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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 13, 1906)
i VOL,. XL.VL.-XO. 14,233. PORTLAND, OREGON, 3IONDAY, AUGUST 13, 1906. PRICE FIVE CENTS. DETROIT SPARED By FOREST FIRE Portland Campers Have Narrow Escape. FLEE BEFORE THE FUMES Others May Have Perished in North Santiam Canyon. FATE STILL IN DOUBT Conflagration Has Now Reached the Most Valuable Timber Belt in State, and Is Entering the Cascades. ALBANY. Or., Aug. 12. (Special.) When all hopei had about been abandoned, word was received here today that the town ot Detroit had escaped destruction from the immense forest fire which i3 sweeping up the canyon of the North Santiam. The fire is raging in the dense standing timber back in the mountains and great loss Is ensuing. The Zan- Fletcher-LInn camping party, of Portland, had a narrow escape but managed to reach Detroit in safety. The latest reports are that the fire Is eating it way through one of the finest belts of timber In the Cascade Moun tains. It extends for a mile and a half either side of the North Santiam River and has also turned up the Breitenbush Canyon. Detroit, the largest town In the San- tiam Canyon and terminus of the east ern division of the Corvallis & Eastern Railroad, escaped because of the cleared country surrounding it. The fire burned over the heavy timber on all sides of the town. r While no loss of life has been reported there are known to be parties of camp ers directly in the path of the flames. The campers on the Breitenbush River, or beyond Detroit, at any of the numer ous camping grounds that . mark the course ' of the Santiam River and Its tributary streams, are within the possI ble path of the flames. The bridge across the Breitenbush River has been rendered useless. Portland People in Peril. Dom J. Zan and wife and Fletcher Linn, of Portland; Mr. .and Mrs. Homer A. Nelson and Mr. and Mrs. Percy A. Young, of Albany, all prominent society people, were camped on the North San tiam River about half a mile above Its mouth. Mr. Nelson joined the party Saturday morning and two hours after his arrival the fire was raging and In a very brief space of time reached their camping grounds. Nothing was heard of the party until late this afternoon, when It was learned that the campers had reached Detroit just ahead of the flames. At times it looked as though they were lost and the atmosphere was so dense with smoke that It was impossible to see more than 20 leet ahead of them when they were mak ing for Detroit. Flames Surround Detroit. The conditions at Detroit during the time the fire was passing were something terrible. With miles of forest burning on every side and within a short distance of the town, the heat waa all but unbeara ble and the smoke almost suffocating. The distance from the mouth of the Breitenbush River to Detroit is about a mile. Heavy timber extends from Berry to the Breitenbush. The fire ran through this at a high rate of speed, extending over four miles within a little more than an hour from Its Inception. If campers at the Breitenbush learned of the ap proach of the flames early after the fire started, they could have reached Detroit easily. Another place where there are known to be a large number of campers is at a point some IS miles up the Breitenbush River. Between 60 and 100 people are camped there, and while they are several miles from the Santiam Canyon, they are in the Breitenbush Canyon and the wind Is favorable to carry the smoke, and possibly the fire, to them. At best they are penned up, shut off from their only avenue of escape, -via Detroit, and will have a disagreeable time until rain puts an end to the fires. Excursion Train Blocked. The regular excursion train which Is sent to Detroit every Saturday night ready for the through trip to Newport Sunday' morning, was unable to reach Its destination last night. The night was spent at Mill City, 20 miles this side ot Detroit. At that point the reflection of the great fire was plainly visible, and the smoke was quite dense, although the wind was blowing up the canyon. If reports brought down by Mill City people on this morning's train may be relied upon, only the rain which seems to be approaching can prevent destruc tion of miles of valuable timber covering the mountain sides which are within the Cascade Mountain forest reserve. These people state that a brisk wind was blow ing up the Santiam Canyon, sufficiently stronr to carry the Are up the canyon at a terrific rate of speed, and over the mountains into the reserve. In fact, the report this morning is that the fire has already entered the reserve by way of the Breitenbush Canyon, and Is eating its way into the cream of