharmacy Mir Christophe Is q brother of M7s Day of this city and after closing out his large 9lani store lh IT Wsa came to this city on visit Lik q great many others whr come here MFT and Mrs. Christopher iilsed cur city and decided tc cast their loS wsih us AIr- Christopher who will mallage tho business has dad several years x perienre in the busynass. is a pleas ant and affaaols senteIman. and will be an acquisition to business circls <
The Sentinel=record., 1909-10-27
Yorke and Adams.

.In Africa by Aaron Hoffman, the new musical comedy with America foremost comedians. YoFke and Ad- sma. will be the next offering at the Auditorium, Sunday, october Sl
 Tn Africa" is one hodge-podge of clean-cut and wholesome mirth It e q show that will create an impression anywhere because of the fact that it is built on original and unique lines and contains sixteen catchy musical numbers, especially written and com piled for the production.
 Yorke and Adams are still presented by B. E. Forester and if public ap- probation counts for anything, he has done nobly by them In ''in Africa they have better opportunities to dis. play their unique talents and are sur rounded by a capable company ins cludlng 8 beauty chorus aud have spe- cially engaged the "Ju Iu'' girls
The Sentinel=record., 1909-10-27

their bodies lying before me grew and. at last two weeks ago. saw it all. My plan was perfect My hatred would be avenged l bought revoIs' CT in Kansas City. Mo.
 Cling home, l carefully waited un. til knew my intende dyictims would be in the right positions for me to Kill them and get away Tuesday Rose went to visit at von Royen's and Lon went to the woods.
 ITO make sure he was not at home, went to the house and lealned where he was l found him and shot hm in the head He fell and fired six shots into his back l always hated him dragged his body across the creek and then prepared to finish the deed.
 For an hour I wandered about planning Then walked into the house and found my sisters.
 My first shot probably killed Mrs Tan Royen, as she sat on chair. She screamed and fell Rose started to speak to me and I shot her down.
 When the two women were vir- tuslly dead was free 10 take my time. | fired two more shots into the body of Mrs Van Royen and nvs more into Roses body did not hurry away. I wasn't unduly excited It was the culmination Of my only thoughts for months.
 T searched the house and found some rings and other valuables. ] look all Of them and my revolver and hid them in a corn shock.
 Later it dawned on me that I had committed d crime. | tried to keep t secret But hour by hour some. thing told me that I must tell all. To night I'll sleep in peace"
 The confessed murderer has been severely cross quesmoned by the DO. lice many. times since the murders, but he skillfuIy extricated himself from the few compromising positions into which he stepped. He was taken a. one time tQ the scene of the mur- ders and forced at midnight under the glare of fshl'ght to rehearse the
 tory He did it unfinchingly, swear. ng he knew nothing of the crime Lat 1 til I knew my intended victims would CT he offered $500 reward for the ar rest of the murderer
 The quarrel between the Van Roy ems and McMahons is said to have ] started over the desire of the senioi Mrs MeMahon to give part of heI i property 10 Van Royen
The Sentinel=record., 1909-10-27
aThe Top e tn, worId.n

Rather a strange coincidence. but nevertheless true, but the combined weights of the dancing girls In ~The Top c tn World, which comes to the
 iterium soon, figures exactly l while the ages of the principals and
 cAis tally the same-19O9. The first round trip of the company from New York to Chicago by the route routed was 1909-the heighth of the thirty-six chorus girls is 1909. the ten collie dogs were trained in 1909 and the first nights receipts of the etudst Ter Theater. Chicago, was s19O9 It can truly be said that 1909 has much to answer for.
The Sentinel=record., 1909-10-27
ENTIRE STORY GREAT BEN Hur

Who can forget the spell of enchant' ment that enables him to move and live among the men and scenes of nearly 2000 years ago. Nay. to come into contact with the earthly Christ himself without wrench or conscious effort as he read the thrilling and heart gripping story of Ben iur.' It Is fountain that repays the oft dip ping Of the pitcher.
 The Ladies Aid society of the First Baptist church congratulate them selves on having secured an illustrat- cd lecture whose theme will be Lew Wallace's masterpiece. Over 200 slides will be used in depicting the famous scenes so that eloquent word will be touched by the glow of rich and splendid tinting. The evenings entertainment will also include col cred pictorial story of the Prodigal Son and strong list of Rams Horn cartoons, the latter also in colofs and skillfulIy referred to by the lecturer
 As the admission is only 9 cents standing space should be in demand for the occasion. The entertainment will be given in tne High School Audi. torum at 7:S0 o'clock on Tuesday evening, November 2, 1909
The Sentinel=record., 1909-10-27
MAKES CONFESSION OF MURDERlNG JAMES M'MAHoN TELLS HOW HE MURDERED THREE DIFFER
 ENT PEOPLE.
Accompanied from the Jail by His Brother He Is Hurried Away to
 Escape a Mob.

