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VOLUME XXXV. SHELTON, MASON COUNTY, WASHINGTON, FRIDAY, SEPTIMIEI 9, 192l
LABOR DAY VACATIONS
MASON COUNTY'S
TIMBER VALUES
STILL LEADING
TARMING AND OTHER LINES
MAKE POOR SHOWING IN AS-
SESSMENT FOR TAXING
PURPOSES
The following figures taken from
the abstract of real property valua-
tions of Mason County after eqaul-
ization by the board will be of inter-
est especially to those who follow
the county vglues to observe the
'share of taxes which fall upon heir
articular interests:
oral acres of land ........ 403,819.99
:Number acres timber land..143,394.65
:No. acres unimproved land.249,431.69
-No. acres improved land.. 10,993,65
Average equalized value
timber lands, per acre .... $22,53
5kvervge equalized value
unimproved land, per acre 3.74
Avge. equalized value im-
proved land, per acre ...... 24.63
Avge. equalized value improve-
ments on land, per acre.. J,2.00
Total Equalized Valuations
"timber lands ............ $3,230,375
Unimproved lands ........ 932,770
Improved lands .......... 270,730
Improvements on lands .... 131,845
Total ................ $4,565,720
Town and City Lots
Wown and city lots ........ $ 96,934
Improvements on lots ...... 122,945
Total ................. $219,879
Included in the number of acres
improved land is"3,364.78 acres of
oyster lands, the value of which,
$109,880 is also ilacluded in the total
for improved lands.
Analysis of these figures explodes
some impressions which are common-
ly held about Mason County by tax-
payers within as well as people out-
side the county, chief of which is
that logging is about ended in Ma-
son County and that the timber in-
terests pay very little taxes, leaving
the burden to be carried by the
farming interests.
It will be noted that of the total
assessed acreage of the county,
{which does not inclu(le the reserve
]ands owned by the government),
403,819 acres, over one-third, or 143,-
THE NEW STATE COPS
The new state patrol is out and is
making a killing of state law vio-
lators along the highway, but so far
have not touched Mason County.
They are making an average of a
hundred "arrests" a day and few
escape contributing to state funds.
No licenses for car or drivers, bad
lenses or lights, "stepping on her
tail," and lots of things autoists do
when they think no one is looking
are really against the law and a
word to the wise is sufficient. There's
no telling when the new cops will be
taking a run down this way.
FALL CROPS BRING
STATE PROSPERITY
THREE STATE DEPARTMENTS IN
TOUCH WITH CONDITIONS
SEE SIGNS
Olympia, Aug• 28.--Washingten is
approaching a fall season that is fill-
ed with promise of prosperity, the
three state officials whose department
work brings them in touch with prac-
tically all phases of business and ag-
ricultural life and with every section
of the state, report.
"Prices have been better than were
anticipated for small fruits, there
has been a decided improvement in
the market for blackberries and can-
ned goods prices have • advanced ma-
terially," said E. L. French, director
of agriculture. "Pears and peaches
are moving at. a splendid price, far
better than the average, though not
touching the peak.
"Washington this year produces 30
per cent of the apples in this country,
leading all other states by a wide
margin. It not only is a thrilling
thought that everytime three apples
are eaten in this country, one of
them is supplied by this state, but!
it is a decidedly encouraging fact
that the eastern demand will give
our growers a goo'd price.
"There has been a light crop of
prunes but the fresh fruit has sold
well and for the dried fruit not yet
up there is a decided upward ten-
dency in the market.
"We will introduce grading, better
methods of shipping and standardiz-
ation to improve the cranberry mar-
ket this year.
"Prices already have much improv-
ed for dairy products and they will
go higher. Western dairymen will
also benefit next winter from more
favorable feeding conditions.
394 acres, m•e still classed and as- "There is an increase of more than
sensed as timbered lands because lo aon a^,, ,-- -, .... • .........
they 'conam more or less umner an(t whn .a. e¢. 1OOl oA ..... ]
ate mole valuable foi loggl g p
• " , .'. ..... "ing prices growers will make money
poses More than nalI ne lan(ls in _, • .... "
• • _ ..... 'utt, S Will snow a gooa crop.
