0-4
S. P. SUED BY U. S.
10
hues
Hugo Tracts of Mineral Land
in California Claimed by R.
Rounder Grant Authorized
by Congress 50 Years Ago.
United Press Lents Wire.)
Los Angeles, Deo. 21. The greatest
suit In equity in the history ot the
world, - Involving 45.7M acres of oil
hmds la the Coalings district of Cali
fornia, valued at 1260,000,000, Is on file
iu the United States district court here
today s gainst the Southern Faclflo rail
road by the United States government
This is the first move m the govern
ment's fight to establish title to all of
the oil lands In California now claimed
by the Southern Pacific company. The
land consists of 125,000 acres of ths
richest oil fields In the state, including
the Kern river, Sunset, Maricopa, Mc
Kittrlck, Midway, Elk Hills, Devil's Den,
Lost Hills and- Coalings fields. This
land is variously estimated to be worth
from $3000 to S7000 an acre. It is val
ued at nearly 11,000,000,000. Additional
suits covering the territory are expected
to bs filed within It months, i ;,
The bill was filed by T. J. Butler and
B. D. Townsend, special assistants to
Attorney General Wickersham. A large
number of special agents also wera en
gaged In collecting material for the suit.
Secured Best Oil Znds. : .
It Is alleged by the government that
while the Southern Faclflo company
was securing the lands which It claimed
under Its grant from congress. It had
In Us employ a corps of the most com
petent mineral experts in the United
States, and this In the face of the fact
that the railroad company was not en
titled to any mineral lands under its
grant As a result, the government al
leges, the Southern Faclflo secured the
very best oil lands in the state. '
From an economic and : Industrial
viewpoint the vital question is whether
the Southern Faclflo shall control a
substantial part of the state's resources
or whether-these resources shall be
thrown open to the general publio and
be brought into active competition,
; Secured by tand drank
The Southern Pacific obtained the
land by a grant authorised by congress
July 27, 1868.. It authorised the com
pany to construct a railroad extending
from San Francisco southeast through
California to connect with the Atlantis
and Pacific near the boundary lino be
tween : California and Arizona. - This
grant was for the alternate odd num
bered sections to the extent of 10 seo
tlona on each side of the line of the
road. The grant; however, contained the
following provision:
"It Is provided further, that all min
eral lands be, and the same are hereby
excluded from the operation of this act"
The act further provided that the term
"mineral lands" should be deemed to
include coat and Iron lands.
The government contends that it was
understood by both congress and the
company when the patents were granted
that the exception to these lands should
be effective. ; 'When the extraordinary
value of these lands developed, the
government says, the company conceived
the idea of repudiating- this exception
and claiming these rich mineral lands in
the face of the exception and claiming
these rich mineral lands In the face of
the exception of both the grant act and
the patent ,
The company, It is expected, will con
tend that the mineral land exceptions
were inserted in the patents without
authority, and that the patents have the
effect of an adjudication binding upon
the United States; that the lands de
scribed In the patents are not mineral,
despite the express statement In the
patents to the contrary.
, Case Heard la X.os Angeles.
The suit technically was filed In the
northers, division of the Southern dis
trict of the United States district court
at Fresno, but the complaint was filed
here, because Los Angeles is the head
quarters of the clerk of the court.
The government representatives, it is
said, will demand that the evidence be
heard In Los Angeles instead of Fresno.
United States District Judge Wellborn
win probably occupy the bench. Should
the defendant object to hearings here,
it may carry a demurrer as high as tho
supreme court of the United States.
In this event' the case probably would
not go to trial for a year and a half.
It is predicted here that in any event
the cult will be a long drawn out affair.
; ELECTRIC SIREN WILL
HEREAFTER CALL OUT
. BEND FOLK TO FIRES
y'. , (Spm-ial to The Journal.)
