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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (March 12, 1903)
THE MOILNTXG OKEGOIA, THURSDAY,- MARCH 1 19&3. TO DEBATE ON SITE Port of Portland Commission Will Meet Today. MEMBERS NOT YET DECIDED President BanHcld Contends Muck's Bottom Site I 'ot Too Hlfirli in Price, and. Excbaagei CoiupII ments With E11I G. Hughe. The Port of Portland Commission will meet this afternoon to consider drydock cite. The commission is very much "up a tree" on the question -where to put the drydock. Captain Pope, Captain Gray, Captain Jones and others are invited to confer with the board today. It is not-likely that the Commissioners will be rescued from their uncomfortable position by the opinions of the pilots, for the pilots them eelves are as piebald In their views as Is the general public. "If we had all the pilots before us tell ing us what we should do," remarked a Commissioner yesterday, "within ten min utes they'd be calling each other fools or liars. I mean in a figurative sense," went on the speaker apologetically. "You know I don't mean to say the pilots 'are liars and fools. You understand, don't you?" The commission is equally divided as to the selection of the Mock's bottom site. That location Is favored by Messrs. Ban fleld. Tucker and Swigert and Ls opposed by Messrs. McCraken and Selling. C. F. .Adams ls on the fence. Ellis G. Hughes Is dead set against Mock's bottom, but he has divorced his personality, though not his name, from the commission, and is an "indeterminate quantity, anyhow," as one of his colleagues called him yesterday. Commissioner in Doubt. Before Captain Pease set forth objec tions to the proposed site, a majority of the commission favored Mock's bottom, namely: Banfleld, Swigert, Tucker and Adams. Now these four men are in doubt about the fitness of the proposed location, especially Mr. Adams. The three other gentlemen lean favorably to that .site, hut they say that their minds are still" open to conviction. The commission is confronted by two problems. The first relates to the acces sibility of the dock and the position of the dock in'the river currents; the sec ond relates to physical conditions of the site Itself whether the site can be dredged cut to receive the dock and whether the basin thus formed can be permanently maintained. An ISxchangre of Compliment". Mr. Banfleld and Mr. Hughes have not forgotten how to bandy left-handed com pliments. The other day Mr. Hughes, after having made a fling at what he terms wanton extravagance of the com mission, alluded to Mr. Banfleld as "only a small part of the tall of the dog' "When cinch ls the game," said Mr. Banfleld yesterday, "nobody doubts Mr. Hughes' ability to play It. As to his per sonal opinion about me. that is a matter of indifference to me, as I believe it is to the public Mr. Hughes' sole appearance in his profession in tho past 15 years has been to collect fees he never earned and in efforts to repudiate his just obligations by technicalities. If this makes Mr. Hughes an expert on dredge construction, 3'e certainly ought to be well tualified." Mr. Banfleld said he was not going to let the selection of the site drasr. "I'm going to act." he declared energetically, "and to press the question to an early solution. Even in choosing the wrong site there might be some extenuation for us, but in dalliance and inaction there is 310 dcfen&e whatever. We are going to pet a site right away and it will not be the wront location, either. If this delay continues much longer you'll see a day set when tie problem must be solved finally and conclusively J' Mr. Banfleld'.s severity then relaxed into a smile. "What Is this we ,hear about acreage?" he asked, "about $1000 an acre? I say that acreage has nothing to do with the problem. We might go out "back of Mount Tabor and get acreage for less than 5100 an acre. But it's not acreage we want, but water frontage, and It's for water frontage we shall have to pay. In stead, therefore, of saying a certain site ls offered for $1000 an acre, say rather it Is offered for 523 a front foot." Site Mr. IlnRhen "Wanted. Ast to the Mock's bottom location, Mr. Banfleld remarked that he had already said the price was high. "But the hon esty .and sincerity In Mr. Hughes' re