The Sunday Oregonian., May 13, 1917, SECTION TWO, Page 16, Image 38

16
THE SUNDAY OEEGONIAN, rOKTLAND, MAT n. 1917.
dock conn
EXPLAINS ITS PLAN
Cost Units of Proposed Ele
vator to Handle Grain in
Bulk Are Given Out.
URGENT NEED EXPRESSED
First Section Would Cost Approxi
mately $1,88 7,000 and Addi
tions Would Be Made Only
as They Were Required.
Approximate estimates of cost of
units to comprise the proposed bulk
grain handling- facilities and additional
port development fostered by the Com
mission of Public Docks, bonds for un
dertaking whicn are to be voted on
June 4, are set forth In an official
statement issued yeEterday by the
Commission, which supplements an
outline of the general plan published a
few weeks ago.
The statement is signed by Charles
B. Moores, chairman of the commission;
Ben Selling-, vice-chairman; John H.
Burgard and A. H. Averill. The other
member, F. C. Knapp, is in the Bast.
The tentative plan provides for the
following:
"A fireproof concrete bulk grain ele
vator, the first unit t" be of '1,0 u,000
bushels capacity, the work or head
house to be equipped with sufficient ma
chinery to handle an additional 1,000,000
bushels storage when such second unit
shall be constructed. The commission
estimates the cost of the first elevator
unit at $1,100,000.
"When storage bin capacity for an
additional 1,000.000 bushels Is later nec
essary, the construction would prob
ably cost about $330,000, or an approxi
mate estimated cost for a fully equipped
2,000,000-bushel elevator of ,430,000.
Grade Separation Proponed.
"On account of grade separations and
smut conditions of wheat handled
through the elevator, it will be neces
sary to construct a larger number of
storage tanks or bins of smaller ca
pacity, as facilities furnished by In
terior and Atlantic seaboard elevators
must be provided.
"A shed or warehouse Is provided for
the storage of grain passing through the
elevator and there sacked, and for grain
In sacks or original shipments from the
producing sections not passing through
the elevator.
"Portions of the shed may also be
used for general cargo and trans-shipping
movements when other docks are
congested. The estimated cost of the
shed, based on a total length of 1000
feet and width of 160 feet, is approxi
mately $576,000, which includes the sub
structure. "A dredged slip is Included, with open
pier alongside, a type of construction
which will also make available a con
siderable area which will be used for
open storage and handling of heavy
bulk freight. Competitive ports have
provided extensive facilities of this
kind to their great advantage
"The approximate estimate of the
construction cost of all of the open
dock facilities In the tentative plan is
$224,000. Part of the open dock con
struction could be utilized later for ad
ditional shed space at a small expense.
"The estimated cost for dredging the
slip, using the excavated material to
raise the open dock areas to an eleva
tion above highest river stage, is ap
proximately $72,000.
"The estimated cost of railway con
nections and the extensive trackage re
quired will be approximately $63,000.
"For special mechanical equipment,
such as sheerlegs, locomotive and
cranes, to handle heavy bulk material
quickly and economically, the estimated
cost is approximately $40,000.
"The location and extent of the site
has not been determined, but the com
mission has options on several pieces
of suitable water frontage. The cost
of the site, therefore, cannot be deter
mined at this time, but owing to the ex
tremely low cost of water frontage at
present It may be advisable for the
commission to obtain an area suffi
ciently large not only for Immediate re
quirements, but for future development.
Unit Plan Proposed.
"The commission's aim will be to pro
vide faculties only sufficiently In ad
vance of requirements to enable the
port to meet actual needs of shipping
and insure its retention after it has
been established, but the commission
feels that it should at this time be
placed in a position to care, for the
heavy demands, which, no doubt, will
develop when shipping returns to nor
mal, without having to go before the
people for special authorization to sup
ply needed facilities.
"Any surplus which may be available
from the bond issue would be held in
reserve, unsold, for completion of the
tentative plan.
'If prompt provision Is not made for
handling the water-front situation in
this port, our competitors will have a
distinct advantage over us of more than
two years, as this length of time elapses
between our city elections.
"The Commission of Public Docks is
endeavoring to protect and assure the
future of the business of this port In
asking the people to approve the $3,000,
000 bond issue at the June election.
"Estimated approximate cost of more
Immediate construction is: Grain ele
vator, first unit, 1.000,000 bushels,
$1,100,000; shed, or warehouse, $576,000;
part of open cargo dock, bulkheads for
nil. etc., $76,000; dredging slip and fill,
$72,000; rail connection and trackage,
$39,000; handling machinery, bulk
freight, $24,000. Total, $1,887,000.
