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About The Sunday Oregonian. (Portland, Ore.) 1881-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 4, 1900)
10 THE SUNDAY OREGONLAN, PORTLAND, NOVEMBER 1900. LBip FRQM MR. A. B. HAMMOND Transportation Problem From His Point of View. PORTIA2CD. Or.. Nov. 3. (To the Ed itor.) Tho article which appeared In The Oregentan of Octobr3a contained state ments afcdut- the .-Astoria & Columbia Hlvor Railroad Company so grossly mis leading that any cne may be justified In concluding that they were Inspired for the purpose of damaging the road's finan cial standing. "Why does the writer of this article so gleefully detail the dis tress, though only Imaginary, that his fancy pictures; apparently sure that such news will he ieceived by Tve Oregrn'an's readers with pleasure and delight? I wlH allude only in a general way to the subject under consideration, and. In passing, t note the more flagrant errors, such as the alleged sale In New York of the company's stock, and the false charge that "in no year since It com menced operation has the road paid op erating expenses." More than 95 per cent of the stock of the Astoria road Is owned by myelf and two associates. The majority stock holders own all of the bonds. Not a ehare of stock, nor a bond of this com pany, has ever been offered for sale. The -Inst year after the road opened. It ylolded not only Its operating expanses, but also a goodly .sum as a surplus. The next fiscal year, ending last June. Its amings showed a substantial increase, although passenger rates had been cut between Portland and Astoria to 25 cents. For July, August and September, the first three months of the present fiscal year, the gross -arnlngs wer $79,846 K!: operating expenses. 5C6.?(r 27; leaving net earnings of $43,041 SS. This statement of earnings Is not made for the purpose of authorizing an inference that the own ers consider them a sufficient and satis factory return; but we are too much con cerned m establishing the prestige of Portland to remain silent when a state ment is made that a hundred miles of railroad can be built from any direction into Portland and not yield oven operat ing expenses to its owners. The "writer of the article alludes with Booming pride and merriment to the real estate subsidy in Astoria as being worth less now than when the railroad company accepted It. Does not this depreciation In property values occur at "other points on the Pacific CoAst? WhaX of Portland? In 1884. Its assessed valuation was In ex cess of $48,000,000; now It Is less than $23. 000,000. A good Oregonlan should not gloat over such misfortunes. During the first three months of the present fiscal year, the Astoria road car ried between Portland and Astoria con siderably more than 100,000 passengers; although passenger rates on all connect ing roads, except the Northern Pacific, are 1600 per cent higher than its own. Our principal competitor and our natural connection seems to be of the opinion that a quarter of one cent per mile Is sufficient for the Astoria road, while ex acting over its own rail lines the full legal limit of 4 cents per mile. Perhaps this supplies the reason why so many prominent citizens of Portland can de fend with such acumen the view that transportation between Portland and A toria can bo conducted more cheaply by water than by rail. When the construction of the Astoria road was being promoted, the Portland Chamber of Commerce favored the entr prisc. and by appropriate resolution In dorsed It. At the same time. The Ore gonlan earnestly and ably urged con struction, showing plainly that the mouth of the Columbia River Is the nat ural seaport of Oregon, and should be made a common point with Puget Sound for the exports of the Columbia River Basin, and how important it is to the state of Oregon that her railroad system bo extended to the ocean. In fact, tho Astoria road was largely financed through these editorials of The Oregon lan. which, later on. convinced that able and experienced master of transporta tion, the late C. P. Huntington, whose lettor to me on this subject Is now sub mitted for publication. The causing of instructions to be Issued to his general freight and passenger agent at Port land, that common rates be established from the "WlHametto Valley to Astcrla, was almost his last act. The full men tal measure of the man, which Is shown In this letter, should forever silence those who have misrepresented him while living, and those who now slander him after his death. His demise may postpone action, and we may have to en dure for a time the restrictive policy of the past, which has made Western Ore gon an unprogressive section. From Mr. Mellen's last interview In The Oregonlan, It Is evident that he. too, has been convinced; for he strongl favors throwing open the country at the expense of the transcontinental lines and the extending of common rates to tho mouth of the Columbia River, for the benefit of the wheat-growers and other producers. If common rates be so extended, would not every farmer, wheatgrower and other producer In the Willamette Valley and Inland Empire bo benefited? Who best servo the Interests of this state-, men like Mr. Huntington and Mr. Mellen. who advocate the ex tension of common rates and the deliv ery of the .export products of the Wil lamette Valley and the Columbia River Basin at the cheapest point of export on the coast, or those