THE MORNING OUEGONIAJN, THURSDAY, JANUARY 1, 1903. 10 Interested in the opening of commercial Telatlons on a large scale with Asia and Oceanlca, for the future of Puget Sound as a shipping region depends In a large measure on the share which the United States will be able to obtain of the total trade of nearly J3.O0O.O0O.O0O which the J trans-Pacific countries do with the rest of the world. From our point of view a large trade with Asia and Oceanica Is not only desirable, but absolutely essential to our commercial and industrial welfare. "Without it we cannot hope to take rank among the great shipping districts of the Nation. Notwithstanding the tremendous increase in the aggregate foreign com merce of the country" In recent years, the share of the Pacific ports is steadily fall ing. This applies with the same force to San Franplsco and Portland as to Puget Sound, as shown In the official figures of A WESTERN PIANO HOUSE PORTLAND THE CENTER. OF A VAST MUSICAL IXSTRUMEXT TRADE. A Splendidly Equipped Establish mentThe 3Iot Extenalve and Bct Orpanlxed Bnnlncs of Its Kind In the United States. The position occupied by Eilcrs Piano House in the piano world Is as unique as it is prominent. "With a policy of good values and small profits, this house has built up an Immense quick-sales busi ness in a phenomenally short time, hav ing been established but four years. Its "West for bacon, hams-and lard. A field la open here for the establishment of large I packing-houses to cure and pack the fne J pork products of this otate. ; REALTY FOR 23 YEARS. MIGHTY ACHIEVEMENT OF LEWIS AND CLARK How the Hardy Explorers Performed Their Wonderful Task of Penetrating a New Country , LEWIS AND CLARK EXPLORATION. It is a subject for gratitude and grate ful remembrance The foresight of the great commoner; Thomas Jefferson. In planning for and se curing to the "United States, to the American people and to coming generations that magnificent stretch of country reaching from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean, through the Louisiana Purchase and by right of discovery of the Columbia and Its tributaries by Captain Gray, -was remarkable. Foreseeing the great ad vantages to be derived by an-early exploration of the unknown country lately acquired, he took upon himself the responsibility of fitting out an expedition ot men fitted to the creat labor and sacrifices awaiting the hardy explorer jthot should undertake this herculean task through an untried wilderness. Like all great works and duties to be performed in the early days of the Republic and ordained by Providence. Lewis and Clark came to his aid. willing to undertake the task. With scant provisions and little money and lew clothing and a few trinkets -with which to trade with and pacify the Indian tribes, they started "on their perilous Journey, determined to succeed and conquer. With the spirit of determination that where there was a will there was a -way, they took their lives in their hands. With hostile savages besetting their way, they traversed and explored this great country of ours, -with, little to cover them at night and on much of their way living on roots and dog flesh, fish when they could get them and a promise of salt when they reached the Pacific Ocean. Heroic devotion to their country Inspired them to complete the tapk set for them to do. They well performed the task. A grate ful people remember them, and especially the pioneers, who know and have tasted suffering on their long, wearisome march to the Oregon Country. They now await with impatience the memorial day, the centennial of the great event that marks us as a grateful people. Let us quicken our patriotic memories of the yast and da Justice to those who so earnestly devoted themselves and risked their lives for the future welfare of their countrymen. Who can now deny to the pioneers of the Northwest the- priv ilege of paying, while it is yet time, their last tribute of respect to these pioneer explorers? When the multitude of visitors come to this centennial, to Oregon and the Northwest. In 1905, and sail upon our beautiful rivers and traverse our lovely valleys and behold the grandeur of our mountain scenery, will they wonder that we remember with grateful hearts the men who have marked the way to this beau tiful land? When they behold the substantial products and the business with which the land abounds, they will wonder anew why. this land has been so long over lookedwhere blasts of Winter do not freeze nor the torrid Summer heat prevail, but gentle breezes and mild, equable climate prevails throughout the year. The revelations that meet the eye of the newcomer will cause him to tarry In our midst and seek a home In this unparalleled country of ours. Let Oregon and the" Northwest do honor to the great explorers in making this centennial anniver sary a marked event in the history ot our country. H. W. CORBETT. Mnrlcet Jfovr Healthier Than for Many Yearn. 