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About The Sunday Oregonian. (Portland, Ore.) 1881-current | View Entire Issue (June 30, 1907)
THE SUNDAY OREGOXIAX, PORTLAXD, JTTXE 30, 1907. 11 SPLEND D GROWTH FOR SIX MOUTHS Portland Makes Marvelous Showing During First Half of 1907. SETS PACE FOR THE NATION All Records for Increased Prosperity Broken Competitors Left Far Behind Every Index Indi- -cates Continued Progress. The half of the calendar year 190T that ended yesterday, for Portland was a six months not only of continued prosperity, but of rapid strides for ward, even In alvance of the marvelous showing: that was made last year. Ac cording: to every criterion by which the progrosa of a city may be judged. Portland during the first six months of 1907 has set a new standard In com mercial and industrial life, and it is already certain that statistical figures for the entire year will break all records. The present era of development real ly commenced with the Lewis and Clark Exposition year. With 1905 came a new spirit ana greater progress In Portland. Whoa the fair closed the more pessimistic expected to see a retrograde movement, but the result was far different. Instead of going backward, the city advanced along all lines with a rush that surprised her own citizens and soon attracted atten . tloa from all parts of the country. When the year closed records had been made which tiie most confident had not expected to reach and the city's posi tion as a place of metropolitan Impor tance was firmly established. That the years-1906 and 1906 were (Imply stepping stones to a far larger development is evidenced by the condi tions wheh prevail now when half of 1907 has gone by. Wherever one may turn In Portland he beholds substan tial evidence of this greater progress nd evidence no less convincing Is to be found in the official records of the municipality. Building permits and real estate transfers have advanced by leaps and bounds. Stamp sales of the local postofflce have greatly exceeded the busness done during any equal time In the past. Bank clearings add to the evidence of progress, for In its gains in this particular Portland has led the entire country. The wholesale and re tail business, the shipping of the port and a dozen other factors make up a total which for substantial and rapid progress probably has few equals in the history of the country. Cease to Cause Remark. Although figures may be dry they convey a world ok eloquent truth to Portlanders Just now. So accustomed have cltlsens become to seeing this city at the head of the procession that new records and figures surpassing those of other oltles have come to be accepted as a matter of course. But they snow that Portland Is forging ahead faster than any other city In the United States, and the attention of the East towards this city Is more general than ever before. Probably no single Item that can be cited shows better the progress of Port land than the expenditures for the build ing of homes and business blocks. Month by month and year by year the value of new improvements has been going higher and higher. With the large amount that has been paid out In this way many have feared that the city would overbuild, but the population and business of the Rose City has Increased even faster than the Improvements and the building move ment has by no means run its course, but Is constantly growing. In 1900 building permits Issued In Port land amounted to less than $1,000,000. In 19(6 they were a little more than $4,000,000. Iist year there were 2.207 permits issued, with an aggregate valuation of J6.927.971. But this showing Is to be completely eclipsed during the present year. Al ready the permits have reached a total of K.SoS.OIl, or an average of almost il.ooo.ooo a month. The building activity Is changing the entire appearance of Portland. Where there were mere shacks a few years ago there are now standing modern steel busi ness blocks and tha few remaining land marks of the early days are fast vanish ing from the business district. The build ing progress by months for the first half of 1907 as compared with the first half of Inst year is shown in the following table: Progress in Butldlug. Month. 1P06 miT. January I 3'.'tiS7 t 614. SS February SOR.3S8 886.539 . 4i!3.41i (W0.71M Arr'l ..... MO. 802 1 4.",.4.v !y l.7,7i"e l.lKMHT una . ss,isr 874, mn T'l W.160.S07 6. 