13
TIIE. MORNING OREGONTAN, MONDAY, JANUARY 1, 1917.
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K-ORTLAND, MONDAX. JANUARY' 1. 1917.
THE OLD YEAR AND THE NEW.
Oregon welcomes the New Tear I
with satisfaction and confidence. The
4,,. hd I
. . , . .
forward movement in the state. With
but few exceptions there were sub-
Etantlal gains in important lines of
trade and Industry. Retrenchment I
and llniildatlnn. which characterized
arteratinna ft, iqiK ,nri.th .riv nart
of 1916. began to give way with the
J , , 6 B' , ,
definite assurances of big crops and
Byuunuttiij- uigu iniuco aw I
products,
Confidence also was renewed during I
the latter part of the year when re-
rn frxm th effActs rf th Riirr..
. . . .
pean war on shipping began to be
' , , , . .,
felt. The relatively heavy rail move-
oi looasiuiis inn neiiea Dig re-
turns to the producers and unprece-
dented activity In shipbuilding more
than offset the loss of trade caused
by lack of tonnage, and actually placed
Oregon and the entire Columbia River
district in a more prosperous condl-
tion than has prevailed since the be-
tinning of the great world conflict. ,
It is unquestioned that restricted
shlnnlner facilities mateHallv affected
business and virtually demoralized
, . . , ,. .
come industries. The paucity of ocean-
going vessels ana the conunuea snort- cost wlu be j6.000.000. -Assurances
age of freight cars formed a combina- aro given that the project will be suc
tion of unusual circumstances that cessfully financed and actual con
struck hard blows to producer, manu
facturer and shipper alike.
Despite these conditions more new
wealth was created in Oregon than
ever before. With relief in rail con
gestion, which is expected reasonably
soon, when returns from the 1916 pro
duction are finally In, and with the I
Hhlnhttllilln f Inrtiistt-w ernn n 1 n & hv
leaps and wounds, tnere is no reason
wny tne eany pan or tne jNew rear
should not be a bountiful period for
Oregon.
The outstanding feature in Oregon's
Industrial activity in 1916 was revival
of shipbuilding. Completion early in
tne year or tne auxiliary scnooner,
City of Portland the largest vessel or
its tvna afloat marked the beeinnine
of an epoch of ship construction in
the Columbia River district that al-
ready has reached great proportions,
Scarcity of bottoms is due to a war
condition. Shipyards throughout the
world have been unable to build ves-
seis last enougn to meet tne aemanas tne total for the preceding year, but
of trade and to counteract the effects lt ,s so sll&ht to be merely a fluctu
of the ruthless submarine. It was .H.n Wnr the Inst ten veara the rate
found that the tonnage could be kept
nearly normal by construction of
wuouen vessels. oiiippiag interests i
Knew mat tne Dest limner in tne woria
ior sucn a purpose was uougias nr.
So they looked to Oregon for at least
some relief. Today something like
forty large wooden vessels, of the ty p
of the City of Portland, are under
construction and will be sailing the
hlghvBeas within a few months. This
type v of vessel Is sturdy, reasonably
speedy and is economically operated.
The wooden vessel again has found Its
niche and unquestionably will grow in
favor. It is fair to presume that de
mand for wooden ships will continue
after the war, and for this reason the
shipbuilding Industry of the Columbia
River district should not only become
permanent but should steadily expand.
But the wooden auxiliary schooner
has not altogether monopolized the
star position In the romance of ship
construction in the Columbia River
district. Building of big steel freight
ers has been one of the notable fea
tures of activity. Fourteen vessels.
ranging In capacity from. 3000 to 8800
tons, have been contracted and con
struction work on some of larger ones
row is well under way. Th building
of these steel ships is not only of
direct, inestimable benefit to the city
but lt definitely places Portland as a purport of the allies' reply to pro
shipbuilding center of world-wide lm- posaia for a peace conference from the
portance. central cowers. Former statements of
Contracts for vessels closed with
Oregon yards In the past six months
aggregate more than $25,000,000.
Negotiations for 'more vessels are
pending and the expectations are that
additional contracts will swell the to-
tal to $30,000,000.
A significant feature is that nearly
all the vessels are for foreign Interests what terms of peace they would con
a.nd not one of the larger ships will I eider.
ny tne American nag. unis fact is
worthy of most earnest consideration.
The millions of dollars that are going
into snips ior Dcanainavjan interests
are supplied. In large measure, by the
P"ur peupi" u oaianea classes 01
Norway and Sweden. Such an invest-
ment always has proved profitable; It
Is Increasingly so now. Why should
there not be a still greater opportunity
here for Investment In not merely ves-
sels but. commercial fleets? Not
-until we put money into our own ves-
eels and establish and operate steam-
Bhlp lines shall we ever find our place
In the sun as a port of first impor-
wa-ui-c
The lumber cut In Oregon in 1916
approxtmated 1.700.000,000 feet and
virtually equaled the output in 1915.
The continued car shortage dealt a se-
rlous blow to the industry and in some come more blinded by fury to the
Instances mills were forced to close rights of the Innocent bystander na
down for considerable time. Scarcity, tions. It will become more difficult
of vessels also restricted foreign ship- to uphold our rights without being
xnents. uuring tne latter part or the
year there was a marked curtailment
of lumber ' production, due chiefly to
the shipping situation. The year closes
with the mills having orders for more
lumber than they are cutting and for
tuore lumber than they can ship.
