12
THE MORNING OREGONIAN, THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 1908.
T
SPECIAL PERMITS
Council Yields to Building In
spector Dobson in His
Fight for Rights.
REFERS NOTTINGHAM CASE
Committee to Decide Whether Sen
ator Shall Go Ahead AVith Con
struction of Wooden Build
ing in Fire Limits.
City Building Inspector Dobson has
won his fight against the granting of
special permits by the Council, and
yesterday afternoon, single-handed, he
forced that body to heed his rights.
Councilman Baker, in an effort to
"patch up" the differences, offered "to
be good in future," if Mr. Dobson
would drop prosecution of tho case
against State Senator C. W. Notting
ham, who is under arrest for alleged
violation of the fire ordinances. The
matter was referred to a committee.
The ease is remarkable because of
. the fact that Building Inspector Dob
son; asserting his rights under the city
ordinances governing the construction
of buildings within the fire limits, re
fuses point-blank to allow the Council
to override his authority by granting
to Senator Nottingham a special per
mit to build a frame structure at East
Second and East Stark streets.
Notwithstanding the City Attorney
has declared that special permits, fre
quently granted by the Council, are
illegal, being class legislation, the
Council has repeatedly made such
grants. Whenx Senator Nottingham
sought permission to "repair" some
frame structures at East Second and
East Stark streets, the Council passed
an ordinance, granting him the privi
lege. Inspector Dobson. however, kept
tab on the "repairs," and now declares
that they consist of an almost complete
new building, covering a space 40 by
140 feet, besides a big "L,." He noti
fied Senator Nottingham to cease, but
his order was ignored, as Mr. Notting
ham held the special permit.
Inspector Dobson consulted City At
torney Kavanaugh, seeking an injunc
tion, but Mr. Kavanaugh held no such
power was vested in him. and Inspector
Dobson then secured a warrant of ar
rest tor Mr. Nottingham. This had no
effect, as the building continued, until
Mr. Dobson threatened to arrest every
man on the job.
Li. A. McNary, ex-City Attorney, ap
peared as counsel for Senator Notting
ham, and he expressed to the Council
his belief that his client acted as any
man would have, all things considered.
Having the Council's permit, said Mr.
McNary, it would seem that Mr. Not
tingham could hardly be expected to
stop proceedings upon the threat of the
Building Inspector.
Inspector Dobson, defending his posi
tion, said that he would not permit
anyone to do what had been done in
this case, without using his full power
to prevent it. He declared that, hav
ing warned Mr. Nottingham, he was
justified in making the arrest when the
order to cease operations was ignored.
He said that the building Ghould now
be torn down; that the city should not
allow any man so flagrantly to violate
the building ordinances. He said that
Eastern capitalists will not invest
their money in good buildings along
side of such flimsy structures as Mr.
Nottingham has erected, and that it is
poor policy to have such buildings in
the fire limits.
A resolution bj- Councilman Wills,
eliminating from the fire limits on the
East Side that portion of ground now
occupied by tho Nottingham frame
structures, was introduced, but it was
not adopted, and the whole matter was
referred to the Council committee on
health and police.
It is believed that this case will re
sult in the discontinuance of the prac
tice of the Council in granting special
permits, as it has done' heretofore,
now that it is clear it has no legal
right to do so.
WEEDS MUST BE CUT DOWN
Council Requires Property-Owners
to Keep Places Clear of Brush.
A drastic ordinance, the terms of
which- compel property-owners to clear
their premises of thistles and weeds to
the curb-line, was passed by the City
Council yesterday afternoon, and unles3
it is vetoed by Mayor I.ane, will become
a law in due time. It is most sweep
ing In its provisions, and some of the
Councilmen, including Mr. W ills, voted
against it on those grounds.
"I am afraid this ordinance is so
sweeping as to be impracticable," said
Councilman Wills, who was presiding.
"According to the terms of the meas
ure, a man would have to cut the brush
from his property, even if he had a
place in the woods."
"That's just what we want," said
Councilman Bennett, who introduced
the ordinance, by request. "The city
needs clearing up."
Councilman Cellars arose to Inquire
whether the city possesses power suf
ficient to extend the provisions of the
ordinance to compel owner of prop
erty to clean everything Into the mid
dle of the street. If this could be en
forced, he declared, it would solve, to
a great degree, the problem of munici
pal street-cleaning. However, the ordi
nance was not amended so as to include
this drastic provision.
