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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 30, 1900)
THE MOBNING OKEGONIAST, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER SO, 1900. Nl IHE FASTEST FLEET Portland Ships Beat All Others From the Coast AVERAGE PASSAGES OP GRAIN SHIPS Advantages of a. Fresh Water Harbor Strikingly Illustrated Coqnllle Marine Keivs. Tho "wonderful advantages of Portland's fresh water harbor have again been dem onstrated In the records made by the grain fleet from the Pacific Coast for the season of 1S99-1900. The tall-ender of this big fleet, the Shandon, has Just arrived Tout after a passage of 153 days from Ta coraa. The average passage of the en tire fleet of vessels leaving the Columbia River was faster than those of any other port, Tacoma being beaten by an average of over two weeks per vessel. The San Francisco fleet, according to the figures of the Bulletin, was only a fraction slower than that of Portland, the average run from the Bay city being 134 days, while that of Portland ships was 133.7 days. The average of the ships going , .from Tacoma and Seattle to Europe was 118.4 days. The fact that the Portland fleet was compelled to sail at least GOO miles farther than that from San Fran cisco and still fceat the latter fleet makes the showing all the more remarkable. Thero were 90 ships In the European sailing fleet from Oregon, and some of them made rattling passages, The Brit ish bark Semantha made the record run of the season by going home In 102 days, the nearest approach to this being the Clackmannanshire in 111 days, and the Muskoka, now in port, third with a passage of 112 days. Of the July ships, the Dunreggan was slowest in 158 days. and the Laomene fastest In 117 days. For tho other months, the longest and short est passages were as follows: August Bothwell, 141 days, Semantha 102 .days; September Sofala 155 days, Muskoka 112 days; October Bermuda 166 days, Carl 135 days; November St. Mungo and Garnet Hill (tie) 146 days, Nlobe 135; December Hutton Hall 146 days, Sierra Misanda 118 days; January Glenholm 158 days, Clack mannanshire 111 days; February Chill 141 days, Jules Verne 113 days; March C. S. Bement 148 days, Belmont and Klnfauns (tie) 136 days; April Berwickshire 175 days, Poseidon and Samaritan (tie) 130 days; May Aspice 160 days, Dovenby Hall 130 days; June East African 157 days, FInmore 114 days. The passages of the fleet sailing from Puget Sound for Europe wcto as follows: Long. Short. Average. July 162 162 162 August 130 ISO 130 September 156 156 156 October 166 146 159 November 138 138 138 December 149 122 137 January 141 141 141 February 157 108 132 March 168 143 149 April 154 143 149 May 172 163 168 June 153 151 152 The San Francisco fleet sailing for Eu rope made the following runs: Long. Short. Average. v July 170 103 137 , August J76 121 145 September 165 117 142 October 179 121 149 November 153 124 140 December 146 106 124 January 134 107 122 February 125 97 '113 March 173 110 136 April 149 115 129 May 161 124 142 June 142 113 129 Portland dispatched seven ships to South Africa during the season, and the fastest passage was made by the Gleness Jln in 76 days, while the Macduff and Ixr- -ton 5re t,ei for second place with 115 day passages. After allowing for the de tention of the Blytheswood, which put into a South American port for repairs, the average passage of the South Amer ican fleet from Portland was 100 days, while that of Puget Sound was 105 days, the Clan McPherson making the best run , from the Sound In S5 days, while the "Woodburn covered the distance in 125 days. The fleet of the present season is start ing off in a manner which indicates that this port will make an even better show ing for the present season. Every one of the Ave ships sailing from Portland In July has arrived out In passages rang ing from. 108 to 126 days, the average be ing about 120 days. But three ships have arrived out from San Francisco, their runs being as follows: 113, 126 and 134 days. One July ship has arrived out at Tacoma after a passage of 133 days. CO QUILL E MARINE NEWS. Better Transportation Facilities on the Coast Route. COQUILLE dlTY, Or.. Nov. 29. The Coqullli; River is in luck to have two steamers plying between this place and San Francisco, carrying freight and pas sengers. Captain Reed's new steamer Mandalay Is en route to San Francisco with a full cargo, this being her first VByage. This steamer Is owned principally by parties residing on the river, and has full business guaranteed by carrying coal. The steamer Argo, late from the Yukon River, owned by Captain Fredrlcks and others. Is being overhauled and put In gooditoondltlon for sea service, and will also ogo on the route. She. too, has plenty of merchandise guaranteed to start with, including coal from the Ty men mine at Riverton. The river steamer Dispatch, which ran on a snag near Riverton and was sunk, has been raised and repaired, and is again on her regular dally run from Bandou to this place, making her first trip today. SHIP PLATES FOR THE CLYDE. Another Strong Argument Affalnst American Subsidies. The British steamer Dunstan has oioared from Philadelphia for Glasgow and Greenock, with a cargo of steel plates, etc, valued at $134,835 30. for the construction of vessels on the Clyde. Part of the materials to be landed at Green ock Is to be forwarded to Port Glasgow. New at Richmond, being loaded with like cargoes for Great Britain, are the Brit ish steamer Hesleyslde and the Dutch steamer Leonora. Recently the British steamer Richard Grenville took a cargo of steel from Philadelphia to England, and she Is now bound there, it Is an nounced, for another cargo of the same kind. Several other cargoes of steel have been shipped during the last few months from Philadelphia to ports In the United Kingdom. STORM-BOUND FLEET. Paget Sound Ships Meet "With the Usual Delay. Five ships were In Ctall&m Bay Mon day night, says the Tacoma Ledger, wait. lug a shift of the wind to go to sea. These sMps were the St. David, the