THE MGKNINGr OREGONIAN, FRIDAY, AUGUST 3, 1900.
VOTING BY NIACHIN
This Question Will Come Up
at Next Legislature.
HON. a M. WATSON FATHERS IT
BUI Providing for Such an Innova
tion Met "With Scant Courtesy
Five Years Ago.
Representative D. M. Watson expects
to introduce a Mil in the next legisla
ture to provide voting machines in all
cities of Oregon of any considerable size
Action In this direction has been stimu
lated by the fraud discovered In pre
cinct No. 42, of the Ninth Ward. Front
the revelations made in the Circuit
Court of how ballots may be tampered
-with after leaving the voter's hands
there has been a general Inquiry as to
-whether there Is not some -way to guar
antee an absolutely correct count accord
ing to the vote. The safest and surest
system to the minds of those who have
studied the problem s a voting ma
chine, registering and counting automat
ically. Already the members of Multno
mah delegation have discussed the mat
ter. F. A. Heltkemper says he will favor
a. voting machine if proven economical
and accurate. But Mr. Watson has given
the matter tnort- 'thought than, other
members and will likely be entrusted
-with the management of the bill.
When seen yesterday Mr. Watson said
"he had not aeached positive convictions
for or against anv system or machine.
He believed In voting machines, but nls
investigations had not proceeded far
enough to enable him to speak advisedly
of their cost of practicability. These
were features to be learned, which he
had alredv taken,up and would follow
until all known machines had been thor
oughly studied.
County Recorder S. C. Beach, while a
Representative from Multnomah County
in 1S95, Introduced a bill to have the
state adopt voting machines, but his
measure was so badly beaten that he has
not recovered from his surprise yet. Out
of the entire House he was successful in
securing only 13 votes, and about half or
those were from Multnomah. At that
time Mr. Beach made a very exhaustive
study of voting machines and electoral
methods throughout the United States.
Ha secured Ticdlots from most of the
states in the Union, procured circulars
and descriptions of the voting machines
then pat-need, and actually had brought
to Salem, at his own expense, what
seemed to be the cheapest and simplest
machine In the market. His Interest In
the subject produced only a suspicion
that he was seeking pecuniary gain, and
the harder he worked the stronger grew
the Impression, until he was approached
by a half dozen or more persons asking
to be paid for their support of the meas
ure providing voting machines.
A Portland man patented one machine,
of a rather elaborate design, which was
operated by electricity. This fact alone
condemned it with Mr. Beach, as the
uncertainty of an electric current might
produce serious mistakes. The Myers'
machine of New York was studied care
fully, but it was such a complicated af
fair and came so high that it was deemed
Impractical If any other could be found
to do the work. This Mr. Beach thought
and still believes he found in what is
known as the Clifford voting machine
of California.
H. A. Clifford was an enthusiastic
Populist, who had made some money In
the sheep business and became so
wrought up over political tricks at the
ballot box that he spent his fortune
bringing out the voting machine. This
was small, simple, did not depend on
springs or extraneous power and was
remarkably cheap. Every movement of
its simple mechanism was positive and
there seemed no possibility of getting it
out of order. The test given at Salem
demonstrated its durability. Mr. Beach
had it placed in the basement of the
Capital, printed a fictitious ticket con
taining the names of 103 candidates,
which was the limit of the machine, as
then manufactured, and im'lted every
body to come down and vote. Men vis
ited It at all hours, banged away at the
keyboard and experimented very rudely,
but the machine always responded and
never tmade mistakes. Mr. Clifford of
fered to furnish any number of the ma
chines required at $50 each. The ex
treme width then made permitted of in
serting only 100 candidates on the ballot.
By timed tests on the fictitious ballot, the
names of which every person voting was
unfamiliar with, it was estimated that
1003 persons could vote on the machine
in 10 hours. If the names of the candi
dates had been familiar so that each
man had an Idea for whom he wanted
to vote the work would have been faster.
The voting Is Impressed on a roll of
paper, and the number of votes possible
on one machine is only limited by the
size of the roll. By using thin paper and
enlarging slightly the space where the
roll is placed, perhaps the total votes
for one roll could be increased to 1500
or 2000.
The principle of the work Is very sim
ple. Names of all the candidates are
printed on paper, those for Mayor or any
other office together, and each name is
numbered. Inls number, which is at tho
end of the name. Is right under the key
on which a coiespcndmg number is
placed, thus making it just as easy to
strike the right number and the man
desired as It is to pick him out on the
Australian "ballot Pressing the key
moves downward a small lever, with a
punch attached, which perforates the roll
of paper on the exact line of a candi
date's name. The same motion of the
lever operates a small rachet which
counts the vote the same as a cash regis
ter. Thus there aie two records of the
vote to insure accuracy. If this register
is questioned he roll may be taken out
and counted more easily than the pres
ent ballots are counted. Every candi
date's votes appears on his line, being
Indicated by perforations of the paper.
All the votes cast by a single voter are
plainly distinguished, as the perforations
one man can make must appear in a
straight line transversely to the roll. It
can lie seen if a man has voted twice
for candidates running for the same
office.
To prevent repealing the key used to
make a perforation locks when pressed
down and cannot be released except "by
one of the judges who sets the machine
for the next man by pulling a string.
