anaheim-gazette 1920-12-30

VOLUME L. TO RE-APPRAISE REAL ESTATE PROPERTY TRUSTEES WILL EMPLOY BUILDER TO HELP MR. MERRITT MAKE NEW ASSESSMENT. City Park Bonds Sold At A Premium of $2721 To A Los Angeles Firm—Four Bids Were Received For The Bonds—West Wants Information Regarding The Widening Of Chestnut Stree—$90 Voted Toward C. of C. Float. Anaheim real estate is going to be re-appraised and values for assessment purposes fixed nearer the present value of the ground and improvements thereon. Equalization of property assessment is badly needed, because buildings erected some years ago when cost of construction and materials were low, have been greatly increased. ROAD BUILDING Orange county, famed for its good roads, will have fifteen or twenty miles of new pavement laid during 1921, an investigation today indicated. The mileage may be increased to twenty-five. The automobile is responsible for the good roads movement. It is responsible for the paving that has been done in Orange county. It is to in large measure responsible for extensive paving to be done in this county during the next year. "People hate to drive a machine over a rough dirt road," was the comment of a county official in this connection. In addition to the pavement of a number of roads that have not been paved, the county will place a heavy wearing surface upon a number of miles of paved road were. Bids were opened December 28 by the board of supervisors for eight miles of asphalt top. This top will strengthen the base and protect it. The top is to placed upon pavement that shows the effect of hard usage. A contract has just been let for placing five inches of concrete on top of two miles of the Huntington Beach boulevard. Work was begun today by the contractor who is to lay five miles of ANAHEIM IS A GREAT THE HOWARD GATES WORKING DAY TO GET IT Display Is Suggestion Of Our Soil—Ceremonial Orange, Suitable Flowers A Time Short In But It Can Be Do Howard Gates assistants are put hours a day this the float, which wil of Anaheim in the at Pasadena, Satu decision of the Ch to enter a float mitted for its con Gates declares he plated by ten o'clock Anaheim real estate is going to be re-appraised and valued for assessment purposes fixed nearer the present value of the ground and improvements thereon. Equalization of property assessment is badly needed, because buildings erected some years ago when cost of construction and materials were low, have been greatly increased in value, and the valuation should be raised to correspond with newer buildings costing two or three times as much for the same class of structure. City Clerk Merritt, who is also the assessor, brought this matter to the attention of the board of trustees Thursday night, and asked that a competent builder or two be engaged by the board for a short period during January to help him re-appraise the property and fix a just valuation on all buildings, measured by the present day cost of construction. The board discussed Mr. Merritt's proposition, and considered it wise. His petition was granted, and there probably will be a material increase in the total assessed valuation of Anaheim real estate when the next roll is completed. Anaheim bonds appear to be gilt-edged judging by the premium offered for the $100,000 city park issue. Four bids were opened by the trustees Thursday night, and the issued was sold to the California Company of Los Angeles. There was considerable difference in the amounts offered, the lowest bidder being the National City Company of San Francisco, which offered a premium of $673. The California Company pays $2721. Representing George L. West, Attorney Leonard Evans appeared before the board and wanted definite information relative to the proposed widening of Chestnut street. He stated that Mr. West now owned property at the corner of Chestnut and Los Angeles streets with a frontage of 181 feet on Los Angeles and 184 on Chestnut, and that he expected to cover the entire ground with buildings. There is a proposition on foot to cut twenty feet off the south side of Chestnut and add it to the street, and Mr. West wants to be certain of the property line before erecting his corner building. It is proposed to assess the property owners on the north side to help reimburse the south side owners for the loss of their ground, and City Street was instructed to wearing surface upon a number of miles of paved road were. Bids were opened December 28 by the board of supervisors for eight miles of asphalt top. This top will strengthen the base and protect it. The top is to placed upon pavement that shows the effect of hard usage. A contract has just been let for placing five inches of concrete on top of two miles of the Huntington Beach boulevard. Work was begun today by the contractor who is to lay five miles of paving in the road improvement district at Villa Park. Parts of Tustin avenue, Villa Park road, Lincoln street and Center drive are included in the contract. A part of the cost of the paving is to