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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 11, 1904)
THE MORNING OEEGONIAN, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY' 11, 1904. WILLLOSETRADE Klamath Basin to Fall to San Francisco. RAILROAD TO BE EXTENDED Klamath Falls 'Will Be in Close Touch With Bay City. GRADES HANDICAP PORTLAND Only Hope of This City to Retain Its Hold on Central Oregon Is by Extension of Columbia Southern. THREE ROADS HEADED FOR CEK TRAX. OREGON'. The Klamath Lake Railroad is build ing from its present terminus At Pokegama to Kono, on the Klamath Rler. From Keno, Klamath Falls is reached by steamers. The Columbia Southern Railroad is to be extended 100 miles south from Shanlko to Bend, but it -will be about 200 miles ' from the rich Klamath Country- The Nevada, California & Oregon Railroad has built to -within a few miles of the Oregon line, and 'will, probably reach Lakcwood before the Columbia Southern reaches that far south. "The entire trade of the rich Klam ath basin will be beyond the reach of Portland very early ' in the present Summer," Is the statement of a prom inent transportation man "who has Just returned from California. Reports from San Francisco state that arrangements have already been made for the con struction of an extension of the Klam ath Lake Railroad from Its present terminus at Pokegama to Keno, on the Klamath River. This extension will be 23 miles in length, and, when it is com pleted, Klamath Falls, the metropolis of the Klamath country, "will be in such close connection with San Francisco that staging- will be no longer neces eary. At the present time, passengers from San Francisco can go by rail as far as Pokegama, thence 23 miles by stage to Keno, and from the latter point to Klamath Falls by steamers now operated by the Klamath Lake Navigation Company. The distance from Keno to Klamath Falls by river and lake is 25 miles, al though the stage route and proposed route for the railroad between the two points is but 12 miles. To avoid the staging over this extra 12 miles, most of the passenger travel and consider able freight is now handled by the boats. The steamboat line was estab lished several months ago by a party of Portlanders headed by Captain Sher man Short, a well-known steamboat man of this city. It was their original intention to run mostly on the upper lake to connect with travel going north to Portland, but, with the completion of the Klamath Lake Railroad to Poke gama, the trade hegan setting to the south and San Francisco now has a good, fast hold, and is steadily strengthening that hold. Little Chance for Portland. The point at which the Klamath Lake Road strikes the Southern Pa cific's main line is a small station named Lairds, about two miles north of Ager, CaL The distance from Lairds to San Francisco is 389 miles, while from Portland by Southern Pacific the distance is 3S3 miles. This point is thus so near half way that, were it not for a matter of grades, it would 'place Portland on an equal footing with San Francisco for the business of that rich country. Unfortunately for Portland, the Siskiyou Mountains form a barrier that the traffic will not scale in or der to reach a market, and Portland can never hope to get much business out of that country so long as it must be hauled out of Oregon into California and thence back into Oregon in order to reach the metropolis of the state In which the traffic originates. Prior to the construction of the Klamath Lake Railroad, there was some hope that the extension of the Columbia Southern would be carried forward before the trade of that rich section was diverted to the south by superior railroad connections, but mat tors have now reached a stage where it will require some very strenuous ef forts to win back what we have lost The case is far from hopeless if the Columbia Southern is pushed far enough south. The Columbia South ern, while in effect a feeder of the Harriman system, which also Includes the Southern Pacific, is in a large moasure Independent of the Harriman control, and if pushed through to the extreme southern boundary of the state, will give Portland access to a rich country without being dependent on the Harriman line for it. With a splendid grade throughout almost the entire length of Central Oregon, this road oould give the residents of that far-off portion of the state facilities equal or superior to any which they can socure from California. Lumbor, livestock and wool at the present time form the bulk of the shipments from that country, and, as practically all of these commodities are for shipment to the East, the Central Oregon route would offer a shorter lino and corre