10
THE MORNING OREGONIANV SATURDAY, AUGUST 17, 1907.
WILL TEST WATER
, RATES IN COURT
Ex-Councilman Masters Says
Present System Permits
Discrimination.
QUESTIONS ITS LEGALITY
Intends to Enjoin Board With a
View of Showing Injustice of
Meter and Flat-Rate Plan
of Charging.
On the ground that water rates In
Portland are discriminative. W. Y. Mas
ters, ex-Councllman, will today file in the
Circuit Court a suit against the Water
Board. By petitioning- for an Injunction
to restrain the Water Board from shut
ting off the water at his residence. ST.".
East Madison street, Mr. Masters will
open up the question of the legality of
the present water rates, which may re
sult In Important changes In the manner
of charging.
Two objections will be urged by Mr.
Masters. He will allege that the system
discriminates between patrons In that
some are charged a flat rate while others
pay on a meter basis. . As to the latter,
Mr. Masters holds that the charges are
riot fair because those who have meters
must pay the flat rate even If they use
only a few gallons of water a month,
whereas, they have to pay more than the
flat rate whatever consumption exceeds
the amount of water due under the flat
rate on a meter basis. Supporting his
contention Mr. Masters said last night:
"I am required by the Water Board
to pay a flat monthly rate of $1.75 for
my house and J2 for sprinkling privileges.
My pipes are equipped with a meter, how
ever, and whenever I use more water
tnan would be sold for $3.75 under the
meter rate, I must pay an excess. My
position is that If I am requlrea to pay
this excess I should also be given the
benefit of a deduction when, under the
meter rate, my consumption does not
reach $3.75.
Charges Are the Same.
"During the month of June only a small
quantity of water was used at my resi
dence, but I was charged $3.75 Just the
same. It would not have reached this
amount if the meter rate had been used
as the basis of my bill, jast month I
used more than the amount of water al
lowed me, on the flat rate, and received
a bill for $4.75. 'I refused to pay the
excess and received notice that my water
will 'be turned off next Monday. My ac
tion in court tomorrow will seek to re
strain the Water Board from this action.
"About 20 per cent of the present water
users are paying on a meter basis, as I
am required to do. The remaining SO
per cent have no meters and are charged
simply the flat rate no matter how much
they use. This is certainly discrimina
tion against those who have meters.
Every consumer should be placed on a
meter basis or none should."
Complaints similar to that of Mr.
Masters have, been made In the past,
hut this will bo the first time that th
matter has been taken into the courts.
Jf he should win his suit the evident
result would be that the Water Board
would have to provide every consumer
In Portland with a meter or take out
the meters now in use. The suit is,
therefore, of threat importance to
every citizen of the city.
Xot Forced to Use Meters.
The use of meters is not voluntary
on the part of consumers but the
gauge is placed where the board be
lieves there is most likely to be waste.
A regular charge is made for each
faucet, whether there is a meter or
not and the meter rate of 12 cents
per 100 cubic feet Is applied to all
excess. The provision of the regula
tions which governs this follows:
"The minimum charge for water fur
nished by meter to any place shall be
the schedule rate at which it is listed."
Members of the Water Board declare
that the meters are used only where it
is necessary to check waste and they
have no funds available to equip the
remainder of the residences and oiher
buildings. If the suit of Mr. Masters
should bt won they say that it would
he a serious matter, as certain classes
of consumers would be sure to waste
much water if they did not have to pay
for the excess.
"I am not ready to discuss the legal
phases of the matter," said Dr. C. H.
Kaffety, 'but the board is certainly
acting for the best interests of the
city in placing the meters where it is
possible. We have put meters in lodging-houses,
livery stables and other
places where there is most likely to
be waste. We also install meters
wherever we have reason to believe
that private citizens are careless in
the use of water."
GRASS FIRE ON EAST SIDE
Area Five Blocks Long Burns, Giv
ing Firemen Hard Fight.
