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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 6, 1900)
THE MORNING OREGONIAH, SATURDAY, JANUARY -6, 1300.- HINATRADESECUR Open-Door Agreement and Our Asiatic Commerce. SECRETARY WILSON'S STATEMENT Hay's Negotiations Complete the Work of the Army and Navy Pacific Coast Trade. "WASHINGTON. Jan. 5. Secretary Wil son, in an interview today, emphasized the great commercial significance of the "open door" concert of the powers re specting China. Responding to an Inquiry, he said that but for this action, the "United States would have been shut out from trade advantages in any province -which other nations might see fit to take possession of. He said: "Anything produced in the United States -will now .permanently find Its way into all parts of the Celestial empire. Our trade delations there in the future aro secured. Not of the least Importance Is the fact that the permanence of the cot ton market in China is secured. The trade in cotton goods has been very heavy In Manchuria and other northern provinces. Our Interests generally, our dairy, poul try and other products from the farms ot the United States, now have assurance of permanent markets In all the provinces throughout the Chinese empire, where sucn things are in demand, and this demand is growing and will continue to grow. "The work of Secretary Hay in this re gard supplements and completes the work of our army and navy. A year ago, no na tion would have listened to a proposition of this kind, but the whole world listens to the United States now. The 'white man's burden' came with the Islands. Sec retary Hay's work brings the Teward for lifting the burden. Some Idea of the vast iness of the interests involved may te gained from the fact that while 10 years ago our exports from the Pacific coast to all countries aggregated $26,000,000, and five years ago $42,000,000, the steady in crease in Pacific coast exports has raised the aggregate to $73,000,000 a year." ITALY AND THE "OPEN DOOR," Prompt to Reply After Negotiation "Were Opened. WASHINGTON, Jan. 5. It is learned that although Italy was the last of the powers addressed to return an answer to Secretary Hay's overture regarding the "open-door" policy, that government wai more prompt than any other In the nego tiations. This Is explained by the fact that the Italian government was ad dressed on the subject some time after the other Continental nations had It un der consideration, owing to the fact that our ambassador, Mr. Draper, was away from his post on leave of absence In the United States -when the identical note of instructions was sent out, and It was regarded as best to make no departure from the rule which had been adopted In the case of the other governments of ad dressing them through the United States representatives at the foreign capitals. Immediately upon ' Mr. Draper's return to Rome, at a not distant date In the past, he laid the matter before the Italian government, which, therefore, has acted with more promptness than most of the other powers. The agreements have not yet been re duced to their final form, but the stato department will now enter upon the task of putting them into shape, and as in each case the agreement to the principles in volved In our invitation Is returned In unequivocal terms, according to the de partment officials. It is not anticipated that any difficulty -will be experienced In accomplishing this work satisfactorily. Pending that outcome, the Btate depart ment does not intend to niake any state ment for the public, as to the exact terms of the agreements, though It is ad mitted that the ground has been covered with unusual accuracy in the press reports up to this point. TROOPS FOR CAPE NOME. It Was Decided to Send Soldiers North in the Spring. WASHINGTON, Jan. a. At the cabinet meeting today, it was definitely decided to send additional troops to Alaska In the spring. The points to which they -will be sent have not been determined upon, except Cape Nome, where It Is estimated there will be 30,000 people as soon as navi gation opens. This place is now without government of any kind, and some sort of a force will be necessary to protect the community against lawbreakers in the mad rush of people In the spring. Harraiian Military Lands. WASHINGTON, Jan. 5. The president has issued an executive order designat ing all of lot No. 1, known as the Emmes wharf site, at the head of Honolulu har bor; all of Esplanade lots Nos. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, S and 10, as shown on the govern ment survey, registered map No. 1SG7, and all of that lot of land known as the bar racks lot, shown on Hawaiian govern ment surveys, registered map No. 937, as military reservations, subject to outstand ing leases and private rights. THE PLAGUE IN OPORTO. Origin of the Outbreak Has Been the Subject of Much Discussion. The Nineteenth Century. The origin of the outbreak in Oporto has naturally been the subject of much dis cussion, but it remains purely a matter ot speculation. Introduction has not been traced. At first It was hastily put down to an infected cargo brought in a ship from India, but on investigation the story melts away. I have been unable to fix that cargo, -which has been variously de scribed as rice, Indian corn and hemp. Whatever it is supposed to have been, however, it did not come direct from In dia, but must have lain, according to the Portuguese regulations, for three months In London or some other port, whence It was transshipped. Now the evidence is very strong against the possibility of con veying plague by cargo, and in proof thereof we have the fact that many thou sands of cargoes have been brought di rect from Infected Eastern ports to va rious European ports during the last six years, but in no single Instance has any man engaged in the handling of such car goes caught the disease. Consider the risks, if conveyance by cargo is possible; the chances of some one being attacked must be numbered by hundreds of thou sands. But it has not happened, and, therefore, the chances against its happen ing must be equally great. Yet we are asked to believe that this mllllon-to-one chance has been brought off, not by a cargo direct from an infected port, but by one that has been previously handled elsewhere -with impunity. The theory of rats is still more untenable, because it is particularly difficult for them to get ashore at Oporto, where there are no docks or quays. The ships are moored out in the river, and rats would have to drop into a lichter or climb along a rope to get ashore. It is just possible, but very unlikely; and these same rats, like tne cargo, must have passed over other ports where they can easily get ashore and have reserved their favors for the one port where it is most difficult for them to do so. In short. It is Impossible to accept the theory of Introduction by sea In the ab sence of any proof and in face of the fact that Oporto has no direct and very little indirect communication with infected ports, while numerous other places, having a vast direct communication have escaped altogether. I find It much easier to believe that some soldier from Goa or Southeast Africa or some sailor from an Infected port may have brought the Infection in with him unpercelved by the way of Lis bon or elsewhere. I have heard a rumor of an illness characterized by glandu.ar swellings having been prevented in a Portuguese regiment some time before, and I understand that Its author is a medical man, who, on seeing cases In Oporto, pronounced the two diseases identical. There may not be much In the fact, but It Is the most promlsirig clew I have heard of. WINGED WARRIORS. Carrier Pigeons Who Have Made a Fine Record in South Africa. Collier's Weekly. The pigeon post established at Lady smith and Durban for carrying war mes sages has been such a success that spe cial appropriations for increasing the serv ice will be recommended by the war of fice. A good deal of this success of the pigeon service is due to the skill and energy of Colonel Hassard. of the royal CHESTER - - . APPOINTED ASSISTANT SERGEANT-AT-ARM3 OP THE UNITED STATES SENATE. DALLAS, Jan. 5. Chester G. Coad, appointed to be assistant sergeant-at-arms of the United -States senate, was bom In Dallas, July 27, 1861. He received his education In the common schools of Polk county and La Creole academy, In Dallas, Mr. Coad was elected county clerk of Polk county in 1888, and re-elected in 1890, and after the expiration of his term of office was made cashier of the Dallas City bank, in which position he served sev eral years. Then he was superintendent and manager of the Dixie mills, in this county, which position he will vacate to go to Washington. Mr. Coad Is a life-long