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..