"Completion of tentative plan would
cost: Grain elevator, second unit, 1,000,
000 bushels, $330,000; open cargo dock,
$148,000; additional trackage, $24,000;
handling machinery, $16,000. Total,
$518,000.
"Total, exclusive of site, $2,405,000.
"Balance for site and additional fa
cilities, $595,000."
COLUMBIA CITY DEAIi CLOSED
City of St. Helens to Be Launched
Saturday With Big Programme.
Final details of the purchase of 11
acres at Columbia City by Somarstrom
Bros., of Oakland, for the establish
ment of a wooden shipyard have been
closed, according to Edmund C. Gllt
ner. one of the owners, who said yes
terday the site had passed to the Oak
landers. Work has been commenced on
laying out the ground and the first of
about five ways will be built without
delay.
The St. Helens Shipbuilding Com
pany's yard is to be the scene of an
Important launching Saturday after
noon, when the auxiliary schooner City
of St. Helens makes her dip. Commer
cial Interests there have outlined an
elaborate programme for the occasion.
Governor Withycombe and other prom
inent men of the state being Invited.
Portland will send a large delegation,
as well. Miss Lois Clear Is to christen
the vessel.
Tide at Astoria Sunday.
High. Low.
B:0R A. M....7.8 feet I
;o3 F. M....7.04 test 12:16 P. M...0J2 feet
M'CORMICK SHIP, BUILT AT ST. HELENS, RETURN'S TO HOME WATERS AFTER INSTALLATION
OF MACHINERY, BRINGING INITIAL CARGO.
i v -4 i k
- - -v - - If -
Wmm vmrnrnm Immmu h
- it.
ft3T
- jC a"- " s :
AUXILIARY SCHOOXER S. I. A L LARD.
The crack new auxiliary schooner S. I. Ailard, built at the St. He
lishment and named in honor of a banker of Eureka, reached the river y
with 400 tons of cement, a ballast cargo loaded for the run to hom
machinery was placed at San Francisco. Captain Mitchell, who sailed t
skipper of the Ailard, and, like the Irene, he thinks she is in a class o
been made as compared with the City of Portland, her sistership, but th
doubt be visited by many today, as Portland is her home port, she 1
after an Oregon man and will carry Oregon lumber, as well as speed
lens Shipbuilding Company's estah
esterday from the Golden Gate
e waters for a lumber cargo. Her
he schooner Irene for years. Is
f her own. Some ' changes have
ey are not material. She will no
s built of Oregon material, -named
lng the fame of Oregon shipyards.
FIB TESTS SILENCE FOES
STRENGTH FOR ALL PURPOSES IS
IX EXCESS OF STANDARDS.
Government Fljrorea Are Collected in
Connection With Argument Over
Valne In Shipbuilding.
Tests in laboratories and in the for
est service, as rated by the United
States Department of Agriculture cov
ering Douglas fir as to strength, size
of timbers and general usefulness,
breaks down arguments of certain
Eastern shipbuilders who have unsuc
cessfully sought to dissuade the Gov
ernment from specifying this material
for wooden vessels with which to com
bat the submarine losses.
Strength of Douglas fir is asserted to
exceed standards fixed by the estab
lished law of weight and strength. Its
average specific gravity is .53 based on
its oven dry volume or .46 based on Its
own green volume and .48 on Its air
dry volume. Green fir weighs S3
pounds a cubic foot and air dry 34
pounds.
Government figures on green and air
dry stock, also small and large, sam
ples, are as follows:
One of the largest cargoes of nitrate to ar
rive here from South America for some
time came in today on a vessel of the W. R.
Grace fleet. The steamer had 6522 tons of
the powder-making product. Cars were In
waiting and discharge commenced as soon
as the lines werq made fast.
In addition to her heavy nitrate cargo,
the steamer brought 67 passengers from
South and Central America.
More than 100,000 sacks of coffee from
Central American ports will have arrived
In San Francisco by vessels of the Pacific
Mail Steamship Company within, ten days,
when the next vessel ties up at the Mail
docks. Sixty thousand sacks arrived here
on two vessels docking within 24 hours of
each other.
So scarce are ships officers In the Bast
that a representative of a large Eastern
corporation offering large bonuses is now
In this port looking for men with proper
papers to send to Atlantic service.
It is rumored along the waterfront, though
no direct information seems obtainable, that
longshoremen and coal heavers are going
to ask for an Increase In pay some time
next week. Just what the demands will be
is unknown, but It Is rumored they will be
an Increase of from 5 to 10 cents an hour
for regular, and a special Increase for over
time work.
