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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 12, 1900)
THE MORNING OREGONIAN, WEDNESDAY. DECEMBER 12, 1900. LOOKING TO OREGON Many Significant "Inquiries From the East. HEN WANT TO GET NEW HOMES Trustworthy Literature Open the Way to Further Examination of the Merita of Various Sections of the Pacific JTorthwest. The East seems ripe for active mis sionary -work for Oregon, according to numerous letters received by the Port land Chamber of Commerce. The follow ing: is taken from a letter received yester day from an Intelligent citizen of Ar kansas, and it tells its own story: ""'On the 23d of October you very kindly sent me a pamphlet, 'Resources of Ore gon,' together with a copy of the New Tear's edition of the Daily Oregonlan. I have circulated these amongst my neigh bors, and they are in such great demand that they have almost served their use fulness, and I feel safe in saying they have made a future citizen of Orezron in almost every case where they have been placed. The idea has been to establish a colony of 50 families. It now looks as if a colony of double that many could be raised. I have so many requests for the pamphlet that I am unable to keep up with them. I wish you would send me two or three more of the pamphlets, with anything else that you think of in terest, with a few small samples of wheat, oats, rye and barley. Could you Clve me the address of some one familiar with the Rogue River "Valley, who would take an Interest in informing us a little on that locality as to possibility of securing land there, etc?" Another man wrote from Corning, la., to Inquire about the chances for getting a farm home in either Klickitat County, "Wash., or Lake County, Or." He has ap parently become informed of those local ities in a general way, and wanted more specific knowledge as to lands suitable for cultivation. Itis manifest that these inquirers are not adventurers. Nearly all of those who ask for information about Oregon now wish to buy small farms, and estab lish homes here. The question of getting cultivable land on reasonable terms is an important one, and upon which much will depend as to whether these people locate in Oregon or elsewhere. GOSSIP OF THE CAPITAL. Ofllclnl Washington Looks Fonvnrd to Lively Winter. WASHINGTON, Dec. 2. This is expect ed to be a very busy session, and the rush of work has been somewhat anticipated by members of the Important committees getting together and fixing up prelimi naries so far as possible, so as to utilize the early days of the session for actual business. It often happens that the first month of a Legislative session, whether a long or a short session, amounts to but very little In the way of actual work. This is especially true In a long session where the House has to be organized, and there is a general recasting of the Senate committees. "It has become quite necessary, however, for the members of commutes to meet before the short sei iion of Congress, and prepare any legis lation that is of an imperative character. Thus there has been considerable; work done on the revenue amendatory bill, and on the river and harbor bill. Besides this the House committee on appropria tions, through some of Its members and through its clerk, has prepared the pre liminaries for nearly all appropriation bills. Chairman Hull came to Wash ington some time before the session and began work upon the military bill, know ing that this legislation must be passed early If It got through, and did not inter fere with the appropriations and other "must" legislation. Chairman Burton took the sam course regarding the river and harbor bill, and consequently the first three weeks of the session before the holiday recess ought to be rather lively. It Is anticipated that such progress will be made that there will be no necessity for abandoning the usual two weeks ad journment that takes place during the holidays. ClovelnntI Held Them. I remember an occasion, however, when Congress did not adjourn during the hol iday recess, and this was precipitated by the action of President Cleveland two years before his term expired. Just be fore the recess was to have taken place he sent a special message to Congrss calling attention to the distressed finan cial condition of the country, suggest ing that unless Immediate action was taken there was danger of a panic, and urging that there should bo no delay In passing some measure which would give relief. Of course. In view of such a message as that Congress could not pass a resolution adjourning two weeks, leav ing the impression before the country that the messace of the President of such a startling character was entirely ignored. And so Congress remained In session, al though the holiday recess was practically observed and an agreement secured, as each House met every three days and adjourned Immediately without transact ing any business, only one or two Sen ator and Representatives attending. The fact was. President Cleveland wanted some financial legislation, and the Re publican managers of the House had de termined that It would do nothing save to Increase the revenues of the Wilson bill. It was at this session that the cel ebrated bill was passed to make a 10 per cent Increase on all Imports of the Wilson tariff law. Of course such a measure met with no favor In the Senate, which was Democratic at that time, and the bill died between the two houses. I remember that both Republicans and Democrats were not at all pleased with the message of the President, as they all realized that legislation upon his lines was impossible. The Sherman law had been repealed, and the Republicans had taken the ground that there was not suf ficient revenues, while the Cleveland Democrats Insisted th-t gold-standard leg islation was necessary and the Sliver Re publicans insisted that free coinage was necessary. There was a practical dead lock all along the line, which was not remedied until the Republicans were In control of both houses of Congress and