lJpt cf
VOL. XLV.- NO. 13,985.
YOKTIj&KD, OREGON, WEDtNESMfT, OCTOBER 4, 1905.
PRICE FIVE CENTS.
. FORTY FEET OK
COLUMBIA Oil
That Is Now Necessity
the Port of Port
land. for
DEEPER RIVER CHANNEL
I'or These Two Purposes Commercial
Bodies and Citizens Are United
That Xortli Bank Road 3Iay
Bring Best Results.
if
DEEP WATER IS THE OBJECT.
Depth of 40 feet of water on the
Columbia River bar and 35 feet In
the channel from Portland to the sea
Is the condition which Portland busi
ness men propose to bring about
through united, diligent effort. Plans
for this organized movement In which
it la expected commercial bodies will
lead and business men give unquali
fied support, are not yet formulated,
but the keynote has been struck and
citizens realize that It is up to them
to see that the ship channel is created
and that without unnecessary delay.
There is but one opinion expressed
in regard to the subject. All agree
that it is -of he greatest importance,
not only to Portland, but to the en
tire North Pacific Coast States and
that every possible effort should be
made to bring to successful realiza
tion the plans formulated by the Gov
ernment engineers for acquiring depth
on the bar and in the river sufficient
that the large carriers of the Pacific
may come and go without deference
to tides or seasons.
Whatever lies within the power of the
business men of Portland will be done to
secure from the next session of Congress
an Item in the sundry civil appropriation
bill sufficient for completion of the work
on the Columbia River Bar upder the
plans that have been submitted by Gov
ernment engineers for completion of the
south jetty. At the same time the neces
sity as a part of the Important work for
a correspondingly greater depth In thon fective for 100 ycavdv :p!ng a
-.a-,nei irora i-ortmna mtne sr,;
will loat aight of, and &. the sanft .
time that-phase of the question will come
under consideration- and action.
Necessity for Action.
Theodore B. Wilcox, who has labored
incessantly in behalf of the river and bar
improvements, and whose faith has never
been shaken that the result desired is
within reach, points the necessity for ac
tion from this time forward. Talking has
been done about what ought to be done,
and Mr. Wilcox and some others have
been exerting themselves In work to bring
about the results that have been talked
about, but now it is presented squarely to
the people of Portland as a duty for them
to perform. If it is desired that the traffic
of the Hill railroads is to flow through
Portland to the Orient, islands of the Pa
cific and ports of the world, carried by the
fleets of the Hill steamship companies,
and other of the largest ocean carriers.
The Portland commercial bodies have
given unqualified support in expressions
contained In resolutions in the past, and
now, when it is imperative that action be
suited to the conviction voiced, they will
certainly be found alert and ready for
strong personal work of their member
ship. Burning Question for Portland.
"It is the burning question that Port
land and the Northwest must decide," said
Theodore B. Wilcox, last evening. "It is
generally admitted that the best type of
vessel for the Oriental trade must draw
from 26 to 27 feet when loaded, and, while
the channel of the river between Portland
and Astoria today admits the passage of
any draft vessel that can safely pass over
the bar drawing, approximately, 24 feet
a deeper bar and larger steamers will re
quire a deeper river.- A plan for the per
manent Improvement of the river between
Portland and Astoria has been adopted by
the Government, the cost of which is esti
mated at $2,500,000; but a small part of this
expended In dredging would Improve the
river in keeping with an improved bar,
but a much larger sum should be ex
pended for permanent and controlling
works. The completion of the channel to
the sea ana over the bar will not only se
cure to us the benefits of the present rail
way lines, but will iirove our strongest In
vitation to other transcontinental lines
which " will be built into the Northwest
during the next few years, and no delay
should be permitted.
Admits of No Delay.
"It Is for the pedple of Portland to say
whether or not the traffic that is hauled
down the north bank from the Hill rail
roads shall be loaded Into ships here or
go elsewhere. There must be no delay
in accomplishing the additional work to
secure the necessary depth of water, and
if it is not done great loss will occur to
what has previously been done."
"I think everybody concedes that con
tinued work is necessary to save what we
have already done at the mouth of the
Columbia River," said William. D. Wheel
wright, president of the Chamber of Com
merce, last evening. "I have no definite
plan outlined, but the Chamber of Com
merce has always been active In the mat
ter and will now do whatever seems best
Jn the matter. Our Senator will, of course,
do all he can and we are now making In
quiry as to what we can do to assist him
and also making inquiries of Chairman
Burton, of the House committee. If it
is considered necessary or would prove
beneficial we should send a committee to
Washington. Mr. Burton knows the ne- !
cesslty of the case as well as any one and !
