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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 10, 1900)
THE MORNISrX? OEEGONIAN, MONDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1900. ALASKA UP TO DATE GOVERNOR. BRADY COVKRS TUB TERRITORY'S RESOURCES. A. Comprehensive aai TTastwortky Sramary of tlic Mining- District and Their -Status. "WASHINGTON, Dec. 5. Alaska con tinues to be tne one great center of In terest In the series of Government reports which are and have been appearing for ome -creeks past. The last and most interesting- of these reports Is that of Gov ernor Brady, recently made public It :s bard to pick out the most attractive feat ures of this rather voluminous report, but as a -whole the statements regarding the various gold fields, many of which ire not generally known to exist, will Prove mOst interestinc Thprp nr Inform of other topics which axe treated of in this report which call for more or less attention, among them being land and le gal matters, questions of transportation, fisheries and seal interests, etc., which must necessarily be touched on very briefly. The following extracts are made from this report: "The population of Nome for the most part was living under canvas. The fine weather was favorable for getting mer chandise ashore and for prospecting, but It was a great drawback to mining be cause there was no water. The quaran tine was a hardship to many who bad their supplies on board and ready for transportation to their claims. If a court could have been opened there as early as March and a certain number- of cases tried which involved the different questions at issue, many claims would have been opened, which no doubt would have swelled the output very largely. Litigation begets uncertainty. Investors are cautious where there is a liability to purchase a lawsuit with a mining interest. None of these cases could be determined until some time In September. "Which ever side may lose, the case will be ap pealed to a higher court. Much of this rich placer ground, therefore, may be tied up for two seasons yet. Staking- Claims by Power of Attor ney. "There la but one sentiment on this sub. Ject among miners, namely, that It Js detrimental and wrong, for it defeats the beneficent purpose of our very liberal mining laws the production of the pre cious metals. Claims staked after Janu ary 1 can be held for nearly two years without doing a dollar's worth of labor upon them. Miles of country have thus been staked and held simply for specula tion. Hundreds of good miners who went to Nome this season and who went many miles Into the interior to prospect found stream, after stream staked, and very seldom could they find where the smallest prospect hole had been sunk. They knew that, if they should sink and find a rich pay streak, on any of this ground, a claimant would soon arrive, so many left In disgust. Some who have tested the diggings enough to satisfy themselves of Its richness in certain- places will remain over Winter and after January 1 will Jump those claims upon which assess ment work has not been performed. Any one can see how Alaska Is suffering from this unlimited right to stake. The Injury will continue right along and be multi plied many fold unless Congress pre scribe a remedy speedily. The commit tees of both houses on mines and mining are therefore respectfully requested to Inquire into this matter and to find a way to combat and overcome it, and to see to It that the conclusions are put into a law as soon as possible. Men of long ex perience In the various mining camps of the West have faith in Seward Peninsula as a mining region, and that It will yield vast sums of gold. In view of what has been stated above, it would simply be juesswork at this writing to estimate the product of the camp for this year. We have no way of finding out what the vari ous claims which are worked clean up. The assay officers below try to keep run of the whole, product, but they cannot well separate the amounts from the dif ferent districts. Ivoyukulc "Northeast from the Seward Peninsula there io a large unexplored region until the headwaters of the Koyukuk River are reached. Gold in paying quantities has been discovered, and during last Winter there was a stampede from Dawson and other points to these parts. The output of gold will be about $200,000. The assay value is 517 50. There will be as many as 400 men on the river this Winter. The average outfit costs $800. There Is plenty of timber. The country bids fair to be come a quartz-mlnlng district. Galena and copper ores have been discovered. Above Bettles a vein of good coal has been found Rampart City. "This place Is the supply station for the miners who are at work upon Big Mlnook and its tributaries. Hunter, Little Mlnook. Little Mlnook, Jr., Hoozier, etc Nome attracted many last Fall, and work was not pushed very vigorously on many claims last Winter. However, the amount taken out was a good showing for the number who were at work. It was reck oned at more than 5250,000. The fineness of the gold from this camp exceeds that of any other diggings In the Yukon "Val ley. Many who went to Nome will return here for the Winter and bring others with them. There is an immense area yet to prospect far to the southward. r Circle City. "Deserted down to one or two men dur ing the Winter of 1S96 and 1S97. Circle Is now assuming new life. It Is the handi est outfitting station for the new Tanana digging, about 125 miles from Circle. Those who go to these new fields from up-river poVits go by this place and outfit here It bids fair to become