Better methods of producing and
marketing are being adopted and as
soon as shipping conditions become
normal a big forward movement in the
Industry undoubtedly will follow. The
demand for certain grades of lumber
- uwv . - - - w.- - au u j da wjr 4U1i;h,
after the war will be marked. This j sand. Only those who have used war
new business. In addition to the eetab- made fortunes to establish a business
llshed markets, will be a factor in
placing the industry on a prosperous
basis.
Tho heavy war demand for food
stuffs, toe-ether with a. croo shortaere
in the United States, proved a big boon
to the Oregon farmer. Nearly every
kind of farm product brought unusual
ly high prices. Although the quantity
of farm nroduce. exceeded onlv in
small degree the output of 4915, the
valuation was much higher. In 1915
the value of Oregon's farm products
totaled $130,000,000, whereas in 1916
It reached the new high level of J155,
000,000. The gain over the previous
year was $25,000,000. Supplies, lm-
plements and merchandise cost more
,,a,,ai ,,.- iinM wos rMll
greatly in favor of the farmer and
1916 was admittedly his most prosper
ous year.
Among the notable features of the
year were gains in dairy production
and cheese making, wool production.
"vestoca production, mineral output
. , . .
ganberry Juice reached a stable basis.
and the future of the industry is as
sured. The xtract of the loganberry
now goes into homes In every state
and is doing its part In spreading the
name and fame of Oregon.
One of the most Important actlv-
lties of the year was extensive ex
perimental work in flax growing. Re-
uUa obtalned botn at the state ?enl.
tentiary at Salem and at Eugesfe in
preparing fiber for market proved the
practicability of growing flax exten
sively in the Willamette Valley. The
quality of the fiber has been found to
I?"1 tte Produced in Russia or
Belgium. The door has been opened
to a profitable industry for the farmer
ana to lug linen industry in uregon.
Railroad construction continued
steadily ' In Oregon during the year.
Completion of the Coos Bay branch
of the Southern Pacific and extension
. , , -
of the Oregon-Washington Railway &
Navigation Company's line from Vale
to Crane Creek Gap, a distance of 127
miles, formed the most Important
work. Considerable progress also was
made on the extension of the Grants
Pass-Crescent City line. The most
pretentious railroad project prosecuted
during the year Is the Oregon, Cantor.
nia & Eastern, of which Robert E.
strahorn is the guiding genius. This
road is planned to connect all of
South-Central Oregon with existing
lines. It will provide an outlet for an
immense area of great resources. The
aggregate length of the proposed Toads
w 400 mUe8 and tho estlmated
struction, work doubtless .will be
started early this year.
So, Oregon made gratifying prog.
ress in 1916. Agricultural expansion
was notable and Industry and busi
ness generally made gains over the
previous year.
There is cause for optimism con
cemlntr 1917. Few states possess as
&reat wealth of natural resources. To
their advantages and opportunities the
people are alive. In the new year they
win apply themselves with vigor.-to
further development, encouraged by
past success in surmounting obstacles
that were not of their own making.
" uuaub aji .nunur-n.
Homicide records of the United
states for the year 1915, as compiled
K -m-ow vnrt Rr.ectatr.r do not
indicate nnv increase in resnect for
human life. There is a decrease from
haa been practically stationary and
haa averaged higher than during the
npooortinp Ainnra
Throughout the United States there
elirht homicides for each 100.000
inhabitants, while London has only one
n inn nnn pt,.t the rnntnmt htun
North and South is even more ominous.
While New York's rate is four and
Boston's five. New Orleans has twenty-
three, Charleston twenty-four, Atlanta
thirty-five, Memphis eighty-five. From
four to six times as many negroes as
whites are shown to have been killed
In' states where the records are kept
separately, but , there Is nothing to
show In each case whether the killing
was done by a white or a black.
There Is something of the Pharisee
about a nation which expresses shud
dering horror at the wholesale slaugh
ter of war, while it seems indifferent
to the retail slaughter wrought by pri
vate war within its own borders. If
we are deeply enamored of peace, why
not begin by enforcing respect for the
sanctity of human life at home? Fav.
lng done that, we shall be in better
position to lecture other nations on
the wickedness of war.
0 PROgPECT OK PEACE.
The war Is to go on. That is the
tho nlllex' mimeses are reaffirmed
without a siem of yielding on any point.
vr- inclination is shown to reveal, even
,n the broadest detail, how the allies
nrnnnsn to nut in nractlce the nrin-
Cipiea for which they fight. That does
not munir well for compliance with
PrMM.nt wiisnn' invitation to state
Tf Oei-manv and its allies hoised bv
peacefl overtures to thrust a dividing
wedge among their enemies, no out-
wara slgn of success appears. All the
entente powers make the same reply.
They seem more firmly united than
Thn latest demonstration of
Teuton power seems to have driven
them ciOSer together. The stronger
and m0re resourceful Germany proves
to be the more determined are the
in .r theti- nii stroncrtv. nnri
to utillz their resources to the utmost.