Is as desirous of seeing a deep channel
In the Columbia River as any orie!
gon. '3
"An appropriation should be ma.4c.not
oniy ior uie jetty out. ior aeepeninjr xrro
river from Portland to Astoria, which
see has been planned by the Government
at an estimated expense of $2,500,000, ex
tending, I suppose, over quite a period
of time.
"There is now a depth of water on the
bar of say 24 feet minimum and 32 feet
maximum, compared with 24 to 23 feet
in the river channel, and if we are going
to get 32 feet at low water on the bar by
means of the jetty we should certainly
have 28 feet in the river.
"1 am not familiar enough with the
situation to express an opinion as to the
practicability of making the river chan
nel as' deep as "that at an expense the
Government can be expected to Incur.
It will be very expensive. I am not
aware what depth the United States en
gineers expect to accomplish at a. cost
of 52.500,000."
Ilcney Compares Galveston.
F. J. Heney, United States District At
torney, who has had an opportunity to
observe the work done by the Govern
mcnt at Galveston and at Aransas Pass,
Texas, is of the opinion that when the
south Jetty is completed the problem of
deep water on the bar will have been
solved permanently.
"I have no scientific knowledge of the
question." said Mr. Heney. "and jinnot
speak as an authority, but in my judg
ment the matter will be solved so far as
the bar is concerned when the south
lettv is eomnleted. At Galveston two
Jetties were built, each seven miles in
length and five miles apart, and the chan
nel is next to one of these, the other
having been of no value whatever. The
theory of jetty construction Is that ocean
currents moving at right angles with the
current of the stream offer resistance
creating the swirling motion that stops
the free and uninterrupted flow out into
deeper water of the sea. When the flow
is interrupted the sand and sediment is
deposited. Jetties are constructed to de
flect the ocean currents so that the river
discharges its water at the end of the
jetty, moving in the same direction as
the deflected .current, and without resist
ance the deposits are held in solution
until the greater depths are reached.
where other currents take up the sands
and distribute it where it cannot do any
harm. '
Effective at Balboa.
"Major Ripley, of the Government en
gineers' who Inspected -the Galveston Jet
ties, told me that tho second Jetty is of
no value. Professor Lewis M. Haupt. of
Philadelphia, who advocates the double
concave Jetty, the type now being built
at Aransas Pass, likewise contends that
the dot'file jetty is a mistake and unnec
essary jpepense. The Jetty at Aransas
Pass it & detached double concave-. plu.
.fiinjllaiito one at Balb'oa, Spain, &xt has
JTannel open." V '
- foermen ot Oregon-are generally
favorable to doing whatever lies within
their power to assist in hastening, to
early completion the jetty work and have
the work of deepening the river start
ed and prosecuted to completion,"- said
Phillip Buehner, president of the Oregon
Lumber Manufacturers' Association. "Its
great Importance is fully, appreciated by
the lumbermen and while no action has
been taken in regard to the matter, it
will be taken up at the regular monthly
meeting of the association, October 20.
Through the lumber trade the member
ship of the association should be able to
render some valuable assistance, and its
members are deeply concerned in the
movement."
Important to Northwest.
"Its importance is not alone to the
people of Portland," said W. B. Ayer,
"but to tho people of the entire North
west, and the lumbermen are very earn
estly Interested In the deepening of the
river and freedom of the bar from ob
structions to shipping. There has been
no concerted action taken by the lumber
Interests, but -when it is known what
action would be of assistance In bringing
about the desired result I think
the lumbermen will be found ac
tive. It Is a question in which we are
all very much concerned and want to do
all within our power to secure the
necessary appropriation from the Gov
ernment that the Jetty work may be
hastened to completion."
Governor Chamberlain's Belief.
Governor Chamberlain believes there
will be little difficulty met in Congress if
the members can be made acquainted with
the importance of Western commerce,
and he believes that an enormous
amount of good has been accomplished in
that direction by the visits of Eastern
people to the Lewis and Clark Exposition
and the meeting of annual conventions of
the Trans-Mississippi Commercial Con
gress and the National Irrigation Congress
at Portland this year. "If the people of
the country at large, and members of Con
gress in particular, can be Impressed with
the importance of Pacific-Coast commerce
and its relations to the business condi
tions of the interior a great deal will have
been done toward securing prompt action
by Congress. It is of such tremendous
consequence to Oregon that the matter be
carried to successful Issue that in my
Judgment united action of the people of
the entire state should be obtained with
little effort. In fact, it should come
spontaneously, and the people of the
whole interior country tributary to the
Columbia and the Snake River have
equal interest with Portland in having
an open Columbia River to the sea, as
well afc to the interior."
