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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 23, 1907)
THE MORNING OREGONIAN, MONDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1907. 13 7 I - DEMAND KEEPS UP ; FOR OFFICE ROOM Buildings Nearing Completion Have Space Already Reserved. DWELLINGS MOST NEEDED Many Big Structures Are Being Com pleted and Suburban Building Goes On Equal to, if Not Ex ceeding, the Past Months. Probably the most important phase of the real estate situation in Portland is that of property for rent. The cry Is heard on every side that every newcomer that wants a house to live in or a store in which to do business or an office, en counters delay and difficulty In finding what Is required. The following statement, prepared by Donald Q. Woodward, who Is in a posi tion to feel the public pulse on the sub ject of rentals, will be read with In terest by all who are Interested in that subject: Every passing day brings more forcibly before us the acute necessity of enlarging the capacity of our city to meet the Increasing- requirements In" the way of dwell ings and business locations, for which there la a pressing demand, and at this time, 1 may aay. there la not a vacant store to be had in the retail dlatrlct. Not only are we besieged by our own clti aens. seeking better and more commodloua s quarters, but newcomera as welt must be taken care of. Of the latter, and we note there are many of them, we find they are well posted as to conditions that prevail here, and In the launching of their enter prises among us are prepared to execute long-time leases at remunerative rentals, and If required will furnish ample security for the fulfillment of the same. The new office buildings that ore soon to be completed and made ready for occupancy are almost entirely rented, without Injuring the business of the older buildings, and ap plications for office space by an excellent clasa of tenants does not seem to diminish. I therefore cannot foresee any reduction In office rentals for some time to come. It ia hoped that more nrst-olass, modern, fire proof buildings will be undertaken early In the Spring, for we shall need them. Among my own clients. I may add. are several who Intend to erect bulldlnge at an early date that will be a credit to the city. One ot these buliaings that I am confident will be put up in the Spring la to be located In the hean of the business district, and it la to be designed expressly for occupants en gaged In the manufacture of various articles ueed In the retail trade of the city. It Is amply demonstrated that Portland is greatly In need of Just such a building. In the matter of dwellings, we are away beblnd the demand. The recent "unpleas antness" baa had no appreciable effect on the number of newcomers seeking homes among us, and I have found that a large percentage of these arrivals are men of means who prefer to purchase rather than rent. I maintain, therefore, that move ments in real estate will shortly be very active. The extensive packing plant of Swift &. Company, now under course of construc tion on the Peninsula, is to- be a much greater enterprise than many realize. It is stated on authority that when the various Industries are in running order no less than 3000 people will be employed, for besides the stockyards and packing plant proper, there are to be factories for the manufacture of various articles from the by-products, as for instance, buttons, a tannery, horn goods, hair scouring and baling, possibly glue, and besides articles used In the plant, such as cans and boxes. Work is progressing on deepening the slough, and lumber ia on the ground for making stockades,! ii-ncea, etc. It Is within the possibilities that a building will be provided for the- State Historical Society at public expense. The society has an accumulation of valuable documents and relics for the safe-keeping of -which no suitable place Is avail able at present. At a recent meeting of the society, held in the Council Cham ber, the importance of the work of George H. Hlmes and his assistants was brought out and a proposal made that the city should erect a fireproof building In one of the parks where the records and documents could be stored and where they could be open to Inspection. Excavation will begin- about the mld mle of next month for the Fenton build ing, adjoining the Beck, at the corner of Seventh and Oak streets. F. S. Pierce has purchased the frame building now occupying the site and Intends to remove it and utilize the material in the con struction of four cottages. Glass & Prud homme have made a lease of the Fenton building for a term of years, and it is expected to have the building ready for their use In June. Estimates on the new building place