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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (July 29, 1911)
' ,,c rORTLAXD, OREGOy, SATURDAY, JULY 29, 1911. PRICE FIVE CENTS. VOL. LI U. u.oix. J BOOTH-KELLY MILL BURNS; LOSS HEAVY Springfield Fire EatsUp $250,000 Property. FOUR CITIES IN DARKNESS Shiftina of Wind Saves Town; Water Supply Gone. ENTIRE PLANT DESTROYED fir. Which Starts In Main Mill, Sweeps f"-xrr 20 Acre With Great Rapidity, Wiping Oat Fvrrj thing In lis Path. FPRIN'CFTET.n. fir. July IV (Spe cial I Fir, entailing a loa which will total mr than a quarter of a million doller. tonlcht destroyed the Booth Klly Company's sawmill, planing mill. Jrysr and C.OOA.Ooa feet of lumber. Only a sudden change of tha tilth wind, which shifted tha flamaa then rapidly sweeping toward tha city, pared fpringnld from what, for a time, looked Ilka total destructlon. Aa a result of the conflagration v Sprlnaflrld. Rugene. Halsey and Brownsville are without electrical power or light tonlcht and Fprlng B.ld la without any watar supply. That Fprlngflold bad a cloaa call to destruction la evidenced by tha fact that fust be for tha wind ahlfted tha flames had reached within I feet of a Koutharn racifle oil tank containing li ajaUona of oil. which waa within 150 feet of a largsr task containing I3.00 rmllana of OIL . Flavmea Heat Intense. Tha 8m waa within IS yarda of tha business auction of thla city, and se hot on Vain rtreet that It waa necea ary to ahlald tha faca hondreds of faat distant. Tha now 1119.004 Oree-on Power Coaa pany fl rep roof power plant stood In tact wltk tha flra within 10 feat on three stdaa and boat so Intaaaa that tha metal window frames wara redbot. In alda thla bulldmg pumps wara operated, throwing TOO gallons a mtnute on tha Bra to prevent Ita spread. Whan tha mill dam burn, tha aouroa of tha watar waa cat off and tha city waa entirely without flra protection. Aa a result of tha lira a pay roll of ItXeO a month stops. Tha men la tha power plant prored heroea with tha blistering beat on all (Idea. A- J. Valentine, engineer, atuck to hla engines throuirhout tha Bra. while Claade Washburn, a 10-year-old boy. tared In ona ptaca holding clotha about a leak la tha only plpa furnish ing water. Threa thousand corda of fuel for tha power plant were de stroyed. Wood will be shipped In tha morning from Weadllng, and power service will bo resumed. Insurance Not Heavy. The sawmill and planer were Insured tor lleJ.eoe. The S.ooo.00 feet of lum ber waa Insured at lie. 000. Tha Bra atarted from an overheated bearing; In tha nortr-ast part of tha main mill near tha engine-room. In less than 70 seconds tha whole mill waa In flames. So rapid was tha spread of tha flra that tha watchman had difficulty, In Disk in r bis way about tha main por tion of the structure before It waa en tirety a Are. Black smoke went up In huge blast as If by an explosion. With Ins 10 minutes tha entire plant waa burning, with tha Are covering over SO acres. Tha beat. was Intense. Light waa sufficient to read tlma on a watch In C'lgene threa and one-half miles distant. Tha Southern Pacific depot. 100 feet from the mill, waa covered with water and protected from destruc tion. A switch engine removed SO cars from tha railroad yarda without lose. A. C. Dixon, general manager of Booth. Kelly Company, arrived on tha aeena In an automobile from Eugene within 10 minutes and saved 10 horses la tha company's barn which was de stroyed but a few moments after tha animals were taken to a place of aafety. Pumps for the protection of tha mill were located In tha mill proper and of course were aoon out of commission. The Oregon Power Company bad Just Installed a new pump to supply tha city watar system, but as soon as the full pressure waa put on the ptmp broke and from that moment, barring a single smalt stream at tha power plant, there waa nothing ta do but to watch tha Tames sweep from one end to the other ef tha yards. Workmen hastened to connect up tha second pump, worklnc away with a veritable furnace Just the other side of tha wall, not 10 feet away. Through the wire glass windows, burning brands could be seen almost within reach, and then when the pump waa ready to start It was found that the suction plpa had not been placed. Tha Bra started at C 30 and at mid night was