THE MOVING OHEGONIAE, MQND.Af?. JANUARY 20, 1(?2.
L-SHte CTgouicm.
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TjODATS WEATHER Partly cloudy and oc
casional threatening w either. Variable winds.
YESTERDAY'S WEATHER Maximum tem
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cipitation, 001 Inch.
rORTLAAD, MONDAY, JAX. 20, lOOZL
3fOW IN FAVOR OP PANAMA.
It will be conceded that the supple
mental report of the Isthmlafi Canal
Commission, in favor of Panama, is en--tltled
to consideration. Reduction of
"the price from $109,000,000 to $40,000,000
Is the cause of this new action. Ques
tion ivas been raised whether complete
title could be given; but the commis
Bion gives positive assurance that this
can be done.
There are reasons why our Pacific
States should prefer Nicaragua. Be
tween our Pacific and Atlantic ports,
and between our Pacific ports and Eu
rope, the route via Nicaragua -v ill be
much shorter. For sailing vessels,
moreover, it presents advantages, since
the route via Panama leads into a re
gion of calms, where there will be
much detention. It is doubtful, too.
Whether questions of sovereignty at
Panama can be adjusted as favorably
as at Nicaragua. -Again, there is dis-.
irust of any proposition to substitute
one of these undertakings for the other.
No one knows what schemes of delay
may lurk in the substitution.
It is necessary, however, to bear in
mind the fact that Nicaragua was pre-j
ferred to Panama by the commission in
tig" first report solely because of the
excessive price demanded by the Pan
ama Company. Here Is an extract
from the report:
There are certain physical advantages, such J
-as a shorter canal line, a more complete
knowledge of the country through which it
3aases and lower cost of maintenance and
operation in favor of the Panama route, but
the price, fixed by the Panama Canal Company
for a sale of Its property ana franchises is so
unreasonable that lis acceptance cannot' be
recommended by this commission.
The qualification, moreover. In the se
lection of the Nicaragua route is still
further expressed in this passage of the
report:
After considering all the facts developed by
the Investigations, made by the commission and
the actual situation as it now stands, and
hans in view the terms offered by the new
Panama Canal Company, this commission Is
of the opinion that "the most practicable and
feasible route" for an Isthmian canal, to be
"under the control, management and owner
ship of the United States," Is that .known as
.the Nicaragua route
In justice, therefore, to the commis
sion it must be remarked that the qual
ification involved in the words, "the
situation as it now stands," and In the
pointed reference to "the terms offered
by the new Panama Canal Company,"
makes It plain that the commission did
cot look upon Its choice as final. The
report was piesented in a way that
left room for a supplementary report,
which now has been made. The Pan
ama Company has reduced its demand
so far that the commission now feels
justified, Jfl J commending that the offer
be accepted.
Yet we trust it will not be. It will
appear to the country more certain that
we shall at once go on "with the canal
if we adhere to .Nicaragua than if we
take up the suggestion for substitution
of Panama. It will, however, be ob
served that in one of the extracts
quoted "the lower cost of operation and
'maintenance" is mentioned as one of
the superiorities of the Panama route.
Again, it is contended that the element
of the unknown enters very largely
into the Nicaiagua plan, while it has
been nearly eliminated from that at
Panama. On these points it is useless
." Jor those, who have not special knowl
edge to dispute with those who have
given the subject careful study. Our
main object heieln Is to give soma out
line of the commission's reasons for
making its supplementary report.
OIL 'AS FUEL.
Among vthe demonstrations now in
progress irf the realm of utility, that of
substituting oil for coal for heating pur
poses, both on land and sea, is being
attentively watched. The oil stove has
been so long in use that it Is no .longer
a' novelty. It did not make its way into
iavor rapidly, but it is row asserted
that it has been brought to a perfec
tion which makes it superior in most
respects to the coal-consuming stove.
This is a point, however, .that will be
disputed for some time to come, since,
notwithstanding the growing use of oil
and gas heaters, the coal stove, and in
some places, including our pwn city, the
wood stove, still maintains its place in
general domestic use. This is, however,
apart from the great commercial at
tempt that is being made to supplant
coal by oil as a heat and steam-pro
ducer in the transportation ousiness,
and especially uppn oceans-steamships.
The Clam, belonging to a Russian line
of oil consumers, recently reached the
Delaware River after a voyage across
the Atlantic, upon which she was pro
pelled by steam generated from oil in
stead of coal. The company owning
nd operating this line has eighteen
steamers fitted to burn oil, and is build
ing four more, each with a capacity
of 11.000 tons, in which oil will be used
as fuel. The Clam has been burning
oil for two years, and the experiment
has proved satisfactory. The company
to which this vessel belongs 19 a Rus
sian corporation, and it has numerous
stations In various parts, of the world
where oil is stored, and it has for same
years been employing oil-burning ves
sels in its trade. .
So far it does not appear that oil as
fuel Is absolutely cheaper than coal.
Much depends upon circumstances. In
or near cpal-producing districts coal is,
and bids fair to continue to be, pre
ferred to oil as a steam-producer, but
where fuel has to be transported for
great distances the cost is In favor of
oil. The greatest economy Is held to be
in that of space for storing fuel on
shipboard, rnvph lesa room, being re
quired for oil tanks than for coal burn
era This difference on a large liner
represents a freight-earning capacity of
$1500 for a single, trip across th,e. ocean.