A grass fire that threatened to work
great damage along the waterfront on
the East Side, occurred late yesterday
afternoon and a large number of firemen
were required to fight the flames for 45
minutes. No property was destroyed, but
this was e-nly because of the effective
work of the firemen,
A large area, covered with tall grass,
was burning, making an extremely hard
blaze to handle from the firemen's stand
point, and It required much apparatus and
a lot of hard work to keep the flames
confined to the grass. A strip five blocks
long, between the railroad and the hill
and from Montgomery Gulch to Weidler
street, was burned over. A house came
rear being destroyed when the roof caught
fire, but the blaze was quickly ex
tinguished. Sparks from a locomotive
started the fire.
WORTHLESS BILLS PASSED
"William Johnson Arrested on Sus
picion, and May Be Prosecuted.
William Johnson was arrested- late yes
terday afternoon by Patrol Sergeant Goltz
on suspicion of passing worthless $5 and
$10 bills on the defunct Merchants' &
Planters' Bank. He was booked at police
headquarters on a charge of drunken
ness, but if there is an ordinance or any
law that can be called into requisition to
punish a person for passing these value
less bits of paper, it will be Invoked in
this case and the prisoner will be
prosecuted on another count.
Sergeant Goltz arrested Johnson after
an Investigation that revealed his con
nection with the passing of one $5 and one
$10 bill at the Acme Reception and Sur
prise saloons. In the North End district.
The $5 bill was held as evidence against
the accused. The police have had a great
deal of trouble with these bills for a long
time, and they are inclined to the belief
that Johnson may have passed others.
LOGUS BUILDING IS SOLD
East Side Quarter Block Transferred
" for $75,000.
A local syndicate composed of J. D.
Hart. J. H. Gibson, Carlos A. Mann, E.
W. Ring and Lewis Montgomery; has
purchased the Logus building at the
northwest corner of Grand avenue and
East Washington street. The price
given was $75,000. This is a three
story brick building covering a quarter
block. It was purchased three years
ago by J. M. Healy for $40,000. .
D. McKlnnon has sold a residence
property on Tillamook street. near
East Fifteenth, to Mr. Carpenter for
$4500. The house is leased and was
bought as an Investment. W. T. Moore
has sold to E. ' B. Hyatt a lot at East
Thirty-third and East Market streets
for $900. The purchaser will erect a
residence. Both of these sales - were
made by Hartman & Thompson.
At the Theaters
Wfcat th pr Agents Sax.
'ARE YOU A MASON?" MATIXEE
Stockwell-MacGregor Company Will
Repeat Tlieir Success Today.
This afternoon will be afforded the pub
lic a splendid opportunity to see the famous
Stockwell-MaeCJregor Company In theli
splendid performance of that hilarious farce
comedy, "Are You a Mason?" which has
been creating something of a sensation dur
ing the week at the Marquam. It fs one
of the funniest plays ever seen on a Port
land stage and everybody who see It goes
away with a feeling that he has laughed
himself into a good humor for the rest of
the week. Now. if you want to enjoy a"
rattling good time and feel on friendly
terms with yourself for the balance of the
Summer, you should see "Are You a Ma
son?" before the engagement closes Sunday
night.
xTIie Scout's Revenge."
At the Star Theater this week "The
Scout's Revenge" is being offered. It is a
four-act drama with the scenes laid in the
West. There are scores of plays treating of
the Western country at present, but "The
Scout's Revenue" Is considered the best ex
ample and reflection of life in that section.
The stork company has never appeared to
better advantage than in the current attrac
tion, and Stage Director Det'amp has given
the drama several especially notable set
tings. There will be a matinee this after
noon and a matinee tomorrow. The last
performance Is Sunday night. Seats can be
reserved by telephone.
"The Two Orphans" Matinee.
This afternoon and tonight the Alien
Stock Company will repeat its former suc
cesses In the greatest melodrama of the
age. "The Two Orphans" Is surely entitled
to this distinction, having been a popular
favorite all over the world for a number
of years. It has neyer been seen to better
advantage in Portland than by the Allen
Stock Company this week. Verna Felton
In the role of Louise, the blind girl. Is
making one of her biggest hits and is re
ceiving ovations at every performance.
