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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (March 12, 1915)
12, 1915. VIEWS ON COLUMBIA HIGHWAY IX COLUMBIA COUNTY FOR COMPLETION OF WHICH FUNDS MUST BE PROVIDED. People Want to Go Ahead With Work but Lack Funds v for the Purpose. . RECALL TALK IS HEARD COLUMBIA COUNTY ' FACES ROAD CRISIS CrotJier Arrajed Against Brother and 'orth Half or County Talks of Ousting Judge It Elected, but Wants Engineer Kept. (OntlTind From Flrt Pg to the ume views as those held by the St. Helens people. hile Major Bowlby apparently concurred in the views and the wishes f the residents of Rainier and Clatskanle. The Issue between the old County Court and Major Bowlby. Brew so in tense that tne old County Court was recalled. This was construed at that time as a vindication of Major Bowlby and his work. Xew Cooatv Court lavolved. Now the new County Court, which elected because of its supposed friendliness to Major Bowlby and his policies has come into sharp disagree, enent With the highway engineer over t-1e question of engineering costs. The people at Rainier and Clatskanle are talking about recalling Judge A. L. Clark the man whom they elected when they deposed Judge W. A. Har ris but the movement has not de veloped past the talking point. It is apparent that the St. Helens people, who gave Judge Clark only 40 votes at the recent recall election, are pre pared to turn right around and sup port him if an attempt is made to recall him. The county Is badly divided against Itself. LJfelong friends have become the bitterest enemies. Brothers even are arrayed against brothers. And it Is all over a question upon which all aides were at tirst agreed and upon which even now ..llnTe is apparent unanimity of sentiment so far as it con cerns the major issue good roads. The people of Columbia County are thoroughly converted to the principle of good roads. All Want Highway Completed. They want to see the Columbia kighway completed. "But how are we going to do It. That is the question n everyone s tongue. Some of the most substantial citizens of the county are making heroic efforts to answer It. No answer so far has been forth coming that Is not conditional partial ly, at least upon the continued offi cial presence of Major Bowlby. -He must be eliminated," say the people at St. Helens. "He must be retained." say the peo ple at Rainier and Clatskanie. Major Bowlby is a live issue In Co lumbia County and will be so long as lie remains and the Columbia highway is uncompleted. Under the direction of Major Bowlby and his assistant engineers approxi mately 57 miles of the Columbia high way has been graded through Co lumbia County. This covers the dis tance from a point near Tide Creek, or Deer Island, n the southern end. to the Clatsop County line on the northern end. Between Tide Creek and the Multnomah County line the existing roads will suffice, temporarily. at least, ior a iiiiil hi mo " 11 " " j Grade lS't Entirely Finished. Thlg grade, however, is not entirely connected. Many bridges are not in place. Several rock cuts must be com pleted and a few minor fills must be made. The road everywhere Is the full regulation wtdth t 2 feet. It has stood the Winter well. A few elides have covered the roadway with earth at a few points, but the work has not been damaged materially. The road nowhere is passable for Winter traffic and could not stand heavy travel even In Summer. Almost every foot of it must be rolled and otherwise treated to lend It solidity. The bridges must be built, the gaps must be filled, the necessary fills and cuts must be made and the earth slides tnust be removed. At one place near the Clastsop County line a dry rock wall has caved In and Intruded on the right at way of the North Bank Railroad. The rail load Is threatening suit. The Columbia Contracting Company, which had the contract for the grading, blames Major Bowlby for this piers of faulty con struction. They say they followed spe cifications. Major Bowlby and his engineers blame the contract company. He says the wall was not put in right, taaistaat Blames Workmen. I Jriswold. assistant state highway nginrer. who had direct charge of the Columbia County work, declares that the contractors attempted to build the wall with Inexperienced workmen. He lias a theory that the Italian workmen