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.