The Sunday Oregonian. (Portland, Ore.) 1881-current, December 31, 1916, SECTION TWO, Page 5, Image 21

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    9
TIIE SUNDAY OREGOXIAX, PORTLAND, DECEMBER 31, 1916.
SITES OF UNION STATION AND NEW PORTLAND
POSTOFFICE ONCE COVERED BY COUCH LAKE
Beautiful Expanse of Water Filled With Earth in Late '80s and Early '90s by Northern Pacific Terminal Company
' at Expense of $299,448 Total of 1,200,000 Yards of Material Is Required.
jj
TOP UNPACKING BUILDING MATERIALS. BELOW POSTOFFICE SITE A S IT JfOW APPEARS.
FEW of the thousands who come and
go upon the grounds of Portland's
Union Station, or watch the work
cf excavation for the city's new post
office realize that they are upon the
tpot which was once a beautiful lake.
Couch Lake, as it was called in the
tarly days of Portland, had to give
way to the march of progress and its
expanse of water was converted into
business blocks by the Northern Pa
clflo Terminal Company In the late '80s
end early '90s. The work of filling the
lake cost J299. 448.23, and required
more than 1.200,000 yards of earth.
Couch Lake was an Irregular-shaped
body of water varying In width from
S50 to 900 feet and about 220O feet
long. It was bounded on the east
by Front street, on the south by Hoyt
utreet, on the west by West Park
fctreet. and extending down the river
es far as the Alblna ferry landing. It
covered all or a part of 22 blocks In
that section of the city. The lake was
about 15 feet deep during normal stage
fit water.
Wild Game Abound.
In the old days before the city began
to encroach too much upon Its borders
wild geese and ducks frequented those
waters. The citizens, too, often en
joyed skating upon Its surface.
The residence of Captain John H.
(Touch, who gave the name to the
lake, stood upon the western shore' of
the lake. It was of Southern architec
ture, painted white with green shut
ters and long verandas. There was a
eloping lawn extending to the water's
edge.
With clusters of great oak trees
trpon the shores the lake formed a
feautlful picture, and one that cannot
be forgotten by those who were fa
jnlliar with the scene in early child
hood.
Captain Couch arrived in Portland
In 1840. It was he who first saw that
IUI 1104IU UaU Ak, .tun u' - V. 11.111 l.llll
Enake it a great shipping point.
With the growth of the city it was
eeen that the beautiful Couch home
stead and the lake were obstructions
to great improvements which were be
ing planned In the '80s. The Northern
Pacific Terminal Company of Oregon
was organized iji 1882, and on October
19, 1888, the first contract for the
filling of Couch Lake was given by
that concern to Patrick O'Neil. Much
of the earth for filling was taken from
the gravel pits of Albina by the steam
shovel. The gravel pits were upon
i he donation land claim of Abrarns and
Knox. The earth was taken across the
Willamette River on dump cars on the
barge Ark. The crossing was made
from the Shaver dock to the Alnsworth
dock and the work of transporting the
gravel cost $15,000 a month.
Ship's Ballast lined.
Earth for the fill was also taken
from a tract of land near Llnnton.
which had been purchased by the Ter
minal Company for the purpose. Ships
came into Portland harbor In ballast
and this ballasting was also used. As
this ballast came from all parts of the
world it contained many beautiful
shells and sparkling bits of rock.
Many citizens searched for gold while
it was being dumped into the lake.
Front street was often inundated
during the process of the filling, the
water being forced out of the lake onto
the street. Many times the fill would
be up to grade In the evening but
would settle several feet during the
night.
Much sand was pumped from the bot
tom of the Willamette River through
a great pipe for use in the fill. The
pump used was of 500 horsepower, and
there was a four-foot flexible rubber
nch pipe used. Twenty men were em
ployed upon this dredge night and
loay.
Three Contract Made.
The Northern Pacific Terminal Com
pany entered Into a contract with the
Bowers Dredging Company for 750.000
cu bio yards of earth on July 2. 1890.