855,011 In the real estate world the progress has been Just as rapid. Deals Involv ing 1100,000 eaoh are more plentful than those of 110.300 were a few years ago, and transactions of a half-million , or more are of comparatively frequent ocourrence. Of course the total volume of salos is not shown in the official records by any means, for many of the large tranaactlnns are entered at nominal considerations, but averages go about the same from year to year and these records are therefore a re liable basis of business. From sales amounting to 13,500,000 in 1900 and 17.000.000 in 1902, business last year Jumped to an aggregate of more than 124,000.000. But this show ing will be surpassed by . probably 17.000.000 or J. 000,000 during 1907. The first half of the year has already reached nearly the (18.000,000 mark. Is shown by the following table: Month IPOS. 100T January f 1.4:4.8O0 1 2.341.8S0 February ,3:4.e:S 2.S.V1.804 March 2.4'.3.rS0 t.ToS.lM April 2.171. 2.771. 15 Mrjf l.il.O.titU 2.334.SS7 June l.D'.i;..'.ni7 1.411.804 Total 111,830.344 llo.U01.763 Gains in Bank Clearings. In batik clearings the six months just passed have shown an average gain of 49.9 per cent over the clearings of last year. Such a record for so long a time Is one of which the city may well be proud. This figure was not reached for the same tlmeby any-other city In the country and for weeks nt a time Port land stood at the head of the list with out even a close rival. The total bank clearings. Inr the past six months amount to $1 81.87ii.379. For the corresponding period last year they were 8121,485.184. This great gain re sulted without any padding of figures or stooping to any of the fictitious methods employed lu some cities. It is simply a clear gain brought about by the greatly augmented commerce of Portland. The Portland postofflce has sold more stamps each month for two years past than it did the corresponding month of the year before, with only two excep tions. These exceptions were July and August of last year, which correspond with months during the Exposition, when practically all of the people re mained in the city. For the month Just ended the business of the postofflce has shown a gain of about 11 per cent, al though the exact figures are not yet available. And so It goes in any line that may be taken up." The Jobbing trade of Portland for. the last six months has been making great gains and the city is more firmly established than ever as the wholesale center of the Paolflo Northwest. The shipping, too, is well In advance of the port's business in the past. In every particular 1907 will be the banner year for Portland until 1908 for the Jlose City is not enjoying a boom, but a substantial growth', whose future holds even more of en couragement and promise than the past. GOOD PROSPECT OF PEACE Small Confident of Settling Operat ors' Strike Within Week. SAN FRANCISCO, June 29. Presi dent Small, of the Commercial Tel egraphers' Union, sVd tonight: "The prospects are bright for an ad justment of the trouble between the Western Union and Postal Telegraph Companies and their telegraphers. I am firm in the opinion that the whole OFFICERS OF THE WILLAMETTE BAPTIST ASSOCIATION t 1 r p X 1 Mev, John Bentslen, Moderator. At tho meeting of the Willamette Baptist Association the past week -in Calvary Baptist Church. East Side, Rev. John Bentzien was elected moderator, and Rev. George A. Learn clerk for the ensuing year. Rev. Bentzien is city missionary, which position he has held for the past two years with much success, a number of new Baptist churches . having been organized through his efforts. Rev. Mr. Learn Is pastor of the Sellwood Baptist Church. Many Important matters will come up the coming year, which will be under their management, including the raising of $2000 for missionary purposes ana the campaign for aiding the $100,000 endowment for McMlnnville College, to which Portland is expected to contribute largely. affair will be adjusted before another week rolls around." Tieill Confers With Operators. NEW YORK. June 29. Labor Com missioner Keill came to New York from . Washington this morning, and this afternoon held a two-hours' - con ference with members of the executive committee of the Telegraphers' Union. After the conference Deputy President Konenkamp stated that both the Na tional and local situation were dis cussed, but refused to say to what ength the matter had been gone into. This evening the headquarters of the union were deserted. - OFFICIALS ALL WORN OUT Operators Say Conditions Bad With Companies at San Francisco. "The eighth day of the telegraphers' strike at San Franoisco is still -perfectly satisfactory to us," said one of the officials of the local union today. "Last night I was informed on good au thority that the conditions at San Fran cisco with the two telegraph com panies are worse Instead of better, and that the two otficials of the Postal Company who went South, Manager Dunne, from Seattle, and Chief Operat or Durkee, from Portland, are com pletely worn out and discouraged. We know It to be an absolute fact