Morning Oregonian., August 06, 1900, Page 8, Image 8

TW: MOTWTN5 ORBGONIAN. M05TDAY, 'AUGUST 6, 1900.
BOISE AND WATER WORKS
XTEBLIXG MAY LEAD TO CITY OWN
ERSHIP. Hott the Strife Grew Up, and the
Points In Contention Doth Side
Determined to Flgfit.
BOISE, Idaho. Aug. 5. The cne great
question of public Interest, in jioise at
preheat, outside of politics. Is the water
question. "The company that furnishes
trater in this city la known as the Ar
tesian Hot & Cold Water Companr. and
from the time of the organization of the
company down to the present, there has
been constant friction between it and the
city. The present city government ha3
refused to pay the company anything for
the rvlces it renders in case of lire, and
for other strictly municipal purposes, and
the company has notified the city that
the matter will be taken before the high
est courts In the land for settlement.
The cause of the controversy lies In the
double construction that may be given
the following section of the statutes:
All corporations formed to supply water
to cltle ami towns must furnish pure, fresh
watr to the Inhabitants thereof for famlly
uses, so Ion:: as the supply permits, at rea
sonable rat"s and -without distinction of per
son, upon proper demand therefor; and rcust
furnish watr to the extent of their means
in cases of Sre or other treat necessity, free
of charge.
The custom prior to the present regime
was for the water company to receive
from the city payment for the water it
had furnished the city. This amount va
ried in the different administrations, but
would average about S2CXO per year, ex
clusive of flushing the sewers, which
would have been nearly J200J more. The
present city administration paid the wa
ter company about 203 the first year,
having another contract for flushing, but
at the beginning of the present fiscal year
it took the ground that the company was
bund by the law to give water for fire
purposes free, and. in addition, water
for sprinkling the streets and other strict
ly municipal purposes.
THilie the city took this position, yet
it at the same time attempted to enter
into a contract with the company for the
present fiscal year, and here is where
the trouble commenced. The water com
pany aslcd the sum of JSGW per year,
and agreed for this sum to furnish water
for flushing tje sewers, sprinkling the
streets, water used in city buildings, and
an adequate fire pressure. The present
system of fire pressure is inadequate.
"When a fire occurs. It Is almost impossi
ble to get up pressure enough to have
much effect and the company agreed to
rerredy this "by filling an unused reser
voir, and to keep a man there at all
times, so that pressure could be turned
on promptly in case of fire. After a great
deal of negotiation, the compnnv w'th
drew its proposition, and asked J1703 for
tho service mentioned, exclusive of flush
ing the sewers The city offered to give
X4Vy. and on this difference of T-C05 a year
tho matter rests today.
Point of the Contention.
Th position of the c"ty is that the law
contemplates that In return for the grant
ing of the franchise to the' water corpo
ration the company is to furn'sh water
to the city free of charge, and that the
Tates charged the ordinary consumer are
to be made large enough to allow the
company proper remuneration. This po
sition Is generally accepted, even by the
friends of the company, but the sticking
point coms on th clause of the Hw that
reads "and must furnish water to the ex
tent of their means in ca.se of fire or
other grcjt necesltv free of charge."
The city has taken the position that th
company Is obliged, under this ruction of
the law. to furnish watr In ease of Are
to tho extent of all the means In Its
power. Including all reservoirs and nump
Ing engines that It may hnve. while the
company contends that It Is only obllp-cd
to furnish the means it mnv hive in th
ordinary course of business. That Is. In
case of fire, the city maintains that the
company must stop all use of water by
prirate parties, and must start Its pumps
nnd use every moans It mnv possess to
top the fire. Tho company thinks it
would only be oli'Id to give th cltv
what water -would be runn'ng in the
mains at the time, and would b- under
no obligation to go to any retra expense
or trouble to furnish water.
The city also contends that th Hans
"or other great npeessltv" Inp'uVs
sprinkling the streets and water for 'cltv
buildintrs. The rompinv dns f-ls ?n
toto. But the cltv has takon the bull bv
the horns, nnd Is. nt pro r-t. t.iV'io
Vater from tho mains of the company
and snrinkllnr the streets -with It. and
has refused t -nav the nmnnnv for this
servSe. as wcM as for th wntor that Is
iird In the various cltv hnlldlnrrs. Th"
romnnnv has triod t'Tieus wpvc f -et
tho Htv to vv for tnls -w-ntor. h" so fnr
without -vail. Tt h-s T-e-rtod WUs.
on'v to hn-'o them d'.cal'owe. T b-u:
pol'fled tho cltv to son u"lnr water
Yro-n the v!lns. but tho c'v keens on
tictntr ' ft nns threatened to taVo tho
it""pr Into to oourts. but the city pays
no attention to these threats.
Sttnntlon of the Coaipnny.
The Artesian Hot & Cold "Water Com
pany was organized March S, 1S91. the
capital stock being J250.0M. of which ?K0.
(XX) was subscribed. The directors and
principal stockholders were among the
leading capitalists in the city. This or
ganisation was the outgrowth of the
rivalry between two companies, which
-was ro fierce t .at neither one made divi
dends, and after a fight that lasted a
good many 3mt, the new company was
organised as t. matter of self-protection.
