VOL. XLVIISO. 14,18.
PORTLAM), OREGON, FBIDAX, APEIL 13, 1906.
PBICE FIVE CENTS.
v
BY ftN AMERICAN
' Scenes of Weird Beauty
on Volcano.
WALKS ON COOLING LAVA BED
Immense Column of Smoke as
Seen by Moonlight.
HARD WALK ON HOT CINDERS
Kdilor or Century Gives Splendid
Description of Smiling Vineyards
Xow Changed to Desolate
Wa&tc 'of Brown.
NAPLES. April 12. The following de
scription of the conditions surrounding
Mount Vesuvius was written for the As
sociated Press by Robert Underwood
Johnson, associate editor of the Century
Magazine:
"I had the unexpected opportunity to
calize.thc magnitude of the disaster by
personal observation In a trip entirely
rouhd Vesuvius. Since the Chicago fire.
I have seen nothing so terribly Impres
sive. Twenty years will not repair the
damage, including the destruction of four
whole villages.
"Arriving from Rome two hours late
ty train. Joined a party of two Italians.
German and two English ladies, includ
ing Miss Underwood, the Rome corre
spondent of the London Standard. We
"aught -a train from Torre Annunzlata.
We had a magnificent view of the erup
tion, eight miles away.
"Rising at an angle of 50 degrees, the
vast mass of tumult around us was beau
tifully accentuated by the full moon
shifting momentarily Into new forms and
drifting south in low, black clouds of
ashes and cinders reaching to Capri. At
Torre del Greco we "Van under this terri
fying pall, apparently a hundred feet
bov. the solidity of which was won to
be revealed by the moonlight. The torrb
!CiUlWWttwrTfniaiM added to the effect;
out greatly relieved the sulphurous dark
ness. Superb View by Night.
"When we reached Torre Annunzlata
t 3 o'clock In the morning there was
little suggestion of a disaster as we
trudged through the sleeping town to tlio
lava, two miles away. The brilliant
moon gave us a superb view of the vol
ano, a gray-brown mass rising, expand
ing and curling with a profile like a
monstrous Cyclopean face.
"Wo reached the lava at si picturesque,
cypress-planted cemetery on the northern
boundary of Torre Annunzlata. It was
as If the dead had effectually cried out to
arrest the crushing river of flame which
pitilessly engulfed the statue of St. Anne
with which the people of Boscotrecaz tried
to stay It. as at Catania the veil of Saint
Acatlie Is said to have stayed a similar
stream from Mount Ktna.
"We climbed on the lava. It was cool
a cove, but still alive with fire below.
We could see dimly the extent of the de
struction beyond the barrier of brown
which had closed the streets, torn down
the houses, invaded the vineyards and
broken Cook's Railway.
"A better Idea of the "surroundings was
obtained at dawn from the railway. We
rw north what was left of Boscotrecaz
k great cemetery, a square stone church
and a few houses Inlaid In a sea of dull
brown lava. North and east rose a thou
sand patches of blue smoke, like swamp
miasma. In terrible contrast with the
volcanic evidences were strong cypresses
and blooming camellias in a neighboring
cemetery.
Sunrise Keveals Beauties.
"We ate a hasty luncheon before sun
rise, when the great beauty of the scene
was revealed. The column now seemed
higher and more massive, rising to three
times the height of Vesuvius. Each por
tlpn had a concentric motion and new as
pects. As a yellow dust hung over Naples
and hid the volcano. I could not but con
sider myself fortunate to have seen all
day from the leeward this spectacle of
changing, undimlnisliing beauty. My
companions left for Naples after driving
to Pompeii.
"After three hours' sleep 1 went to
the excavations, expecting to return to
Naples by the afternoon train, but hero
met K. A. Bowon, of New York. With
Mr. Bowen, I left Pompeii In a car, ex
pecting at once to strike the edge of
the lava. What wus my surprise to
tind no new lava at San Guiseppe.
Four towns here were destroyed in dif
ferent ways, namely, by a Tain of cin
ders and ashes which could not be
skirted because they lay everywhere
In a majs which had broken nearly
every roof witnin the area of the city
and for miles around. The lava, which
was moving several feet a minute, we
had .no difficulty in escaping.
Blizzard of Cinders and Ashes.
"At Boscotrecaz the carbineers drove
the .people before the fiery avalanche,
but the flimsy-built houses were no
protection against the blizzard of cin
ders and ashes, wnlch tasked the roofs
or strongly-built wails all Jay Satur
day. The country east of the volcano
thus destroyed extends ten miles at
least, with a width of 2P or 33 miles.
