riTE SUNDAY OREGONIAX, PORTLAND, MARCH 1, 1908.
PULLS TIE SPIKES
UP Bl FINGERS
Oswald West Finds Harri
man's West Side Roadbed
in Bad Condition.
DEPOTS ARE INADEQUATE
Track Sinks In Many Places When
Passenger Trains Pass Commis
sion Recommends Improve
ments to Dilapidated System.
SALEM, Or.. Feb. 29. (Special.)
That the roadbed of the Southern Pa
rifles Went Side division is in very
bad condition; that he tie work up
and down in the soft soil when trains
pass; that in some places the spikes can
be pulled out with the fingers; that
many of the ties are too old to be
serviceable, and that depot facilities are
inadequate, are facts stated by Rail
road Commissioner Oewald West in a
report made today concerning his ob
servations when he walked the track
from Corvallis to Portland, early in
the week. West carried with him a
notebook and a hatchet. He chopped
Into nearly every tie and timber the
c ondition of which could not be deter
mined by outward appearance. He made
extensive notes of condition of rails,
plates, ties and ballast. His report
follows:
On February 1J, 1908. m. disastrous wreck
occurred on the West Side division of the
Southern Pacific Company near Forest Grove,
Or. The accident has been widely discussed
by the people and the press and much has
ben mid with reference to the condition of
the Kaid road. On one hand we hear the
company accused of negligence ond the road
condemned as unsafe and dangerous and vn
the other we have the positive assertions of
the railroad officiate that the road la per
fectly safe for the traffic to which It Is
subjected, and that the statements made
to its dangerous condition are unjust and
unwarranted. The traveling- public therefore
looks to the Railroad Commission for the
ffti't. For the purpose of enabling: the Com
mission to learn the true conditions, I have
made an Inspection of the road by walking
from Corva-llis to Portland, and beg to re
port as follows:
Rails.
The rrports of the company show the main
line and Hidings to be laid with the following
n-rlpht rails:
Main Tinc Mils.
fi-pound steel. . tt 1 9
Kl-pound steel . 17. 553
r-pnunrt stoel ........... i 22.000
&0-pound steel . 56 . 349
Total 96.520
Sidings
-pound tcel 7.R9
40. l and 06-pound Iron 3.66
Total 11.25
Fifty-pound rails, branded "P. S. Co." and
manufactured in 1879, are used from Cor
vallis to a point near St. Joseph, where they
connect with Krupp steel rails, of like weight
ni date, which extend over perhaps two
miles of road and connect with 56-pound sf tl
nrar Carlton., These 60-pound rails, especial
ly those made by the P. S. Co., have worn
rcmarkahly well. They were manufactured
ma r) y 3u years ago and have been in use
nearly -ever ulnce. yet, barring the surface
, klnkM, are apparently as good as the day
they were laid. Between St. Joseph and Carl
ton, about where the P. 8. Co. and Krupp
rails connect, I found a few broken onus
which have been upliced.
The 06-pound steel which extends from a
point near Carlton to a point near Beaverton
la made up of a Job lot of old steel bearing
datea from itiSt to 18ft I, and I think a few
rails of n older date. From Carlton to a
lolnt near Forest Grove most of the r's
appear to have worn remarkably well, in
fact are very little won; but from thie point
to where they connect with the 62-pound steel,
icar Beaverton, there are many badly-worn
rails, the result, undoubtedly, of service on
the TCast Side or main line. I found a few
of these rails had been broken at some time
and spliced. A great many short rails are
to be found. I am unable to say why fhey
were cut, unless it was to remove kinks ob
tained whilo in use on the main line. A
great many of the Joint are bad some of the
rails being bruUsed or badly cur.
The 62 pound rails in use from a point
near Beaverton over the hill into Portland
bear the date of 1881 and appear to be !n
giod condition except that some are pretty
badly worn on heavy curves.
Angle Bars.-
Two angle bara are used at Joints on the
RO-puund steel except for a short distance
near where the few Krupp rails are used.
