"j vrJrft' 'H ? - j .-, - 5 r ? .lasf" " !THE MORNING OREGONIAN, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER Iff, 1303. 11 TO GET MONEY-BACK Reason Trust Company Bid In Marquam Block. DENIES ANY DOUBLE DEALING Although William M. Ladd Was the President of Defendant Corpora tion, He Knew Little of Fore closure Until Day of Sale. William M. Ladd testified at the trial of the suit of P. A- Marquam against The Title Guarantee & Trust Company, J. Thorburn Ross et aL, that the value of the Marquam Block at the time of the mortgage foreclosure sale December 10, 1S00, was estimated by him to be 5375,000. Mr. Ladd said he Is the president of The Title Guarantee & Trust Company, and said he was consulted by J. Thorburn Boss and. T. T. Burkhart about the pur chase of the Marquam property on the morning of the sale, for the flrst time. "Wallace McCamant, attorney for the defense, asked: "It was an open ques tion if The Title Guarantee & Trust Com pany would hid at the sale?" "It was." "It was discussed with you as an open question, was lt7" "It was." . Mr. Ladd said Ross and Burkhart sub mitted some figures and the question was submitted to him if The Title Guarantee & Trust Company should make a bid. The reason was that it would require the bor rowing by the company of some money. There was a question if Ladd and Tllton would advance the amount. The witness ."I asked my brother if we would make the loan. I went back and told Ross about it and said that he should protect The Title Guarantee & Trust Company's liens against the property." Mr Ladd was shown the figures pre pared at that time as follows: Main building, 60x200 feet. $265,000; theater, "0x140. JG0.000; Sixth street property. 60x130, 533,000; Seventh-street property, 52x127, 515,000; total 5375,000. The South Portland prop erty was apprSKcd at 53200 and the SO acres In the Qulnn donation claim at 514,000. The witness admitted that the fig ures were correct and denoted the ap praisement made at the time of the mort gage sale and purchase. Mr. McCamant asked, "Did The Title Guarantee & Trust Company on Decem ber 10, 1900. desire to become the owner of the property?" "No." "If some one else had come In and bid " an amount that would have paid the mort gage claim and the lien of the title com pany, was it the purpose to bid at all?" "My recollection is that on that morning we decided to protect our liens, anybody who bid more could have the property." "You wanted to get your money out of IV!" "Wc desired to protect our lien. In response to additional questions Mr. Ladd said Judge Marquam came to see him at the bank, and he denied that he ever told Marquam he had no interest In Tne Title Guarantee & Trust Company. "The Judge," he said, "complained about Mr. Ross treatment and came to me as president of the company to know what to do about it. 1 told him I knew nothing about it, and I had nothing to do with the management of the company, and I sent him back to Mr. Ross. He was very persistent and said he could not get along with Ross and could not talk to Ross. He asked me it I didn't want the property. I told him no I didn't want the property. I was sorry he made such a remark. The wnoie matter unany euum fcy my stating I would see Mr. Ross. I met Mr. Ross and walked home with him. Ross said the title company did not want the property at all, but wanted the money due and said he would talk to Marquam if he came to see him." Continuing the witness said: "I can't remember if Judge Marquam said Ross or The Title Guarantee & Trust Company wanted the property. He asked me point blank if I didn't want to get the prop erty. I was dumbfounded and told him I didn't want the property. "What filled my mind vividly at the time was that he meant that I was a party to the litigation and that I "was trying to .get the prop erty." Mt. Ladd said he Is the largest stock holder In The Title Guarantee & Trust Company, and never told Marquam he was not Interested. Some further figures .were submitted, showing that after certain deductions there was 5374,000 against the Marquam property at the time of the sale and the new 5300,000 mortgage was figured at 5 per cent. The question at the time of the sale was whether the title company should bid in the property and save 521,000 due It or charge tills sum to the profit and loss account. On cross-examination by Judge Watson, Mr. Ladd stated on the morning of the forclosure sale he was passing tne onice of the title company on the way to the bank when Ross called him. He said ho bad to hurry and see his brother and get back to the title company's office so Ross would have time to reach the courthoui before the hour of sale. The witness meant by this that the decision for the title company to bid and protect its Hen of 521,000 had been arrived at hurriedly on the spur of the moment, and there had been no previous understanding on the subject whatever. The attention of Mr. Ladd was called to the fact that on August 4, 1S94, when Judge Marquam. was negotiating the 5300,000 loan from the United States Mort gage & Trust Company that Ladd ap praised the Marquam block at 5S00.O00, be ing 5250,000 for the land and 5550,000 for the building. Mr. Ladd admitted that he "had done so. Asked If the figures were too high the witness answered, "You can all judge as well as I can." On redirect examination Mr. McCamant inquired, "Isn't it a fact that people still had boom ideas of values in 18347" The witness answered that this was a pretty hard question to answer, in some localities it might have been so, and in other3 not There were instances were property was appraised for much more when loans were negotiated than it sold for at forclosure sales, or what it after wards sold for. Mr. Ladd said he ap praised the property conscientiously. Judge Watson asked Mr. Ladd if on the morning of the foreclosure sale there was a possibility of Ladd. & Tilton being called upon for a loan by the title company. He announced in the affirmative and said Ladd & Tiltun loaned 550,000 to pay on the mortgage, and when certain taxes on the Marquam property were com promised for 515.000 on December 13. 