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."