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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 2, 1900)
:" - "Wi 6j THE MORNING OBEGOJsTIAN, TUESDAY, JAtfTJARY 2, 1900. -r ORAfACIFICCABlf toast Commercial Bodies Pa yor the Project JNITED STATES SHOULD OWN IT uamcrce Demands Direct Oom- smulcation Willi the Orient Of Strategic VaIne. Political upheavals of the past two years ive placed "the Pacific states in a new slatioa to the -world. .Honolulu has be- sme an American city .and a port ot sat stragetic and commercial import- ice. Manila, unknown two years ago to le-tenths of the American people. Is Minding Into prominence as the rival of Kong for the position of chief jbu- epot to the Orient. A great field, lar- ;er and richer than that -which pays trib- to the Atlantic seaboard, has been opened In the Pacific and in Asia to the Pacific seaboard. A distinct advantage to le Paciflc coast is a chain of American jcssesslons from its ports to its natural aarket in the Orient This the Atlantic seaboard has not to its European markets rom the time an Atlantic liner puts to sea from New Tork, Boston, Philadelphia ar Baltimore, the traveler sees no Amerl- nag, on American territory, except le one on the steamer, until "he returns Ito lus native shore. The passenger sail ing from Portland, Seattle, Tacoma or tSan rancisco sees the Stars and Stripes -wav ing at Honolulu, Guam, Wake island and Jla. A trans-Pacific cable is absolutely need- sd for the extension of American trade Jn le far East. The round-ahout cable, by ray of Hong Kong and "London, answered le requirements -of the commerce which the Pacific states have until now carried an in the Orient. The new trade which developing in the wake of American ins demands a direct cable. Officials of leading Pacific coast commercial organizat ions aiscuss, in this annual number, the lportance of the immediate laying of a Irect cable. President Slauson, of the jOS Angles chamber of commerce, sajs no event since the discovery of gold California has had so important an effect on the development of Pacific coast jommerce as recent political changes in the Orient. President Nelson, of the chamber of commerce, urges a :afcle because of the commercial and pol itlcal value it would have. A -great -na- ion like the United States, he Insists, can- lot safely instrust orders to Its army and ivy to -a cable passing through foreign rrltory or one controlled hy foreigners. Commerce, he says, should no longer be (denied direct communication with the Jrient. Two "different routes are proposed. Sec retary Prosch, of the Seattle chamber sf commerce, favors the one by -way of sltka and the Aleutian islands, which jut ider the Asiatic coast. He says Jt is shorter than the proposed route by way 3f San Francisco and Honolulu, would, cost 57,000,000 less, and would put the United states in touch with its Alaska posses sions. The San Francisco officials favor Honolulu and Guam route. There Is 10 division of opinion on the main point rt the cable Is -needed and should be id wjihhut delay. The vast commercial field in Asia that open to the Pacific states is illustrated ay the growth of the American traie with division of the -world during the fiscal pear nded June -30, 1899. Imports from sla and Oceanlca during that period Fere 513i,078,929. compared with $119.3,S2a for the year ended June SO, 1ESS, and $111,- 5,035 for 1S97. Exports to Asia and jeanicrj. Jn.1899 w&-& J7&235454 Against iTXti.StZ in 1S9S and S61.927.67r in 1S97. It rather surprising, in view of the healthy ferrcwth of American trade in the Orient, iat the commerce of the Pacific coast arts should show a decided falling off in from 1SSS. Imports at the Pacific jorts advance from $44,674,612 In iS37 to 1.021,213 in 2898, and exports from $59,952,- 5S2 in 1697 to $75,371,603 In 1698. Paciflc sas-t commerce reached its high-water lark during the year ended June 30, 2S98. sr the year ended June 30, 1899, imports to $47,359,425, and exports to $57,72L935. id the aggregate of trade Imports and ?orts from $127,392,816 to $105,081,360. Portland's trade with Asia and the Pa- ic islands has a firm foundation on rhlch to build. For 1898, the last year for rhlch full figures are available, it -was Represented by these healthy totals: iports - .. $1,176,522 Exports 2,312,633 L-Total .$3,489,155 Portland's foreign commerce in 1S98 was 14.335,553, and the Pacific irade was one- lourth oi the total. By geographical dl- -islons, Portland's trade "with the Pacific tn 1898 was: Imports. :hina 11.523 Jrttish East Indies 225.437 isms xung ............ Z2K115S apan 669,174 aawauaa lsianas siz Philippines 82,891 .mica nasi maies 761 rltish Australasia 7.764 Total ...... $1,176,522 Export. Iha $ afiifii J ivug cung .......4.................. l.yn.wn mpan , 752.713 x&m K5C tussla, Asiatic 2fsw Jrltish East Indies ktr 'hUppines 4,719 u liu -cisi. jjraies ........ .......... 3C9 iwailan islands 3.7S Total $2,312,633 Commodities that Portland imports from sla and the Pacific are: Sulphur. coaL oko, coffee, manlia, silk, tea, earthen- re, malt liquor, matting, rice. salt. ?ys, wool, sugar, cement, jute Grain gags and jute cloth, window glass, pig ron ana spirits. Commodities that Portland exDoits to he Orient are: Wheat, -flour, barley, oats. a-mon, structural iron and steel, print- ig paper, lumber, irult, tools and ma- fhinery; cotton and beef. Enlarged trade with the Orient would feneflt not only Oregon, but the entire pacific coast. It would be an important ;tor in the evolution of the Pacific States from merely producing areas, hav- a minimum or foreign commerce, to In empire having large imports and ex ports ana manuiacture3. This evolution even now taking place. It began when Oregon. Washington and California en tered the Asiatic field and