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About The Sunday Oregonian. (Portland, Ore.) 1881-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 23, 1908)
G ' THE STJXDAY OREGOXIAX. FORTLAyP. AUGUST 23, 1903. , , I : : UPTHMAH TO BUILD ROADS Railroad Commissioner West Declares People Expect Fair Play. SAYS OREGON NEGLECTED Tnless Work on New Lines Is Com menced. Sees Xo Reason Why Kateg Should Not Be Reduced. MARSHFIELD. Or.. An. S.-(SpeclalS That the net profit of the Oregon Rail road & Navigation Company lines for a lnle year, after allowing for all operat ing expenses. Interest, taxes and a -Per-cent dividend on stock, amount to enough to build a ralroad from the Wllamette Valley to the Idaho lne. is the statement of Oswald West, a member of the Oregon Railroad Commission. Mr. West submits figures from the booKs of the railroad company to support his statement. In his address before the peo ple of the Coos Bay region he undertook to show that Mr. Harriman s remarks were Inapplicable to Oregon when he said at Chicago that If the railroads are ex pected to extend their lines and Increase their equipment they must get more reve nue Mr West demonstrated that one ol the Harriman lines already gets every vear enough net revenue to build a line across the state. He asserted that If all the profits of both the Harriman lines were put Into new roads. Harriman could not find men enough to flag trains at the crossings. T. Mr West declares that, unless Mr. Har riman proceeds at once to build the Cen tral Oregon and the Coos Bay lines there Is no good reason why the unreasonable rates now in effect on his lines should uot be reduced: His address follows: It was just 40 years ago that worK was beeun on Oregon's first railroad. Twentvur. later 1X8R It had over miles of road operated by seven different companies, as follows: JnlM Northern Pacific JS.OO Oregon Short Line Ae-t The O. R & S. Co ViL'k r. & C. H. R Orconlan Railway P. & W. V. Kf-ilway V. V. & Coast 3J a ToUI 1.213.61 A number of these road were at that time In -ourse of construction, and per haps HO miles were added during the two vears following. Every mile, with the exception of the 38 miles owned by the Northern Pacific, has since passed under the control of Mr. Harriman. and since passing Into his hands further extension has practically ceased, as the following figures will show. In 1SS there were 1213 miles of road: today there aie 20..0 mlHs. or an Increase of about 3..C mll.s In 10 years. Of this increase 6RJ miles were built by local ople with local capital, .u i n..niA wiin (j. rv . oc -. - . fcnd the balance, ivu muen, uj -riman lines. The people of Oregon are under no obligations to Mr. Harriman. If he has ever done anything for the state, the books of his companies show he has been well paid for it. Where Policies Differ. It is the policy of Mr. Hill to develop new territory by building railroads, but It is Mr. Hitrriman's policy to await the development of the country before building: and In the meantime to bottle up the territory by securing all strate gic points along available routes to prevent anv other road from carrying off his oyster before he Is ready to "lln Hirrhiiiiii gave out an Interview In Chicago the other day in which he said: "If railroads are to go on ex tending their lines, improving the ones thev now operate, and providing equip ment to take care of the business of the country they have got to get more revenue." If a!l the net earnings of the Harri man lines in Oregon had been expended In railroad extension in this state we would now have so many miles of rail road that the company would have trouble emoloying enough men to flag the crosMnRS. Let me show you something taking the O. R. & N. Co. as an example: This company operates miles of line in the Northwest. In 1S96 It was In the hands of a receiver, bul was during that year re-organixed and launched upon a new and successful career. The new company was capltallxed at $35, 000. OO, srd there whs a bond Issue of about $''0,000,000. That was but 11 years ago. yet the net earnings of the road have in that short time amounted In round numbers to about $4S.500,00O, and would have been far greater had not vast sums exornded tor Improve ments and equipment been charged to operating expenses. The books show $1 8.5"0.00 to have been expended dur ing this period for maintenance of way and equipment and charged to operat ing expenses. How much of this was for betterments and new equipment I am unable io say. The true earnings are, therefore, many millions more than the books of the company show them to be. Eiralaci for Tear. After spending vast sums for better ments and equipment,' the creation of renewal funds and dividends on Its pre ferred stock. It had on June SO 1907, a surplus of $29.00fl.wOO. Its earnings for 190" were as follows: Income from operations. .. .