republican, and since his majority has been -prominent In politics. He is a man of sterling qualities. He is a grand son of General Cornelius Gilliam, of pioneer fame, who was killed at Wills Springs, In Gil Ham county, in 1848. engineers, who has .epent years in pigeon culture i or just this sort of an emergency, and he has demonstrated the fitness of the birds for war purposes. Colonel Has sard, who was stationed at the Cape be fore hostilities broke out, systematically trained his pigeons for carrying messages across the rough, mountainous land, and his various pigeon posts were of the great est value in keeping the home office ap prised of the exact condition of the army. Nearly every civilized government now has carrier pigeons connected with both their war and navy departments. France has entered Into pigeon culture more ex tensively than any other European power, and It is roughly estimated that there arc 250.000 pigeons in that country trained for war emergencies. The main pigeon loft or training station Is at Chalons, where several thousand birds are kept all the time. Every frontier post and fortress has smaller lof tsv and three times a week regular communication Is kept up be tween these places by means of the pig eons. This pigeon post, in constant prac tice in times of peace, would be of Imme diate service In times of war. The state protects the carriers, and any one caught shooting a pigeon of any kind In France is heavily fined. The pigeon service has been established In France 6lnce 1870. The German war department owns about 10,000 pigeons, but they have a system of (reserves which they can call into serv ice in times of war. The owners of pri vate lofts have to register their carrier pigeons, and the war department knows exactly how many of the birds It can ob tain at a moment's notice. The Austrian government also relies largely upon private owners' pigeons for service In time of war. Every bird in the country has to be registered, and not one can be sold or sent out of the country without permission. Since 1875 a few thou sand pigeons have been in regular serv ice at the fortresses and frontier posts. Russia has a military pigeon system, which is maintained by the officers In the corps of engineers. Little is known about her system except that lofts are scat tered throughout the empire, Including bleak Siberia. The Intense cold of the winter months in the latter place seri ously Interferes with the success of the pigeon post, and partly neutralizes the good effect of It. Italy's pigeon post was established in 1R72, and Spain and Portu gal Inaugurated simllatr systems a few years later. There are 1000 homing pigeons on the books of the British navy, and several times this number on the books of the army. In the past 10 years the United States army and navy departments have been interested In the carrier pigeons, and we have posts established at different points throughout the country. Their services have been useful chiefly in the navyt and experiments are being made constantly In communicating by this means between the shore and the ships. There is no system of registering homing pigeons In private lofts, and In an emer gency the government In need of more pigeons would have to depend upon the patriotism of the private owners for in creasing its supply. That there would be plenty of volunteers no one doubts a mo ment. "Wire Trnst Advances Wages. PITTSBURG, Jan. 5. The American Steel & Wire Company today posted no tices In all of its plants notifying Its em ployes of a general advance In wages of 7 per cent, to take effect from January L The advance affects 30,000 employes, 10, 000 of whom are In the Pittsburg district, the rest being employed in the company's works In Chicago, Cleveland and Kokomo, Ind. Webster Davis Going: to Pretoria. LONDON, Jan. 6. A dispatch to the Dally Chronicle from Cape Town, dated January 5. quotes Webster Davis, assist ant secretary of the Interior, at Wash ington, as saying that, although his visit to South Africa Is entirely for his health, he Intends to go to Pretoria, no matter at what personal Inconvenience. 