"Fancy a rich and thickly populated
country of vineyards lying under three
to six inches of ashes and cinders of the
color of chocolate with milk, while above
iie west tae volcano In full activity is
distributing to the outer edges of the
circle the same fate, and you will get an
Idea of the desolate Impression of the
scene, a tragedy so colossal and heart
rending. Two miles below San Gultcppe
wc struck cinders which the soldiers were
shoveling, making a narrow road for the
reftigees.
Fugitives AIobq Roads.
'Our wagon-driver begged off from com
pleting his contract to take us to San
Guiseppe. We had not the heart to In
sist, so the rest of the journey to the
railroad at Palms, eight miles, waa made
laboriously on foot, for three hours plod
ding through sliding cinders. In many
places temporary shelters had been built
by the roadside, like children's play.-'
houses. Here women were huddled with
their bedding, awaiting the . coming of
supplies which the army had begun to
distribute. The men were largely oc
cupied with shoveling cinders from the
stronger roofs and (floors into heaps three
to six feel deep along the roadside. Many
two-wheeled carts loaded with salvage,
drawn by donkeys or pushed by peasants,
were making their way along, the women
with bundles on their heads or carrying
poultry.
People Calm Amid Disaster.
In the square at SaiuGulseppe we
found an encampment of soldiers with
low tents. Near a destroyed church, in
coarse yellow linen shrouds, were the
bodies of S3 of the 103 persons who lost
their Uvea. The peasants were sad. but
uncomplaining: In fact, for so excitable
a people they were wonderfully calm. As
evidence of the thrift and self-respect of
these, we were not once asked for aims
during the afternoon.
"At Palma. where we succeeded in
catching a train for Naples, we heard
great cheering and looked back and saw
that the General commanding the dis
trict had arrived and the people were
running to greet the representative of
the government's active assistance to
the stricken region.
"This Is a sad year for Southern Italy,
the second terrible disaster within a few
months. To Judge from what I learned
from the peasants, there is likely to be
a substantial increase in the emigration
to 'the United States by reason of this
calamity, the end of which is not in
sight."
JAIL CONFRONTS LEWIS
COLONEL- MUST ANSWER CHARGE
OF CONTEMPT.
Filed Suit In Defiance of Judge;
Humphrey, and May Hide Whisk
ers Behind Prlt-on Bars.
SPRINGFIELD. 111.. April IS. (Spe-
Hr1. For contempt and using lnxtiltinr
languagc toward the Federal Court In
the district presided over by Judge 3.
Otis Humphrey. J. Hamilton Lewis, the
ex-Congrcssman, now Corporation Coun
sel of Chicago, tonight faces the bars of
the Sangamon county Jail, which also is
the abiding place of all Federal prison
ers. Colonel Lewis appeared before Judge
Humphrey today, but Instead of trylnjr
to purge himself of the contempt charge,
stood pat, and Is now patiently await
ing sentence, which seems pretty sure to
be passed.
Judge Humphrey some time ago en
tered an order awarding the water works
at Alton to the Farmers Loan & Trust
Company, of Boston. At the same time
an injunction was issued to prevent any
persons from filing any suits for money
due them. Colonel Lewis acted for a
client who claimed that the company
owed him J300.O00 and suit to recover the
amount was filed in the state courts. No
tlce was served on Colonel Lewis to
show cause why he should not be pun
ished for contempt.
Judge Humphrey asked Colonel Lewis
what he intended to do. and Colonel
Lcwln replied that he was waiting to
see what action the court would take. It
Is generally believed that Colonel Lewis
will be sentenced to Jail.
RIGHTS OF THE STRIKERS
Recorder Goff's Earnest Words In
Sentencing Man Guilty of Assault.
NEW YORK. April 12,-Recordcr Goff.
in sentencing Frank Hawkins to the pen!
tcntlary for one year today, spoke at
some length on strike violence. Hawkins,
who Is an ironworker, was convicted of
assaulting Samuel Anderson February 22.
In passing sentence. Recorder Goff said
"I wish to say Just a word to you. Haw
kins, and if It could only reach men as
sociated with you it would be a great
benefit to this community. The law gives
you and every workingman the eight to
organize for the betterment of your con
dltlon: the right to sell your labor to the
highest bidder; the right to refuse to la
bor for anyone that you do not like: the
right to withhold your work except on
conditions that are agreeable to y6u.
