VOL. XLIX. NO. 15,345
PORTLAND, OREGON, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 1,1910.
PRICE FIVE CENTS.
I
HERMANN ASSAILS
FOES' BEST POINT
Defendant in Box Con
tradicts Meldrum.
MESSENGER POTENT WITNESS
Commissioner "Damned" Ben
son, Testifies ex-Employe.
OFFICE CONFAB IS DENIED
Women and Capitol Watchman Rally
Against ex-Surreyor-General's
Testimony Aged Accused
t Man Answers Firmly.
Flat denials of testimony adduced by
the Govern men t "were made yesterday
not only by Binder Hermann, who took
the stand on his own behalf, but by
othors, including two women. Probably
the most telling testimony brought out
was that given by a former messenger
under Hermann at "Washington, who
Raid he had walked in on Hermann and
Benson in the Commissioner's office and
heard Hermann say in wrath, "damn,
you. Benson, don't you come here and
make such a proposition to me."
Hermann whs self possessed. He re
Fponded to questions firmly and at times
whs dramatic in assuring the jury his
Assertions were true.
In4 the morning session Attorney
W ort h 1 n gt o n had p repared the wa y for
Hermann's testimony by calling Mrs.
Mod a Silverstetn, her sister and Watch
man Holmstrom, of the Salem Capitol,
fill of whom contradicted the testimony
of the, most important witness for
the Government. ex-Surveyor-General
Meldrum.
Messenger Aids Defense.
The defense had placed nine prominent
citizens of Oregon on the witness stand
to testify as to the good chai-acter and
reputation of Hermann for honesty and
integrity. Then evidence was citei from
the Washington trial to show it might
have, been possible for letters, upon
which the prosecution lays much i-ess,
to pass through the General Iarui Oftice
without the knowledge of Hermann. C.
H. Mullor. messenger at the Washington
office In tlte regime of Hermann, and
a witness for the Government, was re
called to show that Hermann and John
A. Benson, the California land manipu
lator and partner of F. A. Hyde, were
unfriendly.
Hermann, upon being told to recount
the history of his life to the jury, said:
I waa born in Western Maryland and am
67 year old. I am the defendant in this
ca.
When I trail 17 year old my father came
to Oron with a colony of settlers and we
locate it in the wilds of Coquitle River. 1 taught
rhooi there, and after two or three years
paewd in clearing slumps from the land, we
removed In 182 to Iouglua County. I taught
vartoua cho!a of that county, and then took
up the Mudy of law in the office of Judge
Chad wick, at Roaehurg. which was thpn a
village. Iatea- Air. Cluuiwlck. became Governor
of this atate.
I wa admitted to the bar 4-4 years ago on
CVtoher 10 last. A fter t hat I went to San
J!ranciiwo and studied in the office of Judge
O. C. Pratt and John C " Fulton, t then re
turned to the l'tr.;wjia Valley and took uj the
jirnrtioe of my profession. In l.stfT 1 uaa
elected to the State Senate, and In 1S71, 1
think it was. I was appointed, by Presrtuent
(irant as Receiver of the United State Land
Office. After two yearn aenMce I resigned
and wa out of public life until 1SS4, when I
was elected to Congress? to represent the en
tire state. 1 served eight years as Congress
man at large, when the state was divided and
I 'M again twice elected, from the FlrM CVm
gresional Iitrlct.
Commissioner's lutles Taken Vp.
in 18i7 3rc.iler. McKJnley appointed me
Commissioner of the Xienemi I-and Offtre. Mc
Kinley ajid I had been members of the Con
gress together for five or six scars. I en
tered, on the duties of thm i.9ition in March.
18lt7. and continued as ' Commissioner until
Kbruary 1. l-3. Within about three month
After my resignation, owing to the death of
Representative Tongue. I u.i renominate.! and
elected in my old district, and waa re-elected
at a later date. When thee differences arose
1 dfeltnel to again become a candidate. That
wa In lik'7.