burning fiercely, although danger of spread bad passed. City's) Escape Miraculous. Tha eecapa of Springfield from de struction was miraculous. The wind, blowing directly toward tha city for a tlma. drove the flames through tha dry lumber with terrific heat The rail road oil tank was smoking with the Coscladed ea Fse A MINER'S GUN WINS LIFE AND FORTUNE i LAST SHOTS KILL. MOOSK AND RRIXG OTHERS TO SCENE. Starring Alaska Prospector Mark man tlsOO for HI Came, Which En da long fast. PEATTLE. Wash.. July H- (Spe cial.) How William R. Wills, a mer chant and miner of Juneau. Alaska, made a modest fortune out of two cart ridges that ha kept In his rifle for three dsys while ho wss starving la a story brought back by George L Berg. . jLuinr r tha Washing ton State Art Association, who has Just returned from a four monins iour Northland. Wills wss prospecting In the Mount McKlnley country. His supply of food had run out. For three days ha had nothing to eat but roota and a few berries. He had two loaded shells In his T ln rhester. and ho saw lota of birds and email game, but he was unwilling to waste the last bullets on anything that did not promise a good supply for a long time. Suddenly, he waa confronted by two enormous bull moose. He shot them both and Immediately beard a ahot In tha distance. There were two prospec tors' who had found gold within a mile of him. Ha struggled In the direction of tha sound. He was able to tell the miners about the two bull moose. They had been looking In vain for dars for game. So they gave Wllla $1800 In gold nug gets for the two carcasses lying where they were killed. Wllla rested In the camp until ha was able to -mush" Into Juneau. FISHER PROMISES VISIT riea Slade for Recognition of Ore gon In Reclamation Work. OREGOXTAN NEWS BCREAIT. Wash ington. July Is. Secretary Fisher's i , ...m.,..,., Inf.nllnn to ln- piKIUIHir 1 " . - U .... spect. If possible, tha Umatilla Irriga tion project on his way back from Alaska, received further confirmation today at a conference or secmwi Fisher, officials of the Reclamation Service -and Representatives) Hawley . -tt . ,, u'hlf. Mouse- The ana Oregon Representatlvea urged that greater eonsiaeraiion . a;i.w " - .w. p.innm nt of reclama tion funds. Oregon now contributes four tlmea aa much to that fund aa la exp-nd'd within Ita borders. Mr. rianer promise i mu n wwu.u ro to Oregon and make a personal In- ... iK- l-m.tllla undertaking. unless circumstances, now wholly un- . . n u.w.r will leave tomorrow as a member of the Commis sion to inspeci possioi. pui.i-w forest land under the Veeka bill. He . . i . h LVtMarrv Convention WIU 4 1 - i at Breton Woods. N. It. Wednesday, on tha objects of the Weeks Commission and tha progress made thus far. ELECTIONS COST $31,313 Initiative nnd Kcferendnm nd Cor- rapt Practice's Pamphlets Coatly. SALENf. Or July SS. (Special.) After harlnr ben oslayed fo' several months owing to the press of work, ct.t. Printine Exnert Harris finally computed for tha benefit of Secretary Olcott figures on the cost ot initiative .-a referendum and corrupt practlcea pamphlets both for tha primary and general electlona. The total cost of these Is shown to be 111.311.41. For argumenta. I3!t.3i waa i a mw.A roe nooat for candidates In the corrupt practlcea pamphlets. $llo waa paid for the primaries ana siivs for tha general election. This left a total cost to tha state of i:i.l.0, or a cost of 1-T cents per vgter. The cost was segregated as follower r-.e toEl : erlntlnc. tll.llf.tl: postage. tSS7.fl: binding. Jlt(S.(tren- velopes. 1S1-11; labor, iitiui; ruo ber stamps. IS; express. 111.75: tele grams. 11071. BANK CLEARINGS BIGGER Portland Only City la Xo-thwet to Show Bnlc Over laist Year. -Portland waa the only city In tha Pacific Northwest, according to Brad- street's report, whoee bank clearings for the last week showed an Increase over the corresponding week In 1110. With clearings aggregating .7H.00O. Portland s gain tor tha week was 14 1 per cent. Seattle waa credited with total clear. Inga of tH.407.00O but failed to equal Ita record ot 110 by 10.1 per cent Ta coroa and Spokane both showed a fall ing off la clearings, those of Tacoma being 17.1 below Ita record of a year ago, while Spokane showed a falling off of 4.0 per cent. The aama report showed an Increase of