THE SU2JDAT OREGONIAN, PORTLAND, DECEMBER 2, 1900.
PEES ARE NOT JtlSJ
Room for Improvement in the
Office of County Clerk.
PKOPOSED CHANGE IN CHARGES
Otker Fees Appear to Be Beuoa
able la the County Re
corder' OJBce.
A financial exhibit of the office of the
Clerk of the County Couft for a year-
snows receipts Irom feea JC6S4, and dis
bursements aggregating 5S552 for sala
ries. Books and blanks cost ?3S7. This
Is not a bad showing, considering that
a large amount of work Is performed for
the county 5n this offlce for which tho
county paid the Clerk before the offlce
was placed on the salary system, which
Is now saved, and would probably exceed
the amount of the present dflcit.
The bulk of the fees are collected In
probate cases under a blanket system of
?10 for each estate whether cvalued at
JSOn or 5500.000. A fee of $10 Is generally
sufficient to cover the work done In a
small estate, but In a large one It Is
totally Inadequate. For example It Is
pointed out that the John. Green estate,
which paid only this ?10. ought to have
paid at least 5150, and other big estates
which have been probated in recent years
in like proportion. Formerly this was
tho law and court officers think It should
be revived. Fees were charged per folio
according to the amount of work per
formed. In these estates, wills, orders
and other things have been copied In
full, and there is also considerable In
dexing and other labor besides the time
consumed of the Judge, and sometimes
disputes which occupy days in the hear
ing. The statute might be changed to
exact a filing fee of 55 in all cases, and
then charge fees for all papers filed there
after, and per folio for all orders en
tered In the probate journal. This would
reach the large estates and would be
equitable for the small estate which
would average up at about 510, not an
excessh'e fee.
The fees exacted In the County Clerk's
office, except in probate cases, are satis
factory. A marriage license costs 52 25;
articles of Incorporation are charged for
per folio, and other papers are chaged
for at reasonable legal rates. They could
be scaled up somewhat without injury
to any one.
County Clerics Duties.
Clerk Holmes says that the only way
to make the offlce self-supporting Is to
require every person having business in
the office to pay a reasonable fee for
every transaction. The services which
the Clerk has to perform for the county
covers a multitude of things, briefly de
tailed as follows:
The recording of all orders and doing
the stenographic work that is required
by the Board of County Commissioners
In the matter of roads, paupers, chari
ties, etc. The receiving and filing of
all petitions for county roads, viewers
reports, eta, and recording a description
of all the county roads that are estab
lished. Also the reports of the surveyor
on the same, and supplying road supervis
ors a certified copy thereof. The execu
tion of pension certificates every month
which at times requires the service of the
whole offlce force, and approximately
would occupy the time of deputies for
two days. The drawing of county war
rants, road and general, and their can
cellation when paid, and the keeping of
the warrant register, and checking up
"with the County Treasurer, all of which
occupies most of the time of the warrant
clerk every month. The filling out and
certifying to of all commitments of in
sane persons In triplicate, and recording
tho same.
The qualifying of all county officers,
and the filling out of oaths and bonds and
also the appointment of deputies.
Tho supplying and filling out of all
affidavits for bounties on scalps. Entering
In a register the names of all witnesses
that appear before the grand Jury who
are entitled to fees and making a month
ly report of the same to the County Com
missioners with the amount of fees
earned. Filing dally and monthly re
ports of county officers. Attending the
Board of Equalization and registering
and filing all petitions for corrections of
assessments, and recording the orders
of the hoard in relation thereto.
The collection of delinquent taxes and
the keeping of a record of all pay
ments, and the distribution of the
amounts collected In the different funds.
The clerk being the custodian of the de
linquent tax-rolls for back years, Inquirers
are frequently furnished with a- list of
property, which takes considerable time.
In elections, the work of ordering and
sending out blanks, ballots and other
supplies, registering of all nominations,
receiving and canvassing the returns, and
Issuing certificates of election.
The registration of voters, which re
quires additional deputies.
These are all public acts, from which
the offlce can, of course, derive no reve
nue, as from private parties.
In the Recorder's Office.
County Recorder S. C. Beach says that
he docs not advocate the Increase of fees
in his offlce unless It Is decided to adopt
a system of fees destined to make other
offices self-supporting, such as the Jus
tice Courts, Sheriff's omce. Clerk of the
County Court, Clerk of the Circuit Court,
etc
Mr. Beach said: "An Increase from
30 cents to 15 cents per folio for record
ing instruments would perhaps make the
office self-supporting, and I do not think
the Recorder's fee Is considered to any
great extent by parties to a real estate
or mortgage transactions. The fee Is
one of the smallest items of the deal, and
if tho recording fee was changed from
10 cents to 15 cents per folio, hardly one
persons in a hundred would realize being
charged any more. It would be such a
small matter. Suppose a man bought a
suburban lot for J100, and It cost him 51
to file the deed or 51 50. or the same in a
520.000 transaction. The average cost
now of a deed is 51: if It was 51 50. what
would be the effect of the 50 cents extra
charge?