1 'tiring my term as Commissioner and with
in the first two or three years of my term I
realized that a great many land frauds were
arising through the operation of the lion land
law of IM7, which permitted the peculators
to purchase svrrtuol land baw-and the owners
of patented lands to relinquish that ba.e for
more aluanle lands in any part of the l-'nited
States. I thought it Just lo the tlovornment
that the hL be repealed or modified so that
when one ruJ1 a worth ;-. piece of baje lands
he hould be compelled to receive worthier?
lam's In lieu thereof. In my various annual
reports to the Secretary of the Interior and
to Omnrtv-w 1 made reortmmendallons In ac
cordaii. e with thai. Idea, end that continued to
th laft hour of my term.
The teeretary called on me to know -what I
would advise concrnln: the formation of fu
ture forest reserves, and I replied that there
should be no more reserves created until Con
greMs Ahould repeal or modify the law. I also
a p pe red be fore the wsumiu ees o f Co ng res a
and urged these lews.
Ihv Change Sought.
Tp to 1100 the Secretary of the Interior con
strued the law to permit lieu lands selection
within unsurveyed lands of the public domain.
I ruled at one time that lieu land could not
be selected on un surveyed la:idt, but the Sec
retary rever.-ed that t.'cliun.
I appeared before the committee on ap
propriations, of which Senator A lltaon wai
chairman, and asked him to Include In the
unrtry civil bill a clause w hich should
either repeal or modify the liu laud act
of 1S7. espeolally to provide agalimt ac
quiring lieu land rights on unsurvcyed lauds
The Senator thought It lnexiHdteni to do
more than to modify tho law so mm to con
fine It to surveyed lands. nu n eut to
the House commit tee on public lands and
presented argument on the subject. J.ater
on. when I wa elected to Congress, I intm-
CConciuded oa Paw
WOUNDED LAD HAS
PLUCK BEYONDAGE
SHOT IV JLKG, HE WALKS ACROSS
STREET TO CALL DOCTOR.
Bullet Plows Through Thigh as He
Snaps Revolver Regrets Miss
ing School Work.
VANCOUVER, Wash., Jan. 31. (Spe
cial.) Raymond Graham, the 12-year-old
son of Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Hill, acci
dentally shot himself m the fleshy part
of his left leg yesterday afternoon at
the family home on Eleventh street,
where he was alone, at the time. His
clothes catching on fire, he tore them off,
threw them in the woodshed at the back
of the house, put on another suit, walked
.across the road to the Baptist parsonage
and had Mrs. Poole telephone for a doc
tor. He then returned to his own home,
got a . blanket and spread it on the
table and sat down to await the com
ing of the doctor.
The boy's, parents had gone down
town in the afternoon. A revolver be
longing to the lad's brother-in-law, R.
Hoskins, baggage-master at the Union
Station, was on a shelf in the dining
room. The boy took the gun down and,
as he. was pulling at the trigger, it
suddenly went off. The bullet entered
the flesh on the inside of the left leg,
went downward and, glancing from the
bone, came out on the outer .side of the
leg just above the knee.
The boy Is suffering a good deal to
day, but Dr. Cass, the attending physi
cian, said tonight that the lad was get
ting along nicely. Raymond himself is
worrying over the fact that he is un
able to take the term examinations at
school today.
NAVY "HOP" BASI SOF ROW
Paymaster at Trial Admits Ejecting
Civilian Dmtor B'rom Dance.
BOSTON. Jan. 81. A partial admis
sion that he used force in eejeting a
civilian. Dr. E. S. Cowles, from a "hop"
at the Charlestown Navy Yard last De
cember, was made today by Paymaster
George P. Auld in a letter read at the
beginning: of his courtmartial on
charges of maltreating: an inhabitant
while on shore -and of conduct unbe
coming: an officer.
Auld's letter was directed to Rear
Admiral Swift, then in command of the
navy yard, and in it he said that he
took hold of Dr. Cowles' shoulders.
Dr. Cowles testified today regarding:
the alleged assault and admitted that
before the "hop" he took a picture of
Miss Dorothy Hesler, of Evanston. 111.,
from the rooms of Dr. Robnett and did
not return it.
The courtmartial has aroused great
interest in naval circles and the trial
room was. . crowded.