the timber In this valuable district. One logging camp of the Curtis Lumber Company, with Its equipment of engines. etc., has been wiped out by the flames and another Is due to go; the fire Is reported- to have got beyond Detroit to the Hoover Mills, and for miles on either side of the river at that point is a vast sea of flame. The fire has severed communication with the burning district, and all terrl tory beyond, and reports are at best meager. s Communication has always been maintained from Mill City, the end of the telegraph line, to Detroit and way points by means of a private telephone line. Now nothing will be known until It be comes possible for people to cross' the burnt district. The fire is now known to be the most destructive that has visited the North Santiam country since pioneer days. Nu merous mountain homes and a great amount of valuable, timber have been destroyed. The, two mills at Detroit are thought to be near enough the timber to make it Impossible to save . them Railroad track has been rendered impas sable, and logging camps wiped out. Lives May Be Lost. Whether there has been loss of life Is as yet unknown. If knowledge of the ap- proaching fire was gained by campers soon enough to enable them to reach De troit, they are believed to be safe, al though a terrible ordeal confronted them In the way of enduring heat and dense smoke. The fire Is the topic of conversation In Albany today, and people familiar with the burning district are speculating as to the possible avenues of escape for camp ers and residents of the neighborhood. It is impossible for human agency to render any assistance at the present time, the fire being between the valley and the set tlement at the terminus of the railroad, With rain almost surely approaching. It seems the fire may be extinguished within the next day or so. FIGHT DUEL WITH RIFLES VETERAN WASHINGTON PROS PECTOR KILLS ENEMY. William Uougan Fires Six Shots After Mike McKale's Bullet Lays Him Low Near Chewelah. CHEWELAH, Wash., Aug. 12 After the most desperate gun fight in the an- nals of Stevens County, Mike McKale slew William Dougan today at Brown Lake. , The men were veteran prospec tors, both over the half century mark in years, and of violent dispositions. They quarreled today over permitting a party of Chewelah men to fish in the lake. Both rushed for their rifles. 12 shots being exchanged, Dougan firing six shots after McKale's first bullet had stretched him dying on the ground. McKale Is under arrest at Chewelah. After the duel he gave himself up to W. J. Jackson. Deputy Sheriff, here. No charge has been placod asaffist him. The matter of an inquest is In the hands of the county authorities.. Six Chewelah men were present when the altercation commenced and witnessed the duel to the death from a distance. When the fight became assured the vis itors bolted for cover, and the terrible drama was enacted before their eyes. lneir testimony Is that Dougan was the aggressor when it came to shooting, and that he was In the act of aiming his rifle when McKale fired the fatal Bhot 1 OIL KING POKES FUN AT A GIANT REPORTER. Says He Admires Big Men and Newspaper Writers Attends Baptist Sunday School. CLEVELAND. Ohio, Aug. 12. (Special.) John D. Rockefeller was as gay and light-hearted as a schoolboy today. He greeted his friends at the Euclid-Avenue Baptist Sunday school this morning with a cordiality and freedom never before shown by him. Some of the members stood almost aghast; others, more fa miliar with him, were simply surprised. All commented upon the abandon with which he acted. The oil king encountered Cleveland's giant newspaper reporter, whom, he met on several occasions last year. No for mality entered into his greeting. The reporter was not aware of the oil king's presence until he felt a hard slap on the back. Thinking a newspaper friend had struck him, the reporter whirled around with clenched fist to give punishment to his tormentor. To his surprise he faced the world's richest man, who said: v hy, how do you do? 