"the county, or '. z4.),4;1 acres, are l ,,r .,,. 4,n ,,mtI^,,, ,u .
in the unimprove( class as logge .., :_ _,_ .. .... , " -.
' " " " r ' u A giving more aemaon o
lands, on wlncn an average value o I ...... , ......
" ' : .... n a re 's°c raining I m gla oz it or we
assessmen purposes o $ 74 a c I • : - • -
" "' • -' " "I e laced,are no raining enougn SOCK, par-
is placed 'me average vau "0 ........
-. - " • , • coo ,,,hio the I icularly norses. Tracors 'canno en-
on lmoer lungs lS .•, ...... . •
' im oved trely supplant the horse and we can
average name per acre on p' . , ,,
• • • • raise more horses pofitably
'farm ]anrds is $24.63, indicating that ...... ' " •
the avelage" acle" of farm lands• pays.. awaru uhfford, director of labor
a trifle more for taxes than the
average acre of timber land.
Timber Value High
The total value of all the lands of
:Mason County for taxing purposes,
'including improvements, but not town
property, personal property or the
cimber held in separate ownership
from the land it is on, is $4,565,720,
of which the timber land makes up
'$3,230,375, or nearly two-thirds of
the total for taxing' purposes. The
more than half of the county area
logged and unimnroved, only contri-
butes in taxes on the total•assessed
value of $932,770, or about one-fifth
of the total taxes on real property.
It is, or ought to be, a shack to
the farmers of Mason County to
]earn that there are listed only 7,6
29
acres of improved or real farm land
in the county, or around one-flftieth
of the total area, and that the total
assessed value, exclusive of the im-
provements, is but $270,730; and the
value of the improvements but $131,-
845, as set for taxing purposes. The
total of farm lands and improve-
ments as shown is $402,57, from
which the total value of oyster lands,
or $109,880, should be deducted to
arri,e at the actual assessed value
of all our fmTn lands and their im-
provements fer the purpose of
alien, and this leaves $292,69 on
vhich the farming interests of Ma
son County contribute to e tax
f,,nds, which reduced to percentare
shows that the farming interests
contribute only a trifle over seven
per cent of tle total taxes collected
each year to -an Mason County.
Farm Taxes Small
Elsewher will be found an ab-
stract of the personal ropertv s-
sssment of the county, in which the
detailed llst shcwlmr the number nnd
vahe of eac1 el.s. of such nronerty
is sbow-n. It wnuld be dfficult to
ck out just what vronortlon coms
from the farms prover, buL it is safe
to say that something less than n
er cent of the taxes comes from the
farmers, and about the same
eentage is contHbiffed hv the
of the town. Whil fully
cnt of the taxes still come from the
• timber and lorraine intyests of Ma-
son County and the holders of unim-
roved and loc,.ed lands. It may b
added that the nhysiCal value of
rilroad property has not been con-
idered in the foregoing, beea-e th..
values have not yet been set by the
tate board. For last year the value
xva vlaced ,t .€156.430.
The actual 6,res are sufeiet
'fntatlen of th ststement made by
,,nthln)¢in" Persons that the farmer.
,-e hearln' more th,n tholr ]srt of
the tax burden nnd the bar timber
,trests are eitbox dodging their
are or navn on very low vaiua-
o,. and a], give assurance that
]mbermr will continue for many
,ars to be the main industry of
and industries, says: "There is a
very noticeable and continuous im-
provements in industrial circles, with
many new plants opening up. Lum-!
bet conditions are improving and re-
ports from our field agents indate
there is every reason to anticipate
further betterment during the fall.
E. L. Farnswoffch, whose depart-
ment of taxation and examination, in-
cludes the division of banking, says
there is a feeling of confidence in
business circles that the fall is bring-
ing prosperity and..to his division of
taxation, Mr. Farnsworth adds, re-
ports continue to come in that there
is a" general movement among all
taxing boards of ,• the state to cut
their levies to the lowest practicable
amount, another factor that will im-
prove conditions.