Another considerable saving would be
made In labor. On a first-clasa ship 160
stokers are required to keep thp engines
hot with coal. The same result could,
it is said, be achieved with oil as fuel
by twenty men. Aside frpra, considera
tions of actual cost, there is an element
of humanity in this saving of stpkers,
many of whom are borne, utterly ex
hausted, to hospitals on the arrival of
every big liner in port. The Increase Jn
cleanliness due to the substitution of oil
for coal is also reckoned as an element
in labor-saving and as a great addition
to the comfort of passengera
Several railroads In this country and
other countries have experimented with
oil as fuel for their locomotives, but
the results have not justified a recom
mendation to displace coal on the basis
of economy or safety. Should these two
points be established, the governments
of the world will be quick to see the ac
cruing advantages and apply them to
naval operations. But the whole matter
is yet in an unsettled state, without
prospect of progressing beyond that
point for some time. There is a fixed
determination, however, to demonstrate
the, question on the ground of- economy
and general utility, and it is upon the
basis fixed by these controlling com
mercial forces that a decision will
finally be reached.
THE RIVER PROBLEM.
Much is said these days, up qnc". down
the country, on the problems presented
in improvement of the Columbia River
and its tributaries, from the sea to the
heads of possible navigation. There is
not much disagreement, except as to
the question where the work should be
done first. But plnce the wprk cannot
be started or pushed at all points at
once, selection becomes necessary. This
Is the problem before the committees
of Congress. From Information, given
out at Washington, it appears that a
deeper channel at the mouth of the
river is regarded by the committees as
the most necessary thing. This is not
unreasonable, though some of the peo
ple of the Columbia Basin seem to think
it so, for If vessels of sufficient draft
for our trade cannot safely and quidkly
pass in and out of the river, improve
ment of its upper reaches, will avail lit
tle. Portland Is the target of a great
deal of furious attack, both above and
below, for a policy alleged to be ob
structive. On this- subject , we shall
present a little symposium herewith,
collected from various journals. . Here,
first, is the Lewislon Tribune, which
Insists that all effort shall be concen
trated on the upper river, and that
nothing shall be done upon the lower
river or bar. After savine that Port
land "is locking itself out from the in
terior country and conceives its best
interests lie In so doing," and that
"Washington and Idaho have no In
terest or sympathy whatever with
Portland's local ambitions," the Trib
une proceeds:
It is not probable that tbo rivers and har
bors committee would assert the responsibility
of sajlng vnat work, was most needed in xhe
Northwest without being prompted to do so
by certain representatives in the northwest.
Some enemy has done this thing. The repre
sentatives of the states arc thosf that saj
what their state needs most, and not the rep-,
roentatlv es of other- states. If the Xortliw est
crn States sa, they want whatever appropria
tion can be made to be made upon the river
as a whole for the benefit of all proper in
terests, and not for an Isolated Interest, let
no one Imagine any Congressional committee
will ever say It will Insist on benefiting that
Isolated Intercut at the experse, of the public
Interest. If this committee, then, has decided
to do this thine we ma be sure It has 'local
authority for doing. We may be eaually
sure such authority does not proceed from
Washington or Idaho. It seems reasonable to
fix th responsibility on the Oregon delegation
and on Portland as the dominant power in
Oregon. If we are not to have the open river
thn wo can charge It to Portland. If the
charge holds sood there will probably be an
expense account to go along with It.
The question is. What part of the
work Is most urgently needed, and what
part of It, therefore, should be done
first? The members of the rivers and
harbors committee have seen the Colum
bia River, have examined it up and
down, and seem disposed to the natural
conclusion that steamboat navigation of
the upper river can be serviceable to
the country only as the river Itself may
be accessible to vessels from the sea.
As for Portland, It desires every possi
ble Improvement from the mouth to
the heads of navigation. But Jet our
critical friends eliminate Portland frqra
the problem drop Portland out of their
account, '"If they do so, they wil find
that the problem la wholly unchanged.
"Improvement at the mouth of the river,
so as to admit the passage of large
vessels, will still be the first necessity.
Another critic pf Portland, the Astorian,
takes Issue strongly with the paper at
Liewiston. We quote now from the As
torian: According to Washington advices, the rlvew
and harbors committee is anxious, that the Co
lumbia bar shall be deepened before any at
tempt Is made to open-the upper river to navi
gation. This Is welcome news. All honest
men will agree that an adequate entrance toj
the harbor is the first requisite, for without
It inland Improvement would be worthless. It
Is time to talk Inland Improvement after the
bar Is properly deepened. An "open river,"
In the accepted meaning of the term, will be
of little, benefit unless steamers are enabled
to carry grain from the farm to Astoria's
docks. There is rlenty or water In the Port
land channel to accommodate such boats as
would ply between Lewlaton and Astoria, and
for the Government to expend more money
there would be unavailing. First, we must
have- a deep entrance at the river's mouth;
then we must have an "open rlrer" from Lew
lston to Astoria. It Is Indeed gratifying to
note that Chairman Burton and the other
members ot the National rivers and harbors
committee hav e such an excellent and thorough
knowledge of local conditions.
We trust the Lewlstcn Tribune will
take notice what its fellaw-crltic at
Portland at the opposite end of the
line has to say. The Oregonian. has
merely to ask the Astoria journal, as
it has already asked the Lew iston jour
nal, to drop Portland out of its account
on this question; for Portland wants
all the improvements made, and as to
her own position, she will ;flnd means
to take care of It. But since money
can't be had for work at all points at
once. Portland rerards extension of the
jetty at the mouth of the rdver as the
first and imperious need. To render
steamboat navigation tq and from Lew
Iston useful, there must be a deep en
trance at the river's mouth; hence Im
provement of the bar naturally pre
cedes improvement of the upper river.
This is the logic of the situation as
seen by the committees of Congress.