'I am Indeed glad to see vou atraln. I believe you have grown taller since last year. Now I have to look up to you." The oil magnate's Joke is readily seen when it is explained that the reporter stands 6 feet 6 inches and weighs ilO pounds. But, in all seriousness, I like big men. such as you are," he continued. "I have often wished I was that large. Then I could see danger ahead and avoid it. In that respect you big men have the ad vantage, or, as the latest slang expres sion is, "you have it all over the rest of us.' "Now, don't think that I have become addicted to the use of slang; I have not. I heard that expression the other day, and a friend explained Its meaning, and 1 must confess that I fancied it. "As I said, I like big men. Wouldn't this be a grand country if all the men were as big as you?" Showing his appreciation for the giant scribei Mr. Rockefeller invited him out to his Forest Hill home. "Come out and pay me a visit," he said. "Come with some definite object in view to play golf. for instance. I am not a crack player, by any means." Rockefeller spoke of the press in gen eral when he referred to the visit the American press humorists made him last year. He said: They were a pleasant lot of men. I had an excellent time at that meeting. Do you know, I find newspaper men and even magazine writers a charming class personally. I met a number of them In New York when I returned from abroad. They impressed me as being a really sin cere type of men. I think newspaper training fits a man for making acquain tances quickly and fits him to. judge the worth of them in the same short time." FIVE DROWN E Two Women and Three Men Drawn Down in Great Whirlpool. TRAGEDY NEAR DAVENPORT All Victims Prominent Citizens of That Town Vain Heroism Re sponsible for Sacrifice of Four Lives. DAVENPORT. Wash., Aug. 12, Five well-known citizens of Davenport, who had been enjoying an outing on the banks of the Spokane River about 12 miles northeast of Davenport, were drowned. and up to 9 o'clock tonight only one body had been recovered. The victims are: MISS WINNIE JONES, aged 19 years. A. U BERGETT, arted about 40. . MRS. A. L. BERGETT, aged about 35. ROT HOWARD, aged 28. A. It. INMAN, aged 34. Give Lives for Others. Four of the drowned heroically sacri- flced their lives in attempting to save others. One after another they plunged Into the river, only to be seized by the undercurrent and drawn down either by the whirlpool or the undercurrent, which at that point is particularly dangerous. L. F. Moore returned to Davenport . to night with the body of Mrs. Bergett, the only one recovered. News of the accident reached Daven port shortly after noon. In less than two hours every available vehicle in the city was on the way to the scene. Dynamite was taken along in hope of bringing the bodies to the surface. All afternoon .the rescuers worked and late tonight few of them had returned. Davenport is shaken to the very center by the calamity. Every one of the vie tlms was well known and prominent in the life of the town. The women were bathing and wading at a point near Laughburn's place, close to the scene of the big slide last year in the Spokane River. Miss Jones ventures out too far, got beyond her depth and Mrs. Bergett immediately waded out io aslst her. Mrs. Bergett was soon in the same danger as Miss Jones. Both women were struggling in the river when At Ber gett. husband of Mrs; Bergett, rushed out to save them. He also was made helpless by .the. swirling waters. The screams of Miss Irene Danson and Miss Daisy Hutchinson, who were on the bank, unable to reach their drowning friends, brought A. L. Inman, Roy How ard and Mark Paulline, who were a con siderable distance away, and the three men attempted to reach those in distress Mr. Inman ventured out too far and he also was drawn under. Horses Prove Useless. Finding he could not hope to save the others by swimming out to them, Mr. Paulline and Mr. Howard rushe? for their horses, hoping the animals could find footing on the bed of the river far enough out to reach the victims. Mr. Paulllne's horse refused to venture out. Mr. How ard's horse went as far as the Animal found It could stand up, and, upon be ing spurred by the rider, threw Mr. How ard into the stream. Mr. Howard was swimming to shore, but suddenly was sucked under by the whirlpool and he also was drowned. Mr. Paulline saw his friend sink but was unable to reach him. Mr. Paulline then went for assistance and found Mr. ' Moore. They recovered the body of Mrs. Bergett, which floated on the top of the whirlpool, but the other bodies had disappeared. SEVERE STORM IN IDAHO RUINS MUCH WHEAT IN CEN TRAL PART OF STATE. Lightning: and' Downpour of AVater Combined Do $10,000 Dam age in Lewiston. LEWISTON, Ida., Aug. 12. (Special.) Thousands of dollars worth of damage was done to wheat in this section of the state this evening by a severe electrical storm, which was accompanied by high wind and a heavy" downpour of rain. The extent of the damage to grain fields with in a radius of 75 miles of Lewiston cannot bo ascertained this evening, as all the long-distance telephone wires are either down or working so badly that communi cation Is impossible. Latest reports from all directions were to the effect that the storm was severe all over this section of the state. In Lewiston the damage will aggregate about 10.000. The Morning