"The law even goes so far as to give
you the right to persuade other men to
adopt the same course, but when men rep
resenting organized labor step .over the
very broad and generous provisions of
law and use violence as an argument to
enforce .their views for their fellowmen.
then the law Is violated, and not only
the rights of the Individual are trampled
upon, but the peace and safety of the
community are In danger."
KAISER EGGS ON SULTAN
Encourages Jllm to Resist British
Dcmand for' Tabah.
. l)NDON. April 13. The Constanti
nople correspondent of the Express
says that Germany is using diplomatic
Influence to encourage Turkey to re
sist Great Britain in the dispute about
the occupation of Tabah in the Sinai
Peninsula. The correspondent says
he Is Informed that the support the
Sultan la receiving from Berlin ac
counts for his obstinacy In face of the
clear declaration by the British gov
eminent.
Miners Attack Coal Train.
VALENCIENNES. France, April 12.
Striking French miners attacked
Belgian coal train at Vleux Conde.
near the Belgian frostier, today. They
wounded a number ef Belgians -and
damaged the cars. The few jrendarmen
present "were unable t jpfa-tect the
property el tae re&.
5
MEITLE OF MEN
Devotion -of King and Queen
WinsHeartsof Stricken
" 'People.
CRAVEN PRIEST REBUKED
Lava Cools,. but Rain of Aj-Iics Over
$ .Naples Grows Worec- Digging
Bodies From Rulas Heroic
Princess' ArdTaous.Trlp.
NAPLES. -April 12. While the news
from Mount Vesuvius today is reassur
ing, the" conditions here are such
as to make it difficult to realize
that facL The wind Is blowing from the
volcano In the direction of Naples, carry
ing the ashes over the city. Toward
evening the fall of ashes and cinders
here was worse than at any time since
the eruption began.
The scenic effects vary from hour to
hour. Now In the north the sky is choc
olate colored, now heavy, under which
men and women with their hair and
clothing covered with ashes move about
like gray ghosts. Fort San Martlno, as
it lowers above the town, can only Just
be seen, while Castcllo dell Ovo Is bold
ly marked in light, seemingly like silver
against the brown sky To the south be
yond the smoke zone lie smiling, sunny
Poslllpo and its peninsula, while far
away glistens tho sea. a deep blue, on
which the islands seem to float In the
glow of the setting Min.
Adding to the strange picture, one of
the French men-of-war which arrived
in the Bay of Naples today Is so placed
as to.be half in the glow and half ob
scured by the belt of falling ashes.
Weird Scene Front Observatory.
From the observatory of Mount Ve
suvius, where Director MatteUcci Is con
tinuing his work in the interest of sci
ence and humanity; the -scene Is one of
great Imprcsslvcness. To reach the ob
servatory one must walk for miles over
hardened but hot lava, covered with
sand, until he comes to a point whence
nothing can be seen but vast gray
reaches, sometimes flat and sometimes
gathered' -Into- huge mvundv. whlffc. take
on the semblance pt human faces Above,
the heavens are gray like the earth be
ncath. and seem Just as harflKnd Irre
movable. In alt this lonely wfluc there
is no sign of life or vcgctatirAJT and no
sound is heard except the low mutterlngs
of the volcano. One seems almost Im
pelled to scream aloud to break the 1k--rlble
stillness of n land seemingly for
gotten both by God and man.
Klnjr Sees Bodies Recovered.
Every day that passes gives new evi
dence of the magnitude of the catastro
phe. Today's visit of King Victor Em
manuel to Ottajano revealed new trage
dies. At a certain point His Majesty
was obliged to abandon hut motor car
and went forward on horseback amid
constant danger, his horse floundering
through four feet of ashes, stumbling
Into holes, blinded by the fall of large
cinders and a target for falling bayaltlc
masses.
In the presence of the King 123 mora
bodies were extricated from the ruins,
while ashes and red sand wcro falling
as though determined not to relinquish
their victims. The dead at Ottajano are
said to number S&).
The King was deathly pale. To a
priest who came to him he said:
"How did you escape?"
TJfK GERMAN CIIANCEL7UR WHO
SWOONED LAST THURSDAY DUR
ING A DEBATE IN REICHSTAG.
Cos at Yes Bseiew.