BLANCHE BATES MAKES HIT
Plays Title Bole In Belasco's New
Play at Pittsburg.
PITTSBURG, Oct 3. The Belasco The
ater was crowded to the doors tonight by
an appreciative audience to witness the
first production of "The Girl of the Golden
West." David Belasco's latest drama.
The play is in four acts, and deals with
the people of early California. Much tht
is new and novel with realism carried the
drama throughout. The climaxes are
vivid. Miss Blanche Bates in the leading
role., "the Girl." availed herself of mvrv
opportunity afforded her for the display
ui er emuuonai powers, ana xrom her
entrance to the drop of the curtain was
given hearty applause, ,
BLOODHQUNDSTOl
Ml TIE TRAIL
Great Northern Offers Big Re
ward for the Capture of
the Highwaymen.
POSSES BEAT THE BRUSH
In the Dense Woods Near Bothcll It
Is Believed tho Three Traln
robbcrs , ,Have Taken
Their Refuge.
REWARD FOR BANDITS.
The Great Northern hu offered a
reward of $5000 for the capture of
the men who held up the Great North
ern overland train near Ballard.
Wash.. Monday night, and an addi
tional reward ef 500 for every con
viction -eecured.
SEATTLE. Wash., Oct. 3. (Special.)
Sheriffs posses have tracked the three
men who held up the Great Northern
overland train. Just outside Ballard last
night, to the district lying north of Both
cll. In which Harry Tracy, the Oregon
outlaw, lay hidden 3& years ago. Along
the same roads that were guarded in the
hunt for Tracy lie deputy Sheriffs in
wait for the bandits, whom they believe
will attempt to enter Ihe town-from that
direction.
The trail of the fleeing bandits was
plain, once the officers caught it, for
miles along the county roads. Then It
turned-noward the city, and it was un
mistakable that the men were seeking
to re-enter Seattle. The pursuing posses
beat the brush half of last night and
most of today before the men were called
in for a short rest, then hurried Into the
field again.
Tonight Sheriff Smith went out person
ally to direct the search west of Green
Lake. Deputy McKlnnon. who had fol
lowed the trail all day, with Deputy Llvcs
ly and Railroad Detectives "Webb and
.Kyan. worKed north of the lake. The
deputies under the two commands threw
our a skirmish line that was expected Jo
cover the vast stretch of u-nderhniRh
north of the city and in which the des
peradoes are believed to -be hiding .
Suffering From Exposure.
If the bandits have been In the open
since the robbers they must be suffering
from exposure. Last night a very heavy
rain fell, today it has been dry but cold.
A day or two- more of such exnosur
would undoubtedly demoralize the gang.
Deputy Sheriff Bob Hedges has been
called in from Ravensdale with his three
Texan bloodhounds. The hounds arc held
at the county Jail tonight, but they will
be put on the scent tomorrow. Officers
have found some of the cast-off clothing
worn by the bandits which will give the
dogs the scent they want.
rinKcrton detectives who have been
working In the country near the scene of
the hold-up, came In this evening. Al
though the county officers believe the
men are attempting to enter the city.
they hold the highwaymen are still some
where In the brush. The Plnkertons have
not. dropped the boat theory entirely, but
like the wood story better.
Posses on the Right Trail.
That the three men the posses seek are
the ones who held up the train Is known
pretty positively. The party of men flee
ing in a launch reported by fishermen
have been accounted for. That was a
party under J. P. Todd, returning to the
San Juan Elsh Compan;- dock from the
Lower Sound. No othe.- party was seen
on the waiter.
iuc mrce men in me orusn were
driven away from a boat they attempted
to steal Just after the hold-up and fled to
the private road, where they had con
cealed a horse and wagon. Their prog.
ress has been traced from tho hold-up
along private and county roads to the
point where they abandoned their rig,
thence to Bitter Lake, and then toward
the city again. After tracing the fugi
tives that far the posses "started from
the city In directions most likely to head
off gangs trying to enter the city.
From the fact that the bandits had
stoien tne rig irora Kent some time
early Monday morning and driven to the
scene of the hold-up, it is believed the
men are as familiar with the country
about Seattle as their pursuers. A strang
er could not escape easily from the Bo th
en country: If the bandits are familiar
with the country they might elude their
pursuers.
WOMAN URGES A RESCUE.
Tries to Force Guns In the Hands of
Unwilling Fishermen.
SEATTLE. Wash., Oct. 3-(SpecIaL)
The central figure in last night's
hold-up of the preat Northern over
land must be a woman Mrs. R. Med
ley, cook In a flshinp-camp 300 yards
south of the spot where the train was
halted and the express safe looted. Mrs.