Tribune Is the largest sufferer. The sewers In the busi ness section were not large enough to carry oft the downpour of water and flooded many cellars and basements. The paper storage and press room of the Tribune were flooded and $4000 worth of paper ruined. Eighteen inches of water in the press room will have to be bailed out before the morning edition can be run off. Half the telephones in the city are out of commission owing to lightning striking the wires. Several operators were partially stunned while seated at 'switchboards. Alfonso and Bride at Cowes. COWES. Isle of Wight. Aug. 12. King Alfonso and Queen Victoria arrived in Cowes today for a visit to Lord Leith, of Fyvie, where King Alfonso will in dulge in some shooting. Lady Leith was Miss Marie. January, of St. Louis. i RIVER EVENTS OF COMINQ WEEK National Encampment of G. A. R. Thousands ot veterans of the Civil War will tac her at Minneapolis Mon day to attend the annual National Encampment of the Grand Army of the Republic, The encampment will extend through the entire week and comprises an elaborate programme of social functions In addition to the many business affairs which will re tceive attention. The National convention of the American Women's Press Association also will be held In Minneapolis be ginning Monday and the Union Vet erans' National Encampment will be gin at St. Paul the same day.' This encampment .will continue until Wednesday. Political Convention. Political meetings during the week Include the Texas Republican State Convention at El Paso on Tuesday, the Nebraska Populist State Conven tion at Lincoln on Wednesday and a meeting of the New York Republican State Committee In New York City on Wednesday. Numerous National Gatherings. Among other important convention scheduled for the week are the fol lowing: Monday Omaha, National Brother hood of Stationary Firemen; Colorado Springs, International Typographical Union of America; Buffalo. National Harness Manufacturers and Healers' Protective Association; Des Moines, Society of the Army of the Philip pines; New York, International Stereo- typers and Electrotypers Union. , Tuesday Boston, American Phi latelic Association; St. Louts, Amer ican Applegrowers Congress; Pough keepsle. N. Y., I. O. H. M.. Grand Council; Ridgeway, Pa., Scandinavian Brotherhood of America; Roanoke, Va., American Firemen's Association; Put-in-Bay. Metropolitan Philatelic Association. Wednesday New Haven, Municipal Electricians' Association; Montreal, National Fraternal Congress; New York, Universal Craftsmen's Council Engineers. Yacht Races Off Marblehead. - This week also will witness an in teresting series of races off Marble head, Mass.. between yachtsmen de sirous of having the honor of repre senting the United States against the German yachts which will contest for the Roosevelt cup. The German American races will open September 8. Three of the 19 boats entered for the preliminary competition will be selected to take part In the Interna tional races. The boats are greatly diverse as regards lines, the smallest being only 31 Vi feet over all and the largest 40 feet over all. The boats entered rep resent the work of nine yacht-designers. The -trial races will open Mon day and , .probably will continue through the week. John Brown's Birthday. The Niagara Movement, an organi sation composed of members of the negro race in the United States, will commemorate. . at . Harper's Ferry, W. Va.. August J 5-10. the 100th anni versary of the btrth of John Brown and the Jubilee- of the battle -of Ossa watomle. The Niagara Movement, which -was organized at Niagara Falls, N. Y.. In July.' im$, ' Is com posed of prominent negroes In IS " elates. , , The exercises will be "neld at Storrer College and will include a number of addresses relating to the purposes of the organization and the future of the negro In America. During the meeting trips will be made to Charles ton, where John Brown was tried, and to the place where Brown made his defense and where his sons were killed. King Edward to Visit Kaiser. King Edward Is to visit Emperor William this week, the official an nouncement having been made that the meeting will occur at Frledrichs kron Castlu, near Hamburg. August J 5. Much Importance Is attached to the meeting, between, th . two mon archs. British Motor Boat Race. The British Motor -Boat Club is ar ranging a sweepstakes for cruisers from Southampton to Dover on August 18. when the boats will be taken to Dover after racing at Southampton, to be In readiness for the start of the Dover-Ostend races August 20. CONTENTS TODAY'S PAPER The Weather. YESTERDAY'S Maximum temperature, 82 deg. : minimum, o2. TODAY'S Showers and cooler. South westerly