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About St. Johns review. (Saint Johns, Or.) 1904-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 29, 1907)
ST. JOHNS REVIEW GET IN THE HABIT Ot advertlilnc In The Review and you'll never regret It. Be gin t once and keep rlclit at It To lubacrfc for TIm Review. AU.th ncwi white It It new U y oar motto. Call In and enroll Devoted to the Interest of the Peninsula, the Manufacturing Center of the Northwest VOL. 4 ST. JOHNS, OREGON, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 29. 1907. NO. 3 A RAMBLE ABOUT THE TOWN INTERESTING TRIP ABROAD Anton H. Edlefsen Gives An Entertaining Account THE NEW ASBESTOS PLANT of His Travels in Various Foreign Countries To the Editor of the St. Johus Review: Since I returned from my long journey you requested me to tell you something of the impressions I had while traveling through various foreign countries. On "St. Patrick's dav iu the evening" I boarded the train for Vancouver, D. C, where I had engaged a cabin on the Canadian Pacific R. R. express boat Empress of India for Yokohama, Japan. When I arrived at Vancouver I found that the boat would not leave as scheduled, on the following day in the morning; but would have to await the arrival of a transcontinental train, which was delayed by heavy snow in the mountains. It appeared that this train carried mail and passengers for the orient, which had been taken aboard from an Atlantic liner at tiic port of Montreal and that the delay on the laud would, if possible, have to be made good by our boat in speedily cross ing the great Pacific Ocean, on account of a mail contract between the Uritish government aud the Canadian Pacific R. R. Co., which provides for the delivery of malls at certain intervals from England to the orient by wuy of Canada. With a delay of about 24 hours the mail train urrived and in the extremely short time of about two hours nil of the parcels had been taken aboard the steamer under the careful direction of two ollicers, by one of whom a count was kept of the pack tines, which a large force of hard working men directed into the hold with u rapidity difficult to realize. With the decks Mill covered with baggage the steamer left the dock, and before we went through the narrows I looked back on the moonlit buy, which together with the wooded hills and the many lights of the town ottered n most beautiful sight. Early the next morning wc stopped at Victoria, H. C, but the small list of passengers was not increased thereby. After Cape Flattery had been pnssctl we kept south of Vancouver Islund for some time and then our Empress put her nose into the great Pacific Ocean. From what I have heard aud seen of this water I am inclined to believe that it was a mistuke to call it "pacific" or quiet. The Em press liners have been built by the British government at the royal arsenal. They arc about 15 years old and of pretty slender lines. In consideration of the subsidy received by the Cauudiuu Pacific R. R. Co. these boats are at the disposal of the Uritish government iu case of war. Many of these facts tended to give a feeling of safety, when the fearful roaring storms uud mouuluiuous waves put a severe test oil the material from which the hull was made. 'Never have I been on a ves sel which rolled and worked so hard as did the Empress of India on this voyage which seemed to be accompanied by a series of snowstorms aud hurricanes. Probably the elements would not have seemed so wild hud not our captain been urged to hasten the ship's speed as much us possible on account of the big penalty to be paid by his company to the British government for each day's delay in delivering the mails taken for transportation iu England. We passed neur the Aleutian Islands but did not sec them and the temperature aboard remained very cold until we reached the "kuro hivo" which is the Japanese warm current, the waters of which arc of the tlarkest blue I huve ever seen on the ocean. On Hearing the coast we came into a warm rain, but the sea was still rolling high, so that waves would sweep the promenade deck. When we were neariug Yokohama it was late and we had to anchor ot the quarantine station until the next morning, when the Japanese doctors came aboard, and on finding everybody on board iu good health, permitted us to proceed to the roadsteads. I had risen early iu the morning iu order to watch the "fire ball" emerge from the ocean and to be sure that nothing of interest would escaje us. Our vessel was soon surrounded by small boats, from which men of different callings climbed aboard to at once begin soliciting business. I wondered at their peculiar clothing und was informed that the characters sewed on the back of the "klmonas" described the establishments for which the runners were