, Bend. Or., Dec. 21. -Bend has
Just purchased an electric siren
,. fire alarm at an outlay of about
f 150. It will be operated by a
i two horee power motor and there
will be boxes In various parts of
' town with which fto turn in
alarms, Heretofore the ..only
means of giving a fire alarm has "
been the church bell, and often it
, refused to work properly, cauS-
ing delays in getting the fire
fighters to the burning structure
4 and the destruction of property
that .could otherwise have been
4 ' saved. The slreri has a powerful
, detonation and in future only
deaf and dead citizens are ex- -
pected to be able to sleep through
. a fire.
FINDS BUSINESS GOOD
SO JUST KEEPS ON GOING
J '. Hpeelal to The Journal. I
, Ooldendale, Wash., Dec. 21. Harry
Lea, an itinerant piano tuner, was ar-
rested at Glenwood, in western Klickitat,'
upon complaint of a Sunnyslde livery
man, from whom he hired a team No
vember 2S, saying he would be back the
; same day, '.'-.Instead of returning the
team he came over into Klickitat county
where be was following his vocation.
; Lea admits having the team out much
longer than he expected, but disclaims
any criminal Intent lit says he found
business good and Just'kept going, in
lending; to return to Sunnyside with the
team when ho got through canvaslng
Kltrkttat county.' He says he wrot
"te"llvtrymaCTrom Rooeeveli Decem
ber 18 that he would be back with the
team In. a few days, 7 i'y.-."':': '-".-
. press ctrszo xir g to it dats.
Your i1rtgtm will refund money It
FVr OtNTMKNT fails i cure Itching
BiinJ, E Ceding or Protruding lllee. fOui
RECOVER 111
THE
Christmas P. O.
t n t? h ,
He's the Human Buffer for Excited Patrons
Forwarding Christmas PreuonU at the
; Packages Each Day in tho Registry
: Standing P. W. Winters, Superintendent; ; t. Ogaen, v, lu. liensaiw.
ing Things "Heme to the Folks."
II f m mrjl vi"W', ' . ...
KY f
George H. - Seaton, the genial and
stout person with the cap, on which
are the letters, "U. S. P, O.." who offt
elates in the postofflce as officer of
the lobby, is having his annual experi
ence of being a mall box. This is the
surest sign that the . Christmas rush
has arrived at the Portland postofflce.
Excited persons looking for the mall
chutes spy Officer Beaton's cap through
the lobby crowd and dash madiytt him.
"Here, mall this for me!" they shout,
thrusting their letters and parcels upon
him. They would even slip them into
his pockets if he were not too quick
for them.
Though he objects to being a mall
box, Mr. Seaton Is a question box with
out protest He will answer any ques
tion you ask him. Doesn't matter what
It la. There are no mora new questions,
anyway. Mr. Seaton aays so, for he
has answered them all.
Just stand In the lobby near him a
minute and see for yourself. Listen to
this:
"Officer, I want to mail a balloon.
What's the postage?"
. "A- a did you say balloon,
ma'am?"
"Yes, it's a toy balloon for my little
nephew. He is years old, you know."
Or a, stout woman will smash a line
at ino stamp wmaow to xunaers in a
center rush at htm, as one did yester
day, her arms full of packages, and
briskly direct him to have them weighed
for her.
"And don't forget to stamp them, and
then mall (hem," she adds sweetly.
"Tes, charge them please charge them
to Mrs. '. -
"What time's the next steamer leave
New York for Berlin?" demands a per
spiring citizen. "This present's late
and I got to get It off by tonight's
boat, I tell you."
"Say, Mister, Where's the hot dog
THE HOF-BRAU
Will serve you Christmas Dinner
Table d'Hote, a la Carte
or which ever iay you desire
NONE BETTER
New Money for Christmas
Money is irjore attractive if new,, and to enable our
customers and friends to make their Christmas
gifts in new money, we have shipped a supply of
new gold and crisp currency for the holiday season.
Security Savings and Trust Co.
Fifthajid Morrij6nSlrceU
CAPITAL AND SURPLUS, $1,400,000
OREGON DAILY JOURNAL', PORTLAND, SATURDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 21,
: I. ...in,-,,.,, .,....., i j.fsi.jisiLj,-i.f i-j jju-'ig-BK-y afw - 'i
Rush on? Just Ask Seaton!