1900, the bank made the check for the amount. "Mr. Ladd, when the application was made by Marquam for a loan from the United States Mortgage & Trust Com pany, you desired to help Marquam?" "Ye3, I can safely say that." Robert Livingstone valued the Mar quam block in December, 1900, at from 5450,000 to 5500.000. He said if he owned the property at that time he would not sell it for that sum. He would not sell it at all If ho was in comfortable circumstances. It was In the center of the city and good to hold. Mr. Livingstone said he did not think he could have obtained 5450,000 for the property In December. 1900. The wit ness explained the difficult' of making a large sale. He said the market here is limited, to make such a large sale It probably would bo necessary to go East or form a syndicate. Joseph Simon testified that In December, 1900, considering the circumstances exist ing at that time, the Marquam block was worth 5400,000. J. Thorburn Ross, J. G. Mack and Alex Bernstein were called to testify con cerning the compromise of taxes on the Marquam property amounting to 540,000 for 515,000 on December 15, 1900. Judge Watson desired to prove that the fact that this compromise would bo made was known to The Title Guarantee & Trust Company before the date of the fore closure sale on December 10, but he did not succeed In doing so. FATHER WANTS HIS CHILDREN St. Louis Newspaper Man Asks tho Courts to Help Him. Edward Ackerman, a St Louis news paper man, arrived In Portland several days ago in search of his two minor chil dren, John and Helen, who he says have been unlawfully taken from him by their uncle and aunt, Robert and Minnie Berger. Ackerman, by his attorneys, Veazle & Freeman, filed a petition In the State Circuit Court to recover possession of his offspring from the Bergers, and the latter, after diligent inquiry, "were finally located by Deputy Sheriff Daniels yesterday afternoon, and served with the papers in the case, 'which direct them to appear in court at once and show why the children should not bo surrendered to tho father. According to the allegations contained in the petition of Ackerman it appears that his wife died at St. Louis on May 22, 1902, and In September following the two children were brought to Portland by Mr. and Mrs. Berger, accompanied by Blanche, and elripr Rlntpr. Arlrprman nl- leges -that it has transpired that this was ( aone as the result of a conspiracy to de prive him of the custody of his children, who were taken here on the pretense that their coming was in tho nature of a visit. The petitioner recites further that on September 24 his daughter, Blanche, filed a petition in the Multnomah County Court, asking that the children be turned over to tho Boys' and Girls' Aid Society, and stating that their father had aban doned them, The court made the order, and it is stated that on November 24, 1902, the Bergers petitioned the County Court to adopt the children, and with permission of the Boys' and Girls' Aid Society tho petition for adoption was jrranted and the names of John and Helen Ackerman were changed to John and Helen Berger. Ackerman asserts that ho did not re ceive notice of any of these proceedings, and only lately ascertained what had oc curred. He says in January, February and March, 1903, he sent tho Bergers 570 for the support of the children, and in August last, nearly a year after the adoption papers were made out they offered to return the children to him, but held them on various excuses, one of which was that they were being held for board. Ackerman asks the court to set aside the order of adoption and tho previous order granting their custody to the Boys' and Girls' Aid Society, and asks that they be restored to his care and control. Robert Berger Is a traveling salesman. SUES CHIEF OF POLICE. Prisoner Says He Was Falsely Im prisoned and Badly Treated. Chief of Police Charles H. Hunt yester day filed an answer to the 515,000 damage suit brought by Edward C. Lewis against the Chief, John F. Kerrigan and Frank Snow, detectives. Lewis was arrested In conjunction with Leo Griggs for the mur der of Max Calof in June, 1903. He estab lished a complete and positive alibi at the trial, and was acquitted on motion of District Attorney John Manning. Griggs was also released. In his complaint Lewis alleges that he was ill treated while confined at the city Jail, was chained to the floor and In various ways made to suffer mental and bodily agony. Chief Hunt In fcls answer denies all of these things, and as a further defense alleges that Lewis was arrested by Ker rigan, and Snow on suspicion of having committed the murder and District At torney Manning was Immediately called upon and asked If an Information was to be filed against the accused. Tho District Attorney, It is alleged, answered In the affirmative and filed the information on October 10, or 1G days after the arrest and incarceration of