Bstlmates furnished by C. E. Dole, gen
eral purchasing agent of the Alaskan En
gineering Commission, show that to date
supplies for the railroad have been pur
chased to a total of $2,800,000 this season
and that requisitions for supplies worth
$1,200,000 more are at hand, making a total
of $4,000,000.
Movements of Vessels..
PORTLAND, May 12. Sailed Steamer
Washtenaw, for Port San Luis. Arrived
RIVER IS RISING SLOWLY
FLOOD STAGE OP 15 FEET WILL BE
REACHED TUESDAY. I
Large B.lect Large Merch. . Small clear
beams. 8x16. beams. 8x16. pieces. 2x2.
Green. Air dry. Green. Air dry. Green. Air dry.
21.4
4fl!0
7070
8895
5878
21 .2
4825
6472
3." . 4
4920
700
Moisture, per cent -
Fiber stress at El. limit, lbs. per square Inch 4346
xfnH..i... Af mntiir lha. ner lauare Inch.... ewod
yl0falLni:llCUy- P Q " 1 "81 1580
Impact beml"n- Drop' of" 50-ib." hammer to break. 2x2x28-ln . 25 In.
ComprUion parallel to grain Crushing stre ngth at maximum load, per
Compression perpendicular to grain Fiber st ress at elastic limit, lbs. per
Hardness' oSenj Load Vn pounds" required toVm'bed V 0.444-icn' bali to
Haranes." oSTdo'ad In -pounds required' io "imbed "a 6.444-inch" bali to
ShearlnstrenTth-Parkile'l' "to" grain." pouni" per"iquare"inch -------------
630
610
610
870
18.8
6.300
10,000
1.680
28 In.
4.850
760
650
610
640
Pacific Coast Shipping Notes.
ABERDEEN. Wash.. May 12. (Special.)
The steamer Necanlcum arrived trorn San
Francisco and 1 loading at Wilson Bros.
mThe steamer Fair Oaks upon her arrival
at the National mill from San Franclsso was
raided today by Sheriff Jeff Bartell and
his deputies, who found and seized more
than 400 quarts of whisky. Members of the
crew all denied ownership of the liquor.
No arrests 'were made.
The auxiliary schooner Grays Harbor,
launched at the 6chubach yards a month
ago. Is about completed. All her equip
ment Is In readiness for sea with the ex
ception of the installation of her Delsel
engines, which have not arrived yet. She
will be ready to clear for the East Coast
In about two weeks.
COOS BAY. Or.. May 12. (Special.) The
steamship F. A. Kllburn arrived from San
Francisco and left Immediately for Portland.
The steam schooner G. C. Lindauer got
Into port to load lumber at the Bay Park
mill In North Bend.
The steamship Breakwater docked after
the steamship Kllburn.
The steamer - Adeline Smith sailed for
San Francisco with a full cargo of lumber.
Some Interest was expressed over the fact
that the vessel loaded, although the Smith
company employes were out on a strike.
The steam schooner Johanna Smith, in
tow of the tug Defiance, arrived last night
and is engaged In loading a lumber cargo
at the Smith mill.
ASTORIA Or.. May 12. (Special.) The
tank steamer William F. Herrln arrived this
afternoon from California with a cargo of
fuel oil for' Portland.
The auxiliary schooner Santino sailed this
morning for Boston. ' carrying a cargo of
1,800.000 feet of lumber from Westport.
The tank steamer ..Washtenaw arrived dur
ing the night from California, bringing fuel
oil for Astoria and Portland.
The auxiliary schooner S. I. Ailard ar
rived this morning from San Francisco,
bringing cement which she will discharge at
Portland. She will then shift to St. Helens
to load lumber. The Ailard Is commanded
by Captain Mitchell, formerly of the
schooner Irene.
The- steam schooner Daisy Matthews ar
rived this morning from San Francisco and
went to Wauna to load lumber.
The steamer Beaver sailed during the
night for San Francisco and San Pedro,
carrying a full cargo of freight and a large
list of passengers from Portland and -Astoria.
The steam schooner Tiverton shifted today
from Westport to Prescott to complete her
cargo of lumber.
Yesterday afternoon the tug Oneonta. Cap
tain Johnson, picked up the disabled trolling
schooner Marcy, with two men on board,
and towed her into port. The engine on the
little craft was out of order and she was
drifting helplessly In the rough seas about
two miles northwest of the lightship.
The steamer Lewis Luckenbach, lumber
laden from Portland, sailed this afternoon
for San Pedro for fuel oil.