that business is being received at San Fran cisco as much as three days' old. In fact some messages are being received in Portland from one to two days old. "We are told that the Western Union office at West Oakland has more Plnk erton detectives In it than operators. Why the public will stand for detec tives scrutinizing their business. In fact why the public does not, under present conditions, use the mails and save money and get Just as good re sults. Is more than we can understand. "The report from Chicago that one of the oldest men in the office had been discharged on a trHvlal pretext is true, and we fear may possibly lead to serious results in Chicago. We are In hopes, however, that this matter will be adjusted without a strike, as we believe President Small Is causing the telegraph companies enough grief at San Francisco, and that they will be compelled to yield before long. "The Commercial Telegraphers' Union of America is solidly organized, has plenty of money to handle the situation and has sufficient reasons for carrying on a war against both telegraph com panies. And it Is going to be a fight to the finish. With us it is a ease of now or never." DECIDE ALL CASES FRIDAY Argument on San Francisco Graft Indictments Is Finished. SAN FRANCISCO. June . Argu ments on motions to set aside indict ments were concluded late this after noon in behalf of President Calhoun, General Manager Mallally, Chief Coun sel Ford and Assistant Counsel Ab bot, of the United Railroads, accused by the grand jury of bribing members of the Board of Supervisors. The motions in these and the cases against Louis Glass, Eugene Desabla, John Martin. Frank Drum, Mayor Schmttz and Ruef now stand submitted and a blanket decision as to the set ting aside of the indictments may be expected next Friday. Louis M. Buford, Mining Engineer. NEW HA VAN, Conn.. June 29. Louts M. Buford. a mining engineer of Mexico, and father of Charles Buford, a director of the Mexican Central Railroad, died In a parlor car of the Bay State Limited Express tor Boston today. Mr. Buford landed In New York from the steamer Galveston last night, accompanied by his sister. Airs, moeon, FiREBQAT in Blf LANDL Engineer Brazee Charges That No Discipline Is Maintained on the Fire-Fighter. HE RESIGNS HIS POSITION Says Men Supposed to Be in. Anthor ity Have No Real Control. Feared (or License if Not .for His Life. A. L. Brasee, chief engineer of the fire boat George H. Williams, tendered his resignation to Fire Chief Campbell yes terday, declaring that the state of dis cipline or lack of discipline aboard the boat has become such that It Is no longer safe to remain there. According to Brazee, incompetency of the rankest Rev. Georra A. Lcara, Cleric order prevails In the management and handling of the boat and for- this reason he Is unable to remain longer, attrac tive as the place might be, under, other conditions. - 1 "I fef that my license, if not my life, was In danger, "said Engineer Brazee, following his resignation. ''Incompetency of the rankest kind is -shown in the handling of the boat and that there have not been serious mishaps before now Is a matter of good luck and nothing more. I thought the people at large ought to known where their money has gone and wnat the taxpayers are getting out of their fireboat. 'I wish to say that there is a total lack of discipline. The boat Is in charge oi a 101 or landlubbers. Captain Whit comb is supposed to be In charge, hut he In fact has little to say. Everyone with the least authority takes a hand in issuing orders. ' It is necessary to take oraers rignt and left. There are so many orders and rules that they offset one another and serve as no rules at all. Gives Startling Example. "For example I had five men undr me in the englneroom. I was supposed -to he In charge there. But if I told a stoker to bank a fire or perform some other duty he would say he didn't have to do what I said as he took orders from some one else. And though I had no authority In my englneroom yet J was responsible for everything that hap pened, ji a boiler had been burst through failure of some one to carry out In structions, I would have had to pay me consequences and possibly have lost my license. Land lubber firemen run the whole thing and I intend to let engineers know of this condition, so that they will realize the risk they are taking In going into the boiler rooms of the fire- boat. "The way they have of dodging blame when things go wrong should be men tioned. One man will pacs the blame to another and so on until a Joke is made of attempting to effect discipline. Many times when one of the crew is given orders by a superior some other superior will say, 'Don't pay any atton tlon to him. He don't count