spondingly shorter time to reach the market than if it were shipped around by way of California. Two Roads Building. The Klamath Lake Railroad is not the only railroad line that is roach ing up from the south for the trade of Southern and Central Oregon, for the Nevada, California & Oregon Road has progressed to a point but a few miles south of the Oregon line, and will prob- -3ly reach Lakeview before the Colum t. .. i WAR AMONG ICEMEN Cut of Fifty Per Cent in Prices Begins It RUMORS. OF A FREEZE-OUT MAP HXUSTRATIXO THE CENTRAL OREGON RAILROAD SITUATION. bia Southern reaches that far south. The latter road will be pushed to Bend, 100 miles south of Shanlko, as rapidly as possible, but will'-still be about 200 miles from the rich Klamath country. That the dwellers in the extreme south ern part of the state have not yet given up the route through their own state to market is shown by tho fact that in spite of the close proximity of the two roads reaching up from California, the great bulk of the freight last year still came north by the long, wagon journey from Lakeview to Shanlko, and quite a little business came from Klamath Falls, which was "last season within less than a day's staging of a railroad. with the assistance of John A. Taylor and J. Ledgewood Uddell, who after ward drew out of the company. Tho concern was capitalized ror $10,000, of which ho subscribed for $5080 in stock. Wakefield talked at length upon the merits of the concern and declared he could talk for a couple of days on the subject without any repetition. Tho other witnesses were G. T. Murton, C E. Short and J. E. Huxley, who gave it as their opinion that the plan would work out as said by Wakefield. INDORSED BY MITCHELL. PELL DOWN ELEVA70E SHAFT. W. W. Copeland, Former PortJand Printer, Meets Death in Bay City. SAX FRANCISCO. Feb. 10. W. W. Copeland. president of the San Francisco Typographical Union, is dead as the result of falling through an open elevator shaft laje last night. fW. W. Conelonil Is well known to old Portland printers, and had many friends In Portland. He was a member or jmm- nomah Typographical Union 20 years ago nrifj lntnr ivn Its president for a number of yeans. In the latter S0s he was a dele gate to the international convention of the Typographical Union. He started a Job office of his own in the old Marquam building, at Sixth and Alder streets, and later was one of the men who attempted to start a daily paper unaer ine name oi the Daily Morning American.) WILL BE DECIDED TODAY. Case Against Fraternal Home Buyers Closes With Wakefield's Defense. This morning at 10 o'clock United States Commissioner McKoe will an nounce his decision regarding the liabil ity of Ross Nicholas and C. Guy Wake field for further prosecution on charges of fraud. The rest of the testimony for tho defense was presented yesterday afternoon, tho principal witness being Wakefield. showed that the Home Buyers' scheme, as concocted by himself, will work out. He was closely cross-examined by Dis trict Attorney HalL It was brought out that Wakofleld is the principal share holder. He organized two years ago. The Senator Commends FraternaJ Building Project. J. W. Thompson, secretary of the Lewis and Clark Fraternal Building Association, yesterday received a let ter from United States Senator Mitchell indorsing the project pf erect ing a building at the Lewis and Clark Fair: "I extend congratulations to you and all the other fraternal societies con nected with the movement on the good beginning you have made, and I desire to express the earnest hope that you will make the enterprise a complete success, as I have no doubt you will. If there is anything I can do to aid you in the good work in which you are engaged, do not hesitate to let me know. I sincerely hope that it can be so arragned upon the part of the man agement that the first certificate, as in the case of the St. Louis Fair, may be issued to Theodore Roosevelt, Presi dent of the United States. The frater nal societies of the United States are today a distinct and 'powerful clement for good. Oregon, in proportion to its population, has its full quota of those bencficient societies, and I am sure those now engaged in the good work of erecting a temple of fraternity on the site of tho Lewis and Clark Fair will have their efforts crowned with sue cess. "Wishing you all God speed in the good work, I am. sincerely your friend. JOHN H. MITCHELL. Articles of Incorporation. L. S. Normandln, C W. Ross, E. J. Rathbun, L. C Boflnger and John Sher beck, of Mount Tabor, yesterday filed articles of incorporation of the Woodmen of the World Hall Association; capital stock, $2000. The. objects are to build a hall at Mount