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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (May 16, 1901)
LIBRARY, ;J Portland, - ,reggS ptttmt. VOL. XLL 2fO. 12,613. PORTLAND, OREGON, THURSDAY, MAY 16, 1901. PRICE FIVE CENTa GARDEN HOSE" GOLD SEAL BADGER CONQUEROR INDIAN ELK "WHEN PUBCHASEfG BE SURE GOODYEAR RUBBER COMPANY R. H. PEASE. President. T. 3. EBXPARD. JR.. Treturer. y aws ASh America's ORIGINAL Malt WHISKY- . Without a Rival Today Bllimauer & HOCtl, IDS and UO Fourth Street Sol Dlstrltattrs tor Ortaon "IF YOU HOTEL fmmm fifth and Washington 5ts. . . - . PORTLAND, OREGON EUROPEAN PLAN Rooresr-Single 75c to LC0,per day First-Clnss CheckBetonrant Rooms Double., JLOO to $2.00 per day Connected Wttn Hotel. " Rooms Family Ji.50 to 13.00 per day J.LDAVJES.IVej. St Charles Hote CO. (INCORPORATED). FRONT AND MORRISON STREETS PORTLAND, OREGON American and European Plan. A FEW OTHERSo. Who have purchased Aeolians The Right Hon. Viscount Curzon, Lord Henry Paget, Sir Thomas Lipton, His Grace the Duke of Manchester, President Diaz of Mexico, Ex-President Grover Cleveland M. B. WELLS, Northwest Ajcnt for The Aeolian Company Aeolian Hall. 352-355 Washinnton Street, cor. Park WANT IT ADVANCED. "Western. Cities Anxions for Decision in Portland Street Case. WASHINGTON, May 15. A number of petitions -were filed today in the United States Supreme Court for the advance of the case of King vs. the City of Port- land. Or. The case involves the right of cities to assess all damages for street improvements against abutting property. and the authorities of many of the lead ing cities of the far "West unite in ask ing the early adjudication of the conten tion. A condition of uncertainty exists in all of them owing to the fact that the State courts and the Federal courts are not in harmony on the point. OUR TRADE "WITH SCOTLAND. Steady Increase In Imports From America. "WASHINGTON, May 15. The Bureau of Foreign Commerce, of the State De partment made public today advance sheets of -Commercial Relations for 1900," which deal -with American trade in Scotland. The tide of American Im ports into Scotland, it is stated, steadily rises. This Is true not only of our food products, which are in almost universal demand, but also of a numerous variety of manufactures. During the past year the quantity of American goods in the markets of Eastern Scotland has been much larger than ever before, and the volume of trade visibly greater. The market which has been gained for many lines of our manufactures is a permanent one. it is stated. A growing preference for American goods Is held accountable for this very encouraging state of affairs in Scotland. It is pointed out that while the Scotchman is a somewhat fastidious buyer, he becomes a most devoted and profitable customer when once' assured of the merits of an article onerea ior saie. It is this phase of the Scottish charac ter which has prompted American ex porters and manufacturers to consider this commercial field as one apart from England and to deal with it accordingly. Postninster-General "Will Xot Resign. SAN FRANCISCO. May 15. Telegraphic rsports have been received here of a ru mor current in the East that Postmaster Goneral Charles Emory Smith contem places retiring from the Cabinet, and that H. Clay Evans, United States Commis sioner of Pensions, Is scheduled to suc ceed him. The Postmaster-General was asked concerning the truth of the rumor. l "There is no truth in the report," he said. "I have not even considered such a step. I think it probable the report arose from the fact that upon the expira tion of the lease of the "house I now oc cupy in "Washington I did not renew It. for the- -reason that I wished to make a chaneeof residence, but not to leave "Washington." "GARDEN HOSE5 TURTLE PIONEER ANVIL OBELISK NEPTUNE TOD SECURE OISE OF THESE BRASDSj 73-75 FIRST ST. PORTLAND. OR. GOOD FROM END TO END. Beau Brqmmell THE BEST NICKEL CIGAR ON THE MARKET BLUMAUER-FRANKMUGCO. PORTLAND, OREGON Pire Malt WANT THE BEST We have repeatedly said, "YOU'" must get the "PERFECT" furnace. You'll know it sooner or later. w. g. Mcpherson BeatUj mJ Ventilating EesJiw 47 FIRST STREET PERKINS C T. BELCHER, Sac. end Tre, -W3. American plan ..... .