THE SUNDAY OREGOMAX. POTtTLAND. FEBRUARY 2, 190!?.
E. P. FITCH FOUND;
MYSTERY ENDED
Man Whose Disappearance in
Europe Hastened His
Brother's Death.
HE TURNS UP AT NAPLES
.After Writing Letter on Way to Lon
don, Saying He Is Sick, Long
Silence Intervenes Sends
for Money for Return.
OMAHA. Neb., Feb. 20. (Special.)
1xBt for four months in Europe. Ed
ward P. Fitch, brother of Charles Fitch,
who died last week in Portland. Or..
'has been heard from, and a mystery of
(International fame is near solution.
Uoy came to the mother and sisters of
:the missing man today when a cahle
laram was received from Naples, Italy,
requesting that funds for his return
'home be 8int to the American Consul.
Edward P. Fitch, who was secretary
of the State Insurance Company of
Nebraska, went to Europe on a trip
for health and pleasure last Summer,
and was on the point of returning home
'when he was taken sick with appendi
citis and hastened from Paris to a
London hospital, for an operation. On
. the way from Dover to London he wrote
a letter to his sifter, telling of his in
tentions, and this is the last heard
from him by his friends here until to
day. The machinery of two governments
was set in motion and a systematic
search of the London hospitals was
made, but entirely without avail.
Sloney for his passage lias been sent to
the American Consul at Naples, from
whnm a further message is expected
at once explaining his long silence.
go to a-hospital, and was giving the
letter to a traveling companion to be
mailed. The last part of the missive
was incoherent, as if the writer were
violently ill.
Two days later the letter was mailed
in London. Mr. Fitch's family never
heard from him again and could get
no clew to his whereabouts. Investi
gation in London showed his baggage
had disappeared and it was surmised
some thug had recognized hU helpless
condition and killed him for what
money he may have had with him. His
ticket to return to America was never
used and his family had despaired of
ever hearing of him again.
The strange news that he is stil
alive may be accounted for by a pro
longed illness or by the fact that lie
may have lost his identity and left
F.nrland and "been stranded in a
country where he could not speak the
language.
FERRY WOULD SAVE MONEY
CITY ATTORNEY COLLIER, OF
ST. JOHN, GIVES FIGURES.
iAY GOES TOD FAR,
SO SENATORS SAY
HASTENED BROTHER'S DEATH
Fitch Drops Out of Sight on Way to
London Hospital.
The mysterious disappearance of E.
P. Fitch four months ago undoubtedly
hastened the death of Charles Fitch,
purchasing agent for the Portland
Hallway, Light & Power Company,
last week. He brooded over the
"trance mystery surrounding his
brother's unknown plight and th
worry, left him less able to resist the
ravages of disease.
Edward P. Fitch was touring Europe
last Fall, when he dropped completely
out of sight. Detectives of Scotland
Tjird. the police offficials of France
and the American consular authorities
raked Europe for traces of the miss
ing man, but without avail. Even his
baggage had disappeared.
The last heard from him was on
t.oard a train to London. In this let
ter he wrote he had been attacked by
appendicitis in France, but. unable to
speak the language, .he decioed to go
to England, where he could make
himself understood before submitting
to an operation. He said he was then
on his way to London, where he would
Snys Contemplated Paving . Would
Cost i es and. Vrges Straw
Vole on Buying Boat.
ST. JOHN. Or., Feb. 20. City Attorney
Collier, of St. John, has suggested that
a straw vote bo taken at the coming city
election in order to find out the sentiment
of the peoplo on building or buying a
ferry-boat. The Councilmen promised to
bind themselves to act in accordance with
the voice of the people in calling the spe
cial election to settle the matter.
The Legislature has authorized and d
rec'.ed the county to operate and maintain
a "fit, suitable and commodious" boat
to be provided by the city for a free ferry.
This question is considered of supreme
Importance 10 Ihe people for it is hoped
to attract the trade of a population of
l.TOO or 2"i00 people living west of the town.
The most important reason is said to be.
however, that the city's rock-crusher is
located across the river and an immense
amount of street improvement is to be
done this year on 90 p"r cent of which
crushed rock will be used and for which
the ferry charges will amount to one
third of what the company Is asking for
Its present equipment.
Petl'ions are in and have b?en acted on
calling for a 12-foot strip of crushed rock
on 14 blocks on Hartman street, eight
blocks on Oswego street, 16 on Buchanan,
15 on Charleston, 13 on Portland Boule
vard. 17 on South Ivanhoe. seven on Wall.
12 on Stafford, eight on Montieth and
eight on Alleghany street. Six blocks
on Philadelphia, two on Tacoma and
one on East Burlington streets are
to bo covered entirely. This means
that 127 city blocks and s;reet in
tersections will have all or part of their
surface covered with rock.
City Engineer Andrews says this will
take 10,000 cubic yards of crushed rock.