here. Take your oraers from me. Poor Showing Explained. "What can you expect with discipline of this kind? It la little wonder the fireboat has made a poor showing of late at waterfront fires. It will con tinue to be of no account unless present conditions are remedied. "Knowing these conditions. I have ocen intending to resign for some time. The opportunity to get another posi tion coming yesterday. I notified Chief Campbell, who said that unless I gave five days' notice, my pay for five days back would be withheld, under a pro vision of the city charter. As I was not willing to stay, he kept $20.85 out of my pay check. As there is another en gineer to take my place, I hardly think this was fair. However, this is the smallest part of my grievances. It la the lack of discipline I object to and if that is the result of civil service rules, then the rules . must be wrong, at least In the way they are carried out." Brasee leaves today for Lewiston, where, he will take a Job as engineer of the Government's snagboat. SEEK TO CORRECT ABUSES Wine-Fraud Bill Passed by Senate Promulgated. PARIS, June 29 The government today promulgated the wine - fraud bill, which was passed by the Senate last evening, and is designed to cor rect a number of things complained of by the discontented winegrowers of the South of France. The bill. It is hoped, will go a long way toward re moving the feeling of discontent In the recently disturbed district. The new - measure requires, among other things, that all winegrowers make an annual declaration at the Ala oral ty of their commune of the UBBERS acreage cultivated and total quantity of wine produced and in stock, and whether it is intended for sale or otherwise, the government being of the opinion that when in possession or this information it will be in a position to keep track of the wine from the growers to the dealers, thus prevent ing watering or sugaring. The measure restricts the market for alcohol produced from grapes and beets, which resulted In the introduc tion of a bill providing for an increase in tha duties on petroleum with tha object of stimulating the use of alco hol for illuminating purposes. The Finance Minister Is also pre pared, as an Inducement for the wine growers to abandon grape-growing in favor of other crops, to remit the land taxes in such cases for five years. The government advises the organization of winegrowers to regulate the output and discontinue the manufacture of poor wine and urges the growers to assist the government to suppress out side frauds by themselves exposing wholesale buyers who refuse to pur chase -products unless adulterated to suit tho market SHELVES MANY BIG MEASURES Clemenceau Will Adjourn Parlia ment Before It Deposes Him. PARIS, June 29. After the prestige of last night's victory in the Cham ber of Deputies, Premier Clemenceau is preparing to hasten the adjourn ment of Parliament, which Is now placed for July 7. This means shelv ing till next session the Income tax bill, the vote on which opens Monday, and other measures like the work men's pension bill and the purchase of the Western Railroad, inscribed on the Cabinet's programme when it assumed power. Agitate for General Strike. . PARIS. June 29. The general com mittee of the General Federation of Labor. In retaliation for the govern ment's decision to prosecute members of the Federation who signed the mani festo felicitating the Seventeenth Regi roent on the mutiny, has begun to agl tate for a general strike through out France- as a protest against .the "arbitrariness of the government of assassins." WAR ON NEW YORK FILTH Health Department. Attacks Work Left by Garbage Strikers. NEW YORK, June 29. An attempt to settle the strike of garbage collectors by arbitration failed tonight. By action of the civil service law the men who have failed to report for five days are no longer in the employ of the city. The Health Department took heroic measures today to clean the strets of the oiles of filth and garbage which have accumulated. There were a number of clashes between the strikers and strike breakers during the day, none of which, however, assumed serious proportions. Conditions In some parts of the con gested district may be Imagined when the piles make the streets Impassable. Sev eral doctors, who have visited the dis tricts where conditions . are worst, say that a great deal of sickness and many deaths must necessarily follow aa.a con sequence of this disastrous strike. It 1b a curious fact that the people whose health and very lives are men aaed by the prevailing conditions, yester day aided the strikers in an attempt to drive away workmen who had been sent t remove the garbage. Dr. Bensel called for and is receiving ample police protec tion.. OPPOSE