be paid for out of the road funds within the control of Supervisor N. T. Edwards of Orange. A new road improvement district is being formed in the Golden State section of Anaheim. Plans are on foot for the paving of three miles of road in that district. The supervisors plan to complete the paving of the road to the Orange County park late in the spring. Work on this job will not start until after the heavy rains are over. The new road over the El Modena ridge was completed some time ago. Owing to the fact that the hills had not had time to settle it was not deemed advisable to do the paving until after a winter's rains had fallen on the road. A mile of paving at the El Modena end of the road has been completed. There remains about two and a half miles to be finished to the park. Plans are being made for the construction of a mile and a half of road from the Huntington Beach boulevard to the Holly sugar plant at Huntington Beach. With money derived from the district's share of money received for automobile licenses, Supervisor H. A. Wassum will build a mile or two of road in the fifth supervisorial district. Supervisor S. H. Finley of Santa Ana has a sum of $11,000 or more than he can use in paving some road near Santa Ana. This sum is a portion of the auto license fund. Finley has been endeavoring to make the money bring as much paving as possible, and he has been trying to get a district formed so that the money could be thrown in with funds raised by the district. For a time Finley tried to get property owners on Lyon street to join with him and the city in paving that street, but the project fell through. Howard Gates assistsants are put into hours a day this float, which will win Anaheim in the at Pasadena, Saturday decision of the Chicagoland office to enter a float mitted for its consummation. While Anaheim cost only $400, with costly displays, it is an attractive one, the community, a mammoth orange feet in diameter, golds being used. This is suggestive heim is the heart and that if world are grown four corners with magnificent will advertise to we don't yield fire munity on earth beautiful flowers. The float are en vines, displaying lucious purple fronds minder of the fae at one time a vaner of the Calli That it annually yons of high graft shipped to the earth and made Riding on the f Anaheim's lovely will prove to th three hundred thouthe Anaheim girlfiful in the work. There will be in the parade, will be more elast none will be more community than ing. MAY YET HAVE A LOT OF RAIN Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Neff motored down from Los Angeles Monday and spent the afternoon with friends in town. Mrs Neff still gets about on crutches, as a result of injuries sustained in an auto accident at Ventura some months ago, but is able to walk at times with the aid of one crutches and a cane. Mr. Neff is in receipt of a letter from a cousin at Healdsburg, in which he stated that the northern counties have had thirty inches of rain this fall and winter. The rainfall here is less than two inches. However in 1884, Mr. Neff says, little rain fell in the Southern conties until January 21, after which 28 inches fell up to June. He was visiting in Ventura at the time, and could not get away for ten days on account of the flood. A large proportion of the Baptist ministers in England receive less than fifteen dollars a week. Charley McAulay is spending the holiday season with his friends here. Charlie became an expert electrician while serving in the Navy, and after receiving his discharge was engaged as chief electrician on the GreatNorthern for many months but quit the sea and has gone into business for himself. He is part owner of the Sebastin garage at Vallejo, and is doing extremely well financially. For a time Finley tried to get property owners on Lyon street to join with him and the city in paving that street, but the project fell through. In the past week he has interviewed property owners along West seventeenth street, hoping to get a district organized there. Final decision as to whether or not the district will be formed has not been reached. The county is just finishing additions to the Olive and Yorba bridges. Plans are being made for another span for the Tustin avenue bridge across the Santiago creek. This span will be of concrete. After the beginning of the new fiscal year in July, the county will probably build two wooden bridges, one across the Santa Ana river on West Seventeenth street and one across the Santa Ana river between Olive and Richfield. "There may arise some paving projects that have not yet been discussed," said County Engineer J. L. McBride. "The purpose of the county is to get good durable paving and as much of it as possible for the money available." George Metcalf sought as a possibility in the Sudow mine was arrested in for more than a leased when it knew nothing to mystery which officials for two. Metcalf was Friday and am was made here Sergeants McCain Santa Ana official cription