The two ! water companies were known
as the Boiso Water Company, and the
Boise "Water & Land Improvement Com
pany. The first company was the out
growth of the old reservoir owned by ''
Eastman Bros., and which was a money
making institution in its time; but after
being sold out to the Boise Water Com
pany, was a losing venture, on account
of the rivalry that sprang up with the
other company. The officials of the pres
ent company claim that neither the Boise
"Wter Company nor the Boise "Water &
Xand Improvement Company made a
cent In their day, and, that the present
company has paid no dividends
In the part two years. There is about
,,
510a,(K Invested in the present comnnav.
but of this amount over W0.O30 was prac
tically thrown away in the purchase of
the Boise Water Company's works, for
the reason that those mains were so
small as to be absolutely useless in case
of fire, the -low company being obliged
to replace them. The new company has
also built the Natatorium. which is one
of the largest and best arranged ln the
"West. It claims that for tho city to
refuse to pay for the water it uses, would
amount to practical confiscation of the
water plant but the city authorities
answer that the legal way of fixing rates
so that dividends will result is the only
correct way, and that if the company
cannot make its works pay without the
money from the city, a commission
should be appointed under the provisions
of law and new rates established.
It Is but natural that sueh a condition
of tilings should breed Ill-feeling, and it
has done so in this case. There had been
a well-defined feeling of hostility to tho
Artesian Hot & Cold Water Compan
for years, although the leading members
of that corporation are among the
wealthiest citizens of the cltv. The
course that these cltlsons took when the j
Jdaf.o andl&nd Railroad proposition was
before the city created such a feeling of
antagonism toward the company that
public sontiment is strongly for a sys
tem of municipal ownership of the city
water works.
This Midland Railroad proposition
created .so much feeling against the
water company that it may never out
grow it. When the proposed road to
Butte, now known as the Idaho Midland,
jrae first broached. It met with uolver-
sal approval. The leading men of the
city, including those who were closely
allied with the Artesian Hot &. Cold f
"Water Company, wrote a letter to Tom
Bates, the promoter of the road, stating ;
that they favored it and that Boise
would subscribe liberally to bonds to
help build the road. Largely upon this j
representation. Mr. Bates took hold of
the road and finally submitted a propo-
sition to the city to subscribe for bonds
of the road. The Chamber of Commerce
accepted the proposition, and appointed
committees to solicit and close matters
up. Meanwhile, the water question had
asrumed a violent form, through the re
fusal of the city to pay for the water,
and when the committees visited the
capitalists -connected with the water
company, they were met with a blank
refusal v to subscribe to the bonds. A
committee was then appointed, consist
ing of Judge Stewart, of the Third Judi
cial District and Judge Quarles, of the
Supreme Court, and these gentlemen met
witn the same result.
"When this latter committee made Its
report there was great Indignation. Pub
lic sentiment crystallized in opposition to
the course that the water company had
taken. Two banks, which were closely
connected w t the water company, very
quickly felt tho voice of public con
demnatlon, and after a day or two of an
unequal struggle, nearly all the men
connected with the water company came
forward and subscribed gingerly to the
bonds.
But the matter had gone too far for
peace to be declared, and a short time
after Mayor J. H. Richards addressed a
communication to the City Council, ad
vocating municipal ownership, and the
Council has a committee working on this
matter at the present time. Mayor
Richards and the leading members of
the Council state that there Is no ques
tion but the Council will adopt an ordi
nance favoring this step, and that It will
be submitted to tho people for their ac
tion. Just at present, the water com
pany seems to be doing nothing to stave
off affairs, and it may be that it has
something up its sleeve. The people
must vote on tho ordinance before It can
go Into effect.
Mayor Richards says the city has en
tered the fight to stay. The water com
pany has stated that it will carry the
matter to the Supreme Court of the
United States, and the Mayor states that
the city will fight the matter to that
court if necessary. Meanwhile, the
Mayor says that the people will hnve
an opportunity to vote on whether thcy
wish municipal ownership or not.
It Is also thought that the water com
pany will make an effort to have the
next Legislature repeal the objectionable
law and pass one favorable to It. but
this would be bitterly contested. That
the question is not a political one. Is
shown by the fact that the Mayor Is
a Republican, while the majority that
sustains him In the City Council Is com
posea cf Uiree Republicans and .three
Democrats.
ON THE CAMP GROUNDS.
Sermons by Hctii. X. S. Holcroft and
M I. Ilnrdlnjrlinm.
Two large congregations gathered on
the G. A. R. campground at Tleasant
Home yesterday morning and afernoon
to hear the patriotic sermons of Rev. N.
S. Holcroft and Rev. M. L. Harclnghatn.
The reunion of the G. A. R. veterans
closed Saturday night, but provisions
were ma-le for these two services before
the campers should leave the ground.
Mr. Holcroft spoke in tho forenoon on
the subject, "The Opportunities and Re
sponsibilities of the Hour." His sermon
ook a wide scope. He first d!scu-."-d
tho lntellectunl responsibilities of the
masses, and declared that there never
was a time when the demands for a thor
ough mental equipment were more insist
ent than at present. He said that man or
woman who entered the race of life with
out a broad education was already fatally
h-ndleaiped. The speaker Tvith much
fc-co -ought to Imnress upon the con
gregation that only the best-equ'pped can
meet the opportunities and responsibili
ties of the hour with success. There were
ample facilities, and there could be no
rxcti-e nior-7 this line. Mr. Holcroft then
dlscursed the suhlect from a National and
spiritual standpoint, and spoke with elo
quent ' force. The Nation, ho said, de
mands tho best brains and the church
demands the highest spirituality of the
people. Only by measuring up to a high
standard can the Nation attain the high
est degree of eminence.
