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About The Oregon daily journal. (Portland, Or.) 1902-1972 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 8, 1915)
THE OREGON SUNDAY JOURNAL, ' PORTLAND, SUNDAY MORNING, AUOUST 8, 1915. T. WILL THERE BE A FRAME-UP IN THE WOMEN PASSENGER AGENTS 0 II. ON AST LEG OF TOUR Popular Quartet Takes Trip to North Beach on Steamer Hassalo. WOMEN AGENTS POPULAR NEAR ELIJAH COALMAN'S SUMMER HOME FOR FIRST E BY A TENANT JL Elijah Coalman Has a Job ' That Makes Residence at This Place Necessary. Speculation Is Rife as to Turn Events Will Talce in Local Meeting. SUMMIT OF-M HOOD 1 1 ; . , . ; l DCCUPED TIM POWER CONFERENCE? 4- vitt FOREST FIRE LOOKOUT Celebrated Gold Surprises All In His Ability ' to Withstand This Bleak ana Barren Solitude . By F. II. MacXeil. The summit of old Mount Hood for the first time in its extended history. Is Inhabited by mankind. True, there Is but one Inhabitant, but he Is there to stay, several months at least, and he has found a job requir ing his constant presence on the grace ful dome of the snow peak that Port land folks are fond of calling their own. Elijah Coalman, the fatuous south side guide of Mount Hood, who lias done astonishing things to the peak at close Intervals for a number of years. Is the person who has chosen this most novei of all summer homes. , "L.lge,'' as he iu familiarly "known, recently took a position with the United States forest service as a for est guard. He la one of the individ uals hired by Uncle Sam to do nothing but watch the forests from the top of tome high mountain or along a lofty trail, for fires. Anyone who knows Mount Hood can appreciate the wide vision of a forent observer perched on the summit. The limit is hundreds of miles in every di rection. For years officials of the United States forest service have looked with longing eyes at the string of snow peaks that rise in the center of huge areas of the green Cascade mountain forests." They have always thought, however, that the establishment of stations on these peaks would be but Useless expense. It has been consid ered that a man could not live in the high atmosphere fo:- any length of time, and these same officials, with many other persons, i.ave believed that a man could not stand the grimness and silence of the great white snow fields. But Coalman thought otherwise. His S25 trips to.-4he top have brought him on very close speaking terms with llood, and his study of her moods has convinced hiin that Hood can be suc cessfully used for some other purpose than as an object of scenery and a tiling to be climbed. So he applied for the Job and got it Along with Coalman the summit has several other permanent fixtures that weren't there last year or any time before. There is a telepiione with the receivers hanging on the tent .pole, 11. 225 feet above the sea, and Coalman can take down the helmet and if nec essary, talk --directly to Supervisor Kherrard of the Oregon National forest In the Reck -building at Broadway and Cak streets. -There is also a tent with a double board floor, a comfortable bed, a set of six books on psychology, a kerosene tove, and an unlimited supply of "grub"' in the commissary. Over on the two highest points of the summit, a few feet from the tent, there are t'no lnstruments for locating the fires, the device known as the Osborne forest fire finder or altidadc. Camp Establishment Is Strenuous. Coalman's marvelous endurance and strength never wer-s better demon strated than in the establishment of his camp. Over three weeks ago he began the arrangements which now have been carried out. All the supplies used in establishing the. camp, and their weight was not ganged In pounds, but in tons, were taken on the government pack jnules, from the Government Camp hotel on the south side, to Triangle moraine, at an altitude of 8ono feet and about two and one-half miles up the snow from timber line. There 'Llge,'1 with the assistance of whom ever he could secure to help him, threw the stuff on his back and lugged It to a cache on Crater Rock. From there It was taken in still smaller loads, the comparatively short distance over the hog back, then across the big crevasse and up the exceedingly steep snow slope that is traversed by climb ers by means of the 800 foot rope. Coalman's tent Is situated In a shal low snow hollow, about 36 yards north of the iron stake that helps hold the end of the south side rope. The top of Hood Is just about as unsheltered and wintry a spot as one could wish for most of the time, but the tent has been placed in a strategic position where all possible advantage la