6
CHARGES N 1
BY
L
Board of Education Accused of
Ignoring Advice of Ar
chitects. FAVORITISM IS ASSERTED
Dutrmot Mad That Higher Sal
aries and Dearer Materials Do
Not Fully ccoant for Larreljr
Increased Balldlns; Coat.
PORTLAND. Or, March 1. (To tha
Citizens and Taxpayer of District No.
l.t Tha Board of Education haa pub
lished an article la Tho Oregonlan of
Xarrb . replying to criticisms mad
on tho actions of the Board of Educa
tion, and giving their reasons why tha
pwr capita coat of education la higher.
We will maka oma commenta on this
article.
It gives us great pleasure to see that
U Board of Education at laat la aware
of tha fart that tha public has a right
to bo taken Into their confidence, and
lies a light to the knowledae of what
la beina- dona with the taxpayer' moo-
t. Whether or not unjust criticism
and misrepresentation has ben dlrec
ed against tha Board of education, we
will ask tha public to Judge.
Cost Per Fupl! Calculated.
I herewith give a set of figure fur
nished bv B. I. Sigler. County Asses
sor, showing that tho cost of educat
ing a pupil haa Increased from 151.
In to T4.i In mo. Mr. Slglers
figures:
a
1 )"" ..
ll
lti
ll ..
! ..
1- ..
17 ..
1 ..
..
ll ..
" $i.siT7
30S.401 41
J4.l.l
424 IS 4
S3A.t44.Jt
..7J J7
Vs
7JT.S4 ii
linii.74S.lt
lS.0J4.lt
?3.49.:i
i:.i3j.75
17J.t5i.S
il.4Ji.
I4S.012.1S
411. 2 7i
4o.:S4.i
J.4.f.S
7oi.3::5
0.i.J I
I.llo.l33.l I
l.7.tiJ 4i I
By referring to Mr. Sigler s table of
figures It will be noted that the sal
artea paid teachers In 10 averaged
ICS 10. and In it averaged $7.70.
This la an Increase of 8148.40 par
annum or about 31.4 per cent, and aa
the total percentage of Increase per
Jnp!l during these year la 181 rer cent,
we must look elsewhere for the great
Increase af cost for educattnr a pupil.
Klgursa for ltlt are about aa fol
lower Total amount to be received
from direct tax and other
sources excepting bond is
sues for the year lll t:.l.000
jtveraae number of pupils at
tending aa given by Mr. Big
ler IJ.tOt
Aod the average dally attend-
anca suits
Taking 23.00 as the factor
the oost per pupil for the
year ta '
Making tha cost of educating a pupU
three times as high aa In ltotf. .
Honda Increaee Coat.
This does not Include the bond Is
sues of 1600.000. making total amount
c-f rash, to be received by the IVnooI
Board about 3I.T.0OO. If this Is
taken aa the amount of funds reoelved.
then the average coat par pupil would
be 8114 3.
The Board atates that as to construc
tion, relative wholesale prices for
building material are 10 per cent higher.
Thla la probably true, but teachers
eatarle and material do not repraaent
the great difference In Increase of per
centage of coat which, figured from
tha above table, amounts to 131 per
cent per puptL It la well to note also
J-.ere that no fireproof schools have
been built during these years, and that
the amounts expended are for wooden
buildings exclusively for elementary
schools, aad mill construction for hlga
schools.
This article also state aa follows:
A considerable source of expense Is
the eld-style buildings, some of which
v . rm Kn atandlna for many years.
These are now showing the effects of
age. and the cost of repairing and
modernising them Is. very great. It Is
absoluteiv essential that they should
be modernised, for otherwise the chil
dren attending tbem would be In dan
ger of epidemics arising from ancient
plumbing.
These old atyla buildings spoken of
ty tha Board are frame buildings and
tha same class of construction aa the
elementary schools that tha Board of
Education haa been building, and will
deteriorate as rapidly and be as un
sanitary In a abort time aa the old style
building. Therefore all tha expense
that has been gone to for the building
rf tha frame elementary schools wi:i
have to be again incurred within a
few rears.
Architects' Competition Demanded.
The Civic Council. In various Intsr
vlsws and communications to the Board
of Education, and In the newspaper
articles published, haa claimed that If
the plana for the achool buldngs were
pn to competition among the arch
lteots. that plana could be secured
whereby tha School Board's estimated
rest of 14250 per school room for
fireproof construction would be very
materially reduced. Thla haa been
reiterated time and time again, but
with abaolntely no result or considera
tion from the Board of Education thua
tar.
The real start of the criticisms directed
ssalnst ths Board of Education can be
attributed only to tha board Itself, for
.while some few taxpayers were of the
opinion that the schools were costing too
much, they bad never really come Into
roatact with tha Board of Education and
learned of soma of Its methods.
Last Spring, aftar much effort and as-
.clstanoe on the part of residents of
' Mount Tabor, the School Board was en
abled to purchase nearly three acres of
ground at a price of little mora than
81A00O. which was considered a very at
traotlva price. Tha people of that eec-
' tlon were anxious to have a good achool
be 1 idles; and appealed to the Board of
Eduontlon to give them consideration.
