The times-herald. [volume] (Burns, Harney County, Or.) 1896-1929, 1919-07-05

Following the business session May
or {. II. Leonard came forward and
rave the pioneers "A formal welcome
70 the city. He said In the course
OF his remarks that u really did not
appear necessary that he as the Of
fetal head OF the city should extend
a welcome 10 the pioneers as the town
really belonged 10 them In the first
place and he appeared as younger
son welcoming home the parent. This
was responded 10 by Geo. McGowan
on behalf or the pioneers In most
happy manner. Mr.. McGowan was
the founder Of Burns. and II was. iu-
deed. d pleasure for him To be- pres
ont at this annual reunion Of the
pioneers where he met with many
OF bis former friends. Mr.. MCGOWAN
spoke OF the early struggles and
hardships of the pioneers. the fight
Tor q better condition--for the pri-
yilege OF securing homes In this Val
lcy-the fight 20 get Harney county
cut OF from Grant county. securing
the land district and the location OF
the land Office In this city. etc. His
cntir. address Was well chosen and
found a most attentive audience. Mr..
MCGOWAN said In part:
Not many of my old pioneer as
socIatcs of 80 or 40 years ago are
here. Some are away In other lands
many have crossed the Great Divide.
There IL "a changc--yes. many
changes.
Voices and footsteps and all things
strange.
Gone are th. heads of the siiyery hair
And the young who are there have
brow of care:
Naught looks the same. save the sky
and the air
There have been many changes
during my 20 years absence. but
changes and improvements are In
proportion To that life giving fluid
water. Where this supply is abund-
ant there IN wealth and beauty. our
In the higher region whore this sup
ply is lacking there Is desolation.
abandoned homes, representing dis
hopes broken fortunes.
No sadder sight can greet the eye
anywhoro.
"old things have passed away and
ill things have become new" IN ani
around BURNS. But this Is only what
me would expect considering the
luality OF the men who first settled
n this country, They were OF the
lost blood OF the land II was no
i!aco for chairwarmers or slackers
u the various waves OF immigrants
'nly the choicest stood the strain
\ sitting process went on. the chan
vas blown away, the grain remained,
1t was no Joke establishing home
n this wilderness 80 or 40 years ago,
III the powers OF nature and art
eemed combined against the settler,
le was an unwelcome guest. There
we're no schools or churches, no
materials. none OF the acces-
orlcs OF civilization. Aud our own
tate of Oregon whose duty il was
D foster sottloment, had already
iyen away half OF the domain 10
uild road that never was built
ext she entered into collusion with
peculators permitting them To cloud
le titles OF the remainder. This
ntailed on the settler many Journeys
cross the desert TO the land Office
so miles distant This Is not all.
very 1G and SO section wisely laid
side Tor the education OF our child
IN was sold to interests hostile To
,ttlement for S1,95 per acre. These
uds, many OF them could have heon
I'D at the time for from $40 to SEQ,
o wonder our school taxes are high
ow this transfer was accomplished
mQtter of record and an effort Is
,ing made TO recover something for
ar school children, And what was
.o Federal Government doing all
rs time? Well Washington waHa
us distance from here, impossible
a the settlor but easy of actas5 90
e millionaire, Consequently tho
nd ONCE incumbents We're appoint
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