They wln not discuss peace over a
military map of Germany's making:
they will try through another year to
1 t-emaVA .the m n n to their nwn lilrlnp-
As the war threatens to be srose-
cuted with greater ferocity, the pros-
pect Is that it will more and more In-
volve the United States and other neu-
tral nations. The belligerents may be-
drawn Into the whirlpool.
I Once' more we see by the stock mar-
kefs nervous reaction to every event
in the war sone how utterly dependent
on the war is our National prosperity,
Talk of peace sends war stocks turrf-
bling; refusal to talk of peace sends
them kiting again. Fortunes are made
and unmade In this greatest republic
by an' Emperor's word. Those who
have drawn their wealth from war and
have not prudently placed lt where
peace cannot destroy it are likely toj
which will derive its prosperity from
peace can feel safe as to the future.
iniX. "BONK DRY DO AS WELL?
Law-enforcement officers, adminis
tration heads and superintendents of
eleeymosynary institutions agree that
the prohibition law has been sig
nally beneficial. Statistics tend to bea.r
them out. Non-support cases, com
mitments of insane to the county jails.
vagrants, jail prisoners, penitentiary
prisoners, police arrests, intoxication
cases andpenitentiary population have
decreased. A white record is beyond
human hopes. Drunkenness is not the
cause of all insanity, or of all family
desertion, or of all crime, or of all
vagrancy. Only one item intoxica
tion is possible of elimination. Even
that possibility may be classed as
theoretical.
It is quite possible, even probable,
that lt has already been demonstrated
in Oregon Just how much prohibition
will prohibit; that Is, after correction
of minor defects in the law. Plainly,
there is fault In the existing statute
pertaining to sale of alcohol by drug
gists. If the number of intoxication
cases, due to alcohol, which might be
prevented, were given we could more
nearly estimate the benefits of a pro
hibition law drawn along rational
lines.
But It Is with Justified misgivings
that one turns from the record of so
cial and moral Improvement recorded
In the old year to contemplate that
which the new year may register. Dur
ing 1916 a law was in force against
which, in no quarter of the state, was
there a prevailing public opinion. That
c6unts in law enforcement. Washing
ton, with a law similar to Oregon's,
has had far graver and far more nu
merous violations in Seattle, which
was voted dry by the state in spite of
a large adverse local majority. Nor
has there been lack there of vigor on
the part of police and prosecutors.
In 1917 Oregon presumably will
have a law opposed by a majority of
the voters of the largest city. As
the Attorney-General remarked in ef.
feet the other day. the success of pro-
hibltlon finally depends upon the trial
Jury, and a Jury Is generally sub
servient to public opinion. Thus
we Jump from one experiment to
another. The first, after a year's
application, seems to have pro
duced desirable results and to give
promise of further progress, if cor.
rected and continued. But we are to
embark upon the second, which may
lead into a maze of violations and final
repudiation of the principle because
not sufficiently supported by public
sentiment. Prohibition presents the
sole phase of Oregon betterment on
which the year's books have been bal.
anced that does not give definite prom,
ise of a like profit in the new year.
TEETH AXX THE MENTAL. STATE.
Proper care of children's teeth ap
pears as the result of a series of tests
made In the schools of Cleveland to
have Improved their mentality by 99.8
per cent, or practically doubled their
capacity for learning. Some allow
ance must be made, of course, for the
fact that the so-called psychological
test has not reached the stage of per
fection, but even then it has been
made clear that the . teeth have
marked influence on the mental state
as well as the physical health. The
latter phase has long been recognized.
The report on the Cleveland expert
ment Is all the more significant In
view of the statement made by experts
that nearly all children in the" public
schools of the larger cities suffer from
defective teeth in greater or less de
gree, tlfe proportion of those needing
the services of a dentist being given
as 99 In New York and 84 in Boston.
The reason for the superiority of
Boston teeth Is not made plain, un
less lt be that parents have more gen
erally acted on their own Initiative.
Bad teeth mean more than aches and
pains.
CANCER RESEARCH.
Although the past year lias been
marked by redoubled efforts to find
a cure for cancer, only two additional
facts of scientific value, lt Is believed
have been ascertained. One is that
radium, a few years ago believed to
be a possible cure, must be used with
great caution lest in some instances
it do more harm than good, and the
other that cancer Is neither contagiou
nor hereditary.- It Is. lt seems.
purely personal disease.-There Is some
encouragement in this fact. Although
any person may have cancer, no- one
Is doomed in advance to have lt.
Dr. Francis Carter Wood, head of
the Crocker research laboratories a
Columbia University, announces in his
annual report that the laboratory has
in the course of the year Investigated
several so-called cures without find
ing one that lt Is willing to indorse.
None of those Investigated possessed
the slightest curative power on anl
mals; the laboratory, therefore, con
eludes that they cannot bo expected
to Influence human cancer.
