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About The Sunday Oregonian. (Portland, Ore.) 1881-current | View Entire Issue (March 1, 1908)
riTE SUNDAY OREGONIAX, PORTLAND, MARCH 1, 1908. PULLS TIE SPIKES UP Bl FINGERS Oswald West Finds Harri man's West Side Roadbed in Bad Condition. DEPOTS ARE INADEQUATE Track Sinks In Many Places When Passenger Trains Pass Commis sion Recommends Improve ments to Dilapidated System. SALEM, Or.. Feb. 29. (Special.) That the roadbed of the Southern Pa rifles Went Side division is in very bad condition; that he tie work up and down in the soft soil when trains pass; that in some places the spikes can be pulled out with the fingers; that many of the ties are too old to be serviceable, and that depot facilities are inadequate, are facts stated by Rail road Commissioner Oewald West in a report made today concerning his ob servations when he walked the track from Corvallis to Portland, early in the week. West carried with him a notebook and a hatchet. He chopped Into nearly every tie and timber the c ondition of which could not be deter mined by outward appearance. He made extensive notes of condition of rails, plates, ties and ballast. His report follows: On February 1J, 1908. m. disastrous wreck occurred on the West Side division of the Southern Pacific Company near Forest Grove, Or. The accident has been widely discussed by the people and the press and much has ben mid with reference to the condition of the Kaid road. On one hand we hear the company accused of negligence ond the road condemned as unsafe and dangerous and vn the other we have the positive assertions of the railroad officiate that the road la per fectly safe for the traffic to which It Is subjected, and that the statements made to its dangerous condition are unjust and unwarranted. The traveling- public therefore looks to the Railroad Commission for the ffti't. For the purpose of enabling: the Com mission to learn the true conditions, I have made an Inspection of the road by walking from Corva-llis to Portland, and beg to re port as follows: Rails. The rrports of the company show the main line and Hidings to be laid with the following n-rlpht rails: Main Tinc Mils. fi-pound steel. . tt 1 9 Kl-pound steel . 17. 553 r-pnunrt stoel ........... i 22.000 &0-pound steel . 56 . 349 Total 96.520 Sidings -pound tcel 7.R9 40. l and 06-pound Iron 3.66 Total 11.25 Fifty-pound rails, branded "P. S. Co." and manufactured in 1879, are used from Cor vallis to a point near St. Joseph, where they connect with Krupp steel rails, of like weight ni date, which extend over perhaps two miles of road and connect with 56-pound sf tl nrar Carlton., These 60-pound rails, especial ly those made by the P. S. Co., have worn rcmarkahly well. They were manufactured ma r) y 3u years ago and have been in use nearly -ever ulnce. yet, barring the surface , klnkM, are apparently as good as the day they were laid. Between St. Joseph and Carl ton, about where the P. 8. Co. and Krupp rails connect, I found a few broken onus which have been upliced. The 06-pound steel which extends from a point near Carlton to a point near Beaverton la made up of a Job lot of old steel bearing datea from itiSt to 18ft I, and I think a few rails of n older date. From Carlton to a lolnt near Forest Grove most of the r's appear to have worn remarkably well, in fact are very little won; but from thie point to where they connect with the 62-pound steel, icar Beaverton, there are many badly-worn rails, the result, undoubtedly, of service on the TCast Side or main line. I found a few of these rails had been broken at some time and spliced. A great many short rails are to be found. I am unable to say why fhey were cut, unless it was to remove kinks ob tained whilo in use on the main line. A great many of the Joint are bad some of the rails being bruUsed or badly cur. The 62 pound rails in use from a point near Beaverton over the hill into Portland bear the date of 1881 and appear to be !n giod condition except that some are pretty badly worn on heavy curves. Angle Bars.- Two angle bara are used at Joints on the RO-puund steel except for a short distance near where the few Krupp rails are used. Tlero a few plain plates are used an angle bar Is used on one ide of the Joint and a plain piato on the other. An anIe bar and plain plate are alco used at Joints for some distance. In and out of Forest tirove and at a few other points btween Forest tirove and Bcaxerton, but from there on Into Porfand ancle bars are used on both sldea of Joints. 