APPOINT CHARTER BOARD
Committee or 15 Citizens to Con
sider Proposed Changes.
The City' Council, by the adoption
yesterday afternoon of a resolution by
Councilman Wills, named Mayor Lane
and Councilman Baker and Cellars as
a committee to select 15 taxpayers to
confer with all interests on proposed
amendents to the charter. The mat
ter was generally discussed and it is
understood that City Attorney Kav
anaugh and Chief Deputy Auditor
Urutze will be the only city officials
on the committee, and , that those
chosen will invite conferences with the
various organizations that make up the
municipality.
Mr. Wills introduced the resolution.
The only power the committee of 15
taxpayers will have is to draft pro
posed amendments to the charter, for
submission to the voters by the initia
tive in the November election. Only
in case of a reversal of Circuit Judge
Cleland's decision on the bonding issues
and the amendments, voted in by the
people last year, could the Council
initiate the amendments.
It is the understanding of the Coun
cilmen that Mayor Lane and Council-
GRAN
MO
................................................ .....
- STRUCTURE ERECTED IN DEFIANCE OP BUILDING INSPECTOR j
! -l-ri$(c rr h- U U4 U Ji
I , -v .... - " vTi I
Jfc 2 J ! -r-J& - ' ----- . Ia -l.s i.t,SfJS&s3 I
I . 1
1 TWO-STORY FRAME BUILDING AT EAST SECOND AND EAST STARK, OWNED BV STATE SENATOR I
NOTTINGHAM. I
i
men Cellars and Baker will select rep
resentatives from all walks of life to
serve on the committee of taxpayers.
In this way the body will be made
thoroughly representative and the var
ious interests will be recognized and
given consideration.
It is thought to be necessary to have
City Attorney Kavanaugh and Deputy
Auditor Grutze on the committee, as
both are acknowledged to be more fa
miliar with present conditions, and
to know more as to necessary changes
than any other men in Portland.
CLOSE VOTE ON TRANSFER
Pullman Saloon License Changed
After Fight in Council.
By a vote of 7 to 5, the City Council
yesterday afternoon granted the peti
tion of P. C. O'Mara for a transfer of
his saloon license from what is known
as the Pullman Cafe, at 285 Alder
street, to the old Commercial Club
building at Sixth and Alder streets. The
reason for the close vote on the ques
tion is that the establishment was one
of the most notorious in Portland, as
conducted by John Conrad, alleged by
some to be at present the real propri
etor. Those opposing the transfer be
lieve the saloon should be closed.
No recommendation in the matter
was made by the Council committee on
liquor licenses, because the four mem
bers present at the meeting last Mon
day were evenly divided on the ques
tion. Councilman Cottel, chairman of
the committee, and Councilman Drlscoll
brought the matter up yesterday after
noon, and Mr. Drlscoll introduced a
resolution granting the transfer, which
finally carried.
Councilmen Bennett, Cellars, Conean-
non, Kellaher and Menefee voted
against the transfer, while Councilmen
Annand, Baker, Belding, Cottel, Drls
coll, Dunning and Wills voted favor
ably. The argument of those opposed
was that the Pullman Cafe, under its
past management, had become a dis
reputable place, one which should not
be tolerated in the city, and that, if
granted a transfer, similar conditions
might continue. Those favoring the
granting of the transfer declared that
the establishment has never been as
noisome as depicted, and that there has
been persecution against the owner.
DRISCOLL ORDINANCE LOST
Council Sidetracks Measure Exclud
ing Women From Saloons.
The Drlscoll ordinance, drafted to
exclude women from saloons, was
switched off the main line and run
into the official scrap head in charge
of the committee on health and po
lice by the City Council yesterday
afternoon by a vote of 7 to 6. It is
now regarded as certain that it will
never again emerge, or, if it does, it
will be so completely revised that its
own author would not recognize it.
Councilman Baker was among those
who opposed passage of - the ordinance,
and it, was asserted by him that it was
the pet measure of the retail liquor
dealers. He declared that they origin
ated it aad wished it to become a law
in order to exclude women from hotels
and restaurants where liquors are sold.
Councilman Drlscoll. author of the
ordinance, was 'equally positive that
the retail liquor dealers did not want
the measure to become a law, and that
they had moved 'everything in their
power to prevent its passage.
Councilman Cottel. chairman of the
liquor license committee, denounced
the Driscoll ordinance, saying that it
would not keep women out of saloons.
