THE SUNDAY OREGOXIAX, PORTLAND, AUGUST 30, 1908.
STRAIGHTEN OUT
SILETZ TANGLE
Special Agent of General Land
Office Instructed to Make,
an Investigation.
PROTECT HONEST SETTLER
Present Administration Intends to
Release All Lands Entered With
out Fraud Report to Be
Made In October.
OREOONIAN NEWS BL'REAU. Wash
ington. Aug. !3. The attention of the
General Land oftiee has not been offi
cially called to the recent trouble on
the Slleti Reservation, growing out of
the activity or alleged "squatters." but
the Department Is nevertheless gener
ally familiar with conditions, and Is
doing its utmost to straighten out the
tangle. Whether the question of land
titles will be finally adjusted within
one year, or two. or ten, no official Is
ready to predict, for the Pllets Reser
vation has been the cause of more con
troversy and more trouble than any
like area of pubic land ever opened to
entry. The mere mention of the
Slleti Reservation causes perspiration
to appear on the brow of Land Office
authorities: it is subject not willing
ly discussed.
Last Summer the attention of Com
missioner Balllnger was called to the
fart that systematic contesting was
iroing on on the Slleta Reservation. He
called upon Mr. Neuhausen to investi
gate and report. Investigation showed
that there was apparent ground for
complaint upon the part of homestead
ers, and it waa therefore ordered that
the local Land Office should hear no
contests, brought by private parties,
until the charges could be Investigat
ed by a special agent. Since that time,
whenever notice of contest haa been
filed in the Portland Land Office, the
notice has been given to a special
agent, and he has gone to the entry
to determine for himself whether or
rot the homesteader haa in good faith
compiled with the law, or whether he
ftas absented himself from the land
prior to making final proof, thereby
giving ground for contest.
Special Agent's Course.
Whenever tht special agent found
the settler maintaining hla home, aa
required by law, the contestant has
been notified that he had no ground
for contest, and hia complaint has been
dropped, but where the special agent
was not convinced of the bona fides
of the homesteader, permission has
been granted for the contest to pro
ceed, and in ease where the contest
ant has failed to press his case, con
test has been Instituted by the Go
emment Thla policy. It is believed, has ef
fectively put a stop to the practice of
systematic contesting: it has made it
impossible for private Individuals to
institute contests unless there is suffi
cient ground to Justify them.
tT to the present time the General
Land Office has had no complaints
aaainst attorney, alleging that they
have advised squatters to go upon
Filets homesteads, but discussing this
phae of the question. Land Commis
sioner Dennett said:
"No contestant haa the right to go
upon or orenpy land embraced in a
pending homestead entry. As long as
that entry Is In process of perfection,
clear up to the time of making final
proof, the entryman alone has the
right to occupy and use the land.
There Is no law which permits
squatting, even In cases where It may
be believed that the entrj-man has
failed to act in good faith. If an
other person desires to acquire land
embraced In such an entry, he must
bring contest in the local land office,
and submit proof showing that the
original entryrr.an haa failed to com
ply with the law.
Only Path to Success.
"Upon such showing the original
entry will be cancelled, and the con
. testant will have a preference right of
10 aays to initiate entry upon the land
Involved In the contest. That la tha
only way a second party can obtain
prior right to an entry made by an
other. Squatters obtain no prior
rights by going upon an unperfected
homestead: their operations are Illegal,
and will be ao regarded."
It la the opinion of the General Land
Office that the local Land Office at
Portland - will be able to handle all
eontests Instituted against Sileta en
tries, without further instructions
from Washington.
Aa regards those Slleta entries,
which Mill stand suspended under an
order issued by Secretary Hitchcock
aome years ago. It Is stated that Spe
cial Agent Glavls. In charge of the
Oregon district, haa beeh Instructed
to make In vea ligation in each case,
and report to the Commissioner of the
General Land Office. Where there is
ho evidence to show that the entries
are fraudulent steps will be taken to
close up the cases and Issue patents,
and where there la evidence of fraud,
the local land office will be Instructed
to take proper proceedings looking to
the cancellation of entries.