Lewis. Soon after the arrest was made, the 'Chief says, John F. Watts called upon him and informed him he was the at torney for the prisoner and thereafter, it is stated. Watts was allowed to see his client. Tho City Jail is a place where from 600 to 800 prisoners are detained for various periods, each month," Btates Chief Hunt, "and after Lewis was arrested he was placed In a cell on the lower floor. He asked to be taken to a room on the third floor of the building." Lewis, It is alleged, was informed by Detective Snow that it would be unsafe to place him In an up stairs room unless leg irons were fastened to him and Lewis consented. In conclusion the Chief says the arrest and imprison ment were without malice. L. A. McNary appears aa"hls attorney. Court Notes. Raymond Jackson, robbery of Willard Willis. Dan Jackson and William Harris, alias "Bad Eye," robbery of Willard Willis. Fred Kuhn, forgery In signing the name of Louis Danebacher to a certificate of deposit for 560. District Attorney John Manning yester day filed the following criminal informa tions In the State Circuit Court: Not a true bill was returned in the case of J. C. Leonard, who was accused of ob taining money under false pretenses by passing a bogus check on A. L. Black and receiving 55. The Fat Fowl Isn't the Best. Philadelphia Record. "When T see men or women looking for nouung dul iat on a rowl," said a mar ket man, "I don't envy them their din ner. There Is a layer of fat underneath the skin when poultry Is unduly fat tened, and In the cooking this over heated fat saturates the meat, and deli cate stomachs are given a hard tussle. This is why lots of people can't eat ducks and geese at all. These ovor-fat-tened fowls" are In reality more expen sive and less easily digested, then be ing much less lean meat In proportion to the fat. Most of my customers are now willing to pay what a good turkey is worth, understanding the difference. What is the difference? Why, there are a few rules that must be observed. For at least six days before killing barnyard fowls must be cooped, not huddled, but given good, clean space and fed well on corn for at least five days. Then, for twenty-four hours before killing, they should be fed on skimmed milk or soft boiled rice. The night before the killing the turkeys must be given plenty of water, but no food, which leaves the crop empty, tho intestines clean, the dark meat quite light, and gives a flavor as different as possible from tho offensive flavor that Is likely to Impregnate the common fowl killed In tho common way. The flesh of all animals Is flavored by their food. This accounts for the deli cious flavor of the canvasbaek and red head ducks. Both eat of the wild celery at the water's edge, the former taking the roots, the latter the tops." STEAMER LTJBUNE. This favorite steamer, thoroughly re paired and renovated throughout, is reg ularly on tho Portland-Astoria route, leav ing Taylor-street dock dally, except Sun day, at 7 A. M. . Habitual constipation cured and the bowels strengthened by the regular use of Carter's Little Liver Pills In small doses. Don't forget this. CHANGES IN FLEET Two New "Indra" Liners to Be Put in Service, REPLACE SMALLER STEAMERS Ship Channel at Slaughter's Com pleted-Work at Drydock Site Rate War on Columbia Is Now Probably Ended. A fleet of "Indra" steamships will con-, tlnue to ply between Portland and the Orient for the next three years, but not the same fleet that Is now in the service, excepting the Indrasamha. The Indra- LETTERS FROM PANAMA Special Correspondent Will Inform Oreganian Readers About the New Republic Merrill A. Teague. and the entire route of the pro posed canal will be traveled over and described by him, as well as all other parts of the Isthmus and the customs of the people. The series will contain about SSMetters. each dealing with a separate phase of the Panama, situation, and each will be illustrated by photographs taken by the correspondent. velll and the Indrapura are to be retired and their places taken by tho Indrawadl and the Indramayo. The latter two are practically of the same size as the Indra samha and are each about 300 tons net register larger than the vessels that are to be replaced. The chartering of these steamers Is the flrst move by the Portland & AslaUc Steamship Company toward In creasing the trans-Pacific service out from this port. In addlUon to the three freighters named, two,, and probably three, other vessels of equal carrying capacity will be added to the fleet, permitting of a sailing from this city every two weeks. The Indramayo has been engaged for some time in the trade between New York and the Orient via the Suez CanaL The Indrawadl Is a new craft and Is now at New York loading for her first trip to the Far East She is In command of Cap- tain Porter, who made several voyages,"111 before which Captain Casper J. here as master of Portland and Asiatic steamers and before that was flrst officer of the Indravelll. The first of the steamers now under charter to be given up will be the Indra velll, whose engagement to the Portland company will expire in March. The char ter of the Indrapura will expire later Id the year. It Is not known which of the new vessels will flrst go on the run, but It Is believed the preference will be given to the Indrawadl. These matters will be arranged when General Manager Schwerln takes hold of the affairs of tho company. This newly appointed official has not reached the city yet, but Is expected hero from San Francisco in a few