J. B. Brewn, the schooner Columbia, the echoener Bainbridge. and the ship Forest Heme. Tfiey were followed by the Brit ish Isles and the Florence. The wind was reported favorable for ships coming In na me unusn bark Adderley, which has been exsected everv Am? fw n voelr ? put in Its appearance at Tacoma during tae afternoon. THE STRANDED POLTALLOCH. Continues to Make War Shoreward, bat Still Floats at Riga Tide. SOUTH BEND, Wash., Nov. 29. The ftroaded baric Poltalloch is now so far up on the beach that she can be ap proached to within about 30 rods on foot. She still floats at high tide, as she lies in a swale, between two sand bars. The weather today Is unfavorable, and it is feared that it will be too rough to accom plish anything toward getting her off to day. Qulet Day on tae Front. There was not much moving on the water front yesterday, everybody cele brating Thanksgiving. The weather at the mouth of the river Is still foggy, and there was no word of the fleet that Is now due at this port. The Columbia crossed out for San TTranclsco early In the morning, but this was the only ar rival at the mouth of the river. The Dunsyre left up from Astoria "when the fog lifted yesterday morning, and the Cromartyshire left Jown from Portland. The steamship Adato is supposed to be due at this port, and will probably show up today or tomorrow. Columbine Returns From Flattery ASTORIA, Or., Nov. 29. The lighthouse tender Columbine returned today from Cape Flattery, with a number of me chanics who have been making repairs to the light station there. Captain Rich ardson reports a thick fog, with a heavy swell running all the way down the coast. Material for Floating Vessel. ASTORIA, Or., Nov. 29. The tug As toria crossed out today with an anchor and cables to make preparations for an attempt to float the stranded bark Pol talloch. Domestic and Foreign Ports. ASTORIA, Nov. 29. Sailed at 8 A. M. Steamer Columbia, for San Frariclsco. Left up at 11 A. IT. British ship Dun syre. Condition of the bar at 5 P. M., rough; wind, southeast, with fog and rain. San Diego, Nov". 28. Sailed Schooner Azalea, for Gray's Harbor. Liverpool, Nov. 2S. Arrived Majestic, from New York. New York, Nov. 29. Arrived Teutonic, from Liverpool; Werra, from Genoa. Hoqulam, Wash., Nov. 27. Sailed Schooner Henry Wilson, from Aberdeen, for San Francisco. San Francisco, Nov. 29. Sailed, steamer Geo. W. Elder, for Astoria; schooner Prosper, for Tacoma; schooner Roy So mers for Gray's Harbor; steamer Manda lay, for Coqullle River; steamer Areata, for Coos Bay. Arrived, steamer Rainier, from New Whatcom; steamer Warfleld, from Oyster Harbor. New York, Nov. 29. Arrived, Malnze,: from Bremen. Sailed, La Touraine, for Havre. Hamburg, Nov. 29. Arrived, Pennsylva nia, from New York, via Plymouth. Liverpool, Nov. 29. Arrived, Montfort, from Montreal. Sailed, November 2S, Commonwealth, for Boston. Genoa, Nov. 29. Sailed, November 28, Tolmos, for San Francisco (not pre viously). London. Nov. 29. Sailed, Manltou, for New York. Queenstown, Nov. 29. Sailed, Germanlo, for New York. ' Boston, Nov. 29. Arrived Saxonla, from Liverpool and Queenstown. SUMNER WANTED CADETSHIP An Interesting Application Found on File in the War Department, Chicago Record. There Is a remarkable document on file at the War Department, the existence of which was unknown until a short time ago, when It was accidentally discovered. It is a letter written by Charles Plnckney Sumner to the Hon. Philip Barbour, of Virginia, Secretary of War under John Qulncy Adams, asking for the appoint ment of his eldest son, Charles Sumner, to the Military Academy at West Point. The application was Ignored. Charles Sumner went to Harvard University In stead, and died a Senator of the United States and not a disgruntled Major of In fantry. The letter Is written on a paper t)f fine texture, yellow with age.( The penmanship Is fine vand neat, and' very much resembles the manuscript of the Senator 40 years after. The indorsement on the back is: "74. "Massachusetts Sumner. , "Appn. In his behalf by his ' "Father, C. P. Sumner." The letter is as follows: "Boston, 22 November, 1825. "Sir: My eldest son, Charles Sumner, Is desirous of being admitted as a mem ber of the Military Academy at West Point. He will be 15 years old in January next. He Is of good constitution & in good health, altho unusually studious. He Is well acquainted with Latin and Greek, Is somewhat acquainted with Arithmetic & Algebra & French. He is exceedingly well acquainted with history and Geography, both ancient and modern. He knows the scenes of many of the dis tinguished battles of ancient and modern times, & the characters of the Heroes who figured In them. He has a strong sense of patriotic pride, and a devotion to the welfare and glory of his country. He Is now at the Latin School In Boston, & in August next will he qualified to enter the university at Cambridge. "He prefers the academy at West Point. He is the oldest grandson of the deceased Maj. Job Sumner, who served with repu tation in the army of the revolution, whose only child I am. "It is not proper for me to devote him like Hanlbal to a military life, and at the present age I will not attempt It; but I have the most respectful opinion of the education that Is generally bestowed upon the Selected Sons of the Republic whether a young man is destined to a military or a civil life. "I have n.ot merit of my own. If my boy's character and qualifications give him any claim to Your good-will, I hope he will receive It. I can produce but few certificates in his favor. I venture to rec ommend him myself, as It may possibly be that no other recommendation is neces sary. Mr. Webster and Judge Story, If questioned, can say whether or not I would recommend anybody, son or no son, whom I did not believe to be a person of merit. The President Himself may possibly not be an utter stranger to my name. "I form no unreasonable expectation, & am not liable to any painful disappoint ment, whatever may be the result of this application. "I am, sir, your