Protects Honest Settlers.
The present administration is not in
sympathy with the Hitchcock idea of
tying up a whole community on mere
suspicion of fraud, and It intends to
release all lands honestly entered, and
to dispossess settlers who have not
acted In good faith. Mr. Glavls ex
pects to make his full report some time
in October, and so on thereafter steps
will be taken to clear up the Siletz
mesa.
REGISTER FOR WATCHMEN
Portland Officer Invents Device to
Protect Property.
J. J. Fitsslmmona. a special police
man and night watchman of this city,
has Just secured a patent on an Inven
tion which, it Is believed, will revolu
tionize the business of night watchmen
and will be the means of reducing the
Insurance rates on buildings where spe
cial watchmen are employed.
The Invention Is called the' secret
service changeable dial register and is
designed to keep absolute record on
the actions and tima of those employed
as night watchmen. By means of its
mechanism and operation, the proprie
tor of any store or building will be
enabled -to tell the exact time the
watchman called at a certain place on
hla rounds and how many rounds were
made.
It Is the first invention of its kind,
differing from similar contrivances in
that the watchman need not enter the
building and need not carry a key, by
means of which lie may supply himself
with cigars or other merchandise. The
proprietor has a key corresponding
with the hour and minute hands on
the dial of the clock and on hla arrival
at his place of business, may tell at a
glance how many visits were made by
the watchman during the night and at
what hours the visits were made.
Patent on the invention was secured
with the aid of a local attorney, and
T. J. Fitzsimmons. of San Francisco,
will leave for the East Monday to com
plete further details. T. J. Fitzsim
mons was formerly a newspaper" man
of Portland, having been In charge of
a daily paper that was started in this
cltv a number of years ago.
It has been charged that many night
watchmen, after burglaries, fires and
other happenings, often declare they
visited the place a few minutes before
the fire or burglary was supposed to
have been discovered. It is one of the
purposes of Fitzsimmons' invention to
tell exactly at what hours they visited
their posts of duty.
ALASKA WHEAT IS FAKE
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
ISSUES WARNING NOTICE.
Much-Vaunted Idaho Grain Not New
Discovery Ioiig Known Un
der Other Names.
OREGONI AN NEWS BUREAU. Wash
ington. Aug. 18. The Department of
Agriculture advises American farmers
not to buy "Alaska Wheat" at 20 a
bushel, or at any other price. And the
Department speaks' after having made
an Investigation of the reputed remark
able grain said to have been discovered
In Alaska, and developed, after years
of culture by a farmer named Adams,
of Juliaetta. Idaho.
"Alaska wheat" haa been cleverly ad
vertised from one end of the United
States to the other, through the me
dium, first, of country newspapers:
then through weeklies: and latterly
though the dally press and a creditable
magazine. But never has the advertis
ing been done In the advertising col
umns. So thoroughly has the country
been covered with stories telling of the
wonderful productivity of this wheat,
that the Depnrtment, for more than six
months, has been answering Inquiries
from farmers who contemplated .In
vesting In the Juliaetta wonder.
All such inquiries have been answered,
and in every instance the Department
has advised against Investment, not
alone because the price Is exhorbitant,
but because the wheat does not come
up to the standard claimed by its dis
tributor. In the first place. "Alaska wheal" is
not a new discovery, as claimed by the
man who is offering It for sale, though
it never before wis known under this
name. Some 20 odd years ago this coun
try and France were deluged with this
same Identical grain, called, at that
time. "Egyptian wheat" or "mummy
wheat." Then, as now. the exploiter
of the grain, had come upon his first
seed in rather a remarkable way: a
single stalk of wheat growing out of
the decayed remains of a mummy.
The grain was of phenomenal size.
