Image provided by: Oregon City Public Library; Oregon City, OR
About Oregon City courier. (Oregon City, Or.) 1902-1919 | View Entire Issue (May 11, 1906)
... m: CITY MAGAZINE SECTION. OREGON CITY, OREGON FKIDAY. MAY n, 1906. PAGES 1 TO 4. OREGON Ton JcK MISS HELEN GANNON. One of the First ladies of OMcial Society at National Capital. . She Often Graciously Presides at War Councils of the Nation's Chiefs. Democratic in Manner and a Famous Housekeeper. The distinction of being the best posted woman in America on politics and statecraft, is generally accorded to Miss Helen Cannon, daughter of the Speaker of the U. S. House of Re presentatives. Speaker Cannon who is genial and democratic in manner, is a man of many close friendships, but no one is so close to him as his only unmarried daughter who has presided over his household since the death of his wife, many years ago. Miss Cannon emphatically disproves the theory that a woman cannot keep a secret. As the confidante of the official, who, next to the President, is the most powerful man in the United States, she probably learns more of what Is going on "behind the scenes" MISS HELEN DAUGHTER OF THE SPEAKER OF THE in official life than any other member of her sex, yet never so much as once has she let her tongue slip when "mum" was the word, and this is more than can be said of some men of exalt ed position. Moreover, Speaker Cannon's confi dence in his daughter's discretion and common sense is shared by the leaders in the - lower house of Congress who have occasion to confer frequently with the presiding officer. Many of these confidential confabs are held at the unpretentious vine-covered brick house which constitutes Speaker Can non's Washington home, and many times a newcomer at such a conference has been surprised to see the wheel horses of our national legislature freely telling state secrets before the hostess. Joya of Good Cooking. Incidentally it may be noted' that Miss Cannon is largely responsible for so many of these political star cham ber sessions being held at the Cannon residence instead of in the Speaker's private office at the Capitol or some where else. Few readers of this need be told that the average man sets great store by good cooking, and the popularity won by Senator Hanna's famous "hash breakfasts" goes to prove that the President and other high officials of the nation are no ex ception to the masculine rule. Well, just here one has a hint as to the magnet which helps to draw many men of affairs to the Speaker's home instead of to his office. Miss Cannon is a splendid housekeeper, and Is an ex pert in preparing or superintending the preparation of those plain, whole some dishes which never fail to make a hit with men who are weary of hotel cooking. In things to eat, as in dress, Speaker Cannon does not go in for much in the way of "frills", but no man who knows what Is In store for him ever declines an invitation to dine at his house. ,' f l ' I " if? :f vr , x When Congress is not in session, Miss Cannon is mistress of her father's home at Danville, Illinois. There, as in Washington, she is always prepared for company, for the Speaker's married daughter with her children, spends much time at the Cannon home, and relatives and friends always feel free to "drop in" at almost any time. Official Feminine Calls. In the social life of the national cap ital, Miss Cannon occupies, by virtue of her father s position, a unique posi tion. Possibly not ail our readers are aware of the many unwritten laws that govern the exchange of calls between women whose husbands or fathers oc cupy prominent positions at Washing ton. For instance, official etiquette prescribes that the wife of a newly elected Senator or Representative must make the first call upon the wives of all those Congressmen who are her husband s seniors in service. Miss Cannon, however, In accordance with these same unwritten laws, is not compelled to make a "first call" upon any ladies in Washington, save the wife of the President and the wife of the Vice President. All this fuss as to who shall call first may appear ridicu lous to persons who are not brought in contact with life at our seat of gov ernment, and possibly Miss Cannon who is thoroughly democratic may re- CANNON. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. gard it in that light too, but the fact remains that the enforcement of such recognition is due the dignity of her father's position, and she is too good a politician not to insist upon the Speaker of the House enjoying all the prestige which is due him. Should Mr. Cannon one day be President of the United States, as is by no means im possible, his daughter will by reason of her kindliness and democracy, make an Ideal First Lady of the Land. URGES EASY SPELLING. Supreme Court Justice Joins With Other Weil-Known Men Carnegie Gives Fund to Aid Cause. Associate Justice David J. Brewer of the , United States Supreme Court is deeply interested in the adoption of a scientific regulation of English spell ing. . Justice Brewer is a member of the board of which Brander Mathews, of Ttfew York, is chairman. About 750 have agreed to adopt for customary use in their own personal correspond ence the following twelve simplified Rnpllinirs heretofore recommended and used by the National Educational So ciety, namely, program, catalog, aeca- log, prolog, demagog, peuagog, mo, ai tho, thoro, thorofare, thru and thruout. In May and June, 1905, many distin guished scholars, literary men, and cclPTiHsta Rie-nerl the nromise. and now the committee has been permanently organized, under the name of the Sim plified Spelling Board. Funds ade quate for the purpose have been given bv Andrew Carnegie, the justice thinks, to the amount of $15,000, the income of which is to be devoted to the interests of the organization. imnnu- th memhers of the board are E. Benjamin Andrews, chancellor of the University or .NeDrasKa; uavia J. Brewer, associate Justice of the Su rt nf the United States: Nicholas Murray Butler, president of Columbia University; Andrew Carne gie, Samuel L, Clemens (Mark Twain), Thomas Wentworth Higginson, Will iam Dean Howells, Prof. Lownsbury of Yale. Prof. .Tames of Harvard. Ben- iamin E. Smith, editor or the century Mneazine. W. H. Ward, editor of the independent, and Andrew D. White. ICEBERG IN DELAWARE, Iluge Mountain of Ice Towed From Grand Banks of Newfoundland, The Strenuous Work of a Tug's Crew One of the Strangest and Perhaps the Most Valuable Prize Ever Taken by a Ship. In order that the city of Philadel phia might be rescued from an Ice fam ine a powerful ocean-going tug has ac complished the almost impossible feat of capturing a huge iceberg, and tow ing it into port. Never in the world's history has this wonderful achieve ment been duplicated, and contrasted with it the fascinating exploits re counted by the marine historian Sin bad, the sailor, appear commonplace and trivial. With its mountain of ice in tow, the tug passed up the Delaware River creating consternation among the float" ing world on the strep m, as observers could not imagine other than that the floating mountain was being driven up the bay by some freak of wind and cur rent, to the great danger of shipping. Its approach was responsible for some frenzied telegraphing, which threw the shipping interests into a panic. Orders were issued to hold up the sailing of every vessel due to leave, and mes sages were dispatched to lower Dela ware station to intercept several out bound steamers and warn them to seek anchor? ge out of the berg's path. Maritime Interests Excited. For several hours maritime "Inter ests were intensely excited by the unheard-of presence of an iceberg in the bay. Later, when the true story of the wonderful feat was flashed over the wire, it seemed so utterly incredible that the excitement, if anything, was increased. It was not until one of the fastest tugs in the harbor had steamed down the bay and wired verification of the story that the panic was allayed. Only the providential co-operation of the winds and tides, and the most fa vorable weather conditions enabled the tug to accomplish the feat. In spite of the almost inconceivable risks at tendant upon the berg's capture, not a member of the tug's crew was Injured. Two Men Frost-Bitten. Two men suffered from bad frost bites, but this was due to their own carelessness in braving the arctic tem perature in the berg's vicinity without pi'Gper ciumiu& t)Aiuiw.ww . a warning to the rest of the crew, and when the tug with the prize passed the Breakwater every man aboard was muffled as if for a Peary relief expedi tion. The length of the Iceberg was 500 feet, and it is estimated that it will yield fully 500,000 tons, which is nearly sufficient to make up the shortage in ice crop due to the mild winter, ihe work of cutting up the mountain of Ice will have to be pushed because of the rapidity with which it will melt under the spring sunshine. The monster berg was captured on the Grand Banks of Newfoundland. It was made fast at great risk by the daring men on the tug, who, In small boats tied, staunch ropes around the mountain of ice, and then let out a long tow-line from the tug and, with grappling