PAGE FOUR. ASTORIA, OREGON, FRIDAY, AUGUST 5, 1004. Che morning flstorinn ; ''ESTABLISHED 1873 PUBLISHED BY ASTORIAN PUBLISHING COMPANY. J. H. CARTER, GENERAL MANAGER. RATES. By mail, per year $6 00 By mail, per month 50 By carriers, per pionth 60 THE SEMI-WEEKLY ASTOKIAX. By mail, per year, in advance .......... $1 00 POSTAL ADVANCEMENT. The Postal Progress League has started a series of mnntMv mpptincs in this city to advocate "the im mediate advancement of the postoffice," says the New York Commercial. Its secretary announces that he has received letters from many prominent business . men approving and praising its campaign to secure the election of a congress pledged to postal reform. The Central New York Farmers' Club recently adopted resolutions demanding postal improvement at once. In other states also the farmers, as well as the town and city business communities, are begin ning to show their interest in this subject. All these things are so many hopeful signs that the improve ment of the United States postoffice department is bound to come. Public recognition of the insuffi eiency of the department to meet existing needs is more widespread than ever and an enlightened public opinion in this country is ever the first great step in the direction of reform. There is no department of the public service today so badly in need of betterment indeed, of thor oughgoing reform as is the postoffice. A writer in a recent number of The World's Work magazine said that the scandals in the department, bad as they have been, sink into insignificance beside the inad equacy of the postal service. And that is perfectly true. There has been no appreciable improvement in the postoffice department in a dozen years. In some respects, indeed, there has been a retrogression. Its methods are in many things obsolete and out worn, ine cnarges tor most Kinds or mail matter are too high, and yet they are not high enough to meet the enormous expense of maintaining the de partmentwhich is today probably the biggest bank rupt in the world. According to the postmaster general's report for 1903, the excess of his expendi tures over his total receipts from all sources was $4,560,044.73. Still more startling is his statement that this deficit shows an increase over that for 1902 of $1,622,394.92. But that is not all. Expenses of the postoffice department charged to the treasury de partment for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1903, were $l,439,498.87-an.increase over 1902 of $385, 849.08. Thus the grand total loss to the govern ment caused by the postoffice department last year was $5,999,543.60, which was an increase of nearly two millions ($1,978,244) over the loss of the pre ceding year. And the United States is the only large nation in the world whose postal service is con ducted at a loss ! But despite the millions that it costs, the service is grossly incompetent. In a city 'like New York many possible modern facilities for quicker, safer, better delivery are not availed of. Deliveries are Blow. Congestion is frequent. Losses of letters or valuable packages are of daily occurrence. Quarters are for the most part too small and cramped. The department goes lumbering along like its heavy, old fashioned wagons drawn by poor, emaciated, old nags that look about ready for the "bone-yard." One ean oftentimes send a letter to Philadelphia more quickly than from The Bronx to Wall street. And this is the department at its best. In the country at large there are said to be no less than 75,000 towns and villages without any postal service at all !1 The advocates of postal advancement urge that the extension of the free delivery service is an im perative need, and that the cost of the foreign mail service should be reduced. Former Postmaster-General Thomas L. James pointed out in 1885 that a daily mail service was needed between London and New York and that the rate of ocean postage should be 2 cents a letter. If that was needed 19 years ago, they say, it is more urgently demanded now. Then, these men say, when these paramount reforms have been secured let us have cheaper internal letter postage the reduction of first-class matter to one cent an ounce. THE NEW ERA FOR OREGON. Portland Journal: Any observant person who has lived long, or even not very long, in Oregon ean see unmistakable signs of a new era for this state, one of unprecedented development, of unpar alleled advancement. This new era is already upon us, is already begun, but only begun. The conven tion of the new State Development League, now in session here, is a consequence of this beginning, as well, as we hope, a cause of or a large factor in the future onward and upward movement Develop ment of resources, lying all about us rawly, in many million-fold volume and value, if worked on ami with ; the men and money to do this work ; the way and means to get it started and carry it on a little it will then carry itself on these are the interest ing questions in Oregon. They are "in the air. They must not only be there, but clown on and in the ground. This development will come, is coming, has already nicelv if so far feebly begun, in many ways. Here are some of the things to be accomplished : First, an open river, to secure