The Sunday Oregonian., July 12, 1908, Page 6, Image 6

6-1.
THE SU2TD.AY -. OBEGONIAN PORTLAND. JULY 12, 190S.
LEAVES VOTERS TO
PICK BEST
KNOWN
Time Is Too Short to Make
Stale-Wide Campaign
for' Governor.
CONTEST IN WASHINGTON
fiace for Gubernatorial Nomination
fer Direct Primary Presents Some
Complicated 'and . Un
tried Features.
OLYMPIA, Wash., July 11. (Spe
elal.) With the direct primary elec
tion less than 60 flays away, the senti
ment of the voiHia at large through
out the state Is far from crystallized on
any one or more aspirants for the Re
publican, nomination as Governor.
Only one candidate, S. G. Cosgrove,
has attempted to make anything like
a general personal canvass, and, al
though the others are expected to keep
busy, from now on the time is too short
for personal meetings' with the voters
Jn general exempt through the medium
of public, meetings. The meetings so
far held at which candidates for Gov
ernor have appeared have been In the
nature of conventions, such as. the G.
A. R. encampment at North Yakima;
the farmers' picnic at Elberton; the
convention of County Auditors at
Mount Vernon, "and the like. Pew at
tempts have been made by guberna
torial candidates to hold strictly politi
cal gatherings, and it is doubtful if
the voters would respond in very large
numbers to calls for such meetings.
The immensity of the task of jour
neying over the state for the purpose
of meeting the voters in the rural dis
tricts can best be realized by pointing
out that there are 37 counties in this
state. Tf a candidate wishes to meet
the voters- liv general -in every county
he can 'devote Just about a day and a
half to each county prior to the
primary election. This makes no al
lowance for time spent in traveling
from one county to another. One and
one-half days spent even in a small
county would accomplish little, and In
B large county, like King. Pierce or
Fpokane, would be Insufficient to at
tract atlenuon.
Open Race to Four Leaders.
The result will be that the contest
will He among the candidates who are
already known personally , or by repu
tation throughout the state. For this
reason politicians eliminate practical
ly from consideration W. M. Ridpath,
of Spokane, and the newest candidate.
Joseph W. Robinson, of Olympla.
The four candidates conceded to' be
In the race are Governor Mead, ex
Governor McBrlde, Attorney-General
Atkinson and S. G. Cosgrove. The first
three are well known by reason of
their service In public, and Cosgrove
by reason of his long . personal can
vass, his extended. 'resld'smce in -the
tate and his activity heretofora.in Re
publican state politics. -
The politicians who Journey to and
from, the capital ore ptetty thoroughly
agreed that the race does .not yet -belong
to any one of the tour mentioned,
and nearly all frankly admit that the
second choice provision . of the Wash
ington primary law Is so untried a
quantity that they are unable to specu
late on the result.
McBrlde and Mead have heretofore
been considered the leaders lor first
choice votes. Both Atkinson and Cost
grove have gained appreciably on them
In this respect of late, while there Is
still no indication that the two leaders
will get a very great share of the second-choice
votes. At the present time
there are very few politicians who look
for tne nomination of a Republican
candidate for Governor by first-choice
votes. This is conceded by some of the
leading workers for Mead and McBride,
and It is likely that an effort will now
he made by the organizations con
trolled by these two candidates to
break up the second-choice votes of
their rivals. If the second-choice votes
can he pretty well scattered the can
didate having the highest number of
first-choice votes stands a good show
of securing a majority of all the votes
when both first and second are counted.
Itoblnson Plans to "Get Even."
A report that has gained some cir
culation here is that the candidacy of
J. W. Robinson is due largely to the
efforts of the friends of either Mead
or McBride It was predicted last
week with a strong degree of posltlve
ness that a dark horse would soon
enler the rare for Governor, and that
he would bo brought out as a dummy
by one of the other candidates, with
the idea that the latter would throw
him his second-choice votes, thus pre
venting them going to Atkinson or
Cosgrove.
Even If it be true that Robinson was
brought out for this purpose, there
were other considerations tuat put him
In the race.
Robinson has a strong grudge
RgalnFt Judges Milo A. Root and Her
man D. ("row. of the Supreme Court,
who are candidates for re-election, and
be also dislikes Attorney-General At
kinson. Robinson has that disposition
that he will spend both time and money
lo pay oft a political or personal score.
