13
THE SUNDAY OREGOXIAX, PORTLAND, SEPTEMBER 23. 1906.
EXPORT HOP POOL
Durst's Statement Regarding
London Consignment.
MATTER NOT YET SETTLED
Many Unforeseen Obstacles In the
Way ot the ' Venture Why Low
Prices Were Realized on Ore
gon Hops Shipped Abroad.
ALAMEDA, Sept. 19. (To the Editor.)
A further delay has occurred preventing
the Bending of statements and account
tales to the consignors In the late ship
ment o hops to London.
Under date of August 25 last we sent
circular letters from Forest Grove, Or..
to each consignor who had hops in the
shipment.
This shipment is a matter of interest
to almost every hopgrower in Oregon.
For that reason I would like to ask you
to insert the following in The' Oregonfan,
so that it may be understood by your
readers:
When the consignment was started
from Oregon I arranged to have it ship
ped on vessels sailing . from Galveston
direct to London. It seemed to me that
this was the best route. Ordinarily, the
hops, when shipped "sunset" went to
New Orleans or Galveston, and were
loaded Into vessels arid sent to New
York, where they were again transferred
into Atlantic steamers.
I engaged space on vessels to sail not
later than about April -20. For. reasons
not explained, there was a delay of quite
a month before the first lot of Oregon
hops let Galveston.
These hops arrived about the middle of
June. The remaining 1306 bales were
shipped from Galveston about two weeks
later than the first shipment, but at the
time we left London. July 25, they had not
yet reached the docks.
The vessel they came in put into the
Azores. Everything possible was done
to expedite delivery in London. Owing to
the necessity for our being at home dur
ing the coming hop harvest, we had to
leave London for New York when we
did. The first cargo of hops arrived in
fairly good shape, and with the exception
of 25 or 80 bales little complaint could
be made. Mr. Hoffman and I did all we
could to inform ourselves of the condition.
of the growing crop in England. I was
down in Kent every two weeks, and we
made several trips through the hop dis
tricts.
We had numerous reports from Oregon,
California and Washington as to pros
pects of the coming crop. Every report
predicted the largest crop ever grown. In
addition to our reports, every dealer in
London got similar ones. It was pre
dieted that the United States would have
150.000 or more bales of 1906 hops to ex
port.
The aphis blight in England was
severe while we were there, but no one
predicted under 350.000 to 400.000 cwts. It
was also certain that nothing definite
of the growing crop could be known un
til September. The conditions were, 6000
bales of hops in our hand to sell. All
American authorities and all our corre
spondents reported outlook for a bumper
crop: the English crop suffering an aphis
blight of unusual severity, but no abso
lute certainty of a small crop untilt Sep
tember: the English brewers loaded up
with 130 and lSOo hops, and were unwill
ing to buy considerable quantities, except
at low prices.
There were only two things we could
do: Either sell for best prices we could
get. or take our hops off the market
and hold them until crop prospects were
more settled. That meant to hold until
September. That would have been a
straight gamble, and we were not Justi
fied in holding the hops against the re
ports we had from this country.
We have already advised consignors of
prices realized. Our Durst hops were
sold still cheaper. We tried to to dis
pose of same to the other large mer
chants, but they were not buying except
at cheaper prices.
At the time we left London we had
sold (partly to arrive) all but 665 bales
of tha Oregons, and most of the Durst
hops. We supposed that the last cargo
would be in London the day we left and
that within two weeks the whole 1306
balee would be in the warehouse and the
balance sold.
But. unfortunately, many of these hops
were damaged in transit, as I was in
formed by cable. I am Just in receipt
of a letter giving more particulars of the
damage. I am enclosing you the original,
but a copy, which is as follows:
London, Auc. SI. it. H. Durst. Esq.,
Dear 61i We wrote you last on August 18
and have since received your letter of August
14. tbe contents of which we have noted. We
have also exchanged cables with you, as per
IscloMd cosies.
Referring to the last shipment of Oregons
per "Cayo Manz&nlllo." we have now had all
these bops sampled, and have been through
them. We are sorry to say that they come out
even worse than we anticipated when we wrote
you before. There Is no doubt that they have
greatly deteriorated, owing to the long de
tention in the hot climate ot Galveston, and
with even the selected bales we are havmr
great trouble with our brewers, because of
their exceeding dryness and harshness. Some
kts are so badly sweated that they have lost
all appearance and flavor of lOOo hops and
look even worse than 1904s.
We are making out for you a list of the
. perished bales we have found, and will send
you a sample of each bale, with the bale
number and lot on It. Some of this deterior
ation must also have been due to Imperfect cur
ing In the first place. We are having great
trouble and expense with these hops, as we
are obliged to strip every bale before we are
able to deliver them.