demonstrated lelr ability to compete fof trade against hirope and the Atlantic states. It will ither energy with every foot of far lastem territory opened to the com merce of the United States. The Pacific Boast has the short haul In its favor. rommerce will not round Cape Horn -hen It has a short and safe path across le .Pacinc. The manufactures of Oregon, rashragton and California shipped to the Orient have advantage over New Tork nd New England goods in the important ar.tter ot tune or shipment across the con sent and in the matter of freight rates ietween Eastern points andthe Pacific Soast. From whatever point the situation v ewed, the Pacinc coast ports are the latural shipping points for the products if America destined to Asia and the re living points of Asiatic products destined lor America. NEEHOED TO ENCOURAGE TRADE. pacific Seabonrd Snipping: Will Soon "flc as Important an Atlantic. j jCoThlhS" that has happened since the dls- Dvery of gold In California has had so Kjnportant and far-reaching effect on the ievelopmejit or tne Pacific coiist as the whsh have transpired in the Ori- St wnm toe past Fear. wereoy me 4 United States has taken Its place as one of the leading competitors lor the trade of the teeming myriads -who inhabit Asi atic lands. From California -we expect to build up an Immense export trade In flour and lumber and preserved fruits and other products. It Is believed by many that the time is not far distant "when China alone will take, In the shape of fiour, the prod uct of every available acre of grain lanu in the state. Before many years the ship ping trade of the long stretch of coast between the Alaskan and Mexican bound aries will be as important as that of the Atlantic coast. In order that the merchants of the Pa cific coast may successfully compete for this trade, which naturally belongs to them, it Is absolutely essential that they should have direct telegraphic communi cation -with the Orient, by means of a trans-Paclnc cable. The expense of com municating by the present telegraphic sys tem would be a. serious handicap upon our merchants and manufacturers. "With such vast interests of national as well as commercial Importance opened Tip inthe Orient, it Is absurd that we should con tinue to have to eend a message three fourths around the world in order to com municate with those who lie directly op posite us. J. S. SLAUSON, President Chamber of Commerce. Ixs Angeles, CaL FAVORS XOBTHEHBT ROUTE. Seattle Chamber of Commerce Says It is Shortest and Cheapest. John Barrett, ex-United States minister to Slam, states that American trade to the Orient is hampered and thwarted by the absence of direct cable connection and by the grinding monopoly of the cable route via India. The volume of the Southeastern Asiatic trade he- puts at a grand total of $1,000,000,060. It Is self-evident that It Is not of ad vantage to America to .pperate its grow ing .Oriental trade via London and In dia. For a number of years there has been a persistent effort made to secure govern- ent aid for a trans-Pacific cable, but only recently has the marvelous development of Alaska, the acquirement of Hawaii and the purchase of the -Philippines made imperative more direct and economical communication between the home govern ment and its outlying possessions, between the thousands of hardy pioneers to the Northwest and their home associates, be tween American firms In foreign posses sions and their representatives here, be tween business houses lining the Asiatic coast from Singapore to Vladlvostock and American manufacturers and exporters. The direct and shortest line from Pan ama to Singapore runs through Seattle, Dutch harbor, Alaska, the American Isl and of Attu, through Japan and Manila. The American termini of this route -are Cape Flattery, In Washington, and the north shore of the Island of Luzon. The distance from the American shore end to the Luzon ashore end (also American) is 546S miles, and this Is the natural Pacific cahle route, as (1) It is 1527 TOUes shorter in absolute distance "than the southern route via Ha waii, Midway Island and Guam. X?) It requires but 5750 miles of cable to put the. United States -in connection not only-wHh ihe Philippines but with Japan, Siberia and Alaska at . five Important points, while 8700 miles of cable on the southern route would reach Manlia pnly. (3) The northern route on the way con nects with the Skagway-Dawson system, will be within 600 miles of connections with St. Michael and Cape Nome, con nects with the whole Kussian-Chinese sys te, with the whole Japanese-Chinese sys tem, before reaching Manila, while the southern route has no local connections whatever, and no local business except at Honolulu. (4) The northern cahle will cost $4,000,000. because laid In short Hnksr In shallow water, and on good hottom. The southern cable will cost a minimum of $11,000,000, because laid in larger links in deeper ssas than any cable yet laid, and over the worst possible hottom, coral and vol canic (5) The northern cable Is easy to mainr tain, to repair and to duplicate for one half first price hy another Toute "with other stations, -while the southern cable cannot be duplicated except by a parallel cable costing as much, as. the first cable, and a single break may cost $4,000,000 to relay, as repairs are well-nigh impossible in such -deep waters. (6) The northern cable touches Alaska at Sitka, the capital4, at Skagway, the terminus of the railroad to Dawson; at Kadlak Island, the. entrance to the Cop per river and Cook Inlet country; at Dutch harbor, the port of entry to Bering sea (St. Michael, Cape Nome, the fish, whale and seal industries); at Attu, the last of the islands, only 620 miles from Kussia and Japan, and all these stations are on the -weather tack, permitting