SEATTLE. Wash., May 12. (Special.)
Arrivals today included the steamer Tran
quebar. from San Francisco, in ballast, en
route to Tacoma on her maiden voyage to
load there in the service of the East Asiatic
Company; the steamer Victoria, from Heren-
deen Bay: the steamer Alaska, from An
ehorage and way porta, with 1500 tons of
copper ore and a light passenger list.
Sailings included the steamer Humboldt,
for Southeastern Alaska, with fair passenger
list and cargo; the steamer Despatch, for
Southeastern Alaska, with passengers and
freight; the steamer Umatilla, for San
Francisco, at 4:15 P. M., with 30 passengers
and capacity cargo: barge General Fair-
child, in tow of tug Kingfisher, for An
ehorage, at noon, with a full cargo of
powder and supplies for the Government
railway; the steamer Oleum, for Port San
Luis, at 10 A M.
The three steam whalers. Star I. Star II
and Star III, of the United States Whaling
Company, got out for Port Armstrong. They
are bound north for their annual Summer
cruise.
On board the steamer Despatch sailing
tonight were 20 Scotch lassies from Van
couver, en route to Port Walter, where they
will work In the cannery of the Alaska
Herring Sc Sardine Company.
It became known today that Grant Smith
& Co., general contractors, with offices in
principal cities of the United States and
Canada, has undertaken to build wooden
ships for the Canadian government. The
company has leased a site at Vancouver and
nas room lor six building ways.
Steamer Washtenaw, from Port San Luis;
motor schooner S. I. Ailard. from San Francisco.
ASTORIA, May 12. Sailed at 11:30 last
night, steamer Beaver, for San Francisco
and San Pedro. Arrived and left up during
the night, steamer Washtenaw, from Port
San Luis. Arrived at 6:40 A. M. and left up
at noon, motor schooner S. I. Ailard, from
San Francisco. Arrived at 5:45 and left up
t 7 A. M.. steamer Daisy Mathews, from
San Pedro. SaUed at 7 A. M., motor schoon
er Santino. Arrived at 3 and left up at 4:20
P. M., steamer W. F. Herrln, from ban
Francisco. Balled last night, steamer Daisy
Putnam, for ban Francisco.
SAN FRANCISCO. May 12. Arrived
Steamer Asuncion, from Portland. Sailed at
noon, steamer Willamette, for Columbia Riv
er. Arrived, steamer Rose City, from San
Pedro. Sailed yesterday, steamer F. S. Loop,
for- Portland. Sailed at 11 A M., steamer
Great Northern, for Flavel. .
SAN PEDRO. May 12. Arrived Steamer
Wapama. from Columbia River.
COOS BAY. May 12. Arrived at A. M.
and sailed, steamer F. A Kilburn, from San
Francisco, for Portland.
Dugra Xot Imminent, aa Water Does
Not Reach Front Street Until
Depth of 25.9 Above Zero.
Lower Ash-street dock, which a
stage of 14 feet alrove zero reaches,
was closed yesterday and freight for
O.-W. R. & N. steamers was ordered
delivered on the upper dock. The ris
ing waters were close enough to the
deck of the dock no they splashed
through when disturbed by passing
steamers.
The Willamette was reported yester
day to have fallen at all points except
Portland, the gain here for 24 hours
being seven-tenths of a foot and the
stage was 13.2 feet above zero at i
o'clock in the morning. Gains were
recorded on the Snake and Columbia,
the most being 2.2 feet at The Dalles,
making the stage 20.4 feet above zero
and 40 feet registers the official flood
stage there, while the flood stage at
Portland is 15 feet, which the Weather
Bureau says will be attained Tuesday.
The Weather Bureau forecast is that
13.8 feet will be the stage above zero
today and 14.4 feet will be registered
to morrow.
Th 15-foot flood does not mean that
a real flood is on, as the lowest part
of Front street, in the main district,
extends from Ash to Stark streets and
a depth of 25.9 feet above zero is nec
essary to reach that thoroughfare.
Guesses are being made as to the
probabilities of high water. A year
ago today the stage was 17.5 feet here
and the crest of the freshet was
reached July 4 and 5, the depth above
zero being 23.9 feet,
Bandon Shipyard Bought.
BANDON, Or., May 12. (Special.)
J. It. Cunningham, an attorney, of Bart
Francisco, yesterday closed a deal for
the purchase of the local shipyard for
a consideration of $12,500. The pur
chase was made for a newly-incorporated
shipbuilding company of San
Francisco, which will commence to con
struct two vessels within the next 60
days, the vessels to be for their own
use on the Coquille River. The new
industry will employ between 75 and'
100 men. It is being revived through
the activity of the New Era Club, an
organization of local business men.