marks." he went on, "may be judged ifrom the fact that the only offer, received irom tho B razee tract was 530 per front foot, a price which Mr. Hughes advised. Bight adjoining that tract is land which was offered for sale, not for drydock. but for other purposes, at one-third the price of the Brazee tract. These two proper ties are directly below ConeV? mill. "Mr. Hughes is fond of talking about acreage. If it would not offend him. jl would brush up his memory about the sale of his own property below Weldler's mill. This property he allowed to go out of his possession for nearly 520,000 per acre, or 5170 per front foot. "The Port of Portland Is accumulating a very valuable property. This property must have a harboring place or a bone yard, where it can be protected from damage and destruction. It must be out of the reach of floods, and mut be de fended against fire. The location for the drydock will very probably be used for a boneyard for the other equipment. . The Port of Portland now owns two dredges, two steamboats, 60 pontoons, over 3000 feet of pipe and six barges. This Is a big property, isn't It, and highly valuable, too?" Adaran Has Jfo Preference. Mr. Adams said be had no preference In the selection of a site. "My only desire." said he. "is to get the best pos sible location at the best possible terms. The commission has not agreed to buy the Mock site, nor do I believe any mem ber has done so. "We have not said we would pay 523,000 for the Mock sito or that we would pay more or less than that sum for that site or for any site what ever. "The assessed valuation of any pro posed site does "not in my judgment neces sarily regulate- the actual value. If In the past few years' the Assessor has not kept pace with growing values, that does not make actual values. less. The mar ket value Is none the less If the assessed value is small." Mr. Adams was now warmed up. to his subject, and he continued: "We have a hard problem before us, and I, for one. wouldn't object if others had it to solve. But the responsibility rests on us, and we shall do our duty. Many factors enter Into the problem. Even after we have employed tne very best engineering skill and relied on Its Judgment, unforeseen conditions may arise. We certainly do not wish to get into difficulties similar to those of the city reservoirs. And yet those reservoirs were built" under Ihe best engineering knowledge available." Views of Alfred. Tacker. - ing an opinion on this subject for the rea son that In behalf of the Hub Land Com pany I tender 1000 feet of water front, including 40 acres of adjoining land, for lesa than half -of the price asked for 25 acres .of "Mock's Bottom." Now, since your reporter thoughtlessly violated my Injunction against mention ing my name' in connection with this sub ject, I desire to be placed In no uncer tain light before. the public on this ques tion. If Mock's Bottom Is a suitable place for the "drydock, the difference of 55O30. 510,000. or 515.000 In the cost of the site Is a small item as compared to the whole cost of preparing the pit to re ceive the drydock. If 510,000 or 515.000 can be saved In the cost of construction at the Mock site over any other site and the location- would be a better one when com pleted. I can't see any serious objection to paying 510,003 or 515,000 more for the .Mock site than, for any other. At the time that the Port of Portland prospected the Mock site Mr. Banfleld showed to. me some of the material brought up by the auger 'which he said proved the location to be wholly unflt for a drydock site. Mr. Banfleld's state ment did not satisfy me. for the reason that the river, channel at the proposed site Is very narrow and Is from 50 to 56 feet deep. If the mud and quicksand would fill up the drydock grave why does It not fill up the river channel? The. answer ls that the channel ls narrow and the swift current washes It out. If that were true, would not Mock's Bottom have been .drained of sand and. mud ages ago? The price paid by . the present owners has entered into this controversy beyond justification. The railroad to St. Johns, which has .Increased-the value of the land. has been built since that sale. Russell & Blyth, in their communication to The Oregonlan, truthfully say that this 25 acre