days. The Indrapura Is due today from the Orient with a full cargo and a large steer age paasenger list She was expected at Victoria yesterday, but was probably de layed by rough weather. The steamer Is In charge of Captain Home, formerly flrst officer. REPAIRING THE SPENCER. Steamer May Not Resume Service for Six Weeks. The steamer Charles R. Spencer Is still at the Oak-street dock, but will be taken up to the yards of the Portland Ship building Company as soon as arrange ments have been completed for hauling her out on the ways there. Captain Spencer says he has ordered a new steel shaft from the" East to take the place of the one broken Monday In tho race against the Bailey Gatzert It will be some time before it is here and with the alter ations to be made to the boat, it will be a month or six weeks before she Is ready to resume service. The Spencer, accord ing to tho Captain, will be lengthened 30 feet by a new section amidships, which will not only give her Increased passenger and freight space, but her owner believes It will also make her faster. Captain Spencer has not yet secured another boat to tako her place on the Portland-Dalles run. Although she had no opposition, the Bailey Gatzert carried passengers up the Columbia yesterday at the 25-cent fare that has been charged since the war be gan. Regarding the future plans of the Regulator Company, General Manager H. C. Campbell said yesterday: "If Captain Spencer hauls his boat out on the ways, wo will assume that he has withdrawn his opposition and we will re store rates to the former figures. If, however, after he has repaired the Spencer, he again places her on the route we will again put the 25-cent cut rate into effect." ITS WORK JUST BEGUN. China Commercial Company Will Pour Coolies Into Mexico. SAN FRANCISCO, Dec 15. Eng Hok Fong, president of the Chinese Commer cial Company, and one of the most pro gressive Chinese of the empire, was the host at a banquet given last evening at a Dupont-street restaurant to the Chinese merchants of San Francisco. Eng Hok Fong has Just arrived In this country from Mexico. His company, which is a fighting rival to tho various other trans Pacific steamship lines, has its main route from Hong Kong to Manzanlllo, Mexico, and on tho return trip Its steam ers touch at San Francisco and tako on the outgoing Oriental passengers and freight. The prime object of Eng Hok Fong"s trip from his home in Hong Kong has been to gain free immigration for Chinese to Mexico and also enlist the sup port of the Chinese of this city for his company. At the banquet last night the distinguished Chinese said: "The early obstacles placed in our way In Mexico have been overcome, and we J have made new arrangements with the Mexican government by which we will have no further trouble In carrying Chi nese passengers to that country. The Mexican government has agreed to do all It can for the company and to encourage and foster Chinese immigration. Our countrymen are badly needed in Mexico, which at present can give employment to 50,000 Chinese laborers. .At the present time there are only from 15,000 to 20,000 Chinese laborers there, of which 10,000 are in the State of Yucatan. That state is pleading for 20,000 more, and it is tho gen eral opinion in Mexico that with the coming of more of our people there will be a general revival of the Industries and of. prosperity. "From now on I believe China will have a more open immigration to Mexico, and it will do much for the latter country, as well as be a great thing for the people of China." NEW SHIP CHANNEL. Dredge Columbia Completes Its Work at Slaughter's. The Important new ship channel that the Port of Portland has been making at Slaughter's was completed yesterday and last evening the big dredge Columbia was brought up to the mouth of the Willam ette. Tho new channel, which is 25 deet II n n The Oregonlan will shortly be gin the publication of a aeries of letters from Panama, having: made arrangements to that effect with the special correspondent of the Baltimore American, who sailed on November 17 from Now York. These letters' will be furnished Oregonlan readers in order that they may acquaint themselves with actual conditions tfiat exist in this newest of republics, and on which, in view of the deep inter est now centered la the Panama canal project, all eyes are turned. But little is known of this re markable tropical nation over Which the protectorate of the United States has so lately been thrown. The capabilities and characteristics of its people, es pecially of those composing the Junta, in whose hands the new provisional government now is, tho revenues and the resources of the country are matters on which all public spirited citizens should bo informed before Congress takes up the canal matter as it will soon do. Mr. Merrill A. Teaguo, the special correspondent, is a graphic writer. deep at zero. Is 300 feet wide and 7000 feet long. The Columbia began work on it November 1L and has accomplished a very satisfactory Job. At the mouth of the Willamette the Columbia will take off the upper end of Coon Island and will widen and straighten the channel. Tho dredge Portland Is busy at tho dry dock site, preparing the basin for the floating drydock. She has the place scooped out the full length and width and down to a depth of 39 feet. "When com pleted the basin will be 45 feet deep. This work will require the remainder of the month and after that It will take two or three weeks to finish the piling of the berth that is to