who beg this ques tion by gravely and ponderously discuss ing whether transportation between Port land and Astoria can be conducted more cheaply by water than by rail? Two years ago, when it was stated that 10,000-ton ships would soon be used In tho foreign commerce of Puget Sound, there were people In Portland who thought the statement absurd. Today, James J. Hill, who ought to know something about transportation, is building two steamships of a capacity of 27,000 tons each, drawing over 30 feet. This is tho competition that Oregon .and the Columbia River must meet. According to General Wilson, Uni ted States Engineer, a depth of 40 feet of water can easily be maintained at the msuth of the Columbia River. This work would now be well under way, had not certain Interests In Portland Insisted that no Improvements should be made at the bar. unless the bill also carried an appro priation for deepening the channel to Portland. When these Interests receded from their position, the bar Improvement was provided. It is amusing as well as Instructive to road, the criticisms of prominent citizens on Mr. Mellen's interview concerning the extension of a common point to Astoria. Mr. Wilcox does not want his "back-door" at Astoria. He calls for more dredges and Increased taxation that he may keep his "back-door" at Alblna. nearer home, whore he can use It conveniently. Others thoughtfully discuss water and rail trans portation, and skillfully point out why transportation can be conducted more cheaply between Portland and Astoria by water than by rail. Another wants a whole fleet of dredgers, and suggests the lsfwe of 3M0 year bonds. Mr. Mellen sim ply proposes tha Astoria be made a corn mow point. There Is nothing in his re marks that would prevent delivery at As toria by water If desired; nor would he prevent Mr. Wilcox from doing his busi ness at Alblna. He would, however, make Is possible. t the expense of the trans portation companies, for others to have a "back-door" at tho mouth of the Colum bia River, and thereby avoid the needless oxpenw Involved In towing ship from As toria to Portland and return. This policy would oen up a country In Western Ore poH as large as that tributary to Puget Sound. By extending to these points the common rate that prevail over the whole of Western Washington, we would place bath states on an equality, leaving their progress to the energy of the people. Can tlwe be mv iXMwlble objection to this? Why is It that the commerce of Puget Sound has increased 1200 per cent since 1SS4, while that of the Columbia River has remained almost stationary? Why Is It that the population of Washington has increased 49 per cent during the last dec ade, while that of Oregon has Increased but 22 per cent, and confined principally to the country east of the mountains? Why is It that the Chamber of Commerce of Portland is called. Inappropriately, a body of "mossbacks"? It was because of dissatisfaction with the results achlevea by the Chamber of Commerce that the Portland Board of Trade was organized. Their united efforts are unable to pro mote the growth of Western Oregon. No one has yet offered a solution. It woula be Interesting to know If those now op posing the extension of common rates to Astoria were members of the Chamber who passed unanimous resolutions of ap proval, and who made the famous trip to Asorla as a further evidence of friendli ness. If honest, then, they must be In er ror now. The time Is at hand when mas querading with this subject should cease, for all transportation companies, as well as individuals, should now declare them selves. I would like to ask him, who has been aptly styled the "Patron Saint of Oregon" whether it would not be to the Interest of Oregon generally, and to the western por tion particularly. If common rates be ex tended to the mouth of the Columbia Riv er; whether the rates now charged by railroad companies are not sufficiently liberal to Justify the delivery of our prod ucts at the cheapest ocean port without any additional compensation: and wheth er the said views of The Oregonlan. Mr. Huntington. Mr. Mellen and Mr. Hill are not more progressive and more to the in terest of the people of Oregon by affording cheaper export facilities than are the views of those respected citizens of Port land, who, through apprehension that their Individual interests may be Jeopard ized, seemingly oppose all extension and enlargement of our commerce, if conduct ed upon new lines not heretofore fol lowed? A. B. HAMMOND. New Tork. Feb. 6, 1900. Mr. A. B. Ham mond. Portland, Or.: Mv Dear Sir Refer ring to the conversation between us on the subject of making Astoria a commoi point with Portland, and my decision to that effect, so far ns the Southern Pacific Company Is concerned, let me say that since you left I have given the question much thought. When I told you that th Southern Pacific Company would do It. I was still In some doubt whether It would be a wise thing to do, as It would build up Astoria and make that port more of i competitor of San Francisco than could otherwise be the case, and even more than any of the towns on Puget Sound could be, as the latter are all so much further from thp Rpn thnn Astorln or Snn Francisco; besides which the Southern Pacific Company would lose the long haul it secures by making San Francisco Its groat embarkadero. But the more I have thought of the mat ter, the more I am disposed to bellevt that