So the explorer plucked It. guarded It
carefully; planted tt when he got home,
and from that single head, in the
course of years, had raised a great
quantity, which he. like farmer Adams,
was phllanthroplcally offering to the
public at an unprecedented price, but
like Adams, he was selling it only for
seed. His was the "mummy wheat."
Some years later another another
benefactor sprung up In Virginia with
another wheat that was going to prove
a boon to the farmer, and the salvation
of the miller. His wheat possessed all
the characteristics of the "mummy
wheat" of pld and the "Alaska wheat"
of today, but It went on the market as
"miracle wheat." and was sometimes
known aa "seven-head wheat." getting
this latter name from the size of the
head. This Virginia benefactor is re
ported to have made a great . success
with his wheat, for he sold out his en
tire crop, with exclusive rights to a
Chicago concern for the handsome sum
of I2SO.O00.
When the Chicago buyers took their
wheat to the mill they concluded they
had bought a gold brlck Their wheat
possessed very low milling qualities,
and was inferior to all the standard
wheats of the day. though handsomer
In appearance, because much larger. It
waa a starchy wheat, but contained
little gluten.
Conceding that "Alaska wheat," as
claimed by Farmer Adams, will yield
from 100 to 200 bushels to the acre,
the grain experts ef the Department
declare that It Is. not as good an in
vestment as the standard wheats grown
NEW DIRECTOR OP SATIRAL
SCIENCES.
f '
.:
4
.
,3
I
if
W. F. Fargo. W ho Haa Been Ap
pointed to State formal School.
" MONMOUTH. Or.. Aug. 29.
(Special.) W. F. Fargo, of Pen
dleton, has been appointed in
structor in natural sciences in the
Oregon State Normal School. He
succeeds L. A. Robinson, who has
been granted a year's leave of
absence for graduate work In Co
lumbia University.
Mr. Fargo received his A. B. de
gree from Colgate University,
and also did graduate work for
two vears In Chicago University.
He has had an extended experi
ence as teacher In Oregon, having
been school superintendent four
years, professor In McMtnnvllle
College ten years, and science
teacher. tn Pendleton two years.
Merchants
Savings 6 Trust
Company
tit WASHINGTON BTREEt.
Paid-Up Capital, $150,000
Does & general banking
business.
Pays interest on Savings
Accounts and Time Certif
icates. Holds title to properties
pending transfer by sale
or other disposition.
Cares for estates under
will, or for executor, ad
ministrator or guardian.
Acts as trustee in bond
issues, escrows, etc.
Furnishes property esti
mates for non-resident
investors. .
Effects collections, etc.
Rent a Piano
You will want ft piano In your riome
this Fall and Winter. It will afford
you muh pleasure. Perhaps you 11
that you are not ready to purchase tha
piano you delre to own. Moat mu
ftlHane look forward to th tima when
thev will own a Welnway P!nno.
Rent a piano from us and . all the.
money paid as rent will be applied
toward the purchase of a tWnway.
We have the largest stock of pianos
fn the city and the finest line of old
standard, reliable, well-known makes
Read the names names as familiar aa
the names of old friends Stein way,
Knane. A. B. Chase. Kverett, I.udwig,
Packard. Conover. KlnRsbury. TVelllnK
ton. Estey, Emerson, Kurt unarm, and
others.
Our main salesrooms, second floor,
Sixth and Morrison. Entrance to store
opposite Postoftice.
Sherman, Clay & Co.
'The Home of Dependable Plane"
throughout the United States. It Is not
adapted to flour-making, and reputable
manufacturers will have nothing to do
with it. But the Department does not
concede that "Alaska wheat" will run
200 or even 100 bushels to the acre,
and It Is believed Farmer Adams will
reduce his claim later on. He merely
estimated his crop, say the officials,
figuring that one head of "Alaska
wheat" v.as equivalent in bulk to sev
en heads of standard wheat: a basis
which they claim la far from accurate.
The Agricultural Department is go
ing to learn more about the produc
tion of ''Alaska -wheat" than It knows
now. W.' M. Jardlne. one of the grain
specialists of the Department, and ex
pert on dry-land cereals, has been in
structed to go to Juliaetta to make a
thorough study of the Adama farm,
and the production of "Alaska wheat."