EIGHT FINED FOR
USING NEW PAVEMENT
ENTIRE DISTANCE OF NEW
WORK AGAIN CLOSED BE-
CAUSE AUTOISTS COULD
NOT KEEP TO DETOURS
Engineer in charge Mannis of the
highway, this week filed corn-
against eight drivers for tray-
over sections of the newly
highway before it was formal-
for travel, and each of-
has been haled before Justice
Ward and fined $5 and costs. Be:
cause residents along the way have
taken liberty to drive over the high-
way instead of keeping to their de-
tours the pavement even in the sec-
tions ready for use has again been
closed with no assurance of early
opening and those who take down
barriers and force their passage will
be made to pay for their offense•
While it was hoped that the Mc
Cleary detour might be avoided after
September 15th, and shorter detours
opened along the present work used
in connection with the completed sec-
tions, this is not certain although al
efforts are being made to make such
arrangement. With good weather
the entire pavement will be complet-
ed and open to travel early in No-
vember.
For the sportsmen the fish and
bear season is open, but deer Will
not be free to hunters except between
October 10th and 30th, inclusive, and
grouse and upland birds not at all
this season.
No public investment returns big-
ger dvidends more promptly than'
good roadsl particularly is this true
in this day of great and increasing
motor travel, i
If they are given the roads they
will make the| stay in Western
Washington a matter of weeks In-
lead of days.
RETURN FROM GAS
TAX EXCE00'00.S HOPE
JULY RETURNS BRING $85,281.93
TO STATE TREASURY FROM
FUEL SALES
Completion of the first monthly re-
port of receipts by the state from
the liquid fuel tax, or so-called gaso-
line tax, which became effective July
1, annoced by tle department of
licenses, showing 8,628,192.7 gallons
of liquid fuel sold (luring the month,
bringing to the state a tax of $86,-
281.93, one cent for each gallon soM.
The Standard Oil company sold
over two-thirds of the total reported
for the month, 6,030,943.7 gallons,
and paid into the state treasury $60,-
309.44.
Indirec Taxation.
Indirect revenues of the state are
exceeding expectations. Figuresfor
July on gasoline tax have astonished
state officials and others who were
strong in its advocacy, but uncertain
as Co the limit of its earnings.
At the July rate, the earnings for
a year.will be in excess of $1,000,000.
Dr. P. H. Carlyon, sponsor of the
gasoline tax bill in the legislature,
estimated in discussions of the meas-
ure that it would produce between
$700,000 and $800,000, and many
thought he was too high. The tax
goes into.the road-building fund.
"With this surprisingly large in-
come from the gas tax, we shall be
able to carry out in full, in all de-
tails, the road-buildinff program
adopted bv the last le-islature for
this biennium," says Dr. Carlyon.
"This, in spite "of the fact that our
federal aid will be much less than
i last year, we understand that there
i will be $25,000,000 immediately for
the state for the remainder of 1921
and $75,000,000 available for 1922,
instead of $100,000.000 as formerly.
This means we will be able to add
about $,250,000 to our road fnnds
from federal aid for 1921 and a little
over $1,000,000 in 1922. In 1920.
we received $1,440,000 in federal aid."
Poll Taxes Heavy
The poll tax income is also exceed-
ins the estimates of most of the men
who were influential in pushln" it
through the legislature. It will net
more than $1,700,000, according to
the last figures. The counties re-
talned 20 )cr cent for cost of coll-
tlon, sendin only 80 per cent to the
state, which means that the total
nell tax receipts will exceed $2,000,-
000.
SCHOOLS OPEN WITH
LARGER ENROLLMENT
The Labor Day holidays, which in-
eluded Sunday, did not bring the us-
ual quota of auto visitors and camp-
• ,q ers his season through. Shelton on
LOCAL SCIIOOLS OPEN qUE,_DAY account of the detour and also of
WITH FULL CORPS OF the unsettled weather. However, the
TEACHERS Navy Yard highway had more visit-
ors than usual coining frem Seattle
The Shelton schools and those of by 'ay of Bremerton, am/. a steady
• . . string of cars wo'e passing given
the varmus county (hstrlcts opened points at times eseciail- on Men
Tuesday with the full corps of teach- (lay afternoon. But next year and
ere and a cheequl lot of youths fac- thereafter, the Cans! playground will
ing the long term of school duty I °e playing to capacity houses.
ahead. In the city schools the start --
is made with attendance showing an IPERSONAI, PROPETV
increase, and tile same is reported .................... .,,e,,=,,,
many of the country schools, show- Ai[ LIST
in
ing at least a steady growth in the
school population of Mason Count):.
