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About The Oregon daily journal. (Portland, Or.) 1902-1972 | View Entire Issue (May 29, 1909)
18 THE OREGON DAILY JOURNAL; PORTLAND. SATURDAY EVENING, MAY 29, 1909.: Wilt EHGAGE nsiER MAKES MUSHROOM BED OF HIS BASEMENT AND IS ARRESTED f Walter J. Phillips, Fire De partnient Hydrant Man, Does Not Look Good to Mayor Lane or Sullivan and Swett Walter J. Phillips, hydrant man nnd aspirant for the position of master me chanic In the fire department, will never be appointed as long as Mayor Ijine and tne present lire commmee ui un utlve board are in power. This fact wan demonstrated at the committee' meet ing; yesterday when P. E. Sullivan, Isaac Kwit nrt Mnvnr Lane declared that PhlUlDB la unfit for the position. In the light of results elicited by the hydrant Investigation last year. Mayor ln was informed that Phil ltn failed to Inspect 89 hydrants fur nished to the elty by Hoge & Swift, Mtstern contractors, although the hy j rants laid out on the street nearly Jour months. They were afterward in anArted nnd acceDted by another em tiova of the fire department In three The charge wu made that Phillips had used dilatory tactics against the outside corporation Deeaus ne naa a imsnumi Interest In a local hydrant and wished to discourage foreign competition. In upport of this charge, a contract was exhibited as evidenoe. This contract was signed by Phillips, and by it he was to receive 25 cents for every hy drant of a certain type sold to the city No action was ever taken by the fire committee with regard to the lnvestlga- tlon. which was dropped. When the iietion of aDDointlng a master me chanic came up yesterday," the eligible list supplied by the civil service com mission tsas subjected to a scathing criticism by the members of the com mittee. One man received 100 per cent, Bald Mayor Lane, lor being a good liar. Others 'were marked for their ability to run and iumD and climb. Isaac Swett remarked that these were good tests of agility, but he aouDted tneir erri ciency as real tests of a man's ability as a master mechanic. "Well, can't you decide when you know that a man Is making good in the department? What s the matter with Mr. Phillipsr asked John Montag. Agr Spontaneously. THr. Phillips is, as far as I know, a competent mechanic," replied Mr. Swett; "but I don't think he Is the right man for the position. It seems to me that hla extreme negligence I do not wish to use a stronger word In the matter of inspecting hydrants has eliminated him." "I don't think we have any way of finding out from the civil service lists whether a man Is eligible for a Job or not," said P. E. Sullivan. "Phillips, however, is not a man I would like to aee placed in the responsible position of master mechanic. We need a big man for that place." "I can frankly Bay, gentlemen, that is Just my view, I wouldn't touch him with a 10-foot pole," put in Mayor Lane. The mayor then went on to give his reasons for not approving of Phillips. He recounted how that official' failure to Inspect hydrants last summer had placed the administration In a bad light. He told how a certain newspaper had censured the mayor and executive board In editorials and In glaring headlines because the city waa without adequate fire protection. ' "It looked all th time as though the fire department were trying to cure out side companies of bidding on hydrants," continued the mayor, "and Phillips' de lay in this instance effectually damp ened the desire of at least one firm for any more business in Portland. Hoge & Swift lost $1000 on that hydrant con tract." Calls Phillip a Biff Man. "You've all had your say, and I'll go down with the ship," declared John Montag, "and you'll find that time will bear me out when I say that you can earch the whole mate of Oregon and not get another master mechanic to fill the shoes of Mr. Phillips. You say you want a big man for the Job. Well, that's lust what I claim for Mr. Phillips. He Is a big man. "If I had been in his place I would have done just as he did. Those Ludlow hydrants were of poor quality, and the local hydrants used by the fire depart ment are the best in the market today." "Are they best at 118 apiece more, John," queried the mayor. "I'm not talking about price," re torted Mr. Montag, "but I repeat that ihe hydrants made locally are the test and it was quite proper for Mr. Phillips to show a preference to home products If any favors were to be shown at all. Those eastern hydrants were no good." "Why