anaheim-gazette 1919-12-11

WILL COST LESS THAN $100 A PHONE ENGINEER BRACKENBURY MAKES AN ESTIMATE FOR ORANGE COUNTY MUTUAL SYSTEM Other Mutual Exchanges have been Installed for Much Less than that Figure.—Schmelzer Company Wants Authority for Increasing Rates. In a declaration that under his own estimates, it would cost $111 per phone to reproduce the Smelzer telephone system at today's prices, and that the figure seemed excessive, Assistant Engineer B. A. Brackenbury of the State Railroad Commission, strongly supports the contention of directors of the Orange County Farmers and Merchants Association that a mutual system covering the county can be installed for less than $100 per phone. Explanations by the engineer of the reason for the excessive costs clearly indicated that the county system could be installed at a great deal less than $100. He compared this cost with other mutual exchanges where installations have been made at $99 and $71 per phone. His statements came in the course a plant within the district. One of the interesting points in its history was the comparison of subscribers at first and the number now. Over 300 subscribers were getting service at one time, in the height of the celery industry. With the change in the character of farming came a decrease in the subscribers. Comparison of reports submitted by the company to the railroad commission showed a decrease in subscribers of about sixty in the last years, and when asked for an explanation as to the cause, Johnson stated that the bigger percentage of the loss was occasioned by the increase in rates in April and elimination of free tolls between Santa Ana and Smeltzer on May 1. Johnson expressed the belief that the number of subscribers at present is about the maximum number that will be available in the future. In answer to question, Johnson stated that the company was making an installation charge of $3.50 per phone and that the money was retained by the company. His attention was directed by Brackenbury to a decision of the Railroad commission. The decision, while not stated at the hearing, is believed to have reference to the decree of the commission that such installation charges must be returned to the subscriber at the expiration of a year. It probably will be some weeks or months before the commission files its decision in the matter of the petition of the company. There was an attendance of a number of subscribers in the district and of men from other parts of Southern Riverside, Co., 23rd to 28th.ciples of the valves and how to adjust other things to a better open. "You will spend in absurd Lecture-demo every morning every afternoon practice working the remain evenings will motion picture work." "The only registration interested w ment Station The course is The above public by th e University" SUPERVI Explanations by the engineer of the reason for the excessive costs clearly indicated that the county system could be installed at a great deal less than $100. He compared this cost with other mutual exchanges where installations have been made at $99 and $71 per phone. His statements came in the course of the hearing Wednesday of the petition of the Smeltzer Home Telephone and Telegraph Company for permission to increase its rates, or more properly speaking for approval of rates made effective the first of last April, when the federal government authorized an increase in rates for phones under its direction. The Smeltzer system was not under the control of the federal government, but increasing costs of material and operation necessitated a raise and the company advanced the rates 25 cents per phone for residence instruments and 50 cents for desk. The investigation being made is to determine the justice of those prices. The hearing was before Commissioner Irving Martin of Sacramento. C. C. Johnson, secretary and manager of the telephone company, was the only witness and he was quizzed by both the engineer and commissioner. The assistant engineer was delegated by the commission to make a physical valuation of the system and had submitted his findings. He was quizzing Johnson on various features of revenue and expense, when he asserted that it would cost $111 per phone to reproduce the plant. The report of the operations of the company, and from which the queries were made, was of Oct. 31. He qualified his statement that the costs per phone appeared a little excessive by comparison with other mutual exchanges referred to, with an explanation of the causes that were responsible for the apparent excessive cost. The system is equipped for serving 331 subscribers and had only 218 at the end of October. His estimate for rebuilding the system under today's costs is $24,198. "The service by the Smeltzer system is strictly suburban, consequent to the decree of the commission that such installation charges must be returned to the subscriber at the expiration of a year. It probably will be some weeks or months before the commission files its decision in the matter of the petition of the company. There was an attendance of a number of subscribers in the district and of men from other parts of Southern California who are interested in telephone matters. It is understood that a number of telephone subscribers in the Tustin exchange contemplated taking up with the commissioner the situation existing in that district where it is maintained that an injustice is being done by forcing subscribers into that exchange who believe they should be in the Santa Ana area but the date of the hearing slipped their minds and they failed