winds. Foreign. Grand Duke Nicholas declines appointment as commander-in-chief In rebellious prov inces. Page 1. Sultan's Illness said to be not serious. Page 3. Domestic. Porter of looted Chicago bank says he saw Stensland since collapse. . Page 3. Chicago leads the world In crime. Page 1. ticore of persons hurt in street-car wreck In Oakland, Cal. Page 2. Secretary Bonaparte recommends death and whipping post for anarchists, page o. Crank causes scene In Oyster Bay church. Page 6. Fatal auto accident in Chicago. Page 2. Highwaymen shoot citizen in San Francisco. Page 3. Sport. Bralnard Maroons beat Schillers for city amateur baseball championship. Page 4. Performance of Portland senior four gratifies local oarsmen. Page o. Eeavers lose to Fresno through Moore's errors. Page 4. Trial races for Roosevelt cup begin at Mar- bieneaa toaay. Jfage z. Ei;rhtoar race called off at Worcester. Page S. Pacific Coast. Washington prospectors fight duel; one killed. Page 1. Electrical storm ' does great damage In Idaho. Page 1. Five persons drown in Spokane River near Davenport. Wash. Page 1. Fire on North Santiam River spares town ot Detroit, Jrage l. Insurance money paid San Francisco prop erty-owners goes into reDuiiaing opera tions. Page 2. State militia !n camp at American Lake, Wash. Page 4. Portland and Vicinity. H. L. Pye, a private detective, held up and robbed by . masked highwayman near Woodstock. Page 3. Miss Anna Huck, daughter of wealthy Wasco farmer, Jilts Harry A. Kemp, Boer war hero, on eve of wedding day, and. elopes with Adotph Jansen. Page 7. Drouth cuts down hop production despite In crease in acreage, rage i. Automobile collides with street-car. Page 12. Sunday sermons by Portland pastors. Page . Drouth of 44 days ended by last night's run. rsse i. Rev. George E. Hawes. of Braddock, pa.. discusses cnaracter of W llliam E. Corey, president of Steel Trust. Page 10. Zachary land-fraud trial to be taken up toaay. rase o. List of convictions secured by Government in land-rraud cases, rage s. Portland pastor claims to heal by divine power, .rage v. Opposition to East Third-street franchise oral nance is inci rssiug. rae a. Several dry towns may attempt to defeat prohibition under recent charter provision. Page 8. R. B. Miller Issues crop forecast along line or u- sc. x. r-age a. DROUTH WILL CUT OREGON HOP CROP This and Poor Cultivation Will Put Yield Below 120, 000 Bales. LAST YEAR WAS 112,000 Two-Thirds of Yield Is Sold on Con ' tract, Mostly at Low Prices, Caus ing Growers to Be Neglect ful of Their Yards. The long-continued drouth and the poor cultivation In many sections are beginning to tell on the Oregon hop crop. Last year the state produced about 112,000 bales. It Is beginning to look now as if this figure would not be exceeded this year, notwithstanding an Increase in acreage of about 10 per cent. Estimates made by reliable dealers of the coming crop range all the way from 100,000 to 120.000 balea. At one time In the Spring it was thought about 140.000 bales would be produced, but two months with prac tically no rainfall anywhere In the hop belt has had a telling effect on the vines. Scanty cultivation In many of the yards has caused even more damage than the dry spell. Prices were so low last year that some of the growers lost heart neglected to cultivate their properties. They will be rewarded this year with less than half the production of their neigh bors who attended to this important mat ter. An immense quantity of hops was sold on contract in the Spring at the bare cost of production, and these sell ers, almost without exception, failed to cultivate their yards. It is estimated that tip to the present time about 80.000 bales of the coming crop are tied up by contracts. Although the crop will fall short of early expectations. It will still furnish employment for all the pickers that can be secured. It will be what the growers call a "top crop" and will be easy to pick. YAMHILL CROP REDUCED. Output Estimated Now at 9000 to 10,000 Bales, but May Be Less. M'MINNVILLE, Or.,-Aug. 12. (Special.) It is difficult to form an estimate of the output of hops of Yamhill County at the present time. Last year it is gen erally supposed that between 10.000 and 11,000 bales of hops were marketed from this county. Growers at the present time are worried over "the continued warm weather, and some who are carefully watching the hops now forming are of the opinion that the dry weather has al ready reduced the yield from 10 to 15 per cent, and if the warm weather continues for a week or ten days they believe an other reduction will be necessary. In fact, some venture the opinion that If we do not have rain this month the crop will be shortened fully 20 to 2d