The emnlty for Root and Crow arises
from the disbarment proceedings Insti
tuted by the Supreme Court last Winter
after Robinson, as attorney for Marie
t'arrau in the famous Sullivan will
case, attacked the Integrity of the
court In his briefs. As a result of the
proceedings, Robinson was disbarred
for six months. He then declared he
would "get even" and for a time con
sidered running for Supreme Judge for
the purpose of carrying on a campaign
against Root and Crow.
It is now reported that he has de
cided that any attack from the stump
against the Supreme Court candidates
would be received with better grace if
be were a candidate for some Impor
tant office other than Justice of the
Supreme Court. It is declared to be
the Intention of Robinson to use the
prominence given him as a candidate
for Governor to wage a bitter fight
against the two Justices.
Aiming to Defeat Atkinson.
Judge Robinson's enmity for Atkin
son dates back to the time when the
Attorney-General put A."' J. Kalknor.
of Olympla. in his office as an assistant.
Robinson at one time controlled the
politics of Thurston County, but a
number of years ago was deposed by a
faction of which Palknor was one of
the leaders. Robinson and Falknor
have been enemies for years and when
Atkinson put the latter In his office
Robinson demanded that Falknor be
removed, but Atkinson declined to
make a change.
Then, when the Supreme Court di
rected the Attorney-General last Win
ter to prepare the p'apers "In the disbar
ment proceeding. Atkinson turned the
against Robinson was prosecuted In
the Supreme Court by Robinson's
warmest enemy. Robinson, it is said,
demanded that Atkinson either attend
to the case himself or assign it to one
of his other assistants, but the Attorney-General
again declined to make a
change.
That Judge Robinson is aiming also
at Atkinson is indicated by his quiet
and successful effort to secure a place
on the primary ticket directly under
the -name of the Attorney-General and
preceding tlje names of McBride. Mead
and Cosgrove. It Is said to be his
theory that this position will better
enable him to split up the second
choice votes that otherwise would have
gone to Atkinson.
The effect of place in securing sec
ond choice votes in the Governship con
test is subject to much theorizing. It
is a very common argument that for
the candidate who is seeking second
choice votes first place is not the best.
It is the theory that most voters will
have but one choice and that they will
cast their second choice votes at ran
dom. The inclination, it is argued,
will be to go down the ticket instead
of up.
Mead Dropped Out of Line.
It is a matter of faet that some can
didates sought second place on the
ticket- On the Governorship the place
hunt has resulted without much ad
vantage to any candidate. Ridpath
holds first place, but is recognized only
as a second choice candidate. Atkin
son, who will polPa large second choice
vote and is gaining on first choice,
holds second place. Robinson, the
weakest of all. comes next, with Mead,
McBrlde and Cosgrove yet to file.
Governor Mead did not participate
In the line in front of the Secretary of
State's office, although a boy was
placed In line for him, who held the
third position from the head and the
second place among the Governors.
It is an interesting bit of history
connected with the scramble for place
that Governor Mead. and the Board of
Control, the latter being custodian of
the Capitol, for a time seriously con
sidered clearing the corridor of the
boys in line. T. D. Rockwell. Tax Com
missioner by appointment from Mead,
and a candidate for Congress, openly
declared the line scheme to be "out
rageous and illegal." Yet when Gov
ernor Mead positively declined to ac
cept the place provided in the line for
him, his friend Rockwell gladly took
the boy and got second place on the
Congressional ticket. The idea of
clearing the corridor and- Rockwell's
determination to test the legality . of
the "line-up" in court were both aban
doned simultaneously, with Rockwell
securing an advantageous place in the
line.
It is possible that the GovernorshlD
contest may be further complicated by
the ill-health of Mr. Cosgrove. Dis
quieting rumors are afloat as to tne
seriousness of his condition and some
fear he will have to retire from the
flf;hL Cosgrove's energetic personal
campaign has told sorely on his
strength and he has lost greatly in
weight.
HEAVY YIELD EDDD WHEAT
EXCELLENT REPORTS FROM
VMATILLA COUXTY.
Every . Bushel So. Far Threshed
Grades as No. 1 Hot Winds
Have Done Little Damage.