He will ascertain for himself how
heavy the yield actually Is; tinder
what conditions the grain Is grown:
whether the soil Is especially fertilised,
or In Its natural condition, and all
manner of things about the cultivation
of this year s crop.
From correspondence which has
passed between Farmer Adams and the
Department of Agriculture, the offic
ials are not inclined to believe that
the grower of "Alaska wheat" hag wil
fully undertaken to defraud American
farmers. They rather Incline to the
view that he accidently got hold of
some of this large grain, believed it
to possess remarkable qualifications,
and entered upon Its systematic pro
duction, confident that he had made a
new discovery.
If it develops that Farmer Adams
Is aware that he haa been exploiting
an Inferior grain, making false claims
for It, the Department will make a
systematic effort to break up his busi
ness, but if he haa acted In good faith
he will not be disturbed.
However, as the friend and protector
of the American farmer, the Depart
ment of Agriculture reserves to it
self the right to give to the agricult
ural interests the benefit of all Its in
formation, and it knows positively, and
beyond all question, that "Alaska
wheat" Is not the phenomenal grain
which it la advertised to be; hence the
advice to prospective purchasers.
Y. W. C. A. TO RENEW WORK
Will Protect Young Women at Big
Hopyard.
The T. W. C. A. haa made arrangement
with Krebs Bros., to look after the wel
fare of young women and girla who -engage
in hop-picking this season at the big
Krebs yard at Independence. Last year
this work was taken up as an experiment
and the results proved so satisfactory that
the T. W. C. A. has decided to continue
It. A large lunch tent and a day nursery
will be provided In the yards, and there
will be chaperons for young women and
girls who go to the yards unattended. Re
ligious services will be conducted by the
association on Sundays. ,
At Krebs Bros.' office In this city over
700 pickers had been engaged up to last
night. Nine hundred will be needed to
complete the full crew, and Conrad Krebs
is satisfied that all the places will be
filled within the next day or' two. The
pickers will be taken from Portland to
Independence In a special train leaving
here next Thursday at 6:40 A. M. Fifteen
coaches will be required to carry them.
Hop-picking will probably begin at the
Krebs yard next Saturday. .
SALESWOMEN WANTED.
Experienced and accommodating sales
women wanted also experienced fitters,
competent to make alterations on -tailor-made
suits. Permanent positions, good
salary and commission. Apply at the
manager's desk Monday at 8 A. M. lie
Allen & McDonnell, Third and Morri
son. Fire May Cut Telegraph Wire.
LARAMIE, Wyo.. Aug. 29. Union
Pacific coal chutes at Hanna are
burning, the main line of the railroad
is blocked, and there ;ls danger that
telegraph lines will ' also be Inter,
rupted.
COOKING DEMONSTRATION OF THE
"NEW PROCESS" GAS RANGES TO
CONTINUE FOR ONE WEEK LONGER
rTrriT,re tr. T,o Tamils) rit.v of this event in the tiast two weeks, the Basement
WW1UC lV UU r IT "J J.
Department announces the continuation of same for one week longer. To see
v,a nvanr Prnpess" in actual miration its remarkable efficiency in cooking
and baking the ease and safety with which it is controlled and the quick
and pleasing results obtained, is to become convinced that in the "New
It will be our pleasure to serve the delicious refreshments that have delighted those who have visited with
us during the previous two weeks of the exhibit.' '
SALE gf DAMAGED RUGS
Several Hodge's "Kaba" Rugs in 9 ft." by 12 ft.
sizes, slightly damaged in transit, priced tomorrow
and Tuesday at the SPECIAL $9.75
Also a few Sample Rugs from our stock of the
following sizes: 6 ft. by 9 ft. "Wilton Rugs, priced
at" the SPECIAL $21.75 and $27.50
ft. bv 7 ft. Wilton arid Saxony Rugs, priced
at the SPECIAL .$17.50 and $22.50
GOLDEN OAK
DRESSER
PRICED AT $34.00
This design is one of the many com
prising our line of medium-priced
Dressers, in the gulden oak. It is
made of quarter-sawed stock and
hand-polished, and a very stylish
bedroom piece and unusually good
value at the above price. Has large
shaped French bevel-plate mirror.