1SS0 ..." S 2.149.S12I1S92 tll.4S6.439 18S1 3.237.44511S12 6.555.710 1552 5.2C6.25S.1S94 4.610.C3S 1553 5.547.&03 1S95 4,567.559 1554 1.695.K5G 1SG 4.011.5G5 1855 L566..401S97 4.101.S15 1K6 2.135.0C 1&S 3,323.723 1FS7 5.S21.770 1S99 3.622.2SS 1SS8 7.035.86611900 3.531.9S5 IKK) 14.140.352 1901 4.VSG.246 190 12.Ml.803i 1902 7,550,000 1831 10,C4S.41; The foregoing table shows .the annual amount of Multnomah County real es tate transfers for the years 1S0 to 1902, Inclusive. It will be seen that during this time 1BS9 waa the banner year. It will also be seen, an well as remembered by not a few, that with the panic of 1SS3 the real, estate transfers fell with a dull sicken lnk thud, and continued on the down grade till 1S9S, when we eeem to have struck hard-pan, and the transfers were the smallest for 12 years. Since then there has been a steady trend upward, with 1302 showing In round numbers 57,500,000 transfers. The most peculiar aspect of the Teal estate situation with us is the practical absence of any disposition among buyers to speculate. The buying Is almost wholly for actual uoe. This Is due, I think, to the wholesale misfortune vis ited upon real-estate speculators in the recent past. Real estate values here, during the last three or four years, have by no means kept normal pace with advancing Im provements; and there Is consequently large room for real estate values to in crease. The city of Portland and its en virons are today teeming with oppor tunities to buy and Improve vacant prop erty and get returns much In excess of what money can be loaned for upon good security. Portland is today as solid as a bullet. and In a more vigorous and healthy con dition than ever before. The outlook is exceedingly bright. S; B. RIGGEN. the United States Treasury Department. Between 1S98 and 1901, both years ending with June 30, San Francisco's proportion of the total Imports and exports of the United Stites fell from 4.55 per cent to 3.02 per cent; Puget Sound from 1.24 per cent to 119 per cent, and Portland from 0.83 per cent to 0.52 per cent. That the commercial greatness of the Pacific Coast lies in a largo business with Asia and Oceanlca admits of no dispute. Puget Sound has made an encouraging begin ning In this important field. For the year ending June 30, 1901, its imports amounted to $6,721,050, of which Asia and Oceanlca contributed $3,778,202. Exports "for the same .period were $20,678,829, of which $1L244,2S went to Asia and Oceanlca. Of a foreign commerce amounting to $27,399, 889 the share- of- Asia and Oceanlca was 15,023,040, or about three-fifths of the total. This volume of business, although satis factory to us at present, is small in com parison with the opportunities offered by American enterprise, energy and ingenu ity in the countries across the Pacific It is only a forerunner of Tjctter things. Washington, by her close proximity to the state where the Lewis and Clark Ex position is to be held, by reason of being traversed by three transcontinental rail roads, over which the visitors to the ex position will travel, and by reason of her Headquarters for Tourists and Commercial Travelers. THE PORTLAND Portland Hotel Co., Owners. PORTLAND, OR. H. C. Bowers, Manager. o-c-0 cost ?i,ooo,ooo.co. American Plan 3.00 per day and upwards. THE FAIR DIRECTORS. Directors of the Lewis and Clark Cen tennial and American Pacific Exposition and Oriental Fair: H. W. CORBETT, Portland. H. W. SCOTT, Portland. ADOLFHE "WOLFE, Portland. LEO FRIED. Portland. WM. D. WHEELWRIGHT. Portland. JAMES H. RALET, Pendleton. SAMUEL CONNELL. Portland. J. C. AINSWORTH, Portland. CHARLES E. LADD.' Portland. PAUL "WESSINGER, Portland. RUFUS MALLORY, Portland. JOHN F. O'SHEA, Portland. L N. FLEISCHNER, Portland. J. C. COOPER, McMlnnville. O. L. MILLER, Baker City. A. H. DEVERS. Portland. " GEO. W. RIDDLE, Azalea. WILLIAM