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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 1, 1895)
30 THE aiOmsIXG- OKEGOjSTA3T TUESDAY. JAiHJAR I. 1895.' PORTLAND'S SHIPPING Excellent Sliowingr Made During tlie 3?ast Year. WHEAT AND FLOUR FOR FOREIGN COUNTRIES Seport of the Custom-Houac and Internal Ecvcnue Service Summary of the Salmon Catch and Pack-Trade to Hops and "Wool Coal Business. WW PIpB WwBt "UK HE leading industry of the Northwest Is wheatraising; there fore that cereal is the principal arti cle of export at the metropolis of this section. Portland leads the Northwest in the exportation of wheat and flour. The business years ago assumed large pro portions, and ever since the business has kept pace with the growth of the port and country. The wheatshipping year properly begins the 1st of Sep tember, and extends until the 1st of June. The present season will without doubt be the best in the history of Portland, so far as regards the amount of wheat shipped. The average number of vessels clearing from this port with grain for Europe is SO,- but before the present season will have ended next June, 100 grain-laden ships will have sailed out of the Columbia river for lands on the other side of the Atlantic This number is indicated by the number of vessels which have cleared since the 1st of September, the number still In port loading and those on the way under char ter to load here. Another matter of pride to Oregonians is the improvement in the size and class of ships which have come here during the year. While a few years ago no vessel of over 1000 tons register ever visited this port, it is now a rarity to see a vessel of that size In the harbor. Most of the ships in port during the year registered between 1500 and 2000 tons, and 15 of them were over 2000 tons register. This increase in tonnage is due entirely to harbor and river improvement by the gov ernment and the Port of Portland com mission. Portland has always excelled in the matter of giving grain ships quick dis patch. Wheat is the leading article exported from Portland, and Brown & McCabe, the only stevedoring firm engaged in the port, have got the business down to a fine point. Their apparatus is so extensive and complete that they could handle with ease five times as many vessels as have ever been In port at one time. A good specimen of their work was in the handling of the British ship Dovenby Hal?, last month. They began putting wheat into her on the morning of the 21st and in the evening of the 22nd, had hercargo, 3000 tons, entirely stowed away. An exceptionally good record was made by Captain Brown's men in November on the Port Crawford, also a British ves sel. In 44 hours' time the stevedores re lieved this ship of 800 tons of ballast and loaded her with 2163 tons of wheat. These are records which cannot be excelled on the Pacific coast. One of the appliances in use by this firm is a coal-hoisting apparatus, patent ed by James Reed, of this city. This hoist greatly facilitates the work of un loading coal; In fact, eight men canno fill the buckets as fast as the machine will will hoist and dump them. It also saves several hours' time in getting up gear. With its use. a ship can commence discharging coal the moment her hatches are taken off. One of the machines is in place on the Gas dock and another on Victoria dock. A third is beingconstruct cd and will soon find a place on one of the large docks. As a result of their improved methods in handling cargo and ballast. Brown & McCabe have reduced all stevedoring rates, the reduction to take place on this date. All of the towing the past year has been done by the Oregon Railway & Navigation Company. The service has been good, and some quick runs have been made be tween Portland and Astoria. The best work was done in bringing up the British ship Red Rock, the day before Christmas. The vessel was towed by the steamer Ocklahama, and was piloted by Captain Harry Emken, an old-time river pilot. From the time the ship left her anchorage at Astoria until she was docked at her Portland wharf was only 10V- hours. This Is the best river passage ever made here but doubtless it "Ras shipped across the Atlantic by steamer, as the prevailing freight rates between New York and Eng land would permit of such course. The following vessels comprised this fleet: VESSELS. Reaper .. Solitaire Iroquois Total. S9,924 33.572 73.496 a 2 4L547 25,070 66.617J $29,943 42,000 54.000 5125.913 The following table shows the foreign shipments of wheat from Portland during the year 1894: Jan. Feb. VESSELS. Sutherland-shire Forrest Hall Valkyrie star of Austria 21 British Princess Amuiree Holyrood Drumalis Algburth Ounira. 20)Santa Clara 20Annesley 20Irene 21IClan MacPherson Mch. 16 John Cooke 20HawalIan Isles 30IInvermark April UMarion Crosble 7 Adolph Harboe 9Cara 21 1 Maria Mercedes 21 Hawkesdale , May 6Holywood 14lPeterborough Sept. 39Cathcart Oct. 4Crofton Hall 17iColumbIa 17IGwalla 17Wray Castle 29 Maxwell 29 Iolanthe SOCarnedd Llewelyn.... aoBeacon rock 2Lorton .: 2Christ!ne 3Yola 5ZInita 5iEskasonl 8 Pengwern 8Glenburn 14TorriBdale 14lsle of Arran 20jElginshire 20' Evesham Abbey 22Siren 27 Fiery Cross 29IProcyon 30SwanhiIda lKentmere 0.1 un rdniuru Nov. O Dec Ecclefechan Tenasserim Copely Ross-shlre Swanmorel) Principality Olmara Primrose Hill Maratnon Republic British Yeoman.. Senator Dovenby Hall.... Scottish Glens.... Mooltan Riverside Lord Elgin 56,2271 69.735 80.860 56.724 47,951 51.345 6S.195 S5.000 61.327 43.61! 