VOL. XIAIII NO. 14,872. PORTLAND, OREGON, WEDNESDAY, JULY 29, 1908. PRICE FIVE CENTS. FOUR BLOCKS ARE SWEPT BYJUIES Blaze Causes Loss of $225,000 in North End. IS DRIVEN BY FIERCE WIND Terrific Fire Starts in Barn of Oregon Transfer Company. PERHAPS SET BY INCENDIARY Great Business District in Jeopardy for Hours. SAVED BY BRICK WALLS Barr Hotel and Klcrnan Block Arc Among Properties In Fire That Is Conquered Only After Great Fight. FACTS ABOCT NORTH END FTKE LOCATION Flames originated In upper part of Oregon Transfer Com pany's place in the block bounded by Fifth and Sixth, Glisan and Hoyt street. An alarm was turned in at 5:03 o'clock, followed by a second and third alarm and by a general alarm at 5:40 P. M. EXTENT The fire apread rapidly, traversing four block, and was gotten under control at 6: 2D o'clock on etrlking the blank walla of big brick buildlnga LOSSES An estimate of the loaaes plarf the amount at $225,000. This estimate Is regarded as conservative. ORIGIN The cause ts somewhat obscure, theories being advanced that It may have been incendiary, the result of spontaneous combustion In a loft of new bay, or the result of a carelessly dropped cigarette or match. Fire blotted one full blork oft the map of the North Portland business district, burned most of the property off three other blocks, and threatened1 the entire district, late yesterday after noon. Property worth approximately 225.000 was destroyed, property repre senting nearly $1,000,000 was actually scorched, and property worth well into the millions was within the danger zone. The fact that a line of brick build in it blocked the course of the flames until the Fire Department had an opportunity to concentrate its forces at the weak points, accounts for the limiting of the flames to five blocks. Mystery as to Origin. Cause of the fire Is not yet clear. There are several theories incendiar ism, spontaneous combustion in & loff of new hay. dropping of a match -or cigarette, flying sparks from a chim ney. The origin was traced to the mid dle section of the Oregon Transfer Company's place at Fifth and Glisan streets. The fire popped up with the sudden ness that attends the lighting of a gas jet. Some moke was seen on the roof of the Oregon Transfer Company's place about 4:45 o'clock. Fifteen min utes later the roof had given place to a great column of flames. Fanned by a strong wind from the northwest, the column of flames passed quickly from building to building. Qainmg Impetus from the big frame building and tons of hay and other com bustible matter, the fire quickly leaped across the street to the Northern Pa cific Wagon Works, where there was another great array of fuel, and sweep ing this, passed on through the block from Fifth to the blind west wall of the Union Meat Company's place. -J.ea ps Across Two Streets. Checked here, it concentrated its fury, as If with an intelligence of its own. and leaped Into the block north of Glisan street and then jumped Fifth and worked both east and west. When, at 6:30 o'clock, it had run its course and given away before a small river that had been poured on from a score of nozzles, a sad picture of dis aster lay all about. The whole block bounded by Fifth. Sixth, Glisan and Hoyt streets was a heap of smoking debris. Nearly all the west half Of the block bounded by Fourth, Fifth. Glisan and Hoyt streets was gone; all frame buildings were in ruins between Fourth, Fifth, Glisan and Flanders. The block between Fifth and Sixth and ROOSEVELT WILL KEEP HANDS OFF PROMISES XO INTERFERENCE WITH NOMINATIONS. Leave States and Districts to Choose Congressmen and . Governors. . Confer With Woodruff Today. OYSTER BAY, July' 28. President Roosevelt's attitude with regard to se lection of candidates for Congressional and Gubernatorial offices was made known today. 'The President will receive a number of political leaders at Sagamore Hill during the Summer." said Secretary Csar Nichols II.. of Ruhr la. En terlaininK 1 rent dent Fallleres at Rrval. Loeb. "They will be both National and state men, but that does not mean that the President will interfere in any nom ination. He will maintain an attitude of noninterference 1 in the selection of all candidates. Congressional as w$fi as Gubernatorial." Mr. Loeb stated that the visit tomor row of Timothy L. Woodruff, chairman of the New York State Republican com mittee, to Mr. Roosevelt is an "en gagement made a lonsr while ago." BUMPED, SHE ASKS DIVORCE Bride of 20 Days Alleges Husband Threw Her Krom