1 found the angle bars as a rule In good condition and, except at switches, vary sel dom found a cracked one. But where an anarle bar and a plate were used It was not unur-uat to tlnd one of them cracked usually the piate. It Is the duty of the section, mes to remove thewe cracked plates and I find as a ritle thy are given close attention. At the time of the wreck a creat many plates nrr Forest Grove were found broken. In fail I believe there were twice as many broken plates on that one section as ooui'? he found on all other wectioms between Port land and Corvallis. Most of thoo. near for est Grove have been removed, but there still remain a number which should receive atten tion. If the section foreman on this section will give as close attention to these matters as the ot her sect ion foremen a ppear to do there will be no cause for complaint Where the SO-pound "rails are connected, wlili heavier rails at switches many bad Joints aiv to be found and broken bars and plates are Quite common. This Is a matter which should be given attention. It has been Mated that at certain points but on plate was used at Joints. This was a mistake, for at the potms where this condition wa said to exist an examination shows an angle bar and a Plain elate are used at Joints. A person walking, along the track mleht overlook the plain plate for the reason that it fits up close, - to and Is hidden by the ball of the rail. Bolts. The bol's at the Joints continually woik Inose and a bolt is often found missing. The section men niVpt-ar. however, to be glv ' ing them pretty cloe attention and I think there i nothing to fear from this source. In many casoa where rails have been cut It appears but one hole has been bored Hn the vail? this means but three bolts through the plates at the Joints. This, however, may nt be a eiious objection, but It undoubt edly would be a safer Joint if another bolt was a ditrd. Spikes. Thffc are a great many loose spikes to be found along the line and at many noints more particularly between Corvallis and M eCoy. w here the ties are. not so rood they can be Dulled out with the Angers. Loose nnikea are also common where the tie are g.tod. This Is the result of the llrht rail and soft roadbed. The passing trains work them loose as fast as the sec tion men can drlvs them, and repeated driv incM will soon leave loose sxukea even m ound ties. Tie Plates. Ti plate are used on some bridges and trestle which have been lately renewed and at a few points in the track between HIIls boro aud .Portland. Rail Braces. . No rati bracks appear to be used except on sumo of the switches and oa a few . curves on the hill near Portland. A num ber of the latter are broken. Ties. The ties used are 7x9 and 6x8. treated fir ties and about SiHiO are used to the mile. The reports of the comoanr show 23,1 46 ties to have tx en laid during the year ending June 30, 1&07; this amounts to over 8 pr cant of all ties in the track. There have been continued renewals since the said date. Between Corvallis and McCoy the ties' at many points are In a poor condition and need attention. There have been renewals at many points, but they have not been sufficient. There are some 1S9S-6-7 ties and many others which have served their time and should be removed. From McCoy to Portland the ties as a rule are In good condition. Some new ties have been put In lately, but there has been but little change since the date of the wreck. A careful examination win convince s.ny reasonable person that they are as good as are to be found in the main line or any other line. It is true that weak ties are to be found here and there and these- appear to be receiving attention. The defects in the ties on this road are all shown us for the reason that they are not covered with ballast as on the main line. They are scarred here and there by derailments, broken brake beams, fire and checking, and at many points in city limits they are bruised by wagbn and truck wheels and do not look very good; but If one takes the trouble to take an axe and -chop into them he will find them, as a rule,' perfectly sound. I found ties occasionally that were checked and split nearly half way through, but after careful examination, found them sound and I can see no good reason why they should be removed. The soft condition of tho track and the constant churning In the mud Is another reason why the ties on this road take on rotten appearance. Many ties between Corvallis and McCoy should have early attention and there should be some renewals between McCoy and Port land, but when this is done I think no fair minded person can say the ties on this road are not In a safe condition. Roadbed. The roadbed in my opinion Is the worst feature about the road. There la a little gravel and cinder ballast nearly all along the Una, bat not enough to do much good. The roadbed Is soft and wet in places and a passing train will undo in a second the many hours' work of a section crew. Stand ing along the track and watching a passing train will convince any one that new steel, ties, plates, etc. are useless unless the road bed is first given attention. A great deal of good drainage work appears to have been done this Winter, but there are still many places where the drainage is poor and the track is soft. The constant churning of the ties In the soft mud has left matey low places In the track and these are among the causes of derailments. Bridges. There are three steel and four wooden bridges on this line. The steel bridges are about 130 feet and the wooden bridges 0 feet In length. They appear to be well con stnAted and in a safe condition. Inside guard rails are used on the bridge. Trestles. At the date of the company's last report there were 05 trestles on this line with an aggregate length of 18,166 feet. A number of them have since been filled and others are In course of being filled. Most of the trestles are In first-class condition, but there sre some that need repairs; and I have been advised that these will