piece Is the most valuable portion of the whole 360 acres purchased by them. If the Port of Portland Commission de- ' cldes that Mock's Bottom ls a safe place for the drydock and that tire site can be i prepared at less cost to receive "the dry- FRYE MEETS SWIFT Takes the Big Eastern Pack . er to Seattle. DEAL THERE: COMES FIRST dock than anv other site. then. la my Alf red Tucker frankly confessed that humble opinion, the Port of Portland Com at first 'he thought the Mock site the mission should buy the Mock Bottom site, best. i even - if It be required to pay the exorbl- "And my assumption," said Mr. Tuck-; tart price of 525.000 for 25 acres. ' The cr. "was based on the judgment of exJ. first and Important question ls site. The pert engineers. But since then- other en- : question of price ls a trifling one when gineers have come forward with contrary testimony. When engineers disagree, what are we going to do?" Mr. Tucker believed that the way to make progress was to consult the best engineers and the best pilots and then to go ahead. "I do not see," he went on, "that we are bound to call In even resi dent of Portland for an opinion. If "we'd do that, we'd never get the dock. What ever selection we make ls sure to en counter criticism. compared with the question of site. FRANCIS I. M'KENNA. LR. COE'S GOOD WORK. Secure Larpc Appropriation for 1005 Fair From North Dakota. Dr. Henry Waldo Coe did good work for the 1905 Fair in North Dakota. He se- ! cured the best appropraltlon of any of "This is public business, and I shan't ' "?e stes in the Mississippi Basin, and make up my mind in a hurry. If it were "'"s m " my own business. I'd make up my mind been s ow to, recoIz Lt right away and I'd stick to my opinion." , 'ollowtogr Item firom the Bismarck Trl- "Do you now favor the Mock site?" was ; bu"e 7n bc of Jt,ercst:. , asked 11 is not ProDablet under the pressure r i,i i .ii .... . ' of other appropriations, that had the .!. a. uglier nuuiu iiuu iupiy uut;tu lu , . , , - . . tho n.ttnn Tf t,. Xf ! Lewis and Clark Fair sent any person not gineers Is for that site. I shall favor It," he remarked. Then he added: "How ever the purchase goes. It will be per fectly clean." McCraken for Parallel Site. Colonel McCraken said that in his judg ment, the dock should be parallel with the current t the river, in order that ships might readily enter and depart from the dock. "This is the opinion of Cap tain Pease," said the Colonel, "and I don't know of anybody better qualified to spealt on this subject than he." The i Colonel said this difficulty stood formid ably in the way of the Mock site. But . there were other physical objections aris- i ing from the contour and substrata of ' the .location. The site Is surrounded by ; great quantities of soft mud. which would crowd into the basin dredged out for the dock. Besides, there would be enormous deposits of silt. "If there ls no current at ! that place," said Colonel McCraken, "It j stands to reason that great quantities of silt would be deposited there. ThlB would ! necessitate constant dredging to keep clear the entrance to the dock, and the j mud pressing In upon the .dock would i necessitate constant dredging In the basin of the dock also. r, "Price Hljfh," Says Hhkhc'h. Ellis G. Hughes declared that he-"didn't wish to run down the value of the Mock site, but 51000 an acre for It was absurd. "The owners offer the worst part of tho acquainted with the Dakota people that , they would haVe been able to secure rec ognition at the session of the Legislature just closed here; and, in fact, it Is doubt ful If another man in Oregon could have been found who could have brought the ' Portland measure through as Dr. Coe did. "Four times in committee and else where was his measure voted down, the last time being In the general appropria tion mix-up, during the last evening of the session. "As the major portion of the 550,000 finally appropriated by the bill for the St. Louis World's Fair and the Lewis and Clark Centennial is for the collection of a large exhibit and the bill provides for Its transfer direct from St. Louis to Port land, .the latter Fair will practically have the benefit of not less than 540.000 out of the general sum appropriated." TO EXAMINE BARBERS. State Board AVI II Hold