soliciting. Later I learned that each laborer or mechanic is furnished a kimono by his employer showing in characters fastened on the same, the occupa U611 as well os the employer. In the orient the harbors ore not equipped with wharves for large boats and the steamers ore laying in the roadsteads fastened to anchor buoys which are chained to rocks. The loading and unloading of vessels is facilitated by means of small barges moved by oars or sails, and which surround the ocean going vessel, receiving or discharging the cargo with 0 rapidity hardly realized in ports with the most modem equipment. (Continued uext week.) IOOOOCN THE TROLLEY WAY Is the only way to secure immediate delivery of your goods at the most reasonable of transportation rates. Therefore ring up the PORTLAND & SUBURBAN EXPRESS GO. Operating electric freight cars between St. Johns and Portland. We call for and check your trunks direct to destination. Turn your trunk checks and shipping receipts over to us and your goods will receive prompt attention We have teams connecting with cars at St. Johns ond Portland. Get our rates before shipping. Special rates on car load lots. Experienced and courteous employes. Phone Main 358, Portlaud office. Phone Main A 3358. First and Flanders Streets. C. W. STEARNS Phone Woodlawu 818. Agent at St. Johus. Office 105 E. Burlington street. ooo MADE TO FIT YOU Suits. Overcoats and Cravenettes $20 to $40 Ladies' and Gents' Suits Cleaned, Pressed and Repaired Steam Cleaning and Dyeing. Ptrson.4. Noct, Tailors. Next to Postoffice. Ye Editor Visits a Number of the Leading Business Houses of the City and Gathers Some Interesting Information. Last week wc stopped when wc got to the whisker studio of Artists Monsfield & Kaemleln. Wc went iu there and Dr. Smith placed lis in the oierating chair where he performed the surgical stunt to our satisfaction. Just then the compositors said for us to "rif.g off." This week wc sturt on our journey at the cigar aud tobacco emporium of George W. Simmons where you will find the finest of cigars aud tobaccos besides fresh fruits, foreign and domestic always on hand. George also carries a fine line of candies, nntl has ice cream, sodas, milk shakes in season. Then wc cume back home aud found between our shop aud the whisker hospital three live real estate firms. There is Mr. Wood nnd the Shepards domiciled iu the same room with a most attractive list of realties for sale arid exchange aud under our own roof Sam Downey with more business than a cranberry merchant at Thanksgiving time flying around like a young turkey fresh from the block on that popular day. He had such a run of business Saturday evening that he locked Ills door open, went away aud left the key in the lock. Just ask Sam, he's It. In our own shop is the king bee of the buucti, II. U. Ugdcn, who lias everything in realty trout a town lot to a township-and will sell you property so that it will seem just like finding it. Across the street next to Walker's clear store is the tousorial parlor of George Hull, the genial city treasurer. Here he divides his time between drawing checks to cover city debts and drawing his cleaver over the chins of his victims. Hr. always has two or three good looking young men acting as assistant surgeons. We do not know if they arc married or not, but our young ladies can ascertain when they go there to have their hnir Ircsscd. The next one in the row is the Uoston bakery aud candy kitchen where arc all kinds of pics and cakes, home made caudles, bread like mother used to make; doughnuts, cookies, puffs and buns, and other dainties too, great guns! Hut here wc had to dodge a scale weight from the pretty blackeycd girl behind the counter aud run into the butcher shop uext door where C. W. Hcuuclt is busy as the proverbial honey maker from morning to night assisted by two or three others serving the public with tue tincst of juicy steaks aud cutlets, bolls and roasts, in fact anything that one could wish from the shambles. The next victim is a member of royalty aud of course wc used our court manners aud met our genial alderman with "Hull to the Kim:." He said, yes, and iu addition to all the real estate and other things he handled here he had some stocks in some of the best mines iu Southern Oregon which might be 11 good Investment for some of the loose change iu the country, ami there is lots of it. This made us hungry. It always docs when wc get uext to Dan's Grill. Do you know that Dan's Grill is equal iu quality, if not iu size to any grill iu the city of Portland ? Well, if you went there to get a good dinner any day, you would, particularly if you were good to your wife, and took her there Sundays to save the little woman some disagreeable work while tue cook is taking a day out. Dan s Sunday dinners