43,502 52.672 36.020 53.764 65.699 73,612 51,240! 35,105 33,768 54.869 33,879 58.485 56,436 61.9S0 47.706 6S.762 62,015 45,577 65,300 59.165 51,944 60.480 6S.431 50,340 65.397 52,457 60,793 57.00S 54.432 57,998 78.748 65.685 76.267 50,1761 49,200 45,701 71.933 75,400 82,812 53.536 66.037 39.799 32.869 6S.275 32,816 50.20S 37.641 66.656 61.663 75.324 54.639 47,275 55.866 3S.744 50.46S 44.73S 44,023 $53,000 62.761 64,700 47.500 41.4S0 42,210 5S.S00 76,000 53,500 41,400 32.000 48,000 33,000 46,000 53.000 61,000 41,000 30,000 27.5"0 50,000 27.500 47.000 50.000 50.000 33.000 51.000 45,000 34.200 48.975 44,000 41,000 61,000 45,300 33,000 48,000 35.000 41.000 37,000 37.000 42.030 55.000 45.000 57.000 37.000 33.000 32,700 54,000 53,320 60,000 37.500 48.000 SS.400 51,972 C0.200 52,500 44,00( 36,99 57.0ft 54,001 6S,(XX. 45,73( 4S,00u 50,00., 50.000 43,200 3S.500 42.6S0 pounds of fish for a case of salmon. The average price of chic 00k salmon In the local market during the year was: Tails, 51 351 37! per dozen: flats, $1 451 50 per dozen. Steelheads ran about 51 per dozen for tails. Concerning the Improvement in the size of the pack, Mr. H. D. McGuire, state fish and game protector, says: 'There is noticeable an Increase in pack this season, both of the chinook and other varieties. In the absence of any inspec tion as provided for in the law of 1864, I am unable to say whether all the pack listed as chinook is in fact that variety of fish. However, whether that is so or not, there is no doubt that the run of chinook in the river was larger this year than for several years. Gill-net men made much better catches. The traps, however, did not do so well, owing, probably, to local conditions. At the same time the run of chinook in other streams between the Co lumbia and Rogue rivers was much lighter than usuaL This has been accounted for by the flood sending the fresh water farther out into the ocean than usual, and thus attracting a greater number of fish into the Columbia at the expense of other streams. If this be true it upsets the old theory that salmon return by instinct to the place of their birth, or at least to the stream from which they entered the ocean. Four years ago the Clackamas hatchery took 5,860,000 eggs, by far the largest num ber in the history of the institution. If the four-year theory is correct, the fish hatched that year should return in 1894. This might also account for the better run of the past season. If the latter Is the correct theory, then the value of artifi cial propagation needs no further demon stration. The decline of fish in other streams this season, upon this theory, would Indicate that artificial propagation alone can preserve the industry in these localities." The statistics given below are also from Mr. McGuire's report. The following ta ble shows the amount of each species of salmon packed in tins, with value of same for year 1891: No. Where packed & variety Cases Value Columbia river (Oregon side), chinook 200,078 $l,0S0,42o Columbia river (Oregon side), blueback 40,814- 209,070 Columbia river (Oregon side), silverslde 40.73S 163,032 Columbia river (Oregon side), steelhead 40.532 162.32S Nehalem river, chinook (white fish) 1.0S9 4.276 Nehalem river, silverslde. 7,458 29,832 Tillamook bay, chinook.. 2,117 10.585 Tillamook bay, silverslde 7.6S6 30,744 Tillamook bay, chinook (white fish) 2.725 10,900 Alsea bay, silverslde 4.900 19,600 Sluslaw river, chinook.... 1.124 5,620 Siuslaw river, silverside. 26,645 106.5S0 Coos bay, silverslde 11.500 46,000 Coqullle river, silverside 3.500 14.000 Urapqua river, silverslde. 9,600 38,400 Rogue river (Part of season, cannery burned.) Total number of cases Chinook 203,319 51.096,630 Blueback 41.814 209,070 Silverside 112.047 448.1SS Steelhead 40.3S2 162.32S Chinook (white fish).... 3,794 15,176 Total 401,556 51,931,392 Note Only the Oregon side of the Co lumbia river is included m aDove tame. Note. Rogue river cannery burned in 1893, and has not been rebuilt. There were 200,000 pounds of salmon salted there this Cases. Total pack chinook, Oregon side ' Columbia river 200,078 Total pack chinook, Washington side Columbia river 151.0S2 used in fishing, and tfie value of the same: No. Value. Boats 93S 5133,443 steamers ----i 4 Sloops . T' - 12 3.000 Piledrivers .., .-5 ;--. 6 4,530 Scows - - -.. .. 20 S.S00 GUI-nets "I'MIII 106 21220 Pound-nets ... . 109 70.600 Traps IS 10,000 Seines - .. 2S 12,603 Wheels """SJ"!.... 37 l.SSO Dip-nets - 65 1 Horses used on seines! TO 3,000 Total ,.,.... 397.050 Another Important industry of the Co lumbia and Willamette- rivers, which it is well to mention In this connection, is the catching and shipping of fresh fish. Both of the rivers are liberally stocked with fish of many varieties, and the work of catching and preparing them for the local and Eastern markets gives employment to a large number of men. During the year just closed, the amount of each spe cies of fresh fish shipped and consumed locally was as follows: No. variety. Pounds. Value. Salmon 4.179.32S 5208.966 Sturgeon 1,730,000 v-aviar 1.6UU Smelt 360,000 Shad 60.000 Trout 15,300 Tom cod S.400 Catfish 43,000 Oysters 180,000 Clams 128,000 Red fish or groupers S4.000 Halibut 140.000 Cod 14,500 Total 6.9U.52S 5330,767 86,500 1,050 10.800 1,800 1,550 336 1.290 6,000 1,920 4,200 5,600 725 point. All Valley wools sold were shipped through Portland. Local factories used from 1,000,000 to 1.500,000 pounds, mostly HOPS Also, 18,774 sacks barley. H Also, 19,475 sacks barley. The total wheat exports for the year were 3,5S0,32S centals, worth 53,431,898. By the following table, the direct for eign exports of flour arc shown: Jan. VESSELS. Manx King. Earl Derby 26Carnmoney April SIPIerre Cornellle May GIHighland Home Oct. 15 Priorhlll Nov. 32GIencalrn 30!Silverhow Total. a 30.440! 