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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 12, 1900)
THE MOUSING- OREGONIAN, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 12, 1900. CASSARD'S FAST RUN French Bark Makes Best In ward Passage of Year. FOUR SHIPS FINISH LOADING Ouzugyre Wm in Port hut Thirteen Days Steamer Potter to Be Re built Portland's Grain. Pres tlse Marine Notes. The French bark Cassard arrived In at Astoria yesterday after a rattling passage of 121 days from Antwerp. Her arrival In the river was quite a surpdise, as she was not expected for at least a month yet and there are fully a dozen ships which were considered much nearer due than she was. The Cassard Is a novelty among the French vessels which have come round the Horn from. Europe this season, for, unlike all of the others, she is bring, lng some cargo from Antwerp. She comes to Meyer, Wilson & Co., and has enough cargo aboard to make her voyage profit able even If she was not favored with a big subsidy. The Cassard's Quick passage makes the unusually long voyage of the Bossuet appear all the worse by contrast. The Bossuet sailed from Nantes May 26, over two months before the Cassard left Ant werp, and she Is still en route. After a long passage of nearly 150 days, she put Into Honolulu with the master sick. She remained in that port nearly two weeks and then continued her Journey, but be fore reaching the Columbia the master again felt Indisposed, and bis vessel was headed back for Honolulu, where she ar rived in November. Latest advices from the islands brought no news of his sailing again, and he is probably waiting the coming of another century before coming to Portland. The Bossuet was under charter for November loading, her char ter expiring November 30. As the rate was somewhat higher than that which prevails at the present time, the vessel will be obliged to sail around a few more circles before she reaches Portland In order to get In enough bounty mileage to make up the deficiency. TO REBUILD THE POTTER. Past Sidewheeler "Will Have Im proved Accommodations. The O. R. & N. Co.'s fast sidewheeler T. J. Potter has retired to the boneyard, and when she again emerges she will bo so thoroughly changed In appearance that her best friends will hardly recognize her. Between now and next Spring the company will spend a great many thou sand dollars in placing her in first-class shape for the passenger business between this city and the beach. Her steaming capacity will be Increased by the addition of the largest boiler that ever came to Portland, and one of her engines, which was cracked a short time ago, will be replaced by a new cylinder. The greatest change In the steamer, however, will be In her upper works. The seaside business has grown Into such pro portions that there has never been enough staterooms to accomodate the crowds coming and going, and to remedy this matter, the entire upper deck of the Potter will be covered with 'a cabin con taining 40 staterooms. "With these addi tional accommodations and an improve ment in the speed which will follow the installation of better boiler capacity, the big sidewheeler will be a more popular boat than ever before, and will enable the O. R. & N. Co. to give a better service to North Beach than has ever yet been enjoyed. The T. J. Potter was built over 19 years ago, and has reeled off about as many fast miles and carried as many passengers as any boat of "her age on the river. PORTLAAD'S SHIPPING PRESTIGE. More "Wheat Charter Reported for Her Than for All Other Porta. The Tacoma Ledger, under date of Mon day, December 10, prints a list of char ters for the past week at various Pa cific Coast ports. According to the Led ger's table there were 14 ships reported for wheat during the week, of which Portland secured 7. San Francisco 4 and Tacoma and Seattle 3. Not only Is Port land credited with as many ships as all other grain ports on the Pacific Coast combined, but the average net registered tqnnage of the Portland fleet Is much greater than that of the others. The vessels and their tonnage, as reported by the Ledger, are as follows: From Portland. Tons. Alsterufer 2597 Andreta 1G35 Dunsyre 2056 Eilbek 2230 Herzogin Sophie Charlotte 2243 Louis Pastuer 1471 Average, 1944 tons. From Tacoma and Seattle. Tons. Durham 1S79 Eaton Hall , 1671 Torrisdale 21S4 Average, 1S11 tons. From San Francisco. Tons. Helensburgh 1699 Hutton Hall 19S8 Invercoe 1322 Mt. Carmel 1536 Average,. 1651 tons. FOUR SHIPS FINISH. Qnartet of Bis: Grain Carriers Re- cel-e Quick Dispatch. A quartet of big grain carriers, with a capacity of nearly 500,000 bushels of wheat, finished loading yesterday. One of them, the Muskoka, was cleared yesterday by Kerr. Gilford & Co., for Queenstown or Falmouth for orders, with 129.694 bushels of wheat, valued at 571.331. The Dunsyre, which finished shortly after the Muskoka, has had about the quickest dispatch or any vessel that has been here this sea son. She was loaded by G. W. McNear. and has been In the river but 13 days. She will leave down tomorrow, so that her stay in Portland harbor will be re duced to but 12 days, which Is good enough dispatch for any vessel. She Is owned by the same firm as the Poltalloch, and the two vessels left Santa Rosalia in company In October. The other vessels finishing were -the Ardencralg, which has been In the river but 23 "days, and the General Mllllnet, 24 days. The Ardencralg was loaded by the Portland Grain Company, and the Gen eral Mllllnet by A. Berg. ON SHORT RATIONS FOR FEW DATS Experience of Crevr of Baric From South Africa. ASTORIA, Dec. 1L During the last few days of the passage of the bark Blalr hoyle from South Africa to this port the crew had subsisted on half the reg ular allowance of food. In speaking of the matter, her master. Captain Rouse, said that he had been having a very long passage, and on Saturday night last he figured out that there was but two weeks' provisions on board the vessel, so he placed the crew on half rations, as he did not know how soon he would reach port. This lasted Sunday and part of Monday, until land was sighted, when the full al lowance was served. Manifest of Schooner Pioneer. ASTORIA, Dec. 1L-The manifest of the schooner Pioneer, which sailed for San Francisco a couple of days ago. was filed In the