Rev. Mr. Hardlnfrham. wl-o spoke In
tho afternoon, proachea from tho subiect,
"Clouds on tho Sky." The sermon was
a sort of warning, as the sneaker undor
took to polnKoitt rome of the pressing
evils of tho time. He spoke of intemper
ance, tho v-st amount of wealth squand
ered in it tho ruination of tho thousand-
of yonnf, the euttin-r down of youn? men
of promise, and said that while muoh Ivid
been done to mitigate the evil It still
remained and had to bo fought. The
sneaker seoried to think there was some
danter to the public schools, and said
that no effort should be spared to up
hold and improve them and to rorjt
every eTort to Impair or broak thom
down. Mr. Hardlnfhnm sp0k of anar
chy as one of the "Clouds on the Skv."
and declared its growth and spread re
quired "-atohinc Clo.-ing. he snoko of
tho ferllne of unrest that nrevalls. which
promotes discontent and dlrannolntment
He declared that from this fueling of un
rest came the ureat tramp evil and the
unsettled conditions of so many.
The sermons of tho dav -n-ere sunple
mental of each other, and were well re
ceived by the congregations.
SPECIE AT SAN FRANCISCO.
Imports nnd Exports of Gold nnd Sil
ver for 12 Months.
New York Financial Chronicle.
Through the courtesy of the Collector
of Customs at San Francisco we have
received the dotatlr of Imports .and ex
ports of gold and s.lver through that port
for the 'u in,th of June, and they ore
given below in icnjunction with the fig
ures for prilling months, thus complet
ing tho results for the fiscal year 1S93
1903. The import? of gold were important
n pmount, reaching $S33.1F9. of which
W)2,7S0 was in coin. Of silver there came
ln S226.1S3, of which $215,515 was bullion.
During the 12 months there has been re
ceived n. tntnl nt !T1ft iZT. !i .u o
o3 sliver which compares with $31,
03.514 gold and ST.073.KO silver ln 1S3S-1SS9.
The shipments of gold during June were
only 511,153. all co'n, and tho exports of
silver have been $523,352. of which 5250.702
was coin. For the 12 months tho exports
of sold have reachod J2.025.1S9. against
$1,774,737 in 1S9S-99. and J7.n52.U0 silver has
been sent out against ?4.SS9.974 In 1S9S-1SV9.
The exhibit for June and the 12 months
is as follows:
Imports
-Gald-
Months, 1ES9-19-0
July
Au-just ..
September ..
October
Ncvomber ..
December
January
February
Coin.
...J 5SS7S
... 1.226 a 5
... SS2. 10
... 1.1CS3
:t4VSl
... 2C5.f03
... - 3 312
... 70 00
Bull'on.
$l.r5,9-9
4S 16
72. 24
40i. 61
J1.S7S
SO.'iS
22.316
S,li2
412r4
J4.c4
r2.6'4
357S
MFrch
6, 5C
Arril ?."74"0
Mas-
2 477 2GI
June
r02, 80
Total 12 m-n hs $70.15
J9S .103 JIO.456,361
Export.
-Uold-
Monthr. 1S39-190 Cell.
Ju'y J rfi'.'Ko
August 4T7SSO
September 434.7S0
October 6. -'85
Xoverr.bcr 112.345
Dccmbsr SM.TO
January lM
February 39)041
March 1V0
April asm
Mar : 78 S
Juns 11 ra
Total 12 months $2,CC0,C33
Bullion
J
no
420
""sVi
l.'OO
9'0
50
1X0
5. 5,158
SIR ROBERf HART'S WORK
SHUT
HI3ISEI.F FROM WOULD
SERVE THE CmJTESE.
Hott Me Won Confidence and Esteem
of Thnt Suspicions People Un
der Grrnt Disadvantages.
John R. Enthom In Chicago Times-Herald.
If you ask the great majority of people
on what facts they base their belief In
the wholesale slaughter of the members
of the Legations at Pekln they will prob
ably tell you that the insincerity of the
Chinese leaders and their evidently fran
tic attempts to gain time by trick mes
sages and edits have been enough to
convince them. But if you ask anybody,
of any nationality, who has ever been a
BORCHGREVINK'S WINTER IN THE ANTARCTIC
C. E. BOItCHGREVIXK.
At a recent meeting of the Royal Geographical Society a paper was read by Mr. C. E.
Horchgrevlnk describing the experiences of tho Borchcxovlnk-Newnes Antartic expedition,
which ipcnt the Winter of 1593 in the Antartic on Victoria Land. The explorers' rhlp,
the Southern Cross, struck the Antartic ice pack, December SO, 3 SOS, and on Tebruary 17,
Robertson Bay was entered. Boon after rtores. Instruments, iocs, etc., were landad at Cape
Adare and 10 members of the expedition were left to rpend the Winter, the ship return
lnc to New Zealand. The 10 were the flrrt men who ever wintered on Antarctic land. Va
rious expeditions were made to explore the country. ff:oloclcal and ether specimens wero
collected and valuable meteorological observations were recorded. An obstacle to explora
tion was tho ffrcat height of the land 12,000 feet, for example, near Rob;rton Bay. Great
cliffs rose from tho beach to lmmenre helnhtu, and huge glaciers precipitated themselves
Into the sea, endangering the lives of the explorers by rearon of the wares created by the
fall of lcebersrs. The rreat height of the land made It possible, in fact, to reach the
interior of the continent.