a place of more Importance than it has been at any time in the past. It could not be ascer tained what: amount of dust makes Its way through Circle. Engle City. "This place is well located on the south bank of the Yukon and is a most desirable location for a town. The United States military pojit of Fort Egbert Is located here and It Is the supply depot on. the American side for -the miners In tho Forty-Mile district. It Is the headquarters for the third division of the court, and after it has been in operation for a year tenures will be more certain and the rate of progress will be steady and rapid. Whrn an all-American. route by roll shall have been established Eagle will be the up-river terminus. Some very rich placer claims upon Jack Wade Creek had been in dispute, and action was be gun in the court in southeast Alaska be fore the passage of the last act. This involved great expense and long delay, and la a forcible illustration why a court was needed upon the Upper Yukon. The output for that district last year was reckoned at $750,000. It could not be as certained at the time Eagle was visited whether the .amount would be as great or greater for 1SO0. Sanrlxe, "This town Is near the head of Turn agin. Arm. which opens Into Cook Inlet. There are diggings on both sides of the arm, but those which have been most ex tensively worked run up Into the neck of the Kcnai Peninsula. The miners here for several .seasons have had to contend with one obiitacle after another, dry sea sons giving no water to work with, floods at other times cleaning out wing dams and changing tho whole face of a claim. But they have kept plucklly at It, and a number have been fairly well rewarded. Resurrection Bay opens on the southern side of this peninsula. Some California people have been operating lp here for three seasons, and early this year they took In a hydraulic "plant, and It Is pre sumed that they are satisfied with their work. 4 Oiesnu. 'bout 200 aifles up thet Copper River Valley and to the northwest of the great bend of the river new diggings have been struck, which have turned out a good many thousands this Summer. Supplies at such a- distance from base come very costly, and it requires good pay to meet expenses. But now that the gold is there and that In. due time, when, supplies can be laid down at less cost, a large area can be worked profitably. Qsartx 3C1b1zix "Thl3 is the kind of mining for which Alaska will be preeminent in the near future. Even now in this Industry It Is affording the finest Illustration that the world knows of profitable working of low grade ore. Along Gastineaux Channel, In southeast Alaska, Is a group of mineral claims known generally as the Treadwell or Douglas Island mines. Tho works for reducing that body of ore are strung along that island and are under one gen eral management, but divided Into three companies. The first is the Alaska Treadwell Gold Mining Company, embrac ing two mills, one of 210 and the other of COO stamps and other works, Mr. J. P. Corbus. superintendent. Mr. Corbus has kindly furnished an advance copy of his report, showing: " 'The total amount of ore crushed at both mills last year was 557,930 tons, which cost $llfl,90J 25, or J0.1DSS per ton. The ore yielded $773,165 9 ($1 S9 per ton) in free gold and I3S0.201 91 from sulphurets, a total yield of $1,153,357 60, or $2 07 per ton. " "The yield pf sulphurets from above amount of ore amounted to 8S25 tons, all of which was shipped by barges and steamers to Tacoma for" treatment by Ta coma Smelting Company. The total cost of shipping and treating sulphurets last year was S79.3S4 69, or $8 10 per ton.' "The second is the AlaskaMexi can Gold Mining Company, Mr. A. M. Robeson, superintendent. Tho seventh annual report Is for the year ending December 31. 1SS9. It shows that the output of ore was 1C6.054 tons of 3000 pounds, which yielded a total value of $35S,161 37, or $2 15 per ton; 3297.29 tons of concentrates were saved. "The third la the Alaska United Gold Mining Company, Mr. A. M. Robeson, sup erintendent. The fourth annual statement is for the year ending November 31, 1B?9. This embraces two claims, the Jteady Bullion mine and the 700-foot claim, 120- stamp mill and a 100-stamp mill. The out put of ore from the Ready Bullion was 162,107 tons of 2000 pounds, which yielded a gross value of $152,928 S9, or $2,794 per ton; 3116.3 tong of concentrates saved. Ketchikan, "This place has sprung up from a sal mon saltery on Tongass Narrows, and Is now the headquarters of a mining dis trict. Hundreds of claims have been lo cated, and a vast amount of necessary preliminary work In making trails and building cabins, wharves, etc, has been done. Some claims have been so well de veloped that owners are Justified In erect ing mills to treat the bodies of ore which are now in sight. All these locations arc accessible to salt water, where the largest steamships can go. There Is an abundance of timber for all purposes, and In con nection --with the claims ample water power. Snettlsham. "Thirty-five miles south of Juneau Is Port Snettlsfiam, where Mr. John N. TIs. dale has been vigorously at "work for the past three years. A large amount of de velopment work has been done, and a vast quantlty-of ore Is In sight. There Is water power, and a 30-stamp mill will soon be in operation. Sum Dam Chief. "Near Endlcott Arm Is the Sum Dum Chief, Bald Eagle and other locations. This Is a fine body of rich ore, and great things ere reported of what has been accomplished with a 10-stamp mill, which Is run by water power. A large amount or ore Is In sight, AVIndlinm