per cent as compared with last year. Opinions differ as to the output of this county this year, but a safe estimate now would be from 9000 to 10.000 bales. The yards in this Immediate vicinity are looking fairly well, but it Is noted In drlvng through the county that there was consderabie neglect of the yards the early part of the season, when, the prce was discouraging. Contracting has been carried on with much persistency, and within the past few days buyers have been very active in the neld. Contracts have been record ed for nearly 6000 bales, and it Is known that Mr. Vail, of Carlton, has written contracts for several hundred bales, none of which has been placed on reoord. It is understood that these contracts were sent to Harry Hart, of Portland. W. C. Miller secured during the last week about 400 to BOO bales, none of which has been placed on record. It Is believed that a portion of Miller's contracts were for Adolf Wolf & Son, of Silverton. and the remainder for Schwarz & Son. Reports from various portions of the county indi cate that buyers are active, and that of fers better than 17 cents are now being made. Those best posted venture to say that fully 6000 bales of hops in this coun ty have been contracted, which they con sider at least two-thirds of what the county will produce. RAIN NEEDED IX LAXE COTJXTY Hop Output Is Estimated at 8500 to 9500 Bales. EUGENE, Or., Aug. 12. (Special.) The continuous hot and dry weather has be gun to affect the hopyards on the higher land, but those on the river bottoms are not Injured as yet. A rain within a week would- help -out greatly in the yards thaT have begun to show the effects of the dry weather. Lane County will have from S500 to 9;00 bales of hops this year, about one-third of which are contracted for at 10 to lO1 cents. These contracts were made in June and July or earlier. Buyers are active here now, and good hops can be sold at from 16 to 17 cents. It Is not like ly that much contracting will be done Just at this time, as the growers of Lane County usually hold out until later In the season if the market appears good. Lp to this time the prospects for a heavy crop have been good, but some of the growers have begun to worry. ' In the lower lands rain Is not absolutely needed, Although it would be acceptable there. It looks now as If pickers might be scarce, as there is so much to do at good wages for all who can work. The fact that many working people make hoppicking their vacation will help out materially In harvesting the crop in this section. GROWTH OF CROP RETARDED Hop Men of Salem Believe Yield Will Be Larger Than Last Year's. SALEM. Or.. Aug. 12. (Special.) Though the continued hot weather is re tarding the growth of the hops, it is generally agreed among hopmen in this locality that conditions indicate a larger yield than last year. The most reliable estimates' are that the crop of the state will be 115,000 bales, but no one ventures an estimate of the quantity Marion Coun ty will produce, for It has not been the custom to keep statistics by counties. Growers here report that pickers are registering rapidly, and they anticipate having help-enough when the harvest begins. In the old and neglected yards there may be some difficulty in securing pickers, for there the dry weather has done most damage. The market here Is quiet, for growers do not want to sell. PICKERS AT INDEPENDENCE Polk County Crop Will Fall 15 to 20 Per Cent Short of Expectations. INDEPENDENCE, Or., Aug. 12. (Spe cial.) The vanguard of hoppickers l coming In to Independence already, though it will be three to four weeks before picking begins. It Is those from a distance that come early. One family that had driven all the way from Pen dleton arrived this week, and another came from Sacramento. A few Indians are also on hand. The early arrivals se lect their yard, fetch their tents and en Joy an outing before the picking season opens. J. C. Morrison, manager of the Horst yard of upwards of 400 acres, has listed all the pickers he will need. Other grow ers have their lists only partially made up. There Is at this time no fear among Jthe growers of a shortage of pickers, but there is room for a multitude of pickers in the Independence yards yet. The yards are clean and picking will be good, but the continued hot weather is cutting down the yield every day. The laterals are not filling out as expected, and there will be what is known as a top crop this year. The rfop of the mass of foliage that shades the yard Is sup plied with hop burrs, but underneath the vines there Is a lack of hops. The estimates on the output of a month ago will not apply now. Of course, there will be some heavy crops In the rich loam bottoms around