'THE POISON MYSTERY SCHAAFLER LETTERS INTRODUCED AT THE MOLINEUX TRIAL. Prisoner's Private Secretary on the Witness Stand More Handwrit ing: Experts Testified. NEW YORK, Jan. 5. In the Mollneux trial, one of the most Interesting witnesses of the day was William W. Schaafler. He Identified the letter sent by Molineux to Mrs. Schaafler. informing her that he was xo be married next day; but the marriage was sudden; that it was quite a romance, In fact. This particular letter was addressed "My Dear Sadie,'- and on account of the high social standing of Mrs. Schaafler. and the fact thajt the district attorney's office ob tained possession of the correspondence G. COAD. in a fashion most mysterious, the incident has attracted considerable attention. Mr. Schaafler said that he and his wife had known Molineux for four or five years; that Molineux had taken tea at his house, and that he was friendly with the deftn dant. Nothing was elicited that would have a tendency to throw any light upon the manner In which the district attorney obtained possession of the letters belong ing to the wife of the witness. Letters from Molineux to Schaafler were also placed In evidence and Identified by the witness. Mr. Schaafler explained the sen tence "Cornish Is in and I am out," which appears In one of the letters, as meaning that the defendant had resigned from the Knickerbocker Athletic Club, while Cor nish still remained there in an official ca pacity. Howard A. Adams, son of the late Mrs. Adams, testified in detail concerning the incidents which occurred at the Adams home on the day of the murder. He as serted emphatically that his mother did not drink, and explained that he had been In Connecticut during 1898 recovering from Injuries sustained by being caught in a flywheel. He did not return to the Adams apartments until the day of the murder, and consequently knew nothing concerning the incidents leading up to the crime. One of the most Important witnesses was Charles D. Allen, Molineux's private sec retary. It was Allen who signed letters for Molineux "per C. D. A." He had stud ied chemistry, and had served in the lab oratory of Molineux. Asked If there were many poisons in the laboratory, he replied : "Yes, barrels of them." Among the pois ons which he mentioned specifically were paris green, chrome yellow, English ver milion, dry arsenic in kegs, and quanti ties of mercury. Allen identified a letter which he wrote to the Studio Publishing Company, 1620 Broadway, New York city, signed Roland B. Molineux, per C. D. A., as one that he wrote personally. He claimed that Molineux was looking for the names of consumers of dry colors. The letter was written according to instructions In the ordinary course of business, but the significance of the Incident lies in the fact that 1620 Broadway is the address of the Koch letter-box agency, and it i3 claimed that it was from this letter that Koch learned the address of Mollneux and sent the defendant a circular offering to lease a private letter-box, an offer which It Is claimed Mollneux afterward accepted. Herbert K. Twichell. loan clerk at tho Chase National bank, and a. practical handwriting expert, In response to ques tions, testified that In his opinion the ad dress on the poison package was written by Molineux. David C. Decker, paying teller of the Union Square bank, entertained similar opinions. The handwriting expert testimony ot the day was' wound up when Paying Tell er Bayers, of the Shoe & Leather bank, again appeared on the stand and was cross-examined by Mr. Weeks, a cross examination which, however, failed to shake his belief In the guilt of Mollneux. The last witness of the day was Lewis H. Cornish, a cousin of Harry S. Cornish, also a cousin' of Mrs. Florence Rogers, the daughter of the dead woman. He testified that Harry Cornish -was ill when he called upon the witness to inform him of the death of Mrs. Adams, and upon cross-examination by Mr. Weeks, the witness admitted that Mrs. Adams be came 111 while he was paying a visit to her house about two weeks before her death. The witness had concluded his testimony upon this point when court ad journed until Monday. SHOT TO DEATH BY A MOB. Negro Fiend Lynched by Masked Men at Newport News. NEWPORT NEWS, Va Jan. 5. W. W. Watt was taken from the station-house early this morning and shot to death for criminally assaulting Mrs. T. M. Simp son, the wife of an employe of the ship yard. Watt, who was from Lynchburg, had been In this city several weeks. Late last evening he went to the house of T. M. Simpson, a ship joiner, and. In his ab sence, criminally assaulted Mrs. Simpson. She had previously