alone know how to build dry walls; that the art was handed down to them from the ancient Romans, whose walls In various parts of Kurope remain stand ing after centuries ft use. From the point where the new road connects with the existing highway at Tide Creek it follows the meander line of the Columbia River to and through the town of Kainier. The scenery is delightful. It will be a most attrac tive piece of road when it is com pleted. At Rainier the highway leaves the river, circles around the hills and atrikes the Beaver Creek Valley. It follows that stream, crossing It half a dosen times, to Inglls, where it again approximates the shores of the river. It leads on through Clatskanle and fol lows the river to Westport into Clatsop County. Expeadltare ot Kaawa. This unfinished road represents an Investment of at least 1260.0)0. How much more than that has been spent upon it never has been estimated. Judge Harris and other residents of St. Helens say that fully 1100,000 in addition has been expended there. Major Bowlby says that little more than the $360,000 originally allotted for the highway construction, has gone into It. The vouchers have been honored by the County Clerk, but it has been Impossible up to this time ior him or for anyone close to . de termine precisely how much money the highway has cost to date. Then arises the question: Have we value received for our money? . The people at Rainier and Clats kanle say "yea" The people at Scap poose and St. Helens say "no." The latter element says that Major Bowlby has been extravagant and wasteful and that he has spent too much money In engineering. i Engineering Coat Disputed. The records show that tol.45S.67 has hten charged to engineering. This is approximately 10 per cent of the total cost. The County Court says It Is too much. Major Bowlby says it is not excessive. Tk.n..nlmiit th whnlA fflhrii. of the Columbia County road sttuatton are Interwoven tne oniciai penorraances or Major Bowlby. The County Court of Columbia County tfctv.-i.x-wt ; ........ . ; .1 - "i r v ... - . a I will have available this year ap proximately J35.000 for use on the Co lumbia highway. If it sees fit to ap nrnnriale it for that Durpose, but the people at St. Helens are demanding that none or this money snail De expenuou under Major Bowlby's direction. They hope also to secure an allotment of tr.iiooi or so from the state highway fund. Major Bowlby says that this prospective 1105.000 will complete the grading and open tne roaa ior summer traffic Major Bowlby's opponents declare that it will cost nearly 1200,000 to make a good Job of it. How to secure the money In the first place and how to administer Its expenditure in the second place are the two main issues that have de veloped the existing crisis in Columbia County. LOSSES LAID TO LAXITY FIRB MARSHAL. STEVENS SPEAKER AT AD CXIB LUNCHEON. Insurance Companies Alao Arraigned for Per Capita Destruction of SJ50 In Portland Last Year. ibilitv of the neople of Port land in respect to fire risks, disregard of means of fire prevention and delib erate opposition to efforts to improve conditions by legislation were some of the indictments made by Jay Stevens, fire marshal, In his address before the Portland Ad Club at its luncheon at the Multnomah Hotel Wednesday. "Our fire department is one of the hpt In tha rnnntrv." he said, "but we are realizing tlfe public's responsibility for lack of fire prevention and care. Portland is one of the most hazardous cities In the country. "While the per capita" fire loss throughout the country last year was $2.50. Portland's losses of $1,600,000 brought the per capita for this city up to $6.60. In addition to this IS lives were lost. Mr. Stevens blamed also the laxness of the fire insurance companies as one of the forma of neglect that makes Portland a bad fire town, declaring that innumerable companies will issue a policy upon payment of the premium without investigating the risk or as certaining anything about it. "Fifty per cent of our loss is caused by arson," he declared, "and we don't get the support we ought to in stop ping it. It looks like arson to us. but the judge will see it in quit a different light." Mr. Stevens declared that a city of the size of Portland ought to have a high-pressure system, and said that it could be Installed in this city at com paratively light expense. JIajr Albee was chairman or tne day, and besides Mr. Stevens. C. C. Colt and H. V. Chase were speakers. They talked upon the subject of the con solidation of the Cha'mber of Commerce and Commercial Club. -3 if, jSe A M C- & " ' - - k, JmmUmm s-1 IMife I iflllli v . -vA' 'v.. tJrJ2, m 4 . " iiiiiiisi.naa-Om llIIIM liWh WIWIIIllHWIls1Mlll"l I WW Upper Picture Specimen of Dry Roefc Wall Between Rainier and Goble. Lower Picture Section ot Tangent Overlooking Columbia River. 