PENDLETON, Or., July 11. (Spe
cial.) Every bushel of wheat tbreshed
In Umatilla County so far this season,
according to reports which have
reached this city, has made g"ide one
when tested, and the reports from
those portions of the county In which
threshing: has been , carried on during
the past week show that the yield is
groin g- to be much heavier than the
most sanguine had hoped for.
Many farmers are harvesting: just aa
large crops as they ever did, and it is
believed that the average for the coun
ty will not be more than 20 per cent
short of the regular crop, though the
hot winds of the last few days will
undoubtedly damage all wheat . that
was not well matured.
The reports on barley have been ex
ceptionally good, and practically a full
crop of this cproal will be harvested.
STEAL HORSES FOR RIDE
Washington County Farmers An
noyed by Loss of Fine Animals.
HILLS BORO, Or., July 11. (Special.)
Horse stealing; is ag:ain becoming com
mon in this county. Nathalie Garborlno,
a Beaverton gardener, lost a black mare
this week, and last night John Johnson,
of GaJes Creek, lost a bay mare. For
many years It has been the habit of
persons who were passing through the
county, en route for Portland, to take
some farmer's horsp, ride It to the top
of the Portland Mountain, turn it loose,
and then walk into the city. Sheriffs
are always at a loss to catch these fel
lows, as they generally take the horse
In the night, and as It is but a few
miles to the city, limits, they ara in town
In an hour or two, and there is no means
of identification.
TOY PISTOL CAUSES DEATH
Lockjaw in 10-Year-Old Boy Results
From Fourth of July Accident.
NORTH YAKIMA, Wash, July 11.
(Special.) Harold Slorah, aged 10.
died this morning of lockjaw, as the
result of an accident on. the Fourth of
July. The boy's death is the result of
his mishandling a toy pistol, the wad
ding of which he fired into the palm
of his left hand. Until last night, the
boy's parents thought nothing of the
injury, and the boy continued to play
with his brothers and sisters. Slorah's
father is engineer on the Sunnyslde
branch of the Northern Pacific, and
until recently resided in Spokane.
HEAVY RAILS ON WEST SIDE
Southern Pacific Improving Roadbed
on Kntire Division.
HILLS BORO, Or., July 11. (Spe
cial.) Heavy steel rails have been
strewn from Portland to Wniteson, on
the Southern Pacific, West Side, and
by Fall the old steel will bave been
replaced on the entire division. This
will make the West. Side safe for the
San Francisco overland trains. In case
of track disaster between Portland and
Albany in the rainy seasons.
Closing Ip Johnson Estate.
H1LLSBORO. Or.. July 11. (Special.)
After many years in probate the A. H.
Johnson estate, comprising over 3000
acres of farm lands in Washington
County, ha been ordered sold, and the
administrator. W. M. Ladd. of Portland,
is now advertising for private sale. These
lands comprise the Johnson farms near
Reedvllle and the celebrated Spring Hill
EDITORS TO MEET
IN VANCOUVER
Washington Association In
vites Newspapermen of
Oregon and Alaska.
EXCURSION UP COLUMBIA
farm, near Gaston, the latter of which
tarorK ovxr tuo-aiKnot AM CASejomBriaea 40 acres.
Three Days' Programme Begins
Thursday Governor Mead to Be
Guests-Addresses by Men Who
Have Learned by Experience.
VANCOUVER, Wash.. July 11. (Spe
cial.) All preparations are complete for
an elaborate entertainment of the dele
gates to the Washington State Press As
sociation which meets in this city next
Thursday. In addition to a good pro
gramme of speakers from the state, the
convention will be addressed by a number
of people of National reputation from out
side the state, including Eva Kmery Dye,
the authoress; Charles H. Fuller of Chi
cago, head of one of tne largest adver
tising agencies in the world; Third Assist
ant Pastmaster-General A. L. Lawshe,
and others.
The State Press Association of Oregon
and the newspaper men of Alaska have
accepted invitations to attend the Van
couver meeting, and the local committee
is preparing to entertain 600 visitors.
Governor Mead and Supreme Judge Root
will be in attendance during the entire
session. All the newspaper men will be
given handsome souvenir badges furnished
by the Pacific Paper Company, the Blake
McFall Paper Company and the American
Founders Company of- Portland.