Thla was promised.
v. Mount Tabor Case Cited.
jf C. Campbell, as chairman of the
.boJiatng committee, authorised the com
mittee representing Mount Tabor to have
,' plana drawn bv a private architect for
a fireproof achool building upon the
. . w . .wa km. ' ill n , ihnulil tint
guarantee inn 1
eee-t mora than 38 per "t more than
their frame bondings.
One of the) bast-known architectural
firms) la cha city waa Appealed to. and
C NCI
ther agreed to take tha present general
plans of school buildings and adapt
Usem to fireproof construction at a cost
not to exceed IS per cent more than
wooden school buildings, and further
agreed that. If (Wen latitude to design
a modern school building without being
compelled to follow the layout of rooms
submitted by the board's architect, they
could further reduce the cost.
The Mount Tabor Improvement Asso
ciation petitioned tha Board of Educa
tion to withhold the letting of a con
tract for the frame building until Plans
could be submitted aa had been agreed,
and In case sufficient funds wore not at
their disposal, to build a fireproof build
ing during 1M that It would be satis
factory to tha residents of Mount Tabor
to continue to use the old school build
ing for another year.
But without notice to tha Mount Tabor
people or any further consideration on
the part of the board, a contract was let
for a frame four-roomed achool building,
at a coot of l.K.9- Par schoolroom.
trJCM ) Mr. Campbell, on being brought
to task In regard to this arbitrary and
nnbuslness-llke action of the board,
merely replied that frame buildings were
plenty good enough, and he considered
them absolutely safe by reason of Are
drill. Neither the people, who went to
much trouble In thia matter, nor tha
Portland architects, who were at con
siderable expense, received any consid
eration by the board, notwithstanding
the fact that the cost Including archi
tects' fees, waa guaranteed to be wltMn
the stated limit of 35 per cent above
the cost of frame buildings.
Architect Not Heard.
Later on. a complete set of fireproof
plat, and 'specification, of a fireproof
school building, based on modern lines
and faced with vltrltled brick, was pre
pared by an architect now rcsld Ing at
Portland. An Interview waa P"T"i'
refused hy the School Board after re
peated requests. No opportunity was
Ranted to place these plans before them,
and in a communication from which
quote. H. C. Campbell, airman of the
building committee, replied aa follows.
Permit me to sav that we are Investi
gating the malfr of llrsjroof bulld
InKS and like you. reallie that trie
subject Is In a sense a new cn Tar
thafrea.on. we feel that there are com
oetent architects here In the city, wno
KV. enjoyed the confidence of our peo
ple for many years, graduates of rep
Stable schools of "Itecture and
therefore, we would hr in ore f; reely
and wllilnglv consult them than we
would the Itinerant whom , you so . per
slstcntly recommend to the uoara..
These plans and specification, which
51
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91.70
72&.KO
769 &'l
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SIS. 70
$Jl s
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45.7
47. OS
61.56
7J 40
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30.7
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$71 35
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736.02
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731.61
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71S.S8
75. 2
7.4T
818.70
the board refused to consider, provided
for the erection of fireproof giade school
bnlldlngs st a cost of 84300 per classroom
If erected as a whole and 84300 If erected
In unite as desired by the board.
The city of Orand Rapids has con
structed a fire-proof high school build
ing on modem lines, complete In every
particular, at a cost of 11.4 cent per
cublo foot. A picture of the building
and statement giving cost. accom
panlee this article. Compare the area
and the cubical contents of this build
ing and the cost with tha new Lincoln
Htch fchool butldlnr. a contract for
which haa Just been leu According to
the atatemente of Architects White
house Foullhoux. the Lincoln High
Hchool will cost 10H cents per cublo
foot. It Is no mora than proper, how
ever, to state that this class of con
struction costs soma more hare thsn In
tha Eaatern state, but not enough to
account for the difference, 8.1 centa per
cubic foot, which la the excess cost of
our school over the Orand Rapids high
school.
Statement Called Untrue,
Tha Board of Education. In replying
to thla criticism, rails attention to tha
William Penn High School, of Phila
delphia, which, no one caji deny ranks
aa the leading structure of Its class
In the country, and atates that tha con
tenta of the light courts were figured
In thla structure so as to reduce the
cost per cublo foot of the building. This
statement Is not true, and la a striking
Instance of tha means employed by the
Board of Education to mislead tha tax
payers. If tha Board of Education had
desired to give tha facta about the cost
of tha TVnilam Penn High School build
ing they would have quoted from the
recent letter of H. E. Richards, the de
signer of that achool. who had evident
ly been taken to task by Messrs. White
house Kouilhoux. The letter was
published In a Portland paper and
shows that the content of the light
courts of tha William Penn High
School, which the School Board com
parea to the cubical space In the court
in front or tno roruino -
not Included in calculating the cubical
contents of this building.