Count von Bvelow, who fainted
during & debate In the Reichstag, haa
been Chancellor of the German em
pire, flnee I POO. Previously for three
Tears he had bees Minister of State
and Secretary for Foreign Affair. He
la distinguished In th diplomatic
world, having occupied Important
peftc ladadlng that of Ambaraador
at Rome. Count von Btselow waa
born In IK P. and atudled In the uni
versities of Laut.cn. Lelpric and
Berlin. In the war with France b
waa a Uenteaaat In the Royal Hue
tar, and la 1S73 he first entered thn
diplomatic aerrtce. becoming attach
to the Forelra Office at Berlin. Later
be was secretary at St. Petersburg
and Vienna. It was reported recently
that Count von Bttelow Is to
ere4ed by Prince Hohealohe-Laa-ceafearx.
'
m
ssssssPHIiKss3ssH3
Tbbbbbk -j 1 W. JHEt 2HHm
L 'KftftdJLV' - - .-"VwHbBK
"I placed -myself In safety." replied the
priest.
"What. do yea mean?" asked the King.
"Realizing, the danger." waa the-prkat's
Teply. "I had left for Nota."
The King flushed with an'ser.
"What!" he cried. "Too. a, minister of
God. were not here to share the danger
of your people and administer, the last
sacraments? You did very wroag."
Queen Heleae waa with tae King when
he started for Ottajano. but she was
obliged, to turn back, as the task was not
suitable for a woman. She spent the moat
of the day la visiting the injured in Na
ples hospitals and Inspecting the housing
provided for refugees.
Princess Shows Endurance.
The Princess of Schleswig-Holsteln set
out In her auto this morning to visit the
hospitals In the Isolated towns, but after
a time the motor car became disabled and
she was forced to return on foot a dis
tance of 12 ralles, walking the distance
through three feel of ashes. The Prin
cess' endurance surprised the Neapolitans,
some of whom declared that she must
have been aided by the saints, for never
before had a woman accomplished such a
task.
There have been a large number of rob
beries of deserted bouses In spite of ef
forts of the authorities to protect prop
erty. In the excited condition of the
populace there is some difficulty In preserving-
order. The closing of a church
at Terro Annunzlata, which was consid
ered to be unsafe, precipitated a small
rlou
Provision is being made for the feeding
and sheltering of people who have re
mained In their own towns.
It Is estimated that 50CO houses have
been destroyed or rendered uninhabitable.
DESTRUCTION OF DWELLINGS
Italy Counting Up "Losses and Rals-
. . . r t 1 1 r
NAPLES. April 12. The latest reports
show that 243 houses have been damaged
at Tonic!. 153 at San Giovanni and Te
duccio. at Realna. and ICO) at Torre
del Greco.
It Is Impossible to determine the exact
number of buildings demolished at Torre
Annunzlata. It Is estimated that about
500) houses In all have been partly or
entirely destroyed.
In villages on the Ottajano side of the
mountain all the houses are damaged. At
Nola desolation reigns, the place having
been almost entirely abandoned.
A committee has been formed to collect
funds and organize assistance for suf
ferers. It Is presided over by the Duke
of Aosta. The government heads the sub
scription list with J1W.COX The amount
collected up to the present time is SX0.CCO.
KING'S PRESENCE I.IKE TONIC
Would Comply With Surfcrcr's Re
quest, but Will Not Break lavv.
NAPLES. April 12. The presence of
Klag Victor Emmanuel In Naples, which
nlwar canl a jrort effect ba ncle4-as
. ".,1 "--lH-... It-..--
superstitious "vVeaeratlon for the King.
Early In the day crowds gathered before
the palace, cheering.
The feeling, however, does not Inter
fere with the Neapolitans' veneration for
their saints. A woman in the crowd be-
(Concluded oa Pag 8.)
CONTENTS TODAY'S PAPER
The Weather.
TEfiTEItDAVP Maximum temperature. CO
deg.: minimum. 37." Precipitation, none.
TODAY'S Cloudy and threatening, fol
lowed by showers and cooler. Winds
shitting to southerly.
Forelra. j
Witt win victory over Dumovo In Ituula.
Tage 12.
Germany urges Turkey to reiUt British de
mands. Pag 1.
France satisfied with success at Moroccan
conference. Page 12.
American's graphic description of eruption
of Vesuvius. Page 1.
Lar flow from Vesuvius eheVd. but storm
of ashes growa worse. Tage 1.
National.
Bourke CocVran scores jfcnaie--m speech In
House. Page 2.