sincerely respectful humble servant "CHARLES PINCKNEY SUMNER. "To the Honourable Philip Barbour, Secretary at War." Back Pay for Overtime. Albany Argus. A peculiar case against the New York Central Railroad Company has just been referred to the Surrogate of Hudson. Samuel E. Mathlson. the plaintiff, who was at one time In charge of the Harlem roundhouse at Chatham, availed himself of the provisions of a new law, recently enacted, which obliges railroad companies to pay their employes for overtime. Dur ing the six years previous to severing his connection with the company, be had kept an accurate account for all labor performed for the company outside of reg ular working hours. In all, there are about 2000 Items, and the overtime amounts to almost $3000. ADDITIONAL TOURIST SERVICE. The rapidly Increasing travel via the Rio Grande Western Railway has neces sitated inaugurating another through tourist car line to the East. The new cars leave Salt Lake every Wednesday, via the Colorado Midland and Burlington Route, without change of cars, making connections with trains leaving Portland every Monday. This service is in ad dition to the seven other personally con ducted excursion cars, operated via the R. G. W. Ry., in connection with the D. & R. G.. C. R. I. & P.. Illinois Cen tral. Missouri Pacific or Burlington routes, to all points East. For tickets, information or literature, call on or address J. D. Mansfield, gen eral agent, 253 Washington street Port land, Go. GET ANOTHER RAILROAD HOOK I5LAND OR DTJRLINGTOH WOULD BE GOOD FOB, OREGON. And Mr. Sholes Seems to Think As toria a Better Terminus "for Them Than Portland. BUTTE, Mont, Nov. 23. (To the Edi tor.) I did not m. my first communication, nor do I now, wish to be understood as giving advice to the business men Xf Portland. Having given considerable thought to this subject, and arrived at conclusions at variance with those of the extremists on either side, my hope was to provoke discussion on the part of men of financial standing and broad commer cial views, to the end that "we may see truth drawn together." This transportation and common-rate problem. Is probably the most vital issue which at the present time confronts the City of Portland, and I believe that the tendencies of the past year all presage the near approach of a turning-point In Its commercial development The growth THE LATE BENJAMIN HUTTON. , Wsf' 111 r X Yv 'lib "2tIf sUP" $ r B AN OREGON PIONEER OF 1S53. ILWACO, Nov. 29, Benjamin Hutton, who was killed In a runaway accident near here November 21, emigrated to Oregon from Iowa In 1853. He crossed the plains with David Pebler's wagon train, and reached Portland In the month of September. For several years he traveled over the Northwest, visiting British Columbia and nearly all of the Puget Sound country. Later he returned to Portland, and engaged In the manufacture of wheat fans, being a pioneer In the business In 1872, with his family, he moved to Pacific County, Washington, and acquired a farm near Long Beach, where ho had resided continuously up to the time of his death. T Mr. Hutt6n was married in 1857 to Miss Catherln L, Donaca, who, with two children, survive him Clarence Hutton, of Portland, and Miss Mary Hutton, of Long. Beach. of municipalities, like that of Individuals, Is usually so gradual that it is not pos sible to discover hard and fast lines which clearly describe their, condition. A city may enter upon a perio4j.of decay long before the diagnosis isrgad. If any Intelligent person cah read from day to day the increasing prospects of industria 1 and commercial development that face the Pacific Coast States "with out a quickening' of the imagination, he has my sympathy. So far as I know, history falls to record a parallel era. While no one can with certainty fore cast the future, the attempt Is fascinat ing, and may be morelntelllgently -done? now than eVer before, since the student has more to guide him in his estimate of the possibilities which the 20th cen tury will usher In. -Thirty years ago, when the scheme of spanning 2000 miles of undeveloped territory between the Mis souri River and the Pacific had Its birth in the minds of a few 'far-seeing men, capital shrank from the magnitude of the undertaking. Today seven transcontinen tal railroads exchange their traffic at the ports of the Pacific, and this Western country Is just awakening from Its In fancy. How many more there will be before another 30 years pass no one can tell, but there are likely to be two more at or north of the Columbia River be fore a decade shall have passed. It will be of incalculable advantage tb Portland to secure the first of those new transcon tinental lines; not merely as additional outlets, but because of hew methods. Railroad management Itself is undergoing a transformation as marked as that which has made the creative power of a dollar more potent today than ever before. We may therefore expect better-built, better-equipped and more economically oper ated railroads; there will be fewer real estate schemes to serve, no untried, un developed harbors to boom. From this preliminary survey of the question two queries arise: First What effect will this future de velopment have upon the commercial prestige of Portland and the Columbia River gateway? Second What can Portland and Oregon do to secure results which natural loca tion or geographical conditions imply are theirs, but which capital may thwart? Upon the first proposition words are needless. It Is self-evident that a new and Independent line of railroad from Chi cago, making- Portland (or Astoria) its terminus, would turn the wavering tide of commerce to the Columbia, from which It could no more be wrested than the bulk of Atlantic shipments could be di verted from New York City. On the con trary. It Is equally clear that If these supposed new lines make San Francisco and Puget Sound their termini, Portland's commerce will be restricted and of slow growth. If a satisfactory answer could be given to the secona question, the citizens of Portland