didn't Phillips rejeot them then?" asked the mayor. "He was the under dog." replied Mr, Because Joseph Holder is an enthusi astic mushroom grower. Market Inspec tor Sarah A. Evans, thinking he is a bit over-enthusiastic, has had a complaint sworn out and a warrant Issued for his arrest on a charge of breaking the citv ordinances regulating the public health. Mr. Holder has fcullt himself a new home at S96 Baae Line road He has put In a fine solid concrete basement "4 n?w hat th house is finished, has naa mis Daseraent filled with fertilizer and ha planted It with mushrooms of the choicest auallrr. Ha t nrnmlnin or his friends to be able to supply them with the most delicious mushrooms ever turned out in Portland. Now Mrs. Evans, In her of flclaf capacity, objects to what she alleges are noisome odors emanating from the basement of the Holden house, hold. Dr. Warren, who lives net door to Holden, is himself a bit Interested in his neighbor Hobby of raising mush rooms and for some time has been smacking his lips in anticipation of the treats which were to be delivered by Holden. He refuses to agree with Mrs. Evans and is prepared to come be fore Judge Van Zante and testify that the odors coming from the Holden eel lar are not bod. At any rata he states h la not hothered br them, and as he Is the nearest neighbor he thinks he should be the first one heard to object. Montag: "there were htgherups who were responsible for the delay. Why don't you convict him or find him inno cent? What are you holding this over his head for?" As Mr. Montag sat down his face be came red and his voice wrathy when Mayor Lane, Isaac Swett and P. E. Sul livan began talking about appointing somebody else as master mechanic. "Oh. this is all cut and dried," sudden ly exclaimed the Irate fire commission er, turning to Mr. Swett; "you have all decided on your man, whv don't you put him In? What are you beating around the bush for? Be a man or a mouse. Mr. Swett." Nominations la Order. "Well, I will nominate somebody," an swered Mr. Swett testily. "I nominate E. M. Wtsslnger." There was no second to the nomination, as Mr. Sullivan said he couldn't second th name of any' of the so called "eligible" .furnished by the civil service. "Now, John, does it look out and dried to you?" asked the mayor, as he took up the investigation of the fire engine specifications. Mayor Lane then read the charges made by three fire engine companies that the fire department favors A. C. Long, a local contractor, to the exclu sion of all other bidders by adopting speolflcatlons-.whlch can not be com plied with except bv the corporation for which Long is the representative. Both Chief Campbell and A. G. Long were called on to answer the charges which they did exhaustively, denying that there has ever been any discrimina tion shown In favor of any fire engine handled by Mr. Long. Bat Jjong Set Contracts. In spite of these denials, the fact re mains that Long gets the contracts. It Is said that other companies are afraid to take contracts with the city, even If they were awarded for fear something might happen to the engines which do not meet with the favor of the depart ment This fear is strengthened by the fact that Hoge Swift were deterred from further bidding on fire hydrants after the salutarv lesson administered them bv Phillips last summer at a cost to the contractors of 11000. It Is not lessened any. either, by the fact that R. Andrews & Sons, who had a contract to furnish straw last year were harassed so that they were glad to withdraw from the field. Mavor Lane has refused to sign a contract awarded to A. Q. Long by the executive board pending an investiga tion of the specifications. The decision of the committee with regard to this Investigation was taken under advisement. have never asked for a public office in my life, neither have I desired one. However. I wish at this time to heartily thank my Democratic friends for the confidence thus shown In presenting my name to the citizens of Portland as a suitable candidate. It la customary for a man running for a public office to build for himself somt, sort of platform, stating therein what he stands for or what he believes in. It has also been a common custom to tell the people that we are for every thing everybody wants and at the same time advocating very strict economy. I would say In this connection that in my own experience I have never been able to spend my money and keep it at the same time. If we expect to have a frroater and more