hold tho dock. Court-Martial on. Flora Wreck. VICTORIA, B. C, Dec. 15. The court- Baker, commander of H. M. S. Flora, and Navigating Lieutenant Harold F. Grant will be tried for tho stranding of tho cruiser, will be convened at Esquimau tomorrow. Rear-Admiral BIckford, C. M. G., the retiring commander, Commodore Gooderich, the Just-arrived commander of the North Pacific squadron, and Captain Keppel, of H. M. S. Grafton, and Captain Parry, of H. M. S. Egeria, will constitute tha court. Astoria Shipping Notes. ASTORIA, Dec 15. (Special.) The bar tug Tatoosh Is out of commission for a few days, to have her boilers cleaned. As soon as she is ready to go into service again, tho Wallula will be laid up a short time for a similar purpose. The storm off the coast still continues, and the only vessel able to cross out to day was the steamship Columbia, which left out at high water this morning. Hamburg-American Liner Ashore. PHILADELPHIA, Dec 15. The Hamburg-American- Line steamship Assyria, which sailed from this port yesterday for Hamburg, is aground on Pea Patch Shoal In tho Delaware River, about ten miles below Newcastle, Del. The Assyria went aground in the night. She is lying easy. Tugs have been sent to her assistance. Schooners Loading at Anacortes. ANACORTES, Wash., Dec. 15. (Spe call.) The four-masted schooners Honoi pu. Captain Lurman, and the Honolulu, Captain Nellson, are at the docks of the Great Northern Lumber Company to re ceive large cargoes for California ports. Both vessels will load In lo days. Marine Notes. The East African began discharging coal at Davldge's dock yesterday morning. The French bark Berengere, with wheat and barley for tho United Kingdom, was towed down the river yesterday. The steamship Stanley Dollar will move today from Montgomery dock No. 2 to tho O. R. & N. dock to load flour for the Orient. She will probably finish and leave down the river in the evening. She goes from here to Tacoma to complete her cargo. Tho China Commercial steamer Lothian completed her cargo at the Portland Flouring Mills yesterday and left down tho river, bound for Hong Kong and way ports. Her cargo from this port consist ed of 38,490 barrels of flaur, valued at 5135,500. With the 2S Chinese passengers she received here, she has 592 on board. Domestic and Foreign Ports. ASTORIA, Dec 15. Arrived down at 10:30 A. iL British ship Vincent. Sailed at 0:20 A. M. Steamer Columbia, for San Francisco. Cape lino down; no bar report. San Francisco, Dec 15. Sailed at 0 A. M. Steamer Nome City, for Portland. Sailed at 11 A. M. Steamer Alliance, for Portland and way ports. Sailed Schooner Novelty, for Columbia River. San Francisco, Dec 15. Arrived Steamer George Loomls, from Seattle; steamer Sena tor, from Victoria. Sailed Steamer Nome City, for Alaska; schooner Novelty, for Columbia River; steamer Alliance, for Port land; steamer Edith, for Seattle. Sydney. N. S. TV., Dec 15. Arrived Pre viously Sonoma, from San Francisco via Honolulu and Auckland. Hoqulam, Wash., Dec 15. (Special). Ar rived Steamer Melville Dollar, from San Francisco for Hoqulam; steamer Grace Dol lar, from San Francisco for Hoqulam. Sailed Steamer Newburg, from Aberdeen for San Francisco. Seattle, Dec 15. Sailed Steamer "Dmatllla, for San Francisco; French steamer Colonel de Vlllebols Mareull. for Winslow. Arrived Steamer Queen, from San Francisco. Sailed Japanese eteamer Iyo Mam. for Japan and China. Tokohoma, Dec 14. Arrived Empress of China, from Vancouver for Hlogo, Kacasakl, shanghai and Hong Kong. HAS TOO MANY ELDERS I UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IS STILL IN TROUBLE. Special Session of Presbytery Forced to Adjourn Because of Ir regularity in Call. Tho special session of the presbytery of tho United Presbyterian Church, which convened yesterday forenoon In the Grand-Avenue Church, failed to adjust the difflculUes regarding the four eldera who will not resign, and another special session has been called to bo held In Albany, January "5. The failure to tako the matter up yesterday was for the rea san that the call for the meeting did not state specifically what it was for, and Elder A. J. Spear, who called the presby tery to order, objected to any action being taken. There were nine members of tho pres bytery and Rev. "W. P. White, of Albany, superintendent of missions-in this state, was present. A. J. Spear, who was as sistant moderator at the meeting of the presbytery held In Portland, called the meeting to order. Mr. Spear said that the notice did not state what tho session had been summoned to perform, and he objected to any proceeding on the ground that It would not be according to the laws of the church. He declared tho meeting adjourned. An attempt was made to have the meSting go ahead on tho ground that Mr. Spear was not the legal moderator. J. H. Xfeeper was elected in his place, but it was decided to adjourn and meet in Albany next month. The last meeting of the presbytery sug gested that Elders W. E. Spicer, Halph ililler, R, G. Hamilton and Hugh Nesbltt resign their offices, and that tho Grand Avenue Church elect a new set. The eld ers did not resign, but the church elected four new elders according to the plan and hence the church has two sets of elders, or nine altogether. All this is the result of a difficulty between the four elders mentioned and Dr. Gibson, the pastor. The problem to be settled at Albany, Jan uary 5, Is to determine who are the eld ers of the church. Dr. Gibson still adheres to his determi nation to make no statement, but