Morning Oregonian., August 05, 1907, Page 4, Image 4

THE aiORXINU OKEGOXIAN, MOXDAY, AUGUST 5, 1907.
COUNCIL
CI
OT
DECIDE QUESTION
Chairman of Streets Commit
tee Discusses Steam
Heat Franchise.
UP TO EXECUTIVE BOARD
Railway, Light & Power Company,
However, Will Appeal to Law
making Body Manager Sykes
Explains It Attitude.
It remains for the City Council ta de
termine whether addltirnal time shall
be granted the Portian - .vay Light
& power Company to complete the in
stallation of Its steam heating plant,
work on whlc was begun in May.
Strictly interpreting the ordinance grant
ing the franchise, the -company was re
ciuiro.l to have Its service in operation
not later than June 21, last. Tho com
pany Insists, however, that It has acted
In good faith, having partly Installed the
system before the time named in tue or
dinance had expired. Having evidenced
its intention of operating under the
terms of tho franchise, the company de
mands that its rights shall be protected.
Inasmuch as Its failure to complete the
installation is directly traceable to fail
ure of the necessary materials to arrive
from the East.
linyor Lane Is firm in his position,
from which he will not recede, and pro
poses to carry his fight against the fran
cnise into the Council, winch has the
right to prolong the life 01 the grant.
The ofncers of the Portland Railway
Light & Power Company say they cannot
understand the Mayor's attitude toward
the franchise, which they consider ex
ceedingly fair to the city and making for
the public good.
The principal objection of Mayor Lane
is understood to be that the franchise
seems to grant the electric company ex
clusive use of certain streets, under
ground in the business district ot the
city. Officers of the company deny that
such is the case. They insist that the
franchise entitles them to tne use of the
streets only for the pipes that must be
laid. They say there Is nothing In the
ordinance granting the franchise that
takes out of the hands of the city au
thorities the use of these streets, either
on the surface or under ground, for oth
er purposes.
Vp to Executive Board.
"The question of whether or not the
franchise should be declared forfeited
is not a question for the street committee
of the Council to decide," said Council
man Vaughn, chairman of that commit
tee yesterday. "The franchise was grant
ed with a specific llm.tation made there
in. If the provisions of the ordinance
granting the franchise have not been
complied with, then It Is up to the Ex
ecutive Board to decide whether the
franchise is still valiu.
"But the Executive Board has passed
the matter up to the consideration of the
Council with the recommendation that
the franchise be annulled," was suggest
ed. "That makes no difference," retorted
the chairman of the street commltttee.
"Neither the street committee nor the
Council has anything to do with the
franchise In its present form. The only
way in which the Portland Railway
Light & Power Company can gain rec
ognition and consideration from the
Council on this subject is for it to appear
with a request that the time of the fran
chise be extended. I am not prepared to
say what the probable action of the
Council will be. If such a request is
made."
The disposition of the Mayor appears
to be to demand that the franchise,
which he says has lapsed, snould be for
feited and another francnlse granted
more specifically reserving to the city
the use and control of the streets which
the company proposes to use. Opposed
to this argument the officers of the com
pany take the position that the city's in
terests are properly protected under the
ordinance already passed, and for that
reason there can .exist no valid reason
that a reasonable extension of time
should not be grantc.
The company's application for the use
of streets included the following thor
oughfares: Alder street from Park street
to Fourth for supplying the Oregon
ion and the Marquam buildings; Fourth
street from Alder to Washington to
serve the Rothchild building: Park street
from Alder to a point between Stark and
Oak streets for the Bushong building and
on Washington street from Park street
to West Park street in orer to supply
the Columbia building.
The real opposition to the franchise
from the Executive Board originated
when F. G Sykes. general manager of
the power department of the Portland
Railway Light & Power Company frank
ly informed the members of that body
that In order to installthe proposed sys
tem it would be necessary to disturb the
hard surface pavement of the streets,
wnich the company was required to re
store to the same condition in which
they were found under the terms of the
franchise. It was not until then that
any question was raised as to the rights
of the company to complete the installa
tion of its system under its franchise.