$1.25. $1.30. $1.75 European plan 50c. 75c. $1.00 190 UTAH COUNTY BANKRUPTED Gopher Bounties Drained, the Treas ury of Its Funds. SALT LAKE. May 15. Gophers at 5 cents a head have brought practical bankruptcy to the County of Tooele, Utah. They multiplied so rapidly as to become j a veritable plague. an.d enterprising men J and school boys have profited so much by killing them and receiving bounty for their tails that the County Commission ers not only have abolished the practice of paying bounty, but also have been compelled to cancel bids for the erection of a new county jail, because nearly all the treasury funds have been paid out for gopher tails. A few weeks ago the rodents became so bad that the County Commissioners offered a bounty of 5 cents apiece for them. In a few days the schoolhouses of the county were prac tically without pupils, nearly every boy, armed with traps and poison, being out in the fields and. prairie hunting goph ers. Men Joined In the hunt. The little animals were slaughtered by thousands, and one day the county paid out $800 In bounties. So great became the drain that notice has now been published abolishing the bounty, bringing an end to a very flourishing industry. The notice came too late to save the treasury, but in the meantime the county has been rid of a pest that was bringing ruin to every farmer. IN FAVOR OF ACCEPTANCE. Attitude of the Majority of the Cuban Resolutions Committee. HAVANA, May 15. A majority of the committee on resolutions, Senors Tam aya, Villendas and Quesda, are in favor of the committee making an Immediate report advising the constitutional con vention to accept the Piatt amendment. Senors Gomez and Sllvela are strongly opposed to this action. It is said that Senor Gomez, in drawing up the minor ity report. Interprets the explanations of Secretary Root as an admittance that 'the United States will change the Piatt amendment If the Cubans Insist upon It; that clauses will be added guaranteeing the absolute Independence of Cuba; .that the third clause will be stricken out as the Monroe doctrine provides for inter vention should it be necessary, and coal ing stations used for coal shall not be used for naval stations. At today's meeting the majority voted that, owing to the explanations made by Secretary Root to the commission, we advise the constitutional convention to accept the Piatt amendment as a basis, for future treaties with the United States." Alger Sails for Europe. NEW YORK, May 15. Russell A. Alger, ex-Secretary of War, and Mrs. Alger," sailed for Europe today on the St. Lculs. TOM ABANDONED 'Mb, McKinley's Illness Will 'GhSfc Programme. HER CONDITION IS CKITICAU If She Recovers Sufficiently to. Be Moved, the President "Will Take - Her Home by the Most Di rect Ronte. SAN FRANCISCO, May 15. Secretary Cortelyou at 9 o'clock tonight gave the following bulletin to the Associated Press: "The physicians report an improvement In Mrs. McKInley's condition since noon today." At 11 o'clock Secretary Cortelyou, in re ply to a request for a bulletin on Mrs. McKInley's condition, sent out word that there was nothing1 new to give ouL The iouso was quiet within. Outside only- tho police detail and representatives of the press Tvere on guard. Dr. Hirschf elder at 11. o'clock left the Scott residence. At that time Mrs. Mc Klnley was reported to be slightly bet ter. A few moments later, Dr. Rixey, who had been in constant attendance for over 24 hours, lay down to get a little rest. The members of the Cabinet are very apprehensive that Mrs, McKinley will, not rally. Her physicians have not yet been able to check the,iowel trouble and her enfeebled condition militates against her. But at the Scott residence It was stated that there is no immediate danger, al though a change for the- worse would not be unexpected. After the consulta tion tonight, Dr. Rlxey and Dr. Hlrs'ch felder remained in attendance. Secretary and Mrs. Hay Joined the President at 9:30. Mrs. McKinley has taken nothing but liquid nourishment for several days. When she Is conscious she recognizes the President and asks for him. She Is not regarded as in Immediate danger of dis solution. There Is no abandonment of the hope that she will rally, but In her weakened condition there could not fall to be apprehension lest the spark of life might so out. The members of the Cabinet, who were to have attended the entertainment given by the Bohemian Club tonight, sent their regrets. When the members of the Bo hemian Club learned tonight of the alarming nature of Mrs. McKInley's -JH-- nesst . tfie-.alJDratentfirWniitnrfa- had been planned was abandoned," out Of respect to the President. The President late this afternoon can celled his engagement for the banquet which was to have been tendered in his honor tomorrow night by the Ohio So ciety of California. SAN FRANCISCO, May 1G. At 1 o'clock this (Thursday) morning nothing had oc curred at the Scott residence to indicate to the watchers outside that there was any unfavorable change in Mrs. McKin ley's condition. Only dim lights were burning, and everything was very quiet. One of the nurses was relieved at 12:30 A. M. TOUR OF NORTHWEST ABANDONED. President Will Return to Washing ton as Soon ns Possible. SAN FRANCISCO, May l-Owlng to the very serious character of Mrs. Mc KInley's Illness, the President today definitely decided to abandon his con templated Northwestern