did say last evening that his church was getting along In a satisfactory manner and that tho congregations were largo at all the services. Rev. W. P. White also said the affairs of the church were In excel lent condition in spito of the troubles it was having. PLAYGROUND IS ESSENTIAL. Joseph Buchtel Pleads for Central School Grounds to Be Held Intact. Portland School District, No. 1, is In debted to Joseph Buchtel for tho posses sion of the double block of ground be tween East Thirteenth and Fourteenth streets, on the south half of which stands the big Central building. The two blocks are still intact, although an effort has been made to have East Washington street extended through them. Director Richard Williams has fought the exten sion so far successfully. The north half Is held for an East Side High School, but Mr. Buchtel says that his object in securing the double block was to hold it for a playground. It was purchased about 33 years ago. "Mr. Buchtel in speaking of the sale says: "Professor Henderson, of Chicago Uni versity, speaking not long ago, said that our public schools as at present conducted are Inadequate to tho needs of the child. The churches are not doing all they should for boys. All should, unite In se curing more playgrounds in large cities. "This opinion Is quoted for the benefit of our school officers and patrons who subscribe to the sentiment voiced by one of our directors that 'the children do not go to school to play,' when discussing the problem of providing means for more outdoor recreation for the children while in attendance at our public schools. "When it was determined to build a schoolhouse in Central East Portland, the district owned one lot and it was pro posed to build upon that small area. I protested, and suggested the purchase of larger and more suitable premises. A meetlncr Of thf vntftrs ftf thA HIctrfpf- wna about to be called. I enlisted the sympa- with the result that at the meeting we not only had votes enough to provide new and larger grounds, but to obligate the dls trict to purchase two blocks, one f6r tho building and the other for a playground. The blocks were purchased and one of them 13 occupied by the Central School building and the other Is In use as a playground. Now, the directors And a pressing demand for more room for the rapidly increasing number of pupils and there is talk of erecting a new building on the now vacant block. Such action would negative the purpose of the voters who took great pains to provide the play ground for the children and ought never to be taken. If more house room is needed, which is probable, let an addition bo built to the present structure extending If nec essary into the closed street, but let tho children have what was provided for them, what they are entitled to and what experience says Is Indispensable." DISTRICT IS PROSPEROUS. Many New Methodist Manses and Churches Are Being Built. Dr. L. B. Rockwell, presiding elder of Portland district of the Methodist Church, who returned this week from a month's trip down the river to Seaside, reports much substantial progress In that portion of his district In the way of new parsonages and prospective churches. He visited Knappa, Qulncy, Clatskanle, Rain ier and Seaside. Two parsonages have been completed at Rainier and Knappa, respectively, at a cost of about $1000 each. A new church will be built at Grand View, the subscriptions for the cost being near ly completed. H. R. Hill, who provided the new parsonage at West Port, is in Portland sick. At Warren a mortgage on the parsonage will be burned the first of the year. Rev. G. M. Thorp Is pastor here. Dr. Rockwell says that in the Portland district the churches outside of Portland provided 51400 jnore for salaries of min isters this year than the year before. No debts were contracted anywhere in the district for now parsonages and churches, but all contracts made for construction work aro for cash. Nearly all the old debts that were contracted years ago havo been paid off. IN FAVOR OF BIG SEWER. Brooklyn Taxpayers Listen to Ex planations From City Engineer. A well-attended meeting of taxpayers of Brooklyn, held In Blancks Hall on Powell street last night, listened to ex planations of tho extent and probable cost of the proposed sewer for that por tion of tho city by City Engineer W. C. Elliott and City Auditor T. C. Devlin in dorsed the project and formed an organi zation to secure rights of way and facili tate the Improvement in every possible manner. Sylvester F. White called the meeting to order, and was made permanent chair man. Mr. Elliott and Mr. Devlin were both invited to the platform. Mr. Elliott had brought some blue prints showing the routes of the main conduits which were pinned. to the wall for Inspection. Mr. Elliott then said that the district had been delimitated after extended surveys lasting over three months. This was done so that no territory which might be trib utary to the main conduits, should be left out of the estimates to give trouble ever afterwards. The main branch he said would begin at the Willamette River on Ivon street and would be 10,600 feet long. At tho mouth It would bo at least eight feet la diameter. There would be 2100 acres in the district which subdivided into 12,e00 lots. Mr. Elliott estimated the total cost of tho conduits outside of the laterals at between 5133,000 and 5140,000. or an average of $10.75 per lot throughout tho district. However, the assessment of the lots within 100 feet of the main sewer will