Forakrr and Clapp have spat about rate bill.
rage .
Prospects of Jetty bill Improve. Page 5.
Blundering In building Colon waterworks.
Page 1.
Politics-
Jerome atter Hearst on forged signatures to
petition. Page 5.
Landl defends Senate at Indiana Republican
convention. Page -I.
Domestic
Tornadoe cause death In Kama and Texas.
Page 5.
Anthracite operator reject miners' term.
Page T.
Strange plea In Illinois divorce case. Iage 5.
Doic near death, but still fighting, rage -I.
Jam Hamilton I.wj may go to Jail for
contempt. Page 1.
lAwrult reveals scheme against Santo Do-
tnlnga Page 3.
Sport.
Hayor I-ane will pitch first ball for Port
land when season opens here. Page 12.
Fadric Cafctt scores: Fresco 13. Portland 2;
Los Angelea -I. Oakland 3: San Francisco
2. Seattle 1. Page XU
Scharfer and S lesion win at billiards.
Page 11. v
Pacific Coast.
Ray Nelson, of Cottage Grove. Or., aged 9
year. Inverlta magnetic engine. Page 8.
Children rtscue Invalid companion when
Oakland orphans? burns. Page 6.
Pullman corporation formed to force Ilquor
sllera to keep tha law. Page 6.
North Yakima will rote on municipal own
ership of light and water plants, rage 0.
Commercial and Maria.
Retired statistics of unsold hop stocks la
Oregon, rage 17.
Chicago wheat market advances sharply.
Page 17.
Good demand for hay In California. Page 17.
Record production of pig iron. Page 17.
Gold Imports not tor speculative prxrposss.
Page 17.
Oriental liner Minnesota reports dismantled
four-master off Vancouver Island coast.
Paare IS.
Pert la ad sad VlcWty.
It is definitely decided that th Hilt llns
will enter rortlacd over a bridge without
the double-deck: featur mud attorneys
will meet today to draft the franchise.
Page 1.
Jfultnomab Legislative candidates stand
united on franchise Issue., rage 10.
Dynamite used In struggle between rival
railway construction gangs for a second
time. Page 13.
Contractors blame Gas Company for delay
ing the completion of their work.
Page 11.
Franchises the blr question, say candlCatt-s
tor the Legislature. Page 19.
Boat for the wr river Is asswsd. Page 18.
W. S. ITRea declares tXat Statement Xa. 1
Is Intended to "toe taken Rteraltr- Page It.
Metal awed tor cola wkick ylsJetMC asserts
left In It ctsMedr. Page II.
Kits Isold eoWcrene. Fa 1Z. '
t. M. C A. ateju serl Mg nut m9r
HILL ROAD WILL
ENTERPOBTUHD
Bridge-Across Willam
ette Now Assured.
UPPER DECK IS IMPRACTICABLE
Port of Portland Arrives at
'Final Conclusion.
REQUEST NEW APPLICATION
Representatives of Portland & Scat
tic Railway Company and Com
mittee From Commission
AVI II Hold Conference.
BRIDGE IS ASSURED.
Hill's lines will enter Portland by
bridging tlx Willamette. There will
be no upper deck, as that Is found
Impracticable. The Port of Portland
ts ready to grant the franchlte, and at
torney a will meet today to draft It.
The last serious obstacle? to the con
xtrucllon of the proposed bridge, of the
Portland &. Seattle Railway Company
across the Willamette River In the vicin
ity of St. John were removed yesterday
when the Port of Portland pledged Itself
to grant the desired franchise upon re
ceipt of a new application for permission
from the railroad company, and In the
course of a few weeks- work on the bridge
with the longest swing-draw In the world
will begin. This news will be received
with unanimous approval by the people of
Portland, for It means that two of the
great transcontinental railroads, the
Northern Pacific and the Great Northern.
will have direct entrance Into the very
heart of the city with Industrial plants
of Immense magnitude springing- up on
sites already secured In hope that noth-
"Ins wou'd be allowed to hem the pf Caress
of a prosperous community particularly
favored by natural advantages.
AVI11 Draw Franchise.