This was to be delivered at the rate
of not less than 50,000 cubic yards a
' month. Upon this same date another
contract was entered into for 50,000
cubic yards to be delivered at the rate
of not less than 20,000 cubic yards a
month. Still a third contract was
made for 300,000 cubic yards of earth
on December 9, 1892, this last to be
delivered at the rate of not less than
20,000 cubic yards a monthThe earth
included in the third contract was to
be delivered by the hyrdaullc process.
The entire work, according to the con
tract, was to be completed before March
10, 1894.
The late Henry Failing was president
of the Northern Pacific Terminal Com
pany. Captain J. D. Biles was right-of-way
agent for the company.
C. H. Prescott was a stockholder and
officer lti the Bowers Dredging Com
pany. The area of the property purchased
by the Northern Pacific Terminal
Company was 1,750.937 square feet,
which Included vacated streets. The
Union Depot was completed in 1896.
LONDON TIMES LAUDS HOOD
RIVER APPLES HIGH QUALITY
Famous "Blue and Red Diamond" Brand Said to Look Like Creation of
Some Artist's Brain Rather Than Production of Trees.
H
OOD RIVER, Or.. Dec. 30. (Spe
cial.) One of the greatest trib
utes ever paid to the Hood River
apple is contained in a recent article
in the London Times. A copy of the
article cent to the Apple Growers' As
sociation by S. B. Moomaw, the London
representative bf the organization, fol
lows: "If one would like to forget the war
for a precious hour or so a gentle stroll
along the avenues of Convent Garden
Market is a suggestion worth consider
ation. In the part generally known as
the grand row may be seen fruit that
is fragrant and picturesque; ant to the
casual observer it eeems abundant. As
a matter of fact, all fruit is compara
tively scarce. Huge warehouses that
in normal times were stacked with
good things are less than half full, yet
there is still a sufficiency in them to
make a brave show.
"Amongst the most etriklng objects
that meet the eye are apples so per
fect in shape, in color, that one can
scarce believe that they are real. They
look more like the creation of some ar
tist's brain than the produce of trees.
Much of the sunshine of a glorious
climate Is treasured in those graceful
apples.
"The onlooker with a cense of the
beautiful gazes at the fruit, rapt
in admiration, conjures up visions of
bright sunny days, the clearest of at
mospheres, and then wonders in what
corner of fairyland such rult can be
grown. Thoughts of the beautiful oc
cupy the mind, and provide a refresh
ing and welcome change from the sole
absorbing topic of the day; and then
as one emerges Into the Strand or
Long-acre, or Bow street, one is again
brought into contact with the world
as It is.
Apples' Quality HlRb.
"There Is a variety of apple known
as the Winter Banana. For the deli
cacy of coloring and perfecting bf
shape It is unique. Why It has been
so named cannot be ascertained with
any degree of certainty, but the theory
is put forward that the fruit has Just
the slightest suspicion of the flavor of
the banana. This may be so, but it re
quires an extraordinarily keen palate
to reveal a similarity to the popular
fruit of the West Indies or the Canary
Islands. .
The first winter Bananas came
from the great Wenatchee Valley some
eight years ago. At that time the
wonderful perfection of the fruit
caused a sensation in trade circles, nut
since that time both trade and public
have become accuetomed to the best
the world can produce, and apples that
10 years ago would have been looked
upon with as much astonishment as an
aeroplane are nowadays accepted as a
matter of course.
"Briefly summarized, the Pacific
Coast is sending apples of remarkable
quality. In addition to the Winter
Banana there .ire the Newton Pippins,
Spltzenburgs, Jonathans and Wlnesaps.
All have their distinctive merits, and
If the attractiveness of fruit is partly
dependent upon perfection of appear
ance, combined with delicacy of flavor,
the apples of Oregon take a high place.
Apples Urged a Gifts,
"British Columbia Cox' Orange Pip
pins are especially worthy of notice.
The same may be said of Spltzenburgs
(despite the ill-sounding name), and
other varieties from British Columbia.
Oregon and California. Importers, as
a rule, are special pleaders, but there
is something In the suggestion that
cases of apples are Just as acceptable
presents as cases of other goods, which
give a temporary exhilaration and may
sometimes leave doleful after-effects.
"Both, of course, are enjoyable; but
there is no 'reason why apples should
be overlooked when generous donors
are selecting their gifts. One thing
is quite certain, a case of first-class
apples is not only an economical but
useful present. Furthermore, it is a
profitable investment in the home.