Marconi Wireless Reports.
(All positions reported at 8 P. M., May 12.
unless otherwise Indicated.)
ADELINE SMITH, Marshfleld for San
Francisco, 82 miles south of Coos Bay.
PORTLAND GIRL CHRISTENS AUXILIARY SCHOONER BUILT AT
ASTORIA THAT IS OWNED IN CHRISTIANIA.
" vte.
ti " " ' - . A'" r $
f ' H
' " " - ', ,.V ,. I, s
S3?
More than 500 persons gathered a t the McEachern Ship Company's yard,
Astoria, Monday, when the auxiliary schooner Astrl, built for the fleet of A.
O. Andersen & Co., and sold recently to Kluver & Co., of Chrlstiania, took
the water. Miss Ruth Lange, daughte r of Mr. and Mrs. Harold Lange, of
704 East Burnside street, was sponsor for the vessel. The Astrl is the first
of the Andersen- fleet disposed of and she is the third ship launched at the
McEachern yard. In general she is like the Astoria and Margaret, and rep
resents the latest in equipment and construction for that type of ship. She
will be ready for service shortly, and Captain Larsen. who will sail her. has
SAN FRANCISCO. May 12. (Special.) arrived from - tha Scandinavian zone to look after her outflttinB,
PORT'S CHANGE BIG
Publicly Owned and Operated
Ship Lines Urged.
BETTER FACILITIES NEEDED
Measures on June Ballot Proposed
to Build ,l'p City's Seaborne
Commerce Should Be Passed,
Says S. K. Holcomb.
PORTLAND, May 12. (To the Ed
itor.) In reference to the much-agitated
question of establishing a line of
steamers to serve the interests of this
port, I hsv been browsing around con
siderably, getting information to satis
fy myself as to which is best to have
a line of steamers owned and operated
by the Port of Portland for the in
terest of the shippers of the port, or
to have a line of steamers owned and
controlled by private interests and I
have come to the conclusion that to get
the best results the steamers should be
owned and operated by the Port of
Portland itself. To go into details
somewhat. I will aay that there were
three different measures recommended
by the transportation and commerce
bureau of the Chamber of Commerce
and turned over to the legislative and
taxation bureau for final enactment.
One of these measures was a law en
larging the powers of the Port of Port
land, authorizing the port to buy and
sell steamers, charter boats, etc., and
establish a line of .steamers to serve
the Interests of this port.
Another measure was a constitution
al amendment, which has to be voted
on favorably by the people at the June
election before it becomes a law, giving
the Port of Portland authority to sub
sidize steamship lines, either local lines
on the Columbia and Willamette riv
ers or lines elsewhere, to Alaska, Ori
ental or South American ports.
There is also a measure proposed by
the Dock Commission authorizing the
sale of bonds to the extent of $3,000.-
000 to enlarge docks, build grain ele
vators, etc.. which haa to be voted on
favorably to become effective.
Support of Measures Urged.
These three measures were all in
tended to be taken as a whole and
should be supported. I find that the
only measure that is receiving any pub
licity and the only one that haa any
indorsement of any public body so far
is the one authorizing the Dock Com
mission to build additional docks and
grain elevators, and the law which I
claim is the most important of the
three, giving the Port of Portland en
larged powers and the right to acquire
and operate a steamship line, was passed
oa the basis of one-third of one per
cent of the taxable value of the dis
trict only and will raise about 1.000, -000,
which is entirely inadequate for
the purchase and installation of enough
boats to make tb8 line successful.
In gathering facts in interviewing
shippers, I find that nearly all recog
nize the importance and vital necessity
of a coast-to-coast line being estab
lished both to the city of Portland and
to the state, but many persons feel that
the line should be owned by private In
terests, while a great many others are
strongly in favor of its being owned
by the port itself. Those that are in
favor of the line being owned by pri
vate Interests are up against this prop
osition: that there are no practical men
of, wealth who have made their money
in ocean transportation and who will
put up their money to establish such
a line, and as such a line, if organized,
would be run for profit for Its stock
holders instead of the Interests of this
port, it will not bring the best re
sults. There Is nothing to hold a privately-owned
line to Portland aa long
as steamship men can make more
money elsewhere, aa the present situa
tion proves. Both the Grace line and
the American-Hawaiian line pulled out
when charters were more favorable
elsewhere, and the result Is that we
have no coast-to-coast ships serving
this port at all.