be much larger than those further away. Tho City Auditor called attention to the iact that the conduits would pass through some private property and that it would bo to the Interest of the- people to se cure rights of way through, this ground. In other sewer districts rights of way had been donated. The laying of the big sewer through land was not a damage as It would be underground from 12 to 20 feet. Mr. Devlin remarked that If It was necessary to follow the streets the cost would be 530,000 or 540,000 more, besides there would be delay In condemnation proceedings. At the conclusion of Mr. Devlin's ex planation a committee was appointed to take up the matter of securing rights tf way. No opposition to the sewer was man ifested during the evening. Many of tho large property-owners wero present and said they wanted to see the work start. New Carriers Start to Work. The four new letter carriers granted the local postofflce by the department at Washington went on duty yesterday. They were assigned to duty In the districts of Woodlawn, Central Point, Peninsular and University Park. It is estimated that fully 5000 persons will be benefited by this In crease in the carrier force. Other car riers will be added later It the depart ment at Washington will grant the Increase. Pomona Grange Meeting. Pomona Grange of Multnomah County will hold Its annual meeting today at Pleasant Home when the election of offi cers will be held. Among other business it Is expected that some action relating to the" coming of the National Grange to Portland In 1904 will be taken. East Side Notes. Mrs. "Wynn Johnsqn delivered her fine talk on the Philippine Islands yesterday afternoon to the pupils of the Brooklyn school. One of the classrooms was filled with the larger pupils who listened with great Interest to the address. Martha Washington Chapter. No. 14, O. Bv S., elected the following officers Mon day night: Worthy matron, Mrs. Millie Terry; worthy patron, V. C. Dunning; assistant matron, Mrs. Adah H. Ball; secretary, Sarah D. Guerln; treasurer, Mrs. M. Z. Sinks; conductress, Margaret Howatson; associate conductress, Fern Raber. Queen Beo Hive, No. 24. Maccabees, has elected the following officers: Past lady commander, Mrs. Bertha Perkins; lady commander. Miss Margaret Howatson; lady L. commander, Mrs. Louise McFad den; R. K., Mrs. Sarah B. Guerln; F. K., Mrs. Mary Wolfenbarger; chaplain, Mrs. Isabelle Ball; sergeant, Mrs. Ida Roblson; mistress-at-arms, Mrs. Carrie Billion; sentinel. Mrs. Nancy Smith; picket, Mrs. Edna Hutchinson. EXPENSES ESTIMATED TOR 1904 City Engineer's Department Will Need $131,182. For 1904 the City Engineer's Department will require $131,182, according to the es timate in the annual report of City En gineer W. C. Elliott filed yesterday. The report is as follows: "In preparing the estimate and fixing the figures I havo been careful to keep each item and the total as low as Is con sistent with efficient service and good con duct of affairs to the department. The estimate of expenses for the ensuing year Is based upon, that which has been re quired during the year 1903, and as there is now a greater amount of improvement under contract, the estimate I deem is very low, as the work done by the depart ment with the existing force during the past year has been accomplished with tho greatest difficulty. The additional equip ment asked for is only such as Is urgent and needed, and will add to the efficiency of the department's work. "The city maintains all sewers, so of necessity there must be an Increase In tho cost of maintaining this branch of tho service, as the number of sewers ln- nreastp ." The estimates under the different heads, including salaries. equlpment and ma- tcrials. are: General engineering $ 39,240 Material and equipment for same.... 1.492 Street and sewor inspection 19,920 Street rollers, engineers, repairs, fuel, etc 5.460 Sewer repairers and materials S.754 Street repair fund 56,315 Total $131,182 His Wife's View o It. New York Times. They are telling a good story on a prom inent citizen of a New York town, who tried to repeat a Joke to his wife and found the Joko was on himsolf. It seems that the citizen was in a down-town hat store one evening, after closing hours, and the proprietor from Bome incentive said: "I will give to any man here a new silk hat If ho 111 swear on his word of honor that never since his marriage ha3 he cast a languishing glancq, or tho eye of love, on any woman other than his wife." A young man stepped forward and said, "Give me tho hat." "Are you ready to so swear?" asked the shopkeeper. "I am." replied the young man firmly. "Take tho hat," said the hatter, who then added: "When were you married, by the way?" "Last night," replied the young man. This was the Joke the Joke on the hat ter which the prominent citizen ran home and repeated to his wife with much gusto. After he had finished the wife did not seem to appreciate the humor as keenly as had been anticipated by the husband. "Why don't you laugh?" asked the lat ter. "Don't you see It is funny?" "I was thinking," replied the wife, "Why didn't you bring heme the hat, dear?" "Well, darn ltl A silk hat never did look well on me," remonstrated the promt, nent citizen. The Orchtstraless Restaurant. New York Sun. , The proprietors of the "fashionable" restaurants, and cafes of Chicago have "cut out the catgut," as the marrowy dialect of Cook county puts It. No more music at dinner and supper. No more sighing strings In palm-girt terraces. No more soft