But the Astoria News, for the pur
pose of carping at Portland, questions
whether Portland wants a deeper chan
nel at the mouth of the river. The
News, however, is a paper afflicted with
a rabies. It Is not possible for it to
talk sense; so it goes on to cay:
It is known that Major Handbury put Snag
Island jett). where It threw the Prairie chan
nel and the middle channel to the north side
of the Columbia, and ultimately shifted
the bar channel to the north side, shoal
ing It" to such depth that pnly eh Ins that
could get to Portland could cross In easll..
The manifest effect of that jetty was what
resulted. Major Handbury was then receiving
$250 a month from the Portland Chamber qf
Commerce. Jt is presumable that he was car
rying out Its -wishes, which were, then known
to be to hav e no entrance except such as would
equal that up to Portland. There does not ap
pear to have been any change in Portland's
policy since that date on that point. Does
Portland, then, want any 40-foot channel on
the bar unless ahg can get a 30-foot channel
up to "Portland?"" "" "
Reason would be wasted on folly lke
this. Portland wants the deepest pos
sible channel at the mouth, and realizes
that this is the necessary basis pf all
Improvement. A 30-foot phannel to
Portland will quickly follow a 451-foot
channel on the bar Indeed, will prob
ably be had first sinpe It Is by no
means so difficult a problem. But there
Is a third paper at Astoria the Herald.
We quote now from lta column:
In the efforts of the. News, and Astorian to
injure Portland they are doing more harm to
Astoria. This la certain: If ships cannot cross
the Columbia bar they cannot come to Astoria.
There Is, no doubt but the representative from
vvasnmgton will oppose any appropriations tor
the Columbia Rlv ex or. br. and they can bring
propf to substantiate their position by pro
ducing press clippings from Astoria newspa
pers. When the press of Astoria say that
there. la plenty of water on the bar. and that
he plot and towage service la. of the very
best, they publish that which Is not borne out
bj facta. When they state that there Is m,orp
delay between Astoria and Portland than at
the bar. they publish deliberate falsehoods.
Perhaps there was a time when this, condition
really existed, but that time has long" since
pased. It la better for the commercial ltf
terests, of Astoria that the papers confine
tUemselves to the truth and that. Instead of
belittling Portland, they try to see that the
bar towage and pilotage service Is put In the
best possible condition. So far as the 'dally
papers of Astoria are concerned, they do not
circulate outside of the corporate limits of the
city, but the exchanges sent to the Scund cities
is what Is doing the. Injur to Astoria. It the
people of Astoria imagine that they can secure
all of the shipping that enters the Columbia
Plver and that Portland will tnmply be an
Inland town, they are. ignorant ot the true
situation. When that time comes the Colum
bia River will be flowing toward the Rocky
Mountains, and not toward the bar.
Is the reader surprised to find so,
much good scse in a paper published
at Astoria? There is more. After quot
ing from The Oregonlan's Washington
report, and from an editorial In The
Oregonian on the injurious effect pro
duced by the course of certain newspa
persxat Astoria, the Herald proceeds:
The"" papers referred tp a,re the News and the
Astorian. Sidney Dell's senseless harangue,
in "molding public opinion," at Portland, and
the animosity entertained bl Che Astorian. for
Portland, may result as The Oregonian fears,
In there being no appropriation for the Colum
bia River bar. This will 'throw 156 men out
of. employment at Fort Stevens, and do incal
culable Injury to the shipping of the Lower
Columbia. The people of Antorla are to blame
for according support to two papers that are
and alwavs have worked against the interests
of Astoria.
On the river problem this is enough
for today. Those journals at Astoria,
at Tuewlston and elsewhere, which
make common, cause. In abuse and de
nunciation ofPortIand, may take no
tice, if the,' will, and reconcile their
differences., if they can. N
XQT BUSINESS, BUT. FAVORITISM.
It is now apparent that Portland is
to receive another reminder that she
will not be permitted to handle any pf
the Government transport business that
can possibly be shifted to another port.
The fact that the Government can save
from $-500 to $5000 ori the cost of a
cargo loaded at Portland as compared
with other ports, while the expenses of
dispatching the ship are the same, does
not seem to weaken the Invisible ''pull"
that has bee.n such a prominent feature
pf the transport business on this Coast.
A periodical sop is thrown to Portland
In the shape of a small order for forage
or an occasional transport, and among
the latest of these favors -was a call
for tonnage for 4000 tons of foragg from
Portland. Now we are informed that
np, tonnage was obtainable for Ppr'
land loading, and accordingly this for
age must bo shipped from another port.
This is the same old subterfuge. When
Portland has the ships, the forage has
infortupatey been sent to Seattle, and
when we have. the. forage, thelfhlps, by
a strange, cplncidence, have all congre
gated at Seattle. This kind of work is
an, injusticp lo Portland, and the Inti
mation that Portland la to blame Is
adding In3ult to Injury.
No good reason can be offered why
the Government business should not be
hand'ed on the same economical busi
nesslike lines as are followed In straight
commercial transactions. The. business
men of Portland sent foreign last
year 190 cargoes of wheat, flour and
lumber. The same men also shipped
from Puget Sound nearly "100 cargoes
of wheat, flour and lumber. The wheat
and flour, or the wheat frpm which
fhe fipur was manufactured, had all
been bought by the Portland men at
Interior points In Oregon. "Washingtpn
and Idaha for delivery at Portland or
Tacoma, the price being exactly the
same In either case. Then ships were
chartered to load this wheat and flour
at Portland, with the option of loading
at Puget Spund t the same rate, the
charter being reversed In some cases to
read Tacoma, with the option of Port
land. This was business conducted on
business principles, and not at any time
during the 12 months did the Portland
exporters encounter the slightest diffi
culty in securing all of the tonnage re
quired. At the present time the situation is
easier than it has been for nearly four
years. Frleghts have declined 50 per
cent, and idle tonnage is collecting all
over the world. The latest; steamer to
sail from Portland for theOrient car
ried less than 3500 tons from Portland.