which the portage road, then the canal, must be constructed. Second, making Oregon known throughout the east, and inducing the right kind of immigration- people with brawn, brains and cash. Third, a general, urgent, influential pressure brought upon large land-holders to break up their tracts and sell them in small tracts at reasonabl prices to homeseekers. Make them see that this would benefit them; that one-quarter of their bi tract would thus soon be made worth as much as the whole is now, while they would have severa thousand dollars to the good besides. Fourth, electric roads. From Portland to Hills boro and rorest Urove; to baiem, Albany ant Eugene and from these points to others. Get mon eyed men to look at the country, at the situation at what has been done, is being done, can be done We must "show them" first. We must do something ourselves. We must "fly with our own wings." We must prove our faith by our works. We must talk in terms of cash. Unless this spirit prevails and it is already aroused the work of the development league will be largely in vain. Fifth, development of mines, not only of gold but of coal, and other minerals, of which there is a great variety in Oregon; but particularly, the Nehalem coal fields. The road has been built in talk and hot air for many years. It is about time strenuous ef forts were made to make a reality of it Sixth, irrigation and water rights. These comprise in themselves a very large and pregnant subject, and in regard to the latter at least, the next legislature has important work to do. There are other plans and projects and needs to be helped along, and made realities a railroad through central Oregon, a railroad over to Coos bay, closer water communication and commercial re lations with coast points, particularly Coos bay and Tillamook bay and other matters, quite enough to engage the constant and earnest attention of a de velopment league 100,000 strong for months and years to come. Let the slogan throughout all Oregon, from the sinuous Snake to the mightily pulsing Pacific, from the magnificent Columbia to the storm-breeding Sis kiyous, be A Greater Oregon a twice, thrice, five times, ten times Greater Oregon. The new era is born, but an infant must be nour ished. We must not abondon this one to be kept punily alive in an incubator. The whole number of members of the Japanese diet is 379, and of them seven are Christians, in cluding one Baptist, two Congregationalisms and four Methodists. The Christian representation is thus in a minority of 1 to 54, but it is influential beyond that proportion. In the population at large there is, roughly speaking, only one Christian in ten thou sanda little leaven in a great mass, but its effect is visible and recognized even by those who are not nominally Christians. In old Japan Shintoism, Buddhism and Confucianism all encouraged abso lutism and feudalism, while constitutional govern ment, representative institutions and local self-government are fruits of Christian civilization. It is favored by a good many who make no open profession of it, and is particularly valued as an instrument of social and moral reforms. It has a long road to travel in that country before it satisfies the desires of its propagandists, but the road is open, and there is no opposition worth speaking of, but rather a spirit of receptivity and encouragement. Eight years ago the democratic candidate for president declared that toiling humanity was crushed under ' ' a cross of gold. ' ' Statistics show that ' ' toil ing humanity" has piled up a little matter of $2,- 600,000,000 in gold money in the country's savings banks. We are now promised that the democrats party is to be made a "compact, fighting organization," but no victory was ever won by an army whose leaders sulked in their tents or carried knives for use upon each other. "Hard to Die in Portland" is a headline which appears in the Journal, which might have added that it's also a hard place in which to live. It is funny how an American workman loses his hearing in the presence of calamity shouters as soon as he opens a bank account. THE MODERN WAY To cur & weak stomach Is to take Hostetter't Stomach Bitter at the very first symptom. It does away with starving and dieting yourself been use It puts the stomach In proper condl tlon to digest the food.'; In this way It cures Indigestion, Dyspepsia, Sonstl pation, Biliousness, Heartburn, In omnia, Headache, Cramp or Dlar rhoea. .Nervous and sickly women also And the Bitters unequuled as a regula tor and tonic. We urge a fair trial. HOSTETTER'S STOMACH BITTERS BUSINESS WITH ORGANIZATION New York Pays $16,000,000 to Philadal phia Without Flurry. Philadelphia Ledger. The manner In which the recent loan of 116,000,000, furnished by bunkers In New York and Boston, whs placed on deposit to the credit of the city tn some 60 bunking Institutions In Philadelphia, without the transfer of $1 of actual money, la an example of modern finun claJ organisation beyond the ready un derstundlna; of those whotte Ideua on "the volume of currency" and other elements of finance are still batted on the experience of the country store. There wan a time when the negotia tion of a city loan Involved the bring Ing to the city