The vote resulted as follows, on the
motion to refer to a committee: Yeas
Councilman Annand, Baker, Belding,
Concannon. Dunning, Kellaher. Nays
Councilmen Bennett, Cellars, Driscoll,
Menefee, Rushlight and Wills. It was
upon motion of Councilman Kellaher
that the ordinance was referred to -the
committee on health and police.
CITY TAKES OVER BATHS
Council Accepts Establishment and
Will Operate It In Future.
The public baths were formally taken
over by the City Council yesterday aft
ernoon by unanimous vote of the Coun
cilmen and will be operated by the city
in future. The entire equipment was of
fered clear of debt by L. Samuel and Ed
ward Holman, who have formerly con
ducted the establishment.
The proposition to take over the baths
was made by the donors two months ago,
but there seemed a difficult question of
law as to whether the city is empowered
to operate a public bathing-house. The
matter was referred to City Attorney
Kavanaugh for an opinion, and he re
ported yesterday afternoon, holding that
it can be legally done.
As to just where the baths will 'he lo
cated, will be determined later. Harbor
master Speler will probably be asked to
locate a good site, and when this is de
cided upon, the house will be moved and
opened to the public.
FUNDS FOR FIRE HYDRANTS
Council Reluctantly Passes Appro
priation of $30,000.
The City Council yesterday afternoon
first refused to pass an ordinance, ap
propriating $30,000 for the purchase of
BOO fire hydrants, but afterwards recon
sidered and passed the measure. It was
thought by the majority, when the first
ballot was cast, that It is the duty of
the Water Board to expend an appro
priation of $42,000, set aside for the pur
pose, but because of the urgent need and
the refusal of the Board to act, the
Council decided to buy the hydrants.
Councilman Rushlight, chairman of
the cammittee on ways and means,
championed the ordinance, . saying that
there is grave danger of a conflagration,
accompanied by loss of life and great
destruction of property, and, for one, he
refused to be responsible for such a
condition, inasmuch as there was money
available for the purchase of the
hydrants.
Councilman Cellars asked Mr. Rush
light if it were true that he recently de
clared, at a committee meeting, that, If
he were Mayor, the Water Board would
purchase hydrants or there would be a
new Board. Mr. Rushlight admitted
making the statement, but added that
it would not do longer to fight the Wa
ter Board on the matter, because of the
imminent danger to life and property.
Mayor Lane, speaking for himself and
the Water Board, said the $42,000 had
not been expended for hydrants, as di
rected at the first of the year by the
Council, because it was so urgently need
ed for extension of water mains and in
creased water supply1.
GRANT FOR ELECTRIC LINE
Council Unanimously Passes Fran
chise for Mount Hood Road.
By unanimous vote of the 13 mem
bers present the City Council yester
day afternoon passed an ordinance,
granting to the Mount Hood Railway
& Power Company right of way for an
electric line across porperty on the
Bull Run Reserve, controlled by the
municipality. The measure, as drafted
by the legal representatives of the city
and of the company, and carefully con
sidered by Mayor Lane, members of the
Water Board and Councilmen Bennett
and Cellars, went through without a
change.
When the ordinance came up for final
passage Councilman Baker asked if
City Attorney Kavanaugh had read and
approved the provisions, and Mr. Kava
naugh replied that he had carefully
considered every word and recommend
ed it for passage. He said it was im
portant that it pass, as the city's rights
are fully protected.
Mayor Lane and certain other city
officials have long suspected that the
Mount Hood Railway & Power Com
pany desired to encroach upon the
wter of Bull Run River, from which
Portland's water supply is obtained,
and for a long time there was decided
ill-feeling between the two Interests.
This is amicably settled now, and it is
believed to be certain that Mayor Lane
will sign the ordinance.
DIES AFTER OPERATION
Wife of Dr. M. G. McCorkle Passes
Away Funeral Tomorrow.
Mrs. Emma Blanche McCorkle,
wife of Dr. M. G. McCorkle, died
Tuesday .night at Good Samaritan
Hospital from internal hemorrhage
after a brief illness. An opera
tion had been performed in an
effort to save her life, but it
The Late Mrs. Emma Blanche
J McCorkle.
proved futile, Mrs. McCorkle was well
known in church, lodge and social circles
in Portland. She was born in Brooklyn,
N. T., 28 years ago, and was married to
Dr. McCorkle in Portland 11 years ago,
where she had made her home ever since.
