The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1918-03-22
AN INTERESTING MEETING.


that has been held in Oroville for many
a day was the one that took place in
the Civic League building Saturday
afternoon, conducted under the aus
pices of the Oroville Commercial Club
and called for the purpose of consider
ing and discussing matters of neigh
bOrhOod and community interest. The
farming community especially was
we'll represented, and from the close
attention manifested in the proceed
ings it was evident that every person
present took a deep interest in every
subjct under consideration and dis
cussion. Prior to the business meeting
and between IL and 1 o'clock a free
luncheon was served by the ladies of
the Civic League, at which over 70
persons were fed. The business part of
the meeting followed Immediately af.
ter luncheon.
Stockholders, and there were many
subscribers present, in the proposed
new flour mill, for which the town and
surrounding country has pledged up
ward of $4,000, were very much discon-
certed when S. B. Starrett, Jr., secre-
tary of the Commercial Club, read
letter from Francis Huott, of Plains,
Montana, who is to equip and take
charge of the proposed new mill when
constructed, in which he stated that it
would probably be necessary to post
pone construction of the mill for
year, owing to the fact that an edict
had been issued by the food commits
sion declaring that 1t would be neces-
sary for every flour mill in the country
to produce substitutes in an equal
amount to the flour manufactured, and
this order would mean large addi-
tional cost for equipment, besides he
doubted whether the substitutes could
be obtained in this locality.
While this announcement was dis
concerting it was by no means dis
couraging, and the building of the mill
has not by any means been abandoned
An open discussion of the situation fol-
lowed the reading Of the letter, particle
pated in by number of those present
Chas. A. Andrus, who is miller of
thirty years experience. threw much
light upon the cost of the
equipment required for the manufac-
ture of substitutes, and in the course
of his remarks declared that flour
mill was Of vital Importance to this
neighborhood. Mr.. Sham
berger made 9 ringing speech .adyocat-
ing standing by the decision of the ad-
in its provisions for the
conservation of wheat, and emphatic
ally declaring that the mill would be
built just as soon as such restrictions
were lifted. The peculiar situation at
this place, where the farmer was fore
ed to ship his grain to a distant mar
ket, and then pay an extra price for
flour manufactured from this same
wheat and shipped back into the coun-
try was dwelt upon, and it was the
concensus of opinion that if the situa-
tiOn was fairly presented to the food
commission dispensation would be
issued permitting the construction of
a wheat flour mill at this point. The
secretary was instructed to take up
the matter with he commission and
report progress at asubsequent meet
ing.
G. A. Bush. formerly agricultural
agent for county in Montana, but
now a travelling representative for
Northrup, King & Co., of Minneapolis,
one of the largest seed houses in the
country, addressed the meeting by in
vitation upon the subject of CONNER
cial seed growing. He stated that Mr.,
Shamberger had submitted samples of
seed grown by him in the Okanogan
valley to the Minneapolis house, and
the members of the firm found the seed
of such superior quality that they de-
cided to invade the field and arouse an
interest in seed growing on a large
scale if that were possible. Mr.. Bush
was sent by the house directly to Oro-
vile for the special purpose Of looking
over the country, comforting with land
owners and arousing interest if pos
sible in seed growing for the market.
He stated that he considered himself
fortunate, and it was matter of much
qualification, that he could meet as
many farmers at one time in a body in
Oroville to whom to present the prop
osition in general way and to later
talk to these gentlemen individually
upon the subject Mr.. Buch presented
the advantages to be derived from seed
growing in such seductive colors that
q q hn Of
pressed a desire to learn more about
the growing of seed, with an avowed
willingness to enter into contracts and
engage in seed production Again Mr..
Shamberger spoke upon this important
subject, urging the farmers under the
ditch to investigate this flattering Of
fer. The PLAUSIBLE reasoning and elo-
quence of the speaker made a most
favorable impression upon his hearers,
arOusing much interest in the PROPOSE
ton. The industry is one, as was ex-
planned, that must be learned by ex-
perience, but intelligent application
and industry can readily master the
problem, and seed growing in the val
ley under the ditch can be made one
of the most profitable sources of in
come to be derived from the land Mr..
Bush talked with the several farmers
interest after the meeting, and will
spend a number of days in the valley,
personally interviewing land owners.
In all probability his visit will result
in starting up an industry on irrigated
land that will continue growing from
year to year until it becomes one of the
most important in this upper country.
During the proceedings Prof. F. B.
Nance gave four minutes talk on
Thrift and War Saving stamps, urging
all to aid the government by investing
in these stamps. g r Starrett Jr aIso