Medley was on duty when the first
shots were flrcd: eight fishermen, em
ployes of a nearby trap, were sleeping
In their bunks.
When the sound rang out Mrs. Med
ley ran to the door arid &w the tralr
halted a quarter of a mile distant. Sho
realized at once that a hold-up was
being attempted and lrorrled for .three
shotguns. She loaded them' and then
called the fishing crew, . pressing the
guns into the hands of the men.
"Now run." she cried, "and help that
train."
Not aman stirred.
"Aren't you going?" she implored.
One of the men was ready to start
when a new fusillade of shots came
and the panic-stricken fishermen dart
ed inside the door of the bunkhouae,;
Mrs. Medley was angry and she cried
to the cowering- bunch of flsncrraen
"Isn't there a man among you? Isn't
there one who will follow me? There
may be a lot of folks getting mur
dered and you are going to stand here
and let them get butchered.
She seized a gun aia tried to lead
tho eight fishermen but they cowered
before her and accepted the tongue
lashing she gave as a bit of merited
rebuke But not one stirred. Then Mrs.
Medley quit in disgust.
George Atncss, a Swede employed at
the brickyard of the Great Northern
Clay Company, about as far to the
north as the flshing-camp was on the
south, stood for a time in his doorway
watching the hold-up, but when the fu
slllade of shots came he darted indoors,
Buthe stayed long- enough to Justify
this fitatemcnt today:
I4.ymank ay know vat dey say. Ay
y say. Tarn, keep your jieadaLDDIOC UniH n DC nnimi r-ri
.tfhe latter referring to tho com-
ma an tto passengers.
Ranch er.lcoombs, whose ranch was
just above thecehc, attempted to in
form the BallarEpolice of the hold-up
about 9:30. half tsc.-iffW before the
highwaymen burst open hhesafe. BuT
the police understood him to-bea Great'
Northern employe. Instead of a rancher
near the tracks of that road, and
when it was discovered there was no
McCoombs on the payroll, discredited
the story- Thre hours wero lost wait
fng for an official report of the hold-un
before posses were organized and sent
to me scene.
SEEN BY BALLARD RESIDENTS
I
Three Men Supposed to Have Taken
Part In the Robbery.
SEATTLE. Wash., Oct. 3.-Special.)-
Two business men of Ballard late tonight
gave to Sheriff Smith a description that
may lead to the capture of three of tho
men Implicated In yesterday's affair. They
reported that at noon yesterday they were
FrLnJeJi0L
and about 40 vn.ir' of nro u-Mrin? n
heavy black beard, the others smooth-
faced young men of from 2S to 3) years.
They asked the way to the railroad tracks
f n.d leZ beLns dlrecled- made tf-e-r
ne man with the beard wore about his
shoulders a gunnysack. The sack was
found today among the things In the dls-
carded rig, three miles from the scene.
The men were seen again last evening by
the same Ballard residents. At the time
they were sitting on the sand at the scene
of the hold-up. and the two younser men
ran hurriedly Into the brush when a local
train from Everett to Seattle came into
sight.
The Great Northern sent out a telecram
today from Everett to the effect that the
total loss by last nights robbery was
J13G5, but there are persistent rumors
afloat tonight that the sum was vastly In
excess of that amount.
One Clew to the Bandits.
SEATTLE. Wash., Qct. 3. The one clew
to the bandits who last night robbed the
Great Northern eastbound overland train
near Ballardrtipon which bfficers have to
Coccizdcd on Pace 3.)
7
CONTENTS TODAY'S PAPER!
TESTERDATS Maximum temperature. C2
dec.; minimum. Zi. Precipitation. 0.05 of
an Inch.
TODAY'S Showers and warmer. South to
west winds.
ForeTjcn.
Russia negotiates for big loan. Page 3.
Great electric strike in Berlin. Pace 4.
Francis Joseph ajrrees to manhood suffrage
and coalition ' shows signs of weakening.
rage 3.
Gomez comes to America on secret mission.
Page 4.
National.
New regulations on Chinese exclusion fall to
mollify China. Fage
Proposal to abolish land office receivers.
Page S.
Effect of proposed coffee tax exposed.
Page 1.
John Mitchell mar be Immigration Commli
iontr. Page X.
rollUcs.
Cockrell speaks on tariff and reciprocity.
rage 4.
New honor for James Hamilton Lewis.
Page 3.
Hearst declines nomination for Mayor of
. iew iork. Page A.
Insarasce Exposures.
Uproar at meeting of Western Life Indem
nlty policy-holders. -Page 3.
New Tork Life policy-holders want to sue
iiccall and Pvrklas for refund of cam
paign contributions. Page 3.