There will be matinees this afternoon and
tomorrow afternoon, with performances to
night and tomorrow night.
'THE SECOND IX COMMAND"
Next Marquam Attraction Will Be
J English Military Drama.
The next offering which tjie Stockwell
McGrcgor Company will makf will be that
beautiful English comedy-drama, "The
Second in Command." It is not, as might
be supposed, a war play, but the gentle,
beautiful story of a love affair in an Eng
lish garrison town. Few prettier plays
have ever been written, and as presented
next week, commencing Monday night, it
will be delicious.
Alice Mortlock Coming.
One of the biggest successes ever madfl
in the vaudeville business was had by Miss
Alice Mortlock, who comes to Portland for
the first time as the headline act at the
Grand next week. She Is supported by
Walter Harmon, in a charming domestic!
difficulty entitled. "How the Fixs Fixed It."
Besides the above, the Famous Fremont
Zouaves, a company of 17 young men. giv
ing some marvelous exhibitions of military
tactics, will be the added feature. This la
probably the biggest act ever offered the
public of Portland. Don't miss this show,
for it will be well worth seeing.
"The Girl From Albany."
Commencing Monday night, the Allen
Stock Company will present for the first
time on the Pacific Coast the latest feast
em farce-comedy success, entitled "The
Girl From Albany." It is a play that con
tains nothing but laughs and will keep an
audience in an uproar of laughter all the
time. It suits the Eastern critics thor
oughly and should be greatly liked here.
Tickets are now on sale for the first per
formance Monday night. It Is an ideal bill,
which, is to follow "The Two Orphans,"
which will be presented until Monday.
"The Tie That Binds."
Beginning Monday night, the stock com
pany at the Star Theater will present the
latest Hal Reld drama, "The Tie That
Binda." This will be Its first appearance in
stock and at bargain prices. Mr. Reid has
written a core of dramas, but "The Tie
That Binds" bids fare to outlive all the
others. There will be the customary mati
nees. Seats can be ordered now by tele
phone. AT THE VAUDEVILLE THEATERS
Sunday Vaudeville at the Grand.
At the Hrarid tomorrow the final perform
ances of tae present all-feature programme
will be given. There will be the usual Sun
day performances. Patrons of the house;
who watch the bills from week to week, de
clare this to be one of the red-letter en
tertainments in the career of the theater.
Marten and Rollison are European artists,
who were secured as soon as they arrived
in this country from England by the book
ing agents of Sullivan & Considlne. Mr.
and Mrs. John T. powers, the special added
attraction, present "The Players." one ol
the best-known sketches in America.
Big Acts at Pantages.
Today and tomorrow are the last chances
you have to see the best show ever seen in
this city. Pantages offers three big feature
acts, a number of other good acts, and a
cool place to enjoy them In. If you have
not seen this theater's offering, come before
it Is too late.
Kills Wildcat.
NEWPORT. Or., Aug. 16. (Special.)
With the skin of a big wildcat, which
he killed in the Coast Range while en
route to Yaquina. H. F. Mcllwain, a
well-known Albany man, ' reached
Newport today. His dog treed the ani
mal on Pioneer Mountain, east of To
ledo, and Mcllwain shot it in the head.
He then kept the dog away from it as
it fell and thus has a splendid skin for
mounting. This is the first wildcat
killed in that vicinity 1 several years.
Enters Plea of Not Guilty.
William J. Bulzer, arraigned on Wednes
day on the charge of tampering with the
mails and who was given until Friday to
enter his plea, yesterday pleaded not
guilty and will be tried at the October
term of the United States Court.
Potter Schedule for Beach.
The steamer Potter will sail from
Portland. Ash-street dock, Saturday, 1
P. M. Get tickets and make reserva
tions at city ticket office. Third and
Washington streets. C. W. Stinger,
city ticket agent. . . "
PORTLAND
;OKI)ON Bl'ILDIXG,
THEATER MAY BE CLOSED
FRED FRITZ IS ORDERED TO
MAKE MAXY CHANGES.
North End Playhouse Fails in Many
Particulars to Comply With
Fire Law.