receive attention at an early date. Very few of the trestles have Inside guard rails. , An examination of certain trestles which were reported as being supported by piling which were in a rotten condition revealed the fact that the rot which was visible was merely sap rot and when cut away the posts appeared to be perfectly sound. Trestle 3 B In South Portland was said, to be In bad shape. This conclusion was reached undoubtedly from the fact that the wooden guard rails were in need of repairs. ' It seemed to me that this bridge is well con structed and In a good condition. . The timbers bear the date of 1004-6-6 and appear to be perfectly sound. A portion of the old guard rail has recently been renewed. These wooden guard rails are used to keep the ties In place and afford.Bome protection tn event of derailments,- but they In no manner support the trestle. Section Gangs. This division appears to be " divided into seven sections snd averages about seven and one-half miles to the section. The crews con shrt' of a foreman and- from three to four men. Depots. At a number of stations along the line better depots are badly needed. Many of them were built years ago when the needs of the communities were not so great and are now Inadequate. The platforms of many of them are very narrow and there is not sufficient room for the "handling of the ex press and baggage trucks. It Is a wondex children are not knocked over and Injured by these trucks at times when the platforms are crowded. This is a matter which should receive attention. Conclusion. While conditions on this road are not as bad as reported they are such as to Justify a demand for improvements and the Com mission should see that they are made at an early date. 'OSWALD WBJST, Commissioner. ' In connection with the report of Com missioner West I beg to report that on February 12, 190 I made a careful exami nation of the track between Forest Grove aud the scene of the wreck, and on Feb ruary 37 I again inspected the same track. I found that since the wreck some consid erable work has been done In putting the track In better condition. About 24 defective plates have been replaced and a number of new bolts have been inserted in place of de fective or missing bolts. However, there were on February 27 about ten plates re maining In the track, which, In my Judg ment, were defective and should be re placed. The damage caused to the track and trestle - 2A H. by the wreck bad been almost entirely repaired on February 27. A short distance south of the scene of the wreck about 70 56-pound rails were being replaced with heavier steel. I have examined the track between Port land and Forest Grove with considerable eare and so far as the report of Commis sioner West concerns the roadbed and track between those points my observation coin cides with his. tSigned) C. H. AtTCHISON. GROWERS WITH LARGE ACRE AGE REFUSE TO JOIX. Effort Will Be Made to Sell Shares on Acreage Basis Arranging ' Xew Meeting. SAL-EM, Or., Feb. 29. (Special.) Ef forts to organize the hopgTowers of the Pacific Coast on the plan proposed some time ago by CallfornJans will fail, ac cording to the views of Joseph Baum frartner, who is managing' the Oregon or ganization work. Mr. Baum partner has vo advised the directors in charge- of the work In Washington and California and is endeavoring to arrange a meeting of the directors from the three states early in March. Mr. Baumgartner thinks the former plan will fail because It proposes to take all growers Into an organixatlon on an equal footing, regardless of acreage- He believes that in order to get the large growers to go in. it will be necessary to form a corporation, selling each, grower a share of stock for each acre owned, so that the large growers will have a voice In association affairs in proportion to their acreage. The effort to secure statistics of hop acreage in Oregon has also failed, as it has been found that the information re ceived ie Inaccurate and' unreliable. That part of the work, has been abandoned. At the last meeting of growers here it was voted to assess each member 25 cents an acre for the purpose of paying organisa tion expenses. No payments have been made on this assessment and probably none will be until It becomes apparent that a plan of organization which can be perfected has been devised. Albany, Or. The residence of T. J. Dannen at West Scio Station on the Wood-burn-Spriitgneld line of the Southern Pa cific, was oA-etroyed with all Its contents by fire Friday night, causing a loss of $H0 Dannen is the Southern Pacific agent and operator at West Scio. CUSHMAN WOULD LIKE PILES' JOB Tacoma Congressman Plans to Enter the Senatorial Race in 1910. WIDELY KNOWN IN STATE Judge Reid Wants to Go to Congress and Cushman Is Willing; to Make Room Contest With Piles . Promises Excitement. OLTMPIA. Wash., Feb. 29. (Special.) That Francis -W. Cushman is laying; his plans to enter the race for election to the United . States Senate in 1911 against Samuel H. Piles is declared with a strong degree of positiveness by some of the leading politicians of the Southwest. Congressman Cushman's plans have be- r.... ........... .......T t ' ' "r :- , ; . I ' I 1 Francis W. CuMhitinn, Who De alrca to Snrceed Sam H. Piles In the United States