arcslmplyimmcnsc. The bervicc is the best, the china, silverware, cutlery, every day just like you have for Suudays,wcddiugs aud all special occasions: und the menu, geel we've just got to stop or our little chap crone will make us take her there next Sunday, and as the kids ore alt home it would cost us 11 V. Then wc wanted 0 "Hires' Root Hccr ' nnd we went into Mrs. Pennington s place where site keeps the neatest and best supplied "delicatessen" iu the city. Candies, nuts, root beer, cider, the finest of ices, and milk shakes iu summer, and hot beef tea and other hot drinks iu winter, aud if you want a fine cigar there arc no better thou Mrs. Pennington serves to her customers. Hut wc wanted to see our old tillicum, Goodcll, at the bank and of course wc couldn't stop there without getting a good cigar aud he keeps the best of them, also all kinds of tobaccos, pies nnd other smokers' supplies. Across from Goodell's cigar store on the corner Is the hardware store of Potter & Goold. These enterprising merchants are not as hard us their business would Indicate, and while they are Pottering around they nre taking iu a good share of "Goold" the kind our daddies make their dollars nut of. They curry a full line of all kinds of hardware stock uud there is nothing used inside of your house or iu the making of it they cannot furnish that can be found in any hardware store. Then as we go west from Potter & Goold' s establishment on the corner we find bt. John's one bank, The Peninsula, aud while they do 110 bragging, no boasting or boosting of their business, they nre there with the goods at all times. The bank is operated by a genial, accommodating corps of employes who thoroughly understand their business and attend to it to a "T." It is always a pleasure to go Into that institution, no matter whether it is to pay up for n "dun" or to draw the yellow metal from their coffers, you will be treated In the same cental prompt manner. The bank's business is handled In a conservative, careful manner aud the only kick wc have coming is that wc haven't n few thousands handy to drop iu there for safe keeping. That is what we nre working for aud we are going to have it some day if we live long enough. The next stopping place is the Home Hakery If you ever want some good bread, cakes or pies, or anything else baked just like your mother used to bake them iu the old kitchen back home stop aud get some of the good things that Mrs. Sparschuh bakes, then when you eat them just shut your eyes and you will imagine you are back Home again, aud before you think you will yell: "Mother gimme some more doughnuts." The next place is "Millie's Repair Shop," There is where you take your umbrella when It gets sick, has a rib broken or loses its head. Hilly can fix it. There ore lots of other things Hilly can do just As well as dad, or any other man. Try him on a saw when it needs some dental work done. He is iu a class by himself as a saw dentist. Then while you are going down that way you just can't stop until you get to Couch & Co.'s general merchandise store. Here you can live a year without getting off the block. He keeps everything from a cambric needle to a box of bacon, aud if he had been n better marksman, according to Diouysius, he might have had some Jersey venison also, Then uext door west of Couch's store is another establishment filled with a fine stock of some kind of goods for ladies, but they hove never advertised aud we do not know what they have nor who operates the place. It looks nice though, and as soon as we have an opportunity we will go iu ond get acquainted. They are St. Johus people and we hope our patrons will call there whether they advertise or not. Kiglit across from there is the joiut that is run by the city lathers. It is the one place tu our city where more good things are hatched out and where more "cusslugs" go to roost than any other iu the city. The presiding genius Is "hizouer" Albert M. Kssou, city recorder and municipal judge, who Is always on hands like a sore thumb, and his geuial smile always welcomes you when you come iu at the door, unless you happen to be drunk and disorderly; then it Is I10 aud an admonition that it will be 30 days at Kcltcy's Butte for the uext dose. In another part of the building is the'abiuiiig place of the rinkertous, nhcrlock Holmes aud Gritzmachers of St. Johus. Upstairs the fire laddies, the best yet, have their tepee, as also have the city fathers who look after the welfare of their numerous progeny. Hut there goes the liuotytcr with a yell, "cut it out." COMMERCIAL CLUB Enthusiastic Ateeting Held on Last Thursday Evening. A meeting of the Commercial Club was held in the palatial rooms of that body on Thursday evening last, and while the attendance was nothing what it should have been, enough