Hammock, HIL.LSBORO. Or., July 28. Special.) Florence D. Walker, of - Portland,, has sued W. H. Walker for divorce. The couple were married in Portland, June L 1908. and the bride swears that on July 20 the husband brutally threw her out of a hammock, bruising and Injuring her in such a manner as to cause her to fear or her safety. She asks that her maiden name, caier, be restored. FORBID HOP SUBSTITUTES British Protective Measure Will Help American Growers. LONDON, July 28. With the view of assisting the local hop industry, the British government intends to prohibit the use of hop substitutes in all beer brewed in the United Kingdom. Ameri can hop-growers will benefit largely by this measure, as many brewers prefer the American hops to the local product. I la&vlVWiiMalriMi. rnl i "-1.1 VIEW OF THE FIRE LOOKING NORTH ON SIXTH STREET TOWARD THE UNION DEPOT. THE FEtEMEN ARE PLAYING STREAMS UJN lUJi dbj&b. HOTEL AND THE FRAME BUILDINGS IN THE VICINITY : . ' I ;i A IrB'r r: ' -sr " 1 "S7 fTfS.Nis ff A I i- . . - mJ 1 K 2- ,?J? C Xd?r . .:. y: v: iiinii'ivi ' mi niii1:t'"iiNit ' "n w" m ulini ii i sn S smfir'if iTMir'i "iriir-nrrn mit "iSst ninri i n iiiiiiiii n uim i m i-tiirn-1 n innii umim m ----- TUFT NOTIFIED DF HIS I Great Crowd Witnesses the Ceremony. CINCINNATI IN GALA ATTIRE Speech of Acceptance Punctu ated by Hearty Cheers. CANDIDATE GIVEN OVATION Fellow-Townsmen of All Parties Unite in Paying Honor to Repub lican Standard-Bearer Pub- -He Holiday Is -Declared. CINCINNATI. July 28. In the pres ence of a cheering throng that packed the streets of his home city for blocks around. William Howard Taft today, at noon, received formal notification of his nomination for the Presidency by the Re publican party. A flag-draped platform erected in front of the old-fashioned res idence of Charles P. Taft. in the heart of the business district of the city, was the rostrum from which the formal speeches incident to the ceremony were delivered. The city "was in gala attire in honor of the occasion, and the day was generally observed as a holiday. Seats of Honor on Porch. The thoroughfares in front of the old homestead where Judge Taft will make his campaign headquarters during Sep tember and October were fairly choked with the early arrivals and the platoon of police stationed in the neighborhood had all it could do to keep a way open for the guests and members of the notification committee, who were provided with seats on the big front porch, and with standing room on the spacious lawn. Senator William Warner, of Missouri, past commander' of the G. A. R., headed the notification committee, which con sisted of a member from every state, territory and island possession of the United States. The representatives of the committee were chosen from the delegations attending the nominating convention at Chicago. There were also present today many members of the National committee, including Chairman FTank H. Hitchcock, who, made a flying trip to Cincinnati, en route from Chicago to Washington and New York. Crowd Cheerrul Despite Hea. The day was clear and very warm, with the slightest of breezes blowing from the hilltops. The standing guests and the crowds in the streets, however, seemed not to mind the scorching rays of the sun. But Judge Taft had blue penciled his speech for purposes of delivery, and while not omitting any of the important declarations, he ellmi- (Concluded on Page 4.) NOMNA GOLD IS FOUND AT LOS ANGELES BIG - Xl'GGETS, WEIGHING $ 1 2 5 EACH, IN EXCAVATION- Discovery Sets City, Wild and Hun dreds Begin . Digging for . Precious Metal. x- LOS ANGELES, Cel., July 28. (Special.) While digging a cesspool this after noon on his lot in a fashionable new residence district In the southwestern part of the city, Morris Hurwltz found four . gold nuggets, weighing about half a pound each, within a radius of five feet, and at a depth of 26 feet. The yellow Clarence J. Shearn, Chairman of -Independence Party's Commit tee on Resolutions. I chunks, each about three inches long and two inches in diameter, were taken to an assayer, who valued the four at $300, or $125 each.' They were found in a stratum of gravel and Hurwitz became so wildly excited over his discovery that he im mediately stopped work and spread the news broadcast. The result was a wild stampede for the scene. It is expected that by daylight tomorrow hundreds of persons will be digging in the vicinity, and trouble over the ownership of prop erty is feared. Every 'lot will be turned Into