"There are several reasons why it
would be impossible for .ue company to
Install its system by tunnelling, although
that plan will be adopted as far as prac
ticable," said Mr. Sykes yesterday. "The
pipes that will be used in connection
with our heating system are of wrought
Iron, very heavy, in 20-foot lengths, 10
inches In diameter. These pipes are to
be enclosed In tin-lined boxes. Each
section is to be securely screwed to the
adjoining section and this proceeding in
volves the operation ot a lever from the
surface of the street, necessarily at in
tervals of 20 feet, the length of the sec
tions of pipe.
Many Openings Necessary.
"Besides the laying of these pipes re
quires that an anchor special be installed
at distances of 100 feet. At every other
1C0 feet the system also requires a vari
ator by which the expansion and con
traction of the pipes is regulated. Then
there must be a manhole at each street
Intersection. It Is to be seen, therefore,
that in any event opentngs must be
maintained In the streets every 50 feet.
"The expert who has been sent to this
city by the factory manufacturing the
pipes say It is Impossible to lay the
pipes by tunnelling, as has been sug
gested. It has been his experience that
the street must be opened to perform the
work. But In any event the company
has given a bond, of $50,000 to insure com
pliance with the' terms of the franchise.
one of the conditions of which is that
all streets on which it operates shall be
restored to the same condition In which
they were found. This in itself should
be a sufficient guarantee to the city that
its streets will not be permanently dis
figured.
"We are -disappointed in the attitude
of the Executive BoardV on this subject
and have resolved to take the matter
Into the City Council. We have been act
lex In the best of faith, and all we ask
Is sufficient time to complete installing
the system, in which work we have been
delayed by conditions over which we had
no control. Our plant -as been partly
Installed and we are in a position with
the material now on hand speedily to
place It in operation, and to supply busi
ness houses with the service for which
they have already contracted with us."
TRAIN GOES OVER BRIDGE
Forty Passengers and Engineer
Brown Like Rats in Trap.
ANGERS, France. Aug. 4. Forty
passengers in a third-class railroad car
and the engineer of the train were
drowned this afternon in a railroad ac
cident three miles east of this town.
The locomotive of a crowded local train
Jumped the track when entering the
bridge over the River Loire at Les
Ponte. The stone railing gave way and
the engine plunged into the river 50
feet below, dragging down with it its
tender and the bagguge and third-class
cars. Fortunately no other cars went
Int-j the water us the coupling between
the second and third cars broke.
The conductor and firemen were the
only persons whose lives were saved.
They escaped by swimming.
The third-class car was well filled
with passengers, but, although part of
the roof was blown off by the confined
air as It sank, not a single persons
extricated himself and all w,ere
drowned like rats In a trap.
NEGROES ADOPT MOB PLAN
Surround Grocery ' Where Young
Girl Was Assaulted.
MUSKOGEE, I. T.. Aug. 4. Declar
ing that one of the white employes of
a grocery had assaulted Annie Allen,
a negro girl, an angry mob of 200
negroes blocked one of the streets here
today and hung about the United
States Marshal's office threatening
vengeance.
. A. L Pemberton, Carl Pemberton,
Joe Lasley, W. B. Newby, T. J. Bradley
and Walker Martin, members of the
firm and employes, are held In the
United States Jail while an investiga
tion is being made. ,
One of the employes of the com
pany tonight said that negroes were
hanging about his home and asked that
he be locked in jail for safety. There
is no evidence to indicate that the
crime was committed in the grocery
store., The girl, who Is 14 years old,
is in a serious condition.
PLANTS BRITISH COLORS
Isle Royale in Lake Superior Seized
in Name of King.
PORT ARTHUR, Ont. Aug. 4. Cap
tain S. C. Young returned tonight from
Isle Royale in Lake Superior, where he
was successful in planting the British
flag, meeting with no opposition from any
quarter. When asked tonight why he
had made his expedition, he said it was
for the purpose of opening correspond
ence between Ottawa and Washington,
which would show that great injustice
had been done Canada by the agreement
which gave Isle Royale to the United
States.