She had been an active member of the
Third Presbyterian Church, East Pine
street, where she was the teacher of a
class of 40 girls, and was regarded as one
of the useful members of that church.
Mrs. McCorkle was a member of the
Order of Eastern Star, Whittier Circle,
Woodmen of the World, and Degree of
Honor, A. O. U. W. She was a woman of
high attainments and lovable qualities of
heart and mind, and. will be missed by
a wide circle of friends. She is survived
by her husband. Dr. G. M. McCorkle, of
this city, and her father and mother,
-vev. and Mrs. S. A. George, of Kelso,
Wash. The funeral will be conducted
at the Third Presbyterian Church, East
Pine and Thirteenth streets, tomorrow
forenoon at 10 o'clock. The pallbearers
Will be A. H. Lomax, H. Bittner, Herman
Gordon, Every Schmeer, Dr. Sandford
Whiting and Dr. Edward Johnson.
Eanan shoes fit Ue Iset. Rosenthal's.
:: hVJ ::
- J4i kA Cr4
e ERA DAWNS
FOR LOCAL PORT
Deepening of Columbia Bar
' Gives Splendid Channel
for Largest Ships.
PORTLAND FUTURE BRIGHT
Improved Channel and Great Indus
tries Now Being Established W7lll
Soon Make City Greatest
Seaport on Pacific.
That the deepening of the Columbia
River bar to 28 feet at low water means
the beginning of a new era for Portland
and the tributary country is the belief
of the secretaries of the local commercial
bodies and others actively engaged in
the development of this port. The prac
tical elimination of the Columbia River
bar, so long a bugaboo that has been
used by rival ports against Portland, is a
tremendous step in advance, it is said,
and will make for the building of a great
seaport here".
So many things that combine to make
Portland a graet city have occurred dur
ing the past few months that there is
general rejoicing among those in close
touch with the business interests and the
commercial future of the .city. The new
depth of the Columbia River entrance
that has been gained by the scouring
process of the river current as directed by
the Jetty puts this port on a more favor
able footing than any of the five great
seaports of the United States New York,
Boston, Philadelphia, New Orleans and
Galveston. The Columbia River mouth
has a greater depth than any of these
great world ports at high tide, with the
sole exception of New York, and that
harbor has only five-tenths of a foot more
than the Columbia River. The exact
depths of these ports at low and high tide
are as follows:
Low. High.
New York 30 34.5
Boston 27 31.5
Philadelphia. 24 28.5
New Orleans 30 31.0
Galveston 2T 28.0
Portland 28 . 34.0
Great Boon to District.
This great gain in depth of the river's
mouth is the biggest advance that Pott
land and the tributary country, which in
cludes all the Columbia River basin in
Washington and Idaho, has made in-many
a year. Not only the depth, but the fact
that the channel has been widened from
300 to 3C00 feet, is a cause for the great
est congratulation.
Seeretarj' Edmond C. Giltner, of the
Portland Chamber of Commerce, the
body that has taken special interest in the
deepening of the river to the sea and
formulated the Port of Portland amend
ment that was carried at the last general
election, said:
"The elimination of the Columbia River
bar, coming so soon after the completion
of the North Bank Railroad and during
the actual construction of the big grain
docks of the same road on the waterfront,
which will be the finest of their kind in
the country, together with the com
mencement of work on the monster pack
ing plant to be erected by Swift & Co., on
the Peninsula, means much for Portland.
'Take Charge of Pilotage.
"In addition to these things there is the
amendment to the Port of Portland bill
which has Just gone into effect by rea
son of the bill prepared by the Chamber
of Commerce and carried at the June
election. All these things of such great
import to this city mean an era in its
growth greater than any heretofore, not
excepting the Lewis and Clark Exposition
period. The amendment to the Port of
Portland act provides for a towage and
pilotage service on the Columbia River
bar and the Columbia and Willamette
Rivers and authorizes an issue of bonds to
build towboats, etc. A superintendent
has been appointed to take charge of
the work and a friendly suit will be start
ed in order that there may be no ques
tion as to the validity of the bonds. There
is no doubt that this work will be well
under way by next Fall.
"These things mean that Portland is
going to take its position as the leading
port of the Pacific Northwest. But under
no circumstances should the agitation
for the completion of the project at the
mouth of the river cease simply because
we -have this excellent depth. While the
completion of the south jetty alone may
secure the 40 feet desired at extreme low
water, which is the depth we are after,
there is very little doubt that the comple
tion of the whole project, which includes
a north jetty also, would secure such a
depth permanently.