ENGINEER LOST NINE DAYS
Bernard. Scliweringen, Found Un
conscious In Lower Siuslaw.
HUGENE Or., Jan. 31. (Special.)
Bernard Schweringen, a civil engineer
for the Lacy Timber Company, is in a
serious condition at the home of F. E.
Jackson, on the lower Siuslaw, as the
result of heaving lost his way In the
timber.
Schweringen was sent January 20 to run
a line over a mountain to Meadow Cajnp,
and not being heard of for three or four
days, search was instituted by members
of his engineering corps. They found him
Saturday morning, nine days after his
departure, lying In the timber uncon
scious and almost dead from exposure
and hunder. . He may not recover.
The Lacy Timber Company, for which
Schweringen had been working, recently
sent three large crews of timber men and
engineers into the lower Siuslaw country
to cruise and survey a large tract which
the company purchased a short time ago.
SEARCH 0NF0R LOST SHIP
Alaskan Vessel Farallon Hasn't Been
Seen for Month.
SEATTLE, Wash., Jan. 31. The steam
ship Victoria Is making a special run
from Seward to Uyak. on Kadlak Island,
Alaska, to search for the Alaska Steam
ship Company's ship Farallon. which left
Port Graham. January V for Iliamma
Bay. and haspnt since been seen.
If the Victoria finds that the Farallon
has not called at I'yak. on the north
shore of Kadiak Island, she will continue
to look for the missing vessel. The past
month has been very stormy in Northern
waters, and while the owners express
confidence that the Farallon !s safe and
has taken shelter at some island port,
there is deep anxiety among shipping
men.
The Farallon has stores for tbree
months. She has no wireless equipment.
STORK ON WAY TO SPAIN
Queen Victoria Kxpects to Receive
Visit In May.
MADRID. Jan. 31. A birth in the royal
family of Spain is expected the latter
part of May.
Queen Victoria already is the mother of
three children. Prince Alphonso, Prince
Jaime and Princess Beatrice, the latter
having been born on June 22. 1909,
THREE KILLED IN CRASH
Automobile Hits Trolely Car on
Denver Street.
DENVER. Jan. 31. Two women and one
man are dead and another man fatally
hurt. the result of a collision between a
trolley car and an automobile tonight.
Tle. dead and ill J ur wa AMiMt9 of
tbe UWlugbil, TSlfli I i , ' '
DEMOCRATS HELP
ELAViS Ifi ANSWER
"Other Side" Is Silent,
Says Nelson.
BALLINGER'S TALK PRIVATE
Witness Admits No One Over
heard Conversation!
CAMPAIGN DELAYS WORK
Special Agent Urged Xot to Antagon
ize Contributors to Fund Pinchot
Reaches Committee Rooms
IVlth Bundle of Data.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 31. TThen the
Ballinger-PInchot investigating com
mittee adjourned late today until next
Friday morning at 10 o'clock,' Louis R.
Glavis was still on the stand. He will
be further questioned at that time.
Glavis was cross-examined today by
several members of the committee, the
Democrats taking by far the more
prominent part in the questioning, and
framing their interrogations in a way
that elecited answers tending to ac
centuate certain parts of the testimony
already given by the witness.
At. the close of the hearing. Sen
ator Nelson called attention to the
fact that the committee was proceed
ing, "feebly" and blindly, as there was
no one present to cross-examine the
representative of the "other side."
Root Active In Inquiry.
Personally;" he said, he had no desire
to question the witness further. It
was thought best, however, that Glavis
remain in the city until certain docu
ments called for from the Interior De
partment have arrived and have been
examined.
Senator Root moved that these docu
ments should all be printed before be
ing considered. Attorney Brandeis,
representing Glavis and others, said
that many of the documents he had
asked for proved to be irrelevant.
Senator Root remarked that so far
as he could see there was nothing ir
relevant to this inquiry.
Cross-examined by Senator Fletcher,
of Florida, Glavis. said today that Bal
linger, while Commissioner of the
Land Office, had appeared before com
mittees of Congress and by his testi
mony had favored a bill that wou'.d
validate all of the Alaska coal claims.