me teorological weather predictions of great est value to the whole United States, and they are also on or close to the Inter national trade route now sailed by British, Eusslan, Japanese and American liners "while the stations on the southern route have no value meteorologically, and, with the exception of Honolulu, no commercial or trade value, and lie wholly off all trade routes. (7) The northern cable forms a link In a line from London to Yokohama, 2400 miles shorter than the present route via "India, and -Rould therefore be able to divert a large proportion of European-Asiatic busl ?s "via America. The southern route Is 1009 miles longer than via India, and could obtain no European business. (8) Owing to its low first cost and large local and European business, the north ern route could afford low tolls to every part of Asia, while, owing to its high first , cusi, great lengtn and absence-of all con nections, the southern rmitA pnnifl or.-tvo ly reduce present tolls to Japan and China, and would have to charge exceedingly high tolls to Honolulu and the Philip pines. (9) A cable can be huilt bv the Northern route and another cable laid to Hawaii for less than the cost of a Pacific cable extended beyond Hawaii to Manila. While all agree as to necessity of a Pa cific cahle the question of route Is vital to the Interests of the Paciflc coast of the United States, of intermediate stations and of the world's trade. - THOS. W. PROSCH, Secretary Chamber of Commerce Seattle, Wash. COMMERCE DEMANDS A CABLE. It la Needed Also for Military and Naval Operations on the Paciiie. The advantages which would accrue to the Paciflc coast from a trans-Pa-nflc cable might be considered under two gen eral divisions: First, the commercial character; second, the military and naval character. Both are of national Import ance, but of particular interest to our coast. The flrst station on the way being Honolulu, a cable to this point has long been needed, and now more than ever, owing to the acquisition of the Hawaiian Islands. Trade has so greatly increased that It is of the utmost 'Importance that direct and immediate communication be established. Since the Spanish war so large a number of vessels of all classes make these Islands a stonDlne- ninro nn J their way to and from Oriental ports that t is aDsoiuieiy necessary to learn at once of their arrival and departure, and that means be afforded of communicating w'th them. According to -what is considered the most feasible plan, the next point on the line would be Wake island, thence to Guam, thence to Manila. All of these points being under American control, the line Vi ould not be subjected to any foreign Influence, either in war or peace. From Its geographical position in the Eastern seas, Manila Is destined to be, we believe, a second Hong Kong. If not. in fact, to surpass It as a commercial entre pot for the Orient Such being the case, we certainly should have-our own line of cable to so important a point. The pres ent one from Manila to the United states, running through so many foreign coun tries and under such diversified seas, Is naturally beyond our influence atod con- trol. We mayat any time becompleely cut off, owing to some complication. among the many powers through -whose" territory the line passes- Jt Js also quite possible that, by having meteorological conditions known at Honolulu, valuable aid may he given to the Investigation of our own climate and atmosphere. As a matter, too, of economy, the pfesent ex pense of cabling to Oriental points being very excessive, a cheaper rate .could un doubtedly Jhe made on a trans-rPaclfic line. This would stimulate trade and commerce. In fact, we are just In receipt of a com munication from the Hong Kong general chamber of commerce requesting our co operation in Inducing the telegraph com panies to reduce the rates now charged to that point, which, Hong Kong mer chants regard as a barrier to the devel opment of trade. Looking at the matter from a military and naval standpoint, it Is at once evident "of what Immense strategical value a Pa cific cfeble would be to our government. It would enable Washington to convey, without foreign interference, immediate Information and orders which might be of the -utmost national value in the move ments of troops and vessels. Our coast, being the nearest on the Asiatic conti nent, -undoubtedly would be the base of such operation. From the extensive nature of the enter prise and from the great national, as "well as local interests involved, we are of the -R RAILWAY STATION opinion that such a cable should be un dertaken by the United States govern ment, and be maintained by 'it, just as the postofflce is. Furthermore, we trust that when the time comes for congress to take action providing for such cable, the bill wllL contain tl?e proviso that the cable must be of American manufacture. This the chamber of commerce of San Francisco has repeatedly urged. I CHARLES NELSON, President of the Chamber of 'Commerce .of San Francisco. , .E. SCOTT, Secretary. AN ABSOLUTE NECESSITY. No Time Should Be Lost in Laying a Cable in the Paciflc. Whatever may have been the need of a trans-Pacific cable prior to the break ing out of the war with Spain, there can be no question that today the demand Is most urgent. Look at the dally arrivals and departures of vessels fcom the four great ports of the Pacific coast Portland, San Francisco. Seattle and San Diepo. X Juring the last two years the steamship service has been quadrupled, and to a keen student of the trend" of affairs it is plain- lv oulrfen fVia4- It iHl Vit Vint a oVnif Htna when the Pacific ocean, with its thousands of miles of coast line, will have wrested from the Atlantic Its commerciaXprestlge "! Imagine, If you can, the business of the