Tabor. Incorporation articles of the McCauley Machine Works Company were filed yes terday by R, E. McCauley, C. J. Freeman t. A. Flelschhauer; capital stock, $3000. SINGING TEMPERANCE EVAN GELIST TO HOLD MEETINGS - The Multnomah County W. C T. V. has arranged with Rer. Thomas S. Handsaker and wife, temperance and slnslB? evangelists, to give a series of their entertaining meet Ins in Portland, beginning Mon day, February IS, at the First Christian Church. As a speaker, Mr. Handsale er Is logical, convinc ing; in singing he Is inspiring and pleasing, having a full baritone voice, which he uses effectively. Mrs. Hands&ker Joins with him in Jong, making a most agreeaole and interesting programme. Holmes Says Others Were Cutting, but They Deny It-Proposed. New Plants May Be Cause-Capacity Exceeds the Demand. There is war among the icemen and the consumers wish the weather was warmer, so that they could consume more ice at half price. There are the usual recrim inations as to who began it, but the first open cut was made by the Holmes Coal & Ice Company on Monday morning, when it advertised prices for hotels and restaurants ranging from 5 cents for ten pounds to 25 cents- for 100 pounds, and for tho family trade ranging from 5 cents for ten pounds to 30 cents for 100 pounds. The others say they will meet this and any other cuts that may be made. It Is intimated that these prices, which are half those hitherto ruling, may continue through the Summer, offering the pros pect that it may be cheap to keep cool, even after the weather turns warm. There are conflicting stories about the real reason for the cat. On the side of the apparent aggressors it Is hinted. though not admitted, that rumors of the intended establishment of several new plants in the city are the cause, the Idea being that cut prices would discourage the new investors. On the part of that company's rivals, the Columbia and Crystal Ice Companies, there is a bus plclon that the Holmes Company wishes to monopolize the business for itself and its associates and is trying a freeze-out game, which would seem to be a hard game to play on people so accustomed to frigidity as Icemen. Purpose of the Cut. As to the purpose of the cut by the Holmes Company, J. W. Holmes said: The statement of the Columbia Com pany that we made the cut In order to freeze it out is not correct, for it Is lm possible to freeze out an ice plant. You may cut prices so that the owners lose. so much money that they shut down, but the plant will remain and somebody will run it. The fact is that we had fixed a scale of prices, and, when the two other companies started three years ago, they lived pp to it, but lately one of them has begun making small cuts to get away some of our customers. .We followed this by making an open cut all along the line, though that was not the only reason. Competition seemed to demand that we make lower prices. While there can t be much profit at the prices at which we are selling now " Mr. Holmes paused here as If studying how 4o complete the sentence and- the re porter suggested: "We can stll live at these prices," but he said: "No, I don't know that yet. These prices will - probably last this year any way, and they may be permanent for all I know. No Monopoly Proposed. "It is" reported that there Is some ar rangement for T. J. Gorman, of the Blue Mountain Icq Company, and W. H. Harris, of the Artificial Ice Company, to buy you out or go into a combination with you to monopolize the trade. Is that true?" , "No, there is no truth In that story. We have always handled the output of the Blue Mountain and Artificial Com panics. The fact Is that the factories here now can make more than enough to supply the city and we have heard rumors that several more concerns are talking of putting In plants." "Then, perhaps you wish to scare them out?" I "I would not say that, but we are not anxious to have any more come In." "Then what Is the solution? Has some body to go out of the business?" "I do not say that; in fact I do not know that I can predict what will come out of this." Believes It's a Freeze-Out Game. "We have got a little trade away from the Holmes Company, but haVe not cut prices or given any discount." said Charles Smith, manager of the Columbia Company, when asked whether his com pany had started the trouble. "We have small .plant, but we are here to stay and are ready to meet any cuts made by our competitors. We do all our own work and do not hire any men, so we can stand it as long as any of them. We are getting three meals a day and can live on three meals a week if we have to. But there is no reason for cutting prices: the peopl are content to pay 50 cents" per 100 pounds and a lot