supplied located Metcalf and Heard arrest disclosed that his actions were no usual interest in did not know was killed in an Edendale. The reason for detention was a hand working for near Anaheim, Metcalf's detention made in case, but like the prehended, he ejected faction of the Sergeant McCalf involved Metcalf case and Captain the investigator ANAHEIM’S FLOAT IS A CREDIT TO THE CITY HOWARD GATES AND ASSISTANTS WORKING DAY AND NIGHT TO GET IT COMPLETED Display is Suggestive Of The Products Of Our Soil—Center Piece a Mammoth Orange, Surrounded By Beautiful Flowers And Vines And Girls —Time Short In Which To Build It But It Can Be Done. Howard Gates and his bunch of assistants are putting in twenty-four hours a day this week constructing the float, which will represent the City of Anaheim in the great floral parade at Pasadena, Saturday. The belated decision of the Chamber of Commerce to enter a float made the time permitted for its construction short, but Gates declares he will have it completed by ten o'clock Saturday morning. EMERY OIL LEASE IS IN LITIGATION. Suit To Recover Million and A Half Dollar. One of the richest oil properties in Orange county, that known as the Emory lease, north of the Bastanchury ranch near Fullerton, is involved in a suit which it became known had been filed in the oLs Angeles county courts. The suit was filed by Mrs. Francena Emory Robinson against her sister-in-law, Mrs. Katherine S. Emory. It is for the purpose of recovering $1,500,-000, which Mrs. Robinson claims as her share of the estate of her brother, the late Frank Whitney Emory, who died at Pasadena last August. The circumstances connected with the case date back to the time when the estate, consisting of 1480 acres, was owned and operated by Charles G. Emory, father of the plaintiff. At that time the property was thought to have no other value than as an olive orchard. The father returned to New York, leaving his son, Frank Whitney Emory, to conduct the ranch, with a half interest, for his share. Later, with the discovery of oil in the district, the son is said to have gone to New York and to have obliterated all evidence of his existence. MOTHER AND SON FOUND DEAD IN HOME DR. M. N. PUTNAM MEETS TRAGEDY ON REACHING HOME CHRISTMAS EVE. Finds Wife and Son Dead On Their Beds From Cause So Far Undetermined—Leaky Gas Pipe or Ptomaine Poison From Can of Salmon Responsible—Chemical Test Being Made. Uncertainty still surrounds the death of Mrs. M. N. Putnam and her son, who were found dead Christmas eve at their home between this city and Garden Grove. Whether they were overcome with gas or died after partaking of poisoned food is a question none of the physicians who made an examination are prepared to say, and the truth will only be known after a thorough test is made by pathological experts. Specimens from the bodies Howard Gates and his bunch of assistants are putting in twenty-four hours a day this week constructing the float, which will represent the City of Anaheim in the great floral parade at Pasadena, Saturday. The belated decision of the Chamber of Commerce to enter a float made the time permitted for its construction short, but Gates declares he will have it completed by ten o'clock Saturday morning in time to take the place in the pageant assigned to it. During the past two weeks Chairman Rilley, Secretary Frazer and others of the Chamber of Commerce did some hard work in securing subscriptions to finance the display, but the trustees came to their aid and made up the deficiency by an appropriation. While Anaheim's float, which is to cost only $400, will not rank with the costly displays, it will certainly be an attractive one, and suggestive of the community. The center piece is a mammoth orange, three and a half feet in diameter, thousands of marigolds being used in its composition. This is suggestive of the fact that Anaheim is the heart of the orange belt, and that the finest oranges in the world are grown here. On each of the four corners is a large vase filled with magnificent yellow roses, which will advertise to all beholders that we don't yield first place to any community on earth in the production of beautiful flowers. The four sides of the float are entwined with grape vines, displaying the green foliage and lucious purple fruit. This is a reminder of the fact that Anaheim was at one time a vast vineyard, the pioneer of the California grape industry. That it annually yielded a million gallons of high grade wine which was shipped to the four quarters of the earth and made this city famous Riding on the float will be four of Anaheim's loveliest daughter's, which will prove to the satisfaction of the three hundred thousand spectators that Anaheim girls are the most beautiful in the world. There will be hundreds of floats in the parade, and many, no doubt, will be more elaborate and costly, but none will be more appropriate to its community than the Anaheim offering. SUSPECT RELEASED George Metcalf, who had been SUSPECT RELEASED