m- MU guitjj j$wfem. ASTOBIA, OEEGON: WEDNESDAY .OCTOBER 2. 1SS9, FIRE INSURANCE. San Fbancisco, Sept. 30. The difficulty 'which arose some time ago between three mutual fire insuranoe companies of New York and the Pacific insurance union culminated to-day in the announcement by the mutual companies that they would sell all classes of property on the Pacific coast at 40 per cent, below union rates, and that agencies would be established in every town on the coast. This action grows out of an -unsuccessful effort on the part of the three companies to gain admission to the union, they having been refused admission on the ground that they were mutual companies. Sometime ago there was a raise of over 30 per cent, in fire insurance rates in a part of this city. Insurance from fire in this city is believed to be high, enough if not too high, and the cinching of Astoria people to increase the profits of the San Francisco insur ance ring again brings to the front the suggestion that Astoria organize a mutual insurance company. The last raise is out of all reason. Just why it is made is one of those things difficult to understand. Every time our Astoria fire department is improved, the insurance rates go up a little. As the department is con stantly being improved, the rates are constantly appreciating. One would think that the better the fire depart ment, the lowe? the fire insurance rates: but this is a case where the thing works inversely, As no great improvement has re cently been made in our efficient local fire service, it would seem that nothing but a desire for further profits has caused this last cinch. The insurance agents in the city are pewerless: all they can do is to state what4he "compact" fixes inSan Fran cisco. If the "compact" says 25 per cent, 25 per cent it is. They argue ''Those people will, must insure anyhow, so we may as well raise the 7 per cent, rate to 9, and the 9 per cent rate to 11." The only thing that will bring these insurance people to time is to decline to do business with them. The only way to be successful in this effort is by unity, by standing to gether. So fast as the policies are to be renewed, simply notify the agents "We won't renew: the premium asked is too mucli." By all standing to gether the thing can be done. The matter must be brought to a halt some time: no time is better than the present: right now. A fair profit is admissible in all businesses: insurance companies are necessary and useful, and no one should grumble if they declare hand some dividends on their par stock values. But they are milking us dry in As toria. We are paying big taxes to support a fine fire department Everything that science or skill can suggest is considered none too goed: the city council and the citizens give money lavishly- to support the department That department has a good record for promptly putting ont fire in this city, and the insurance companies know that a fire risk in this city is better than in any other 'city north of San Francisco. Facts, statistics, show this. Yet they yearly advance the rates just because they think they can do so -with impunity. Shall this be allowed to go en: shall wa pay a treble tax as a protection against fire,' or shall we refuse to be cinched and takahe matter iu our own hands? If we had nothing but a hand engine and a lot of leather buckets the insu rance rates would be no greater than they are, with the best fire .depart ment on the coast The insurance companies ignore the presence or existence of our fire de partment It is a factor in the equa tion that they profess not to see. The game is not entirely in their own hands. The Astorian suggests that this matter be agitated. The question is how shall we bring .these compact companies to their senses and show them that Astoria is not a gold mine to have its eyes gouged out. The only way is to refuse to do business with .them except on more just and equitable terms. The insurance companies .are not masters of the situation, and should be made to feel it LAWSUIT OR LEGACY. Unceetain are many of the ways of the life insurance companies. No where else in the history of large busi ness organizations has .the debtor reg ulated his obligation by the morals of his creditor and liquidated his debt by acknowledging .its existence, and then simply charging moral obliquity on the part of said creditor as the rea son for not paying. For instance, A deposits 1,000 in a bank. It is his money. He can withdraw it when he pleases, .subject, of course, to certain banking rules, which have nothing to do with his character as a citizen. If he is a thief, perjurer, or has been guilty of some social irregularity, it does not invali date his certificate of denosit His rights cannot-be impeached on ethical grounds. But the opposite rule has been held and is still, held by many companies to govern life insurance transactions. And now what is the consequence? Why, a man is never sure he is not entaiiing a lawsuit, instead of a legacy, upon his family, and that, too, when his tongue is .silent and he is no longer able to defend himself. Perhaps no man s character is able to bear such a test Nothing is more easy than to pickx a flaw in the character of a dead man. Millions of dollars have been withheld from heirs by the threat to blacken the name of a beloved father or husband, made all the more terrible on account of vagueness. And not only this, but upon the finding of some slight, wholly immaterial flaw in liis statement (which it failed to find when he was in the hands of its agents and officers) in some companies he not only forfeits the right of