In its . crusade against unsafe public
buildings, the Executive Board yesterday
ordered that Fred Fritz must close his
North End theater and cafe unless the
requirements "of the ordinance regulating
playhouses are complied with within 14
days. A report was submitted to the
board by Chief Campbell to the effect
that Fritz' Theater, which is on Burnside
street, between Second and Third, lacks
much of coming up to the law. The ar
rangement of seats, it was reported, is
r.ot right, the aisles are too narrow, there
are no exit lights, standpipes or auto
matic sprinklers and the wiring is not
safe. If these defects are not remedied
within- two weeks the resort will bo
closed.
Complaints regarding the condition of
the building occupied by the Crane Bot
tling Works, , at the northwest corner, of
Fourteenth ano Couch streets, were
turned over to Chief Campbell, Building
Inspector Spencer and Fire Marshal
Roberts. It Is a frame building with a
tower that Is said to be leaning at a
dangerous angle, and the structure may
be condemned. There is a Swedish church
on the lot adjoining, the congregation of
which has complained of the building as
a menace to their safety. Several months
ago the Building Inspector had the build
ing braced, but It may now be necessary
to have It torn down.
D. L. Williams appeared before tho
board to ask that only one fire escape be
required on the Beck Building, now under
construction at Seventh and Oak streets.
The Fire Chief and Marshal and Build
ing Inspector had recommended that two
fire escapes be required, but this Mr.
Williams contends is not necessary. He
asserts that the building is to be entirely
fireproof, like the Wells-Fargo 12-story
building, on which only one fire escape
was Installed. The Beck building is six
stories high. The controversy was re
ferred to the fire committee.
The board authorized the police com
Corner in the Public Library
Of Interest to Boys and Girls
BY LILIAN" TINGLE.
IN the small west room at the end of
the main circulation department of
the Public Library there is a fascinat
ing collection of books of special inter
est to young people, although enjoyed by
older folks as well. When a boy or girl
Is first transferred from the ch.jdren's
room to the main library, the first Im
pression of the wealth of books and
diverse treatment of subjects is apt to
be rather overwhelming. But here is a
corner where one may feel at home at
once, and where one may be sure of
flndiitg books neither too dry nor too
complex.
There are tales of adventure, college
stories, readable history, biographies of
interesting people, books on how to do
things, books dealing with such prac
tical matters as electricity and boat
building, and very attractive illustrated
editions of some of the best standard
novels, novels that one ought to read "in
the golden days" so as "to make acquain
tance with characters who will prove
life-long friends and supply pleasant
memories, against the coming busy age
when one has "so little time for gen
eral reading."
Miss Derickson, head of the circulation
department, always tries to meet the
boys and girls who come in for the first
time. She helps them to use the cata
logue and to find the books they par
ticularly want, and is always ready with
suggestions and tactful advice. During
the past six months 6he has 'taken a
special interest In this Intermediate de
partment, and finds it much appreciated.
It is interesting to note the thorough
ness with which some of these younger
readers pursue a subject which interests
them. The classification number on any
book gives a clew to the place of simi
lar books in the larger collection, and
these are usually explored later. Books
of travel and adventure are always in
demand, not only 'by boys, but by girls,
too.- Indeed, it is a matter t of general
and personal observation that -the most
womanly women are those who in girl
hood loved tins sort of reading rather
than milk and water "books for girls"
and films romances.
A list of the most popular adventure
books may be of interest to parents and
INVESTMENT OF EUGENE
7
UNDER CONSTRUCTION AT PARK AND
mittee to revise and reprint the manual
now used by the police department.
The following bids on street improve
ments were received:
Kehalem avenue Miller & Bauer,
J2539.30: Scott & Brown, $2049.H.
Spokane avenue Keenan Brothers,
$2055.47.
East Thirteenth street Bechill Broth
ers. $3059.14.
Bancroft avenue O'Neill & Co., $22,
272.45. GIRL DRINKS FATAL POTION
Takes Her Life Because Mental De
rangement Prevents Marriage.