Law Firm Stationery Fsed.
He also said that an affidavit filed
Sepetember 1908. by Clarence Cun
ningham, had on it a backing which
bore the name of the firm with whicn
Judge Ballinger was connected.
Glavis said when Ballinger asked him
not to proceed with his Investigation
of the coal claims until after election,
because of the slowness of campaign
contributions.' no one was present to
overhear the conversation.
The name of Dona'd A. Mackenzie
was brought into the inquiry this af
ternoon when Glavis testified Macken
zie told him the reason James R. Gar-
(Continued on Page 2.)
INDEX OF TODAY'S NEWS
TSie Weatber.
YESTERDAY'S Maximum temperature, 8S.3
deKTe&e; minimum. 32.7 degrees
TODAY'Js Fair, westerly winds.
Korelsn. ,
tjay Paris emerifi from its flood-stricken
condition. Page 3.
Rational.
Debate on postal savings bank bill begins in
Senate, Hejburn loading opposition. Page
3.
Oonpress stsrts inquiry into food cost at in
stance of Taft and Republican leader.
Pane 2.
Democrats take active part In leading; out
Olavls in his replies. Page 1.
lomrtlc.
Mrs. Frank Gould to marry again to forget
her. former husband. Page 3.
Arsenic found In body of Swope by Chicago
experts: Swope's executor sued for slan
der. Page 1.
Hundred men believed to have perished in
mine explosion In Colorado. Page 3
Sports. A-berdecn baseball club magnates decide to
go to court to test Northwestern League
contract. Page 8.
fan Francisco blames Jeffries for sidetrack
ing city lor Portland and north. Page 8.
Gus Kratiaborg. pitcher signed by McCre
die. is refused release to join New York
giants. Page 8.
Johnson's manager says big fight, no doubt,
will, be staged at Oceanview, CaL, by
Gleason. Page 8.
Par Inc. Northwest.
President of Dayton Bachelor's Club denies
organization is insincere: all members
farmers seeking wives. Page 6.
Ashland. Or., takes advantage of recall"
rights and would oust Mayor. Calls for
special election. Page
Elk City boy fells big wildcat by well-aimed
blow after fight. Page I.
Commercial and Marine.
Apple stocks in storage In ITnlted Btates.
Canada and Nova Scotia- Page 19.
Wheat prices slump at Chicago-. Page 10.
Wall street watts for settlement of Ameri
can Tobacco case. Page 18.
Steamer Ramona will replace ' Breakwater
on Coos Bay run. Page IS. A
Portland and Vicinity.
Industrial figures for January show great
gain over same month last year. Page 1.
Senator Poison, of Washington, visits Port-
land Lauds Secretary Ballinger. Page 9.
Cake to resign as chairman of Republican
State Central Committee. Page 12.
Census Supervisor announces place and date
of enumerators' examination. Page 13.
Lytic shifts blame of bank failure to Moore
and Morris. Pasre 9.
Portland Chamber of Commerce barks ex
hibit to show Oregon's great natural re
sources. Page 13.
Railroad Commission sets date for hearing,
on new demurrage code. Page 18.
Hermann, on stand in own behalf, denies ex-Surveyor-General
Mcldrum's testimony.
Page 1.
Clearing-house may take over assets of de
funct Oregon Trust Bank and pay de
positors. Page 11.
Many angry complaints against car service
received by Council committee. Page 9.
All Oregon visited-by snow after moderate
weather. Page 14.
GRAND JURY HAS BABY CASE
Parents of "Wilson Quadruplets" to
Be Found and Punished.
IXS ANGEL.K3. Jan. 31. Superior
jfudge Wilbur referred to the grand jury
today the case of the Wilson quadruplets,
with instructions to begin an investiga
tion to determine the identity of the par
ents who had abandoned the babes.
The court called attention tci the fact
that the law imposed a penalty of im
prisonment or fine for the abandonment
of Infants.
The grand jury is instructed also to
make a general investigation of the con
duct of the maternity homes, such as
that maintained by Mrs. C. H. Smith, who
confessed that she had supplied the
quartet of babies with which Mrs. W. W.
