THE OREGON DAILY JOURNAL, PORTLAND, FRIDAY EVENING, OCTOBER 0. lfOR
LOG RAFT WES FORTUNE
Poor Man Twenty Year Ago, Simon Benson
Now Stands to Make Millions Because
He Ventured Where Others Feared ;
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How Simon Benson Invests His Millions.
Simon Benson, a native of the flcan
divanian peninsula, who cam a poor
man to Portland to years ago, is be
lieved to have eujved the problem of
marketing lumber at a minimum cost
in southern California, by transporting;
sawlogs by ocean raft and sewing them
at Ban Diego. Benson la worth ever
$8,000,000 and has staked hie fortune
on the ocean raft undertaking. The
profit on a single reft reduced to lum
ber at San Diego will be about U.600,
0. On a trip to flan Diego, California,
some months ai Mr. Benson mapped
out his project and before leaving that
port he had completed all preliminary
arrangements and secured a franchise
from the city council to operate docks
and a sawmill plant. He Immediately
returned to Portland, established a
crest logging camp on the Clatskanle,
and began the building of the first ocean
raft of sawlogs aver floated. The raft
was launched successfully and after a
16 -day voyage It has arrived at San
Diego, where It le being dismantled.
The landing of the raft Was attended
by a great public demonstration by the
fltlsens of San Diego. Mr. Benson, who
wae the principal figure, is still there.
directing the work of dismantling the
raft, but Is expected home early next
week.
Baft JJco Bat Cargo.
The raft, besides carrying Its earn
S. ooo.ooo feet of logs, bore a cargo con
sisting of a complete set of timbers for
the sawmill that Mr. Benson la now
erecting at flan Diego. The mill will
have a capacity of 100,00 feet daityy
or at least 16,000,000 feet annually.
live rafts, each containing 1,000,000
feet, will be taken from the "mouth of
the Columbia river each season, to
keep the San Diego mill running. It is
estimated that the cost of transporta
tion of the lumber In the form of rafts
from the Columbia to San Diego will be
12.60 per thousand. By rail It costs ft
per thousand to carry lumber from
this city .to southern California. Al
lowing SO cents a thousand for addi
tional expense and loss by rafting.' It
Is figured, that Mr. Benson will save f 5
par thousand in transportation alone.
This win .give htm a profit of 1 3,600,
000 on each raft safely landed and re
duced to lumber at Ban Diego. If he
disposes of Ave rafts a ysar, the mini
mum capacity of his mill, he will clear
the enormous sum of 1X2,600,000 a year
on transportation alone, in addition
to the manufacturer's profit.
Others Axe Tempted,
The Immensity of the stake that Ben
son to playing for to expected to tempt
others Into the hitherto untried field
Of osssn rafting of sawlogs. Others
have in a measure succeeded in rafting
piling by ocean from the Columbia
river to the south coast, but never be
fore has ths sawlog project been at
tempted. Mr. Benson has had ths cour
age to invest a large sum of money at
flan Diego In a sawmill plant that will
be practically worthless should the
ocean rafting Industry prove unsuc
cessful. The large element of chanoe
In the undertaking will. It to believed,
deter others for a few years, at least.
The successful voyage of his first
m'mmar wm '
ssss sea sxass
Satisfaction
Never Sold in Bulk
1, 2, 2V2 and 5
Pound Tins Only
J. A Folger & Co.
San Fl
raft to taken as an augury of good lock
for the future. It wae attended by va
rious expenses that are not expected tb
be necessary In succeeding voyages.
Two towing vessels were used, to make
doubly sure the success of tits Initial
venture.' In addition, a vessel was sent
out from flan Franclsoo. at about the
time the "raft was expected to pass that
port, to locate It and ascertain Its con
dition, for the Information of the anx
ious owner. In future, only one tow
ing easel will be used, end with grad
ual systematlslng of ths business the
expense will be reduced to a minimum
that will not. It to said, exceed tt per
1.000 feet of logs.
Mflny. elsmsnts of peril attend the
undertaking, and It Is by no mesne cer
tain that Benson will eventually win
out. Some of the sawlogs are 6 feet
thick and 100 feet long. Chains of
enormous strength and weight are nec
essary to hold ths raft together, and
even then It is possible to tow a raft
only In tba most favorable weather. A
eet of chains weighs 11 tons, and costs
110,000. To carry on the business suc
cessfully three complete sets of chains
and other gear are required. Owing to
the uncertain weather, It to necessary
to dispatch the entire five rafts from
ths mouth of ths Columbia within the
months ofvjuly and August, to make
reasonably certain that t-hey will secure
eafe passags on, the long ocean voyage.
Consequently, ths work of building the
raft must be rushed, and there Te no
time to wait for transportation of chains
by rail from San Diego te Portland.