The judge does not see the keyboard In
doing tills. o as to tell by the keys
locked who the preceding voter cast nls
ballot for. A curtain was provided for
thn voter while at the keyboard that his
choice might be absolutely secret. As
the voters appeal to cast their ballots,
thev were registered and received In the
sTne manner ot the preliminaries for the
present system. All votes are counted
when the last man finishes. Of course.
If the register is questioned, a count -will
have to be made, the same as -now. With
the simplicity of its mechanism and the
absolute protection from all except the
judges having the key to the box. there
seems no more possibility of the register
making errors than cash registers, which
are known to be exact.
The Clifford machine Is 10 Inches high,
13 Inches wide and 40 Inches long. If a
person desires to vote a party ticket,
such as a list of Representatives or Sena
tors from Multnomah County, it may be
d-ne by pressing a given key. But the
time required to vote for such a list in
detail is very short, as they would follow
each other and one key after another
would have te be pressed. These ma
chines could be purchased in 1S9S lor 550
cah. Probablv the same number of
judges and clerks now required would be
necessary. But when the voting was
finished, the work would be over, and
the duties of the judges and clerks dur
ing the voting would be much reduced.
At the last election each judge and
clerk was paid $3 for the first day of 10
hours, and so much for each ballot count
ed as recompense for the remainder of
the time. Th6 pay for, perhaps, a major
ity, ranged between $12 and $15. The dif
ference between these sums and $3 would
be the saving on each judge and clerk
at one election. There were three Judged
and two clerks at each voting precinct,
and -49 precincts In the city and SO In
the county. This would make 245 men
employed as judges and clerks In the
city. As many of these received 515 and
$16 it Is safe to estimate that an average
of 510 would be saved on each If he was
paid for only one day's work, or $3. Two
hundred and forty-five men, at $10 each,
would make a total of $2450 saved at one
election. The voting machines cost only
$50 each. The $2450 would buy just 49
machines, or enough to place one in each
voting precinct of the city. As each ma
chine Is estimated to have a capacity or
1000 votes In 10 hours. It Is seen that a
still larger saving could be effected by
reducing the number of voting precincts.
This would muoh more than offset the
cost of paper sua other Incidentals to
the machine. One set of clerks and
Judges could probably handle 100 votes
with ease, and the machine would accom
modate as many as the clerks and Judges
could pass.
These are figures that show the econom
ical side of the question, and the accur
acy "of the machine was tested pretty
well. "From the experience of Mr. Beach,
however, it seems that other difficulties
must be overcome. With all his argu
ments and demonstrations he succeeded
In convincing the Legislators of but one
positive fact that any man who fights
for a cause must have a graft in it. So
embarrassing did this situation become
to the champion of the voting machine
that he was ready to throw up his hands
in disgust, and wrote to the owner of, the
machine for an affidavit that he had
absolutely no interest In Its sale or man
ufacture. The members voting for the
measure to provide voting machines were:
Beach, Burke. Cardwell, Cole, Cleeton,
Conn, Davis, Long, Patterson, Paxton,
RInearson, Thompson and Young. Per
haps If the whole Mujtnomah delegation
goes to the Leglslatude with" the under
standing that they will fight for a simi
lar measure, a different fate will befall
the cause of voting machines In Oregon.
REPAINTING A BRIDGE.
County Commissioners Figure on the
Most Economical Plan. '
County Commissioners Steele, Mack and
Showers -were In consultation with City
Engineer Chase yesterday In regard to
the painting of the Burnslde-street
bridge. It was decided that the bridge
must be painted this season, and, after
discussing several kinds, of paint, it was
about decided to use the same kind
that had been used on the Madison and
Morrison-street bridges. The question as
to whether to let the job by contract or
have it done by day's work was dis
cussed. Both ways had advantages and
disadvantages. It was finally decided to
buy the paint and advertise for -the labor
to put It on.
The Commissioners were well aware
that many would not do so much work
when working for the county as when
working for a contractor, and steps will
bo taken to see that the county Is not
thus swindled. The Commissioners will
reserve the right to reject any or all
bids, and no Irresponsible person will be
given a contract, and there will be a
man to oversee the work, and If It is not
done to suit, the whole outfit will be
"fired."
The places in the iron and woodwork
of the bridge where the paint has blis
tered or peeled will be gone over first,
and then the whole structure will be
painted, thus giving two coats in places
where they are needed, and one coat
elsewhere.
Application was made to the board to
improve the grade of Woodstock Hill ou
Kelly avenue. The scheme proposed is
to lower the track of the City & Sub
urban Company's Woodstock line three
feet at this point. Teams can pull a load
two-thirds of the way up this hill, but
tho grade is so steep for the rest of the
way that it Is necessary to double-team.
The board went out after they had ad
journed to examine the place.
EXPRESSMEN FORM A- UNION
They Seek to Maintain Rates and to
Secure Public Standi.
An Expressmen's Union has been
formed in Portland, 30 out of the. 200 hav
ing been enrolled. The 'object, according
to one of them, who was speaking of
the matter yesterday, is to regulate prices
for moving baggage and put a stop to
cutting rates. "We will charge 50 cents
for moving the first trunk," he said,
"and 25 cents for each additional trunk.
Valises and handsatchels will not be
charged for where they accompany
trunks. For a valise alone, 25 cents will
be charged, except when the distance Is
great, when we will charge 50 cents.