The tremendous galas were found to be a striking feature of the Antarctic climate. At
Cape Adare early In 1CC0 the wind attained a velocity of S7 milei an hour, and In Novemb'r
a velocity of 10S miles was reached. Such winds made meteorological observations in fact,
exlrtence itrclf almost Impossible. Frequently ths observer had to -visit his station with a
rope about his waist. The coldest day was in August, when the temperature was 5?. de
grees below the zero of Fahrenheit's scale. Fish and bird-' eegs varied the expedition's
menu, but there were no bears, foxes or relsideer. The crevarses In tho Ico, the height of
the land and the flcrco gales made travel ulfilcult and cloie the Interior to the explorer.
Still tome new lands wer; discovered and aew gsographlcal featurcr. were sketched on the
map. At the end of November the ice rack beran to opon. Uy Jrnuaxy 10 open water
was everywhere to be seen, and the weather was warmer, ro that in February the Southern
Cross came In covered wISi Ice. The fartbert rolnt south ever reached by man was at
tained In April In longitude 105 degrees DO minutes east, when the latitude was found to be
7S degrees 50 minutes. Since Ross' time the barrier of routhern lco has been broken through.
It appears, to the extent of about SO milts. In Mr. Borchrrevlnk's opinion the position of
the southern magnetic pole Is In latitude 73 degrees 20 minutes south, longitude 14 degrees
cast. Tenetratlon Into the nouthern continent is still an unsatisfied longing of geographers,
no coast riving tasy access having co far been hit upon by ox;.lorers.
resident of China why he thinks a terrl- ' young man, who was then in his 2$th
ble tragedy has occurred behind the black ; year, to join the Chinese Imperial ser
vcll of doubt he will say: "Why have vice. Permission was given and Hart
, , , TT ., was at once made Inspector-General of
we not heard from Sir Robert Hart. CllBtoms. t was ln 1S6S. From that
To those who understand something of j year up to 18S5 he held hln post steadily,
the internal affairs of that vast and un- j bringing tho service from a condition of
wieldly kingdom the fact that no word
has come out cf Pekin for severnl weeks
from this unique figure in the history
of the Orient, carries far more signifi
cance than any break in the communica
tions between the Ministers and their
Governments.
And you will probably find such people
emphatic In their declaration that the
Legations have all been cruelly mur
derednot because of the signs of du
plicity In the conduct of the Chinese, the
warlike preparations' of the Imperial
Government or the unmasking of the pal
pnbly sham solicitude of the Viceroys.
But because Hart Is silent.
Imagine If you can a man of the high-
est attainments, a trained diplomat with j
an inheritance ample for luxurious and
Idle living, calmly cmtlng himself oft
for life from his kindred and all his In
terests ln his native land to devote him
self to the task of helping a nation like
the Chinese to become something more
than a lumbering antiquity In the eyes
of the world. Imagine tho depth of char
acter and the sincerity that such a man
must have possessed to secure and re
tain the confidence and deep affection of
nn alien and distrustful people, through
all the Intrigue, broken faith and decep
tion practiced on them by his own and
other Governments.
General Gordon was greatly admired by
the Chinese, but he secured their friend
ship principally by spectacular deeds and
his victories on battlefields. Sir Robert
Hart gained their confidence In a far
greater degree, and did it despite the
fact that he persisted in a policy antag
onistic to all their Ideas of government
and upsetting the very foundations of
their whole method of thought and ac
tion. So completely did he sever himself
from the Occidental world that, notwith
standing his achievements, and they have
been marvelous under the circumstances,
the story of his life appears ln no bi
ographical dictionary or similar work
published In the English language,
The British Government ln Its dealings .
with China has. of course, always been M China today, and It Is a vast and com
very much alive to the fact that hts ad- j plicated sen-ice. too. Is probablv the pur
vice and assistance were Invaluable, and. j est and most honestly directed arm of
every foreign Ambassador at Pekin for V government possessed by any nation ln
m J the world and It exists in a land where
Silver
Bullion. J 1 47.6P
H4.3E9
:01.432
16.17
II ,ni
146,76
J31253
5V7
237 311
22-Y7 5
377.920
216.515
Total.
$ 714.S57
1,74.S!1
95114
1 57'4
116 "3S
31MSI
f52?
7S.K0
7 65
2.2SS5J4
2,4r-9.'0"
533.1:9
Coin.
$ '.8 02
9,476
5 ,5S
110.5R0
112 607
M27
55 F71
2.V2
is.137
7173
r3.sst
9.6--S
Total
5 mS.'3
1.8 5
25?,' 2
2-6 77
X25 922
19-90S
2-o.S0t
25V8
27.9"3
"S1.304
226.1ST
J 573,JG2 $2,6 072 J2.669.K-4
Silver
Bul'oi.
$ SS.K0
2'1.X)
:i" 80)
227.90
T6'1670
254, '07
4V.C45
?T9 "15
252,591
5"S 2T0
57V50
Total.
$ 3n.285
458.C90
435,200
P.f85
113 "PS
315.6T0
103.4 "0
ry.3
14.-C0
3.P10
P.41S
31 151
Coin.