tour and to re turn to Washington direct as soon as Mrs. McKinley is able to stand the jour ney. The gravity of Mrs. McKInley's condition had been known to the mem bers of the President's immediate party for several days, but had been concealed In the belief that she would rally, as she had so frequently In the past when suf fering from one of her periods of de pression, and with a few days of abso lute and quiet rest be restored to her normal condition. But her present ill ness has been attended with entirely new complications which have not yielded to treatment, and the President concluded this morning that it was time the public should be apprised of the true situation. He was also anxious that the citizens of the cities and towns along the planned route of his return trip, who have made such extensive preparations for his visit, should receive prompt noti fication of the circumstances which com pelled his decision. The bulletin which Secretary Cortelyou gave to the Associated Press this morn ing announcing the abandonment of the trip, coupled with another announcement that Mrs. McKInley's condition since last night was better In some respects, but worse In others, prepai-ea the way for the bulletin ipsued two hours later that Dr. Henry Gibbons, a celebrated phy sician of San Francisco, had been called in consultation with Drs. HIrschfelder and Rlxey. Dr. Gibbons has a reputation here for his skill In the treatment of bowel disorders. It was tne President's own wish that another physician be called in consultation, not because he did not have perfect confidence in Drs. HIrschfelder and Rixey. but because he desired that nothing that science could do should be left undone. He was es pecially anxious that the diagnosis of the attending physicians should agree. Ever since Mrs. McKInley's arrival at the Scott resilience she has been desper ately 111. Her extreme weakness has been the most alarming feature of her condition. Her vitality has been at low ebb and she has seldom spoken to those about her. The President has been con tinually at her bedside since their ar rival here Sunday night, save the four hours Monday afternoon when he left her to go to San Jose and the three hours he spent yesterday In the parade. Fortunately, Mrs. McKinley slept through his absence on both these oc casions. The strain which the President him self has undergone during the last few davs has been very great. It has been a I personal sacrifice for him to try to carry out his engagements nere in order not to disappoint the people, but he has made It unselfishly and nobly, and It Is still his desire to carry out the prearranged programme in San Francisco to what ever extent he can. This morning he thought he would be able to be present at the unveiling of; , the Donahue statue, and so informed the committee. But -at the last moment when his escort had already drawn up before the Scott resi dence, Mrs. McKInley's condition was such that he decided not to leave. And all day, except for a brief half hour this afternoon,v when he yielded to the en treaties of those about Win and went out for a drive, he has remained steadfastly ' at her side. The members of the Cabinet reluctantly consented to carry out today's pro gramme at the University of California and at Oakland, but they had no heart to put Into the festivities -while their chief was grieving at his wife's bedside. The members of the Cabinet and others of the Presidential party crossed the bay on the revenue tug Slocum. As the little steamer crossed the harbor the warships lying at anchor in the bay saluted, and all the bay steamers founded, their sirens In honor of the party. The guests were taken to the university grounds and the exercises of the day were observed. Sec retary Hay acting m the President's stead. The Presidential party was en tertained at luncheon'by President Ben jamin Ide Wheeler, of the University of California. The visit to Mount Tamalpais, arranged for tomorrow, has been 'entirely aban doned, but If Mrs. McKInley's condition warrants, the President will attend the reception given by the various veteran or ganizations of this city in the afternoon. Mrs. McKInley's- illness has cast a shadow over the whole city. The people have shown their sympathy in a multi tude of ways. All day long little groups have been tandlng across the streets opposite- the Scott mansion, silently watching1 the drawn tllnds of the room in Which the first lady of the land lay. The news of the serious character of her Illness evidently traveled fast, be cause from all over the country today telegrams have been pouring in. to the President, expressing sympathy for Mrs. McKinley and asking for tidings of her condition. Just how soon Mrs. McKinley will be able to travel Is a question which no one can answer now. It may be