Navigation Barriers Removed,
I am firmly convinced that a publicly
owned ship line is the only weapon this
port can use to bring back Its suprem
acy as a port. There is no use thresh
ing over old straw to account for the
fact that Portland shipping is decreas
ing, while other Coast ports are in
creasing largely.
In my opinion the controlling factor
Is that before the bar was dredged to
allow large boats to enter the river
safely the Union Pacific line thought It
to its advantage to establish steamer
connections with Seattle to get their
share of the through traffic which Se
attle's shipping facilities gave, and
threw Portland over as a home port.
The fact that Portland shippers at that
time did not give the Union Pacific
boats the support that they ought, and
only gave the Union Pacific boats the
business when they coull not do better
elsewhere was a mistake that Portland
shippers have paid dearly for.
Now that the Columbia River bar has
been dredged so that there is plenty of
water there, there is no reason on earth
except the apathy and divided Inter
ests of some of the larger shippers in
Portland that will prevent Portland
from coming into its own as a port.
There is absolutely no question but
what Portland is most advantageously
situated, both as a fresh-water port
and from an economical shipping stand
point. There Is no good reason why
ships should pass the mouth of the Co
lumbia River and go 800 or 400 miles
farther north to load wheat when they
can come to Portland, or Astoria, and
get cargo that has the benefit of a
water-level grade. There Is, in my
opinion, no reason except an artificial
rate structure against Portland that Is
not made from the cost of haul, but
from tha combination of railroad inter
ests, that will prevent Portland from
becoming the New York of the Pacific
Coast. i
Port's: Advantages Great.
Before digging the Erie Canal, in
New York state. New York and Boston
were about on a parity, and the small
difference in the cost of haul that the
Erie Canal gave to New York City es
tablished New York as the leading city
on the Eastern coast. Portland Is much
more advantageously situated as to its
competitors than New York City was
on the Eastern coast, now that the
work of dredging the bar and the Co
lumbia River has been accomplished,
and all that is necessary to bring this
result about Is co-operation and unity
of effort.
There are some who object to the
Port of Portland building ships for a
boat line who are In favor of the Port
of Portland owning Its own ships, and
1 have no doubt but what private ship
building corporations, either now in ex
istence or that can be organized, will
be willing to build ships and turn them
over to the Port of Portland at a profit
of not to exceed 10 per cent, the same
as they do for the National Govern
ment, and thus enable the port to ob
tain her ships at a reasonable price.
The National Government has spent
something like $400,000,000 in building
the Panama Canal; $26,000,000 to $30,
000,000 for dredging the bar, building
the canal at Celilo, Cascade Locks, etc,
and all that is needed now to make all
these investments pay is the establish
ment of necejsa.ry steamers.
There is not a laboring man In the
town who owns his owa hom who
would not be benefited 10 times as
much as the little extra taxes he
would have to pay to establish these
lines. There is not a business man in
town who would not be benefited 10
times more than the extra taxes bv
the saving he would make In freight
alone. There Is not a lumber manu
facturer in Portland or on the Colum
bia River who would not be benefited
100 times as much by the saving in
freight as their extra taxes would
amount to.
I think the following facts will be
generally admitted:
First, That th interstate Commerce
Commission will recognize in the fu
ture more than In the past the justice
of the claim of interior points for
lower rates by rail than to terminal
points.
Second. That seaports will have to
take advantage of water transporta
tion to enable their Jobbers to get back
into the Interior.
Third. That after the present world
wide war is over there will be a large
development of water transportation
through the Panama Canal, coastwise
and with South America and Oriental
countries, and that the cities that pre
pare themselves for this development
first will get a decided advantage over
their competitors.
The powers conferred on the Port of
Portland by the bill already passed are
ample, and all that is needed to make
it completely succesful is authority
to sell sufficient bonds to pay for the
acquiring of the necessary boats, and
to get this authority. It will be neces
sary to have the Governor call a spe-'
cial session of the Legislature. The"
publicity alone of calling a special ses
sion of the Legislature for this pur
pose would be a good thing and ad
vertise to the world that we had faith
In our own harbor, and would be a big
benefit In helping to get contracts
from the Government for the building
of wooden ships, and the saving In
freight alone to the producers of the
Northwest would be more every month
than the cost of calling a speciaj ses
sion. Trade Woo id Develop Fast.
