.THE 3HOHXIXG OIEEGONTAN, TUESDAY, JULY ' 31, 1917.
COST OF FUEL
Applications for Positions Received at Our 6th and Alder Street Entrance, 8 A. M., Until Further Notic
AH Charge Purchases
Today Go On the August
Accounts and Are Made
Payable September First
Newest Wirthmor Waists
HOT DUE TO TRUST
t UUR JSEIV MODELS AT dj
' These new Wirthmor models are just as pretty and p
pleasing and winsome waists as one could wish for mid
summer wear. We can assure our patrons that in qual
ity, style and workmanship these new arrivals are fully
up to the highest Wirthmor standard. True to their
name, they are "worth more" than the modest dollar for
which we sell them. Waist Shop, Fourth Floor.
p Some Specials for
t Dollar Day
Mayor Baker Receives Report
of Special City Investi
, gator Humason.
18
HIGH
4. &
.TH& QUALITY" STOP Of POKXLAMD
iKn saai.-M yitn
V - J
DEALERS CALLED TO MEET
Attempt Will Bo Made to Get Agrrre
. ment on Price to Be Charged for
Wood and Coal Next Winter.
City May Compete.
There Is no trust, combination or se
cret agreement among the fuel dealers
of Portland, in the opinion of Ivan
Humason. special city investigator, who
filed a lengthy report yesterday -with
Mayor Baker reciting this; also the
fact that Portland faces a serious fuel
shortage.
Price increases have been due to
shortage of fuel. Responsibility for in
creases are laid by Mr. Humason to the
mills of the city, as well as to the deal
ers. The mills, he says, have boosted
prices for slabwood at every opportu
nity, increasing the price to dealers not
protected by contracts.
The city, Mr. Humason reports, is
short from 75,000 to 100,000 cords of
cordwood as compared with the supply
of a year ago. This figure is concurred
in by . C. Zlnk, who handles the cord-
wood transportation business for the
Portland Railway, Light & Power Com
pany. Mayor Calls Meeting of Fuel Men.
As a result of the fuel shortage and
the other conditions. Mayor Baker has
called a meeting of all fuel dealers for
4 o'clock tomorrow afternoon in the
City Council chamber at the City Hall,
at which they will be given a hearing.
Mr. Baker will attempt to get from
them an agreement on the price to be
charged for fuel next Winter.
It is planned to have the city enter
the fuel business unless the dealers are
willing to agree on prices that will not
be exorbitant during the Fa.ll and
Winter. Mr. Humason reports that he
has made arrangements whereby the
city can at any time step in and take
the entire output of three coal mines
for local sale. Assurance has been
received froth the railroads that good
rates will be given and tests have
been made of the fuel offered and it I
has been found good.
Labor Scarcity Blamed.
Following is Mr. Humason's report:
"After thorough investigation of the
fuel condition of the city of Portland
I beg to submit, the following report:
"In my opinion, there is no trust,
combination or secret agreement be
tween the fuel dealers of the city of
Portland. The existing conditions were
brought about by two things the high
price and scarcity of labor and the
shortage of cordwood as a result
thereof.
"A year or two ago cordwood could
have been contracted for $1 per cord
this season It costs $1.50 and 11.75
per cord. Then there were plenty of
horses to haul the wood, swamping'
is the term used, from the timber to
the railroad. This year they report
that all the large horses have been
Bold for the war and that the small
horses left can haul only half as much.
thus increasing; the cost.
Shortage la Great.
"I have written to all the cordwood
producers whose names I could get
from the different railroad companies
and while all the answers are not yet
in, those that are in give the same
reply shortage of labor; production
not up to ordinary.
"D. C Zlnk. of the Portland Railway,
Light & Power Company, who has
charge of the transportation of cord
wood. is probably as well informed on
this subject as anyone in the city and
he states that, in his opinion, there is
a shortage .of from 75,000 to 100,000
cords of wood under the ordinary pro
duction.
"The following Is an average cost of
producing a cord of wood:
titumpar. ......Sl.OOtlnaur&no. .10
Cutting LSOlFrelght 100
PwamplnK ...... 1.001
Tools 101 Total .........$4.70
Slabwood Is la Demand. .
"To this must be added the cost of
delivery, varying from $1 to $1.60 per
cord, also the dealer's profit. If it
happens that when a car arrives there
are no orders for immediate delivery
and the wood has to be piled in the
yards and sold from there, the cost of
two handlings must be added.