neces sary for her to remain here longer than next Monday, when the party originally scheduled to leave. Indeed, it is likely that it will be somewhat later before she is able to endure th,e long trip across the continent. But as soon as she Is sufficiently strong, the -trip will be made by the most direct rome, probably the Union Pacific. No stops will be made, and It is expected that the trip can be made in five days. Governor Nash, of Ohio, and staff were the guests of honor at a reception at the Union League Club tonight. Postmaster-General Smith was greeted- by 500 members of the postal service in this cltv this afternoon. Tonight he attended a banquet given in his' honor by the officers of the postal service. The Ohio Congressional party' spent the day in sightseeing. Secretary Long May Go East. SAN FRANCISCO, May 15. Secretary of the Navy Long may leave the Presi dential party and depart for the East at any moment. He has received word that his daughter, who "has been living in Col orado Snrings for over a year for her -health, Is.dangerously ill. Secretary Long is accompanied on the trip by Mrs. .uong nnri a son of tender -vears.'xne DQy "was S$wftXe.i.llU.Xe&tfirdayfvitonlaJ the pliyslclan called in ordered-the child's retirement to bed at once. The Secretary Is much worried .over the illness in his family," and it is said he is not Inclined to continue his trip. Message of Sympathy. CHBHALIS, Wash., May 15. The Che halls President's day committee tonight sent a message of sympathy to President McKinley on account of the illness of his wife. SUMMARY OF IMPORTANT NEWS. The President's Trip. Mrs. McKInley's condition causes apprehension. Page 1. The President has abandoned his tour of the Northwest". Page 1. The programme at San 'Francisco has been cur tailed. Page 1. .Philippines. Peace reigns In the southern Islands. Page 2. Civil officers were appointed In Albay Province, Luzon. Page 2. .' A transport line may be established via Suez. Page 2. Sport. ' Spokane won its third game, defeating. Seattle, 10 to 7. Page 3. , Portland-Tacoma baseball game postponed .on account of rain. Page 3. The Shamrock II will be partially remodeled. Page 3. General. Rioting continues at Albany, N. T. Page 1. Three hundred firms have signed the agreement with machinists. Page 2. The German press welcomes the news regard ing the Indemnity Issue. Page 2. The consolidation of the Rio Grande roads was ratified. Page 3. Six miners were killed by an explosion In a West Virginia coal mine. Page 5. Pacific Coast. Ten cars were wrecked on a branch of the Southern Pacific near Albany. Page 4. Letson Balllet, of Baker City, pleaded not guilty at Des Moines; la., to a charge of fraudulent use of the malls. Page 4. Explanatory discussion of the new high school course of Oregon. Page 5. Routine proceedings of Oregon Sunday School Convention at Salem. Page 5. The accounts of "W. H. Odell, ex-Clerk of the Oregon School Land Board, have been found correct. Page 4. Proceedings of the grand court of Foresters at Salem. Page 4. Commercial. Portland market quotations. Pase 11. Phillips forced corn up to GO cents at Chicago. Page 11. Domestic and foreign commercial new3 and quotations. Page 11. New York stock market transactions. Page 11. Marine. Portland's export lumber trade growing. Page 10. Bark Fervaal on berth at Antwerp for Port land. Page 10. Steamship Alaskan launched at San Francisco. Page 10. Hamburg-American line to rua steamers on the Pacific Page 10. Portland and "Vicinity. Report that the Southern Pacific has leased the Astoria Railroad for 00 years. Page 1. T. M. C. A. building tund amounts to $37,000. Page4T. New manufacturing enterprises for Portland. Page 7. Ofllclals" announced on Portland Hunt -Club meet. Page 8. Mount Scott district to have electric street railway service by July 1. Page 8. Eight cyclers fined, in the Municipal Court for wheeling on sidewalks. Page 7. City Council passes new ordinance regulating cycling, orders a list of .delinquent taxes, and considers an ordinance for" a more 'prac tical accounting of municipal "finances". PageS Carnival association announces programme of outdoor amusements. Page 7. Suggestion that fund raised for President Mc KInley's reception be used for Fourth of July celebration.' Page 12. RIDE FULL OF PERIL Warm Reception of Non Union Men at Albany. NO ATTEMPT MADE TO RUN CARS Imported Employes Escorted Through Streets Packed "With a Howling Mob of Strike Sym pathizers. ALBANY, N. T.,"1 May 15. Citizens sabre-slashed, non-union men with broken limbs and bloody faces, women and EX-AMBASSADOR UHL DYING. Bf -Zu.JL- T 5&X-&J- :'i$ffiffia&fei& GRAND RAPIDS. Mich., May 15,-EdwIn P. Uhl still lingers in a comatose" condition, but the end is eipeoted aV any motnjmfc. ooooe6ot0 children trampled under foot, soldiers maimed