enthusiasm was manifested to make up in part the lack of at tendance. President Autzeu was unable to be. present, and the chair was ably filled by J. V. Hendricks. After the miuutes of a previous meeting were read aud approved, and a couple bills ordered paid, speeches were made by Chairman Hendricks and Messrs. Perkins, Prall and Taylor. The burden of their remarks was that more inter est should be taken iu the club, that the old residents of the city were apparently indifferent to the prog ress of the city aud would take uo part in any organization tending to its advancement, and it, therefore, devolved upon the younger gener ation and the new blood coming in to push the club forward and make it a mighty factor iu heralding St. Johns' wonderful resources and natural advantages to the world at large. The majority of the busi ness men here, either through sel fishness, Indifference or neglect, do not attend the meetings. Why so many business and professional men are so wrapped up in their own affairs and seemingly care not at all whether the city advances or retro-1 grades so far as nutting forth any personal energy is concerned, Is a puzzling problem to many who come liere from towns that were built up almost entirely by the en J tcrprise aud public spirit of its citi-, zens. As an instance of what push aud enterprise can do for a local, ity, Mr. Taylor cited the cases of Detroit and Chicago. The former was o finely located city with all the natural advantages possible for the making of an immense city when the latter was only a swamp or a hole in the ground. Hut men of ability, push, ambition, enterprise aud progressiveness gathered there, 1 and in spite of its unhealthful and undesirable location, with a stir prising amount of zeal pushed it rapidly to the front, and today De troit compared to Chicago is similar to Salem compared with Portland. Thus while St. Johus slumbers peacefully on it is possible for an other city of greater magnitude to spring up on the west bank of the Willamette where it connects with the Columbia, or in some other fa vored location iu close proximity. It is, therefore, up to our citizens to shake off their lethargy, rouse their spirit of ambition, and live not for self alone. The time is ripe and the hour is at hand when a united aud concerted effort is required to keep St. Johns where she belongs in the vanguard of progress and industrial activity. The club rooms have been ele gantly furnished, a jauitor has been employed to keep it in order, the An Institution That Bids Fair to Become One of the Most Important on the Pacific Coast One of the largest recent industries to be introduced into St. Johns is the asbestos plant nt the foot of Pittsburg street. This establishment has a fine building, two stories aud basement, 56x216 feet urea, each of the three floors. In the basement they arc now installing the grinding machines and mixers. The magnesia, asbestos aud other material is shipiwl iu iu car lots and manufactured into the different materials put out by this company. X ucrc is tue least possible waste lu tue tuauuiacturc of these products, because of the nature of the materials. ror instance, the pieces left over from fitting the different pipes and boiler coverings can alt be gathered up, put through the grinders nnd manufactured into other materials requiring shorter fiber, thus utilizing nil the scraps which would otherwise be a waste. In this wuy the company is enabled to manufacture some 15 different kinds of materials for builders, machinists, etc. On the basement floor there is now iu oicrnttoii one grinder and one mixer with fiiother set of the machines on hand iu the k. d. There is also iu the room, but not yet set up a compressor, with which the company manufactures asbestos packing for steam pipes and connections wherever steam is used. They also make lining for ice plants, refriger ating houses, cold storage plants ami kindred structures, besides all kinds of coverings for boilers, steam pipes, etc. There are other differ ent kinds of materials of asbestos that they do not mauufaelure as yet, because of the great cxikmisc of installing the necessary machines aud small demand for the line of goods, it being more profitable to ship this class of goods from the east than to buy the machines aud operate them here. Later, when some good asbestos mine has been opened lit) a number of discoveries having been made lu the west some one of which may yet develop into n profitable one uud the demand for these articles which are now shipcd 111 is great enough, this company will Install these extensive machines and manufacture here such products as fire curtains for theaters and other classes of asbestos cloth. lu addition to the machines mentioned there nre on the basement floor the batteries for heating the different drying tanks o( the institu tion, the latter situated on the floor above. Through these tanks the materials to be used are passed during the wet season before grinding, when necessary, aud at different stages of manufacture during all the seasons of the year. These tanks nre Immense receptacles larger than two or three ordinary parlors aud are fitted with steam pies in such 11 manlier that tue desired heat may be kcpt.up at all times. 