from t to 17 per cent In the clearings of San Francisco, Sacra mento and L-oa Angeles. LOAN CONCERNJN STRAITS Colorado Creditors Say Wife of ex Official Got SO 1040 Vndaly. DENVER. July T. Involuntary pre eeeilincs In bankruptcy have been begun In tle Federal Court here aralnst the Siar Loan Company, which operatae a string of offices In Colorado and the West. The petitioners are & J. Cox. of Cran ford. N. J-. and H. 8. Harron and Gil bert A Easterly, of Denver. They affirm that the company baa transferred eon tracts and negotiable papers from the Denver Vfflce to auxiliary offices, and that It paid to Minnie E. Stratton. wife of Charlee El Strati on. a former presi dent of the concern. JCT.Ooa aa a preferred creditor. : i FRANCE CALM, BUI ASSEMBLES ARMY Forts on Frontier Re ceive Supplies. CAVALRY BEING MADE READY German Foreign Secretary Modifies First Programme. CONGO PARTITION ASKED Condition Soon That France Will Find Acceptance Difficult, If Not Impossible Statesmen Are More Sanguine. PARIS. July IS. France, though outwardly more placid than yesterday Is omitting no precautions. Tha army Is being reorganised and assembled, while statesmen profess themselves as sanguine of a peaceful solution. War preparations today In cluded orders to the cavalry to be ready for tha field at the first signal, the heavy provisioning of the forts on the eastern frontier by special supply trains ran out of Paris at night, and tha mustering of all regiments to their full quota. Cabinet Announces Plan. 0 The Cabinet met at Ramboulllet to day and at the conclusion of Its meet Ins; announced the decision to reorgan ise the army, accompanying the an nouncement with the careful explana tion that thla action waa occasioned by the resignation of Oeneral V. Michel aa Commander-in-Chief because of dif ferences with his colleagues over the programme of National defenses. -The Superior Council of War, composed of Generals of the army, continues, but the Vice-Presidency, which waa held by Michel, will be abolished. A chlef ablp of the general staff, carrying practically tha supreme command In tlma of war, la creator' Instead, and Oeneral J. J. C Joffra will be appointed to the latter post. Tha Superior Council ot National De fense, which Is presided over by the Premier snd composed of most of tha Ministers, remains, with the addition of a permanent bureau of study, composed of threa offloera, one each from the de partments of war. marina and colonies. Instant Efficiency Is Aim. Many other changes have been deolded upon, all desclgned to make sura a sys tematic machine, capable of Instant and effective action In time of war. It Is understood Baron von Klderlln Waecbter. the German Foreign Secre tary, who Is conducting the negotiations with Jules Cambon, tha French Ambas sador at Berlin, baa modified hla origi nal programme and la now asking for a partition ot the whole coast of French Congo, but at the same time naming; other conditions which France would find difficult. If not Impossible, to ac cept. ' l BRIDE RESTORED TO HER L0CH1NVAR STERN FATHER UNLOCKS PA TERNAL PRISON. Indignant Man Invites Son-ln-Law to Dinner; Is Won Over and Conple Departs for Portland. SAN FRANCISCO. July 28. (Spe cial.) Kenneth MeAlplne, the San Francisco automobile man, who eloped with Miss Florence Alma Smith, daugh ter of James P. Smith, of Burllngame, several weeks ago, and whose connu bial bliss has been interrupted by a series of thrilling Incidents, the most serious of which was the Imprison ment of his bride in her father's home. has at last obtained the blessing of the father-in-law and with Mrs. Me Alplne is speeding to Portland to spend a belated honeymoon. MeAlplne Is now convinced that only arbitrary methods will prevail In deal ing: with a recalcitrant father-in-law, and Smith Is equally, as fixed In his Conviction that an Impetuous and Im portunate wooer of one's neighbor must always be dealt with summarily. At any rate, all are now happy, Including the young; bride, whose ten der years were the cause of a Lochin var fight, subsequent arrests, many unkind epithets, copious tears and finally capitulation on all around. The first compromise came when Smith, the ' Indignant, angry father, after having held his daughter In dur ance vile, defying MeAlplne and all his clan. Invited the cheated bridegroom to dinner. MeAlplne went, saw and conquered. He and Smith talked It over and at length reached an agreement by which the couple were to be united, go to Portland cn their honeymoon and re turn later to reside In San Francisco. $10,000,000 ISSUE SECURED Trust Deed Filed on Coos Bay and - Orejron Central Road. MARSHFIELD. Or, July 28.