Captain Young claims that Isle Royale
rightfully belongs to Canada. The action
of Young was not known to the Canadian
government until today when it was offi
cially notified that the island had been
seized in the name of Great Britain.
THINKS IT NOT SERIOUS
State Department Not Alarmed Over
Reported Loss of an Island.
"WASHINGTON, Aug.- 4i No advices
have been received at the State Depart
ment concerning the reported expedition
of several Canadians, led by Captain S.
C. Young of the Ninety-Sixth regiment,
for the Isle Royale in Lake Superior
with the intention of hoisting the British
flag on that island and formally declar
ing the territory a part of Canada. Ac
cording to officials of the State Depart
ment there has. never been any question
between Canada and the United States
as to the United States' ownership of the
island. This ownership was settled by
the treatv of Ghent. At the State De
partment here there isno disposition to
regard the action ot (.-apiain xoung as
anything but a filibustering move.
CHEERS GREET HAYWOOD
Receives Huge Ovation Passing
Through Mining District.
T.EADVILLE. Colo., Aug. 4. W. D.
Haywood, secretary-treasurer of the
Western Federation of Miners, who was
recently acquitted at Boise, Idaho, of
murdering ex-Governor Steunenberg, of
that state, passed through Malta junc
tion en route from Salt Lake to Denver
at 2 o'clock this afternoon. A large rep
resentation of the local lodge or the Fed
eration were present to congratulate
their leader. He was showered with roses
and columbines ai he stpped to the plat
form during the short interval the train
remained at the junction and was cheered
to the echo as the train glided away
from the station on its way to Denver.
SHOT DOWN IN "STREET
Preacher Meets Death in Indiana
Town at Xlght.
MOUNT VERNON, 111., Aug. 4. James
L Williams, an itinerant preacher for
merly of Dalghren, Ind., was shot and
killed on" a dark side of the street here
late last night by an unidentified per
son. The motive for the crime is a
mystery. "Williams is reported to have
arrived here at about 8 o'clock, having
lng in his possesion between $200 and
1300. He was searching for the home
of Rev. Atchison, a brother of his first
Wile, when he met his death. The body
was found near the Atchison home. The
pockets of his clothing had not been
rifled.
LAND-FRAUD CASES CALLED
Arizona Millionaires Come Before
Federal Court in San Francisco.
SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 4. The trial
of the land-fraud cases of the Govern
ment against John A. Benson and Dr.
Edward Perrtne. reputed millionaire, of
Arizona, will begin tomorrow before
Judge DeHaven In the United States Dis
trict Court. The suits are similar to those
against Benson, Hyde and Dimond, now
pending in Washington, and the Gov
ernment will endeavor to prove the same
fraudulent methods of acquiring land.
Arrested for Misdeeds in Islands.
HONOLULU, Aug. 4. C. G. Smith, for
merly of Aurora. 111., was arrested here
today on the arrival of the United States
transport Thomas, on instructions from
Attorney-General Bonaparte. He is ac
cused of obtaining money under false
I pretenses in the Philippine.
SECRETARY WILSON
VISITS PORTLAND
Comes West to Obtain Infor
mation Concerning Forest
Reserves. ' v
HE FAVORS TREE PLANTING
Alarming Decrease in Standing Tim
ber Supply Noted by Government.
Nation's Biggest Farmer
Talks on Farming.
James Wilson. Secretary of the Depart
ment of Agriculture, the Nation's great
est farmer, and the only member of the
McKlnley Cabinet still In the President's
official family, arrived in Portland yes
terday for the purpose of studying Ore
gon conditions as they have to do with
r - " - - - " i l' ' - " l'
' ' t i:t ' - s
if
JAMES WILSON. SECRETARY OF AGRICTJIrTRE, WHO IS NOW IX
PORTLAND.
the work of his office. He is accom
panied by his son and private secretary,
Jasper Vllson.
Secretary Wilson came in unexpectedly
yesterday morning from Puget Sound.
