6 THE SUNDAY OREGOyiAy. PORTLAND. DECEMBER 31, 1911. ,1 WRITERS TO PANAMA ZONE Special "Investigators" Get Material for Books in ' Few Days. WILD STORIES ARE TOLD Canal Literature Croat to AUrm. tag Proportions Author Are Srgnra Every Courtesy by Official la Charge. BT OEOBOE PALMER PTTXAM. Avar do South Id the Torrid -one North latitude nearly nln. Where the elsht months pour once past ana e'.r. The eon frtar months doth shine: Wh.re 'tis lhty-slx the jrsar around. And people r.r.lr erree: TChsre the p:antaia grows and the hot wuta blows. Lies the Land of the Cocoanut Tree. Gilbert. PANAMA. R. P- Dec I. (Special correspondence.) Possibly, excluding ancient Greece, there baa been more written about the Panama Canal sone. the "Land of the Cocoanut-TTee.-than about any other extremely small piece of terra flrma extant. An exception to this sweeping state ment Is to be found, and In a land of quite different temperature, for when rr. Cook took up Its publicity work, the North Pole really did overshadow poor Panama. Be that as It may. Panama has prospered remarkably, from a read- . . i t haa h.il Ita era point 01 Cooks, too. alnce the Tery beginning of the canal work In the early days, when plans and methoda were uncertain, and It waa possible to get the people and Congress excited enough to upset everything that had been done almost overnight, wild cat canal etorlee came to be a drug on the newspaper market. With Poultney Blgelow In the van. -Investigators" who passed from six to SO hours -Investigating" the entire work, at regular Inter val exploded wild yarns concerning the Impracticability of the plans, the graft, the sickness, or eomethlng else, of the much-maligned canal region. Geethale Sway Dllereat. With the appointment or Colonel Goethala came the end of uncertainty and plan-changing. Wild storlea could no longer make trouble, beyond the possible appointment of an Investigat ing committee or two from Congress. And aa the Isthmian trip makes a de lightful Winter outing for a debilitated Representative In Congress, this really waa a practice not to be frowned upon too severely. ,. Today, here at Panama, the publicity aide of the canal building operatlona la far from being the least Interesting of Its many phases. Joseph Bucklln Bishop, formerly managing editor.of a New Tork news paper, la at the head of the publicity work. No. It la not called "publicity work." nor should It be. It la simply that In connection with the publication of the -Canal Record." the weekly of ficial bulletin of canal sone life and construction progress, a bureau of In formation la maintained. To this the writers who want accurate Information naturally go. I have heard It aald that If yon want to meet any American writing man all that la necessary la to watt long enough In the anteroom of Mr. Blahop'a office. But thla Is not quite accurate, for there are eome authors who have written upon the canal and Ita workera who would never dare to return to Panama! Caaal literate). Pleatlfal. The growth of canal literature Is phenomenal. One doea not appreciate It until one gets In touch to some ex tent with the fountain from which It ail emanates. And this year, the last of heavy construction work, there will be a bigger literary crop than ever be fore. . . . I was fortunate In arriving in what waa scheduled to be the "rainy season, which waa. as a matter of fact, delight fully dry. "Fortunate." I aay. because they told me that the Isthmus will be literally swarming with writers next month, when the official dry aeason gets Into operation. "Every man. woman and child In the t'ntted States has an Interest In tha canal- and every one haa the right to ask at least $4 worth of questions, for that's what the canal la costing each and every American." la the way they put It. in the offices of the canal ex ecu 1 1 vea. 80 when they see another writer com ing, while they may algh inwardly, outwardly they extend the broad Taft-like smile) or welcome and usher tha newcomer Into Mr. Bishop's of fice. Immediately you are advised to go ant and see tha work, and then coma back and ask questions about It. Meter Care Fsrslskei. If you have a few days only, a couple of them are passvd at Culebra Cut and at one of the locks. For this sight seeing the commission courteously provtdea comfortable) motor cars, which take tbe vlsttora over the) construction tracks, affording an excellent hasty gllmps of the chief features