Morning Oregonian., January 22, 1900, Page 5, Image 5

t&S& MftfeflJNG- DBEGLte $f01$pY;S JANJTY gt;19jlO.
1
ft
OAL OF COOS BAY
fields Embrace an Area of
Nearly 250 Square Miles.
REGION IS DECIDEDLY HILLY
Principal Formation Is Sandstones
and 'Shales Analyses of the
Coals.
'The Coos Bay Coal Eeld, Oregon,"
Js the title of a pamphlet -which has Just
been Issued by the United States geologi
cal .survey. The description of the fields
-was "written hy Joseph Silas Dlller, who
made a personal examlnatlo'n' of them.
Mr. Dlller gives much detail about the
mines and their -working. He "writes:
"The Coos bay coal field lies an the
coast of Oregon, somewhat more than 200
miles south of the mouth of the Columbia,
among the foothills between the Coast
xange and the Pacific It has -a. length
north and south of about 30 miles, and a
maximum breadth of about 11 miles, and it
embraces nearly 250 square miles. The
region Is decidedly billy, but the bills have
broad, flat tops and steep, terraced Blopes,
leading down to' the sea or tidal flats,
-with estuaries which furnish the natural
outlet for the coal. These are essentia:
relief features of the coal field.
"The northern cart of the field Is Inter
sected by Coos bay, with Its extensive
flats and branching sloughs. The south
ern portion Is traversed by the Coquille
river, whose flats are. In places, equally as
broad as those of the Coos, but are more
generally raised above tide level, a feature
which Is due chiefly to the fact that the
Coqullle brings down and deposits along
its course more sediment than does the
Coos.
"The elevation of the flood plain of the
Coos river above the river Increases up
stream Beyond the forks it rises about
15 feet above ordinary high -tide, which
extends up the Tiver over 20 miles. It
is formed of the sediment, mostly fine
alluvium,' brought down by the river. Here
and there the flood plain is bordered by
well-developed terraces. The most sharp
ly defined, and persistent terrace Is about
25 feet above the flood plain.
"From the alluvial or fiood plain the
wooded slopes rise abruptly and steeply
for a few hundred feet to the flat nllltops,
which are generally broad. The highest
of these within the coal field reach an
altitude of about 800 feet above the sea
Prom that elevation down to the level of
the beach, and the tidal flats, the descent
is by successive terraces, Tne meaning
of these terraces can be most easily dis
covered by studying the seaward slope
of the same hill, where the terraces are
even more sharply developed and their re
lation to the beach is determinable.
"At the mouth of Big creek, a short
distance south of Cape.Gregory lighthouse,
at the entrance of Coos bay. are three
features which at once attract attention
two level' tracts and a separaing cliff.. The
first level tract is seen in the flat-topped
hills rising to the same summit plana,
which is marked upon the island at the
left, as well as upon the mainland. The
second level tract is that of the beach,
which extends to the sea cliff, separating
the two level tracts. The waves from
winter storms dash landward against the
cliffs and undermine them. Portions of
the, cliffs break off and fall upon the
beach, and the material is removed by the
retreating waves, thus developing a flat
tract a tract of marine planatlon at sea
level. Upon the land, by long-continued
action ofrain and streams, the bills may
bo washed away, and the land reduced to
an approximate plain, which has been
called the base-level plain of erosion, be-
-cause of -Its being determined by the sea
level. If either the sea Itself nor the land
streams can reduce the land tp a lower
level as 'long -as' the relative positions of
land and'-sea remain unchanged.
"As the land was raised the streams
acquired greater slope to the sea, and con
sequently greater power to carry away
sediment and deepen their valleys. The
Coos and Coqullle rivers, with their tribu
taries, -under such invigorating xlrcum-i
stances, ' 2cuf deep valleys, with steep
slopes, that extend far below the level of
their present flood plains. This feature
was discovered by borings made near the
edge of the flood plains at Newport and
ICentuck slough.
Formations of the Coal Field.
"The alluvium Is chiefly fine silt, such
as occurs upon the flood plains, with some
sand ancL gravel, generally in the river
terraces.- This deposit is wholly the work
of the present streams, principally the
Coos and Coqullle. It Is brought down
from the rapid part of the streams in the
mountains and deposited In their lower
courses. The stream valleys In the moun
tains are rocky and contain scarcely any
alluvium.
"The Empire formation Is composed
chiefly of shales and sandstones, often con
taining an abundance of Miocene fossils.
This Is especially the case along Coos
Day toward Empire from the mouth or
South slough. Coos head Is a massive
sandstone, and along South slough the
shales are light colored, closely resembling
' some of those associated with the coal,
and yet readily distinguished from them
under the microscope by the curious mi
nute fossils which they contain. The
shales and thin sandstones along the
coast south of Seven Devils are, usually
dark colored and much disturbed.
"The formation which occupies almost
the -whole of the Coos bay. region is the
Arago, which is composed generally of
sandstones and shales. It is especially
well exposed in the neighborhood of the
mouth of Coos bay and Cape Arago, where
it contains cardita planicosta and othei
characteristic Eocene fossils. Heavy
bedded sandstones prevail -upon the east
ern side of the area, toward the Coast
range, where the Eocene rocks have a
wide distribution, and shales become
abundantly interstratlfled with the sand
stones toward the west, near the coast.
Upon the eastern side of the quadrangle
the sandstones are penetrated and separ
ated by dark, heavy intrusions of an igne
i ous rock diabase and the overlying sand
stone near by generally contains mudh -1
sediment derived from It.
"The strata among which the coal beds
are found contain at a number of places
the fossils which characterize the Arago
formation, and It is therefore evident that
the strata Immediately associated with the
coal belong to that formation. For con
venience and clearness, however, in de
scribing it the coal field, It is necessary to
consider the coal-bearing strata apart
from the other portion of the Arago for
mation. For this purpose the coal-bearing
strata will be designated the Coaledo
formation, because it is well exposed in
the vicinity of Coaledo. The other por
tion of the Arago formation will be desig
nated the Pulaski formation, because it
forms the hills about the head of Pulaski
creek and the Pulaski arch, which sep
arates the Beaver slough and Coqullle
coal basins.