J 12 2f4
4PS,R'f,
17 3SS
19,1;
51'. 53
67175
'33193
"5F,-5'5
377.3C6
195,2'5
.'9 93S
JE0 702
Total,
$ PC0.654
7J9ln6 j
-87.1S
247 16
GC007
1.C3 .44
417,597
f8V0'
Glr6Sl
447 S4S
F04.13S
f23.:52
J3,C25,1S9 $3,223,640 Ji,32S.40 J7.552.120
the last 30 years has profited in no small
measure by his kindly counsel. It Is only'
i one additional tribute to his sterling
' character to say that every one of those
Ambassadors, notwithstanding tho con
stant friction and jealousy between the
, Legations, has been his warm personal
friend. .But outside of this little official
' woi'ld his achievements and his life have
' always been a sealed book.
Robert Hart was born In Armagh, Ire-
lami In 1K5 WJion hi WJl.S 19 VPAXS Old
j he secured a post In the Britlrh Consular
service and was at ence ordered to Chi-'
na, becoming a member of
the official!
family at Pekln. In 1S57 he was trans
ferred to- the Consular office at Canton.
Young Hart soon proved himself a very
able and conscientious worker. He
started out net only to master the Chi
nese dialects and the written language
but plunged heart and soul Into the even
harder task of learning the habits and
character of the people.
To show how he succeeded It is only
necessary to say that nine years after
he reached China, the Emperor sent nn
urgent appeal to Great Britain, throurh
Its Ambassador at Pekln. to allow the
chaos into a practical business atmos
phere. He not only introduced the novel
features of honesty and rectitude in the
keeping of Chinese accounts but gath
ered round him a staff of over 3000 young
Chinamen and dispatched them to all
parts cf the empire on customs duty.
Their, efficiency and integrity forced ihe
unstinted admiration of tho foreign Min
isters. Indeed, the German Minister
wrote to his Government: "This Hart has
worked a greater miracle than my eye?
will ever look on again."
When one remembers that the great
majority of tJhese young Chinamen have
grown up to manhood under Sir Robert
Hart3 almost parental care and have al
ways had the deepest loyalty and affec
tion for their old chief, it can be realized
what people mean when they say that
If any living man had been able, under
any kind of conditions, to get a message
out of Pekln, it would have been this
trusted and beloved official.
When Sir Harry Barks, British Ambas
sador to China, resigned. Sir Robert
Hart was offered the post time after
time. He persistency refused, not be
cause he would not have been glad to
have It, but because he had determined
to finish out his days in the service of
the people he had sought all his life to
uplift
After the negotiation of peace with
Franco in 1885, when his splendid ser
vices for China were the admiration of
'the diplomatic world, the Emperor, to
prove his gratitude, gave him the decora
tions of the Red Button and the Double
Dragon, the only occasion ln the history
of China thnt a foreigner has been so
honored. This mark of favor was imme
diately followed up by a change ln his
title, and after 1SS5 he was known as
"Director Supreme of Chinese Imperial
Maritime Customs," with an official pal
ace at Pekln.
From that time to the present he has
labored steadily at his great task, re
garded by all progressive Chinese as the
j savior of the country and the sole hope
for the financial solvency and good stand
ing of the empire. It Is a strange thin
to say, but the maritime customs sen-ice
oniciai corruption is the most commen
of all vices,
If Sir Robert Hart Is dead he can have
no grander epitaph than that And
thousands of Chinamen who have lpvefl
and sen-ed him for a quarter of a cen
tury will be his most sorrowful mourner?.
Merged Into Ordlnnrj- English.
London Chronicle.
Who discovered, or rather revived. th
word "inwardncs-" as deiotlig tho true
meaning, of a speaker's words? This Is
the latest query of Dr. Murraj- for the
purpose of his new English dictionary.
The word In a s'm'lar connection was
employed in the seventeenth century. b-Jt
it dropped into desuetude, and did not
rrappear until some 2) years ag-. When
1 "N35 revived. In the 'SO;, It was printed
betwe-n Inverted commis, but It "ias now
I prsscd the probationary s'age rnd become
merged ln ordinary English.
In 169G there were 1030 savings banks
in the United States, and the deposits in
them amounted to $l,S-il,OOO,O0O. In 1899
there were 942 savings banks in the Unit
ed States, and their deposits were '$2,401,
000,000.
PERILS OF THE PLAINS
COL. SVE IS SURVIVOR OF FIRT
IMMIGUATIOX C02IPAKY.
nc V Proaperons Prlnevllle Citi
zen Avoids Tclllns of His Inter
esting Pioneer Experiences
FRIXYILLE, Or., Aug. 3. Colonel M.
C. Nye, of tnls place, is the most sought
for man in the country for interviews,
and least Inclined to talk. Since tne
death of Colonel John Bldwell In Califor
nia a few months ago, Colonel Nye Is
the sole survivor of the first expedition
that ever crossed the American plains.
Letters have poured In to him for Infor
mation, and reporters have tryvclcd for
rmles to Interview him, but he has never
been Inclined to talk, and is not inclined
to talk now. With his death the lajt
tonguo will be silenced that can give any
reliable Information of that trip of hard
ships. Colonel 2"ye does not like to talk
about the trip for some reason, and he
looks upon the stranger who tries 10
draw him out on the subject with con
tempt. Even Colonel Bidwell, in his
lifetime, failed to tret an extended con
versation on the subject with Colonel
Nye, nnd at the reunions of the surviv
ing members Colonel Ny usually chnnrred
the subject by asking about some matter
of later days.
