TUB MOKJVIJSG OKEGOXIAN. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 7, 1907.
lf
ARli
IN
LOOKS FOR COAL
Expert Is Investigating Every
Coal Prospect of Merit
In Oregon.
FUEL SUPPLIES SHORT
O. K. & N. Will Provide Transporta
tlon Facilities for Heppner Coal
Fields When Owners Agree to
Mine 2 50 Tons a Day.
Facing a serious shortage In coal sup
plies, the Harriman lines in this terri
tory are investigating every known coal
prospect of merit within the state. An
expert is now traveling over the entire
state and is testing the coal properties
of Oregon with a view to encouraging
their development. The Harriman lines
are vitally interested for they are hard
put to it to secure fuel supplies for the
Oregon and Washington lines, and will
themselves be the heaviest purchasers of
coal from the mines of the two states.
Julius Kruttschnltt, director of main
tenance and operation of the Southern
Pacific and Union Pacific systems, has
made the statement that it will be the
policy of the Harriman interests to en
courage In every possible way the de
velopment by private Interests of the
coal lands of the Western states reached
by the Harriman lines. Spurs will be
run any reasonable distance to coal
fields .in order to provide adequate fuel
supplies and avoid, if possible, any rep
etition of the suffering of last Winter
throughout the West because of insuf
ficient coal supplies.
The Union Pacific Itse.i will be forced
to secure coal from private mine owners.
The law passed by the last Congress
forces railroads out of the coal business.
Many thousands of acres of coal de
posits are said to have been deeded back
to the Government by the Harriman lines
to which It as alleged the road's title
was not clear.
"To show how eager we are to get
coal," said General Manager O'Brien
yesterday, "we have already contracted
for 30.000 tons of Australian coal deliv
ered in the river during the next few
months. The price of this will average
110 per ton.
"I have sent a man over the state to
Inspect the coal properties both of West
ern and Eastern Oregon. Coal suitable
for our uses will be prchased by the
Oregon lines wherever possible and the
railroads will aid the development of
coal lands as fully as possible."
When asked as to the probability of
aiding the Heppner coal fields by build
ing a line to the fields. Mr. O'Brien said
his company has already made a propo
sition to provide transportation for the
Heppner mines whenever the owners
would guarantee the production of 250
tons a day. He said he believed this
output is reasonable as coal mines of any
value can easily produce this tonnage
The trouble with much of the coal which
seeks railroad facilities, he said, is that
'while the coal is suitable for domestic
purposes, it is unsuited to making steam.
GREAT SCARCITY OF S LAB WOOD
Dealers Find It Profitable to Sell It
Fast as Cut.
That slabwood will be more scarce in
the city this Winter than it was last is
the opinion of the dealers in this com
modlty, for very little slabwood Is being
laid by to dry. The dealers state that it
pays them better to haul the-green slabs
direct from the mills to the homes of the
people, than to stack them to season
even at the advance in price for the dry
wood.
The slabwood is being sold as fast as
it is cut, with the exception perhaps of
that which is dumped Into gulches to fill
them up.
The coal situation, however, is better.
Large quantities are coming in from
Australia and Japan, and local mines are
getting out larger quantities than they
have for eight months or a year, accord
ing to the statements of local dealers.
"Sixty thousand tons of coal are headed
this way from Australia, said A. L.
Btephens yesterday. "Eighteen cargoes are
on the way, and one is unloading at the
dock. The coal is coming In now from
the State of Washington at the rats of
from S to .8 cars every day. Besides the
coal to be shipped to Portland before the
Winter season sets In quite an amount
will be sent to Eastern Oregon. Last
year only 20,000 tons of coal came into
Portland, bo that three times as much
should satisfy the demand.
"I do not think, however, that the price
of coal will be any less than t is now,
in fact I believe it will remain at about
the same figure all Winter. Tenlno coal
now sells for $7.50. Washington anthra-
.clte for 18 and Rock Springs for 410.
"There will not be very much dry slab-
-wood this Winter." said M. C. Banfield
I yesterday. "We are not laying by any to
1 season, but why should we when it pay
rjs better to sell It green? We are fur
; itlshing wood at the present time Just
! as fast as the mills turn it out, and are
buried with business. If we have a very
hard Winter there will probably be a
: shortage."