Buy. , "Still farther to the southward is Windham Bay, where another body of ore has been exposed. A 10-stamp mill has been.' erected, under, the management- of William Ebner. Sheep Creelc "At ,thls place Is a 20-stamp mill, which Is operated by electric power, which can be had in. abundance from a fine water fall near by. This mill has heretofore dpne a .groat deal of work, but has been shut down most of this season. The ort bodies are considered extensive and rich enough to pay well. Silver Bovr Bnxln, "This place Is only a few miles back of Juneau and the amount of work going on here is extensive. The Alaska Junsau Gold Mining Company operate 35 stamps, during the season when the water Is running, on ore which pays well. . "The Ebner Gold Mining Company Is running 15 stamps nearly the year throush. This season It has been fortu nate In Its development work, for It has come upon a large body of ore which gives most satisfactory results. "Not far away the Humboldt Mining Company has doubled Its capacity for work and Is now running 10 stamps by water power. The large hydraulic plant owned by the American Gold Mining Com pany has been running since 1S91. It is working out the gravel In Silver Bow Basin. It Is generally understood that this has paid well. There Is yet a large amount of gravel to be washed. "Last year a giant was set up about a mile away from this company, on the Lcrery Barln claim, which washes the gravel through a flume nearly 500 feet long. "There Is a smaller basin on Gold Creek, below the Sliver Bow. A Philadelphia company bought up the mining rights and ran a very long tunnel to tap It. A strong flume Is being built and everything being put In shape for next season, when It, no doubt, -will realize handsomely on Its ven ture. Berners Bay. "This Is one of the Important centers for quartz mining. It is about 50 miles north of Juneau, on Lynn Canal. Here Is located the Berners Bay Mining & Mill ing Company, with a 40-stamp mill, run by witcr or steam, on ore from the Comet and Kensington lodes. "A mlla from this plant Is the Mellen Mining & Manufacturing Company, with a 20-stamp mill ready for operation. "Not far from this last plant Is the 10 stamp mill of the Portlpnd Alaska Gold Mining Company. This property has ben Idle owing to disagreement between the owners. "A few miles from the last Is the Alas ka Gold Mining Company of Indiana. They have now ready a 10-stamp mill to be run by water' power. Close by is thi Julian Mining Company cf Indiana, with a 10-stamp mill, which has been at work steadily on rich ore which pays hand some dividends. Larva for Alaska. 'This district Is now blessed with a body of good laws. A large criminal docket has been disposed of under tho provisions of this code, and all know that the courts can administer justice legally. Objection has been made to the provisions In section -160 requiring businers men and traders to take out licenses. Some are disposed to question the law, as they assert that It Is unconstitutional, while most who pay It would like to have provisions made for spending U all with in the district and not send it to the gen eral fund at Washington. "Never was a roan sent to fill a more trying position than Judge A. H. Noyes is now filling at Cape Nome. Everybody and everything is pellmelL There are several claimants for each town lot, beach claim and creek claim 23.000 peo ple waiting for the court to open Its doors. In what part of the world outside of the United States could so many people assemble together, and, under such feeble restraint, be found at the same time, so well behaved? Men went there to seek fortunes by mining, by trade and by gambling. All were living at a high pressure of excitement, yet there was but a small number of cases of vlolenoe. There was a good list of undesirable characters from all quarters of , the globe,, but the number of those who love ordor" was far larger than those who rejoice la uproar and anarchy. It speaks well for the home training, and Is certainly a fine illustration of our Institutions. The of ficers of division No. 2 will have enough to keep them constantly employed for a long period. The business transacted within the first three weeks Is thus re ported by Mr. George V. Borchsenlus, the clerk: Receipts from suits $ LS23 6a Fees Naturalization 160 00 Liquor license 45,410.00 Mercantile license 1,400 00 Restaurant license 135 00 Bank license 250 03 Hotel license " 100 00 Physicians' license SO'OO Ships and shipping license 6,5Sl 00 Waterworks license oa 00 Received from Geo. B- Swinehart, United States Commissioner. 844 00 Total $56,963 50 If it be asked, 'Does the recent legis lation give adequate protection to life and property in all parts of the district?" the answer would be: No; It does not. The two additional courts and the codes are a great blessing, and all who can en Joy them are thankful. But the whole southern coast, from Unalaska to Yaku tat, Is without protection, and within this area the population Is very consid erable, and the property Interests In fish eries and mines and other industries will amount to millions of dollars. "Unalaska is and must remain a strate gic point In our possessions on the Pa cific For several weeks In the early Sum mer there was a large number of ocean going vessels at anchor here, and from S00O to 12,000 people, yet there was not an officer there who could Issue a warrant. Lighthouse District. "It Is understood here that the Light house Board has considered the subject, andhas recommended that Alaska be made a new district. This Is the only sensible plan. It