The contents of a letter received here March 1st by the friends of a Linn county sailor boy who is now in the U.S. Navy Radio school at Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, is as follows:

Dear Folks,
Will write a few lines today that you may know I am still alive, but almost frozen part of the time as the weather here is far below zero and the salt air breeze right off the Atlantic keeps us moving in order to be warm.

Well we sure had a wonderful trip especially from Chicago this way, as the sights are so different from what we are used to. New York and Massachusetts are certainly beautiful states. The whole state of New York is covered with factories and mills of every description. We traveled right along the Hudson and those large canals you have read so much about, and the ice, you can't imagine such a sight.

We passed the Niagara Falls on the Canadian side and the scene was wonderful.

We stopped off at Detroit, the great automobile city, Buffalo, and spent the night in Albany and I dare say our trip from ocean to ocean was an experience not soon to be forgotten.

Notwithstanding the life and wealth of the east, I much prefer dear old Oregon, and hope to be back as soon as the Kaiser is walloped good and proper.

Boston is a very large city but not noted for its beauty as the streets are narrow and crooked. There are so many old fashioned horse drawn vehicles, quite different from western cities. The city is undermined with subways and nearly all the street cars underground. We get on the car here in Cambridge underground and get off anywhere we want to in Boston. It is about a 20 minute ride between the two cities.

We have to go on guard duty for a week beginning tomorrow and thanks to the Red Cross for some heavy woolen clothing; I'm sure we'd freeze without it, we had none while in 'Frisco.

We have good quarters now in one of the dormitories that belongs to the college and the rooms are very comfortable but the eats are not so good as they were at Goat Island. We are served here by negroes and I do not like them, and the customs not at all in harmony with our free life and common ways in Oregon, the dear old home I shall always long to return to.

As I have made this letter pretty lengthy will close anxiously waiting an answer.

I am as ever,

Martin L. Prather

War-Saving Stamps Sell at Rate in Excess of Saving Bank Accumulations:

Treasury receipts from the sale of war-savings stamps are running at the rate of $11,000,000 a week. Savings bank deposits in the last few years have been increasing at the rate of $700,000 a business day. Treasury receipts show the American people are putting their small savings at the service of the nation through war-savings stamps at a rate far in excess of prewar savings bank accumulations.

Two billion dollars of war-savings securities will be issued. If these are all sold this year, the Treasury will receive about $1,600,000,000 and at the end of five years, the Government will repay the loan together with $320,000,000 in interest.

Red Cross Doing a Big Work.

Report of Lebanon Branch Red Cross Society for the month of February shows that they shipped to the Albany Chapter 210 hospital bed shirts, 14 towels, 15 wash cloths, 10 ambulance pillows, 10 comfort pillows. Received from auxiliaries:

Berlin - 38 hospital bed shirts, 12 towels, 2 washrags
Fairview - 43 hospital bed shirts
Sodaville - 60 hospital bed shirts, 10 towels, 18 splint pillows
Mt. Hope Circle - 48 hospital bed shirts
Lacomb - 8 shirts, 8 comfort pillows
Women of Crowfoot Grange - 6 ambulance pillows
Knitted garments sent to Albany from Lebanon during February - 82 sweaters, 94 pairs of sox, 7 pairs of wristlets, 5 mufflers, 20 Belgian squares.

Soldier's Letters From France:

In a series of three letters to his parents and sisters in Lebanon, Arthur R. Howell, a member of Company D, 162nd U.S. Infantry, gives some interesting thoughts of soldier life that may be of interest to the readers of the Criterion, and especially to those who have sons and brothers in the same regiment. In a letter under date of February 3, he speaks of a Christmas package just getting through and the pleasure to him in receiving it. He says, "There are a lot of temptations here but a man with one ounce of backbone can withstand the greatest of them, and I for one intend to come back home just as I left morally. I may come back minus a leg or an arm, but that will be all as sure as I am red headed, and I am just the same as ever and also as mean as ever. I like this place better than at Camp Mills, it was so very cold there, and here we have a warm place to sleep and eat, while in New York we lived in tents."

Under date of February 7 he writes, "We are drilling some every day and it won't be very long until Co. D can lick Kaiser Bill alone. We are anxious for this struggle to pass and the end come so that we may return to our homes and our work in good old U.S.A."