$5,972,993.93 Income from olner sources. 1.204.362.31 and show how traffic ami earnings have Increased during the past 20 years. The O. R. A X. Co. will be taken as an example: Passenger 1SS7. 1907. earnings.... 734.9.r.1.65 $ 3.7S4,So6.6o Freight 3.0S9.5X8.31 S. 946,604. 90 All sources. ... 3.91.692.37 14.147.177.30 Net earnings. 1.8'"0,3S4.40 3,793,784.20 F r e Ight car ried (tons). 60.102 3.442.6ol The railroads are continually howl ing aoout the Increased cost of opera tion. Tnelr reports show that the av erage dally compensation paid all em ployes (excluding general office) In 182 was $2.53. In l!o7 the dallyaver age compensation paid the same class of employes was $-'.27. Certain classes of employes are receiving better pay. but others re receiving less. The average percentage of operating expenses to operating Income for all roods m the United States is about 66 per cent. On the OiH.ee N. for 190 the percentage was only 53 85 per cent, and on the entire S. P. system only 59.50 per cent. And all this in the face of enormous expenditure for better ments and equipment, all of which have been charged to operating expenses, otherwise the percentage of operating expenses to operating income would have been much lower. Mr. Harriman has no complaint to make, as to the cost of operating his Oregon lines. While the records show the Harri man lines to be among the best, if not tiie best, paying roads In the United .States, they also show that Oregon, dominated by the Harriman Interests, has but 42 miles of railroad per 10.0.10 Inhabitants, while Aioniar.a and the Dakotas (thanks to Mr. Hill) have an avtrage of 100 miles of road per 10,000 Inhabitants. State Keeds Railroad.. The people of Oregon have all these vears given the railroads the best of It L'ntil the law creating the present Rail road Commission was passed they had been' free to conduct their business and fix their charges as they saw fit. Had they been half-way decent and fair in their dealinucd with the public, the Railroad Commission act of lu7 would never have been nassed. liown to the vear 19u7 the Southern Pacific and the O. R. & N. lines in Ore gon were only assessed on the average nt about $4u00 per mile, and this In cluded depot giound and rolling stock. For the year ending June 30, 19J7, their net earnings were sufficient to pay a 5 per cent dividend on a capitalization of about $125,000 per mile. A few County Assessors have had backbone enough to raise the assessment, with the result that In a few counties the railroads are only dodging about one half of their taxes. In other counties the assessment Is slill ridiculously low. The people of this state want to give the railroads fair treatment in the mat ter of taxation, and they want to see them make money, but the expect and are going to demand decent treatment in return. Oregon needs more railroads and It fs up to Mr. Harriman to build them. He has for yeais milked this state to buv a'id build railroads In other states. The Railroad Commission, on account of the recent financial flurry, has hesi tated at cutting too deep Into the rail road earnings, but the danger is now pact and business is recovering, and unless Mr. uarrnnan gets busy witn his Coos Bay and Central Oregon lines there Is no reason why all unreasonable rates now in effect on his line should not be reduced. MR. STEWART'S CANDIDACY Total $7,177,356.24 Interest, rents and taxes... 1.3S3.572.04 Net income. .$5,793,784.20 Divlderrtis on prefr'd stock 440.00D.00 Balance. $5,353,784.20 Investigation shows the Shanlko branch lo have been built for $12,500 per mile: the Condon branch for $16. 000; the Pollt Rock branch for $22,000; the Sumpter Vullev for $13,00. and the Corvallis & Eastern for about $20,000 per mile, or an average of about $17,000 per mile. As Ihcse roads traverse a country similar to that leading to Cen tral Oregon and Coos Bay It gives one a good Idea as to the probable cost of these new roads. It la about 3U0 miles from Natrona or Detroit to the eastern boundary of the state, and a road at $17,000 per mile would cost a little over $5,000,000, or less than the amount thrown Into sur plus for the year 1907 by the O. R. & N. Co., after paying all operating and other expenses. Interest on bonds and a dividend of 4 per cent on preferred stock. : We hare sadl nothing about the earn ings of the Southern Pacific Company. The Soutnern Pacific