the cost at $40,000. While plans for the clubhouse and gen eral scheme of the Country Club has been approved by the association, work of constructing the buildings will not be started until some time in the early Spring. Men are now clearing away underbrush from tho tract and rrnriino- has begun on the track, which i ex pected to be ready for holding meetings next year. Several buildings of good size are be ing put up on Front street in the vicinitv of the terminal of the Salem electric road at Jefferson street. Farther north the character of the street is changing in appearance. Toward Morrison street the former rookeries are fast disaDDear- ng, ana at Harrison street Mathiesen's otei is beginning to assume good shape. ie owner or mis notei expects to occupy s. building about the first of March. .vera! changes in warehouses along ront street have become necessary on ccount of the increasing business of .ie street. During last week Chloneck's ish house took out a permit to enlarge ie premises occupied for several years, ther changes are made along the street, hich Indicate that when the electric ne Is put In operation the street will resent quite a good appearance. Trustees of Whitman College have set out raising 600,000 for the erection of new buildings for use of the institution at Walla Walla. Spokane Presbyterians have adopted plans for a new church edifice that is to cost JS0.000. Bids will be asked for in a short time. A new JS0.000 hotel is also to be erected in that city. Work on the nurses' home addition to St. Vincent's Hospital will be started as soon as the hillside grading and exca vating is done. The new building, which will contain about 40 rooms and an audi torium, , will cost $20,000. The building at Third and Hoyt streets, which was badly damaged by fire during construction and is to be occupied by the Hazelwood Company, is being put into shape and the contractors expect to have the building ready for occupancy by the middle of January. STRANGE ACCIDENT FATAL Italian Falls Into Posthole and Dies of Suffocation. Gospiro Spalno. an Italian, 54 years of age met death in a peculiar accident at the corner of Hood and Arthur streets early yesterday morning. He stumbled and fell headforemost into a newly ex cavated telephone posthole and suffo- rnted bpfAr Ha was faA.,AMj t-i- - NEW- LOCATIONS 'ME LOOKED FOR Downtown Business Property for Investment Hard to Find. . TRANSFERS ABOUT NORMAL Number of Transactions in Suburban Homes During Past Week Ex ceeds Those of Same Per iod Last Year. posthole is near the tracks of the i During the week past a large number Oregon Electric Railway Company line of transfers were entered on record and mt, in ' C vj-fi.i . ihiii,s...imi.A i"i i.'i fTW. ... Yitrrl- flirt,: l ' (8 ITS - m.J ft I I - IR&iy tea ts tw-rv ,f ZHtr rt i i T.r &: ! jss mmmmmmmm 1 r"nu IMP H NORTONIA HOTEL, AT ELEVENTH AND STARK STREETS, NOW PRACTICALLY COMPLETED. and Spaino is said to' ' have been employed In the construction work on the new" road. Coroner Finlcy was called and removed fhe body from the excavation. It was found that Spatno'g money and valuables were not missing, which dispelled the rumor of murder and robbery which Joined circulation after the finding of the body. Spalno left his family several months ago and had been living with some other Italian workmen, whose residence could not be learned last night. He leaves two grown sons, a daughter and his wife living- in the city. He is believed to have left some money. He was a member of the Italian Benevolent Society. CHAMPION CAKE-WALKERS Christmas Eve ball and prize cal.e walkers, Tuesday night, Merrill's hall. Ladles free. Finely fitted bags. Harris Trunk Co. the total footed to nVicmt- th normal for the season of the year. Many of the iransiers were lor lots In the outskirts of the city where people of moderate means are rapidly acquiring sites for homes. A few important deals in the business or downtown sections were filed also, but on account of owners of these parcels snowing no great inclination to let CO their hnlriincra rlaalpro flH Iffl- culty in finding sellers for customers who have standing orders to buy inside prop erty. As a result, lots on streets leading imn me mmaie or the so-called busi ness center, not heretofore considered as in the market for business purposes, are now being Inquired for by investors. Portland buyer's, as well as those from oiner points, are making Investments in the Hondi TtivAl- pnnntrv onA l -J4nt - - u.iu , ui aujuiii- ing- sections of that favored locality of "o uiuuima vaney. Apple culture, moreover, is becoming a leading Industry in iuuj umer parts oi uregon, and un less some imtnwnrri rtirtiimcon,... . .. takes the state, another year or two will NEXT YEAR MAIDENS