Therefore tha point that the Board of
Education trlea to make In thla matter
falls flat and rivee every evidence that
tha Board1 of Education la not acting In
good faith with tha taxpayers. And
further, tha Board of Education and
Ita archtect cannot say that they did
not have the facts In their possession
. v nm. fti.i. p.tiTv was nubllshed.
because Mr. Richards letter aa publish
ed waa on the oeea oi a mnjumy
the architecte for several weeka before
the Board made ita statement of March
to the taxpayers. Therefore the Board
cannot claim that the Civic Council
made an unfair comparison. We de
sire to mt now thut In typewriting
GRAND RAPIDS HIGH SCHOOL.
FIREPROOF STHICTIRE, 243 IT
TTTE SUNDAY OREGONIAN, PORTLAND,
Mr. Richards original oost ta his of
fice, his stenographer made an error
and gave the cost of the William Penn
High School at 15 centa per cubic foot
and it should have been Hi cents per
cubic foot.
Architects' -Club Commended.
It la surprising that the Board of
Education consents to quote the letter
from the Portland Architectural Club,
for It was only a short time ago that
no critlclirra waa too great for the
Board to ahower on the club. The er
forta of the Architectural Club to aecure
better school buildings for Portland la
most commendable, but the architects
themselves know thsy will have a hope
less fight until the present system is
abolished. The figures advocated for
school buildings by the Architectural
Club are reasonable and meet the ap
proval of the taxpayere represented in
tha Clvlo Council, but the flgurea
should be considered ss maximum fig
ures, which can be materially modified
If proper latitude Is given In the de
signing of new buildings. present
system of building Is not In keeping
with modern architectural practice, and
if the architects are allowed to adopt the
late designs of Eastern schools the cost
woSld be reduced . o tha Portland
would have better schools than it has
today at a price not much greater than
that of our frame buildings.
If modern plana were adopted In tit
arrangements of rooms ex
there are a number of re"lteeU In
Portland who will design scl hools f
fire-proof construction not to
84500 per school room, and these schools
would be modern In every respect and
ornamental as well. .
The biennial report of e puhllc
schools of Ppokane. June 80. 1910, gives
costs jf ouiiQ'ngs '"""-
9
a
7)
o
J
Adam. 110 Brlck!814.600
AuSubon I.. 1808 Brick 32.000
Jefferson ... 110 Brick I.n0"
1110 Brick 14.000
4
8
8
4
1325
4000
4000
3600
3S7S
Stevens ji90S Brlckl J2J000
IS I
The average cost of the above la
$3800 per room for brick buildings
constructed during the lsst three years.
The same report ahows that brick
buildings were constructed in prior
vears at considerably less pcnse.
Compare these figures with the tsble
published by our board, showing the
cost per room of our 13 wooden build
ings. The table shows a total cost of
7 rooms to be 3331.890.44. which makes
an average of 14201.14 per room
Board' Statement Questioned.
The board shows cost data of IS grade
achool built during 1810. Among them
appeara the Woodlawn achool. contain
ing 10 classrooms and an assembly
hall equivalent to two classroom,
which cost $39,100.38. or $8758.S pel
room (counting 13 rooms) and 7 J-10
cents per cubic foot; the cheapest
school In the list. Further along in the
statement appears a schedule of the
bidders on different Hems of the work
with a star opposite each lowest bidder
to Illustrate the board's method of
awarding tha contracts.
The successful bidders were as fol
lows: Building let to J. H. Sprsgue 3 2
Heating let to W. G. McPberwon.. 3..J
Olaen and glaxlng. W. P. Fuller
Co.'. 1.043
Plumbing let to Wm. Mulrhead.. 6.116
Aggregate of lowest bids $47,087
This Is 7888.84 more than the fig
urea which the board glvea in Its tabu
lated atatement. Thia shows that the
cost per room (11 rooms) is $3824. In
stead of $3258.88 and the cost per cublo
foot Is 7-10 cents Instead of 7 7-10
centa Thla Is the only school on which
the board gives flgurss which can be
checked, and thla glaring Inaccuracy
shows how the board juggles figures In
order to "bambooxle" the taxpayers.
As an Illustration of the board's
method of awarding all work by com
petitive bids, the detaila of the Jeffer
son High School are given. Succeasful
bidders marked by a star ara as fol
lows: Mclnnls tt Reed, framework and ,
painting $153,000
W. O. Mcl'herson. heat and ven-
mating ;j.;o
T. E. Hulme & Co.. plumbing... 12.300
J. C Bayer, metal work and roof 11.074
J. J. rtare, lain. iinit
exterior 21.800
W. P. Fuller Co., glass 3.890
Aggregate of bids $233,764
Total cost. Including electric wiring
and fixed furniture, la given aa $288.
765.97. so it would appear that items
not Included In the competitive bids to
the amount of $53,001.97 were furnished
under some other arrangement.
Some Buildings Vnprotected.