A week le required to dismantle a raft
at San Diego, and not more than one
sat of chains can bs kept hi transit
Model Logging Oamp.
Thd Benson logging camp that has
been established on the Clatskanle Is a
model of Its kind. Mr. Benson, has dis
posed of his logging Interests in Wash
ington, and concentrated all his equip
ment and energise In the Clatskanle
camp, where the most modern machin
ery has been installed and a railroad
is in operation to carry the logs from
the Woods to the river. They are
floated down the Clatskanle to deep
water In Wallace slough, an arm of the
Columbia, where the gigantic cigar-.
snspea ocean rafts era constructed and
launched.
The Clatskanle came will he the cen
ter of ths ocean log rafting industry for
the next 10 years. Mr. Benson has in
this vlolnlty 40,000 acres of fir, aggre
gating 1,(00,000,000 feet He to an ex
pert practical logger, and haa cone Into
the oeean rafting bualhees after coolly
oaleulatlng the chances. Aside from
the dangers of the open ocean, a more
insidious danger la found in the form of
a small bug In ths waters of south coast
harbors. This bug has a long Latin
name, but rn slse it is only one-sixteenth
of an Inch, and Its work. In a aawlog
is anon ana sharp, within nine months
t renders a log almost useless. B. B.
Coovert, a Portland attorney who re
cently visited San Diego and observed
tne action of ths bug, said:
"It to ths most deadly thing known in
destruction sf woodsn timbers. I saw
a copper cylinder, through whloh rivets
and nails had been driven into the piling
the copper surrounded. This bug had
eaten every smidgeon of wood, leaving
the cylinder empty excepting for the
menu nans and rivets."
One of the difficulties of Benson's
undertaking will be the storing of suf
ficient togs in two months to run his
nan jjiego mm the entire year. A large
pan oi un togs win nave te be placed
on piling racks at high tide, and moved
away rrom reach of the water. Once
every nine monthe the boom sticks will
nmve 10 oe sawea up to save tbam from
tne ravages or the bug.
SCANDAL IN HIGH LIFE IS
AIRED IN VIRGINIA
Mrs. Bessie C. Pax son Sues Mrs.
Cordon Searles for Stealing
Husband's Love.
(earns! Special Serrle.)
Richmond. Vs.. Oct I. Judge Clont on
In the Henry county circuit court, will try
one or me moot interesting scandals In
high life that haa ever been aired In a
Virginia court. Ths litigation comes upon
ths declaration of Mrs. Bsesls c. Pax-
son of New Tor and Washington, who
aaas damages in us sum or 118,000 from
Mra Myrtle R. Gordon Bearlee of Cleve
land. Ohio, and Virginia, for the aliena
tions of the affections of her husband.
a. r-axson.
Ths alleged alienation took place at
Atlantic City after the death of Gordon
No Room for Fake Sales in Our Store
Every $10 Suit
Yon buy from us would cost you $12 to $15 at other places. What we
wish you to know is that
We Are Making Specialties of Our
MEN'S $10.22 SUITS
We have convinced hundreds that our $10 gar
ments are the best clothes for the money they ever
saw, and we will convince you too, if you will call
and see them ? We POSITIVELY know that we
give you better service in this line of men's apparel
than can be had anywhere on the North Pacific
Coast Wherever you are, wherever you see him,
If you find a man wearing our $10 garments, you
have found our friend.
THE RED FRONT
TWENTY YEARS IN BUSINESS IN PORTLAND-" SELLS IT CHEAPER "
NORTHWEST CORNER FIRST AND TAYLOR.
NOW IN OUR NEW HOME ON
MORRISON AND SEVENTH STREETS
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MORRISON
AND
SEVENTH
SHEETS
SPELNDID DISPLAY
OF NEW STOCKS IN ALL
DEPARTMENTS
Comprising the Urgent and most complete gathering of house
furni things in the west; furniture in every grade and finish,
and the latest and best designs for parlor, library, living-room,
dining-room, bedroom, hall and den ; office furniture of every
description, and furniture for the hotel and dub. Carpets,
rugs and other floor coverings in the very latest effects and
pleasing colorings. Our new shipment of oriental rugs Is
now on display and is by far the handsomest line of designs
and sises ever brought to this coast. These were selected by
oar representative from a recent importation by the moat
reliable dealers in these beautiful rugs. Our drapery depart
ment is now stocked with the very best and latest affects in
curtains of every style, portieres, curtain fabrics, upholstery
fabrics, table covers, etc It will no doubt interest our many
patrons to know that we are now carrying a stock of exclusive
designs in wall papers and other decorative materials, of
which we particularly mention the splendid imitation leather
la embossed and plain effects. This department is now better
equipped for special decorative work, and will furnish original
designs and estimates on all classes of work. Our crockery
department is well stocked with everything that in this line
Is most essential for the home. In our stove department we
are now showing the handsomest line of modern heaters for
wood and coal ever displayed in this city; also the famous
"Buck's" and "The Malleable" ranges. We are pleased to
welcome visitors to our new home and we know that you will
be deeply interested in this splendid gathering of furniture
styles and home comforts. Our first floor having been de
layed in completion, we will be unable for a few days to make
any display on same.