She went from here to San Francisco
and loaded about 2000 tons, and from
there to San Diego and completed her
cargo. When a commercial liner will
steam north 700 miles' from her regular
course to pick up half a cargq of freight
at Portland, at the same rate charged
from San Francisco, Seattle or Tacoma,
It is ridiculous for the Government to
set up the claim that tonnage cannot
be secured for shipping forage from
this port. It is, of course, an easy mat
ter for Interested parties to weave such
a web of red tape'around Government
transactions that it .Is almost an im
noselbility for any port discriminated
against to secure Its just dues. The Pa
cific Export Lumber Company, of this
city, has; dispatched more steamships
direct to Manila than have been sent
out by any other firm on the Pacific
Coast, and has handled freight impar
tially from both Portland and Puget
Sound. Its last steamship carried half
a cargo from etfch port, and there has?
beon np perldd of any considerable
length since the transport business be
gan when the Government could not
secure all of the transportation facili
ties needed from Portland, at the same
rates as were ptjtanaple frprri other
ports.
The Oregonian several months agp
showed hpw Ignorance, or the exercise
of a pull,'' resulted in the refusal of
the department to accept the Argyll
for Portland loading at 600 per day,
while at the samp lme an offer o $550
Ror day was rpade Jor the WHlamettg.
Because the owners of the latter vessel
refused the pffer, a steamer was char
tered at Seattle. Taking the carrying
capacity of the two ships, and the Ar
gyll's offer was 15 cents per ton Der
day and was refused, but he pffer
made by the Government to the Wil
lamette was equivalent tq 71$ pen.t PeF
ton per day. Portland can compete
with any pqrt pn th,e Pacific Coast
when the competition Is conducted on
business principles, but It has no show
where Buch "unfair methods as the above
are adopted. Quite a number of men
in Seattle and. San Franciscq.have
grown suddenly wealthy ouf of the
transport" business. The fct that do
one in Portland haa made any money
out of U, even, in a legitimate way, Is
pretty strong proof that discrimination
has been and Is still being practiced.
The Oregonian says- nothing about,
kindergarten. No doubt the kinder
garten will be adopted, an.d will ber
come an -additional, integral and con
stantly growfmg part of the great so
cialistic machine. It ia a' tendency
wh.ioh it la useless at this time to resist.
It may collapse, In timet from over
loading: and " that "is all that can bg
hoped for. But, though. Tle Oregonlatl
flqds, it useless to oppose the klndet-
gartep, it wui not adyocate it. it wiu
simply be, sl'ent. It (?pes nqt believe In
taking measures to relieve parents it
their natural and proper responsibility.
So it is not for the kindergarten. The
Oregqflian, holds, "ennie. opinions of ifhe
old fashion--opinions that have foujj'da
tlons"lo the experience qf th ages-nd
it would like to see parents held to re
sponsibility for the children they bring
into the world. All this public klnder
garten'bu.slness comes out" of th.e phUo's
ophy and practice of J. J. Rousseau, "
who affected to weep over the wrongs
done tp children and their neglect by
spclety, yet exposed his own children
on the street, as fast as they were born,
tp the chajjee of being plckgd 'up and
sent to the hospital for foundlings. God
forbid that The Oregonian should ever
approve the philosophy or practice, or
do anything to promote either! Noth
ing that can be conceived could do so
much to. sap the foundations' of social
order and genera morality as, the ef
fort toput the state in the place of the
parent
The New York Herald attacks the
Panama Canal 'editorially and advo
cates the Nlcafaguan plan as" theonly
g'enulpe American' article' Jn the way
of isthmian canals. Tv tbe Hartford
Times thjs seems, a curlqua attitude for
a man to take who Is usually so favor
able to French ideas and Interests as
Mr. Bennett is. In its Washington cor
respondence the Herald shows that
there Is an overwhelming 8fntlme.nt In
the Senate In favor of the passage, a,t
this session ' of an act' authorizing the
ponstruction pf an Isthmian canal; that
while a very large majority of the Sen
ators were in favor of the Nicaragua
Canal prior to the offer of the French
company, a clear majority has since
switched In fvor of giving the. Pan
ama offer full consideration before de
cisive actio'n Is taken; that any effort
by friendg of the Nicaragua Canal to
force a bill through before the whole
matter, P.ananm offer and. all, has been
considered by he copimjttee, would
meet with failure.
Great Brltam npw borrows frorn, the
United States a political term once used
here, but now obsolete. "Lord Rosebery
and toe Copperheads" la the title of an
article In the Contemporary Review for
January. "Lord Rosebery's speech at
Chesterfield," says the writer, "is an at
tempt ta save the Liberal party Ifrom
the taint and the fate of the copper
heads." The allusion Is to those per
sons who oppose the war In South Af
rica, just as a section of the people in
our Northern States opposed the sub
jugation of the Southern Confederacy.
The writer in the English review draws
a close parallel.
It appears from the London Times
copy now recelVed that Kipling's stinging-
line reads:
The flanneletf tools at the wicket or the mid
dled pafs a the goals"
not "muddled," as oftenest qupted here
tofore In the press of this country. But
what lst puddled? A Iqng search
through the polyglot dictionaries Is re
warded by th.e.dfscovery ttiat the verb
"nuddle" Is provincial English, and
means "to stoop In walking That Is
to say, the golf kyphosis. Of Kipling,
therefore, it must be admitted that " 'e
'as it" pretty well. ' .