2000 SIGH DAT Road Bond Petitions Fill at Headquarters Rapidly. LIBEL SUIT IS STILL ON Tainlcss" Parker Ends Second Day n Witness Stand. With K. R. ("Painless") Parker still on the witness stand, which he has oc cupied for two days in the trial of his $20,000 libel suit against Hugh Hume, editor of the Spectator, court adjourned last night .with the attorneys arguing over the admission of various kinds of evidence. Although Dr. Parker has been on the stand for two days, his actual testi mony has not occupied more than two hours. The remainder of the time has boen taken up by arguments between Attorney Mannix for Dr. Parker and Ralph Moody for Mr. Hume. In a short period or cross-questioning by Mr. Moody yesterday morning. Dr. Parker told most of the story or his life, especially his controversies with dentists of the "regular" school in all parts of the country. Dr. Parker was questioned closely by Mr. Moody about his street-speaking campaign in support of his bill to re vise the state dental laws. This meas ure was defeated by a small margin last November. THREE HELD FOR THEFTS Men Accused of Taking Typewriter While Sloving Company. Dan Rust and R. Salqulst were ar rested yesterday on a charge of lar ceny by City Detectives Pat Moloney and Swennes. Charles' Thomas was rrested at the same time on a charge of receiving stolen property. It Is charged that Rust and Salqulst while engaged in moving the I C Smith Typewriter Company's stock here took one of the typewriters. -They are said to have been in the employ of a local transfer company at the time. Thomas is said to have had the stolen tvnewrlter in his possession and was attempting to sell it for $75. MOTOR OUSTS FIRE HORSES Tractor to Bo Hitched to Truck la tillsau-Street Station. Once again the horse is to step aside for the motor. The City Council has decided to purchase a powerful motor truck to put in the place or tne span oi big bay horses on the 60-foot hook-and-ladder truck stationed in house 3 on Gllsan street. The truck has been whirled about the streets by horses for 10 years. The tongue and front 'wheels will be removed and in their place will be inserted an auto tractor. The ma chine, which will be similar to one put on a steamer some time ago. will ! cost $4350. 10,000 NAMES ARE WANTED Saturday Xiffht Special "Stunts" to Be Staged to Attract Voters to Aid Caiie W. B. Fechheimer and Others Laud Plan, Two thousand signatures to the peti tions asking a special election for a bond issue of $1,250,000 for hard sur facing county roads were obtained up to closing time last night at the exec utive committee's headquarters in the Veon building. Fifth and Alder streets. This Is one-fifth of . the required number, the petition circulators aim ing to get 10.000 names at least. As soon as lists of 1000 names each are procured they are sent by the commit tee to the County Clerk for checking. In addition to the number of names so far counted there are 100 petitions in circulation in the city and through out the county that have not been re ported as yet. Elmer Amidon was Installed yester day as a "puller-in." He stands outside the door to the petition headquarters and attracts signers. He accosts pe destrians as well and gets their atten tion, when he points out the good work for roads that is going on inside and asks their help. He usually gets it. 4 "There is no question that we will finish up the required number of sig natures by Saturday night," said E. E. Coovert. who, with John B. Yeon and Amos Benson, is personally standing by the movement at the headquarters. "Saturday night we will keep open until 10 o'clock and we expect to make the closing day a big one. There will be 'stunts' on Saturday to attract at tention, special window displays and other features." The committee asks that women voters come and sign the petitions. Precinct