Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937, August 17, 1900, Image 1

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    sum $ -f
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VOL. XL. tfO. 12,380.
PORTLAND, OREGON, FEIDAT, AUGUST 17, 1900.
PRICE FIVE CENTS.
Cjii
paneling.
ROTHCHILD BROS.,
Are not
BUT this
for some
FURNACES
escape, and Richardson & Boynton Furnaces will pro
vide it They are sold, "NOT KEPT," by
HfcATMQ AND VENTILATING ENGINEER
CKMERHS
PREMO
POCO
CTCLONE AND ADL.AXE MAGAZINES.
-WHOLESALE AND RETAIL.
EASTMAN'S FULL LINE OF KODAK8. ,
144-146 FOURTH ST.,
PHIL. METSCHAN. Pros.
SEVENTH AND WASHINGTON
CHARGE OF
European Plan:
irfSSfeV
Vjeuifo
frr
foOMj cJJVL
vdetdoyHM
m A. -.. 1 tHnHr.i'K'ftC-0 - -- 'r 'W'fr.
b OPEN ALL THE YEAR jS CATALOGUE FREE
Torfland Mu$inp$$ Collpge
ParJr1$ Washington SfrpPts
A. P. ARMSTRONG, L. L. B., Prin.
LIRE WINES AND LIQUORS KM
. SPECIAL PRICES THIS WEEK
gggB Canadian Club $1.10
jpbices: Yellowstone $1.15
Cloverdale Cfaret, quarts, doz $3.25
Hilton's Pure MalfExtract, doz $2.25
Genuine goods of absolute purity promptly delivered.
Popular-Price Drugalsts, hlsCA a tA
Fourth end Washington Sts. WDUOdlO)
BISHOP SGOTTACADEMY
Founded 1S70.
J. W. Hill, M. D., Principal.
Christmas Term Opens Sept. IS, lOOO.
A Boarding and Day School. Under present
management since 1S78.
Primary, Preparatory and Academlo Deport
ments; College Preparation, Military Discip
line. Manual Training. Boys of all ages re
ceived For catalogues or Information address the
Principal. J "VY. HILL. 1L D.. P. O. drawer
17. Portland. Or.
PNEUMATIC RUNABOUTS....
We have them In several varieties, both one and two-seat.
we are also showing the smartest effects In Stanhopes, sin
gle and two-seat Traps, Open and Top Surreys, Bike Wagons,
with -wood and -wire wheels, solid rubber cushion and pneumatic
We have a most complete line of line Harness.
Visitors are always welcome.
STUDEBAKEr?
Carriages, Wagons,
HarneiD, Roliei and Whips.
Library Association of Portland mm
24,000 volumes and over 200 periodicals
$5.00 a year or $150 a quarter
Two books allowed on all subscriptions
rfOURS-from 930 A. M. to fcOO P. M. dairy, except Sundays and twildaw.
rays improving
Of course, you can keep on Improving in the quality of your playing: on the
Pianola, but at the very outset you can begin and plav the piano by means of a
Pianola far better than nine-tenths of all the old-style piano players alive today.
Jt is -north investigating. Drop In and hear the Instrument. You'll be Interested
In the Aeohan also; and we sell the world's best pianos the Steinway and A. B.
Chase.
M. B. WELLS, Northwest Agent for tht Aeolian Company
353-355 Washington Street, opp. Cordray's. Portland, Or.
909
In purity and goodness
THE STAR
MILWAUKEE
Agents, 20-26 N. First St.
what we want this weather,
Winter we will sigh and wish
of the heat we now wish to
47 FIRST STREET
RAY ,
MONTAUK
NEAR MORRISON
a W. KNOWLES, Her.
STREETS, PORTLAND. OREGOfl
MANAGEMENT
$1.00, SI .50, $2.00 per Day
EXCLUSIVE CARPET
HOUSE.
J. G. Mack & Co.
88 Third St.
Opposite Chamber el Commerce
f, sOs&Ud4rij4sjtelue?ti
J. A. WESCO, Penman and Sec.
Jtul the thing for a spin
on. the, White House Road.
320-338 E. Morrison St
T
Q9QOO
CAPTURE OF PEKIN
Unofficial Reports of the At
tack on the City.
MINISTER! BELIEVED TO BE SAFE
Allies Inflicted a Heavy Defeat on
the Imperial Troops at Tuns
Chow Sunday.