Tlero a few plain plates are used an angle
bar Is used on one ide of the Joint and a
plain piato on the other. An anIe bar and
plain plate are alco used at Joints for some
distance. In and out of Forest tirove and at a
few other points btween Forest tirove and
Bcaxerton, but from there on Into Porfand
ancle bars are used on both sldea of Joints.
1 found the angle bars as a rule In good
condition and, except at switches, vary sel
dom found a cracked one. But where an
anarle bar and a plate were used It was not
unur-uat to tlnd one of them cracked usually
the piate. It Is the duty of the section, mes
to remove thewe cracked plates and I find
as a ritle thy are given close attention. At
the time of the wreck a creat many plates
nrr Forest Grove were found broken. In
fail I believe there were twice as many
broken plates on that one section as ooui'?
he found on all other wectioms between Port
land and Corvallis. Most of thoo. near for
est Grove have been removed, but there still
remain a number which should receive atten
tion. If the section foreman on this section
will give as close attention to these matters
as the ot her sect ion foremen a ppear to do
there will be no cause for complaint
Where the SO-pound "rails are connected,
wlili heavier rails at switches many bad
Joints aiv to be found and broken bars
and plates are Quite common. This Is a
matter which should be given attention.
It has been Mated that at certain points
but on plate was used at Joints. This was
a mistake, for at the potms where this
condition wa said to exist an examination
shows an angle bar and a Plain elate are
used at Joints. A person walking, along the
track mleht overlook the plain plate for
the reason that it fits up close, - to and Is
hidden by the ball of the rail.
Bolts.
The bol's at the Joints continually woik
Inose and a bolt is often found missing.
The section men niVpt-ar. however, to be glv
' ing them pretty cloe attention and I think
there i nothing to fear from this source.
In many casoa where rails have been cut It
appears but one hole has been bored Hn the
vail? this means but three bolts through the
plates at the Joints. This, however, may
nt be a eiious objection, but It undoubt
edly would be a safer Joint if another bolt
was a ditrd.
Spikes.
Thffc are a great many loose spikes to be
found along the line and at many noints
more particularly between Corvallis and
M eCoy. w here the ties are. not so rood
they can be Dulled out with the Angers.
Loose nnikea are also common where the
tie are g.tod. This Is the result of the
llrht rail and soft roadbed. The passing
trains work them loose as fast as the sec
tion men can drlvs them, and repeated driv
incM will soon leave loose sxukea even m
ound ties.
Tie Plates.
Ti plate are used on some bridges and
trestle which have been lately renewed and
at a few points in the track between HIIls
boro aud .Portland.
Rail Braces.
. No rati bracks appear to be used except
on sumo of the switches and oa a few .
curves on the hill near Portland. A num
ber of the latter are broken.
Ties.
The ties used are 7x9 and 6x8. treated
fir ties and about SiHiO are used to the
mile. The reports of the comoanr show
23,1 46 ties to have tx en laid during the
year ending June 30, 1&07; this amounts to
over 8 pr cant of all ties in the track.
There have been continued renewals since
the said date.
Between Corvallis and McCoy the ties' at
many points are In a poor condition and
need attention. There have been renewals
at many points, but they have not been
sufficient. There are some 1S9S-6-7 ties
and many others which have served their
time and should be removed.
From McCoy to Portland the ties as a
rule are In good condition. Some new ties
have been put In lately, but there has been
but little change since the date of the wreck.
A careful examination win convince s.ny
reasonable person that they are as good as
are to be found in the main line or any
other line. It is true that weak ties are to
be found here and there and these- appear
to be receiving attention. The defects in
the ties on this road are all shown us for
the reason that they are not covered with
ballast as on the main line. They are
scarred here and there by derailments,
broken brake beams, fire and checking, and
at many points in city limits they are
bruised by wagbn and truck wheels and do
not look very good; but If one takes the
trouble to take an axe and -chop into them
he will find them, as a rule,' perfectly sound.
I found ties occasionally that were checked
and split nearly half way through, but after
careful examination, found them sound and
I can see no good reason why they should
be removed. The soft condition of tho
track and the constant churning In the
mud Is another reason why the ties on this
road take on rotten appearance.