. n h h
Portland Postofflce. At Top Rushing the Thousand of Registered
Division Sitting, Left, Mtes L. Chapcllej Right, Miss Jj. H. McDonald,
.:if.. .iv.JvJ ''M -
window? Gimme one with a government
stamp on It," puts in a wag.
That is how it goes with Mr, Seaton
all day while this Christmas rush Is on.
And take it from Mr, Seaton. who knows,
there is some rush this year.
As for today, it will bo the busiest of
the season. The long lines before the
stamp and register windows began to
form as early as t o'clock.
Telling it in terms of figures, 42
extra clerks and 40 extra carriers have
been put on duty by Acting Postmaster
Williamson to take care of the Christ
mas packages, both outgoing and in
coming. Twenty-one of tho extra clerks
are working in the registry division, un
der Superintendent W. T. Winters, where
the Christmas business is heaviest. Or
dinarily there are only 15 clerks In this
division, but a big proportion of the
more valuable Christmas packages are
registered.
Between J500 and 4000 of these pack
ages are registered and sent out to
other towns every day of the gift sea
son. The flood of packages will not
slacken until after Christmas.
In the neighborhood of 2500 registered
packages a day are now coming in to
town for Portland folks. That is one
reason why so many extra carriers have
been put In service.
It Is Interesting to note here that
this is the last Christmas that packages
will be registered by the postofflce.
After January 1, when the hew parcels
post law takes effect, letters will con
tinue to be registered, but packages will
be Insured.
&r
n n
noiwm in mo juwuuy oumi.
V
"This Insured mall Will be handled
with a fraction of the red tape and reo
ord keeping and receipting and at a
fraction of the expense of the present
registry system," says Postmaster Wil
liamson. "I consider It - the greatest
forward step in the postal service In
many a year. It will reduce Immensely
the work of the department. Under the
new system, Insured mall will be han
dled and delivered like ordinary mall'
Two Days 1-4 Off
Xmas goods including" best perfumes,
domestic and imported, handbags, toilet,
manicure and smokers' sets will be
sold next Monday and Tuesday at hi
off already low marked price. Remem
ber the days. Alder Street pharmacy,
242 Alder. !
Holly, Mistletoe
CHRISTMAS TREES,
Ferns, Palms and Pot Plants
OUR Seasonable Offerings include the most desira
ble decorative and flowering plants; splendid
healthy specimens, all. sizes. They are inexpensive,
beautiful, appropriate and always acceptable.
Just Received
from ,
JAPAN
?naint Dwarf
rees
Rare Palms
Ornamental
Evergreens
and the finest
lot of
Wistaria
we have ever
offered.
Prices are low
and these un
usual plants
make
splendid gifts.
r
Holly Trees f"
We offer the finest lot of berry-bearingr Holly ever shown in Port-.
j land. Nice specimens from $1.50 up. 1
Call at our store or phone M, 4040, A-6015. ,W will be pleased to
aid in selection. Make prompt deliveries. Prices ar , '
right. The best values offered in our line.
PORTLAND-SEEDCO.
' ;; PHONES MAIN 4040, A
9 'f KeGOH ROLLS
Of -Assessment increase Most
i Is Made Up by Multnomah
County. ,
. (6i1m partis ef The Jnurml.) '
Salem, Or., Deo, 21. Not including the
assessments that are made by the state
board of tax . commissioners, ' the as
sessed valuation of the state is nearly
$1,000,006 greater this year. than it. was
last year. The greatest increase .was in
Multnomah coanty, where over tl.000,
000 was added to the tax rolls this
year. In. a few of the counties thenj
U a. itncraaa In valuations. ; The COm-
'1-plete summary aa compiled by the state
tax commission is as follows: vh;.,-?,
'..,,i.,i.'.;M,t i7.tiB.aso t timm
6uton"..A,...... 10,lO,4Rl .w.i
Claekainas ......... Sl.MS.tM':,&TM.t5
H. - ft aM iwn Ait j s 4 11 aiift 41 k ,
Columbia ............