given the man some thing to eat, and he came ostensibly to thank her for the kindness. After the assault, Watt took a train for Richmond, but a special officer jumped on the train as it was moving out, handcuffed the man and brought him back on tbe next train. Watt was locked up and at 4 o'clock this morning a mob of armed and masked men came to the station-house, disarmed the sergeant, and, at the point of re volvers, made him unlock the cejl, where the wretch was crouching, pleading for life. The prisoner was taken out to a strip of woods on the edge of the city, about three-fourths of a mile from the atatlon-house, tied by the hands to a tree and shot to death. Probably as many as 40 bullets entered the body. Thousands of people visited the scene today. Watt was identified by the woman at the jail last night and again this morn ing. Watt claimed to be an electrician, but did not follow the profession while here. No arrests have been made, and it Is not believed that the affair will be In vestigated until the grand jury convenes at the regular term, a month hence. A DOUBLE HANGING. Tyco Mexican Murderers Executed at El Paso, Tex. EL PASO, Tex., Jan. 5. Geronlmo Parra and Antonio Flores, Mexicans, were hanged here at 1 o'clock this afternoon for murder. Both met death with forti tude. Parra, a notorious horsethief, killed John Fusselman, a Texas ranger, nine years ago, when Fusselman was pursuing him for the purpose of recovering some stolen horses. Flores killed his sweetheart, who refused to marry him, a year ago. Parra and Flores made a desperate ef fort to kill some of the officers or specta tors this afterpoon, when their cell door was unlocked. It had been decided to hang Flores first, for fear he would break down, and when the officers unlocked the cell door to convey him to the gallows, both prisoners dashed out and stabbed right and left among the crowd with dirks made of coarse steel wire. A des perate struggle followed, and the most In tense excitement was precipitated. A con stable shoved Parra Into the cell and bolted the door, and five rangers and deputy sheriffs sprang upon Flores, dis arming him and bearing him to the floor. He was bound and conveyed to the scaf fold, where death was instantaneous. Ranger Ed Bryant was wounded In the stomach by a dagger thrust. Parra was covered by revolvers and disarmed, after which he was .taken to the scaffold. Death was also Instantaneous In his case. A Chinaman Hanged. SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 5 Go See, a Chinese murderer, convicted of killing one of his countrymen, was hanged today at San Quentln prison. A remarkable fea ture connected with the case was See's conversion to the Catholic faith by Albert Hoff, another murderer, who is to suffer the death penalty soon. Clever Forcer's Operations. VANCOUVER, B. C, Jan. 5. Merchants here have been victimized in wholesale style by a clever forger ot small checks drawn upon the Bank of British Columbia, signed "Morrison & Armstrong." Each check was drawn in favor of George Volk mar, who represented "himself as a work man in the employ of the firm. The forger has not been arrested. The police have his description. The Chattanooga Theater Tragedy. CHATTANOOGA, Tenn., Jan. 5. The trial of Julia Morrison James for the murder of Fred Leldenheimer, leading man in "Mr. Plaster of Paris" company, was resumed In the circuit court today. Josephs, the electrician of the opera-house, testified that Miss Morrison shot Lelden heimer before he spoke, and that Lelden heimer made no effort to strike her. Alleged Diamond Swindler. ST. JOSEPH, Mo., Jan. 5. Joseph Schwartz,, a onco prominent je'weler of Kansas City, Is In jail here, having been taken, from a train here tonight on habeas corpus proceedings. He was in the custody of an Iowa officer, who was taking him to Council Bluffs, where hp is wanted for an alleged case of diamond swindling. Guilty of Inciting: Riot. PANA, 111., Jan. 5. A verdict of guilty was returned today by the jury In the case of Henry Steven3, colored, charged with having Incited the coal mines riot April 18, 1899. in which sevdi persons were killed and a number wounded. Sentence has not yet been passed. Bank Teller Sentenced. BOSTON, Jan. 5. Joel G. Tyler, late tel ler of the Safety National bank, of Fitch burg, was today sentenced in the United States court to serve five years in Wor