to appear. MOTHER TESTIFIES AGAINST HER DAUGHTER Mrs. Burien Declares Mrs. Dahnke Not Fit Person to Have Custody of Child. The spectacle of a mother testifying against her own daughter was revealed before Judge West, in Department 1, superior court, Wednesday, when Mrs. Burien, mother of Mrs. Selma Dahnke, who is suing her husband, Henry Dahnke, of Orange, for divorce, took the stand as a witness for the plaintiff and said she did not believe Mrs. Dahnke a fit person to have the custody of the couple's child. Henry Dahnke was in court on an order to show cause why he should not pay his wife a suitable sum for her maintenance, pending the determination of the divorce action, and a reasonable sum for attorney's fees. The temporary custody of the couple's child also was involved in the hearing. After Mrs. Burien had been on the stand for several minutes Mrs. Dahnke's attorney, Charles D. Swanner, put his question relative to whether Mrs. Dahnke's mother thought Mrs. Dahnke a fit person to have the costs per phone appeared a little excessive by comparison with other mutual exchanges referred to, with an explanation of the causes that were responsible for the apparent excessive cost. The system is equipped for serving 331 subscribers and had only 218 at the end of October. His estimate for rebuilding the system under today's costs is $24,198. "The service by the Smetlzer system is strictly suburban, consequently the cost per station (per phone) is higher than it would be in a system including city subscribers," he said in giving his opinion as to the costs. "The excessive value per station is also due to the fact that the plant as it stands today was constructed to take care of 331 subscribers, where it is serving only 218." With a strictly suburban service system being possible of construction at $111 per phone, it is maintained that a 10,000 phone system, as proposed by the Orange County Farmers and Merchants Association, including both city and county districts, could be constructed for a good deal less than $100 per phone. It developed at the inquiry that about 3800 shares of stock of the Smeltzer company ar outstanding among the thirty-two stockholders. There has been no centralization of the stock, according to the statement of Johnson, its distribution today being about the same as at the formation of the company. The company was organized in 1904 when celery growing was the big industry in that vicinity and when there was a big demand for phone service that was not available except by the creation of a company for operating her maintenance, pending the determination of the divorce action, and a reasonable sum for attorney's fees. The temporary custody of the couple's child also was involved in the hearing. After Mrs. Burien had been on the stand for several minutes Mrs. Dahnke's attorney, Charles D. Swanner, put his question relative to whether Mrs. Dahnke's mother thought Mrs. Dahnke a fit person to have the custody of the child. "No, sir, I do not," replied the witness. The courtroom, which was crowded by more than thirty-five witnesses, summoned from Orange and Olive by Attorney A. E. Koepsel, of the firm of Eden and Koepsel, counsel for Dahnke, was deathly still, as Mrs. Burien gave her reply. "She (Mrs. Burien) is a witness for the plaintiff, is she not?" asked Judge West, of Attorney Swanner. Counsel replying in the affirmative, the court asked the witness whether she had understood the question correctly. Mrs. Burien replied that she had not misunderstood the question. She reiterated her statement relative to her belief that Mrs. Dahnke should not be given the care of the child. GAS TRACTOR COURSE FROM FEBRUARY 23rd TO 28th. "Do you operate a tractor? Are you thinking of buying a tractor? Do you wish to learn something about gasoline engines? Attend the gas tractor short course at the Citrus Experiment Station at..." ANAHEIM GAZETTE Riverside, California, from February 23rd to 28th. You will learn the principles of the gas engine, how the valves and ignition should be timed, how to adjust a carburetor, and many other things which will help you to be a better operator. "You will learn the advantages of the various types and styles of tractors and have an opportunity of studying and operating every one of the ten or more makes of tractors which will be used in the course. "Every minute of your time will be spent in absorbing tractor knowledge. Lecture-demonstrations are scheduled every morning from 8:00 to 9:15 and every afternoon from 1:00 to 2:15, practice work or demonstrations during the remainder of the time. Several evenings will be devoted to showing motion pictures of various tractors at work. "The only charge for the course is a registration fee of $1.00. If you are interested write to the Citrus Experiment Station at Riverside, California. The course is limited to 180 students." The above announcement was made public by the College of Agriculture, of the University of California. SUPERVISORS' PROCEEDINGS The chairman appointed Supervisor Finley as a committee of one on spot lights on the Court House tower. The clerk was directed to give notice as required that Dec. 9, 1919, at 10 a.m. was the time fixed for the hearing of objections to the annexation of uninhabited territory to the city of Newport Beach. developed routes which have the real importance of thoroughfares. Strip mape, for which the southern club is famous are to be made of all California highways, and detailed information will be added to the big state map. Those will not be ready for distribution