OPERATES v
203 MILES
TRACK
Portland Railway Division
Furnishes Transportation to All Parts of City and Following Points of Interest:
Portland Heights and Council Crest
Riverview Cemetery . St. Johns and Drydock . City Park
Vancouver . Willamette Heights
Columbia River . Mount Tabor
"The Oaks" Portland's Modern Amusement Park
Portland's well-known, delightful recre
ation resort, "The Oaks," will In 1P07 en
ter upon the third year of Its pleasure
catering existence. "The Oaks" has been
most aptly subtitled the "Coney Island
of the Far West." Most appropriately
was It named, and far and wide has Its
popular reputation been carried since Its
inception in 1906. Not only has its excep
tional scenic beauties spread broadenst
the name and fame of the parent city, but
It Is far and away the largest 10-cent
amusement park resort on the Pacific
Coast, and there Is nothing; to compare
with It west of the Mississippi. No other
city of like population In the country sup
ports an Institution representing such
heavy investment as the 30-acre park re
posing on the great oak-shaded banks of
the Willamette River, within 16 minutes
of the heart of the business district of the
Rose City. The last days of the aborig
inal tribal days rang with poesy vtrue of
the beauties of this tyrstlng-spot, no
doubt, for Mr. Fred S. Morris, the man
who spied out the delectable plat, cov
ered with hundreds of the grandest oak
trees that ever grew and oak groves are
not common In the Valley found the evi
dences of possession of an extinct band
of red revelers. The Oaks was then an
Island in the broad-sweeping river, and in
late years the river was driven to the
groater channel on the west side, and the
island became practically a part of the
mainland. Near the portal of the place
. where now the youths and maidens of
the palefaces swing through the mazes of
the waltz, one of the largest of the senti
nels of the Island forest bears Imbedded
In Its many-branched fork a ceremonial
pole or flagstaff, under which the red
man's festive celebration evidently were
held.
Probably In no other community do the
pleasure-seeking classes manifest keener
delight In outdoor pastimes of all kinds.
The changeless Summer season, begin
ning In May end continuing until the No
vember showers set in, la continually de
lightful. This is the period when the
Incomparable balmy- atmosphere of the
woods and waters is Irresistible. While
Portland Is prodigiously endowed by na
ture with Inviting recreation spots, round
about, "Meet me at The Oaks" la the
refrain of individuals by the thousands,
and of all sorts of gatherings, from fam
ily and fraternal reunions to Sunday
school picnics, women's clubs to athletic
organizations. Besides this, the park is
daily during the Summer becoming more
and more the playground for children.
There Is everything to amuse them and
keep them comfortable and Interested,
while at the same time their elders may
find appropriate diversion.
Cosmopolitan Entertainment.
Accordingly as the passion for cosmopol
itan entertainment grows with the in
creasing prosperity and stability of the
city, so grows The Oaks, alertly respon
sive to the demand for nigh-class music,
clean, wholesome recreation and amuse
ment. In the dedication of The Oaks
Park, "where Folly reigns without a
plot," the tastes ot a rapidly growing
cosmopolitan class of people were first of
all considered. It is for the special ac
commodation of the caprices of His Im
perial Self, the American Citizen. Not
only do the local public enjoy its round
of entertainment and go there to see as
well as to become for a time a part of
the rollicking crowds, but many thou
sands of annual tourists to the Pacific
Northwest now count a visit to the re
sort as an Indispensable part of the Itin
erary. The class of people that prize most
highly the facilities for enjoyment such
ss It Is the mission of The Oaks to pro
vide Is composed of -the well-to-do, Indus
trious people that count that one Sunday
GENERAL
holiday lost unless they get out into the
shade of the trees, listen to the band,
take a sail or a row upon the river, or
see the crowds that promenade or play
within the radius of the flaming constelr
Iation of electrics that mark the confines
of the park. For those who are so fortu
nate as to be able to ride In automobiles
or take a train for seashore resorts, or
go South when the misty skies of Oregon
are lowering The Oaks does not, it Is
supposed, supply a deeply felt necessity.