would rise as one man and do It and there would be- no transportation problem. But there are too many diver gent views; indispensable harmony sits afar off; railroad managers, with an eye to dividends, are often slow to perceive Just demands of the public; merchants and capitalists decide for present per cent and profit against future benefits; cities and towns hyperbolize their own little advantages and depreciate their rivals' larger ones. Despite these differences of opinion and interest it does seem as if the slow moving tide of affairs had -brought meas urably within the city's grasp two meth ods whereby the Columbia gateway might become the largest shipping port on the Pacific Coast for both local and trans continental traffic The first is to secure sufficient appropriations by Congress to create an unobstructed river channel from Lewiston, on the Snake, and Northport on the Columbia, to the sea. But we havo only to remember "the slow process of the suns" that governed the building of the Cascade locks to realize that an open river from the Inland Empire cannot be secured this year nor next and never without the most united and determined effort" on the part of Oregon, Washington and Idaho. In the meantime shall Fort land wait for that while rival cities forge stronger and stronger chains upon the Interior and transcontinental traffic? Or shall wo 'create a way which Is not dependent upon the slow action of Con gress? The second method, though less effective than 'the first but Is largely dependent upon Portland's efforts, and can be much mere qtilckly accomplished. Is this: Tho Rock Island and the Burlington-roads are already half way from. Omaha to tho coast the latter having a junction wth. tho Northern Pacific at Billings, Mont, and it is pretty well understood that both lines are seeking a coast outlet Whether It will be San Francisco, Portland or Puget Sound will perhaps be determined by the events of the coming' year. Sup- pose Mr. Hammond should build his As toria road along the coast or through the Nehalem or other available pass to a connection with his Corvallls & Eastern (not an improbable supposition, because it would enormously Increase the earn ing capacity of his whole road). An ex tension of 100 miles or so beyond Its pres ent terminus Into Eastern Oregon would tap Its vast wheat and stock farms. With a line of railroad reaching into that coun try of Immense possibilities, which needs but the magic of quick transportation to expand In population and products beyond measure, terminating at the mouth of the Columbia River, would not Mr, Hammond hold the key to at least one transconti nental connection? The advantages of it are so apparent and great that It seems as if It would be more difficult to pre vent than to accomplish. Is there a more fruitful field of speculation to be found In all the railroad opportunities of the Paclfjc Coast? Imaging , for a moment that it is done. With an Independent line, whose feeders ramify the Mississippi and Missouri Valleys, seeking the long haul on all "the freight It can secure, making the Columbia River Its port In -the se.nse that the Northern Pacific and Gre.at Northern now make Tacoma and Seattle their ports, could there! possibly, be any -yther, result thanthe r.evlvflqatlon' or the enure- state or uregonr But, says the.partisan, that would Build up Astoria at the. expense of Portland. Let us consider that briefly, for it does not commend Itself to me as emanating from a profound source. That the bulk of ex port and Import business of ''the Colum bia River can be diverted from Portland, situated as It is at the head deep-sea navigation, In the midst of "the finest ag ricultural" region In the world, 'Is on un thinkable proposition. The Increase of business in a territory at present unde veloped by railroads would surely offset; what freight might be diverted from Portland shipment to Astoria, while the Increased tonnage which Astoria compe tition would divert from the bulk which is now "lifted a mile high" in transit to Puget Sound would prevent Portland ever falling below third place, and possibly might on occasions advance the Columbia River to second place In wheat export. Establish her supremacy as a wheat port and you .have gone a long way toward establishing her supremacy In many other respects. I think It will be conceded that a rail road, such as I have Indicated could carry wheat from Eastern and Central Oregon to Astoria as cheaply as it is now being brought to Portland; and If it could then be placed aboard ships for even 1- cent per bushel less than at Portland, It would very soon cause a reduction to that ex tent, at least, in the O. R. & N. rate to Portland. No one will dispute the fact that as between the Norhern Pacific, Great Northern and O. R. & N. the lat ter has the former on its hip, and could compel them, with profit to Itself, to carry at a loss every ton of wheat they land at Puget Sound. But It is not going to make that reduction until necessary It would not be good management to do so. Hence I maintain that It Is Just us much to Portland's Interest as It Is to Astoria's to have the common rate extended to the latter, and to said in every possible way her railroad development I tried to In dicate in my first lettei that, so for as Portland is concerned, it is a short-sighted policy (from whatever source it orig inates) not merely to antagonize, but to treat with indifference, Mr. JSammond's efforts to build up a railway system In Western Oregon, even though he does primarily make Astoria his base of op erations. He had to begin somewhere; let us rejoice that he did not begin at Kalama and go to Baker'js Bay. Would it not be better for Portland and Oregon to have the Rock Island Railroad, for instance. Join Mr. Hammond's Corvallls & Eastern, In Eastern Oregon, with Its terminus at Astoria,, than to have the same road pass through Eastern Wash ington to Puget Sound? The consensus of opinion is that Oregon ought to have more railroads and more industrious peo ple. Large