of our people have offered to continue that price, but we are going to meet the cut all along the line. We should be willing to contract to turn over all our product to the Holmes Company. Just as the Blue Mountain and Artificial Companies do, but are opposed to charg ing more than 510 a ton. But I h'av beard they want to freeze us out and-get the whole business themselves; then they could put up the price to a cent a pound.' G. W. Weatherly. secretary of the Crys tal Company. Is of the same opinion as Mr. Smith on the subject of cutting, for be said: "We never started the cut nor gave discount, but we will meet all cuts made. If Holmes cuts the price in two again, we will meet It." Oversupply the Trouble. The fact is that the capacity of all the Ice plants in Portland Is greater than the demand, and as each company wishes to sell as near its capacity as possible, com petition is fierce and somebody had to be left. The Artificial Company has two plants, one of 25 tons a day on Seven teenth street, and another of 15 tons, which is Just being equipped with new machinery, on Second street. The Blue Mountain Company makes 40 tons a day and can make 50. the Crystal la tons and the Columbia ten tons. This makes total of 115 tons a day, .which is abundant for the hottest weather of Summer, ana is more than four times as much at the city uses in Winter; in fact, Mr. Smith said that, if all the plants were to run to their full capacity all tho year around and store the surplus left from Winter, they could supply the whole of Oregon, The Holmes Company has the bulk of the trade, for it buys under contract the entire output of the Blue Mountain and Artificial factories, aggregating SO tons a day. If any more factories were started there would be Ice tp give away. Rer. Thomas S. Handsaker. HOME HEEDS MOEE E00M. Trustees of Boys' and Girls' Aid Soci ety Hear of Its Condition. The board of trustees of the Boys' and Girls Aid Society held Its regular monthly meeting yesterday afternoon in the chambers of Judge Gilbert, the members present being Hon. George XL Williams, president; F. E. Beach, sec retary; L. L. Hawkins, treasurer; Judge Bellinger. A. H. Breyman, Mrs. Lev White, Mrs. C R. Templeton, Mrs. J. A. Sladen and Superintendent Gardner. The superintendent in his report for January reported an epidemic of mea sles at the home, there having been six cases, but all were doing well, with the exception of one, who, it was re ported at this writing-, was very low. Forty-five children were admitted aur The Meier Sh Frank Company New White Waistmgs, a superb showing of new Spring styles at 35c to 75c a yard New Spring Suits and Dress Skirts Advance showing of Spring Millinery 2d Floor Beautiful New Silks Oftentimes readers of onr store news are told how we lay store plans, how we forecast coming fashions far ahead of their appearance and gather goods six months or a year in advance of the demand for them Proof of onr success in these mat ters is jaalMimes apparent here at Meier & Frank's The Cloak Department has been submitting proofs on Spring Fash ions for weeks Now the Silk Departmentjsreadyto show you complete stocks of new materials for Spring, Summer and evening wear White Silks from Japan, and White Pon gees from China are going to be prime favorites for the hot weather wear and they'll cost more too if hostilities continue between Japan and Russia New Momie Silk, new black and white checks, new gun metal effects, new foulards in beautiful styles Choose now while the assortment is at its very best. ?45th Friday Surprise Sale 4000 Yards Wash Taffetas An exceptional offering of Wash Taffeta SDks for tomorrow's great surprise sale Over 4000 yards all new desirable color ingsThe quality always sold here regularly at 75c a yard- Other stores in town call the same grade 85c quality. An immense variety of the best shades white, cream, black, red, garnet, pink, light blue, navy, reseda, Nile, turquoise, royal blue and gray suitable for waists, shirtwaist suits, and lining, 20 m inches wide. "Buy all you wont tomorrow at the unusually low price of . . . jl C See Fifth-street window display. Do You Want Your Money Refunded? Yes, then do all your buying this month at the Meier & Frank store, and you have a splendid chance of getting your cash purchase money refunded. The plan is this: We're going to refund the money on all cash purchases made on a certain day of the month of February, this day to be announced in The Oregonian of Sunday, March 6th. It matters not whether your purchases have been a hundred dollars or a hundred cents. If your cash duplicates bear the date of the lucky day your money will be cheerfully refunded. Save your duplicates. C. O. D. and