I was right in my Judgment: fr man cannot change to any considerable extent the works of Nature. T"ho Colum bia River can have only one outlet, and that, of course. Is at Astoria. The water shed of that river- Is the second largest In the United States, and substantially air of the Immense tonnage coming from It must follow the gravity line determined by the course of the river, to its mouth, where It can be transferred directly to the great ships that are hereafter to do the commerce of the seas. This result may be prevented for a time by the people who are so interested In real estate, but these people will some time learn that in op posing Astoria as tho embarkadero of their region of country they have been making a mistake: although they miy continue to strenuouslv hold to their views until the people living on thf bor ders of Puget Sound shall have had time to so increase and improve the'r facilities for the transfer of tonnage between rail and ship that the danger and Injury to Portland shall have become everywhere recognized, and It might then take years for the gravity line to assert itself as It Is bound to do sooner or later, dnce no other power con compete continuously with gravity. The time to act for Port land and that great country of which she Is, and will no doubt remain, the finan cial center. Is now, and I have no doubt that the wisdom and Justification of my action in declaring in favor of making As toria a common point now will be seen in the comparatively near future by all tho people of your part of the country. I have been told that Mr. Scott, pro prietor and editor of The Oregonlan, un derstands this question as I do. and If he should use his great ability and Influence to make Astoria the embarkadero of Port land, only a small percentage of the ton nage of the Columbia River watershed will be lifted over the Cascade Mountains to go to Puget Sound: and even that small part will take that course only for a short time, for gravity lines on the land, and great ships on the sea. are going to deter mine the lines of trade and the direction of tonnage hereafter. In acting along these lines I may not be serving my own best interests at present, but the future is longer than the present, and he does well who recognizes the signs of the times and gets out of the way of the Inevitable. Portland has neighbors on Pu get Sound who are not only wise, but en. ergetlc. With Seattle's natural advant ages to compete with, Portland meets, it seems to me, the Imminent danger of los ing her financial prestige. With a seaport like Astoria as her embarkadero, Port land, In mj opinion, can retain for prac tically all time to come her -proud posi tion as the financial center of the great Northwest, Very truly yours. C. P. HUNTINGTON. THE PROHIBITIONIST. Men Who Seem to Be Quite Too Good for Thin "World. PORTLAND. Nov. 3. (To the Editor.) The communication of "A Republican." in your issue of today, in the directness of its queries, demands, and in the court esy of Its tone, deserves a reply from Prohibitionists. The Prohibition contention. ems, how ever, to be misapprehended by those who In respectful terms "call us down" for seeming to Ignore, for the time being, economic questions upon which, though vital to party existence, the people are quite divided aa to their being essential to the National life and honor. We claim to stand for basic principle fundamental essentials to not only good government, but to the perpetuity of all government under republican form, name ly, civic righteousness, official lnteg-lty, and the personal equation in politics. We claim that the dominant parties, as now manipulated and controlled, stand upon and for party expediency: that Mr. McKlnley, in perfect harmony w th the leaders of his party (the politicians, has lowered the standard of moral a-d of patriotism by pandering to wicked ele ments and vicious instincts, rather thin to lose the renominatlon and re-election, and to one who thus believes he 1 ut terly unworthy of confidence in puNlc station. We believe that Mr. Bryan, or any other man, who will, because p-ss- ss lng the power to do so, uurp the nomlra tlon of his parfand through four yeara of able, continuous, persistent and selfish effort hold It. Is so opposed. In his rer. sonal and political makeup to the genius of free government by and for the people as to be unworthy of the sscred trust ha seeks, which requires not only ability, but that such ability to be directed to per manent good to the Nation, mwt to supplemented by the pol-e which comes alone from greatness at heart and souL We believe that these men have been. put in nomination, not by the people, but . by a small coterie of their respective l parties, and that each has been so ncml.