A loaded wagon hauls one and a half
yards at a load. This figures out over
6300 trips at 35 cents a round trip or $2200
to be paid the ferry company for this
amount of rock. It is considered certain
that double this amount of streets will be
Improved and as Fessenden street will
likely be "rocked" for" 15 feet each side
of the car tracks for a distance of 34
blocks. It is urced that if the ferry com
pany is not bought out. the people will
have to pay over J000 this year, which
would be saved if a free ferry is pro
vided. The engineer's estimated cost for
crushed rock in place is $2.40 per cubic
yard. With the ferry charges eliminated
tbis couM be cut to r.'."r. it is snui
Criticism of Seattle Speech
Depends on Attitude on
Local Option.
NORMAL ISSUE INVOLVED
Acting Governor Arouses Citizens of
Ellensberg, Who Send Lawyer
Post Haste to Capital to Keep
Tub on the Situation.
OLTMPIA, Wash..' Feb. 20. (Spe
cial.) The report of Acting Governor
Hay's local option speech in Seattle
Friday night in which he scored the
King County Senatorial delegation for
standing out against reasonable local
option, was not received here until tie
great majority of the members left for
their homes for the week end.
The speech Is commented upon by
members in a spirit depending upon
their attitude on the bill. Supporters
of a stringent local option bill are
pronounced In their approval, but those
at whom the address might -be con
sidered as directly or Indirectly apply
ing assert that the Governor Is car
rying his own views to an extreme in
trying to force the Legislature to enact
laws in accordance therewith.
Among the liberal minded on the lo
cal option criticism of Hay has been
severe during the last few days. Hay
has been openly and insistently urging
the enactment of an effective local op
tion bill and has strongly criticised the
Nichols Senate substitute.
Normal Issue Involved.
The Governor has been accused of
inviting discussion of the necessity for
the continuance of three normal schools
In order to use that issue as a whip
over members who are not voting on
local option in accordance with his
Ideas. Whether or not this is true,
the City of Ellensburg is thoroughly
aroused and last night sent a promi
nent attorney of that city here to dis
cuss the situation with Senator Smith-
son, representing that county. It is
claimed that Senator Smithson is now
In line for a stronger bill than the
Nichols substitute for which he voted.
Members who, like Graves and Ro
senhaupt, have taken a middle ground,
do not seem to be disturbed over the
Governor's speech or his attitude, and
the effect apparently has not been to
weaken the ultra local optionlsts, al
though it Is doubtful if the Seattle ad
dress has strengthened It.
Compromise Is Planned.
A plan to settle the local option fight
by appointing a conference committee to
draw up a new bill assumed fairly defi
nite form here today. Acting Governor
Hay will probably call a preliminary
conference of some of the members of
the House and Senate Monday and on
Tuesday it is the present plan to present
a resolution providing for a committee
consisting of Ave Senators and five Representatives.
The present d?talls go so far as to
STYLES
Knox Hats
-Nci. f-K lJI I X a-
Now On Display
Benjamin's
Exclusive Spring
Models
Suits
Cravenettes
Topcoats
f " I SJ 1
rrrrr-r: f
fll 4
mm
I ill ;ifi
Remember That We Are the Exclusive Portland
Agents For Benjamin Clothes and Knox Hats
BUFFUM & PENDLETON
311 MORRISON STREET
name the members of this committee and
the main features of the bill that will
probably be agreed upon.
The bill is to embran-e the country dis
tricts and fourth-class . cities in each
county in one unit; making first, second
and third-class cities separate units;
contain adequate ' enforcement features
and provides for the first vote on the sa
loon question at a special election And at
general elections thereafter upon petition
of 30 or 35 per cent of the voters.
One Vote Needed in Senate.
The personnel of the committee, which
is to be named m the resolution as now
outlined, includes in the Senate, Graves,
of Spokane; Flshback, of Lewis; Fal
coner ,of Snohomish; Smithson, of Lewis;
and Cotterill, of King. In the House,
Anderson, of Spokane; Todd, of Whit
man; McMasters. of King; Scott, of
Adams; and Lambert or Allller, of What
com. The feasibility of the plan as one that
will result in the passage of a bill ac
ceptable to the majority in both houses
rasts in the fact that the proposed com
mittee has a majority of members who
voted for the anti-Saloon League mea
sures but who are willing to make con
cessions. The bill they prepare, it is be
lieved, will satisfy the dry majority in
the House, while in the S?nate there is
a necessity of gaining only one vote to
secure the passage of a reasonable bill.
If the committee prepares a measure
satisfactory to Smithson and Graves the
necessary constitutional majority is se
cured In the Senate.
SCHOOL BOYS PLAY PRANK
Hide Books of High School Students
in Gymnasium.
PEXDLETON', Or., Feb. 39. (Special.)