On February 10 in a letter to his mother he says, "There is going to be an entertainment tonight in the "Y" hut and there will sure be quite a bunch of the boys out. The Y.M.C.A. is a God send to the boys over here and as they have about 25 of them in France, it sure takes a lot of money to keep them going from day to day. I would like to read an Oregonian or a Telegram, all our papers are N.Y. and Chicago, and they do not give a bit of Webb-foot news."

The letters were censored by Lt. E. A. Robbins, another Lebanon boy who is doing his bit with the 162nd.

Record Sale of War Savings Stamps.

The largest War Savings Stamp sale in Linn county was made last week at Albany when J. H. Bikman, a tailor of that city, invested $3,800 in stamps in his own and children's names. Mr. Bikman is a native of Kief, Russia, and is a loyal American, firmly believing that a country that is good enough to live as well as he lives in Linn county, Oregon, is good enough for him to support with every dollar he has accumulated since he took up his residence here.

An Oregon Pioneer Mother.

Lebanon has as a guest this week a distinguished Linn county pioneer who is Mrs. Allie Burbank of Falls City. She came here a few days ago for a visit with her daughter, Mrs. Frank McKinney. She will go to Brownsville, before her return to visit her two sons, Edmund and John Farrier, and their families. Mrs. Burbank came to Oregon in 1847 with her father, William McClain, when but a child, following a four months trip across the plains by ox team settling first in Marion county and one year later coming to Linn county, her father taking up a donation land claim where the station of Millersburg is now located. She was married to Marion Alphine, also a pioneer of '47, in 1858, who died in 1860 from cold and exposure while traveling from Umatilla to The Dalles. In 1861 she was again married, to George Farrier, a Linn county pioneer of '45. For many years following this marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Farrier lived near Berlin, where Mr. Farrier died in 1883. In 1897 she was married the third time to Asa Burbank, also a pioneer of the '40's and who died in 1913.

Her first two husbands were step-brothers, both of whom saw service in the early Indian wars, Mr. Farrier rising to the rank of 1st Lieutenant in that branch of the U. S. Army. She is the mother of ten children, and six of her grand children are now in the army in active service or in training.

Notwithstanding her advanced age and eventful life, she is in a splendid state of physical and mental health and can relate clearly many incidents occurring in her early life. She is the only surviving member of her father's family, the last one passing away last November at the soldiers' home at Roseburg. He was Edward McClain, of Albany, and was 94 years of age.

Obituary. Ethel Gainer. The 15 year old daughter of J. D. Gainer of this city, passed away at 2:15 o'clock Tuesday morning at the Lebanon hospital, after an operation for appendicitis. She was born March 16, 1903 in California and came to Oregon with her parents about 12 years ago who have made their home here since.

Her mother died seven years ago last month and she has been her father's housekeeper since that time as she was the eldest girl at home. She was a member of the eighth grade at the south school and would have finished the course in June. She was a very bright girl, gentle dispositioned and loved by all who made her acquaintance. Last year she took part in the Garland Medal Contest, and although she did not win first prize, she received special mention for the merits of her work.

Surviving are her father, six brothers and three sisters, who are Mrs. Stella Morningstar of Drain; Burl of Freewater; Earl, of Portland; Bert and Virgil, now in France; Pearl, Joy, Ivan and Gleason Gainer, of Lebanon.

She was a member of the Presbyterian Sunday school and her funeral was conducted yesterday afternoon at two o'clock from that church with Elder A. Horner officiating. The body was laid at rest in the Masonic cemetery. The sympathy of the entire community is extended to the family in the hour of their sad bereavement.

Only Appeal in Linn County. Four hundred and fifty-two draft registrants have been examined in Linn county thus far and 347 of them were found qualified for full military service. Seventy-eight men were listed as qualified for limited service and twenty-seven were rejected altogether. Miss Mae Tillman, clerk of the local exemption board of Linn County has compiled some interesting statistics: The number of men registered in this county is 1834, and all but 22 of them returned their questionnaires.

Only one man in the county appealed his classification to the President of the U.S. He has applied for deferred classification on the ground of an agricultural occupation, and when the district board did not give him the classification to which he thought he was entitled, he appealed.

State News In Brief:

Fred Wyman, a young man of Shelburn, who enlisted two months ago in the US Navy, died this week at the San Diego naval training station, according to word received by relatives in Linn county.

Trial of a suit for accounting against Thomas B. Kay, state treasurer, was started in the Circuit court before Judge Kelly at Salem, one day this week, the suite being instituted by Fanny Kay Bishop, sister of the treasurer, and involving the estate of their mother, Ann Kay.