Mingle Pleasure 'With Business.
The programme for the three days'
session follows:
Thursday, July 16, 10 A. M., application
and election new menfbers, registration,
etc. - At 1 P. M., appointment of com
mittees, reports of officers and commit
tees, annual address of the president,
J. B. Best of the Everett Herald; report
of Historian E. C. Kin-be of E!ma; poem,
"An Epic of the Press," by H. L. Wil
helm of the Coast Magazine, Seattle; ad
dress, "Suggestion for Betterment of Re
lations Between .Publishers and Adver
tisers and Advertising Agencies," by
Charles H. Fuller, president, of' the
Charles H. Fuller Company of Chicago;
address, "Constructive Journalism." by
Fred Ornes of the Wt. Vernon Argus; ad
dress. New Law xegulating Legal
Publications, Both Public and Private,"
by Eugene Lorton of the Walla' Walla
Bulletin: address, "can a Weekly Paper
Be Published at $1.00 a Tear With a Liv
ing Profit," by G. Lee Odgera of Daven
port. At 4:30 P.'M. the delegates will be taken
for auto rides about the . city, arriving
at the State School for the Deaf at 6 P.
M., where lunch w... be served, followed
by address of welcome by the Mayor, and
other speeches and dancing. .
Excursion Tp Columbia.
Friday morning at 9 the visitors will
leave by chartered steamer for an ex
cursion up the Columbia River, "and take
dinner at Stevenson. After dinner -Mrs.
Eva Emery Dye will make an address on
the topic "Some Travelers on . the Old
Columbia." and R. E. Gosnell ' of
Victoria, B. C, will make an Informal
talk. ' " .
Returning to Vancouver late in the af
ternoon, the association will reassemble
Friday evening at the auditorium, where
the following programme will be heard:
Address by ex-Senator John L. Wilson
of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer; address,
"Political Advertising Under the New
Direct Primary Law; the Statute Inter
preted and Restated in a simplified Code
Form." by Attorney-General John D.
Atkinson: addresB, "Poetry for the Coun
try Weekly." by Albert Johnson of the
Seattle Times: address on the New Postal
Rules Regulating Newspaper Subscrip
tions, by Third Assistant Postmaster-'
General A. L. Lawshe; address, "The
Copy Hook." by Herbert Hunt, editor of
the Tacoma News.
Trolley Ride to Portland.
Saturday morning the programme will
be continued at 9 A. M. with an address.
"Is Clubbing With Other Papers or Giv
ing Premiums of Advantage to the Local
Press?" by M. E. Randall of the Ellens
burg Localizer: address, "The Real Mis
sion of a Country Paper." by A. A. Smith
of the Tribune-Times, Port Angeles; ad
dress, "Press Sensationalism Yellow
Whelps." by Lovett M. Wood of the Seat
tle Trade Register; address, "Country
Correspondence, Its Importance and Sug
gestions on How to Handle It," by E. P.
Michell of the Stevenson Pioneer.
After receiving reports of committees,
electing officers and choosing place of
next meeting, the association will then
adjourn at 1:30 P. M. for a ride about
Portland on special trolley cars. At .7
PC M. the convention will wind up with a
banquet with Frank B. Cole of Tacoma
as toastmaster, for which some stunts
are in preparation which are not on the
announced programme, but promise a
good measure of fun for the scribes.
Clnb May Visit Albany.
Bury I. Dasent, manager of the Al
bany Commercial Club, has Invited the
members of the Portland Ad Club and
their friends to visit Albany and its
Commercial Club, Tuesday, July 21.
The matter oY organzing an excursion
in response to Mr. Dasent's invitation
has been referred to a committee of
the Ad Club, consisting of Lewis M.
Head. Fred Muller and James M.
Reeves. Until Mr. Dasent went to Al
bany a few weeks ago to direct the
exploitation work of the Commercial
Club of that city, he was an active
member of the Ad Club.
Clerk Bailey Files Demurrer.
HILLSBORO. Or., July 11. (Special.)
County Clerk J. W. Bailey has Bled
his demurrer to the contest case en
tered for a recount by his late oppo
nent, E. L. McCormlck. and asks that
the case be thrown out on the
ground that he is not in court, his first
petition having been set aside by Judge
McBride. McBride gave permission to
amend, and the case will hinge, doubt
less, upon the court's right to grant
the privilege-
Mrs. McAdam Secures Divorce.