Custom-House today. She carries B cargo of 4M.204 feet of lumber and 16,416 feet of lath from the Knappton mills. Jevrett Cleared for San Francisco. ASTORIA, Dec 1L The schooner W. F. Jewett cleared at the Custom-House to day for San Francisco with a cargo of 583,334 feet of lumber and 16.665 feet of lath. She was loaded at the Knappton mills. Marine' Notes. The schooner Olson, recently launched, will sail In about a week from Aberdeen for Australia with a cargo of lumber. The Oriental liner Monmouthshire is turning out her big cargo in fine shape, and will soon be ready to load back for the far East. A full outward cargo awaits her. The steamship Chlng Wo, under charter to Epplnger & Co. to load wheat at this port, is due from the Orient this morning. She Is a China Mutual liner, and a faster and finer boat than the average tramp. The German ship Alice arrived up from Astoria yesterday afternoon. The' French bark Alice will finish In a. day or two, and the water front fraternity, which are always confusing the two ships of the same name, will be pleased. Three 'Frisco liners came In yesterday, the Elder, of the O. R, & N. line; the South Portland, of the Gray Steamship Company, and the Fulton, of the Inde pendent 51-a-ton line. The Elder made a fast run, reaching her dock In this city about 7 o'clock last evening. Domestic and Forelcm Porta. ASTORIA, Dec. 1L Arrived at 8 A. M. and left up at 10:20. steamer Geo. W. Elder; arrived at 10:30 and left up at 12:30, steamer South Portland; arrived at 9:30 and left up at 1 P. M., steamer Ful ton, from San Francisco; arrived at 3:40, French bark Cassard, from Antwerp. Left up at 10 A. M-, German ships Wllkom menn and C. H. Watjen. Reported, out side at 5 P. M.. a four-masted bark. Con dition of the bar at 5 P. M.. moderate; wind southeast; weather cloudy. San Pedro Sailed December 10, schoon er San Bueneventura, for Gray's Harbor. New York, Dec. 1L Arrived Manltou, from London. Sailed Lahn, for Bremen via Southampton. Tien Tsin Arrived December 8, Frank furt, from San Francisco via Moji. London Arrived December 8, Mesaba, from New York. Liverpool, Dec. 11 Arrived Ikbal, from Philadelphia. Plymouth, Dec. 1L Sailed, Pennsylva nia, from Hamburg for New York. Philadelphia, Dec. 1L Sailed Pennland. for Liverpool. Liverpool, Dec. H. Arrived Numldian, from Portland. Genoa, Dec. 1L Arrived Aller, from New York. San Francisco, Dec 1L Arrived Stpamer Columbia. from Portland; schooner Carrie Annie, from Cape Nome. Sailed Steamer Ban Bias, for .Nanauno; steamer Grace Dollar, for Gray's Harbor. San Pedro Sailed Dec 10 Bark Tidal Wave, for Tacoma: schooner San Buena Ventura, for Gray's Harbor. Freemantle, Dec 1L Arrived previous lyBark Thistle, from Vancouver. Sydney Arrived Dec 10 Steamer Aor- angi, from Vancouver. Noumea, Dec 1L Arrived Schooner Kailua, from Gray's Harbor. Hoqulam. Sailed December 9. Schooner Fearless, from Hoqulam for Guaymas; schooner Lizzie Vance, from Cosmopolls for San Francisco; steamer Signal, from Hoqulam for San Francisco. Arrived Schooner Volant, from San Francisco for Aberdeen. PERSONAL MENTION. Ex-Governor Z. F. Moody is at the Im perial. The Misses Levy, of Salem, are at the Portland. C. F. Brlggs, an Insurance man of San Francisco, Is at the Portland. E. P. McCornack, the well-known Sa lem banker. Is at the Portland. Charles H. Green, a hopbuyer of San Francisco, Is registered at the Imperial. 'United States Senator Joseph Simon In tends to leave for Washington December 26. C S. Jackson, editor of the East Ore gonlan. Is at the Portland, accompanied by his wife. NEW YORK. Dec 1L Northwestern people registered at New York hotels to day as follows: From Centralia F. D. Gougar, at the St. Denis. From Seattle W. J. N. Hull, at the Hoffman. THE DEATH ROLL. A Noted Tnrfxnnn. LEXINGTON, Ky., Dec H.-J. H. Mil ler, a noted breeder and turfman, died from a stroke of paralysis at his home here today. Major James Converse. ABILENE, Tex., Dec 1L Major James Converse, widely known throughout the Southwest, died today aged 71 years. He built the Southern Pacific Railroad through Texas. Pioneer Artist of Chicago. CHICAGO, Dec 1L Charles Peck, one of the founders of the Chicago Academy of Design, and a pioneer artist of Chi cago, died today. Earl of Harrow-by. LONDON, Dec 12. Henry Dudley Rin don. Earl of Harrowby, Is dead, aged 64 years. Cretan Chief's Son Married. DENVER. Dec 1L Panay G. Vouro Vouraky, son and heir of George Vour aky, one of the hereditary chieftains of the Island of Crete, one of the best versed men of the day In the languages of the Orient, who has a record as a sol dier under many flags and as an officer of the United States Secret Service, was married In Denver by Magistrate Rice to Mrs. Effle Cook, daughter of Fred Smith, and granddaughter of the late Colonel McMartln, of the British Guards. They became engaged a week ago, having met last Summer In Salt Lake City. The couple will spend their honeymoon in Crete. Vouraky has held positions as instruct or In classics at Harvard, University of "Western Pennsylvania, at Pittsburg and at Tulane University, New Orleans. At ore time he served on the detective force In San Francisco, and assisted In the arrest of Theodore Durrant. Later he went Into the United States Secret Ser vice, and was engaged in breaking up" gangs of counterfeiters. California OH Deal. SAN FRANCISCO, Dec 1L A special from Los Angeles says a deal has Just been consummated whereby the Stand ard Oil Company acquires all of the In terests of the Pacific Coast Oil Company. The purchase crlce Is said to be in the neighborhood of $1,000,000. The Pacific Coast Oil Company has been doing busi ness In California for & quarter of a cen tury, and has been reaching out during that period until Its interests Include val uable oil properties in various sections. It owns a steamer which Is used in trans porting oil from the Southern Coast to its refinery In Alameda, which has a monthly capacity of 25,000 barrels. The company's entire holdings are embraced In the transfer. Inauguration In Florida. TALLAHASSEE. Fla., Dec H. At a meeting of business men a committee was appointed to make final preparations for the inauguration of Governor-elect Jen nings, January 1. and for the entertain ment of W. J. Bryan, who Is a cousin of the new Governor, and will be the guest of