LONDON, Aug. 37, 3:45 A. M. A cable
gram to Vienna from Hong Kong an
nounces the capture of Pekln; but tho
(Austrian Government, like other, Euro
pean powers, is still without connrma.
tion of this report.
An official telegram, dated Taku, Aug
ust 14, has been received at Rome which
asserts that the attack on Pekln began
Monday, that Sir Claude MacDonald, the
British 'Minister, opened communication
with the relieving forces and that the
allies have established their headquar
ters at Tung Chow.
Chinese officials In Shanghai are re
ported as admitting that the allies in
flicted a -heavy defeat on the Chinese
Imperial, troops around Tung Chow Sun
day and then marched direct on Pekln.
This, If true, carries the Japanese offi
cial advices announcing the capture ot
Tung Chow one step further.
The 'Western powers, according to a
dispatch to the Daily Express from Kobe,
have accepted the proposals formulated
by Japan for arranging an armistice
dependent upon the immediate delivery of
the foreign Legations to the allies or the
granting 6f permission to the allied
forces to enter Pekln and to guard tho
legations. "Upon this baBls, the corre
spondent says, Japan has already begun
to negotiate.
Shanghai dispatches declare that tho
Chinese had intended to make a flpal
attack upon the legations last Sunday,
but whether the plan was carried out Is
not known there.
From the same place comes the state
ment that Vice-Admiral Seymour and
Brigadier-General Creah have joined In
the protest against the withdrawal of
the British troops. All the morning pa
pers, which comment on the subject,
appeal to Lord Salisbury not to wltn
draw them and dilate upon the serious
results of such action to British prestige.
American negotiations looking to a ces
sation of hostilities also receive consid
erable attention, favorable and otherwise,
but all the editorials agree that too pre
clpltate a withdrawal from Pekln after
the delivery of the Legations would have
a bad effect upon the Chinese situation.
The consensus of opinion expressed by
the morning papers tends to the belief
that the members of the Legations ara
now safe with the allies.
Describing the capture of Ho SI Wu,
a special dispatch says that the headr
gear of the Americans was quite lnsufflt
cient for the awful heat and that the
consequence was direful.
.Entered Pekln '"Wednesday?'
tONDON, Aug. 17. A special from
Shanghai says:
The aliles entered Pekln August 15. It
is believed that Yuan Shi Kal's troops
have gone thence to Shen Si to protect the
Empress, who, according to reports re
ceived by local officials here, with Tuan,
the Imperial household and the bulk of
the army and Boxers, left Pekln August
7 for Hslan Fu.
CONFERENCE AT YANG TSUN.
Decided to Push u Headed by the
Jnpnnesc.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 16. A telegram
has been Tecelved at the Japaese lega
tion from the -foreign office at Toklo,
stating that at a conference held the 7th
Inst, at Yang Tsun the commanders
of the several forces decided to push on
at once to Pekln. The forces were oead
ed by the Japanese and followed in order
by the Russians, British and Americans.
They expected to reach Tung Chow the
12th. The French troops were compelled
by the Inadequacy of their commissariat
to remain at Yang Tsun while the small
bodies of Austrlans, Italians and Ger
mans turned back to Tien Tsln.
Immediately upon the fall of Tien Tsln
tho Russians set about repairing the
Tien Tsin-PeWn Railway, which will be
repaired as far as Yang Tsun about the
20th of this month. The Chinese from
Shan Hal Kwan report that the Rus
slas are repairing the Tong Tu Lu Taj
Railway toward Shan. Hal Kwan. Rus
sian engineering officers with about 835
men of the railway corps at Ussurl are
expected at Tien Tsln.
The British Consul at Tien Tsln says
he has been informed by Chinese from
Pekln that Ll Ping Hang arrived at the
capital with x10,000 men, and after an
audience with the Empress Dowager left
with them for an unknown destination.
The Empress Dowager will, It Is be
lieved, take refuge In Tal Fuen Fu, in
Shan SI.
PRAISES A5IERICANS.
Von Waldersee Says It Will Be .Nec
essary to Tnlse the Offensive.
BERLIN. Aug. 16. This morning Count
von Waldersee, accompanied by tho
Countess and by Vlce-Admlral von Wal
dersee, his brother, visited the United
States embassy and asked John B. Jack
son, secretary of the embassy, to pre
sent his best compliments to President
McKlnley. He spoke in the highest
terms of the American troops, saying:
"I know what they can do, and will
consider it a great honor to have such
gallant soldiers under my command."