The School Board's atatement Implies
thst all the frame buildings have fire
escapes, stand pipes and hose. This Is
true of some of them, but quite a num
ber of the largest buildings have no
such protection. In some cases the
stairways to the basements are Imme
diately beneath the stalrwaya leading
to the upper floors, forming most ef
ficient drsught flues for fires originat
ing in the basement or on the first
floor. The presence of the heating de
vices, and in- some cases the manual
training class rooms, in the basement,
augments the dange.- of fire. When
crude petroleum Is used for fuel there
is danger of explosions which would
set aflame many points at once. The
presencs of a Janitor and principal in
each building; and of a teacher in each
room would avail but little in such a
case. The classroom's on the upper
floors are usually grouped about the
head of each atalrway with a single
door providing an exit from each room.
Thla occurs In some of the buildings
examined where no fire escspes nor
stand pipes and hoae are installed.
CITED BY CIVI0 COUNCIL AS EXAMPLE OF ECONOMY IN C0N-
BTgUCllU".
7 ,B;Jjii;i!!. J :i -' s,;M I
smrTT
1(1 FEET. ERECTED AT COT OF
TVRB AND EQUIPMENT.
Should the hallway be blocked by flame
or dense emoae. uib viwiuich " 1 "
nave to uo ...
fire ladders.. In case of a serious fire
there would not be time to take them
all out by such a method. The atten
tion of the School uoara nas ucen re-
. - j t ,n th.i, cnnriitlnns. And
irairu ij " .... .
simple and Inexpensive remedies sug
gested, but they reply that they con
sider the danger of fire too remote to
warrant any expense for further safety
, . T-K rl ... a 1 1 nn the evnertpnca
A "J " - 1 ' I
of the Sellwood School, which was emp
tied witnout contusion uuihik
lite, xii.j m.w...
fire waa on the roof and that there was
neither name nor smoke to inierrupw
the progress of a regulation fire drllL
Laundry Fire Is Example.
The experience of adult employes at
the fire originating In the basement of
the United Statea Laundry last Summer
is a suggestion of what might occur to
the children should a fire originate In
a basement or on the first floor of one
of our school buildings.
These frame buildings will have to
ba used until they can be replaced by
flrenroof structures, but in the mean
time, the School Board is derelict In
falling to provide fire escapes ana
other safety devices for them all. The
Installation of fuel oil burners In the
furnaces of frame public buildings
should be prohibited by law and the
law enforced without favor to the
School Board.
The burning question facing the tax
payers is. why do our frame buildings
cost more than moderu bricx structures
elsewhere and what makes our taxes so
high? Let us see.
1. We charge that the shove facts
show that we are getting Inferior build
ings at an excessive cost, and the board
in Its last report atates 80 new achool
rooms will be required this year, which
they say will cost $6250 per room if of
fireproof construction. amounting to
$500,000; that the board has Ignored
and disregarded any suggestions In this
matter, and has refused an Interview In
which plana and specifications were to
be offered contemplating the erection
of modern fireproof and sanitary school
building's which could be built at a cost
of $4500 per school room.
2. We charge that the board has Ig
nored the following report of the grand
jury, filed April 10. 1910:
In the Investigation of the School
Board's affairs, it Is certain that the
foreman haa put names on the pay
roll of men not working for School
Il strict No. 1, that were otherwise era-
filoyed. It seems to us that the super
ntendent either did know, or ought
to have known, of this. The directors.
In our opinion, have been negligent in
their duty In allowing such conditions
to exist- An Intelligent examination
Into the methods of returning "time
would have revealed this condition, or
at least the probability of Us existence.
The foreman has been discharged,
and we recommend that the superin
tendent be discharged, and euggest to
the taxpayers that they request the
resignation of the Board.
Ve further recommend that an ex
pert he secured to examine the books
and the dolnga of the Board of Direc
tors of School Dlstrlot No. 1 for the
past four years. We wish, however,
to commend the work of our present
school clerk. Mr. R. H. Thomas. We
believe he Is endeavoring to establish
a method which will be a great Im
provement over the present method. We
believe If he gets the support of a Board
of Directors, he will be able to estab
lish a method that will save School
District No. 1 a vast amount of money.
E. T. WILLIAMS, Foreman.
H. A. McQUEKN,
FRANK. H. WINN. Clerk.
FRANK RICHARDSON.
W. C. BEUTON.
ROBERT AMBRES9.
Dated April 30. 1910.
Filed April 30, 1910.
Superintendent Jones Criticised.
5. We charge that tha board has re
tained Superintendent Jonee and pays
him over $11,000 per year In salary and
commission, whereas a competent archi
tect could bo- obtained on a flat salary
of less than half this amount; that
Superintendent Jones ha continued to
copy his same old plans which bavs
been In use many yeara, and to con
struct antiquated architectural mon
strosities at enormous cost to the taw
payers. -
4. We charge that Portland and other
architects have been absolutely ignored
In planning achool buildings, although
guarantees were offered aa to the cost,
which includes architects' fees in each
Instance, and that every member of the
Board of Education knows that Super
intendent Jones makes his headquarters
In a saloon and makes his business ap
pointments there: that this fact has
been published time and time again,
and never denied by tha board, and
still it has let such a condition exist,
possibly as an example to the children
of the public schools. Some of the
largest firms in the city can and will
testify that when they have sent their
representative to find this superintend
ent, they have had to go to the saloon
to find him. ' This one fact Is suffi
cient to convict each and every mem
ber of the Board of Education of dere
liction of duty and Is sufficient cause
for expulsion from the board.