FIVE PATTERNS IN IRON BEDS SPE
CIALLY PRICED FOR THREE DAYS
Scroll and plain designs in green bronae finish full-size patterns, selected
from our, line of art metal beds and priced" much less than regular values in a
three-days' sale Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.
5
I
mi
Pattern No. 993, special $7.50;
Pattern No. 911, special $8.25
Pattern No. 90o, special $s.du
Pattern No! 909, special. $9.25
Pattern No. 915, special , . $10.50
GOLDEN OAK specials in laundry articles
J
1
table-linen drawer
fancy glass doors,
BUFFET
PRICED AT S29.QO
One of several such pieces from
our line of medium-priced Buf
fetsall quarter-sawed and
hand-polished, having three
small drawers and one large
and side compartments with
French bevel-plate mirror!
The following offered in the Basement Section for
Monday and Tuesday's buying:
75-foot wire Clothesline for 15
No. 2 size Willow Clothes Basket for 70
5-foot Folding Clothes Dryer for .75?
Set of Mrs. Potts' Sadirons, comprised of three
nickel-plated irons, with stand and removable
handle, for, per set QoC
No. 3 size Galvanized Wash Tub for '. $1.05
Collapsible Clothes Dryer for $1.05
No. 2 size Square Wiliow Clothes Hamper $2.50
SPECIAL SALE OF LACE CURTAINS MONDAY AND TUESDAY
300 pairs in white, Arabian and ivory tints, in 3-yard and S-vard lengths, all new and in quantities of
each nattern at the following prices. Two-days' sale in the Drapery-Decorative Department, 6th floor.
$1.65 values, special, pair 90
$1.75 values, special, pair $1.00
$2.25 values, special, pair $1.25
$2.45 values, special, rair $1.45
$2.90 values, special, pair $1.60
$3.25 values, special, pair $1.80
$3.90 values, special, pair $2.00
$4-$4.50 vals., special, pr. $2.25
$9 to $10 vals., pair. .... .$5.00
DOOR & WINDOW HANGINGS
An abundance of new goods and new ideas dis
played in our Drapery Department. Fabrics in
laces, casement cloths and sunfast shadow silks for
casement windows. Sleeping-room hangings in
nets, muslins, cretonnes and French stripes. Door
hangings in quaint crashes and linens, also velours,
damasks and tapestries. We pride ourselves on
our correct and prompt workmanship and assure
most modern treatments in all interior hangings.
WW
DRAPERY and UPHOL
STERY YARD GOODS
enty pieces in lengths of from
3 yards to 12 yards each
rj last O J-Cln
iiQfcO'1 desirable and service
able fabrics. Your
choice of anv, taking all in each piece, at the special,
per yard 50
PORTLAND'S
FOREMOST
HOUSE
YMR CREDIT j
IS 0000
IC0f?PLETE-H0U5E-FURflI5HER5f
MAKE
Offfl
YOUR
TERM&
Furniture
Upholstering
At Most Rea
sonable Prices.
Phone Ex. 34
SERUM CUBES SNAKE BITE
PASTEUR PREPARATION GIVEN
SEVERE PRACTICAL TEST.
gent From Xew York by Fast Train
to Save Ufe of Keeper in
Washington Zoo.
NEW YORK, Aug. 30 (Special.) Con
gratulations were bPlng received by Ray
mond L. Ditraars. curator of reptiles In
the New York zoo recently for the
assistance he gave, which saved the life
of Rodney Rose, a keeper iri the Wash
ington too. who was bitten by a dia
mond rattler, the largest and most dead
ly type of the North American serpent.