"This shortage of cordwood has
driven many users of wood to the use
of slabwood and the result is that
dealers are swamped with orders for
four-foot green wood, and it will be
September 15 or October 1 before they
are caught up wltn back orders.
"To cover this shortage, 1 have
written to all of the mills within 150
miles of the city, asking for slabwood.
I knew that all of the mills within a
certain freight rate radius of the city
had contracted their product, but I
hoped to get supplies from those
farther away. Practically the same
answer came from every mill 'local
demand is taking our slabwood owing
to lack of other fuel.' There are some
mills which are tied up by strikes at
the present time that can supply the
city with wood when they are running
and I will Keep in touch with them.
Block Wood Available.
"Our mills are turning out a product
that Is an excellent fuel for furance or
large stove use and, judging from the
lack of demand. It is not well known.
The dealers who handle it are piling
cords of it in their yards every day
I refer to .block wood. This is the
ends cut from square timber of various
sizes and is solid heart wood. It
comes in 16-inch lengths. This is good
wood and I advise our people to use it.
"The dealers are only from 10 to 14
days behind on 16-inch green slabwood
and are taking orders for delivery In
that time and, since the chance for
" getting four-foot slab is small, I ad
vise early ordering of the 16-inch wood
In its place.
"While the prices are higher than
last year, they are in line with the
prices charged by the mills and with
the increased cost of overhead ex
penses. The dealers are paying ' from
50 cents to $1 per day more for labor
and they figure that beside the added
cash outlay they are losing as much
in loss of efficiency. Oats have ad
vanced from $26 and $28 per ton to
$50 and $55 per ton. Hay in propor
tion; harness, iron work on wagons,
general repairs, all cost about 50 per
cent more.
Mills Have Advanced Prices.
"The mills must stand their part of
the blame those dealers who are not
protected by contracts have been ad
vanced from 25 cents to 50 cents per
load by the mills within the last 60
days. One mill is charging small deal
ers $2.25 per load for 16-inch green
slab; it has to be hauled several miles
to be delivered and then the dealer's
profit is very small. I understand that
A 1 G 1
sieraav;
What Thousands Game Y e:
And Thousands More Will Come for This Last Day of Our Great
"V "A
It would be astonishing if they didn't come, with hundreds of such good bargains as we are giving in
everyday wanted articles for the person and for the home. It's the year's greatest opportunity to save
on quality merchandise of all kinds, such as '
Women's Suits, Coats, Dresses, Waists, MilHnery, Gloves, Shoes,
Neckwear, Veilings, Kerchiefs, Corsets, Underwear, Sweaters,
Bathing Suits, Kimonos, Children's Wear, Laces, Embroideries,
Trimmings, Table Linens, Blankets, Bed Spreads, Housewares,
Toilet Goods, Stationery, Rugs, Draperies, Summer Goods, Etc.
In some instances, of course, lots are small prudent shoppers will come early but everyone will be
handsomely repaid for coming to Meier & Frank's today.
LOOK FOR THE SALE CARDS THEY POINT THE WAY TO GREAT SAVINGS
These Additional Offerings for Tuesday!
7.00 Silk
$4.65
This season's styles in Crepe
ie Chine and Pussy Willow Silk.
All the popular light shades in .
plain and striped effects. Every
waist in the lot a beauty and
every one a wonder value at
$4.65. Exactly 46 waists. All
w
aists
sizes.
No approvals. No exchanges.
Try and- arrange to be here
early.
Crepe de Chine Waists
LESS THAN HALF THEIR WORTH! Just 10 .
dozen crepe de chine waists in white, flesh, yellow, . 6o
maize, green, rose and gold. Some with hemstitch- I
ing; others with touches of embroidery
No Approvals. No Exchanges.
Come Early for These!
-Waist Shop, Fourth Floor.
Mme. Coates
Who Originated and Instructed
the First Dept. Store School .of
Dressmaking in This Country,
Author of "American Dressmak
ing Step by Step,"
Will Give a Course of Instruc
tions in -
Dressma k ing
and Designing
AT MEIER. &
GINNING IN
FRANK'S BE-SEPTEMBER
Madame Coates, the foremost au
thority on dressmaking and designing
in this country, will come to Meier &
Frank's direct from New York City
to bring to Portland women the in
spiration of the . latest authentic
modes.