I. We charge that the Board Is di
rectly responsible for the acts of this
superintendent, that the grand jury in
vestigated and reported some of the
facts and recommended his discharge;
that It Is aware of his personal habits;
that the statement has been made that
he is constructing the kind of school
buildings the Board wants. If this
statement Is correct, the taxpayers will
know on whom to place the responsi
bility. Other Charges Made.
6. We charge that the Board of Ed
ucation Is derelict In not handling the
funds of School District No 1 to the
best advantage; that according to their
report, they expended a total .of
$1,838,090.88 for the year 1910, that for
the year 1911, about $2,670,000 will be
plaoed to the credit of School District
No. 1: that correspondingly large sums
have been paid each year previous to
this, according to Mr. Slgler's report,
and that the Board of Education has
never made public any statement show-
$333,055, EXCLUSIVE OF FIR.M-
1
.",""' . ,ii.J.-.,i:.
.. . ...... .- y
MARCH 13. 1911.
Ing that they have received Interest on
the average deposits on the funds placed
to the credit of the School Fund In the
different banka of the city; that the
state, county and city funds are placed
In the banks and draw Interest on the
average balances, and ' that the funds
belonging to School District No. 1
should be treated in the same way, as
a matter of common business and civto
probity, but, on the contrary, their re
port shows that they paid tha banks
Interst amounting to $3767.93 last year.
We would like to ask the Board of Ed
ucation right here, who is getting the
benefit of the interest on thia large
sum of money lying in the banks the
greater part of the year? Is it the
banks that get this benefit? Is it the
members of the Board of Education, or
are they careless in their management
of funds, and demand no Interest? It
is very easy to see that If the funds
of the Board of Education are deposited
In banks, where individual members
of the Board carry their personal or
business accounts, the close relation
ship engendered by the non-Interest
bearing public balance, can be worked
to an advantage. Full Information in
regards to this matter is asked. .
7. We charge H. C. Campbell, I. N.
Flelschner and Mra. L. W. Sitton. of the
Board, after meeting at different times,
with a Cltlsens' Committee and a com
mittee of the Clvlo Council, and appar
ently agreeing on a proposed law de
signed to place the management of our
achools on a modern basis, refused to
approve the bill; that they acted with
duplicity In this matter, and if they
did not openly or secretly oppose the
bill in the Legislature, they killed It
by masterly Inactivity, although " this
bill was designed to protect taxpayers,
to procure interest on school funds In
the banks, to provide a modern and
practical system of conducting school
affairs.
8. We charge that the Board, as a
self-perpetuating body. Is not progres
sive, that any auggestions offered them
are Ignored, In spite of the fact that
In their article they say they will be
glad to meet at any time with any one
Interested In 'the schools, and discuss
any subject relative to educational
work; that the Board uses Its power
in a political manner, to the deter
ment of the best Interests of the school
district, and thereby continues the in
dividual members In office.
. We charge that favoritism Is shown
In the letting of contracts, which de
bars the greater number of contractors
from bidding on school work. As proof
of this, we call attention to the great
number of contracts let to the same
bidder year after year, and if the busi
ness men of this city who have dealings
with the Board of Education will have
the courage to come forward and make
a statement of their transactions with
the Board, it will be easy to prove that
the lowest bidder does not always re
ceive the contract, in spite of the state
ment the Board made In their article.
We feel that It is proper that no
person or persons should serve on the
Board of Education who cannot serve
without gaining direct or indirect ben
efit from sale of goods or property to
the Board; that any person so situated
should, from a sense of business honor,
resign from the Board.
In conclusion, we submit this state
ment to the taxpayers of the city of
Portland, and of District No. 1 for their
careful consideration. We feel sure
that they will be Interested In know
ing that these and other matters will
be considered by a committee of 60,
which Is being seleoted, and will shortly
be publicly. named.
JOHN H. HAAK,
President of Clvlo Council.
JOHN JACK NEAR DEATH
TETERAX ACTOR. SUFFERS PAR
ALYTIC STROKE.
Inmate of Edwin Forrest Home Is
Member of Portland Lodge of
Elks Work Remembered.
" Information was received yesterday
of the serious illness of John Jack, a
veteran actor, who Is an Inmate of the
Edwin Forrest home, on the outskirts
of Philadelphia. Mr. Jack Is a mem
ber of the Portland Elks' lodge and
many years ago was engaged as star
in a theatrical company at the old
New Market show house In this city.
Mr. Jack collapsed when attending the
dedicatory services of a building In
Bristol, Pa., a week ago. His ailment
was diagnosed as of an extremely se
rious character and It Is believed he
will die. It Is said that Mr. Jack dur
ing his career upon the stage was one
of the best Falstaffs known.. His wife,
Anna Flrmln. also a stage celebrity, Is
with him in his present serious illness.