Dr. HIpes. was a man of great use
fulness and, consecration. For nearly
half a century he has labored zealously
for the upbuilding of this region in
moral and education lines. Of him It
may truly be said, "Well done, good
and faithful servant." and pon,e who
knew the earnestness and devotion of
his labors will withhold the hope that
In closing his eyes upon the scenes of
earth he has "entered into the joy"
of the Lord he so loved to serve. The
raillery and sneers of the scoffer lose
their point In the presence of such a
life.
Is Germany in position to complain
of British treatment of the Boers?
What darker picture In history than
Prussian treatment of Poland and pen
mark to say nothing of the spoliation
ot vanquished France? In the long
run, after all shall be settled,' South
Africa will be a self-goyerned country,
as. Canada and Australia are. But what
mitigation will there eyer be of the
military despotism that rules Germany?
King Alexander of Servla is endeav
oring to qbtain a divorce from Queen
Draga. Since the Queen is just what
she was when, against the open protest;
of his Ministers and court, Alexander
married her, and, mpreover, since no
doubt she Is quite as good as he is, there
wquld seem t- be np Juat grounds for
the release of the King from his dis
graceful bargain.
MEMORABLE WORK OF LITEBATORE
George HIeronymus Knaggs (what a
mouthful for the trumpet of Fame!), o'ne
of the best-known pioneer residents 9?
this state, is writing a book. This news
will be received with gladness by all4
old-time residents who remember the tal
entjf and versatility displayed by lis.
Knaggs in the days when he wap purser
on the old O. T. Company boats, rurinTng
between Portland and The Dalle3, when,
clothed in a bluo swallow-tall coat with
brass buttons and the full vigor of an
exuberant Imiginatlon. with I1I3 glossy
plug hat on the back of his, head to gfve
air to bis expansive forehead, he acted
the prt of guide book to the tqurlsts
doing the Great River of tle"Wcat. Mans
still remember the talcntrhe displayed ia
interesting and Instructing travelers and
the wonderful yarns 1:p used to spin
them, transforming bleak, rqeky and w)nd
swept slopes on the nacces?lb,e jnyn
tajn side, where mouses and scattering
scrub oaks maintained a precarious ex
istence. Into fruitful orchards, to their
wonderment and the glorification pf this
region. Also his. statements jn regard to
Multnomah FallF, which ho made nearly
2EQ feet n bcjgjit, and tpjd his listeners,
were' artificial, the water having been
brought, in froia $he back country thrqngh
a tunnel and ditch constructed by the
company, hi order tp fumjs a striking
and beautiful addition to the natural
scenery; aid many other wpnderful talcs
about how Castle Hock. Rqoster Rook,
the Pillars of Hercule and Cape Horn
were formed, even showing at the base
off Cap Horn the marks made by the
devil's Jckax, when he scarped the face
of thaj frowning bluff of rock.
Mr. Knaggs book Is to be a concise and
I'veracous history cf hia life, travel? and
adventures in this region in early days.
Frn a hty glance through the com
pleted portions of this work, and the
scheme blocked out for the remainder, It
la evident that the book will become a
vClafslc, and will take a place near the
nead In lists of "the best one hundred
'boqks" tp be prepared in the future. The
work will be a. combination of the best
features of a number of the worjd's most
celebrated writers tho.se whqse works
haye immortalized them with un
dying fame. It opens with a description
of Mr. Kn aggs starting out on his Jour
ney to the great unknown West, the
"never, never" country of thqgp day.
Th,e first chapters are written In the
quaint and cheerful style of Bunyan, and
as he was a nice young man in those
days, his adventures somewhat resemble
those of Christian as narrated In
"Pilgrim's Progress" for a time. He
floundered through many "sloughs of des
pond," and surmounted many "hljls of
difficulty." before reaching the Missouri
River, on the further bank of which he
encountered Apollyon, but, unlike Chris
tian, he made friends with the fiend, and
a very friendly understanding has exist
ed between them ever since.
In his account of his progress through
the region Infested by the untamed sav
ages, at that time uncontaminated by
contact wjth white men, be depicts them
with all their "ecpentrlcltles" of manners
customs, worship, etc., with the fidelity
of Marco Polo, whom ho also resembles
In casting aside all theories In an honest
endeavor to furnish information on a
basis,, of collected facts. Jn some of his
Chapters h,e exhibits the teepfipg Imag
ination of the great Gulliver and his
faculty of simulating accuracy and con
sistency, which enables him to give the
wildest Imaginable fiction an appearance
pf veracity, but he occasionally, like
Gulliver, indulges a "looseness in gram
mar and a tendency to verge toward In
decency, which slghtly mars some of his
chapters. In places his writings re
semble those of Sir Jobn'de Mand,pville.
In terseness, simplicity and qualntness of
style, and he has evidently, ljke Sir John,
at some time drunk of the "well of
youth," but, unlike him, has practically
abandoned Christianity, for which ho had
no use during his pllgrfhyjge npr for
some time ajier pis arnyai in this "land
pf Beulah" until the missionaries arrived.
Qccasipnajly. toward the tatter part of
his book, Mr. Knaggs "drops Into poetry."
This appears to have been on occasions
when the, steamboat, on which he wis
engaged had beer) qbllged to "tie UP"
on account Pf a strong "down stream"
wind. His stanzas are full of the roar
of waters and the rush of winds, but are
beautiful and grapdly poetic word-pictures
of nature, as seen at her bes.t. in
the majestic scenery of the Columbia,
and rival the best, wprk of Osslan.
When it beconies necossary, Jp describ
ing hia adventures, to mention his extra
ordinary prowess as an Indian fighter and
sportsman, his native modesty forbids
fivpn an appearance, of pxaggerdtlon, and
he despends, tq the plain, graphjc and
straightforward, narrative style, of Baron
Munchausen, at his best; but when Mr.
Knaggs rises to bis bast In this stle he
makes Munchausen look like 30 cents.