needs a. tender and Inspector at once To make a small appropriation and turn tho work over to the 13th district, with headquarters at Astoria, Is penu. rious, and is asking too much from those who are doing the work in that district. The tender Columbine makes a flying trip once a year to Southeast Alaska, and lifts and paints the buoys and resets those which have gone adrift. She was here In July, and already In September several buoys aro reported to be out of place This may result In serious ac cidents. The commerce of Alaska has In creased at such a tremendous rate with in the last year that it now becomes necessary for Congress to give this sub ject careful and Immediate attention. Commandor WllHam P. Day, Inspector of the Thirteenth District, and Captain W. E. Langfitt, U. S. A. of the Engineers Corps, visited Alaska on the Columbine, and proceeded as far as Dutch Harbor. They doubtless will roport how the $100,000 which was appro priated at the last session should be spent In beginning the lighthouse service In Alaska. Every vessel that piles these waters in the Winter months Is taking tremendous chances of Injury or destruc tion. Tho number of lives and the amount of property at stake make It Imperative that the committees on commerce take up this subject without further delay, and treat Alaska fairly and generously. Postofllcc Department "This Department has done Its best to accommodate tho people, and the task has been a difficult one. The work per formed at Noma was most creditable, not withstanding that at the cutset there were many mishaps. If the malls are moved regularly It makes the people more contented. The service during the past year has much Improved and has been extended almost to the utmost limits. The people on the Koyukuk are expecting four deliveries this Winter. It Is now cer tain that mail can be transported from Katmai on Shellkof Straits across coun try In the Winter to St. Michael and Nome, and arrangements have been made to do so. Fresh demands- for new routes and more frequent deliveries are sent In more persistently, but these are met In a spirit which manifests that theDepart ment Is willing to do" the best thing pos sible. The money order system, as It has been carried out at Norte and the new places, has afforded great relief. Even a free delivery was Inaugurated for a while at Nome. "Those who have contracted to carry the mails -need -to' be looked after to see that they live up to their contracts. On a few routes there has been a reprehen sible laxness, and the mall inspectors should see to It that these people are" brought to time. The service along the Yukon River last Winter was a gree Improvement over the previous year. "It Is hoped that the contractor from Valdez to Eagle has erected wayhouses and that he will be able to make his trips. Far Senls. "The Governor did not have opportun ity to land upon either of the seal Islands and make inquiry Into the operations upon tho ground this season. The cap tains and other officers of the revenue cutters which have called at these rook eries all bear the same testimony, namely, that the herds at the various hauling grounds are smaller each year. This year the company were allowed to kill younger males, and In all they took about 24,000 pelts. At this rate the In dustry will soon cease altogether. Public School. "Many communities are now totally neglected because the Commissioner of Education has not the means to estab lish a school and pay the salary of a teacher. The Governor In all his reports has told of this and has plead for at least $60,000 as an annual appropriation, but the committee has not allowed an in crease of a dollar beyond what It has heretofore annually approved, namely, $30,000. The people In the large towns which are willing to incorporate will fare well, for the law allows these towns one half of the license money which may be collected within the limits of the corpo ration to be used for school purposes. Juneau and Skagway have become Incor porated and their funds for all school purposes will be ample It Is estimated that Juneau, for Instance, will have $15, 000. This Is one-half thq amount that has annually been set apart for the whole of the district. "The amount for Skagway will be as large as that for Juneau, and no doubt larger, as Juneau claims less than 1500 Inhabitants, and, consequently, the liquor sellers have paid but $1000 each for a li cense, while In Skagway the number of inhabitants Is much greater than 1500, and consequently the saloon-men must pay $1500 license each. Here, then, we will have two towns spending as much money for schools as Congress is will ing to vote for all the rest of Alaska. This Is hardly fair to the children be yond Incorporated limits. If 50 per cent of the license money which Is collected, excluding the amount from Incorporated towns, could be used by the Secretary of the Interior, he could nearly comply with the law In furnishing the proper educational facilities for the children of school age who should be in school, if Congress will not adopt this method of providing the expense of schools, it is recommended, then, that It be urged to Increase its appropriation to $75,000. Un. der the encouragement which the law gives, the people of Skagway and Juneau have gone vigorously to work on their schools and already have them in opera tion tor the year. At this writing the de tails are not at command for this re port. Territorial Government. "Twelve, years ago A. P. Swlneford, at that time Governor of the district, cham pioned the cause of territorial organiza tion, and appeared