"The Coaledo formation, besides bearing
coal. Is found to contain characteristics
by which it may be distinguished from the
Pulaski formation. One of its especially
interesting features Is the occurrence or
fresh or brackish water fossils in imme
diate connection with the coal, while be
tween the coals, and sometimes rather
close to them, purely marine fossils are
occasionally found. The fresh or brack-lsh-water
fossils most frequently occur
in the roof, as at Newport, Beaver Hill
and Rlverton, but may be found at some
distance frpm the coal in the associated
strata. -They evidently indicate succes
sive rising and falling of the land close
to the sea level.
fc "The Coaledo formation is younger than
the Pulaski, which embraces the main
body of .the Arago formation surrounding
the coal ficld" .Bracklsh-water fossils
have been found In' rocks outside of the
coal field at only a few places. "Within
the coal fields, however, they occur at
many places. The Coaledo formation is
characterized not only by the presence of
coal, but also by the relatively large por
tion of beds containing bracklsh-water fos
sils. In the other portion of the Arago
formation of the Coos bay . quadrangle,
more than mere traces ofcoai dp- riot oc
cur, and strata containing' bracklsh-water
fossils are rare.
'"Besides1 coal the rocks of the Coaledo
formation are sandstones and shales of
considerable variety. In the lower por
tion sandstones predominate; then comes
the portion where "the workable coal beds
occur, and the associated rocks are of
about equal quantities of sandstones and
rather dark-colored shales. In the upper
portion light-colored shores are :most
abundant, and they are characteristic.
Such shales do not occur In the Coos bay
quadrangleoutside of the coal field. This
fine, wnlte shale of the Coaledo forma
tion ls'well exposed by the Toadslde at a
number of points between Coquille and
Marshfleld. When examined' under a mi
croscope, It is found to contain numerous
minute flakes of biotite-mica, with much
clear, glassy material, that looks like vol
canic dust. A somewhat similar white
shale occurs, as already noted, in the
Empire formation" on Souh slough, near
the ferry, but under the microscope this is
readily distinguished from the whiteshale
of the Coaledo formation by means of the
multitude of peculiar minute fossils which
the former contains. v.
Structure of the Coal Fields.
'In Its first stage of development the
coal field must have been flat. The swamp
in which the vegetation accumulated to
form beds of coal extended more, or less
continuously over the whole field? It
bordered upon the sea, and -was but, little
above the sea level. When the associated
sandstones and shales containing fresh or
bracklsh-water shells were laid dpwn, the
field must have been covered by fresh
water or an arm of the sear but when
the sediments containing purely "marine
shells were deposited, it must have been
covered by the open ocean.
"The gradual rising and sinking of the
field, resulting in the alternate deposition
of the coal, sandstone, and shale over the
same area, was so slight, that the strata
were laid upon one ano'fher in parallel
positions; but later, after the deposition
of the coal was completed, there came,a
time of change, when the Coast range was
formed. The Tocks, 'originally horizontal,
were then compressed laterally and
thrown Into folds, L e., into upward and
downward flexures. On opposite sides of
an upward flexure the strata incline away
from each other, forming an anlfcline or
arch, while on opposite sides of a down
ward flexure the strata Incline toward
-each other, forming a syncline or basin.
In either case, if the compression continues
far enough, the folds -will 'be closed and
the strata driven Into a vertical position,
or they may be overturned If the push
is greater in one direction, .JDuring
such folding the" rocks are "generally
broken and displaced or faulted along
lines of fracture. The coal "fields have
been affected In both ways, but most by
folds. The faulting, so far as known, Is
pf minor importance-, and the' displacement
Is small.
"Considering the folds of the coal-bearing
rocks-c-the Coaledo formation the coal
fleld may be divided into six portions,. our
basins and two arches. The basins con
tain the coal; the arches bring to the sur
face the underlying l Btrata, which are
generally without coal beds. The basins
are, the Newport, the Beaver slough, the
Coqullle and the South slough.
Newport Basin.
"The Newport basin Is named from its
principal mine, the Newport, at Xdbby.
Its length north and south from "Sokam
hill to the neighborhood of Marshfleld 3
about three miles. "Excepting the trace
of coal at North Bend, no coal has been
found north of the ravine containing the
Marshfleld waterworks, although it is
probable that the Newport basin extends
somewhat farther in that direction. The
average breadth' of the basin Is about a
mile, and the1 total area of the coal "basin
Is neariylhfee, square "miles?.' -
The Newporfbasln liaaonTy one- bed
of coal extensively worked. The bed Is
generally known throughout the region
as the Newport bed. It contains about six
feet of coal in three benches, yielding five
feet of workable coal. The basin original
ly contained over 6,000,000 tons of coal, a
large part of which was available.
"The Newport basin is well defined and
the outcrop of its coal has been traced
more carefully than that of any other
portion of the field.;, It Is the most con
veniently situated with "reference to coal
shipment of all the productive portions
of the coal field, and the attitude o"f the
strata is such as greatly to facilitate min
ing. The basin is shallow, with gentle dip:
on both sides. It lies in a ridge, so high
above local drainage that the mine not
only drains itself, but, the coal is readily
carried out of the mine by gravity alone,
"The most complete-section of the -strata
involved In the Newport' 8asfn is furnished
by the borings made at Llbby in -prospecting
for coal near the mouth of the
Newport mine. One of the borings pene
trated 800 feet Overlying-the Newport
coaL there Is about 100 feet of sandstone,
in which occurs a small bed of carbonace
ous shale, containing about, one foot or
coal. This is the only bed of coal known
In the southern portion of the basin be
sides the Newport bed. Fifty feet Jjelow
the Newport coal is a five-foot bed of shale
containing traces of coal. The deep barr
ing was started at the botiom of the rja
vlne, near the bunkers, about 100 feet be
low the Newport coal. - According to Mr.
Campbell, who was superintendent of the
Newport mine when the boring was made,
it penetrated 300 feet of sandstone and 500
feet of shale, without finding any coaL
This disclosed the fact that In the Newport
basin it is certain that there is no bed of
coal within 900 feet below the Newport.