If the Port of Portland will organize
itself along the lines of operating
Portland-owned steamers to take care
of productions of the territory natur
ally tributary to Portland to be run at
cost; to subsidize where thought ad
vantageous Oriental. South American
and Alaska lines with a competent
traffic manager at their head to es
tablish the necessary connections with
the proper rates, with the policy es
pecially In view of maintaining .favor
able rates on raw materials needed by
our manufacturers, all kinds of busi
ness in this territory would develop to
such an extent that the unholy combi
nation of railroad interests would be
broken, that the O.-W. R. & N. could
then well afford to work for the In
terest of Portland: the S. P. '& S. for
the Interest of Astoria, with tho result
that the present stagnation, owing to
the lnabilly of manufacturers and pro
ducers to make deliveries except at an
exorbitant rate would son change to
Increased business in all lines.
San Francisco is awakening to the
necessity of a line of steamers to the
eastern coast for the benefit of her
commerce, and Seattle has been awake
for some time, and unless we get busy
along these lines, and in the near fu
ture at that, we will be so badly handi
capped that we can never expect to
recover.
I for one believe that Portland's lo
cation Is such that if the Port of Port
land adopts and carries out plans along
these lines there is absolutely no ques
tion as to Its success, and I will end
this somewhat lengthy epistle by the
following recent quotation from Her
bert Kaufman:
"A city was never built, an empire
never founded, an industry never ruled,
a fortune never amassed, a reputation
never established nor a project ever
completed by a man with a sharper ear
for doubt than for confidence. Half
the estimates of pessimism are wrong.
Faith is an inveterate conqueror."
Multnomah Trunk & Bag Co.. per S.
E. Holcomb.
LUMBER BUYING HEAVY
GRAYS HARBOR SHIPMENTS ARE
INCREASED 30 PER CENT.
Australia and Hawaii Are Larsjeat Off
shore Bayers South American
Trade Drops Off.
ABERDEEN, Wash., May 12. (Spe
cial.) A SO per cent increase Is shown
In cargo lumber shipments from Grays
Harbor for the past four months over
shipments for the same months of 1916.
In the past four months 124.481,000 feet
of lumber has been dispatched from
this port by water. The number of
vessels clearing was 163 during th
past four months, as against 131 for
the Bame months last year.
Foreign and coastwise shipments
both shared In the Increase. Orders for
both offshore and California ports are
heavy, and would be much heavier
were the tonnage available for trans
porting the cargoes. Australia has been
the heaviest offshore buyer of Grays
Harbor in late months, and the
Hawaiian Islands ranked second. Few
cargoes have gone to South American
ports and to Mexico, prior to the war
the heaviest foreign buyers of Harbor
lumber.
Rail shipments, despite the car short
age, are heavy, and home consumption
of lumber Is at Its highest mark now,
due to the great shipbuilding boom In
progress here and to awakening In
terest in building activities.
LJGHTVESSEIi IS MOTORSHIP
Xo. 5 0 Sails This Week as San Cos
mo, of Mexican Merchant Marine.
What remains of Ltghtvessel No. 50,
now the full motorshlp San Cosmo, is
to leave Supple's Belmont-street yard
Tuesday for San Francisco to load for
the West Coast, She will fly the Mex
ican emblem.
For months the vessel has been under
reconstruction here and had It not been
for delay In the arrival of machinery
she would harve been in active service
weeks ago. No. 60 had been on the re
tired list about five years when sold
by the Government and some of the old
gear was removed from the vessel
With the keen demand for tonnage
after the European war began she was
selected for rehabilitation and today
little resembles the old lightvessel. be
ing built up, passenger accommodations
added, and alterations made on the
"topside" that have changed her into
a much different vessel, though the odd
build of tha hull Is not disguised.
Engineer Goes to Eureka.
C. M. Cram, for several years con
nected with Jetty work at the mouth
of the Columbia and assistant engineer
in charge for a time of the south Jetty,
and during all of the north Jetty con
struction, has been transferred to Eu
reka. Cal.. under Colonel Burr, Corps
of Engineers. U. S. A., in charge of
California projects. Assistant Engi
neer Whittimore. who was at Eureka,
has been called into service with one
of the new regiments of the Corps of
Engineers, and his work will be taken
up by Mr. Cram.
Except for a small force necessary
to lay up the north jetty plant, most
of the men have left, the last rock
being dumped there during the past
week. As far as possible men in the
service for lengthy periods have been
assigned other employment in the dis
trict, but only a comparatively few
could be provided for, - j
GRAVING DOCK BUILT
Kiernan & Kern Yard Prepares
-to Meet High Water.
FIRST KEEL IS BEING. LAID
Greater Part of Equipment Is in
Place and Record in Speed Ex
pected to He Made in Turning
Out Commercial Vessels.