MAY WITH PROPRIETY PROPOSE MARRIAGE Leap Year, the Result of an Attempt to Correct Calendar, Is Foundation for Quaint Custom. BEWARE, all ye bachelors, for 1DC8 win be Leap Tear. Just why it should be called "Leap Tear" no man or book seems to know. It Is Just called that; and that Is all there is to It. So fancy they see a reason for the term In the fact that the "year" sort of "leaps over" a day, because there are S66 days in a leap year. But this is flat against the fact that the year not only does not leap over a day as would be the case if leap year had only 364 days but actually has an extra day. The cold fact of the matter Is that no adequate reason la known for. the name "leap year." Of course, what leap year is in reck oning years is too commonly known to mention. The calendar, as used by civ ilized people, Is a badly patched-up af fair. To keep It anywhere near the ac tions of the sun and stars and moon, the parts of the great timekeeper of nature, man had to invent about as poor and awkward a system as could be devised. The year that Is. from season to season has been divided into 13 months, rough ly corresponding to the changes of the moon. And each month has been given from 28 to 31 days for no logical reason whatever. In early Roman times there were only ten months, and this Is why our twelfth month is called "December," or "tenth month." But Julius Caesar had to keep his name before the public to come for untold centuries, so he added an extra month and modestly called It "July." Of course It Would not do to let this month be behind In any way, so he gave It 31 days. Then along came Au gustus Caesar, and not to be outdone by Julius, he also had to have a whole month to himself, hence we have "Au gust." This mixed up the calendar very nicely. Still the sun and stars paid lit tle attention to It, and things began to go wrong. The moon simply would show up full when the calendar said she should keep out of sight entirely. Although the orb has generally been credited, as being of i the feminine persuasion. It Is hinted in certain wise quarters that this habit, is responsible for the feeling that there Is a man in the moon. Tne Pope took a hand in the game against time. He added one day to every fourth year, and things) ran fairly well for a while, but the calendar soon began to work overtime. Then, to cool it down a bit, it was decided that every year that ended in double naught 'W should not De a jeap. year. And so the matter stands with the seasons slowly but surely put ting Christmas In hot weather and frost ing the glorious Forth. One nation has not yet accepted all this, and today Rus sia is about 14 days behind the rest of the world In reckoning time, as well as in some other things. Odd as it may seem, the best system of computing, time, was devised by the Az tecs, Their calendar stone has never been even approached by the mathematicians of any other race. They had certain months and -weeks in each month, much on the order of our present system, but at the end of each year there was a cer tain length of time that did not count. In- other words, it was regarded as one day, whether it happened to be more or less than the ordinary days of the year. And, like in Portland during times that do not count, this was regarded as a holiday. But the most Important thing connected with the extra long year is, as every body knows, connected with the privilege of the fair sex to put their own private brand on any masculine human they may take a fancy to. Just where or how this valuable idea arose is unknown. It is said that certain countries Scotland, for example at one time had laws to this effect. Also it is said that certain meas ures were taken in France in the dark ages to make this into a law. But his tory Is dumb on such a painful sifbject. Feminine proposals are nothing new in Leap Year or otherwise. It is said on good authority that Eve set the example when he batted Adam with an apple or lemon, as certain excellent authori ties claim of late. As no man ever told the truth about how he proposed, and still less about how much the demure damsels helped him to do It, all this must remain in obscurity. Every man some time In his life has had a coy proposal. In this every year seems to partake a trifle of Leap Year. If all the inside facts were known the number of proposals by either side would perhaps about balance each other. Usually It Is a mutual affair.' a sort of I'll-come-half-way-lf-you-will and sud denly it is all over. Just how it was done no one seems ever to remember. One thing is sure, however: Right after New Year a good many bachelors will have to take to the woods, not to escape propos als, but to saw wood, because they haven't any other Sob. C. T. The Electrical "Work in all its branches in . the new Uortonia Hotel, '.. Eleventh and Stark Streets, is being completed by the Pacifc Electric Engineering Co. Consulting and Erecting Engineers. 