"The southern end of the basin, under
Xokam bill, has been kimbst completely
mined out. In that; direction the bottom
of the basin rises and the coal approaches
the surface, but does not reach it to form
a continuous outcrop of coal around the
southern end of the basin.
Beaver Slough Basin.
"The Beaver slough coal basin takes It
name from Its principal slough, which lies
near the middle of the most Important por
tlon of the basin. Beaver slouch basin"
has a length of over 20 miles, extending
warn xne neignDornooa or itiverton north
east, between Isthmus and Catching
sloughs, to the northern limit of Coos bay.
Its wlflest part Is on the Coqullle, where
It is about five miles across. To the
north' it narrows as it approaches Coo
bay, and ends a short distance beyond
Glasgow, where it joins the South slough
basin. "The Beaver slough basin, although
many times as large as the Newport basin
and containing much more coal, has not
yet yielded so great an output, for the
reason that It Is not so conveniently lo
cated for .economical mining. The basin
is deep, extending far below the sea level
so that the removal of the coal to the
surface, as well as the drainage and venti
lation of the mine, Is, fn general, consid
erably more expensive than at Newport.
Many mines have been started In this
basin. Only the lower portion of the
Coaledo formation contains coal beds
worthy of consideration. These cron out
close to the border of the basin, or within
me Dasm, oniy wnere Drougnt to tne sur
face by an upward bend of the strata.
South Slouprh Basin.
"South slough basin has the South
slough 'for Its central topographic feature,
and lies to the west of the Newport and
Beaver slough basins, from which it is
separated by the Westport arch. Except
at the southern end, the limits of the
South .slough drainage mark out approxi
mately the outline of the basin. The
coal exposed at several localities near Em
pire, as well as that farther southwest
belong to the eastern arm of tne 'basin.
Near the summit on the Empire trail, a
mile west of Pony slough," several" coals
are exposedr One coal -stands' at an an
gle of over GO degrees, and another, near
by. a larger bed, but of poor quality,
stands vertical.
"About a mile south of EmpiTd. on the
Cammon road, three, coal beds are report
ed, three, five and sixfeet, respectively
In thickness. They are poorly exposed
by several small tunnels and shafts which paleontologlcal relations of the coal-bear-are
nearly closed, so that the reported ing beds show that they are equivalent to
measurements could not be verified. The
coals lie close together, ana several ex-
posures may be upon the same bed. One
bed showsjus irichest of; coal atioveand 20
inches below a six-Inch parting of gray
sand, and closely resembles the coal a mile
to the east of Empire, on the Marshfleld
trail. The coal dips eastward at an angle
of 70 degrees, and.cannpt.be mined .tp ad-
vantage. Coal' was early" discovered here,
and one of the first cargoes was shipped
from this vicinity. '
"The coals at the two localities just
Tintpr! nn tViA trnJl nnri on the Cammon
road, although a mile apart, may be of
the eame group. They dip toward, each oasm. it emoraces tne coais exienuing
other steeply, as If forming a 'narrow hutfrom'thS town of Coqullle a little west of
deep syncline. The layer of sand cover- south, by Harlocker hill, to the upper
lng the region and the Idgh inclination or
the beds do not encouraee Drbsnectors. for
there Is scarcely any probability that pay
ing coal will be found in that part of the
basin.
"Pony slough lies close to the sharp arch
that fifiimrates the Newoort and South
slough basins; Upon the eastern border
of the South slough basin, no more coal
has been opened north of section 8, T. 26
1 -" W
COOS BAY COAL FIELD LIGHT-HOUSES ISLAND, CAPE GREGORY, AT
MOUTH OF COOS BAY.
S., R. 13 W. Near. Mr. Oldland's, In sec
tion 8, a bed crops out, and farther south
west the same bed has been recently
opened by Mr. Monroe. Its structure,
Rt jinfl TmniHnn aU fernd to Indicate that
it Is the Newport bed? which comes Qut to
the surface along thebprdet"oJthe-,New-
port basin, three-fourths of" a mile to the
east. At tnat point, nowever, mere qpes
not appear a clear parting in the upper
bench as at Oldland's, but of the three
benches, the upper 4s said to be the most
variable at Newport.
"In Bectlon 1, T. 27 S., R. 14 W., there are
a number of coal outcrops with a uniform
strike of N. 20 deg. E., and steep dip to
the northwest (53 deg. to 72 deg.), the big
gest bed having the, highest Inclination.
This bed Is not , t ajced up - at "sufficient
depth to show it ff eeTf rom 'surface modi
fications. It appears to have a thickness
of six feet two inches, with three benches
resembling the Newport, but is generally
soft and muddy.
"In the southwestern part of section 2, or
the same township, there are several fine
outcrops. The quality of the coal, judged
from Its physical appearance, as well as
Its analyses, Is very good. It outcrops In
such a position as to allow sufficient fall
for handling and delivery at tiidVIevel
without obstruction., Its- gentle slope is They occur in the bold hills facing east
convenient for mining, and a large body ward, and, like the coals prospected on
of coal lies in the, hills to the northwest Harlocker hill, dip to the west. From
along the strike, which curves to tho Lilly's the coals extend to Halls creer,
north until it Is about N. 30 deg. W. This where, at- Lundy's place, two exposures
strike carries the coal Into the head of j occur, one showing two feet of coal and
Big creek," where several other outcrops the other1 nearly seven 'feet, including a
have been opened. The promise found in good-sized 'nigger-head and some bony
the exposures, of coal in the southern part material, 5he ,tw exposures areonjy
of section, .however, is greatly limited about 250 "yards apart, and may be the
by the position of the coals in adjacent eame bed If -so, the 'thickening1 of the
sections. Near the line between-sectlons r Ded 'a only local. Farther up the creek
2 and 3 the Newport coal, as well as the coal has been reported near the north
one overlying it. dips easterly at a high I east corner of section 1G, but is not now
angle, showing that the gentle dips do not
extend far to the northwest. To the
southwest, in section 10, high dips prevail,
as also tp the. eastward of section 1, where
the dip ranges 'from, 53 to 70 deg. It Is
probable, therefore, that the area prom
ising the most fayorafale' conditions, for
mining ki-the southwest part of section 2
Is less than a square mile In extent.