honor. Formal invitation was also wired ex-Vlce-Presldent Stevenson, Mr. Bryan will leave Lincoln, Neb., for Flor ida, December 23. OREGON DAIRY INTERESTS REPORT OF FOOD AND DAIRY COM MISSIONER BAILEY. Every Evidence That Quality of Products Is Superfine Compre hensive Statement of Subject. SALEM, Or., Dec 1L J. W. Bailey. State Food and Dairy Commissioner, has completed his biennial report to the Leg islature, and made It public today. Pre liminary to the statement of the work done by him, Mr. Bailey states that when he assumed the duties of his office, he found not even a scratch of a pen to show that such an office had ever existed In this state. He then takes up the subject of process butter, and relates his repeated efforts to secure the conviction of deal ers who violated the law, and the nevcr falling decision of the court that the de fendants were not guilty, though the sell ing of process butter hid been proven. Oleomargarine. Under this head the report says, In part: "Oleomargarine, filled cheese and process butter materially damage the dairy Interests of any state, and would reduce the price of butter here as else where if our law were not properly en forced. Manufacturers are offering oleo, butterine and process butter at from 12 to 16 cents per pound, while our dairy products are finding ready sale at double these prices. Oregon produces millions of pounds of butter annually, a large por tion of which Is exported and would re ceive a higher price were all fraudulent articles driven from the field. Manufac ture and sile of oleomargarine has reached the enormous proportions of 104,263,651 pounds this year, as against 83, 000,000 pounds last year and 21,500,000 In 1S9S. ' "From the best authority obtainable we learn that 90 per cent of the 104,000.000 pounds of oleomargarine, made at the low cost of 56 41 per hundred pounds. Is sold for creamery butter. No wonder that the oleomargarine men have millions at their command and are fighting hard for a con tinuance of their right to sell oleomarga rine for creamery butter." The report gives In detail the petitions to Oregon's National representatives for their support of pure-food laws. It Is also recommended that attention be called to the importance of condensed milk faco ries In this state, in view of the fact that from 35 to 40 carloads of condensed milk, containing 400 cases to the car, are brought Into this state annually. Orenron's Position ns Dairy Center. "During the past year, conditions affect ing the butter market In Oregon were different from that of any other state In the Union. The butter market was most active in that season of the year when the greatest quantity was produced. There was an Immense Alaska trade; ships were leaving for the north almost dilly, and every boat took a large supply of dairy products. These conditions ena bled our dairymen to get from 5 to 74 cents more than butter was bringing In the East at the same time. There was also a fair trade with the Orient. The facilities In Portland for cold storage are excellent, and when prices are low deal ers can place their butter In cold storage until such times as best suit their con venience and desire to selL In the Wil lamette Valley last Spring there was a demand for the entire product, and Ore gon stands ready to supply the entire trade that Is opening up for It. No bet ter cheese Is made on earth than Is manu factured right here In Oregon, and the demand for the product has been so great that none to speak of has been ex ported. Oregon butter and cheese makers are adopting the most advanced methods and those methods are putting Oregon dairy products on the same level with Oregon wheat, thfi best to be found in the world's market. Some of the Oregon butter has reached the English markets during the past year and has sold along side the best Dutch and Danish products. This, in Itself, and the fact that the Oregon dairyman receives the highest price of any producer in the world, should encourage thousands of others to enter Into the business In this state. "The creamery has given Oregon but ter Its present high repute. One Portland firm secured a Government contract for 26.000 pounds of butter. The Willamette Valley shipped about 1,000,000 pounds of butter during the season Just passed, the average price being about 20 cents. Com mon herds are giving way to thorough breds, dairy experts are giving more at tention to the care of their cattle than ever before, and they have found that the annual product of the cows can be doubled if the animals be properly housed, properly fed and milked at reg ular hours. The nutritive value of Ore gon grasses will compare favorably with that of any other section of the United States. Oregon is particularly adapted to the dairy Industry. It has a mild and equable climate, and the soil will, under almost any conditions, produce feed in abundance. New markets will open up and trade with the Orient will be Im mense Steamers will carry across the sea great quantities of dairy products, and Oregon should capture that trade. Silos. "During the last Summer I visited many dairies for the sole purpose of observing the different makes of silos, and I have come to the conclusion that the circular or round silo, made of 2x4 tongue-and-groove studding, with flat Iron bands, to hold SO to 100 tons. Is the cheapest, easiest to make, and altogether the most satisfactory- At present prices of lumber and labor, these silos can be built at a cost not to exceed 5125, and when once thor oughly built they will last for many years. No up-to-date dairyman can af ford to be without the silo. "The railroad companies have been par ticularly active and energetic In pushing the work of the dairy Interests along their respective lines. "So far as the creameries have report ed. It will be seen that they have made something like 1,663,000 pounds of butter, and the output of those not reporting will probably bring this up to 2,500,000 pounds; and that of dairy, or store, butter, as much more, making 5,000.000 pounds dur ing the year. The cheese product will probably reach 1.500.000 pounds. Several hundred tests have been made during my IncumBency In office, and I find that the milk will average above the required 3 per cent test. In most cases testing as high as 4 per cent and even higher In some. The