12,B7,00O
1W.M,0S!
UOOI .................
Criy ................
CurrT ................
Ixmclae ..............
Olillin .
19,4M,1!J
. ,1TS.Z4S
;. ,itT,8tt
26.8TS.HW
,444,()Wi
, 6.ml,81
' , T,IW'2.8a.l
. ,OI4,8aO
tiMH.ftftO
S.6S,805
KfllJ,T75
. 8.9,209
84.I44.WK)
S.842.1H3
23.B5S.S2S
; ,)78,800
tr,e5j,7RT
' 8.SOO.T78
IOB.B.13.820
ia,e49,H70
8.045, 2:t0
14,888.133
JW,8M,80t
18.84Z,19
; io,8se,no
,2ri7,3.'
17,S21.7a)
lB,iU0,92O
: t,arttT7
; 4.ni2,m
t7,0n2,145
f, 6,4(W,70O
0,717,64
' T.848.886
9.33B.42
' 12.049.145
8.9H6.875
1B.6K2.121
, B..tl.6.V
I4.B.I8.BMO
' 8.902,613
. Sfl.042.2iW
: . 9,872,820
8.H,ON3,2ll4
e.176,701
80:),U3.1tl3
13,149,100
' .073,8Kn
14,523,732
W.609,141
1H.M9.2I5
10,210,730
j 6,531,590
17.780,9a
8,263,282
15.038,071
Hsrne.T
Hond Hirer
Jakon ..............
JoMphln .............
Klaiaata .............
Uke
Lane v
Mncula
Mnn
Malheur ,,.
Marion
Morrow
Multnomah
Polk
(thermal! ..............
Tillamook .............
UmaUUa .
1'nlon
Wallowa : .............
Waace .................
Wttihiogton
Wheeler
Yamhill ...............
Btite
.1784,118,857 $793,098,181
CALF BORN ON A FARM ,
NEAR FOREST GROVE IS
ABSOLUTELY INSIDE OUT
8feclal to The Journal.) ; 4)
Forest Orove Or., Dec. 21. i.
most peculiar freak was born
yesterday morning oil the farm
of Thomas Williams at Hillside, f
three miles northwest of this
city, the freak being a calf that
earns into the world wrong side
out. By some Inexplicable pro
cess of nature all the Internal
organs of the calf, such as the
lungs, heart, liver and intestines, 4
are on the outside, and the bead, , 4
feet, and hide are Inside; In fact
there Is a complete transposition .
of the normal calf. - "
' Dr. W. B. Coon, a veterinary
surgeon of this city has the freak
calf at his office and will pre-
serve it He says hs has never
seen only one before, this one
beinr in a New York museum,
COUNTY WILL KEEP
COUNCIL CREST QUARRY
The rock ouarrv owned by the county
on Council Crest will not be sold, not In
the near future, at least. V' -
This was decided by the county com
missioners yesterday when they con
sidered a petition presented by - Attor
ney Joseph M. Healy, asking- them to
offer the quarry for sale. It has not
been operated for more than a year.
Responding to ths commissioners' re
onest for a written explanation regard
ing some. bills which they thought ex
cessive. Superintendent h. H. Baker, of
the Detention home, replied that the
work was well done and tho charges
were. In his opinion fair. The bills to
taled SlSl.lt and were Incurred In re
oalrlnff the heating appliances of the
home, cleaning pipes, performing some
plumbing work and excavating a cess
pool.
FIRST TOUCH OF WINTER
IS FELT AT THE DALLES
(Special to 1- Jonrnal.)
, Tho Dalles, Or, Dec 21. This locality
is experiencing its first touch of win
ter. There is no snow in the valleys,
but the surrounding hills are covered,
and heavy frost occurred this week.
ROSES
from Ireland i
A select col
lection of the
latest "Gold
Medal" Itoses,
Including
British Queen
King Oeorg-e v.