He was given no formal reception upon
his arrival, for the reason that the local
commercial bodies had been unable to
reach him by wire and had no knowledge
of his whereabouts. About a week ago
President Hodson, of the Commercial
Club, attempted to get Into communica
tion with him, and it was planned to ten
der him a public reception. As the mat
ter now stands, the Secretary probably
will be Informally entertained by a com
mittee from the Commercial Club during
his stay in the city. He is a guest at the
Hotel Portland and spent yesterday in
his room resting.
"My particular mission to the Pacific
Coast," said he yesterday afternoon, "is
to visit the forest reserves and examine
them with a view of discovering the pos
sibility of reforesting where the trees
have been destroyed by fires. There are
large burned-over areas and we have
been planning for some time to inaugu
rate a system of tree-planting that will
recover them. I have visited some of the
State of Washington's reserves and hope
to go to a number in this state. As yet
I am nbt prepared to discuss the result
of my observations and will probably not
do so until my annual report is issued.
"How much of the increased cost of
living is attributable to the farmers of
this country, Mr. Secretary?" asked the
Interviewer.
"The high prices of food products are
to a considerable degree directly due to.
the increased cost of production by the
farmer. Manufacturing and business en
terprises are drawing people, particularly
the young men, away from the farms,
and it is difficult to secure labor to plant
and handle the crops. While the popula
tion of the country has increased won
derfully during the past ten years, the
percentage of increase in the agricultural
districts is comparatively small.
"Very little of the vast tide of immi
gration that rolls into this country every
year goes to the farms. The cities and
the mines get most of it. Consequently
the price of farm labor is much higher
than formerly. Naturally the farmer
must have more money for his products
to offset this. It is perfectly legitimate
that in such prosperous times as we have
had these last few years the farmer
should sell his goods on a prosperity mar
ket. Even as things are, the men who
raise our food do not get such prices as
they should, although" just at present the
prices are generally good.
"We need more farmers. I am contin
ually impressed with the idea that more
effort should be made to divert a large
percentage o our foreign Immigrants into
the newer agricultural states. You feel
this lack of help, most keenly here in the
Pacific Northwest, where it is almost Im
possible to get help to harvest your fruit
and grain crops.
"The cost of running a farm is much
greater in other respects than It once
was. The advance In land values and
the greater cqst ot farm machinery is a
big item to be considered. The farmer
nas mucn more money Invested than for.
merly, even though his acreage be no
greater, and he must get reasonable in
terest on this investment. The farmers
have come to rely largely on farm ma
chinery to do their work, and this makes
the farmer more independent.
"The farmer today rides on a spring
seat witn a canopy, when he works, and
in an automobile or surrey when he takes
his recreation. He can afford to hold his
wheat or corn for a good market and
naturally does so. So, when we are in
clined to complain at the high price -of
lood products, we must remember that
the revenue largely goes back to the
soil, where it naturally belongs. The fel
lows who sell goods to the farmer get
more Tor their wares than they did ten
years ago. Why shouldn't the fanner
get more from them? We are feeding
the Philippines, 'Cuba and Porto Rico,
where we were not a few years ago.
That has vastly Increased the demand
for farm products, and the farmer hasn't
caught up.
"We are up against a lumber famine in
this country, and about the only place
to get it is out here in Oregon and Wasn
ington, so it is imperative that we con
serve this supply. I shall spend two or
three weeks in this vicinity, looking over
the forest to determine what may be done
In the way of reforestation."
Secretary Wilson is the Nestor of the
Cabinet, both in point of age and length
of service. He came in with the first
McKinley Administration, having served
more than ten years. He is "0, but car
ries his years well and gives the impres
sion of being a man of great mental and
physical force. He hails from Iowa,
where they breed good farmers and
shrewd politicians. They say he is both.
In , appearance he suggests another fa
mous Iowa sian, the late Edwin H. Con
ger, ex-Minister, to Japan.
Mr. Wilson does not look much like hi3
pictures. The photographers have made
him look older, and one who has but a
newspaper-cut - acquaintance with him
will have to be introduced before he can
pick the Secretary out in a crowd. He
has been out here before, and says the
country looks good to him, speaking agri
culturally and politically. But he de
clines to diBcuss politics. -
CARRIERS IN CONVENTION
Men Who Deliver Iail Matter In
Oregon Confer at Albany.