systems of railroads are working cautiously toward the coast San Francisco and Puget Sound have powerful Influences at work to secure these roads. Mr. Hammond has a road between Port land and Astoria; he has large timber Interests on the coast that he desires to develop; he has a road extending- from the Middle, Willamette Valley nearly across the mountains to the wheat fields ofEast ern Oregon. He has the will to connect these two pieces of road by an. independ ent route from Astoria to Albany, and ul timately to a connection with a trans continental road, or himself extend It far enough to the Interior to secure that nourishment upon which alone a railway system can exist namely, the traffic which originates amid censepopulation. I say he has the will, because It is in conceivable that a railroad-owner and manager would, be content to permit his railroad equipment to rust out amid such magnificent possibilities. Some correspondents have said that this is a question only concerning Portland and Astoria. On the contrary. It Is a question which deeply concerns every consumer and producer throughout the Inland Empire and all of Oregon. Every thing' that facilitates and cheapens the Interchange of traffic benefits the public. While not hoping- to forestall criticism. 1 It Is perhaps only Just to Mr. Hammond. to add in conclusion that I do not know him, am not In the secret of his designs, npr am I attempting' to help him fight his railroad controversies; I have no Astoria real estate, and no interest to serve but the truth. If my contention is erroneous, let the facts and logical reasoning pre vail; there is nothing so convincing as truth. C. H. SHOLES. COST OF DOCKS AND YARDS Interesting Sbo-rrlng Made by the Chief of the Bureau. WASHINGTON, Nov. ZL-Much of the ground covered in the report of the Chief of the Bureau of Yards and Docks of the Navy Department has already been cov ered in the report of the Construction and Repair Bureau, extracts relative to the Puget Sound naval station having al ready appeared In The Oregonlan. How ever, the following extracts are made from the yards and docks report, which elaborate somewhat on the statements contained In the previous report: "The expenditures for the fiscal yearl have been as follows: Work of Improvement 770,627 33 Repairs and preservation 13,303 73 Maintenance 7,707 28 Civil establishment 4,007 40 Total 596,248 74 Yard Improvements. "Under an old appropriation progress has been made toward the Installation of the, electric light and power plant a contract being entered Into with the General Electric Company, of Schenect ady, N. Y., for the necessary machinery. This was delivered and tested to satis factory results in January, 1S00. The ex penditure during the fiscal year was J656610. In addition to the erection of the machinery a pole line with arc lamps for exterior llghtng was also Installed about the drydock and the water front The system was placed In operation about the end of the fiscal year and has been in constant use since. "Much of the area of this station is un improved and was forest land when ac quired a few years ago. This appropria tion has been expended for the purposes indicate! by tho title of the appropria tion, and a portion of it for preparing the site of the steam-engineering shop and boiler-house to be constructed near the northern end of the drydock. "This shop is one which was completed during the previous fiscal year, but the construction of the concrete floor was de ferred until the Installation of the tools, when It was considered more advanta geous to effect it. This was completed during the fiscal year, the amount applied In labor and materials being 47357 74. , -"Contract was entered into for this building with W. H. Wickersham under 'date of June 26. 1809. Work was begun ,in August of the same year and was in progres3 at the end of the fiscal year much delay having beeh experienced on account of the failure of the steel manu facturers in the East to supply with promptness the steel structural work. The building was, however, near completion at the end of the year. Repairs and Preservation. "The repairs at this station have been somewhat less than In the preceding year and have been of a very general char acter, including particularly repairs to the waterworks, yard buildings, officers' quarters and wharves. JThe expenditures upon the officers' quarters have been as large as those upon theyard buildings, but this la ex plained by the necessity of renewing the roofs, which were of poor quality and deteriorated rapidly. Maintenance. "The maintenance of the yard has. cost $7707 28 and was for the ordinary ex penses under, this head, no item being worthy of. special mention. "Very little area of this station Is upon a-grade, with respect to high water, suit able for the construction of a 'station, and practically every structure that Is erected involves a considerable amount of grad ing for the site. The Improvements pro posed must be preceded ' ty ' a small amount of grading in each case, and In some instances a large amount. The bu reau has asked for a small sum for this purpose, comparatively. $20,000, and urges its importance. "The bureau will expend this year an appropriation made by Congress for this purpose, but on account of the lttcatlon of the shore with respect to the navi gable waters the work will be more ex pensive than anticipated. Furthermore, the supply of coal deeemed Important to be stored at this point is larger than can be provided under the appropriation now available. The extension of the ac commodations for the storage of this coal and the plans necessary to its expeditious and cheap handling will Involve the ad ditional expenditure asked herein. $75,009. "There are five officers' quarters at this station, exclusive of those for the marine corps. On account of the remote ness of this station from any city where good accommodations can be obtained, and there being practically none in the vicinity, it is believed proper that the Government should put up a