"Reverting to the topic of the ex
traordinary fine Oregon apples now on
the market, it may be well to reveal a
little secret to the public. The best
are known as 'Blue Diamonds,' which
distinguishing brand refers to the sign
on the cases. All fruit that is deemed
good enough to bear the 'Blue Dia
mond' Hood River mark may be ac
cepted as the finest obtainable. That
which is not quite perfect is known
as the 'Red Diamond,' but even that
is so fine that no one need cavil at
its quality. This year the second-grade
fruit Is equal to, if not better, than
the first selection of last year's crop;
so that all 'diamond apples may hon
estly be ranked as precious fruits.
"Reluotantly, the epicure must leave
the region of the choicest and discuss
that which, if not In that category, is
nevertheless good. The California Pip
pin is an apple which comes first in
the region of all-around utility. It is
good, sound and of excellent keeping
quality. Combined with finest fruits of
British Columbia and Oregon it is re
markably cheap, but by no means to
be despised on that account. The Cal
ifornia Newtown is of consistently good
quality, and only the hypercritical will
find fault with it. For many years It
has been a favorite line with retailers,
who would not have stocked It unless
the popular demand had Justified their
action.
"To descend a little further In the
scale, one must mention the apples of
Nova Scotia. These are essentially the
fruit of the masses. In days gone by
Nova Scotia apples were sold at popular
prices In all Darts of London and sub
urbs, but. under the existing conditions,
the value of the fruit has risen in
common with that of other commodi
ties. The present wholesale rates are
more than double those which retailers
were called on to pay three years ago.
This must be stated in justice to shop
keepers, who certainly have not dou
bled their prices. They have raised
them, it is true, but not proportion
ately with the increase they them
selves are called upon to pay.
Price Rise Moderate.
"This is a good point which should
be emphasized, because of the general
Impression that retailers always insist
on upon additional profits whenever
the initial cost of their goods happens
to be Increased. So far as the fruit
trade is concerned, that theory does
not hold good. Just now the average
wholesale cost of Nova Scotia apples is
about 30s per barrel, as compared
with 13s and IBs before the war. Re
tail prices have not risen In proportion.
"Enthusiasm In regard ' to imported
fruits should not be allowed to inter
fere with appreciation of those grown
in our own home orchards. There is
nothing to equal the English Cox's
Orange Pippin In regard to flavor. It
may not be so beautiful as others pro
duced in distant climes, but for inher
ent worth It still remains alone and
unrivaled. Therefore it is the most
costly apple on the market. As much
as 6s per dozen Is paid for this monarch
of the apple world. This may seem
a lot of money for apples, but. com
pared with other things freely con
sumed say. whisky and rods the cost
is not outrageous.
'English cooking apples are likewise
the best In the world. To name but a
few kinds The Bramley's Seedling,
Weellngton, Newtown Wonder and
Lane's Prince Albert there Is a col
lection that cannot be equaled. So. to
sum up the situation, it may De tnat
England produces quality whilst other
countries provide beauty. Which Is the
more acceptable in apples, the publlo
must decide."
SETTLERS WHO CAN PRODUCE TRUCK AND
BERRIES FOR CANNERY ARE WANTED
Production Falls Far Short of Demands of Factories and The Dalles Chamber Makes Effort to Get Lands
Now Unused Cultivated Irrigation Is Factor in Some Districts.
' I
J969 , .1 .1 I L '
y''hWn:uf' ' "'" -Pii 'rir $-
COMMERCIAL BODIES UNITE
Seattle Chamber and Club Agree Fi
nally to Consolidate.
SEATTLE. Wash., Dec. 30. The Se
attle Commercial Club last night unan
imously voted to merge with the Seat
tle Chamber of Commerce. The action
of the club followed reading of the
report of a joint committee of the club
and the chamber recommending the
merger and outlining the organization
plans of the consolidated body, which
will be knewn as the Seattle Chamber
of Commerce and Commercial Club.
Two previous attempts, the first In
1911 and the second last January, were
made to effect a merger of the two
commercial bodies. Both efforts failed
because of the refusal of the chamber
to consent to the transaction of busi
ness by the membership in open forum
instead of by trustees.