The report tells of Investigations
made with radium, which Indicate that
much care In Its use is advisable. In
deed, it is said that under certain con
ditions a. small amount of radium
tended to stimulate tho growth of
tumors, instead of retarding it. There
are other cases, in which radium was
used in larger amounts. In which first
results gave encouragement to the be
lief that a 'positive cure might be ex.
pected, but there was a recurrence of
the disease after a period of freedom
from symptoms. Dr. Wood reaches
the conclusion In his report that "de
spite the fact that radium cannot be
regarded as a satisfactory method for
the cure of malignant tumors, there Is
no question that it' Is the best palliative
treatment- we have In cases of Inop
erable recurrence, after previous sur
gical removal of the main mass of the
growth." ,
Various others are engaged in can
cer research work in many forms. The
actuaries of some of the great insur-
ance companies have shown deep in-
terest in the problem, and it is to
them that a large part of the valuable
statistical information we now possess
Is due. Independent investigations con
ducted in the United States and In
England have confirmed each other in
Important particulars, especially with
reference to the fact already stated,
that the factor of heredity may be con
sidered as eliminated. It must be
admitted that purely negative "dis
coveries" are not as satisfactory as
Lmlght be, but at the same time they
possess considerable value by educat
ing public sentiment against quacks
and dreamers who would otherwise
profit extensively from exploitation of
so-called remedies that have no merit.
It is a fact that the victims of mala
dies of this kind s.re peculiarly gulli
hle; and it is unfortunate but true
that the world is not rid of a certain
class of harpies who capitalize the
fact. It is also true that those who
can least afford to spend the money
are the most promising prospects of
the exploiters of the misfortunes of
their fellow-men. So that if the re-
search organizations did nothing more
than to eliminate the profitless ele
ment they would not have worked In
vain.
Of course, the main object the dis
covery of a epeclflc will not be lost
to sight. Meanwhile, good work is
being done in pointing out the neces-
ity for early surgical treatment and
in showing the way to prevention.
Preventive measures consist almost
wholly of attention to personal hy
giene. It is essential that persistent
irritation of any part of the body be
avoided. One should not wait for this
until the "cancer age" Is reached, the
period after 40. Physicians of the
highest possible standing are convinced
that by this method alone a large
number of cases can be avoided. The
number checked by early surgical in
terference is Increasingly large, and
accurate diagnosis has been made pos
sible by recent advances In medical
science. So that while we are waiting
for the announcement of the cure, we
have much to be thankful for In the
work that already has been accom
plished. Investigators of the marvelous
power of radium are not only busy
holding out hope, but are giving us
something to worry about. It is
now calculated that if there is
in the earth only one part of
radium in each million million.
quantity that Is believed to have
been exceeded where Investigations
have been made, the effect will be
to raise the temperature of the earth's
core 1800 degrees In 100.000,000 years.
This heat would In the process of
being generated have the effect of
consuming the crust on which we live,
after which It would escape into space
and the world would grow cooler
again and a new crust would be
formed. Recent experiments have
shown that a gram of radium gen
e rates 133 calories an hour, which In
a year of 8760 hours would amount
to 1,160,000 calories, or in the active
lifetime of a gram of radium 2,900,
000,000 calories, as compared with
2?00 calories as the heat-producing
power of an equal quantity of coal.
Discoveries made while the Simplon
tunnel was being driven convince
scientists that radium is much com
moner than had been previously sup
posed.
Gem mining cannot be said to be
an important industry in the United
States, although we hear of occasional
finds of precious stones. The total
production of the country In 1915 was
only $170,000, the relative Insignifi
cance of which is made apparent by
comparison with the Imports of gems
tor the same yea r $26,193,862. Mon
tana is the gem state of the Union,
furnishing more than two-thirds of
the total, chiefly In sapphires and
moss agates, although some garnets
and Iceland spar were mined. Califor
nia is second, with a wider variety
from which to choose. It produces
tourmaline, jasper, chalcedony, agate,
beryl, garnet and an exceedingly small
quantity of diamonds and topazes. The
occurrence of gems Is not well under
stood as yet, even by geologists, and
they are constantly being found in un
expected places, sometimes singly In
localities where subsequent search is
fruitless, and sometimes In extensive
deposits In regions previously consid
ered gemless.
If California -should establish a fish
market, it may ' need some provision
for imposing. moderation of language
on those who frequent it. Billings
gate Is the great fish market of Lon
don, but the dealers who resort there
became so notorious for profanity and
obscenity that the name "Billingsgate"
has been distorted to mean foul lan
guage in general. Yet what is there
about fish to make a person swear?
Nothing except the odor when fish
becomes stale.
Democratic efficiency as spenders
may yet drive the party to re-enact
for revenue only those duties which
the Republicans were accused of im
posing for the heinous purpose of
protection. Democrats always were
able to spend money faster than they
could raise it.
It must have been an oversight when
the wife of Steel Magnate Corey neg
lected to declare a simple matter of
clothing of the value of $500 when
landing. Five hundred dollars' worth
of "duds" is as important to that
woman as a pair of hose to the ordi
nary person.
The court having decided that a
man must serve his term who libeled
George Washington, we presume the
whole thing will have to be threshed
out again first time some of the lesser
celebrities' admirers fancy a similar
Injustice has been done to their
memories.
Carranza, is less able than ever to
hold Villa in check, yet he is more
insistent than ever that the United
States leave the Job to him. He is
consistent only in his contempt for
reason, but is encouraged by the fre
quent yielding of President Wilson.
Munltion companies are not the only
kind of war brides that the war has
produced in New York. It has also
produced about 7500 of the human
variety, Ttjjlch .wears wedding rings
and orange blossoms. They may last
longer than the other kind.