The franchise will be drawn up today
and before night It will be sealed with
the stamp of approval of the Fort of
Portland. The railroad people have not
found themselves In position to grant all
the concession for which the Port of
Portland has held out so tenaciously, but
at the meeting; of the Commission yester
day afternoon counsel for the Hill Inter
ests stated emphatically what could and
could not be done, and in executive ses
sion the Commission decided to grant the
franchise in accordance with stipulations
practically agreed upon and well under
stood by the parties Interested. No pro
vision will be made for an upper deck
because the best obtainable authority has
pronounced the desired feature Imprac
ticable, and It was a question whether to
Jeopardize the shipping; Interests of the
port or respect the wishes of those who
believe that mme time In the future
traffic between the east and west shores
of the river at St. Johns will be suftl
clcntly heavy to warrant the maintenance
of a highway a mile in length across the
busy river.
Cost Million and Half.
The bridge will cost all of JlOO.OOO. ex
clusive of the approaches, and It will have
a swing-draw 52 feet In length, provld
t heads the patriotic region
of frontiersmen:.
Lord Xeaadale.
'Lord Lonsdale, who Is chairman of
the new patriotic organisation la
England, the Legion of Frontiersman.
Is a distinguished peer, who Is heredi
tary admiral of the coasts of Cum
berland and Westmoreland and lord
warden of the west marshes. He fre
quently entertains royalty at historic
I x wtl.fr Castle. Penrith, and on two
occasions he haa bees th host of the
German Emperor. Lord Lonsdale is
49 years old. and was educated at
Eton and Oxford. His wife Is a.
daughter of the tenth Marqais ef
Hantly. He Is a. fearless hsatsman
and a ken sportsman. The founder
ef the Frontsersmen Is Roger Psceek.
noted. as a. hnater and writer, and a
xnaafeer of peers and eommaners ak
aavK Joined the ergaalsatlen. irhJek. "
as an army nusleor. may irrrs 99-tenUaL
HBBanFD:' -ri'v.
HbLsv
KSi55!sBSBBm- "'
BSHBBSkBBSaBBBBBr 1
sbbbis53bbsbbW
bsbsbsbL "'bMsbbIbbsbsbsbsbsbI
BBBBmBBSBSBsbSBPBBBBHLV
VA.Haa Vionj9rV
lng two openings 239 feet each. Originally
the plans called, for a much shorter draw.
but la order to place as little hindrance
to navigation as possible, the railroad
people altered their plans In accordance
with suggestions from the Port of Port
land. Now that an agreement has prac
tically been reached as to the draw and
the uppef- deck proposition the dredging;
of a basin above the bridge Is the only
question yet to be settled definitely. This
will be done at a conference to be held
thU morning- between C. H. Carey and
Attorney J. Couch Flanders, counsel toy
the Portland & Seattle Hallway Company.
and a committee composed of Captain A.
L. Pease. William D. Wheelwright and
J. C Alnsworth, representing the Port
of Portland, when the new application
and franchise will also be drafted. Ap
proved by the Port of Portland, the ap
plication will be submitted to the Secre
tary of AVar. who has the final say In
the premises. His decision will be a
matter of form, his decision belnpr based
upon the recommendations of the Port
of Portland, whose duty It Is to con
serve the Interests of Portland as a port.
All in Attendance.
The meeting held yesterday afternoon
was attended by every member of the
Commission. Attorney R. W. Montague
appeared in the interest of residents .of '
9t. Johns and urged that the upper-deck
feature be Insisted upon at any cost. He
said the population of the Peninsula was
growing rapidly, and predicted that In
ten years some 13,000 people would profit
by the upper deck m being able to reach
the main city by a shorter route than
that by way of the steel bridge.
A letter from Mayor Lane urged the
Commission to insist upon having pro
visions made for highway traffic over the
structure. He suggested a narrower span
of draw In order to secure the upper
deck. In direct contradiction to Engi
neer Modjeski. who says he would have
nothing to do with the bridge should the
railroad decide to provide for an upper
deck on a structure of the proposed
dimensions, Mayor Lane says, in part. In
his letter:
.Mayor Lane's Letter.
I am Informed on good engineering author
ity that an" upper-deck brldse for the use of
street-car line?, vehicles and pedestrians It
entirely feasible, but If I had never consulted
an engineer on the cnibject I should think the
proposition that American engineering skill
could not surmount whatever difficulties there
may be in building a double-deck bridge was
so preposterous as to merit no consideration
whatever. I believe .hat any competent engi
neer given a commission to prepare ptans for
such a bridge under the conditions which exist
here would accept the authority without het-
tntton. -
Mayor Lane's letter, together with a
communication from the united Railways
Company, asking for permlslon to use the
bridge for an electric railway to St. Johns
were placed on file, and then counsel for
the Portland & Seattle Railway Company
presented their arguments showing why
an upper deck would be impracticable.