the Presidency as well. "Want Manufacturing Plants. From time to time men having large real estate holdings in Washington make every effort to obtain manufacturing es tablishments for the city, with a view of Increasing the population and wealth of the National Capital. This is contrary to the design of those who established the Capital on the banks of the Poto mac, as It was never expected that the city would over be a commercial metrop ollc Had that been anticipated, the Capital would probably have been located at some of the then large and growing cities. There are really no reasons why Washington should not develop Into a manufacturing city, providing the power and railroad facilities could be forthcom ing. A great many people oppose any such thing, as they think that the large smokestacks pouring forth huge volumes of smoke would dostroy the beauty of the town. This would be obviated, of course if a scheme which is now thought to be practical, of utilizing a tremendous water-power about li miles from tho city for developing electricity and conduct ing it here should be brought into- requi sition for running manufacturing plants. At Great Falls there is a magnificent water-power, but It has never been util ized. Most any other city in the Na tion would have seized upon it long ago for the purpose of power and manufac turing plant, but Washington never takes held of Improvements of this kind. Most of the people think it should be a resi dence city, but the real estate men say that it cannot subsist wholly .upon resi dences and the Government, but that it must branch out. Notwithstanding the absence of manufacturing plants, the city has grown very rapidly during the past 10 years, and promises to grow still more rapidly, even if these manufacturing es tablishments should not be introduced. Papers Go Astray It has been developed that there Is more than one reason why there has come from the Philippines a great cry for more pa pers, more magazines and more reading matter. It is true that the supplies sent over by fond mothers, brothers, sisters and all -manner of relatives and friends makes up a great bulk In the course of a year, but no account has been taken of the vast amount of this matter that miscarries In a country where mall facili ties are so hindered as in the Philippines. It must be understood that most of the soldier mall Is delivered to mall order lies at the various posts, for distribution among the men. With letter mall there or derlies are very careful, and seldom. In deed, do letters fall to reach their owners. With the paper mall, which is more bulky and troublesome, the same care is not exercised. The orderlies are anxious to rid themselves of the bundles, and often times leave papers and magazines with company commanders, for the several men. If a man happens to be away when the mail arrives, he is very apt to mtss his papers when he returns, particularly if he has been detailed to some special duty which keeps him away from his com pany a day or so. In Innumerable cases It is known that the paper mall addressed to men in the ranks has been opened and read by anxious comrades who have not fared so well, not with any Intention of wrongdoing, but purely in their desire to get something fresh from 'home. It is said that the great bulk of complaints that are made against the mail service in the Philippines is because of failure to receive papers and magazines through the mail. Morelver, an Incorrect address on a bun dle of papers destined for some soldier in the Philippines 'is a fatal error which will cost the intended recipient his bulk of reading matter, as there is practically no chance of finding a man with such a package, when the address proves incor rect. A Southern Exposition. Notwithstanding the fact that there are plenty of expositions In prospect, there Is still another one that is going to attract attention. This will be held at Charles ton, S. C, beginning in December, a year from now. and lasting until the following April, There will be a delegation of South Carolinians In Washington during the coming session of Congress endeavoring to get an appropriation for a Government exhibit, and as nearly every city that gives an exposition gets such an appro priation, it Is quite likely that Charleston will not fall. The Charleston exposition proposes to Include Southern Industries, but will also make a specialty for the West Indies, taking in Cuba, Porto Rico and the foreign islands which make tip the group. They have weighted down the Charleston exposition with the name, "South Carolina Interstate and West In dian Exposition." Of course, they had to have a name, but they seem to "have included all the words they could possi bly use. Of course, people from the -far West will hardly be expected to visit this Southern exposition, still there are always a great number of people in the United States from the North. Middle West and even the far West who are traveling in Southern sections during the Winter, and they will probably take occasion to drop in and see what this old Southern city has to show. They will observe one thing which cannot be seen In scarcely any other town In the country. It Is the sight of the old Colonial days. Charleston has not grown so rapidly as Boston, Philadel phia, Baltimore, New Tork and other cities which figured prominently before the revolution and during that struggle. Consequently there has been no necessity of tearing down the old buildings to make room for the new. The city has not many extremely wealthy residents, makjng it unnecessary 19 pull down the old Colonial residences to make room for magnificent palaces such as the latter-day generation In other cities think necessary In order to keep up proper style. It will be found for the most part that the buildings aa built flush with the streets, and the yards and gardens are in the rear. Some sections of the old Colonial towns in the NortH are found to still have traces of antiquity in keeping with the same custom.. German town, Philadelphia, is