Before leaving Hanover yesterday he
made a speech to the worklngmen's Jied
ertafel, saying that he hoped to finish
his task and return soon to Hanover.
In response to the address of the munici
pal deputation, he said?
"With trust in God and in the Arm,
cheerful courage of my troops, I hope
to carry out the plans and overcome all
difficulties."
The -press points out that Count von
Waldersee is talking too much, and ad
vises him to talk less. Several jour
nals have dubbed him "felt marshal'
In the course of a conversation at the
offices of the general staff today hewsald:
"The general situation for the allies Is
unfavorable, even if Pekln Is taken or Is
about to be taken, since tho allies are
everywhere on the defensive, except In
this advance on Pekln. It Is necessary to
adopt the strategical offensive through
out China."
His Idea seems to be to have the allies
act In conjunction with the Russian
forces In the provinces of Klrln and
Sheng Klnsr, by way of Mukden.
, Count von Waldersee will leave tomor
row for Cassell, where farewell festivi
ties will be held Saturday. These will
consist of a military parade and a ban
quet, to be attended by a number of Gen
erals. The banquet will also take the
form of a celebration of the 70th birth
day of Emperor Francis Joseph.
The Protestant mission here has re-
celved a Canton cable saying that the
mission at TiechI Chin, Noman and Xiuk
Hang have been destroyed. The first was
In the northern part of the province of
Quang Tons, and the third In the south
ern part.
The German Foreign Office thinks that
the allies will not attempt to hold Pekin,
but will retire immediately with the mem-
f bers of the Legations to Tien Tsln.
Cossaclcs Defeated. Chinese.
ST. PETERSBURG. A.ug. 16. General
Reetnenkamp. according to advices to the
Russian War Office, while pursuing the
Chinese from Algun, found 400$ infantry,
5000 cavalry, and 12 guns In a strong posU
tion at Sanjshan. Although the Russians
were Inferior In numbers and had only
two guns, they made combined front and
flank attacks on the Chinese August 10.
The Chinese succeeded In breaking up
the flank movement, and fought with
great stubborness, but eventually they
were compelled by a, flerce Cossack at
tack on their center to evacuate the po
sition and withdraw the guns.
To Protect the Allies Rear.
ROME. Aug. 16. Tho following dispatch
has been received here from Taku. via
Che Foo, August 15:
"A Russian reeiment has disembarked
to protect the rear of the allied forces,
which Is seriously threatened.
"The Japanese Admiral announces that
the allies occupied Tung Chow last" Sun
day, and that he Is awaiting news of an
attack on Pekln today."
Hart Has Left Pekln.
HONG KONG, "Aug. 16. It Is rumored
that the Canton customs department haav
received a dispatch that Sir Robert Hart;
Director-General of Chinese Imperial
Maritime Customs, accompanied by his
staff, has left Pekln under Chinese escort
and that a cruiser will be sent to meet
him on his reaching the coast.
Capture of Chans Kia Wan.
BERLIN, Aug. 16 A dispatch received
here from Tren Tsln. dated August 14, an
nounced that the allies captured Chang
Kia Wan. with slight loss. The Chinese
left 500 dead on the fields The remainder
fled, some to Tung Chau and some to
Pekln.
France Accepts Von Waldersee.
PARIS, Aug. 16 France has notified
Germany that when Field Marshal Count
von Waldersee arrives In China to as
sume command of the allied forces, Gen
eral "Voyron, the French military Commander-in-Chief,
will act in , perfect ac
cord with him.
.Goodnow Accused of Complicity.
SHANGHAI, Aug. 16. The Shanghai
Gazette impeaches the United States
Consul, John Gpodnow, of open compli
city with the Chinese.
NEW YORK'S POPULATION.
Census Shows an Increase of 35 Per
Cent.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 16. The census
office this morning announced the popu
lation of Greater New York (Manhattan
and Bronx Borouarhs) as 2.050.(500. The
papulation of the orougUofpMab1jtta"S
IS ,Oirj,VSi, UUU U1UI UJL IIHT DIUIIA, W,-
507.