Atlantic being conducted without the as sistance of the insulated electric "currents traversing Its depths. The life of com merce demands that the hand of the op erator be kept on the market pulsations and the movements of phlpplng. It Is suddenly learned that thereIs dearth of a certain product at a point several thou sand miles distant; near-by stores are drawn from, cargoes ot ships are divert ed, a crash Is saved, and possibly famine Is prevented. The necessities of Atlantic commerce are no greater man those of the Pacific, and then there is the urgent de mand on the part of the government for a sure and quick, means for the transfer ence of orders and receipt of reports. The Stars and Stripes now float over 'the Islands of Hawaii, 2100 miles distant in midocean. The value of this group as a coaling and supply station is being proved. Not a moment too soon did we accept from the patriots of Hawaii the land they bad conserved for lis. It Ik an ab'solute mili tary and naval necessity that no time be lost In -securing cable connection with Honolulu, and from that point the line should connect the other Islands still addi tional thousands of miles distant, 'with j whose future development and progress the hand of destiny has irrevocably bound us. If, In the opinion of our legislators, the government should not lay the cable, it should at least be owned by an American company and landed on American soil. congress can wen aurora to grant a most i liberal subsidy. About this there should not be a moment's hesitation. It is only to be hoped that the wirepulling of rival companies may not delay action. The value of Honolulu Is as a military and naval station, its strategic Importance In this respect is great, hut how much greater will it be when Oahu's coral-girt lava shores are connected with the main coast? But even a greater advantage will be the encouragement and protection af forded our commerce. Again we urge that no time be lost or plan'abandoned that may tend to give our merchant marine-an equal advantage Tvlth the ships of other nations In the race for commercial supremacy on the broad Pa ciflc H. P. WOOD, Secretary Chambe- of Commerce. San Diego, Cal. Vacancies 'at West Point. 'Philadelphia Call. There remain but 15 vacancies to tho West Point military academy for the ex aminations In June. Members of congress have been unusually 'prompt in making their nominations in the past five months. All presidential appointments have been filled as well, and the prospects are now that no additional places will he at the president's dlsnosal Until 190L One mem ber of congress, from the fifth Maryland! oistnct, nas aiioweams district to oe un represented at West Point for nearly twD 1 jeare. - I -; :. -niHJBuaj mmmmmamtm mn hk.is: TYPICAL TRAIN ON THB TRANS-CASPIAN RAILWAY. ENTRANCE INTO- ASIA- FROM KRASNOVODSK BY THE TRANS-CASPIAN RAILWAY. A Variegated Train Dreary Land scape Seen. From a. Car Window Ancient Red of the Oxna. .it -"" ASKHABAD, Transoaspla, July 7. This city is the capital of the Russian province, or government, of Transcaspl, a province which extends from the Caspian sea on the west to the seml-lndependent khanates of Krilva and Bokhara on the east, and from the government of the'Ural on the north tp the. countries of Persia and Afghanistan on the south. The desolate Aral sea also forms a part of the eastern boundary. Largely desert In character, the province Is valuable to Foissla ohie'fly from the mil itary point bf view,, and as a means of ac cess to countries south' and east Scattered posts on 'the Caspian and at long Intervals along the caravan routes are the only "Russian settlemehts-'except "those AT KRASNOVODSK. on the line of the railway. Another rail way Is contemplated" f rom "the -feot -of Mertvi, or Dead bay, the northeastern extension of the Caspian, to the we&tern shores of the Aral, but if built Its motive will be as purely military as was the con otruction of this more southerly line. Geo graphically, Transcaspla is c'onsldered to be a part -of 'Russian Turkestan, or Cen tral Asia, but It has a distinct provincial government of 4ts own, administered at this placet It topk'buta few moments of searching t the; railway station, the p"dsto&ce and fhOj telbgraph office at Krarjnovoas.k! the other day "to prover-that the.RussIan'vgentlentan whom J expected to meet was not there and that he had not sfent any word td me. There was no doubt that my journey was to be taken alone Instead Of with a par ticularly desirable, cdmpanlon. Most of the passengers who had been aboard the steamer from Baku were going east by rail, for there Is little reason why any one should ston at Krasnovorlsk- T lolnpd them atythe railway station, fohha aseatJ In the shade and watched the approach of the train time with Interest. Of 'course all the terminal shops and buildings at Krasnovodsk are the., newest of the new, but they have the advan- asa of having been built all at once, from a complete plant Instead of growing Dit oy Ditt so tnat they serve, their pur posa'admlrably. The railway station Ttself. is an excellent stone building, designed with an evident intention to Imitate Ori ental architecture, bvt equipped quite after the Western fashion as far as con veniences are concerned. According to ttyj usual Russlah custom, a large room cutting across the center of the building from, back to front Isi waiting-room and restaurant, or buffet, as the Russian phrase has It, all In one. Around the sides of the room are settees not far dlf-i ferent from those We know at home, and In the center of ..the floor a long table, always set, at which waiting passengers are served with food or drink at all hours. The space remaining at one end of the bunding Is used for ticket; telegraph and baggage offices, and for third-class