Miss Pitra Louritz, 20 years of age,
drank a large quantity of strychnine
sulphate from a coffee cup at 6:30 o'clock
yesterday morning at the home of her
friend. Mrs. C. Elle, 772 Grand avenue,
and- died In the latter's presence before
medical aid could be secured. respondency
over a mental derangement that she
realized would preclude her marriage to
Hans Broten, a workman in the Enter
prise Lumber Yards, brought on the
suicide.
Miss Louritz had been engaged to marry
Broten for several months, but recently
became afflicted mentally, and In spite
of special treatment at two sanatorlums,
she grew worse and the realization that
she could not wed seemed to drive her
wild. She had been acting strangely for
a number of weeks. She lived at the Elle
home since returning from treatments at
Mount Tabor recently, and at times
seemed In good spirits.
Before swallowing the fatal potion, the
young woman wrote the following letter
to Hans Broten: "Good-bye, Hans, and
don't blame me for doing this. You've
been good to me for a long time,. Hans,
and I love you with all the love a womr
an can gve, but you are better off with
out me. .Please don't grieve over me,
dear."
Miss Louritz is survived by two brothers
and one sister, the latter and one of the
brothers living In Portland. Coroner
Finley took charge of the body.
Sea Lion Caught in Net.
EDMONDS. Wash., Aug. 16. A monster
sea lion weighing about 1400 pounds was
killed in a fish trap at North Edmonds af
ter a desperate struggle lasting three
hours yesterday. The loud barking of the
deep-sea monster in its struggle to un
tangle Itself from the meshes of the sal
mon trap attracted the fishermen from
their cabins on the beach.
to owners of nephews and nieces with
ever-recurring birthdays. This suggestive
list Is arranged alphaoetically. not in any
special order of merit: Le Blond, Mrs.
E. A. F., "True Tales of Mountain Ad
venture." Gives many experiences of
Swiss mountain climbing. Brooks, Noah,
"Story of Marco Polo." Brooks, Noah,
"First Across the Continent." Bullen,
F. T., "Cruise of the Cachelot." An
English sailor's cruise in a New Bedford
whaler.
Burnaby, F. G.. "A Ride to Khiva:
Travels and Adventures in Central Asia."
A capital account before the construc
tion of" the Trans-Caspian railway.
Dana, R. H., "Two Years Before the
Mast." The best book of its kind ever
written. Describes two years spent as
a common sailor In the American mer
chant service. De Chaillu, Paul, "In
African Forest and Jungle." Adventures
of a European naturalist in the darker
parts of the dark continent.
Lummls. Charles. "Some Strange Cor
ners of Our Country; the Wonderland of
the Southwest." Contains descriptions of
the American Sahara and the great can
yon of the Colorado, besides vivid char
acterization of the Indian.
Martin, Mrs. Annie, "Home Life on an
Ostrich Farm." Description of a South
African home by- a writer of keen ob
serving powers and great love of nature.
Nansen, Tridtjof, "Farthest North."
Outram, James, "In the Heart of the
Rockies." The writer made many of the
first ascents of some of the 'highest
peaks.
Parkman, Francis, "The Oregon Trail."
Describing his actual wanderings in 1848
with a company of Sioux Indians across
the regions of the Platte River, buffalo
hunting In the Black. Hills, and return
through the Rocky Mountains.
Stockton. F. R., "Buccaneers and Pi
rates of Our Coast." Sketches portray
ing redoubtable heroes, chiefly . of the
West Indies and the Spanish Main.
Thompson, A. R., "Gold Seeking on the
Dalton Trail." Two boys' Summer in Alas
ka. Full of genuine: adventure. Informa
tion and interest. Steedman, C. J., "Buck
ing the Sage-brush." Whitney, Caspar,
"On 6nowshoes to the Barren Grounds."
Twenty-eight hundred miles after musk
oxen and wood bison.
White, S. E., "The Forest."
CAPITALIST.
YAMHILL STREETS.
STREET-GLEANER DROPPED
GUS HCBER DISCHARGED FOR
INSUBORDINATION.
lie Files Complaint That Member of
Executive Board Interfered
With Work.