ALBANY. Or., Aug.
Cecil C. Henderson, of
4. (Special.)
Eugene, was
raman nli rift arrtntfiiM
chosen president of the Oregon State Let'
ter Carriers' Association, which met in
fourth annual convention In this city last
night. Astoria was chosen as the meet
ing place of next year's convention. The
meeting last night was a successful one
from every standpoint.
Other officers of the. association were
chosen as follows for the ensuing year:
Vice-president, C. B. Baker, of Salem
secretary-treasurer, B. J. Burrows, of
Portland; executive board, C. B. Baker,
of Salem; Joseph E. Torbet. of Albany:
F. E. Taylor, of Eugene; delegate at
large to the convention of the National
Letter Carriers' Association, at Canton,
Ohio, T. V. Davis, of Portland; alternate
delegate, Fred V. Holm, of Portland.
When the convention was called to
order by President Leslie L Viereck, of
Albany, H. H. Hewitt, on behalf of the
Mayor of Albany, welcomed the visiting
delegates, and committees were named
as follows:
Credentials Fred P. Holm, of Port
land; J. E. Torbet. of Albany: Georee
JE. Hatch, of Salem.
Auditing F. B. Taylor, of Eugene
Irva Cady, of Albany; M. Massenger, of
Portland.
Laws C. B. Baker, of Salem: John
Jenama. of Portland; C. C. Henderson,
of Eugene.
All of the nine Oregon cities which
nave city delivery systems were repre
sented except The Dalles, thoueh three
others were present by proxy only. . The
carriers who attended .the convention
were.
Portland E. J. Burrows, Fred P.
Holm, M. Massenger, J. T Todd, A. J
Krauss, John Jensma, H. E. Coleman, W.
F. Daugherty. M. K. Watkins, R. L, Coi
ns, vv. H. Churchill and F. G. Driver.
Salem G. E. Hatch, 8. B. Howard and
C. B. Baker.
Eugene C. C. Henderson and P. E
Taylor.
Astoria Patrick Shea.
Albany Leslie L Viereck, Joseph E,
Torbet, Hiram Torbet and Irva Cady
Baker City was represented by Fred
f. tioim, ot Portland as a proxy. Penale
ton and Oregon City were also repre-
seniea Dy proxy, the former by E. J
Burrows, of Portland, and the latter bv
S. E. Howard, of Salem.
The retiring officers of the association,
who were in charge of last evening's
convention, were: President, Leslie L.
Viereck. of Albany; vice-president, Cecil
C. Henderson, of Eugene; secretary, E.
J. Burrows, of Portland; treasurer.
George E. Hatch, of Salem; executive
board. Patrick Shea, of Astoria: A. H.
Klink. of Portland, and C. B. Baker, of
Salem.
PERS0TJALMENTI0N.
Miles C. Moore, ex-Governor of Wash
ington, arrived from Walla Walla yester
day and Is registered at the Portland.
Mrs. Amanda Fendall, a pioneer of
1846, whose home Is in Seattle, Is visit
ing her nephew, E. F. Devaul, at his
home, SiS East Lincoln street.
Frank Blake, of Jefferson City. Mo., Is
in the city on a combined business and
pleasure trip. -Mr. Blake to Assistant
Attorney-General of Missouri and is
active in the politics of his state.
CHICAGO. Aug. 4. (Special.) Port
land people at Chicago hotels:
Great Northern Robert H. Rust
Palmer House Edward Schmidt.
NEW YORK,. Aug. 4. Northwestern
people registered at New York hotels:
From Portland A. C. Ruby, W. Nash,
at the Astor. v
From Seattle Miss StrlmeT at the Wol
cott; A. A. Cragin, Miss E. Cox. at the
Prince George: C. F. Lack, at the Grand
Union; S. W. Frlsbie, at the Albert; C. H.
Plummer. at the Union Square.
From Tacoma Mrs. K. Macke, Mrs. C.
Murphy, Mrs. F. Murphy, at the Prince
George. -
LOSE MONEY
L
Transcontinental Railroads Is
sue Statement Defending
Their Action.