S.m!lltudps t other great writers arc
numerqus In ths wonderful book, which
Is ru.fle and Imperfect n parts, but "Qb,
how rare in others"; but space forbids
further attempts at comparison.
In conclusion It may be said tha,t Mr.
Krjaggs' book s In many places after
the style of George Psaliqanzar, which
may lead, to his statements being dqubted
by some, but he has promised that after
he nas completed It he will make- full
confession of h,Is guilt and thereafter, like
Psajmanpr, exhibit a congplentlpus, re
gard fqr the truth, and a piety, penitence
and, irtua such, as can be heard qf no
where, except In the lives of those
salntswho wrote them themselves.
Debts of Cltlcn.
Npw York Sun.
Six years ago the debt pf Chicago was
J17.7C-0.000; now It Is $26,700,000. Six years
ago the debt of Boslon was $35,000,000; now
it Is $56,000,000. The debt of Cleveland
was then $5,100,000; now it la $3,300,000. The
debt of Kansas City then, gJDO.OCO, is now
fl.EOO.OuO. Buffalo owed $11,500,(500; now it
owes $15,000,000. Detroit has Increased its
debt in the, same, period from $2,100,000 to
$i.70O,O0O, Denver from $2,000,0)0 tp $3,000,
CC0 Indianapolis from $1,900,000 to $3.0W),0iM,
Louisville from $3.S0O.0OO to $3.300,000 New
Haven from $2,400,000 to $3,500,000. Pitts
burg from $S,400,000 to $10,600,000, Hartford
from $930,000 to $3,Q0O.O0O, Jersey City from
$4,S0O.0O0 to $16,300,000. Providenco from
$12,000,000 to $14,000,000, Salt Lake City from
$2,400,000 to $3,400,000. and Worcester from
$2,r0,GOa to $6,000,000.
Osuard the TarlK Dictator.
New York Evenlrg Post.
"By the grace of Oxnard" will soon
have to be written at the head of all
laws of Congress affecting the tariff. It
Is confessedly he, this beet-sugar mag
nate, who put his name to a confidential
circular declaring that he could make
money even If sugar were admitted free,
who now stands In the way of the hu
mane relief of Imperiled Cuba. ThU
morning's news is that the compromise
bill for reductions on Cuban products la
already abandoned. "I never assented to
It," says the sovereign Qxnard. if he does
not azsent, his Implication Is. what can
Congress or the President do? Well,
there b one thing they can do. They can
push Oxnard and his kind out of the way.
Cuba simply must be relieved.
AMDSEXjpSTS,
The Collamarlnl-R'epetto Operatic Con
cert Company began a week's "engage
ment loft night t Cordra5''s Theater, and
were very well received by a crowded
hpuke. Encores were frequent. Eycrj,
.vocal nuniber on the programme was In
Italian, but several encores were sung in
English. The great contralto. Estefanla
Couamarinl. was, ojf course, the star uf
the quartet. She was In excellent voice,
and since her last visit here her singing
is better than per. Hep tone Is deeper"
and more mellow, and her interpretation
is broader. From the work she did.
although excellent," it was ljot possible to
gompare her and Cajve. That will be
ascn Wi?cn "Carmen" is presented.
When Cqllamarinl came on the stage
last night, she was greeted with a whirl
wind of applause. Her nrst selection was
an air from Thomas "MIgnon," and for
nn encore slue sang, In Englfsn, "Promise
Me," from "Robin Hood." The beautb
fully sympathetic "quality of her tone and
shading nere exctllcnl in this number
made famous by Jessie Bartlett Da'.te.
Collamarlni was encored a third time
by her admirers and she good-naturedly
sat down at the piano and sang with dash
and abandon "La Palpma." a" Spanish air.
More ambitious work was dpnc by Gol
lamarinl In the quartet from the sepond
act of Flotow's "Martha, and the ex
cellently worked up fprtfi R3s,sig$s the
end, mado the theater ring a,;a!n and
again. The great contralto was to have
favored the audience with one selection
from Bizet's "Carmen." but this wis not
given because of the length pf the pro
gramme. She scored fresh laurels by
her splendid acting and wealth of tone
in a scene from "Verdi's "Rfgoletto," and
it was with regret that the audience saw
her leave the stage. Her hearty recep
tion showed "that she has lost none of her
popularity -as a great contralto.
Qulsseppe Ferrari, the baritone, seemed
made for the part of the funny, laughter
provoking "Barber of Seville.' the happy
and gifted production of Gioachlno An-
I tonlo Rossini (lS2-l5S). Ferrari sings
wttn au nis souu ana ne eecms to nave
Ipts of tone to spare. His voice is full,
rich, and sonorous. When he danced on
the stage as. the funny barber, he burs.t
Into the Cabaletta "Largo al factotum
della cltta," and his smiles, his laughs,
his grimaces sent a wave of fun over
t)ie audience. If he had sung In English,
hfs hearers would have laughed outright
with enjoirnent. Italia Vlttoria Repetto.
the lyric soprano, made a bewitching
Ros'na, and she divided honors with Fer
rari. The "Barber pf Seville'' numbers
made one of the hits of the e enlng. Very
few comic operas live so long as the story
of the funny barber of Seville. "ict It fs
related that when the opera was firs.t
produced at RomeJn 1S16, It was treated
with indifference, "much to Rossini's sur
prise. Ferrari was also successful with a pro
logue from Leoncarallo's "Pagllaccl."
and In a duetto, with Repetto, from Doni
zetti's "Dqn Pasquale." Repetto showed
high dramatic instinct, and her voice, a
lric soprano, is one of great beauty.