' "Directly west of Beaver Hill, near the
western line of section 18, at Aiken's cabin,
a bed of coal occurs. The coal Is not so
opened as to show the presence or ab
sence of any more coal at the top. The
coal looks very much like that of Beaver
Hill, from which it is, separated by a nar
row ridge made Jjythe Westport arch,
around Jhe.end o!i;w.fiich. the coal appears
to swing" to "the Beaverton mine. There Is
but little doubt that this bed Is the same aa
that mined at Beaver Hill and Beaverton,
and the doubt Is lessened by exposures of
the same coal farther westward, where
the upper bench appears.
"Farther southward, In the eastern part
of section 26, Captain Parker some years
ago opened a bed. The coal is cut by
one of the branches of Seven-Mile creek,
in a ravine 125 feet deep. About 25 feet
above the bottom of the ravine a curved
tunnel runs southwesterly upon the coal
for 100 feet Some of the coal Is rather
soft and earthy, and is somewhat crushed,
but much of it Is of good quality. t
"Returning now to the northern portion
of the South slough basin, its coals may
be traced along the -.northwest border of.
the basin into the drainage of Big creek,57
where five beds of coal have Been found
in sandstones and shales, having a thick
ness of liot over 300 feet. The largest
bed. which lies at the top, has 4 feet 11
inches of coal, with two partings from
three to six inches thick. The quality of
the coal Is generally poor. The other
four beds of coal range from 8 to 15 ihches '
COOS BAY COAL FIELD BEACH, SEA
MOUTH OF BIG CREEK,
thick. The largest bed, at the top of tho
mia, um uccu upuueu at several points,
but does not promise profitable mining.
The sea cliffs bordering the beach south
of the lighthouse, toward Cape Arago, as
wel! as east toward Coos head," afford es-
ClliyJJnlj?us ensures
.. i..o iwa uj. mat icftiun. M. OeOS Ot
coal occurred they would most likely be
well exposed. None, however, are seen,
excepting .one at Tokam pblnt, where a
coal 1 foot 10 Inches In thickness occurs"
regularly, Jnterstratifled wffh the sand
stones aiidshales The, bluff-' Is rugged,
and the coalpan be reached only hy means
of a ladder or rope. Althougb. not prom
ising for mining, some or the coal has
been used to good effect at the lighthouse
for winter fuel. The adjacent sandstones'
immediately overlying the coal are full of
marlne shells, among which cardita
planicosta occurs;, so. that In. this, case, as
east of Glasgow, the coal Is certainly of
Eocene age. The structural as well as
7".'. " ' - " " ,
those so well exposed along the coast at
Yokam point, and westward to near ;ne
mouth of Big creek. As already stated,
only one cpal reachesthe coast; the oth-
ers have run out before reaching this
point. This is the place where the origin
nal swamp merged into the sea. The
coal beds and bracklsh-water strata are
, here represented by purely marine sedi-
ments of the same age.
Coanille Basin.
"Having considered the Newport, the
Beaver slough,
and the South slough
basins, there yet remains the Coquille
portion of Hall's creek, 'lhe coals ol tnis
little basin are -best exposed along the
river four miles south of Coquille at Har
locker hill, where they have been recent
ly well opened by prospectors. All of the
coals, except the two upper ones, crop
! out on the steep slope facing the river.
The -four lower ones are well exposed
along a steep ravine a--short distance
above, the road, and have been opened by
A. J. Smith. The second Is largest, but
the quality of the material Is not so good.
The third and fourth beds from the bot
tom have been opened by tunnels, and
! some coal has been removed. South-
eastern dips are exposed also near
I the road at Pulaski creek, and1 all the coals
which run in'tothe ground at Harlocker
Jim cuma uui ubiuh iu me ouuoup mum
a few miles- to the west. If these coals
Drove to be worth mining, and the basin
Is not too deep to drain Itself, they can be
most economlcaly mined from the end.
The middle of the basin Is about half a
miles Jiorthwest of the river front of Har
locker hill. The coals crop out on the
southeastern slope of Harlocker hill at an
altitude of 200 feet or less above the river,
with an average 'inclination of 10 degrees
northwest. If that inclination continues
northwest to near the middle of the basin,
the coals at that point must He at least
several hundred feet below the level of
the river. Only about a square mile of
the basin remains above drainage at this
point. To the north It has been washed
away by the Coqullle, and to the south
by flshtrap..
"The coal basin extending south from
Harlocker hill contains several coal beds
about Lilly's a mile southwest of Arago.
i exposed. This marks .the southern limit
of the Coos bay coal ,fleld,
"North of Harlpcker hill, ccal la next
fpund near Coqullle, The position of
the strata Is very irregular, a feature
which may be due, at least in part, to the
large mass of cdiabase- a .short distance
to the -southeast. These are the most
northern exposures of coal known in tho
Coquille basin.
"The Coquille basin, extending from a
mile north of Coqullle to the upper por
tion of Hall's creek, has a length of about
eight miles and a width of nearly a mile.
Its area is approximately eight square
miles. The only part within It of consid
erable promise Is a.t Harlocker hill, and
6ven here the readily available mass is
limited to but little over a square mile."
PORTUGUESE MONEY.
The Unit of Value is One-Tvrentleth
of an American Cent.
St. Louis Globe-Democrat.
On landing at Oporto, p,bout the first
thing-you do Is to -seek a money-changer's
establishment (there are several alone:
J the quay) and get your American green-
aaciis converted into Portuguese coin with
which to pay porters' fees, oarriage-hire
and other incidentals. You- hand out 510,
as a starter, and aro amazed at the
amount of metal copper, iron. lrass and
.nickel which is piled upon the counter
'in return. It looks like old junk stove
Hds, pewter plates and the brass tags
which landlords attach to their door keys
to prevent them froiw Tjplner rnrrlor? ntf
in the pockets of their patrons. If $10
is such an "embarrassment of riches" it
w&uld surely require a cart to get away
with a hundred,
In the financial numeraton of Portugal
CLIFF AND FIRST TERRACE AT
KEAR CAPE GRE.GORY.
