The Alpine Avalanche. (Alpine, Tex.), Vol. 21, No. 20, Ed. 1 Thursday, May 11, 1911 Page: 1 of 4
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Avalanche.
VOL. XXI.
ALPINE, BREWSTER COUNTY, TEXAS, THURSDAY,* MAY 11, 1911.
H. L. KOKEBNOT, V-Pres
L. L. HESS. V-Preg.
C. A. BKOWN, Pres.
G. W. BAINES, JR. Cash.
A. a BURTON, A»'t "
The First National Bank
OF ALPINE, TEXAJJ.
Capital and Surplus $90,000.00
We solicit your business, assuring prompt and courteous treat-
ment, and every facility consistent with prudent banking methods
•
Our directorate is mode up of men who are individually suc-
cessful and collectively able to care for your best interests.
Governor Gets Data About
Land Suits.
Austin, Texas.—State Land
Commissioner J. T. Robison has
fumshed Governor Colquitt with
a list of the land suits filed by the
Attorney General's Department
from 1900 up to the present time.
The information wan furnished at
the request of the Governor, and
the list shows the result of all cas-
es filed and the status of those
now pending in the courts.
The Governor says that he in-
tends to submit this information
to the Legislature at its next ses-
sion for the purpose of showing
urC- "Yfaft^he Atorney General's
iJepartment has or has not been
doing in the way of handling the
land cases for the State of Texas.
It is known the Governor is not
at all satisfied at the condition of
affairs now existing. He has re-
peatedly made complaint to the
effect that although the Attorney
General has two special assistants
in his employ, hired under spe-
cial contract to prosecute land
suits, they are being assigned to
other duties and, in fact, occupy
about the same positions in the
office of the Attorney General as
the regularly employed assistants.
Narrow-Minded Bigots.
It is only a narrow-minded and
small-souled person whose reli-
gion or politics causes him to dis-
. like those who do not agree with
him. Besides, it is mighty bad
policy to fall out with your neigh-
bor because he exercises the priv-
ilege you claim for yourself. Ev-
ery broad-minded and generous
hearted person wants everybody
else to enjoy the same privilege.
—Bryan Eagle.
Every community is afflicted
with a class of narrow-minded
bigots who revolve in petty orbits
of their own attenuated imagina-
tions. Such manikins are to be
regarded as neither desirable
friends nor dangerous enemies.
They have neither ideas nor ideals,
and whether they live or die, pro-
gressive men take but little heed
and move on, undisturbed by
their grouch or their greed.—Tex-
as Republic.
Roan for Two More Statesmen.
The house has passed the re-
apportionment bill providing for
the increase of the membership of
that body from 391 to 433, and
as the senate can have no reason-
able motive for opposing the bill
as it affects it neither. the one way
or the other, it will doubtless be
come a law at the present extra
session. This means two extra
congressmen for Texas, and as
the governor will in all likelihood
submit the question of redisrict-
ing the state at the extra session
of the legislature slated for next
summer after the lawmakers have
demonstrated that they know
how to be good along the lines of
legislative rest and political peace,
Texas "patriots" can proceed to
sit up and take notice.—Houston
Post.
Joy.
His wife (2 a. m.)—John,
John, there is gas escaping down
4aiA.
John (sleepily)—Great! Won't
the gas company be sore when
they^nd out it got away from
them.
A Guide for Plains Pioneers.
Extensive tracts of land, in-
cluding thousands of acres that
are doubtless capable of produc-
ing crops, remain unoccupied in
the United States, especially west
of the 98th meridian. In places
where no attempt at tillage have
been made the woule-be settler or
investor is often at a loss to know
whether the larfd in view is adapt-
ed to a particular crop or even
whether it has any agricultural
value. In such places the char-
acter of tjae natural vegetation is
usually studied as an index of its
crop-producing possibilities, but
mistakes are ofteh made in using
this indicator without sufficient
consideration.