When the High School students assembled
at the usual hour this morning it was
discovered that some time during the
night the tiuildlng had been invaded and
all books carried out and thrown under
the gymnasium, while notebooks and pa
pers had been dumped promiscuously into
a big box. Laments could be neara from
the owners of the missing and rarefully
prepared notebooks. Some one had lost
"such a good synopsis of Banyan's
'Pilgrim's Progress.' " Girls blamed
boys for the prank.
Carriers Making Census.
GRBSHAM, Or., Feb. 20. (Special. )
Acting under instructions from Wash
ington, the rural letter carriers are mak
ing a complete census of their respective
routes. Beginning March 1, all the car
riers will have to keep an accurate ac
count for three months of every piece of
mail handled, together with the sales of
supplies upon their routes.
Ready for Horse Ranch.
GRHSHAM, Or.. Feb. 2. (Special.) C.
A. Ruby & Co., the horse breeders who
lately secured a large tract of land on
the Base Line road, are making prepa
rations to embark in tnelr line of busi
ness on the most extensive scale ever
attempted in Western Oregon. At an
auction sale yesterday all the cows, num
bering about 50, and all farm machinery
was disposed of. so as to clean the ranch
for the larpe drove of imported horses
which will arrive soon. Numerous im
provements will be made on the place.
-j
Condemn Realty Firm.
ROSKBl'RG. Or.. Feb. 20. (Special.)
The Douglas County Fruitgrowers' Asso
ciation in convention today passed reso
lutions strongly condemning a certain
real estato firm of this city who. in their
pamphlets describing this county. gave
the impression that irrigation waa neces
sary to the raising of good fruit crops in
this section.
Pendleton Elks May Build.
PENDLBTOX. Or., Feb. 20. (Special.)
A permanent home of its own is now
being planned by the local lodge of Elks.
The matter was discussed at eome length
at the last meeting' of the order, a com
mittee finally being appointed to report
on the project.
The Hoy Who Churned. I
What lias become of the old-fashioned
woman who put an apron on her boy
and made him churn? Kxchange
There Are Hundreds of Thousands of Yards
of Dredging- to Be Done in This Territory.
The Pneumatic System of Dredging- Is the
Cheapest System in Existence Today
The initial cost is less, the cost of maintenance and operation is less than any other system, and it is a System
that has been thoroughly tried out. For fifty years the air lift has been known to be the simplest and cheapest
method used in lifting oil, water and salt from deep wells and transmitting these materials over long distances.
. ' ' By an ingenious combination of the hydrau
lic ram with compressed air, it is now ap
plied to lifting and transmitting by one
operation sand, gravel, mud and any other
material that can be disintegrated by the
action of water under pressure. It is the
only method known that can do this by one
operation. It therefore stands to reason
that it is cheaper than any method which
requires several handlings of the material.
We are the sole owners of the Pneumatic
svstem of dredging in this territory. It is
our purpose to install Pneumatic dredging
plants in the Willamette Kiver to fill in low
lands, make street fills and in. the future to
engage in the business of selling. sand and
gravel, a very, profitable business in itself.
TbU Ik What Don the Work. There
Are o earlns; Part.
irin
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jjuth V is?J. i In
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L. -'.:.- .- . '-- Iff? iY -T A ' : ' Vl :- -,"- ' ''-: ' - '":-
v .'v tyWm fill ' ' - 1
vi!lr W&k w i f' '
m.
Battery of Four 10-loch ripes C'iimble of Discliarglnz L'sOOO Cnblc Yards of Earth 1'er Day.
Edurtloo Pipe and Head Pneumatic
Dredger.
The nhotoarnpli hovi the 0-lmt dinrharge pipe Ihroirlng a 10-lueh Mream, .-ompoard f water and near-l-r
5o"ler cent of iioUd matter in the term of aud and icravrl. With the aame povrer H ha taken to mine
the material a Mull bona In the photo, the dredger ia now dlm-barglng the material It handles a dlntance
of 1HOO tcrt through metallic pipes.
If You Were Told You Could Have Laid Down in
Portland, Absolutely Free of Cost, All the Wheat You
Would Manufacture Into Flour, How Long Would It
Take You to Start a Flour Mill?
What Is the Sand and Gravel Situation Here Today?
Millions of cubic yards of sand and gravel are washed down the Columbia and Willam
ette Rivers every year. These materials are free to anyone who will build the plant to
dig, wash and screen them for commercial uses. They are as staple as floifr in this
market. With something like 500 miles of streets, 1000 miles of sidewalks yet, to be
paved and made, not to speak of the" thousands of .yards of these materials used in
buildings, can you doubt the permanency of such a business?
Associated in this enterprise are some of Portland's ablest and most progressive busi
ness men. There is room for a few more, but only a few. We can show an investor there
is 100 per cent profit in this enterprise as operated by us. Fullest investigation solicited.
COLUMBIA DREDGING, SAND
AMn OAT VACR CCi 246 STARK STREET
JrX 1M LJ U AJ-I V AVjJQ rJt W. W. CARLAND, M.nagcr