"Expressmen are compelled to pay a
city license, yet are not furnished with
stands. We can only stand now in front
of some one's place at the discretion of
the occupant of the premises, and, as he
Is liable to change his -mind at any time,
we may have to move, and thus lose the
patronage we have been years in building
up. When we become thoroughly organ
ized we propose to ask the city to fur
nish us stands or we will refuse to pay
any more license.
"At the steamer docks we have no priv
ileges which the police are bound to re
spect, and we have to Jostle each other
for the best positions. The nature of our
business compels us to get out and hustle,
and we have to accost travelers in regard
to moving their baggage. As long as we
do sp In a respectable manner, we don't
tnmK anybody has a right to stop us.
"I think the city might furnish us
stands In or about the -parks, where we
could bo found when wanted, and where
we would not be In the way of street
traffic This subject will come up for
debate at our next meeting, when we
expect to swell our membership so as to
Include nine-tenths of the expressmen in
Portland."
Front-Street Bridge.
PORTLAND Aug. Z To the Editor.)
It would seem to me that with the mem
ory of the late catastrophe at Tacoma on
the De Lin-street bridge, the City & Sub
urban Railway should not be permlttea to
use the bridge crossing the gulch on
Front street, between Caruthers and Ar
thur streets. Any one can readily see
that this bridge Is far from being safe.
ThereXaro danger signs at either end of
this bridge, but they will never prevent
a car from going through to the ground,
"some GO or SO feet below. Now that the
election is over, it seems to me it is high
time for the city to see that this bridge
is either rebuilt, repaired or the cars pre
vented from crossing. E. A. B.
"E. A. B." is a little behind time In this
matter. The Council at its meeting
'Wednesday appropriated $750 for a new
deck for the Front-street bridge, and the
lumber for it was ordered yesterday. The
substructure of the bridge Is stanch and
safe, having been put In good repair last
year, and the deck would have been re
newed long ago had there been money
available for this purpose. The matter
his been so much discussed by the Coun
cil and the Board of Public Works, and
The Oregonlan has published so much
about it, that every citizen should know
ail there Is to be known about it
Those unhappy persons who suffer from
nervousness and dyspepsia should use
Carter's Little Nerve Pills, made express
ly for this class.
WOMEN WERE IN CHARGE
RELIEF CORPS IN EVIDEHCE AT G.
A. R, REUHIOH. .
General Compson Tells How 1500
Hen Cat Their Way Through,
Stone-Trail Jackson's Lines.
Yesterday was Woman's Relief Corps
day at the G. A. R. reunion at Pleasant
Home.-' The members of the corps had
full charge of all the exercises during the
day and evening. The weather was all
that cou'd be desired and tho attend
ance was much increased over the pre
vious days. Several more campers ar
rived and took tents for the remainder
of the week. The camp ground pre
sented a lively appearance in the morning
while the people were arriving from the
surroundings. By 10 o'clock a large num
ber of vehicles had arrived and were
placed among the trees for the day. The
farmers and their families are making
the reunion a holiday, and usually turn
out part of the day, and also In the even-
PUDDIN'HEAD WILLIE.
,&.
DEMOCRATIC HEAD If it was not
be elected President.
POPULIST HEAD I see! You are
with. Imperialism.
ing. At 10:30 o'clock in the forenoon, a
programme was rendered. This was in
charge' of the 'Relief Corps. There wa?
patriotic music, and Arthur Bates, an
excellent musician, entertained the audl-
ener. with a fine celervtion. and received
much applause. General H. B. Compson
gave a short talk In the morning on the
"Military Career of General Sheridan."
He spoke briefly, for his address of the
day was to be given in the afternoon.
Rev. N. S. Hollcroft, of Montavilla, as
sisted In the exercises. Mrs. Pool pre
sided. General Comptan's Address.
In the afternoon the crowd was largely
Increased. At 1:30 the M. A. Ross Wo
man's Relief Corps marched, to the plat
form with fljing banners, the old sol
diers In the rear. Mrs. -.Jiles Stephens
was in charge. .
There was an opening musical selec
tion by Miss Vennie Welsh, of Mount
Tabor, who filled the entire camp ground
with her clear notes. She was heartily
applauded and responded with another
selection. Mrs. Robert Pool read a brief
sketch of the military life of General
H. B. Compson, tho main speaker of the
day, and Arthur Bates declaimed a po
etical tribute to him.
General H. B. Compson took a promi
nent part In the battle of Gettysburg,
Harper's Ferry and other engagements
of the Civil War. He was introduced
by Mrs. Stephens and was received with
loud applause by the apdience.
There was a special interest in his
address, as he dwelt on personal reminis
censes of scenes and battles in which he
took part. In the opening of his ad
dress he paid a very high tribute to the
valor and patriotism, of the American
woman during the war. He specially
pointed out the part the wom
an nurses took In caring for the
wounded and mangled in that ter
rible conflict at Gettysburg, where
for three days the mighty hosts of the
North and South struggled. Then Gen
eral Compson gave incidents of personal
bravery and sacrifices by the many
women who acted as nurses, and paid,
an. eloquent, tribute to their efforts to
mitigate tho horrors of the Civil War in
battle and in hospital. Then passing on.