RATES MUST GO HIGHER
Forty-Cent Schedule Made in 1893
When Cars Were Going East
Empty Is Not Profit
able Now.
ST. PAUL, Minn., Aug. 4. (Special.)
Traffic officials of the transcontinental
lines have issued a statement defending
their action in ordering an advance in
freisrht rates on lumber from the Coast
to Eastern terminals. The Befense is
that lumber Drtces. Drior to 1893. showed
little change and the tonnage handled by
tho railroads was of little importance, in
1893 the railroads, having an excess of
eastbound empty cars on account of the
steady increase in westbound merchan
dise shloments and construction material.
created by the wonderful growth of the
Pacific CoasVcountry, lowered the freight
rate to a 40-cent basis in an effort to
encourage the lumber industry and to
obtain loads for their returning' cars.
From that time until 1900, although the
tonnaue increased, the lumbermen se
cured only a moderate advance in prices
for their nroduct. but in recent years, it
must be admitted, conditions nave
chanced. Lumber prices have almost
doubled and apparently the only real dif
ficulty the lumbermen have had is to get
their products handled in the Eastern
markets. The demand for cars exceeded
the supply and the railroads were com
pelled to send empty cars across the con
tinent to supply the demand. It has
been stated by eminent railroad men that
an actual loss is sustained on every car
taken West empty and loaded back at
the 40-cent rate. -
In the face of these conditions, it is
claimed by the railroads that the con
tinuance of a rate which does not bear
its proper share of the transportation
cost is in itself indefensible, as it means
that other traffic is being saddled with a
burden not co-ordinate with the basis
factors which should determine proper
rates.
The old rates inaugurated to fit the
conditions in 1S94, the statement goes on
to say, are not co-ordinate with condi
tions as they exist today. It will be noted
that the proposed advance Is to a figure
less than the rate that was made to start
the movement which prevailed from 1S87
to 1S93.
If the advanced rates enable the rail
roads to care for the traffic without the
burden they have complained Of In the
past, the Increased freight rates might
be a factor in solving the permanent de
velopment of the great Pacific Coast lum
ber industry, because the lumber dealers
of the Pacific Coast can no more build
up a permanent business on the assump
tion that the railways .will haul their
lumber for less than cost than the rail
ways would expect the lumber dealers
to furnish lumber for transportation at
less than It cost to .produce the lumber.
UNITE FOIt FINISH FIGHT
Lumbermen Will Carry Grievance to
i Highest Tribunal.
Lumbermen of Portland and the Pacific
Northwest will carry their fight against
the proposed increase of transcontinental
rail rates to the Interstate Commerce
Commission, if the transportation compa
nies Insist on advancing rates. Leading
lumbermen of this city are unanimous in
their declaration that they will fight th
matter to the court of last resort, realiz
ing that upon their success depends th
future of the lumber Industry on the
Pacific Coast.
Yesterday's action looking to the levy
ing of an assessment on members of the
lumbermen's associations is but a pre
Hminary step in the fight. In this man
ner a fund will be raised large enough
to employ the best talent available to
wage the fight, and they start out in the
struggle confident of winning. All unite
in declaring that the proposed increase
in rates is an outrage and that it deserves
to fall and will fall if brought to a re
view on its merits before the Interstate
Commerce Commission.
Plans are immature as yet, but a meet
ing will be held tomorrow at which fur
ther action will be taken and a plan of
campaign outlined. Another meeting of
the lumbermen of Oregon, Puget Sound
and Southwestern Washington will be
held at Centralis, Wash., shortly, when
it is intended to agree upon a course
whereby the manufacturers of these three
great lumber centers can co-operate In
the fight.
Probably an effort will first be made to
Induce the railroads to recede from their
announced purpose of increasing the lum
ber tariffs, but if this fails, the fight
will be carried to the Interstate Com
merce Commission on the ground that to
advance the cost of transportation would
be- fatal, to the lumber Industry of the
Pacific Coast and that the present rates
realize adequate profits to the transcon
tinental lines.