Hyde denies power of Investigating com
mittee, out ccers to testify. Pago 3.
New Tork Life shut out of Nevada. Page 3.
Domestic.
Ramsey seeks to enjoin Gould from voting
Wabash stock. Fage 4.
Officers of Paper Trust ordered to testify
about Its affairs. Fage -I.
Settler's ranch burned in "Nebraska range
war. Fage 3.
New York Clearing-House attacks trust com
panics. Page 5.
Sport.
Pacific Coast scores: San Francisco 7, Los
Angeles 4; Seattle 5. Oakland O. Page 7.
Outsider wins Kentucky Futurity. Page 7.
Tacoma-Portland game prevented by rain.
Fage 7.
Facia c Coast.
Bloodhounds will be put on the trail of the
Great Northern tralnrobsers. Page 1.
Pat Crowe is to be taken back to Nebraska
on a minor -charge. Page G.
Two new Oregon railroads hare been Incor
porated. Page 6.
Oregon Federation of Women's Clubs In ses
sion at Eugene. Page 0.
Dr. Blalock is discharged by Warden Kees
of the walla walla Penitentiary. Page
J. J. Hill attends the North Yakima Fair.
Page 6.
Commercial aad Ma rise.
Local produce prices on down grade. Page
IS.
Chicago wheat market firm most of day.
Page 15.
Grain weights restored at San Francisco.
Page 13.
Boston wool market quiet. Page 15.
Large yield assured In prn belt. Page 15.
Low-priced peciaitles conspicuous In stock
movement. Fage 15.
Master of Oceano protests against fine.
Page 10.
Lewis and Clark Exposition.
Admissions. 12.502. Pago 14.
Wal(a Walla sends biggest excursion of the
. Summer. Page 14.
Poultry show, opening tomorrow, will be
noteworthy for fine fowls. Fage 14.
Portland aad Vicinity.
Board of Equalization in session to hear
protests of taxpayers. Fage 10.
Mayor's attempt to remove Plumbing In
spector Huime and install William Hey
promises hot ngnt in council. Fage 10.
Tacoma hotel clerk held up and robbed.
Page 14.
Policeman Meyers alleged misconduct In
vestigated by Mayor. Fage II.
Trial ot Jones, Potter and Wade begins In
Federal court. Fage ju.
Senator Fulton recalled from Washington to
testify in lana-traud case. Fage 10.
C E. Wolverton. of Albany. Is backed bv
Senator Fulton Sot vacant Federal Judge-
snip. IV.
Fire destroys an entire block on the river J
front. Page 1. 1
Commercial .bodies and citizens united for a
aeeper nver cuannei ana 40 feet of water I
on the bar.. Pge l, - 1
COFFEE TIFF IS
Tl
Delusion That Island Posses
sions,Can Supply the
Whole Nation. 7 '
P wuuu ot UUUDLCU
I With All Available Lnnd Planted.
. . , . n . .
. J-nnt,i Could Only Replace a
'Fraction of the Vast Pro-
duction ofjBrazII.
-:-?V;
OREGONlAN NEWS BUREAU. Wash
ington. Oct. 3. Porto Rico, Hawaii and
the Philippines will never be able to
crowd Brazil and other foreign competi
tors out of the American coffee market,
notwithstanding the fond hopes of those
high-protection statesmen who would lm
oose -an Imnnrt Htitv rtf S ronti n Tmnt nn
coffee for tne duaI uose Qf
revenue to wipe out the Treasury deficit
and building up arienormous coffee trade
in our insular possessions. Just at a
time when several Congressmen are agi
tating a coffee tax the Department of
Commerce and Labor Issues an exhaustive
bulletin on the coffee trade of the world.
I wIch will do a great deal to head them
I off. This bulletin pretty thoroughly dem
onstrates that the insular possessions will
never be able to supply the American de-
mand, for coffee- for two reasons: The
l3lands cannot produce coffee as cheaply
as Brazil, nor have they the available
acreage necessary to supply the American
market.
The statistics prepared by the depart
ment are Intensely Interesting in their
bearing on the present coffee-tax proposi
tion. It is shown that during the year
ending June 30, 1905, the United States im
ported 1.047.7S2.9S4 pounds of coffee, and
of this- great total S19.0S9.611 pounds came
from Brazil. The combined coffee output
of Porto Rico, Hawaii and the Philippines
In the previous year (the last for"whlch
statistics are available) was not quite
1S.CO0.0CO pounds, less than 2 per cent.