The exact date at which Madame
Coates' classes begin will be an
nounced later in our ads. Enrollment
books are now open.
Tickets for the complete course, $1.
Register now at- our Notion Shop,
Main Floor.
Great Sale Women's
SKIRTS
WOMEN'S WHITE SHOES f
Formerly sold as high
as $4. Odd lota of high
shoes and Oxfords.
Also children's gun
metal calf shoes.
3
HOUSE DRESSES, 2 FOR
Women's well-made R
percale and gingham
house dresses in light
and dark patterns. In
good styles. .
TO $2.50 SILK WAISTS ?
Women's China silk .
waists, also a clean-np
of several other kinds
tot of styles and sizes. P.
TURKISH TOWELS, 12 AT p
Regularly 10c to
12 c each. Bleached
and unbleached Turkish
towels of a good gen
erous size and weight.
$1
i
$2.00 JUVENILE SUITS
A great clean-up of women's white
duck, repp, pique and gabardine wash
skirts in sports and dress models. The
season's leading styles in plain gored,
shirred top, yoke and belted models.
Large patch pockets or plain effects.
We've reduced the prices on 300 of these
fine skirts as follows :
$3.75 to $5.00 Skirts priced special
now at only
$5.50 to $7.50 Skirts priced special JQ '7K
now at only DO. I D
$2.75
Voile Dresses $4.45
100 Summer voile dresses in plain
colors, as well as a good assortment
of fancy flowered and checked effects.
The season's best models at $4.45.
I
I
1
A limited quantity
of juvenile suits, black
and white checks, plain
blues and salt and pep
per effects. Sizes 3 to 8.
TO $1.50 MEN'S .PANTS
Men's khaki pants, ,
also a cleanup of odds
and ends men's dress
trousers. Broken sizes.
TO $2.49 SPORTS
Women's sports suits
separate skirt and
jacket. Also some
wash skirts and odds
and ends dress skirts.
i
SUITS 5
TO
$2.98 SPORTS
HATS
In Addition to the Above Sales
Sunday
All the Apparel Specials Listed
Are Held Over for Today's Selling.
Fourth
Floor.
Portable Bath
Shower $18
Extra good quality port
able bath showers made to
fit any bath tub, easily at
tached. Complete with cur
tain. Specially priced $18.
Basement. Fifth Street.
Vacationists!
Send Us Your Films
We will correctly finish your films and
mail them to you, one day after we re
ceive them, to the address designated, or
hold them till called for. All work car
ries the Meier & Frank guarantee of
satisfaction.
Kodak Shop, Main Floor.
Curtains 65 c
Exactly 24 pairs of scrim curtains with
trimmings, three patterns. Formerly sold
from $1.20 to $1.60, for the last day of
our clean-up sale, pair, 65c.
Cushions 23c
Just 50 excellent quality cretonne
cushions at this specially reduced price
Very pleasing color combinations. Good
for porch chairs. Sold regularly at 39c
Scrim, Yard 15c
A few bolts of excellent curtain scrim
for rapid cleara way today at, yard, 15c
. Curtain Shop, Seventh Floor.
B
Men's 98c
ELTS
With Sterling Silver
Front Buckles Today
69c
Belts of extra good quality leather
with plain and fancy engraved sterling
silver top buckles. All sizes. Limited
quantity. ONE INITIAL ENGRAVED
FREE.
Jewelry Shop, Main Floor.
50c to 65c
Barrettes
25c
A big final clean-up of 125 women's
barrettes in several different sizes and
styles. Blonde and demi-blonde' colors.
These barrettes sold formerly at from
50c to 65c. Special today only 25c.
Jewelry Shop. Main Floor.
Does Sunlight Irritate
Your Eyes?
Have your eyeglasses made of the cele
brated Sir William Crookes glass, which
eliminates the Irritating ultra violet rays
of light without altering color or color
perception.
Any Eye Trouble?
If you have any trouble with your
eyes, our registered optometrists will
thoroughly examine them and cAgjilly
prescribe glasses, if needed, to yoTrr ji
dividual requirements. Lenses duplicated
from the pieces. -
Mezzanine. Sixth Street.
$1.75 Sphinx
Alarm
Clock
$1.39
A special purchase ex
plains why we can sell them
at this low figure. Metals
and materials that go into
the making of a clock have
greatly increased in cost,
hence any one requiring a
good alarm clock should take
advantage of this sale.