Resolutions as Adopted.
After listening to . the arguments the
Commission went into executive session
ami pased the following resolutions, which
settle the question:
Whereas, This commission has on two sep
arate occasions voted to grant to the Portland
&. Seattle Railroad Company a franchise for
the construction of a bridge arroes the Wit
lamette River on terms that it was led to
believe would b acceptable to the said rail
way company, said trms being modified by
the commtMlon at the Instance of the railway
company, of Important conditions that this
coramlraion deemed It agreeable to make; and
Whereas. Each concession made by this com
mission ha been followed by demand on the
part of the Portland & Seattle Railroad Com
pany for still further concraslons. Including
the withdrawal of stipulations that the repre
sentatives of the railroad company had ap
proved; now, therefore, be It
Resolved. That this commission hereby re
scinds Its action and the two votes above re
ferred to. And be It further
RcMlved. That this commission, fully appre
ciates the Importance of access to this city
by the Portland St Seattle Railroad Comnany.
and deelrlng to further the objects of the
said railroad company as Iar as It may do so
with proper regard to the Interests of the city
and the port, hereby pledges Itself to grant
& franchise for the construction of the pro
posed brldgr promptly upon receipt of an ap
plication from the Portland & Seattle Rail
roed Company, that shall contain such reas
onable simulation as may be necesoary for
the- protection of the Interests aforesaid, such
stipulations belnr those only that the repre
sentatives of the said railroad Company have
at one time or another expressed their wit
llngness to make.
Reaolverf. That the president of this com
mission be requested to appoint a committee
consisting of himself and two other members
of this body, ."with full powers to draft a char
ter for the Portland . Seattle Railroad Com
pany tn conference with the counsel for Ihi
commies Ion and to report same to this board
at Its next meeting.
Address by .7. Couch Flanders.
J. Couch Flanders, who will confer with
the Port of Portland committee this
morning, when seen last night seemed to
think that the Commission had Intimated
in Its resolution that the railroad com
pany had backed down on propositions
made at former conferences. He said
I have read the resolution passed by the
Port of Portland Commission and feet that
the suggestion expressed that the represen
tatlvea of the Portland & Seattle Railway
Company have led the Commission to be
Here that various conditions which have
been proposed would be acceptable to the
railway company, and one now rejected. Is
likely to create a serious misunderstanding.
The Important difference between the Com
mission and the railway company, as the
matter stood this afternoon, was with refer
ence, to an overhead roadway. The officers
of the railway company, after x thorough
Investigation of the question by their, en
gineers, are of the opinion that this Is
wholly Impracticable. This conclusion must
control the local representatives of the com
pany. It Is manifest that no intimation
could hare been given br any representative
of the railway company that such a con
dition to the granting of the franchise
would be acceptable, nor was such Intima
tion given. Nothing has been said at any
time which could have led the members of
the Commission to believe that such a con
dition would be acceptable.
Upper Deck Impracticable.
iWhen tha condition was proposed the rep.
resentatlves of the railway company merely
assured the Commission that the matter
would be referred to their principals and
after consideration a prompt response
would be made. This has been done and the
beet expert opinion obtainable decides that
It Is im9rac.tlcable. We have endeavored
to act in the ntmost good faith toward
the Comralsstaa aad the people of Portland,
and trust that there may be no mlsarpre
henstoa ot our position. The Portland &
Seattle Is anxious to bring new facilities to
this dir. hut Its officers feel that it oughi
not to bo called unon to Imperil Its large
Investment here by the construction of a
tye of bridge condemned fcy Its engineers
adf watsk. weutd be so mneh la the nature.
C an osrftatoat aa to eenotkuta a sriou
4aaer t! av initios, and which wattld! r.
d it sitloa aC trataa aaoirUsa.
- J.. - ' E
" . 1 - t t
BRIGHT LPT ON
AFFAIRS AT COLON
"alse Reports About the
Waterworks.
RESERVOIR ONLY JUST BEGOK
Mere CorpopaFs Guard
at
Work on Big Dam.
WATER WILL BE STAGNANT
Oregonlan Correspondent Shows Dlf-
ference Uelwecn Facts He Saw
ahd Fiction Sent to Taft.
Low Disease Ratio.
BT TVOODWORTH CL.TJM.