one of them. Manufacturing; Cotton. There are many other things of inter est in and about South Carolina. There are the palmettos, palms and many oth er tropical plants. Then there is Fort Sumpter and Fort Moultrie, names of his torical association, and Charleston Bay, over which cannons boomed for so long, for Charleston was the seat of secession. It took this particular Suthern city a long time to recover from the effects of the war. Nothing was ground into South Carolinians more than the fact that they did not want any tariff on anything. Free trade has been a cardinal principle so long that it has been almost impossi ble to get them to take advantage of the tariff. A little glance at something that has been done will show how they are gradually making use of the protection afforded to the manufacturers of cot ton, to turn this great Industry 0f their home state to their own account. In 187Q there were 12 establishments. 33,000 spin dles and 700 looms. In 1900 there are 111 establishments, 2.122,305 spindles and 60,168 looms. It shows that they have begun to make cotton goods in South Carolina where they grow the raw material. Then again South Carolina is taking advantage of the protection, or rather the revenue duty that was placed on tea in the war revenue act. About 30 miles from Charleston is the only large tea-growing plantation in this country, and it would seem that they are making a success of it. Charleston is going ahead in other di rections now, although it seems to have stood so long. There is a prospect that the old town is waking up and Intends to make something of herself. An Interest. ing feature of this fact is shown in the manner in which the city is moving about this exposition. Her most public spirited citizens are taking a lively in terest in it and are doing everything In their power to secure the very best ex hibits, and to make It well worth th while of ose Interested in the Southern States and in the West Indies to come to Charleson a year from now. The very fact that they are using the West Indies shows a sort of progressive spirit and desire for expansion, which was not shown in the vote cast this Fall, but Is an example of the fact that the best busi ness men of Charleston really believe that expansion means prosperity and progress for the Southern States. Charles ton has also become alive to" the Import ance of having a navy-yard at that city, and a good deep-water channel to and from its magnificent harbor. Years ago a navy-yard was located at Port Royal and after the expenditure of several millions of dollars it has been found necessary to practically abandon this large drydock because the ships of our Navy cannot reach it Now the navy-yard is going to be at Charleston, where it ought to have gone in the first place. It will be recalled that a drydock and naval station were located on the Pacific Coast lnvsort of a Juggling manner, and has been practical ly useless ever since. In time It is prob able that It Puget Sound does need a na val station it will be located at one of the Sound cities, but long before that there will be a drydock and naval station on the Columbia River. Charleston Is just correcting the error, of many years ago in having the navy-yard built where at ought to have been in, the first place. CONFER OVER NEHALEM COAL FIELD A!fD RAILROAD CON SIDERED IN NEW YORK. Probably No Joint Action Uovr, "but Inference Is Given That Port land Should Build Line. An Intimation has been received in Port land that the matter of developing tho Lower Nehalem coal field and building a railroad to it has been under considera tion in New York by powers representing the O. R. & N., the Great Northern, the Northern Pacific and possibly the Astoria railroad. If a conclusion was reached, It was not given out, but there is consider able doubt about any agreement for Joint action of these companies in that enter prise. So far as can be judged from th information that has leaked out, the rail road companies will not take up that mat ter now, but It is coupled with a plain Inference that it would undoubtedly be to Portland's Interest to open that field, and that Portland could with propriety and profit do It Immediately. . Fairly trustworthy tests of coal from the Lower Nehalem show It to be of about the same quality as that mined near Rawlings, Wyoming, a very satisfactory steam coal. It is said to be superior to any other product of the Pacific Coast, even better than the Comax or Welling ton coal. This is regarded as particularly significant in the present undeveloped condition of that coaL OREGON SHORT LINE TRANSFER. OHa Takes the Tickets Aspect of Portland Railroad Changes. Yesterday the tickets of the Oregon Short Line were formally turned over to F. R. Olln, city ticket agent, preparatory to the departure of Mr. Coman tomorrow for his new position in Salt Lake City. There will be no further transfer of of ficial functions at the Short Line office here. The present force will, proceed to close up the business, and discontinue tho office by January L This will all be done In the name of Mr. Coman, as gen eral agent, though he will be In Salt Lake City. The other members of the Portland staff of the Oregon Short Line do not yet know what they will do after the first of the coming year. There Is an abiding faith that they will still find employment here, the presumption being that the O. R. & N. will need a larger force under the new arrangement than It now maintains. It Is also supposed that the Short Line may make transfers from Portland to other parts of its field. While nothing definite is known as to the- arrangements that will finally be made, the report that first gained cur rencythat Assistant General Freight Agent Miller, of the O. R. & N., would be made General Freight Agent, and that General Agent Lothrop, of the Union Pa cific, would be appointed assistant gen eral freight agent of the O. B, & N. continues to hold strength. There was a rumor that Mr. Lothrop was to go to New York City ff.r the Union Pacific, but