16.522 21.200 20.785 22,575 20,723 26.54 20.5S1 179.390i410.900 576.500 42,900 51,500 48,850 54,200 41.430 50,000 46.000 Total 351,160 Total pack all species, Oregon side Columbia river 323,232 Total pack all species, Washington side Columbia river 167.S6S Total 491,100 Total pack all species in Oregon 401.55G "otal pack all species in Washing ton side Columbia river 167,868 Total 569.424 The following table shows the amount if each species of salmon packed in wSs, .vith value of same, for year 1893: No. Where packed & variety, cases. Value. Columbia river (Oregon side), chinook 160,534 5566,990 60 Columbia river (Oregon side), blueback 27,623 138,125 00 Columbia river (Oregon side), silversides 26.729 106,916 00 Columbia river (Oregon side), steelheads 38,057 152.22S 00 Nehalem river, chinook (white fish) 1.054 4,216 00 Nehalem river, silverside 5,337 21.348 00 Tillamook bay, chinook.. 1,112 5,560 00 Tillamook bay, silverslde 4,014 16,055 00 Tillamook bay, chlnooK (white fish) Alsea bay, chinook Alsea bay, suversme.... Sluslaw river, chinook.. Sluslaw river, silverside. Coos bay, silverslde 3,125 Coqullle river, silverslde 6,500 Umpqua river, silverside. 11,550 Rogue river, chinook.... 4,400 4,014 8,212 1,260 4,000 145 15,697 32.S4S 00 8,300 00 16,000 00 725 00 62.78S00 12.500 00 25.000 00 46,200 00 23.760 00 In comparing the exports of the last seven years, it will be seen that while the Total 319.373 $1,540,560 60 Cannery burned this season. Cases Total pack chinook, Oregon side Columbia river 160,554 JiOTAL CHINOOK SALMON, COLUMBIA BIVER. by an iron thip. The towing service at the mouth of the river has been vastly im proved since the Spreckels Company, of 1 San Francisco, put their powerful tug Re lief there to work in conjunction with the Oregon Railway & Navigation Company. In previous years, the Cape Horn trade, that is the shipping of merchandise by water from the Atlantic seaboard to Port land, has been the source of no little rev enue to those who are connected with the maritime Interests of the port. In 1S91, however, this trade was remarkably light. No branch of local business showed as plainly the universal depression In trade. Merchants pursuing a hand-to-mouth pol icy declined to speculate in staple com modities to any marked extent, preferring to order their goods by rail. The low freight tariffs made by the transconti nental railroads had considerable to do In reducing the business of the all-water linos. At the present time, however, the outlook is much brighter for the trade via Cape Horn. While last year only four ves sels brought New York cargoes to Port land, shippers anticipate that in the pres ent year there will be six or eight such cargoes brought here. This business is conducted by Sutton & Beebe. of this city, and they are exceedingly hopeful for the future. The names of the American ves seis which arrived in Portland during the year from New York are the Portland Lloyds, Santa Clara, Reaper and Stand ard. The latter ship was the last to ar rive and she is still discharging her cargo. Another branch of the business, which developed during the year, and which, however. Is not likely to be continued, was the shipping of wheat to New York. This curious state of affairs was brought about by the burning of the Pacific Coast elevator at Albina on September 2S. The elevator company had several ships char tered to lad barley for New York, but most of the barley was destroyed In the elevator fire. Rather than give up the charters, they concluded to load the ves sels also with wheat. What eventually became of the wheat is difficult to say, quantity has increased, the value has de creased. The cause of this can be found in the steady decline in the price of wheat. The following table shows a comparison of the exports of wheat and flour from Portland during the past seven years: YEAR. 1S94.. 1S9S.. 3S92.. 1S91., 1S90.. 1SS9., 1SSS.. 2i 531 104 3.5S02S 3,390,0631 I 3.260.659J 3.934.S2S1 1 1,862,905' 63J 1,716.699 3,3S5,S2S 3 179.390 261,262' 290.3S4 277,636 329.S6S 411.259; 53,542,798 4,312,779 5,743,675 7,174.905 3.5S1.6S7 3,863.935 Total pack chinook, Washington side Columbia river 129,344 Total .S96.6S0 Total pack all species in Oregon. -.319,373 Total pack all species Washington side Columbia river 143,713 Total 463.0SS Table of factories in operation in 1893 and 1894, showing where located, value of land, buildings and machinery, and cash capital employed: 452.015 6,12S,473 SOMB SALMOX STATISTICS. A Fairly Good Year for the Fisher man and Packer. ALMON-PACKING, while not so profitable a business on the Columbia river as it was 10 years ago, it still, however, one of the greatest industries of the state. In the year 1S94 there were 569,424 cases of sal mon packed on the Columbia river and other streams of Oregon, the value of the pack amounting to 51.331,392. The total pack shows a grat ifying 'increase of over 100.000 cases over the preceding year. Fishermen did exceedingly well during the season, gill-net men especially. The work done by the traps and seines did not come up to the standard, owing to the summer freshet in the Columbia. The price of fish paid the men was 5 cents per pound gross. It usually takes from 63gK !2 3 "2 "? 