"But," continued Mr. Beach, "person
ally I have no suggestion to offer as to
rasing or lowering the fees; it is not In
my province. There are. however, some
Inequalities here. The fee for filing a
chattel mortgage Is 50 cents. For record
ing a release of real estate mortgage the
fee amounts to never less than To cents,
and sometimes more; that Is, for releas
ing on the record. A release on the mar
gin costs 10 cents, and there is more -work
than filing a chattel mortgage. A release
by margin should cost at least 75 cents.
Frequently when a party makes a release
on tho margin, or a partial release, the
margin has to be so filled up that there
is no room left, and It is almost unintelli
gible. A person will make a partial re
lease, or sometimes two or three partial
marginal releases. Long descriptions of
property have to be written out In a very
fine hand, so as to get it all on, and for
30 cents as much labor is performed as
we get 53 for in recording a lease.
"Charles P. Owen. Recorder at San
Jose, called on me last Summer. His Is
a salaried offlce. and he has been there 16
years He told me the office income was
from 51600 to 52000 per month. They have
10 typewriting machines, and the office
is more than solf-supportlng. They get
double the fees 'we do here.
"I Judge the criticism of this offlce comes
mostly from people who don't understand
that work has to be done slowly to be ac
curate. Speed Is not the first considera
tion. A man who files an instrument
wants the recording to be accurate. The
work has all to be compared, one man
holding eppy whjle another reads, and Jf;
there Is a mistake it Is noted on the mar
gin. Any one who will take the trouble
to go through our routine would not say
this office is extravagant.
"There is a great deal of work that wo
get no fees for. because we are public
servants, A man wants to know who
owns such a lot In such a block, and we
look It up for him, and find It if we can;
sometimes it takes a day. People coma
in to see mortgages and chattels. It takes
the greater part of my time every day
showing people what they want, A per
son wants to see an instrument, or the
record of an instrument, and if he can't
find the record, I find it for him. I
wouldn't advocate the raising of fees un
less people want to make all the offices
self-sustaining."
PROSPEROUS ASHLAND.
Oregon's Southernmost City Golntr
Going Ahead With. Rapid Strides.
ASHLAND, Nov. 2L (To the Editor.)
This city, most picturesquely situated on
the western foothills of the famous Sls
Wyou Mountains, at the head of Rogue
River Valley, in Jackson County, has
been growing rapidly during the past
year. Its present population is conserva
tively estimated at 3&00, the exact figures
not having boen reported by the census
authorities. It is probable that no town
in the state has had more evidences of
thrift during the past year than this.
More than 150 new houses have been
built, and even now the demand Is great
er than the supply. The railroad traffic
is immeasurably greater than ever before,
an average of at least 100 per cent over
the previous year, and this necessitates
a much larger payroll here than hither
to, and It amounts to 510.000 per month
easily. The payroll to those employed
in tho mines within a radius of five
miles, with Ashland as a center, amounts
to 55000 per month. The fruitralsers xn
this vicinity receive on an average 550.000
per year for their products, and
the surrounding stockraisers put into
circulation probably twice as much more.
To these may bo added the products
raised by the ordinary rancher, the
amount and value of which cannot be
estimated, all showing a healthy condi
tion of affairs, and one that is attracting
population and capital from abroad, par
ticularly from the Eastern States.
educational Methods.
The school interests of Ashland are well
developed, and are -also an Important ad
junct In making It attractive as a place
for homes. Of first Importance Is the
Normal School. This was started by the
M. E. church as an academy in 1893-94.
to serve as a feeder to "Willamette Uni
versity, but It proved a failure, hence
the citizens of Ashland took it in hand
in 1S3C-97. paid the debt against the build
ing and campus of 11 acres, and carried
on the school for two years or more;
then in 1S99 it was placed under the Jur
isdiction of the state as a Normal School,
and a small appropriation given for Its
support. It has proved Its right to exist
as a State Normal School, and deserves
hearty support by the next Legislature.
Professor Clayton, who was graduated
from Ohio Weslcyan University, at Dela
ware, O., in 1891, has been at the head of
the institution for the past year. Before
coming here he had several years' experi
ence in the leading public schools of his
native state. Mrs. Clayton is an accom
plished woman, and is a niece of George
Dorsey, of Dayton, Yamhill County, a
pioneer of 1S52. '
In addition to the Normal School there
are two grammar schools and a High
School. One of the grammar schools Is a
substantially constructed brick building,
up to date In all Its requirements, and
would be a credit to any city In this
state. The other buildings are "wooden,
and not at all equal to the demands upon
them. Another school building Is a neces
sity, and this will doubtless be erected the
coming year. The High School Is well
attended, and Is In the charge of Profes
sor C A- Hltchcok. who. has been here
for six years.
Another Important feature In the edu
cational facilities of Ashland Is found in
the Southern Oregon Chautauqua Asso
ciation. This was organized In 1S92, and
has flourished from the start. The asso
ciation owns a suitable tract of eight and
a half acres, comprising a beautiful grove
and running water, near the center of the
city. Upon this tract an auditorium has
been erected, with a capacity of 1200.
The property as It now stands represents
a value of 55000. It Is In line with the
other associations of a similar kind upon
the coast, and as a consequence has the
same talent at Its annual meetings, which
are usually held about tho middle of July
of each year.
Some Xoted Pioneers.
There has been a goodly number of
early pioneers In and around Ashland,
but time, which waits not for any, has
greatly thinned their ranks. Among those
yet here may be mentioned J. N. Ma
theny, 1S43, who so longTived near Salem.