law places 3 per cent butter fat as the lowest per cent at which milk can be sold, and It Is very poor milk that will not show 3 per cent. While this seems to be the general rule adopted In the different states, It seems to me that It is entirely too lovj. While there may be cows that do not give above 3 per cent butter fat, such cows should be given a place in our packing-houses In stead of In our dairies." The report compiled by Mr. Bailey. In cludes a review of the work done byMr. C H. Markham. of the Southern Pacific Company, In building up the dairy indus try In the Willamette Valley, and- sets forth In full the results attained by the Albany co-operative creamery, the figures showing which results have been hereto fore published in the press of this state The report then continues: "Thirty creameries and five cheese fac tories are in operation at towns located on the Southern Pacific Company's lines In the Willamette Valley and Southern Oregon, and no less than five new plants are In course of establishment. The total manufactured product from this section for 1900 will amount to 1.000.000 pounds of butter and 50,000 pounds of cheese. Com parative figures from the books of the Albany co-operative creamery show that the receipts for the 10 months ending Oc tober 31, 1900, represent an Increase of 53 I per cent over the eaxae period In 1S99." A similar review Is given of the work done In Eastern Oregon by the O- R- & N. Co. Inadequacy of Appropriation. "By carefully reading the requirements of our Oregon dairy and food law. It can be plainly seen that the amount appro priated is altogether too small to carry out Its provisions. The Commissioner must be a p'erson well qualified In dairy matters, and able to give practical and theoretical Instructions In dairy matters whenever and wherever opportunity of fers, and to collect and disseminate such Information as Is calculated to develop the dairy Industry In the state. He must keep an office In Portland, examine Into any case of violation of the law, prose cute offenders, visit every creamery and cheese factory In the state once a year, and keep a watchful and vigilant care over the dairies, of which there are thou sands, and see that all stables where such cows are kept shall be well ventilated and kept In a healthful condition, and If there be any diseased cow or other animal about any dairy he shall notify the state veterinarian. He Is expected to stand guard and watch over the Interests of the producers of the great State of Ore gon, as well as to see that no unhealth ful or adulterated food enters the home of the consumer; and when it Is consid ered that Oregon, with her 33 counties, some of them larger than several of our New England states, and all of them producing a vast amount of food product. It is unreasonable to expect with an ap propriation less than Is ordinarily paid for a competent clerk In many of our business houses, any Commissioner to perform this work satisfactorily to him self or to the state Connecticut appro priates to her Commissioner $7500 per year, and the only duty required of him is to attend to thA pnfowmpn of tVin statute relating to Imitation butter, the adulteration of butter and molasses and the manufacture and sale of vinegar. Minnesota, In many respects similar to our own state, appropriates 518,000. and all fines collected go into this fund, which makes it about $25,000 per year. In my opinion there Is no other state In the Union that will advance and make such Strides Of nrorress In thA no-rf fonr v-ire as Oregon, and It seems to me that money enougn snouid be appropriated to protect our Industries and encourage manufactur ers and build up an empire within our own borders. It can be done, and It lies with the legislative body of Oregon to say if It shall be done." The appropriation In Oregon Is 51500 per year. BAKER CITY WELL PLEASED Its Census Showing: Cause for Gen eral Gratification. BAKER CITY, Or., Dec. 11. From the sedate business man, to the boy on the street, there Is universal pride in Baker City over the showing made In the cen sus reports. Baker City now "ranks third in the state. Its greatest growth In the last decade has been during the past two years. The pace of this latter period seems to prevail yet, as the number of buildings erected last Summer and still in course of construction, whenever weather permits, is large. Baker City people believe that the next 10 years will bring the mining city of Oregon far to the front as second In rank. Baker City shows the remarkable gain of 150 per cent In the last 10 years. This large per cent Is also shown by other places that have practically come Into existence In the last 10 years, but for a town with a substantial population at the time of the 1SD0 census, a 150 per cent ln ' crease Is a large growth. There Is noth ing in the nature of a boom In pres ent conditions. During the past two years a large number of homes have been erected In what were remote suburbs prior to that time. During the same period, the business center has under gone a transformation. The new, four story Opera-Houso that Is second only to the Marquam Grand In the state. Is now nearlng completion. The Gelser block, with pressed, or Roman brick front. In which Iff located the Citizens Bank, Chamber of Commerce and many offices. Is admired by all strangers. A two-story brick Masonic Temple will be dedicated within a few days. In the early Spring the new Catholic Hospital, to cost 575,000 to JSO.OOO, will be com menced, as plans for it are nOw being prepared. Several business blocks have gone up, and the business center Is grad ually expanding beyond the limits of old Baker. In the general prosperity of Eastern Oregon mines, development of agricul tural Industries In this section, opening of timber resources and stimulation of stock Industry, residents of Baker City anticipate lively times in, the near fu ture. More development work In East ern, Oregon mines has been done the past year than any other previous year In the history of the region. More produc ing properties are expected to be oper ated next year than ever before. All this Insures prosperity to Baker City, and reveals the reasons for the confidence generally felt here that within the next 10 years the town, will hold second place In population and business Importance. The London "Bm." Cassell's Magazine. A 'bus weighs 3200 pounds, and costs 145. It is made of ash and oak, except the paneling, which is mahogany, and the windows are of plate glass. Before a 'bus is allowed to earn Its 2 10s a day it has to be licensed, or, as they say, "you have to get a number plate for It."