few more quarters, In order that officers stationed here for regular duty may be housed within the station. "The present boiler plant is found to be scarcely sufficient for running the dry dock pumps to their full capacity or to the extent which sometimes is desirable, ow ing in a measure to the quality of the coal which the market there affords. The bureau considers it desirable that the plant should be extended, both because of the conditions stated and for the rea son that this boiler plant is called upon for a great deal of other duty in con nection with supplying steam for other purposes. "This is a building which is requested by the Bureau of Construction and Re pair in connection with its work of re pairs upon vessels in dock. The bureau recommends the construction of such a. building, and the appropriation therefor, as well as appropriations for a Joiner shop and sawmill for the same bureau, which are likewise desired by it for Its regular work, which this bureau considers important "There is one storehouse under the Bu reau of Supplies and Accounts at this station, but this is regarded as not ade quate for the needs, and the bureau has been asked by the yard authorities to in clude this estimate to supply the de ficiency. "This Is the last of the plants of this kind named by the Bureau of Construc tion and Repair as among those it regards aa Important to be provided at an early date. On account of the very long stretch of coast upon the Pacific, with only two naval stations, and these sev eral hundred miles apart, provision for storing torpedo-boats at Puget Sound near our northern border, where they can be quickly mobilized for any operations in that vicinity. Is considered of much im portance. "The number of appropriations recom mended for this station, which are of small extent Is a large one, comprising a very large majority of the totaL These are regarded of Importance by the bu reau, and from their titles It will be Been that they are the ordinary, usual, and necessary Improvements attaching to a naval station. No remarks setting forth the necessity for which each is needed are deemed necessary. Naval Station, Sltlca. "The wharf at Japouskl Island, Alaska, was rebuilt at a cost of $4378 under a special appropriation of 15000 therefor." Scientists Search for Giant Sloth. The Hesketh - Prichard expedition is causing great interest in the Argentine Republic, the belief being that the giant sloth will be found, says a Buenos Ayres correspondent A Scotch gentleman af firms that while hunting- in Patagonia lost year he shot at an animal like the giant sloth, and from descriptions he has seen of the animal he feels cure it was the Identical animal. Many minor hunts are going on in consequence of Mr. Prichard'a pffer of 5000 for tho mylodon. MONEY TO WATER LAND STRONG FIQHT TO GET APPRO PRIATION FROM CONGRESS. Scheme to Provide Land for Each. ef the Arid States Reservoir Storage System. WASHINGTON, Nov. 22. A master ef fort will be made at the approaching session of Congress to secure some legis lation looking to the irrigation and rec lamation of tho arid lands of the West Two years ago an attempt was made to secure a large appropriation for this pur posa by means of a rider to the riveri and harbor bill, and so stubborn were' the supporters of the Irrigation scheme that the success of the main bill was greatly despaired of up td the last hours of the session, when the irrigation forces were obliged to withdraw their amend ment In the past session no particular effort was made to secure any such legis lation, but the cry in the arid-land states has been so great that a fight will have to be made at this session for an appro priation for the construction of reser voirs. Representative Shafroth, of Colorado, has been one of the foremost workers in behalf of irrigation legislation, and at the approaching session will Introduce a bill, general in character, intended to make a large appropriation for reservoir construc tion. In speaking of the proposed legis lation, Mr. Shafroth said: "The Irrigation problem Is one of many Intricacies, and one which must be han dled with great delicacy in order to Insure success. Efforts that were made In the past have failed because of objectionable features that were Incorporated In bills proposed at different times, and to &vert such opposition, I am now working on a, bill which I hope may be favorably re ceived. It seems to me absolutely essential that such a measure should apply equally to all arid-land states, and not provide for the construction of reservoirs in certain states where surveys have already been approved, to the exclusion of other states which are equally as deserving. "Thero are several plans of procedure; which one to adopt I have not yet con cluded. Possibly I will make a fight for a large appropriation for each of the arid-land states, each to receive the same amount At the same time it seems just as wise, if not wiser, to have the lump sum appropriated, with an Idea of having It equally divided, but to have the money placed to the credit of the Geological Survey, which bureau shall have the au thority to make the expenditures on slte3 that are considered the most adaptable. "Throughout the West there are num berless sites for reservoirs that offer the very best advantages, but opinion differs as to what sites are best for irrigating purposes. Some contend that wide, shal low Teservoirs are best; others that nar row, deep gorges possess the advantage. The experts of the Government service have bad schooling In these questions, and should be able to Tender decisions In the best interests of all concerned, and avoid what might otherwise be a persistent con tention between interested parties, whlchJ would only rsult in delays. "In many of the Weatarn states private interests have gone ahead with the con struction of-reservoirs and ditches, and as a result large areas of arid lands have been converted Into good, rich farms, Lyleldlng large crops. But this proposed legislation is Intended to make the