-(SpeclaI.) In the office of the County Clerk there has been filed a trust deed securing a tl 0.000 000 bond Issue on the Coos Bay snd Oregon Central Railroad. This is tha road formerly known as the Coos Bsy Boise, and which was promoted by Frsncls H. Clarke. There Is nothing in the document to Indicate who Is back of the road. The trust deed Is signed by Clarke as president, and William . A. Bants, of Portland, as secretary. The trust deed Is a mortgage on all properties now owned by the company or which may be acquired by It later. Tha only property named In the trust deed Is survey rights-of-way and maps. The trustee named In the trust deed Is the Commonwealth Title Insurance & Trust Company, of Pennsylvania. COAL FAMINE IS ACUTE Canadian Railway Officials Urge Suspension of Tariff. WINNIPEG. Man.. July 28. Coal famine continues all over Saskatche wan and Alberta. Even were tne minea where strikes are on opened tomorrow the famine could not be dispelled by Winter. Railway officials agree that relief must come from across the line, and this Is only possible through suspen sion of the tariff. THAT TOUGH MARS BOY FOOLING 'ROUND WILDE TRADED FOR 15 FAIR, HE SAYS Banker Holds Himself as Sacrifice. RESTARTS FOR OREGON TODAY San Diego Employes Show Confidence in ex-Chief. THEY MAKE HIM PRESENT Man. Wanted on Embezzlement Charge Mentions Prominent Citi zens to Prop Statement He Saved Depositors Their Coin. SAN DIEGO, CaL. July 28. (Special.) "I have been traded for the San Francisco Exposition," said Louis J. Wilde. "There are on file in the office of Governor Johnson more than 1000 letters and telegrams from Oregon people threatening to boycott the San Francisco Exposition In 1.915 unless I was extradited." Wilde repeated that he would prove that he, and no one else, was responsi ble for the success of the depositors In the Oregon Trust & Savings Bank In getting their money. References Are Given. He mentioned the following- names as those to whom he would refer to sub stantiate his statement: A. E. Reames, of Medford; State Senator Haines, Jef ferson Myers, Jay Bowerman, Warren E. Thomas, C. E. S. Wood, T. C. Devlin, J. G. Mack. W. J. Clemens, Mr. Hume and many other prominent Portland people, who are familiar with the facts In the case. - Employes of -the American National Bank of San Diego, the presidency of which Wilde resigned yesterday, today presented him with an ebony-mounted traveling- set, accompanied by a letter Of confidence which reads: "Dear Mr. WUde We learn with much regret you find it necessary to go to Portland, 'Or., to clear yourself of the unjust and malicious charges brought against you. Friendship Is Shown. "Each and every one of us believe you innocent of any wrongdoing what ever and that the charges are a result of a blackmailing conspiracy. We hope and believe that you will meet with lit tle delay In getting justice, which will be not alone the wiping out ot the charges against you, but bringing the offenders to count. "We have not forgotten your many acts of kindness to each and very one of us and are looking forward to the pleasure of having you with us again very soon. The letter Is signed by Cashier Wil liams and It other employes of the bank. Wilde, who was extradited to Oregon (Concluded on Pass 3.) AGAIN. STATEMENT NO. 1 CRAZES RICH MAN POLITICAL FIGHT WRECKS HEXRT J. MILLER'S MIND. One of Willamette Valley's Wealth is t Hopmen Placed in Asylum. Patient Puzzfes Alienists. SALEM. , Or., July 28. (Special.) Statement No. 1 dementia proved to be the undoing- of Henry J. Miller, of Au rora, one of the wealthiest hopmen of the Willamette Valley, who was com mitted to the state asylum for tire in sane today. This is the first instance that this species of insanity has developed, but, according to his friends who have known him for years, alienists should brand his Insanity with no other name During- the first campaig-n, when Statement No. 1 was originally heard of, Miller was a candidate