William Inman, who crossed the plains with his parents in 1852 and who had resided on a donation claim near Elmira until a few years ago, died at his home in Eugene Wednesday night. His wife died two months ago. Inman, who was in his 70th year, never recovered from grief occasioned by her death.

Local News:

Miss Lottie Penn was the guest of Salem friends over Sunday.

Miss Jessie Wilde and Miss Esther Booth spent the week-end at Portland.

Mr. and Mrs. H. M. Crandall were in Lebanon Monday visiting with Mr. Crandall's brothers. Mr. and Mrs. J. E. Miller, of Amity, were Sunday visitors at the home of their son, Dr. Bruce Miller.

J. L. Underwood, D. Cormier and Z. I. Brown have been assisting the state the greater part of the week as jurymen in the Circuit Court in Albany.

Mrs. J. E. Ramsey and son Elton left Saturday for Fossil, Oregon, to make their future home, Mr. Ramsey having purchased property there where he has been for several months.

The suit of the Lebanon Hardware Company vs. G. L. Evans to recover possession of a tractor engine sold to the latter a year or so ago, was settled out of court and the machine returned to the hardware company.

A. Strobridge, of Belleview, and E. Wheaton, of Smith City, Michigan, brother and nephew of F. W. Strobridge, who died at his home near Waterloo two weeks ago, are here settling up the estate of the deceased brother. They expect to remain for several days.

A. I. Crandall has under way a set of plans for a new ten room residence for H. C. Pyle, manager of the Banner Lumber Mills at Lacomb. It is understood that the new home will be built this summer on the home place near Lacomb and will be modern throughout, making one of the finest farm residences in Linn county.

T. B. Morris, of north Lebanon, has traded his farm to William Mitchell for a house and lot on north Park street, receiving the difference in value in cash. He is making some repairs necessary to home comforts and will make the place his residence. His daughter and son-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. L. Hollingsworth, will also live there.

Hiram Snyder, Jr., and Roy Thompson, two well known Lebanon young men, have enlisted in the 37th engineers, the electrical regiment, a part of which is now being recruited in Oregon. They have secured certificates from the Linn county board of examiners waiving their draft obligations and permitting them to join this unit of the service.

Ira Hutchings, manager of the Brownsville Canning Company, was in Lebanon Monday making final settlement with the Linn-Co-Operative Cannery of this city of which he was also manager the past year. He found the task of handling the two plants too big a job for one man and has tendered his resignation as manager of the Lebanon cannery.

Miss Hazel Lambert, of the junior class of the high school, went to her home Saturday to attend a family reunion and a birthday celebration of her mother, Mrs. P. H. Lambert, who has reached her fiftieth year. She is a native of Linn county and is the daughter of a former well known Lebanon pioneer couple, Mr. and Mrs. John Lutz. She has many friends and relatives here and in other parts of the county who wish her many happy returns of her birthday. Her five children were all with her on this occasion.

J. C. Houseolder and daughter Mable have gone to Roseburg for a short visit with relatives.

Mrs. N. C. Lowe and son Elnathan were visiting relatives in Silverton from Friday until Sunday.

Miss Helen Crawford returned Wednesday from Albany where she has been visiting relatives the past week.

Dr. and Mrs. W. W. Kimmell returned Tuesday from Newport where they have been spending the past two months.

N. M. Newport returned Tuesday afternoon from a trip to Portland where he was looking after matters before the Federal court.

Mr. and Mrs. Charles H. Castner, of Hood River, are the guests of Mr. and Mrs. C. E. Wilson, at their home southwest of Lebanon, this week.

The house and two lots at the corner of Park and Carolina streets, formerly owned by J. A. Smith, of Astoria, has been purchased by Louis Morell and is now occupied by them as their residence. Mr. Smith built this house about twelve years ago and for several years made it his home until he moved with his family to Astoria about four years ago.

Justice of the Peace G. W. Cruson officiated at the wedding of Auther Wolfe and Miss Myrtle Patterson at the Cruson home Sunday at noon. The bride is a sister of Mrs. Wm. Kaiser, living near Denny school house and the groom is a young farmer living near Tangent where they will make their future home. On a few close friends and relatives were present at the ceremony.

S. C. Stewart received a letter from his son Stanley Tuesday from Washington, D. C., where he is stationed in the Quarter Master's Corps of the national army. His letter indicates that the army service agrees with him and that he is gaining physically as well as in the knowledge of army affairs. He has hopes of being transferred to the training camp at Baltimore soon where he will take up the training fitting him for over seas service.