earnings reported are for the entire system and not ap portioned by states. The net Income from operation for the S. P. system amounts to about $5770 per mile, or .about $1440 per mile less than the O. R. & N. Co. a earnings In this state, and. In view of this, it will not be unfair to as:. time that the 8. P. earnings In Oregon are as mucn per mile as they are for the entire system. With 666 miles of line the earnings in this state for the year would amount to over $3,800,000. and after paying inter est on 'ond and a dividend on the $24 000.010 watered stock there would still be a surplus of $2,300,000. or near ly enough to build a railroad to Coos Bay. Haw Bna!aa Baa Grows. A comfrlson of a few figures for the years Xiil and 1967 may ba ol interest Deserves to Be Nominated for State Senator In Cowlitz County. KELSO. Wash., Aug. 22. (Special.) Much interest Is being manifested In the Senatorial contest In Cowlitx County. A prominent candidate for the Republican nomination Is F. L. Stewart, of Kelso. Mr. Stewart fs picked as an easy winner on account of his recognized' ability, wide acquaintance and thorough knowledge of the legislation necessary for the bast In terests of the state at large and this dis trict in particular. Mr. Stewart Is In no sense an office seeker, but consented to enter the contest for Senatorial honors only after many of his friends had earnestly requested him to do so, and after the name of Senator Watson, of Kalama, had been withdrawn. Mr. Stewart was born on a farm near Delevan. Wis.. 35 years ago. coming West In the Fall of 1SS5 to Southern California, where for several years he. as a young man. worked on a farm, In stores, and later In the mines at Treka. Siskiyou County, Cal. For the past 15 years he has been engaged In the banking business, first In the Consolidated Bank of Elslnore. Cal.. of which his father Is president, and later in the Kelso State Bank, of which he is cashier and a large stockholder. He has lived in Kelso for the past 10 years.- Mr. Stewart Is a thoroughly successful business man. well equipped to perform r - i J- - ft I $ I i v 1 t - y ! F. l Stewart, of Kelso, Candi date for Republican Nomina- ' lion for State Senator In Cow llta County. the duties which will be Imposed upon him by his constituents. He is affiliated with the Masons, both Scottish and York rite and Mystic Shrine, with the Indepen dent Order of Odd-fellows, Order-of the Eastern Star. Rebekahs, and the B. P. O. E. He has been quite- prominent In all de velopments of the resources of Cowlitz County and Southwest Washington. BOOST GOOD ROAD SCHEME Delegates to Meeting at Chehalis In dorse Proposal. CHEHALIS, Wash., Aug. 22. (Special.) There was an attendance of about 150 today at the Good Roads meeting held here. Pacific County sent a very large delegation and Lewis, Cowlitz end Yak ima were represented. Many letters from other sections were read pledging sup port to the state road scheme as sug gested by State Highway Commissioner t'now. An evening session was also held. Thieves Carry Off Silverware. SALEM. Or Aug. 22. (Special.) Thieves last night entered the home of Hon. H. B. Thlelsen, by prying off a basement window, and got away with' $200 worth of silverware. The police believe it' was the work of profession als, as only the most valuable ware waa taken. The family sleeps upstairs and heard no sound. There Is no clew to the thieves. ' E INTEREST IN PRIMARY CONTEST Candidates for Office in Washington Begin Their Speechmaking. TWO BIG FIGHTS ARE ON Senatorsliip Battle and Gubernator ial Scramble Monopolize Atten tion or Voters Cosgrove De nies Story of Serious Illness. OLYMPIA. Wash., Aug. 20. (Special.) Interest which has been lagging in the primary election is now awakening throughout the state and numerous can didates who have started out on speech making tours are attracting good audi ences. The leading candidates for Gov ernor are nearly all speaking daily, and Congressman Jones is addressing fre quent meetings in behalf of his candidacy for the United States Senate. In behalf of Ankeny the principal speaking is now being done in King County by Senator &. H. Piles. Judge Snell nas not been mak ing any stir since he announced his can didacy for the Senate on the last day for tiling declarations. Governor Mead spoke In Hoqulam Mon day night. In a territory where it has been asserted that he is weak, bift was heard by a large audience. He will be speaking at different points almost night ly from now until the close of the cam paign. Ex-Governor McBrlde has been addressing good audiences in Spokane, Adams, Stevens, Douglas and other east ern counties