Mathenys Ferry and Matheny's Bar, in
the Willamette River, will long be re
membered. His age has Impaired his
memory so that past events are not read
ily called up. Another is Patrick Dunn,
who went to California In 150 and came
to Oregon in 1S51. He was one of a com
pany of 12 who pursued a band of Indians
In 1S53 to punish them for some depreda
tions. He was wounded In the pursuit.
He has been an excellent citizen here,
and has always had the confidence of the
people of this county, having been hon
ored repeatedly by being chosen to serve
In responsible county offices. The weight
of years rests heavily upon him, and he
Is patiently waiting for tho summons
to take him over to the majority. Gen
eral J. C. Tolman Is In the same condi
tion, almost 90 years of age. Both he
and Mr. Dunn wanted to vote for Presi
dent once more, and so were assisted to
the polls, when they cast their votes for
McKInley and Roosevelt. "W. C. Myers is
another who Is well advanced In years,
being now nearly SO. While somewhat en
feebled by an active life in pioneering
the stock industry, notably high-bred
horses and cattle, he Is in full posses
sion of his faculties, and takes a deep
Interest In all that is going on. He had
the first dairy of any consequence In
Southern Oregon. As early as 1S5C ho
began this enterprise with his brother,
and sold butter and cheese In all the ad
Joining towns, going as ar south as
Yreka. Prices for butter ranged from
51 50 down to 50 cents a pound in 1S69,
when he quit the business, and cheese
brought 33 to 40 cents.
On Sunday last the hilltops all about
were white with snow, which descended
during the previous night. On Monday the
air from time to time was full of snow,
but it melted as rapidly as It descended.
Yesterday morning there was four Inches
on the ground. As the day was quite
warm most of it melted by night. This
morning daylight revealed a good seven
Inches on the level, exclusive of what
was left over from the day before. The
temperature has not yet be3i below freez
ing, even at night, so that what Is now In
sight will soon disappear, unless rein
forced by further storms. In the moun
tains five miles distant reports come that
snow is two to three feet deep.
GEORGE H. HIMES.
She Thought It "Was Real Sunshine.
Pittsburg Dispatch.
It is the thought and attention be
stowed upon details which give some
houses the indescribable charm that oth
ers, however superior In decorations and
furnishings, can never hope to attain.
This was happily Illustrated the other
day at an Informal luncheon party. The
day was dark and rainy, but as one of the
guests stepped Into tho dining-room she
ejaculated: "Why! I didn't know the sun
had come out!" Then, when she saw her
mistake, there was a pleasant laugh at
her expense. The bright effect had been
produced by placing a large bunch of
brilliant yellow foliage plants on the sill
of the broad English window, and the
silken pillows lying on the window seat
had caught and held the sunlight in the
various golden shades.
A large vase of nasturtium vines and
flowers served as a centerpiece for the table,
HOMES FOR TEN MILLIONS
WHAT IRRIGATION COULD DO IN
THE ARID AND SEMI-ARID WEST.
Why National Irrigation Association
Has Takes Up Work Instead of
Leaving It to Several States.
"The tree Is the mother of the foun
tain. "Save the forests.
"Store the- flood waters.
"Reclaim the deserts.
"Annex arid America,"
That is the slogan of the National Irri
gation Association, says Professor F. B.
Newell, of the United States Geological
Survey. The marvelous growth of the
movement fostered by this organization,
which held its ninth annual congress at
Chicago, November 21 to 24, is attracting
the attention of the public In the East, as
well as in the Central and Far West.
The magnitude of the problem the organ
ization has bravely set out to solve and
the influence and energy It is bringing
to bear are well worth considerate at
tention. Millions of acres of barren land that
might be made arable; miles of territory
now uninhabited that should support
many thousands of prosperous families.
THE ARID REGION
That is the proposition now being
-wrought out.
To persons who are not familiar with
the matter many questions naturally
arise. The first and most comprehensive
is, "What Is the National Irrigation As
sociation, and what does It seek to ac
complish?" Briefly, this organization,
composed of men Identified with the man
ufacturing, transportation and commer
cial interests of the country, as well as
thoe In professional occupations. Is seek
ing to provide the largest possible num
ber of homes upon the public domain.
This can come about only through a
'wise administration of the resources In
water and forests, since upon these de
pend directly the value of the vacant
public lands. But why should not these
matters be left to the Washington au
thorities to settle? Simply because the
Congress at Washington has not given
serious attention to this matter, and the
conditions are becoming so ominous for
the future that the business Interests of
the country as well as the philanthro
pists have begun to take alarm.
The great public domain, one-third of
the whole United States, Is being admin
istered not to make the largest number
of homes, but rather the reverse. Under
wise laws and Institutions framed with
a knowledge of the facts, 10 families can
obtain a good living where now one is
scantily fed.
But why should this not be left to pri
vate enterprise? It has thus been left,
and individuals have seized upon ail they
could grasp, and in many Instances have
ruined the opportunities for making
homes for tens or hundreds of other in
dividuals. The treatment of the arid
public land has been comparable to that
of a poorly tended orchard, -where each
apple has been bitten by a bird or in
sectthe a.nount actually consumed is
relatively Insignificant, but the fruit is
spoiled. Ono rnan by securing title to a
few acres controlling the water supply
has virtually become possessor of thou
sands of additional acres which might
otherwise have been used for farms. The
opportunities for .doing this on a smalt
scale have largely been seized, but by
combinations of capital they may be In
definitely extended.