A New Year resolution In a "dry"
state Is barely worth the timo spent
in making it. The incentive and .its
necessity have been removed.
If Russia has exhausted her reserve
fund, she knows where to find Uncle
Sam's sign of the three balls.
Being neither white, of African de
scent nor native born, a Filipino
must be a what-ls-lt.
Must, we go through all the sus
pense of a general railway strike vote
again!
A good resolution is to buy at home
all the tilings that can so be bought.
Twin sisters who wait until they are
25 to marry are wise little maids.
Queer, but true: You earn money by
spending it during January.
The alliesT reply to the peace pro
posal Is a slam at the Jaw.
You must "hop" the West
trains at a new station now.
Side
Give us Anno Domini,. One-Nine.
One- Seven, please. Central.
A resolve to smoke only tobacco
will fit the day.
Happy New Yearl
bounce?
Is It a raise or a
How to Keep Well
By Dr. W. A. Erass.
Questions pertinent to hygiene, sa.nlts.uon
and prevention of disease. If matters of gen
eral Intert-t. will be answered in this col
umn. Where space will not permit or the
subject la not suitable, letter will be per
sonally answered, subject to proper limita
tions and where stamped addressed envelope
Is Inclosed. Or. Evans will not make diagnosis
or prescribe for Individual diseases. He
Quests for such services cannot be answered.
(Copyright. 191B, by Dr. W. A. Evans,
Published by arrangement with the Chicago
Tribune.)
FASS TO AID HEATING.
The other morning the room In which
I was writing was cold. The outside
temperature was around three deicreea
above aero. The coal supply Is In
versely, as the cold supply and the
high cost of living works here as
elsewhere. The steam In the radiators
was low.
1 had occasion to mount on a step-
ladder until my head was near the
celling. The thought I had was that
11 we could arrange our bedrooms so
that we could sleep In upper berths
and our workrooms so that our heada
would touch the celling and our feet
would be some distance from the floor.
we would do something to beat the
high cost of living.
1 left the house and walked down
the street. I passed a erocery atore
and looked for the display of vegetables
in tne window. They could not be
seen because the glass was covered on
the Inside with Ice. I passed another
grocery and noted that the glass was
free from Ice. This grocer had an elec
tric fan playing on bis window.
"-
The train of thought suggested was
that we might gain In comfort in cold
weather by changing the heat from the
places where it was not wanted to those
where lt was. Just as in Summer time
we employ fans to move cold air to the
places where lt is wanted. The enter
prising grocer kept his window free
from lcp by blowing the heat away 1 7 p , .i. i . i. J. cieany
from hll store, where lt wilted vege- defined se for the shipbuilding plants
tables, and against the glass. By warm- baJ of in,at clo"d f mteleadl.n r
Ing the glass lt prevented the preclpl- mont and Pertinent figures that have
tafion of moisture and the fomentation f'K"ifP i:0''-
0- e men for the labor organisations.
. " . . j The case can be deduced from the
An electrlo fan eo placed that It ' - . ... .. . . , .
wr.,,1 hhv. th.. h..t tvm th. mhia. t form of the agreement presented to
tors into the room would Increase the
comfort of the room. It might be placed
behind the radiator to blow between
the colls'lnto the room. Where this Is
not feasible it might be so placed that
the air driven through the oolls would
strike the wall and rebound Into the
room.
Where a room Is heated by a stove,
an electric fan, driving hot air into
the far corners of the room, would
double the proportion of the room us
able with comfort on a cold day. This
applies especially to schools, but there
are many office buildings, such as yard
offices of railroads, where the heat
ing Is by stoves and at the same time
electric current for a fan Is available.
An electric fan located near the cell
ing of a steam-heated or hot-air-heated
room will Increase the comfort of a
room. It will do something to elimi
nate the discomfort from a cold-foot
zone.
Iodine for Goiter.
E. K. writes: "Will you give some
details of Iodine (Internal remedy)
treatment for goiter? Our doctor says
serums or operations are best. Iodine
rubbed on the neck of tke child caused
theaygolter to disappear. It reappeared
anala growing. Is the iodine treat
ment harmful?'
REPLY.
The secretion of the thyroid sland Is rich
In Iodine. Theoretically the drug should be
helpful In myloedema, where there Is a defi
ciency In thyroid secretion, and harmful In
goiter, where tnee Is an excess of this secre
tion, practically. It Is found helpful in
myxoedema and also In some cases of goiter.
It Is more frequently found helpful In those
cases of goiter where there Is simple en
largement without protuslon of the eyes or
tremor of the hands. - These cases are known
as simple goiter, enlargement of the thyroid,
adenomas, and simple hypertrophies. Oint
ment of the red Iodide of mercury. 15 grains;
lanolin, one ounce, is rubbed In once a day.
Also ointment of Iodide of potash Is rubbed
In dally. Internally, Iodine Is usually given
as iodide of potassium, five grains In watery
solution, once or twice a day. Compound
solution Iodine, one to two minims, twice a
day. well diluted. Burnt sponge, formerly
In wide use, contains small quanUtles of
Iodide of soda. Iron, magnesium bromide,
and phosphate of lime. Ten to 13 grains of
the powder can be tsken twice a day.