Following is the enrollment b) '
grades in the Shelton school, and
the teachers of each grade-
First=--Maria Egan, 42.
Second--Josephine Nelson, 24.
Third--Mrs. Berenice Potts, 35.
Fourth--Eva Ames, 25.
Fifth--Etna Shore, 20.
Sixth--Belle Colson, 21.
Seventh--Alice Faubert, 17.
Eighth--Maude Shorter, 25.
Total of grade pupils--209.
In the high school the 9th grade
has 30, 10th 47, llth 19 and 12th 15,
a total of 111, and a grand total of
320 against 312 for last year. The
high school instructors include Dora
Fredson, Esther VanHorne, Kather-
ine Wolff, Hihlur Cronquist, Emma
Richm" and H. Enzo Loop.
MAIL ROBBER GARDNER
ESCAPES FROM MeNEIL'S
NO. 39
FAiR PROGRA00 TO
In a dash while the convicts were
enjoying the privilege of a ball game
on Labor Day three of the number
made a dash for the wired enclosure
and made for the timber amid a
stream of bullets from the tower
guards. Gardner, the mail robber,
whose daring escapes from custody
in the past have furnished columns
for the daily papers, was the leader
and gaining shelter of the woods,
has not been seen since. Beating
the brush of the little island and
patrolling its shores has failed to
locate the escape or any trace, but
he may have had friends at hand
and been taken to the mainland. Both
of his companions,. Impigl and Bo-
gart, soldiers serving a long time
for assault on a Camp Lewis nurse,
were shot and the former instantly
killed.
LIVESTOCK MAKES POOR SHOW-
ING IN MASON
COUNTY
According to the figures recently
compiled by Assessor Shelton froni
the newly" completed tax rolls for
1921 on which taxes will be paid
next year, the total equalized valua-
tion of personal property in Mason
County is $1,736985, one-half of
which, less the exemptions of house-
holders, being the sum on which
taxes are actually paid, as the as-
INCLUDE SEVERAL
NOVEL FEATURES
OFFICIALS COVERING COUNTY
ASSURED OF MANY EXHIBITS
BELIEVE FAIR WILL B]
COUNTY'S BEST
Now that the neight0ring fairs
are over local attention will be tm-
ed to the coming Mason County Fair,
September 29th to October 2rid, for
which preparations are well along.
The officials are meeting regularly
and have all advance details in order
and are making good progress on
the program for the several days,
although it is early for definite an-
nouncement. President Warren Lin,
coln and County Agent Drew are
I covering the county to insure a goed
i showing of its best steele and general
l exhibits, and are receiving much en-
couragement from the armers, so
feel justified in saying that the fair
will be the county's best.
FARM LIFE LOOKING UP
A rioted writer declares that in time the lone-
someness of farm life will be done away with, and
that tilling the soil will become a popular vocatioH.
He might have said that much of the lonesome-
ness has already been banished, and that the remain-
der is rapidly disappearing, says the Kent Journal.
The automobile has done it.
There is no need for the farmer or his family or
his help to feel lonesome these days.
Distance no longer exists for him.
With his car he can be in town at any time with-
in a few minutes. He can visit his neighbors for
miles around any evening after supper while attend-
ance at church on Sunday and social gatherings at
other times require but little more effort than is
consumed in walking around a city block.
His life is .in many ways preferable to the city
dweller. His health is enhanced by the sunshine and
the pure country air that he breathes. His life is
not menaced by the constant stream of cars driven
by reckless motorists, as is the case in most cities.
His children grow to maturity in the purity of con-
tact with nature, instead of being surrounded by the
questionable environment of more congested centers,
where there is little opportunity to sift the good
from the bad. He is free to go and come as he de-
sires and is not hedged around with the myriads of
restrictions and laws of the city man. "
Tilling the soil is popular now.