Why not leave the development to cor
porate enterprise, as in the case ot rail
roads? This also has been tried and
large irrigation systems have been built.
In nearly all Instances these have been
financial failures, although of great bane
fit to the country. It is highly Improb
able that more capital can be brought to
construct these costly works unless the
most stringent and oppressive monopoly
THE DESERT AFTER WATERING A
VALLEY,
can be created. If well administered the
benefits are such that they cannot accrue
solely to a water company, but the pub
lic gains at the expense of the Investor.
The latter becomes an Involuntary phil
anthropist, simply because ho cannot con
trol all of the returns which come from
his investment.
In other words, these works, when suc
cessfully built, benefit -the community, but
not the owner; The situation Is com
parable In some respects to that In build
ing lighthouses. Improving harbors or
public roads tho corporation or the indi
vidual who expends the money cannot
be sure of securing remuneration for his
enterprise.
Why not turn over to the state in
which they are situated all of theso lands
and let each state attend to the matter? 4
This has been frequently advocated and
tried in a small way, but the states in
which these lands are situated are for the
most part poor, and the lands themselves
must be used a. basis of security for
money obtained; in other words, the lands
must be sold or rented to secure funds,
and this in the past has Invariably re
sulted in putting the lands into the hands
of speculators the very thing to be
avoided.
The National Government is the owner
of these millions of acres of fertile but
arid lands, and as the owner has duties
as well as privileges. But the question
may be asked "Why should the East be
taxed to assist In developing the West?"
The answer lies In the fact that the
prosperity of one part of the country
is closelv linked with that of another.
But the farmers of Illinois and Indiana
f ""' "" ' - n'.'jigi
say: "We do not want more agricultural
land and more products brought into the
market, as will result from the creation
of more small farms in the West," This
is a mistake founded upon ignorance. The
products of the arid and semi-arid region
cannot compete with those,, of the humid.
Different crops seeking a different mar
ket are produced. The products which
come East are almost wholly semi-tropical
or the- more extensive dried fruits.
The ordinary farm crops of Illinois are
protected by the heavy railroad tariff
from the competition of the far West.
Now, what Is the reclaimable country
like, and what is to be done?
Briefly stated, there are. in round num
bers, 250,000 square miles, or COO.OOO.OOQ
acres, of vacant public lands. Of these.
674.000.000 acres are suitable for grazing,
SG.OOO.OOO acres are covered with woodland.
In which there Is also grazing, and from
which, fuel, fence posts, etc., can be had;
there are 70.000,000 acres of forests of com
mercial value, and about an equal area of
absolutely desert land having no present
value.
There- Is water sufficient for the Irriga
tion of from 73,000,000 to 100.OQ0.vOO acres,
depending upon the methods of conserva
tion employed. The average size of an ir
rigated farm Is about 40 acres to a fam
ily of Ave persons, not Including In this
the grazing or range land.
Probably 10.000,000 people could find
homes on farms and be self-supporting
If the water supply were properly regu
lated. This would mean an enormous develop
ment of the mineral and other resources,
BEFORE WATER ING.
which, with the prevailing scanty popu
lation, will thus be vastly augmented by
the mining and other Industrial occupa
tions, as well as by the merchants and
related trades. The experience of the Old
World has shown that there Is almost no
limit to the density of population within
the arid region, where, with ample water
and continuous sunshine, tho soil pro
duces the most wonderful succession of
crops.
At present the vacant public land can
be considered under two heads: That
which is truly arid and that which is
semi-arid or sub-humid. In the case ot
the first. It is impossible to make a home
without providing a water supply. In the
case of the second, however, there are
years when large crops can be produced.
Settlers have rushed In during these times
of unusual moisture, have attempted to
make homes, and when, year after year,
the crops havo been lost through the pre
vailing drought, the farmers have become
Impoverished and have finally abandoned
their homes, as has been the case in
Western Kansas and Western Nebraska.
The soil of these drought-stricken re
gions is notably fertile when watered, and
the luxuriant vegetation which follows
an occasional rain lures on the pioneer
to his ruin. Farming there Is a. gambling
operation. Wwhlch the occasional high
stakes cause thousands to looso their
Judgment and risk their efforts In "a hope
less undertaking.
The semi-arid regions Include the great
belt of country extending from Western
North Dakota through the western por
tions of South Dakota. Nebraska. Kan
sas, Oklahoma, Texas and the eastern
part of Colorado. Here may be foirnfi
thousands of ruins. Indicating the ati
tempts made to secure a foothold with
out first providing a water supply. It Is
truly the land of famine, for, like all the
great famine regions of the world. Its soil
Is extraordinarily rich and everything Is
conducive to prosperity except the one
factor of rainfall.
While the Government has not taken up
seriously this matter of the reclamation
of the arid and semi-arid lands, Con
gress has authorized various investiga
tions by the Department of the Interior.