There are, besides the boroughs named,
three other b6roughs in Greater New
York, viz.: Brooklyn, Queens and Rich
mond. When the census of 1890 was tak
en, the City of New York comprised all of
what are now the Boroughs of Manhat
tan and Bhonx, except the territory lying
to the west of the East River, annexed
January 1, 1SQS.' The population of New
York City In 1890 was 1,515,401. On June
1, 1900, the joint population of the Bor
oughs of Manhattan and Bronx was
2,050,600, representing an Increase from
1S90 to 1900, Including the annexed territory
above referred to of 533,299 or 35.33 pec
cent.
APPLETONS' AFFAIRS.
The Publishers Will Pay One Hun
dred Cents 'on the Dollar.
NEW YORK. Aug. 16. The creditors of
D. Appleton & Co., the publishers, will be
paid 100 cents on. the dollar. This state
'ment Is on the authority of James G. Lan
non, chairman of the reorganization com
mittee ofHD. Appleton & Co. Mr. Cannon
stated today that every claim which was
to be extended under the reorganization
of the company had been deposited with
the Metropolitan Trust Company, of this
city. The proposed reorganization will
give the house ample capital to carry on
its business.
SUMMARY OF IMPORTANT NEWS
China.
Unofficial reports continue to arrive of the cap
ture of Pekln by the allies. Page 1.
Chinese troops were dereated at Tunr Chow
Sunday. Page l.
U Hunc'Chang's appeal to the United States,
for an armistice was met with a refusal.
PageZ
Minister Conger sends a list of casualties in
Pekln. Paee 2.
England will not land troops at Shanghai.
Page 2.
Transport Warren, with troops for China,
soiled from San Francisco. Pago 2.
Political.
The Antl-Imperiailst Convention Indorsed Bry
an's candidacy. Pajre 1.
Bryan has returned to Lincoln, where public
meetings were held. Page 2.
Iowa Democrats nominated a fall stato ticket
Page 2.
Domestic.
Many persons were Injured In anti-negro rlqts.
In New York. Page 3.
Fltzsinunons threatens to claim the champion
ship. Page 3. -
The closing argument in the Powers trial will
be made tonight Page 2.
Ex-Senator J. J. Ingalls died at Las Vegas. N.
21. Page 3.
New York's population, excluding" 3rooklyn, is
2,050.600. Pacific Coast.
The conditions at Cape Nome are told in a let
ter by a mining engineer. .Page 4.
Two new Quarts strikes have been made in
Southern Oregon. Page 4.
A system of cisterns is to be built at Fort
Stevens this Fan. Page 4.
At the ChemaWa Institute the need of "Wflclent
Industrial teachers in Indian schools was
voiced. Page 5.
The wheat yield of the Northwest estimated at
, 3S",000,000 bushels. Page 1.
Commercial and Marine.
Sugar advanced 10 cents .per hundred in the
local market, making a total sain of 40
cents in a. week. Page 11.
New York bank statement expected toJ show &
heavy loss of cash Saturday. Page, 11.
London "stock market looks for "easy money
rates, but bankers discount the .expectation.
Page 11.
Local.
Two women commtttjl suicide, one by shoot-,
lng, one bypolsonlng. Page &
A fund of $250 was started for tho ransom of
Young Venule. Page" 12.
Much more space has been acquired by the
street fair. Page 7.
Liberty Congress Indorsed the
Democratic Candidate.
WARM FIGHT OVER THE PLATFORM
,9Iost Vigorous Opponents to In
dorsement Were members of the
Third-Ticket Convention.
INDrANAPOLIS, Ind., Aug. 16. The
Liberty Congress of the American Leagao
of Antl-Imparlsll-ts todiy emphatically
indorsed the candidacy of Bryan for Pres
ident. The convention did not adopt the
p'atform as submitted unanimously by
the resolutions committee without a long
THE LATE SENATOR
and heated debate, but when the previous
question was ordered, lers than a score
could be marshaled to vote against the
Bryan Indorsement. The vote was viva
voce," and Its exact result will never be
known, but the sentiment was clearly
shown as being In. favor of the Indorse
ment of Bryan as. the most effective roan-
Incr'jdf checking; theQtllcged.-ImperJalIsfc
poncy or tne Aaminwrauon.
The most vlgorou3 opponents of the
Bryan 'pronouncement In the platform
were conspicuous members of the Na
tional, or third-ticket, convention, who
were also admitted as delegates to the
aitl-lmperlallst congress. They were led
by Thomas M. Osborne, of Auburn, N. Y
and advocated the nomination of a third
ticket on the theory that their followers,
while opposed to President McKlnley.
were not prepared to accept Mr Bryan on
tne Kansas City platform. Every men
tion of Mr. Bryan's mmc In the conven
tion cafled forth enthusiastic applause.