passen gers, and at the otfyer end for the kitch en of the buffet and the -private, quar ters of the station-master and hlahelp. The Trans-cnspinn Train. There Is a daily 'train leaving Kras novodsk at 4:40 o'clock P. M., running through to Samarkand In two days and three nights. Four times a week, ot Sunday, Tuesday. Friday and 'SatUrdav. this Is the mall train, connecting -with the steamers from across the Caspian, which! arrive at noon the same day, and on those days a dining car Is carried. That does not indicate as muchluxyry as, .might be Imagined. Althouglfthe line, has been completed through to Samarkand f Or .more than ten years, flrsr-class cars have not yot been introduced, to say nothing of sleeping cars. Instead, the trains are equipped with, second and third-class cars only, with an addition of fourth-class for Immigrants. With the kindness that Is proving In variable, two Russian officers scraped acqualnance with me and offered their services if anything might be needed. One was a captain of middle age, and the other the most boyish of lieutenants, both of the Turkestan contingent of In fantry. Their destination was Askha bad, the chief military post of the prov ince, and they were returning to service after furloughs in Russia. We walked about the city of sand and heat and Anal ly decided that nothing was of sufficient consequence to justify a second withdrawal from the shade of the station. It seemed possible that Mr. Rauner might be rest ing for a day at Askhabad, and that I might'flnd him there, so together the three of usibought second-class tickets and made a rush for the best car when the train drew up to the platform. Cars of All Cdlors. I- had "Heard glowing tales about the beSiity rot this train, which was reputed to bepalnted white from rear car to locomo tive, but the tale3 wjere not justified by the facts. One or two white cars were inlxed In with the varying shades of green ana yeuow. wnicn cnaractenze Russian railway trains elsewhere In tha omntre. raneL'sofar as symmetry was concerned, tng size -and style of the. cars were as Ir regular ah'd varied as those of the race trains on"the-"day of the Melbourne "cup," when carriages" of every vintage since .the uaysof Stephenson are dragged Into service. The locomotive, however, was a "Baldwin,"- from Philadelphia, burning Baku naptha refuse. The train for Samarkand was solidly third-class, except that two of the cars were divided and one-half of each was differently furnished and assigned to second-class passengers. We were able to ob tain one of these half-cars for ourselves, tho space of Bisection in an American sleeping car, for each. The woolen up holstery of the seats was covered with freBh cotton hangings, the windows stooa wide open, and altogether the night dia notrPramlse much dIsc6mfort, even though there was no sleeper. By the time we drew out of Krasno vodsk, the sun was low and the heat some what subdued, and it was possible to look at the landscape without "being half dazea by tne wavering currents of air that toso from thb parched earth. The ralhfjay finds tut a narrow exit from the city, for tho crescent-shaped mountain range that confines the amphitheater ends only at the Rater's edge. Then It turns and fol lows the north shore Of Krasnovodsk bay for -many miles, -so close to the sea that the "waves 'sometimes -wash the railway embankment The Caspian dn one side and the blly-looklng mountains of yellow and red on the other do. hot provide an In spiring view for this entrance into Asia. Band and salfand desolation are the only memories, for no one'llves along this por tion of the way except the railway la borers who care for thevtrack. Even the nomadic tribes of the desert avoid this shore, of the- Caspian. s lAneiefet BeVotthe Oxus. . All ahout'lCrasnlivoqsk bay, and Uzun Adahay the country fakes the appearance of a great delta, long ago abandoned by water, but wjth the ancient courses still traceable. It is argued by many geogra phers that this dreary shore was once me center of an enormous trade. They de clare that the Oxus river, which -played such a large part in the wars and the commerce iof the ancients, found its outlet into the Caspian at this point, instead of losing itself in the worthless Aral sea, as It does today, and that here the mighty stream carried Ihfc wares of India and Central Asia 'to the merchants ot Europe and the West. Even now 'there Is a suffi cient remnant, of the ancient bed to form va distinct evidence In support of their, con tentions. Salt lagoons extend far Inland, and to them, are Joined the sandy hollows that suggest the. delta of a Threat river. The reputed ancient bed of the river Is traced all the way across the desert by depressions -tvhlch'are claimed to be un doubted in their character, to a point not far from the upper division of the Oxus, now the Amu Daria, at the point where its'present delta begins to form on Its waj to the Aral sea. Nevertheless, scientists are not all in agreement on the question -of athe-aneient- channels -of the vOxus, some j denying inac tne e.iaences nere suggestea are sufficient. They declare rather that these traces Indicate tho fnrmpr PTriatpnnt, j ot a broad gulf connected with the basin of the once existent Sara Kamysh lake. Into which the Oxus fiowed, instead bf emptying directly Into the Caspian. The wnole question becomes Important now only as It affects certain great commercial and agricultural irrigation schemes of" the RUsslariS-f dr diverting the.great river m 'tolts ancleht channel. , j " ; -TRUMBULL WHITE. A SIGNIFICANT LETTER. Boer Sympathy Availed Of as a Last . Hope for BrjaniBm. PORTLAND, Dep. 3L (To the Editor.) Your correspondent "S. S.,'Mn seeking to make outcasefor England In.her,pres ent 'SaUth MrliTarf'-.st'rHirirlp