ST. HELENS. Or., July 11. (Special.)
Mrs. M. McAdam was granted a divorce
from L. H. McAdam, of Portland and
Tillamook, by Judge McBride yester
day. The cause given by the plaintiff
in her suit was desertion and non-support.
The parties to the suit were mar
ried July 23, 1890, and the defendant is
a well-known man in Oregon. The de
fendant did not contest the case.
Brilliant Street Lights In Albany.
ALBANY, Or.. July 11. (Special.)
The electric lighting displays on bust-
dih thoroughfares during, thm big
Fourth of July celebration have been
made permanent on a number of
blocks, and Albany now enjoys a fea
ture not presented by any other city
in the state. Every evening the strings
of lights make a brilliant showing, and
have attracted great attention from
visitors to the city. Both sides of
First street between Washington and
Ferry streets and between Broadalbin
and Ellsworth streets, are strung with
lights, and there .are rows of lights on
business buildings' on other parts of
First street, and on Second and Broad
albin streets. A big electric arch at
the corner of Second and Broadalbin
streets has attracted a great deal of
favorable attention.
SCATTER. HIS ASHES AT SEA
Friends Will Carry Out Wish of Late
P. L. Cherry. .
" ASTORIA, Or., July 11. (Special.)
The funeral of the late P. L. Cherry,
British Vice-ConEul. . was held at 5
o'clock this afternoon from Grace Epis
copal Church, the -services being con
ducted by the rector. Rev. William
Seymour Short, assisted by Rev. John
Warren, rector of Holy Innocents
Chapel. The pallbearers were S. S.
Gordon, Judge C. J. Trenchard. B. Van
Dusen, S. D. Adair, G. Wingate and
Judge F. J. Taylor, and the remains,
attended by a large crowd of personal
friends and citizens, were ecsorted to
the evening train and taken to Port
land, where they will be cremated to
morrow. Later the ashes will be taken out to
sea and burled In fullfillment of the
expressed wish of tre deceased.
M'CREDIE AS CANDIDATE
Judge Announces Intention of Mak
ing Race for Re-election.
OLTMPIA. Wash., July 11. (Special.)
Additional declarations of candidacy were
filed today with the Secretary of State
by Stephen J. Harrison, Sunnyside, Sena
tor fifteenth district; W. W. McCredie,
Van eouver.. Superior Judge. Clark. Cow
litz, Skamania and Klickitat counties: J.
A. Balmer. Cleelum. Senator, Klickitat
and Chelan; Miles Poindezfer, Spokane,
Congressman
GOOD TIMES COME AGAIN
(Continued from First Page.)
Bumper crops are reported from both
grain and fruit regions.
In Ohio crops are uniformly good and
prices on farm products are the best in
years. Every trunk line railroad en
tering Cincinnati reports a steady in
crease in freight business.
Improvement Around Pittsburg.
Investigation made at Pittsburg
showed that a gradual Improvement
has set In in all lines In Western
Pennsylvania, West Virginia and East
ern Ohio. " '.'''-.
1 Building lines . are reported active . in
Boston, but not' up to ' normal. New
England generally is prosperous, with the
cotton mill .industry gaining '
In Georgia. Tennessee. Mississippi,
Alabama and Kentucky Inquiries elicited
the same story of a general resuscitation
In. trade and industry.' - - r
Ship Prisoners to Bremerton. t-.
VALLEJO, Cal. July 11. One hun
dred -prisoners, ordered transferred,
from Metre Island prison'to th prison
ship Nipsic at the Bremerton. Yard,
were taken- to San Francicso today in a
navy-yard tug. . under' a heavy guard.
They will he plaoed aboard the cruisers
Washington wnd Tennessee for;trans
portatiorf to 'Bremerton: ' The order was.
necessary on account ' of . 'the :Cangested
eondition ;of - the -yarcT- "prison. Forty
prisoners are still kept here.
MURDERED BQY IN
A GARBAGE HEAP
San Francisco Police Detec
tives Work on Myster
ious Crime.
SUSPECT UNDER ARREST
Employe of Reduction Works Is
Thought to Have Killed Lad In
Fit of Temper Intended
Corpse to Be Burned.