Speakers who opposed the Bryan plank
in the platform were received with Jeers
and cries of "time" frqm the delegates,
and the chairman at times had difficulty
in obtaining a hearing for them.
The Platform.
The platform follows:
"The Liberty Congress of antl-lmperlal-Ists
recognizes a great National crisis
which menaces the Republic upon whose
future depends In such large measure the
hope of freedom throughout the world.
For the first time In our country's history
the President has undertaken to subju
gate a foreign people and to ruje them by
despotic power. He his thrown the pro
tection of the American flag over slavery
and polygamy In the Sulu Jshinds. He
has arrogated to himself the" power to
Impose upon the Inhabitants of the Phil
ippines government without their consent,
and taxation without representation. He
Is waging war upon them for asserting
the very principles for the maintenance
of which our forefathers pledged, their
lives, their fortunes and their sacked hon
or. He claims for himself and Congress
authority to govern the territories of the
United States without constitutional re
straint "We believe In the Declaration of In
dependence. Its truths arc not less self
evident today than when first announced
by our fathers. It cannot be abandoned
while, government by the people endures.
We believe In the Constitution ot the
United States. It gives the President and
Congress certain limited powers and se
cures to evnrv mnn -nrttMn tho InrJcrtlf Mnn
of our Government certain essential?
rights. We deny that either the President
or Congress can govern any person any
where outside the Constitution.
"We are absolutely opposed to the pol
icy of McKlnley, which proposes to gov
ern millions of men without their consent,
which in Porto Rico establishes taxation
without representation, and government
by the arbitrary will of a Legislature -unfettered
by Constitutional restraint, and,
in the Philippines, prosecutes a war of
conquest and demands unconditional sur
render from a people who are of right
free and Independent. The struggle ot
men for freedom has ever been a strug
gle for constitutional liberty. There Is no
liberty If the citizen has no right which
the Legislature may not Invade, if he may
be taxed by a legislature In which he is
n.ot represented, or if he is not protected
by fundamental law against the arbitrary
action of executive power. The policy of
the President offers the Inhabitant of
Porto Rico, Hawaii and the Philippines
no hope of Independence, no prospect of
American citizenship, no Constitutional
protection, no representation In the Con
gress which taxed him. This is the gov
ernment of men by arbitrary power with
out their consent; this is imperialism:
"There is no, room under the free flag of
America for subjects. The President and
Congress, who derive all their powers
from the Constitution, can govern no man
without regard to its limitations. We be
lieve that the greatest safeguard of liber
ty is a free press, and we demand that the
censorship In the Philippine Islands,
which keeps from the American people
the knowledge ot what Is done In their
name, be abolished. We are entitled to
know the truth and we Jnlst that the
powers which .the President holds In. trust
for us shall not bo used to suppress it.
"Because we thus believe, we oppose
the re-election of Mr. McKlnley. The su
premo purposo of the people in this mo
mentous campaign should he stamped
with their final disapproval of his attempt
to grasp- imperial power. A self-governing
people ca nhave no moro imperative
duty than to drive from public Ufa a
Chief Magistrate who; whether In weak
ness or of wicked purpose, has used his
temporary authority to subvert the char
acter of their Government and destroy
their National Ideals.
"We. therefore. In the belief that It is
essential at this crisis for the American
people again to declare their faith In the
universal application of the Declaration
of Independence and to reassert their will
and that their servants shall not have or
exercise any powers whatever other than
those conferred by the Constitution, ear
nestly make the following recommenda
tions to our countrymen:
"First That without regard to thelt
views on any questions ot domestic policy
they withhold their votes from McKlnley.
In order to stamp with their disapproval
what he has done.
"Second That they vote for those can
didates for Congress In their respective
districts who will oppose the policy of Im
perialism. 4,Whlle we welcome any other method
JOHN J. INGALLS.
of opposing the re-election of McKlnley.
we advice direct support of Mr. Bryan
as the most effective means of crushing
imperialism. We are convinced ot Mr.
Bryan's sincerity and ot his earnest pur
pose to secure the Filipinos their Inde
pendence. This position and the declara
tions contained In the plajtform, ot his
party 6n"the vltaTlssue of the campaign
meet our unqualified approval.