"It is an outrage to put the rate up
higher than the Northern rate," said
Philip Buehner, president of the Oregon
& Washington Lumber Manufacturers'
Association, last night. "There Is no rea
son why we should not get the same
rate to Omaha that the Northern line
gives to St. Paul and Duluth. We will
fight to the last ditch and we must win.
The proposed advance is nothing more
than a rank measure of retaliation and
the light can have but one result. It
will be taken up with the Interstate
Commerce Commission and Into the
courts if necessary."
"We shall co-operate with the Puget
Sound and Southwestern lumbermen and
a meeting to that end will be held at
Centralla shortly."' said S. B. Cobb, a
Superior
in Strength
Dr. Price's Flavoring Extracts are su
perior in strength, freshness and fine
ness of flavor to any flavoring extracts
made in the world, and ladies of the
best taste, who are now using them,
find them just as represented. Persons
who desire a delicate and natural flavor
In their cakes, paddings, or any tablo
delicacy, will obtain it by using
FIaY0rin$ Vanma
. - - Lemon
Orange
Rose, ate,
UMBER
TRAFFIC
member of the special committee ap
pointed yesterday. "The life of the lum
ber Industry on this Coast depends upon
ur winning. If the railroads can in
crease the rate on lumber to S3 a thou
sand feet at this time, there is nothing
to keep them from raising it again and
gain- and to any figure. If the roada can
carry lumber now and pay dividends on
watered stock, they can afford to con
tinue to carry It at the present rate.
We shall submit the whole matter fb
the Interstate Commerce Commission, if
the railroads Insist on the advance, and
let the Commission determine tie justice
of the case."
W. C. Francis, of St. Johns, declared
that an appeal would be taken to the
Interstate Commerce Commission in any
event, because he did not apprehend that
the railroads would "take water." It
would probably be another Portland
gateway case, he said.
'Concentrate our forces, procure funds
to defend ourselves with and employ the
best legal talent and expert freight rate
talent to be had that Is the object of
the movement that was set on foot yes
terday," Baid W. B. Mackay, president
of the North Pacific Lumber Company.
Wre shall undertake to ascertain whao
the railroads' profits are at the present
rate and submit the facts to the Inter
state Commerce Commission. The lum
ber Industry is Jeopardized by this
threatened advance and we are deter
mined to fight against It to the end."
I am In favor of submitting the whole
matter to the Interstate. Commerce Com
mission and fighting the case to the
court of last resort," said Lloyd J. Went-
worth, vice-president and general man
ager of the Portland Lumber Company.
Kaiser as Preacher.
SWINEMUNDE, Prussia, Aug. 4.
Emperor William conducted divine
service on board the royal yacht
Hohenzollern this morning. Emperor
Nicholas was present. At noon Em
peror William and Prince von Buelow,
the Imperial Chancellor, and his suite.
attended a special service and had
luncheon aboard the Russian royal
yacht Standart, and during the after
noon witnessed races between launches
and cutters from the warships. The
two Emperors presented the prizes to
the victorious crews.
EEGOaS" property owners and merchants
should protect their Plate lilass m an
Oregon insurance company. This insti
tution is an Association of twenty-two
well-known Portland business men united
for conservative transactions in the in
surance of Plate Glass, Steam Boiler,
Liability and Accidents; also Indemnity Bonds. Its
rates are as advantageous and backing as sound as
any outside company. " Oregon-made money should
accrue to the benefit of Oregon.
UNION GUARANTEE ASSOCIATION
MARQUAM BUILDING, PORTLAND, OREGON
GOVERNMENT REPORT
INCREASED LUMBER PRICES
leaueo APu.mo7
iianrBrnfMPluimiac. FOREST SERVICE CICUl MOT
i I l l I -i i T ZS1 1 I
.9) 4 - . "
M 00 i ' ' '" 1 1 ' " J "" "
. ; it a it I
75 00 T
. .. - - a I jj
, frittM fioit g fAlifyir - JL , 1
Aon ,- : !
, )(s;i rrohPnWoS 'Pa Z , :
.oc : 4 f
l,OK, LjL J-tk&M&'-af&----:- -'-4
. r Wot' 1 phr . . i
j ran '7 rapOji v : , - "
" T,tt -mrarit . 7 l
ass iT" -"1
" 4. ecy-, raif '''oarrnq ' ...!