hooks, secured a fastening which held firm after several attempts had resulted in failure The crew of the tug will share in the money the prize will yield, As icebergs are brok en off portions of glaciers, the ice yielded will be of good quality. School Garden Education. Everv child likes to clay in the mud and dirt, to -make sand houses and caves, mud pies, and even to plant a garden, breaking oft the twigs of trees and pulling weeds, which are carefully planted and watered, furnishing diver sion and pleasure for the day. It Is an easy matter to direct the youthful mind a little further along tnis line and Interest it in a real miniature gar den. It is not an untried theory, but a fact, abundantly proven in all the large and many of our small cities. Philadelphia has what are called "Municipal Gardens;" Boston has a dozen "School Gardens;" Chicago, Detroit, Washington, Cleveland, Los Angeles, In fact, almost all cities have successfully worked out either the school garden or the vacant lot culti vation Idea, two separate propositions, it is true, but closely allied. The school garden idea opens up an easy and agreeable avenue to what proves more of a diversion than a task to the young. New York has only one such farm garden, but on Its one or two acres, the children plant and raise both flowers and vegetables, while in an extemporized cook-house they prepare the vegetables for the table and enjoy the flavor of the fruits of their labor. Besides this instruction in the culinary art, a bedroom in miniature furnishes an opportunity for the girls to learn how to care for rooms. In Phila delphia the relation of the municipal gardens and the schools is intimate. But to see this idea worked out, per haps, at Its best one must study it as It is In Boston. There, a private organ ization known as the School Garden Association, for six years or more has been developing little centers where the children delight to plant and culti vate, furnishing object lessons of the utility of such work which it is hoped, may lead to its addition .to the school curriculum, and with this , idea In mind these school gardens are located quite generally on land adjacent to school-houses, some of the regular school teachers gladly acting the part of instructors. The effect upon the little workers In these plots is in every way happy and should lead to their more general use. MAPS FORTUNE IN WORMS. Maine Florist Returns to Sweden After Breeding Bait. By far the most popular bait for all kinds of fishing in Maine are liv ing earthworms, which have the odor of the ground about them and which seem to be choice tidbits, not only ror trout and landlocked salmon, but also tor pickerel, perch, black bass and, in deed, every species of food fish that swims in fresh water. As the Maine soil is deficient in humus and lacking in decaying vegetable matter, angle worms are not plentiful. More than ten years ago Carl Beers, a florist of Bangor, went into the busi ness of rearing earthworms for the purpose of selling them to the local fishermen, as well as for shipment to Boston. He Imported a breed of dark purple worms from Belgium, which were prolific breeders, though course and strong flavored, and later he secured a box of giant angleworms from India. In the course of a few years he was able to supply live worms by the million to his custom ers. Those shipped to Boston were sold in job lots of 75 cents a pound. To the home customers he sold worms of average size for 10 cents a dozen. Though his green house was a small one, and though his trade in flowers was never extensive, he made money rapidly from the sale of worms, un til last year, when he retired and went to his old home in Sweden, a wealthy man. Sidney Cook, of Presque Isle, the inventor of several diving appliances used by men who work in deep wat ers, was the next man to attract at tention as a public benefactor in the bait line. Mr. Cook says his inven tion was made possible through hav ing watched the Indians of Canada when they sought worms for bait. "All earthworms come to the sur face at night," said he, "and feed on the grasses and rotting leaves neat the entrance to their burrows. While the worms were busy eating, the In dians of Canada had a habit of drag ging a blanket with Its under side smeared with bird lime along the sur face of the land, thus picking up the fat worms together with sticks and lumps of earth and small pebbles. "After dredging the land for a time the Indians carried the blanket to the camp, picked off the worms, and add ed another coating of bird lime. much for my invention, it is not mine by