''We recommend that the executive
committees of the American Ahtl-Expan-slonlst
Leagues and Us allied leagues con
tinue and extend their organizations, pre
serving the Independence of the move
ment; and that they take the moat active
possible part In the pending political cam
paign. "Until now the policy which has turned
the Filipinos from warm friends to bitter
enemies, which has slaughtered thou
sands ot men and laid waste their coun
try, has been the policy of the President.
After the next election, It becomes the
policy of every man who votes to re-elect
him and who thus becomes, with him, re
sponsible for every drop of blood there
after shed."
After the adoption, of the resolutions In
dorsing Bryan, the representatives of the
third party met in the assembly-room of
the Commercial Club and selected Thomas
Osborne, of Auburn, N. Y., permanent
chairman, and Everett V. Abbott, of New
York, permanentsecretary. A motion was
made and carried that a convention be
held In. New York City, September 5, for
the purpose of nominating a ticket.
It Is said that the third party men today
offered the Presidential nomination ta
Moorfleld Storey, of Massachusetts, but
that Mr. Storey declined the honor. Will
lam I. Palmer, of Colorado, was reported
to be their choice for Vice-President.
The leaders of the movement said to
night that they expected a large repre
sentation at the convention In New York
Septembers, and that candidates for Pres
ident and Vice-President would then sure
ly be nominated.
Secretary Mlze, of the Liberty congress,
today received, a letter from William
Lloyd Garrison, of Boston, pledging the
writer's support to Bryan.
Proceedings of the Convention.
The second day's session of the league
was cAlle.do order by ex-Governor Bout
well, aftcnia brief prayer by Rev. S. W.
Sample! Astor, of the People's Church, of
Minneapolis, and pending the report of
the committee on resolutions. Dr. L. W.
Habercom, cf Washington, addressed the
convention. Dr. Habercom was received
v, lth much applause. He charged that
the President had "done that which he
hadvhlmself solemnly declared to be a
great crime, and now attempts to shift
the responsibility upon Divine Provi
dence." He said he appealed more espe
cially to those like himself, who had como
from a country over which a monarch
reigns.
"Is it not an act of Imperialism," he
asked, "that the President has entered
upon this new adventure in China, with
out assembling Congress In extra session?
The people who like myself have coma
from Germany know to their sorrow what
militarism means. These are the last
men who will vote to convert their coun
try into an empire. The President has
said, 'Who will haul down the flag?" Now
I have always believed that the flag
should be hauled down where it has no
business. Is It the emblem of liberty in
Manila and Porto Rico. There It floats
over subject people not free people. I
have always been a Republican, but I now
feel It my duty to fight the Republican
party with all the strength I possess, be
cause It has now become the party of
Imperialism."
Mr. Habercom concluded with a decla
ration for Mr. Bryan.
Colonel Charles R. Codman, of Massa
chusetts, read the report of the committee
on resolutions, which took the form of an
address to the American people. Colonel
Codman said that 25 members of the com
mittee were unanimous in submitting a
report to the convention.
The resolutions advise the people to
withhold their support from McKlnley
and to giva direct support to Bryan as
the most effective means of checking Im
perialism, At the mention of Mr. Bry
an's name the delegates arose In a body
and gave three cheers for the Demo
cratic candidate.
Moorfleld Story, of Massachusetts, said
he cordially joined in the statement of
principles contained in the resolutions, .
(Concluded on Third Page.)
WHEATCROPOF 1900
The Figures Will Approximate
35,000,000 Bushels.
EARLY ESTIMATES WERE TOO HIGH
Yield on Heavy Lands Were TJ
satisfactory and LIsht 7tIi
Produced Record Yields.
Tho time-honored saying- that. a bJfl
wheat crop is always overestimated, white
a small crop is underestimated, holds ex
ceptionally good In the case of tho crop
now being harvested. The early estimates
made on this crop were nearly all Tecord
breakers. some of them ao much so that
they were ridiculous. State Grain Inspector
Wright, of Tacoma, an official whoso emol
uments from the wheat Industry are suffi
clet to warrant at least a small degree
ot accuracy In his statementsr early ta
the season led off with an estimate ot
30.000.000 bushels for Washington alone
He has since reduced his figures to 25.
000.000, but there is still plenty of leeway
for lopping oft 5,000,000. to 7.000,000 bushels
and yet be In no danger of havlnjr tha
figures too low.