1000 reis represents what we call
n. fliinr-
ter." The word "rels" Is the nlural of
real; and the latter unit of the monetary
system equals one-twentieth of the Ameri
can penny. Fortunately thereis.no such
pieces In greatest circulation
com,, tne smallest Demg 10 rels.- The
are a niokel
of 200 rels, which answers for our 5-cpnt
piece; another nickel of 100 xels, and a cop
per coin or 4u reis. ,
IncomcTax Failed"; Jfj
St. Louis, Glob'e-Demqctr
,South . Carolina has repealed a state In
come tax law which produced last year
revenue of only $7000. Senator Tillman
has a chance to explain why this" law was
pronounced farcical in an ovbrwhelming-
ly democratic state. v -
Tangier Is a city without vehicles. Don
keys are used lor transportation.
OUR PRIMARY ELECTIONS
ABUSES THAT ME AT BOTTOM OF
" -JS.OUB, BOIilTIOAIj SYSTEM-
'?; i
Fond Delusion That Voters Choose
Delegates Ring: Rule Should Be
Banished From Primaries.
PORTLAND, Jan. 20. (To the Editor.)
The defects of the registry law attract
attention, but little Is said of the de
fects of the Multnomah county primary
law. And yet, although the enactment ef
the registry law was a step in the right
dlrectien, it Is pf slight Importance In
comparison with a proper primary law.
The Australian ballot act cleared away
the, worst abuses of election day, and, with.
or without a, Tegistry law, frauds are
much less likely than before the Aus
tralian system was adopted. But the main
'disease has not been reached.
It' Is supposed that under a govern
ment such as ours, each citizen aids In
choosing persons elected to office, but, as
a matter of fact, the voter has but slight
opportunity, in this county, to select men
of his choice. When it Is complained that
we are suffering under a load of official
ism, and that no matter which way the
election goes we get the same breed ot ex
iravagantand irresponsible fellows In of
fice, thatthe money of the taxpayers is
wasted, and that the politicians work the
community- for all there Is in it, why Is it
that the root of the evil Is not seen and
recognized? After the tickets are nomi
nated, the voter may pick and choose be
tween candidates, If he is Independent,
but as a rule he votes his party ticket.
In any event his influence on the result
is secondary and remote, for he has a
limited choice among candidates put be
fore him by means of a system carefully
calculated by politicians to keep from him
the power of exercising the most important
function of citizenship.
It Is a fond delusion that Is still cher
ished by the uninitiated, that the voters
choose the delegates to their party con
ventions, and that these delegates repre
sent the votes behind them in preparing
the ticket in the county convention. Thl3
myth has no basis In fact. It is a very
useful fiction to the pelltlcian, hpwever,
and he weuld npt have it disturbed. But
strip it away and look at the truth, and
it will be found that In each of the politi
cal parties in this county there Is one
man or committee of men who not only
name the delegates to the party conven
tions but actually select the ticket which
Is nominally to be selected by these con
ventions. Under these circumstances, what moots
It whether a citizen votes or not on elec
tion day? What can he do but choose
among candidates who have been placed
before him by the chief potentate of offi
cialdom? Can the voter bope In looking
over a bill of fare prepared in this way
to find a dish to his taste?
The trouble lies in the primaries. Now, 1
will not indulge in the usual argument
upon the importance of the primaries and
the urgent duty of the citizen to turn out
at primary elections. I take It for granted
that every one understands that the prl
nary election, If fairly conducted, and If
attended by all of the party voter, af
fords a practical method of securing a
representative party ticket at the conven
tion. But I also take it for granted that
the average well-meaning citizen will con
tinue, as always, to have his spurt of civic
virtue and will again fall Into a state
of lassitude, and again neglect to attend
tne primaries; while on the other hand
the politicians, who make a business of
running the machine, will continue to be
vigilant and active, and will go on work
ing politics after the other fellow has lost
interest and quit. These things always
have been, and always will be, and even
If the people do occaslonaly wake up and
make an. effort to shake off the parasites,
they have neither time nor inclination to
compete with the professional politicians.
As far (as our local elections are con
cerned, it is important that the candidates
to be voted for be responsible and up-
ngnt men, wno are not wearing the yoke
of a party boss and who are not mere
creatures of a selfish and corrupt political
cabal.
Party political conventions here will
continue to' be demlnated by ring rule
unless primary elections are purified. We
need a new primary law applying the prin
ciples of the Australian ballot law and
the registry law to primary elections.
In the meantime, however, until such
a law is enacted, something may be done
toward securing a freer expression of the
public will in the party conventions if pub
lic attention is early attracted to the evil
and public sentiment Is aroused against
the cut and dried method of elating the
party tickets.
As the matter new stands, the judges
pf the primary elections are supposed to be
appointed by a small committee of poli
ticians, themselves chosen as committee
men by a political autocrat. The func
tions of the city and county central com
mittee are chiefly to act as a screen for
the boss, who really names the judges of
the primaries, as well as makes up the list
of the delegates to the cenventipn, and the
list pf persens to be nominated for office
by those delgates in convention. Judges
selected in this way are carefully picked
men, who can be relied upon to carry the
primary election for the machine. The
committee also prints the tickets, and
prints them so that they are readly dis
tinguished from anr opposition tickets
that may be produced at the polls. The
duties of the judges, as required by the
managers, are simple. They are (1) to
select clerks that will not fall them in
any emergency; (2) to permit all voters
offering the maclne ticket to vote, in
spite of protest or challenge,, and whether
the voter has the right to vote or not;
(3) to refuse the votes of as many of the
ppposition as necessary, being ably as
sisted in this work by the professional
challenger employed by the managers; (4)
after the "regular" ticket has a few votes
in the box, and the line of voters await
ing opportunity to vote is largely com
posed of the opppsitipn, tp see that de
lays and ebstacles are interposed to pre
vent many of these opposition voters get
ting to the window; (5)-and, most impor
tant, to see that no matter how the vote
stands, the regular ticket Is returned
elected, and the certificates of election
Issued to the machine delegates.