with tVio turn "'B'oerTJepuijHcs, ready makes 'the 'case I lor mo uoer. apeaKing from the stand point as an American, as he alleges. It does s6em peculiar for "S. S." to claim that England Is the nation that has civil ized the whole world. No thorouchbred American will ever admit this bald state ment,. If he Is at all conversant with his own 'Country CAmerlca) and its Revolu tionary period that gave It final independ ence.. No doubt "S. S.," AmericanC?), considers that period also as one in the history of Albion, when It was necessary to civilize which stood for taxatlpn with outTepresentatlon the "father of his coun try" and his band of nobis adherents. However; jusfas greedy: England failed in 1776, '1812 and in ,1861-6 to destroy our re publican form of government, just so that natfor. will fajl to wipe out the Boer re publics. Ahd what Is more, every thor oughgoing American that wishes for the 'downfall of these South African republics is a tory at heart against American Insti tutions. ""England, forsooth! Civilizing the whole WOrld! To American freedom rnl o'vi- 'ization anywhere itfwes Its greatest suc cess, we are often told how Engiana wds te'flrstto abolish slavery, but ror the benefit of American (?) S. S."" ana other' Americans with similar views, 1 might add that Denmark prohibited slav ery In all her possessions nearly 50 vears 'before England followed suit. Does "S. S. consider the present "pig sticking'," as carried out by the Fifth lan cers recently at Elaand's Laagte, where a small troop of Boers surrendered ane. 'kneeling in an "-attitude of prayer, were -merciiessiy-massacred, civilizing? God for bid. As for "S. S." questioning whether or not "this enlightened country" could en tertain Mr. Van Slclen's views, as puo lished In The Oregonian the other day, let me tell Mr, '.'S S." that even In tory rlddeh Portland a mass meeting, called to give Its views on this subject, would overwhelmingly side with, the Boers. Not .only this, but the 'republican party will nna una -south African question its "Scylla, and Charybdls" In the coming na tional elections nt it does not recede from its present pro-British stand, providing the Boers hold out tin next summer. England will need active help from somewhere before she 13 through with the Bers, and It shall not be from America In any othei1 way than as a neutral, selling- food and munitions of war to any bel ligerent tjjat calls for it and runs chances of shipment. Instead' of Americans studying how tc incur the" hatred of all the dther nations, by actively siding with English monarchy And Its titled money oligarchy, let then reflect as to how they may hold aloof from loreign'ehtartglements, and get Into shape, to 'furnish the supplies that will ae needed by more than one nation before the 3oerj traubje Is over. fAtaierica for Americans" let your watcr. word befdurlngthe-ZOth century, ahd you will ileave your descendants a priceless heritage. Act,otherwlse and you will leavo them a; curse. Do we owe our children era England's chUdren duty flrst? Self-preservation Is the flrst law of nature, which holds equally true with the laws that gov-i ern national impulses. There is such a thing as biting off more than one can chew. I With1 England's ' difficulties increased daljy now, Jlhis country has a chance ot shortly once more becbmlne a Drre.it mnr. ltlme nation, whose ships, unfurling the "star-spangled banner" aloft, shall carry our ever-growing commerce Into every part of tfiQ world. England has always been a ''bully," and therefore has not earned American sympathy enough to cause us to wish to heip her in the hour of real peril how confronting her. There lg rid menace- to our people's institutions, even if England is brought to time ana made to respect other white people's gov ernments. c. W. EMAN. . ' 8 Itussln's Marine Service. Indianapolis News. It is calculated that the total number of vessels In European Russia, excepting steariiers, Is more than 5,000, with a total tonnage of 8,000,000, and a cost of more than $20,000,000. Tho number ot men em ployed On them Is .more than 100,000. The nurrfber built annually, according to the statistics of the government, 13 from 6000 to 9500, but this Includes the several thou sand hullt for one down-stream trip. The annual value of the vessels constructed Is estimated to he between $2,500,000 and fJ,&W,0W. THE-VEAR - BUILDERS DO NOT STOP FOR THE WEATHER. Prospect That Many Buildings and Residences Win Be ErecfeI' IH- 1O0O On tho East Side. At a time of year when Portland archi tects and builders should be taking-a rest. If at all, they are starting new structures while yet busv finishing up older con tracts. The year 1899 has witnessed the "rection of between 500 and GOO. substan tial buildings within the boundaries of tho city, and fctill the outlook for 1900 in dicates even a busier' year among Port land mechanics Leading architects and contractors notice a hopeful feeling among property-owners, and much preliminary plannlngAis,heInp indulged In with regard to cost of new structures, style of archi tecture, etc The busv season is expect ed, therefore, to beein lust as soon as the winter rains have subsided and the ground has become sufficiently dry to permit ex cavation to proceed. The large amounts of money expended In repairs and addi tions within the Dast season has not been permitted to appear as a factor in Port land exDendltures for Improvements, but this will probably reach $750,000 In the ag gregatev Repairs will also go on without cessation during 1900, as the stress of In creasing poDulatlon demands that old buildings be raised and improved, while painters, bricklayers, plumbers and plas terers will be occunled transforming old style structures Into modern ones for the increasing class of well-to-do