As the result of investigations
carried on during the past three
years in the Great Plains area, the
United States department of ag-
riculture has issued a bulletin (B.
P. I. 201) containing definite de-
terminations of the correlations
between different types of vegeta-
tion and the physical characteris-
tics and crop possibilities of the
land occupiedjby each type. The
chief object of the bulletin is to
show how the errors resulting
from hasty and inconsiderate con-
clusions may be avoided, and how
new lands may be classified with
reasonable accuracy on the basis
of natural vegetation. The pub-
lication is not a report of a land
survey, but rather a discussion of
methods which can be utilized to
advantage in making such a sur-
vey.
The work has brought out
clearly that the general conditions,
whether favorable or unfavorable
to crop production, ate indicated
by the native plant cover.
$75,000 FIRE
VISITS ALPINE.
Substantial" Portion of City Gutted
By Flames and Smoke.
New Judges Are Named.
Austin, Texas —A cluster of
three large red, juicy apples, and
one other apple, not quite so red,'
but juicy enough to be attractive,
were knocked from the limbs of
the Texas State government tree
today by Governor O. B. Col-
quitt. The first three apples rep-
resented the judgeships of the
Court of Civil Appeals at Ama-
rilio; the fourth, was labeled
"State Tax Commissioner."
The Governor named Graham,
of Amarillo, Potter county; J.
M. Pressler of Roby, Fisher
county, and R. W. (Panhandle)
Hall of Vernon, Wilbarger coun-
ty, and A. B. Martin of Tulia,
Swisher county, Tax Commis-
sioner.
Meeting Requirements.
Mr. Plough, a farmer, was
showing»off his live stock to a vis-
itor. When they came to the pig
sty the visitor asked:
"What is the matter with your
pigs today? They seem raven-
ously hungry."
"Oh, it's just like this," re-
plied the farmer, "we're not
breeding them for exhibition, but
just tor eating. The people
round here like streaky bacon, so
we feed our pigs well one day and
starve them the next."
Notice to Owners of Guayule.
I will pay $60 per ton for all
guayule delivered to me at A1
we. A. McCallum,
30-tf Alpine, Texas.
Three times within twenty
years and twice within the past
four years Alpine's business
district has been swept away
by fire and a peculiarity is that
practically the same district has
suffered each time.
Friday morning at 2
o'clock night operator Barnhart
who was on duty at the depot,
for some reason opened the
door of his office and looking
across the street noticed a small
blaze in the front part of Gar-
nett's drug store on the side
occupied by S. A. Arett as a
jewelry shop. He at once
went across but finding that he
had neither water nor a fire
extinguisher to fight the flame,
which at that time could have
been controlled, commenced
calling for aid. Mr. Buttrill,
Willie Garaett and guests at
theHoQand hotel and citizens
living near quickly responded
and even then the fire could
have been controlled if water
had been available. The chem-
ical engine was rushed to the
scene but as those there were
unfamiliar with its operation
valuable time was lost before it
could be gotten into action and
by that time it was useless as
the entire interior of the build-
ing was a roaring, seething fur-
nace with flames bursting out
of every door and window. A
hose belonging to the railroad
company was attached to the
company tank but owing to
the lack of force and not being
long enough was of little ser-
vice. Within a few minutes
after the fire started the two-
story building in the rear of
the Garnett drug store, occu-
pied bvjl| A. Bogle and the
Mountaineers' Club was in a
blaze which quickly spread to
the Measday butcher shop. At
this time a strong southwest
wind was blowing and the
flames spread rapidly to the
building occupied by Crawford
& Co. ft seemed at this time
that not only the entire block
would be destroyed, but th*t
the Alpine Mercantile Co's
buildings and others in that
section could not be saved.
By this time the entire popu
lation of the town were on the
scene and at once citizens be-
gan an effort to save the stocks
of goods stored in the doomed
buildings. While one party
battled in vain to arrest the
flames, hundreds of others
were carrying goods and furni
ture to a place of safety.