with flying missies and leaders In the crowd beaten with muskets, were some of the results today of the struggle between the Traction Company and Its striking employes. So serious is the'eon ditlon here tonight that Governor Odell postponed a trip to the state institutions which he had undertaken, and returned to the Executive Mansion. Two thou sand armed soldiers are now within the city limits, more are coming and 2500 are in readiness to move to' Troy when Gov ernor Odell so orders. The streets' are thronged with excited men and women and the otherwise quiet day terminated in bloodshed. A dramatic element was added to the day's features by the sudden "death of Adjutant-General Hoffman, .who j dropped dead while in consultation with Ma-jor-General Roe, commander of the National Guard, concerning the disposi tion of the troops called Into service. As long as the Traction Company does not attempt to move cars or bring non-union men, the crowds on the streets remain good-natured, except for taunting the soldiers and police, but the .instant an at tempt is made to work on the line or bring non-union men in, the crowd be comes frenzied and bloodshed results." Mob and militia closed In combat late this afternoon, but by the accident of fortune, there were no casualties. It was the introduction of more non-union men to take the places of more striking Trac- tlon Company employes that produced the violence. -Seventy-five non-union men reached the Union Station shortly before 6 o'clock and their delivery at the Quail-street barn, a mile and a half away, was made with a dash under calvary escort, with mob resistance In almost every block. Frenzied men swarmed through the po lice lines, surged around the fast-moving cavalrymen and fought to get it the crowd of non-union men inside the circle of galloping horses. The rays of the set ting sun gave glint to the busy sabres, but the long blades, wielded by forbear ing hands, seldom descended in serious blows. Several of the mob were knocked down by cornered cavalrymen, but the record does not yet score a single fatal ity. In the passage through the streets few of the non-unionists' escaped the fly ing bricks and stone3 that were hurled at them, but less than a dozen were badly hurt. The courage of nearly a dozen of the non-union men failed them in the opening spurt through the crowds, and they sprang from the wagons that carried them to mingle with and be lost iu the crowd. The ride of the non-union men through the city was the dramatic spectacle of the day. At 5 o'clock the Third Signal Corps, mounted and armed as cavarly men, formed a hollow square around the non-union men who had just arrived at the depot. Five thousand men tagged at their heels and jammed in among them and thousands more crowded into the intersecting streets. Fifty policemen formed a cordon about -the "waiting dra goons and tried to force the crowd back. The street was cleared, but the walls of humanity on the sidewalk held firm and could not be moved. A broken alleyway that runs along the south side of the Union Station was the stage of the opening scene. Into it were driven four flat-topped open trucks. The crowd recognized them as the vehi cles "that had carried the first batch of strike breakers and greeted them with groans. Suddenly a side door of the sta tion was thrown open and up the alley way toward the waiting teams marched the non-union men. Once they were all aboard, the drivers brought their teams out into the street, the' cavalry closed in J around them and the race was on. The police threw themselves across he street In solid phaTanx. T)ut the crowd, roaring its threats against the new men, swept over the police and took up the chase. Ahead were thousands more and with no fear for either heels of horses, or blades of steel, they closed in around the cavalrymen. Soon there came, a vol ley of bricks, and three of the non-union men sprang from the rear wagon and were lost in the crowd. The flying column dashed into State street for the run up the hill past the Capitol. Here the crowd was as dense and desperate as the other and men plunged in around the gallop ing horses. One rider, cut oft from the crowd, brought his sabre down on the face of one of his antagonists and a line of blood marked where it struck. Two blocks up State street a clever mil itary ruse blocked the down-town mob. Two companies of the Tenth Battalion were concealed In Chapel street, and when the cavalry escort dashed past, they ran across State street and faced the pursuing crowd with fixed bayonets. The new line wavered and broke on one flank, but in tho main the movement was suc cessful. But the non-union men were not yet free. Smaller crowds had gathered ui various points uiuntme iuulc iu iut barn and they threw stones when the non-union men rushed