for some time, as the work of highway mapping is an involved one, and great care must be exercised. VALENCIA ORANGES NOT ALL SHIPPED Many Cars Yet to be Sent to Market It is reported. It is estimated that on Dec. 1 there were 500 cars of valencias remaining for shipment. The greater part of these were expected to be cleaned up the first week of December, but it will be well along toward the latter part of the month before the entire remaining supply will be moved. Of the supply remaining, Orange county has the largest number of cars. The balance of the cars are scattered throughout the Glendora, Covina and Upland district. The windup of the valencia season is showing satisfactory prices. The demand for sound stock is good. F. o. b. California quotations are on a basis of $4.50 per box for Orange county fruit and $4 to $3.75 for fruit from the districts. The deal on new crop navels from Tulare county is slowly getting under way, but the usual volume of holiday business has not been transacted. Whether the trade has been satisfied to fill its wants with valencias in place of navels or has not fully have had this fruit to compete with throughout the eastern territory. A REIGN OF TERROR "When I was in Ohio last week and the week previous," writes Charles Motts, "I found conditions there to be terrible. The newspapers are not telling the story of that region in its entirety. Foreigners in Ohio have gone crazy, it seems, and industry of every kind is at a standstill. In Canton, where I spent a week, I found that almost every firm in the city was carrying explosive insurance, to cover possible loss by anarchistic demonstrations of the foreign elements which make up a large percentage of the population. People there are living in constant fear of violence. Akron, the home of the giant rubber industries, looks like a settlement of foreigners, and really Americanized citizens seem to be in a vast minority. There is a constant unrest and uncertainty there, with almost daily demonstrations of one kind and another, most of them of the Red Flag variety. That section of the country seems to be infested with a foreign element which is constantly breeding unrest. After my visit I am convinced that it is not the American but the foreigner who is at the bottom of a great deal of the unrest in this country. For Ohio is but a sample of the condition over a large part of the country, according to the newspaper reports." The chairman appointed Supervisor Finley as a committee of one on spot lights on the Court House tower. The clerk was directed to give notice as required that Dec. 9, 1919, at 10 a.m. was the time fixed for the hearing of objections to the annexation of uninhabited territory to the city of Newport Beach. The clerk was directed to give notice of the sale of $5000 Villa Park School District bonds, bids for said bonds to be opened December 23, 1919, at 11 a.m. Bids for construction of a cow shed at the county farm were opened, and the contract awarded to E. W. Smith for $1099.65. The applictions of Petroleum Midway Company, Ltd., to lay a 4" gas pipe line along and across Morse avenue, and to lay a 2" water pipe line along Morse avenue, were granted. Fumigating licenses were ordered issued to George Baier and Glenn Stoddard and a spraying license ordered issued to Chas. F. Logan, on recommendation of the horticultural commissioner. The hearing on the petition of S. W. Price, et al., for county road in the Second Road District, was continued to Dec. 16, 1919, at 2 p.m. The hearing on the petition of J. H. Barton, et al., to vacate certain public roads in the Third Road District, was continued to Dec. 16, 1919, at 2 p.m. The hearing on the petition for formation of Buaro Drainage District was continued to January 13, 1920, at 11 a.m. The hearings on the petitions for Road District Improvement No. 3, Resolution of Intention No. 3, and for Road District Improvement No. 4, Resolution of Intention No. 4, were continued to January 6, 1920, at 2 p.m. The assessments of improvements of $125 on Assessment No. 10730, and of personal property attached to Assessment No. 17847, were ordered cancelled. The hearing on the petition for the exclusion of certain uninhabited territory from the city of Brea was set for Dec. 23, 1919, at 10 a.m. The demand for sound stork is good. F. o. b. California quotations are on a basis of $4.50 per box for Orange county fruit and $4 to $3.75 for fruit from the districts. The deal on new crop navels from Tulare county is slowly getting under way, but the usual volume of holiday business has not been transacted. Whether the trade has been satisfied to fill its wants with valencias in place of navels or has not fully realized the seriousness of the refrigerator car shortage in placing its orders early has not been fully determined, but the fact remains that shipers and brokers have not booked their customary volume of holiday business and there are only seven more shipping days remaining in which fruit can be forwarded to reach eastern markets for Christmas trade. What business has been transacted on Tulare county navels has mostly been on a basis of $4.25 to $4 per box f. o. b. California, usual terms, although some cash sales have been reported on a basis of $3.90 per box. A total of 438 cars of navels has been shipped from Central California points to date this season, as against 718 cars for the corresponding period last season. Butte county succeeded in getting an early start this season. The first car of oranges moved on November 5, a total of 61 cars having been moved to