a gold mine. The same stratum of gravel was struck in other" cesspools, but nobody else ever took the trouble to examine the material brought up, in which Hurwitz found the precious metal, and experts who made a hurried. .Investigation, this evening pro nounced prospects exceedingly good throughout the section. ' BEER FOR STANFORD MEN Inn at Mayfield IJcensed, Despite University's Objection. BAN FRANCISCO, July 28. A liquor license has been Issued to an innkeeper at Mayfield, the town near Stanford Uni versity, despite the fact that the town has been "dry" for four years. The uni versity officials are determined that the institution itself shall continue to place liquot under the ban, but the officials of the neighboring towns refuse to enter the campaign and have granted the right to retail alcoholic beverages with meals. Ill - " - ' 1$ is FDR PRESIDENT Independents Choose on Second Ballot- GRAVES FOR VICE-PRESIDENT Some Vote for Hearst, Despite His Disclaimer. SHOUTS GREET PLATFORM Denunciation of Old Parties -Followed by Declaraton of Radical Principles Walsh Tells Why He Changed Base. CHICAGO, July 28. The first ballot for President in the Independent convention resulted: Htegen, 396; Howard, 200: Graves, 213; Lyon. 71; Hearst. 49. The second ballot was Hisgen, 590; Graves, 189; Howard, 109; Hearst, 49. His gen was nominated. John Temple Graves was nominated for Vice-President. CHICAGO, July 28. "The credentials committee was late in bringing its report to the convention hall, and as the result the first session of the convention of the Independence party was somewhat late in commencing work. The chairman could not be found, but the New York member of the committee wrote out a substitute report from . memory, and' it was promptly, submitted and adopted. It declared that only one contest had been brought to It, from the Fourteenth District of Massachusetts, "and," added the report, "the contestant was seated." The successful competitor for the seat was not named, however, as the New York member of the committee had not charged his memory with the identity of the member. Mr. Hearst, the actual temporary chairman, was not on the platform, and Judge Reuben B. Lyon, of New York, who presided, called, next for the report of the committee on rules, order and per manent organisation. This named Charles A. vValsh, of Iowa, as the per manent chairman. Walsh Tells Why Party Is Born. The mention of Mr. Walsh's name was received with cheers. He was es corted to the platform and, upon taking up the gavel, delivered his address as permanent chairman as follows: We have reached the parting- of the ways. In the long- years that have brought many of us sered and whitened down to the ' irre vocable step which we are about to take we have followed with all the zeal, all the loyalty, all the honesty and energy which possessed us. either the one or the other of the old party standards, glorying In their victories or unflinchingly facing their de feats, watching with sadness the rise of un worthy leaders, the upraising of new Ideate, the slow but steady wasting away of tho (Concluded on Page 4.) sen NAMED POUR MONEY INTO BRYAN TREASURY ADMIRERS OF NEBRASKAN COX . TRIBUTE CAMPAIGN FUNDS. Letters From Every Part of United States Contain Donations From Democrats. " LINCOLN, Neb., July 28. (Special.) When William J.- Bryan returned to Lincoln this morning he found ap proximately a bushel of letters con taining contributions to his campaign fund. These letters came from every part of the United States and con tained amounts varying from 1 to Prewldent Fallleres. of France. Who conferred With the Czar on European Politic Yester day. to several hundred dollars. Among checks was one from a Memphis news paper' for $426.75.' which that . paper had collected from its subscribers. List of givers to this Memphis fund Included a "widow's mite" of fl, and an equal amount from the Mary Gal loway home of Memphis. Word has been received at Falrvlew that In all parts of the country Dem ocratic newspapers are receiving sub scriptions to Mr. Bryan's fund. Es pecially in the South is this kind of work being done. "On the train between Omaha and Lincoln this morning several contri butions were handed to Mr. Bryan. He was highly gratified at the reception accorded him In Iowa and in Nebraska. SACK AMERICAN STORE Shah's Horsemen at Tabriz Get A-way With Sewing-Machines. ST. PETERSBURG, July 28. A special dispatch received here from Tabriz, Per sia, says that the horsemen under