A complaint that W. G. McPherson,
a member qf the Executive Board, had
Interfered with him while he was at
work cleaning streets, was filed with
the Executive Board yesterday by Gus
Huber, an employe of the street-cleaning
department. Together with this
complaint was submitted a report from
Superintendent Donaldson notifying
the board that he had suspended Huber
for unsatisfactory services and asking
that his discharge be made permanent.
Huber allleges that while he was at
work on the street McPherson, whom
he did not know at the time, ordered
him to do the work differently than
he had been Instructed to do it by
Foreman Jenkins and that when he did
not obey, McPherson took his sweeper
away from him. He also declares that
McPherson tried to strike him but was
prevented by a patrolman. . Huber de
clares that McPherson discharged him.
The following day, Huber says, he
was suspended by Donaldson, who
would give no reason for his action.
He says that he did not believe that
he should take orders from any one
except his foreman and asks the board
to look into the matter, as he is a
poor man with a family to support and
needs the employment.
Superintendent Donaldson declares
he has had trouble with Huber re
peatedly and - found it necessary to
shift him from one position to an
other and in none did he give satisr
faction. He had been known repeat
edly to loaf while on duty and on one
occasion, at least, had Impudently re
plied to the foreman when he was
found resting on the Plaza during: a
shower. Once when asked by a citi
zen why he did not go to work Huber
had replied and acted in a way not
becoming a city employe.
Donaldson reported that he had laid
off Huber for 15 days. For the good
at the service he asked that Huber
be permanently dismissed. The mat
ter -will be taken up by the street
cleaning committee at a meeting Mon
day afternoon at 3 o'clock.
MUST REVISE SCHEDULE
Railway Commission Acts on Gro
cery Rates of Coos Bay Road.
In a decision rendered yesterday the
Oregon Railroad Commission has in
structed the Coos Bay, Roseburg & East
ern railroad to revise Its schedule of tar
iffs as to groceries. The complaint on
which the decision was made had been
preferred by the Davis-Schultz Company,
a wholesale house at North Bend. This
firm charged that the railroad company
had practiced gross discrimination
against it and in favor of San Francisco
and Portland shippers.
it was found by the Commission that
the through rates from Portland or San
Francisco to Coquille and Myrtle- Point
were compelled by water competition and
for that reason it dismissed the complaint
as to the charge of discrimination. This
left the question as to the reasonable
ness of the tariffs, and in Investigating
this phase of the case, the Commission
found that the railroad had not been
applying class rates, but on the contrary,
had used only a commodity tariff on all
groceries which were placed under one
classification. Taking the present rates
as a basis for first-class charges, the
Commission will require the defendant
company to adjust their rates to conform
to what is known as the "Western class
ification," fixing the relationship between
the classes the same as on the Oregon
Railroad & Navigation and the Northern
Pacific systems in their distance tariffs
and the same as fixed by the Washington
Commission.
Shasta Express Late, as Usual.
Not to deviate from the path of ir
regularity in which It has been traveling
for several weeks, the north-bound
Shasta express, due in Portland at 7:30
o'clock last night, did not arrive until
about 11 P. M. The train Is reported to
have been delayed in California and was
unable to make up the time on the Ore
gon division. s
SUPERIOR TO LEMONADE.
Horsford's Acid Phosphate.
A teasrtoonful added to a glass of cold -water.
with sugar, makes a dellcloua summer tonic j
GAS REPORT IS A
CHINESE PUZZLE
Quarterly Statement of Local
Company Is Full of
Confusion.
EVASIVE AND DECEPTIVE
Careful Study of It L,ead9 to the
Conclusion It Was Prepared for
the Sole Purpose of Thwart- i
lng the Law's Demands
The quarterly report of the Portland
Gas Company, published in The Oregonian
yesterday, was a very good example of
figures that tell little or nothing. From
a perusal of this statement, which was
submitted to the city under a provision of
the charter, skilled accountants yester
day found it absolutely Impossible to as
certain what the earnings of the company
were a fact that is of first importance
in considering the affairs of a public-service
corporation.