charge accounts do not participate in this offering. sunn, ton co. Todays Hourly Sales" il We expect will attract an enthusiastic throng of buyers. Meritorious bargains of interest to every economical buyer. We promise unusual saving chances to all w&o visit this store today. . ' 9 to 10 A. 500 Matted Pictures, size 15 xao, great variety of good subjects, grandest value ever offered this 9 hour, each C 500 Ladies' Linen Collars, all good styles, 15c value, about all sizes your choice while they last at, fl each Children's All-Wool Mittens in black, all sizes, regular 25c and 35c values for this hour only, your 1 1 r choice, pair. 100 guaranteed Alarm Clocks this hour only at the ex ceptionally low price of, each .JJfk 200 Flannel Skirt Patterns, best styles "and colorings, regular 25c value, j 4-quart Granite Sauce Pans on sale this hour for 5T P3 -el 4 BEGINNING AT JOAH JJ to 11 A. M. 50c and 75c Flannel Waist ings, in good patterns and colorings for this hour only your choice at the wonder fully low price 24C 40 Handspme White Silk Ruffs, regular $3.00 value- while they last, your choice at - SKINNING ' $1 11 to 12 A. M. 20 dozen Men's Outing Flan nel Night Robes, best patterns and colorings, all sizes, regu lar $1.00 values, at only Children's Golf Gloves, in black, gray and assorted colors, ages 4 to 10 years, regular 25c values this hour, pair IOC Colored Gloria Silk Umbrel las, navy and brown, natural wood Princess handles, case and tassel, 26-in. size, great value at the tf QQ low price of V -7 100 large size Galvanized Iron Wash Tubs, regular 90c value this hour at only , t8c 200 pairs of Scissors, sizes 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 every pair guaran teed for this hour only, your choice at, pair, r: only. I OC 1000 copies of Gilt Top Books standard and popular auth ors, regular 50c value this hour I C Imitation Valenciennes and Torchon Laces, beading and insertions, values yards this hour, dozen , 1 8c dozen 10c 500 pairs of Ladies' Black All over Lace Hose, "Onyx" Brand, fine patterns, regular 75c values, for, per pair Meier &. Frank Company Meier & Frank Company Meier & Frank Company lner the month and 44 placed In family j homes, 34 of the number admitted be lngr entirely new cases, 11 belne re turned to the home for replacement- The report goes on to make an ear nest appeal to the board for more room, and asks that some steps be taken toward erecting: the north -wing", which the superintendent believes could be accompllshedkat a much less expense at this time than for some years to come. The principal reason for asking for thls Increase for room, Mr. Gardner ex plains. Is the necessity of segregating: the dependant and delinquent children. He further recommends that a shop should be erected on the grounds so that the boys could.be taught carpen try and the general use of tools. The report also says that frequent vlits are made by the superintendent and the society's officer to the North End resorts to see that no minors fre quent such places; that on last Satur day evening a visit of this kind was made arid only two minors were found. One of these, however, contended that he was 22 years of age, and there Is a doubt In the superintendent's mind as to this, as he explains that to dis criminate between lads from 13 to 21 years of age is very bard. The super intendent believes that the keepers of these resorts ar doing all in their power to keep -minors out. Current bill3 for the month of Jan uary amounting to 5584.82 were aud ited by the committee and ordered paid. . Land Bill Favorably Reported. WASHINGTON, Feb. 10. Senator Gam ble today reported favorably from the committee on public lands the five per cent bill for the regulation of accounts between the United States and several states relative to disposition of public lands. The aggregate amount Involved at the present time under this bill Is esti mated at JS.1S2.000, while the amount al ready deposited with the states under the land act aggregates 523.101,544. The bill has been reported favorably to several Congresses, but It now has the full ap proval of the public lands committee and earnest efforts will be made to secure Its passage. It Is Danprertra to Xrlrct a Cold. How often you hear it remarked: "It's only a cold," and a few days later learn that the man Is on his back with pneu monia. This is of such common occuv rence that a cold, however slight, should not be disregarded. Chamberlain's Cough Remedy counteracts any tendency of a cold to result in pneumonia, and has garned Its great popularity and extensive sale by its prompt cures of this most common ailment. It always cures and is pleasant to take. For sale by all druz-eists.