D. FENTON, Portland. -GEORGE W. BATES, Portland. J. M. CHURCH, La Grande. A. BUSH, Salem. B. VAN DUSEN. Astoria. F. DRESSER, Portland. A. L. MILLS. Portland. P. L. WILLIS. Portland. President, II. "W. Corbett. First Vice-President, H. W. Scott. Second Vice-President. Adolahe "Wolfe. Third Vice-President, Leo Fried e. Treasurer, First National Bank. Auditor, Adolphe Wolfe. Secretary, Henry E. Reed. great natural resources in timber and timber products, in mines and minerals, in agriculture and stockraising, in fisheries, fruitgrowing and many other avenues for the employment of labor and investment of capital, should take advantage of the opportunity which the Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition offers to make her boundless and matchless resources known to the world. It Is an opporunity that will never again present Itself, and your honorable body should make the very best use of it by voting a liberal appropriation for an exhibit that will place the State of Washington in the first rank of the states haing exhibits at Portland. Our state will not be true to herself If she lets pass this chance to demonstrate her prestige In the vast region which the foresight of Jefferson and the courage and patriotism of Lewis and Clark saved to American sovereignty. We, therefore, recommepd. In accord ance with the directions of said Senate concurrent resolution No. 17, that an ap propriation of the sum of $100,000 be made lor the purpose of suitably presenting the resources of this state at the Lewis and Clark Centennial and American Pacific Exposition and Oriental Fair, said appro priation to become available on the 1st of April. 1903. Respectfully submitted, FRANK J. PARKER, Chairman. G. W. ROWAN, Secretary. J. G. MEGLER. W. W. TOLMAN, B. M. RANDS. business, which embraces every branch pertaining to piano handling, with- the exception of actual construction, la the largest of any concern of the sort In the United States. The bulk of its opera tions are from Portland, where It has an extensive storage depot and elaborate show rooms. It also has large stores at San Francisco, Spokane and Sacramento, and from these four Important commer cial centers it absorbs a very large pro portion of the Pacific Coast piano trade. Its territory extends from the Western bor der of Montana clear through the States of Idaho, Nevada. Wyoming, Washing ton. Oregon and California, and includes a large export trade to the Philippines, sales records of the past year being over 4000 pianos and 2200 organs sold. It also recently shipped a lino Kimball piano to the Island -ot Tahiti, the French posses slon in the South Pacific. In, the conduct of its business this house employs many unique money- saving methods, the most notable of which Is its own patented harness device, which does away with the expensive Item of boxing pianos for shipment. Its Im mense warehouse located in Portland, with a very large trackage and accessible to all the railways centering here, facili tates the handling of the immense num ber of carloads of Instruments continually coming and going from there, and mate rially reduces the cost of same. During the month of October, when Fall ship ments were comlns in. 3S carloads were received at Portland. 29 carloads at San Francisco and nine at Spokane, making a total of 6 carloads received by this house in a single month. Its extensive repair shops, equipped with the most modern appliance?, employ a larce force of skilled and experienced workmen, and do an Immense business in piano re pairing and restoring. The influence of this house is felt ar tistically as well as commercially throughout the entire West Coast. While It makes no boast of being in business for the general good. Its arbitrary rule of handling only high-class pianos has had broad educational results, and created an appreciation of and demand for such instruments throughout the country. Its list or over 30 factories, which this enter prising house represents, is headed by the world's greatest the Weber, of New York, the Chlckering, of Boston, and the now famous Kimball, of Chicago; Hobart M. Cable, Crown, Victor, Haddorff, Les ter, eta "In addition, it carries six makes of organs, three piano players and the famous Kimball pipe organs. As already stated. Its affairs are so systematically and economically conducted thaf it is able and does at all times make excep