maps are at headquarters so that those in charge will be able to give precinct numbers to each. It has been found that not more than 6 per ceht of all signing the petitions know their precinct numbers. This applies to men as well as women. The committee wanted it stated just what the bond issue will mean In the way of expense to taxpayers. It was pointed out that during the first five years the tax will amount to 18 cents a year for each $1000 of assessed val uation. Ths sixth year the charge will be 68 cents for each $1000, including principal and Interest, and on the seventh and each succeeding year the tax will be 10 per cent less. At the fifteenth year the charge will have reached the vanishing point and the bonds will have been refunded. W. B. Fechheimer dropped in at headquarters yesterday filled with en thusiasm for the bond Issue, having just returned from - San Francisco, where he says $18,000,000 is being spent in and about that city for road build ing purposes. "It is a pleasure to see the good roads they have in California, said Mr. Fechheimer, "and one always wishes that we, too, might have such splendid highways. We have the prettiest coun try about Portland that can be found near any of the Pacific Coast cities, and it is indexed to be hoped that we make the most of these resources by building a system of good roads, so that the country may be made accessi ble, not only for the tourist to visit, but for the good of our own people as well." CELIL0 FETE FUND IS $500 New Lire Put In Campaign to Raise Needed $4000. Tt-hile tha total fund needed from Portland to finance the celebration planned for the Celllo Canal opening in hA ti-t vL-Aolr of AInv in about $4000. the finance committee, of which Guy W. Talbot is chairman, announces up to date contributions of Only about $500. Letters, have been sent out to all busi ness men of the city ana many re sponses have been received, but the OAmmlttA AYTtrAKSPS the ODiniOll that the response thus far is not nearly so large as should have been expected in view of the importance of the Celilo Canal opening to .foruano. ana to mo Northwest. The campaign for funds will be pressed with renewed vigor and it Is hoped that the necessary budget can be made up before the middle of April. Members of the committee are Mr. Tal bot, R. T. Cox, C. S. Jackson,' Edward Ehrman and Leo Friede. ALL FIRE CLEWS FAIL No Arrests Made for Blaze Under icfcln Restaurant. Although many different clews have been followed out Fire Marshal Stevens has been unable to get sufficient evi dence to cause the arrest of any per son in connection with the fire under the Pekln Restaurant on Sixth street Wednesday night, which Marshall Stevens says looked to be of Incendiary nature. The investigation is not to be dropped, however. It was proposed at first to make chemical examinations of bits of cloth and shavings found In the building to see if there were traces of oil. but it was reported by City Chemist Dulln that the samples were too badly burned to permit of tests of this kind. Marshal Stevens says he hopes, however, to find some other way of getting at the facts. In looking over the new Gordon Hats for Spring we find ypur style is ready $3 please. SOI.B AGENTS FOR GORDON HATS. Tnmass 4k MATT ERA V , J 286 Washington. St. Macleay Bldg, Ei'ear 4th , j V Copjncbt Hut actxaffner Mux PIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIP VarsityFiftyFive with soft roll collar vest I Young men who want the latest u J?c u 3 1 touches of style will be greatly I &.Marx pleased witn tne suit niustrateu illlllIIUl!llll!lllll!!!!llllllllIillilinil!ll!!lllll!!l!l!!!i!llllllIlI!l!ll!l!nilll r 11 above. The graceful lines of the coat and the roll collar vest bring out the newest ideas. Details of this suit: Coat: 30 inches long; three buttons, two to button; no pad ding; soft front, wide lapels. Vest: Five buttons; leave the lowest unbuttoned; soft roll collar. Trousers: English type; with turn-up and tunnel belt loops. In buying, pay $25 if you can afford it; at that price you'll get some extreme value; you can get our clothes at less, and at more than $25. Our label in clothes is a small thing to look for, a big thing to find Hart Schaffner & Marx Good Clothes Makers Sold Exclusively in Portland by Sam'l Rosenblatt & Co. The STORE for MEN Northwest Corner Third and Morrison