this is not now deemed probable. It is said that City Ticket Agent Lang, of the Union Pacific, will probably be given a position in the East. Other members of the local Union Pacific staff are not yet placed; so far as arrangements are now known. All the details of the changes must await the return of Traffic Manager Campbell for their consummation. He is now on his way to San Francisco, and is expected to reach Portland Monday. He will be greeted by an anxious and curious throng of railroad men. MAKE ODD PROPOSALS. Man Want to Buy Part of O. It. t N. Woman "Wants a Train. Through lack of a department of wit and humor the railroads fail to con tribute as much as they might to the gayety of nations. Much of the humor that flows into the general offices is hid there because publicity might offend somebody and alienate business. Some of It is appreciated only by railroad men, and some of it they fall utterly to ap preciate. General Superintendent O'Brien, of the O. R. & N., the other day received a letter containing a large proposal from a man who lives at Athena. The writer, who had had experience as a, section hand, wanted Mr. O'Brien to quote fig ures for the sale of the O. R. & N. line between Pendleton and Walla Walla, it being presumed that since the O. R. & N. had built the Snake River cut-oft it wanted to make some disposal of the other line. The Athena magnate offered to enter into an arrangement that should give him ownership of the road for passenger service, but he magnanimously offered to let the company run its freight trains over the track for sundry slight favors in the way of motive power. Almost any terms would suit him. Mr. O'Brien was out ot town yesterday, but at his office it was denied that he had gone to negotiate with the Athena man. From away down in Georgia a woman writes to General Passenger Agent Hurl burt asking for a train to carry a com pany of her neighbors from Cobb Coun ty to Oregon. She wanted it understood she had heard of other railroads, and that she would write to them unless she received proper encouragement from the O. R. & N. and the citizens of Oregon. Mr. Hurlburt Is thinking of arranging for a train de luxe to handle this Georgia business. COLONIST RATES. Transcontinental Association Voted Dorm the Proposition. CHICAGO. Dec 11. A proposition which virtually amounts to a suggestion that Northern Pacific colonist rates be applied through Missouri River gateways to Cali fornia points was submitted by telegraph to railroads in the Transcontinental As sociation today and promptly voted down. The proposition follows: That second-class co!6n5st rates West bound only. California points and inter mediate points affected, be: From Chi cago, $30; from St. Louis. New Orleans and common points $27 50; from Missouri River and common points, $25. These rates to apply via all roads to which reg ular short line second-class rates apply. Tickets to be sold each Tuesday from February 12 to April 30 inclusive. Regular second-class tickets to be used, the con tract and each coupon to be indorsed "ColonlsC and limited not to exceed 24 hours beyond regular scheduled time. These conditions are practically the same as for the tickets via St. Paul and to the North Pacific Coast. The dates are the same. Although the proposition was voted down, fears are entertained that some road may take Independent action and force these rates Into effect. No par ticular object, it Is asserted, Is to be served by them, as business to California at present Is unusually heavy, so much so that all the roads have been compelled to put on additional trains. If the rates go Into effect vast amounts of revenue. It Is said, will be sacrificed and Colorado and Utah rates may be permanently affected. Grand Trunk Purchase Ratified. LONDON, Dec. 1L At a special meeting of the shareholders of the Grand Trunk Railroad today the purchase of the Chi cago & Grand Trunk Railroad was rati fied. Sir Charles Rivers Wilson, president of the Grand Trunk, maintained that the new arrangement would reduce the obll gafons $00,000 a- year and enable the whole length ot the line to be double tracked within a short time. He paid a glowing tribute to the former general manager of the Grand Trunk -Railroad, Charles M. Hays, saying it was impos- Jsible to, find a second. Hays, hut, be added,' he believed that George Bell Reeve (the former traffic manager of the Grand Trunk Railroad and now the general manager) was the best man whose services could possibly be secured. He dilated on the sacrifice Mr. Reeve had made in giving up his retirement to take on the onerous duties of general manager. The shareholders congratulated the di rectors on the action taken and gratefully bid farewell to Mr. Hays. It was an nounced at the meeting that Mr. Hays' staff will all remain with Mr. Reeve. . Prominent Railroad Men Confer. Wall Street Journal December 7. There have seldom been more prominent Western railroad men in New York at one time than are now in the city. Moat ot them are here to attend the. rate confer ence, but several are here on business connected with their respective roads. Among the latter are: 2resldent A. S. Stickney, of the Chicago Great Western; President A. L. Mohler, of the Oregon Navigation; President Purdy, of the Rock Island, and President Yoakum, of the St. Louis & San Francisco, the directors of which meet this morning for action on the dividend. Contrary to report. Presidents Burt and Ripley are not at the confer ence, nor is the Interstate Commerce Commission represented. It is a source of satisfaction that Vice-President and Gen eral Traffic Manager Hannaford. of the Northern Pacific, should be present, his company always refusing to enter Into any pooling arrangement. The presi dents report rates as a whole satisfactory and business generally good. "Do American Railways PayT" A short time ago, the Southern Pacific, in pursuance of Its policy of sending out trustworthy railroad information among its employes from time to time,, distrib uted a large number of