"Will this be as bad as it was last
Winter?" was asked.
"Large quantities of .coal are coming
Into town from various points. This will
have a tendency to relieve the shortage
of fuel. We will have some coal to sell
soon, but I cannot tell you what the
price Is, for we have not yet figured that
out.
"We are selling slabwood, green, sawed,
for J3 a load now. The dry wood is $4
a load. We are paylqg more at the mill
now for our wood than we did last
Winter. That is the reason the price is
higher."
Some fir and ash Is being brought in
by retail wood dealers of the city, and
the price remains practically the same
that it has all Summer.
VISITS PRESIDENT JOSSLYN
General Manager of D. & R. G.
Friend of Local Railway Man.
A. C. Ridgeway, general manager of the
Denver & Rio Grande Railroad, with
headquarters at Denver, Colo., after
spending a few days in Portland with his
wifs and two daughters, left yesterday
in his private car. Intending to return
East over the Canadian Pacific. Mr.
Ridgway is an old friend of and formerly
worked with President Josselyn, of the
Portland Railway, Light A Power Com
pany, on the Denver & Rio Grande, but
the two had not met for 15 years. They
had a pleasant reunion and visit in this
city.
Mr. Josselyn took General Manager
Ridgeway and party over the O. W. P.
lines in a special car yesterday. Mr.
Pidgeway declares that Oregon scenery
surpasses that of Colorado and he is
much impressed with the possibilities of
this section. -
DELAYED BY TL'XXEL WORK
Knappton Extension of Ilwaco Road
Is Xearing Completion.
General Manager O'Brien of the Harrt
man lines In the Pacific Northwest, says
the new Knappton extension of ' the
Ilwaco Railroad Company will be com
pleted within the next 60 days. With the
completion of this lire to Knappton. the
present time to the Washington beaches
will be cut down from two to three hours.
Five miles of track on the extension from
a point near Ilwaco to Knappton . has
been laid and about 80 per cent of the
grading is finished, says Mr. O'Brien.
A long tunnel of nearly 900 feet under
the headland upon which Fort Columbia
is stationed will delay the Completion of
the work more than any other feature of
the construction. About 250 feet at the
portals of the tunnels have been driven
so far.
Laying Xew Car Tracks.
During the remainder of the present
month, considerable new track will be laid
by the Portland Railway", Light & Power
Company on city streets. Work will be
stanted In a few days on Belmont street
from Twenty-eighth to Thirty-fourth
streets. Heavy rails will be laid and
belsian blocks rjut down between the rails
and for a distance on each side of the
tracks. This street is now being re-
paved. Union avenue between Burnside
street and Holladay avenue will be im
proved In the same manner. Track has
been laid and the laying of stone blocks
will be begun within a few days.
JUDGE LOWELL NOT IN RACE
PENDLETON" MAX PUTS ASIDJK.
SEXATORIAL ASPIRATIOXS.
Believes That With Many Candidates
In Field Senator Fnlton Would
Be Nominated.
Judge Stephen A. Lowell, of Pendleton,
in all probability will not enter the Sen
atorial race. Unless conditions change
materially and others withdraw who al
ready have or are about to enter. Judge
Lowell's name will not be on the ticket
when it is submitted to the voters at the
primaries next Spring. He has decided
that with so many . In the race against
Fulton, the party vote will be so badly
split that Fulton will leave the field be
hind and win.
Unless conditions materially change. I
shall not be a candidate," said he yes
terday." I may at some other time en
ter the contest for Senator, but as the
matter now stands, it will not be this
year."
Judge Lowell has had one experience in
contest with so many candidates that
the party vote was split. This was the
case in his race with Jonathan Bourne
Jr. Two Eastern Oregon men. Judge
Lowell and E. L. Smith, tried for the
Senatorial nomination, but Bourne pulled
away from the other candidates and can
tered home a winner. With the field cum
bered by too many candidates, It is Judge
Lowells opinion that Senator Fulton
backed by the prestige an officeholder
has, will win the nomination and . be
elected.