Many ties between Corvallis and McCoy
should have early attention and there should
be some renewals between McCoy and Port
land, but when this is done I think no fair
minded person can say the ties on this road
are not In a safe condition.
Roadbed.
The roadbed in my opinion Is the worst
feature about the road. There la a little
gravel and cinder ballast nearly all along
the Una, bat not enough to do much good.
The roadbed Is soft and wet in places and
a passing train will undo in a second the
many hours' work of a section crew. Stand
ing along the track and watching a passing
train will convince any one that new steel,
ties, plates, etc. are useless unless the road
bed is first given attention. A great deal
of good drainage work appears to have been
done this Winter, but there are still many
places where the drainage is poor and the
track is soft. The constant churning of the
ties In the soft mud has left matey low places
In the track and these are among the causes
of derailments.
Bridges.
There are three steel and four wooden
bridges on this line. The steel bridges are
about 130 feet and the wooden bridges 0
feet In length. They appear to be well con
stnAted and in a safe condition. Inside guard
rails are used on the bridge.
Trestles.
At the date of the company's last report
there were 05 trestles on this line with an
aggregate length of 18,166 feet. A number
of them have since been filled and others
are In course of being filled. Most of the
trestles are In first-class condition, but there
sre some that need repairs; and I have been
advised that these will receive attention at
an early date. Very few of the trestles have
Inside guard rails. ,
An examination of certain trestles which
were reported as being supported by piling
which were in a rotten condition revealed
the fact that the rot which was visible was
merely sap rot and when cut away the posts
appeared to be perfectly sound.
Trestle 3 B In South Portland was said, to
be In bad shape. This conclusion was reached
undoubtedly from the fact that the wooden
guard rails were in need of repairs. ' It
seemed to me that this bridge is well con
structed and In a good condition. . The timbers
bear the date of 1004-6-6 and appear to be
perfectly sound. A portion of the old guard
rail has recently been renewed. These wooden
guard rails are used to keep the ties In place
and afford.Bome protection tn event of derailments,-
but they In no manner support the
trestle.
Section Gangs.
This division appears to be " divided into
seven sections snd averages about seven and
one-half miles to the section. The crews con
shrt' of a foreman and- from three to four men.
Depots.
At a number of stations along the line
better depots are badly needed. Many of
them were built years ago when the needs
of the communities were not so great and
are now Inadequate. The platforms of many
of them are very narrow and there is not
sufficient room for the "handling of the ex
press and baggage trucks. It Is a wondex
children are not knocked over and Injured
by these trucks at times when the platforms
are crowded. This is a matter which should
receive attention.
Conclusion.
While conditions on this road are not as
bad as reported they are such as to Justify
a demand for improvements and the Com
mission should see that they are made at
an early date.
'OSWALD WBJST, Commissioner.
' In connection with the report of Com
missioner West I beg to report that on
February 12, 190 I made a careful exami
nation of the track between Forest Grove
aud the scene of the wreck, and on Feb
ruary 37 I again inspected the same track.
I found that since the wreck some consid
erable work has been done In putting the
track In better condition. About 24 defective
plates have been replaced and a number of
new bolts have been inserted in place of de
fective or missing bolts. However, there
were on February 27 about ten plates re
maining In the track, which, In my Judg
ment, were defective and should be re
placed. The damage caused to the track
and trestle - 2A H. by the wreck bad been
almost entirely repaired on February 27. A
short distance south of the scene of the
wreck about 70 56-pound rails were being
replaced with heavier steel.
I have examined the track between Port
land and Forest Grove with considerable
eare and so far as the report of Commis
sioner West concerns the roadbed and track
between those points my observation coin
cides with his.
tSigned) C. H. AtTCHISON.
GROWERS WITH LARGE ACRE
AGE REFUSE TO JOIX.
Effort Will Be Made to Sell Shares
on Acreage Basis Arranging
' Xew Meeting.