In whose charge are the public lands,
and by the Department of Agriculture. In
1ESS the Geological Survey was authorized
to Investigate the extent to which the
arid lands could be redeemed by Irriga
tion, and since that time It has been
systematically measuring the streams,
surveying reservoir sites and obtaining
facts and figures on which to base an
estimate of the cost of reclamation.
Not only aro the surface streams being
N ORCHARD IN THE SALT RIVER
ARIZONA.
measured, but Investigations are being
made of the underground waters and
their movements. Maps showing the depth
of water-bearing beds beneath the surface
are being prepared, showing by lines or
colors the depth to which a well must
be sunk in order to reach the pervious
rocks. In localities where artesian wells
occur these maps also show the height
to which water will rise above the sur
face. Many of the desert valleys of the
West are thus being watered by the ap
parently unlimited supply lying far be
neath the dusty surface.
Among the most notable of tho recent
works of the Geological Survey are the
examination of St. Mary's River, in Mon
tana, and of Gila River, in Arizona. St,
Mary's River, receiving water from the
snowclad Rocky Mountains, flows along
the eastern base of these into Canada
and carries away to the north, the wafers
needed on the dusty plains still further
to the east. Milk River, a tributary to
the Missouri, rises against the side of St.
Mary's River and Is cut off by the latter
from the-well-watered mountain area. It
is thus a mere brook or rivulet, except in
times of storm.
The division of the hydrography of the
Geological Survey has demonstrated that
the water from St. Mary's River can be
conducted around into the head waters
of Milk River and kept on the south side
of the Canadian boundary, flowing east
ward to the parched, fertile lands of the
Milk River Valley.
The surveys have not yet been brought
to completion, but it is probable that
several- hundred thousand acres can be Ir
rigated at a cost not prohibitory, pro
viding homes for thousands of families.
In the extreme South It has been shown,
that reservoirs can be built on' the Gila
River, storing up the flood water for the
public lands and for the supply of the
Indian tribes residing along this stream.
These Indians have from time Immemorial
supported themselves by agriculture
through the use of these waters, but In
recent years the activity of the white set
tlers have resulted In depriving them of
the water, and they are reduced to
penury. Thousands of dollars are. being
expended to educate these Indians, and at
the same time they are forced to live
In idleness and are not allowed to con
tinue the agriculture of their forefathers.
INSTITUTE OF PSYCHOLOGY
"The Greatest Study of Mankind Is
Man."
Now that so much Interest Is being
shown in the powers of the mind, and
that wo are beginning to recognize the
possibilities that He within us, the an
nouncement that an institute has been
established In Portland for the purpose
of teaching how to develop and employ
those powers In every-day life, and of
healing the sick by natural methods, will
be hailed with joy by many.
Dissatisfaction with drug-treatment and
the cures exploited by the many systems
of healing without medicine have drawn
much attention to these methods, and
many explanations of their curative
power have been given, most of them, er
roneous. '
The Science of Suggestive Therapeutics
offers a rational and scientific explana
tion of all methods of restoring health;
shows how the power of healing may be
acquired and exercised; and teaches the
development of the latent powers of the
mind and of personal magnetism, upon
which so much of our success In life de
pends. Any person of ordinary Intelligence and
ability can secure this development, and
the opportunity -hould not be neglected.
The Institute Is under the able manage
ment of a well-known Portland physician,
who has devoted the last 10 years of his
Ufa to this study. This gives to all pa
tients the advantage of a medical exam
ination and diagnosis.
The Institute is pleasantly situated In
elegantly furnished offices In the new
building, corner of Seventh and Wash
ington streets Classes for Instruction
are held on Monday, Wednesday and Fri
day evening of each week. A free clinic,
for patients unable to pay, is held from 9
to 10 A. M., on Tuesday, Thursday and
Saturday. Private patients are received
at any time. Correspondence front pa
tients who have tried all other forms of
treatment In vain will receive careful
and prompt attention.
The Institute of Psychology makes' no
charge for consultation.
A PHYSICIAH'S DILEMMA.
Found at Home in a Dazed, Condi
tion, and Fears He "Was Drnssed.
Dr. William M. Booth was found In a
semi-conscious condition by his wife In
their rooms at the Labbe building last
night, and Mrs Booth fears that her hus
band has been drugged by parties un
known. She left Dr. Booth after supper
to call on Mrs. Tuttle, of the Cambridge
building, first locking the door of their
room. On her return, shortly afterward,
she was surprised to find the door of the
room open, the furniture disarranged and
her husband L'i a dazed condition, sajlng
he had been "doped." He- Insisted that
two men had visited him during her tem
porary absence. The police authorities
were notified, and City Physician Zan ex
amined Dr.-Booth. The latter was unable
to make a sufficiently clear statement,
but a medical examination showed he
was In no danger. Dr. Booth had been
engaged In a mining transaction in the
course of the afternoon."' His money and
watch were safe.
PERSONAL MEIfTIOITr
J. S.. Bradley, a Bridal Veil saw mill
man. Is at the Imperial.
J. A. Rundle, a Toledo, Wash., mer
chant, is at the St. Charles.
M. P. Callender, a Knappton lumber
man. 13 registered at the Imperial.
William Holder, of Moro, ex-Sheriff of
Sherman County, is at the Perkins.
Hugh Glenn, a well-known citizen of
The Dalles, Is registered at the St.
Charles.
F. H. Day, of Minneapolis, a prominent
timber dealer, registered at the Perkins
yesterday.