BULLETS FINISH LIAISON
Man Shoots
Mistress and Fatally
Wounds Himself.
LOS ANGELES. Aug. 6. Thomas H.
Chapman, aged 50 years, an expert ac
countant, late thi3 afternoon, shot and
mortally wounded the woman with
whom he had lived for 10 years, and
men turning the revolver upon him
self blew off the top of his head. Both
are conscious tonight at the hospital
where they were operated upon, but
neither can recover.
Chapman came from Detroit. Only
today it was made known that he was
not married to the woman. She was
Barbara Haywood, of Sacramento, Cal.,
but it Is stated that she has been mar
ried to Raymond Wise, also of Sacra
mento. According to the dying statement
made to officers. Chapman met the
woman at Battle Creek, Mich., where
she was training for a nurse.
JAMESTOWN BATES.
The Canadian Pacific is making very
low rates to Eastern points account
Jamestown Exposition. A choice of
routes Is offered, with stopovers going
and returning.
Jffirjsr yW.m yY - rV . - uy i
h?rml - '7r-1; -wee, li yu , tyly M-A$!fs; - vi -4r4"' J
CUTS SHOOT HIS
STAY IN OREGON
Secretary Wilson Postpones
Visit to Forest Reserves
of This State.
ALARM FOR HIS HEALTH
Hardships Endured in Mountains of
Washington Result in Threatened
Attack of Pneumonia Which
Hastens His Departure.
BY ARTHUR GREENE.
The greatest glory that befell James
Wilson, Secretary of Agriculture, dur
ing his brief stay in Portland was an
automobile ride. In the course of which
he beheld the things whereof we boast.
The Secretary, by rights and a strict
adherence to the advice of his physi
cians, is in no condition for jaunts of
any kind. He came near an attack of
pneumonia during his brief visit to the
Rose City, and It was only because
of lndomnltable will power that he did
not spend yesterday in his bed at the
Hotel Portland. But he pulled himself
together and refused to be listed among
the sick or ailing. He bravely de
parted for San Francisco last night, in
company with his son and secretary.
Jasper Wilson, having' decided to In
definitely postpone his tour of inspec
tlon of the Oregon forest reserves.
Vigorous at 72.
Secretary Wilson originally intended
to go to the Cascade forest reserve, and
perhaps others In Oregon, but he con
tracted a severe cold in the mountains
of Western Washington, and deemed
the rough trips to the woods so hazard
ous that he canceled his engagements.
At 72 years af age, the Secretary is
still a very active and vigorous man
but even the best of them at that age
must conserve their energies, and so
he passed Oregon by with only a pause
for rest
While here, he talked entertainingly
of the work he has been doing as head
of one of the most important depart
ments of the Government. He has been
the guide, philosopher and friend of
the American farmer for ten years,
Whatever results have been achieved
during the past ten years in the way
of teaching the agriculturists how to
make the most of their opportunities
have been almost entirely due to him.
And these results have been such that
wherever he goes he is hailed as the
exponent of scientific' farming in this
big land of ours, where the farmer is
after all boss of the job.
Aided Rice Culture.
He told some very interesting facts,
among them, for instance, that since
the Department of Agriculture induced
the planters along the coast of the
Gulf of Mexico to go Into the business
of raising rice, the United States has
come to produce a large part of the
rice of the world. He told me that this
country exports to the Orient and the
islands of the sea, the very regions
where rice Is supposed to thrive, much
of the supply of that cereal which is
consumed by the gentle but unwelcome
coolie.
"Do you know,"" said he. "that with the
improved machinery used in the planting,
cultivation and harvesting of rice on the
Gulf Coast one American produces as
much rice as 400 Chinese coolies? That
seems preposterous and I hesitate to say
It for fear I shall be accused of being
a wild r'omancer. It is the truth how
ever as we have shown conclusively by
the reports of our agents who have inves
tigated the matter. We have nothing to
fear from the Yellow Peril, so far as
agriculture Is concerned. The Japanese
and Chinese are making some headway
in copying our methods of farming but
they in no wise approach us and wilf
never do so. Our applied brains as util
ized in the growing of crops put us be
yond the fear of successful competition
from the Orientals."