rights, as I gained the idea from Indians. Already the Scenery Around the Falls is Marred by Power Plants. The only change I have made Is to go out with a light giving forth a violet color and allowing it to shine for a few minutes upon the land to be visited with the smeared blanket. Most lights frighten earthworms and drive them underground, which Is the reason why they feed in the dark, but a light that carries a blue or a violet blue shade seems to soothe the crea tures and makes them careless of danger. "Or perhaps the worms are hypno tized by the Btrange glare and cannot get away. That is the way a dash lamp acts upon deer at night, and I think a deer should know as much as an angleworm." IN ROCKEFELLER'S CLASS. Chief Quanah Parker, of the Co manches, has all the great man's hor ror of the camera. While waiting for a train at Stanton, Okla., a young man began making photographs of him. The Indian grew angry, opened his pocket knife, and threw It at the camera man. As this did not de ter the latter, Parker went indoors, took a revolver from his valise, and started on the warpath. The police had to disarm him. J. Plerpont Morgan, John D. Rock efeller, H. H. Rogers, and others doubtless have sent messages of ap proval to the big Comanche. p F y 'n? ! V ii-M 1 III I f I jlEXVl; j NIAGARA FALLS IN DANGER. Jdint Resolution in Congress For Their Preservation. Proposal to Unite With Caaada in an Effort to Stop Further Depre dations Which Will Destroy the Scenic Grandeur. At last the national law-makers have come to a realizing sense of the danger which threatens Niagara Vails, the most beautiful of all the worlds natural wonders. By a joint resolution of the Senate and House of Representatives the International Commission, created un der the River and Harbor Act of 1902, was requested to report to Congress, at an early day, what action was, In their judgment, necessary and desir able to prevent the further depletion of water flowing over Niagara Falls and were further directed to exert, in conjunction with the members of said Commission representing the Dominion of Canada, if practicable, all possible efforts for the preserva tion of the falls in their natural con dition. Report of Committee. This Commission promptly reported that if any benefit was to be derived by legislation, immediate action was necessary and outlined a plan which It believed would have the desired effect, providing Canada would unite with this government in curbing the greed of promoters and speculators. The report says, In part: "As a step in that direction we recommend that legislation be enacted which shall con tain the following provisions, viz: The Secretary of War to be author ized to grant permits for the diversion of 28,500 cubic feet of water per second, and no more, from the waters naturally tributary to Niagara Falls. All other diversions of water which is naturally tributary to Niagara Fulls to be prohibited, ex cept such as may be required fot locks in navigation of canals. The foregoing prohibition to remain In force two years, and then to be come the permanent law of the land, if, in the meantime the Caniuliau government shall have enacted legis lation prohibiting the diversion of water which is naturally tributary to Niagara Falls in excess of 30,000 cubic feet per second." Dependent on Canada. It wnr uw uuicu um unless tL British government, unites with this (country iu its etjtort to save the natural The American Falls Threat ened to be Destroyed by Water Diversion. beauty of Niagara Fails little fiance accomplished, and from past experi ence it seems more than doubtful that such will be the case. In the matter of. the international boundary aud ;J!e seal controversy, Canada certainly did not show nn over friendly spirit and there is no reason to assume that her attitude has changed in the' least, but It would seem probable that she will use all her great Influence with the mother country to defeat any friendly agreement that might be proposed. This conclusion of Canada's probable attitude is not reached entirely on ac count of any unfriendly feeling, but because of two very important facts: one of these is the greater width and depth of the channel on the Canadian side, which would Insure a splendid flow over the Horseshoe Falls after the American side Is entirely dry. It Is asserted that Ontario Province now receives from the Commissioners of Queen Victoria Niagara Park, minimum annual rental of $tlO,XK) for the water rights granted there, and when the plants for which these rrnnts were made are in full operation, the annual rentals to the government