Senate From WttMbingrton. come known, more or less, at this time, because of the drawing near of this year'B political campaign. There has been some talk of opposition to Cushman in his district this year, and it is claimed that he has offset some of this opposition by confiding to more than half a dozen friends that he intends to make this his last campaign for the lower House of Congress and that he has' an ambition to succeed Senator Piles of Seattle. Judge Reld Ambitious. Tacoma, has a strong aspirant for. con gressional honors ;in Superior J-udge George T. Reid. Judge Reid was one of the leaders in the lower House of the State Legislature in 1905 and 1907. He was appointed to a vacancy on the bench in Pierce County . by Governor Mead: Judge Reid, it is understood, does not care to remain on the bench indefinitely, having a preference for legislative work. Friends of Judge Reld have received an assurance - from. Congressman Cushman that the latter desires only one more term as Congressman. There would be little hope for any man in trying to overcome Cushman's popularity in the Southwest Congressional District this year, and Judge Reid will be well con tent to wait another two years. Labor Opposes Cusbman. If Cushman has any opposition in hii district this year it will likely be raised by the laboring element. As is the case with Congressman Jones, there has been considerable criticism of Cushman's atti tude on labor measures in Congress by union labor leaders. Several weeks ago, at the time of a gathering of labor leaders in Tacoma, a self-constituted committee waited on Stanton Warburton, former State Senator, and invited him to enter the race against Cushman. War burton took the matter under considera tion and nothing more has ever been heard of it. Cushman, it is understood, bases his hopes of defeating Piles on his extended acquaintance throughout the state ac quired in several recent campaigns and during his terms as Congressman-at-large. He looks upon the primary elec tion law as extrrmrly favorable to his chances. In addition, 1910 will be an off election year with no long list of candi dates for state .offices to complicate the fight- Cushman Friendly to Jones. Cushman is looked upon as being in sympathy with Congressman Jones in the latter's attempt to defeat Senator Levi Ankeny for re-election, but he is not ex pected to take any active part in the Senatorial contest this year. If Jones is elected, his sympathies, it is anticipated, will be more openly expressed and will be favorable to Cushman, as between Cush man and Piles two years hence; Seattle's obligation to Senator Ankeny for assist ance in Piles' election by the Legislature of 1905 is well known and is rapidly be coming a factor in the Jones and An keny contest. Hence, Jones, if success ful, will not feel bound to observe neu trality when Cuslunan seeks to defeat Piles. Promises Iivcly Contest. With the direct primary law in exist ence. Cushman is probably the most for midable candidate that could be put forth against Piles. He is not only equipped with acquaintance, but oratorical ability. Piles also possesses these two qualifica tions of the strong candidate, with prob ably a smaller personal acquaintance than Cushman in Eastern Washington. On the other hand. Piles has the Seattle spirit back of him, and back of t,e Seat tle spirit is the metropolis of the state. There would be no wajk-away for either candidate, and with the senatorship practically the only office of importance at issue, a Piles-Cushman fight would bring about the liveliest off-year cam paign ever held in the state. Smashed by Jump From Train. . HOOD RIVER. Or.. Feb. 29 (Special.) Arthur McHenry, of Portland, is con fined to the Cottage Hospital in. this city as the result of an attempt to align, from a moving passenger train yesterday while it was passing over the bridge across the Hood River. Mc Henry jumped from the train when it was near one of. the abutments to the bridge and fell 40 feet to the ground below. One of his legs was badly fractured, his head out and severat teeth knocked out. It is feared he may also have sustained internal Injuries. BENJAMIN'S SPRING CtOTHIN Unquestionably high-quality materials of exclusive weaves combined with faultless custom tailoring, unusually clever styling and fitting, give Clothes ehj amm Such a distinctively refined air and character that they can only be classed with the smart custom tailor's most expensive garments It will pay you to see these smart clothes Priced $20.00 to $40.00 5 PL ft. I J Buffum etom 311 Morrison Street - EXCLUSIVE AGENTS Opposite Post Office JOLT FOR COLEMAN Students Refuse Again to In dorse Retiring President. SHOW INTENSE INTEREST Effort of Willamette Trustee to Have Blank Resolution Reconsidered Defeated ray " X'p Hues ' to Get Chance to Vote. SALEM. Or., Feb. 29. (Special. A second effort to secure from the stu dents of Willamette University a reso lution commending the work of ex President Coleman, has failed. With probably every member of the student organization present, a rising vote was taken and the movement was defeated. A few days ago a letter was received from i.ev. Mr. McDanleU of Portland, a member of the board of trustees, who addressed a letter to the student-body