SECRET MEETING. Miners Say No Use, as PlfLkertons Attend Anyway. DENVER, June 29. The list of acting President C. E. Mahoney's reports, which Includes the matter of whether or not the Western Federation of Miners shall continue to affiliate with the Industrial Workers of the World, was temporarily sidetracked In the Federation convention today, and all pending motions in regard to it were referred to a special commit tee. After an hour's discussion it i decided to hold a session of the conven tion tomorrow. The new ritual was then taken up, the proposition for the unions to hold open meetings being the principal topic of dis cussion. Joseph Cannon, of Bisbee. Aria., claimed that If the unions and the Fed eration had always held open meetings. "there would now be no trial going on at Boise, Idaho." He said that PInkerton detectives at tended all the meetings, and in order to hold their Jobs, they made false reports, The entire afternoon session of the con vention was consumed in-considering that part of the acting presidents report. which refers to an attack made on the Miners' Magazine and Its editor, John M. O'Neill. During the discussion some of the members took occasion to condemn the executive board of the Federation for supporting the course of the magazine and its promulgation of Socialism. STREETCAR RIOTERS IN COURT Nine Men Indicted for Throwing Bricks at Cars. SAN FRANCISCO, June 29.-The nine men indicted by the grand Jury for throwing bncks at streetcars and for at tacking a car near the Chutes recently. were brought into court today. In the absence of Judge Cook, who Is out of the city. Judge Gaddls, of Yolo County, postponed the cases until July S, when the men will be arraigned. One of the prisoners wept bitterly during the brief proceedings In court. The men were brought in handcuffed, The Carmen's Union and tho Union De fense League will contribute funds for the1 defense. Patrick Calhoun, of the United Rail roads, today issued a statement to set at rest a rumor that a settlement of the streetcar strike is near. He said the po sition of the company had not changed and that the only carmen recognized in San Francisco by the company were the men. numbering about 1000 conductors and motdrmen, now operating the cars of the company. Mr. Calhoun said that in a few days the places of nearly all of the strikers will nave been filled. Carpenters Strike for Advance, NEW YORK, June 29. Ten thousand carpenters have made a demand for an Increase in wages to go into effect today. The carpenters in the employ of the Western Carpenters' Association, about 6000 in number, will have their request granted. On January 1 their pay was in creased from $4.S0 to $4.80 a day with a promise of $5 a day July L The employers will keep faith with them. On the other hand, the 4000 carpenters in the employ of Independent firms have been refused the increase and they will go on strike at noon today. Talk Meter for Telephones. (Cleveland Plain Dealer.) . The Idea of the local telephone com panies to Install meters, and charge for service by the actual time the phones have been In use, is a good one. The meter system has been found to work admirably In gas, electric and water service. The chief difficulty in the way of applying It 4a the telephone a. . ' Day Another shipment of those renew our special offer of a $7.50 values; you'll only need to see them to realize that. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday they will be placed on special sale at only Golden Oak Rockers Continuing our Three-Day Special Sales and the lib eral policy of according to our customers the benefits of special bargain lots picked up at different tunes by our Eastern buyer, we place on sale for three days this week a new ship ment of these beautiful Golden Oak and Mahogany Rockers at .Nearly Half Price. SEVEN STYLES to CHOOSE FROM These Rockers have quarter-sawed golden oak backs and seats, and they are all hand somer than the cut shows them to be. See our window display. Examine these Rock ers and you'll acknowledge that here is "an other Gevurtz Bargain." Sold on easy terms, too. ' $1.00 DOWN, 50c A WEEK - . $9.00 BEAUTIFUL OAK TABLES Like the cuts; size 18x36 inches; handsomely finished weathered oak. On sale Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. $9.00 for $4.50 These handsome parlor clocks cut to nearly OKE HALF during this sale for Monday and Tuesday. They are very ornamental and at the same time standard time-keepers. There are several styles to choose from; all are richly ornamented with gilt rococo sash, and imitation onyx columns, gilt capitals, embossed swing side . ornaments, etc. Regular $10 and $12 values ; special ........ $1.00 DOWN, 50tf WRITE FOR FREE ILLUSTRATED CATALOGUE FOR OUT-OF TOWN CUSTOMERS COR. FIRST AND YAMHILL consists in perfecting- a satisfactory meter. The devices now under consid eration are unsatisfactory, but their defects will probably soon be remedied. A telephone meter would serve to regulate telephone bills more justly, and do away with some of the worst evils that at present hinder efficient service. If a young man were paying by the minute, as in long-distance serv ice, bo would not spend hours "chin ning" with his girl friends, while peo ple with something to say clamored vainly for the wire. The talkative young woman would spend less time gossiping with her friends, while the exchange operator grew red in the face from yelling "Line's busy!" and the city's business waited. Ontario Wants New Lund District. ONTARIO, Or., June 19. A petition Is being circulated in Ontario and numer ously signed asking the Government to create a new land district for this sec tion and the appointment of a register and receives, the office to be located at Ontario or Vale. At present parties hav ing land office business to transact have to go to Burns, a distance of 150 miles. Pianos Sent on Approval ocker splendid Rockers, received month ago. They are regular $9.00 for $4.50 Do you know the value of these little tables t If you, do, you '11 not be long in ordering: one if you have use for it. They are pood values at $9.00 each, but the prie is reduced to 4.50 for these three days' selling. Many are covered witn imitation leather, as snown in cut. They are well worth $9.00, but will be sold special three days this week for only Reliable Alaska Refrigerator $12 Ebony Mantel Clocks - $6.90 THE ALASKA- where as one of el ii a mua l ntiiiiiai y i en ictAiuti mads, is aold in Portland Exclusively by Gevurtz & Sons The qualities (ought for la a refrigerator are preservation of perishable food and an econom ical use of Ice. The principal causes of decay in meats and fruits are dampness and vary ing temperature, causing the ex- fanslon and contraction of issues. Thus a DRY ATMOS PHERE and UNIFORM TEM PERATURE are conducive to preservation. These results can only be obtained by a perfect circulation of air in a refrigera tor, and condensation In ice chamber.- Low temperature and dryneas of air are naturally and Inevitably obtained In the ALASKA. Its provision chamber is free from odor. It is FILLED with CHARCOAL, th ONLY SANITARY FILLING. . VUlUUlUDj Ilk $6.90 A WEEK Sl.OO TELEGRAPHERS' NERVES Improvement in Morse Key Working Began Two Years Ago. Technical "World. Although thousands of telegraph oper ators have been forced out of the profes sion through paralysis of their hands and fingers In the manipulation of the Morse key, it is only within the past two years that improvements in this crude Instru ment have begun to be made. Dynamos hav been substituted in place of the old chemical batteries in the making of the telegraphic currents, and with the coming of dynamos a greater study of mechanics on the part of telegraphers who were ambitious to become chiefs of staff. Withsthl study of mechanic came a realization of the waste of energy m the manipulation of the old-fashioned Morse lever key. It was found that two motions of the hand were required to make ,the single dot or the single dash and that the Morse letters, having an average of four dot and dash characters, required an average of eight movements "From Maker to Player" ecia. last week, enables us to $6.50 and $3.85 - FOR ONLY $4.50 $4.50 known every- the very Desff; DOWN, $1.00 A WEEK. 8 Wm ' if i- - - - - b;?' It SONS COR. SECOND AND YAMHILL of the band and arm In their forma tion. A rapid sender a sender who could av erage as good as thirty words per minute It was found, was, required to move his arm up and down at the rate of 1200 to 1500 times per minute. Many men were compelled to continue this rapid spring like movement for many hours at a stretch and when the figures were con sidered, electricians marvelled that the arms of fine operators held out as long as they did. Many of the first-class men have been known to maintain a speed of fifty words a minute for several consecutive hours. This means that they operate their arms like delicately poised springs at the rate of between 2300 and 2500 vibrations per minute, or' nearly 40 strokes in a single second. Telegraphers throughout the country recognized the advantages of a device that eliminated the . making of dots br hand. The rise of automatic sending ma chines was, therefore, rapid and the re sult has been that dozens of these lnven tlons the old mechanical principle of a vibrator in some form or another. A man ought not to dread the difficul ties that confront him, for it gives a chance to show his metal. Sixth and Burnside