General Compson took up the stirring
scenes that took place at Harper's Ferry,
where Stonewall Jackson surrounded and
captured the place, twith 12 000 men, under
command' of General Miles. It was here
occurred one of the most thrilling inci
dents of the war, and according to the
speaker, history has not yet done full jus
tice to the escape of the 1500 cavalry tin
der Davis. a cousin of - Colonel B. F;
Davis, a Union man, and also a cousin
of Jefferson Davis, President of tho
Southern Confederacy. Stonewall Jack
son had the Union Army, under Miles,
completely hemmed hi on "all sides. Hamp
er's Ferry Is a sort of hollow, surrounded
by hills, the latter occupied by Jack
son's men. Guns were trained on the
Union Army. Finally, after much urging.
Davis obtained, permission from General
Miles to cut his way out with 1500 cav
alry. The speaker was one of Jthe men
who went with Davis, and his description
of i that terrible midnight ride right
through the rebel camp was one most
thrilling. He told how the ride was un
dertaken. Five men kept their eyes on
their leader so that they could not bo
separated in the darkness of the night.
On they went silently, expecting every
minute that the rebel batteries would
open on them. They marched right
through Stonewall Jackson's camp. Thev
were seen, by the camp, but in the dark
ness could not be recognized, and when
hailed, responded that they were part
of Joe Jeff Steward's detachment of cav
alry. They finally cleared the "enemy's
camp and passed on over the Maryland
Mountains. They captured Stonewall
Jackson's train of ammunition wagons.
General Compson said that this capture
of the ammunition wagons of Stonewall
Jackson was highly important, fo rthe
reason that it Is believed that it really
resulted In the defeat of General Lee at
the great battle of Antletam by depriv
ing him of ammunition. General Comp
son detailed the course of the cavalry
as the detachment made Its way to Gen
eral McClellan's army. He said it was
a terrible ride, and that it wore out and
ruined the horses. It was a dash up the
mountains and narrow defiles. Horses
were constantly dropping, but it was on
and on. At the close -ot General Comn
son's address he was greeted with much
applause. He wore, during the delivery
of his fine address, a bronze medal given
by the Government to the survivors of
the battle of Gettysburg for distinguished
service.
,Ml33 Lena. Morrow arrived In the af
ternoon and gave an address. The au
dience then adjourned tlU evening, when
the usual campflre programme was ren
dered. A large number of Portland peo
ple were in attendance during the after
noon and evening and remained over for
today. ,
Closing Programmes.
All the exercises of the day -will be In
tho hands of the fraternal order. Wood
men of the World. There will be ad
dresses by Professor W. C. Hawley and
other prominent members of that order.
Tomorrow will be G. A. R. day, which
will close the reunion. George C.
Brownell, of Oregon City, will speak In
the morning and T. C. Devlin In the afternoon.
Reception at Refuge Home.
The East Side W. C." T. U. gave a re
coptlon at the Florence Crittenton Refuge
Home yesterday afternoon at 2 o'clock.
for your wormy lG-to-1 nut I might
trying to force me off the Earth,
which was unusually successful in every
respect- There was a large turn-out of
W. C. T. U. members, besides a great
many visitors. It was the intention to
give a literary programme, but this was
' not. rinno nn nwnnnt tt tVi hat nnH p
I afternoon was spent in a social way.
There was a large contribution of eat
ables and clothing. Mrs. Nlblin and Mrs.
Plympton Kelly contributed 70 pounds of
hlackberrtes, which w as a very acceptable
lft. A sum, amounting to $12 60, was do
nated from different women who attended
the reception. At present there are 20
inmates and 12 babies at the Home. The
financial condition is not thriving and as
the institution is a worthy one. it de
serves the charitable-attention of all. .
Death of a. Pioneer.
Daniel Hatchaway died yesterday morn
ing at his home on East Twenty-sixth
and Powell streets. He "was a pioneer of
184S and was 84 years of age. The
funeral services will take place Saturday
morning at 10 o'clock from his late resi
dence. The remains will be interred at
Multncinah Cemetary.
Pleasant Home Kotea.
' William Craswell, while working at
Proctor & Bean's sawmllU cut his foot
severely, which will Incapacitate him for
work -for some time. Craswell Is par
ticularly unfortunate In this respect, as
h ewas only just outof a Portland hos
pital where he had" been confined a
long while from a badly Injured knee.
Land values at Pleasant Home are ad
vancing steadily and many Eastern peo
ple are looking toward the purchase of
property here. All express themselves
ns highly pleased with the country and
the climate. Among the land sales re
cently recorded was ,the purchase of
160 acres from Joseph Barber by Mr.
Hawley. Mr. Hawley expects to make
extensive improvements on his ranch.
Professor B. C. Altman lately purchased
the old Spiller ranch for $.1000. He In
tends to convert it Into a large dairy.
Dr. Wise, room G14. The Dekum.
WASHINGTON CHAUTAUQUA.
Some, of the Fen tares-' of This Year's
Assembly at Vnshon Island.
Rev. Louis S. Bowerman, pastor of the
First Baptist Church, of Seattle, was In
Portland yesterday in the Interests of the
Baptist Young People's Union Chautau
qua Assembly, which will be held on
"Vashon Island, midway" between Seattle
and Tacoma, August 9 td 19.
' The programmes are at hand, and pre
sent an excellent array of talent.
Rev. O. W. Van Osdell, D. D., of Spo
kane, has the department of Old Testa
ment study. Rev. George R. Varney, of
Spokane, gives six studies on "Issues of
Today."