George Metcalf, who had been sought as a possible important witness in the Sudow murder case, Thursday was arrested in Santa Ana, questioned for more than an hour and then released when it was found that he knew nothing that would clear the mystery which has baffled the local officials for two weeks. Metcalf was reported in Anaheim Friday and an unsuccessful search was made here for him by Detective Sergeants McCarron and Hamilton. Santa Ana officials, acting on the description supplied by the local police, located Metcalf and Officers Rogers and Heard arrested him. Investigation disclosed that his asserted suspicious actions were nothing more than unusual interest in the case and that he did not know Mrs Fay Sudow, who was killed in a cuscutus grove in Edendale. The reason for Metcalf's temporary detention was a report that a ranch hand working for Edward R. Woolsey, near Anaheim, was acting suspiciously. Metcalf's detention was the third arrest made in connection with the case, but like the other two men apprehended, he established to the satisfaction of the officers his innocence of any part of the crime. Detective Sergeant McCarron stated that he believed Metcalf knew nothing of the case and Captain Moffatt in charge of the investigation said Thursday that the investigators have no new clews. The $10,000 bond, on which forty acres of orange land near Anaheim was offered as security, was given by his two daughters, Tina and Emma Meger, and his daughter-in-law, Mrs. Hulda Meger. The girl, Else Semrau, is being held in custody as a witness. It is alleged that Meger, at the time of his arrest, was about to leave for Germany. It is said that he had $800 worth of traveller's checks in his possession when he was taken into custody by Sheriff C. E. Jackson, who had been working on the case for some time. The forty acres of land offered as security by Meger's two daughters is said to have been deeded to them by him last August, and that a suit brought by him to have the deed declared void is now pending. It was for this reason that District Attorney elect A. P. Nelson insisted that Meger's daughter-in-law, who owns ten acres of land in her own right, also go on the bond. Meger was arrested on Christmas eve on a complaint sworn by Sheriff Jackson. It is alleged that plans were under way for Meger's escape to Germany, and that an attempt was made to hush the matter up. It is for this reason that the girl is held in custody as a complaining witness. Meger is said to be a German-Pole. His preliminary examination was set for January 10 at 2 p.m. He was represented in court by Attorney H. V. Wiesel. City Manager Steward reported to the trustees Thursday night that owing to the custom of dumping oil and distillate into the sewer the septic tank was not working properly. An amendment will be added to the plumbing ordinance prohibiting the dumping of oil into the sewers and drains. According to one theory, young Putnam and his mother had been sitting at a table writing. An incomplete letter addressed to the boy's grandmother was found under the chair presumed to have been occupied by the boy. The gas heater was between Mrs. Putnam and her son. It is the belief of some that the escaping gas caused its two victims to become sleepy and that they threw themselves upon their respective beds for what they believed would be a brief nap. There they were subsequently found by Doctor Putnam. They had been dead, it is believed, for three days. Christmas decorations throughout the rooms gave evidence of preparations that had been made for the holiday celebration. Red bells hung in the windows and holly and evergreens were in profusion. According to accounts of neighbors, no lights appeared in the house on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday nights. The last seen of Mrs. Putnam and the boy was Wednesday noon when two of the neighbors observed them walking together to a mail box. The bodies were brought to Backs & Terrys undertaking parlors where the funeral will be held after the inquest. Dr. Putnam and his family came to Los Angeles from Topeka, Kas., about three years ago. His office is at 536 South Broadway. He was at one time in the employ of the Government service in the Panama Canal zone. HOW CITY OF ANAHEIM DERIVED ITS NAME. Old-Time Editor Explains Origin To An Anxious Enquirer. We have frequently heard it stated, and it appears to be a general belief, that the city of Anaheim was named after the first white child born on the townsite. Back in the early days— only twelve years after the founding of the colony, this story was current, and the untruth was nailed by the Gazette. In answer to a letter of inquiry written by a lady of Lafayette, Ind.; the Gazette of December 31, 1870—fifty years ago tomorrow—explains the origin of the name and also gives a few other pertinent facts about the community. Even in that early day the editor was a booster, and although his language was flowery, and his statements somewhat exaggerated, we commend