taken of the little shelter that does exist. Coalman Is Outcarried. Something over two weeks ago, there were over two tons of supplies at Crater Rock. In three' days that load was taken to the top of the mountain on the backs of two men. And In this tng story. The morning of the day he was about to begin transporting this load to the top. Coalman stood sorting it out into piles of approximately 60 pounds. Looking north across the hogback and towards, the summit In an Interval of rest, he was amazed to see, scrambling down the steep snow ' along the rope, the figure of a stocky little man. The fellow was tow beaded and undeniably of Scandinavian origin. Coalman saw. on closer in spection. The conversation between the two that ensued was something like this. 'You're 'Lige' Coalman, ain't you?" ventured the stranger. ' Coalman admitted the allegation. "Well. I was up at Cloud Cap Inn yesterday and they told me you waa working over here and I want a job. I started out early this morning over lh north side, and here I am. Don't worry, 111 work cheap. "I have nothing you can do," Coal man replied. "I have a lot of pack ing on hand, but you can't pack." "111 do anything that .you do and more," snapped back Jthe stranger. .IFUUBe name ivuanuau . i i yuu uui, was. Olson. Now, if there Is anything that Coal man is proud of. It is his ability to pack a huge load to the top of Mount Hood, and Olson's dare touched him In a tender spot. - Coalman decided to try him out. and in decision, he planned to make the tryout a thorough one. So he fixed up to narks, nne weisrhine 65 nounds. and the other 59 pounds. Ho didn't say nvthinc hint h handed the willlnir stranger the heaviest load. 'Go on ahead." directed Coalman. - Olson-"went," ahead at such a rate that Coalman" will . admit to anyone f it was all ho could do to keep up ' . : ' v ''jr ;V; & :4L''r, '" " : ' 111' ' ill T 'V- -H'n-; : '' III ' - ' ' V J I I ' " " III, C irx III Ssa v K , i , - QUESTIONS ARE BEING PUT! Interest Calling' Confarenca 7oug-ht and Silled Oregon Hydro-Elactrio Bill ' In legislator. i His tent is at tne summit oi Blount tiooa ana wnen ne nas guests mey must, traverse me ruuie aim j wear the garb here shown. Above, left to right An altidade, . an instrument for locating forest j fires, just above Mazama rock on the summit of Mount Hood ; ' t elephone wires to Coalman's sta tion that keep him in touch with the outside world. Delow, left to right In front of Coal man's summit tent, leit to rigiu it. lu Koisony, anss Anna uonnmann ana uss f ajuiv iioore; deep crevasse at the beginning of the steep climb just below the summit. with him. Olson was plainly winded when the top was reached, but he stuck on the Job, doing just as much work as his employer. For three days they labored. Three packs were taken by each from Crater Rock to the tent in the morning, and three more in the afternoon. These round trips were made on the average in an hour. The fastest round trip to Nthe top and back again was made in 59 minutes. Each man carrying consid erably more than 60 pounds at the time. During this time Coalman learned that his assistant had been a sailor for 11 years, and had been In the rigorous interior Alaskan mountain climate for a number of years. Very short, weigh ing not more than 145 pounds, Olson's frame seemed of steel. Coalman says. After the packing was finished. Olson stuck by his job and helped Coalman complete his camp. Only a week ago yesterday the for est fire finders were placed. Ttlis is a task in which mathematical exact ness is required, as the location of the fire is computed by triangulation, after the observer has telephoned to the su pervisor's headquarters his observa tions. In placing the altidade on Mount Hood, six different minor peaks were used as markers. One of the instruments has been placed in the snow just above Maeama rock, about 20 yards due east of the little snow hummock that Is designated as the true summit. From here all points of the compass can be observed with the exception of an area directly west, overlooking Sandy, Coe and Ladd glaciers." ' In order to make the circle of vision complete, another altidade was placed 150 yards to the west of the one by Mazama rock. This .takes In the ter ritory to the west of Mount Hood, in cluding the upper reaches of the Bull Run water shed. In placing the instrument above Maxama rock, Lookout mountain, di rectly east and Mitchell mountain, to the southwest, together with another unnamed but wooded peak to the north, were used for fixing the altidade map with respect to exact locations. Similar peaks were used in placing the Instrument on