Kansas City, Kan. Oct 25.---James McMahon confessed today he mur- deied his sisters. Miss Rose McMahon and Mrs. Van Royen, and his brother inlaw, Alonzo Van Royen on a farm near Kansas City, Kan. last Tues. day
 A long standing family quarrel caused the tragedy McMahon killed Van Royen In a wood and later went to the Van Royen home ani shot his sisters
 Fearing mob violence by throng gathered about the county jail after the confession, the authorities rushed the murderer and his brother Patrick McMahon and Patrick Lamb, a farm fand. who are held as witnesses in the case, to the Kansas ate peni. tentiary at Lansing tonight In auto. A lobiles. The cries of the mob were ! sard within the jail and the prison.
 begged piteously to be taken 10
 place of safety. They were slipped quietly out of the jail before the crowd was aware of their departure
 James McMahon took sole respons. ibility for the crime. In his verbal confession he especially eNonerated his brother, whom he he feared the officers would charge with complicity in the crime.
 County Attorney Taggart said to. night that charge might be placed against Patfsck McMahon also.
 McMalioh's inabiiity to keep his SC. pres eaused his arrest He told a { friend today where he had hidden the revolver with which he did the Kill ing and several articles he took from the Van Royen home The sheriff went to ihe place and found the art. icles.
 Sheriff Becker then decided to sr. rest James McMahon As he was preparing to go after the man, Me. Mahon walked into his office and an. nounced he was ready 10 help work on the case, as he had been doing each day since the tragedy.
 Becken immediately arrested him and without telling of the evidence he had, took McMahon to his home. and arrested Patrick McMahon and Lamb.
 Prosecutor Taggalt and Sheriff Becky @sweated" James McMahon for two hours. Then McManus col lapsed and confessed all
 Yes, I killed my two sisters and hrother-ip-law and I was crazy when did it.' he shouted. rising out of his chair and pacing the room. 'It took me three month sto plan and execute the crime. Day by day the picture Of
The Sentinel=record., 1909-10-27
FIVE CHILDREN BURNED.
Were Caught in the Presbyterian
 Orphans one.

Were Caught in the Presbyterian
 Orphans ome.
 Lyme nburg. Va. oct 26.Late this afternoon the remains of the five children who were burned in the fire which destroyed the snelton cottage at the Presbyterian Orphans ome, near this city at 1 this morning. were recovered. though they were burned past recognition.
 coroner's inquest, which conclud- ed it's work at S:15 o'clock tonight, threw no light on the cause of the fire. but inc verdict included state ment fully exonerating the home authorities from blame,
 Later reports show that the fire was discovered by the housekeeper in her ocm O the secon or by smoKe ls- suing through the speaking tube con meeting her room with .-e kitchen She was up to begin her duties for the day
The Sentinel=record., 1909-10-27
TERRY plscHAReEp.
For Breaking a Pledge to Abstain
 from Use of Liquor.

Washington. D. C., Oct 26.-Hound guilty of breaking pledge taken in 1906, to abstain from the use or in. toxieating liquors for five years, FirsI Lieutenant Edward w. Terry of the i Twenty Second Infantry, has been dis missed from the army. The presiden- tial approval of the sentence imposed by the court martial at Fort Gibbon, Alaska, was announced at the war de- partment today.
 In addition to violating the pleege the officer was charged with drunk. enness on duty
 Lieutenant Terry was a captain in the First Louisiana Infantry volun- teers in 1898 when the Spanish-Amer. ican war broke out After the war he became a lieutenant in the Seventh United States Infantry and was finally , transferred to the Twenty-Second
The Sentinel=record., 1909-10-27
arhe alrI from Rectors.

The rcal show coming pn Saturday, November 6, "The Girl from Rectors,' the show you have all been wanting tc see. the show that you all have heard of. The sensation of the last two seasons, in one of the most sue cessful New York .hcaters. 1t will D presented in all it's entiriiy with an exceptional cast,
 arrangements have been made to give a special matinee. Announce ment will be given later as to when the sale of tickets will be opened
The Sentinel=record., 1909-10-27
AT THE AUDITORIUM
"A Woman of Mystery"

Humor is never so intensely en- loved as when brought in direct con trast with pasbos. Such is the humof in Madam Sarah Bernhardts great plav, "A Woman of Mystery" which Managers Walters and Way will or fer at the Auditorium, with Miss couf' tenay Morgan in the part Of Ayesha' on saturday, matinee and night, oe tober 30
 Tears and laughter follow each oto- CT in rapid succession during the two and a half hours in which Miss Cour- tenay Morgan. as Ayesha, in "A Wo- man of Mystery plays upon the harp at. ings of human emotions.