tionally low prices on all its instruments. The personnel of the house is Mr. Henry J. Ellers, president; Mr. Samuel J. Mc Cormlck, vice-president; Mr. A. H. Ellers, secretary and treasurer; Mr. A. R. Pommer, San Francisco; Mr. G. A. Heldlnger, Spokane, all men of marked business ability and of long experience in piano handling, alert, progressive and full of push. With sum efficient man agement and established as It is on the soundest business and financial footing, this house, already great. Is destined to still greater achievements. OREGON FLAX BEST. Fiber Produced In Oregon Rival the Product of Europe. As a result of experiments thus far made, Eugene Bosse, formerly a flax man ufacturer in Wisconsin, and earlier of Belgium, says that flax fiber can be pro duced In Oregon to rival the high-grade flax of Europe. The .flax can be made into many different grades of fiber, according to the needs, the cost varying according to the grade, of fiber produced. Flax can be proaucca, he eays, at as low a co3t as five cents a pound, or even less, and can be manufactured at a nroflt. H holipvA, . that In a few years Oregon will not only ! raise the flax but will also manufacture j the fiber Into linen, cloth to supply the marlrpfs nf tVin "PaMflr. rvioe,f ti,.-i., ,. j last season he raised 200 acres of flax, but I Deing unacquainted with the climate he sowed the seed too late and did not eret a full crop. The results have encouraged mm ana ne win sow a larger area next season, and put In a full plant of modern macmnery ior wonting nax and flax fiber. He becan his onerntinns nt Snlom irlfh. out asking any subsidy and is laving the foundation for an enterprise that will. In a lew years, give employment to tnou sands of men, women and children. Orejcoa Cheese. Oregon cheese finds a ready market In uauiornia because tne heaviest produc tlon here Is at the season when the sup ply is shortest In California. Field for PaclcInx-HoHses. Oregon, is so rich that it sends regularly $1,000,000 a year to the states of the Middle COLUMBIA RIVER & PUGET SOUND NAVIGATION CO. (WHITE COLLAR LINE.) 33Flt STEAMER BAILEY GATZERT IX THE HEART OF THE CASCADE MOUXTAIXS, PASSIXG THROUGH THE RAPIDS OF THE COLUMBIA RIVER, APPROACHIXG THE CASCADE LOCKS. The Ballev Gatzert has the reputation of being the finest-equipped stern-wheel excursion steamboat ever built. The accommodations of this boat cannot be excellecL Thousands of tourists from all parts of the world wl?o have taken the trip up the Columbia River to the Cascade Locks and The Dalles, also down the Columbia to Astoria, can testify to this. The Bailey Gatzert has the record' for the fastest trip ever made by boat from The Dalles to Portland, on July 4, 1901. the trip of U0 miles being maele In 4 hours and 35 minutes. The trip from Portland to Astoria, 105 miles, with the Congressional delegation, was made In 4 hours and 50 minutes, with 250 people on board, on May 22. 1901. The pcenery of the Columbia River Is grand beyond description, and It may well be called the scenic route of the world. Rugged mountains, jagged and notched by Nature's strange upheavals, covered with evergreen trees, waterfalls that dazzle the eye, chief of which Is Multnomah Falls, SW feet high, photo graphs of which have attracted great attention all over the world.- The White Collar Line In 1501 published 40.0C0 booklets, describing ihe scenery of the Upper Columbia; "in 1902 there were 40.000 more pub lished and sent broadcast all over the United States. These books have been eagerly sought after by every one, and have advertised the scenery of the Columbia River and the State of Oregon, as It never was advertised-before. . - 6 VIEWS OF PORTLAND'S Great Wholesale and Retail and Organ Moose eano The most extensive of its kind In the United States. a glimpse op the main retail Salesroom and general offices, eilers piano house. 251 washing ton street, portland. other stores at spokane. san fran- cisco and sacramento. t 1 "WHOLESALE PLVNO AND ORGAN DE POT. EILERS PIANO HOUSE. INSTP.U MEXTS AP.E RECEIVED HERE IN CARLOAD LOTS ON THE COMPANY'S SIDETRACKS AND SHIPPED TO EVERY PART OF THE GREAT NORTH--WEST. CAPACITY OF WAREHOUSE, FIFTY CARLOADS. DELIVERY SERVICE OF EILERS PIANO HOUSE, SHOWING PECULIAR STYLE OF "WAGONS USED IN PORTLAND, KNOWN AS "GOOSE-NECK TRUCKS.' IS THE MIDDLE OF THE GROUP HAS HANDLED OVER FIVE THOUSAND PIANOS. THE .' ON3- 4