beautiful Portland It s going to cost money, but I am in fa vor of making every dollar of the taxes taken from the people pay for honest work and material. I would use as my campaign slogan "All grafters look alike to . me whether you label them Democrat or whether you label them Republican." If the people 6f Portland think I am the irian to elect as one of their coun- OIL AMD NATURAL GAS DISCOVER ED IN OREGON Developments Go to Prove That This State May Soon Rank With Any Oil and Gas Producing State in the Union WELLS SUNK NEAR BURNS A REVELATION TO RESIDENTS OF THAT SECTION cllmen. it will be ray supreme desire to serve tnem in an acceptable mann should I be elected, io uutt the office at the end of my term an honest man. Yours truly, D. CHAMBERS. CHAMBERS' PLATF0R3J BASED ON HONESTY Portland. Or.. May 29. To the Voters of Portland By some good or 111 fortune 1 have been nominated by the Democrat ic party for the office of councllman-at-large when I say "good or 111 fortune" I do so advisedly, the expression being used as a double entendre, as It may mean good or ill for the city as well as for myself. I am no- a politician and EXPECT CROWD AT THE OAKS TONIGHT With pleasant weather a big attend ance is looked for at the opening of the Oaks tonight. Thousands of people are doubtless looking forward to the mus ical treat promised by Slgnor Nicola Donnatelll, with his 30 musicians. Most of the members of this band have been accustomed to appearing before audi ences paying theatre prices, and a splendid program may be counted upon. There will be the numerous popular sports, already familiar to the Oaks' patrons the past seasons, but aside from these are many special amusement feat ures real novelties, among which are "Crazy House," warranted to give you a variety of new sensations; '.'Fairy land to Hell," a unique and startling feature in which electric illumination produces some wonderful results. Among the museum features there will be opportunity to study an enor mous live boa constrictor; a pair of simply mammoth youths and other oddi ties. A moving picture show is attached to the Oaks this year, which will be really worth visiting. It is said to have se- The following is by Addison Bennett, Editor -of the Irrigon Irrigator! rr worthy series of pictures in the world. Up-to-Date Service. The special roundtrip excursion rates made by the Canadian Pacific apply either by their short line via Spokane or by the way of Seattle. In addition to a choice of routes, the Canadian Pa cific offers the traveling public up-to-date service, excelling that of any trans continental line. Vots to bust the paving trust. NERVOUS PEOPLE And those afflicted with heart weakness may now have no fear of the dental chair. KXAS WHAT HSS. XiSLET SATS I I had "l teeth extracted at the Har vard Dentists' without the least pain, and highly recommend them. MRS. HANLET, 34f J5th St. Whalebone Plate $10 A Great BUoovrry, tna New Whale bone Flate, which is the lightest and strongest set known; does not cover tbe roof of the month; bite corn off the cob; guaranteed 10 years. 91000 WE CEALLZSOE THE WOKXJ3. We will forfeit $1000 to any charitable Institution for the dentist who can make a plate for (15 as good as we make for 11. 10 Year Guarantee I V .' ( ' ' j, Vi v... ' tfi.,', i V ft , V i t. " s L;iff!'f! : ill Oold Orowm, extra heavy $8.00 Tnll Set Teeth (wbalebano 8. B. W.)S8.00 Bridge Work, per tooth, beat gold. .15.00 Walt Crowns 4.00 TMta Be-eaameled 4. 3.00 Oola nuings ji,0o And not sxeasdlar ia 00 Best Bllvsr rilllnfs , 90.50 PUtiaam Fill lugs tl.00 Terth Claaned $0.50 TXETH ZXTAiPTSD W 1TKOTJT FAXJf ! m Vim Other Work Is Ordsrsd. By our sew system or painless dentistry, ' M L . t I . . I vmq i j mm kjudv. uui iuixhi im uut 14 J ths hlgh-rrads work dons by our expert, gentismanly operator HARVARD DENTISTS j -' Oorasa' Fark aad Wasklnrtoa Vta, ' : Over Bsyai Bsksry. Lfiut and bast-sjquipped rental estab lishrarat la th world; S offlo ia I'nited PiaUa Open fiuoday, f li lUr uaill . Eastern Excursion Rates VIA Great Northern Railway June 2-3, July 2-3, August 11-12. CHICAGO and return. ,f 72.50 I NEW YORK and rerurn.