before the committee on territories and argued the question ably. All these years have passed and still we have no such organization. There mus.t be some valid reason for it. In brief. Congress must take the blame. "The withholding of the land laws is the real difficulty today. A territorial government means taxation, and Alaska today is not In a condition to stand It. An entire population who are simply SCUZttcrs. with. a. vtsa.' tcys csrpatlaae. Is J, Downing, Hopkins & Co. WHEAT AND STOCK BROKERS Room 4, Ground Floor BOTH TELEPHONES not able to bear the burden of an ex pensive government. Suppose Congress should appoint Assessors and Collectors, how much money could be taken today from the people on the valuation of thelp personal effects and their dwellings, .con sidered as personal property? The can nery people and millowners are complain, lng now that the license tax Is too high compared with taxes elsewhere. The people of Alaska ore not seeking to avoid taxation, but the majority of the perma nent residents who have property well understand that a territory would be too great a burden Just yet. If Congress will only treat the people In Alaska as it has tho people In every other part of the Western frontier In regard to land titles. It can be assured that within a few years there will be a population here who will gladly accept the burden of governing themselves. A Delegate. "It was taken for granted at the lost session of Congress that after the courts which were created had time to organize, and the judges had had time to appoint commissioners and mark out their pre cincts, and thus get some semblance or organized communities, it would grant the people a delegate to look after Alaska's interests before Congress and the de partments. We look, therefore, to Con gress to take this matter up at Its ap proaching session and make a law which will allow the peqple to elect a delegate who shall represent them at Washing ton." ' AS OTHERS SEE US. The Oregonlan on Tuesday enjoyed the proud distinction of having been pub lished half a century, and the issue of that day gave an history of its progress from a small four-page weekly to one of the most progressive dally newspa pers In the United States. Those who have had experience In newspaper work can realize the persistent plodding, the manual work, the mental labor, the long hours of toll, the perplexities, and the difficulties It took to bring about that gratifying result. There Is one feature about The Oregonlan which stands out pre-eminent It Identified Itself with the commerce. Industries and development of the state, and no newspaper has Jealously looked after tho whole Interests of Ore gon as much as The Oregonlan. Tilla mook Headlight. The Portland Oregonlan celebrated Its DOth anniversary the 4th Inst, with a sdp- clal edition, giving a complete history of that publication during the 50 years of Its existence and a facsimile of its first Issue. Tho articles contained In the Initial number of tho paper ore very Interesting reading, as they give the read er an insight of the thoughts of those who were struggling to build tip a great state here 50 years ago. The history of Tho Oregonlan and our state are prac tically a. part of each other. Elgin Re corder. Fifty years Is a long time, especially when It concerns the life of a newspaper. Tuesday the Portland Oregonlan rounded out a half century of its existence, cele brating the semi-centennial with a special edition, giving a complete comprehensive history of the paper from Its conception to the present time. The Oregonlan of today lh the monarch of Western nows. papers; a powerful factor In the develop ment of the great Northwest and a credit to the'"" state -and- to Its proprietors. Brownsville Times. The 50th anniversary of The 'Oregonlan waa observed December 4 by an extra edition showing a facsimile of the first number printed. A comparison of The Oregonlan 50 years ago and the one of today aptly represents the wonderful ad vance made by the state during the same period, the credit for which. In a large measure, belongs to the present man agers and editors of that great news paper. Stay ton MalL The Oregonlan fittingly observed Its 50th birthday by Issuing a mammoth illus trated number devoted to Its own past history and that of the City of Portland and the eminent pioneers of the state. The Oregonlan had Its ups and downs principally the latter for a long time. Toledo Leader. The Portland Orogonian celebrated Its first semi-centennial the 4th inst. by re producing an exact copy of its first Issue, dated December 4, 1E0. The Oregonlan has reason to be proud of Its present rank ot the Improvement It has made during the 50 years of Its existence. Cosmopolls Enterprise. The semi-centennial Issue of The Ore gonlan, which occurred on the 4th Inst, and marked the completion of the 50th year or half century of its publication, was the splendid showing of a complete, up-to-date, American newspaper, equal to any and surpassed by n.o other dally newspaper, Toledo Post. The Oregonlan on the 4th Inst, com pleted the 50th year of Its existence, and celebrated the event by a facsimile re production of Its initial number and sketches by pioneer residents of the then "hamlet of Portland. It Is a very cred itable number. Olympla Standard. The Oregonlan was 50 years old Tues day and celebrated the extent by Issuing a special semi-centennial number in which is included a facsimile of the first num ber of The Oregonlan. The paper Is cer tainly one of the greatest In the coun try. Union Republican. The Oregonlan made a great hit when