The State of Oregon is represented by
two lecturers Rev. J. H. Beaven, D. D.,
of Oregon City, who will give six studies
on the "Development of Doctrine," while
James Edmunds, of this city, will have
each day "The Sunday School Normal
Class." Dr. F W. Colegrove, of the
Washington State University? will give
several lectures on "Mind Development,"
There will be two grand concerts, un
der direction of Professor W. F. Parish,
stereoptlcon lectures and an address by
Hon. C. S. Shank. There willalso be
special programmes for .the Union, En
deavor, Temperance and Patriotic days.
The Cooke Evangelistic Mission, will also
be present.
The railways of Washington have grant
ed a rate of a fare and one-third, certifi
cate plan, "provided 50 use the railways.
This rate includes the City of Portland.
One of the unique features is the "Boys
Camp Content," In charge of Rev. L. J.
Sawyer, Seattle. This is an encampment
for boys of 12 to 16 years of age. About
75 are already enrolled. The expense is
only $5 per boy for the 12 days.
There is abundant room for camping
and at the hotel. For accommodations
address Rev. L. J. Sawyer, Chautauqua.
Wash,
"x- . r
REJECTED A COMPROMISE
STRTEOWG TEAMSTERS
?2S5 A SAT.
REFUSE
Some 'Wholeesle Grocery Houses Of
fer to Pay Higher Rates for
Hauling Than Heretofore.
Another day brought no material
change in the strike situation of the
teamsters for tho transfer companies.
At a meeting held late last evening the
strikers decided to continue thelc posi
tion unaltered by the compromise of $2 25
offered. Upon both sides there was ev
idence of a hope for an early settlement.
How this is to be effected i not clear,
as the transfer management maintained
that with present prices It was impossi
ble to pay $2 60, and the strikers were
equally positive that they were entitled
to that wage.
r An extended conference between some
of the leading grocery firms and the
transfer companies originated the move
ment that brought forth the offer of a
compromise of $2 25. Allen & Lewis and
Wadhams & Co. agreed to make a raise
of 25 per cent on the "In hauling," which
has been done for them at tho rate ot
25 cents a ton heretofore. Their "out
hauling" has been at the rate of 40 cents
per ton. This offer was made by them
in an equitable spirit and with tho un
derstanding that other grocery firms
would make a similar Increase. Mason,
Ehrman & Co.. Long & Co.. and Wad-
hams & Kerr Bros, were not favorable
to this in every respect, as they claim
Wadhams & Co. and Allen & Lewis have
been paying less for hauling than the
other big firms. Instead of tho different
firms making a proportionate increase
over their present rates, it is suggested
that all come up to a common level, and
then, If it Is neessary to make an In
crease, let the raise be in due proportion.
Recently one of these houses succeeded
in. getting the "in hauling" of flour, sugar
and salt done at the 25-cent rate paid by
the two firms who came forward with
the concessions, but still pays 40 cents on
all other material constituting tho stock
of a wholesale grocery store.
As a result of the promises made by
the" grocery Jobbing-houses the transfer
companies felt justified in offering the
strikers $2 25 a day. This is a raise of
half the amount asked. A committee
from the teamsters' union met the repre
sentatives from tho transfer companies,
heard the proposals and submitted them
to the members of the union, who were
then holding a meeting. A reply soon
came tut that the strikers would stand
for $2 50. The -transfer men felt that
they could do no more, and negotiations
were declared off.
On the streets there was little varia
tion from the policy of the day previous.
The strikers had their organization bet
ter perfected, and in some way or other
managed to meet every new man going
out with a wagon. Arguments were used
to persuade the new employe to leave
his position and join issues with the
strikers. There is some conflict as to
the language used on such occasions. All
the strikers, including their officers, as
sert positively that none of the union
men used abusive or insulting language
any time during the day; at least, If such
was used, none of them knew or heard of
it. At the meetings held all the mem
bers of the union were made to prom
ise courteous conduct In their work and
to - avoid abusive or rough language.
Two of the transfer companies state that
considerable abusive languago was used
yesterday, but, so far as their informa
tion went, it came from outsiders not
members of the union, who seemed to
sympathize with the movement. But
two other companies assert that their
men were intimidated by some of the
union men. The intimidation was not vi
olence or the threat of violence, but such
insulting language as "scab" and words
that would affect a sensitive man. These
assertions are emphatically refuted by
the union men to a man.
There seemed to be more trucks work
ing yesterday than, the day before. The
Holman Company said that during the
afternoon they had their full force out,
and had worked off the congestion of
freight that stared them In the face for
two days previous. Two of their new
employes were persuaded 'to quit, but
their places were soon filled. This firm
says there is no difficulty In getting an
abundanpe of men to undertake teaming,
but many of them have to be broken
in before they are efficient. The eager
ness of men to take the vacant positions
the management regards as good evi
dence that the pay of teamsters was good,
as compared with that of other laborers.
Were It not for the fact that a strike
was on. the management asserts that
there WQuld be flocks of men applying
for the vacant positions. Many laborers,
through sympathy, will not take positions
vacated by men who left because of low
wages.
Wakeman & Morse were in some better
shape than the previous day, they said.
Some of their new men had been per
suaded to quit, and one fellow had left
after a half day, through sheer fright.