15 3a 2.S5 S- LOCATION. o -3- 3 !? is it : i 1 j Columbia river, 13; Wil lamette, 1 14 5334,137 $618,503 Nehalem river. 1 10,090 15,000 Sluslaw river 2 26.500 25,000 Rogue river 1 30,000 60.000 JCoquille river 1 32.000i 32.000 Umpqua river 1 9.000 30.000 Tillamook bay 1 7,0001 40.000 Alsea bay 1 10.000 30.000 Coos bay 1 30.000! 30,000 j 1 Total 231 $648,6371 5S20.503 Burned 1893. i Burned 1894. The number of men employed in salmon fishing during,- the year was as follows: HOW EMPLOYED. Factories ... Gill nets Seines Pound nets. Traps Steamers ... Sloops ...... Scows Wheels Total. 1216 22S9 201 21S 50 17 34 35 49 4060 $260 293 350 309 200 230 220 200 2eo $246,873 540.280 35.750 44,555 30.000 3.870 3.420 3,900 S.000 $927,691 (Average rate per man for season's work of four months.) This exhibit represents the apparatus AXD WOOL. Business Transacted in Two Leading: Industries of the State. OPGROWING has become one of the greatest industries of the Northwest. The acreage of hops in this state was larger the past year than ever before, and consequent ly the crop of 1894 was the largest in the history of hop culture in Oregon, although growers did not harvest as much as the acreage war ranted. Theo. Bernheim, of this city, an extensive dealer in this product, says of the results of hopgrowing the past sea son: "Early prospects were very promising for a heavy yield, but towards August the vermin made their appearance in nearly every hop section of the state, the low-lying yards being most affected. Spraying, it seems, was not general, on ly a small number of growers resorting to this remedy. The damage from vermin was not as disastrous as first anticipated, but for all that, some yards were left unpicked, while some others lost more or less from the same cause. If spraying had been more general the quality of hops would have been superior to the article produced, although we had some very fine goods. The majority of hopgrowers did not spray their hop yards, owing to the poor outlook for prices, which did not warrant the outlay. I would also like to say a few words in regard to spraying. "A great deal has already been written about this, so it is no use to go into de tail. Suffice it to say that if the growers are not more particular about extermin ating this pest they will be the greatest sufferers. Since the attack of the hop aphis in this state much has been written about remedies to check the pest, and most growers are acquainted with "the remedies in vogue. In England, during the early part of last summer they had a serious attack of the aphis, but the English growers have spraying down to such a nicety that they are no longer afraid of vermin. . Their favorite remedy is a preparation of whale oil, soap and quassia chips. "Picking commenced nbout two weeks earlier than usual, owing to favorable dry and hot weather. Pickers were not as plentiful as in former seasons, as there was more' demand'fbr them, owing to in creased acreage "The prevailing price paid for picking this season was 30 cents per box, the boxes in the valley holding from about 12 to 13 pounds of dry hops. In some instances 40- cents was paid per box for picking, this being the price of former seasons. It seems that those who paid 40 cents had less trouble in securing pickers and also got their hops picked cleaner and with less stems than those that paid 30 cents, the pickers making up in quantity what they lost in difference in price. There was considerable complaint among dealers of unclean-picked hops. Of course, the low prices staring In the growers' faces did not warrant them paying more. "Quality on the average did not come up to former seasons, although our choice qualities were superior to those of either California or Washington, therefore they commanded better prices than hops of the two above-named states. "After hops were on sale they moved very rapidly, and by December 10 four fifths of the crop was out of the growers' hands, a limited amount going abroad. "During the months of June and July, dealers were anxious to contract at prices ranging from 11 to 13 cents, but very few growers took advantage of this opportunity, and preferred to wait until the hops were in the bale. After harvest the market opened from 7c to 74c for choice quality, and in some instances a fraction over was paid for some special selected lots, while lower grades were sold all the way from 3 to C cents, accord ing to quality. "According to reports received, the crop of Oregon for 1894 is estimated at 53,000 bales, against 3S.O00 bales for 3S9?,mthis being an increase of fully 15,000 balesoVer the 1SS3 crop. "The average yield per acre In this state for 3894 was about 1100 pounds, while in some favored yards the yield was as much as 2000 pounds." THE WOOL TRADE. Of the yield of Oregon wool in 1S94, and the market for the same, Mr. Theodore Bernheim said: "The clip in Eastern Oregon and