SAN FRANCISCO. July 11. Working
on the theory that John Buchneff, the
14-year-old lad whose body was found
buried in a bin of garbage at the sani
tary reduction works last night was mur
dered and his body thrown into the bin
to conceal the evidences of the crime,
the police today placed August Del
monte, an employe at the plant, under
arrest pending further investigation.
A post-mortem examination of the
body showed that death resulted from a
wound in the head described as such a
one as might have been made by the
prong of a rake or a small-caliber bullet.
No bullet was found, however, and the
police are working on the theory that
the lad was playing about the bin and
when ordered away did something to
anger some employe of the plant, which
resulted in his being struck on the head.
It is thought possible that when the
seriousness of the lad's hurt became ap
parent to his assailant, the latter threw
the body into the bin. hoping that It
would be consumed with the mass of
debris, thus protecting him from the
consequences of his act.
STOP ALL WORK ON JETTY
Men and Engineers Have Misunder
standing as to Saturday Holidays.
ASTORIA. Or.. July 11. (Special.)
All work on the construction of the
Jetty at the mouth of the river was
temporarily suspended this afternoon
on account of a misunderstanding be
tween the employes and the engineers
in charge. It appears that the men
who are employed by the month, there
being about 220-of them, claim they
are entitled to Saturday afternoons off
under full pay. but the engineers " in
charge claim they have no authoritv to
grant this. As a result, all the work
was stopped at noon- today, pending a
ruling on the matter by the higher of
ficers of the Department. It is ex
pected the affair will be adjusted so
that construction can be resumed with
in two or three days.
' Candidates In Chehalis County..
MONTESANO, Wash.; 'July 11. (Spe
cial S The .following names have been
-filed. . for the various - of f ices of Chehalis
county, the candldoates flipping coins to
see who would nave- tirst place: Superior
Judge, Ben r Sheeks and Mason Irwin ;
County Clerk. W. C. Birdall: County
Auditor. Fred Rosmond; County Treas
urer. G. J. Taylor and A. H. Hosfee:
GREAT SALE OF
THE SALE OF REAL MERIT
Never such value-giving in Portland's his
tory on highest-grade apparel for men AH
this season's Chesterfield Suits on sale at
the following 'great reductions.
All $20.00 Suits on sale at ...$15.00
All $22.50 Suits on' sale at . .$16.50
All $25.00 Suits on sale at. . $19.00
All $30.00 Suits on sale at. $23.50
All $35.00 Suits on sale at $26.50
All $40.00 Suits on sale at $29.50
All $45.00 Suits on sale at $34.50
All $50.00 Suits on sale at $39.50
269-271 Morrison Street.
County Coroner... Dr.. , D. - A.- Schumaker
and Paul Smith; theriff; George Dean and
Ed -Payette; -County Superintendent, P,
A. Williams.! N. D. McKilHp: Prosecuting
Attorney, A. M. Wade. W. E. Campbell;
County Commissioners. C. W. -Arland. II.
E. Williams. H. C. Watkins. F. I- ThuV"
her;, Representatives 2!Hh district. E. G.
Penning, R. A. Wiley: Representative 30th
district, H.B. riewlitt.
fS . ' . ..''.
- Th -electrical house of Siemens Holske
FIRE UNDERWRITERS' POSITION
, State Their Side of Recent Discussion of Advance in Rates
In view of what has been said relative to the action of the Under
writers in regard to the recent increase of rates on account of the im
proper electrical installation in this city, it is only fair that the public
be given an idea of the Underwriters' position in the case.
. On December 24th, last, the Portland Office of the Board of Fire
Underwriters informed the Portland Railway, Light & Power Com
pany that their method of installation of motors for commercial pur
poses was not in accordance with the National Electrical Code the
accepted authority. The company took no action, and in March the
matter was referred to the Board of Fire Underwriters' Office in San
Francisco. To verify the opinion of the Underwriters' Electrical En
gineers in. Portland, they sought the opinion of Professor Chas. L.
Cory, head of. the Department of Electrical Engineering of the Uni
versity of California, wh'o reported as follows:
San Francisco, March 23, 1908.
Mr. Alfred Stillman, Secretary Executive Committee,
Board of Fire Underwriters of the Pacific,
San Francisco, Cal.