for a seat in the House of Representatives in the Legislature. His whole activities were in the Statement No. 1 direction, and he waged one of the most active and vitri olic campaigns ever witnessed here for a voice in the Legislature. Regardless of this, he failed to be elected. Since that time his mentality has been falling- visibly. To many of his friends his position on the question of State ment No. 1 has been apparent as the reason for his mental failing. He has accumulated over $100,000 dealing- In hops, and has displayed pe cullar aptitude In that direction. He is also decidedly popular throughout the' county, regardless of the fact that his mental affliction has been develop ing steadily during the past few years, ORIENT LINER TOTAL LOSS Empress of Chin Was to Have Been Superseded, Officials Say. TOKIO, July 28. It is believed there is no hope ot saving- the Canadian Pa cific Railway Company's steamship Empress of China, which struck on a submerged rock off Awa jfeninsuia while trying to make the port of Yoko hama yesterday. SEATTLE. July 28. At the Canadian Pacific offices today It was said that the Empress of China and the Empress of Japan were to have been superseded by two steamships of 18,000 tons and faster than the present boats. The steamships are now being constructed In England and will be completed in year. Another steamship will be on the run at once to replace the lost Empress. The Empress of China was built at Barrow-in-Furness. England. was 455 feet long- and had a gross ton nage of 6000 tons. ' RARE TIMBER FORMS TIES Panama Rail-way to Lay Rails on Valuable Cabinet Woods. WASHINGTON, July 28. The Pana ma Railway will lay its tracks over the rarest and most valuable cabinet woods. The road Is now being re located Incidental to the construction of the canal over part of the old line and it has become necessary to replace the old soft wood. Eight thousand hardwood ties have just been received at Colon from Columbia. Most of these ties are hewn from guayacum, or lignum vltae, but there are also many of Dolvllio, corteza and baisamo. These hardwoods should last Indefi nitely, even in the tropical climate of the isthmus, but they can be laid ana railed only by the use of special ma chinery, which bores holes for the screw bolts and chisels out faces to form the rail seats. SASKATCHEWAN NEEDS MEN Grain Crop Of 200,000,000 Bushels - Awaits Help In Harvesting:. MINNEAPOLIS. July 28. Canada wants 20,000 men from the United States to help harvest the crops of Saskatchewan. F. Hendley Aula, spe cial labor commissioner of the prov ince of Saskatchewan, appointed to se cure the men, has arrived In Minne apolis. "Saskatchewan will harvest 200,000, 000 bushels ot small grains this Fall and Summer and we have not the men to help In the work," said Mr. Auld. "We want men from the United States and special Inducements have been made by the railroad companies and immigration authorities to allow them to go to Canada. We can assure them 10 weeks' work, starting about August 10. Wages are from $2.60 a day up." 15 KILLED IN COLLISION Many Injured and More Believed to Be Beneath Wreckage. BANGOR, Me., July 28. Fifteen per sons were reported killed In a head on collision late tonight between a crowded excursion train on the Bangor & Arrostook Railroad and the mid night train from "Van Buren to Bangor. Thirty or 40 persons' are known to have been injured and It is thought several others are beneath the wreckage. It is reported here that the two trains met head on as a result of con fusion of orders and that the excur sion train was running on the time of tha regular passenger train. The smoking car of the excursion train next to the engine was telescoped by the tender. Glacial Streams Again Hit Valdez. VALDEZ. Alaska, July 28. Renewal of the hot weather has caused a re sumption of the disintegration of the glaciers and the glacial streams that flow through Valdes are again doing damage. However, the torrent has due a deep channel and less water Is overflowing into the town than during the previous hot spell ana nooa. sev eral small houses have been swept away, and others rendered unsafe. A e-ans- of men is at work diverting the water to a new outlet. OF SEEN Lack of Sincerity De feats Purpose. DEMOCRATS MAKING CAPITAL Twenty -Three Investigations