1 lie entire building is steam heut'.d and kept at about summer heat day aud night. The machine shop, fitted with drill press, pipe cutting uud threading tools, vices, etc., fordoing their own repairing, construction and other work is also located on the basement lloor, ns ore the oluces of the manager, hookkcccr aud necessary clerks. Iu the southwest corner of the basement is located the dining room for tue employes so that they may huve warm meals nt their work, thus n voiding the necessity of changing their clothes before going to lunch as they would be obliged to do if they went home; for uo flour milt ever whitewashes its employ es so thoroughly as does this institution the operatives employed tiicre. On this floor, too, Is located the electric motor for running the machin ery, u fine 3o-cycle, alternating current motor of about .jo-horse power. Mr. Chambers, superintendent and manager of the plant speaks very highly of the efficiency of the electric service and the working of his motor iu particular. The two upicr stories for the present nre used for storage aud dry ing of the materials. It is the Intention of the company to move their plant from Portlaud to St. Johns as fast as possible and eventually the entire building will be filled with their machinery nnd run in full force. There ore now about a half doeu employes at work, among them a skilled machinist aud engineer to care for the machinery. This force will be doubled several times by the time the entire plant is installed. The company own the laud to the water's edge and will put iu a dock for their convenience iu traustwrtiug material uud stock between the plant iu Portland and the one here. Altogether, this plant presents one of the most attractive of all our big industries. We are under many obligations to Suieriiiteudeiit W. H. Chambers for favors shown. We found him n very interesting and enthusiastic gentleman, thorough ly conversant with all the details of his business from the raw material of the asbestos mines to the finished products Iu the market and we spent a very pleasant hour 011 our visit to his plant. M. L. II0LRR00K C. H. BAII.RY rooms ore cozy, commodious and comfortable, magazines, newspa pers arc there iu nbuudauce, aud everything that tends to the com fort aud enjoyment of mankind is to be found there. Hut you, Mr. Husiuess Man, why don't you at tend? The Commercial Club of Portlaud has done much for that city; the business men of the me tropolis deem it an honor to belong to that organization. Why should not the same state of affairs exist here? Don't be a drone, be a man. If the management or the manner tu which the club is conducted don't suit you, why stay at home and sulk? Instead, attend the meet ings aud state your views. Don't say one man is running the club when he is simply trying to keep it alive. Don't look to see if some one else is doing right, but ask yourself if you are doing your whole duty as a citizen and business man of St. Johns. Why not be an active member instead of a disgrun tled one, finding fault with every one and everything? It doesn't cost any more and your acquaint ances will think more of you. It was decided to appoint an en tertainment committee to devise so cial entertainments in an attempt to arouse more interest iu the club. The committee appointed consists of Willis Moxou, John Kdlefscu aud G. J. Perkins. The entertain ments as decided upon by the com mittee will be announced from time to time. St. Johns Land Co. Tiic Largest and Oldest Real Estate Firm in St. Joints. East St Johns - If you know any news tell us. The center of the great development now taking place on the Peninsula. We have only a lew business lots left on Lolunilwi ;$ Houlevard, which for a short time only will be sold at present prices. J vSomc fine residence lots still on sale. . Choice manufacturing sites adjoiuing the O. R. & It N. railroad for sale on reasonable terms. It K-l -II . A I I luiuruuK s mjuiuun t j j We have some choice lots in the vicinity of the I new $20,000 school building now in course of construe- St I tiou. Call at our office for prices and terms for cither of these desirable tracts. St. Johns Phone Union 3104 Oregon it LEROY H. SMITH 4, CO. REAL ESTATE, EIRE. LIEE AND ACCIDENT INSURANCE Phone M 2025 Offices: Cochran Hlock, St. Johns 408 Abiugton nidg., Portland