The Secretary's hobby, if he can be
charged with having one, is sugar beets.
or beet sugar, as you may choose. He
is the daddy of the sugar-beet industry
in America or at least the stepfather for
when he came Into his present position
ten years ago the entire United State3
produced but 36,000 tons of beet sugar an-
nually. Last year we placed on the mar-
ket of the world 580,000 tons which by
SECRETARY WILSON
IlKAK SKAT. JAMES WILSON, SECRETARY AGRICflTl RE ; MIDDLE SEAT. GEORGE H. WILLIAMS, OF PORTLAND . AND MILKS C. MOORE.
v FRONT BEAT, J. THORBIR5 ROSS, OF PORTLAND.
way of increase is in the language of our
leading educators, "going some."
Another achievement of the Secretary s
was the introduction into this country of
macaroni wheat to which he has been de
voted most faithfully for nearly a dec
ade. This is a Russian product and It
came to be imported because James Wil
son took notice of the high and dry
prairies of the plains states and sought a
grain that would grow without reference
to Oregon mist or the activities of the
rain-makers. ' He sent a man to Europe
to find a wheat that would mature per
fectly with ten Inches of rainfall. Ten
Inches is about one-fifth of the moisture
that falls at the corner of Third and
Morrison In the course of a year. A"
wheat that makes good in ten inches of
wet must have its nerve and that's what
Mr. Secretary Wilson wanted. This Rus
sian article filled the bHl exactly and
now as a conseauence the macaroni
wheat is the principal crop of many sec
tions of the buffalo-grass districts.
mere are so manv thintrs for which the
farmers Tise up and call Secretary Wil
son blessed that It would require a strong
man a aay to enumerate them all.- The
paramount one is that the iowa statesman
and he is a statesman has not Diayed
politics in his Department, but has
worked with an eye single to the glory
ana prosperity of them that till the soil,
VISITS THE OLD WORLD
Father Ii. P. Desmarais Tells
of
- Trip to Far East.
Father L. P. Desmarais, formerly of
St. Patrick's Catholic Church of Port
land, is making a tour of the United
States during his Summer vacation.
and was In this city yesterday. On
his -way to this Coast Father Des
marais visited Yellowstone National
Paks, which he says has the grandest
scenery in the world. The scenery of
the entire West, he asserts, is so far
above that of Europe that it is not to
be compared with It, although this fact
Is not generally known in the Eastern
states, with the result that many tour
ists go to Switzerland before they have
seen their own country.
Father Desmarais recently returned
from a trip to- Europe, during which
he visited Rome. He had a personal
conference with His Holiness, Pope
Plus X. receiving from him a letter,
the contents of which Father Des
marais will not divulge.
"In Europe you will hardly ever see
a drunkard on the streets," said the
priest yesterday. "In fact. In all the
time that 1 was on the continent I did
not see a man who appeared to be
under the influence of liquor. The
reason for this is not that the Euro
pean cities do not have their saloons.
It is merely that they not carry the
treating system to excess as they do
in this country. A man there will go
into a saloon, take a drink and go on
his way, while in American when
man wants a drink he doesn't like to
take it alone and asks a friend or
friends to take one with him. When
several havo treated the man perhaps
has had eight or nine drinks, and very
likely is drunk. Another thing- In fa
vor of saloons on the continent is that
no gambling Is carried on in connec
tion with them.
"I visited all of Lower Flgypt and
every city of importance in Palestine
from Jerusalem to Damascus. In the
house 1n Damascus where St. Paul was
baptized and consecrated Bishop I said
mass.
"Damascus has a population of
350,000, including 60,000 Jews. Of all
the cities in the Orient, Damascus Is
the most typical. It is the same today
as it was in the time of Abraham. The
freight of the country is still carried
on the backs of camels, as it was 2000
years ago, and a caravan of 100 or more
of these animals can be seen at almost
any time leaving the city for Mesopo
tamia. All the manufacturing of the
city is done by hand, in little shops or
bazars along the streets.
"I spent four days In Cairo. Although
it has a population of 1.500,000, and is
the liveliest city in the world, not ex
cepting London or Paris, I considered
it the most orderly city in the Orient.