USE DYNAMITE.
When the fire reached the
building occupied by Crawford
fit Co., and it Has realized that
unless drastic measures were
taken it could not be chocked
those who have had experi-
ence in such matters urged
that dynamite be used to blow
up the adjoining building and
in this way check the fire.
Within a few minutes the ex-
plosive was secured and par-
ties volunteered to touch it off
but the question was raised as
to what authority one had to
take this step. Valuable time
was again lost and not until the
flames had swept the store oc-
cupied by Ritchey and J. L.
Davis were in a bright blaze
was the dynamite brought into
action and even then, owing to
the intense heat, it was not ef-
fective as it could only be
thrown into the building.
From the Davis store it was
only a step to the Mclntyre
building, occupied by Slight &
Co. Again it would have been
a comparatively easy matter to
have saved this handsome
structure had water been avail-
able, but as it was, nothing
could be done only to see the
ruin completed.
MARFA FIRE DEPARTMENT COME
tons of water poured on the
top of the building they finally
died out and the battle was
Couldn't You Have
Saved More Money
during 1910 by having an account with ua
to conserve the little odds and end« of
your income? : : :
This plan of saving money ia proving very successful for oth-
No reason why it shouldn't do just as well for you.
Why not make the start NOW and give this bank
account plan a fair chance to improve YOUR
financial condition during 1911. : : :
ALPINE STATE BANK
era
NO. 20
won.
CAUSE OF FIRE.
TO AID.
As soon as it was realized
that the fire could not be con-
trolled an appeal for aid was
sent to Marfa where they have
a volunteer fire brigade. For-
tunately they were able to
catch a through freight and
while they did not reach here
.until five o'clock rendered val-
uable aid. Their efforts were
much appreciated and Alpine
will only be drawn closer to the
citizens of her sister city who
were ready and willing to ren-
der any assistance within their
power.
fixe checked.
The First National Bank
building adjoins the Slight
building and it was here the
fire was finally checked. This
building is a one-story brick
and the walls were erected for
just such an emergency. Ev-
ery effort was concentrated on
saving this structure for if it
had burned nothing could have
saved the Mitchell-Gillett Co.
building which adjoins it The
hose from the railroad tank
was again brought into play
and assisted by a tireless and
fearless bucket brigade the fire
was stubbornly contested.
Three or four times the flames
looked as if they would defy
human power and the interior
of the room was filled with
black smoke but with the use
of the chemical engines and the
While it is conceded that the
fire started in the corner of
Garnett's drug store occupied
by Mr. Arett as a jewelry shop,
there is absolutely no clew as
to the cause of the blaze and
will probably never be explain-
ed. Willie Garnett says he
closed the store at 9:30 o'clock
Thursday night and did not
enter the building again. Par-
ties who came from the 12:12
train state that they passed the
front of the store at that hour
and one man said he looked in
to see what time it was by the
clock hanging over Mr. Arett's
desk. They are certain that
there was no blaze or smoke
in the store at that hour. Just
two hours after this time Mr,
Bamhart discovered the blaze
All kinds of stories were in cir-
culation as to the cause, some
saying matches lighted by mice,
others that it might have origi-
nated from defective wiring
and there were many th^f: ad-
vanced the theory that the jew-
elry store had been robbed and
then set fire with the idea of
preventing detection. The lat-
ter theory though is not prov-
en by the appearance of Mr.
Arett's safe which was taken
from the ruins Saturday morn-
ing. The combination was
found to be in good condition
and the outside damaged very
little.
lou and insurance.
It is conservatively estimated
that the loss will not be less
than $75,000 and some even
say that it will reach $100,000,
though it is thought the first es
timate is correct.
Following is a list of the
losses and the amount of in-
surance carried:
J. R. Holland, four buildings,
loss $15,000; no insurance.
H. L Lackey, four buildidgs,
loss $ 18,000; insurance $ 11,500.