cester jail for embezzling the funds of tho bank. HOOD RIVER PROSPERITY. The Past Year Has Seen the Town's Business Double. Hood River Glacier. The business of Hood River has doubled within the past year. The big crop of strawberries last spring distributed $70,000 in casfti among the people of the valley, and consequently the merchants report a big cash trade. A .great deal of money is lefit here by the transient population of strawberry-pickers, and the past year the railroad camps near town secured their supplies from our merchants. Thera has been a steady increase of population in the town and valley that has material ly increased the business of the mer chants. There are no empty business houses or residences within the town, and the value of real estate has advanced ac cordingly. The price demanded for suita ble business sites is in excess of the value the business of the town will warrant. Capital cannot be induced to come here at a sacrifice. It is the valley behind the town that has made Hood River known to the outsido world. Tho postoffice receipts afford a good in sight of Hood River's Increased popula tion and wealth. William M. Yates, the postmaster, reports the postal receipts for the quarter ending December SI. 1899, to be ?S0O 53, while for the same quarter in 1898 they were only $591 03 The number of money orders Issued for the last quar ter of 1899 was 1237, while in 1S98 It was 868. The Hood River postoffice last year was raised from a fourth-class to a pres idential office, with a remuneration of $1100 a year. A free rural delivery was established from the Hood River post office last July, that is proving of value to mainy farmers of the valley. Some 800 people are enabled to take advantage of this deliver' system. A local telephone system was estab lished In Hood River last spring by the Oregon Telephone Company, which has 23 subscribers. We are in need, though, of an electric light plant. There is promise of a big strawberry crop next spring, and, with good prices for the same, times in Hood River ought to be better than ever. a t Frederick Stalgcr, Aged 04 Years. SALEM, Jan. 5. Frederick Stalger, 94 years old, died at the residence of his daughter, Mrs. A. J. Monroe, this after noon. He was born in Hemminger, Wur temburg, Germany, and came to America In 1818. He settled in Pennsylvania, where he remained until 1S62, when he came to Oregon. He left four sons and two daugh ters. One of the daughters Is Mrs. Fred erick Eggert, of Portland. The Gambling Vice. Albany Democrat. Of all things don't waste your sub stance gambling. Of all strange things the strangest Is that a business man who has everything to lose should waste his substance up against men who are In the business and have nothing to lose. a Persons whose occupation gives but lit tle exercise aie victims of torpid liver and constipation. Carter's Little Liver Pills will relieve you. PHip is Tien Exhaust H Ro Perry, Sr09 Freestone, Cal., writes . "J have been troubled with rheumatism for over twenty years and had tried the most skillful physicians in our state without any relief when I be gan taking Paine's Celery Compound. Before I had used half a bottle, 1 was relieved. It cured my rheumatism permanently, and I believe it will cure any case of rheumatism." ARRESTED FOR FORGERY TRAVELING PRINTER WHO SAYS HE WAS ASSESSOR OF ST. PAUL. Construction of the Port Orchard Fortifications Will Begin Not Later Than February. ALBANY, Or., Jan. 5. A traveling printer, giving the name of Thompson, who had been working for P. J. Smiley several days, was arrested this afternoon at Jefferson, for forging the name of Mr. Smiley to a check for $12, which was cashed in this city last night by F. L. Rels. Thompson claimed to have been as sessor of St. Paul at one time. PRICE OF CATTLE. Sonthern Oregon Stockman Thinks the Top Figure Has Been Beached. Klamath Falls Express. Louis Gerber, who Is feeding a good many mutton sheep and beef cattle on Lost river for the California market, states that the price of cattle has reached the limit. He says: "Beef is not as high as it was during the summer and autumn months, and feeders will And the profits on the wrong side of the ledger. "Tho heavy fall of rain In California during tho fall months has started vege tation of all kinds, and, from all advices received from Southern California, there will be an abundance of