At first glance the report of the gas
company might appear to be a complete
statement, but the more it is studied the
more confused one becomes. There is
every indication that the statement was
compiled with the direct object of telling
the public Just as little as possible about
the affairs of this company, which Is op
erating under a franchise from the city.
As an instance of this, the following table
of receipts of the company during the
quarter Is of Interest:
Gas bills $ BT.021.M
Arrears KI.TS2 SO
Consumers deposits 1.271.l.
Stock products 3!.'l 72
Rents of property 2lfi.ri
Bills receivable 34.hiO.OO
Bills payable 173.414.47
Hnrsea and wagons 22.VO0
Real estate 17.VOO
Other items 7T2.H1
Total , $31S,31T.OO
In this table Is an Item of bills re
ceivable for $34,800, which doubtless
stands for money due on loans and
notes. That there should also be in
cluded In the receipts an item of "bills
payable" is a fact not easily under
stood. This item of J173.414.47 is en
tirely unintelligible so far as could be
found from anyone who tried to inter
pret the report yesterday. It may stand
for one thing or It may for another,
but whatever It is It only serves to
confuse.
It will be noticed that gas bills lor
three mont.is are given as amounting
to $57,021.81. That this is the total in
come of the company from this source
will be hard to believe, in view of the
great number of consumers that the
company is known to serve. That In
some way a large portion of the re
ceipts from the sale of gas is covered
up In the mysterious "bills payable"
Item might be the correct explanation.
Another thing noticeable about the
report is that the receipts and dis
busements exactly balance, although
cash on hand is not given. That the
balance should be exact without the
cash on hand being included indicates
either that there was exactly the same
amount of cash on hand at the begin
ning of the three months as at the end
or that there was no cash on hand
either time. Either explanation seems
unreasonable and leads to the belief
that the company has simply given the
city a very pretty report that bal
ances nicely but shows nothing at all
that the people care about knowing.
In not showing its earnings for the
time the report covers the gas com
pany has not violated the charter pro
vision, and the fact that a snowing of
earnings Is not required appears to be
an important shortcoming of the char
ter and may have, been carefully
planned by those who prepared that
document. The charter provision on
the subject is that the holders of fran
chisor must "make stated quarterly re
ports in writing to the Auditor, which
shall contain an accurate statement in
summarized form, as well as In detail,
of all receipts from all sources and all
expenditures for all purposes, together
with a full statement of all assets and
debts, as well as such other Information
as to the costs and profits of said serv
ice as the Auditor may require."
A Paean to the Farmers.
Weston (Umatilla) Leader.
This year's crop but emphasizes the
truth that the farmer is the best goods
on the shelf. He may depend upon a
rusty shingle nail and one frazzled sus
pender to prevent dlsassociation from his
blue denim overalls; he may resemble the
prize-winner at a Hard Times party, but
he is all the bologna when it comes to
reckoning his bank account In four or
more figures. And all of us are glad that
this Is so. We admire the farmer and re-
F AIRY IE W
FRUIT FARMS
Sale on August 24
Opportunity Knocks at Your Door Today
. No development work is necessary. The rich soil of FAIRVIEW
FRUIT FARMS awaits your crops. All improvements already made.
Deep, rich soil and an abundance of water.
YOUR FIRST CROPS WILL PAY FOR THE LAND.
Located at the gateway to Portland, whose markets will take all
your products at good prices.
NO TRACTS SOLD UNTIL DAY OF SALE ON THE GROUND.
Should more than one party desire the same tract, they may bid
for choice.
TRACTS NOS. 1, 2, 3, 14, 15 and 16 ;$250 per acre
TRACTS NOS. 4, 5, 6, 11, 12 and 13 300 per acre
TRACTS NOS. 9 and 10 $350 per acre
TRACTS NOS. 7 and 8 $400 per acre
Five per cent (5 per cent) reduction for cash.
THIS CHOICE ACREAGE TO BE SOLD IN TRACTS TO SUIT
BUYERS ONE, TWO, FIVE OR TEN-ACRES JUST AS YOU
WANT IT ON EASY TERMS.