his article to the present day Chamber of Commerce. He says: "Strictly speaking, Anaheim means Anna-home, or the home of Anna; but its name did not originate by reason of any woman named Anna, but from the Santa Ana River adjacent to the city. Helm, in German, is Rome; and the Germans who settled the place some twelve years ago, regarding it as their permanent future home." RANCHERS WANT LAND TESTED FOR OIL WESTSIDERS ENDEAVORING TO SECURE LEASES ON 1,000 ACRES OF GROUND. Mass Meeting at Magnolia School House Wednesday Night Started the Movement For A Thousand-Acre Lease to Offer—Some Company Will Probably Be Induced To Sink A Well—Some Reluctant To Sign Up. That the major portion of Orange county, if not all of it, will eventually be oil producing territory, is the belief of those who are better informed on the subject than the average. Every section will undoubtedly be tested before long, and there is a probability that the entire county will be honey-combed with producing wells in the near future. Out in the west country adjacent to the city, the ranchers are The surrounds the Putnam and her dead Christmas between this city whether they were or died after paraphrase who made an appearance to say, and be known after a date by pathological from the bodies Angeles by Dr. L. Halden Jones, and until they commend make a report will be with whom will probably be the cause of death. Professor, practicing at his home is on north of Garden his custom to come early evening. His himself, his wife The doctor always Pacific Electric, Garden Grove, where wife and son with Eve, when he arrived was surprised calling for him. He root, laden with and on reaching o'clock was still find it dark. Turned found his son in another room, as the lifeless body were fully dressed. Summoned the J. W. Truxaw and its city and Lyman Golden Jones of Los as soon as posse died from gas is a question that plans could answer was found n a rubber gas stove, perched an open can of its contents gone, table. An autopsy automachs were invent have been causedoping gas may have for their deaths. It able to make a test or not there wasaches. The theory, young mother had been writing. An inconvenient to the boy's found under the language was flowery, and his statements somewhat exaggerated, we commend his article to the present day Chamber of Commerce. He says: "Strictly speaking, Anaheim means Anna-home, or the home of Anna; but its name did not originate by reason of any woman named Anna, but from the Santa Ana River adjacent to the city. Helm, in German, is Rome; and the Germans who settled the place some twelve years ago, regarding it as their permanent future home, named it so in connection with the river (Santa) Ana, which in Spanish, is spelled with one "n"—hence the name Anaheim.As to the pronunciation of the word, the accent in the second syllable is on the "I" instead of the "e". In all German words where the "e" and "i" come together, the accent is on the last of the two. "Anaheim has a population of 1,000 souls; produces—within its corporate limits—from 800,000 to 1,000,000 gallons of white, Angelica, Port and Claret wines and brandy annually It also produces ralsins, English walnuts, oranges, olives, pomegranates, lemons, almonds peanuts, castor beans, bananas, limes figs, apples, pears, perer and mustard in the greatest abundance. The flowers of the tropics blossom here in their native luxuriance and the northern rose grows to an immense height, and blooms every month in the year. If our fair reader has read of Paradise, and has any adequate conception of it, she may then form some idea of Anaheim. The canary and mocking bird flit unmolested through our arbors, and here the hummingbird makes its tiny nest, and rears its tender young. It is situated twelve miles from the Pacific ocean on an inclined plain, gradually sloping fifteen feet to its landing at the sea. The ocean is in plain sight, as is also Santa Catalina Island, twenty-five miles from the shore. Back of Anaheim at a distance of thirty or forty miles, rise the majestic Sierra Madre mountains, range upon range of which are in plain view to their very bases. Anaheim is twenty-seven miles south of Los Angeles. Persons who are troubled with consumption come here and enjoy a prolonged life. Those who have dung complaints can live nowhere else but here, and we have known of full grown men come here from the Atlantic slope and grow two inches taller in a couple of years. "In the county are produced silk tea, wool, tobacco, alfalfa, barley and corn; and the uncultivated plains are climate we That the major portion of Orange county, if not all of it, will eventually be oil producing territory, is the belief of those who are better informed on the subject than the average. Every section will undoubtedly be tested before long, and there is a probability that the entire county will be honeycombed with producing wells in the near future. Out in the west country adjacent to the city, the ranchers are firmly pursued