- This num ber plate Is the white plate with black figures, surmounted by a crown, seen at the tall of the 'bus. It Is provided by the police, and costs 2. Then there is a wheel duty of 15s per annum to be paid to the Inland revenue. After making these payments, any one can run a 'bus In London wherever he likes, subject, of course, to the general rules and regula tions bearing upon all vehicular traffic Attached to each 'bus Is a stud of 12 horses, of which only 10, or five pairs, are worked In any one day thus Insuring a complete day's rest for each pair every sixth day. As a 'bus runs 64 miles a day, and five pairs of horses are used. It fol lows that a 'bus horse's day's work Is 13 miles, which he does In less, considerably less than three hours the rate at which he travels being between five and six miles an hour. This does not seem a great deal to exact from a horse; still, the work Is hard, often Involving a pro longed dead pull at the trot, and the crowded condition of the London streets makes it harder by necessitating contin ual deviations out of the way of obstacles and abrupt stoppages to avoid collisions. t Citric Acid Test. NEW YORK, Dec 1L The Journal of Commerce prints the following: Reports giving the comparative citric acid test by Stlllwell and Gladding, chem ists to the New York Produce Exchange of selections of California and Sicily lem ons, have attracted much attention, in green fruit circles. The comparisons were as follows: Ninety-one and one-half California lem ons would yield one United States gallon of Juice; 12S Mediterranean lemons would yield one United States gallon of Juice. The specific gravity of the juice in each was 1.04L Three hundred California lemons would yield 450 ounces avoirdupois Juice, con taining 26.64 ounces avoirdupois crystal citric acid. Three hundred Mediterran ean lemons would yield 325 ounces avoir dupois julce.'contalnlng 19.70 ounces avoir dupois crystal citric acid. The criticism of the fruit Importers was chiefly that the date selected for the test was a most unfair one. In that It com pared Mediterranean fruit, which was among the first of the season, and which had not matured, with California fruit at Its best stage It Is expected that the Fruit Importers' Union will take the mat ter up In the near future, and will prob ably have an Independent test made. The present is the living sum total of tho past. Carlyle. TACOMA'S HARBOR WORK NEARLY HALF A MILLION IS "WANT ED FOR DREDGING. Government Engineers Not Enthusi astic for Improvement Tvro Cor porations Chief Benenclaries. WASHINGTON, Dec 6. The friends of the appropriation for dredging Tacoma harbor have encountered an unexpected obstacle In the particular form of recom mendation that has been made by the engineers. In a word, the local engineer, Captain Harry Taylor, is not In the least enthusiastic and rather Introduces the question of whether or not the general Government should undertake this project. Inasmuch as mos; ff the water front of the city Is owned by two corporations. Colonel Mansfield, the department engi neer, Is more generous, and recommends that the work be undertaken by the gen eral Government, but General Wilson, whose recommendation counts for more than either, In transmitting the report of the recent survey to Congress, refrains altogether from making a recommenda tion. The action of the river and har bor committee and of Congress Is largely based on the recommendations of General Wilson, and In the absence of a recom mendation of any sort In this case. Con gress Is very apt to overlook this pro vision, or at least to make but a small appropriation. It is desired to dredge the channel of the city waterway its full width to a depth of 25 feet at extreme low water from deep water to Eleventh street, to IS feet from Eleventh to Fourteenth street, and to a depth of 15 feet south of Fourteenth street, the total to be done at a cost In round numbers of 5444,000. But Just here enters another obstacle for the local engineer has asked that an ap propriation of 5500 be made for covering the expense of making a more accurate estimate, and to ascertain the cost closer to the true figure, and it Is thought that if this plan be followed out It will mean a delay of the work for at least another year. In this connection it is well to quote from the report of Captain Taylor, upon which the other reports are based. Cap tain Taylor In part says: "In 1S9S I submitted a report In which I stated that I did not consider the Puyallup waterway as worthy of Im provement at that time an opinion which I still hold. (The water front of Tacoma Is made up of the Puyallup and the city waterways, the former being disregarded In the present estimates. ) While the com merce of Tacoma has very materially In creased, It Is not believed sufficient to render any Improvement of the Puyallup waterway necessary at this time. For some time there has been a desire to make such improvement of the Puyallup waterway and of the Puyallup River as will convert the same Into a fresh-water basin. This would necessitate the build ing of a large and expensive lock, and a vast amount of dredging. It Is not be lieved that the present needs of the com merce of Tacoma Justify any such expen ditures. The harbor outside of the water ways Is axeady of ample depth, and needs no Improvement. The recent survey was therefore confined to the city or west waterway. "The Increase of the depth along the river front at Tacoma Is so rapid that It Is practical to build wharves only paral lel to the shore. This makes the room available for shipping very small, and the wharf facilities at Tacoma at present are entirely too restricted for the commerce which now seeks that port. Some Im provement of the harbor is urgently need ed at the present time; and It Is believed that this Improvement can be made by dredging the city waterway. It should be remarked, however, that the condition at Tacoma In regard to the ownership of the water front Is peculiar. Practically