213 Second St., Near Salmon. W. P. FULLER & CO. LARGEST DEALERS ON PACIFC COAST IN , Plate and Window Glass THE NEW NORTONIA HOTEL Will Have VAN EMON ELEVATOR EQUIPMENT "Not in the Elevator Trust." San Francisco, Portland, Seattle. - N. B. Taylor, Manager, 513 Ch. of C. The Steam Heating Apparatus for the New Nortonia Hotel is being installed by Gardner 8 Kendall Heating Co. HEATING AND VENTILATING ENGINEERS Main 801. . 40-42 Second St. Portland, Or. Lighting F ixtures The Cornice Work, Ftoofing. Metal Window Frames and Skylights on the new Nortonia Hotel are being completed by the Portland Sheet Metal Works (Incorporated.) 429 East Madison Street, Near East Seventh. M. Renter, President. Directors. G. D. Whitmer, Sec. and Treas. M. Reuter, G. D. Whitmer, J. Hanson. The Tile Work in the new Nortonia Hotel 13 being done by FRED W. WAGNER Foreign and Domestic Tile . Special Designs on Application. Tile Work in All Its Branches. SHOW ROOMS 363 STARK ST. PHONE MAIN 8339 THE ADAMANT COMPANY Manufacturers of HARD WALL PLASTERS Our Celebrated "Crown" Brand Hair Fibered Cement Plaster Used Throughout in Plastering the Nortonia Hotel. FACTORY! Foot Fifteenth St. Pacific Phone, 31. 2109. OFFICE!! 433 Worcester Bidet Pacific Phone Main 718, Borne A J 318. find enough fruit grown In this state to supply the leading markets of the coun try with the finest varieties known. Numerous small sales have been made during the past week by Otto, Crockett & Harkson. Among them are tne follow ing: Two lota In Highland Park, corner Ninth and Holbrook streets, to Adamion and Nelson, for tSOO. Two modern houses will be erected on this property Imme diately. One lot on the corner of Twelfth and Manhattan streets, from H. SL Noble to W. R. Jenner, for $275. Two lots on Fifteenth near Ainsworth street, from D. J. Harris to John W. Griffith, for J400. The J. P. Sharkey Company report the following sales at Waverleigh: Fourteen lots to. Galloway and Strong, tor -$6000. Four modern houses are already under construction on this property, while plans and specifications are-being drawn for numerous others; four lots to Mrs. B. F. Walters, who is building a mod ern residence; quarter block to Amos 3D. Bingham, who is building a $2500 resi dence. A number ot other single lots have also -changed hands. Mr. Sharkey has let the contract to grade off the ele vated portion of this beautiful tract. This undertaking will necessitate the moving of 144,000 cubic yards of dirt. Harry I. Hamblet has bought 3-3 of lots 1 and 2 of block 292 from W. C. Goss lin for $6600. . In the week's transfers was recorded- a deed to Henry Wagner for lot S, block S12, Couch Addition, consideration $6750. S. Ban. the Japanese contractor, bought last week from Captain E. W. Spencer, lots 5 and 6, block 175, Couch Addition, for $17,000. PUN TO REBUILD' CHURCH FORBES PRESBYTERIAN RISE FROM RUIXS. TO Congregation Is Busy Making Ar rangements for New and Bet ter Structure. j The building- occupied by the Forbes Presbyterian Church, which - stood on the corner of Gantenbeln avenue and Sellwood street, and was destroyed by nre last Wednesday, will be replaced with a much handsomer and larger structure, at a cost ranging from $10,- to $16,000. This decision was reached even feefore the ruins of the old build ing had ceased to burn and was more than ratified by the generous and re markable response of the members in the way of substantial subscriptions at the meeting held yesterday morning In Woodman of the World Hall, on Russell street. At the close of the services the tellers announced that subscriptions had been received from the members and friends aggregating $3060.25. Of this sum, $2210 had been sub scribed by Saturday night, and at the services yesterday morning $855 more was added, and a considerable number of the members had not been seen or heard from. These subscriptions range from $2.50 to $S00, the larger sum be ing from Rev. and Mrs. H. H. Itatt the pastor and his wife. A great many subscriptions are for $25, $50 and $100 The Insurance on the property was "5000, of which $3000 has been received by the treasurer of the church. Within four days after the destruction of the church building over $8000 is in sight tor reouildlng purposes. Rev. Mr. Pratt spoke to a large con g-regation yesterday mornlne In Wood man Hall in a most optimistic spirit He read the resolutions adopted by i-ortiano .presbytery offering sympathy and support, signed by Rev. B. M. Sharp. Ha announced that Rev. Henry Marcotte. oi the Westminster Presby terian Church, had offered $100 from that church for the building. Mes