Sleep In Open Air.
Miss G. T. writes: 1. I am a girl of
23 years. I have tuberculo'sis In the
first stage, but seem to be improving.
fchould I sleep in the open air this
Winter? 2. Is this trouble apt to re
turn later in life after one is cured?" .
REPLY.
It Tea. Are you In a sanitarium? If not.
can you go to one? Are you under good
medical control? If not. you must be.
z. it Is possible but not Drobable if you
live correctly.
Remedies for Lice and Canker.
Mrs. S. C. F. writes: "I noticed a per
son asked In your column for something
to Kill nead lice. You will be safe In
recommending sassafras oil. Rub the
oil on the scalp at night and wash lt
the next morning. The oil is not in
jurious and It Is a dead shot for the
vermin. I got relief from canker in my
mouth by a pinch of baking soda placed
on the sore and kept there a minute
or so. It takes the soreness right out
Othlne (or KreckJes.
A. 11. writes: "Are there any dan
gers or after results from using don
ble strength othine for bleaching the
skin and removing freckles;'
REPLY.
The Indiana health department publica
tion, called "Medical Frauds, . says of
Othlue: "Auother dangerous 'freckle remov
er. It contains about five cents worth of
animontated mercury, a little greaso. and
sells lor a dollar.
Not Cause r Colic.
A. K. B. writes: "1. Is It true that
baby gets collo when Its mother puts
her hands first In warm and then In
cold water, or If she touches cold ar
ticles? 2. Is It better for baby to sleep
on Us back or alternately on Its left
and right sides? 3. About how much
water should a month-old baby drink
and must it be boiled and then cooled?"
REPLY.
1. No.
2. Have her sleep alternately on her back,
her right side, and her left side.
3. Try two teaspoonfuls four times a day.
Tou may not succeed, but try It. Hon it.
Talcum Not Injurious.
Mrs. S. D. W. writes: "Since child
hood I have been accustomed to using
talcum powder after taking a warm
bath. Please advise whether . this Is
Injurious."
REPLY.
No.
Relief for Soldiers Families.
PORTLAND, Dec 31. (To the Edl
tor.) I have heard something about
there being a law passed last Summer
to the end that a married militiaman's
family should have $60 a month while
he was In active service.
Is lt a fact? and. If so, when should
the $50 begin to be allowed, at the
time the law began or at the time he
was ciuicu i u ivj av.ii a BBrvicac
I am a hard-working wife and moth
er and would like to learn if I could
collect the extra pay for the three
months and ten days my husband was
at the front with the Third Oregon
Infantry. . SOLDIER"S WIFE.
No law has been passed granting
allowances In general to families of
guardsmen in service. The Secretary
of War was provided with a fund to be
used In his discretion for relief of sol
diers' families who were la want.
BIGGER THAN GROUP INTEREST
Issue In Shipyard Labor Troubles Sub '
Jeet for Public Study.
PORTLAND, Dec 31. (To the Edi
tor.) The labor question In its bear
ing on the newly launched shipbuilding
Industry in. Portland has brought out
large amount of discussion, much of
which Is, I believe, rather specious and
superficial, representing a point of
view which, aside from prejudice, does
hot indicate a complete understanding
of the situation.
If there is anything in this state
just now that the public should under
stand thoroughly, lt Is the merits of
this case. The growth or stifling of
this Industry at this time Is something
that comes directly home to every man
and woman in the community, whether
affiliated with organized labor or not.
The entrance of shipbuilding Into the
development of Oregon marks the first
step In a new period of growth the
industrial which has not been strong
ly accented heretofore.
In a measure, the success or failure
of this new Industry must give the cue
to all other forms of industrial activ
ity that are looking to tht state as a
possible field. If lt Is stifled through
unreasonable demands on the part of
labor in the uncertain period when lt
is struggling to establish Itself that
fact will Inevitably act as a check on
others that plan to come In, and Port
land and Oregon will be held in a state
of arrested development while other
Coast communities forge ahead.
The question Is one that is bigger
than the Interests of any one Industrial
group.
The organization which win employ
Its energy uureasonably at this time
to attempt to force concessions from
the new Industry before lt Is sufficient
ly certain whether or not lt la to be a
going Industry is assuming a heavy
responsibility before the whole com
monwealth.
Advocates of the labor side of tho
question have been ready with argu
menu and figures In support of the'r
contentions, while up to this time the
employers case has been -perhaps In
sufficiently laid before the public.
the shipbuilders by the labor organ
izations, a copy of which was printed
In the newspapers of December 15.
The people of Portland should an
alyze this question and then determine
firmly whether by the sanction of
silence .they are to permit Oregon's
new Industrial development to be lamod
while It Is learning to toddle by labor
Interests which, lt appears, would rath
er never see It walk at all than forego
the privilege which they arrogate to
themselves of directing its steps after
It has been brought into the world
and nurtured past Infancy by others
than themselves. O. M. PLUilMER,
SEIXIXG IX RIVER IS DEFENDED
Observer Declares Most Hook and Line
Fishermen Flak for Profit.