When he was questioned he admitted that
no violence had been offered or threat
ened by any of the strikers. One man
left the Northwest Transfer Company,
and his place was filled. He was not
one of the two men added to the force
since the strike, but had been there
nearly a year. The management here
stands firmly against the union, and says
men employed now will not be discharged
for union men If the strike ,1s settled.
Strelbig & Co. were laboring with a
rumor that gained some currency to the
effect that an increase In pay had been
made by the firm and two union men
employed. This Mr. Strelbig emphatically
denied. What his wage rates were he
did not care to discuss, as he did not
regard it public matter, but he said posi
tively that he had made no increase since
the strike, nor had he been forced into
Tecognizing the union or any other or
ganization. He had all of his wagons
out most of the day. Among the other
companies there was nothing to vary the
common experience.
There was considerable conflict of opin
ion as to whether the transfer com
panies or the jobbing houses were at the
bottom of the difficulty, so far 'as rates
were concerned. Some of the strikers
maintained that the Jobbers were gener
ally sympathizing with them, and would
make a reasonable raise If there was any
assurance that the Increase would go to
the account of wages. This Imputation
against the transfer companies that they
were not sincere in their expressed desire
to pay all they could, was- warmly con
tested by every firm. The manager of
one firm said:
"I heartily sympathize with the men.
I know they should have more pay, but
I cannot give it. The margin of profit
has been reduced so low that twe cannot
pay more and stay in business. I can
prove that a raise of 50 cents a day In
the wages of my teamsters would drive
me out of business, unless the raise were
covered by a corresponding raise in the
rates I receive for work. The fact that
a few wholesale grocery firms agree to
a 25-per-cent raise does not help me any.
I haven't a single grocery jobbing house
among my patrons. To benefit mo, all
the firms shipping freight must raise
their rates for hauling. There is a ques
tion whether they can do this at the
present stage of competition. If they do
raise rates of hauling I am told they
will have to recoup In their selling price.
This will bring the burden of the whole
proposition down to the door of.the con
sumer of staples. The teamster doing our
hauling Is one of these consumers, and
will have to pay Increased prices for his
food and other necessaries."
After the meeting held last evening In
the hall at Twelfth and GUsan streets.
President Shannon said the union had
voted to hold on. Several committees had
been out getting in touch with the busi
ness men of the city and endeavoring to
ascertain if a raise in the price of haul
ing would be consented to. These com
mittees had not reported, and it was not
known what the? had accomplished. They
found many sympathizers among busi
ness men, but did not report that this
sympathy was taking substantial form.
President Shannon and the other officers
and members present said they were sura
that none of the strikers had been con
ducting themselves in a disorderly- or un
ruly manner. Another meeting of the
union will be held this evening in the
same ball, at which it Is possible Im
portant business will be transacted.
LAST MONTH'S WEATHER.
Mean Temperature Was the Same as
for SO Years Past.
Following is the monthly report of July
weather, made up by the United States
Weather Bureau:
O
o"
&P
po
Temp'rturejg'3
Date.
. !
o r
Cloudy
Cloudy
Cloudy
OJJCloudy
Clear
Clear
Clear
Clear
Pt. Cldy
Pt. Cldy
Clear
Clear
Clear
Clear
Clear
Clear
Clear
Clear
Clear
Clear
Pt. Cldy
Pt. Cldy
Cloudy
Cloudy
Clear
Clear
Clear
Clear
Clear
Mean 77.156.166.61....
Trace.
Mean atmospheric pressure, 29.33;
highest pressure. 30.14, date, 12th; low
est pressure, 20.76, date, 20th.
Mean temperature, 67; highest tempera
ture, DO, date 20th; lowest temperature,
4S, date, 1st; greatest dolly range of tem
perature, 31, date, 30th; least daily range
of temperature, 10, date, 5th.
Mean temperature for this month In:
1871, 70; 1S72, CO; 1873, 67; 1574,. 68; 1875, 70;
1876, 66; 1877, 66; 1S78, 64; 1879, 63; I860, 63;
18SL 65; 18S2, 67; 1883, 68; 1SS4, 63; 1SS5. 70;
18S6, 69; 1SS7, 66; 1SS8, 63; 1SS9, 70; 1SS0, 66;
1891, 69; HJ92, 65; 1893, 64; 1S94, 67; 1805, 65;
1896,, 70; 1S97, 65; 198, 66; 1899, 67. Mean
temperature for this month for 30 years.
67; average excess of dally mean tem
perature during month, 0; accumulated
excess of dally mean temperature since
January 1333; average dally excess since
January 1, 2; prevailing direction of wind,
northwest; total movement of wind, 5539
miles; maximum velocity of wind, direc
tion and date, SO, southwest, 31st.
Total precipitation, 0.34 of an inch.