It printed a copy of Its first Issue, which Is very Interesting to every citizen of this state and will be greatly appre ciated by its readers. As a newspaper; The Oregonlan, has no equal. Antelope Republican. Mr. BInsham'i Opinion. PORTLAND, Dec. 9. (To the Editor.) It Is apparently assumed that Mr. Blng ham's Ideas on primary election reform, as printed today, are to be enacted Into law. Some of us who have zealously studied and worked for this reform had hoped for something better than be now promises us, and v;e have no apprehen sion that constitutional law restricts us so that we can have nothing better. The law points raised by Mr. Bingham are supported by nothing beyond the di vided opinion of the Supreme Court of California. The decision to which be re fers Is one of three in that state over throwing primary election laws, and Is dissented from by the two Judges who wrote the .opinions In the other two cases. The reasoning in this case Is puerile, as shown by one of the dissenting fudges. Besides the weakness Inherently exhibited and the opposition It meets In the court which pronounces it, this opinion stands refuted by an earlier and unanimous de cision of the Supreme Court of Colorado MANHOOD RESTORED: We VlUllr. the prescription of a famous French physician. wlU quickly cura you of U nervous or dUe&se of the generative organs, such as Lost Mah.eoeU Iasomnla, Pain In the Back, Seminal Emissions, Kerveaa Debility, Pimples, Unfitness to Marry, Exhausting Draiaa, VaxIcocl aad Constipation. It stops all losses by day or Sight. Prevents xjulckness of discharge, which If not checked leads to Spw- Batorrnoc ana an the horrors of Unsotencr. CuriDEAE clsanses the Jiver, th kidneys and the urinary organs ot all trorurU.ts. CUPID ENE strengthens and re rtoce pjnall weak orgass. Trie reason reCerers are not cured by Doctors is because 90 er cent are trouble wita Prostatism CUPHDENE the only known remedy tx cure without an operation. 5000 testi monials. A written guarantee given and money returned if C boxes does not effect a per manent core. $1.00 a box, 6 for $5.09. by mail. Bend for FREE circular and testltnaaials. Addres I1AYOL HKDICIHE CO- P. O. Box 2070. San FranoUco, CaL - ear Al-riah Itirniicr. Sixth asd Washington streets. Portland. Or. Chamber of Commerce in a case directly In point on this ques tion of legislative power over political parties, the Colorado law being sustained while going to greater length than the California law. An earlier decision In Pennsylvania opposes this California case. Moreover, the power of the Legislature over political parties, which the Califor nia court combats. Is supported In prac tice by such states as the following: New York, Illinois, Missouri, Wisconsin, Ken tucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Massachu setts, New Jersey, Nebraska, Montana, Rhode Island, Florida, Mississippi, and every other state which has a law in any appreciable measure regulating primary elections, all Tf whose laws have gone unquestioned, some of them standing on the statute books for nearly 10 years. But let us concede the soundness of this California decision, and then turn the force of its light on Mr. Bingham's plan. The court takes a firm stand on tho proposition that any law must bear on all parties alike, equally distributing Its ben efits and Its burdens. This being so, how are we to exempt from, this law the parties now existing and still make It ap ply to new parties to be created after Its passage benefit or burden the new "Direct Primary Republican party" and deny or exempt the present Republican party, or, as It is to be called by legis lative authority, the "Convention Repub lican party"? The reasoning of the Cali fornia court which leads Mr. Bingham to this conclusion, he regards "not as satisfactory" as that reasoning which supports his conceptions. This opinion is either sound or is not sound. Mr. Bingham says the "boss," the "ring" and the "machine" are to have the field still open with every facility for operation they now possess. He has de signed a system for Independent and non partisan voters only, whereby they may make several nominations for eadh office so as to divide their strength. Does tho "machine" want anything better than to make their straight party nominations, as they do now, and have the nonpar tisan vote scattered and divided Into three or four camps? Mr. Bingham's scheme contemplates that In case a Democrat should receive the Indorsement for United States Sena tor and at the same time a Republican Legislature be elected, that Legislature shall elect a Senator of an opposing party affiliation. Let us have a law that will suppress conventions- and delegates, secure a secret ballot, preserve party organization while Investing Its powers in its voters, ana allow us to realize something like the great hopes we have been entertaining. .Mr. Bingham assumes that the people do not care for the regulation of parties, but desire their extinction, and on the basis of this assumption rests all the logic of his scheme. If ho Interprets aright their desires, they will attend his primaries and his law will be a success, CHARLES M. MQRGAN. All Very Easy to Him. PORTLAND. Dec 9. (To the Editor.) The discussion of the doctrine of evo lut'on, appearing In The Oregonlan the last few days, between a local theologian and a couple of defenders of the theory ot evolution, recalls to my mind an in teresting argument, supporting the spe cial creation side ot this controversy, said to have been made some years ago by a prominent lawyer of this city, who considers that he