of tha work, under the guidance) of an ex pert whose sole duty Is to answer questions. Then back to the office of the Commission's secretary you are taken, and there provided with an awere, verbal anJ printed, to every query whjcb your Imagination can con ceives or. apparently, to every one that ver haa been asked by your thousands of predecessors. It I a splendid way to handle the matter. Everything Is absolutely open and above board. There are no sec rets which may not be learned and printed, no Information which la with held: every record. mr-r-rj statistic may be obtained. The American people surely may never have ceased to say that It did not know, or doee not know, how Ita money Is being spent. X newspaper correspondent on tha Isthmus haa come to be accepted as an Incident of tha work. When tha M-Mir appears, with a typewriter caM. a new and glistening Panama hat. and a bead full of queettona. thera la no comment. And even afterward, whea they read what has been written. bo one seema ta feel bajly over the Inevitable Inaccuracy. "It might have been worse." they say. Everyone in the Caaal Zoo ta aa optimist. About tha only claaa of writers who are) nnforalven are thoee who wrlta anap-ludgment books. To be sure, there may be) some professional jeal ousy In thla. for nearly everyone on the Isthmus intends to write a book himaelf. sooner or later. Mtki la Every SI lad. An -exhastlve" Panama Canal book can be prepared In ona week: It haa been done and It la now being done. Oao, ne I waa ushered Into Mr. Bish op's office a mild-mannered little roan, dsep-ladea with reports and maps, wit! drew. -H, U writing a book." I was told. -Ha l devoting a week ta tte work , on the Isthmus. He came here eora k.i..i.i. a wall. known New Tork publisher, and got most of hla material Into shape comma- down on the steam er. The book will be well Illustrated, and Is expected to be a good seller. Why did he come here at all? On. I suppose to get local color; they aU do that." A very fair example, that A short time ago another man wrote a sort of catch-aa-catch-can Panama book, one of whose moat vivid chap ters contained a detailed and hair raising account of an alligator hunt on the Chagres River, in which the author was pictured as having killed a num ber of 'gators, after desperate en counter. The facta of the natter are that the author waa sent out under the guid ance of a certain ex-pollce officer, and that wheal they actually came to the. alligators tha writer so painfully dem onstrated the fact that he didn't know one end of a gun from the other, that his weapon was taken away from hlra to Insure the safety of the others of the 1 vVAHIGTOX STATE'S OLDEST JIIX.K CELEBRATES T1ST BIRTHDAY BEVOBE CHRISTMAS ' -'V.: A ' -';iVv a.-' - ' W .- v ? fc v . Jadae Taornaa H. B rents. WALLA WALLA. Wash.. Dec JO. (Special.) Judge Thomas H. Brents, of the Walla Walla County Superior Court, probably the oldest Judge In the State of Washington, celebrated his 71st birthday the day before Christ mas. Judge Brents has practiced law for more than half a century, and despite his age la as hale and hearty as many a man a score of years his junior. Mr. Brents celebrated the pass ing of his three score and ten at his own home on Chase ave nue with his family. He haa no sons, but his daughters. Mrs. John Itobb. Mra W. L. Stirling and Mra. Robert Ankeny, were pres ent at the occasion, as well aa numerous grandchildren. A dinner party waa sflven In honor of the occasion, and many guests Were present. Gifts were received by the judge from friends in all parte of the Northwest and through the United States. Among them waa a silken bag containing 71 pennies, given by 71 friends and relatives of the jurist. Judge Brents la serving on tha Superior bench here, and despite his age probably will be returned to that position next Fall. He has the reputatlcn or being re versed less times by the Supreme Court than any Superior Judge in the state. party. Tha ex-pollce officer told me tha atory. Jest Writer Teld. An amusing incident Illustrating much anme Panama writers don't know about their aubject la told by one of the leading orociaia on i a vnuns woman came to him. bearing introductions. She waa pre paring a scries of letters upon tne r-..i tnr middlo Western ayndlcatc one of which she had already written. The offtclal pointed out to the woman some Royal raims. expiaium m-i they had been brought to Panama by DeLesseps. .i . w v. . .a m.n who discovered the Pacific. Isn't her' said she. delight fully unaware that Balboa, discoverer of the Pacific, came to Panama aoma 100 yeara herore jjw i'p . . k. A Th.n .he went back to the hotel and wrote about tha Canal'a history. On tha Iathmua Itself there has boon written a lot. much of it purely for local consumption. Some that I aaw, notably the verse, was scarcely adapted to publication; the local color waa a bit too torrid. Tha beet or the) nome-maae poetry n.J T- 1 1 1 A lh PaId. la tne one 1 n r-. . neL" A few characteristic stanzaa read aa follows: If you have any eanse to kick, or feel dis posed to bowl. If things ain't running Just te suit. aa there's a ehsnce to srowl. If rou hsvs snr ax to grind or graft te shuffle throoah. Just put It up to Colonel O. like all the others do. v Dear sir. the commissary here." writes Mrs. Percy Jones. Is charsina roe for porterhouse whloh sjn"t ao more thaa bones. And 1 assure you. Colonel, that the perk chops which they sell Is rotten. I enclose herewith a sample. Just te smell." Mrs. Robbe and Mrs. Dobbe are neighbors m a fist. And Mrs. Hbbs calls Mrs. Dobbs a dirty this and that: Then Mrs. Dobbs reciprocates, and maybe both are fit ht. But rn the end the Colonel has te arbitrate the ftsht. Don't hesitate to stste yonr case, the bees will hear you tnrouch; It's true bo's sometimes busy and haa ether thlnse to do: Bat come on Sunday morn In a. and Una up with the rest you'll maybe feel some better with that grievance off your chest. Se Colonel Goethals. tell Colonel Ooetbalo. It's the only rlht and proper tblng le do. Armnse a little Sunday interview, j net write a letter, or. even better, e) LUMBERMEN DENY CHARGE Xorthwcvtern Association Answers Government's Salt. MINNEAPOLIS. Dec . In a report filed with tha clerk of tha Federal Court tha Northwestern Lumbermen's Association answered the complaint of the Government that tha association waa guilty of acta In restraint of In terstate trade In lumber products. Tha answer la a general denial of all rhargee. A specific denial also la made of the charge that the organisation tried to bring about avelaaalf icatlon In the lumber bualnesa that In any way would prevent manufacturer and wholesale dealers from dolr.g business directly with consumers. 11 t s S3 PIANO RENT. . All money paid aa rent can apply on purchase) price. If dealred. Ask about our drayage plan. Kohler s Chaaem Washington otreot. Inside block wood It. Main li:. t I : .. ... I' .. , . u L. i v :. ; : ! ;-'. Vi ; :. iV TWICE 1ST pay: Judge TUs E. B. Hopkinson He Cannot Expect to Get Lux uries Without Cost. DOUBLE ALIMONY IRKSOME California Manager of Portland Steel Concern Says Second Wife Broke Up First Home, bat Gets Xo Sympathy. SAN FRANCISCO. Dec 30. (Special.) When a divorced man marries a sec ond wife he takes unto himself a luxury and must be willing to stand all of tha consequences. This Is a Judgment given In the Superior Court by Judge Morgan in an order directing E. B. Hopkinson. general agent in California for the Wil lamette Iron A Steel Works, or Port land, residing at ti Elite street, to pay $75 a month temporary alimony to his wife. Mrs. Maud L. Hopkinson. during the pendency of her action for divorce. The suit was recently transferred from Oakladd to this county, and In opposing the wire's motion for main tenance, Hopkinson set up a novel plea, which brought rebuke from tha court. The steel man told the court that his wife was responsible for the breaking up or his home with his Hrst wife, who divorced him andallowed him to marry No. 2. Because of the circumstances surrounding the fir.-s. wife's divorce suit, he said, she obtained a large ali mony allowance, which he had been paying ever since. He declared that with one alimony Judgment against him It would be Impossible for him to meet two of a kind. "You canont enjoy the luxuries or this life." replied the court, "and then come here and play the baby act. You married your second wife knowing you must pay ror the support or your rirst wife, and now the law provides that you shall take care of the luxury. You have had two wives and It is nght that you ahould contribute financially to the support of both unless you can show by proper evidence that one or both have lost their right to such aid." The wife testified that Hopkinson waa In receipt of $400 a month In salary and commissions, and on this showing the $75 a month was