BV J. W. BREWER,
Secretary of The Dalles Chamber of Cora
ruvrce. THE DALLES. Or.. Dec. 30. (Spe
cial.) The Columbia Basin coun
ties of Hood River, Wasco. Sher
man. Gilliam and Morrow have 6945
square miles of territory, or 4,448.720
acres, of which amount about 1.038,500
acres are under cultivation and prob
ably 300.000 more can be tilled. There
are 510.500 acres in the National For
est, all of this be inc In the ,., t ....
of Hood River, Wasco and Morrow.
There are no National Forests in either
Sherman or Gilliam counties.
Approximately 370.000 acres are un
appropriated Government land subject
to homestead entry. Little of this,
however, is valuable for agricultural
purposes, most of It being rough and
rocky and utilized almost entirely for
grazing purposes. Based on the school
census of 1916 the estimated popula
tion of this district is 40.203.
These counties are generally agricul
tural in character and with the excep
tion or iiooa Klver the growing of
grains is the principal industry. Live
stock and lumbering are also important
inaustries.
Hood Apples Are Knmnan.
Hood River County ranks first in the
state In the production of apples. This
section has become famous for Its ex
cellent apples and strawberries. This
year hundreds of carloads of fine fru..
have been shipped to Eastern markets
and a considerable quantity to foreign
countries. Practically all of the agri
cultural land of the county Is includ
ed in the well-known Hood River Val
ley. Lumbering Is one of the important
Industries of the county, there being
1.236.000.000 feet of timber In the Na
tional Forest and about 1,000.000,000
feet outside of the National Forest.
Famous Mount Hood stands as a sen
tinel above the valley, and has become
the raecca for thousands of tourists who
visit that section every Summer. The
last few years Winter sports on the
snowy slopes of the mountain have be
come exceedingly popular and the con
venient transportation facilities are
making this a tourists' delight.
Wasco County originally included all
of what la now Eastern Oregon, and
was said to be at that time the largest
county in the world.
It is probably the most diversified of
any of the Columbia Kasin counties.
The northern part, from Mosier east to
the Deschutes River, is growing as ex
cellent a quality of fruits, berries and
vegetables as can be found in the
Northwest.
There are approximately 10.000 acres
planted to fruit. Twelve miles south
of the Columbia River is the great
Dufur orchard, probably the largest
orchard in the world managed and
controlled by one company. There are
4500 acres Included in this tract, nearly
all of which is in bearing at this time.
WaM-o Production Short.
While many districts are clamoring
for a market for their product, Wasco
County is one which is not growing a
sufficient product to supply the needs
of our manufacturing Industries. Situ
ated here are the Libby, McNeill &
Libby Cannery, and the Wittenberg
King Evaporator, both of which are
calling for larger quantities of fruits,
berries and vegetables than are being
raised here. To remedy this The Dalles
Chamber of Commerce is endeavoring
to colonize the bottom lands of this
section with people who are thoroughly
familiar with fruit raising, berry rais
ing and vegetable gardening.
Irrigation is practiced in this county
to a limited extent, and farmers who
have used water on their lands are able
to get better products and an Increased
yield. The results obtained by water
ing the land indicate that there will
be considerable activity along this line
in the near future.
In the central portion of the county
in Tygh Valley, while the acreage is
comparatively small, hops are being
raised successfully, the quality being
exceptionally fine and able to compete
with the best hop districts of the coun
try Insofar as quality is concerned.
Sherman Lands In I'se.
Sherman County has the largest pro
portion of cultivated area of any county
in the state. Wheat raising under
scientific dry-farming methods is the
principal industry, although the rais
ing of high-grade stock is also impor
tant. Within the last few years much
attention has been given to the breed
ing of high-grade farm animals, with
the result that there can he found now
in the county as good horses as are
found in anv other part of the state.
Gilliam County is very similar to
Sherman except that here the sheep in
dustry Is next in Importance to its
wheat. A few years ago Condon, the
county seat, was classed as one of the
largest primary wheat-shipping points
in the United States. Gilliam County,
like Sherman, has no timber of com
mercial value.
Morrow County is also a wheat-producing
center, but livestock and lum
bering are other Important industries.