pamphlets by D. Car-Skaden, entitled, "Do American Rail ways Pay?" Now the passenger depart ment of the New York Central & Hudson River Railroad has taken the matter up and has sent the pamphlet abroad to the press. It is an Intelligent discussion of the railway question, including decline of rates, foreign traffic charges, government ownership and government supervision. The conclusion reached upon the appar ently reliable data presented is that charges for transportation on American railways are "far below those on lines in foreign countries," Indeed are too low, and that they must increase or there must bo neglect of service and maintenance. Want to Buy Northern Pacific. Premier Roblln, of Manitoba, accompa nied by two members of his cabinet, were in St. Paul for a brief interval last week, says the St. Paul Pioneer-Press. It is alleged that they called upon Mr. Mel len, after which they departed for New York. It is now said that the Manitoba Gov ernment has set out to buy or lease the lines of the 'Northern Pacific in that prov ince, and settle at once the differences that have arisen among the farmers against the government for Its refusal of concessions to the American line. President Melien is quoted as saying that these lines can be purchased, and it appears now to be only a matter of agree ing or disagreeing upon the price. Pre vious negotiations in this direction have failed. LofrglnK Railroad Near Astoria. ASTORIA, Dec 1L Charles Masten, the Columbia River logger, has arrangements about completed to construct a logging railroad of about two and one-half miles in length, near Svensen, Or. Surveyor Allman arrived in this city last evening and left for Svensen this morning to com plete the survey for tho road. Railroad Notes. H. S. Stebbins, Seattle representative of the Erie Dispatch, was in Portland yesterday. The first carload of freight bound west ward over the new Union Pacific-Great Northern Route, through Spokane, passed Council Bluffs yesterday. It was a car of pitch from Kansas "City for New What com. The first eastbound car over the new route was loaded with timber from Falrhaven for Denver, and the Pacific Bridge Company, of Portland, was the shipper. The December number of the Royal Blue, the Baltimore & Ohio's monthly publication, is particularly attractive, both in Illustrations and letter text. Among the interesting features are a de scription ot the new club car and the electric service of the Baltimore & Ohio in the city of Philadelphia. Historic il lustrations and general literature add to the merit of the publication. TRIUMPH OP THE BUZZSAW. American Forests Reduced by This Implement Uses of Man. Leslie's Weekly. The original forests of America were the most expensive and accessible of the world. Although they have been consid erably diminished by 500 years of cutting, it is estimated-that one-third of the area of the United States Is at present cov ered with timber. On this area there is supposed to be $2,300,000,000,000 feet of merchantable timber, or 60 years' supply at the present rate of consumption. The Implement by means of which this generation has reduced enormous forests to timber 1st the buzzsaw. There were 21,011 saw mills enumerated In 1830, being widely distributed wherever forests are found, because of the difficulty of trans porting logs In pioneer regions. The lum bering operations which were first in augurated on a large scale in Maine were later transferred to New York and Penn sylvania, but the full development of the industry was not reached until the tim ber supplies of Michigan and Wisconsin were marketable. The first steam saw mill was started In the Saginaw Valley, Michigan, in 1834. All operations were, however, meager for many years follow ing, and until the tide of emigration, which was checked from flowing into the Northwest during the Civil War, was re sumed after 1S65. In the latter part of the 60a lumbering began in Michigan and Wisconsin, and passed to its golden age In the 70s. Chi cago then became the greatest lumber center of the world, receiving in a single year as much as 2,000,000,000 cubic feet. These achievements can no longer be equaled In the Northern pineries. Mean while the South has been opened and Is now entering upon Its most brilliant period of exploitation. The same may be said of the Pacific Douglas spruce and redwood Industry. The Chinese Cook. Chambers's Journal. Mrs. White determined. In the first flush of her newly wed dignity, that she was not going to be "squeezed" by the Chi nese cook and the storekeeper, as It was quite plain every one else was. Accord ingly, she purchased scales and weights, and announced her intention of person ally weighing everything. For some days this method proved very satisfactory, but she was sometimes a little puzzled on finding that the provisions occasionally weighed more than was charged for. One day the mystery was solved. She was carefully weighing a chicken. In China, not only is everything, living and dead, sold by weight, but fowls are always sup plied alive. The chicken during the weighing operation suddenly entered a. vigorous objection, and began to flap and struggle with all its might, and during these flappings and stragglings, some thing weighty fell with a thud to the floor, evidently from somewhere about the chicken. This turned out to be a large piece of lead, which had been cun ningly fastened under one of the wings. Further Investigation led to the discovery of a similar piece underneath. the other wine. The overweight of tha past few days ws. new acoeunUd. foe. . IN NEED OF IMPROVEMENT BUSINESS MEN ON GRAND AVENUE "WANT IT PAVED. Movement to Break Up Gaits of Hoodlums Building: Charged ' With Electricity. There is agitation for improvement of Grand avenue with vitrified brick or some durable material, the work to be done in the early Spring. Business men are very much worked up over the condition of the street, and say that they are losing trade every day, and vehicles are being driven from the street. Following are expres