The cloths being perfectly clean on the out
side ot some of the bales do not show any
damage, but on stripping the cloths we And
large patches of discoloration, in fact we have
had some bales returned from our brewers
where the damage could not be discovered by
our usual examination. On the other hand,
some bales show stains on the cloths, and
the hops underneath have no trace of damage.
We cannot understand how this could have oc
curred. As regards the damage in transit, the In
surance Inspector has been down and looked
at the hops, but we have not yet received hie
report. You will understand that we cannot
make up the account sales until all these
matters are settled, but we will do so as
soon as possible.
There Is Just now nothing doing on the mar
ket, owing to the improvement In our hop
plantations: prices are only nominal, but we
will eell the remaining 209 bales at the first
opportunity. We remain, yours faithfully.
STRAUSS & CO.
The above letter shows Just where
we are, and we cannot expect any con
clusion to this business until the dam
. sges are arrived at and a settlement
had with the insurance companies. The
loss is sure to be considerable. Our
Durst hops are In exactly the same
shape. We have had no settlement
and I have had no account sales or
proceeds as yet.
The English trade does not believe
in high prices, even wjth short crops
at home; they say they have plenty of
stocks on hand to carry them until the
1907 crop comes in without paying
high prices.
Mr. Hoffman and I did the best we
knew how. We could not see two
weeks ahead of us any more than
anyone else could. As an evidence of
my views, I sold 2000 bales Durst's
1906 crop to net us 10H cents f. o. b.
Wheatland aad, people. here, tjto
weeks later sold 2000 bales more at
11 V to 13 cents here. Within 10 days
after we could all see that prices would
be - better. It was again a case of
hindsight" and foresight.
I regret the way this business is
hanging on, but I feel that under the
circumstances we could not have tftne
differently. The shipment was cer
tainly a success. In that it cleared up
the stocks and made 20-cent prices
possible. But again the shippers suf
fered. Durst Bros, have suffered more
than anyone else. "But I feel that we
did the best we knew how.
I have no excuses to make or apolo
gies to offer. Nor do I want to hide
anything. I have always contended
that what hopgrowers wanted was
publicity. They want the facts, so
they can form reasonably accurate
conclusions. Every phase of this ship
ment is subject to Investigation. Every
shipper will eventually get his account
sales and full returns, whatever they
are.
We so fully expected very low prices
for 1906 hops that I made all arrange
ments In London for advancing 6c per
pound harvesting expenses on 50.000 or
more bales if it might be necessary in
order to help growers harvest the crop.
Fortunately this was not necessary.
Prices went up, and those of Us who
contracted heavily at low prices "missed
it again."
This contracting is the curse of hop
growing. In all of our experience we
only once made money by contracting.
At all other times we have lost and lost
heavily. I fancy the experience of other
Erowers is the same. Why do we con
tract? We can't blame the dealers.
They take as many chances as we do.
The real reason is that we feel that we
are "Insuring ourselves" by contracting
part of our hops. In reality, we are
"insuring ourselves" that we are giving
the purchasers all the profit there Is in
the business. If there were some' way
of absolutely preventing contracting it
would mean "money in all of . our
Dockets," It would kill short selling. It
would guarantee another early market
and higher prices. It would remove much
of the risk from hopgrowlng.
Two things we want (1) to stop con
tracting: (2) to get a larger and broader
market for Pacific Coast hops. The way
things look now, if we would ship 30,000
bales of hops from this coast to Eng
land before we sold a bale, the market
would open at 26c to 30c. This is just
as sure as any fact can be. But the
only real solution will be when all hop
growers will Join to do this in their mu
tual interest. Our ' last year's shipment
was too late. We "locked the door after
the horse was stolen." If every grower
would ship out of the country one-fifth
or one-sixth of the hops he had unsold,
we would see 25-30c prices, and we would
make money by the proposition, even if
we had to ship on a 15c advance.
Even with our late experience still in
mind. I believe that the rational busi
ness system would be to ship our sur
plus out at the beginning of the season,
thus securing a better home market and
demoralizing production abroad. This
Coast could ' in five years' time export
over 300,000 bales of hops. Short selling
would be a thing of the past then, and
prices would not fluctuate as they do
now. Another step to be thought of is to
provide some mutual association or bank
to advance picking money to hopgrow
ers. If this were done the temptation to
contract would be largely removed.
There would be no necessity for contracting.