Independence, as there always is, but there will be a general falling off from what has been expected. - Interviews with all the larger growers this week shows that, according to the consensus of opinion, a shortage in yield Is to be expected. J. E. Hubbard, a buyer, after returning from a ' trip through the yards today, stated that there is no longer any doubt that the .yield will be 15 to 20 per cent short of what was promised a few weeks ago. No sales are being made, but 50 to 60 per cent of the hopB In this district have been contracted. SHORTAGE IX LINN COUNTY Unbroken Hot Weather Has Caused Much Damage " ALBANY. Or.. Aug. 12. (Special.) Un broken hot weather for the past several weeks has done much damage to the hop crop of Linn County. People familiar with conditions in the hopyards of the county state that the crop will be light because of the hot weather: that the arms and tendrils that have produced so many hops in the past are dried on the vines this year, and will not make any contri bution to the output. Harry Schlosser, a member of the hop buying firm of which Kola Nets is the head, stated today that after Visiting most of the yards In Linn County he Is convinced the output of the county this year will be much loss than last year. The amount of this year's hop crop tn Linn County that is already contracted is variously estimated by those faralHf with the market and conditions here. Probably the. conservative estimate would place It at one-half. Of course there are those "who Insist that a much greater proportion of the crop Is already sold, but this is probably not the case. Con tract prices range from 9 cents early in the season to 17 cents In the last few days. The majority of the early con tracts were at 10 cents, or a little better. but later the only contracts have been at a much better figure, the top price being 17 cents. It will be safe to put this year's output of hops In Linn County at four-fifths of the normal crop, and to place, one-half of the entire output In the column marked "sold." ' CLACKAMAS CROP AVERAGE Yield of 10,000 Bales Is Now Ex pected. OREGON CITY. Or.. Aug. 12. (Special.) Clackamas County hopgrowers are long ing for one good rain shower as the only element lacking to Insure one of (lie best crops In the county's history. Otherwise the continued warm weather will result in drying up the long arms on the vines and thereby diminish the yield. Pres ent weather conditions, however, have had a beneficial effect In that no lice have appeared In any of the yards. The prospects are favorable for more than an average crop, and it Is confi dently believed that the yield will amount to 10,000 bales. Not to exceed one-tenth of the estimated crop has been contracted for, only 106.500 pounds being represented In the contracts that have been recorded at the Courthouse. In addition to trie? contracts, however, a small portion of the crop Is Involved In bills of sale, not to exceed a few thousand pounds In the aggregate. NEW ACREAGE IX BEXTOX May Make Up Shortage In the Old Yards. CORVALLIS, Or., Aug. 12. (Special.) A shortage of 10 to 15 per cent In the hop yield, as compared with last season, la expected by growers as a result of the hot weather of the past week. It is prob able that new acreage will make up the difference and that the output will bo In volume about the same as last year. Well- informed hopmen put the figures at 1300 to WK bales in this vicinity, something like TO acres of new hops will come Into bearing, and this might run the total to the larger figure. The marking of the hot weather Is noticeable on the arms of the hops, which do not show the usual healthy conditions. Less than 10 per cent of the crop In this vicinity is contracted. The Lilly van? Is the only one In this section that seems to have as good a crop as last year. CROP PLACED AT 6000 BALES Early Indications Were Somewhat Better In Washington County. HILLSBORO. Or., Aug. 12. (Special.) A careful review of the hop situation In Washington County discloses the fact that the crop will probably be from 20 to 30 per cent less than the early prospects indicated, the continued drought having dried many arms from 18 inches to three feet in length. Many yard show brown leaves here and there in prof uelon, -this being notably the case with the' older vines. Some yards, how ever, are free from blight because of the dry spell, but these are only isolated cases. Never in the history of crop condi tions were prospects so favorable for a bumper crop as early in July, or per haps, up to July 24. From that time on the vines commenced to show the bad results of the heat and drought. It is estimated that the crop will now furnish about 6000 bales, although