Meeting-. a Week' The State Board of Barber Examiners I will hold a week's meeting here, beginning next Monday, for the purpose of examin ing barbers and apprentices, as well as registering them under the new law. Many barbers throughout the state work on per mits, and have never obtained certificates. These must now all be examined and a set of additional regulations resardlne the -xnat locauon wouian r. ao zor muis or i trade made up by the board, wharfs, either. Why passing steamers ! J. a Wcls; who took the place of. Sam would suck a wharf out of there within Howard; F. T. Rogers and H. G. Meyer, six months, and I don't know but what : of Salem, constitute the board. Mr. Weis they'd suck the drydock out, too." ' ls the president of the local Barbers' "Am I going to resign from the com- i Union, and was unanimously recommend missionr responded Mr. Hughes curl- ed by the union some weeks ago for the ously to the question whether he was go- i position. The examiners intend to draw Ing to get off the board. "1 don't belong j up much- more strict regulations than j to the board. I don't go there, any more." those formerly practiced, and no loose at- "But nominally you Deiong to the com- i tention to the requirements will hereafter mission, though actually you do not; Is i be tolerated. The examination will begin After That Local Matter Shall Be Disposed Of, the Question of Large Nevr Packing Plant in Pacific "XorthTrest "Will Be Tip. -Charles H. Frye. who bought the Inter est of Charles "Bruhn In the'Frye-Bruhn Company, of Seattle, a few days ago, came to Portland yesterday morning and met here Louis F. Swift, of the big packing concern of Swift & Co... of Omaha and Kansas City. Mr. Swift came in from the South yesterday morning, being ac companied by President Leroy Hough, of the Western Packing Company, of San Francisco. These gentlemen went north with Mr. Frye on the" 2 o'clock train yes terday afternoon. Mr. Swift would say nothing definite about his mission In the Pacific North west. In a general way he said his pur pose was .to look over the field with a view to increasing the business of his company In this territory. "Whether U1I3 meant that new packeries would be built or present Institutions purchased or that the trade would be increased through present agencies of the company, Mr. Swift would not say positively, though he left the Impression that the Swifts were likely to establish a very large plant somewhere in the Pacific Northwest. There was an intimation also that "in ducements" offered by various eligible lo calities might prove a factor In determin ing where the new plant should be built, if it should be. decided to build. No effort was made by Mr. Swift to see railroad officials or other Portland men who might have an interest in get ting a large packing plant established here. His business was evidently with Mr. Frye. After concluding- his business with Mr. Frye, In Seattle. Mr. Swift ls expected, to visit Portland and make a more or less close examination Into the conditions touching meat packing at this point. It Is Inferred from the circum stances of the case that Mr. Swiftls visit to. Seattle relates to the affairs of the Frye-Bruhn Company, after attending to which he will take a view of the field for the purpose of determining whether it will warrant a meat-packing establish ment of the dimensions operated in the Eastern packing centers. Special significance ls attached to this visit of Mr. Swift, because of the report that there is considerable rivalry between the large packers of the East to get into the Pacific Northwest, both for the pur pose of getting near, the source of the heavy livestock production of this coun try and to have a depot from which to handle a growing Oriental trade in meats. The intimation that there would be a struggle between the extensive packers of the East, like the Swifts, the Armours and the Cudahys, for control of the North west field, gives Interest to the movements of the packers at this time. Messrs. Ward and Kamerer, of the Co lumbia Packing Company, have asked the Board of Trade for a free site for a large packing plant here, and Charles E. Ladd, J. C Alnsworth and J. Thorburn Ross have been appointed a committee to con sider the matter. It is represented that the