-j nated for no other reason than that the I accidents of politics and his own oCetu t slve persistency have seemed to tr nd1 him as the "logical candidate" the c ne I which can be most surely elected. We j believe that these two candidates stand j for the selfish desires of two sets of cor- J rupt politicians, and while admitting the j amuues possessed Dy eacn. we accra uaa so lacking In the cardinal virtues end so given over to their own aggrandisement that each could and would if occasion re quired stand for the Presidency on the) platform of the other: and still, in the spirit of bombast and demagogy, claim the attributes of a Moses to lead the Nation out of and away from the worse j than Egyptian bondage and Pomplim j destruction into which the other had or I would lead the people. j We believe that the great American I heart Is honest and patriotic with what- ' ever party affiliated, but that it needs- to ' cultivate a new affection and break away from its present leadership, subititte principle for party expediency, find a high motive for political endeavor and. having faith In itself, ceaee to ccn one corruption, cease to vindicate officll be trayal of sacred trusts, and stand squi.e. ly for official Integrity and polK.cai vir tue though the heavens fall. We be lieve that reforms begin with the minor ity and end by persuading the mJo:ity, j and that we have made a good begin ning and are making progress along the beaten path. ; We believe that we stand against the most corrupting and Insidiously disinte grating evil with which this Natlcn fa ever been afflicted; that the saloon 13 universalis- acknowledged to be an in mitigated evil, demoralizing in e try sense, corrupting In every partlcu ar. damnable In every aspect. We telle. o that party leaders fear Its power and seek its approbation: that they treit It as a necerslty whl-h must b? fostered, as a power which must be placated, or 3 a social "fad" which may be pa-npered raher than as a devil which must be cast out. We believe that the election of cither McKlnley or Bryan portends evil, the one toadying to saloon. Influence, the other fearing a declaration against it; that whichever wins he will be obligated to a diabolical trust which he has failed to catalogue among those he proposes to crush or whose nefarious purposes he will undertake to thwart in the intercs's of public virtue and the best good of the Nation. We believe In "prosperity and the "honor of the flag." but that the people are quite evenly divided as to what will best conserve the one and moat efficiently support the other. We believe "lh this Nation taking Its proper place among the nations of the earth," but that the people are as yet divided, under d-ma-goglcal leadership, as to just whre and what that place is. and that only through the manifestation of the power on the part of the people to regain the control of our destines now so thoroughly com mitted to unscrupulous politicians, can we exemplify the ability to attain tne worthiness to hold or the power to hon orably fill ewch exalted station. Believing thus how can wc. why should we vote for any candidate but W-oolley? we. T,oie M'KERCHER. Here are men who say they have no knowledge as to what prosperity is. what the honor of the flag Is. or what Is meant by those who say the United States shou d take and hold its place among the na tions of the earth. On no subject except Prohibition have they any opinions. n the subject of llquor-drlnklng they want to set up the state as guardian over every individual, .and this, in their view, is the be-all and end-all of political and national life. These citizens" will have to go their ways, but they often make them seves tedious and tiresome to saner peo ple. 0 Times and Bryan Have Chnngeil. Lakcvlew Examiner. It has not been long since Mr. Bryan refused to accept a place at a dinner given in his honor because the cost of the affair was to bo J50 per plato Mr. Bryan to be a guest; admittance free. At that time the wily candidate for the Presidency de clared that he would not Indulge In such an elaborate affair when there were so many poor laborers in the country who would be glad to get a two-bit meal, and i that a dollar dinner was 'good enough for ! anybody. He has evidently changed his mind, for on October 16. in New lork. he sat at the "Bryan Dinner," at the Hoff man House, with covers laid for 50 Mayor Van Wyck presiding. On either side of Mr. Van Wyck sat Mr. Crcker. Mr. Bryan. Adlal Stevenson and William R. Hearst. The much-disputed cost of the dinnor was settled by the Hoffman House manage ment, who said tho cost was $12 per plate, exclusive of wines. Hyprocrisy. thy name is William Jennings. M-'KINLEVS SUCCESS SURE WILL GAIN TWESTV-TWO VOTES WET OF MISSOURI. Bryan's Crolcerlzed New Yorlc Dem onstration Will Prove n Boomerang- to Democrats. "WASHINGTON, Oct. 23. In view of tne extraordinary claims made by both Na tional committees, the average layman has Some difficulty In ascertaining Just what the political situation is. While it may be true that all that the Repub lican managers claim will be? fulfilled, at the same time the uneasiness felt by rl UNDER HIS THUMB. persons close to McKlnley, and who are cognizant of what Is going on In politics. Indicates that these claims are based upon belief lather than actuai Information. Now, when Vice-Chairman Payne says that Indiana Is sure and that there is more than even chances of carrying Ken tucky and Nebraska, It would seem that something Is amiss, for anybody that knows anything at all about politics and the political situation Is award that In diana is never a sure state, and that It is as likely to go for one party as an other. . At the present writing, while the Republicans make the greatest claims, it is a fact that It Is more likely to go to the Democracy than any otner of the actually doubtful states. As to Kan sas, white the bclltf is general that Jt will go for the Republican ticket, yet It has been so long in the Populist column that it would be scarcely surprising to see it still vote for Bryan. On the other hand, the Democrats lay claim to