SAL-EM, Or., Feb. 29. (Special.) Ef
forts to organize the hopgTowers of the
Pacific Coast on the plan proposed some
time ago by CallfornJans will fail, ac
cording to the views of Joseph Baum
frartner, who is managing' the Oregon or
ganization work. Mr. Baum partner has
vo advised the directors in charge- of the
work In Washington and California and is
endeavoring to arrange a meeting of the
directors from the three states early in
March. Mr. Baumgartner thinks the
former plan will fail because It proposes
to take all growers Into an organixatlon
on an equal footing, regardless of acreage-
He believes that in order to get
the large growers to go in. it will be
necessary to form a corporation, selling
each, grower a share of stock for each
acre owned, so that the large growers
will have a voice In association affairs in
proportion to their acreage.
The effort to secure statistics of hop
acreage in Oregon has also failed, as it
has been found that the information re
ceived ie Inaccurate and' unreliable. That
part of the work, has been abandoned. At
the last meeting of growers here it was
voted to assess each member 25 cents an
acre for the purpose of paying organisa
tion expenses. No payments have been
made on this assessment and probably
none will be until It becomes apparent
that a plan of organization which can
be perfected has been devised.
Albany, Or. The residence of T. J.
Dannen at West Scio Station on the Wood-burn-Spriitgneld
line of the Southern Pa
cific, was oA-etroyed with all Its contents by
fire Friday night, causing a loss of $H0
Dannen is the Southern Pacific agent and
operator at West Scio.
CUSHMAN WOULD
LIKE PILES' JOB
Tacoma Congressman Plans
to Enter the Senatorial
Race in 1910.
WIDELY KNOWN IN STATE
Judge Reid Wants to Go to Congress
and Cushman Is Willing; to Make
Room Contest With Piles
. Promises Excitement.
OLTMPIA. Wash., Feb. 29. (Special.)
That Francis -W. Cushman is laying; his
plans to enter the race for election to
the United . States Senate in 1911 against
Samuel H. Piles is declared with a strong
degree of positiveness by some of the
leading politicians of the Southwest.
Congressman Cushman's plans have be-
r.... ........... .......T
t
'
' "r
:- , ; .
I ' I 1
Francis W. CuMhitinn, Who De
alrca to Snrceed Sam H. Piles
In the United States Senate
From WttMbingrton.
come known, more or less, at this time,
because of the drawing near of this
year'B political campaign. There has
been some talk of opposition to Cushman
in his district this year, and it is claimed
that he has offset some of this opposition
by confiding to more than half a dozen
friends that he intends to make this his
last campaign for the lower House of
Congress and that he has' an ambition to
succeed Senator Piles of Seattle.
Judge Reld Ambitious.
Tacoma, has a strong aspirant for. con
gressional honors ;in Superior J-udge
George T. Reid. Judge Reid was one of
the leaders in the lower House of the
State Legislature in 1905 and 1907. He
was appointed to a vacancy on the bench
in Pierce County . by Governor Mead:
Judge Reid, it is understood, does not
care to remain on the bench indefinitely,
having a preference for legislative work.
Friends of Judge Reld have received an
assurance - from. Congressman Cushman
that the latter desires only one more
term as Congressman. There would be
little hope for any man in trying to
overcome Cushman's popularity in the
Southwest Congressional District this
year, and Judge Reid will be well con
tent to wait another two years.
Labor Opposes Cusbman.
If Cushman has any opposition in hii
district this year it will likely be raised
by the laboring element. As is the case
with Congressman Jones, there has been
considerable criticism of Cushman's atti
tude on labor measures in Congress by
union labor leaders. Several weeks ago,
at the time of a gathering of labor
leaders in Tacoma, a self-constituted
committee waited on Stanton Warburton,
former State Senator, and invited him to
enter the race against Cushman. War
burton took the matter under considera
tion and nothing more has ever been
heard of it.
Cushman, it is understood, bases his
hopes of defeating Piles on his extended
acquaintance throughout the state ac
quired in several recent campaigns and
during his terms as Congressman-at-large.
He looks upon the primary elec
tion law as extrrmrly favorable to his
chances. In addition, 1910 will be an off
election year with no long list of candi
dates for state .offices to complicate the
fight-
Cushman Friendly to Jones.