Last year Heppner. the county seat,
shipped about 2.225.000 pounds of wool.
LTS6-, 000 pounds of which was produced
in the county.
There is considerable lumbering In
the county and on the bottom lands
along tlic streams fruit is raised suc
cessfully. In the northern part of the
county bordering on the Columbia
River some attention has been given to
Irrigation and there is an immense area
in this district which will eventually be
reclaimed.
The scenic attractions of the Colum
bia basin counties are varied but of
great interest The famous Columbia
River Highway from Multnomah Coun
try east along the course of the river
brings to view some of the most at
tractive scenery that can be found any
where in the Northwest. Celilo Falls
and The Dalles, on the Columbia, are
of more than passing interest. At one
point at low water practically the
whole river plunges over a fall of 40
feet in height, while at high water
these falls practically cease to exist.
Just below "the falls the whole river
enters a chasm less than 200 feet In
width and at some places more than
200 feet deep. Around these falls and
rapids the Government has constructed
The Dalles-Celilo Canal at a cost of
$4,700,000. making possible the naviga
tion of the Columbia the entire length
bordering on the state of Oregon.
Regular daily boat service is main
tained on the river as far east as The
Dalles and a less regular service as
far as Pasco and Kennewlck in the
state of Washington. In Spring of the
year, or during the high-water period,
boats make regular trips as far as
Lewlston. Idaho, or practically 700
miles from the ses.
HjUlroari Servlee Adequate.
The O.-W. R. & N. Company, with
Its main trunk line along the south
bank of the Columbia River, serves
all counties of the Columbia basin and
In each of these counties a branch
line of that system extends southward,
giving excellent railroad service to
practically every portion of each
county.
The climate of the entire district Is
mild, the thermometer seldom dropping
to xero, except In the more mountainous
parts. The rainfall is heaviest In the
vicinity of Cascade Locks In Hood
River County and gradually diminishes
as one goes east along the Columbia
River. The elevation of all five coun
ties gradually int-rees from the river
to the south, and with this Increase of
elevation'ls usually found an increase
of precipitation.
Those desiring a moderate and
healthful climate, scenic and attractive
surroundings and clear bright days of
sunshine will find all in the Colum
bia basin counties.
UNIQUE AND ATTRACTIVE FLOAT EXHIBITED AT PENDLETON CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION.
COLONEL J. H. RALEV AS JOVL4L OLD SAINT.
PENDLETON. Or., Dec. 30. (Special.) In Santa Claus' float at Pendleton's second annual municipal Christmas
celebration held Saturday night. December 23. Santa Claus was mounted in a sleigh behind two reindeer as he
was about to enter a cottage.
The float was said to have been one of the most unique and attractive ever seen here. .Colonel J. H. Haley
impersonated Santa Claus
CRISIS IN BRITISH CABINET
PRECIPITATED BY NORTHCLIFFE
"Idle Septuagenarians" Attacked Vigorously by Daily Mail "Notorious
Characteristic" of Asquith Government Declared to Be Indecision.
I get
tor
Limpets, a National Dan
" was the title of the edl-
ial in the London Daily Mail,
which is said to have precipitated the
Cabinet crisis in England. This Is the
article:
"A moment in our struggle for exist
ence has now been reached when gov
ernment by these 23 men who can
never make up their minds has become
a danger to the empire.
"The burden of administration in.war
makes demands on the body and mind
which cannot possibly be supported by
Idle septuagenarians like Mr. Balfour
and Lord Lansdowne or by such a
semi-Invalid as Lord Grey, of Fallodon.
One of the wisest and ablest historians
of the Napoleonic wars has declared
that the age and feeble health of so
many of Napoleon's earlier adversaries
were the causes of his astounding tri
umphs. It was not till the young and
vigorous men took the Held again-
the Corslcan that success came la
sight. Canning and the British diplo
mats of the period of victory were, as
we should now say, very young men.
Nelson, was not 40 when he won his
greatest victory. Wellington was only
40 when he began his career of victory
In the Peninsula.