arid public lands tillable, so that they can be taken up by settlers, and converted Into farms. Once Irrigated these lands will add greatly to the population of the sev eral states, and Increase their output In farm products beyond the conception of those unacquainted with the good effects of this artificial method of watering lands. . "The argument has been put forth by some of the opponents of a general irriga tion appropriation for reservoir construc tion as would be given to California, a much more populous state. That is a falsu conception of the matter. It is safr to say that In round numbers, the number of acres Irrigated by each reser voi. would be about the same In each state, and the same area of lands would br made valuable for farming. Conse quently each state would derive an equal benefit from these reservoirs, Idaho alongside of Colorado or California. "An element of objection which Is raised by the people themselves Is against what they term an unjust distribution of wa ters. That is, the people of my state, for instance, would not consent to having waters stored "up In Colorado diverted In any degree so as to irrigate the lands of an adjoining state, and the people of other states feel the same toward their neighbors. They all believe that the wa ters of their state should be directly ap plied to the lands of that state, and not turned Into channels which will cut off their own direct Interests. "Another serious objection that Is raised In this connection is that these samr people are bitterly opposed to hav ing reservoirs constructed by the general Government in localities where their wa ters will In part or In whole be caught up by Irrigating ditches that have been constructed by private interests, and consequently be turned onto lands that have already been settled upon. They firmly contend that Government water should be used solely to develop Govern ment arid land, thus throwing open to settlement that much more of the public domain which is now cut off by physical agencies, or lack of physical agencies. "Once these reservoirs for the storage of water are constructed, they will prob ably be turned over to the respective states, which will bear whatever cost there may be In maintaining them. As for the private reservoirs, particularly in Colorado, they are no longer held by Ir rigation companies. The -companies iiere ly construct the reservoirs and ditch .yB tems, and when the water is turned on, sell all the lands receiving water from this source, thus clearing their own in vestment at a profit, and leaving the to tal ownership in the hands of the land owners, who. In turn, bind themselves to gether for tho mutual maintenance and protection of their reservoir and entire system. This Is the practice hat has been found best for all concerned, and Is now being adopted throughout the Vest "In drafting my bill I shall keep til these features in mind, and endeavor to get a bill which will circumvent all pre vious objection, and at the same time Insure an irrigation system which will work an equal benefit to all of the arid land states. I am quite confident that such a bill will have the tmiwa support of the Senators and Representatives from each of the states that would be ffectd, and that we can make a most formidable showing, even if the time Is Jum-iA. Cf course, the appropriations of the next session will be large, and time for 6is cussion will be short, but we are ot to bo discouraged. Senator Warren, of Wyoming, Is exceedingly, anxious to se cure some such legislation by the fren eral Government and I am sure he will be willing to lead the fight in the Senate, as he did two years ago. If we a all, l will not be because of any lack of finest and persistent effort "In my opinion general legislation of this character will be necessary sooner or later, and the sooner it comes the soon er will our states be developed, and agri culture be stimulated. Increased farms, Increased population and greatly In creased markets will do much for our states. Its effect will be widespread, ex tending from Montana, Idaho and the Dakotas on the north to Texas, New Mex ico and Arizona on the South, and from Kansas, Nebraska and Oklahoma on the East to California on the West In Colo rado, Utah and Wyoming, somewhat ex tensive irrigation schemes have been put in operation by private Interests, out they do not affect the vast extent of arid mblic land which remain absolutely idle to thl I day. It Is very probable, too, that prop- J er irrigation will do much to make prosperous state of Nevada. & stau which, under present -eondltfoea, is gradj ually but surely decreasing in popul&nc as the years advance. The irrlgatlor problem Is one of great moment in the West, and means minions and millions o? dollars to the states I have named view of this fact, there can be ltttM wonder that we are anxious to secure sue legislation, and at the earnest possible date." j FAITHFUL, TO ALL PRqiOSIJ One Side of Marie TTvnla?K7karactei That Merits General Admlratloa. There is one side of Mark Twaln'i character that merits the-admiration oi every one, relates the Saturday Evenlns Post It has been splendidly shown In hi3 determination to pay the liability inJ curred through the failure of a publlshJ ing nouse ant in the success of his five 1 years' effort But It does not stop there lie is laitniui to the last degree to ever promise he makes. Some years, ago h was elected a member of a prominent Grand Army nost In 'Mai-vland. nnrl 'ho promised to bo present at the annual meeting and make an address. It was at! opportunity for the people of Baltimore to deluge him with hospitality, and; a comJ rouiee was lormea to taKe cnarga of hi for a big reception as soon a3Jhe was through with his speech at the banauet This speech was one of the best he evea delivered and it put the crowd lit roars oa laughter. But he did not attend the reception! ine explanation he gave almost brought tears to the eyes of those who received it. His daughter was critically ill irf Hartford. He would not break his