Cushman is looked upon as being in
sympathy with Congressman Jones in the
latter's attempt to defeat Senator Levi
Ankeny for re-election, but he is not ex
pected to take any active part in the
Senatorial contest this year. If Jones is
elected, his sympathies, it is anticipated,
will be more openly expressed and will be
favorable to Cushman, as between Cush
man and Piles two years hence; Seattle's
obligation to Senator Ankeny for assist
ance in Piles' election by the Legislature
of 1905 is well known and is rapidly be
coming a factor in the Jones and An
keny contest. Hence, Jones, if success
ful, will not feel bound to observe neu
trality when Cuslunan seeks to defeat
Piles.
Promises Iivcly Contest.
With the direct primary law in exist
ence. Cushman is probably the most for
midable candidate that could be put forth
against Piles. He is not only equipped
with acquaintance, but oratorical ability.
Piles also possesses these two qualifica
tions of the strong candidate, with prob
ably a smaller personal acquaintance
than Cushman in Eastern Washington.
On the other hand. Piles has the Seattle
spirit back of him, and back of t,e Seat
tle spirit is the metropolis of the state.
There would be no wajk-away for either
candidate, and with the senatorship
practically the only office of importance
at issue, a Piles-Cushman fight would
bring about the liveliest off-year cam
paign ever held in the state.
Smashed by Jump From Train.
. HOOD RIVER. Or.. Feb. 29 (Special.)
Arthur McHenry, of Portland, is con
fined to the Cottage Hospital in. this
city as the result of an attempt to
align, from a moving passenger train
yesterday while it was passing over
the bridge across the Hood River. Mc
Henry jumped from the train when it
was near one of. the abutments to the
bridge and fell 40 feet to the ground
below. One of his legs was badly
fractured, his head out and severat
teeth knocked out. It is feared he may
also have sustained internal Injuries.
BENJAMIN'S SPRING
CtOTHIN
Unquestionably high-quality materials
of exclusive weaves combined with
faultless custom tailoring, unusually
clever styling and fitting, give
Clothes
ehj amm
Such a distinctively refined air and
character that they can only be classed
with the smart custom tailor's most
expensive garments It will pay you to
see these smart clothes Priced
$20.00 to $40.00
5 PL ft. I J
Buffum
etom
311 Morrison Street
-
EXCLUSIVE AGENTS
Opposite Post Office
JOLT FOR COLEMAN
Students Refuse Again to In
dorse Retiring President.
SHOW INTENSE INTEREST
Effort of Willamette Trustee to Have
Blank Resolution Reconsidered
Defeated ray " X'p Hues ' to
Get Chance to Vote.
SALEM. Or., Feb. 29. (Special. A
second effort to secure from the stu
dents of Willamette University a reso
lution commending the work of ex
President Coleman, has failed. With
probably every member of the student
organization present, a rising vote was
taken and the movement was defeated.
A few days ago a letter was received
from i.ev. Mr. McDanleU of Portland, a
member of the board of trustees, who
addressed a letter to the student-body
asking them to reconsider the action
of a week ago, when the students
adopted a blank report submitted by a
committee appointed to draft resolu
tions of appreciation. Dr. McDanlel
told of Dr. Coleman's work here, a he
viewed it, and asked the students to
adopt resolutions thankirfg Coleman for
his efforts in behalf ot Willamette Uni
versity. When this letter had been received, a
meeting of the student-body was called
and it was announced that only mem
bers of the student association in good
standing would be admitted to the
meeting. That there was intense in
terest in the question presented is evi
dent from the fact that students vol
untarily paid up arrearages of dues
amounting to. $76 in order that they
misht attend the meeting.
When the students assembled, the
purpose of the meeting was stated and
lr. MeDaniel's letter was read. When
the reading was finished, a student
moved that the meeting adjourn. On
the viva voce vote the chairman could
not determine whether the motion had
carried. A standing vote was taken
and the motion carried by three or four
majority. As a motion to" adjourn is
not debatable, the expected discussion
of the merits of the question did not
take place. '
While students. have' various reasons
for their attitude, the majority in fa
vor of ad journment-was apparently se-
NEW YORK
DENTISTS
4TH AND MORRISON 8TS..