sages had come, he said, from the Eugene Church, Tillamook and other places. The pastor of the First Pres byterian Church of Portland had ten dered sympathy and pledged substan tial assistance. W. M. Ladd. said Rev. Pratt, had telephoned him to call on him for assistance. Mr. Pratt declared he had been surprised and gratified at the spirit of helpfulness displayed He said that as he left the burning ruins Wednesday, a business man met him and expressed sympathy by hand ing him a $10 gold piece as a starter for the building fund, which had con tinued to roll up like a snowball, from the $10 start At the little gathering held at the home of the pastor, on Fargo street, where a few friends had met Thursday night, over $2000 was subscribed and on that list was the name of Rev. W. O. Forbes, who started the church 25 years ago, for $100. Rev. Mr. Pratt mentioned the offers of help from the local churches of Al blna. Some offered to divide time with the homeless church, but it had been deemed best to secure Woodman Hall for regular services, but he declared that these expressions of sympathy and offers of assistance were appreciated Tears had been showered on vhe wreck and ruins of the old structure, because of the tender associations with the building. It was a handsome build ing, and well fitted for the use of the congregation, but Its destruction, said Rev. Mr. Pratt, did not mean that the church had been destroyed, but only the building had gone down in the fire. A better structure would soon rise over the ruins and ashes of the old build ing, better arranged in every way for carrying on the work of the church There were expressions from leading members of the church yesterday morn ing, and they were all for a better building. One leader declared that s $16,000 building ought to be put up. Another said it ought to be of fire proof material. Rev. Mr. Pratt announced that there would be a congregational meeting next Thursday night in the Rodney avenue Christian Church when the gen eral character of the new building will be considered. The pastor urged that every member be loyal and at tend the services held In the hall, in asmuch as the church needs the support and presence of every one In its ef fort to restore the home that had been destroyed. For every kind of a room the ballroom, dining-room, reception-room, dens, hall entrances and bedrooms. Every new and modern fixture. Artistic, beautiful and serviceable. At any price but no matter what price the very best of its kind for that price. Electrical Work in All Its Branches Wire for Us, and We'll Wire for You . Both Phones THE LARGEST ARRAY OF LIGHTING FIXTURES ON THE PACIFIC COAST 408-10-12 Morrison Street 9 n W RENT ELECTRIC SIGHS Phone Main 8479 ' 44 Second St. Between Ash and Pine Tne Portland Tile S Mantel Company Office 217 Marouam Building. Ceramic, Mosaic, Enameled and Encaustic Tile WHOLESALE AND RETAIL JAMES E. BARKER, Prop. Warehouse 355 Burnslde, near Park Street. Branch Office and Salesroom. 451 Empire Building, Seattle, Wash. CEMENT, LIME, PLASTER VTGAEITE LIME, WHITE'S AND OTHER CEMENT, OCCIDENT CEMENT PLASTER Geo. B. Rate & Go. 182 MADISON ST.,' WEST END OF BRIDGE. Phones: Main -981, A 3981. A. Carlson. Chas. J. Soderbers; East Portland Fence 8 Wire Works Manufacturers of wood, iron ' and steel fenclntr, bank, office and balcony railing;, elevator cabs and enclosures, street signs and window guards, wire and iron work of every description. Telephome East 821. 303 EAST MORRISON ST.. Portland, Or. We Will Meet Yon Evenings by Appointment. The Electrical Appliance Co. Will Furnish You Electric and Gas Chandeliers. Phones: Main 4884, A 3881. . 490 Washington St. Repair Work Given Prompt Attention Founders, Machinists and Boiler makers, Building; and Structural Work. PHOENIX IRON WORKS ENGINEERS Office and Works Hawthorne Avraoe and East Third Street. Phone East 2ft. PORTLAND. OREGON. Store fronts changed, houses remodeled general contracting and jobbing, cabinet work of all kinds. The Jas. I. Marshall Mf g Co., Show Cases, Store and Office Fixtures 289 Couch street. Phone Pacific 2181. AND STILL THEY GO. WHAT? WHY, BUIkDINO LOTS IN Waverleigh 8225. OO and up, S25.00 down, 810.00 per month. Warranty deed and abstract with each lot. TUle Perfect. If you must take your money out of your bank, put it in the Safe Bank Waverleigh JOHN P. SHARKEY CO. SIXTH AND WASHINGTON STREETS. A 2537 PHONES Main C50 JONESMORE On the Montavilla carline. The best value for the money on the market today. Graded streets, sidewalks, Bull Run water; build ing restrictions. These lots are 50x100 feet. $300 to $500-$25 Down, $10 Monthly ne wui ouiia ior you., 'Agent at utmjv. Phones: Main 392, A 2392. 264 Stark Street. " AAA UUUU 1.11 JUU. J Geo. D. Schalk