She chose for her first appearance one
of Donizetti's arias, and in response tp
a hearty encore she sang Flotow's "TIs
the Last Rose of Summer."
The tenor of the quartet, Domenlco
Russo, made a good impression. At first,
his hend notes were not so clear, but he
Improved as ne went on, and his voice
rang fqjl and true. In the forte passages
It is of pleasing quality. Like Collamar
lni he chote a "Mgnon" number for his
first appearance, and for his encores gave
in English, 'A Dream." by Bartlett, and
"Because 1 Love You.
In the second and third parts of the
programme, the singers" appeared In cos
tume, and scenery Intensified the dra
matic effect. There was no orchestra.
Apdre enolst, a brilliant oung French
pianist from Paris, plajed piano accom
paniments with marked ability. He al&o
played two solos, one a Liszt number and
the other a "March Mltitalre." by Schu-bert-TausIg.
For an encore to the latter
he responded with a rhapsodle by Chopin.
Benolst became a favorite with the audi
ence, and the women were loud In their
praise of his cloud of dark hair, and his
poetic face.
The same programme will be repeated
this evening. Tomorrow evening 'he at
traction will be "Carmen." and Colla
marlni will be seen at her best.
"EAST LYNrvE" AT THE B.Uifia.
Popular Emotional Drnnin Plas to
Tvro Packed Honsex.
That most popular of all epiotlonal
dramas, "East Lynne," played at the
Bakef Theater jesterday afternoon and,
evening to he two largest audiences the
theater has ever held. Peqplc were
turned" away at bpth performances, and
tbje capacity of the foyer was twice
taxed by those who were wIHjnp to stand
up'tbrough the five acts of the piece rath
er than leave before the last curtain. The
company presenting the play Is surpris
ingly gopd. Mss Elizabeth Hale, .vho,
as Lady Isabel, is as nearly the entire
performance as It Is possible for a char
acter to be. Is ably asblstpd by Percy
Oblein. as Sir Francl3 Levison, and other
members qf the company whose work
was exceptionally clover were H. A. Ray
ner, as Richard Hare: Iva Donette, ass
Cornelia Carlyle; Hamilton Armour, as
Carljle, and Frank Clayton, as Lord
Moupt Spvern.
M'lss Hale prqved herself to be an ac
tress, of really great ability from the
moment qf her first appearance. Al
though her greatest opportunity doet nPt
come unfll the fourth ct. when Lady
Isabel, 'driven nearly distracted by fears
for the health qf the children she has
deserted, returns tq becomp ther nurse,
ljer earlier -scenes arp all pntered Into
with consummate skill, and by her light
hearted happiness in thp first act,
he ' paves the way for the
sharp contrast she draws, wnen
she depicts her misery so feelingly later
in the play- Miss Hale Is possessed of
much personal charm and attractiveness
of manner, and to this is added a sweet,
sympathetic yolce, which she knows how
to use as only an experienced actress can.
Her acting throughout is quiet, but Is
nevertheless effective, and without a
shadow of rant or apy apparent striving
"for effect, she held tho interest of her
audience perfectly whenever she was on
tho stage. The fluttering of handker
chiefs and hard breathing evident In the
later scenes proved conclusively that she
had captured the feminine cqntlngcnt,
and as 'East Lypne" is a plV whose
strongest hold is on he sympathetic sex,
this may be taken as a proof that she
will makp Jts Portland engagement a suc
pess. Obleln's Livisqn Is just the gay,
thpughtless, cheerful villain that the
author evidently Intended he should be.
He Is none of our low -browed, scowling
wretches; he smiles and 'smiles and Is a
villain, and a villain who fe all the mora
dangerops, because of his, winning persan
alltj". Oblein Is an actor of unusual
skill and finish, and his work last even
ing ytas a real pleasurp to Iqok uppn.
Hamilton Armour made a great deal out
of the difficult role of Archibald Carlyle.
The remaining principal parts are In
capable hands, and the minor characters
are fairly well cared for The production
throughout is. givpp with careful atten
tion to detail, and the mounting is all
that could be asked for.
"Eas,t Lynne" -will run all the week, and
will np doubt play to big business.
TUe Oregon' Vornge.
.Louisville Courier-Journal.
The selection of Captain Clark, the fa
mous, commander of the Oregon, as a rep
resentative of the United States at the
coronation of England's King will com
mand universal respect at home and
abroad. He Is a seaman worthy of the
best dajs of an nation. Americans are
a seafaring people, and Captain Clark Is
a representative that can hold his own
with any of the famous sea dogs who
will gather on the Thames on that mem
orable day. The memory of the Oregon's
celebrated voyage, the longfest consecu
tive ope a first-class battleship ever took
Is worthy to be classed with Sic Francis
1 Drake's tour with the Golden Hind.
KOTE AJvP COMMENT.
Now Croker is making a series of posi
tively last appearances.
This thing of walking In the footsteps of
Czolgosz still soon become unpopular.
Cannot the coronation be secured as an
attraction for the Lewjs and Clark Fair?
No tickets from New York to Manila
have yet fosen spld'that read "va Nicara
gua Canal."
It Is 10 to 1 that Funston has at last
found his conqueror. There Js a pew baby
at his bouse.
It Is suggested that the provisions ot the
Geary act might be so extended as to ln
elude the trusts.
If Schwab stajs at Monte Carlo he will
foon be appljlng for O.SXMjOO- on a lear
advance of salary.
New York Is to rjavc a French theater.
Let ug hope that French farces will be
confined within its walls.
J. P. Morgan Is one man who doesn't
have to makp all his family purchases
during the clearance sales.
A woman is suing Russ,ell Sage for $75,r
0$. If she won't Ipe happy till she gets
It, she has a sorrpwful life ahead of her.