$108.50 ST. LOUIS and return , f 67.50 j BOSTON and return. . .fllO.SO ST. PAUL, MINNEAPOLIS, DULUTH anrj, return. . . . i . . . .?60.00 Proportionate rates to other points. Good for return passage until PPSSTri11 stop overs allowed. Choice of routes going either via SEATTLE or via Spokane, Portland and Seattle Ry. THE NORTH BANK ROAD Hl1 rUte THE ORIENTAL New through service to Kansas City. New through service Portland to Vancouver, B. C, 10 a. m. to 10 p. hv For tickets and sleeping car reservations call on or address, H. DICKSON, City Passenger arid Ticket Agent, 1 122 Third Street, Portland, Oregon. Telephones: Main 680; A-2286. Burns, Oregon, May 14, 1909. Having on former occasions visited the oil fields around Ontario and Vale, and having made somewhat of a study of the work of devlopment going on there, I have written several articles about the Oregon oil and gas field. Hence, when I learned a few weeks ago of certain discoveries made in Harney county going to show the presence of oil and gas underlying a large area of the valley, I was naturally much interested, and have been looking into the matter since my arrival here. I suppose it is generally understood that in all districts where petroleum or gas have been .found the geological formations have been practically the same, and that the formations in the Boise basin and on westward have for years been known to conform to those of the best oil fields. That these conditions extended-as far as the Harney valley and then dip to the southwest, many practical oil men now aver, even from the surface formations. But aside from this, it has been demonstrated to a certainty that the Harney district is underlaid with oil and gas, as I shall presently show, tne only senous question to consider being whether it can be secured in merchantable quantities. And that is the question which has confronted every oil field in the country, no matter how great the surface indications, ever since the Drake well began to spout oil in 1859, which was the begining of the industry in this country. First and last, the Idaho-Oregon oil and gas belt has claimed the attention of a great many men who have graduated- from the school of practical experience in "fields where petroleum is now king. And aside from this, many geologists have studied the for mations and all, even the government authorites, through the geo logical survey, have admitted not only that there was everv known geological indication of oil, but that the outcroppings in many piaces actuany snowea tnat tne oil and gas exist. A day or two ago I made a trip from Burns to the Narrows and return, and on my journey went through what is supposed to be the very heart of the oil and gas section of the valley, which lies some 20 miles nearly south from Burns. In this district, covering an area of several hundred square miles, there have been from time to time for years rumors of oil and gas outcroppings, of wells which gave forth gas in sufficient quantities to burn or flash when touched with a match, and others which showed on their waters piuuicuui. out u was not untir lasi reDtuary tnat a real live gas well was struck, and thafwell I visited and inspected, and I will endeavor to tell my readers just what I found, and explain to them exactly what took place when the discovery was made. A homesteader by the name of Tohn Leake has a clai m in sec tion 28, township 25 south, 32 east, which is 16 miles south and I seven uuics tdsi ui rurns. Last rail ne Dee-an the normc nf a well on his place and worked intermittently until the fourth of February, by which time the two inch hole was down 360 feet. On that day something happened, and it happened very suddenly. A r"-tibli.ng, was heard below, an explosion took place, the tools were thrown out of the hole, rocks, sand, mud and water were hurled into the air for a distance of 40 feet and the escaoine- cas wan almnt suffocating to the workmen. ' Of course, the work on the well had to be abandoned, for the pressure was so strong that the tools could not be forced down the hole; but apparently the workmen did not know just what they had struck until rumors of the happening spread over the valley and people began to gather to see the wonder. Then a match was applied and a flame shot up several feet. Not until that flame sent forth its rays was it known that the well was in truth and in fact the outlet to a reservoir of natural gas. When I visited this well I found but little to show for the ex plosion except the pile of dirt, sand, gravel and mud it had shot forth, and an ordinary two inch pipe protruding perhaps three feet from the earth. This pipe was topped with an old tomato can, and it all looked very unimpressive and unpromising. I took a couple of pictures of it, but they show nothing save the pipe de scribed. But upon investigation, I found .that the pipe