Are we hopgrowers of this Coast to
give In and admit that we must "knuckle
under," or are we going to keep on and
work out a union or association for the
purpose of systematizing the business of
hop production and marketing? person.
ally I am ready to suffer some more
hard knocks if it will help us to bring
about this much to be desired consum
mation. Whatever the majority of the
hopgrowers decide is best to be done we
will agree to look into. We are ready to
co-operate both with work and money.
STOP CONTRACTING SHIP THE SUR
PLUS ' OUT OF THE COUNTRY BE
FORE IT CAN BE BOUGHT UP BY
THE TRADE ON THIS SIDE. These
two things will give us better prices and
a demand for twice as many hops as we
grow now, all within a, short space of
three to five years.
The way reports are coming in from
England it looks as If there must be
a good demand from there; but we will
have to wait until they axe ready to buy.
It looks) like 20 to 25c prices to me.
What a pity we could not have seen
these conditions five or six weeks ago
we might have burned all of our 10c con
tracts then. I am open to advice, criti
cism or kicks from any of my friends.
M. H. DURST.
Against Hypocritical
Clothes
BY A. TAYLOR-CUTTER.
How Van Auker Was
Caught
Walked the Streets Boldly Tntil
Sheriff Stevens Put Detectives on
Scent.
A SOFT metal knife needs constant
sharpening!
It costs four times as much, to
keen such a knife sharp as . It would
have cost to put harder steel Into the
blade when first manufactured.
Now, that's a fair comparison with
Clothes that are shaped, in the making,
by the hot flat-iron, instead of being
shaped In the making by costly hand
needlework. '
Because a garment shaped to its finish
by sincere hand-needlework will hold its
shape till worn out, with very Infrequent
"pressing-up."
- '
But the garment that has been shaped
by the hot flat-iron.. will need constant
reshaping, by the same process of press
ing, after each day's wear in damp
weather.
It is safe to say that about SO per cent
of all Coats arid Overcoats are merely
juggled into shape by the hot flat-iron.
And these look as well the first day you
wear them as the most painstaking' and
skillful needlework could make them look.
But there's a tremendous difference in
the permanence of shape produced by the
two different processes.
, Moreover, the garment that is fully
shaped by clever and careful hand
needlework will wear much longer than If
shaped by the usual quick and easy fiat
Iron faking.
Because the hand - needlework adds
strength to the cloth at the critical places
where most strain comes, namely, at the
points where the cloth must be stretched
or shrunken; In order to give it the
proper curving lines to fit the body.
That's where Sincerity tailoring counts,
namely, -in durability.
But, more than this a little extra
needle-shaping on a Coat in the making
will save its wearer many "pressings"
during the life of the garment.
It's the soft metal knife blade, and the
hard metal knife blade story all over
again.
- e
Now, if you want your Clothes to look
smart till worn out, and if you don't
want to pay half their original cost to
keep them looking smart, through ever
lasting "pressing-up," here are some facts
worth remembering:
Every "Sincerity" Suit or Overcoat, as
made by Kuh, Nathan & Fischer Co., is
fully finished by thorough hand-needlework
before it is even touched by the
hot flat-iron.
Every defect in workmanship is per
manently removed by the needle (instead
of being, temporarily concealed by the
faky flat-iron) before it receives the re
sponsible label of the "Sincerity
Tailors."
If you want an absolute Test to reveal
flat-iron faking, which test you can ap
ply to any coat before purchasing, en
close a 2-cent stamp to Kuh, Nathan &
Fischer Co.. Chicago, for it.
And don't you forget this label:
THE etory just leaked out yesterday
of how Sheriff Martin White, of Co
lumbia County, and Lou C. Hartman.
ex-city detective, tried In vain to locate
C. S. Van Auker, cashier of the State
Bank of Rainier, for several hours last
Friday while Van Auker was not trying
to conceal himself, had visited a number
of friends down town and had been seen
by any number of acquaintances in the
city. Unable to find his man, Hartman
finally appealed to Sheriff Stevens, who
located the fugitive in less than 15 min
utes. Hartman and White arrived in the city
early in the morning and proceeded to
seach for Van Auker. who had given
them the slip at Rainier the night
before. High and low they scoured
the city, . but found no trace ' of
the cashier. They had almost con
cluded that the man they were looking
for had left town when a telephone) call
came from the Sheriff's office asking
whether Hartman had a warrant for the
arrest of Van Auker. The reply prompt
ly went back "Yes." and almost frantic
ally the former city sleuth asked whether
the Sheriff knew of Van Auker's where
abouts. The Sheriff calmly informed
Hartman that it he would come up to
his office with the warrant he would
show him where Van Auker was. Hastily
Jumping on a car. White and Hartman
went to the Courthouse and there met
Sheriff Stevens, who conducted them to
the Fenton building and Van Auker.