A telegram was received on Monday In
New York less than an hour before the de
parture of the Congressional limited, the
fastest train for Washington on the
Pennsylvania Railroad.
The Information was meager, but Dlt
mars had been preparing for just such
an emergency for years, although he
hadn't figured on an out-of-town call for
help. It took' the' snake expert less than
two minutes to gather the apparatus to
gether and to grab the tube of cal
mettes. the anti-venom serum. Dltmars
Xjinows all the Washington snake men and
he was aware that once the outfit was
In their hands they would know how to
apply it. One of his spryest assistants
wa.tr called and Instructed to catch the
limited and to turn the outfit over to the
conductor of the train at Jersey City.
The Bronx boo people got the Pennsyl
vania Biation by telephone and the train
was held up several minutes. When the
conductor came running down from the
gate he had the snake outfit under his
arm.
Dltmars called the Washington snake
folks by long-distance telephone, told
them what he had sent and made sure
that they knew exactly what to do. They
met the train at Washington with an
automobile and a few minutea later had
applied the serum to Rose, who was In a
delirious state at the hospital. The poison
had spread so generally throughout the
patient's system that little hope was ex
pressed for his recovery, as the time
which had elapsed had appeared to have
played havoc with the victim.
According to advices Mr. Dltmars got.
Rose began to show signs of Improvement
almost immediately, an was soon en
tirely out of danger. The message said
there was hardly a case on record wWere
signs of recovery had appeared where the
poison had such an excellent chance to
permeate the body.
The case of Rose Is a very interesting
one," said Mr. Dltmars. "and I hope that
he recovers. He (tot into trouble with a
bad reptile. It's the most deadly of its
Wnd. I don't know how Rose was bitten,
but it is wrong to think that a poisonous
snake springs at an enemy. It never
Jumps from the ground or strikes more
than a, third ol it length. Poleonous
snakes never chaee an enemy. Their at
titude toward man is merely that of self
defense. "It is not neeesrary for a rattlesnake to
coil before striking. It can strike from a
crawling position provided the neck can
be doubled into a S-shaped loop to lurch
the head forward.
"We haven't had an employe bitten at
the Bronx soo since the park has been
started, but any day such a contingency
arises we will be ready for It. Our outfit
here can be used with the ease and
surety of a fire-extinguisher. The- outfit
Is hanging on the wall. and. every man
knows how to use It. We can get to any
part of the snake house and apply the
antidote in less than two minutes.
Everything depends upon promptitude.
"Our emergency kit contains hypodermic,
syringes, rubber ligatures, several sharp
scalpels, and principally the antitoxin,
technically , known as antl-venine. It is
a product of the Pasteur Institute in
Paris, and apparently the best antidote
for snake bite, as it does work along
lines well understood and practical. This
was what we sent to Washington."
Suit Over Theater Programmes.
When the Bungalow and Baker Thea
ters open the new week Monday they
win have programmes furnished by the
National Programme Company. A tem
porary Injunction was secured against
Manager Baker by the National company
yesterday. This concern set out that Mr.
Baker, disregarding a contract which ooes
not expire for two years to come, en'
tered Into a contract with H. A. "Chad
wick lor programmes. Judge Gentenbein
issued the injunction and Mr. Baker,
through his attorney. John F, Logan,
sought to have It vacated. For the pres
ent, at least, the National programmes
will be used In. accordance with the Court
Injunction.
SAN FRANCISCO VETERINARY COMJEOB
Next iMslon begins Sept. IB. Catalog (re.
Dr Ch Konne. Prea.. 1K1S Market at.. 6. F.
PIANO
SALE
Monday morning early we will sell
you a fine piano at a fair price. Every
piano marked in plain figures. Every
figure is right. Every piano worth
what the figures say. Before you buy
you will visit our store and see our
pianos. This will convince you that
you can do better here than elsewhere.
Sherman, Clay 6 Co.
OPPOSITE P0ST0FFICE
A B. Chase Player Pianos. . .