was filled with water to the depth of at least 50 feet, which water reached to within 10 feet of the surface, and below that for 300 fer th hole was filled with thick, heavy mud. I placed my ear to the top of the pipe and a rumbling sound was heard, as if this mud and water were boiling, and this, it is claimed, has gone constantly on since the first explosion. Finally I touched a match to the top of the pipe and a flame shot up, and it continued to burn until smothered by closely cover ing the aperture. v ' The smell of gas is distinctly apparent as soon as one gets j near the scene, and it cannot be mistaken by any one who has ever been in a gas field. But, says the reader, how about the oil? Well, at this particular well it is trtfe that no oil gushed forth, but it is likewise true that the sand and mud show evident traces of oil, and the sand is what i3 known as" oil bearing. And this sand, found in that whole section, is what has lent life to the movement in the valley, for samples of it have been sent to experts and it has been pronounced to be the real thing, and has always heretofore proved to be to an oil field what the mother lode is to a mining field. Among others who were shown samples of this -sand, and to whom the circumstances of the well explosion were told, was Mr. Michael Valerius, of Oklahoma, an oil and gas expert with years of practical experience. Mr. Valerius had been looking over the oil fields along the Snake river, but as soon as he heard the story and saw this sand he came here and assisted in organizing the Harney Valley Oil & Gas Co., of which he was made vice president and general manager. The company was incorporated under the laws of Oregon, the following gentlemen taking out the charter: Dr H. Denman, Mr. Valerius,' Fred L. Johnson, Dr. H. M. Horton' J. C. Turney, R. B. Post, S. M. Talbot and J. L. Gault. As to the personnel of the promoters, Dr. Denman is a prac ticing physician, residing at Harriman, in this county; of Mr. Valerius I have spoken; Mr. Johnson is the hotel proprietor of Vale; Mr. Horton is a sawmill man and capitalist of Burns; Mr. Post is of the geological survey Mr. Talbot is a wealthy gentle man of Boise, Idaho; Mr. Turney is a real estate operator, and Mr. Gault is cashier of the First National bank, Burns. This company owns and has under lease a good many thousands of acres in what is called "the oil belt," and they expect to be drill ing their first well within the next 60 or 90 days. It will be seen what theyVre "up against' when one considers that they will have to bring their outfit, weighing about 45 tons, almost 150 miles by teams. This means delay, but before the summer is over there will be "something doing" in the Harney valley. After leaving the Leake well I went on to the little town of Narrows, a few miles farther south. Charley Haines has a wett there which is only 37 feet deep, and I went out to see what they told me were traces of oil on the water from this well. We pumped a few bucketsful, and almost as soon as the water was quiet there spread over its surface that unmistakable oil film, givine forth everv suable ui we ittinuuw. nnu i am ioia tnis is not a condition con fined to that well alone, but the same is true of many others in the valley. I had the sandstone surrounding three sides of the valley pointed out to me, I had the geological conditions explained to me, and all of the conditions going to show the presence of gas and oil made clear or as clear as an unscientific mind can grasp such matters. Of course, these thincs all aDoealed to me hut th o at the Leake well I saw burn, and the oil on the waters of the Haines well I saw with my own eyes. Such evidence was worth more to convince me that this valley is underlaid with oil and gas than all of the geological conditions that any scientist could point out in a month. The reader will at once ask, "Do you think it a safe investment to buy stock in the oil company you have mentioned?" I can only answer the question by saying that the stock is selling some oi it at five cents a share, par value one dollar. If you have five, ten, fifty or a hundred dollars or five hundred that is "not work ing," that you could lose and not miss, you might put it into this stock and "forget it." Possibly I will even say probably you would never hear of it again, for the sinking of the first wells in any new field is a gamble pure and simple. But if you won, your $500 would become ten or twenty thousand, perhaps much more. Of this