The Sheriff of Multnomah County was
on the lookout for Van Auker Friday
morning and located him shortly before
noon. He immediately placed a man on
his trail and was Informed several times
where the fugitive could be found. Think
ing Van Auker might try to get away
on the afternoon train he telephoned to
Hartman.
This is the story which has been In
circulation at the Courthouse since the
capture of Van Auker. Sheriff Stevens
refuses to confirm it, but it Is vouched
for by others familiar with the facts.
HAWKERS MUST OBEY LAW
Police Ordered to Enforce Strictly
Ordinance Against Peddlers.
Acting Chief Grltzmacher yesterday re
ceived a petition from 11 merchants, who
have stores on Third street, between Mor
rison and Yamhill, asking that hawkers
be prohibited from standing In front of
the stores. The following Is the petition:
We the undersigned, owners of stores
on Third street between Morrison and
Yamhill. respectfully represent that
hawkers vending fruit upon the street
in front of our premises are the cause of
much worry, trouble and Inconvenience to
us; and they Interfere with the peaceful
pursuit of our respective engagements.
That its believe they are comp lying
SINCERITY CLOTHES
made and guaranteed by
Kuh. Nathan &. Fischer Co.
CHICAGO
with the provisions of the law. We do
not find any fault with Officer Nelson,
but think he is an efficient officer. Trust
ing you will take such measures as are
necessary to relieve us of this annoyance.
Chief Grltzmacher gave Instructions to
the captains of the different reliefs to
see that the law in regard to fruit-hawkers
is strictly enforced throughout the
city, and the order was read to the offi
cers when they called at the station.
Several months ago the police began a
crusadeon the hawkers and numerous ar
rests were made of those who did not
comply with the city ordinances at the
time. Since that time the hawkers were
giving little trouble to the Police Department.
INVADERS TO BE REPELLED
Catallna Islanders Will Have Warm
Reception tor "Independents."
AVALON. Catallna Island, Cal.. Sept.
22. A mass meeting was held here last
night, at which it .was declared unani
mously that this should remain a "closed
port" to all except the Banning Com
pany's steamers. Preparations are being
made today to prevent the landing of a
large number of passengers reported to be
on the way to the island from San Pedro
and Long Beach, on "independent" craft.
A lively time is anticipated when these
boats attempt to land their passengers
without paying the $2-25 per capita, de
manded by the Banning Company.
SAN PEDRO, Cal., Sept. 22. A fleet of
eight gasoline launches started for Ava
lon, Catalina Island, this morning, having
on board several hundred passenrs who
are going over with the avowed intention
of making a landing on the island with
out paying the $2.25 per head which the
Banning Company, owners of the island,
demand. Commodore X. H. Heller, owner
of the big gasoline launch San Diego,
Is in command of the expedition, and it is
in the nature of a retaliatory measure
as the Southern Pacific Company and the
Banning Company, who control the
wharves here, have refused to give the
San Diego a berth. The men on the
launches are armed with wire nippers to
cut the barbed-wire fences which me
Banning Company has 'placed along the
shore at Avalon.
Eisert-Rnegg Wedding.
A very pretty wedding was celebrated
last night at the Sellwood Presbyterian
Church, The contracting parties were
r
The Home of the Jewel Range and Heater
JEWEL
POLISHED BLUE
STEEL RANGE
The Housewife
Who wants the very best STEEL
EANGE -will find her ideal in the
JEWEL STEEL RANGE, which
is recognized from coast to coast
as one of the very finest steel
ranges ever produced. Ask any
housewife who has ever used a
Jewel Steel Range and she will tell
you that the oven heat is perfect
for baking and roasting always
uniform and not flaring up one
moment and cold the next. She
will also tell yon that they are
easily kept clean, because they are
made of polished steel and not
japanned or painted like so many
so-called steel ranges now on the
market.
THAT'S ALL $1.00 CASH
FOR THIS CELEBRATED
JEWEL
POLISHED BLUE
STEEL
RANGE
AND YOU CAN PAY THE
BALANCE $1 A WEEK
Every Steel Range we sell
is sold with a
15-YEAR GUARANTEE
www -.ric.. ' f.
- - "TS' S"T''
I
WOOD HEATER, made of Russia
teel with cast top, bottom, front and
lining-. Swing top for tea kettle and
full nickel trimmed.
Price
$10.50
POLISHED BLUE ' STEEL HEATER,
lined with sheet teel, An CZf
nickel trimmings. Price.. JbeJ.O"
COMBINATION COAL and WOOD
HEATER, full nickel trimmed, body la
made of Rusala steel with cast top, bot
tom, front and firebox.