Pronperonn hnt Eccentric.
Colonel Nye Is ore of the mot pros
perous sheepmen of Crook County, and a
large property-owner, and although get
ting very old. he Is making no arrange
ments to follow his old comrades. He Is
a shrewd business man. well Informed,
and a fluent talker, hut he Is eccentric on
the point of talking over old t'mes, and
will not even give hts age. No one ln
Crook County knows hH age, and It is
estimated all the way from 90 years to
15. While he is not an extr.-moly oll
lookInr man. yet men aver that he looks
no old"r than he did when thev first met
him, X) years ago. Every device and
plan hps been resorted to to ascertain
the Colonel's age. not because of the
Importance of knowing it. but just be-cr.u-o
of the Colonel's refusal to give It
A lawyer a while back thought he had
the Colonel cornered. The Colonel was
placed on the witness stand, nnd the
lawyer, on cross-examination, asked his
asre. The Colonel's usual reply, "Some
thing upwards of .") years," came back
promptly, nnd the lawyer Insisted, ap
pealing to the court on Colonel Nye's re
fusal to be more definite But as the
a."o bad notb'pg to do with the point in
h-pd the cou-t sustained Co'orel Nye,
and his age still remains a secret.
Interview AVltlt Colonel Ifye.
An Oreuonion correspondent. In com
pany with Postmaster Summe-s. called
the other n'.ght to see Colonel Nye. The
CoIoppI was good-natured, and seamed to
forget hlrr-self, and talked a little. He
did not fro into details, but he came neir
riving his age awn v. and. it Is said, told
more than ho ever did before.
Colonel Nye saw an advertisement ln a
newspaper of the maklnT un of a party
to cross tho nln Ins. He was a young
adventurer a id responded to the adver
tisement Fortv-two othors responded,
among tho number bel4!: one woman.
Thev left Tndopondenco. M6 In 3S41. and
wero seven months making the trip. Colo
nel Bldwoll compiled ao neeount of the
journey from a d'an' that he made at
tbo t'me. but he tl'd not tell rmnv things
th-'t o"eurod. an'1 which are Interesting
lpo'rints of tho trip.
Colonel Nye wis the youngest member
of the party. When it was found that
vn eopld pot h" dissuaded from making
tbe trln. his father nnd undo Presented
him with a strong ynunr mule. The
mule was tied beh'nd tho wagon and the
boy Instructed to take good care of the
mu'p to feed and water him hut not to
"e tho rr"o snptil an ernereency came.
Tho boy followed the Instructions lm
pllcitlv. and dav In and day out he
trudged along on foot n"vr mounting
tho mule, but always feeding and water
ing him. that la. stnkipir or hobbling the
animal out whenever thev stopped. The
advice of tbo father and unrle and the
boy's Implicit obedience to their wishes
proved of groat value to hlmne1' as well
as to tho entire company. When the
the wagons and suppIIo.s had to bo ahap
doned nhout M miles west from Salt
T.nke, young Nve had a fresh. stroPr
vounr mule, a trreat advantage over all
tho others. When night came and the
roll v.-as called. Colonel Nye and the
mule were sent back on the trail to br'ng
i .,,-, . 5iys. -ron'-
men snt on the side of the trail and
bee-cod to bo left to die, hut he and Fome
companion would take them un forclblr
ond place them on the mule and bring
tr"m Into camp.
Line before thev reached those straits,
however there was a disruption in the
party. Some of the meo saw tho terri
ble tHp before ti'orn. and de'-p.-mlned to
return. Colorel Nye remorpbprs. among
ti-se. i hlnckr 'th. who took him to one
Ide and berged him to abanr'on the ven
ture. After plondln" with him for some
timf. npd cail'ng him "hi boy." the
blacksmith toM him It would he Impos
sible to cross the pla'ns, and that even
iii who attempted I vould leav his
bones on tho trail. The hoy coollv In
formed t"o blacksmith tb-t If anybodv
ermMnnerl t" -t . -OTjld fryMn"w a-'d
that he would do so If he knew that he
would net live ?i hours. Tho black
smith wiped away his tears and gave
the hoy up for lost
Thirty-two Contlnned "Wentward.
Thirty-two, including the woman, pur
sued their journey, while the others re
turned. But their real troubles began af
ter they were compelled lo abandon their
property this side of Utah. Colonel Nye
relates an Incident at this point. When
they had placed the wagons and property
nil together to abandon them, a lone In
dian approached them. The commander
of the party pointed to the property and
by signs indicated to the Indian that he
could have tho property wagons and all.
Colonel Nye says It was the first and last
Indian that he ever saw completely over
come with gratitude. He pointed to tho
sun and to his newly acquired possessions,
nnd, he believes tears actually came Into
his eyes. Then they left the Indian and
the property and started out 1 cross the
wiue expanse 01 aesert, witn . rew pro
visions and poorly mounted.
There were two Dawsons In the party,
but they were not related. One was called
Choyennc Dawson and the other Bear
Dawson. On the start they were great
braggarts. Chej-enno's blood-thirstiness
lay toward the Indians and Bear's ambi
tion was to kill grizzlies. The party ran
on to a large band of grizzlies one day and
called on Bear Dawson to show his skill,
but when the fight was over and tho roll
was called, "Bear" tlld not answer. He
hx& run away at the first sight of the
monster animals. When chlded afterward
for his cowardice, he saM that he did not
exoect to find so manv ln one band.