Wilson deceived even her husband into
the belief that she had borne them all.
ARBITRATION IS SOLUTION
Railroads and Telegraphers to Settle
Controversy.
WASHINGTON. Jan. 31. Artibratlon
has been decided upon as a solution
of the controversy between the Big
Four Railroad and Its telegraphers, it
was announced today.
The controversy between the Balti
more & Ohio Southwestern and its tel
egraphers also has been referred to
arbitration.
NO ROSE WITHOUT ITS THORNS.
IS
IN SWOPE'S BODY
Experts Make Report
to Executor.
PROSECUTION TO FOLLOW
Paxton Refuses to Discuss
Suit Filed by Hyde.
$100,000 SUM DEMANDED
Attorney Representing Mrs. Hyde,
Wife of Plaintiff In Slander
Charge, Is Refused Admission
to Chicago Conference.
CHICAGO, Jan. SI. Strychnine was
found throughout the viscera of the late
Colonel Thomas H. Swope, the Kansas
City millionaire, according to a report
made by Dts. Walter S. Haines, H. Hek
toin and Peter C Vaughan to John J.
Paxton, executor of the Swope estate,
here today.
The same poison Is also believed o
have been found in the body of Chrisman
Swope, a nephew. of Colonel Swope, but
it was announced that the examination
of his organs had not been completed,
and would be continued.
Prosecution Will Follow.
Sir. Paxton said that criminal prose
cution would follow.
The Kansas City party returned home
tonight and will be present at the inquest
tomorrow. Members of the Kansas City
party refused to make any statements
concerning what they knew about -the ex
amination Just completed. At Dr. Mains'
home it was said he was out of the city
and probably would not return today. Dr.
Hecktoen left his residence early today.
When told that Dr. B. C. Hyde, of Kan
sas City, had brought suit against him
to recover JMX-'.OOo for alleged slander, Mr.
Paxton refused to discuss the matter.
W. T. Johnson, an attorney represent
ing Mrs. B. C. Hyde, was refused ad
mission to the conference. Mr. Johnson
came here today to be present when the
report of the doctors was made. .
HYDE 61ES FOR BK3 DAMAGES
Swope's Physician Takes Offensive
, Against His Accusers.
KANSAS CITY, Jan. 81-The filing
of damage suits by Dr. B. C. Hyde,
the Swope family physician, against
an attorney and two physicians con
nected with the Investigation of the
deaths of Col. Thomas H." and Chris
man Swope, marked his active entrance
Into the case here today. The suits
are for sums aggregating $700,000.
Following the filing of the suits,
statements were issued by Dr. Hyde
and his wife, who was a niece of
Colonel Swope and a sister of Chris
man Swope, regarding the deaths of
the two men. Mrs. Hyde expresses
absolute confidence In iter husband.
The first suit filed was against At
torney John Q. Paxton, executor of the
Swope estate, and who has been prom-
tConcluded on Page 3.)
POSON
FOUND
I WELL-AIMED BLOW
FELLS WILDCAT
ELK CITY YOUTH HAD CLOSE
ESCAPE FROM INJURY.
Animal Shot, First Attacks Dog and
Then Turns on Boy Who Strikes
Death Dealer.
ELK CITS', Or., Jan. 31. (Special.)
Striking a wildcat across the head with
such force as to break the stock of
his rifle, alone saved Holly Gilespie,
of this place, from receiving scratches
from the animal -which might have ulti
mately caused death.
In examining the tracks about some
dead goats on the Gilespie ranch, Paris
Parks and young Gilespie found tracks
of the wildcat and gave chase with a
pair of hounds.
The cat was treed, and when shot fell
to the ground, grappling one of the
hounds. The hunters mixed in the
fight, trying to kill the cat without in
juring the dog, but failed, until the
cat freed itself and made for young
Gilespie, who saved himself in the nick
of time by striking the animal a telling
-blow.