W. H. Hosklns, Postmaster at Foley,
Tillamook County, Is registered at the
St. Charles.
L. Q. Swetland has resumed hla po
sition of chief deputy In the County
Clerk's office, and was yesterday hard at
work.
D. "X. K. Deerlng, Sheriff of Union; A.
H. Huntington, Sheriff of Baker, and E.
P. Laurence, Sheriff of Grant County, reg
istered at the Imperial yesterday.
A. J. Johnson, of Astoria, Government
timber expert, registered at the Perkins
yesterday. He left for Washington City
over the Southern Pacific last evening.
LIVERPOOL, Dec L The Cunard line
steamer Lucanla. which sailed from here
for New York today, has on board Had
don Chambers, the dramatist, and Wins
ton Churchill, who Is to lecture In Amer
ica. NEW YORK. Dec. L B. Albors, presi
dent of the Albers & Schneider Company,
of Portland, called at the Eastern offlce
of The Oregonlan yesterday. He left
Portland November 9 and has visited St.
Louis, Cincinnati and Washington, D. C.
Mr. Albers arrived in New York last Sat
urday, and leaves for the West tonight
He expects to arrive home December 6; .
DAILY CITY STATISTICS.
Real Estate Transfers.
J. H. Roos to Clementina M. Sedlak.
south half of lot 6. block 31. Ca
ruthers' Addition. November 2C 5 1
Kate Beach and husband to Jullanl
Topp. lot 30, block 41, Fremont, June
7, 1S97 500
Ernest S. Hatch to Emma Westburg.
lot 14, block 44, Llnnton, November 23 15
A. P. Armstrong and wife to the
Portland Social Turn Vereln, Kran
kenkasse, lot 13, block 12, King's
Addition, November 17 1
M. A. Poppleton to Laura H. Whal
loy, lot 70. block 10 Alblna, April 17.. 1700
Marriage Licenses.
Julia Segal, 20 years. Isaac L. Swett, 27
years; Clara Waller, US, F. A. Fourte, 31;
Sophia K. Walch, 27, George. Park. 47;
Lizzie Lawrence, 32, W. M. Plercfr, 33.
Births.
November 20 To the wife of John Zoller,
Guild's Lake, a boy.
November 27 To the wife of Herbert E.
Rosseter, 429 East Couch street, a girl.
November 19 To the wife of Thaddeus
Glass West Portland, a girl.
November 2S To the wife of John Wor
rell, 302 Hamilton avenue, a girl.
Contagious Diseases.
November 29 Samuel Bohler, 12S East
Sixth street, diphtheria
November 29 Agnes Weigand, 827 Will
iams avenue, scarlet fever.
Deaths.
November 29 Delia Ann Pringle, 454
Yamhill street, aged 79 years; old age.
November 29 Beyrman L. Thomas. Good
Samaritan Hospital, aged 46 years; cancer
of intestines.
The Tools Took Wings.
John Packett was arrested yesterday,
charged with carrying a concealed deadly
weapon and larceny of tools, on the com
plaint of William Wolfsteln.
Separated From His Money.
Nellie Lockwale ' was arrested last
night, charged with the larceny of 5S0
from J. A. Johnston In a house on Fourth
Btreer near Everett; ,
FOR DISTRICT ASSESSORS
SENATOR BROWNELL HAS PRE
PARED A REFORM: BILL.
It Provides for the Appointment by
County-Coart of District. As
sessors With Full Povrers.
Senator George. C. Brownell, of Clack
amas County,, has prepared a blll,provld
ingf for the appointment of District As
sessors within each county, withthe same
powers and duties as County Assessors.
He. will introduce the bill at the corning
session of the Legislature. Its text fol
lows: ,
A bill for an act to amend sections 2456.
24&5 and 21S2. of title lv. chapter xlll of
Hill's Annotated Laws of Oregon.
Be It enacted by the Legislative As
sembly of the State of Oregon as follows:
Section L That section 2156 of Hill's
Annotated Laws of Oregon be and the
same Is hereby amended so as to read as
follows:
"Sec. 2456. There shall be elected at the
general election by tho qualified electors
of each county of this state a County
Treasurer, one or more District Assessors,
as .may be determined by the County
Court as hereinafter provided, and a
County Surveyor, who shall hold their of
fices for the term f of two years, and until
their successors are elected and qualified.
There shall also be elected County Com
missioners, wh shall hold their office
for the term of .four years, and until their
successors aret elected and qualified, to
succeed the County Commissioners then
In' office, and "whose terms will expire at
or immediately succeeding such general
election.