the west side of the summit. The Instruments were placed by Mr. Osborne, the Inventor. Osborne, for a number of years has been one of the technical men attached to the Port land offices of the forest service, but recently was appointed a field man for outside work, mainly in placing his in strument. He was on top of Hood last week and did most of the work In lo cating the altidade himself. The telephone wires were connected with the summit after much labor. The steel strands . are laid over the enow of the eouth sid connecting with the wires that leaffup the road from Government Camp, theji up the snow to Crater Rock, across the rock to the hog back, then up to tha sum mit, paralleling the catle. So far only a test set of instruments is on the top. but one of the Iron ftool proof forest telephones is to .be taken to the top shortly, if Coalman ' manages to stick it out. - j ...... -. : Coalman' tent - Is pitched on tha snow, but its sides are securely an chored to the nearby rocks. The tent, which Is 12 by 12 feet, is doubly floored with lumber. The bed consists of three double Hudson Bay blankets and a sleeping bag, and the big guide has so far had no trouble in keeping warm. The stove burns kerosene, which Coalman packs to the top, in 84 pound quantities. He carries these in one load, if you please. His , commissary IS a tempting one and trie meals he has been cooking for himself would In terest an epicure. Despite the high altitude he has been able to cook any thing that he wants, including the well known navy bean , Although Coalman wants it dis tinctly understood that he 1s not run ning a hostelry because the govern ment has hired him in an entirely dif ferent capacity, his tent has already been the scene of some famous feeds. Last Sunday the; tent was formally dedicated. Coalman entertaining 20 mountain climbers, most of them Ma samas, as guests. Among other things celebrated was the birthday of T. R. Conway, a Mazama who has lately led numerous parties to the summit by way of the south side. Hot chicken, tomato soup, coffee and tea were among the stimulating and strength restoring foods that appeared on the menu. Such comfortable mountain climbing was never enjoyed by a party making an ascent in the northwest be fore. L. F. Pridemore of Government Camp and Conway spent Saturday night on the summit with Coalman. They left Government Camp at 12:13 Saturday afternoon, with packs of 25 and 45 pounds which they alternated in carrying. Trudging through the ex tremely soft snow, they succeeded in reaching the top at 7:45. Coalmen met them at Crater Rock, and a hot dinner was thoroughly enjoyed when his tent was reached. The heavy packs contained red fire and bedding. It was too cloudy, how ever, for the fire to be seen from Port land, so small quantities were burned for the edification of the many per sons watching for It from the south side. They were first Informed of the exact minute of the burning by tele phone from the top. Wight View rrom tha Summit. During the evening too. Portland was communicated with by telephone. At 11 o'clock Coalman took his guests out for a night view of his,, world. The lights of The Dalles were distinctly visible and the street cars were seen In motion. Likewise the street Illum ination at Hood River was a prom inent feature of the nocturnal land scape. A heavy fog lay to the north and west up through which the silvery noses of St Helens, Adams and Rain ier were poked, glistening in tha per fect moonlight. It was very warm, with no wind, and the men were with out COats. The following morning Guide John Myers met a party- at timberllne, . and brought, its ? members to. the top, ar riving safely at 1 o'clock, after a climb of nine hours and 30 minutes. All tha visitors eJoyed th Coalman " hospi tality for two h4urs, leaving down at 3 o'clock. Coalman Zs 2?ot Complaining. How Is Coalman standing it, one Questions? He answers that he is feeling better than he has ever felt in his life before: that he is gaining weight and that the bracing air makes ;him more buoyant than when he was residing in the val leys below. He believes that he will be able to remain through the summer on top without endangering his health, and that the plan of making the'sum mit a permanent forest fire lookout station is a perfectly feasible one. The experiment is being watched with utmost Interest for there are still many who say that he will not be. able to complete the task he has allotted himself. A number of persons have Spent nights on the summit of Mount Hood in years past, but none has ever lived there anywhere near the time that Coalman has already