allowed her, to continue at least until the cause is finally determined. R05EEURG IS LOSER STATE TAX COSrMISSIOX DEXIES REQCEST OP CITY. Old Mileage BaMa of Valuation of Courtles Will Be Retained. Other Questions Arise. SALEM. Or, Dec 30. (Special.) While no definite conclusion waa reached at practically an all-day meet ing of the State Tax Commission to day. It la almost assured that one problem waa solved which will mean that apportionment of public utilities will aee an Increased or decreased val uation aa the spirit moves, while, on the other band, the old mileage basla of valuation of counties will be re tained. Thla meana that the petition of r jAm nf RAMburr. and other cltixena of that municipality la denied If the State Tax Commission decides to remain by ita present idea it means that the entire system or taxation un der the State Tax Commission will be .111. . k BBRi as In tha Dast. II.LllVtl " The Tax Commission waa created to place aaseased valuea on puoiic um ltlea. , j At,, law te Arrive! at these values through a theory In which unit valuation waa reacnea aa 10 me r . niti.. and thla valuation waa arrived at through a division of the mileage pro rata among in. t un ties. ...I ..... v. PAmmiMlrin will accede to the request that a ratio aa to tha value of stocks ana Donas oe usea, or whether the Commission will remain by ita old atandard. haa not been rully decided. Thla question will be an awered. however, before the state levy la finally made up. WILLAMINA SHOWS FIGHT With Only One Mall Service After January 1. Waa Is On. WILLAMINA. Or, Dec 2. (Spe cial ) This town will have only one mall a day here after January 1. Thla la due to the fact that the Sheridan Wlllamlna Railway Company will pull off Ita night train to this place, leav ing only a noon mall arrival. This turn of affairs is the result of the City Council a short time ago de manding that the S. W. Railway build a depot here ror the protection . . mnA frels-ht. Mr. Ed wards, manager or the road. Ignored 11 - ei. 1.1 Ka.Iv hv the tonncu u fusing to reply to It In a written or verbal atatement. but he eaye ha will not comply with the demand. The chief reason he gives for his refusal . . - ., I. thai novertv of the road, alleging lack of patronage and general upp"" " " -- '..-. 1..1... .(.f-nriilna' to the I U W II . IUI"I official report of the railroad company filed wun uie ni"- . this state, shows that the particular line has been operated at a profit. The fight Is now on in earnest. Many contend that the railroad. In its present condition, la a detriment to the town. Livery vehicles will meet tha night trains at Sheridan to bring pas sengers to-Wlllamlna. and steps will be taken to get a resumption of the night mall service. NOW IS THE BEST TIME to secure extra value in sightly used pianos that were taken In exchange during our Chrlstmaa seaaon. Nearly all makes are represented, the variety and quality la exceptional. Ton will buy here if you wish to save money. Sherman, Clay Co, Morrison at 8UU1. AUT0PIAN0 $5 Rental. Free musto rolls, free cartage. AU money paid aa rental can apply on purchase prloe If dealred. Kohler A Chase. $7 Washington street. iiii mm ucnncn ; : II U IILUULU Jj property appraised by three well known real estate firms at $176,600 and until January 10, I am authorized to sell it for $100,000! And better still, you don't have to take it all to get it at this price you can take your pick of the 25 larg est and best sites in the list for $4000! And the property itself why there is nothing like it or to be compared with it in this or any other city. You have likely seen it-aboVe Nob Hill-at the head of Lovejoy street and Cornell road where the big hydraulic giants cut down Goldsmith Jriill and formed the LEVEL terraces Westover Terraces. , It's 18 months now since they began the work up there and many people have kept tab on the progress-they wanted to buy. Now it's ready, and now's the time, and until January 10 it's $4000 to the first 25 purchasers for sites ranging from $3000 to 6750. But mind you, the early buyers are sure to get the largest and best sites. Gome out then, today. Take 23d street or W car and see Westover Terraces, the greatest close-in heights property at the most remarkable price ever offered the people of Portland. Phone My Office or Drop a Line and I'll Send You Plats and Full Information Selling Agent Westover RAILROAD LINES LONG WASHINGTON MILEAGE NOW TO