But the people, rich or poor, want a
good place to go, to be well entertained,
without excessive cost, tn the park the
sense of the sublime and the ridiculous
Is gratified by a combination of Coney Is
land Follyville with the vicious elements
that dominate the funtown of the Amer
ican metropolis eliminated together with
a World's Fair amusement avenue devoid
of the objectionable "Midway" character
istics. It is for all who love the life,
music, color and motion that constitute
the park life. When down-town becomes
humdrum, and It Is quick and convenient
to take a refreshing streetcar ride or a
launch to The Oaks, what is more nat
ural than that the crowds should congre
gate where the lights are brightest?
Good Muslo Constant Feature.
The Oaks has demonstrated an Im
portant fact In the amusement busi
ness which is at variance with the
superficial observance that high-class
muslo by a high-priced musical organi
zation appeals only to that cultured
class that will' turn out in evening
dress to fashionable recitals, paying
therefor not less than one dollar per
seat Of course there is an artificiali
ty about the display at a performance
of this kind that, is impressively con
trasted when you observe the cosmo
politan audiences gathered around the
park band. Those audiences embrace
men and women from every walk: of
life, and on special programme nights
at The Oaks there is not wanting either
understanding or intense appreciation
in the applause that Is arlven as vocif
erously for a rendition of a classic as
well as the current popular composi
tions. By Eastern eyes, ever critical of
our Western ways. It has been noted
that the patronage of the park Is com
posed of the best element. The music
concerts have been a foremost feature
as well as a factor in the upbuilding
of its popularity since the day It was
opened by the Oregon Water Power &
Railway Company. The entire proper
ty, railway and park and several of
the leading speeding devices for
arousing excitement and stimulating
heart-action, are owned by the newly
organized Portland Railway, Light St
Power Company.
Upon the advent of the new year,
and while yet there are several months
to elapse before active work of ren
ovation can be taken up, negotiations
have been well advanced toward se
curing for the Summer of 1907 the
best talent a musical organization of
recognized reputation in the amuse
ment world that money can command.
It is well to interject that park
amusement, bands ' and special acts
are secured under no small difficulties,
with any regularity, owing to the long
jumps on the Coast between points
where there are park resorts of suffi
cient caliber to stand for the great ex
pense of the really star features that
make tho circuits between the densely
populated centers of the East. There
are such difficulties as are not com
prehended, perhaps, by the average
patron who cheerfully contributes his
10 cents toward the support of this
big enterprise. No other park on the
Pacific Coast spends more money for
its music or other features than the
management of The Oaks. Practically
THE MORNING OREGONIAN. TUESDAY, JANUARY 1, 1907.
Kail way I
OFFICES: N. E. CORNER FIRST
Telephone Main 6688
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a week is consumed In traveling from
New Tork or Chicago to Portland.
There must be a good round guarantee
put up for the performers and their
salaries usually are required to be paid
for all their time going and coming
unless prolonged engagements can be
secured elsewhere on the Coast suffi
ciently to justify the dropping out of
the circuits eastward. But notwith
standing the handicap the company
goes to the limit of expense to keep
abreast of the times in this respect
and the management has the satisfac
tion of knowing that The Oaks is one
of the most up-to-date parks In the
country.
if a person is unexpectedly asked
what draws the people the answer
would probably, nine times out of ten,
be something like this: "Well, there
is the Chutes It's very funny to take
a dash down the Chutes; and the Aerial
Whirl makes you think you are in
T
e ?
one of Knabenshue's flying machines
that used to buzz around over the town
from the Exposition, and then there's
the skating rink; I like to fly around
that great, big floor to the muslo of
the big band; the swimming pool' is
the finest ever, and the Figure Eight,
say don't fail to ride the Figure
Eight." I
This enumeration might be extended
still more, according to the energy of
the person and his likes or dislikes
in making1 the rounds of the park.
Everybody else has set the precedent
of trying this and that and as every
body likes to go where the crowd goes,
4
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1LJUL
TANDARO TYPE MOTOR CAR AND TRAILER
where the lights are brightest and the
spielers make the fun fastest and most
furious, each place . always has Its
quota of fun-seekers who, unconscious
ly, are as much a part of the merri
ment as the attraction itself.