Mrs. Jack is his second wife. His first
wife was a sister of Roland Reed.
. D. Bolls Cohen, who is well ac
quainted with Jack, said last night:
"Mr. Jack was an actor of the old
school. He had marvelous ability in
the portrayal of a character on the
stage. He played with Booth, Bar
rett, Forrest and McCullough. He Joined
the Elks 'lodge when I was exalted
ruler. I am told that he recently at
tended the dedloatory services con
nected with the Elks' building at Bris
tol. Pa., and was seized with a stroke
of paralysis. His wife, Anna Firmin,
created the character of New Magada
len In the days when that famous play
created a stir. Mr. Jack was an able
man during his active career and
stood very high in his profession. He
has not been In Portland in 10 years.
He played In all of the Coast towns
during hss days with the large the
atrical companies."
PERSONALJVIENTION.
' William A. Tyler, of Astoria, Is at
the Portland..
Nathan Myers, of San Francisco, is
at the Imperial.
G. L. Wallace will return from the
East about April 16.
R. M. Keefe. of Newberg, is regis
tered at the Imperial.
John T. Flynn. of San Francisco, Is
staying at the Oregon.
Mrs. J. Gower, Of Newberg, Or., is
registered at the, Lenox.
C. E. Jones, of Heppner. and Mrs.
Jones are at the Lenox.
Dr. L. G. Ross, of St. Helens, Or, Is
registered at the Perkins.
W. S. Faust, of Estacada, registered
yesterday at the Portland.
L. R. Alderson. of Lewiston, Idaho,
is registered at the Perkins.
Mr. and Mrs. F. M. Settlemeler, of
Woodburn, are at the Oregon. ,
A. H. Sperry, a railroad man of Spo
kane. Wash., Is at the Oregon.
Ed Kiddle, of Island City, Or., a mer
chant. Is staying at the Imperial.
W. T. Wright, a banker, or Union,
Or, is registered at the Cornelius.
Mr. and Mrs. W. R. Morrow, of Pen
dleton, registered yesterday at the
Cornelius.
Mr. and Mrs. Al F. Stockton, who
came to Portland ' from Chillleothe,
Missouri, a few weeks ago. have de
cided to make this city their future
home, and for the present are living at
the' Cecelia Apartments, at 714 Gllsan
street. Mr. Stockton will engage in
the real estate business. m
SAN FRANCISCO. March 11. (Spe
cial.) Portland arrivals at the Palace
Hotel today were: Mr. and Mrs. C. M.
Gorman. F. W. Leadbetter. Edwin Cos
well. George L. " Hoxle, Mrs. Gordon
Voorhles. tTV. S. Biddla.
A SEVEN-FOLD INCREASE
NEW ESTABLISHMENT
NEARING COMPLETION.
Brief Comparison of Portland Today With 12 Years ago.
-A'Business Increased From Scarcely a Hundred Thou
sand of Sales in 1899 to Over Four Million During Last
year A Look Back and Some Promises for the
Future.
We have commenced at our old cor- I
nor on Washington" street a-closing out
of everything contained within tnose
old walls.
Our entire stock of musical Instru
ments there, many times larger than all
other stocks throughout this otate put
together, is to be sold right where it
stands.
This sale is not a "removal sale" in
the ordinary sense of the term.
The tremendous reductions we are
making Is not for the purpose of sav
ing the few dollars that it would cost
to haul the pianos from the old store
to the new. Far from it. We are go
ing; Into the finest building ever erect
ed for our trade absolutely fireproof,
the best lighted, best arranged estab
lishment to be found anywhere. When
we open our doo'rs there we shall have
a complete new display of every style
and kind of musical instrument for
which we have exclusive representation
in the West. Orders to this effect
have already been plsced with the forty
different factories that we represent,
and many of the instruments, are al
ready on the way.
In order that the old premises may
be completely sold out and nothing In
terfere with the reopening at the new
establishment at Seventh and Alder,
every piano, baby grand, upright or
player piano, as well a every other
article In the old place, nearly every
thing brand new, is to be sacrificed re
gardless of profit or even cost.
Thus, then, we have started this closing-out
sale, which will last exactly
three weeks and during this time every
Instrument in this establishment must
be disposed of. Every instrument will
be disposed of, for the prices have been
so greatly reduced on every instru
ment and article as to Insure Immedi
ate takers.
When Ellers Music House discounts
it counts. When Ellers Music House
says cut prices it means cut prices and
not mere half-hearted whittling. In
this closing-out sale the greatest sav
ings ever to be had In Portland will
be offered, and if your home Is not sup
plied with everything in the way of a
musical Instrument, or If you are rent
ing an Instrument, let us advise you to
look into this closing-out sale.
A HURRIED LOOK BACKWARD.