renters. Contractors who have work to push for ward at present find no difficulty In ob taining' mechanics, as building has shut down to a great extent In the more north ern cities, so the workmen naturally grav itate to the city which offers them em ployment duTlng the dull season. Many Portland property-owners therefore con sider the winter the best season to build, as no delay Is met In obtaining hands. Wages, however, have not fallen from the summer scale, and there is no likelihood of a reduction soon. Excavation for the four-story brick building on the quarter block at Fifth and Stark proceeds without interruption, as the contractors are limited as to time In completing the building. A donkey en gine has been put In position on Stark street, with which to haul the loaded wag ons up the incline, much ta the satisfac tion of the teamsters, who found the work very heavy for even fourstaut horses. Th6 Corbet t block, fwhicHnls" to occupy tWs site. Is td cdatf about $10,000, and must be ready for its occupants early in July. Tho bulldinir will resemble that of Honey man, DeHart & Co. In style and archi tecture. Old buildlncs are being torn down on the site of the new Multnomah Club head quarters at Chatiman and Yamhill streets, and excavation will beein tomorrow. This building, which Jsto" cost ,$25,000;. has, to' be under root by the rdlddje- of Ultarh. so no time has been provided to' waste ,on delay from the weatHer. The Brooke quarter block, corner ot Park and Washington, Is nearly ready, for the foundation to be laid, and a few das will see 'the bricklayers at work. The rains have delayed excavation on this block to a greater extent than was an ticipated, as water would flow In from the street above, forming a pool in the lower portions of the lotwhjch there was no adequate1 means,,8f'clrh'lnlng. The site Is naturally high and sightly. buY, feeing on the lower side of Park street, exca vators are at a disadvantage while PIu vlus is paying his addresses. This Brooke building Is to be two-story and basement, and four modern stores will front on the Wash,lngton-street side. The cost of the structure Is estimated at $20,000. Contracts on the vGood Samaritan hos pital have not yet been awarded, thqugh several bids have been put In and de liberated on by the architect. The center and south wing are to oe erected flrst, and bids are made on the various por tions .of the Tvork separately, thus en tailing a good deal of .extra figuring on ih$ part of, those who handle the hallo ing fund. The portions of , the -hospital now being figured On will cost $40,000, and the structure will be afterward complet ed ao funds are obtained. It will be a three-story brick, with basement, and will be supplied with modern heating and ven tilating apparatus. East Side Improvements. The improvement record on the East Side for the past year has been excellent, while the outlook for. the, nsu.ng year Is encouraging. In,the'"erectIon of. dwellings the records show 'that, 3d0 have been, put up, at an average cost of $1500, at a total cost of $450,000. These buildings are scat tered over so wide an area that the show ing Is not as great as would be If they were bunched together. Someari just out side the city limits and others were put up where the streets were not used and no record of them was kept, In the re pairing and reconstruction of old. buildings, tne ngures ror ne. year are very large. Practically every oullding that could be made habitable, was rebuilt or remodeled from the Willamette river through Monta villa, and It Is estimated that for this pur pose alone $50,000 was spent, making the total sum expended In erection and re pairing dwellings fully $500,000. In the low ground between Union avenue and the river Improvements 'to the amount of $50, 000 have been made, Including the largo bulldlhgs and the O. R. & N. switch. The total Is $550,000 for all building fmprove mentsv For the ensuing year a large number of dwellings have been projected and will be undbr way in the spring, so that the year will witness steady Improvements. The Southern Pablflc Company will soon proceed with the erection of their build ings, for which the company has added 10 acres of new grounds to the original tract of 30 acres. Trackage through the grounds will be materially changed, and the wooden structures will all be rep'aced with brick ones. The Doernbecher furni ture factory, on East Twenty-eighth s'rest, will be completed and In operation by April or May, and the City & Suburban Railway Company will extend a spur to the s'te when the factory has been completed- A number of cottages will be erected In that ne'ghborhood for the use of the operatives, and altogether an mv portant Industry Is In prospect as the re sult of the establishment of this factory. It Is also promised that better car service will be provided for thepenlnsula people. These are a few things that may be ex pected this year on the East "Side. Miscellaneous Improvements. The dwelling of J. C. Roberts, on East Yamhill and JJast Twenty-ninth streets, to cost about $2000, Is well along toward completion. It Is a neat house. The $1200 parsonage of the St. Paul Ger man Lutheran church. East Twelfth street, has been completed, and will be occupied by the pastor and family withn the next two weeks, when there will be a house-warming. The large two-story residence of Fred Goldapp, on East Thirteenth and East Division streets, costing $1500, Is enclosed and nearing completion. , The handsome residence of Captain Hos ford, on East Seventh and East Ash streets, Is nearing completion. On the In side the finishing Is very handsome In deed, and the cost of the dwelling will bo about $2000. ( The J9CQ cottage of Mrs. Charles Scott, on East Ninth and East Ellsw orth streets, only needs painting on the outside when It will be completed. George W: Bates, of Alblna, will com mence erection on two flats on Russell Btreet. In the rear of the Central Methodist church, costing about $1000, when the weather will permit. The handsome home of .George Thatcher. on East "Ninth, near 'Waaler street, has I been completed, and Is ready to tie occu.