East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1914-04-02
NEWS OF FARM AND RANGE
WOULD HAUL WHEAT
WITH CATERP|LLARS
EDGAR SMITH URGES WHEAT
ROAD TO COLUMBIA FOR
HOLDNAN SECTION.
Proper Grade and Smooth Roads
Chief Requisites-Bringfng Water
Transportation In Reach Will Aid
Growers.

Chief Requisites-Bringfng Water
Transportation In Reach Will Aid
Growers.
For the purpose of interesting the
farmers in the north end Of Umatilla
county, the Holdman section, in a
plan to make 1t possible for them to
get their wheat to the Columbia river
at minimum cost, Edgar w. Smith,
president of the new milling company
in Astoria. is making visit here. His
plan which. If carried out, would
mean several cents more bushel to
the farmers, includes the improve
ment of the roads and the moving OF
the grain by caterpillar engine.
1t would not be necessary, he says.
to spend any great sum of money on
the roads. A little grading and drag
ging sufficient to make them level
would be all requiiel, but he declares
it is absolutely essential that the
roads be level for caterpillar to
furnish the locotomotive power. With
large. wide wagons, caterpillar
could haul In one trip the greater
part of a carload of grain, he declares
He believes auto-trucks impracticable
at this time on account of the ex-
pense involved both in the purchase
of the equipment and In the prepara.
ton of the roads. In California, the
caterpillar engine method of trans
porting grain has proven cheap and
effective. he states.
Mr. Smith, who Is a former PEN
dleton boy, contemplates purchasing
the greater part of the grain for his
mills in eastern Oregon and he Is
very much interested in water traf-
fic He believes, with proper facili-
ties for getting the grain to the river.
the producer win secure several cents
more per bushel for his wheat be-
cause of the difference between the
water and rail rates.
He figures that his mill will COM
nence operations by the middle OF
this month. He had this week laid
in his initia supply of wheat. con-
sisting of $1,000 bushels purchased
around The Dalles and 10000 bushels
purchased of Houser in Portland. II
is all bluestem and turkey red. His
mill will have a capacity Of 500 bar
rels day at first and will be enlarg-
ed as the business grows. He figures
that the present low export market !:
only temporary and that flour vii.
soon be back upon firm footing.
Thinks County Should Help-Majol
f. l.. Swartzlander is a booster for q
bridge across the Umatilla river al
Mission and for a bridge at Thorn
Hollow but he takes the view the
county should cooperate in meeting
the cost of the work to be done. Ma
jor Swartzlander bases this view or
the fact the federal government ha:
already built one bridge, at Cayuse
and on the fact much of the reserva'
ton land is now under white owner
ship. Petitions asking for bridges a
Thorn Hollow and Mission are being
circulated by Harry Sayres of Gibbon
One petition will be sent to the com
missioner of Indian affairs. through
Major Swartzanjer and the other pc
ton will be presented to the count,
court. The petition does not ask the
court to aid the government witt
money but asks that proper action bt
taken to bring about the construction
of the bridges. Major Swartzlandel
considers that Of the two proposed
bridges the bridge for Mission is the
worse needed.
Former Oregon Stoclman Wealth!
| Clothier-Ed V. Price is name IA
miliar to the clothes-wearing worlt
as the name of widely known brand
oC mems clothes. The original Ed. V
Price, who is the head of the big
manufacturing concern, passed
through Pendleton last evening er
! route back to California from Califor'
MIA where he has been spending the
| winter. On the patform at the de-
not he inquired for Deputy Sheriff
Joe Blakely and, finding several who
knew the local officer, confided te
them that 40 years ago he and Joe
| Blakely and Jim Blakeley, now of En-
| terprise, were in the stock business
on Willow creek. near Prineville. He
has not seen either of the two mer
since but recalled many incidents o.
their former life. Price is big
handsome man and has erased al
marks Of his life as stockman.
Owns 10000 Acres - P. Chovy OF
Palentine. in Umatilla county, lef
this morning after paying taxes at th'
county court house. Mr.. Chovy Is
Portuguese by birth and came to this
country when a mere boy. He frs
lived in Morrow county where hi
| worked for wages. Later he remov
| ed to Umatilla county where he ha!
heen a resident for almost 40 years
| He is now owner of nearly 10000
acres of land. some Of which is In the
| Starkey country BY thrift and Close
application to business he amassed
considerable fortune. He Is married
| and has a large family, all Of whom
are receiving good education. Mr.
| Chovy is a stockraiser principally
La Grande Observer.
Big Rabbit Drive Sunday-The big
| gest rabbit drive Of the year In the
west end is arranged for Sunday
! April S. The corrals are being bull
| oI a