At thie particular time a look back
ward may not be amiss. ' Ellers Muslo
House admittedly has grown to be the
foremost establishment In the sale of
musical instruments In the Nation. This
record has been accomplished In exact
ly a dozen yeans. What a struggle to
gain recognition at first It seemed for
"the lltle store on the edge of China
town," as competitors called the old
establishment on old First street then.
Never was an enterprise started In the
United States which encountered such
downright oposition as was accorded
this one. Very slowly at first, then at
a quicker pace, the establishment
pushed Its way to the front. As the
principle upon which this business was
founded became , better and better
known, not only In the city and in the
state, but throughout the Pacific Coast,
one establishment after another was
added, so that today In the mighty
chain of 40 prosperous Ellers stores
there Is not one that is not the recog
nized leader In this trade in its re
spective community, enjoying the con
fidence and pood will of the thousands
and thousands of customers who have
each year dealt with them.
In no city of the West has Ellers
Muslo House record of achievement
been more brilliant than in its home
city of Portland.
Soon after its opening the First
street store became too small, and had
overflowed Into one warehouse after
another. Then the 'Washington-street
building was specially erected for
Ellers Muslo House. One large whole
sale warehouse after another was out
grown, until early last year the
enormous six-story building and the
six-story addition thereto was com
SPRAYING IS SLIGHTED
TOO SirCH LI5IE ,N"OT EXOUCH
SCTVPHUR IS COMPLAINT.
Fruit Inspector Tells of Swindling
or City Folk Test Should Bo
Insisted Upon.
It Is not necessary, In spraying fruit
trees, to make the trunks and limbs
look white. Some of the men engaged
in the spraying business In Portland
'think that Is all that Is required of
them, according to County Fruit In
spector Stansbery. He sa's these men
are not doing their work properly, and
be proposes to call them to time.
"This is the time when fruit trees
should be sprayed," said the inspector
yesterday, "and a lot of work is be
ing done In Portland and in the sub
urbs. I find, however, that some of
the men who make a business of sprav
ina; fruit trees are not using the right
solution. The proper kind of a spray
is a mixture of lime and sulphur. When
the trees are sprayed as they should
be, they will have a bluish look, but I
find that many of them are white.
That shows that the sprayer has not
put In the necessary sulphur, but hns
used raw lime, which Is cheaper. These
men are also required to show by a
test with a Beaume hydrometer that
the spray will, test four degrees. If
they cannot do that the owners of the
trees should refuse them the Job, and
If they will call me up by telephone
at Woodlawn 1761, I will send them a
man who will do the work properly.
I wish, also, that people who have had
their trees sprayed would get the name
and address of the man who did the
work, that I can keep in touch with
him.
"While lime and sulphur make the
best spray, there are other kinds on the
market made from oil."
ESTACADA TEAM IS WINNER
Mount Pleasant School Debaters
Lose Decision In Fornm.
ESTACADA. Or., March 11. (Spe
cial.) The Estacada High School and
the Mount Pleasant ninth grade ora
torical teams debated the question,
"Resolved, That foreign immigration
should be further restricted." Esta
cada took the affirmative and Mount
Pleasant the negative, tne former win
ning. The Mount Pleasant team was
Maude Riley. David Thomas and Arthur
King; Estacada, Malcom Woodle, Rus
sel Betts and Kitty Ellen Regan.
The Judges were Rev. Brown, of Esta
cada; Dr. Wells, of Portland, and Prin
cipal Robinson, of the Gresham schools.
Principal Ceivers and Miss Stafford, of
the Mount Pleasant School, and Miss
Frances, of the Oregon City school, and
Principal Robinson, of Gresham, ac
companied the visiting team.
Ireland Native Dies at Vancouver.
VANCOUVER, Wash., March 11. (Spe
cial.) Mrs. Alary Murray, nearly 73 years
old. a native of Ireland, and a pioneer
AT SEVENTH AND ALDER
pleted upon the half block on Pty
grove street, between 16th and lata
streets.
Of late years it became the subject
of much comment how every nook ana
corner in the old Washington-street
store was utilized to the utmost, and
for years the firm has been determined
upon securing more commodious quar
ters, an establishment thoroughly In
keeping with and indicative of the
commercial and musical Importance ot
the establishment In this community.
This hope is now to be fully realized.
"Old-timers," who recalled Pacific
Coast booms, have looked with amaze
ment upon this gigantic progress.
Many have said "phenomenal. But,
pshaw! There's nothing fhenomensl
about it. "Men do not gather figs from
thistles." None "reap where they have
not sown." Like Topsy. Ellers Music
House "growed" simply because It
could not help It. . It preached and
practiced "the best and the most for .the
monev." Its aim has always been to
secure for its trade the very highest
grade of instruments, which were sup
plied to customers upon an unique little-prof
It-per-instrument basis. Every
legitimate advantage secmable was al
ways applied to furnish merchandise ot
highest merit at the lowest possible
price, and for les than the same grades
of quality are obtainable elsewhere.