the entire available water front at the pres ent time for a distance of 26.500 feet is owned by the Northern Pacific Railroad Company. The Tacoma Land & Improve ment Company owns another large stretch, a small stretch only belonging to the City of Tacoma. The Improvement of the city waterway by the Government would therefore be almost entirely for tho benefit of these two corporations, but the Interests of these two corporations are so Intimately connected with the interests of Tacoma that what Is for the benefit of these corporations at this, place Is un doubtedly for the benefit of Tacoma and its commerce It should also be remarked that the greater part of the exports and Imports are carried by steamers running In connection with the Northern Pacific. But even now the Northern Pacific Is much cramped, and has been forced to resort to dredging In order to secure ad ditional room for building warehouses with suitable docks further south of the city. "On October 19 a contract was made with R. B. Lehman, of Tacoma, for exca vating land belonging to the State of Washington In Tacoma harbor. It seems doubtful whether In view of this contract, and of the conditions in. regard to the ownership of the lands around the city waterway, the United States should un dertake to improve that waterway. That the Improvement of this waterway is needed is not doubted, but who should make the Improvement is doubtful. In case It Is Improved by the United States a release from liability to damage should be obtained from the State of Washing ton, and a right to deposit material wher ever desired, whether on adjacent tide lands or In deep water of Commencement Bay, should be secured. This would In volve a release from liability to damage from the owners of the abutting lands. It should also be noticed that the water way Is crossed by two bridges, with draw and piers approximately in the cen ter of the waterway. Whether or not these piers have deep enough foundations to permit the dredging In their vicinity without danger is an open question. "The Improvement which Is proposed is to dredge the city waterway to its full width, as above stated. This will pro vide additional room for deep-sea shipping by giving additional room to the shal lower draft boats wh'ch ply on Puget Sound, In order to relieve the present wharves of much congestion of boats alongside them. "The south end of the waterway has been used by the mills adjacent to It for many years as a storage basin for logs, and has been encroached upon by the mills so that the southern end Is full of debris and refuse from the mills. Be fore this Improvement can be completed It will be necessary for these mills to entirely change their method of handling their logs.. The storage of the logs in the waterway in the manner In which It is done would be a serious obstruction to navigation were there sufficient depth of water for navigation. In fact there can be no navigation so long as condi tions are as they are at present. "It Is estimated that the project out lined above will require the removal of 1,338,000 cubic yards of material In that stretch of water where a 23-foot depth Is desired, 479.000 yards In the 15-foot sec tion, and 875.000 yards In the 15-foot depth, or 2,692,000 yards In all. The cost of re moving this material will bp about 15 cents per cubic yard, which, while high. Is rendered so because In a portion of the section to be improved It Is feared that old piles, slabs and all sorts of refuse will be found which can be removed only with difficulty. The total cost of dredg ing Is figured out to be 5403.800. the bal ance of the total estimate being for en gineering and contingent expenses." The Text-Boole Commission. PORTLAND, Dec. 10. (To the Editor.) The Oregonlan has rightly sought to arouse Interest In the matter of text books for the public schools, and has given some good counsel concerning the commission to be appointed to select the books which shall be used. This commission may remedy some of the evils heretofore existing, but too much should not be expected of it. Act carefully as it may, it cannot at once ac complish all that needs to be done In this connection. Its duties are grave and perplexing. From scores of books which treat upon the same subject. It niust select at least one book generally a series of from three to six books upon, each subject required to be taught In the public schools. Our commissioner must determine such questions as these, viz: Does this book present the subject In such a manner that It may be readily grasped by the mind of the average child or youth Into whose hands it may be put? Are its defi nitions accurate, concise and comprehen sive? Are Its rules and directions for the application of principles and the solu tion of problems few In number, simple and clear In expression? Does one sim ple and direct solution and analysis for each class of problems appear, or are there as many differing solutions as the ingenuity of the author could discov er? Is the whole subject unfolded and Its various applications presented In a natural and logical sequence? These are a few of many and similar questions that will come up for consideration. There are text-books and text-books, and comparatively few or unmarred ex cellence. By far the greater number of text-books designed for public school use present a mass of matter which should be excluded from them. Frequently sev eral definitions of one thing are given, various rules for the same operation are set forth, and these are often followed by numerous solutions, explanations, excep tions, observations and remarks, until the child is thoroughly bemazed and ut terly discouraged. This often Involves the teacher, for there are many engaged In teaching who are not enough skilled and perfect In knowledge of the subject to avoid the errors and supply the deficien cies of the text-book. It boots not that these books are the product of experi enced teachers, for they are usually pre pared to set forth "a new method of In struction." and Incidentally to parade tho exhaustive knowledge of the author. Sometimes a whole series may be found, which are "careful compilations from the best authorities," prepared by or for some ambitious publishing house. From long connection with public schools, as teacher and otherwise, I