In order to make these tactics safe and
easily worked, It Is customary for tho
committee to divide the city Into as few"
elect-on precincts as possible, so that com
paratively few of the substantial citizens
can get a chance to vote; and, to make
it more sure, the management lines up a
regiment of partisans at the polling places
long before tho time for opening tho
polls, so that a man who has. any sub
stantial business interests to occupy his
time, goes away in disgust, rather than
to wait for long hours to get in his
vote.
Another favorite political scheme Is to
call the primaries as close to the time of
holding the convention as possible, and, as
the minimum time allowed by law is seven
days, this is the period within which the
public Is permitted to look over the list
of worthies that bave been named as
judges by the committee. And, In order
that there may be no contest of seats in
the convention, and no scrutiny of the
delegates, the convention is held as soon
as possible, perhaps the next day after
the farcical primary election.
The question of burning Importance in
Multnomah county is not whether our bet
ter citizens will take a hand in our local
elections, or even whether they will per
form their manliest duty to attend the
primaries, vbut whether "they will again
permit the professional politicians to usurp
the power to choo3e delegates and to slate
the ticket.
It Is not long since wo had a spectacle
of what a primary election may become
when the faction entrenched In power Is
opposed by another organized faction. It
Is generally believed that both sides en-
l gaged in that contest were guilty ot
wrongs and excesses, and I do not propose
to discuss the matter or to appor tpn the
blame, further than to recall tho fact that
it was claimed that the Initial wreng was
committed by the majority members of
the county and city central committee in
declining the very reasonable request of
the minority that they be given the privil
ege of naming a' part of the judges, pr that
the judges be selected by seme methPd
that wpuld ensure upright and impartial
men.
The whole difficulty lies right here. If
the party leaders could be relied upon to
name honorable and fair-minded men as
judges of the primaries, and to establish
numerous polling places, the voters would
feel sure that they would have an honest
election, and that the majority- would elect
the delegates. But as It is. It is useless
to go to the primaries, and the people must
expect packed conventions, and that poli
ticians' tickets wil be put forth by each
of the parties.
"Taxpayers' leagues" and "citizens" tick
ets" have not generally proven satisfac
tory. The remedy should be sought in
the parties, and If our -better citizens can
chcose the candidates without the dicta
tion of any boss or political junta, there
can be no doubt that we may, at least
occasionally, get officers who will admin
ister our municipal and county affairs
honestly and economically.
I admit that under the present loose
primary law the central committees have
the legal right to name the judges, but
If there was a general demand: by our
voters that the committees name the
Judges from our first citizens they would
find it hard to resist or to refuse. In any
event, a demand should be made that tne
judges be named and the list be pub
lished at least three weeks before the
primary election, and that the conventions
be not held for at least a week after the
delegates are elected i and also that a suffi
cient number or polling places be desig
nated to Insure every voter an opportun
ity to vote.
I make these suggestions with the hope
that citizens who have the welfare of our
city at heart may consider the subject and
adopt some practical method of correcting
the evils that we all recognize. CATO.
PORTLAOT) LETTER LIST.
Persons calling: for these letters win please
"tate date on which they were advertised, Jan
uary 22. They will be charged for at the rate of
1 cent each:
WOMEN'S LIST.
Adams, Mlsa Jennie A Kennlson, Mrs P
Aloyslus, Sister Mary Kerans, Mrs Nora
lle3ton, Mrs Eva T Klermeler. Mrs Kate
Allen. Mrs Theo H Knapp, Mlsa Leslie
Allen. Mlsa BelIe-2 Kurttl. Miss Emma
Baker. Mrs Tilda Ladd. Mrs Osa.
Barrell, Mrs B Larsen. Mra Ludwie
Bites. Miss Sydney Larrabee, Mrs Deborah
Bennett. Sarah Lee. airs W R
Barry, Mrs T H Leach, Mrs Parker
Blake, Miss May Lewis, Cordelia M
Blake, Miss Pearl Love, Mlsa Mollle
Blum, Mrs Emil McDonald. Miss Mar-
Bcewell, Mrs Bell gret
Bresler. Miss Bessla McDonald. Mra J T2
I Broddey Mrs J J Maxan. Mrs C
urnue. Miss Josephine Maxson, Mrs Mlnnte
Uusrher. Mrs
Masters. Mra Ida
Burger, Mra E K
Butterworth, Esther
Butler. Mra R G
Cavanaugh. Mra R
Cameron, MUb OHle
Clayton. Mfca Mabte
Clark, Miss Mary
Coe. Mrs T M
Mathtson, Miss Dollte J
Meraglla, Rosina
Mitchell, Mrs Beatrice
Swain
Moxon, Mica
Montgomery, Miss Mag-
gle
Morse, Miss Ruth
Morris. Mrs LInnIa
Cornell, Miss E
:rcmze, Mrs Amanda Morri9, Elizabeth. C
Crowley, Miss RebeccaMyers. Mrs Lulu E
Deltz. Miss Bertha Nye. Mrs. 430 Jefferson
DeMontlJo. Amelia L
Eevcrell, Mrs Fred
Dubrlel, Mrs
Elwood, Mls3 May
English, Easter
Fitipatrlck. MlB
street
Nye, Mra Marie
Nichols, Mra Mary O
Norton, Mrs Bella
OaXesv Clara
Ot:. Mrs.
rneresa
Opdyke, Mrs
Foerter, Miss Gretchen?atten, Mra Mattia
Freeman. Mrs Minnie Perkins, Miss Mauda
Funk, Mrs Sophia Peters, Miss Pearl
Gains, Mrs Archie Peterson, Miss Emma
Gaylord, Mra Peterson. Mies Leona
Gallentine, Miss Flor- Porter, Miss A
snce Puttman. Mrs Effa
Garrett, Miss Elsie Reed. Mrs Tina
George, Mrs TV F RIttgen. Miss
Gloson, Miss Margar- Rc-e. Miss Ada
tte Schulze, Mrs Kate
Grcves Mrs Jennie Sexton. Miss Nettle
Griffith, Miss FranklynSevniOur, Mra Lizzie
T " Sheehy". Mfsa May
Haines, Mies Pearl Short, Mrs Emma J
Hanen, Miss Rosa. SIverseh, Miss Serine
Haney, Miss Beretta Smith, Maggie
Hansen, Miss Lula Soudln, Miss
Harrlford, Mlsa Bar- Stephens, Mrs J R
bara Strong, Miss Helen
Hartwell, Blanch Suagert, Miss Ethel
Haw son, Mrs A C Tackaberry, Miss Ruth
Henry. Hester Teter, Mrs Mar
Henseley. Mra M Thuraton. Miss Ella
Henderson, Miss Jessy Vellle, MIs3 Francis
Hotson, Miss Marry-2 "Wade, Miss Ruby
Hunt, Mrs J E "Walker. Mls3 Lillian
Hunt, Mra Josephene "Warr, Miss Mary
Hurley, Mls B "Whaley, Miss Irene-
Innis, Miss "Whlttier. Miss Dotllo
Jaques. Mrs Effle "White, MIs3 C Alice
Johnson, Miss Marian "White, Miss Alice
Johnson, Mra Nella "Wteant. Miss Mary
Kappcs, Miss Burdette "Wilson, Mrs C
MEN'S LIST.