past. There was another jwild -scene at the barn, where thousands more-had assem bled. The Infantry repeatedly charged Into the crowd, substituting butt for bayonet, and after 'much effort a passage was opened for the scurrying cavalcade and It was safe inside the enclosure. Sixteen of the nonunion men were In jured during the ride, and many of them, stunned, weak and scared, had to be helped from the wagons. In a hollow square of infantry, pro tected by lines of pickets that reached, into every bisecting street, and an outer .skirmish line in circular form that en- compassea all, the traction tower wagon was moved out of the barn this after noon, " and two hours were spent in re pairing the trolley wires. The heavy force of Guardsmen, and the stringency of the .protective measures seemed to awe the crowds that surged around the outer skirmish line, and there was no disorder. The soldiers were jeered and' derided, but no one offered them violence. The city is quiet at midnight. Both the strikers and railroad people claim that there has been no attempt at arbitration for a settlement. The com pany says that It will -proceed to move cars tomorrow under guard of the sol diers, and General Roe, in command of the troors, says he wlll-aesist to the best of his ability with his 220G troops. Marshall, the nonunion motorman who was Injured yesterday by- the mob, is very low, and will probably die before morning. The Strike at Troy. TROY, N. X., May 15. The situation with reference to the street-car strike was unchanged today, and the city was quiet. The tearing up of the railway track up on the bridge over the Poselenklll Is at tributed by the strikers to hoodlums. The Troy company of the Second Regi ment, is assembling at the armory. Mayor Conway has Issued a proclamation warning all persons against Interfering with property of the United Traction Company in this city and against .as sembling In the streets. The Mayor's proclamation also says that the full power will be exerted to protect property and suppress riotous or disorderly outbreaks. Acquitted of Murder. WILLIAMSON, Va., May 15. State Senator Stokes, who shot and killed Rev. J. J. Woll, a Presbyterian clergyman, last November, was tonight acquitted of murder and set free. The shooting was the outcome of Rev. Mr. Woll's sensational sermon In which WilHamsorAocIety came under the sharp lash of the preacher's Invective. The theory of the prosecu tion was that Stokes sought the minis ter in his own house and demanded an apology and provoked a quarrel In which Mr. Woll was killed. It was proved, however, that the killing was dene in self-defense. Receiver for Fraternal Association. BOSTON, May 15. Judge Loring, In the Supreme Court, today appointed Henry C. Bliss, of Springfield, as receiver of the Masons' Fraternal Accident Associa tion of America. The court found that ! the concern had violated the law in fall ing to make payment of debts due on account of claims under its policies,and that its liabilities exceeded its assets. Furniture Prices Advnnced. CHICAGO, May 15. An advance of 10 per cent in the cost of all high-priced chamber suit furniture was decided upon here today at the annual meeting of the National Association of Chamber Suit and Case Work Manufacturers. A Strike nt Havana. HAVANA, May 15. The stevedores and lighter men today went out en a general strike against Zaldo & Co., 'who control the lighter' privileges in Havana harbor. Th- ctrikcra have several grievances. ON 99-YEAR LEASE Harriman Said to Control Astoria Railroad. DEAL WAS MADE A YEARAGO "V5 "- Southern 'Pacific "Will Thus Have & Belt Line Around Northwestern Oregon, end "Will Have Ne halem Country The statement Is made upon what ap pears to be good authority that the Astoria & Columbia River Railroad haa been leased to the Southern Pacific; for 99 years. From the best information, obtain able, the lease wa3 made about a year ago to C. P. Huntington, and becomes the property of the Harriman syndicate. which now controls the Southern Paclnc. It is not singular that the news has been suppressed all this time, for Huntington was not given to communicating his af fairs to the public, at any rate, not until all the conditions were settled. It 19 ap- parent that Huntington held, tne news back until he could make some other moves to secure his position ill the N& halem. country. The only man In. Port land who Is able to say whether the lease has been made Is A. B. Hammond, president of the Astoria & Columbia River Railroad. Ha said yesterday that there is nothing in the story, and de clined to dlscusa it. Other railroad men who were seen confessed that the re ported lease was news to them. All they would say was that If Huntington leased the Astoria road it was not because of the revenue producing qualities. If the lease has