Total precipitation (in Inches) for this
month In 1871, 0.53; 1S72, 0.20; 1873, 1.03;
1S74, 0.19; 1875, 200.; 1S7J5, 0.96; 1877, .053;
1878,
1SS2,
18S6,
1.10; 1879, 1.75; 1880, 0.59; 1SSL 1.16;
0.95; 18S3, 0.00; 18S4, LEO; 1SS5, 0.24;
0.32; 1SS7. 0.03; 1SSS, L04; 18S9, 0.00;
0.59; 1S91, 0.24; 1S92, 0.70; 1833, 0.14;
1M30,
1S94, 0.10; 1895, 0.23; 1S93, T; 1897. 0.65; 1898,
0.79; .1899, 0.47; 1900, 0.34; average precipi
tation for this month for 30 yeare, 0.56
inches; total deficiency in precipitation
during month, 0.22 inches; total precipi
tation from September 1. '99, to date, 38.68
inches; average precipitation from Sep
tember L to date, 4.76 inches; total de
ficiency from September 1. '99. to date,
6.08 Inches; average precipitation for 23
wot seasons', 44.09 Inches; number of clear
days, 20; partly cludy days, 4; cloudy
days, 7; dates of greatest precipitation
In 24 hours, 0.S0 of an Inch, on the 4th;
number of days with .01 inch or more of
precipitation,' 3.
EDWARD A. BEALS,
Forecast Official.
PROSPECT FOR PRUNES.
Oregon Will Come Into Competition
With. Large Crops.
Following is an extract from a circular
sent out by Lang & Co. In regard to the
prospects of the market for prunes for
thi3 season:
"The season of 1900 opens up with light
stocks all over the country, and the early
demand promises to be up to the average
of former years. The Coast crop of 189S
(and by that we mean the crop of Cali
fornia, Oregon and Washington) wa3 the
largest in the history of the trade, the
California crop being over 100,000,000
pounds, while the Oregon and Washing
ton crop was practically a failure. The
Eastern dried fruit crop was short, as
was also the European crop. This result
ed in a large home and export trade, but
at lower prices than those ruling during
the previous seasons. The conditions of
1900 are entirely dissimilar. Against a
crop of 100,000,000 pounds in 1899, the early
estimates for 1900 were 175,000,000 pounds,
but later and conservative estimates re
duce the quantity to 150,000,000 pounds. The
crop of all other fruits in California. Is
much heavier than last year. The East
ern fruit crop Is very large, and Europe
promises to have reasonably fair crops.
What conclusions, then, are to be drawn
from this situation? Certainly not very
high prices for the crop of 1900. We shall
not attempt to forecast the closing, situa
tion, but it Is our candid opinion that
early sellers will not have cause for re
gret." They also quote the following Instruc
tions from the bulletin of the California
Cured Fruit Association, which will gov
ern Inspectors In the classification of
prunes, and recommend that Oregon
growers conform with them, or they will
certainly have to take lower prices for
their product:
"First There will be two classes of
graded prunes, designated as first and sec
ond quality.
"Second No prunes will be received as
first quality unless thoroughly cured and
free from cracked. Immature or otherwise
defective or Imperfect fruit.
"Third AH fruit delivered at warehouse
containing unripe, cracked or otherwise
defective fruit will be designated as sec
ond quality."
t
Where Flows the Long Tom.
Corvallls Times.
One of the finest sections of Benton
County is the Long Tom country. There,
handsome country residences and big
fine barns are on every farm. The farm
improvements are almost Invariably sub
stantial. The signs of life are
everywhere visible. Permanence and
home Improving Is In the very
air. Homes are as numerous as
they are excellent. From almost any
spot from half a dozen to a score of
them are within view. The surrounding
scenery is beautiful. The rays of the set
ting sun never lit up a landscape more
perfect, A handsome church, new and
commodious, and numerous schoolhouses
are Improvements that delight the eye
of the traveler who passes among the
homes of this -substantial and thrifty
community.
Beats That Are Permanent.
Albany Democrat,
A female deadbeat is said to be work
ing her way north. Well, why not female
deadbeats as well as male deadbeats?
There are plenty of the latter who do
not travel from place to place.
Thin, Run-Down People
are helped to regain needed flesh and
strength by using MALT-NUTRINE.
The Anheuser-Busch Brewing Ass'n pre
pares it, which fact guarantees Its su
perior merit. Sold by all druggists.
WHY SO FEW- SUCCEED
SOME PRACTICAL VIEWS OS, CAPE
NOME MIXING.
Steamship Agents Still Luring Peo
ple to Go "Luc3cy' Saldwln'a
Unlucky Venture.
"Nome was all right last year, but it
was worked out," Is the verdicfc of S. C.
Sherman, who returned, from there yes
terday. Mr. Sherman was formerly a
Pullman conductor, but he thought ha
would" try his luck on that rich beach,
and so he obtained an early start from
San Francisco and landed at Nome among
the very first of this year's adventurers.
He took up a, machine with which to
separate the yellow metal from the beach
sands, but It would not treat cubic yard3
enough In a day to make It pay, so ho
bought a machine of larger capacity from
a disgusted adventurer at Nome, and this
he and his partners axe now working suc
cessfully at Thin Rock, six miles north of
Nome. The outfit cost lt3 original owner
$1000. and the freight to Noma was $250.
but Mr. Sherman obtained It for $100 In
gold.