Illinois, Indiana, New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware and West Virginia, and declare that there Is not the slightest doubt about Kentucky or Kansas. So it will be seen that both parties are making claims which cannot be verified. The Information which The Oregonlan correspondent Is able to obtain from the best sources would seem to show that there dan be no possible doubt about McKlnley's election. Of the states that he carried before, Kentucky, Indiana anu Maryland are doubtful, and possibly he will earn' all three, and probably both Maryland and Indiana. He Is also al most sure to gain 22 votes west of the Missouri River. Including Kansas. If he does not get Kansas he will get enough sure votes west of the Missouri to offset Kentucky. The claim of the Democrats that they will carry New York and Illinois seems absolutely futile and unfounded, and while their present claims may annoy the Republicans and create some uneasi ness, there seems to be no reason why the Republicans should doubt their abil ity to carry these states. At the present writing there Is no reason to change the prediction heretofore made that Kentucky will go for Bryan. It will probably elect Yerkes Governor, but there Is no reliable Indication, save the Repub lican claims, that the McKlnley Electoral ticket will get the majority. Four years ago the Congressional district In which Louisville is situated gave McKlnley 12.400 majority. The eastern district of the state gave him something like 18.000 ma jority. The figures which the Repub licans adduce to show that McKlnley will carry the state Vihow' that the eastern dis trict will give 22.000. and that the Louis ville district will give at least 10.000 ma jority. This Is a larger claim than seems warranted by the facts. Tet the condi tions are such as to make Kentucky a somewhat doubtful state, with leanings towards the Democracy on the National ticket. Indiana is still waiting for a corruption fund. But it Is difficult to use such a fund to great advantage, and It is possible that the floaters cannot be corralled. If the laboring men are at all dissatisfied they are going to throw a large vote that went for McKln ley four years ago for Bryan this year, and the farmers will not be able to offset It. and It Is the farmers upon whom the Republicans are banking In that state this year. It Is believed that the Democrats are colonizing in Illinois very largely, and In order to do this they draw from Wiscon sin, Michigan and Iowa votes that wou'd count nothing for them if cast at home. But In spite of this colonization, the ma jority in Cook County cannot be raised sufficiently to overcome the large McKln ley vote In the country districts. Will rt End p T"Innd'. The Bryan demonstration In New Tork caused i great deal of uneasiness amon; the Republicans, and rome marveled at the wonderful powers of this man 3ryan. It was pointed out that Bryan sat down to a dinner that cost 312 a plate, whlcb was provided by men of the lowest type, who have made their fortunes out of the very worst methods of politics known to th civilised world. It was stated that when Blaine sat down to a dinner with gentle- wJJ men In New Tork it cost him his election. It is true that the men he sat down with, were rich men, many New Tork million aires, yet the man who furnished the din ner for Bryan was many times a million aire, and he can point to no single legiti mate business in which he earned all this money. Still the people turned out by thousands to listen to Bryan, who has thus demeaned himself, and some to cheer him to the echo. Wonder was expressed that the people of New Tork tolerated Bryan under such circumstances. This can be explained, however. Of the thousands that went to hear and see Bry an, at least one-third will not vote for him. They went out of Idle curiosity to see the man who Is so well advertised and desired to hear what he had to say. The men that went to hear Bryan, If they dis approve of him, will quietly vote against him. The same proportion going to hear Roosevelt and opposing his doctrines, would have hooted and shouted and brok- San Francisco Chronicle. en up the meeting. That Is the difference between the men who will vote against Bryan and the men who will vote against McKlnley and Roosevelt. Instead of this demonstration for Bryan 1 working Injury to the Republican cause, i it ought to arouse the business men and patriotic citizens all over the country tu the Importance of defeating a demagogue like Bryan, who Is likely to make Croker his principal advisor should he become , President of the United States. Bryan's ! trip to New Tork will not carry the state. DR. BROWN PRAISED. j Vengeance la Not the Proper Mis sionary Sentiment. New Tork Evening Poet, Oct. 29. j The true Christian spirit marked the ' ..Aw4.. n.l.l.1. .V. T?.. Tt.. A ...V..... T Brown uttered at the union service yes terday in memory of the slaughtered mis sionaries of Pao-ting-fu. When he said t that a call for venge nee would not honor 1 the memory of those who perished so 1 pitifully, he stated a truth which every Christian is bound to recognize and re spect His announcement that no Indem nity would be asked for the lives of tho missionaries, since their "blood cannot be measured In dollars and cents," Is note worthy, not only for Its nobility, but also because of the important position held by the speaker, who is one of the secre taries of the