It will become more so as time goes on and the
beauties and advantages of nature are better known
and understood by those who now live by a clock
and the factory whistle.
The soil is the first and most important source
of wealth, and the only one which will never fail
humanity with intelligent use. Whatever changes
may be wrought by time there will be no escape from
the necessity of cultivating the soil that people may
exist; hence those who pin their faith to the land
may be sure their lines are anchored in permanent
places for themselves and those who come after, and
of reward, for the ,human family must eat.
For the average man the farm holds the best
promise for the future, while the city holds for most
of its dwellers only the prospect of bare existence
and a never-ending struggle to make both ends meet.
The farm holds the satisfaction of living under one's
own "vine and fig tree," ample breathing space for
the family, without annoying or being annoyed by the
neighbor, and the pleasure of watching Nature's
wand produce a thousand-fold from the planted seed.
The life struggle never ends whether in town or
country, but taking the years through those of the
country get the greatest real satisfaction from their
labors,-- (: :en if they do envy their city cousins--
sometimes.
sessments on the basis of fifty per
cent of the actual values as taken by
the assessor. In this connection it
should be noted that $351,690 is on
timber held as personal property "and
separate from the land, indicating
that at least one-fifth of personal
property taxes is pefid by the timber
owners. The value of railroad prop-
erty" is not included in the above
figures, as this item will be assessed
later by the state board.
The following list includes the
main items of personal property
which the assessor found in his ram-
bles over Mason County, and the in-
dividual reader may form his own
opinion as to the share of the tax
burden each is bearing:
Number Valuation
Horses ............... 529 $ 32,184
Mules ................ 5 238
Stock cattle ......... 1281 34,242
Milch cows .......... 1524 76,200
Bulls ................ 30 1.,620
Sheep and goats ..... 260 1,300
Hogs ................ 216 2,244
Poultry .................. . 12,490
Bicycles ............. 7 110
Autos and trucks .... 572 258,748
Sewing machines .... 620 7,574
Organs .............. 49 644
Pianos .... : ......... 213 55,832
Furniture ................ 4,814
Libraries ................ 1,280
Diamonds amt watches .... 2,494
Machinists tools ......... 1,678
Wagons and carriages. 234 4,180
Agricultural implements .. 14,374
Threshing much., tractors. 1,066
Donkey engines, etc ....... 62,540
Logging trucks and equip.. 41,670
Steamboats, lauhches . ... 22,988
Lumber ................. 5,780
Sawlogs, piling .......... 71,494
Shingles ................. 4,620
Goods, merchamlise . .. 135,764
Manufacturers tools i .KI 8,668
Capital stock batiks ...... 52,000
Hotel and restaurant furn. 5,476
Electric and tel. prop ...... 29,766
Timber heal as per. prop... 351,690
While timber and logging equip-
ment represents by far the largest
values in the above list. it will be
seen that-automobiles and tlacks
make up the next largest figure.
Goods and merchandise, farm
and household goods are among the
minor items making up the personal
property assessment.
GOOD ROADS OF
WASHINGTON PAY
BIG DIVIDENDS
?AVED HIGHWAY CIRCLING
OLYMPIC PENINSU.LA A
GREAT ASSET
The Pacific Highway is generally
in good condition. It should be paved
with concrete or brick its entire
length within the next two years.
Now, Westen Washington should
cooperate with. Eastern.Washington
in an effort to obtain in the near l
future a highway from Spokane to
Seattle equally as good over its en-
tire length.
There should be ultimately at least
two fine metalled thoroughfares
spanning the state from east to west.
The Olympic Highway should be
pushed to completion, assuring a
(Continued on page 8)
JUSTICE MOUNT
DIES AT OLYMPIA
PASSING OF OLDEST MEMBIR
OF STATE SUPREME COURT
Justice Wallace Mount, for twenty-
two years-a member of the supreme
'court of Washington and a native
sen ef the Northwest, died at his
home in Olympia Sunday, following
an illness of several months from
heart disease. He had not been
dble to fill his place since March, He
was sixty-two years old and leaves
a widow, two sons and two daugh-
ters, as well as his aged mother
thirteen: brothers and sisters, who are
still living•
Judge Mount ,as born near Ore-
The fair this year will include
many features that are a decided de-
parture from former years, and the
management will plan for a program
every afternoon and evening of in-'
terest to all. Among the numbers
being worked out are the following:
Reclamation Lecture
Lecture on reclanmtion of loged-
off land.