company will spend 5350,000 to 5400,000 In its plant, which will give employment to about 2000 men. this not true?" Mr. Hughes owned that this was true. Then he added: "Oh. yes. I'll resign that is if the board will elect a member of the new commis sion to my place." Then Mr. Hughes grinned over the as Monday morning at 265 Alder street. SCHOOL OF TELEGRAPHY Open ToniKltt nt Y. M. C. A. At 7:30 this evening, a school of teles- surance that the board would not takeJraphy Je ODened as a department of up his offer. ."Yes, I'll resign anytime." the educational work of the Y. M. C. A. uuui iiilll mu nuiucu win uc uumiliea IO "OT A QUESTION OF PRICE. j Francis I. McKcnna Says Good Site ! Most Important for Drydock. PORTLAND. Or., March 11. To the Editor.) In today's Oregonlan it appears this course. Other subjects that men may take at the association to June 6 are: Algebra . . . $ 2.00 Architectural drawing 3.50 Arithmetic 1.50 Bookkeeping 3.50 Carpentry , i.fn ; that I butted in on your reporter while English grammar 1.50 111 uic uti ui unci 11; i 1114, cuis u. XXUgCS ........................ ., -i.w and made remarks uncomplimentary to Penmanship 1.50 some members of the Port of Portland Reading and speTlin 150 Commission, as wen as to those who are shSifnd s-p(emns endeavoring to sell a site to the Port of Typewriting". 350 Portland. I have tried to avoid express- Telegraphy (four nights per week.". 10.00 HOPES TO SAVE ARMSTRONG r Baker City Attorney "Will Move for 'Change of Venue. George J. Bentley, of Baker City, attor ney for "Pleas" Armstrong, ls in Port land, and states that "he expects to save his client from capital punishment. Mr. Bentley says Armstrong does not ac- 1 knowledge having killed Minnie Ensming ' er. but admits having fired the shot and ! states that he does not know what impulse 1 caused him to do It Speaking of the af j fair the attorney said: "He told me that Miss Ensmlnger was afraid that he would kill himself and leave her In the world, and she had ex acted from him the promise that he would not die and leave her. He had intended to kill himself, but did not intend to do It at the time this affair occurred. He went to talk with her, and when he saw her looking at him the thought came to him that he had a promise to fulfill, and for that reason he fired." The case will be called in the State Circuit Court In Baker City on March 23, at which time Attorney Bentley will move for a change of venue on the ground that the people of that section are prejudiced against Armstrong. No route across the continent offers so many attractions as does the Denver & Rio Grande. Write the Portland Agency, 124 Third street, for illustrated booklets. ' Pain from indigestion, dyspepsia, and 1 too hearty eating is relieved at once by taking one of Carter's Little Liver Pills immediately after dinner. FREAK SNOW STORM CLOTHES PORTLAND IN A WHITE MANTLE jig - VIEW OF SOUTH PORTLAXD AXD PORTLAND HEIGHTS TKOX THE EAST SIDE. Like elouds out or a clear sky came the snow early yesterday. Even the watchful officials in the Weather Bureau were causht. for the now storm was of the true freak nature, and cave no announcement of Its conUnp. Before many people were up for the day, however, the snow, less than half an Inch deep, which had "fallen, became slush, and dreams of merry sleigh rides wnt a-gUmraerlnff. The mow covered the Willamette Valley and Western Washington. When the forecast was prepared Tuesday there was not the least Indication of a possible snow storm, and the weather obfervers were as much surprised as any one to and a white mantle upon the ground In the morning; . . . Meier (3b Frank Company . . . Our "Willamette" Sewing Machine at $25.00 is the equal of any $50.00 machine on the market. Free Embroidery Lessons given daily from 9 to 12 A. M. and 2 to 5 P. M. by an ex pert. Second Floor. Spring and Summer models in "La Grecque" and "Kabo" Corsets now ready 2d floor. Sole Portland agents for the famous Ostermoor" patent Elastic Felt Mattresses. Children's Confirmation Dresses The Children's Cloak Section today seeks consideration From those who are planning the confirmation dress for the young lady. In fabrics especially suitable for this occasion the children's depart ment shows a superb assortment of new dresses. They came to hand only yesterday and are ready for your choosing this morning. These white dresses are exceedingly beautiful in the fineness and perfection of their weave. There's Silk Mulls, Persian Lawns, Organdies, Vic toria Lawns and India Linens, all made up in the very prettiest fash ion. The completeness of present assortments should tempt an imme diate choice and set to rest all thought and worry of home dressmak ing. Prices most reasonable. a Ma j. Tt r ...! e ctr . . . a . 