some (Concluded on Pgo 3.) CAN BRYAN lAfiri QNANYPLATFOHM? Silver Issue Fatal to Him Either Way, LOSES WEST IF HE DROPS IT Bound to Lose East and North If He Adheres to It. ON HORNS OF DILEMMA Eastern Papers Analyze Ills Chances of Success In 19 08 Fidelity to Silver Means Defeat by Any Republican. OREGONIAN NEWS BUREAU, Wash ington, Aug. 12. During the past few days a great many or the leading pa pers of the East have expressed th opinion that William J. Bryan Is cer tain to be the Democratic? nominee for President in 1908; some have said tha he Is as good as nominated. This opin ion comes from Republican, Demo, cratlc and Independent papers; those that oppose as well as those that sup port the peerless leader. It Is a re markable thing, however, that practl cally every paper that predicts Bryan' nomination expresses grave doubt oC his ability to carry his ticket to suc cess, especially If Roosevelt is forced to accept another nomination at tha hands of the Republican party. The wave that sweeps one Democ ratic State Convention after another and secures indorsements for Bryan and Bryanlsm appears to be a form of mania. Bryan's old friends have again rallied under his banner and are forc ing the adoption of all manner of res olutions demanding his renomlnatlon In 1908. All of this demonstrates that Bryan's friends In the various states ara still in control of the Democratic or ganization. But, as has been pointed) out by leading papers, there has yet been no evidence that the Bryan fol lowers are more numerous than in 1898 or 1903. The men and the conventions fhat have so far Indorsed Bryan are" in sympathy with his old ideas and his recent expressions In London. They ara willing that Bryan shall be the stand ard bearer and shall run on a platform as radical as that of 1896 or 1900; event more radical, indeed. This fact is sig nificant. Refuses to Be Reconstructed. Bryan will never be elected unles's h can reunite- the Democratic party and he will never reunite the Democratic party as long as he indorses the Chl cago platform and reiterates his faith. In the free and unlimited coinage oft Bilver at the "sacred ratio" of 16 to 1 In other words. Bryan will not be at formidable candidate unless he allows! himself to be reconstructed and, Judg-J Ing from his recent utterances he ia not In a mood to change his mind onj policies which he once so heartily in dorsed. Bryan says he still believes In freaj silver and bimetallism. He may consid- er other questions more Important at the present time and, if nominated! may endeavor to relegate the moneyj question to the rear during the cam-' palgn, but. just as surely as Bryan la nominated and declares his belief in his old free silver views, Just so surely will: the money question be forced to the. front by the Republicans and be mada the paramount If not the sole issue of! the campaign. Just as it was In 1S9S., Bryan may believe he stands a better; chance of being elected as a tariff, re former than as a free silver advocate, but, unless he changes his attitude and so declares himself publicly, the peopla will be Justified in concluding that ha will use his endeavors. If elected, to se cure the enactment of a free silver law. That has always been his pet scheme the tariff has been of little interest ta him and it would take a good deal of; argument to convince the business In terests of the country that Bryan, -would let the silver question sleep. even If he should be elected as a tariff reformer. Silver Means Defeat In the East. In these days of prosperity it would b difficult, if not absolutely Impossible, foi Bryan to carry the manufacturing and commercial states of the Norths and East if he should publicly adhere to his old views on the currency question. New Tork, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Illinois and all the other big states have no use for a, debased currency. With the money ques tion entirely eliminated, Bryan might carry some of these big states, especially New England states. If he made his race on the tariff. But how would Bryan fara in the great West, where he was so strong in 1S96? That year he carried Washington, Idaho, Montana, Utah, Wy oming, Kansas, Nebra-xka, Nevada and South Dakota, and lr. 1900 he carried only Idaho, Colorado, Montana and Nevada. When Judge - Parker made the race ha did not get a single one of these states, . but on the contrary all rolled up hand some majorities for Roosevelt. Thesa states have 45 electoral votes and Bryan would need them to win. Of course ha could count on the "solid South," or most of it. but that is not sufficient. He needs the votes that he received In the West and a good many that he failed to (Concluded on Page 3.