that their property rests on oil-bearing sand, and they are endeavoring to get a lease on one thousand acres as an inducement to some company to sink a well. Two committees, named at a meeting of ranchers of the section southwest of Anaheim, began canvassing in that vicinity with a view to ascertaining the views of ranchers with regard to a proposal to enter into a community oil leasing project. The meetings at which the committees were named was held Wednesday night at Magnolia school house. Approximately fifty ranchers were in attendance. The sentiment at the meeting was somewhat luke warm toward the community leasing project. ranchers representing only 325 acres voting in favor of entering into such a lease. It is believed, however, that the canvass would show at least 1000 acres available to be signed up. Samuel Winters acted as chairman He spoke strongly in favor of ranchers forming a leasing pool of not less than 1000 acres. One speaker also advocating this, said that it would be worth more to an oil company to develop a 500-barrel well in the Brookhurst section than to bring in a 100,-000-barrel gusher in Medico. The principal argument made in support of the community leasing idea was that ranchers, in elitering into an agreement with a reputable oil company, could get more satisfaction and better results in the way of having the district thoroughly tested for oil. The Doheny oil interests were mentioned as the most likely to enter into the project. Should oil be developed, it was suggested, the profits should be pro-rated according to acreage under lease. The committees named consisted of J. D. Wallace, G. W. Gibson and Dr. Swan, to canvass the southern section of the district., and W. Abplanalp, Joseph Ritter and J. Fugua, to canvass the northern section. The theory, young another had been writing. An incomprehended to the boy's found under the have been occupied gas heater was bea and her son. Of some that the es-its two victims to that they threw their respective beds would be a brief were subsequently Putnam. They had believed, for three rations throughout providence of prepar-ween made for the Red bells hung in holly and evergreens counts of neighbors. In the house on Sunday and Friday seen of Mrs. Putwas Wednesday noon neighbors observedether to a mail box. We brought to Backs making parlors where he held after the in- his family came to Topeka, Kas., about His office is at 536 He was at one time the Government serena Canal zone. Anahim is twenty-seven miles south of Los Angeles. Persons who are troubled with consumption come here and enjoy a prolonged life. Those who have lung complaints can live nowhere else but here, and we have known of full grown men come here from the Atlantic slope and grow two inches taller in a couple of years. "In the county are produced silk, tea, wool, tobacco, alfalfa, barley and corn; and the uncultivated plains are covered with clover. As to climate, we are free from the freezing and thawing process. The temperature is moderate the year round, and the air is fresh and invigorating. During mid-summer the thermometer rarely reaches 80 degrees, and then only for an hour or so. We have no frosts, and the thermometer seldom falls below 40, while it usually ranges from 50 to 55. "Until we enlarge our paper it will be impossible for us to describe particularly the various advantageous features of our locality—and even then we will doubt our capacity to do it justice. To be well done, "when tis done," a committee of poets, philosophers, naturalists and geologists should be occupied with the subject for a whole year." Thursday the Wickersheim Implement Company sold and delivered new Ford touring cars to R. H. Mitchell and L. H. Howell of Brea, and E. J. Hummel of Whittier and new Ford Roadsters to Herman Johnson of Dacentia and J. C. Harris of Fullerton and a Fordson Tractor to Jas. A. Calder of Buena Park or a total of five Fords and one Fordson in one day. Mr. Wickersheim informs us that sales will double that of December last year and about four times that of December, 1918. Anaheim theatre goers will have an opportunity to see a popular play presented by first-class artists every Tuesday night throughout the winter months. The Trahern Stock Company has moved from Long Island, N. Y., to this city and the manager, Al Trahern, has engaged the Grand Theatre for Tuesday night of each week. As Anaheim is not large enough to justify a good stock company appearing here every night, the Trahern company will also show at other towns in the neighborhood, thus completing a bill for each night of the week. The first appearance of the company was made Tuesday night in "Fair and Warmer". Many people of this city and vicinity who have been going to Los Angeles once a week to see a play will welcome the Trahern company, and the Grand will probably be well filled every Tuesday night. The theatre Tuesday night was well filled, and the performance was pronounced excellent. Anaheim Gazette, fifty-two weeks for $1.50.