and Is working hack toward Seattle, where he will speak Septem ber 24. S. G. Cosgrove starts today on a tour of the Northwestern counties. John D. Atkinson has been addressing numerous gatherings, will tour Eastern Washington and wind up his campaign for the guber natorial nbmlnation in Seattle a few days before the primaries. W. M. Ridpath, the Spokane candidate for Governor, is now established in headquarters In the North ern Hotel in Seattle, but has been mak ing few speeches. Judge Hobliison Delayed. . Judge J. W. Robinson, of Olympla, who promised to startle the people of the state with revelations of corruption and mis management in state affairs, has been un able to begin his campaign on account of the condition of his leg. which was broken several months ago. Judge Rob inson attempted to use his leg too soon and received a setback from which he has not yet recovered. His itinerary will necessarily be cut short, and instead of starting out as he Intended on August S, It will probably be a week or ten days still before he Is able to take' the stump. With the livening up of the campaign, numerous factors In the gubernatorial contest are being brought to light. At a meeting of the Mead forces, held in Olym pla a few days ago, it -was decided, ac cording to report, to press the local op tion issue and force McBride, who is charged with being the. friend of the liquor int?rests, to take a more definite stand on the issue. Uovernor Mead de voted almost all of his Hoquiam speech to the local option ltsue. It is also claimed the Mead forces are attempting to perfect an alignment with other candidates and that some of the candidates for other offices have already been drawn Into the Governor's fight. The Mead ticket, as given out here, fa vors Jones for the Senate, J. H. Easter day for Attorney-General. I. A. Navarre for Land Commissioner, I. M. Howell for Secretary of . State. C. W. Clausen for State Auditor, Ellis Morrison for Lieutenant-Governor. D. R. Bullock for Insur ance Commissioner, T. p. Rockwell for Congressman in the Third District, and E. K". Erwln for State Treasurer. Jones Plays Lone Hand. So far as some of these candidates are concerned, the alignment is one-sided. Congressman Jones Is maintaining his freedom from deals with other candidates. C. W. Clausen declares he is not tied up with any other candidate for office. Rock well ami Easterday, however, are said to be doing what they can for Mead, both having received appointments on the Tax Commission from him. Navarre was brought out for Land Commissioner, originally, by Mead's friends in Chelan County. Mead and Sec retary of State Nichols have not been on very friendly terms for a long time, but Nichols has attempted to keep out of the gubernatorial fight. The feeling against Nichols on the part of the Mead forces extends also to Insurance Commissioner J. H. Schlvely, and there Is more or less of an indication of friendship between the Mead element and Bullock for Insurance Commissioner and Howell for Secretary of State. Erwin Is Mead's logical candi date for Slate Treasurer. John L. Mur ray, of 'Friday Harbor, one of the other candidates. Is a warm personal friend of McBrlde. while John G. Lewis is support ed principally by men In the Southwest who are not favorable to Mead. Cosgrove Denies Illness. A recent feature of the campaign has been the attempt to draw votes away from Coserove by spreading alarm ru- "ORNATTS ET BOXITAS" 4 HES.u.s.rT.trreE FALL STYLES FOR WELL GROOMED MEN Hat modeled on correct lines unmistakable in style, finish and ex clusive merit WILL BE ISSUED THURSDAY, AUG. 27 289 and 291 Washington St. Perkins Hotel o Bis play9- Fall Chesterfield Styles CMks The finest ready-to-wear clothes in the world. A display worthy of study We invite your inspection Chesterfield' Clothes range in price from to Tu) CD 269-271 Morrison Street mors concerning his health. Cosgrove. several weeks aKO, was quite 111. and lost greatlv In weight. A story has been per sistently circulated that he has Bright s disease and is lh a precarious condition. Mr Cosgrove Is doing all he can to deny this report, and Insists that his trouble was a severe coid which threatened to s;ttle on hU lungs. He claims to be fully recovered and to prove it is starting out on a speaking tour. The reports concerning Cosgrove's health have been circulated also in con nection with the Lieutenant-Governorship ' . . . T. hu vnrinliR candi- coniesi. xt ib ' " - . ' ; dates for that nomination that with an ill man a possible winner in me B"- ... .... mr.r cr and consldera- nniui mi l-hoi tlon shoudl be given the office of Lieuten