YOMcaxDrrf
H iseooo jf
1711 fir IBB
0MPLETEH005EFURni5HER5
ffMAKCYOMtll
OWN TEAMS II
AND
SEVENTH
STREETS
and before the marriage of Mrs. Gordon
to John R. Searles. with whom she le
aow living la Los Angeles. Cordon
lived lees than a year after hie marriage
to the present Mrs. Searles, and the mar
riage of the young and pretty widow to
Bearlee occurred six months thereafter.
Gordon hsd been previously divorced
from hie first wife at Fort Worth, Tax
as. flhe received $50,000 as a settle
ment. Gordon was ths brother of Elisabeth
Gordon Hanna, wife of Daniel "fif.
son of th. late Mark Hanna.
All the Interested parties move In the
highest society circles. Mrs. Gordon
fleares Inherited a vast estate la Vlr
glnla upon the death of her first hus
band, all of whloh has been attached
pending a settlement of the present suit.
LOW RATES EAST
a a a sr.
The O. R. N. Co. has made a lew
rate of $14.10 for round trip, Portland
to Buffalo, Hew York, account the In
ternational convention of Christian
churohes, to be held at that place Octo
ber II te IT. Tickets will be on sals
October I and (. A choice of several
different routes Is given, and stopovers
allowed In both dlrectlona For further
particulars In regard to routes, through
sleeping-car service, etc.. call on er ad
dress C. W. sunger, city ticket agent
O. R. N. Co., Third and Washington
streets, Portland.
PENDLETON SCOURING
MILL CL0SE0 DOWN
(tpectsl Dispatch te Th, JenraaL)
Psndlston, Or., Oct. (. After a suc
cessful five months' run ths scouring
mills st this place shut down yesterday
on account of ths lack of wool purchas
able at prices which the company is
willing to pay. There seems to bs plenty
of wool In this section, but the ewnerer
are Independent and do not ears to sell
Schramsberg Wines
Finest California product, in
bottles only.
CLARETS
Quarts t T5
Pints 40a
ZINFANDEL
Quarts 75e
Pints ...40eV
BURGUNDY
Suarts 75
nts 40e
SAUTERNE
Quarts f 1.00
, Pints ...50
Full Measure House
887 WASHINGTON ST.
OUTTITTiag
at the present prices as they believe
they can do better later on. However,
If It should be possible to purchase
some or the outlying clips the mill will
be started again.
Ths mill ha. run longsr this season
than for the past two years, as they
were inrougn September l last year.
reek, run-down T Head
"oflr'T Just a plain
Feel languid. 1
acheT Stomach
e of lasy liver. Burdock Blood Bit
tars tones liver una stomach, promotes
digestion, purines the blood.
A wmnn'i crowning gtmrf Is
hmr hair.. a man'i, hit hmt
The
Brewer
Hat
Satisfies Every Carefol Dresser.
Made to Suit every Pace and
Of H-ad.
"BEST RAT la the World for the MONEY"
S3.00
BEN SELLING
. LEAD.NO clothier
The Very Latest
Styles for Autumn
Arc On Display"
Every important style center has contributed
liberally to this magnificent display of Autumn
Wear for Women and Children. The several
sections devoted to Outer Garments seem to vie
with each other as to which shall present the
most attractive appearance and they have all
won I If you saw this display on opening day,
you gained some idea of its scope. Almost
every day since men newer things nave been
added as the season advances. Everything
seems to nave caught this spirit of progress that
so lapkuy forging this store forward. The
sales force has been lifted to the most intelligent
level, and almost doubled. Ideally complete
store fixtures, and dear, mellow sunshine stream
ing in from all corners, contribute to the com
forts and pleasures of shopping here. Explore
this store tomorrow or tomorrow evening and
let us explain to you how we sell for a small
sum at time of purchase and then a little each
week or month aa may suit your convenience.
In Our "Men's Shop"
If you are a man who appreciates distinction in
dress and do not care to pay the price custom
tailors ask, come here and see the readymade
garments we offer. The better judge of styles
and materials yon are the better pleased you
wiB be with what we show in Suite, Topcoafs
and Raincoats. We also have a complete line
of. Furnishings and Shoes. A dollar a week
will clothe you completely if you come hem
Eastern OutfittingCo.
Washington and Tenth
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JOURNAL WANT A