"With advancing age our Lansdownes
and Balfours find It harder and ever
harder to make up their minds and to
face grave responsibility. The nortori
ous characteristic of our 'government'
of 23 is indecision. There are at this
moment no fewer than seven questions
urgently waiting to be decided. Most
of them have been "under consideration'
by the 23 for weeks or even months.
Energy, promptitude, speed are indis
pensable for success in war. Time has
today a surpassslng value. But our
"government, though It has more than
100 committees endeavoring to make
up its mind for it. can never decide. It
Just waits till the press and the Ger
mans have done something which
forces it to decide In a hurry and too
late.
"For nearly two months a quarrel has
raged between the Air Board, which
the 23 set up in defiance of wiser ad
vice, and the Admiralty i. e.. old Mr.
Balfour, advised by Admirals Tudor
and Vaughan-Lee. No authority but
that of the "government' can settle
which of these two bodies Is In the
wrong. Until that point Is settled the
whole air programme for the army is
held up and delayed. Sir Douglas Haig
is waiting for powerful machines In
abundant numbers to meet the new
German aeroplanes. But the "govern
ment' delays and hesitates. Judging the
question only from the political stand
point. If It decides for the Air Board
it will upset Mr. Balfour. If it decides
for the Admiralty it will upset Lord
Curson. whose ill health has robbed
him of power of decision. So it does
not decide at all. -in order to keep both
Mr. Balfour and Lord Curson in good
humor.
Admiralty's Boast Not Made Good.
."Mr. Balfour's Admiralty Board has
failed to make good his indecent Man
sion House boast regarding German
raids on the Channel, has failed to cope
with the new German submarine cam
paign on definite and systematic lines
and has failed to arm our merchant
men. .
"It requires reconstruction from top
to bottom. The 'government.' instead
of recognising the gravity of the situa
tion and the speed with which the rap
idly increasing German submarines are
sinking merchantmen, allied and neu
tral, is waiting like Mr. Mlcawber. for
'something to turn up,' Fresh changes
in the Admiralty are believed to he im
minent. Why are they not swiftly
made, so as to give the country a bdard
of young and vigorous officers? The
real food dictator, as Gibson Bowles
said yesterday, is the German subma
rine. Things have come to a pretty
pass when, because of the age and In
dolence of Mr. Balfour, food is soaring
to fancy prices.
"The supply of recruits to Sir Doug-
I las Haig's magnificent armies on the
Sommc Is a matter of the most urgent
need. The Man-Power Distribution
Board was set to work in September,
and nearly three months have passed
without any visible result other than
the promise of a debate in the House
of Commons next week. Without an
assured supply of recruits no General
can make plans for his campaign.
Through the procrastination of minis
ters the whole of this Autumn has been
thrown away, while the Germans un
der Hlndenburg have been working
might and main."
Food Control Delayed.
"The "government- told us more than
a fortnight ago that the appointment
of a Food Controller was necessary. It
admitted that a scarcity of food
(against which the Daily Mall has been
warning ministers for more than a year
and which It has begged them again
and again to prepare fort was certain
and that the most energetic measures
were necessary to cope with the dan
ger. But having said that these well
paid time-wasters relapsed Into their
accustomed sloth. The Food Controller
is not appointed. No adequate meas
ures have Decn taken. The talkers are
drifting again and discussing seriously
such points as the sale of sweets in
theaters. It is no wonder that Lan
cashire people are asking how much
longer Lord Derby, with his reputation
for robust energy, will continue to as
sociate with these people.
"To increase the area of land under
wheat it is necessary to offer farmers
some guarantee against loss in th-s
shape of a minimum price of wheat.
Each year for the last two years the
"government" has been entreated to
give this guarantee. It would have
been of inestimable service. There is no
possible objetion to it. Even the most
fanatical of free traders are calling for
It. But it Is not given. Mr. Runciman
and Lord Crawford are mute as oysters
and meantime the weeks when Winter
wheat could be sown are nearly gone.
Is the nation to starve because minis
ters will not decide?
"It has been obvious for months that
King Constantine was a German puppet
and would turn on the allies when he
ould. But Lord Grey of Falodon. be
ing in feeble health a fact whin
everyone will regret, though it is pre
posterous that a man In feeble health
should be In office In these tremendous
days never grappled resolutely with
him in time. Action has been taken at
last, six months too late."