date as against 26 cars for the corresponding period last season. The fruit is reported sweet and of fine quality. Quotations for next week shipment are on the basis of $3.85 to $3.75 per box f. o. b. California. Pattee & Lett moved a car of navels from the Casa Blanca district this week, but that is the only reported movement of navels from Southern California districts. Brokers are quoting $2.65 per box cash, but no business has been reported. A larger supply of refrigerator cars has been promised shippers for next week's shipment by the railroads and a heavy movement of navels for the holidays is anticipated. The temperature throughout most of the citrus districts on Friday morning descended to a point that would have done damage had it held out for any length of time, but reports from HIGHWAYS ALL POSTED For the first time in history, every highway in the state of California has been charted for automobile travel, according to an announcement made yesterday by the Automobile Club of Southern California. The last series of charting notes on roads in the state have been taken, and the club's drafting department is commencing work on preparing highway route maps for the thousands of eastern visitors coming here, and for its own members. More than three months have been spent by the club crews in securing data for the maps, since first hand information only is used by the organization in order that mileages may be correct to guide automobilists from eno section to another. For some time the club has had completed the mapping of routes in the southern part of the state, but only with the return from the far north this week of crew have the notes been complete. According to the report, the task of securing "dope" on the highways in northern California lying adjacent to the Oregon line, is not a simple one because of the great number of under- The assessments of improvements of $125 on Assessment No. 10730, and of personal property attached to Assessment No. 17847, were ordered cancelled. The hearing on the petition for the exclusion of certain uninhabited territory from the city of Brea was set for Dec. 23, 1919, at 10 a.m. THE GOVERNMENT'S RECORDS SHOW THE FOLLOWING READINGS IN THE PRINCIPAL CITRUS DISTRICTS: Corona, 29; Pasadena, 26; Pomona, 25; Redlands, 29; Riverside, 28; Santa Barbara, 32; San Bernardino, 29; San Fernando, 30; Santa Ana, 27; Irwindale, 26; San Dimas, 28; and Lindsay, 25. The figures given are the lowest point to which the mercury dropped. The market on 300s size lemons is in good shape, but on 360s size, of which there is a surplus in both California and foreigns, the market is greggy. Fully 60 per cent of the foreign lemons imported this season have been small sizes. California has also had an unusually heavy run of small fruit and the trade has been slow to take hold of the small sizes. The full demand is always for large sizes. The volume of business for this season of the year as a whole is satisfactory and with cooler weather throughout the country the lemon business is expected to show improvement. F. o. b. quotations are on a basis of $4.50 to $4 per box. Foreign lemons have averaged $1.85 and $1.50 per box on the last two cargoes sold and California shippers Family Washing SAVE your wife the drudgery of the washtub by sending us your family washing. It costs you very little when compared to the pleasure it will bring to your wife—put the burden on us. Send us your shirts and collars Immaculate linen is the mark of a gentleman. You get the best work here. Patronize a home concern. Anaheim Laundry Company Phone 18 WE KNOW MEATS —"Every man to his own business" is a well-known saying—and we believe that this applies to us. —Our business is buying meats as well as selling meats—upon the buying depends the success of the business. —That's why we buy only the best meats—and we know the best meats. Any piece of meat that you buy in this shop has been selected by us because we know that it is a good piece of meat, meat that you can eat with satisfaction. —Upon this basis we ask your patronage. Anaheim Cash Market 109-11 N. Los Angeles St. Anaheim J.E. STROUR Proprietor WE KNOW MEATS —"Every man to his own business" is a well-known saying—and we believe that this applies to us. Our business is buying meats as well as selling meats—upon the buying depends the success of the business. That's why we buy only the best meats—and we know the best meats. Any piece of meat that you buy in this shop has been selected by us because we know that it is a good piece of meat, meat that you can eat with satisfaction. Upon this basis we ask your patronage. Anaheim Cash Market 109-11 N. Los Angeles St., Anaheim J. E. STROUP, Proprietor Building Material If you contemplate building new or repairing an old building, let us figure on your material. We handle everything you need, and our prices are right. Griffith Lumber Company South Los Angeles St. H. M. ADAMS, Mgr. Good Place to Buy— G-O-O-D L-U-M-B-E-R C. GANAHL LUMBER COMPANY Anaheim. ANAHEIM FEED and FUEL CO. DEALERS IN Wood, Coal, Hay, Grain Seeds and Flour PUBLIC WEIGHING SCALES Phones: Pacific 317, Home 294 R. W. McClellan, W. D. Grafton, Props. SUBSCRIBE FOR ANAHEIM GAZETTE PUBLIC WEIGHING SCALES Phones: Pacific 317, Home 294 R. W. McClellan, W. D. Grafton, Props. SUBSCRIBE FOR ANAHEIM GAZETTE CITY CASH MARKET 117 W. Center St. "Quality, Price and Service" Our Motto We handle nothing but the choicest of meats. We deliver. Phone your orders early. Pacific 20 ED. W. SCHNEIDER Proprietor MAS HEADQUARTERS At the CHANGE FURNITURE