Are Now in Progress. REAL REFORM NOT SOUGHT Few Members of Prominence Are on Committees, and These Are Overshadowed by Men of . Lesser Consequence, f. BY HARRY J. BROWN. OREGONIAN NEWS BUREAU. Wash ington, July 28. The so-called "Inves tigations" being made by special com mittees of the House of Representatives are for the most part fakest conducted solely for the manufacture of cam paign material, and not with any view to correcting: alleged abuses in the Federal service. These investigations are not thorough, and were not intend ed to be; they are not fair, they are not consistent, and some of them are decidedly vicious in their manner of conduct. In this one particular the House of Representatives appears to have roada a decided political blunder. Aside from this, the Democrats have made the most of their opportunity. But their investigations, unless they be Im proved upon, will prove a boomerang, and come back to smite the party in vestigating them. Mark Is Overshot, Assuming that the Democratic House authorized its numerous committees to conduct a series of Investigations for the purpose of making political capital1 and putting the Republican Adminis tration "in bad," poor Judgment waa shown by the leaders when they per mitted 23 separate Investigations to go on at one time. Tet that la the present programme. Such a vast amount of evidence is being gathered that little of it reaches the public, and with 23 investigations running simultaneously, the public will confuse much that .Is shown, and the desired result will not be attained. Various committees of the House of Representatives are now investigating the Steel Trust, Sugar Trust, Controller Bay land affair, Indian land scandals, "trust-busting" expenditures, effort to remove Dr. Wiley, threatened extinc tion of the Pribilof seal herd, govern-i ment of the District of Columbia, 'ir- regularities at the Washington Navy- yard, general extravagance, alleged, persecution of the Lewis publications of St, Louis, railway mall service, charges against Major Ray, of the United States Army, Army extrava gance, Alaskan charges involving Attorney-General Wickersham, parcels poet and other postal service matters, fire protection in Government build- ings, violation of civil service regula-i tlons, creosote undervaluations. Gov ernment rental of Union building in Washington, recovery on sugar frauds, irregularities in the customs service, and, laBtly, the Weather Bureau. Investigators Merely Fishing. Charges have been made against the Republican Administration in each ona of these cases. In many instances tha allegations are based merely upon wild' rumor. In other Instances the charges are made by irresponsible persons. Tha Controller Bay case is built upon pura perjury, and the Weather Bureau ini vestlgation grows out of accusations filed by a man with a grouch. In soma caees there is probably abundant evi-i tfence Justifying investigations, as, for Instance, the investigation ot the Steel Trust and the Sugar Trust, but mora than half the Investigations ara with out ample Justification, and are being pushed "in the hope of stumbling onto something crooked." A second blunder of the Democratlo House in the investigations was mada when the unimportant committees on expenditures in the various depart ments were plaoed in charge. Thesa expenditures committees are mada up of seven members each, four Demo crats and three Republicans. The Democrats, being in the majority, can control each committee and frame any sort of report that seems best to servo their political purpose. But it Is to be noted that on the ten expenditures committees not a single Democrat ot prominence has been placed, and but for the notoriety some of them hava attained in the investigations now under way, none of the chairmen would be known outside their own districts" or states, if their names were pub; lished. Monentitles, Mostly, Chosen. ' ' And, for that matter, few Republic cans of prominence are members of these committees, for up to the pres ent time the expenditures committee have been of no consequence; hav seldom held meetings, and have trans acted no business. Active member have avoided being assigned to thesa committees, and the consequence has been that these committees have been- (Concluded on Fag 3.) PARTISAN fli INQUIRIES