'HI'S" jlOV6S spring importation or rernn's uioyes is Dy rar tne iatgcai aim ucai wc nave cvci tcucivcu Ail ine newest Styles and shades Every pair guaranteed to give satisfactory serv ice Glace and Suedes. $ 1 .50 to $3 Pair Black and White Silks Fancy Black and "White Silks once counted as mourning silks are this season in very high favor among most fashion able women. This might be credited to the very beautiful pat terns now shown in black and white if it were not for the fact that the most staple styles are most asked for of all About forty styles to select from black and white checks, black and white plaids, black and white stripes in large variety, black and white polka dots; black and white fancies, beautiful black and white liberty foulards. Prices range from $1.00 to $3.00 the yard Japanese Wash Silks 200 styles in plain and corded effects 50c a yard. The latest in Fancy and Lace Hosiery for women From 50c to $3.00 per pair New Spring Ribbons Plain colors and fancies Large and complete stock. r Men's Spring Clothes The product of the best tailors in America Superior styles and materials can be bought here at a saving of 25 per cent well on the exclusive clothier's price. The most stylish as as the most reasonably priced. Our ready-to-wear clothes have been giving satisfaction to an army of economical men. Are you one of the army? If not, it's time you enlisted Second Floor. Hart, Shaffner & Marx' men's new Spring SuitSi exclusive patterns m fancy cheviots, nobbiest clothes for the money ever offered, our price Men's gray mixed all-wool Suits, new styles ' at Men's tan Covert Topcoats, very swell ones' for $7.50 to , Men's long Spring Overcoats, dressy styles, $17.50 to New Spring Suits All" the best makes, prices up to - i Conductors' and Motormen's "Union-Made" Uniforms serviceable kind made especially for us, guaranteed fast color, all sizes, our price the very lowest, suit , $13,50 $15.00 $22.50 $22.50 $30.00 Uniform Pants, extra quality, reinforced, spe cial, pair "Hawes" Hats, the new Spring blocks, derbys and fedoras $3.00 A Few Grocery Pricings Deconstrating the Actual Saving When Buying Groceries a'nd Provisions From Us 'Phone Private Exchange 4 Basement. 1 Qt C. Sz. B. malt vinegar 2 1 lb Baker's unsweetened choco late ....33c 1 lb Baker's sweetened chocolate. 23c 1 can Baker's cocoa 50c y can Baker's cocoa 25c Bottle " Blue Label" catsup $9c Bottle Columbia catsup only 20c Jello, 3 packages for , 25c Grape Nuts, 2 packages for 23c Babbit's lye, 3 packEges for 23c i 20O Other .Special Prices Pacific Coast matches, 6 for .25c Poppy cream, 3 cans for 25c Seeded raisins, 3 packages for.... 23c Durkee's salad dresslng....l0c&25c Bon Ami, the magic cleaner, 3 for.25c 1 lb can shrimps for. 2 cans La Rochelle sardines.. 2 packages Malta Vita 2 cans peaches for 1 gal Puritan maple syrup... 1 gal log cabin maple syrup.. ..10c ....25c ... 23c ....25c ....90c ..$1.25 2 Can Saltan Pineapple, 20c Friday Surprise Sale Tomorrow the 698th Friday Surprise Sale 700 pairs of ladies' Shoes at a saving every woman will appreciate Styles for street or dress wear This price for tomorrow only They're Vici Kid, Patent Leather and Patent Colt, stock or patent ips, the all-patent leathers and patent colt are lace styles, medium weight soles; vici kid styles 00k A are light or heavy soles; all sizes and J m&O widths, tomorrow only at the special mm T low nrice of " BlW X Meier & Frank Company Meier & Frank Company 18 lbs "Western dry sugar for $1.00 Poatum cereal, per package 20c 1 qt C & B. oil for 65c 2 bottles Snyder's catsup for 35c 3 cans tomatoes for. 25c Lea & Perrlns' sauce 25c, 50c, S3c 3 1-lb cans cove oysters for 25c 2 cans R. & H. asparagus 45c 1 lb Royal baking powder 45c 1 lb ground chocolate 25c 200 Other Special Prices jj Meier & Frank Company