"At the meeting of the County Court
sitting for the transaction of county busi
ness in the month, of January, 19u2. and
whenever thereafter It shall be deemed
by said " County Court advisable, the
County Court sitting for the transaction
of county business in each county of this
state shall lay oft And establish as many
assessment districts within said county
as said County Court shall deem conveni
ent, necessary and proper, to consist of
the whole or such number of contiguous
precincts as may be deemed advisable,
and.' there shall be as many District As-k
sessors within such county as the County
Court of such county shall thus deter
mine; such District Assessors stall possess J
the same power, authority and preroga
tives and perform the same duties as are
fnow exercised and performed by the
.'Countv Assessors of this stato."
r Sec. 2. -That section 2458, title lv, chap
ter xlll, or Hill's Annotated iaws or ure
gon, as amended by an act entitled An act
to amend an act entitled an act to amend
section 245S, title lv, of chapter xlll, of
the laws of Oregon, as compiled and an
notated by W. Lair Hill, relating to the
terms of county officers, approved Febru
ary 20, 1SD1, approved February 23. 1KB.
be and the same is hereby amended so
as to read as follows:
"Sec. 2468. The term of office of the of
ficers mentioned in section 2456, of this
title and chapter, shall commence on the
first Monday next following the election
of such officers, except that the term of
offlce of the District Assessor shall com
mence on the first Monday of January
following the election of such officer; and
before entering upon the offlce the per
sons elected thereto must qualify therefor
by filing with the County Clerk,
or. In such counties where there
is no County Clerk, the Clerk
of the County Court, wherein he Is elect
ed, his certificate of election, with the
oath of offlce indorsed thereon, and sub
scribed by him to the effect that he will
support the Constitution of the United
States and of this state, and will faith
fully demean himself in offlce: and he
shall also give and file the undertaking
hereinafter provided for."
Sec. 3. That section 24?9. of Hill's An
notated Laws of Oregon, title lv, chapter
xlll. be and the same is hereby amended
so sm to read as follows:
"Sw. 24S9. If a vacancy shall happen.
In the office of JCounty Treasurer, District
Assessor, County Surveyor, or Commis
sioner of the County Court, the County
Court of such county must appoint some
suitable person to fill such vacancy, who
shall hold such offlce until the next gen
eral election thereafter, and until his suc
cessor Is elected and qualified. A person
annolnted to fill a vacancy In either of
the offices mentioned In this section, be
fore entering upon such offlce, must quali
fy therefor as In the case of a person
elected to such office."
Sec. 4. That section 24S2 of Hill's An
notated Laws of Oregon, title lv. chapter
xlll, be and the same Is hereby amended
so as to read as follows:
"Sec- 24S2. The official undertaking of a
District Assessor and County Surveyor
must be given, approved, and filed In the
manner prescribed for the official, under
taking of a County Treasurer, but the
amount of such undertaking must he 55000,
und such official undertaking may be in
substantially the same form as a County
Treasurer's, substituting the name 'Dis
trict Assessor or 'County Surveyor,' as
the case may be for that ot County
Treasurer. A Commissioner of the Coun
tyt Court Is not required to give an, under
taking." TAPPING THE SUN'S STRENGTH
Process by Which, Old. Sol's Energjr
Can JBo Utilized for Poiyer,
Pearson's Magazine.
L The problem ot tapping the giant
strength of the sun, of controlling some
portion of the power and heat so freely
given to man, has been passed from the
ancjents to the moderns through the
hands of the greatest men of learning of
all times without any adequate solution
until the dawn of the 20 th century. The
Grecian. Archimedes, the Edison of. his
day, was perhaps the first to handle the
question, and to set It traveling down the
centuries; Ericsson, the American, and
Mouchout, the Frenchman, were among
the last to seek, the solution, and both
succeeded In making the sun operate
small motors. Nothing more was done
until Dr. William Calver, ot Washington,
Invented the pan-hellomotor,. and can now
control a greater degree of heat than, man.
ever operated before.
The fiercest degree, of heat that any ono
has hitherto been able to make is the
6000 degrees that has .been registered. In
the electric arc Dr., Calver is able to
generate 24.000 degrees, ot heat. Ot this he
is able to control 10.00 degrees with abso
lute safety, white he Is at present at work
constructing an apparatus which will
easily give him the mastery over the fulL
amount of heat the he generates.
With his invention,, which, briefly, con
sists ot art arrangement ot mirrors- to- re
flect the sun's rays upon a, focussing spot.
Dr.- Calver could burn down a rocky
mountahr, and reduce It to a level plain
without as much as lighting a .match.
Russian iron, of the kind so unburnable
that it extinguishes the fire in the fiercest
furnaces, melts under the heat at his
control as a wax match is melted by the
flame. Tough silver coins or stout glass
tumblers become in a moment running
liquid in the heat of the focussed rays;
while with his apparatus he. will perfor
ate a soaking wet plank of wood with a.
dozen holes in as 'many seconds.
Secret of Hnndwrltlnrr.
The subject of handwriting Is so di
verse In its ramifications that it would he
Impossible to treat of them all In the
spaco of a .newspaper article. Hence, one
can only discuss those features which
come prominently before the merchant or
banker In his everyday business life. And
whether we glance backward to the
Phoenicians, who are said to be the men
tors of handwriting, or forward to the
electrical apparatus ot tcda5 which can
transfer actual forms of handwriting over
a wire 1000 miles long, we find the same
Instrument governed by the muscles of
the hand was and Is the medium by
which our thoughts are transferred to
paper.
In the last century, except for one
new style of penmanship, no variations
can belaid to be noteworthy. Whether it
be the Italian school, with Its neat and
pretty forms, or the French, with its
elongated and scratchy letters, or the
Spencerian. with Its free and running
style, or again, the vertical hand being
taught in the schools today all of those
follow- after a time the same rules In re
spect to the characteristics of the Indi
vidual. The schoolboy graduating with his fel-
lows and possessed of the same style of
penmanship starts on his buslnes career
and, due to difference In conditions or en
vironment or possibly to some physical or
other peculiarity, he obtains a handwrit
ing as he reaches the age of 30 which he
keeps for the balance of his life.