TALS OVER 4500. Approximately 10 Per Cent of Taxe of State Paid by Transportation Companies Statistic Ont. OLYMPIA, Wun, Dec SO. (Special) Reports completed by the State Tax Commission ehow that the railroads or Washington are paying; approximately 10 per cent of the taxea of the state, that they pay il.25 per cent of their net earnlnns from operation for taxes and 6.66 per cent of their gross earn ings, and that there has been an In crease amounting to more than 40 per cent in the mileage of the steam rail roads, considering main lines only, since 1904 The total railroad mileage In the state is now 4626. as compared with S1J4 miles In 1904: the assessed valua tion of these properties In 1904 was 128 228 919. and In 1911 $182,468,414. or J9007.81 per mile In 1904 and 128.639.66 per mile In 1911. In 1904 the railroads paid 821.7J6.68, or 7.1 per cent of all taxes In the state, while other property paid J9.717.109 28. In 1910 the assessments levied against the carriers was $2,658,322.19. or 9.28 oer cent of aUaxes, which then aggre gated $27,003,979.94. The highest per centage was paid In 1909 and was 10.99 per cent of all taxea Out of a total of $24,998,876.3$ the" railroads paid $1,746,- In 1910, when the gross earnings of the steam road, were $46,992 018 they paid $2 658,322, or 6.65 per cent of their earnings In taxes. Their net Income dur?ng the same year was $12,511,740 and the percentage that went for taxes was 21 25. The gross earnings of the Ttreet railway, were IMiUli. d they paid 4 08 per cent or $402 02. The net Income was $2,827,411, and of thla 14.12 went for taxe. to the state. POISON BERRIES MARKED Aurora Resident Saya Glossy Coat I Nature's Danger Signal. AURORA. Or.. Dec $0. (Special.) The poisoning not long ago in Portland of a physician s daughter from the eat of Virginia creeper berrlea led to til discussion of the-question of up rooting all such vine. In Aurora. But mW hare were of the opinion that the Virginia creeper ha. no pol.onou. prop erties: One old resident declares that all poisonous fruits are so easy to dis tinguish that no adult should hav. any difficulty In knowing them. He savs all polsonou. plant, are branded by nature. All berrle. that are smooth like a glaa. bead all around are .urely poisonous. Any roughness at tha bloom end 1. the .lm of ton poisonous properties, and safety for F. N. CLARK Terraces and Eastmoreland use as food. Apples are marked in this way, as are all fruits of Its class. So likewise are gooseberries, currants, cranberries and many others. But the sleek, smooth, glassy berries like those of the poison Ivy and '.he poison oak, having no roughness or protuberance at the bloom end are all poisonous and unsafe to eat or handle. BAKER MAY CHANGE RULE Movement Started to Drop Commis sion Plan for Former System. BAKER, Or.. Dec SO. (Special.) A long-threatened movement to try to return Baker from the commission form of government to the old Alder man rule was started Thursday when E. T. Beers. ex-Alderman, started a peti tion asking the present City Commis sioner, to call a special election March 11 tg give the voters a chance to de cide whether the old or present form of government shall prevail. Mr. Beer, and Attorney Joseph Hellner. who drafted the revision of the old charter, refuse to say who started the movement, but deny that the saloon keepers, who are credited with being dissatisfied with the commission plan, have anything to do with the move ment. In the plea for a return to the old style of government many material changes to the old charter are sug gested, including the election of a Mayor and Treasurer with salaries ot $50 a month each and election of eight Aldermen, two from each ward, with salaries of $10 a meeting, but not to exceed $20 a month. All other offi cials are to be appointed by the Mayor with consent of the Aldermen, salaries to be fixed by the Aldermen and removal being In their hands. The Initiative, referendum and re call wllj "stand on a 10 per cent basis. Remonstrances against street Im provements shall require the signa tures of two-thirds of the property holders. Instead of the present three fourths and trial by Jury before police magistrate will be allowed subject to the approval of the Circuit Court. Mr. Beers Is confident that he will easily have the required number of names. Farmers Rejoice at Snow Fall. ' KLAMATH FALLS, Or., Deo. JO. (Special.) The recent cold spell brought with It a