sions from some of the business men on the situation: W. H. Markel (in the West block) In my judgment, it is but a matter of time when Grand avenue will have to be de serted, as Union, avenue was deserted some years ago, and for the same reason. Union avenue property-owners could have held the business had they put down a good Improvement, but they did nothing until business moved to Grand avenue. Then they Improved, but it was too late; they could not draw back the business. Now the same conditions prevail on Grand avenue. It Is amazing to me that the property-owners are so short-sighted as to permit the main and only business street on the East Side to get in such a condition when It would pay them to put down a flrst-class pavement. Here is & 70-foot street running from Ellsworth on the south to Holladay avenue and further that could be made the finest street In the city. It would pay the property-owners to Improve the central part, say, from East Clay street to Sullivan's Gulch, with vitrified brick or some other equally dura ble material. First street, on the West Side, Is another example. The property owners there did not Improve until busi ness moved, and unless something is done at once, there will be many vacant stores on Grand avenue. Dr. Wilson It is unfortunate, that Grand avenue has been permitted to get in such a deplorable condition. I don't know what will be done. At the meeting held some time ago, it was shown that the property-owners were opposed to do ing anything. At the present rate, there will be vacant houses on the avenue be fore Spring. William Taylor I don't see how we can do business unless Grand avenue Is im proved or fixed. We are losing trade every day. I am told that an effort Is making to Improve" the center blocks. That would help very much. Of course, from much of the property there is little income, and the owners have been taxed heavily in the past, but the only way to save the street Is to Improve It. Dan Kellaher Conditions canriot be much worse. Vehicles ore using Union .avenue. Grand avenue Is unsafe to drive over, and it Is getting worse. Why, the stores will be all empty unless the street Is improved. Union avenue Is picking up at the expense of Grand avenue. The owners of this block (West's) are in fa vor of making a f rst-class Improvement, and also others through the center. I be lieve if some one of the property-owners will start the ball rolling these center blocks will either be improved or fixed up, I believe it to be the Interest of the property-owners to make a flrst-class improve ment on Grand avenue. W. B. Hall The street will have to be improved or we can't do business. That is the whole matter In a nutshell. A good many property-owners are swinging Into line for the Improvement of Grand avenue. Among these are the Masonic Association, owners of the West block; A. W. Ocobock. E. H. Virgil, J. H. Heller and others. Most of these fa vor vitrified brick. They want to start a petition by the first of the year and get everything in motion so the improvement can be commenced early In the Spring. This kind of pavement Is contemplated from East Clay to East Burnslde street. To Combine for Protection. At the request of E. H. Virgil and oth ers of central East Portland, a meeting ot the citizens of that district is called at 64 Grand avenue, corner East Oak, Sat urday evening, to take measures to pro tect themselves against the band of young hoodlums who are going about at night smashing windows and committing other depredations. Besides the window that was broken by the "S. S. S.," at 25 East Seventh street, Monday night, an attempt was made to smash a window in the home of W. W. Bequeath, corner East Seventh and East Washington streets. The stone was thrown against the front window, but the glass, which is very thick, was not broken. Mr. Bequeath heard the stone strike the glass, and hur rylng out, heard five or six boys running down the sidewalk. He could tell from the sound that one of the boys was lame. Next time they undertake to break his window they may expect the contents of a shotgun. Every resident between Grand, avenue and East Sixteenth, and East Stark and East Burnslde streets, lives in constant expectation of a visit from the "S. S. S.," and they have decided to organize for the suppression of the gang. Policeman Parker has been trying to find out who are breaking the windows, and has a list of the youngsters who are known to run. about at night, but has not succeeded yet 'n running the guilty ones down. A po liceman has little chance to catch them. When he goes through that district every thing is perfectly quiet, and he cannot see a single boy, and Parker thinks it is a move in the right direction for the resi dents to combine. A number of citizens reported several cases where houses had been defaced within a few days and rocks thrown which were found in the yard. These were wrapped In oloth. on which were printed, "By order S. S. S." About two greeks ago a resident on East Twelfth street heard a stone strike his house, and hurrying out saw a boy running. He gave chase and caught the youngster and brought hlm'back, but he was let go un punished. . Received With Fayor. The proposal to Improve East Burnslde street, from Grand avenue to East Twenty-fourth, was received with much favor all along that street. C. N. Rankin, who has the matter In hand, said yesterday that he- met many of the property-owners who were then ready to put their names to a petition for the very best improvement that can be made. Auditor Devlin will prepare estimates of the cost of crushed rock and gravel and have them ready by Saturday. These estimates will be ready for the meeting of property owners next week. There Is good reason to believe that the street will also be im proved to the approach of the Burnslde bridge west from Grand avenue. E. H. Virgil, who has property there, says that most of the property-owners west of Grand avenue favor vitrified brick. Mr. Virgil said he intends to start a petition for that