George Dloksoa
Mrs. 8am Boss
As a Rift noth
ing could be
more - accepta
ble. ,
Special- V
"Juliet." This
magnificent
novelty, (color
rose and gold),
in large two
year field
grown plants,
at only $1.60.
For complete
list of Roses,
e Catalog;".
- 6015
N"
IN p- MM ;
1G12.
- 'gaaga
SIX FEET OF SfiOi,
(tJnltad Troot Lat4 Wlra.)
Fargo, N. D., Deo. SI. One of the
most terrlfio snowstorms in . the his
tory of ths state has North Dakota in
its, grip today. Drifts from five to
six feet deep are reported. The rail
roads la all sections of ths stats art
hampered by the heavy snowfall.
MUTUAL IMPROVEMENT : i
CLUB FOR PRAIRIE CITY
' ' (Swclel to Th Journal.) '
Prairie City, Or., Deo. 21. Tuesday
evening cltlsens organised a Mutual Im
provement club with W. J. Hughes as
president and F. M, Klght as secretary,
i ne rouiine or me cmo will be the dis
cussion of live topics of .tho day, the
members tsklng turn in outlining and
presenting a chosen or an aaslanod sub
ject, to be followed by an informal dis
cussion by the other members. Women
are admitted to membership and will
take an active' part in ttWwork of the1
club, alternate evenings being devoted
io weir worn exclusively. The club
organised with a . memborshln of to.
Meetings will be held twice a month. 1
THEATRES 71 Af (Sf.I
Interests Children from S to 80 years Old.'
ilUC:TIEAT8E:
Seventh and Taylor
PhOnea Mala 1 and A-112S.
DMTHEE
Ieek;"2.45'
Every Night ffl.
Until Xmas &l
SEATS NOW
8BLLINQ
Em (fijnrmn
nV i . .
UU lyiUUUuVs
A-1020.
Matinee Dally.
AT THE BUNGALOW THEATRE
iweiiin ana Morrison Bireeis,
Mat lBc, S5o, BOO. Nights, 250, BOo, Too.
r a
NORTH DAKOTA DRIFTS
Main t;
wmmm
"BJAIIfflB THEA7BE
MiTUUUliaUU U UUlbini U LUlb iNO OFFICER,- an Intense, interesting
I I -i play, with scenes lsid at a western military post. First time in Port
dJ land. Evenings, 2 60, 1 60, tOa Matinees, Sto. Nejtt- week, starUng to
morrow matinee. "Checkers." -
ElMlfMSF "THE MACT MODELS," MATINEH
iralE x aor,1u.,pMe "ty GiSr"1' " vja
, . I OTHER HEADLINE! ACTS B Home Of,
Bulllvan Considlne Special Prices Matinees, any seat 19a, Refined '
I Evenings, lQo, 20c. Vaudeville
rnWliHTTIMniC WEEK DEC; It Minnie Palmar Presents the ltlS
lUlM U ; AJ?AR5T R?VIEW; Hollman Bros. Jane Madison
TiUU U tnKWfa!tf . ft Ca. Pom Moore-D. J. Davey, ridna Madison.
L M ATJ INEE DAILY Don and O'Naal, Pantagescope. Popular prices.
U WEEK DEC, ' Boxes and first row balcony reserved. Curtain S;J.
f:lt and t.
I.. "J1".. ULUfaJUlUlb . Matinees dally at 2:!o. Sunday and holt.
ILL Sfnn Flood Co Pre-ents day nights, continuous performances, com
LiJ "The Merry Manlae," ths menclngat t:S0. Friday night, choms girls
laughieat of all laughing oome- contest Nsxt week. "Santa Claus Jr."
OREGON HOTELS v OBEGON HOTELS
OTtO REG
PORTLAND, OR. -'
"BEST IN THEf WEST, ,
' An .hostelry of indescribable
charm, unequaled in point of
servioe. comfort and ppolnt
ments. 1 Situated , in the very
heart of things. European plan.
WRIGHT, A DICKINSON HOTEL
COMPANY, Prop. - , - .