"About one In a thousand are making
money at Nome," he sold, yesterday, at
the Perkins, "and about One in a hun
dred Is making expenses. The rest are
eating up what they have, and many of
them are dead broke, and willing to
work for their more fortunate companions
for $1 a day and board, when they can
get It. I saw crowds of men going out
to tho placer mines of Anvil Creek to
work at these figures, in the hope of
saving enough to pay their faro homa thl3
FalL"
Mr. Sherman says he has made a good
start up there himself, and expects to
go back again next Spring. His dredger
will probably net the company $10 or $LJ
a day, and besides this he has three
ferryboats running on Snaka River which
cuts the town of Nome In two. A long
headed fellow from Dawson, he sold, had
built a bridge over this stream, out of
old driftwood, and he charged 25 cents
for foot passengers one way, while a
two-horse team paid a toll ot $i GO. When
Mr. Sherman put on his flatboats he
brought tho faro down to 10 cents the
round trip, and still each boat Is malting
$5 to $10 a day clear of expenses. Tho
brldgeman got mad and put the fare down
to a nickel, but hl3 bonanza, has de
parted. For a while ho cleared over $1000
a day out of his rattletrap, which had
neither plank deck nor side rails, and
quite often horses would fall over its
rickety sides into tho river.
Ho thinks there are over $1,000,000 worth
of dredgers and gold-saving machines
strewn along tho beach which will be
left to decay and ruin. Two dredge
boats had been put to work on the Snake
River, but their buckets struct no golden
sands and so they are liable to be aban
doned soon unless they have better luck.
Twelve miles of the beach on the north
side of Nome and eight miles on the
south were worked out last year, and
considerable gold found, but these same
stretches were beirig reworked thl3 year,
and,, of course, tho miners were not do
ing so well. Each miner i3 allowed a strip
25 feet wide, from low-water mark back
to the tundra, and when ha gets tired of
this strip ha can take another of tho
same size, if ha can find one unoccu
pied. There is no gold at all in tho first
five or six feet of surface, and the pay
dirt is only about six inches thick, right
on the bedrock. Here you are obliged to
use a tablespoon to dig the sand out of
the crevices, in order to obtain the gold
This is "the reason dredgers cannot work
the beach, as they are not capable of
getting down to such a fine point, A lot
of waste sand has to be stripped oX and
cast aside, and this takes time. Then
the gold clings so closely to tho aeams In
the bedrock that no large amount of pay,
sand can be moved In a given time. i"
There are about 35,000 persons, he thinks,
In the vicinity of Nome, of whom 4CQ0
are women. Among those who have lost
money in the Nome district, ho mentions
Lucky Baldwin, of San Francisco, who
took up a hotel and saloon "knocked
down," all ready to put up and open
business. He heard Baldwin say himself
that he would be glad If he could get
out of the place at a loss of $10,000. Sev
eral vaudeville shows, expensive saloons
and gambling outfits had stranded there,
and "their owners will have to figure
pretty close in order to save enough to
get away on. It costs only $25 to go to
Nome, hut $SS Is the lowest fare charged
on the return trip, and this Is for steer
age passage. First cabin to Seattle costs
$100.
He" blames the transportation compa
nies for luring men North, while know
ing there was nothing to Justify the ex
odus. 'T have seen the ticket-sellers in
Seattle take the last dollar a man" had
In return for a ticket to Nome," he said,
"and these agents knew full well that
nothing but starvation and disappointment
would be the poor derlJ'a lot. I think,
morally, tho companies are responsible
for all the deaths at Nome. The death
rate when I was there was nine a day.
Pneumonia was taking most of the men
off, smallpox being on the decrease; in
fact, stories of smallpox at Nome have
been greatly exaggerated in the States."
A large number of men and women will
have to bo assisted out of there this
Fall, in his opinion, and even now hun
dreds are applying to the military au
thorities in vain hope of free transporta
tion. The military receive the applicants
coldly, with the reply: "You came here of
your own accord, and now you must get
out In the same way."
Merchandise of all descriptions has be
come depreciated property at Nome. Even
provisions ore about as cheap as In Port
land, as there Is a large supply, and the
owners are anxious to sell out and quit
the place, even at a big loss. Ham and
eggs can be obtained at the restaurants
for 35 cents, and many of the restaurant
keepers arc losing money. There Is a
large supply ot fresh beef, the steers
being taken to Nome and slaughtered
there. Beef, however. Is high, retailing
at 65 cents a pound. Milk was high for a
while, but now It Is down to 0 cent3 a
quart.
'The weather up there has been de
lightful all season," he continued, "and
a good deal of prospecting has beeen done
along the beach. It has been too dry to
do much on the creek3, and so nothing
much has been struck except on a few
claims on Anvil Creek, which pay well,
but the bedrock lies very close to the top
of the ground, and these claims will bo
worked out In a few months. People
think there Is more or less gold in the
tundra, but this has never been dug irto,
as it consists of a frozen morass, hard
to drain at the top and difficult to work
as you go down. The bedrock, which Is
nothing but hard clay, lies at various
depths, and no one has yet felt Justified
In attempting the task of exposing Its
surface to the light.
Many claims were staked out by power
of attorney and sold at good prices, last
year, where there Is no sign of gold, and
a man might as well dig In a potato
patch In Portland's suburbs. Thousands
of acres were taken up while the snow
covered the earth, and the stakes never
touched the ground at all. The sticks are
now lying scattered about over tho
ground and no one pays attention to
them.
On the steamer Senator, nearly 600 pas
sengers returned the last trip to Seattle,
and the Garonne had about 400. All wpro
disgusted with Nome and glad to str'ke
civilized shores once more. Yet some were
still being booked for Nome, and each
vessel would have a fair complement
of passengers on the return north.
A PLEASANT OUTING.
If you want a short, comfortable Sun
day outing take a 40-mlle ride up tho
Columbia on the O. R. & N. 9:20 A. M.
train. Fare for the trip, SO cents.