the neighboring part of Washington was far heavier in 1894 than in the preceding year, and its quality was unusually good. Wil lamette valley wools, however, have fallen off considerably, both in quantity and quality. As for the decrease in the size of the clip in the valley it can be attribu ted to the fast that the farmers preferred to turn most of their stock into mutton, rather than into wooL But little more could be expected with tariff prices star ing them in the face. As for the deteriora tion in quality, it was due to the careless manner of putting up the fleeces in the Willamette valley. Many of the growers left all the tag-locks in the fleeces, and in consequence the wool was not up to the usual standard, many complaints being received from Eastern wool centers where the wools were shipped. Growers should be more careful and bring1 their wool Into market in more merchantable condition! Another complaint Is that farmers have been In the habit of storing their fleeces before sacking In hay or straw lofts, con sequently the foreign matter works itself intothe wool, which also Injures the fleece. In Eastern Oregon, the wool was put up in first-class shape. "The bulk of the wool shipped from this state during the past year was Eastern Oregon product. The clip from east of the Cascades amounted to about 15,000,000 to 37,000,000 pounds against 900,000 pounds in the Willamette valley. "Umpqua valley wools have also fallen back from the standard of former years, both In quantity and quality. When that district formerly produced between 3,500,000 and 2,000,000 pounds of wool annually. In 1894 it yielded only in the neighborhood of 225,000 pounds. The prices for the same were not more than the price for Valley wools, whereas formerly they brought from 1 to 2 cents more than any other wool on the coast. "The wool clip of this state in the year just ended was nearly all shipped to the East direct from the nearest shipping SS f Eastern Oregon wooL "Wool, even at the low prices prevail ing, will yield some profit to the producer, but the profit is so small that to realize it the growers must be exceedingly careful in the caring for and Improving of the breed of their sheep, so as to be able to compte with foreign wools. Before the tariff was taken off of wools, however, this branch of farming was a. most profit able industry." The following is the range of prices for wool which were current In this market during the year: Cents. Eastern Oregon, according to quality and shlnkage 5 10 Willamette valley, according to quality 9 11 Umpqua valley, spring clip 9 ip 31 Umpqua valley, fall clip 6 7 THE COAL TRADE. Review of the BaKiacxa Done Locally During the Year. HE year of 1834 was a fairly good one in the coal trade, and but for the prevailing de pression in business every where, the amount of capital invested in this line would have been much larger. It is beyond question that the low price of wood interfered more or less with sales of coal. Fire wood was never so cheap in Portland as in the year just ended, yet the coal tonnage which passed through the hand3 of deal ers in this city was about the same as in the preceding year. It was the cheap ness of wood, however, which prevented the coal trade from expanding. Tariff changes have as yet had little effect on this market, but it is generally believed that the coming year will see larger Im ports of foreign coal, especially from British Columbia. The table given below shows the amount of coal received at this port in 1894, and the value of the same: Foreign Tons. Value. Australia 7.4SS $44,923 Japan 1.S00 9,720 British Columbia 2,000 32,500 FEDERAL OFFICES BUSINESS HANDLED BY THE DE PARTMENTS DURTVG THE YEAR. Portland as an Important Port of Eutry The Appointments Made ljy President Cleveland. jfSf Total U.2S3 Domestic Tons. Puget sound, lignite 45,000 Pennsylvania, anthracite ... 1,000 Cumberland, blacksmith .... 1,000 Total 47,000 Total, all kinds .5S.2S3 There was probably a small quantity of coal received here frcm the Oregon coast mines, but the bulk of coal so mined finds a market in San Francisco, owing to the better facilities at present for shipping that product southward. It is only a question of time, however, before Oregon will supply the bulk of the coal consumed here. It has long been known that exten sive coal fields underlie many portions of this state, and these mines are only awaiting development. That will follow in the due course of time. A number of these veins have been prospected with satisfactory results, and would now be in active operation if railroads were con structed in the vicinity to bring the prod uct to market. Mr. W. T. Wallace, of the Oregon Coal & Coke Company, who spent many years in the study of the possibili ties of this state in the coal line, says: "There is a splendid coal field not over 30 miles from Portland in the Nehalem valley, which has an Inexhaustible supply of coal far superior to any coal mined m the state of Washington. Portland in the past year sent $180,000 to Seattle for lignite coal, when our own state has a liberal supply of a better article. I hope during the coming year to see much work done in Oregon mines, and the local market sup plied with a coal not inferior to any ar ticle produced on the coast. There is a splendid mine on the line qf the Coos Bay & Roseburg railroad, on which a