This Is a very small basis upon which the
Insular coffee trade must build to propor
tions which will meet the demand in the
1 United States.
Islands Can'j Supply Markets.
i Cuffce-tfrpwing, is not a new Industry in
VTJSS I ?Lbf
veloplng for decades, and some Idea can
now be formed of the extent to which It
can spread before It reaches Its phys
ical limitations. And It Is the opinion
of experts who have -studied the problem
In Porto Rico, as well as In the Islands of
the Pacific, that they can never begin to
produce all the coffee required to meet the
rapidly expanding demand of the Ameri
can market- The limitations of the Isl
ands are well known; their acreage avail
able for coffee-growing has been estimated
and there is nothing like sufficient oppor
tunity to produce over 1,000,000,000 pounds
of coffee a yean. On the contrary, the
Islands will be exceedingly prosperous If
they ever see the day when their combined
coffee output reaches lOO.OOO.COO pounds.
There never has been such a day, nor
anything like It.
Last year Porto Rico exported 16.S49.733
pounds of coffee; the year previous Its ex
port amounted to 33.767.4GO pounds, but out
of this total amount only 2,Z6S,753 pounds
found their .way- to United States mar
kets. The tune was when Porto Rico pro
duced much more coffee than it has done
lately. Its banner year was 1S96, when
the total' product was 53,659.127 pounds.
Since then the price has fallen; the coffee
plantations of the Island suffered by the
hurricane which swept the Island In 1SS9,
and have not yet recovered, and other
obstacles have arisen In the path of the
coffee-grower. The time will coma when
they will again produce 60.000.OOiJ pounds
each year; they may eventually produce
much more, but it will be many years
hence, for coffee will not grow all over
the Island; It requires a peculiar climate
and soil.
Good, but. Little of It.
According to experts, the Porto Rican
'coffee is of a fine, grade, and will rank
with the best of the world; when It be
comes better known. It Is believed that
practically the entire product of the is
land will be sold In the United States.
and at top prices. But as yet Porto Ri
can coffee has not secured a foothold In
our markets, and Americans are doing
little to aid In the expansion of the In
dustry. But as for Porto Rlcan coffee
ever taking any great prominence, note
this statement of General George W.
Davis, former Military Governor of the
island, before the House committee on
Insular affairs:
"Last year the Porto -Rlcan crop was
only about 50,000 bags out of a world's
crop of 500.000.0CO bags, hence Porto Rlcan
coffee hae hardly a regular quotation In
the world's markets. The cultivation of
It could be greatly extended, but whether
It would pay to do so would depend main
ly on the Brazilian competition. As long
as Brazil ean supply 70 per cent of"the
world's .-consumption of coffee and sell It
In New York at 5 cents a pound, as they
are doing now, Porto RIcans cannot com
pete, unless they can have labor not more
expensive than It Is now. The price of
labor in Brazil ranges from 10 to 25 and
20 cents a day, and the Porto RIcans pay
20 to 30 cents. If trade conditions should
change, if the Porto Rlcan laborer should
get 50 cents a day, I am afraid the coffee
culture would go under, unless the grade
of coffee should become "well known ahd
the people of the world were willing to
pay accordingly. If Forto Rlcan coffee
could be as well known and as well liked
in the United States as It-Is by Americans
in Porto Rico, the whole crop of the Is-
land could be absorbed, you might say,
th- ,tv of -jst- Vnrlt nlnn ot a rvt-
v, ,u fnr. xri,, t...
1 " " "
Coffee production In Hawaii Is conctded
1X0N PDOR MAN
to have about reached Its limit. The
largest crop recorded was that of 1503.
nearly 3,000.000 pounds, of which 1.S52.162
pounds were shipped to the United States.
The coffee trade of the Philippines has
nearly died out. because of the prevalence
of pests and, diseases which Infect the cof
fee plants and make coffee-growing un
profitable. Back in 1SS4 the Philippines
produced their largest coffee crop, about
15.000,000 pounds; last year the crop was a
little more than 2000 pounds.
It is apparent, therefore, that the great
est development In Insular coffee trade
Is to be expected In Porto Rlcor and yet
It Is -the opinion of General Davis that
Porto Rico, under the most favorable
circumstances, would just about supply
the needs of New York City. This 13 prac
tical demonstration of what could be ex
pected from an import duty on foreign
coffee, so far as protection Is concerned.