Price
$12.50
,. Wood Heater This Heater is , , .
- in Russia made of JETr3i2S& t
TT steel with cast polished blue .v.bbm- , "J.'V
t N bottom, top 6teel with '( J V. 1
. 7', and front., cast top. - :. I
..;..'."' Lined with Lined with
"Yii',..'i '- 4 sheet steel sheet steel, ' J
.-j?' and full nickel nickel foot rails . j
trimmed. and front draft. ?. J
Price Price
I ' ' J - ' I
jL - $10.00 $5.00 JlsT
Let
Powers
Furnish
Your
Home
Head
quarters For
Office
Furniture
E. R. ESsert and Miss Mildred A- Ruegg.
Mr. Eisert is an electrician in the em
ploy of the O. W. P., and Miss Ruegg is
the principal of the Milvaukie Schol at
Sellwood. She Is popular in the commu
nity and a leader in church and social
work. The couple leave this morning on
a short honeymoon and on their return
will make their home at Estacada.
Cascade Locks Saloon Robbed.
CASCADE LOCKS. Or.. Sept. 22. The
saloon of T. W. Badder was burglarized
about 12 o'clock last night. Entrance was
gained through a window. The robber
secured two boxes of cigars, six bottles
of whisky, a supply of smoking and chew
ing tobacco and $14 in cash. There is no
clew to the perpetrator.
BEACH RATE REDUCED.
O. B. N. Makes IOw Rate to North Beach
Foists. ,
The rate from Portland to North Beach
points has been reduced to $3 for the
rOUna nv&uwi a., a Li. Ull UJQ
at O. R. & N. ticket office. Third and
Wasnington streets. Tickets will remain
on sale at this rate daily until September
30, with final limit of October 15, and are
Interchangeable with and will be honored
on A. & C. R. trains and V. T. Co.'a
boatsM U 4 Q ft, A $t, bratfe.
Mayor Lane Plays a
Strenuous Game
Forcea Northern Pacific Terminal
Company to Donate Site for KLrj
Station.
BT a piece of strategy. Mayor Lane
yesterday secured from the North
ern Paclflo Terminal Company the
promise of a deed to any of the cor
poration's property the city may want
for a fire engine-house. This the Ter
minal Company has hitherto persist
ently refused. The Mayor had 20 stal
wart patrolmen, armed with sledge
hammers and crowbars, ready to tear
up the Terminal Company's tracks at
the west entrance to the Steel bridge
and on Irving street, between Fourth
and Fifth.
When informed that the Mayor had
discovered that these tracks were un
authorized and would be torn up un-
less m deed, .were, forthcoming, Jdaa-
ager Ed Lyons, of the company, quick
ly suggested a compromise, and the
policemen were withdrawn.
Billings Opera-House Burned.
BILLINGS, Mont, Sept. 23. The
Billings opera-houee was totally de
stroyed by fire about 5 o'clock this
morning. The loss is about $15,000,
partially covered by Insurance. The
origin of the fire 16 attributed to de
fective electrical wiring, although
many contend It was incendiarism. The
guests from the adjoining Commercial
Hotel escaped in their night clothing,
and that structure was saved by hard
work.
Counterfeit Bills at Moscow.
MOSCOW, Idaho, Sept. 22. (Special.)
Ten dollar counterfeit bills are numerous
In Moscow. They are all new and bright,
which has led the police- to the conclu
sion that the city is infested with a gang
of green-goods men. The bills are well
engraved and printed, requiring almost
expert knowledge to detect them. Sus
picion points to two men. giving their
names aa W. A. Remington and Frank
Clark, but they have succeeded in eluding
lb fiolloe, -
BOY OF TWELVE MISSING
Richard Bell Runs Away to Escape
Going to School.
Mrs. B. Bell, residing at 270 Front street,
reports that her 12-year-old son, Richard,
has been missing from home since Tues
day morning. The boy has always been
quiet and industrious, and the only reason
that his mother gives for his absence is
that he did not wish to go to school with
out his books. He was told by his moth
er that he could not get his books till
Wednesday evening, and after the mother
left for work Tuesday morning the boy
ran off.
When last seen he was with a strange
woman at First and Montgomery streets.
He wore a blue suit, with knickerbocker
trousers, and is described as being very
slender, with brown eyes, auburn hair and
a ll?ht complexion.
TOO LATE TO CLASSIFY. I
SIX-ROOM FURNISHED HOUSE; MUST
rent by Oct. 1; 452 Washington at. ; good
for Btudio or ofnea. Call ilr. Asher
(Pacific v