It is under an English protectorate,
and there are three systems of police
the Syrian, the Mohammedans and the
mounted English.
"At Baalbac, in Palestine, I found
the most perfectly preserved and inter
eetlng ruins I saw In the whole coun
try. Here is to be found the great
temple of ftie sun, built by the Phoeni
cians, about 2000 B. C, There are no
stones In the great pyramids of Cheops
in Egypt, or in the great amphitheater
at Rome, which will compare with the
great granite blocks of the Temple of
the Sun. Many of the blocks are 59
feet long, 12 feet high, and 12 feet
thick. At the quarry, 2hi miles from
the scene of the ruins, I measured one
huge stone block that is 60 feet long,
12 feet high and 12 feet thick, and
which had been blocked out but left
j unfinished,
i "I expect to go from Portland to San
Francisco, Salt Lake City, Colorado
Springs and Denver; then East."
AND OTHERS TAKE AUTO
VALUATIONS
SHOW
LARGE I
County Assessor's Books In
dex to Portland's Growth
and Prosperity. '
TOTAL OVER $214,450,000
Increase Over Last Year About $20,.
000,000 In City Limits Alone.
Progress of the Past
Three Tears.
Diirinr the Dast three years the aggre
gate value of tollable property In Mult
nomah County has nearly quadrupled, in
1904 the assessment roll contained prop
erty valued at $56,427,577. The following
year property was assessed at its true
market value, the total assessment being
J143.S63.0S8. On the same basis of assess
ment the roll for the year 19s was in
creased to J181,000,000, of which $166,550,000
represented the assessed value of all
property in this city. For the year 1907
the assessment of Portland city property
alone, by reason of the substantial in
crease In market values, win reacn
000.000, though the valuation of country
property will not vary much from that or
a year ago, $14,450,000. These figures are
taken from the records in Assessor Sig-
Ier's office and constitute a reliable In
dex to Portland's growth and prosperity.
In listing property this year Assessor
Sigler has followed the same plan he
adopted in 1905 and 1906, appraising the,
property at its true market value. The
advance In market values has not been
as great in the past year as for the two
previous years, yet the increase will add
about $20.00,000 to the roll. The greatest
increase has been in the warehouse dis
tricts. The assessment of downtown
business blocks has also been increased
In proportion to their advance in value.
The following table shows the extent
to which the land values of several prom
inent business blocks have increased dur
ing past few years:
190T " 1906. 1905.
Marquam block... $675,000 I6S5.000 $420,000
Pennover block .... 875.000 299.000 192.500
Ptttoek block 400.000 330.000 225.000
Meier & Frank 470,000 4.10,000 280,000
Chamber of Com... 300,000 250,000 187,000
Woodward & Clark 270.000 240.000 165.000
OWs, Wortman &
King building ... 280,000 260,000 165,000
Quarter block S. E.
corner Sixth find
Washington 2S0.00O 255,000 155,000
Alisky building 3OO.00O 270,OiiO 160,000
Oregonlan building. 210.000 185,000 125.000
Wells-Fargo 155.000 130.000 87.500
The assessment on the Marquam Build
ing Is $10,000 less this year than for 1906.
This reduction Is considered by Assessor
Sigler to equalise former assessments on the
property, -which has been listed at a higher
valuation proportionately than other prop
erty In the same district.
The Improvements on these properties
have been assessed for 1907 as follows:
Marquam, $234,000: Meier & Frank, $90,000;
Chamber of Commerce $350,000; Wood-
ard & Clark, $52,000; Olds, Wortman &
King. $40,000; quarter block Sixth and
Washington. $23,500; Alisky building, $27,-
000: Oregonlan building, $280,000; Wells
Fargo building. $190,000. The assessment
was made March 1, last, and accounts for
the low figure at which the Wells-Fargo
Dulldmg Is rated. At that time the struc
ture was not completed.
For 1907 other buildings are assessed as
follows: Dekum, $300,000; improvements.