MILWAUKEE. Or, Dec 80. (To the
Editor.) Speaking In defense of the
present law permitting net fishing for
salmon In the Willamette River below
the Oregon City bridge. I would like to
have explained to me the difference be
tween two men, each fishing for profit
one with a net and the other with
a hook and line. It Is admitted that
over 90 per cent of hook and line fish
ermen are fishing solely for profit.
The past Spring was the best sea
son in years for fish to tret ud the fish
ladder and into the spawning grounds
of the upper river. Previously in the
late Spring of 1913. for example, lt was
a common sight In the eddy below
Cedar Island to see from 26 to 60 dead
salmon floating about. Literally tons
or rish went to waste.
There are Beveral causes tor this
condition. May usually sees a low
stage of water In the upper river and
all except the small trickle coming
over the rish ladder Is used by the
Oregon City mills. To get an Idea of
the amount of paper pulp which Is
set free Into the river It la only neces
sary to observe the gravel bars below
Oregon City after the Spring backwa
ter has receded. A solid coating: o
pulp from one-half to two Inches 1
depth Is common. Picture, then.
salmon approaching the falls during
tne average low bprlng stage of wa
ter in tne upper river The current,
which is his guide, leads him up to
me outlet irom a paper mill and then
alter-having swallowed a sufflclen
quantity of waste, the salmon grad
ually weakens and drifts back to die
in one of the lower eddies. With
closing of the river to net fishing the
numbers or these dead salmon would
be augmented by thousands.
It has been spread about bv the
Multnomah Anglers' Club that the ma
Jorlty of net fishermen come In from
Alaska, California and other outsld
points. Yet out of approximately 3
boats on the Cedar Island drift las
spring mere was just one which was
foreign to the Willamette.
As an illustration of the practicabll
Ity of some of the experimental letrls
latlon put through by the Multnomah
Anglers Club consider the 10-lnch
trout law. Under this law lt Is legal
throughout the year to catch trout 10
inches long or over. It Is Jueit these
larger rish which are best for propaga
tlon. It Is difficult to see anv lus
tice In taking the protection from these
risn during the old closed season period
from Isovember to April. In tho old
days the opening of the trout aeaso
was something to look forward to. bu
now all that one finds on the first o
April Is a well-beaten anglers' trail
along the stream.
It might be Interesting to have pub
iisnea tne record or the number
salmon marketed by hook and lln
fishermen before the opening of the
net season last fcprlng.
W. S. 6TOEHU.
Two Questions Answered.
FORT CAXBY, Wash.. Dec. 30. (To
the Editor.) (1) Did the United States
sign tne treaty of nations, guaran
teeing the neutrality and Integrity of
Dciyiumr v nat nations dldT
(2) In the bill, recently passed
the House, giving an Increase of pay to
certain Government employes. how
many employes and what branches ar
Included? SUBSCRIBER.
1. No. The treaty was signed by
Great Britain. France, Austria, Russl
and Prussia, the obligation of Prussl
being formally assumed by the German
Empire when the latter was organized.
2. A proposal has been adopted by
the House to Increase by from 5 to 10
per cent tho salaries of Civil Service
clerks drawing loss than 11800 a year
In Washington City alone. -It affects
about 16,000 employes of the Govern
ment in all departments. The House
also voted to raise the salaries of
secretaries to its members, from S1500
to $2000 a year. Senators secretaries
already receive the higher rate.
That Terrible Hoopanakes
PORTLAND. Dec 31. (To the Ed
itor.) Anent your correspondents'
tales (tails) of hoopsnakes, they seem
never to have heard the evidence of a
veracious down-east witness. His story
goes that he was hoeing corn one hot
day In June, when, happening to look
ahead down the rows, he saw a hoop
snake rolling rapidly toward him.
Said he: "I Jumped to one side and
stuck my hoe out In front of the
snake; he struck lt fairly with the horn
in his tail, and in less than 10 minutes
that hoe handle swelled up bigger than
my leg."
If your correspondents want any
further evidence on this subject, I will
not undertake to supply it.
Concerning horse hair, worms or
snakes this deponent sayeth not.
J, W. CAMPBELL.
In Other Days
Twenty-five Years Ag.
From The Oreconlan. January 1, 1833.
Washington Senor Montt, Chilian
Minister, has had another conference
with Secretary Blaine and is working
hard to prevent a break that might
lead to war.
Albany. N. Y.. Dec SI. Governor
Hill, who Is retiring to become United
States Senator, was banqueted here to
night. San FrancIsco The Pacific North
west and California baseball leagues
have been consolidated.
Governor Pennoyer's appointment of
Judge II. B. Compson. of Kin math
County, as Brigadier-General, of the
Oregon National Guard, does not please
the Jr ossll Journal.
The Portland Caledonian Club's ball
at the Exposition building last night
was a big success. Alex MacDonald Is
chief of the club. John Seed won the
prize as the best-dressed man present.
and Mrs. William Thompson as the
best-drcssed lady. The ball ended at 4
A. M.
George IL Williams Is the orator for
the laying of the Chamber of Com
merce building cornerstone this after
noon. Half a Century Ago.
Krom The Oregonlan January 1, IstiT.
The Oregonlan printed yesterday
morning the address delivered by
George H. Williams. October 24, 1866.
at Wletlng Hall. Syracuse, N. Y. It
had been 23 years since he left that
city as a youth.