am satisfied that the multiplicity and Imper fections of the text-books placed in the hands of school children are immeasur ably harmful. Just here the commission will be quite powerless to apply any ade quate remedy. It Is probable, also, that just here Is where Interested and thought ful parents have turned their eyes. After deciding upon the scholastic mer its of a book. It must be considered as a piece of mechanism. The material used, tho typographical work and binding must be considered. Then the Dusiness ques tions of introduction, exchange and fu ture supply must be determined. The work before It suggests the com position of the commission. It goes with out saying that Its members should be men of Integrity, of liberal education, of practical experience It certainly Is not necessary that they must be connected with the schools In any capacity; rather, for obvious reasons, they snouid riot be. If the writer were making suggestions. It would be for three experienced educat ors, one successful business man and one skilled bookbinder. That the Governor will make a wise selection I have no doubt. Let us, however, not expect Im possibilities of the commission. J. K. PHILIPS. TO ENGLAND IN TWO DAYS Ocean Greyhounds to Cross the At lantic In 4S hours. "Fast electric ships crossing the ocean at more than a mile a minute, will go from New York to Liverpool In two days," writes John Elfreth Watklns, Jr., of "What May Happen In the Next Hundred Years,"' In the December Ladles' Home Journal. "The bodies of these ships will be built above the waves. They will be supported upon runners, somewhat like those of the sleigh. These runners will be very buoyant. Upon their under sides will apertures expelling jets of air. In this way a JUm of air will be kept be tween them and the water's surface. This film, together with the small sur face of the runners, will reduce friction against the waves to the smallest possi ble aegree. Propellers turned by elec tricity will screw themselves through both the water beneath and the air above. Ships with cabins artificially cooled will be entirely fireproof. In storm they will dive below the water and there await fair weather." The Great Fur Company. The Cornhlll. Years ago the fur trade ceased to be managed from London, and, although the governor of the company Is the titular and official head, a new rule provided that there" should be a resident chief commis sioner, with headquarters at Winnipeg. The successor to the post held for nearly 40 years by Sir George Simpson, the late autocrat of the fur trade, Is Mr. Clarence Campbell Chlpman, known, not to Eng lishmen at heme, perhaps, but to every factor, clerk hunter, trapper, engagee, Indian and halfbreed In the Great Lone Land, as the "chief," or "big white boss." of the fur trade. As In the days of Sir George, directors in England may come and go, convening by candle light, accord ing to immemorial usage. In the musty board room at Hudson's Bay House, but the "chief" remains. It is on the co-operative and proflt-shar-slng plan that the fur trade of the compa ny Is managed nowadays. Every employe, from clerk to chief factor. Is richer for an abundance of pelts and high prices; but he does not share the profits of the shopkeeplng and land selling, which is a distinct branch of the business and annu ally growing in extent. This is not to be wondered at, considering that when the company ceded Its lands to the crown it still retained acres which, at a rough val uation, today are yet worth, after all their sales, between 20.000,000 and 30. 000,000. This is a grievance with the clerks and factors, as you will discover when you come to talk "musquash" (I. e. "shop") at any of the posts or factories In the far north a grievance and also a matter of contempt and an object for their satire. Land selling, forsooth! As If there were any Intrinsic value In barren acres to a Hudson's Bay man! Telephonic Protection for Vessels. New York Sun. It has been suggested that the dories of the codfishermen who ply their indus try on the Newfoundland banks, In the path of trans-Atlantic steamers, and who are frequently lost In fogs or run down by vessels, should be furnished with a telephonic apparatus for detecting the approach of steamers In time to give a warning signal. Sound Is transmitted very distinctly under water, and advan tage Is taken of this fact in the sug gested appliance. It consists of a sensi tive microphone, which Is submerged in the water, and a telephone and battery connected with 1L By this Instrument the thrashing and fluttering of a steam er's screw can be heard about three miles, thus giving time enough for the boatman to make the usual signals. Fish Sleep A Curious Problem. Cosmopolitan. The sleeping of fishes, If they may properly be said to have such a habit, is as yet a puzzle. It Is altogether prob able that they do sleep, though they never close their eyes, simply for the reason that they have no eyelids. Prob ably many fishes slumber while swim ming in the water, reducing the exercise of their fins to an automatic minimum. But it would be a mistake to suppose that a fish does Its sleeping at night nec essarily On the contrary, many species are nocturnal In habit, feeding In the night time It is a very curious prob lem, this question of flslu sleep, and for some time to come we are not likely to ascertain anything very definite on the subject. MASS OF RESOLUTIONS THE PRINCIPAL BUSINESS BEFORE THE FEDERATION OF LABOR. Much Progress Made In Disposing: of Them Convention May Ad journ Friday. , LOUISVILLE, Ky., Dec 1L The Ameri can Federation of Labor begins to seo daylight through the mass of resolutions with which It has been struggling for the past five days. Today was the last day for the submission of resolutions, and, notwithstanding the short session this afternoon, great progress was made In disposing of those already before the con vention. It now looks as if Friday would see the final adjournment. At the morning session a resolution was presented by the cigar-makers' delega tion, and under suspension of the rules was Immediately adopted by the conven tion, denouncing the efforts of the Re sistencia to keep members of the Cigar Makers International Union out of the cigar factories In Tampa. The support of the Federation Is pledged to the