Alnsworth, Ed
Andrus, E T
Bailey, L N
Baker, Capt Geo
Balenslfer, Geo
Banvard, Bert
Btgeman, Albert
B-nr, J
Beglan. Matt
Beckley, Taylor "W
Belsky, F D
Biggs, John. "W
Blakeslee. E S
Blake, Win H
Boutelle, Geo B
Bowley, LB
Bradenburg. Barney
Bradford, George
Brettell, G
Brewer. Elmer
"Brocker. Wm
Brown, Ed
Brown, "Willa
Burger, James
Burford, T J
Callway, Clark
Caldwell & Larkin
Cardnal. Moris
Cams. "Walter
Lane, Nat H
Lane. Chas
Larkin, George
Leyrlnsky. Eugen L
Leahy, Thomas G
Little, J R
Lii;enberg. J"
McOord, Perry
McConnell, George.
McCray, J "W
McParland, T J
Miami. Str Owners
Mlddleton. Frank: C
Moaous, J N
Mouldenhauer. E
Moore. Leland M
Moore-. Orell
Morrill, Geo A
Morris. MaJ E R
Munger.. George M, Jr
Murphy, E "W
Newton Gum Co
Nonhcott. J "W
Owen, C M
Parke. Capt J 3
Parker, Lewis T
Peachek. Jno
Peters. Charlie
Peterson. H
Carrlngton, C E
.Peterson, O
Chamberlain, Gen andPIper, A A, art Gt N
Mra Ry
Coftman, Earl PIsyth, John
Coblng. Hammond Pierson. Jacob
Cohn Bros Port. Ore, Transporta-
Coleman, J M tion Co
Cook. T "W Potter, M O
Cranrar, E11I9, D H C Queen City Incubator
Crosby. Lea
Co
Culver, Harry
Davidson, "William
Derby. C A
Dlmlck. Nelson
Dice, B C
Douglas, James
Rlnson. "W H
Bfeby, John
Rilea. "Wm
Kummery, Jerome
Ryan. Ned"
Schmidt, Leo
Shaker, Ellzur "W
Shaw, Charley
Sliver Eagle Mining Co
SIttner, "Wllhelm
Sinner, Jno
Smith, H "W
Smith. Geo Sanford, at
torney Smith, Capt G D
Smith. "W P
Soutliunlh, "W X
Splccr, S
Spencer, S K
Stevens, Master Tony
Stevens, Frank
Stuart. J A
Stroup. "W H
Templer, Geo
Thompson. "W H
Dunbar, J H
Ewlng, H C
Eaton, Garrett J
Ellenrelder, Thomas
Etherton, Alma
Fasbender, Adolph,
Filter, P P
Hits, Henry M
Flhitenez. Slbrato
Florey, Bert
Flook. Geo
Fuller, Ted
Fuller, Dr B F
Glbnon. J C
Gilbert. A
Gray Brothers
Greerv G F
Grimes, F C fij Co
uroty, ucorgo
Gulch Spring Grocery Tillman. Ben
Hall -B F
Tomracs. Jlmmla
Haze, Teoflgettazy
Hansey & Bros
Haslett, Derman
Hill. J P
Hlntxey, A R
Houatlon, Perry
Houston, Perry
Howard. Ed W
Hummer, C
Hurlej sr. Edwarde
Jacobs, Charles B
Johnson. W R
Jones, Harry
Kelman, "William C
Kelley, John
Kilmer, Dr & Co
Koenlg. Chas
Kraynlk, Ed
Krantz. Chas E
Tracey, C F
"Valiant, Frank
Vandermark, A B
Van Pozer. Go
VIckery, V M
"Wakeham. Fred
"Wadel, Jno
"Ware. "W H
"Welton, "W E
"Welch, A S-2
"Welta A E
"West S S
"WHto'n-Polson Hdw Co
"Wilson, E R
"Wilson, Lorence
"Wltsel, Ed
"Wolfe, Frank
"Wood. C E
"Worbell. W
Yoder. Jas M
Lampman, Harry-2
PACKAGES.
Blumauer, Mrs S, M, Lacy, Mrs E S
foto Shangler, Rev H S
Clark, Miss Clara Q Stewart. Charlie M
Dale, Miss Gladys "Wuklnon. Dr A G
Geovge, John M
A. B. CROASMAN. P. M.
3
Cuba's Population.
Chicago Times-Herald.
According to C. H. Olmstead, the as
sistant director of the Cuban census, who
landed lit New York last Sunday, the pres
ent population "of Cuba will be about 1.200,
000. This recalls the terrible work-ot Gen
eral Weyler1 as depleted by Senator Proc
tor. In 1877, the population of Cuba was
1,521,684. According to the census of 1887
the last taken under Spanish rule It
was 1,631,687. The figures demonstrate that
over 400,000 lives had. been sacrificed before
the cry of a perishing race moved the
heart of the American people to banish
Spanish iniquity and barbarity from this
continent forever.
THE WOMAN IN POLITICS
II Hit INFLUENCE CAN BE EXERTED
IN A BETTER. WAY.
Xo Juxllco In Taxation "Without Rep
resentation, But Is Woman,
Unrepresented f
CORTALUS. Jan. 2$ To the Editor.)