been made, several fac tors of Interest in the railroad situation are explained wholly or In part. When the Astoria line was built .people "won dered what it was that induced Mr. Ham mond to parallel the Columbia River against a water route which has no Tight of way to maintain Instead of building through the Nehalem country to Astoria, where there is traffic in abundance. The most reasonable explanation and the one that was generally accepted was that It was on Mr. Huntington's advice that tho Astoria road went down the Columbia River. Why? Because, in the light of recent events, Mr. Huntington wanted the Nehalem country preserved intact un til he was ready to enter It- He hopeiL also, to get the Astoria road Along with the Nehalem country- If this is what has come to pass, and if Harriman builds the extensions Huntington projected, the Southern Pacific will have a belt Una surrounding all of Northwestern Oregon. It will Inclose the counties of Multnomah, Clatsop. Columbia, Washington, Tilla mook and Yamhill, which contain more than a third of the population of the statejr!Onearc of the circle is already "here in the line from. Portland to As toria. The belt will be completed by a line from Sheridan to Astoria paralleling the Pacific Ocean by way of Tillamook City and Nehalem Bay. " Huntington must have had this project in view when 10 months ago he refused William Reid trackage Into Portland for a line from the Nehalem. He told Mr. Reid that the Southern Pacific would this Summer build a line from Sheridan to Tillamook City, which was surveyed 15 years ago on a 1 per cent grade. That line, he said, would not only be extended Into the Nehalem, but carried to As toria, and would serve, he said. Port land's purpose to get lumber from Ne halem via Sheridan. Mr. Reid re monstrated against such a project as pre posterous. "Huntington wrote that he would answer the points contained In Mr. Reld's remonstrance, but he died shortly afterward. Southern Pacific sur veyors are now In the field between Tillamook City and Nehalem Bay on the route marked out for the Astoria & South Coast Railroad 11 years ago. It Is said that they are buying up water front at Nehalem Bay. If Huntington's plans have not been abandoned by Mr. Harri man, work on the extension from Sheri dan to Astoria, via Tillamook City and Nehalem may be ordered almost any time. From Nehalem Bay, a branch, will be built up the Nehale River to tap the heart of the Nehalem country. The ob ject of this branch Is to knock the props from under the Northern Pacific's pro posed Nehalem road from Scappoose. The carrying out of Huntington's plans by Mr. Harriman explains Harriman's refusal about seven weeks ago to take up the proposal of the Portland, Nehalem & Tillamook Railway. The route sur veyed for the road was offered to him If he would guarantee to build on it within two years. Now that Harriman has made a move upon the Nehalem country, the Northern Pacific may be expected to follow suit. And tne Portland, Nehalem & Tillamoofc will not lag behind If an effort will count for anything. The importance of an in dependent line to protect Portland's in terests will be laid before the financial men of the city In a few days, and they will be asked what they propose tor do about It. They will be told that Portland has millions of dollars of Idle capital In the banks, while only a few hundred thousand dollars is required to build 43 miles of railroad Into the Nehalem coun try. Their decision will settle whether Portland Is to be the mart for the Ne halem country or the rag doll between two transcontinental systems pulling in opposite directions; whether the traffic of Nehalem is to be diverted to Cali fornia by way of Sheridan, or to Puget Sound by way of Scappoose. MRS. GAGB'S CONDITION. Showed a Slight Improvement T,ast Night. WASHINGTON. May 15. Mrs. Lyman Gage rested comfortably today and to night her condition on the whole showed a slight Improvement. Dr. Schley and James A. Henrne. NEW YORK. May 15. The condition of Dr. Winfield Scott Schley, the son of-Rear-Admlral Schley, Is said to show improvement today. James A. Hearne, the actor, who is sick at his home, continues to improve, and Eld physicians say he has a good chance of recovery. Secretly Married.' CINCINNATI, O.. May 15. Announce ment was made today that Miss Mar jorle Harmon, daughter of Judson Har mon, ex-Attorney-General of the United States, was secretly married " Monday afternoon to George Heckle, a civil en gineer of Boston. The engagement had been announced and the wedding set for June, but owing to Miss Harmon's .youth fulness, her parents favored -a postpone ment. Mr. Heckle came here Sunday and Monday he and Miss Harmon visited the residence of a near-by rector. and were married in the presence of two friends of the bride. 'V