$145,000; Swetland building. $165,000 and
$30,000, incomplete when assessment was
made; Buchanan building, $110,000 and
$24,000, Incomplete when assessment was
made; Imperial hotel. $210,000 and $77,000:
Columbia building, $70,000 and $75.00; Elks
building, $115,000 and $60,000; Oregon hotel.
no,uw ana bo,wo.
THREE-CORNERED TANGLE j
Deserting Chinese Sailors Involve
America, Germany and China.
SAN FRANCISCO. Aug.' 6. The case of
the 24 Chinese members of the crew of
the German tramp steamer Tolosan, who
deserted from that vessel last Friday and
have since been in charge of the Federal
authorities, has involved this Government.
Germany and China in a tangle that will
have to be unraveled by the representa
tives of the three nations in Washington,
to whom the matter has been referred.
When the' Chinese were taken before
United States Commissioner Heacock yes
RIDE IN PORTLAND
NCfffi
SEE THE
SEE OUR WINDOWS
A SAN FRANCISCO EMERGENCY
An opportunity
for judicious
piano buying
that cannot be
duplicated in
America today
Seven carloads of
choicest, new instru
ments now being
sold here at 57
cents on the dollar
Unprecedented Figures. Makes That Every
one Knows. A Definite and Binding Guarantee.
The Time Is Short. Be Quick. ,
diapensa-re of
piemoreliabilitx
The House of Highest Quality.
353 WASHINGTON
Corner of Park.
terday on a charge of being illegally in
this country, Owyang King, assistant
Chinese Consul, said that the men were
willing to be deported and would waive
their right of appeal if they were re
turned to China on some vessel other
than the Tolosan, on which they had been
treated cruelly. The German Consul asked
that the prisoners be delivered to him to
be placed In the custody of the captain
of the Tolosan, in accordance with im
migration law and treaties. This request
Commissioner Heacock denied and or
dered the prisoners deported.
The Chinese Consulate has wired to
Washington to prevent the men being
taken back on the Tolosan. The German
Consul has also wired an appeal from
OB WALLA WALLA;
RED TAGS
Judge Heacock's order of deportation, and
United States Marshal Elliot has asked
Washington for definite Instruction. Tha
prisoners will be kept in the Alameda
county Jail until word from Washington
shall have been received.
FREIGHT RATE QUESTION
HEARING BEFORE COMMISSION
WILL BE AT RITZVILLE.
Work Has Been Carried on for Yeas'
to Secure Data tor This Meet
Ing in October.
OLYMPIA, Wash., Aug. 6. (Special.)
Befoe the end of October the State
Railroad Commission will begin the
hearing upon the question of tha re
duction of freight rates in the State
of Washington, the most important step
yet taken by the Commtesion. The
work of ascertaining the cost of con
struction and reproduction of all rail
roads in the state, which has been
under way for a year past under the
direction of H. P. Gillette and his corps
of assistants, has been the basis of
the contemplated hearing on rates. Tha
attention of the Commission will doubt
less first be centered on wheat ship
ments, although the foundation is laid
to attack rates on any or all commodi
ties. The October hearing is looked upon
by the Commission as one of vital In
terest to both the shippers and the
railroads. It will probably last from
30 to 60 days. It is planned to select
Rltzvllle as the place for holding the
hearing. The original complaint
against wheat rates came from that
shipping point. The complaint came in
the form of a monster petition, headed
with the name of William Cunningham,
Sr., and was received by the Commis
sion about two years ago. An investi
gation and study of the question fol
lowing the receipt of this complaint Is
said to have been largely responsible
for the determination to go into the
question of rates on the present basis.
The three members of the Washing
ton Commission contemplate attending
the National Convention of Railway
Commissioners, which meets in Wash
ington, D. C, October 5. and on their
return expect to find their plans com
pletely matured for the Rltzvllle hear
ing. River Pirates at Astoria.
ASTORIA. Aug. - 6. (Special.) River
pirates are again plying their vocation
along the Astoria waterfront. Last night
a fishing boat and net belonging to Phil
McDonough, of Bear Cliff, and operated
by J. Jarvey, were stolen from the slip at
Fisher's wharf, and no trace of the
thieves has been found. The boat and
net were valued at about 650.
KISER FOR SOUVENIR PHOTOS.
Northwest Scenery Imperial Hotel.