Karmers and Ranchers along the Big
Elk River, who have lost sheep and
goats lately and who have been hunt
ing the woods for cats, have discov
ered that a great part of the killing
has been done by dogs. As a conse
quence, owners of all suspected canines
are complying with a request on the
part of eneep and goat owners or are
taking it upon themselves to call their
dogs into the woods and shoot them.
The last raid was made on Colonel K.
J. Parker's flock of sheep. Three sheep
were killed and several wounded. The
disposition of three suspected dogs re
suplted. TIDE AIDS THIEF IN NIGHT
Hawsehs Cut With Ax; Vessel Floats
Away; Captain Rescues.
ABERDEEN, Wash., Jan. 31. (3pe
cial.)JWith her four stern lines sev
ered by thieves and carried away by a
strong flood tide and a heavy south
west gale, the schooner Taurus, loading
for Honolulu, missed Berious accident
Sunday morning only by the wakeful
ness of Captain Leibig, who, between
2 and 4 o'clock, was awakened by a
noise on deck and, rushing up, found
the stern of his vessel swung out into
the stream and being rapidly drifted
eastward.
The strong tide and gale from the
sea were fast carrying the vessel
away when the crew arrived on deck
and lowered the anchors. . This alone
saved the vessel.
The hawsers had been cut with an ax,
and had thevjct not been discovered
immediately the big vessel would have
swept up the river and crashed into
West bridge. The thieves also succeed
ed In entering the donkey engine-room
and stealing a considerable amount! of
clothing.
CANADIAN NORTHERN WINS
Valuable Coal Land Option Goes to
Hill-Harriman Rival.
VICTORIA. B. C, Jan. 31. The Can
adian Northern Railway has secured
on option on the entire Dunsmuir coal
mining and real estate property on
Vancouver Island, it is stated on good
authority. Eleven million dollars Is
the sale price. $100,000 having been
paid to bind the bargain.
No official announcement can be ob
tained today, owing to the absence of
ex-Governor Dunsmuir up the coast.
The Mackenzie-Mann people have un
til May to complete the purchase. In
the meantime, the properties are to be
examined and fully reported on for
the purchasers.
It is stated that both the Northern
Pacific and Harrlman people have been
figuring on the purchase of the prop
erty for some time.
Indeed, negotiations looking to the
bonding of Dunsmuir mining and real
ty properties to Portland people, who
were acting under the direction of
President Howard Elliott, of the North
ern Pacific Railway, were initiated
over a month ago.
WOMAN GOT $1000 YEARLY
Wnrriner Says Mrs. Ftord Got $700 0
From Him.
CINCINNATI, Jan. 31. Charles L.
"vV'arriner, defaulting' treasurer of the Big
Four Kailroad. as a witness In the trial
of Mrs. Jeannette Stewart-Ford today
said that he had paid Mrs. Ford $1000 for
peven years from October, 3902. Mrs.
Ford Jb charged with having1 blackmailed
Warriner. The- witness described Mrs.
Ford as a woman who could never have
enough money and himself as a man
never free from her demands. This was
the first time Warriner had uttnred any
thing publicly regarding Mrs. Ford, .and
his testimony aroused great interest."
Attorney Thornecke, in his opening
statement declared the defence would as
sist the prosecution in showing that not
only Warriner, but other employes of
the Big Four railway were short In their
accounts and added:
"We propose to show that the ma
chinery of the state is being invoked to
air a vulgar affair between two women
for the love of one man and a very poor
specimen of a man he was."
PRICK OF PI NCOSTS ARM
Corvallis Woman Loses Right Hand
by Blood Poison.
CORVALLIS, Or., Jan. 3. (Special.)
Afflicted with blood poisoning result
ing from a pin prick or putting a
pricked hand into blueing water while
washing about three weeks ago, Mrs.
TV. A. Buchanan has suffered the loss
of her right arm. She rallied nicely
from the operation and gives promise
of recovery.
Her husband. County Treasurer
Buchanan, is minus bis right arm at the
shoulder, which was severed from his
body several' years ago by a. ywwr saw
flying from its moorings.!
GREAT BOOST IN
FIGURES OF MONTH
Business GreaterThan
in January, 1909.
CLEARINGS GAIN 48 PER CENT
Building Permits 45 Per Cent
More Than Last Year.