LET US KNOW TODAY if you will attend sale. Telephone Main
4526 OR CALL.
SPECIAL EXCURSION TRAIN will leave First and Alder
streets on SATURDAY, AUGUST 24, AT 1:45 P. M. for Fairview.
Fare, 40c for round trip. Tickets for the excursion can be purchased
of and information, prices, etc., concerning Fairview Fruit Farms
obtained from
W. P. Keady or W. E. Burke
ROOM 15, MALLORY BLDG., 268 STARK ST. PHONE MAIN 4526.
-DRESSER'S-
SPECIALS
FOR TODAY
At the cleanest, lightest and
most sanitary store in Ore
gon the food-store that oper
ates its own meat market,
bakery and candy factory.
Among other specials today are
choice
LEGS OF LAMB f C
at per lb IOC
DRESSER'S LAYER CAKES,
regularly 25c, for r)
per lb 4Ut
DRESSER'S ASSORTED
POUND CAKES, reg- Ofir"
ularly 40c per lb OUL
DRESSER'S
THE PURE FOOD EMPORIUM
Fifth and Stark
Sennlfte, Genrhnrt, I- Fifteenth
and Broadway.
I
Jolce in his prosperity. He not only de
serves it. but his farm is the fountain
from which a stream of dollars pours
through his pockets into the community's
coffers. He is not a trust, nor an octopus,
nor a plutocrat. His money comes from
the soil, and is tainted by no suspicion
of dishonesty or oppression. Nobody suf
fers because he is prosperous. His posi
tion Is an enviable one; yet It is not In
envy but rather in admiration that we
say he alone is independent. The work
lngman must depend upon his good right
arm, the salaried man upon the favor of
his bops, the merchant upon the favor of
his patrons. But the farmer looks upon
his broad acres and knows that they will
never fail him, and his heart swells with
honest pride. Many a business man who
is considered well-to-do Is constantly bat
tling against the waves of the financial
sea; but the farmer's sky is serene, his
good ship riding safely In the harbor.
IN MEMORIAM.
At a special meeting of the directors
and officers of the American Mining
Syndicate, held at the offices of said
corporation. It was resolved that suit
able resolutions expressive of the high
regard of the American Mining Syndi
cate for its late secretary and treas-,
urer, R. V. Pratt, be drafted and
spread on the minutes of this cor
poration, and a copy thereof be pre
sented to the daughter, Mrs. Mason,
of Seattle, Wash., it was further re
solved that Judge J. J. Hirshhelmer,
the attorney for the corporation, be
requested to draft the resolution:.
"Whereas, by the inscrutable decree of
Providence, to which bow In humility,
there has been removed from our midst our
late friend and co-laborer, our secretary
and treasurer. Whilst In the official dis
charge of his duties, suddenly and without
premonition, our friend was struck and
summoned from the sphere of his terres
tlal duties to the life eternal; a sleep fell
upon him which gave him rest from his
labors from a life of righteousness and
from duties faithfully performed. We deep
ly deplore his loss and mourn his sudden de
mise. The place left vacant must neces
sarily be filled, yet we feel that personally
it will be difficult to fill the void made by
our late friend and co-laborer; in him the
elements were harmoniously blended of
great ability, diligent in his employment of
great Industry, loyalty to his task and
friends; with charity for all. with malice
for none, he measured up to the full stand
ard of manhood In whom God must have
been pleased and whom he recalled in tho
full flower of all his faculties and mental
vigor. Loved by all and generally regretted,
all that Is left of him to us is the fragrance,
of a memory which will survive him. May
he rest In peace.
Resolved. That a copv of this resolution be
giver for publication In the columns of the
ciy press.
Portland, Or., August 15, 1907.
Repairing Public Library.
ABERDEEN. Wash.. Aug. 16. (Special.)
The public library has been closed for
several weeks for the repair and reclassi
fication of the books. The board of trus
tees has purchased 300 volumes of special
literature for the reference library, which
will be a boon to the students In the High
School and others who have found the
library rather bare of this class of read
ing in the past.