spent. His tent Is at an altitude of 11,225- feet. When he goes "down," he drops 1000 feet only to the 10,000 foot level of Crater Rock. He is living in a place where the air pressure is less than 20 pounds; normally : the pressure is 2S.50 pounds for those living at the Willamette valley! altitudes. Under these conditions he has the added dis advantage of cold, almost Arctic weather at times, high disagreeable winds, the dazzling white snow glare that requires the wearing of colored glasses at all times to prevent snow blindness. But worst of allhe has to endure the silence, the ghastly, dead world silence of the mountain tops which is relieved 1 only by the more doleful and soul disturbing sing of the wind as it tears through the spires of Steele's cliffs. Abuser of Phone Girls Is Caught Complaints of Police of Practice Xreads to Arrest of Boxmaker by Detectives Testerday. Accused .of telephoning to women employed in downtown department stores and offices and using vile and abusive language towards them, Emll Torango, a boxmaker employed in a carpenter shop at 176? East Ninth street, was arrested by (Jity Detec tives Hyde and ; Vaughn . yesterday about noon. Dozens of complaints made to the police detective department, resulted in the Investigation being made. Accord ing to the police Torango has con fessed. He is charged with disor derly conduct. Detective Hyde traced the calls through the telephone ex changes, and yesterday, a ter hear ing one of Torango's conversations to a girl In a department store, arrested him as he held -the receiver In his hand. .... ' -. I - The calls were; sent -in from the office of the shop,: while tha members of 'the office force were away to lunch. Torango is in - the city jail for "trial, in the municipal court Mon day. - i-.i-. - .- r - There is speculation as to what turn the water power conference, called to be held in Portland September 21 to 23, will take. Will there be a frame-up on the part of the reactionaries and the special In terests to control the conference for the .purpose of taking action antagon istic to the proposed plan of the ad ministration to encourage hydo-elec-' trie development through a leasing system under government administra tion? Is that the sole purpose for which the conference of representatives of the western states, which have large ! amounts of undeveloped water power, I was called? Questions Are Asked. Or is the conference to be for an open mmu,eu aiscussion or one or tne most Important questions affecting the future development of the west? These questions are being asked, as the conference was called as a resulC of a resolution put through the last Oregon legislature at the instance of reactionaries,, after a resolution in dorsing what is known as the Ferris bill, then pending In congress, was de feated. The Ferris bill embodied the plan approved by Secretary of the In terior Lane for the government to lease its power sites for' water power development. The same Interests which put through the resolutions calling for the conference also fought and killed the bill prepared by the Oregon hydro electric commission, which bill pro--vlded for the creation of hydro-electric districts to enable the people to provide their own power "plants and power distributing systems, and other public utilities, if they so desired. State Control ITrged. Those who opposed the Ferris leas ing bill took the ground that the gov ernment was endeavoring to asert rights over the water power in the various states that should belong ex clusively to the states. They said they wanted the state to regulate and control its water power. On the other hand, those approving the administration's effort to bring about a greater development of the country's water power resources de clared that the reactionaries were try ing to befog the public mind by pre tending that they are fighting for the state's interests as against the gov ernment, when In reality they were trying to get control of the water power for themselves. They see in the move of the reac tionaries a scheme to endeavor to con trol the approaching conference for the purpose of putting the western states on record as opposed to , the government's plan. When the resolution providing for the calling of the conference was passed by the legislature It carried with it the appointment of the Ore gon delegates. An effort was made to amend so as to permit the gov ernor to appoint the delegates, as Is customary, but the senate bosses, who proposed the conference, wound not stand for that. Government Owns X.and. The Oregon delegates are 8. B. Hus ton and K. B.' Piper, Portland; C. S. Hudson, Bend; W. Lair