improvement the first of the year, so the work could be commenced in the early Spring. This is in line with the movement east of Grand avenue. Very likely on agreement can be made by which there will be a continuous im provement from the bridge approach to East Twenty-fourth street. There are no elevated roadways on East Burnslde street, and no car tracks, and a first-class Improvement can be put down. Iron Building; Electrified. Policeman Parker, while making the rounds on 'East First and East Stark. Sunday morning, accidentally discovered that the big corrugated Iron warehouse ot W. E. Splcer, which stands on East First and extends from East Washington and East Stark streets, was completely elec trified. His attention was called to the condition of the structure by a small boy. who had touched the corner and had re- VXived. a heavy shock that Jamed nls.ana.. TTTT- llttlllllliiiin,, Gold and Silver Watches We are showing the largest ato"k of Ladles' and Gents' Watches of endless variety We selected only those which will be satisfactory to the wearer. Good time keepers and best quality cases, which will wear and be satisfactory. The cheap er kinds you won't find in our stock. We haye Ladies' Watches from $15.00 to $20.00 that are match less in style and quality, and our Gentlemen's Watches at tfc&s prices are not to be found at any other place in the city THE G. t We will show you some extra fine ones, 5 too. from $23 to $100. ""' hiiiMii iiiiMmtwi At first, the policeman doubted the story, but was convinced when he touched the corner and received a severe shock him self. Some boys got hold of a wire ana fastened one end to the Southern Pacific track and then threw the other end against the side of the iron building. The electric current was sufficient to melt the wire and bum holes in the sheets of cor rugated Iron. Policeman Parker warned the boys to keep away from the "live" building and telephoned for an electrician. On investigation, it was found that the cable which carries the current for the motor that runs the mill on the second floor entered from East Washington street through a Bmall opening, and that by rubbing against the rough Iron, the insulation of the cable .had worn off. thus forming a connection and electrifying the whole structure. The building Is 200 feet long and covered with corrugated iron. The electrician touched It with his plyers and the Instrument was knocked out of his hand. A shock could be had from any part. Mr. Splcer was sent for, and he unlocked the building, when the cur rent was cut off. The electrician ex plained that as the warehouse stood on piles there was no connection with the ground and the current ran all over the iron covering. East Side Nates. Rev. Robert McLean, pastor of the Third Presbyterian Church, has been con fined to his home, at 20 East Fifteenth street, since Sunday with severe illness, caused by overtaxing himself. Tuesdaj nlght It was necessary to call In a physi cian, but yesterday he was better, and thought he would soon be about-again. The $1800 mortgage which burdened the Woodlawn Methodist Church and manse, which was paid off and canceled last week, will be publicly burned In the church Friday evening next. On that oc casion there will be a celebration with ap propriate exercises over the happy out come of the debt-paying campaign. Bish op Cranston Is expected to be present and take part. WILCOX AND HIS REVOLUTIONS Picturesque Career of HaTrall's Delegate to Congress. Chicago Record. The first Territorial Delegate to Con gress elected by Hawaii Is Robert W. Wilcox, who was the Independent Home Rule candidate for that office. The fact that Wilcox Is himself a part Hawaiian, long identified with the former Queen's efforts to regain the throne, and that by appealing to Hawaiian voters he was elected over the Republican and Demo cratic candidates, who also were half castes, proves the strength of the native Hawaiian sentiment in the islands. Wilcox will be a nlcturesoue Amir in Congress. His career has been spectacu lar. As one of the leaders among the na tives he was a member of the Hawaiian Legislature in 1SS0, and a strong support er 01 .tung Jvaiakaua when the notorious Celso Caesar Moreno was running his me teoric course as chief adviser of the Klne. When Moreno fell from power, Wilcox went with him to Italy as one of the young Hawallans sent there by the King to oe educated. In 1SS7 he returned from Italy with one of his fellow-students, to find the Gibson-Moreno regime at an end, the government running In a more re sponsible fashion, with the King under some restraint, and the high positions which the travelers had expected to fill not waiting for them. A conspiracy which the students shared with the King's sister, the then Princess Lllluokalani, looking to a return of the old regime and the abdication of the IClng, was detected when it had reached a critical stage, and Wilcox was permit ted to leave the Islands for California. In 1SS9 he returned to Honolulu and re sumed revolution-building. Before day light July SO. with 1E0 armed followers. he marched irom the home of the Prin cess against the King's government and occupied the palace grounds and the gov ernment buildings. They placed four field pieces around the palace. Government troops attacked them, and during the day and night which followed, a hot battle was fought. Wilcox and his revolution ists finally surrendered, after a loss of 7 killed and 12 wounded. He was after ward acquitted by a native jury. Three years later Wilcox was again at the fore with a secret league whose pur poses were not very well defined, except that the members seemed to want an out let for a conspiracy against something. After a short life the league was broken up by the arrest of the principal mem bers for treason, but all were ultimately discharged upon trial. From that time on Wilcox was conspicuous as a leader in native politics, but not until the disturb ance of January, 1895. which attempted to overthrow the provisional government and restore Lllluokalani to the throne, did he share in armed hostilities. He was a leader in that insurrection, and the night battle at Waikiki, but was captured a week later after the affair had proved a failure. He was put on trial for trea son and pleaded guilty before a military commission, whereupon he was sentenced to 35 years at hard labor and a fine of $10,000. In the plan of government drawn up before the outbreak by the former Queen and her conspirators he appeared as the Minister of Foreign Affairs. Two months later his sentence was re duced to 20 years' imprisonment, as was that ot the other leaders, and one year later all the prisoners were released, sub ject to a measure of surveillance. This was January 1. 