Eilers Music House has never be
lieved in vainglorious selfpralse. never
has it Indulged In "painting lilies." Do
high prices, fancy names and empty
pretense mean intrinsic value? Of
course not, and the great dlsorlminst
ing mass of Olivers in this and every
other community has not been slow to
find this out.
The Ellers business was done, and al
ways will be done, on rugged business
principles. One price and that ever
lastingly the lowest to each and all
alike. No horpe-Jockeying about It. no
charging an uninitiated and confiding
buver an outlandish price for a second
grade article which his shrewder
neighbor could obtain for a right price
or a great deal less. The powerful and
all-pervading element in the enormous
siiccena of the Ellers Houses will pre
vail in the future as In the paBt, In
supplying instruments ot sterling and
unquestioned merit, headed by the fin
est and most costly of American pianos
the Chickerlng of Boston, the Hazel
ton and Sohmer of New York, and the
Kimball of Chicago, together with the
Autoplano and with nearly three dozen
other of the Nation's finest, most artis
tic and most dependable Instruments.
Owing to the many special advantages
which Eilers Music House possesses.
It Is enable! to handle and supply these
world-renowned instruments for less,
and usually a great deal less money
than any one else Is able, to do.
THE! STEP FORWARD.
And thus we take another step for
ward, probably the most important
step that this Institution, in spite of its
record for brilliant and magnificent
achievement ever will take. Our
new establishment, at Seventh and
Alder streets, will be nearly seven
times the dimensions of our present
quarters, and very -few who have not
investigated our present premises have
any adequate conception of the exten
siveness of even the old place on Wash
ington street. But our new building is
nearly ready. The new and better
store of curs will be a factor even more
important in the musical life of the
Northwest, and in the commercial life
of this community.
And thus we have commenced a
striking closlng-out, or term It a re
moval sale. The name of the sale Is
Immaterial. We realize that everything
in these old premises must find a buy
er Immediately. And every Instrument
will go, for the prices are so low, and
the terms of ownership have been
made so easy that no one who comes
to Investigate will be disappointed.
Come to the o?d. always busy corner,
on-Washington street, at the corner of
Park street (Eighth) before it Is too
late. Eilers Music House.
of Vancouver, died at St. Joseph's Hos
pital last night. The funeral will be held
Monday morning from St. James' Catho
lic Church, Rev. Father Felix Verwil
ghen officiating. Burial will be in the
Catholic Cemetery. Mrs. Murray is sur
vived by three daughters, one of whom.
Sister Stanislaus, Is a Sister of Charity
in St. Josephs' Hospital. Mrs. Grady, of
Vancouver, and one In Alaska. The son,
John Murray, Is In the United States
Navy.
PORTLAND FIRM IS LOSER
Contract for Water and Sewer Sys
tem Goes to Seattle Concern.
SILVERTON, Or., March 11. (Spe
cial.) Bids for the construction of
SUverton's water and sewer systems
were opened Friday, as per previous
announcement, as were bids for the
sale of the bonds. Seven bids were re
ceived for the construction of the two
systems, as follows: Mars Construc
tion Company, Seattle. $63,940: G. Jae
ger, Rich Hill, Mo., $65,450; Jeffery &
Buffton, Portland, $66,320; American
Light & Power Company. Chicago, $67.
865; K. Lalset, Corvallis, $68,745; T. B.
Shepperd, Denver, $70,260; Jacobson,
Bade & Co.. Portland, $71,180.
The contract was accordingly award
ed the Mars Construction Company, and
It is expected that they will begin oper
ations about April 1. Each bidder was
required to deposit a certified check in
the amount of $6500, which sum was to
be forfeited In case the bidder being
awarded the contract did not file the
proper bond, which was placed at the
full amount of the contract price, with
in 30 days from notification of the
awarding. The Mars people also pur
chased the $75,000 bonds, paying a pre
mlum of $1500 for thorn.
The natural drainage makes It pos
sible to Install a sewer system at a
minimum cost and the nearness of the
town to the mountains and the spars
settlement abo(-e Insures absolutely
pure water, while the natural fall of
the stream enables the installation of
a gravity system at very small cost.
TWO SAW WAY TO LIBERTY
Roseburg Jailbreak Occurs During
.Night Hours.
ROSEBURG. Or., March 11. (Special.)
Secreting themselves in a dark cham
ber on the upper floor of the County
Jail, when the prisoners were locked In
the cells for the night, C. J. Ferguson
and F. G. Adams, awaiting trial on a
charge of burglary, made their escapt
early today by severing tha iron bars
screening the window and droupping to
the ground, a distance of 20 feet..
A small saw found in the upper corri
dor of the Jail has satisfied the Sheriff
that the" men were given outside assist
ance. Upon observing the mens' absence
this morning. Sheriff Qulne immediately
started in pursuit, but up to a late hour
tonight has been unable to ascertain
their whereabouts.
The fertile soil of the Canary Islands is
devoted almost exclusively to the cultiva
tion of the vine and fruits, owlnf to which
bout 75 per cent of th food consumed,
must be Imported. Wheat floor i tha
largest Item, nearly sl of which is 'Amer
ican, imported via -England; .