Prediction of J. J. Hill.
"When this is accomplished, and we
must never let up until it is done, we
will not only have the greatest port in
the Pacific Northwest but if we can
take the word of James J. Hill for it,
Portland will be the greatest port on
the Pacific Coast. Mr. Hill said:
" 'When you get the channel to 40 feet,
depend upon it, all the Pacific Coast
will have to take off Its hat to you be
cause you have one advantage nature
made the pass, water follows the line
of least resistance and so does com
merce.' "This happy combination of circum
stances, which was not complete un
til the announcement of the greater
depth at the mouth of the river was
made, means that Portland will grow
as never before and will increase in the
wealth so rapidly that people who
thought they lost their opportunities
In the last four or five years will real
ize that the four or five years are noth
ing compared with the next four or
five years which Will make Portland
the leading city of this coast.
More Than Repay Tax.
"The depth of water between the
mouth of the Columbia River and this
city will always be maintained at what
ever depth is required to accommodate
the vessels that may cross the bar.
This is a matter of expenditure of
money only in dredging and is a tax
that the people do not complain of as
it is returned a hundred fold.
"Very apropos at this time is the
discussion with regard to making a
harbor that will accommodate all the
shipping that can possibly come here,
but such improvements as maintaining
the river channel and a harbor are
small matters compared to the com
pletion of abundant rail connections
with the interior and a great depth, of
water for foreign shipping."
Secretary Giltner cannot be taxed
with being over enthusiastic as to the
future of the port for the big improve
ments outlined here during the earlier
months of the present year are con
ceded to warrant his predictions fully.
Specifications are in the hands of con
tractors calling for the erection of the
largest packing plant West of the
Rocky Mountains that will cover a
3000 acre site, valued at $3,000,000.
This huge tract is rapidly being put in
condition for accomplishing the pur
poses Intended by .Swift & Co., and
more than 200 cars of machinery are
on their way to the city.
The largest wheat docks and ware
houses in the country of their type are
under construction by the Hill roads
on the west bank of the river, while
the packing-plant activity is under way
on the east bank. These big projects
in livestock packing and grain hand
ling prove to the most skeptical that
Portland is to be the headquarters of
these two great industries in the Pa
cific Northwest.
The opening of new railroads tribu
tary to this city during the past few
months prove that Portland is the na
tural shipping point for the "Pacific
Northwestern states. These new lines
make tributary to Portland an ever in
creasing territory that will pour its
riches into this city's lap. The open
ing of the Lewleton-Riparia branch of
the O. R. & N. and the North Bank road
bring an immense territory in the in
terior closer to Portland and means
the shipment from this city's docks of
the grain grown in the inland states.
For the first five months of 1908,
building permits in Portland exceeded
the same period of 1907, when the Pa
cific Northwest was on the very crest
of the wave of prosperity. Permits
for the first five months of this year
exceeded the corresponding period last
year by nearly 500 and the rate of in
crease is growing as the months pass.
Those who see a greater future for
'FREE nfORSlD "
Address
nn
148 FIFTH
1117 If A iff!PkCi S
Or. Prisa's Wheat Flake Celery Food
Don't eat much meat if you value the freshness of
your face. A good complexion is only attained
by the possession of a healthy skin and good blood.
Dr. Price's 'Wheat Flake Celery Food is made
from the whole grain of the wheat, with celery.
It is rich in phosphates and other elements that
make pure blood and prevent constipation. 262
Portland are Justified in their optimism
because of all these favorable indica
tions of a greater Portland. Never De
fore in the city's history have there
been so many movements of far
reaching importance that point to the
For $7000, we offer the above thoroughly modern, new 8-room dwelling, with
grounds 65x100, located No. 741 Broadway; one of the best, in midst of select
homos,' and must be sold at once. Cash wanted, but make proposition.
JACKSON & DEERING
Phone Main 34S 246 STARK STREET
The Jacobs-Stine Company, cv,niKyn No 5
148 Fifth St., Portland, Or.
Gentlemen: Please inform me at once how I can secure
a site upon which to build a home free.
Name
STREET, PORTLAND, OREGON
-'- -TffW'ltfwTMr sfofrfUlllWlsTTsll MimilisWTiHiUlilf I lllis. I I
great development of Portland and Its
supremacy, as the greatest port of the
Pacific.
Metzger & Co., Jewelers and opticians,
342 Washington st.
1
i
TTO1R
GO.