I am convinced: Taking the oil field from Ontario to western Harney, we know there lie underneath deposits of oil and gas. Just where, if at all, the first paying well i. e., a well which will tap the pool, and not a fissure will be struck nobody knows. All must delve in the dark. But when it is struck, Oregon will experience such an inrush of men and money as never was be fore known in her history. If you conclude to invest and lose, don't blame me, for I have tried, to tell you in plain English what the chances are against you. If you win, you will get perhaps as much as 50 or 100 for one and in that event take all of the credit to yourself for your own "gump- The company mentioned is going to make a thorough test. From three to five wells will be sunk, covering a number of mile's of the territory, these wells to form a triangle, thus giving a complete ex position of the underlying stratas. ADDISON BENNETT. A GIRL'S UNIQUE DESCRIPTION OF AN OREGON GAS WELL BY ETHEL January 25 tbe well drillers, Mr. Hodder and Mr. Tyler, arrived on the place and set up their machine to be ready for work the next day. They drilled for several days, striking flows of water that was salty or bitter. This kept up until February 4, they having gone down 357 feet. My father was getting pretty much discouraged because of the unsuccessful work. About 4'o'clock he and Mr. Luper, neighbor, were sitting by the fire talking about the well. Mr. Luper said: "You have gone down so far now you may strike artesian water soon.", Father replied: "Oh, there's no such luck to be hoped for." Just then Edgar Smith opened the door, saying: "Come out and look at your well, Mr. Leake." We had heard the men outside laughing and talking loudly. Hewent out, and I went to the window near the well. Imagine my surprise upon seeing mud spurting out of the drill pipe. Every one stood and looked at it in consternation. Soon it came out faster than at first, throwing the mud at least 20 feet above the derrick, which is about 20 feet high. After a little they began talking about it, so we found out that the pump handle had broken and they had taken the pump off to repair it. That would take quite a while, so they decided to take the drill pipes and rods out; when they began pulling them the mud began to come up. They kept on pulling the ,1-ods up, but they seemed to want to come up faster than the men. could uncouple them. Therefore Mr. Hodder had to hold them down whh tongs, which required all'his strewgth, even almost lifting him off his feet. He called for some one to help him hold the tongs. The spurting of mud, stone, water, etc., kept up and when they got 'the' rods, out the stream was much greater. A gurgling,' muttering LEAKE. and roaring could be heard as the mud worked its way up through the two-inch pipe. All this scared the horses in the barn; they must niVe smelled the gas, as the wind was blowing in that direction; also the men who went to the north or east of it smelled the gas. We had no idea of gas at first, but supposed it to be artesian water. But after talking things over, and considering all the evidence we con cluded it was a pocket of gas that had been struck. None of the men present had had a similar experience. The well drillers were as much puzzled as any one. I went in the house to get supper and would occasionally go to the window to see the "celebration," 'a we called it. Small stones and mud would strike the window, which didn't induce me to linger long. When the men came in' to Supper one could hardly recognize them, they were so besmeared with mud. Of course, nothing could be talked of but the well, which was still sending forth mud and rock also water and a steady steam-like substance would come out with each expulsion of matter. I went across the road to my house about 7 o'clock, and as a strong wind was blowing from the southwest I could "hot hear any more of it, but it stopped shortly after 8 o'clock, as my father said Whe I went over in the morning the low, hollow place in which the pipe had been -sonk'"was raised at least one and one half feet by the mud that had come out of the well. The men came over about 8:30 and were a little disappointed because it had ceaed, but upon investigating found that the pipe had become choked with mud, etc and concluded there had been a cave-in or a rock obstruction' pre venting the .gas from issuing forth. They decided to do no more with it until later, when they could learn more about the nature of the thing. - .4 o -TV