Dear Sir: My attention has been called to a communication bear
ing the date of March'14, 1908, addressed to you, from the Portland
office of the Board of Fire Underwriters, this communication contain
ing a list of three hundred and eighteen risks, each of which has con
nections with 550-volt direct-current electrical circuits, eo that elec
trical energy is supplied from the same generators which furnish elec
tric power for the operation of electric street railway trolley cars
with ground returns.
Such grounded 550-volt direct-current service to general customers
' is absolutely wrong and creates an undesirable state of affairs, and
one which should be rectified at the earliest possible moment.
The generally adopted standard for electrical installations, viz.,
the National Electrical Code, states specifically that :
"Lighting and power from railway wires must not be permitted
under any pretense in the same circuit with trolley wires with a
ground return, except in electric railway cars, electric carhouses and
their power stations; nor shall the same dynamo be used for both
purposes."
The practice of furnishing electric power to individual customers
contrary to the above rule is condemned, not only by underwriters
but, as I stated in my opinion rendered to your Executive Committee
of the Board in October, 1901, such electrical service is condemned by
electrical engineers and street-railway managers as well. The National
Electrical Code also forbids such electrical service in an entirely dif
ferent section, where it is stated that :
"Two-wire direct-current systems having no accessible neutral
point are not to be grounded."
Where such power service is done to the extent reported in Port
land, there exists not only the individual hazard in each risk where
the 550-volt grounded service is in use, but, owing to the very large
number of such grounded services, there can but result a complete and
serious conflagration hazard.'
Very truly yours, (Signed) C. L. CORY,
Consulting Engineer.
Upon receipt of Professor Cory's report, the following communi
cation was sent to the Mayor:
The Hon. Harry Lane, March 24, 1908.
Mayor of the City of Portland, Oregon :
Dear Sir: I am instructed to respectfully and urgently call your
attention to a condition which, it is believed, can be controlled by
your honor and the honorable Council of the City of Portland, as
affecting the public safety. I enclose a report from the underwrit
ers' electricians in Portland describing a method pursued by the Port
land Railway, Light & Power Co., regarded as highly dangerous by the.
.Association of Electrical Engineers, whose code is accepted by elec
tricians throughout the United States as conclusive ; also a letter from
Professor C. L. Cory, head of the Electrical Department of the Uni
versity of California, copies of the National Electrical Code, Professor
Cory's opinion rendered our Executive Committee in October, 1901,
and Electrical Fire Hazard Pamphlet No. 3, giving a number of
authorities on this subject.
The various underwriters having risks in Portland cannot consist
ently disregard the opinion of so high an authority as Professor Cory,
which is conveyed in the concluding paragraph of his letter. Each
company is provided with a duplicate of the list inclosed. If each
company having liability in any of the buildings mentioned relieves
itself of that liability, it will still be subject to a hazard for which
the premium at present charged does not compensate, since fires so
started may be communicated to other property covered by insurance.
The Executive Committee is confident that it is only necessary to
call your attention to this inexcusable violation of a provision of the
one recognized code of safe electrical installation, to have it rectified.
Tours very truly, (Signed) ALFRED STILLMAN,
Secretary Executive Committee.
- The Mayor then took the matter up with the Light & Power Com
pany in an effort to have the defect remedied, but with no avail. All
efforts to have defect corrected proving fruitless, it became necessary
for the Underwriters to make an increased charge of 25c to the rates
on all risks thus effected. Hence, on April 22, 1908, the following cir
cular was sent to all Portland agents :
BOARD OF FIRE UNDERWRITERS OF THE PACIFIC
Portland, Oregon, June 22, 1908.
To Agents: Tou are referred to Electrical Report No. 37, con
taining a list of buildings in the City of Portland in which are in
stalled motors supplied from grounded trolley generators.
Radical improvements, requiring a year or more for completion,
are contemplated by the Portland Railway, Light & Power Co., which
will relieve the underwriters of a hazard not contemplated in the
present rates generally applying to the city. The plan to increase the
rates applying in the City of Portland, to offset the conflagration haz
ard, is temporarily abandoned in view of the expressed intention by
the electric company, and minimum charge only made to apply exclu
sively to those buildings and their contents in which motors continue
to be supplied with power from the improperly installed system.
J. C. STONE, District Secretary