Jewelry Shop. Main Floor
A wonderful assort
ment of women's and
misses' sports hats in
ready-to-wear midsea-
son styles.
$1.50 BED PILLOWS PR.
Medium sized bed
pillows covered with
fancy art ticking in tan
and pink.
I
s
1
MEN'S, BOYS' SWEATRS
Men's and boys
heavy sweaters in Ox- d
ford. Also a limited P
quantity of flannel
shirts, broken lots.
COTTON BATTS, 12 FOR
. A limited quantity of
good quality cotton
batts in a fair 6ize.
Regularly 12 Mc each.
$
I
slabwood is not considered In fixing:
the price o lumber and that what la
received from the sale of it Is clear
profit, so those mills who have , ad
vanf'd the price, or who are charging;
higher prices tha.. others, are not
doing their bit to help the situation.
. "In regard to the coal supply, I find
that the mines, giving as an excuse the
high cost of labor and the advanced
price on powder, advanced the price on
coal to the dealers here from $1 to
$1.50 per ton. There is not much high
grade coal coming in. X have arranged
with . three mines - In , Washington to
take their output, In case the emer
gency arises. :
"My Idea is that as long as the deal
ers, In wood and coal can handle the
situation, giving plenty of fuel at fair
prices, to keep off, but as soon as it
becomes apparent that they cannot
supply the fuel, or advance prices be
yond reason, then it is right that the
city step in. purchase fuel and sell it
to our people at cost."
Read The Oregonian classified ads.
HEALTH LECTURES ARE SET
Railroad Employes to Hear Physi
cian Talk on Insurance Basis.
; Dr. Franklin C. Wells, medical di
rector for the Equitable Life Assurance
Society, has started on a tour of the
Union Pacific "System lines In the
Northwest for the purpose of lecturing
to employes on the principles of heajth
conservation. He is accompanied by
C. G. Sutherland, assistant to the gen
eral manager of the O.-W. R. & N. Com
pany. ......
- Recently the Union Pacific insured
the lives of all its employes through
the Equitable and the Equitable now
is co-operating with the railroad In
protecting the health' and lives of the
men and women. -
Siletx Indian Fair Announced.
TOLEDO. Or., July 30. (Special.)-
The third annual Siletz Indian Fair
will be held at the agency August 29,
30 and 31. A three days' programme
has been arranged, consisting of live
stock exhibit, farm produce, domestic
arts. Indian needlework and curios,
musical and literary numbers, games
and racing. - .
I
I
I
A union suits with tight
5 and lace knee. Regular
Y A nm1 v4-i civao Za
onds of 50c grade.
1
INFANTS' COATS ONLY
A small , odd lot that
we are closing out re- tf
gardless of former sell- V
ing prices.
12 YDS. EMBROIDERIES
5000 yards of em
broideries in Swiss and
nainsook. Widths to. 18
inches. : Regularly to 20c
a yard.
$1.30 BLANKETS ONLY
Wool nap and cotton
blankets in full regu- tf
lar sizes; also single V
blankets, about 100
in lot.
TO $2.49 KIMONOS FOR
. Japanese crepe kimon
os. flannelette bath-
robes, gingham and per
cale house dresses and
breakfast sets, etc. A
TUB FABRICS. 10 YDS. A
I
8
? $1
).
lt.
Prinevllle Man Gets License.
TACOMA. Wash.. July 80. Frank
Mertsching, Prinevllle, Or., and Mrs.
Elma Rushford. Orting. Waslu, ob
tained a marriage license hers today.
An immense table of
yard goods, ginghams.
bleached and unbleach
ed muslins, voiles, etc..
lengths, 2 to 10 yards.
$1.50 BED SPREADS FOR
Large size crochet
bed spreads of a. good
heavy weight; are mill
.ma vxrifVi clirrVif- im
1 UllOf T. Ah... L. . . W .... .
?
MIDDY BLOUSES, 3 FOR $
Broken lines and
sizes. Misses' and U
women's middies in . V H R
good washable mate- (R
rials. Reg. to 75c each.
12 PAIRS HOSIERY FOR p
Broken sizes and col- f
ors of women's hosiery,
Mill runs and seconds
of the regular 25c qual
ity.
UNION SUITS, THREE AT
Women's fine ribbed
$1
r ( .i r
J