Cheyenne's turn finally came. He had
dropped behind the main party one day
and the, Cheyenne Indians surrounded
him and took him 1 prisoner. After tak
ing his gun and stripping him of his cloth
ing, they set him free and he appeared In
camp that night in that condition.
An Indir.n Demonstration.
But Cheyenne got even with an Indian
of another tribe further on the Journey.
The horses of the party had all been
killed for food or died from starvation,
excepting a few, reduced to skin and
bones, and the mule owned by Colonel
Nye. On preparing to leave camp one
morning they were surprised to find them
selves surrounded by a band of Indian
varriors armed with bows and arrow1.
Tho commander of the immigrants cooly
and quickly organised his little force to
repel the attack, urging his men to hold
their fire to the last moment. With their
backs to their horses and scanty supplies
the Immigrants formed a circle and cvery
man covered an Indian with his gun. The
Indians were not far distant, and kept
advancing slowly. They- outnumbered the
Immigrants so greatly that should the im
migrants fire one gun they would have
been overwhelmed at once. When within
close gunshot the Indians halted. Then
the woman of the party was ordered to
ride on. She eoolly rode toward the In
dians forming the circle ln front while
the few other horses followed her and the
men on the sides and In the rear kept guns
leveled upon the Indians. The Indians in
front gve way, and tho e on the sides and
rear raised 1 warwhoop snd started as If
on the charge. Again the command came
to "hold your fire," and the Immigrants
marched slowly on. This was repeated
several times, until finally the Indians dis
appeared in the rear.
In a short time in Indian mounted on a
splendid horse overtook them and made
overtures of peace. He showed by signs
that he wished to become a member ot
their party, and traveled with the party
until noon. They suspected treachery, but
saw no harm In letting the Indian re
main with them. Late In the afternoon
Cheyenne Diwson kept falling behind, at
the snme tim ftetnir.tn- i Tn,ii. ...
making signs and carrying on a sort of
deaf and dumb conversation with him.
The Indian was never again seen, but that
night Cheyenne showed up ln camp
mounted on the Indian's horse. H told
them the Indian rwe him tho ho h,,t
years afterwards he confessed that he
thought he was justified ln killing the In
dian under the circumstances.
Prlvntions of the Trail.
Of the story of privations and suffering
Colonel Bldwell has already told how
coyote meat was relished, as a luxury,
and many other .Incidents ot those times.
which are verified by Colonel Nye. But
there are a few other Incidents related by
rntrmei v th-.t ,.,,.,. ,.,., ,, '
llshed. Colonel Bidwell was the best edu-
.cated man in the party and of an Inves-
tigatlng turn of mind. If he saw a snow
peak, a deep canyon or other natural ob-
Ject of interest he draped behind and
made for it. Colonel Nye rnvs that Bid-
well crave- tnom more trouhlo thnrt nnv
other member of tho party. Even ln the
hncHIn t'nr, f on.intr.- tVo,- woro -.
busy hunting for Bldwell at the close of
n-arlv even- dav
After reaching California Colonel Nre
was Wonted Into the family of a wealthv
Spanlird who took a liking to him and
he actually became a naturalized citizen
of Mexico. He has never foresworn hl
allegiance to that country, and never
will, but he never falls to vote in this
country nnd will. If he lives, vnto for Mc
Klnley and protection this Fall.
"You crossed the plains ln 1S41?" wan
asked Colonel Nye. "That was 39 years
ago. You were the younsrest member of
the partv, adopted Into a Spanish family.
How old wore you when you started on
the tourney. Colonel Nye?"
"Oh I I was upwards of I was quite a
lad." replied the Colonel. Seeing that
he was about to give away his age ne
refused to talk any further.
Where Ivlpllug Iilvcs.
Saturday Evening Post
Rottlngdean Is a tiny and primitive
place, a mere hamlet, nestling in a small
hollow In the downs on the edge of the
sea, about four miles away from the
enormous and fashionable town ot
Brighton. The original village lay about
an eighth of a mile from the sea. out of
the wind and in the sun the south coast
ee3nfl3;ndf ? ialrly br!&!VCSl0; "
consisted of a few houses and an ancient
little stone church, clustered about a
small green with a tiny pond In it One
of these houses, a simple and unpreten
tious one, belongs to Mr. Kipling; an
other, across the green, to bis cousin.
Sir Philip Burne-Jones, ron of the cele
brated painter.
The original village supported itself
nominally by agriculture, actually by
smuggling, and all the old houses have
cellars bigger than the houses themselves.
Now tbo village has crept down to the
very edge of tho sea by the addition of
some rather ugly modern cottages, which
have occasional lodgers when Brighton
grows too full and overflows Into the
neighboring hamlets. Tnere Is now an
omnibus line between the city and Rot
tlngdean, and on Sundays and holidays
come a good many trippers," a great I
part of whom are attracted, doubtless, by I
tho nrnsnect of seeing "-where TCIntlnt !
the prospect
lives."
of seeing "where Kipling
Married couples ln Norway are privi
leged to travel on railways at a fare and
a half.
has been sounded to all man
kind success unparalleled
I A Note U- PWLjJl
history of light beverages has everyv
where marked the introduction oi
wJMf i FJf F PM W M UK IV lf IpjSSlii
JJjr fez? OS 2r f if J atf f jj ;S
"KlSffof all Bottled
It stands proeminent as the
bottled beer brewed in America,
and leads all others in annual
exportations to foreign countries.