himself Is no slouch ot a theologian. As the story-goes, this lawyer of -theological proclivities was at Salem on some Supreme Court business; and. being de tained over Sunday, was Invited to preach In one ot the -churches there. He ac cepted the Invitation, and preached on this same doctrine of evolution, with spe cial reference to Its bearing on the age of the world. After proving from the Bible, to his own satisfaction, that the world was only 6000 years old, he paid his respects to some of the facts from which geologists and the scientific world generally Infer the planet on which wc live to be Indefi nitely older. And. among other facts con sidered, he admitted that geological re search had discovered animal skeletons and, other fossils. Imbedded In sandstone, deeply burled beneath extensive coal measures. This, to any one but a theo logian would bo taken as evidence of very great antiquity. But not so with our theological lawyer. He leaped over the apparent obstacle like a kangaroo over a brush fence, and gravely asserted to his Interested and amused congregation that this fact was, In Itself, no evidence of remote antiquity; for It was, and is. as easy for God to make bones and put them In a rock as to make bones and put them In a horse. He Is said to have concluded his sermon by saying that had he the time he could and would be glad to "use up" all the facts urged In support of "the fad" ot evplutlon In tho same effective and un answerable way In which he had disposed of this one. S. B. RIGGEN. BUSIXESS ITEMS. If Bnby Is Cnttinc Teeth. Be sure and ue that old and well-tried remedy, Mrs. Wlr-slow's fcoothlnc Syrup, for children teething. It soothes the child, softens the gums, allays all pain, cures wind colic sad diarrhoea. unrta humor MEW No Curs No Pay THE MODERN APPLIANCE. A positive way to perfect manhood. The VACUUM TREATMENT cures you without medicine of all nervous or diseases of the generative or gans, such as lost manhood, exhaustive drains, varicocele, impotency, etc. Men are quickly re stored to r-erfect health and strength. Write for circulars. Correspondence confidential. THE HEALTH APPLIANCE CO. rooms 47-45, gate Deposit Bldg., Seattle. Wash. TRAVELERS' GUIDE. Honr Kong, via Yokohama and Kobe, Due at Portland as follows: S3. MONMOUTHSHIRE Nov. 28 SS. MILOB , , Dec. 8 S3. SKARPgNO , Jan. 3 For freight or passage apply to T. W. Stevens & Co., Inc. G-8-10 Columbian bldg.. Third end Oak st. WHITE COLLAR LINE BAILET GATZERT (Alder-street Dock) Leaves Portland dally every morning at 7 o clock, except sunaay. returning, leaves As toria every night at 7 o'clock except Sunday. Oregon phone Main 351. Columbia phone 251, Steifsitiit TRAVELERS' GUIDE. I (J I h( A Union Depot, Sixth ad J Streets. THREE TRAINS DAILY FOR ALL POINTS EAST "CHICAGO-PORTLAND SPECIAL." Leaves for the East, via Huntington, at 3:00 A. M.; arrives at 4:a0 P. M. SPOKANE FLYER,, For Spokane. Eastern Washington, and Great Northern points, leaves at t! P. iL; arrives at 7 A. M. ATLANTIC EXPRESS. Leaves for tho East, via. Huntington, at 9r00 P. M.; arrives at S:40 A. M. THROUGH PULLMAN AND TOURIST SLEEPERS. OCEAN AND RIVER SCHEDULE. Water lines schedule subject to change with out notice. OCEAN DIVISION From Portland, leave Alnsworth Dock at 8 P. M.; sail every 5 days: Geo. W. Elder. Dec 3. 13, 23; Jan. - 12, 22. Columbia. Dec. S, 18. 28; Jan. 7, 17. 27. From San Francisco Sail every 5 days. Leave Spear-street Pier 24 at 11 A. M.: Co lumbia, Dec. 4, 14. 24; Jan. 3, 13, 23. Geo. W. Elder. Dec 0, 10. 20; Jan. 8. IS, 28. COLUMBIA lOVEIl DIVISION. PORTLAND AND ASTORIA. Steamer Hossalo leaves Portland dally, ex cept Sunday, at 8:00 P. M.; on Saturday at 10:00 P. M. Returning, leaves Astoria dally, except Sunday, at 7:00 A. M. WILLAMETTE RIVER DIVISION. PORTLAND AND SALEM, OR. Steamer Ruth, for Salem. Independence and way points, leates from Ash-street Dock at a A M. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Returning, leaves Independence at 5 A. M.k and Salem at 0 A. M., on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. COP.VALLIS AND ALBANT. Steamer Modoc leaves Portland at 0 A. M. on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Re turning, leaves Corvallls lit 0 A. M. en Mon days, Wednesdays and Fridays. YAMHILL RIVER ROUTE. PORTLAND AND DAYTON, OR. Steamer Elmore, for Oregon City. Buttevllle, Champoeg. Dayton and way landings, leaves Portland. Tuesdays. Thursdays and Saturdays at 7 A. M. Leaves Dayton for Portland and way points Mondays. Wednesday and Fridays at 0 A. M. SNAICE RIVER ROUTE. RIPARIA. WASH.. AND LEWISTON, HJAHO Steamer Spokane or steamer Lewlston leaves Rlparla daily at 3:40 A. M., arriving at Lew lston about 3P.1L Returning, the Spokane or Lewlston leaves Lewlston dally at 8:30 A. M., arriving at Rlparla same evening. W. H. HURLBURT. General Passenger Agent. V. A SCHILLING. City Ticket Agent, Telephone Main 712. 60 Third St., cor. Oak. STEAMSHIP LINE CHINA AND JAPAN. FROM PORTLAND. For rates, accommodations, etc.. apply to OREGON RAILROAD & NAV. CO.. Agents, Portland, Or. FAN .... M 1 . I t W. J I 1 I A - SGUTPSi Leave Depot Fifth an'J I Streets. Arrive OVERLAND EX PRESS TRAINS, for Salem, Rose burg. Ashland. Sac r a m e n to. Ogden, San Francisco, Mo Jae, Los Angeles, El Paso. New Or leans and the East.' At Wood burn (daily except Sun iday). morning train connects with train for Mt. Angel. 311 v e r t o n. Browns ville. Sprlngfi eld, and Natron, and evening train for Mt. Angel and Sil verton. Albany passenger Corvallls passenger Sheridan pass'sv .. 