Providing a basin in which to con
struct a ship, the plan being really for
a temporary graving dock, is under
way at the Mill-street yard of tha
Kiernan & Kern Shipbuilding Com
pany. The first set of ways tnere lies
in a deep cut. having been graded in
a steep batiK. and across the lower
end. Just where the launching ways
start, a dam of heavy timber and pil
ing is being- put in and that will be
strengthened with an earth filL
I. N. Day, superintendent of the yard.
Is father of the scheme, and it has
been developed from a study of pre
cautions against delay in ship work by
the annual freshet. At each side the
supports of the dam and main timber
ing are carried into the bank, so is
securely tied, and between the banks
will be protected by sheathing and
earth, so It is estimated there will be
hardly any seepage. Means of carry
ing that off Is also provided.
Several yards may be hampered
somewhat by extreme high water, but
all are not located such as is the
Kiernan & Kern plant; also they have
more than one set of ways, so any
dam system would be decidedly more
elaborate and expensive. With the dam
keeping the water away from the ves
sel, the keel of which is now being
laid, the company will be safe under
ordinary circumstances.
Immense masts have been rigged In
the yard, to which booms will be af
fixed, and heavy timbers for the ships
can be swung from one point to an
other with speed and ease. Office, tool
house and such structures are up, the
saw shed Is finished and cutting start
ed there, while compressors are being
installed for power tools, a special
planer is provided, donkey engines are
in action, so preparations are about
finished for pushing the pioneer vessel
there.
The company is not concerned with
future Government contracts, being
bent on going ahead on commercial
business, so the yard system is perma
nent and indications are some new
wrinkles will be demonstrated in rapid
construction.
Marine Xotea.
Rivermen on Friday attended the funeral
of William Robdtnif. for about SO years fore
man on tho ways at Supple's yard. The In
terment was at the Kose City Cemetery.
Until tho latter part of 1010 Mr. Kobdlns
was employed at the yard, but with his sons,
Chris. William, John and Henry, taking up
shlpwork. ho retired to a ranch near Rai
nier, where ha was taken sick recently. Mrs.
Robding and two daughters survive him.
A. Ketniunn. manager of A. O. Andersen
& Co.'s affairs here and other parts of the
United States, has returned to the city after
having passed several weeks at New York
and Washington. Mr. Reimann was Inter
ested in the consideration being given to
the building of wooden ships by the Federal
Shipping Hoard, but said yesterday no con
tracts had been awarded when he started
for home.
Work of building an apper deck on tha
gasolino schooner Tillamook, also other
changes to fit her for the lrince Rupert
Alaska trade, has been finished at Supple's
yard .and she will load today at the Ameri
can Can Company's for the North. The
vessel formerly was In the Elmore fleet and
was purchased a few weeks ago by tha
Grand Trunk Pacific Railroad.
Undergoing machinery repairs, the gaso
line schooner Patsy, of the Elmore line, is
at Supple's yard. A force from there will
start work tomorrow on caulking the deck
and top side of the schooner W. 2i. Mars
ton, Captain Swain has arrived from San Fran
cisco to acecpt the berth of master of the
bark Arnoldus V'innen. which the Govern
ment took over from German owners recent
ly. The vessel is on the Port of Portland
drydock. and Captain W. C. McNaught. in
charge of overhauling. Bays a few plates will
be changed and rudder repairs made before
she is floated. The Kurt, first of the vessels
taken. Is to be ready for service in a week
and repairs are yet under way to the hull
of the Dalbek on the Oregon drydock.
17. S. Naval Radio Reports.
PROVIDENTUU Port Townsend for San
Francisco. 34u miles north of San Francisco,
at 8 P. M.
KLAMATH, San Pedro, for San Francisco,
off Point Pur.
WAKKEENA. Tacoma for San Pedro, 45
mites south of Point Sarena,
MULTNOMAH. Belllngham, for San Fran
cisco. V- miles north of Point Reyes.
WILLAMETTE. San Francisco, for St.
Helens. SO miles north of San Francisco.
YOSEMITE. San Francisco, for Puget
Sound. S."7 miles north of Blunt's Reef.
GREAT NORTHERN. San Francisco, for
Flavel. 00 miles south of Blunt's Reef light
ship. BREAKWKATER. Coos Bay, for Eureka,
five miles south of Coos Bay.
Columbia River Bar Report.
NORTH HEAD. May 12. Condition of th
bar at 3 P. M. : Sea smooth. Wind west, &
miles
Portland's
Oldest and Largest
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Established 1901
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209-10-11 Corbett Bldg;.
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i