grass bsef cattle by the latter part of February. "A great many cattle have been shipped into the southern counties from Arizona and Mexico during, the past two months. "While I don't look for cattle to take a big tumble, there will be a general decline In prices for the next five years. "I look for 2-year-olds to bring about $25 next year. That is a very good price, and it Is a good business at that figure. "The local consumption of beef In the San Francisco, Oakland and Sacramento markets has fallen off fully 25 per cent for the present season, compared to pre vious years. "It Is true that there were fully as many cattle slaughtered in San Fran cisco during 1899, and probably more, but this was caused by the immense amount of both fresh and canned meats which the government sent on the transports to the Philippines. "When beef Is as high as It has been during the past year, the working people. Who are really the consumers, buy other articles of food as a substitute. "I don't want to leave the impression, however, that cattle will be down to any low figures for some time, but one who has observed conditions for over 30 years and has seen these same ups and downs in the livestock business, does not take long to figure out the problem. "We have a population on this whole coast of 2,000,000 people, not as many in habitants as there are In the city of New York, and, with the states of California. Oregon, Nevada and Arizona to draw from and everybody anxious to get into the business, it takes but a short time to have a surplus. "Whenever the Eastern market does not justify the buying of cattle from East ern Nevada, it takes but a short time to be overstocked." TO FORTIFY PORT ORCHARD. Construction Will Be Began Not Later Than February. SEATTLE, Jan. 5. News of the Inten tion of the government to proceed imme diately to fortify the entrance to Port Orchard, across Puget sound from this city, where is located the navy-yard and one of the finest drydocks in the United fl H UPIj 0 JL eg. wiiri Kneumaiism s Nerve and Strength States, was received here today. Con struction work will be commenced not later than February 1. The report is confirmed by Captain Harry Taylor, engineer In charge of all coast defense work on the Sound. Ground for the fortifications on the headlands overlooking the narrows was condemned by the government sev eral months ago. POSTMISTRESS ELOPES. Wife and Mother Leaves Husband, Home and Children. Harvey Valley Items. In the quiet communities that He about Steins mountain, last week, the tongue of scandal was set wagging over the elope ment of Mrs. Schoubes, postmistress at Andrews, with R. J. Weeks, who had a contract for carrying the mall between Diamond and that place. It Is surprising how the foolish woman came to make up her mind to leave her home, a fond hus band and loving children, and still more surprising is how a man with a character, such as this man Weeks Is known to havo, ever succeeded In gaining such control over the woman as to Induce her to cast her lot with him, leaving all that she should hold dear, to enter a life of dis grace and shame, and with poverty staring her in the face at the beginning. The first stop made by the erring couple was at James F. Mahon's. In Anderson valley, where the false spouse was met by the husband, .who demanded the return of their child. The child wa3 given up, but the heartless woman refused to return home. The last heard of, the couple were making iheir way across Barren valley, hunting pastures new, but no quiet life oi happy home can ever be the outcome of an escapade of this kind. Several Divorce Caso. VANCOUVER, Wash., Jan. 5. Charle3 Baker has commenced an action for di vorce against Caroline Baker, on the ground of desertion. Alvlna Theilsieje has filed a complaint for divorce against Frederic Theilsieje, al leging cruel treatment as grounds for the same. A decree of divorce was granted to Ida E. Clairmont against A. Clalrmont, on the ground of nonsupport. The plaintiff was declared to be the rightful owner of the real estate of the parties, consisting of 20 acres of land in Clark county. , Jennie P. Crawford was granted a di vorce from Enos Crawford, on the ground of abandonment. The plaintiff was given the care and custody of the minor chil dren. Bettering the Curves and Grades. Hood River Glacier. Things present a lively appearance at Haynes" sour, where