Superintendent of the public schools, J. E. Dunton, celebrated his thirty-sixth birthday at his home Thursday of last week, having as dinner guests his father and mother, Mr. and Mrs. L. C. Dunton, of Molalla, Mr. and Mrs. R. L. Gilson and Mr. and Mrs. J. S. Northrop.

The Red Cross benefit at the Kuhn Theatre last Thursday and Friday nights was largely attended and resulted in the Red Cross receiving $16.60 as their share of the proceeds. Manager Kuhn gave 25 per cent of the entire receipts to the Red Cross.

Mrs. Rengolds, mother of Mrs. D. Cormier, was an over Sunday visitor at the Cormier house.

Rev. Jacob Stocker, former pastor of the Evangelical church at Sweet Home, but now of Salem, while driving in his automobile Wednesday afternoon, was struck by the Shasta Limited and his auto wrecked. So far as can be learned Mr. Stocker was only slightly injured.

B. O. Stampy, of Dover, Idaho, arrived in Lebanon Saturday for a visit with his daughters Helen and Dorothy who are making their home with Mrs. P. M. Carstens. He arrived just in time to assist in entertaining Mrs. Carstens Sunday school class who were guests at the Carsten home at that time.

Mrs. Ora Keebler has resigned her position as teacher in the Gore school and Miss Carrie Gentry has been chosen as her successor. The resignation of Miss Keebler to become effective next Friday. She was a former Lebanon teacher, which position she held three years. The three years following her graduation from the Lebanon high school, seven years ago, were spent as instructor in her home school where she is now engaged.

The high school boys basket ball team reaped a sweet revenge on Silverton in return for the defeat in the latter town last week by scoring a victory over the Silverton team at the athletic hall last Thursday evening. The score stood 37 to 15 in favor of Lebanon.

Thad Sterling made a business visit to Portland Monday.

R. F. Korschgen went to Portland Wednesday with a car of hogs.

Miss Ruth Kackley has so far recovered from the typhoid fever as to be able to return to the home of Miss Addie Davidson, where she will again make her home.

Report comes from Portland that Mrs. A. H. Frum is slowly recovering from an operation performed Saturday of last week. Miss Frances Frum is with her mother and will remain until she is able to return home.

The Linn county tax rolls for the 1917 tax were open for collection at the office of the sheriff in Albany yesterday and taxes will be received at anytime hereafter. About 8000 statements have been sent out to the taxpayers and the rolls foot up $537,000.

Wayne Henderson received a bad injury to his eyes Tuesday morning while at work at the electric light plant testing out an electric welding device he is at work upon. While the injury is not of a serious nature, it is painful and compels him to keep his eyes bandaged.

Judge Bingham, on the bench of department No. 1 of the Circuit Court at Albany, selected the grand jury Wednesday for the May term of court. They were selected from the petit jury list of the present term of court, and are: J. L. Underwood and S. H. Elliott of Lebanon; M. J. Nye, Sweet Home; Hiram Pickens, Foster; W. Kirk, Halsey; I. A. Munkers, Shelburn; and Oliver Wicks, Orleans.

Mrs. F. R. Bennett and little daughter, Joyce, of Sodaville, were here for a week-end visit with Mr. and Mrs. W. T. Nicholls. Mrs. Bennett is teaching the Sodaville school while her husband is serving his country in the aviation corps of the American expeditionary forces, now in France.

Several large bands of wild geese were seen Saturday going directly northward which event this time of the year is considered an unmistakable sign of an early spring.

Get a ticket on the Big drawing at the Sweet Home Feed store.

Money to loan on farms at current rate of interest - Frank Doolittle

I pay cash one cent less that Portland for all country produce at Crabtree old union meat building - T. A. Paul

Subscribe to The Criterion - $1.50 per year

The Criterion was started by W.H. Brown in 1898. In 1911 it was sold to William Tell Fogel and in 1912 the name was changed to the Linn County Advocate. In November Brown foreclosed and it became the Criterion again. The Lebanon Tribune was established with T.L. Dugger as manager in 1912. In 1924 the Express and Criterion were sold to one owner. Source: "City of Lebanon, Historic Context Statement," by Mary Kathryn Gallagher, Linn County Planning Department, pg. 110.

Many thanks to the Lebanon Express for permission to place this on the internet.

© 1999 Jan Phillips