Presbyterian Board of Mis sions. If this programme is adhered to, tne Chinese are much more likely to 1 realize, as the Rev. Dr. Brown wishes them to, that at any rate "the Protestant Christians of America went to China for their good, and not for their money," than If vengeance be taken into human hands and the sword be called on to safe guard future missions by wholesale , slaughter. As Dr. Brown alao pointed I out. the Chinese can read and write 1 and know what is going on among the powers. What better chance could there be than Is now 'offered to the Church to show the Chines, by every word and deed, the practical value as well as the true meaning of the teachings of the Prince of Peace? j Dr. Brown's remarks are thus epltom , lzed In the report of the Times: t We should not be honoring their mem ory if we simply called for vengeance. The better Christian sentiment of the countr did not approve of the cry, "Remember the Maine," and it does not now cry out, "Remember Pao-ting-Foo." We shall ask ' an indemnity only for actual losses in buildings and other property. The blood of missionaries cannot be measured in dol lars and cents. We wish China to know that at any rate the Protestant Chris tians of America went there for their good, not for their money. We have not done Justice to the Chi nesea people who wore silks and lived in houses when your ancestors and mine 1 wore the undressed skins of wild beasts ' and lived in caves. j For some years the European newspa Kpers have been talking openly about the , dismemberment of China, and already the Chinese have not a single harbor where 1 they can mobollze their fleet without ask ing permission of the hated foreigner. Un der these circumstances it ill-becomes Lord Salisbury to say that the mission aries are responsible. The Chinese can read, nnd they know what the powers l have been doing. American Machine Toola Abroad. American Trade. In a report recently made to this Gov ernment, the British Consul at La Ro chelle. France. In reviewing the import trade in his district, makes the following j complimentary remarks concerning Amer j lean machine tools: "The supply of latries ' and shop tools generally Is almost entirely ; in American hands, and we are unable to fight them, as they display an Inventive genius which nuts us entirely In the shade," ' FARMS OF THE PIONEERS TILLERS OF THE SOIL IS HtJDSOJTS .BAY COMPANY'S DAYS. No General MarUet for Prodnct Until the Dlncoverr of Gold In California. PARKPLAGE, Or.. Nov. 2.-(To the Edi tor.) The men who first engaged in farm ing In Oregon generally came to this country as employes of one of the several I articles could be readily exchanged at fur trading companies that were operat- J any of the stores of the Hudson's Bay ing Jn this vast expanse of territory. The . Company, or at one of the mission or prl Hudson's Bay Company, when farming vato stores then in the country, tor any wan first iinrfi.rtnv.., in r,., . in I 7 T i wniroioiawwK an tne Dusmess ; then being carried on west of the Rocky : Mountains. It also had undisputed con- actual control of about all the business trol and supervision over the people who were then in Oregon, S'bia'ofrhoro0' 51 ! dlan birth, of French or Scotch parent age. with a sprinkling of Americans. They were well versed In the knowledge and training that would make them success ful hunters, trappers, or mounted men. They had little. If any, knowledge of the methods and life of a successful agricul turist. The majority of them had native women for wives. They had no settled or recognized homo or place of permanent ! residence. When, from exposure, such as ' these people were compelled to endure ! when following the life of the trapper or hunter, or from age. they would decide to make homes for themselves and fami lies and abandon the unsettled life In which they had been engaged, they recognized the great difficulties and un favorable conditions that they would be compelled to encounter if they should seek to make homes either in Canada or the states from which they had come; hence they were inclined to make their homes In this country. In this they were encouraged by the head men then in con trol of the Hudson's Bay Company, who at that time were anxious to strengthen the English claim to Oregon by actual settlement and cultivation of the soil. These people first made settlement on what Is known as French Prairie, in the immediate vicinity of the town subse quently built and named Champoeg. Their settlement extended from time to time over the northern part of the Willamette Valley, with a few settlers north of the Columbia River. Theso and subsequent settlements were often so located that they would be miles apart; hence the pep ple were unable frequently to communi cate with each other. Modern Implements and methods of farming were unknown to these people. It was Out of the ques tion at that time and for many years afterwards, to obtain any of the tools or implements of the husbandman, except those that could be manufactured by the people, and the few unskilled mechanics and blacksmiths then in the country. These implements and tools were of the crudest kind. Seeds of all kinds wer very scarce and difficult to obtain. There were few domestic animals In Oregon. All of the Implements, tools, seeds, do mestic animals, except Indian ponies, were In the hands or under the control of the managers of the .Hudson's Bay Company, and were not for