It Is to bo borne In mind that the coffee
of Hawaii, like that of Porto Rico. Is
high grade, of fine flavor and commands a
good price; It would never come in com
petition with the cheap coffees from Bra
zil. Therefore It would appear that there
Is little need of a tariff wall against tha
cheap coffees, which constitute the bulk
of sales In the United States. A. duty, of
5 cents a pound would be a direct. taStof
tnatmucn oh poor families, who are
forcedxtabuy coffee where they can get
It cheajgjj. The average coffee-drinker
wotfjjgjgjer use Porto Rlcan or Hawllan
coffeestig too exDenslve.
fllVpuld Tax Poor 3Inn.
to be said for the argu-
memaof the men who advocate a coffee
tax 9l$tmeet the Treasury deficit; a tax
of 5 cents a pound on foreign coffee would
wipe out the present deficit In a little
over six months; at the end of the year
it would leave a great surplus, for, on the
basis of last year's Imports, a 5-cent
coffee tax would yield an annual revenue
of over 550,000,000.
But It Is shown by the Government fig
ures that the great bulk of imported cof
fee Is of the cheap grade; It Is tho cof
fee of the poor man. and the tax of 5
cents a pound to raise even more revenue
than Is needed would be borne largely by
the class which can least afford to pay It.
A 5-cent Import tax would certainly raise
the price of coffee Just that much; tho
Brazilian producer could not deduct 5
cents from the cost, for he sells It In New
York today for 5 cents a pound; therefore
the Import tax would have to be added to
the cost of the coffee In the retail market,
and the consumer would have to pay it.
Cut Off Steel Trust Protection.
The more the coffee tax problem Is
studied the more iniquitous it becomes. It
is doubtful If a more unjustifiable tax
could be levied. It Is a tax that would
come out of the pockets of nearly every
man In the country; It woutd come out of
every home. And yet, apparently con
scientious lawmakers, anxious to wipe
out a deficit In the Treasury, advocate a
tax on coffee which will oppress the peo
ple, while they wink at the steel trust,
safely intrenched behind a high tariff
wall that affords It unnecessary protec
tion, which permits it to sell Its product
cheaper abroad than at home, a tariff
which, because of its height, returns prac
tically no revenue to the Treasury. This
tariff on steel alone, if sensibly adjusted,
would yield ample revenue to wipe out
the deficit and would, do it In a way that
would not oppress a single American citi
zen. But no, the high protectionists, the
standpatters, want to tax coffee and let
steel continue to enjoy the benefits of the
vicious Dlngley rate.
DEADLOCK STIjLIj TJXBROKEX
Xo Hurry to Appoint Judge and
Itoscburj: Land Officers.
OREGONlAN NEWS BUREAU, Wash
ington. Oct. 3. It now looks as though
there would be no Federal appointments
In Oregon, aside from Postmasters, until
after Congress assembles in December.
3enator Fulton, after another conference
with the President today left for home,
Notwithstanding both Attorney-General
Moody and Secretary Hitchcock attended
today's. Cabinet meeting, no decision was
reached as to the vacant Judgeship or the
vacant Land Office positions at Roseburg.
Apparently the President is not satisfied
In his own mind as to what selection
should be made for Judge and Is un
usually cautious because of the condition
of affairs In Oregon at this time. He has
not had an opportunity to talk over this
matter with the Attorney General, and
as the department appears to be in no
haste to have the Judgeship filled, the
President may let the case rest until
December.
The same Is true of the Roseburg Land
Office. Mr. Hitchcock and Mr. Fulton
are deadlocked over G. R. Hegardt, whom
the Senator recommends for Receiver, and
the papers on both- sides will be laid be
fore the President. If the President should
decide to appoint Hegardt, he may act
in the near future, otherwise these ap
pointments are apt to be hung up for
twQj.months or more.
Heyburn Leaves His Bed.
OREGONTAN NEWS BUREAU. Wash
ington, Oct. 3. Senator Heyburn continues
to improve and will probably leave his
bed tomorrow for the first time since
he was 'stricken. Mrs. Heyburn Is ex
pected here next Saturday and will re
main several days. The Senator expects
to leavo with her for home about
October 12.
Xevc Rural Route at Pomeroy.
OREGONlAN NEWS BUREAU. Wash
ington, Oct. 3. Rural free delivery route
No. 1 has been ordered established De
cember 1 at Pomeroy, Garfield County.
Washington, serving 440 people and
110
nouses.
Mrs. Chadwick's Appeal Argued.
CINCINNATT, Oct. 3. The petition
for a writ of error for Mrs. Cassie L.
Chad.wick, chnrged with bank-wrecking-
and convicted at Cleveland, of con
spiracy to defraud, was at the head of
the calendar of the United States Clr
cult Court of Appeals, which opened
here today. The record of the case 13
one- of the most voluminous ever
brought to this court.
Did Xot Fight Duel o Death.
MADRID, Oct. 3. Dispatches from Bar
celona, deny a report that a duel was
fought there by General Lopez Diaz and
General Mcntz. In which the former was
atd to have been killed.