You are scarcely through the gates
at the main entrance before you are
greeted with the signal cry of friv
olity. Here, the center of the broad
esplanade. Is occupied by the Shoot-the-Chutes
pool. Down the 500-foot
run-way come a procession of boats
filled with the old, the young, the middle-aged,
the hysterical, the sedate and
all kinds of people giving absorbing
attention to this halr-tickllng dash
down upon the dancing waves in all
manner of characteristic humors. The
warning bell rings, there is a chorus
of shrieks and Comanche yells the
novice passenger on the Chutes has
time but for one yell and then he can't
get his breath to yell again because
-V
THE OAKS, FROM CHUTES TOWER. EN'TRANCH TO ATXNTJB
he has arrived about as quick ab lie
started and then crash! splash!
the boat Clackamas is bounding over
sea-like -billows. In Its tumultuous
voyage affording an adequate idea of
how the cataract comes down at Wil
lamette Falls, "Watch Kelly come
down the Chutes on his ear!" Joshes
the spieler Immediately the last vis
itors Just ushered through the turn
Stiles begin to rubber and from that
moment onward all thought of serious
ness is dispelled. "Don't forget to
shoot the Chutes," warns the spieler,
as boat after boat discharges scream
ing humanity on to the stormy pool;
V
AND ALDER STREETS
IX V9B.
O. W.
PASSENGER SERVICE TO
Golf Links Gladstone Gresham
Milwaukie Oregon City
Oak Grove Canemah Eagle Creek
Estacada and Cazadero
"it makes the old feel young." siys
he. "and the young younger coming
down the line 40 miles a minute." The
fever whetted by curiosity to know
how it feels to be half killed, or go
ing to be the next time, one thinks,
spreads to all comers and, therefore,
tho first investigation of the funny
city sets the circulation in the system
up by about 25 points and gives every
body an equal start by shaking off
their Individual mantles of dignity.
Ninety-nine people out of every 100
shoot the Chutes. This year In all
probability the Chutes capacity will be
enlarged and an incline elevator put
in to carry the people up to the top.
Flying Through the Air.
Next most prominent feature, one
which constitutes a striking picture, is
the Aerial Giant Whirl, located on the
river promenade. This gigantic ma
chine was Ingeniously devised to fur-
OX RIGHT, GIANT WH1KL AND BATHXKO
ther gratify In another way the speed
mania of the American amusement-
Iover. The nearest description of tha
sensation afforded by a ride upon It
is that you feel like you are in an
airship, although you are firmly teth
ered to the earth. Seated in a sheet
steel car, suspended by steel cables
from the top of Immense upright masts
that will permit the car to oscillate
in but one direction, outward, the ma
chine slowly commences to revolve. As
it revolves the momentum Increases
and almost imperceptibly the several
cars swing out to the limit of the cir
cle, which carries the passenger far
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irwu.
PASSENGER v
EQUIPMENT
357 CARS y
v PASSENGER
EQUIPMENT ,
(
P. Division
The Mecca ot Many Thousands From Near and Far in the Good Old
Summertime High-Class Music a Factor in Its Popularity Varied
Attractions Are Wholesome and Glean Park Will Be Creator Than
Ever in 1907.
out over the water until all sense of
terra-firma is lost, and all he Is con
scious of Is being hurled through the
air. While the device Is absolutely
safo and accidents are impossible, the
ride tests ones nerves and is wildly
exciting . at the finish. The Whirl Is
popular and has served as the wed
ding Journey for a newly-wedded pair.
Proceeding down the 1600 feet of amuse
ment avenue, where a convention of bark
ers makes life strenuous, there Is found
illusions, houses of mystery, games of
skill and chance, emporiums devoted to
the artistlo merchandising of peamits and
popcorn, candy and the other concomi
tants of the circus. There are reminders
of world's fairs in the shape of chewing
gun girls and Ice-cream cone vendors.