squeaking of the violin; no more sentimental smiting or comic tick ling of the piano. The restaurant mana gers have determined to save a pretty penny: and they do it under the pretense of savlnsr annoyance to their customers. "My patrons are tired of hearing grand I opera murdered and ragtime," one of the lobster lords say9. This Is an unworthy gibe at doubtless deserving performers. It may or may not be true that the public Is weary of eat ing and drinking to music. It is likely that since so many less pretentious eating houses have caught the orchestra habit, the gilded halls of the gourmands may prefer silence as less common. Juggling or a ballet or sword swallowing, if this last would not be considered dlsresDectfu! to the table manners of the patrons, may ' bo substituted for the orchestra. Some conservatives hold that no distraction is necessary, and that the way to dine is to dine. This is a low view of a great business. If you go to a Boston restaurant, you see thoughtful souls reading. Yet Boston is a musical town and has, or used to have, a municipal brass band. If Boston can dine without music, surely Chicago can. But what will Chicago have In place of tho orchestras? """ The New York restaurant keepers are shrewd. Music may pall upon them, Irafc, THE PIANOLA Its Exceptional Fitness for a Christmas Gift There must be a piano, of course. There usually is a piano in the home, and a love of music, which is quite as common as a plan. Possessing these two things, there is no gift that will give so much pleasure, not only on Christmas, but throughout the year, and for many years as the Pianola. An Instrument by the air of which any one can play the piano, not merely with technical correctness, but can Impart to It his own individuality, his own inter pretation. Heretofore, the only obstacle to the universal enjoyment of the piano has been that to those who were not musicians, the piano was a sealed book. It stood "mute and expressionless between, them and the unexplored delights which the individual rendering of music affords. LThe Pianola has remedied this. Not the slightest technical knowledge of music is necessary to enable the music lover to render any composition, no matter how complicated, irt exact accordance either with the Ideas of the composer or with his own taste. The Pianola, as is well known, embodies In perfected form every practical feature of the slightest value for phrasing, accentuation, and control gen erally of tempo. It will thus be see that while the muslo depends entirely upon the performer for Interpretation, any member of the family can play a tune upon the piano with tho aid of a Pianola and that it can bring more pleasure to each one than any other one single gift. Price. $250; easy terms of payment arranged. Eilers Piano House, sole Northwest Agents. No. 351 Wash ington street, corner Park. as observers of public and private musical performances, they know that there is nothing like music to set people's tongues going. The" restaurant orchestra is tho botargo, the shoehorn, the stimulant to the thirst of talk. The Griffin Chain-Letter. New York Press. The Griffin chain letter is still doing business. Letters are arriving in every mail at Sydney and the stamps Inclosed are sold to a dealer at the uniform rate of ten shillings a thousand. This chain was started to aid a hospital. In all about 51000 has been received. Each letter is supposed to bear ten canceled postage stamps, which aro to be disposed of to philatelists. The chain is to be carried on to its ISOth link. The 20th link brings the number of letters to 5,229,520,800, ond if each contains ten stamps, the total num ber of stamps received is 52,295,20S,000. Where would the ISOth link reach? There are not enough stamps in the world to complete the 30th link. even. F. W. Reld figures out that there is not enough paper In the world to write the letters neces sary to complete the ISOth link, and he probably is right. BUSINESS ITEMS. If Baby Is Cutting Teeth. Be sure and use that oia and well-tried remedy, Mrs. Winslow 's Soothlnz Sjrup, for children teethlnc. It soothes the child, softens the sums, allays all pain, cures wind, colic and diarrhoea. yjMsMs$M i For the morning after the night before" take Abbey's Effer vescent Salt, it sweetens the stomach, clears the head and refreshes you for your daily duties. All druggists, or by mail, 25c, 50c. and $1.00 per bottle; FreeSampleofsSKffl pen receipt of your name and address. THE ABBEY EFFERVESCENT SALT CO. 9-15 Murray Street, NevYork. . 'LettheGOID DUST TWIUS do your work' BOLD DUST & and your dishes wul be cleansed in less tftns j and wita naif tne labor of the old way. GENERAL USES "FOR GOIJ3 DTTST. i Scrubbing floors, wajhlncr clothe nd dlihe. : I cleaning wood-wort, oilcloth, silverware and ! Tinware, polishing Drasworlc. cipocslnsr bath: room, pipes, etc, and mating the flnestsoft soap, j uw.uv uw.i iuuuM unn i naiOi cut X aa IYTTl TTTCT W1VTO TT1TJT4 XtTirnrya OVrvn WSSJJ4 pi This Cap Label jB pfl Is & euarantse of the parity and rich- jfej Eg! ness of Evaporated Cream in the can Egf which bears it Insist on seeing it mSm SB before you buy, or ask your dealer (or gjg Economy I Brand I B Evaporated B Cream 9 fj It goes farthest. Is most appear- g 1E Ins: and more pleasing: to the eys p than tha watery imitations. 5f H HELVETIA MILK 9 mm CONDENSING CO. mm WSk Highland, 111., U. S. A. ifm MSjjjSmi " Largest Producers of MSsa. JbMSbW Evaporated Crtcm." $b Inyour MM 5Sff I dishwater I 8 1 a nm bi isvuv;n