BURNS OUT
ENTIRE BLOCK
Flames Destroy Buildings in
the River Front Whole,
sale District.
LOSS IS MANY THOUSANDS
By Quick Work the Flreboat Saves
tho Docks From Destruc
tion and Much Proper
crty as "Well.
21RE LOSSKS AND INSURANCE.
Insur
Loss. ance.
Charles H. Lilly, own
er ef buildings in
l-urned district, and
proprietor of Charles
H. Lilly Grain &
Heed Co $35,000 530.000
Nw Era Paint & -Varnish
Co.. owned
ay A. W. Martin 15.000 7.300
T-mras, Cress &. Co..
paints and oils 14.000 14,000
"W. C. Holman. agri
cultural implements
and vehicles 20.000 Partial
Oregon City Trans-
portatlon Co.. A. B.
Graham, manager... 400 .....
Jweph Kellogg Trans
portation Co 200 .....
Total $84,000 $51,500
An entire block In the wholesale dis
trict bounded by Taylor and Salmon
streets and Front street and tho river
was destroyed by fire at 7:10 o'clock last
night. Although It Is not definitely
known, the fire Is supposed to have
caught from a pile of oiled waste In
the basement of the New Era Paint
Varnish Works, which caught from spon
taneous combustion. Every building in
the block was ruined and the property
that was not wholly destroyed by fire was
spoiled by water. The loss to tho-ownor
of the buildings and the proprietors of the
wholesale stores and the transportation
companies will aggregate $S5.C0O. The losa
Is covered by Insurance amounting to
551,600.
Flreboat Suvc3 Docks.
The first alarm turned In brfugttf only
a few engines to the scene, and even be
fore these hud arrived tho flames had
practically enveloped the entire block. A
second alarm was sounded and the whole
fire department was called out. The fire
boat George H. Williams responded to tha
first alarm and It was through Its efforts
that the docks on the river front were
saved.
A great Impetus was given tho flames
owing to the amount of paint and oil in
the Tlmms. Cress & Co.. store, and the
Now Era Paint & Varnish Works. The
fire spread through the basement of the
buildings before It attacked the upper
parts of the structures, and dense masses
of block smoke which rolled Into the
! streets and through the roofs made It
hard for the firemen.
Steamers Escape Damage.
The river steamers Pomona and Altona,
belonging to the Oregon City Transporta
tion Company, which were tied to tho
docks when the fire broke out. wero
moved out Into the river and escaped
damage. As soon as the steamers were
got out of the way the flreboat moved In,
and with two turret stroams and four line
streams working, saved tho docks of tho
Joseph Kellogg Transportation Company
and of the Oregon City Transportation
Company. A large quantity ot baled hay
and shingles belonging to the two com
panies and to Charles H. Lilly were only
slightly damaged by water and fire. Tho
estimated loss to the goods on the dock
will not be more than 600.
Heaviest Loser by Fire.
The heaviest loser by the conflagration
is Charles H. Lilly. Mr. Lilly bought the
property and the building which were
consumed last night for 573,000 July 1. He
considers that the loss to his buildings
will amount to 520.000. while tho. loss to
his grain and seed store will be 513.000. In
cluding stock. He said last night that
although he paid only 575.000 for the prop
erty and buildings he .considered that the
amount was only about halt of the real
value.
The Now Era Paint & Varnish Com
pany, of which A. W. Martin Is the head,
valued its stock at 515,000, and half that
amount will be covered by Insurance.
Tlmms, Cress & Co., adjoining that
of theaqther paint company, lost stock In
the fire which is valued at about 514.00O.
The stock Is fully covered by Insurance.
"XV. C. Holman Suffers Severely.
W. C. Holman. who Is proprietor of the
building In which agricultural Implements
and vehicles were kept, was unable -to
give any definite statement of his losses
or of the amount of insurance he carried.
A few buggies and farm Implements were
saved, but the great part of his stock Is
totally destroyed. "I am too sick to talk
of either loss or Insurance tonight," said
Mr. Holman at the fire. "I saved a ledger
and an account book and that is all that
I have to show for my business. All I had
was In that business) and at this time I
am In no condition to talk." A bookkeep
er employed in the establishment said
that he thought the loss would amount to
about 520.COO, and that Mr. Holman car
ried soma Insurance.
Every building that burned was built
of wooden material and after the flames
obtained a good start there was nothing
to stop the fire. Several horses stabled
In the basement of the grain and seed
store were saved by citizens and firemen
before the flames got to them.
Jose 31. de Heredia, French Poet.
PARIS, Oct. 3. Jose Maria de Heredia.
the poet and member of the French
FIRE
Academy, fa dead.