Mystic Subterranean Journey In Mill
The mystery that is formed by a com
bination of darkness, water and'llghto is
found to the acme of perfection in the
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FAVHJOX OJ WT6
Old Mill. The bahy-hoo Is a genuine re
production of a gigantic old-fashioned
mm wheel In action, driving a current of
water through a winding subterranean
channel 1400 feet in length. Where that
channel goes nobody knows, and the pro
prietor, Lynn Welcher, will not tell. The
ladles are afraid of the "dark places" In
this water trip. They are dreadfully
afraid the first time that something la
going to happen, but after they muster
up enough courage to risk it they hold
onto their escorts like the grim fear of
death possesses them, and after they
emerge from the channel again
they seem to be afraid that some
if "
3 u&
21
Hi
Boring
thing will not happen if they go
again. because they are anxious to
try It over. Shot from aayugnt
Into 100 feet of the Inkiest blackness with
almost alarming velocity, the boat fol
lows the headstrong current until it slows
in passing an entrancing pastoral scene
after a famous painting of Switzerland.
You look down Into the valley, across at
miniature mountains, and the chimes in
the ancient church in the village ring out
a pleasing welcome. The boat flies on
through scenes typical of other lands.
Here will be a bit of the North Pole
Just as good aa the real thing that Peary
didn't see. This year the Old Mill will
be changed and an Imitation cataract,
patterned after the Cascades, together
with an outdoor effect and real moun
tains. Uke they are made in the good
old Beaver State, will make the ride new
and more exciting.
Mile a Minute on Figure S.
After the laughing gallery, where is
scientifically applied the philosophy of
"See yourself as others may see you,"
and the Mystic Maze, where the children
play, is another development of the sen
sational speeding idea the dessert of the
feast of racy rides the Figure 8 roller
coaster. This is the property of the In
gersoll Construction Company, of Pitts
burg, Pa., specialists in amusement con
struction. The coaster track may look
dangerous to a man on the ground, and
there have been timid peopl9 who, after
they had started on the trip, wished
themselves there; but, once started up the
Incline to the summit, there Is no stop
ping or returning excepting via the ter
minal. Nearly 200,000 people traveled on
the Figure 8 last season, and it certainly
is one of the mwt alluring ride devices
ever patented. Both track and cars are
constructed twice as strongly as all
known' calculations in the safety devices,
and it Is obvious that, if assurances of
safety were not doubly sure, no such
proposition could be in business and make
a success. The first part of the Journey
Is up a steep incline, the motive power
being an electrlo motor. The car is
propelled by a heavy chain. Every few
Inches there are placed safety clutches
that lock behind the car as it passes, ef
fectually preventing a runaway back
wards or collisions In case anything
should 'happen to the cable chain. -This
Journey is completed at an elevation to
glvethe car a good start on the gentle
slope in the track that reaches the ter
minal at the entrance after describing .
the figure 8. The actual distance traveled
is about a third of a mile, and the finish
Is actually at the rate of a mile a min
ute. When you cannot Indulge the luxu
rious desire of coasting 50 miles an hour
In an automobile, take a ride on the rol
ler coaster It Is an excellent substitute
for thrills. The exhilarating motion sets
every one unconsciously to laughing or
shrieking with very excitement. A care
ful man at powerful levers on the last
stretch of the lightning-like course brings
the car gently and steadily to a walking
pace, and finally stops. -.
For the children the everlasting popu
lar Carousell, or merry-go-round, Is near.
Here the little ones delight to disport
themselves upon the back, of one of the
dragons, horses or . lions. The Carousell
Is one of the most gorgeously finished
and decorated structures of the kind ever
produced, and Is a never-failing source
of amusement for little ones and grown'
ups.
Traveling Pictures.
"Hale's Tour Cars," owned by Frits Jk
Co., occupy a prominent part of tho ave
nue. Two very handsomely finished Pull
man fronts abut on the avenue with a
depth of over 60 feet. There seems to be
no diminution in the popularity of the
picture toura. One of the features of ln
(Concluded on Pag 22.)