BRILLIANT YEAR PREDICTED
Grain Kxports Foreign Show Small
Drop, but Coastwise Are larger,
and' Are Almost Double Those
of All Pu get Sound Ports.
Statistics reviewing the industrial
and commercial activities of Portland
for the month ending yesterday are
flattering. Not only do these figures
show substantial increases over the
volume of business for the correspond
ing month in 1909, but they reliably
forecast new high records for the cal
endar year 1910. This will be the un
questioned result if the same propor
tion of increase established for the
initial month of the new year is main
tained for the remaining 11 months.
Clearings Increase 50 Per Cent
Records covering building permits
and bank clearings not only tell of the
growth of a great city, but refleot in
fallibly the volume of business trans
acted. These records for Portland last
month approximate 50 per cent greater
than those for the same month in 1909.
The bank clearings for the month end
ing yesterday aggregated $38.055,580.7 8,
or an increase of $12,346,282.78 ' over
January, last year, when the clearings
amounted to $25,709,298.7$. This is an
increase of 43 per cent. The average
clearings for last, year, which exceeded
the record of the highest preceding
year by $40,0110,000, were less than $32,
000,000. At the same rate of increase
for the remaining 11 months of 1910,
the bank clearings for this year will be
more than double those for last year.
These clearings yesterday reached a
total of $1,533,186.85. For the same day
last year they were $1,173,518.01.
Clearings Kxceed 1909.
The clearings for last month exceeded,
those of every month In 1919, with the
exception of October and November. Iast
October the total clearings were $40.9(W.
548.21 and in November they were $CS,
403,584.25. The January clearings this yeai
were also greater than those of any single
month of 1008 and exceeded the, best
month of that year, October, by more
than $5,000,000. Only an unlooked-for de
pression will keep the clearings of Port
land banks this year from going well over
the banner year, 1909.
Building Permits Gain 48'Per Cent.
"While building permits for January did
lnot measure up to average in the aggre
gate of improvements represented, they
were 45 per cent greater than for the
same month in 1909, when inclement wea
ther tended to interfere with extensive
building operations. Similar weather con
ditions prevailed last month so that the
percentage o? increase In these opera
tions fairly shows a decided Improvement
over the record of a year ago. During
the month which closed yesterday, 3;?9
permits were Issued for improvements ta
the amount of $624,110. Record foi
January, 1909, v.as 179 permits, aggregU
ing $431,415.
The movement of real estate last month
likewise exceeded that for the correspond
ing month of 1909 by $127,000. For the
month there were 1J03 transfers, with con
siderations as recorded, aggregating $2,
32S.S02. This total does not correctly rep
resent the actual value at which the
property was transferred because of the
practice of many property owners in
naming in deeds a nominal and fictitious
consideration of $1 when the property
sold is worth upwards of several thou
sand dollars. Even then the. transfers
for last month were 6 per cent greater
than for the same month last year, when
1233 transfers were recorded for consid
erations aggregating $2,201,048.
Grain Exports Beat Seattle.
Grain exports for this port for Jan
uary fell below European shipments
for the same month a year ago, but
coastwise shipments reached 43,163
bushels, as compared with 400.811 bush
els a year ago. Records compiled by
the Merchants Exchange show that
these shipments, coastwise, from Port
land for the month were almost double
those of the combined Puget Sound
ports, which amounted to only 262,425
bushels. Lumber exports amounted to
2,368,266 feet, as against 1,740,380 feet
for January, 1909. Coastwise lumber
shipments for last month, amounted to
8,800,00 feet.
Aa has been remarked, there was a.
slump in grain exports last month. The
aggregate of these shipments for Jan
uary was 349,016 bushels, as against
644.244 bushels a year ago, but at the
same time they were more than double
the export shipments of the Puget
Sound cities, which were only 144.243
bushels. These shipments from Puget
Sound for the month were about 1 50,
000 bushels less than for the same,
month In 1909. when 392.725 bushels
were forwarded to the foreign markets
from those points.
"Foreign flour shipments from tnia
Continued on F&e 2.
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