Order from
FLECKENSTEIN-MAYER CO.
YOUNG MEN troubled with nixht edsslons. dreams, exhausting drains, bush.
fulness, aversion to society, which deprive you of your manhood, UNFIT YOU
FOR BUSINESS OR MARRIAGE.
MIDDLE-AuED MEN who from excesses and attains have lost their MANIT
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BLOOD AND SKIN DISEASES. Syphilis. Gonorrhoea, painful, bloody urine,
Gleot. Stricture, enlarged prc3tato. Sexual Debility. Varicocele, Hydrocele. Kidney
and Liver troubles, cured WITHOUT MRCUK AND OTHER POTF'Orjg
DRUGS. Catarrh and Rheumat'sm CURED.
Dr. "Walker's methods are regular r.nd scientific. He URea no patent nostrums
or ready-made preparations, but cures th- disease by thorough medical treatment.
His Now Pamphlet on Private Diseases sent Free to all men who describe their
troubles. PATIENTS cured at home. Terms rensoncble. All letters answered In
plain envelope. Consultation free and sacredly confidential. Call on or addressi
Doctor Walker, 132 First St.. Corner Alder, Portland. Or.
Library Association of Portland
24,000 volumes and
S5.00 a year or $150
Two books allowed
POURS From 9:00 A. 1 to 9tf0 r
WHEN HAMLET EXCLAIMED "'AYE, THERE'S THE
RUB!" COULD HE HAVE REFERRED TO r
PROSPERITY AT SALEM
BAMvEIt GILBERT SAYS MONET IS
FLEXTIFITL.
Sntnjesta a CTinngc in Disposition of
State Money Prospects, for m
Good Crop ot Hops.
A. T. Gilbert a banker, of Salem, spent
yesterday at the Imperial. Money Is very
plentiful at the state capital, he said, aa
farmers and stockmen nearly alt have
deposits to their credit and Interest Is
consequently low. Borrowing on personal
application, without security, has fallen
into disuse ot late, and loans now are
mostly made on the basts of property se
curity, and finances have therefore as-
JumeQ f
I formerly,
I e stat also has a srod lal of money
! to n but as there are a sood matJJ
restrictions to be compiled with, on tho
part o bo"f owers. property-owners have
not becn ve:T caSer to borrow from th
1 state- preferring to deal with banks or
privato capitalists, who do not demand
that the land shall be three times the
value of the loan, without the build
ings and Improvements. The state has
heretofore been a little too free In mak
ing loans on farm property, he thought,
and as a consequence has farm lands In
every county on Its hands.
He thinks the Idle mon-y to the credit
s" nLaa-Mw,ch nW n ki
' nearly JuOO.COO. should be made available
or,th? eneral tu f, a deficiency la
JesiS be noticeable In this latter
fund: and, bj ho tllRC no Legislature
' meetS asaln' .sJtate warrants to an amount
; equa.hig the Idle money ln the school fund
W'U bo d5aw!?- C ?er J5"1, Merest In
1 : " " - .. ..v. .. jj-
lng Interest on $300,000 when It has that
t amount locked Up In Its Vaults.
i e ,we,nt crop ?' JIa"lon County, Mr.
i GlIbert believes, will be poorer than ever
! "e 07. the average not being above
j 10b"shc,,s to the acJe- , t
I "?, Ian1 nas been, Troade.Jt0.. ral30'
wheat for- many years, he said and a3
1 thp oId lands weaI ou' verf fe "?'
! ncrcs are bcJ.nS P' unde Pj?- I tb
r""":'. u "" ianice auey wish
to continue raising wheat, they will ba
compelled to apply fertl'izers. as they do
ln the Atlantic States. Stock business
is coming more lno favor, however, and
livestock will enrich these lands again
If the farms arc turned into stock ranches
or dairies.
"Tbe hopralsers ot Marion County are
happy, though, and they are now arrang-
I lng to nick their crops as soon as ripe
although a few weeks ago they talked
of letting the hops go by default. Hop
buyers have been around among them,
offering to contract for 9 and 10 cents,
and, as the hops can be put Into tho
bale for C oents. the pros-iects are good
for a email margin of profit to the grow
er. The hop crop of Marlon County i3
likely to be heavy this year, and tho
quality will be Prst-class."
j Mississippi expects Its new capital, so
j long desired, to be ready for occupancy
ly. 1&XL One million dollars ha been
nppVopriatc1 frr lt3 erection,
.
wnm trie stare legislature meets in jan-
The railroad time between New York
and Boston ha,-? been reduced to 4 hours
and 23 minutes.
Its least virtue is that
it lasts so.
Soap is for comfort; the
clean are comfortable.
Pears' soap cleanliness
is perfect cleanliness.
All sorts of people uc it, ail sorts of stores
sill it, cspoculiy ci uggu..
in the
Oeera
finest
J y p
V f.jOt L?-4ti- WJ ' " -' B
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bloody urine, unnatural discharges, speedily cured.
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Such as pllcrj. fistula, fissure, ulceration, mucous and
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Blood poison, gleet, stricture, unnatural loaaea, lm
potcmcy. thoroughly cured. No failures Cures guaranteed.
tdwczs Snath as4 j
over 200 periodicals
a quarter
on all subscriptions
M. dally, except Sunday and hondar
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