the O. R. & N. Co. has a large force of men at work reducing the curves and grade In the railroad bed at "that point. The excavating necessi tates much blasting, and tons of basalt are being removed by a ljberal use of giant powder. The heavy blasts as they echo back and forth across the river sound like cannonading. With the Im provements in the roadbed here a num ber of sharp curves will be taken out and an abrupt grade of eight feet reduced. Carbonado InveHtigation Completed. OLYMPIA, Jan. 5. The board of coal mino inspectors has finished Its Investi gation at Carbonado, and today was In Olympla- in consultation with Governor Rogers, to whom it submitted its findings. The personnel of this board, in addition to C. F. Owen, coal mine Inspector and ex-officlo member of the board. Is Robert Young, mining engineer of Tacoma; John Jenkins, of Cumberland, King county, and Charles Hamer. of Spokane. The report will be fo mulated and gl en out tomorrow. Planlc Road In Columbia Connty. St. Helena Mist Dick Bailey, supervisor of the Yankton road district, has succeeded In placing sev eral thousand feet of heavy plank on th road from Houlton to Yankton. Gooa roads are the salvation of any commun ity, and plank roads are best of all, and cheapest In the long run. Let there be many miles of plank road laid in ou1 county this year whenever and wherever It is possible to repair a piece of bad road In that way. Pennoyer An Incurable. Newberjr Graphic. Something of a boom has been started in favor of Pennoyer, Oregon's Pannoyer, for chairman of the state democratic cen tral committee. We thought It understood that the old man was. about through wit i politics, but if ho has any lingering' long ings in that direction, do let him have the job, and If this next dose doesn't euro him, he can be safely named among tho Incurables. Another Line of Steamers Up Coast. SAN" FRANCISCO, Jan. 5. The Call will say tomorrow: "The chances aro that In another two months there will he a compatfng line of steamers between San Francisco and Pu get sound ports. The owners of the trans ports Glenogle, Victoria. Tacoma and Co lumbia are going to run the vessels on. the coast." Mrs. Povrell, Pioneer of Linn County. Kate, wife of Judge J. C. Powell, of Al bany, died Thursday morning after having been a sufferer for 25 years from hemor rhage of the lungs. She was a pioneer oC Linn county. Mrs. Fred Blumbrg and James F. Powell are her children. Football and Prune Method. Newberg Graphic. To keep up her football rep, Califor nia Is forced to the old prune racket that of putting her label on Oregon's best athletes, and even then Stanford goes down befoie the Multnomahs. DAILY CITY STATISTICS. Real Estate Transfers. Sheriff to John F. Hughes. lots 1 and 2. block 1. Woodworth's addition, December 27 51360 University Land Company to C. O. Boynton, lots 26 and 27, block 136. University Park, January 5... 28 S. F. Sinclair and wife to C. SL Pin dell, lot 3, block HO, Caruthers ad dition. December 29 22 J. H. Brenner and wife to Julius L. Haas, 12 acres, section J, T. 1 a. R. 1 E.. and section 1. T. 1 &, R. 1 W.. December 3 10 W. L. Farrell and A. E. Farrell to Elizabeth Byars, 6x56. lot 3. block 139, East Sixth street. East Port land. January 4.... 500 Sheriff to Hibernia Savings bank, lots 5 and 7. block 18. lots 15. 17 and 19 block 21. Southern Portland. Mar eh 7 731 William E. Newcomb to Harriet Sew comb et al. lot 13. block 35. Albina; lots 4 and 5, block 17. Willamette, lot 12, block. Central Albina. west 30 feet, lot 22, block 13. Albtna, De cember 7 1 Sophia Preston and husband to James Taylor. N. Edwin J. Taylor and wife D. L. C and also M acfea of James Logle D. L. C. October 29. . 230 T. J. Redsweil and wife to fcdwfn J. Taylor, same. October 29 230 Lillian Vernon McDonjcall and hus band to Edwin J. Taytor, same, Sep tember 1.. 1 Jessie McEwan to Edwin J. Taylor. same. June 9 .. 2"0 Arabella. Talt and husband et ah to Edwin J. Taylor, sa"me, June .... 250 Marriage License. Leland Seoley Cook, aged 28. Ie Mabl Myers, aged 21; Benjamin T. Flint, f Washington county. Mary F. Spidell, 47. Birth. January 1 Boy to the wife ot Elmer B. Colwell. Sn Kelly street. January 4 Boy to the wif- of Fred Hen derson. 513 Vancouver avenue. January 2 Boy to the wife of Ernest Mil ler. 5S7 Northup s'-eet. January 3 Girl to the wife of Thomas P. French. 750 Front street.