unions of Tampa In their efforts to secure and maintain their rights. A resolution reported by the resolu tions committee was adopted providing that "local, National and International unions affiliated with the American Fed eration of Labor be requested to ac knowledge cards Issued by federation lab'or unions when presented by mem bers thereof and give same support as local unions affiliated with their National or International unions." Other resolutions adopted provided for demanding the card of the Retail Clerks' International Protective) Association when, making purchases; for the organiz ing of unions of bhlpping department workers and all other freight handlers; for organization of blacksmiths and plac ing of such organizations in the "front rank of trade unionism"; for the organ ization of trunk and baggage workers and for the organization of agriculturists. A resolution was adopted directing the secretary of the federation to Instruct nonaffiliated locals to affiliate with char tered local central bodies and to insist that local anions, chartered direct by the American Federation of Labor, haH affiliate with the chartered central bod ies of the American Federation of Labor before affiliating with any other central body In name orT pretensions. ThA docket nf resolutions received bv .the secretary contained the following, to bo passed on by te proper committee and submitted to the' convention: A res olution introduced by John Mitchell, of the United MlneworkerS expressing sym pathy with the Iron moulders' union in its stiuggle with the National Founders Association against rules recfuMnS' mem bers of the former union to "Sork with nonunion moulders; a resolution"! non interference by international unions, of woodworkers with shipwrights and ?Un- ers unions; one providing that no locaT affiliated with an international or Na tional body chartered by the American Federation of Labor shall be permitted to join-any cent al body that has aiHl iated with it any organization that has seceded from an international or National body of the American Federation of Labor; one urging the placing of orders for Government Army hats with union factories; one urging the free school book system where not in force: one for the reorganization of textile workers in North and South Carolina. Georgia and Alabama, and one for the organization of telephone girls. The report on the president's address contained the following recommenda tions: "Higher dues; appointment of organ izers: the chartering of legal and central bodies of colored people; In favor of strikes where they represent the only means for redressing grievances; for the collection of statistics relating to strikes and gains adopted without strikes; for the closer cementing of the bonds be tween International unions; for thJ em ployment of an advertising solicitor ior the Federationlst, and that the federa tion looks with favor upon the formation of 'trade groups.' " The report was unanimously adopted. A resolution for the establishment of the free school book system where not already In force was adopted. A reso lution providing that no local affiliated with a National or International chartered body shall be permitted to join any cen tral body that has affiliated or become affiliated with any body that has seceded from a National or International char tered body, was unfavorably reported. A resolution to reinstate Typographical, No. 12, was referred to the incoming executive council. The convention offered Its aid toward securing for the people of Porto Rico "freedom of assembly, of speech, and the press." A proposition to have translated into the Spanish language the literature of the bricklayers' and longshoremen's, paint ers', cigar-makers' and tobacco-workers' organizations for distribution in Porto Rico caused a stirring debate, Delegate Fisher, of the Tobacco-Workers' Union, speaking against the measure, said that "we have as many slaves In the tobacco factories of the South today as there are in Porto Rico." The matter was referred to the executive council. NORTHERN PACIFIC OPERATORS. "Committee of Adjustment" Calls on. OfUclnls. ST. PAUL. Minn., DecV JThts after noon a committee of Northern Pacific telegraphers called upon Vice-President and General Manager Kendrlck for the purpose of presenting a number of re quests relating to wages, working hours and other matters. There are about 1000 telegraph operators In the employ of the Northern Pacific. About 900 of these are members of the Order of Railway Teleg raphers. The committee In St. Paul Is known as the "Committee of Adjust ment." G. L. Hampton, of Tacoma. who has been designated as the press repre sentative of the committee, said: "This committee has gathered for the purpose of presenting to the officials of the company a number of matters. To day's meeting Is necessarily preliminary. There Is no Irritation and no strife in ex istence Our relations with the company are pleasant. Mr. Kendrlck has shown us every courtesy. We shall present to the management several matters of great Importance to the operators." "Will you ask for an 'Increase of wages?" "We will present to the officials a schedule for their consideration and are confident the company will do the fair thing." , , "Do you seek a reduction of working hours?" "I am not at liberty to state the mat ters which will come up for considera tion." "Is It true that the proposed aban donment of telegraph Instruments by the Northern Pacific and the Introduction of telephones is to be protected against?" "We have not been officially advised that such a change Is to be made. When we know such to be the fact it will be time to talk. The Northern Pa cific will probably tell us at this meet ing what the plans In this respect are Should telephones be Introduced. .It will make a great revolution, as one can easily understand," Rev. Will A. Knlghten. pastor of the Vin cent Methodist Episcopal Church, of Los An geles. Cal., has performed 720 marriage cere monies In his 15 years' residence In that city, and claims the marrying championship of the Pacific Coast. Hoke Smith, Secretary of the Interior during President Cleveland's last term, has presented circulating libraries to 14 of the second-class towns in Georgia, and pledged himself to maintain them, at a stated degree of excellence. w..