sale. Their use could only be had by the actual set tler, upon application to the officers of tho company. There was no market for the products of the farm except such as this company offered, and that few Immigrants coming here annually afforded. Under such conditions, it is not sur prising that the early Oregon farmers de pended largely upon their skill as hunters to supply their families with the means of living. They generally settled conven ient to some stream or water course and clafmed largo tracts of land that were woll supplied with all kind of game. These were the conditions and surround ings of the people, who, prior to the Im migration of 1813. were living on farms in Oregon. Up to this time there were but few American farmers here. The few white women then In the country wero usually connected with one of the several missions that had been established in the country. The majority of the farmers at this time were of this class of people. The Immigrants of 1843 and subsequent years were mostly men and women com ing from the Western States. This brought about a marked change In tho sentiment and conditions of the people, especially as to the future control of this vast terrl- Irtory- They were confronted with the same conditions and difficulties that sur rounded the settlers wno had preceded them. It is not to be wondered at that we And these American farmers adapting them selves to the same methods that they foupd practiced by the settlers who had first come here. These methods prevailed until after the discovery of gold in California In 1848. After this there was a marked improvement in the mannor of living among the farmers In Oregon. This is the period usually considered as the pio neer days of the agriculturist of Oregon. During this period the methods of farm ing were crude and primitive in everj sonse. There was no incentive for tho Oregon farmer to cultivate a large num ber of acres of grain or other products and his products were generally confined to those articles actually required for the maintenance of himself and those depend ent upon him. His sole object was to secure this result with the smallest effort or outlay of labor on his part; hence th acreage under cultivation was Insignifi cant. Tho principal crops were wheat, peaj and potatoes, with a few vegetables fct family use. In fact, it would have been out of the question for the Oregon farmer of those days to have prepared large" tracts of land with the meager and primi tive means then to be had to harvest and take care of tho grain raised. The hus bandman of thl3 day and age would be unable to make any better showing under like conditions. The team mostly in use was a yoke of oxen. They were usually turned on the commons to graze or live upon the native grasses that were to be found in abundance all over Western Ore gon at that time. No provision was made for feed for any of the domestic animals then owned or used by the early settlers. The small tracts of land used for grow ing wheat were prepared In a crude man ner by plowing in the Fall or early Win ter months. They were seeded by sow ing by hand broadcast. The seed was covered either by going over the land with a shaped harrow with wooden teeth or by brushing It in with a brush drag. These fields of grain, from one seeding, produced two, and sometimes three, crops, without being replowed or sowed. The wheat In general use was what is known as Oregon white Winter wheat. It Usual, ly made good yields and was and is an excellent variety of wheat to be raised in "tVpjltrn fYrr-nn Trhon thim kA . Hi. fthtninil- "Pj. wr u.wn It. th nn-rlnt after the preparation of the ground in a similar manner. Crops of grain were cut by hand. The old-fashioned grain cradle or reap hook, and sometimes an ordi nary mowing scythe, was used. The grain was gathered and bound by hand, thrashed by tramping it out on the ground with oxen or horses, sometimes with a flail. It was cleaned by sifting the coarse or rough straw out with a fork, and then pouring the grain out of some kind of measure from an elevated point, and thus allowing the wind to blow the chaff away, and leaving the clean grain. During this time no modern harvesting Implements or threshers were to be had In Oregon, and it was very seldom that you would see an old-fashioned fan mill for cleaning grain. There were but few barns or other shelter provided for the products of the farm or for stock. Occa sionally a small log barn or shed was constructed. The houses were mostly built of logs notched or halved together at the corners, ordinarily of one room, covered with clapboards or shakes, with dirt or puncheon floors, with an old fashioned fireplace at one end of th. 