- pled. It cost $1500, and is one, of the Ineateatresldences of the neighborhood. A. J. Rushlight has-taken out a-peumlt .for the, erection of .aWSCO toejluiff on "East Twenty-second 'street. vVforfe 'is to be commenced as soon as possible, and pushed forward to comp'etlon. TOWN OF DUFUR IS "DRY." Bat a Visitor Say Doctors' "Pre scriptions Malre Potions Plenty. DUFUR. Or., Dec. 2). (To the Edltr. A word concerning- the towju of J")ear, Or., might be acceptable in yourcolumns. This is a town of ahout 250 inhabitants. It Is about 15 miles south of The Dalles. It is In the midst of splendid wheat-growing lands, extending from the Columbia, river to the Warm Springs Indian reeer- vatlon and from the Cascades to the Des chutes east and west. There Is now he Ins made a railroad survey from, The Dalles to Dufur, and the people are prem ised this outlet for their .products within one yean. , There are two church buildings here, a good public school, with nine grade, a grl3t mill In town, and one four miles distant, owned by a resident of Dufur, a town system of waterworks, all mer cantile linesv represented and a factory manufacturlng weed destroyers, employ ing about a dozen men. and representing an investment ot about $10,000. There is no saloon here. The conveyance of the town property has a clause forbidding a saloon. It Is quite well understood, howeer, that a doctor's prescription will secure a potion at the drug store for all who have aliments that way. It is no t'ceable that quite a number in the com munity have these ailments of a frequent nature, and the many potions prostrate some.-and to all appearances the remady produces worse effects than the afflic tion. There is a fine class of people in Dufur. They are genial, hospitable and for the most part religious, devout. This efcfcw are never sick unto the occasion as alifle described Expenditure In education and good morals would be the more profitable for all classes than these medical pottoas. There are two phjsicians here, and ftvo preachers. The newspaper of the town lately changed proprietorship, making also a change of politics. The present editor is making a good showlngr of ability and determination to command respect. J. B. LISTER, Visitor. a g BUSINESS ITEMS. If Baby Is Cutting: Teeth, Bs. sure and nsa that old and well-tried remedy. .Mrs. 'Winalow's Soothing- Syrup, for chlWran teih!nff. It soothes the child. Stftens the gunw. allays all pain, cures wind colic and diarrhoea. "Every married man must ask his wife's permission to make a success." That was a saying of a wise old clergyman who knev that marriage was a partnership in the broadest sense, and that there can be no success in any partnership in which the partners do not contribute equally to make success possible. For this, if for Tja other reason every man vho is trying to climb the ladder of success should be interested in his wife's health. A healthy woman is always helpful. A tired, nervous woman, depleted in strength and depressed in mind, can contribute neither mentally nor physically to a husband's success. Que remarkable rem-' edy. Dr. Pierce's Favor ite Prescription, so strengthens the onran3 peculiarly feminine. dries up debilitating drams, neais ulcerations and inflammations, and cures female trouble, that the causes of ill- health are thus entirely removed, and the healthy, happy wife becomes a genuine help-meet to the husband. "I was sick for twelve years, and for two yeara I had to atop work altogether," wntes Mn, Bell McCrobi. of Oakland. Garrett Co., Maryland. "I was. treated by five different physicians who pronounced mv case Briffht's disease, lmnover- f ished Condition of the blood, and utennc trouble. I suffered a great deal with pain in both sides and much tenderness In pressing over the womb. I was bloated at times ip. bowels and limbs. "Was troubled with a disagreeable discharge from the internal organs I could not sleep and was troubled with palpitation of the heart Suf. fercd a great deal of pain, in my head, temples, forehead and eyes, and I also suffered excruciat ing pain at monthly periods. Since taking eleven bottles of Dr. Pierce's Favorite Prescrip tion, I have enjoyed better health than I hod f9r more than twelve years previously, and have gained in weight twenty-five pounds since tak ing your medicines." Siclc women can consult Dr. R. V. Pierce by letter, addressed to Buffalo. N. Y., abso lutely without charge. Each letter is read in private, its statements held in sacred confidence, and all answers are mailed, sealed in plain envelopes, without adver tising: or other printed matter. Jt is a good thing: to keep Dr. Pierce's Pleasant Pallets ;n the house. One Pellet is a laxative, two a cathartic dose. NO GAS! Set of Teeth ..$5 00 Gold Filling: ... ...S1.00 Beit Teeth. S. S. W ...-fei.OO Cold Crown C5.00 Silver Filling: SO AH work examined by professional manager. Dr. J. S. Walter, registered dentist. New York Dental Parlors N. E. Cor. Fourth and Morrlsoa Strcits Lady always In attendance. Hours. S to S. Sundays, 10 to 4. GRATEFUL COMFORTING Distinguished Everywhere For Delicacy of Flavor. Superiority In Quality. Grateful and Comforting to ths Nervous or Dyspeptic Nutritive Qualities Unriyallcd.r Your Grocer and Storekeeper Sell It Id Half-Found Tins only. Prepared 6y JAMES EPP5 & CO., ltd. Koraaecpalnlc Cfternlsts. London, Emtand. 'BREAKFAST SUPPER .f M m n.n m& mm mkWl fllll I IPwsA d NO PAIN! RIO PIATP? 1111