"0 -ggfytri, i fast '. .
O0 C-j " ' j
rmtfer S ioro r . . .1.
5 r ; raSS55 7 HIM
riut-rttaa
WASHINGTON FIR
TAKEN FROM
PREVAILING 'PRICE LISTS
OF
PACIFIC COAST LUMBER MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION
F.O-B. ATMILLINQPOINTS
W A UIMrtTOM A
DURING
JANUARY I9O4.I9O5.I906
A. Fir Car Siding andRo?fiha
. : -'lor e- -
B. flooring
r-a'ore-fo to 16'
C. .Fr Drop Siding ,
r.e'-d tois
D. fir Cor SiIs. Rough.
' 35 ' to 40
E- firRoifroad Ties.
The above diagram will probably interest many people who for the past two
years have heard of little else than exorbitant railroad freight rates. It is in
teresting In view of the present agitation regarding lumber rates from the
Pacific Coast as denoting'the relation the transportation charges bear to prices
obtained or paid for the lumber.
The conditions making high wages and high prices possible are the funda
mental causes for the general prosperity throughout the country, -and taking
these factors Into consideration, there seems to be no theory yet put forth why
transportation which is sold by the railroads should alone maintain the old
levels.
Lumber prices prior to 1893 show little change and the tonnage handled by
the railroads was of little Importance. In 1893 the railroads, having an excess
of eastbound empty cars on- account of the steady increase In westbound mer
chandise shipments and construction material created by the wonderful growth
of the Pacific Coast country, lowered the freight rate to a 40-cent basis in an
effort to encourage the lumber industry and to obtain loading for their return
ing cars.
From that time until 1900, although the tonnage increased, the lumbermen
secured only a moderate advance in prices, but in recent years, it must be ad
mitted, the conditions have materially changed. The prices ot lumber have
almost doubled and apparently the only real difficulty the lumbermen have had
was to get their product handled to Eastern markets. The demand for cars
exceeded the supply and the railroads were compelled to send empty cars
across the continent f6r this purpose. It has been stated by eminent railroad
men that an actual loss is suffered on every car taken West empty and loaded
back at the 40-cent rate. .
In the face of these conditions It is claimed by the railroads that the con
tinuance of a rate which does not. bear its proper share of the transportation
cost la in itself Indefensible, which means that other traffic Is being saddled
with a burden not co-ordinate with the basic factors which should determine
proper rates.
It must be admitted by all that the problem to care for and continue the
development of the lumber industry on the Pacific Coast In the face of the past
conditions Is a very serious one.
The above diagram would Indicate that the old rates Inaugurated to fit the
conditions In 1894 are not co-ordinate with the conditions as they exist today. .
It will be noted thaf the proposed advance Is to a figure less than the rate that
was made to start the movement which prevailed from 1S87 to 1893.
If the advanced rates enable the railroads to care for the traffic without
the burden they have complained of in the past, the Increased freight rates
might be a factor In solving the permanent development of the great Pacific
Coast lumber Industry, because the lumber dealers of the Pacific Coast- can no
more build up a permanent business on the assumption that tb railways will
haul their lumber for less than cost than the railways would expect the lumber
dealers to furnish lumber for transportation at less than it cost to product tn
lumber.
SEE THE
RED TAGS
San
Francisco's
Emergency
SEVEN CARLOADS OF
AMERICA'S CHOICEST
nos
TO BE SOLD AT ONCE, AT
57c ON THE DOLLAR
-jtaonrj of
piaTioraliatilitor
THE HOUSE OF HIGHEST
QUALITY,
353 WASHINGTON, CORNER
OF PARK.
LUMBER PRICES
j9o nos tto nor 1968
B-
H90?,
.J904J9CO0 007 t9Q9
I 1 J I
-i ' I 09
j Ujo
I I 11 I
I 1 Woo
-y 7 "?
71 nae
' A too
' 77 o oo
- $
Co
-f -3 M.00 S
s
O C -J- uoo
-y- 0
-f- too
o
'- too
I I 1 I I MM