treasury, oi Its agent, of large sums of cash, which had been drawn out of bank or brought from other cities for the purpose, and the reconveyance of this cash to the same or other banks, with all the dangers of loss tn transit and tha Inconvenience and disturbance resulting from the temporary withdrawal of all this money from other uses. Today the whole business is performed by a few pieces of paper and s, settlement on the books of the clearing house. Aside from the original due bill for 800,000, or 5 per cent on the amount of the loan, which accompanied the bid, the whole of this loan was paid to the city treasurer in a clearing house due bill of the Fourth Street National bank. This he deposited In the bank most convenient to him, which there upon issued Its due bills to the vari ous designated depositories, distribut ing the amount among them in a pre scribed proportion. The Fourth Street National bank had In the meanwhile received from various other banks their bills of exchange on New York, pproxlmatlna; the sum due from the New York syndicate, which it for warded to Its correspondent In New York, to be entered to the credit of h 0 0 0 Our great odds-and-ends sale of .Men's Suits started eflf with a rush. Many of the people came just to eeo what wo had, and others who were Afraid it was a fako sale looked at the goods, bought them und loft the store fully satisfied that we were doing just what we advertised, viz: Closing out about 100 odd suits, sizes 34 to 40, worth up to $35.00 at , 10.00 We emphasize the fact that wo do not expect to makr any profit on this sale. Our sole object is to mako room for our new fall stock which will soon arrive. Our reputation for reliability loaves no chance fur doubt ns to tho genuineness of this sale. :: :: :: :: P. A. STOKES ONE PRICE TO EVERYBODY Scow Bay Iron 8 Brass Works Ekssfactorers ef Iron, Steel, Brass and Bronte Costings. General Foundryinen and Patternmakers. Absolutely firstclass work. Trices lowest Phccs 245ft Comer Eighteenth end Franklin the Philadelphia banks against the credits of the banks representing the syndicate tn New York. The New York clearing house adjusted these ac counts, as the Philadelphia clearing house had balanced the accounts of the home banks, and thus the payment of $16,000,000 from New York to Phil adelphia was completed without the physical disturbance of a single penny. Pressed Chicken. Binge, clean and disjoint a good sized fowl, cover It with cold water and sim mer slowly until the flesh drops from the bones. When half done season highly with salt, pepper, celery salt and one small onion stuck with cloves. When the chicken Is perfectly tender remove all the skin and bone and shred e meat Into good sized pieces. Boll two or three eggs hard, cool and cut thin slices. Remove all fat from the chicken gravy and boll down to about cupful. Moisten the meat with this, then pack In layers In a well buttered mold, arranging slices of egg on each layer. Cover with a plate, set a weight It and stand In a cold place until the next day. Special Excursions to 8t. Louis. August 8, 9 and 10, September 5, 6 and 7, and October 3, 4 and 5 are the remaining dates upon which tickets will be, sold at the reduced rates to the St. Louis Fair. These rates apply over the Denver and Rio Grande and Mis souri Pacific. For the patrons of these roads special excursion cars will be run ; through from Portland and St. Louis without change. See the many points of Interest about the Mormon capital and take a ride through Nature's picture gallery. During the closing months travel to the fair will be very heavy. K you contemplate going write W. C. Mc Brlde, general agent at Portland for the Denver and Rio Grande, for partic ulars of these excursions. Columbiavoo": University Grammar Grade Amy ros catalog i' i Courses. Boarding school for youg men and boys. BOX 330, UNIVERSITY PARK STATION Portland, . .' . Oregon. FRESH AND CURED MEATS Wholesale and Retail Ships, Logging Camps and Mills supplied on ehoH notice, LIVE STOCK BOUGHT AND SOLD WASHINGTON MARKET . CHRISTENSON Q CO. Best Of Goods At Prices That Are Right MARINCOVICH & OIACONI CONFECTIONERY, FRUITS AND CIGARS 727 Commercial Street Astoria, Oregon ! Staple and Fancy Groceries LirXZTTTTTTYl FLOUR, FEED, PROVISIONS, TOBACCO AND CIGARS. Supplies of All Kinds at Lowest Prices for Ftshsrmsn, Farmers H and Loggers. BrancbUniontown, Phones, 711, Uniontown, 713 H A. V. ALLEN, Tenth and Commeroial Strsets. ASTORIA, OREGON. ArtitHmt!trm ITHHZIIIIXlHimizmX HOTEL PORTLAND The Finest Hotel In the Northwest ; PORTLAND. OREGON. aaaaaaaaaaaaa aaaoaaaaaaaaa Some People Are Wise And some are othsrwlss.. Get wis to the value of our Pre torlptlon Dspartmsnt when you want Purs, Clean Drug and Medioines aeourately compounded. Anything In our stook of from our prtiorlption counter, you un depend upon as being the bit Get It at a a a a a a a a and Commercial Street Hart's Drug Store : eaaaaaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaaaaa Reliance Electrical Works H: We are thoroughly prepared (or making estimate! and execrating order for 11 kind of electrical Installing and repairing, Supplies in stock. W tell the Celebrated 8HELBT LAMP. Call nn Phone 1161. . CYUD8. Matter 42a BOND STREET