'building, generally constructed with 1 sticks and plastered over with mud mor- tar. In this fireplace, tha toofcins was done. There-were but fe lf any,, stoyesj to be had ip Oregon. Therewre seldom any windows infthe houses, and Tnly one door, made of hand-made clapboards and hung on wooden or leather hlHges. During this jtlmer there was no money In general circulation, or to be had. The settlers had to depend entirely upon ex changing the surplus products of the farm for articles of clothing, groceries and other supplies that wero Indispensa ble to them, which could not be manu factured by some member of the family. For quite a long porlod the circulation con sisted of furs and pelts of wild animals, trapped or killed by the farmer himself. or detained from Indians In exchapge for articles of food and the few bushels of wheat or peas that eould be spared. These u "e Koous or suppues 10 ue iouu ... these stores. In fact, the entire buslner of thls countrv wa8 carried on. and the Dasls of 8eUlement was generally made . th. -,..,,,, . ,hft nrle , WhiCh the articles were valued at the stores. As 5 '""p. hogs and poultry were raised for home consumption. There probably were but few people who ever met with greater difficulties in set tling any country than were encountered by the pioneer farmers of Oregon. Their life was a constant struggle for the means to support themselves and tnetr families. Often their homes were miles from the nearest neighbor, frequently sur rounded by large numbers of Indians who were a constant source of annoy ance to them. They seldom saw any white person other than the mombers of their own families. For many years there were few churches or schools, and these often were located at such distance from the home of the farmer that they were practically Inaccessible. There wero but few mills of any kind then In the coun try, no roads except such as the settler constructed for himself, no postofflces, no mall routes, no facilities or means of communication except such as the set tlers could provide. The Only means of communication was walking, or on horse back, or by ox team. By these means the farmers were compelled to travel short or long distances, when going from home on business or In visiting their neighbors. The men dreaded being away from home over night, leaving their families ex posed. This was one of the greatest sources of anxiety to the early settlers. Coffee, tea and sugar were seldom seen on the tables of the pioneer farmers. The farmers ltycd principally on game, fish, berries and vegetables in their seasons. Often for weeks, and sometimes Tor months, they were without bread, using boiled wheat. This was greatly relished, especially when seasoned with milk or Hawaiian Island molassis. These condi tions changed very rapidly after the dls oovery of gold In California. Money be came plentiful, prices for all kinds of produce were at one greatly advanced, and farming In Oregon was profitable. Farmers were then enaMfd to live bet ter, dress better and have better facili ties and education. In fact, the change from the conditions that had previously prevailed In this country were simply Wonderful and remarkable, and clearly mark the end of the pioneer farmer's life and methods of living in Oregon. J. T. APPERSON, Harris Trunic Co. for trunks and b-'gs. FOR THE CHILDREN. To Keep Tneir Digestion Perfect, Nothing la So Safe and Pledhant tut Stuart' Dyspepsia Tablets. Thousands of men and women havo found Stuart's Dyspepsia Tablets the safest and most reliable preparation for any form, of indigestion or stomach trouble. Thousands of people who are lioV sick, but are well and wish to keep well, take Stuart's Tablets after every meal to In sure perfect digestion and avoid trouble. But it is not generally known that the Tablets are Just as good and wholesome for little folks as for ttieir elders. Little children who aro pale, thin and have no appetite, or do not grow or thrive, should -use the Tablets after eating and will derive greit benefit rrom them. Mrs. G. H. Crostley, 5SS Washington street, Hoboken, N. J., writes: "Stuart's Dyspepsia Tablets Just fill the bill for chil dren as well as for older folks. I've had the best of .luck wleh them. My 3-year-old girl takes them as readily as candy. I have only to say 'tablet' and she drops everything else and runs for them." A Buffalo, mother a short time ago, who despaired of the life of her babe was so delighted with the results from giving the child these tablets that she went be fore the notary public of Erie County, N. T., and made the following affidavit: "Gentlemen Stuart's Dyjpeps!a Tablets were recommended to me for my two-months'-old baby, which was sick, and puny, and the doctors said was sufferrhg from Indigestion. I took the child to the hospital, but there found no relief. A friend mentioned the Stuart Tablets and I procured a box lrom my druggist and ured only the large, sweet lozenges In the box, and was delighted to find they were Just the thing for my biby. I feel Justified in saying that Stuart's Dyspep sia Tablets saved my child's life. Mrs. W. T. Dethlope. "Subscribed and &w n to before me this 12th day of April, 1S97. . Henry Karis, Notary Public In and for Erie County, N. T." For babies, no matter beWybung or delicate, the tablets' wiir accomplish won ders in Increasing flesh, appetite and growth. Use only the large, sweet tablets In every box. Full-sized boxes are sold by all drugclsts for 50 cents, and no pa rent should neglect the use of this safe remedy for all stomach and bowel troubles, if the child Is ailing In any way regarding Its food or assimilation. . Stuart's Dyspepsia Tablets have been known for years is the best preparation for all stomach troubles, whether In adults or Infants. DR. SAINDEN'S ELECTRIC BELT Has no equal for the cure of Nervous and Physical Debility, Exhausted Vitality, Varicocele, Premature Decline. Loss of Memory, Wasting, etc., which has been brought about by early indiscretions or later excesses. Thousands give willing testi mony. Established thirty years. Call or write for "Three Glasses of Men." Dr. A.T. Sander. CORNER FOURTH AND MORRISON . I PORTLAND OREGON