A football player has just died in New
Hayen from injuries received four years
ago. He should have had medical assistance.
Chicago wind is to be converted into
electricity. But the wind is not the pnly
thing about Chicago which can be made
shocking.
Senator Chandler says the Presidents
are overworked. They ccrtanly are. by
Senators who have appointments they
want made.
Corn King Phillips has suffered another
irretrievable loss of power. Three or four
of them ought to come pretty nearly put
ting hlnj oyt of business.
The British hangman died recently. .HI9
predecesspr In ofllce invented the "long
drop'' and strongly affirmed that It was
a specially humane method of dealing with
email and light malefactors. In urging
the merits of his inveptlon, he referred
to the precedent of a pertain murderer
with romantic eloquence "There was the
late Mr. Pe3ce, s,lr. Well, Mr. Peace wag
a very small gentleman. And I gave him
the long drop and he went off as gentle as
a Summer's eve."
Dr. Temple, archbishop of Canterbury,
onco had a candidate for ordination read
a chapter of the Bible before him to test
his. elocutionary powers. In the midst of
it thp arphbishop stopped him with the
abrupt comment, "Ye're inaudible!" "But,
my Iprd," said the discomfited youth,
"I've read the lessons In a big church and
been told that every word could be heard."
"Who tod ye a Jady? Are ye engaged
tq her?" The candidate owned the soft
impeachment. "Then don't believe a word
she sajs until ye're married to her," was
the reply.
On the Sunday following Queen Vic
toria's death. Canon Gore, bishop's desig
nate of Worcester, was so confused by
the phraseology of the church service that
he spoke of the heir apparent as "George,
puke of Copnaught and York," instead. of
Cornwall and York. In Westminster Ab
bey itsef, though the Queen's death was
the one thought in every mind, the minor
canon who read the service said: ."Oh
Lord, save the Queen'," There was a
parish clerk once who had no such diffi
culty. On the death of WUham IV and
the accession of Victoria he carefully
changed the word "King for "Queen'!
In all the church books, and for long aftqr
he astonished the congregation by singing
"Ttyou are the Queep of glory, O Christ!"
An English wrlter lately returned from
Squtb Africa has published the following
description of Lord Kitchener: "Tall and
Well proportioned above, he falls away
from his waist downward. It is this lower
weedlness which evidently troubles the
man who fashions his clothes A round
red and somewhat puffy face. Square head,
with staff cap set carelessly upon it
Heavy mustaches covering a somewhat
mobile mquth, at the moment Inclined to
smile. Eyes jUBt anyhow; heavy but not
overpowering eyebrows. In fact, a very
ordlpary face of a man just past his
prime. Hqrdly a figure that you would
have remarked If It had not been for the
gilt upon his hat In fact, it was all a
.disappointing discovery."
Lprd Rosslyn's recent attempt at break
ing1 the bank at Mqpte Carlp was'nPt
brilliantly successful. n spite of the "sys
tem" that appeared50 convincing to him
self apd hlsfrlcndsut. Ajiitjenaporary
success would be welcomed' -it Is saldf
by the Monte Carlo management, whlclx
depends pp the general belief In the pos
sibility of "breaking the bapk-" Ifc l3 Ilot
likely, however, that the Prince of Mo
naco will be beggared. For more than a
quarter of a ceptury the tables have
paid all the rates and taxes, the lighting
and water of Montp Carlo. Even the
bishop draws his salary from the profits
of the tables. Altogether, if the Prince
of Monaco's, allowance of $250,000 a year be
included, with $100,000 m.ore for expenses
of bqdy guard, police and law courts,
about $5,000,000 a year is earned and spent
before the "Bains de Mer" Company be
gins to profit. And as its profits are cjulto
steady, it will welcome any advertisement
Lord Rosslyn can give It by bis gains
or losses.
BLGASANTITflES OF PARAGRAFHERS
Jl Gifted Girl. "Slay's a gifted girl. Isn't
she?" "Verr. Why, she got 18 Christmas
prenta and nine oq New Year's." Philadel
phia Evening Bulletin.
Mrs. X; Going- to church. Thomas? Mr. X
YeSj as soon as I finish this Sunday paper.
Mrs. "3t Gooans! Thre Isn't any Bervlce'to
morroWj my dar. Harjem Life.
Tenor When I pave my first concert four
people had to be carried tainting out of the
hall. Friend Oh. but since that tlraa your
voice has considerably Improved. TU-BIts.
A Regular Tammany Machine. Mike Phat
kotnd av a machine Is thot? It sez "Pat.
1570, Pat. 1SS0. Pat.. 1800. Pat.' Jerry Be?
gobs! that must bo a political machine.
Judge.
Not His Fault. "Hal" exclaimed her father,
angrily, "how "I It I catch you kissing my
daughter;?" "Why or I believe, air." he etam
mered, "it W33 because I didn't hear you
comlrg "Philadelphia. Press.
The Proper Thing. "Yes," remarked Mrs.
Nealy IUche, when speaking of her daughter's
marriage, "we did not spare expense- I gav
the caterer and th? florist and the (Jressroaker
all carriage blanche In tje matter of money."
Brooklyn Life.
Fetmorft Per you se,e that Jady oyer theret
"Well, she's a lady If there ever -was a lady n
the -world. Buck And wht has she done to
secure your fluttering regard? Fetmore I
stepped on her gown coming down stalra. It
was trailing behind her In that Irritating way
that women have; but, of course. I did the
gentlemanly act and Apologized for my cgre
lessness. Buck And shT Fetmore She said
to me. "Young man, you know you are fylng
It was no fault of ours; It was mine entirely,
and If y6u had pulled my gown out at the
pithcrst it would have served rae right." B-
1 ton Transcript.
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