It Is a deplorable state- of affairs when
we seo women pleading for the ballot and
rushing into the vortex of politics from
duties which are sadly and vainly calling
them. Woman seems to think that sho
can purify the political cesspool by leav
ing unguarded her fountain of living water
and turning the polluted stream fountain
ward. But by thus doing she 13 not only
vitiating her own source of purity, but
also making impossible the purification
of the stagnant waters ot this threaten
ing and growing evil. From all lands is
heard the cry tor more and better states
men. Gladstone from England is sadly
missed, and here in our own. dear land
we have many politicians, but no great
statesmen. Where are our Webster3, Claya
and Calhouns? In their day did we And
mothers and wives rushing to the front to
grasp the higb places of government or
wield the ballot? No; many of the men
of moment and character owe much of
their success to the influence of sweet
heart, wife, or that most holy of all
names, mother.
Where Is the chivalry and the modesty
of our grandmothers' days? Gone, never
to return. If woman Is to step from her
exalted sphere and descend to the political
field.
We are all familiar with that time-worn
cry, "taxation without representation';
but Is woman unrepresented? Where aro
her sons? Where are the husbands and
fathers? Do they not more truly repre
sent us than we realize? The Impress of
woman Is written on all the pages of his
tory, and upon all the youths and men
of all nations. Is not woman largely re
sponsible for the present status of na
tions. Rear a noble crop of women and
we shall see a mightier nation than ever
yet sun shone upon.
In time of war If the outposts are left
unguarded because all the sentinels wish
to become generals, what will become of
the generals? Woman has a higher
sphere than to rush unprepared into such,
a fleld. When she has exhausted all tho
means within her power to make her sons
and husbands what they should be, and
comes to the front by having her excel
lencies push her there, leaving: nothing
behind undone, then It is time for her to
ask for the ballot.
How many of our daughters today aro
trained to be as God Intended them.' help
meets" to the oue3 they promise to cher
ish and obey some may object to the lat
ter word, but I let It stand as It was our
grandmothers' way. Girls rush into matri
mony without the least Idea of the re
sponsibilities enjoined by eo doing. Mater
nity is too often shirked, and should
maternity come, the young wife spends
the brooding time in tears and sighs, re
gretting the event to announce the holyv
happy state of motherhood.
Christ's words In Matthew vlldl, 'If
ye then being evil know how to glvo
good gifts unto your children,' etc., ara
the highest embodyment of woman's power
In tills world. By prenatal influence
woman stamps Indelllbly upon tho Indi
vidual and the nation her Impress. Show
me the women of the nation and I can
tell you the kind of men you will In
variably find We need training schools
for those who expect to become wives,
and therefore mothers.
Jacob knew the prenatal Influence on
the cattle when he made his wise and wily
bargain with Laban. Are we not of mora
yaluq than cattle?
We can mold our children to be what wa
wlll them. Are we to belittle ourselves
by casting a ballot when we can mold
nations? It is far better to be the power
behind the throne than to wear the crown
and wield the scepter. Uneasy is the
head that wears the crown. The poet has
most truly said:
They oay that man is mighty.
And governs Ionii and sea;
He- wields a mighty scepter
O'er lesser powers that be.
But a mightier power and stronger;
Man from his throne has hurled.
And the hand that rocks the cradle,
Is the hand that rules the world.
EMIL.T M. SHAW.
KAISER'S NEW FLEET.
Its MisJlon.'r Is Against
i - roe Doctrine.
Onr Mon
London Spectator.
When we speak of the German emper
or's South American policy It must not
be considered that we mean to Imply that
this is to be begun this year, or next year,
or even In five years' time. It may be &
very long time before the foundations ot
the new empire will be laid, but meantime
"foresight" is at work, and the work of
preparation will be pursued. They will
not be provocative, or In any sense es
sentially unfriendly to America, but they
will be absolutely thorough. Now, under
these circumstances, we think that Amer
ica should look ahead, and not copy tho
policy of drifting which has so often
proved injurious to the Old Country. That
Is, America should make up her mind
whether she means, when the time comes,
to insist rigidly on the Monroe doctrine.
If she does not, and there are many very
good reasons why she should abandon it,
she need not trouble herself at all about
German aspirations, for they will not In
1ure her. After all, as the Germans argue,
America. doe3 not want Brazil for herself,
and therefore she need not mind Germany
having it. There Is no other point on
which the Germans will touch her. In
deed, on all other matters Germany wi.1
show the utmost friendliness, not to say
compliance, In regard to America. If, how
ever, America really means business about
the Monroe doctrine, and really thinks I
Is of Importance to her national welfare,
to enforce It, she must not go to sleep.
She must see to It, that is, that she has
naval and military resources equal to the
strain of maintaining a policy so tre
mendous. If not, she is certain to suffer
a great humiliation at the hands of pa
tient, efficient and persistent Germany.
Germany, when the hour comes, will not
be bluffed into respect for the Monroe doc
trine. She will "call" America's fleet, and
If that fleet is not bigger than hers, Ger
many will act. If, however, It is superloi?
America will never even hear of the
danger to which the Monroe doctrine Is
now exposed. Let ua say once again we
do not believe for a moment that Germany
has any designs against the United States
herself or bear3 her any 111 will. She la
merely working steadily for an aspiration
which come3 In violent conflict with a cer
tain American aspiration the Monroe doc
trine. Hence any one who likes to use hla
eyes can see that either the Monroe doc
trine will have to be given up or its de
fense properly prepared for. Any halting
between these policies must prove either
disastrous or at any rate humiliating f jr
the United States. We British are seeing
just now what comes of neglecting to
prepare for enforcing or else abandoning a
national policy, 1. e., the maintenance of
British supremacy in South Africa. But
to Improvise In a hurry means of meet
ing a Boer attack on that supremacy is
child's play to meeting' a German chal
lenge of the Monroe doctrine.
So Diamond Encasement Rings.
New York Herald.
Tho maidens of Denmark never experi
ence tho pleasure of receiving a diamond
engagement ring. They are presented
with a plain gold band, which is worn on
the third finger of the left hand. On the
wedding- day the bridegroom, changes the
ring to tho right third finger, which Is
the marriage finger In that country.
u