Thompson, Lakeview, and Governor Wlthycombe, chairman. They represent the reac tionary interests of the state. It is reported that the state of Washing ton has an equally reactionary dele gation. The government owns along the streams much of the land which must be used for power sites, if there Is power development, while the state owns the water. The special inter ests are charged with wanting to get title to the land and then taking chances in dealing with the state for the water, while the government offi cials want to lease the land for 60 year periods, thus retaining the pub lic's ownership of the land. It is pro posed In the Ferris bill that half of the revenue from the leases should go iato the reclamation fund for further development of arid districts and the other half be turned over to the state's road and -school funds. Tim of !. Those who are in touch with tha contending interests declare tbat when one gets down to the bottom of things there is not as much difference be tween the two sides as many think. They say that nearly all of those in terested admit that a leasing system must be adopted. They also concede that 60 years is a fair length of time for a lease to run. The greatest point of difference is said to be the question of price, those opposing the govern ment wanting a fixed price determined upon, and no discretionary power to be given to any" government official to regulate 4he price.- Man and Wife Willing to Work Here or On Farm; ; . i A man, 35, and wife, 28, with : a little girl of 8, want work. He will do anything take a job 4fc . on a ranch or farm, or tackle 3t any kind of work in the city. He if- is ready to give references. ke They must have work as soon , as he can get It. He can be Hf reached by telephone. Main 4t 6981 and asking for Pirtle or by calling at 410 Fourth- street. 4 . . I WANTS SHARE OF PROFITS A I- H I , I A IK I'M! niH 1: III f. Ill 5 a s Left to right J. B. Courtright, 'city passenger agent at Taeoma; Miss Olive Lender, Miss Edna Flynn, Miss Myrtle L. Baker, and Miss Estelle Macaulay. There are four of them and tbey are probably as wide awake and as busi nesslike yoong women as are to be found in the Pacific northwest ; They .constitute the first woman's Passenger association in ' the United States and they were in Portland yes terday on the last leg of a trip of edu cation better to fit thera for their new positions. ... They are the four recently appointed woman passenger agents of the O.-W. R. & N. company one for-Seattle, one for Walla Walla, one for Spokane and one for Portland. They held their first meeting In the office of General Passenger Agent Mo Murray, In Portland, June 28, their appointment, a complete innovation in railroad management, being the idea of President J. D. Farreli, When the. steamer Hassalo of the O.-W. R. St N. fleet left down the river yesterday afternoon she carried the passenger agents on their last lap of their educational trip. The four appointees are Miss Myrta U Baker. Walla Walla; Miss Olive K.' Lender, Spokane; Miss Kdia Flynn. Se attle, and Miss Estelle Macaulay, Port land. - Hartford, Conn., Aug. 7. (U. P.) Whether a general strike of all' work ers, among New England ammunition factories shall be called in an effort to foi-ce the employers to share war profits with their men probably will be decided at an Important conference to open here Sunday afternoon. To nearly all readers of The Journal, the sixth page, Section 1, will be mora interesting - and of greater benefit than any other. , Don't over look it. V; ' Written Guarantee U A. 43 Moire Tire Mileage "While others are claiming quality, we are guaranteeing it!" That's the Ajax ' tire purchase policy. It will interest you to know that you may underwrite the risk of short mileage from tires that you may protect your important tire investment Ajax Tires are guaranteed in writing for 5000 miles a definite written pledge of service accompanies every tire sold. ot only are Aiax Tnres the. first to be guaranteed in writing; they are the first ' to set up 5000 miles as the stamjard of measure of their anticipated life. Most other tires carry an "implied" life of 3500 miles. This is the figure: you have a right to expect, for it is the limit j of the maker's claim. . It is apparent then that Ajax Tires are 'mm m ' better tires by louu miles 01 service or 43 per cent. ' And a saving of 43 per cent is mighty important these days.- It represents a difference of from $3 to $15 less in the cost per tire to you, according to the size you use. Next time try Ajax Tires. 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