fine fall of snow, which reached a maximum of about six Inches, and -Is regarded with great rejoicing by the farmers In this terri tory who will need moisture during the coming Irrigating season. There was not a great quantity of rainfall during the past season, and the farmers are anxious that there be plenty of snow this Winter. This fall of snow Is the second of consequence this season. Better Pianos for Rent t Sherman, Clay Co, Morrlsonat Sixth. Coal $ up. Edlefsen Fuel Co. if a corner at Sixth and Washington streets were offered for sale tomorrow at two-thirds its present value-offered at $200,000 instead of $300,000? WHAT would happen? Why everybody in the city, who could beg, borrow or steal the amount, would risk his neck in the rush to be the first to get his money to the owner. Instead of a $390,000 property for $200,000, I have a $150,000 818-f323 Spalding Bldg. HYPNOTIC CUT DENIED HOWELL- SATS WIFE'S SUIT IS DTJE TO RELATIVES. Mining Operator Will Resist Effort to Annul Marriage, Saying It Was Love Match. LOS ANGELES. Dec 30. (Special.) George Howell, the Spokane mining operator, took steps today to prevent the annulment of his marriage with Miss Margaret Armstrong. She an nounced yesterday that she purposed such action, but Howell, declaring that she is Influenced by relatives and that eventually she will return to him, ordered his lawyer, Harry A. Chamber lain, to make a vigorous fight In the event the suit Is filed. Howell said today that letters writ ten by Mrs. Howell during their court ship will refute the charge that he hypnotized her Into accepting him as a husband. The letters voiced strong love for him, he said. Howell broke down today and Dr. T Floyd Brown, who attended him, said the patient was distracted over his wife's actions. Steps were taken to secure the affi davit of the minister who performed the marriage ceremony In San Diego, to show the state of Mrs. Howell's mind at the time of the wedding. HOG RAIS!NGBIG PAYER Aurora Farmers Realize Good Prof its From Animals. AURORA, Or, Dec $0. (Special.) In the past two weeks a large, number of hogs have been shipped to Portland markets or sold here,- at Canby. at Barlow and at Hubbard. These have varied in weight from 125 to 450 pounds, and the prioes from 7 cents to 8H oents. Prices have been as high as tVi cents, but have) been lower for the past month. T. nni the hog market has been egtable and prices firm. It is sala mat noge rmstu ture of Fall-sown rye and vetch in Winter, and clover, vetch, rape or kale for Summer can be raised for 4 cents a pound. A 100-pound pig thus should cost no more than $4 and 460 pounds of barley or wheat fed to this 100 pound pig will add 100 more to his weight If properly fed, making him worth from $14 to $16. Cottage Grove Timber Use Good. COTTAGE GROVE, Or.. Dec. JO. That artistic furniture can be made of the timber surrounding Cottage Grove has been demonstrated by L. R. Smith, of the Cottage Grove Manufacturing Com pany. Mr. Smith has made for his own See a davenport, library table, book case, rocking chair and cedar obest. and Main 2113, A 7617 has done the work more to demonstrate what can be done wfth the wood than for anything else. RENT A NEW PIANO. New pianos to rent at $4 per month; rent allowed on purchase. The Wiley B. Allen Co.. cor. 7th and Morrison. Gresham Votes Special Tax. GRESHAM. Or., Dec SO. (Special.) The Gresham City Council has au thorized the voting of a special tax of 5 mills on a valuation of $281,565 for municipal purposes. That sum repre sents the value of property, to which will be added about $45,000 as the value of corporations doing business here. The tax levy will raise some thing over $1500, which will nearly all be Bet aside as a sinking fund to retire the $20,000 in water bonds recently Is sued for the city's water system. Humphreys Seventy-Seven Breaks Tip Grip and Goneness. The first feeling of a cold is one of goneness, lassitude, exhaustion and weakness, as if some serious illness was pending The use of "Seventy-seven" at this first feeling, before the Sneezins, Cough or Sore Tlyoat appear, will stop further developments. A small vial of pleasant pellets; fits the vest pocket. At all Drug Stores, 25 g, or mailed. Humphreys' Homeo. Medicine Co, Cor William and Ann Sts., New York. STOPS Toothache Instantly-. Docs not dry up. Cleanses the cavity. Destroys bad odor. Dent's Toothache GumJ All Drarcta 15e wagCTi-aTrw iBLamiBeBS X