This handwriting, full of departures
from that which he possessed when ho
left school, belongs in its variations and
peculiarities to him alone.
These differences constitute what is
known as his personality. In so far as hla
writing is concerned.
A logical sequence to all this is that
though the same forms and the same let
ters may look alike that fact Is no indi
cation that the same person wrote them.
These same persons might have learned
In tho same school of penmanship.
THREE WASHINGTON BUDS
Grant's Granddaughter, Washing
ton's Great-Grnndnicce, Ruth Banna.
New York Journal.
The blood of distinguished statesmen
distinguished, in curiously different ways,
it is trueflows in the veins of three of
this year's beauties-
The granddaughter of General Grant
will charm Representatives and officials
in the Capital City, the great-grandniece
of George Washington will make her bow
on the Island of Manhattan, and the
daughter of Senator Mark Hanna. pretty
little Miss Ruth, will go back and forth
between the salons of Cleveland and
Washington.
Nellie Grant Sartorls' eldest daughter,
Vivian, recalls "pretty Miss Nellie" aa
she must have looked when General
Grants and. Indeed, a whole nation of ad
mirers, used to call ner "Little Sunshine."
Vivian Sartorls has wavy brown hair that
people frequently describe as black, be
cause they see It tna room where there
are more shadows than sunlight. She has
big gray eyes, set in an olive skin and
shaded by well-curved brows. She is Eng
lish In coloring and health, but In every
thing else, especially since her mother
asked Congress to restore her citizenship,
she Is American. Washingtonlans havo
adopted her as a child of the Nation.
Little Miss Hanna, the youngest daugh
ter of the Senator. Is never described as a
home-body. She Is an outdoor girl In the
fullest sense of the term. Two years ago
she established her fame as a Diana by
chasing down a wildcat on her father's
premises In Thomasvllle, Ga.
Senator and Mrs. Hanna happened to
be entertaining a large house party at the
time, among them the President and .Mrs.
McKInley.
The boundaries of the Senator's pre
serves, among the finest In Georgia, aro
guarded as carefully as jnay be, but oc
casionally wildcats and other small ani
mals from the adjacent pine woods find
their way In. Little Miss Ruth became
aware that a large wildcat had been seen
trespassing, and, nothing daunted, she
planned a campaign against his life with
a. success that marks her a typical child
of Senator Mark Hanna.
She and her cousin, Howard, accom
panied by trained hounds, made what may
be called a daylight start. Through sandy
fields and thick mud. the young woman
chased the cat until finally he was run up
a tree. Then she fired the shot that
brought him to the ground.
An hour later,, while the family and
their guests were at breakfast, Miss Ruth
walked In with her wildcat and estab
lished her fame to the title of Georgia's
Diana.
The last of this trio of buds. Mary C.
Washington Bond, the great-grandnlece
of the father of his country. Is also a
pronounced brunette. She Is pale, with a
pallor made striking by heavy masses of
dark hair and wide-open black eyes,
shaded with heavy lashes.
Although. Miss Bond has been but lit
tle seen in society, she Is already famous
for her beauty. Mr. Peter Marie, in his
"Collection of American Beauties," se
lected her for one. She appears there a3
a lovely, smiling creature, holding a
fleecy veil of white over her dark locks.
She has on an old-fashioned satin gown,
short-walsted, low-necked and short
slfeved, caught In front with -a bunch-of
flild flowers.
Few Congressmen Win. Distinction.
AInslee's Magazine.
The average length of a career In Con
gress Is four years. At the beginning or
every Congress about one-third of the
members of the House are new to the
business. It is a rare thing for a member
to- make any sort of a mark In legislation
before he hag been in the House at least
two- full terms, and those who have
forced themselves above the surface be
fore the close of a single term can al
most be counted on the fingers of ' one
hand The ordinary Congressman cornea
and- goes and leaves no trace behind him,,
except on the salary vouchers. The man
who stays 'n the House for more than
two terms has a. fair chance of wielding
a little Influence. He gets his name Into
the Congressional Record once In a. while;
he Is recognized by the Speaker occasion
ally; and if he is unusually lucky the
newspapers take Tilm up and sometimes
give him a headline all to himself.
People who suffered with rheumatism
have taken Hood's Sarsaparilla and found
lasting relief,
Ktv edition. Dr. Humphreys Manu
al, 144- pases, on the care and. treat
ment of the slcfc In all ailments,
mailed free, fits the yest pocket.
When the chills run down your back;
take "77 -and the cold will stop right
there.
When you commence to sneeze, take
"77" and that will end the cold.
When you begin to cough, take "77"
and that ends it.
When you feel that you are taking
cold, take "77" at once.
If you have a cold that hangs on
grip take "77" and break. It up
At druggists', 23 cents.
Humphreys' Homeopathic Medicine Co., Cor.
"William & John .Sts... New York.
Box Calf
Storm Calf
Vici KM
New Styles at Reasonable
Prices.
"TW
BDYS Style
SHOESik
E. C. GODDARD & CO.
OREGOHIAtt BUILDING.