e?A gagement with the Grand Army post bu tne reason he did not accept the recepUc- also was that within a few minutes after he r had concluded his address he taking the first train home. Another story illustrates his fidelity tc his friends. In a certain city he vr-i visiting; a man who had become prornr-l nent in literature, although poor In tire goods of this world. The leaders in ciety had Invited Mark Twain to a ception and he had about concluded to gJ When he asked if his friend would also be present The reply was tE& he had not been Invited. Instantly Mr Clemens sa' : that, under ho circumstances, would he attend tho function, and when an exp'a-j nation was pressed for he said a frvw things that made the snobs feel rather humiliated Jrv another case he assisted lrva read- ing, anr ending that the other man wa in jieed of money, refused to- accept penny for his- services- or his xpensesj All the proceeds went to tho poorer xnani AT THE HOTEIiS. THP PORJTJANP. R G Miller, Spokane M H Thomson. S F u lioinnsneaa. n t C R Paul, Chicago Henry Dlok, Chicago Phil Sellr, San Fran J E Ransom, TJtfca Jo T Brennan. Can ton. O M li Abrams, S F L M Conn, Omaha Joe Cohn. Louisville C C "YValte. Ios Angls J "W Levy, San Ft A Longlnl, Chicago Peter Patterson. Du- luth. Minn John D Patterson. "Woodstock S B Lelghton, Minn "W J Wagner, Clnclnn Dave Beer. N Y T H Curtis, Astoria Chas S Moore & fray, Seattle F L Moore, N Y "W F Lunt P F Boyd. Akron. O Paul Trummltz, S F R Abrams, N Y C E Farnsworth, & w, Seattle Geo EWaggOni iggOner & w city G F Llvealy, city it V Llveslv. city LlilVeshr. city W 1 "T&llant. Astoria J M BannlsoRi St Paul f uerthean Chicago Thos Price, Boston h i iTiee. Boston B N Wood. Boston B Rosens teln & w. rlt Miss Faye Rosenstein,! city Mrs Nina Larow. city ur rey uiurcnman, dl Jos Heller & wife, dj Leo Peterson & wf, ii Fred W Graves & w dd Mrs Nellie Hennessy ciiy A Xi Hannon & wf, dd H Hannon. dJ Dr E A Eommer & wf.l ureiron ijiry Mr & Mrs F Elchen- ia.no, Vancouver R E Moody & wf. cit H B Antrua. &. wf. e t Mrs E F Woodworth B J Swords & w. N Y Oval Pirkey & w. Cal city E V Balsen Yreka. air s Mrs H C Hoov er, London Louis Moore. Clnclnn Chas McGinn. Jr. cityl j a nonneimer, mux v juoore. Kocurord. lil E D Marshall, Phil D S Ralston, St L Mrs L Holmes & maid,' TNTv - - - j u.uarrett, i-nua Walter B Day. Chgo Gust Relths, Spokane Sfr & Mrs- Prater &. J T Dunn. N Y M J Wax. B S A Clement Q Smith, do Albert Dunbar Astor'i THE PERKINS. A Kennedy. Astoria T. TV "RnMiTA lmvmi V Sanderson, Astoria A C Woodcock, Eu gene Fred X Hager, Oear- hart Dr C E. Loomls, Eugene J C Yager. Wasco E Roberts, Baker Cy A Ireland, DaytonYvn Miss Wrenn, Dalles Frank Fulton, Dalles -J M Berry, Omaha E H Moore. Moro, Or Mrs E H Moore, do H T Blgharnv Dallas Dr W C Brown. Indp J B CartwrlKht. Dalles W Bauer, Aurora, or jv. jv. .Bonney, iiooa h A J Schhrely, Ashland viyae iierrry, xaiie3 tr m soDotker, n X L B Brooks, Duluth C E Mover. Seattle Mrs, A Van Busklrk. jreiroii uirr Mrs R C Anderson, ilnl joch uomos, ronevllld v j Alien. Hrattvhla.l iurs iJ j Alien, a: Miss Minnie Allen, do a. a wanace Seattle Mrs H S "Wallace, di W C Coooer. Montreal! J H Bowen, Fossil. Or Edward Whltson, NrthJ itoy Heaton. Newberg A A Cleveland, Jr, Astoria John O'Nell. Ashland J E Crocker, Ashland Earl Waterman, The Dalles T Prince, Dundee, Or B N Wood. do E H Carlton, Canby Mrs E "H Carlton, do F O Rosenkraos, do Mrs F O Rosenkraus, Canby, Or Mrs Theo McClellan, Skagway Alba Heywood. YMCA xamnui H James. 2T Y Cty D W Ralston, May- ville. Or E Rose, San Francisco I f J Norton. Astoria tJ A. Eastman. N t Mrs G" A Eastman. 1 B waiflman, San Franj m. x irince, Dundee nz M J Handmore. Ashlri T J Jenjson. Amity cw Geo H Richardson. S Mrs O H Richardson, San Francisco I Wise- city O A Parker. Castla Rkl Gustavo- Ulrtcn. do I Mrs o A Parker, do Gertrude Monroe. do C K Wood, Genesseo, Emmette Cole, do laaoo Rose Davles, Roslyn T F Croway. Mlnnpls I Kinney. Astoria B S Collins, Ostranded Edythe Weil. "Brown's j a iryeny, co A A Maybee. Ban Frar In Town Co W H Moore. Moro, Or D Li Wolt San Fran D N Smith. Fossil, Or J T Douglas, Harrls- J J Brombach. Ilwaoai C il Holmes. Astoria Mrs C M Holmes ds A R Hebdersdn, Fort Durg. yr uanpy THE HlPEPJAtv C W. Knowles, Manager. Mrs Dow. Seattle Samuel Schmidt As J IT Smiley, Seattle Mrs Smiley. Seattle Mr Davis. Seattle Mrs Davis, Seattle H J Miller, Chehalls Mrs Miller. Chehalls H M Walthow. Seattle F J Hutchlngs. S F toria M K Hall. Rainier C S Crosby Astoria F Owens, Son Jose H W Oliver, Oakland D L Peterson, HI Mrs- Peterson. Ill Frank Davis San Joeej VT H Bufflhgton, Cbgo Mra JD&V18. Ban Jose Chas Albardy, Eugene E J Frazler, Eugene M H Church. Pt Twnd E D Hostetter, Dalles R J Jennings. Bohem'; J W Murphy. Spokane i- tr sorter. Ban Fran m w urounas. Seattle Ralph worsley, As toria K K Kinney. Eugene H Q McKlnley. La Crosse, Wis Louise C Yoran, Eu- , gene Mrs G A Hardman, Pendleton Geo Hardman. Jr. do Mrs Grounds. Seattle IE E McGinn, city jonn u uaiy. -coram is D L TruUlnger, North! Yamhill J A Rlttenhouse. N Y Miss Huby Hendricks, Eugene C Otis Taylor Halsey Mrs Taylor. Halsey Mrs A G Tabor, Gran-I D W Stuart San Fren I lte, or Slg- Blath, Chicago Walter Lyon. Salem. Miss Marsh. Salem G W Turnet Chicago Chas K Levy. Oregon E C Drum, Omaha Jonn J Sadler. Toronto W P Dlckeson, Seattle jonn jjcwis, oeacue Jaeob Betz. Walla VT A F ElUott Son Fran Mrs Elliott San Fran E H Deer, St Louis Hotel Brnnsvriclc Seattle, European; first-class. Bates. 73c and trcv one diock xrom uepuu .rteaiaurant next, ; door. Tacoma Hotel. Tacoma. American plan. Bates. $3 and up. Donnelly Hotel, Tacoraa European plan. Rates. SOc- and up. "If women should go Into polities, Bridget whleh would you be, a Republican or a Demo cratr" "T think I'd be the boss, ma'am." j Yankers Statesman. -v Pears' Soap in stick form? con venience and economy in shaving. It is the best and cheap est shaving soap in" all the world. All sorts of people c'se Fears soap, f&Mfta ef store sell ucspedally droggbli I