will amount to over $:i(K),000. Tt is further asserted that additional witter could be granted by Canada which would produce an annual rental of another $.1f)0,0(X), and still not serl- onslv affect the Canadian side of the Fall's, while the American Falls would be entirely drained long before this enormous rental was due. I There would seem, however, to be a remedy for the evil which Is belnfc done, and one which Is not dependent on Canadian co-operntion. This remedy could be accomplished by New York State alone, and would be to so deepen the river channel south of Goat Island, between that Island and the New York State bank, that Un American, Falls would divide with the Horseshoe whatever water was not diverted from its natural bed. Th Treaty of Ghent places the American boundary at a point well out Into the deep part of the river channel and affords ample opportunity to make necessary excavations. k 1 kjfflj ,: J I (From sketch In Ladles' Home Journal. ) HOW THE AMERICAN FALLS MIGHT AP PEAR IN THE NEAR FUTURE. If anything is to be accomplished In the mutter it is necessary to act at once, for if more corporations ob tain control of the water rights it will be impossible for either the nation or New York State to repurchase them without an absolutely enormous ex penditure of money. Lack of Interest. It Is certainly to be regretted that the American people have so long neglected the most beautiful fall of water in the world, and have allowed any part of it to lie converted to pri vate gain or corporate greed. Even now, In the face of all that bns been said imU written on the subject, there Rooms to be an attitude of half-hnartetlness on the part of t rated by the fact that Senator L'Honv"' UH'dleu, of the New York State legln lutnre, haft asked the Senate to kill his bill restricting the taking of water from Niagara River above the falls for power, purposes mnl says lu defense of his action, '1 cannot find any senti ment iu favor of : protecting Niagara Falls, and I'm tired of being attacked on the subject of my bills relating to this subject." MAMMOTH INCUBATOR. A Hatching Machine That Hoes the Work of Vme Thousand Setting . Hens. , N The largest incubator in the world, , with a capacity of 15,000 eggs, has Just been completed by W. P. Hall of Pembroke, N. Y. It vis 102 feet long, and 4 feet 4 inches wid. Partitions divide it into 100 compartments, each accommodating two trays. The trays have wire bottoms, and hold 75 eggs each. To fill this incubator a single time with common not thorough bredeggs woud require an expendi ture of 6,000, for eggs of the requis ite freshness would cost forty cents a dozen. As one hen covers fifteen eggs for hatching, the incubator does the work of 1,000 fowls, or has the capa city of one hen sitting constantly for nearly ten years. The incubator Is heated by means of a coil of eight steam pipes passing over the top of the egg chamber on one side and returning on the other. These pipes are connected, at one end of the structure, to a water tank and heater. The water flowing through the pipes is heated to exactly the right temperature,, a thermostat at tached to the stove opening and clos ing the drafts to make this possible. The only attention required by the hea.ter is supplying it with coal night and morning. The thermostat is an expansion tank, 10 by 18 Inches, which stands over the heater. The tank is filled with oil, in which lg a float. As the heat of the furnace warms the water, the water in the jacket surrounding the heater ex pands, and the float in the oil rises. This movement closes a throttle at tached to the floatarm, and shuts the draft of the heater; another lever at the same time opens the cold-air draft of the furnace. In this way the tem perature Is regulated automatically, with extremely little variation, the eggs being kept at 102 degrees F. A second novel feature Is that the heat of the eggs is regulated by rais ing or lowering them in the egg cham ber, which Is nearly a foot high in side, burlap separating it from tne pipes. The egg trays rest on double frames hinged by galvanized arms or levers. As the chicks develop, the trays are lowered on these supports, the first drop being made In six days, and others at Intervals, until, on the twenty-first day, the trays are rest ing on the bottoms of the chambers. All infertile eggs are tested out on the seventh day. Mr. Hall built smell Incubators at first, but the oil bill for forty of his Bmall incubators, with 8,000 eggs ca pacity, was $150 for a season, while a large Incubator was run three months at an expense of less than 18 tor coal.