1S9S. Now Wilcox is the Hawaiian Territorial Delegate to Con gress. Joloan Weapons. The favorite Joloan weapons are the kris, the barong and the campilan, says a writer in the "Outlook. The kris Is sometimes straight, sometimes serpentine, and again wavy, from hilt to point, but in all cases it Is a double-edged sword with a hilt of carved wood, sliver or ivory. The barong, though similarly hllted, is a short, heavy blade, almost oval In shape, edged only on one side, and ter minates in a sharp point. The blade of the campilan, on the other hand, Is un usually long, and broadens toward the end; its handle "s invariably of wood, gro tesquely carved and ornamented with dyed horsehair and small balls. All these and other Philippine knives are guarded by wooden scabbards, occasionally inlaid with other woods or banded with silver; and all are kept faultlessly bright and keen. The blades, too, are often inlaid with silver and gold. The Moro Is ex ceedingly proud of his arms; his kris, or whatever his favorite weapon may be, is ever at his side, whether he be fishing, working afield or resting in the "bosom of his family"; and at night It lies un sheathed at his hand. -One swift, well directed blow from either kris or barong will halve a man orjjend his head o-roU- I M&t. i s: swm HEiTKEMPER CO. 286 MORRISON ST. OBLIGED TO BE CAREEI JLS.XOR ROWE GETS A LETTEJ FROM HIM AS WELL AS HER. He Unconsciously Becomes Refcre In a Weddlnsr Match Between Tyrol Lone-Distance Strangers. Mayor Rowa mw tvi i The Oregonlan is certain to brings a r wv...w cli mien me person Inquire after is a dead m.an. a f. .,... J he inquired through The Oregonlan fd uuc wm iuomas wnite," who had n been heard from bv h roinH.., nl East for 20 years. He has already rd elv.cd mformation about two "Old Toi Whites." both of whom n ,.. i-. J them used to be a scowdweller at thl iiuiui D.au, ana asea last August, Ieavinl enough property to give him decerit burls! wue nr cemetery. The other, wfc was well known all over Central Cal """" as urn xom wmte," died In Sant yruz, uai.. last year, and. as the I formant states, his present address rather enigmatical. The friends of thl uepariea one can chose which ever thej juease ot ine two as their relative. William Van Laar. whn c innni.. for at the same time, presented himsell at the Mayor's office n. flar r tvn J and resented the intimation that he waj ueaa. tie saia tnat after money had beel sent him to jro home. h -was t.iVpn sfi and went to the hospital, and when hd sou wen nis money was an gone anc ne nad to work to earn more. As he had a blacic eye and a bruised face anc his arm in a sllnsr. the Mavor tA . that he would write to the brother lnl quiring alter him that he was not deadj Dut naa Decn arunK and in a row anc had cot all beaten lin. HV ohipotori -wT-t strongly to this, saying that he was nos a drinking man and that h hnrKnB7? injured in a railroad accident In the ter-j mmai grounds wnere ne had been work-j Ing. On inaulrv It was IparnAfl thnf th!J statement was true, and the Mayor wli cnange nis letter accordingly. Such Incidents as these are the ea ones tne jaayor has to deal with, there are others, as for Instance- other day he got a letter from a wld wno had received a proposal of mar from a former citizen of Portland. who wished to be Informed In strict j dence what kind of a character andj tation the object of her affectlonL tvJJ borne in his former residence. Th j mattera were looKea into -ana tne aia; was ready to write his answer wl tl he received a letter from the man, wh he had never known, asking that he t given a good send-off to the widow, a j lunoer assinj mat a. copy oj: tne Tei to the widow be forwarded to him. The! upon the reply was modified and ma pnlnr7s. Anri harmless fnr nnn fa-nr ttn tnn far tn rtpnHntr with mrVi matt. as love affairs, people's reputations, etd wunout taKing desperate cnances. tz might be suggested that when a. woman writes to any one for information In re gard to a man's character it would b just as well that she should not let thi man know to whom she had written. Chamfort's Maxims. The Eagle and the Serpent. Intelligent people make many blunders because they never believe the world ai stupid as it is. Love pleases more than marriage foe the reason that romance Is more Interest ing than history, . You run the risk of belnff disgusted it you pry Into the processes of cookery, government or justice. A bright woman told me once thatwhent choosing a sweetheart "a woman pays more regard to what other women say about the man of her choice than to her own opinion of him. When a man has been tormented anc! fatigued by his sensitiveness, he learns that he must live from day to day, forget all that is possible, and efface his Ufa from memory as it passes. Suit the people, because they are Urea, of bitter doses, with the pain and griping that usually follow. Carter's Little Uvee Pills. One pill a dose. People who suffered with rheumatism have taken Hood's Sarsaparilla and found lasting relief. TOYS A, great assortment in Santa Claus headquarters for Portland. RVii- the Vinv w have lust what the always appreciate iron toys, games, ball alrguns, novelties, etc For the girls wo have a great of dolls, all sizes and prices, doll be Iron beds, etc ANDREW KAN Cor. Fourth sad Merrlaon TrDejt, 2d Floer. TsJce Elev