Better Babies contest.
Home Economics booth, Miss Suth-
erland of the Extension service,
Washington Sta College, to give
demonstrations.
Talk on Business Administration
and the cycles of prosperity and de
pr.cssion, the future outlook for mar- .
kets for farm produce and the busi-
ness outlook.
There will be a pavilion erected and
evening dances will be given after
the program.
Saturday evening there will ]e a
vaudeville contest, open to everyone,
with prizes for the best acts.
Poultry lecture and demonstration
by George R. Shoup of the Puyallup
Experimental Station.
Demonstration and talk on what to
look for in dairy types of livestock.
Demonstration and talk on bee dis-
eases and their control measures.
In addition to the above numbers
there will be a baseball and a feet-
ball game and a tug of war.
there will be something doing ev-
ery minute and there will be no ex-
cuse fo; anyone spending a dull ino-
ment.
Watch for the completed program.
Better Babies Contest
Those wishing to have their baby
entered in the contest at our coming
Fair should secure an Entry Card
proInptly. These may be had by
asking for same at the L. M. office,
or by writing to Box 166, Shelton.
Babies between the ages of six
months and three and a half years
may enter.
All entry cards must be in before
Sept. 20th, after which date all ap-
plicants will be notified at what
time to bring the baby to the con-
test.
The examination rooms will be
sanitary and attractive, and a compe-
te.,.,staff will do the examining,
weighing, nieasuring, etc., while
health talks will be given by com-
petent speakers to parents and all
those interested in the welfare of
our young Americans.
This is not a beauty contest, but
is being done throughout America
to bring our babies just as near :
as possible to the correct standard
o£ 'childhood.
The Vaudeville ConteSt
The fair management has decided "
to offer prizes 'f6r the best vaude-
ville acts, the prizes to be $15 for the
best act and $10 for tle second prize,
This contest is open to any indi-
vidual or team, there being n'o limit
to the number of people tha may
be entered in an act, and the nature
of the act to be determined by the
entrants themselves.
GET BUSY "FOR THE FAIR.
GRAYS HARBOR, FAIR
HIT BY BAD WEATHER
FINE STOCK AND POULTRY'EX. .
HIBITS, BUT NOT MARKED
OTHERWISE
The rays HaTbor Fair on the new
grounds near Elms played in rather
hard luck on account of the rains of
last week and only had one profitable
day, the closin K day, Sunday, when
it is said nearly ten thousand attend-
ed. The races'were almost a failure,
only a few good runs being made on
account of the poor condition of the
track. Mason County was well rep-
resented on several days, particularly
the last day. and our visitors were
ot very enthusiastic over the show.
fact, they believe that 4Vlason
will be able to make a far
showing of home prodcts.
The stock tmd poultry exhibits were
excellent and included Some of the
yon City, Oregon, the son of Henry best of the state. All the side shows
D. Mount, who crossed the plains in and doll racks were there and a
1851. He was aproduct of the west, tough:looking bunch they were. Most
having graduated from the Univer- of these •shows will be m'msxn' ,, fr...-,
sity of Oregon and studied law at the fair here and still not be missed.
Eugene, Oregon. In 1886 he moved. [ The feature, of Elma's. fair Sunday..
to-Sprague and began law practice I wasfl pubhc wedding in which Carl
on his own account and contlnuea I l, anoerg of Aberdeen, and Miss Em-
I]practieing, or serving as judge and lma.Jones of Hoquiam, were united
I[legislator until 1900, when he was / amid the plaudits of the big crowd
]elected to the supreme bench, where [ aria were me recipients of presents
I he was ever held in high esteem ] 9 the value of $1V00, a pretty nifty
)as a learned and fearless Judge. szar :or a young married couple.