great deal of development work has al ready been done, and as soon as the road is completed to Roseburg, its coal will be laid down in Portland much cheaper than the Puget sound ccal. This mine, how ever, is in the hands of San Francisco capitalists." DEPARTMENT of the govern ment of which the public is but little informed is that devoted to the collection of taxes. The burdens which the United States imposes on its citizens are not onerous, for the rea son that the revenues are principally obtained from the collection of duties, which are paid by the importers. The selling price of these imported goods is of course based on the first cost in foreign markets, with the duty added, but so evenly distributed is the amount paid to the government in duties that it has never been seriously felt by the great mass of the American people. Collector T. J. Black personally attends to that large and imoortant branch of the service relating to the enforcement of the Chinese exclusion act. Under the terms of the present law, the collector is vested with the sole power to decide up on the admission or the exclusion of all Chinese seeking admission to land at this port. The duties of this position are oner ous and exacting, but during his term of office Collector Black has been enabled to enforce the law, with a strict regard to the rights and equities in each individual case submitted to him. The active office work, which is generally supervised by the collector, is under the immediate su pervision of the special deputy, Eugene A. Forbes, who Is assisted by Deputies Floed and Pulllam. The appraiser of the port is Edward C. Russell, and Charles H. Ralston is weigher and gauger. The principal falling off in the business of the local customs department the past year was due first to the general stag nation in trade during 1893 and the con templated changes in the tariff legisla tion which prevented heavy imports. There is now noted in the imports a gen eral and gradual increase, and it is the hope of Collector Black that the business of the custom-house within the next few months will again reach something of a normal condition. The force In the collector's office, in ad dition to the collector and his three prin cipal deputies, consists of one stenogra pher, three clerks, one weigher and gauger. two assistant weighers, 32 inspec tors, two storekeepers, janitor and night watchman and eight laborers. There are also the appraiser and four examiners, one opener and packer and four laborers. The following transcript, taken from the books of the custom-house, shows the work of the department in 1891: Vessels entered from foreign ports 7 Vessels cleared for foreign ports 07 Vessels entered from domestic ports... 168 Vessels cleared for domestic ports 117 Entries of merchandise for duty 433 Entries of merchandise free of duty... 223 Entries for warehouse 66 Entries for rewarehouse, (re'wd) 26 Entries from warehouse for consump tion 500 Entries from warehouse for exporta tion 2 Entries for immediate transportation without appraisement 1 Entries for consumption liquidated. ...810 Entries for warehouse liquidated C7 Certificates of registry granted 3 Certificates of enrollment granted 53 Licenses for coasting trade granted.... 75 Licenses to vessels under 20 tons granted D Value of exports Domestic $3,9S7,930 27 Receipts from all sources Duties on Imports $ 222,098 92 Tonnage tax 16 S3 Fines, penalties and forfeitures. 3,340 '33 Miscellaneous customs receipts. 3,429 30 Official fees 364 00 cessful results. In 1S64 he removed to the Willamette valley, and up to the time of his appointment to the important posi tion he now holds by President Cleveland he was one of the heaviest dealers in mer chandise and grain in that part of West ern Oregon south of Portland. The exact position Mr. Black" holds is collector of customs for the district of the Willamette. This is the most important federal appointment in the state, and next to San Francisco the collector of customs here has charge of the most important district on the coast. Mr. Black was ap pointed to his present position by Presi dent Cleveland in July, 1S93. He was in dorsed by all the principal democrats ot the state, and his recognized standing among the people of Oregon is attested by the statement that, in addition to his strong recommendations from the demo crats, his appointment was urged by men equally as prominent in the republican T J Black CHOOSE SCHOOL BOOKS. The Superintendents' Votes to Be Canvassed- Today. All the votes of county superintendents of public instructions and members of the state board of examiners, who are to select school books for use In the public schools, have been filed with the slate board of education and today a canvass of the votes will be made. It is being generally conceded that the American Book Company has made a clean sweep and that the pupils attending the public schools of Oregon will have to gain such knowledge as they may from its publi cations. The agents of the different publishing houses who have been in the state for weeks past, say that every effort made to introduce their various publications has been attended with the most dis couraging results. Charges are made that methods have been employed to prevent the selection of some books, that, if established, are, shameful and a disgrace to Oregon. In some instances