W.J. Mclntyre, one build
ing, loss $9,000; insurance $4,-
800.
First National Bank building
and fixtures damaged $1,00(
no insurance.
Walter Garnett, drugs, loss
$6,000; insurance $4,000.
W. E. Bogle, pool hall, loss
$600; fully insured.
Mountaineers' Club, loss $!,
200; insurance $300.
H. T. Luthy, four pianos,
loss $1,200; no insurance.
W. D. Measday, butcher, loss
$1,200; fully insured.
Dr. Benj. F. Berkeley, loss
loss
loss
loss
$2500; no insurance.
Dr. J. R, Middlebrook,
$2,000; no insurance.
Miss Flora Daugherty,
$1,000; no insurance.
W. Van Sickle, Att'y.,
! 12,000; no insurance.
Guy Crawford & Co., groce-
ries, loss $3,600; insurance $2,-
100. "
Frank Woodward, barber,
oss $100; no insurance.
S. A. Arett, jewelry stock
valued at $5,500, loss not
mown; insurance 2,000.
Quince Mills, pool hall, loss
2,500; no insurance.
J. T. Ritchie, groceries, loss
$2,500; insurance 1,000.
Otis Turner, real estate, loss
$500; no insuaance.
Collins & Clifton, real estate,
oss $200; no insurance.
J. L. Davis, dry goods, loss
Tom moving and stealage, $1,-
>00; fully insured.
Bean fit Carroll, barbers, loss
"$400; fully insured.
R. B. Slight & Co., drugs,
oss $8,500; partly insured.
Dr. Bass, loss $600; no insu-
rance.
H. S. Wigle & Co., insurance
and real estate, loss $150; fully
insured.
Dr. Hardy, loss $500; no in-
surance.
Dr. Largent, loss $500; no
insurance.
John Young Land Co., loss
$300 and valuable papers; no
insurance.
Mitchell-Gillett Co., loss from
moving stock and stealage, $8,-
000.
P. W. Kenney, loss from
moving stock and stealage, 8,-
000.
P. W. Kenney, loss from
moving stock $300.
INCIDENTS OF FIRE.
Dave Patton met with a
painful accident by falling
through the tin awning in
front of Mitchell-Gillett Co's.
building to the sidewalk, a dis-
tance of twenty feet. , He sus-
tained a severe shock and two
sprained wrists.
Only by hard work was the
Holland hotel saved from de-
struction. Had the wind chan-
ged lo the east it would have
burned and as it was, the large
plate glass in the State bank
was cracked and the paint on
the walls blistered.
^Everyone of the firms put
out of business by the fire have
secured new quarters and will
be doing business as soon as
stocks can be secured,
Dr's. Hardy and Largent
have opened an office in the
Holland hotel building in the
rear of the State Bank.
Slight Ac Co. are in the build-
ing recently vacated by the
Guide office.
J. L. Davis and Carroll and
Bean have secured the Vogt
building.
Dr. Berkeley and Judge Van
Sickle are officing at the State
Bank.
Reflections of a Bachelor.
The only wav a man can cut an-
other out with a girl is for her to
do it
Where there's a will thrrc's a
way tor the heirs to spend what it
leaves.
If you don't tell a vain man he
isn't, he'll tell you, so you might
as welL
IOC
Mr. Business Man!
,\
Do you want returns for your
money? If so, try an advertise-
ment in
The Alpine Avalanche
CIRCULATION IS
WHAT COUNTS
Our books are open to
advertisers.
II
o
• •
..JOB PRINTING IS AN ART
We have the newest faces of
type and skilled workmen.
Give us your order.
B Alpine Avalanche
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Yates, W. J. The Alpine Avalanche. (Alpine, Tex.), Vol. 21, No. 20, Ed. 1 Thursday, May 11, 1911, newspaper, May 11, 1911; Alpine, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth428508/m1/1/: accessed July 7, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Bryan Wildenthal Memorial Library (Archives of the Big Bend).