asking them to reconsider the action of a week ago, when the students adopted a blank report submitted by a committee appointed to draft resolu tions of appreciation. Dr. McDanlel told of Dr. Coleman's work here, a he viewed it, and asked the students to adopt resolutions thankirfg Coleman for his efforts in behalf ot Willamette Uni versity. When this letter had been received, a meeting of the student-body was called and it was announced that only mem bers of the student association in good standing would be admitted to the meeting. That there was intense in terest in the question presented is evi dent from the fact that students vol untarily paid up arrearages of dues amounting to. $76 in order that they misht attend the meeting. When the students assembled, the purpose of the meeting was stated and lr. MeDaniel's letter was read. When the reading was finished, a student moved that the meeting adjourn. On the viva voce vote the chairman could not determine whether the motion had carried. A standing vote was taken and the motion carried by three or four majority. As a motion to" adjourn is not debatable, the expected discussion of the merits of the question did not take place. ' While students. have' various reasons for their attitude, the majority in fa vor of ad journment-was apparently se- NEW YORK DENTISTS 4TH AND MORRISON 8TS.. PORTLAND. OREGON. CHALLENGE THE WORLD No cbarva for rainless Extraction when other work is ordered. W were the first and only Eastera Specialists to advertise snd do nrst-class dent istry absolutely without pain at mod erate prices. Wo have always associated with ill the world's most famous Dental Experts. Do not be misled by unscrupulous advertisers who resort to scare-bead advertisements to entice the unwary to their offices. Pay no fancy fees until you have consulted us. Our continued suocess Is due to the uniformly high-grade work done by gentlemanly operators We males a perfect set of teeth for $5.00. ' When they are made by the DENTISTS They are guaranteed with a pro tective guarantee for 10 years. iold Fillings CI. 00 Silver FtUinss S iold Crowns. 2k , 5. OS Bridge Work. Itk 5.00 We are making s specialty of Porretaia Bridge Work. Largest snd best equipped dental establishment in the world. DR. A. C. FROOM. PROPRIETOR. Hours 8:30 A. M. to P. H. cured by the argument that "Coleman's retirement was the result of a contro versy in the board of trustees and that the students have nothing to do with it. ADJUST TRIBUTE'S AFFAIRS Pendleton's Morning Daily Once More on Paying Basis. PENDLETON. Or., Feb. 29 (Special.) At a meeting of the board of direc tors of the Pendleton Tribune Publish ing Company a reorganization was ef fected by the election ot W. F. Guion as secretary and manager. Mr. Guion. who has been editor and publisher of the Tribune since the retirement of T. T. Geer from the active editorial management, has taken over half of the stock of the company and will here after have full control of the business and financial departments of the paper. as well as acting as editor. He ie a thoroughly experienced and practical newspaper man. and has succeeded in placing the Tribune. on a paying basis with bright business prospects for th future. Colfax. "Wash. Bryan Weatacott, ' years, died at Garfield today. Mr. Westacott came from Kn gland 40 years ago. maktnr a fortune In the Nevada mines and locatiun in Whitman County ,'to years ago. He harf retired from farm wo rk and- was act! n president rf the Rank of Garflf.ld. Lildi Building i ) ' ON 1 - V Park and Alder Catering to Physicians and Dentists of Standing Only IN submitting the Medical . Build ing to the approval of the lnedi- cal and dental fraternity of Port land, the owners wish further to call attention to the following facts i .-' Every suite has compressed air; both direct and alternating, currents of electricity; boiling hot Bull Run water, as well as cold; and gas, jani tor and elevator service, of course. All the rooms are also fitted with vacuum cleaning apparatus, which naturally insures the highest pos sible degree of sanitation. . In a word, nothing has been over looked which would tend to make this building the one place where dentists and doctors should be lo cated. In other cities, this idea has worked out with great success, and it is the belief of the , owners that an equal success may be had in this city. ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT I have a number of propositions open to both dentists and doctors, where one dentist or doctor would like to share the reception-room with another practitioner. If you are dissatisfied with your present location and would like to be in the MEDICAL BUILDING if you had someone to share the expenses of your reception-room, and feel diffident about approaching someone on the proposition, let me hear from you. I can do the business easily and pleasantly for you. AGENT WILL BE AT THE BUILD ING UNTIL NOON TODAY READY FOR OCCUPANCY NOW WILL BE COMPLETE LY FINISHED IN 2 WEEKS. PHONE OR CALL J. WHYTE EVANS 7 Chamber of Commerce Bldg. Or Gall Room 216 Medical Building -Park and Alder Tear thia out and tnnll to m. I. WHITE EVANS. 7 Chamber Commerce Bids. Please send me further infor mation concerning the Medical Building. Name. Address. 53- L30S f