they say, superior merit was the furthest consideration" employed by those whom the existing laws give a voice in making the selections of school books, and the devious ways by which the votes of some superintendents were secured is likely to develop into a scandal so general in its ramifications, that a legislative inquiry will become pertinent. Owing to the absence of Secretary of State George W. McBride, who is now in the East, the board of education, at its sitting today, will consist of but two per sons. Governor Pennoyer and E. B. Mc Elroy, the state superintendent of public instruction. The beard is expected to be in session this morning, but It is not cer tain if the entire vote will be canvassed today. There will be other matter to be considered and formost will be the vote of Miss Nellie Stevens, school superin tendent for Union county. Before she was allowed the privilege of occupying the office to which she was elected by a handsome majority. Miss Stevens was compelled to appeal to the courts, her opponent, J. L. Carter, refusing to sur render the office which he held. A de cision from Judge Clifford, of the state circuit court, gave her the office to which the people of Union county had elected her, but, while the litigation was in pro cess, Mr. Carter voted his selection of school bcoks; and not only has Miss Stevens been refused the necessary blanks on which she could register her selections, but she has been systematically ignored, officially, by Superintendent McElroy and others, who have seemingly had some reason for their action. Miss Stevens, however, did not pro pose to be ignored in the matter, and on ( Sunday she prepared ner selection of books, and forwarded them to the board of education, as superintendent of Union county. There will be two votes for Union county, and both cannot be counted. The board will have to decide who is the proper one to cast the vote, and as J. L. Carter has no certificate of election, the friends of Miss Stevens think she will certainly receive the official recognition she is entitled to. Her vote may not cause any change in the general result, but pos sibly may in the selection of some par ticular books, on which it is claimed the vote will be close. The vote to be canvassed today will be that submitted by the 32 county super intendents of instruction and the nine members of the state board of examiners. 41 in all. The blanks furnished by the board of education contain a list of the subjects treated by the books to be se lected. It is supposed that all having a vote have had a chance to examine all the various books submitted by the vari ous publishers from which to make selec tions. Seventeen publishing houses, through their representatives, submitted books for Introduction into the schools of Oregon. One house submitted an entire new series 01 readers, lour volumes, which were offered, to introduce, free of charge. Total $ 229,249 33 Amount of refunds and draw backs paid 983 35 Expenses of collection Fees retained by collector and surveyor $ S61 00 Commissions allowed and paid to collector or surveyor 1,799 90 Salaries of collector, deputies, clerks, inspectors, weighers. storekeepers, etc 4S.2S9 OS party and by scores of leading business men. Mr. Black has always enjoyed the repu tation of being a clean man, both in poli tics and in business llfe He has never sympathized with questionable methods as a means to a temporary success of hla party, and it is this policy which ha gained him the recognition he enjoys among the best people of all parties. Mr. Black's management of the important duties of his office here has received the unqualified indorsementof the community, and it is worthy of note that he has in sisted in all cases on the strict enforce ment of the law in rendering his decis ions, yet so complete has been the confi dence reposed by the people in both his rectitude and his judgment that no pro test has been entered against any of these decisions. Mr. Black has a well-organized body of men under him, and the district of which he is in charge is one of the best managed customs divisions in the United States. Mr. Black has long been prominent in the councils of the democratic party of Oregon. He was the choice of his party for railroad commissioner in 1891, and, al though the democrats were not allowed a voice in the selection, Mr. Black's per sonal standing was attested by the fact that he came within one vote of securing the nomination in the republican caucus. He was a member of the state legislature from his county in 1S85, and in 1SS8 he was a delegate to the national democratic con vention which nominated Cleveland for the second time. In all his political posi tions he has enjoyed the confidence of his party and the united support of his con stituents. H. C. GRADY. Hon. H. C. Grady, United States mar shal for this district, is a native of Illi nois. He has lived in Oregon, however, since 18S6, and he today enjoys a large 1,783 SO 5.573 70 3,090 00 1,042 26 Payroll of appraiser's office.... Expenses of weighers and gaugers Rents Miscellaneous expenses Total expenses for the year..