Jacob Kamra, wife, son and servant
were among the passengers on the Ori-
riamme, which tailed Sunday.
Prowlers Saturday nleht entered the
homes of Charles Lamar, William Wet-
sel and Mr. Frazar.
Advices from Oreece say -that three
army corps have gone to the frontier
and that Oarrlbaldtans continue to as
semble In the frontier provinces.
Washington. The Secretary of the
Treasury has. It Is learned, yielded to
public pressure and will not discharge
the women clerks.
The New York Herald and the New
York Times advocate the election of
Horace Greeley to the United States
Senate In place of Harris, whose term
expires in March.
Foreign War Primer.
The proclamation of the Grand She-
reef of Mecca announcing the forma
tion of tho new kingdom of Arabia
gives especial timeliness to a com
munication to the National Geographic
Society from Archibald Forder, . of
Jerusalem. Mr. Forder describes Ara
bia as one of the oldest known parts
of the earth. He says:
Lone before the sons of Jacob went
down Into Egypt, the sons of Ishmael
had settled In the land Providence had
assigned them The boundaries of Ara
bia are outlined In the Bible as early
as Genesis xxv. is. rrooaDiy many
centuries ago Palestine. Syria and Slna
ltlc Peninsula were Important parts of
Arabia. Isaiah speaks of it as tho
desert of the sea' (xxl. 1). and when
one considers It a land largely desert,
almost entirely surrounded by water.
we conclude that the ancient seer was
not far wrong in his designation of tho
land. Arabia Is between t-gypt ana
Persia, to put It widely, and between
India and Europe. It has a aeacoast
of about 4000 miles.
No land so little attracts tho at
tention, of tho speculator, hunter, ad
venturer, or traveler as Arabia, and
yet no country presents so large or new
field. Many are the obstacles to oe
faced and overcome ere one can see
--. I .....if V,-. . hnnJ
the mysterious and almost waterless
belt of uninviting desert that almost
encircles this little known land, but a
few have penetrated the country from
different points and each has tbea
some light on the Interior.
-The first and perhaps the most dif
ficult obstacle with which the traveler
had to contend prior to the outbreak
of the European war was the rigid per
sistence of the Turk, who practically
controlled the entire coastline of Ara
bia up to the time of the revolt of
tho Grand Shereefa followers a few
months ago. but who never held sway
far Inland. Travelers landing on
coast with the Intention of proceed
ing to the Interior were met by smil
ing officials who politely requeaieu
their "permit" from Constantinople, and
on falling to produce that were recom
mended to procure tne same oy teie
erraDhing to their diplomatic repre
sentative In the Turkish metropolis
a costly and usually hopeless proce
dure. "If. however, an entrance was gainea.
as has been done, troubles of other
kinds ha.l to bo overcome, such as th
difficulties of transportation, the super
stition of the natives and their aisiik
of the Christian, the last perhaps the
most dangerous If not the most for
midable. "Arabia Is probably one of the old
est of the Oriental countries and at
different times has played Important
roles In the making of the world s his
tory and the probability Is that In the
revival of the Orient It will yet figure
prominently once more.
"The northwest part of Arabia l.i
famous for Its many-hued mountain,
rocks and crags. Into and out of which
has been hewn many a fine tomb,
temple, dwelling, and theater by th
Nabathean. Roman. Greek, or Egyptian,
all of whom have left their mark be
hind them. ... . . .
"Where water Is .obtainable It '
generally from wells of great depth,
causing a largo amount of labor to get
lt to the surface. Some of these wells
are evidently anoient, as Indicated by
the stones of niauy courses near tho
mouth and the dep grooves worn by
the ropes of tho drawers during many
centuries. .Some of these grooves art
as much ai nine inches deep in stored
as hard as marble."
GREETING TO THE EW YEAR.
Hello! you frisky little kid. take off
your overcoat and lid and try to roak
youreeir at home, nere miK"-y ' "
see you've come The old decrepit
16 guv, impaired of limb and far from
spry, has made a back-door sneak as
you with smiling face popped Into view,
and. with supporting staff In hand, has
hit the trail for Nowhere land. We will
not now enumerate tho many Ills of
crushing weight Inflicted on the strick
en land while he the scepter held In
hand: enough to say we got lt whero
Jemima wears the lavalllere In prices
boosted up so high they taxed the scope)
of naked eye. In you, young '17. we hope
to see the prices - hit tho elope and
slide down to their proper place upon
the old earth's waiting face. We hope
that early In your life will ceaso tho
cross-the-ocean strife that gives pro
ducers an excuse for welting us to
beat the deuce with the aforesaid prices
they balloon In uch a cruel way and
cause them humbly to repent with knees
at proper angle bent and ask forgive
ness of the Lord for wielding the ex
tortion sword. Climb on the throne.
New Year, and we will humbly bow the
suppliant knee and worship you in
earnest way If you will make the need
ed play will heed our suppliant ap
peal and stack the cards and change the
deal; and. when you mane your rinai
bow, upon your wrinkled scope of brow
we'll place the laurel wreath of fame
and ever after bless your name. If. as
your predecessor, you should to the
people prove untrue, into your grave
we'll see you flung, unwept, unhonored
and unsung.
JAilES BARTON ADAilS. .