COLON. Panama. March 31. (Special
Correspondence.) Secretary Taft, in a
special report dated January 8, iw. in
forms the Dubllc that there Is no scarcity
of water In Colon: that a permanent res-
irvoli- with a caijaclty of oW,qpo, gal
lons Is under construction, with two per
manent standplpes. one of 400.000 and the
other of 5CO.00O gallons capacity, under
contract to be completed by April 1. On
this last day of March I am able to re
port that there is a scarcity or gooa wa
ter In Colon: that the work of clearing
h around for the 500.000,000-gallon reser
voir has scarcely begun; that the. work
on the permanent dam is practically at a
standstill and that neither of the two
standpipes has been begun.
t n not cite these noints In contraoic-
tlon- to the statements of the honorable
Secretary of War, but to demonstrate
that some of the governmental experts
on the Isthmus of Panama are taking:
advantage of the Administration. Secre
tary Taft also stated on January 8 tnat
7(m feet of uermanent (water) mams
have already been laid, and that the re
maining 8000 feet are being laid at tlio
rata nf 4 AO to 100 fftCt- dally." If thl
-progress had "becrilnalhtained. , foe lay
ing of the mains would have been com
pleted within '23 days at the outside.
Nearly three months have elapsed since
then, and the laying of mains haa not
been completed.
Colon Full of Sorelicads.
In endeavoring to ascertain, facts con
cerning conditions and progress.- on the
Isthmus of Panama. It Is Indeed difficult
to separate the wheat from the chaff.
Colon is full of "soreheads" men who
for some reason or other have acquired
a wonderful and fearful grudge against
the Isthmian Canal Commission, and
when they discover a possibility of "get
ting back" at the Government by "expos
ing" some rottenness of administration,
they are never satisfied until they have
entrusted their tales of woe to the ten
der mercies of some itinerant journalist.
But when one actually encounters these
conditions complained of, the atmosphere
clears, and the problem of "fact-finding"
Is easier to solve. Upon arrival at Colon
I was told there was a water famine; that
there was no good water: that the Gov
ernment was taking advantage of the sit
uation by bringing spring water Into town
and selling it to the poor people at 2
cents gold per gallon, and a hundred and
one other dreadful things that made me
wish I had avoided the place altogether.
However, I have, had the pleasure of
paying the 2 cents per gallon for fairly
good drinking water, furnished by the
Government for a short while, but now
discontinued: and. while the residents
manage to get along with the, rain water
and water such as finds its way through
the pipes from the temporary reservoir,
there Is everywhere apparent a painful
economy an economy that results In. the.
use of a single tub of water by the wash
erwomen in cleansing (?) the linen of half
a dozen patrons.
Corporal's Guard In Place of Army.
These conditions are not so bad in them
selves. In fact, the people of Colon never
were better off than they are today in the
matter of water supply. The point I de
sire to make Is that the progress has not
been nearly as rapid or commendable as
has been so widely advertised.
Having In mind the 300,000.000-gallon res
ervoir, which was about ready to furnish
Colon and Cristobal with water. I fol
lowed the 20-inch pipe line leading front
the city through the tropical jungle, past
the queer little cemetery at Monkey Hill,
until finally, about four m.lles from Co
lon. I reached the first dam, which the
engineers told me would be the beginning
of the reservoir. It was about 10 o'clock
In the morning, when all employes should
be at their tasks, but over a quarter of a
mile of dam site I found only a dozen
workmen. Jamaican negroes, with a- ne
gro foreman, pumping out a hole in the
ground, hoping, they said, to fine a good"
base for some foundation work. I asked
them where the great 500.000.000-gallon
reservoir might be found, and they point
ed to the valley in front of me.
It was a pretty little valley, to be sure,
filled with beautiful trees, luxuriant
vines, and undergrowth, but having in
its center a sluggish, stagnant, stream,
upon whose banks lay masses of rotten
timber and other vegetation.
"Is this the dam that Is to be ready
.for use by April If I asked.
The foreman smiled and admitted that
it was.
"Well, are they not going to clear the
reservoir of this rank vegetation?" I per
sisted. "Oh. they are clearing It." said my
friend the foreman, and pointing to one
corner of the valley be showed me a small
band of Martinique negroes, about 29,
slashing away at the underbrush with
their machetes.
Fer an hoar I walked around, the pro
posed reservoir and the persaaneat dam.
In, that time I did not encounter mare
tCeaotado mm Pao IX)
W- i. i rtr aotti jfcisaWAatatt