1
Stark Street, at Eleventh -PORTLAND,
OREGON
Attractive rates for permanenta furnished upon request - Unex
celled service and cuisine. An unequaled table d'hote dinner aerved
nightly 6 till 8, seventy-five cents.
WRIGHT DICKINSON. Managers.
iiyiiii
HE-
'
Third and East Burnslds
.CENTRALLY LOCATED
Rate Lowest In ths City
760 PER DAY.
PRIVATE BATHI 1.00 DAY
Limousine Bus VtM to All ,
Trains. .
Special rates to permanent
guests.
5 "1
K.K. CLARKE. Atf1
7 ft M i!i
IliUiyii
RBVERVBEW
1 A
sssai
SE INMATE
IS HEIR TO $500,000
' ' (United Pra Leiaed Wire.)
Middletown, N. Y., Dec, SI. California
lawyers wired Charles Drake, an lnmatt
of the county poor house hire, that hi
brother, who died recently, had left hint
an estate valued at 1500,000. '
' Town Wants Auto Fire Truck.
"1; f ' (Social to The 'Journal.) : ' .
' The Dalle Or.. Dec, SI. A move 1
on foot here to supply the fir depart
ment of the city with an auto fire
truck. Petitions - are being xlrculat
asking the city council to purchase
truck, majority of the council having
signified their willingness to buy the
apparatus if a majority of the taxpay
ers of the city want it It is estimtaed
that the new apparatus will cost 18000
and to care for arid operate It will oost
approximately $1600 a year. J ,
, v , ,(, ; "' 1 ." 'i '.1 f'. :' ,'':(',;
' The revised figures show that In tha
next congress ths southern Democrats
will have a membership In the house
and senate together about equal to that
from all other sections of the country,
fhWatmaa trMa haat treai. fra Aa
livery, open Sunday. 12S 10th st.
WTS ENTERTAIN M ENTS
PAUL J. RAINEY'S
' AFRICAN HUNT
MOTION PICTURES
; Reserved Seats Now Belling for engage
ment PRICKS, too and SSa
POOR
III
Action HIGHT0 IT-tV
- tub bio musical comedt.
Special Price Mat Xmas and Bat.
Eve., tS to tOc. Mat, $1.80 to too. 4,
, LOUI8B . "
JOSEPH
AND COMPANY IN
11 1 butts c iMiflnriutie
It
a.- -f:.K. 1L.II H UIL JlkiliUJJ U U II IL.
.-" Una U II lr M III U In It
' 6U Mora Feature Acts.
t SEATTLE
SEATTLE -WA8H. '
"IN. THH t SftADOW . OF
Tim TOTEM.'
Located in ths center of the
financial and business dlstriots.
Modern in every particular.
Magnificently , furnished. ' Euro
pean plan. .'....-
WRIOHT ft DICKINSON HOTEL
COMPANY. Prop.
Only First Clas Amer
ican and European
Flan Hotel in tha City
ABSOLUTELY nRE-PROOf
PORTLAND'S
GRANDEST
HOTEL
100 rooms .... ...... $1.00 per day
100 rooms .......... .$1,50 per day
200 rooms, with bath $2.00 per day
100 rooms, with bath $2.50 per day
Add $1.00 per day""to above prices
when two occupy one room. ?
VfiKI ATTKAUUVJS FKIUKS
FOR PERMANENT GUESTS
H. C. BOWERS. Manager.
GAINER TH1GPEN. Asst. Maimer.
EfJEKl
It
HUB
IT -OF t CUE aw
NOTE OUR RATES:
Room with Bath Privilege ....... $1.00 Ur
Two Persons . . , .............. ..$1.50 UP
Room With Private Batli .$1.50 UP
Two Person's V .:v $2.50 UP
U Q. 8 WETLAND, MGR.
(Permanent Rates on Appl.cation)
.vsj.W.Wf-$'ivisJ
.:.":'.v;v;i:'-''V' fM
V
i,
' " It
R?F(land fanwuj HotcU
Noted tor the txcellence
lis Cujsine, European plcij)
1.-4.