Rach in Khan, who is operating on the side of the Shah, have pillaged the Russo-Per-sian high school at Tabriz and sacked the warehouse of an American Sewing Machine Company. Carnegie In Auto Wreck. INVERNESS. Scotland, July 28. The car in whloh Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Car negie were motoring here today collided with another car. Mr. Carnegie's car was damaged, but no one was injured. JEW HIGH SCHOOL LARGE HOTEL District Buys Block in : North Portland. REPLACE WEST SIDE SCHOOL T. B. Wilcox Will Build Annex to Imperial. COST WILL BE $250,000 Hotel to Be Eight Stories High and Cover Quarter-Block Important Deals Closed by Charles ' K. Henry. . ' TWO BIO SEALS CtOSED. Two bl dwito were closed ymter dmr by Charles K. Henry, uwmrriss large sums of money and Insuring- to Portland two new . and handsome buildings. School District No. 1, thttrastt tho Board of Directors, las purchaB.4 the block iKnuidvd by Coueb, Davis, Seventeenth and Blg-htenth streets for $100,000. upon which will be erected m. modern hlch- school for West Portland. T. B- "Wilcox will erect an efjrht story anscz to the Imperial Hotel, upon the quarter block at the south east corner of Sevtnth and Stars streets. It .will cost (260.000. The site was purohased for $160,000. In keeping with the march of progress In Portland, the "West Side is to have a modern, fire-proof high school building. It was announced yesterday that the Board of Education baa already pur chased the site, paying therefore $100,000. The deal was closed by Charles K. Henry and the property acquired in the entire block,, bounded by Couch, Davis, Sev enteenth and Eighteenth streets. It is considered a choice location for this purpose. . . As further proof ef the stability of Portland property and the rapid growth of the city, it was simultaneously an nounced that T. Wilcox will erect im mediately upon the quarter block at the southeast corner of Seventh and Stark streets, purchased by him last week, a modern, fire-proof, eight-story structure.. This deal was also closed by Mr. Henry and the new building has already been leased to Phil Metschan, of the Imperial Hotel, and will be used as a part of that hostelry. It will cost about f?50,000. Plans Now Being Drawn. This new hotel will be one of the most modern In the city and will be a beau tiful structure architecturally, as well as being modeled for convenience and pleasure. Plans for the building are being prepared by Architects Whidden & Lewis. It will probably be finished outside In beautiful white tile brick. That work on the construction for the new hotel building will begin soon, is ap- Concluded on Page 11.) INDEX OF TODAY'S PAPER The Weather. . YESTERDAY'S Maximum temperature, 73 degrees; minimum, 65 degrees, TODAT'8 Fair and warmer; northwesterly winds. Foreign. Turk, call for clean sweep of corrupt of ficials. Page 2. Csar and Fallleres meet and ministers con fer on European politics. Page 2. Holland will make war on Venezuela, Page 3. . Politics. Roosevelt will not Interfere In tat ami Congressional conventions. Page 1. Taft Is notified of nomination and declares his principles. Page 1. Hisgen and Graves nominated by Indepen dence convention. Page 1. Domestic Steel trust reports Improving business. Page 2. Railroads given time to reduce lumber ratea on condition they do not enioln Com mission. Page 8. Gould admits he would be 'glad of Hani man's help. Page 8. Gold 'Nuggets found In excavation at Log Angeles. Page 1. Sport. Minor Heir wins Chamber of Commerce stakes at Detroit. Page 14. Portland defeats San Francisco, 10 to 8. Page 14. Pacific Coast. -Washington country editors lining up for Cosgrove. Page 4. Tacoma man elopes with another eooiu white wife's body lies in morgue. Pago . Commercial and Marine. Interior buyers scramble for new wheat. Page 15. Chicago wheat market closes steady aftor fluctuations. Page 15. Many leading stocks advance to highest point of year. Page 18. Wool quiet, but strong, at Boston. Pags 16. Minnie B. Kelton breaks adrift, but is re taken. Page 11. Portland and Vicinity. Four North Portland blocks are swept by Are. Page 1. Detailed fire losses that aggregate 1226,000. Page 10. Between 4O.0O0 and 50,000 people crow streets at fire. Page 10. Deals closed that assure two more fine build ings. Page 1. Government will close 1 side la Booth-' Singleton trial today. Poge 11. Orders Issued for encampment at Amerlcaa Lake. Page 14. Construction begun on railroad from Salem to Dallas. Page 8. AND