8:30 P. M. S:20 A. M. 7:45 A M. 0:30 P. M. 4:00 P. M, 7:30 A. M 114:50 P. M. 10:10 A. M 5:00 P.M. 118:23 A. M Dally. HDally except Sunday. Robat": tickets on xale between Portland. Sac ramento and San Francisco, Net rates $17 first class and $11 second crig, Including sleeper. Rates and tickets to Eastern points and Eu rope. Aisu iapan: china. Honolulu and AUSTRALIA. Can be obtained from J. B. K1RKLAND, Ticket Agent. 140 Third street. YAMHILL DIVISION. Passenger Depot, foot ot Jefferson street. Leave for Oswego dally at 7:20, OMO A. M.; 12.30. 1:55. 3:2Ti. 4.40, 025. S:3U. li.ao P. M.; and 0:0) A M. on Sundays only. Arrive at Portland dally at 6:35, 8.30, -10:50 A. M.; 1:35. 3:10. 4:30. 0:15. 7:40, 10:00 P. M.; 12:40 A. M. dally, except Monday, S:30 and 10r05 A. M. on Sundays only. Leave for Dallas dally, except Sunday, at 5:05 P, M. Arrive t Portland at 9:30 A. M. Passenger train leaves Dallas for Airlle Mon days, Wednesdays and Fridays at 2:45 P. M. Returns Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Except Sunday. R. KOEHLER, Manager. C. H. MARKHAM. Gen. Frt. & Pass. Agt. ONLY 70 HOURS PORTLAND TO CHICAGO .VA... lifcTrenTrras TWO TRAINS DAILY TO THE EAST f0 CHANGE OF CARS to Denver, Om&ha. Kansas City and Chicago. Only Four Days To New York. Boston, Philadelphia and Washington. Palace Sleepers, Tourist Sleepers, Dining Cars, Library Cars, Free Recllnlng-Chalr Cars. Steam Heat, Plntsch Light, Fast Time. Union Depots. Baggage checked to destination. CITY TICKET OFFICE 135 Third Street Portland, Oregon J. H- LOTHROP. Gen'l Agent. GEORGE LANG, City Pass. & Tkt. Agt. Steamers Alfona and Pomona Daily (ex. Sunday) for Independence, Salem and all way landings. Leave Portland 0:45 A. M.: leave Salem 7 A. M.: Independence. 6 A. i !L OfSce and dock, foot Taylor st. QMv SsnfcS A. .JH iJ'S. f J IzPl sunsct A -n 1 3o vmrrrsrs NPPx S UNION PACIFIC R. R. CO. OREGON SHORT LINE R. R. CO. I 0RE60N R. R. & NAVIGATION CO. TRAVELERS' GCHJE. The Yellowstone Park and Pioneer Dining-Car Route I'bIos Depit,6tSaal JSU Arrive. No. 12 1:45 P. M. Overland ExDress for No. U 7.-00 A ia South Bend. Aberdeen. Hoqulam. Cosmopolls, Olympla. Tacoma. Se attle. North Yakima, RlUvllIe. Spokane. Pullman. Moscow, Lew lston, Grangevllle. Kossiand. B. c, uutte, Billings. Fargo. SL Paul. Minneapolis, Chi cago. .Boston, nrasa lngton, D. C, New York, and all points east and southeast. No. 4 11:30 P. M. Kansas CI tv-St. Louis No. 3- Special for Tacoma, Se attle, North Yakima, 7:20 P. iC RltzrlUe. EDO lean e. Rossland. Lewlston, Helena. Butte, Billing?. Deadwood. Denver. Omaha, St. Joseph, KanM.3 City. St. Louts, Chicago, Washington, Baltimore, Nw xotk, Boston, and all points east and southeast. Baggage checked to destination ot tickets Union Depot connections in all principal cities. Through cor service via Northern Paclflo Burllngton Route, train No. 4. for Omaha, St. Joseph. Kansas City, St. Louis. Quick tirna and uneauoled accommodations. The only ltns running Pullman standard and Pullman up holstered, tourist sleepers, the finest in tha world. Portland to Minneapolis and St. PauJ without change. For any additional information, tickets sleeping-car reservations, maps ot routes, etc.j call on or write to A. D. CHARLTON Assistant General Passenger Agea! 255 Morrison St., Cor. Third, Portland, Oregon. fWBSBBBi A Right To be Proud There Is one feature of. the Bur lington's service of -which It has a right to be proud the dlnlng-cara. Railroad men -who have traveled over the Burlington admit that its dlnlnr-car service is -without an equal; that the meals are the best to be had on any railroad in the country. Xeither pains, nor effort, nor ex pense is spared. The instructions are: "Slake It the best in the world. and keep it there." And they are obeyed. The traveling public sets the ben efit. Omaha, Chicago, Kansas City, St. Louis everywhere East and South. TICKET OFFICB Cr. Third and Stark Sit. XL "W. FOSTER. City Ticket Agent. AND SOO LINE FIRST-CLASS AND TOURIST SLEEPERS DAILY PASSENGERS BOOKED TO AND FROM ALL POINTS EASY ATLANTIC STEAMSHIP OFFICE For full particulars apply to H. H. ABBOTT. Agent. 14G Third St., Portland, Or. E. J. COTLB. A O. P. A., f. , Vancouver, B. C TIE BRatNorSn Ticket Office 268 MorrbonSt 'Phone 680 LEAVE. No, 4 C:00 P.M. Tho Flyer, dally to and from St. Paul, Minne apolis. Duluth, Chicago and all points East. ARRTVTJ Np. 3 7:00 A at Through Palace and Tourist Sleepers, Dinissj and Buffet Smoklng-Llbrary Cars. JAPAN - AMERICAN LINE STEAMSHIP IDZUMI MARU For Japan, China and all Asiatic points vriQ leave Seattle About December 10th t Astoria & Columbia River Railroad Co. LEAVES UNION DEPOT. For Maygers, Rainier,1 Clatskanie. 'Westport, Clifton, Astoria, "War- ARRIVES UNION DEPOT. renton, navel, . Ham mond. Fort Stevens, Gearbart Pk., Seaside. Astoria and Seashore Express, Daily. Astoria Express, Daily. 8:00 A.M. 7.00 P. M. 11:10 A. !, 9:40 P. U, Ticket office 255 Morrison st. and Union Depot J. C. MAYO. Gen. Pass. Act., Astoria, Or. Pacific Coast Steamship Co FOR ALASKA. THE COMPANY'S elesranj -steamships Cottage City, City ot Topeka and Al - Kl leav TACOMA 11 A. M.; SEATTLS 0 P. M.. Dec. 1, 0. IX, 16, 2L 20, 31: Jan. 5. 10. 15, 20, 25. CO; Feb. 4. Steamer leave every fifth day thereafter Further information obtala company's folder. The company reserves th right to chanze steamers, sailing- dates as4 hours ot salllnsr. without previous notice, AGENTS N. POSTON, 249 "Washington 3t Portland. Or.; F.W. CARLETON. N. P. R. R. Dock, Tacoma. TICKET OFFICE.. 618 Firs ave.. Seattle; M. TALBOT. CommL Agent; C W. MDLER. Asst. Gen'l Agent. Gceas( Dock. Seattle. GOODALL. PERKINS & CO., Oes. San Fra&cUarw