PORTLAND. OREGON.
CHALLENGE THE WORLD
No cbarva for rainless Extraction
when other work is ordered. W were
the first and only Eastera Specialists
to advertise snd do nrst-class dent
istry absolutely without pain at mod
erate prices.
Wo have always associated with ill
the world's most famous Dental
Experts.
Do not be misled by unscrupulous
advertisers who resort to scare-bead
advertisements to entice the unwary
to their offices.
Pay no fancy fees until you have
consulted us. Our continued suocess
Is due to the uniformly high-grade
work done by gentlemanly operators
We males a perfect set of teeth for
$5.00. '
When they are made by the
DENTISTS
They are guaranteed with a pro
tective guarantee for 10 years.
iold Fillings CI. 00
Silver FtUinss S
iold Crowns. 2k , 5. OS
Bridge Work. Itk 5.00
We are making s specialty of
Porretaia Bridge Work.
Largest snd best equipped dental
establishment in the world.
DR. A. C. FROOM. PROPRIETOR.
Hours 8:30 A. M. to P. H.
cured by the argument that "Coleman's
retirement was the result of a contro
versy in the board of trustees and that
the students have nothing to do with it.
ADJUST TRIBUTE'S AFFAIRS
Pendleton's Morning Daily Once
More on Paying Basis.
PENDLETON. Or., Feb. 29 (Special.)
At a meeting of the board of direc
tors of the Pendleton Tribune Publish
ing Company a reorganization was ef
fected by the election ot W. F. Guion
as secretary and manager. Mr. Guion.
who has been editor and publisher of
the Tribune since the retirement of
T. T. Geer from the active editorial
management, has taken over half of the
stock of the company and will here
after have full control of the business
and financial departments of the paper.
as well as acting as editor. He ie a
thoroughly experienced and practical
newspaper man. and has succeeded in
placing the Tribune. on a paying basis
with bright business prospects for th
future.
Colfax. "Wash. Bryan Weatacott, '
years, died at Garfield today. Mr. Westacott
came from Kn gland 40 years ago. maktnr
a fortune In the Nevada mines and locatiun
in Whitman County ,'to years ago. He harf
retired from farm wo rk and- was act! n
president rf the Rank of Garflf.ld.
Lildi Building
i ) ' ON
1 -
V
Park and Alder
Catering to Physicians and Dentists
of Standing Only
IN submitting the Medical . Build
ing to the approval of the lnedi-
cal and dental fraternity of Port
land, the owners wish further to call
attention to the following facts i .-'
Every suite has compressed air;
both direct and alternating, currents
of electricity; boiling hot Bull Run
water, as well as cold; and gas, jani
tor and elevator service, of course.
All the rooms are also fitted with
vacuum cleaning apparatus, which
naturally insures the highest pos
sible degree of sanitation.
. In a word, nothing has been over
looked which would tend to make
this building the one place where
dentists and doctors should be lo
cated. In other cities, this idea has
worked out with great success, and it
is the belief of the , owners that an
equal success may be had in this city.
ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT
I have a number of propositions open to both dentists and doctors, where one dentist or
doctor would like to share the reception-room with another practitioner. If you are
dissatisfied with your present location and would like to be in the MEDICAL
BUILDING if you had someone to share the expenses of your reception-room, and
feel diffident about approaching someone on the proposition, let me hear from you. I
can do the business easily and pleasantly for you.
AGENT WILL BE
AT THE BUILD
ING UNTIL NOON
TODAY
READY FOR OCCUPANCY
NOW WILL BE COMPLETE
LY FINISHED IN 2 WEEKS.
PHONE OR CALL
J. WHYTE EVANS
7 Chamber of Commerce Bldg.
Or Gall Room 216
Medical Building -Park
and Alder
Tear thia out and tnnll to m.
I. WHITE EVANS.
7 Chamber Commerce Bids.
Please send me further infor
mation concerning the Medical
Building.
Name.
Address.
53-
L30S
f