Whitman County. Wash., and Umatilla
County. Or., are the banner wheat coun
ties of the respective states, and both
of these big counties will fall from. 30 to
CO per cent short ot their record yields.
In a few districts In both Oregon and
Washington the yield la above the averago,
and In Idaho and Oregon, there la a con
siderable area of new land which offsets
the large amount ot Summer fallow which
Is idle this year but which was not idlo In
the record-breaking year of 1S97. Whflj
this Improves the situation from an acre
age standpoint, it Is insufficient to maka
up the shortage due to a light yield. In
the course ot a 15C0-mlle Journey through
the principal wheat districts of Oregon,
Washington and Idaho, an Oregonlan rep
resentative interviewed upwards of 100 rep.
resentatlve wheat men In their respective
localities, wheatbuyers, wheatgrowers.
threshing-machine men and a number ot
others directly and Indirectly Interested In
the Industry discussed the matter In de
tail. The net results of this Inquiry indi
cate a crop for Oregon, Washington and,
Idaho of from 32.0C0.0O3 bushels to 35,000,
000 bushels of the finest quality of wheat
that has ever been produced In the North
west. These figures, of course, may bo
changed by unfavorable weather condi
tions later on.
There Is still considerable lata sown,
Spring grain In the Palouse and thera
are also several thousand acres of grain
in,- the-shockrwithout-the semblance of at
capsheaf to protect It from the weather.
If Providence Is kind to these shiftless
farmers this wheat will figure In the above
totals; If otherwise. It will swell and
sprout and make good hog feed, although
hog3 are scarcer than wheat In tho In
land Empire.
As to the cause of the light yields la
so many sections of tho country, thera
are all sorts of theories. That it is due
In the slightest measure to a wearing out
of the soil 13 disproved by the rankest
growth of straw that was ever known, tho
harvesters leaving field after field ot
heavy stubble three feet high, while soma
of It was over five feet high before it
ripened. In Umatilla County many ot tha
farmers advance the theory that a hard
frost which nipped the wheat before It
was knee high, killed the top and when
the root resumed business. Instead of
sending up one stalk, two or three stalks
sprang up, forming a kind ot a volun
teer growth, and extracting so much ot
the strength from the earth that the head
was Imperfectly provided with nutriment,
and did not produce as many berries as
it would have done under ordinary circum
stances. The crop In Umatilla County
Is running about DO bushels to tho acre,
on lands which have always been regard
ed as sure 40-bushel producers, under any
thing like favorable circumstances. Tho
light lands, however, are not showing up
so unfavorably, proportionately, as tho
heavy lands, the excessive rains being
absorbed to better advantage by this soil.
Over on Eureka Flat, where "the crops
never fall," the best land3 ore turning
off 35 to 40 bushels to the acre.
An occasional yield of 40 bushels to tho
acre 13 reported in the western part of
Whitman County, where the yield will be
nearly up to the average per acre, but
will be short on acreage. The eastern
part of the county, so far as threshing has
progressed, is running about SO per cent
under tha average. Owners of threshing
machines complain bitterly of the diffi
culty In keeping even at the old rates.
Some of them claim that they are
handling more than twice the usual
amount of straw handled In threshing out
a buohel of wheat, and the owner of a
machine operating near Pullman. Wash.,
stated that he suffered an actual loss ot
$15 per day for the first 3even days of
his run, and that he proposed to lay hla
machine up as soon as he had filled con
tracts already made. Another machine)
man stated that it was impossible to maka
anything at less than 12 cents per bush
el, a rate which would make the cereal
look "worse than 30 cents" at most Inland
Empire points.
Numerous samples from fields around
Colfax, Pullman and Garfield show a large
number of very small grains. These
grains are not shriveled, but are perfectly
formed and plump and materially increase
the weight per bushel, tho returns from
one field of 1C0 acres near Pullman show
ing by machine measure but 224 bushels
to the acre, while the actual weight
showed a return of 24 bushels to the acre.
The banner yield for Washington this
year Is coming from the much-despised
cheap lands in the vicinity of RltzvlUe and
Hatton. This land soaks up water like
a sponge, and while the heavy lands far
ther south were suffering from an over
dose of moisture, this "five-dollar land."
a. It is frequently termed, softened and
mellowed under the heavy showers, but
did not "pack" and afterwards bake under
the sun's flerce rays. These favorable con
ditions "have resulted In a number of 50-
(Concluded on Fifth Pago.)