$ 61,942 74 INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE. The United States internal revenue district, of which Portland is the head quarters, Is composed of the states of Oregon and Washington, and the terri tory of Alaska. Since Collector Black- man's induction into office, March 11, last, he and his force have been kept busily engaged handling the increasing work of the office. The collector entered upon duty in the midst of the work of Chinese registration, issuing 6775 certificates ot residence, out of the total 11,275 Chinese registered in this district. The act of August 2S, 1894, followed soon after the registration work was complete, throw ing into this department the collection of the tax on playing-cards, and the ad ditional labor of rebonding all the dis tillery warehouses, under the provisions of law extending the bonded period to eight years from date of original entry, and also providing for the establishment of general bonded warehouses, requiring careful supervision by the government of ficials. The income-tax law and the regu lations for its enforcement will soon de mand his attention, adding materially to the labor and responsibility of the col lector and his deputies. Collections for the six months, ended December 31, 1894, as compared with the same period last year, were as follows: H C Grrpy Photo by Davies. 3893 July $ 41.253 71 August 27.358 09 September 23,424 10 October 20,400 65 November 16,978 54 December 24.1S0 21 3891 $ 40,331 33 38,839 21 21,494 50 21,450 o5 37,950 23 25,100 CO Total $133,597 30 5165.165 62 This shows a net gain over last year of $11,563 32, which is regarded as an index of better times and a gradual return of business prosperity in the Northwest. It Is believed this Increase will not only be fully maintained during the next six months, but considerably augmented. There are four distillery warehouses containing an aggregate of about 68,000 gallons of distilled spirits, and the dis tillery at Grant, which Is now rapidly nearins completion. The officers of this district are Hon. Henry Blackman, collector; J. Frank Davis, chief deputy and cashier; J. M. Rodgers, deputy collector and assistant cashier; F. Blackman, deputy collector and J. E. Bellinger, clerk. The divisional deputies are: First, J. B. Mullay, Port land; second, E. L. Mims. Pendleton; third, A. J. Barlow, Gold Hill, Or.; fourth, Lawrence O'Brien. Tacoma; fifth, J. P. Gleason, Seattle; sixth, John Nestor, Spo kane; seventh, John Leahy, Walla Walla; eighth, W. C. Pedlar, Juneau, Alaska. The list of storekeepers and gaugers in the district is as follows: H. C. Dodson. gauger, Portland; T. J. Cline, gauger. Grant; Thomas G. Spangler, gauger, Med ford; George Herbert and E. W. Enos, storekeepers. Grant. Or.; David B. Sears, storekeeper, Medford, Or.; M. S. Hanckel, storekeeper and gauger, Weston, Or.; M. S. Hcllman, storekeeper and gauger, Uniontown, Wash.; A. M. Baldwin, store keeper and gauger, Trent, Wash. COLLECTOR T. J. BLACK. Hon. T. J. Black, the present collector of this port, is a pioneer of Oregon, and he is one of the best-known and most popu lar men in the state. He first came to Oregon 32 years ago. He settled in the acquaintanceship in all parts of the state Mr. Grady took charge of the marshal's office in July last. His term of office thus far has been an eventful one. Mr. Grady took a most prominent part in breaking up the operations of the opium- and Chinese-smuggling rings. He was afterward called upon to preserve order in the Coxey invasion, a movement that at one time portended serious trouble. His prompt ness in taking the initiative in quelling disturbances Incident to this movement called for favorable comment both from the officers of the United States army and from the civil authorities. In the threatened labor troubles which followed the great strike, Mr. Grady had no spe cially dangerous missions to meet, yet during this time he was on almost con stant duty, and it was the confidence both the railroad companies and the strikers had in the marshal that was a most Important factor in the endeavor which was made by the authorities to avoid open conflicts. All moneys covering the expenses of the United States courts in the state, in cluding the pay of bailiffs, witnesses, jurors, and the necessary expense cover ing the support of prisoners, is paid out by the marshal. In addition, all the exe cutions of the United States courts are made from his office. During the labor disturbances of the past year and the changes of the management of some of the big railroad lines from the hands of the former solvent companies to the hands of receivers, Mr. Grady has been called upon to perform a greater amount of e5f tra services than were ever rendered by any former marshal, and it can be said In this connection that the discipline of the office was never better than it Is to day. HENRY BLACKMAN. Hon. Henry Blackman, who holds the highly responsible position of collector of internal revenue for the district com- eastern part of the state Immediately after Bnm introduced partial lists and others -Uis arrival here, and for several years he r - ... .i w.ivn . - 1 nrmrai in mlninf unjprnficoe tvItH eii naa oniy ccriaiu uvv&a iu uucr. Henry Blrckmkn. rhoto by McAlpin & Lamb. prising Oregon, Washington and Alaska, has long been prominent in the democratic councils of this state. He was born in New York city on September 11, 1818. He came to this coast in 1850 and took up his I residence in 1880 in Heppner, one of the I engaged in mining enterprises with sue- j prominent points of Eastern Oregon. He