ant-Governor man unaer uiumcnj cumatances. If j w. Robinson's health permits him to take the stump, he will make a vigor ous atttack on Mead's administration. Airu ptfmvftfiranceti and high taxes will be his principal themes. Judge Rob inson Will alSO CrillClse cerium . . , .j.ui.tnHnn if flnvernor Mc- in ine uu.iiiuioi. , - - Bride, but only lightly in comparison with his attack; on me Jrao ujiiiih.iu. McBride Is reported to have been losing j i - . t i u'lni. I ' mi i n t v hut nn grouiia lai'j 'i , V . the other hand Is reported gaining In Pierce County and In portions of East ern Washington. Pierce County Scandi navians, who number several thousand. h ave perfected a strong poimcai ursa.ni- zation and within the last few days have decided to favor McBride for Governor and Jones for Senator. Throughout many counties In the stats mass meetings are being held in the rural districts to discuss candidates. Failure to thoroughly understand the pro visions of the direct primary law has re sulted In bringing together at these meetings men of all political faiths. Re publicans. Democrats. Socialists and Pro hibitionists have conferred and in numer ous Instances have voted support to cer tain candidates. The general report from such meetings is that the majority has failed to overcome the convictions of the minority and that no material advantage that was not possessed before has been gained by the candidates thus favored. Discussion of candidates so far extends principally to the Senatorship and Gov ernorship. Candidates for minor state of fices are finding It hard campaigning against the stronger Interest in the head places on the state ticket and against the strong local Interest In most locali ties concerning the county places. By 6heer force of numbers the candi dates for Lieutenant and Governor and for Attorney-General have attracted some attention, but of other minor offices there la little or no discussion. to reopen the Manchurlan telegraph question. The negotiations had reached a ueadlock In February and were broken off. ASTORIA INVITES HARRIMAN China and Japan Come to Terms. PEKIN. Aug. 22 An agreement has been reached between Japan and China Message Is Sent by Chamber of . Commerce of CJity. ASTORIA Or., Aug. 22. (Special.) The following telegram of invitation was to day sent to Mr. Harriman akjng him to visit Astoria: "Astoria citizens send you cordial In vitation to visit us while in the state, you Bhould see the progress being made at the mouth of the Columbia River. We certainlv expect you to accept. "CHAMBER OK COMMERCE, "W. T. SPHOFIELD, "President. "JOHN H. WHYTE, "Secretary." people of 'Eugene to visit the city on his return East,' E. H. Harriman sent the following message: "Pelican Bay Lodge, Aug. '2?. Eu gene Commercial Club. Eugene, (V.: Thanks for your kind Invitation to visit Eugene. If I go out that way, wlil h glad to stop, but the chances are that I shall not go out that way this time. "E. H. HARRIMAN." PLUNGES OVER PRECIPICE SEXTJS MESSAGE TO EUGEXE Harriman Extends Thanks for Invi tation From City. EUGENE. Or., Tn response to Aug. 22. (Special.) a telegram from the Man Takes Short Cut Through Tim ' bcr and Falls to Death. TACOMA. Aug, 22. A. A. Richie, em ployed on the Government road work in the National park on Mount Rainier, was killed by falling over a precipice yester day. He had taken a short cut through the timber to the blacksmith shop and the men In the shop saw his body roll down the cliff last evening. He Jived In an unconscious condition until this morning. He was about 32 years of age and came from Seattle about two weeks ago. Miss Anita Trenchard and Miss Hazel Morse returned thi3 week from a pleas ant outing with Judge Trenchard at Elk Creek. ATTRACTIVE VALUES ARE OFFERED DURING OUR CLEAN-UP SALE You have now the chance of the season to buy clothing at the lowest price you have ever paid A MONEY-SAVING TO YOU MEN'S $12.50 SUITS Included are Velour, Cassimere and Fancy Worsted Suits, weights suitable for Fall wear, now offered at $5.0o $15-$16.50 MEN'S SUITS Single and Double-Bressted Sack Suits, every size, every Btyle, perfect tailoring. Clean-up price .' $8.85 MEN'S TROUSERS "SVe offer our entire line of $3.00 and $3.50 values, nlain and fancy worsteds, choice, while they last $1.85 j Shoes at Big Saving Opportunities During Clean-up Sale MEN'S SHOES S?ow $ 1.45 MEN'S SHOES &w.v"?.B..$1.85 MEN'S SHOES $3.00 VALUE (gO OC now :p.o MEN'S SHOES $3.50 VALUE CSO QC now q)6.oo "THE STORE THAT RIGHTS THE WRONG," Which Means Your Money Back if You Want It CHICAGO CLOTHING CO. SOL GARDE, Proprietor 69-71 THIRD STREET, Bet. Oak and Pine 1 3