his heira to their purchased inheritance, but the company retains his money which he has paid besides. This is surely a dangerous contract for a man to sign. It is placing a temptation and a power in the hands of a corpo ration that it has never yet been in the nature of corporations not to abuse. See how it works. The question is asked: At what age did your grand parents die? All four of them. Few persons can correctly answer that question. Many do not know. They only have a vague impression, founded on a mere rumor, and po reply, and pay up a premium for 10 years, and shortly after die. Now the trouble begins. One doctor says the death was caused by consumption, an other, blood-poison or general de bility. The company ransack the cradle and the grave and find some old person who will swear that to the best of their recollection a grandfa ther or grandmother had died of con sumption. The policy holder is dead and the heirs are powerless to contra dict this vague testimony. What fol lows? The company sends an agent to the widow, who assures her that there is a fatal flaw in her husband's policy, that they would like to be gen erous in her affliction and ,will pay a small amount if she will sign a re lease. She is poor, has a number of children to clothe and feed, and rea sons a "bird in the hand is worth two in the bush." In this way millions of money are kept from needy heirs. Take a case. In 1878 Col. Dwiglit died leaving an insurance on his life for 265,000. A large portion of this he had carried for years. Fifty thou sand iu one company was promptly paid. After a few days' hesitancy an other company paid 5,000. Nineteen companies contested the claim. Ros coo Conkling was on the side of the heirs, and the contest was one of the hardest and bitterest on record, and finally these ghoulish companies won, after having dug up Col. Dvvicht's body several times in the effort to prove that he was poisoned or that ho had hung himself, upon a purely tech nical point. And that was that the colonel did not state that he had at one time owned a hotel where liquor was sold. Now remember that for months they had tried to prove, that he had been killed, then that he had committed suicide, never claiming that they were entitled to immunity on the ground that he had kept a bar a long time ago. We believe that ninety-nine policy holders out of a hundred could not stand such a strain on their reputation when dead. Col. D wight had been accepted. He had stood the test of a medical examina tion. The company had received and used his money and " then refused to settle the policy on this ghost of a technicality.. Fraud, is it, for him not to state he had kept a hotel for a few months? What more natural than not to mention it? Here is a man who is a book-keeper or grocer. He takes out a policy and never thinks of. the fact that he has a small interest in a mine more than a hundred miles away. 'He visits the mine, several years after, and catches cold in it and dies; the company sticks to the tech nicality and his policy is not worth the paper It is written on. We have summarized these poiuls with no hostility to fife insurance companies, for tlfey fill an important place, as many desire to leave a larger legacy than can be secured in the fraternal orders. .It is also a gratifi- I cation to know that there are some companies that do not catch at such technicalities to escapertljeir responsi bility, but the temptation exists and is ever liable to abuse. The Liverpool Mercury relates an incident which shows how some Eng land landlords treat their tenants. A prosperous fanner who was desir ous of purchasing his holding, which had been occupied by his family for three generations, waited upon his landlord and made known his desire, stating that he had saved S00. Out broke the landlerd: "You have saved 800 on my land! You want me to sell it to you! I tell you what I'll do; ni raise your rent 100 a vear! And he did it. The rent was au impossi ble one.. The tenant had to turn out from the house in wliich he was born, and the farm was offered for new oc cupation. It had to be let at 50 less rent than was actually being paid by the hereditary tenant, but all attempts to conclude a reasonable arrangement on the part of the saving fanner were useless. The landlord thought he had rightly punished him for his im pudence. Cases like this are arousing an angry feeling among English ten ant farmers. AlVICETOJIOTIIKi. Mrs. Wixslow's Soothing Syuvp should always be used lor children teething. It soothes tlu child, softens the gums, allays all pain, emes wind cholic, and is the best remedy for diar rhoea.T wenty-five rents a hott I e. TiMlr, Juicy Nleali at JViT's. All the patent medicines adveithed in this paper, together with the choicest perfumery, and toilet aiticles, etc, can be bought at the lowest prices, at .1. V. Conn's drug store, opposite Occident hotel, Astoria. CMlflren Cry forPitclier's Castoria NOTICE To Canneryiiien and Others. The Owners of the AngJo-AnieUcan Tacking Co. Wish to dispose of the HuMilitis and Plant of this Cannery. The plant includes Koilor, two itetorts, two Sohlei Machines, a line Steam Engine with good Shafting, and other Machinery and Furniture to carry on a C'.tn nery. Intending piuchaseis can inspect at the Cannerv or receive full i;u ticulars of MESS KS. COKBErT & MACLEAY. Portlaml. Or of P. L. CIIEKKV, Astoria, Oiegon. Astoiia, September soth. 18S!. Roadway Market. P. O'HARA, Prop'r. Opposite Foard ,v Stokes. A First-Class Meat Shop. Frosh and Salt Meats. All Purchases Delivered in am part of the City. Express and Transfer. CSuh. and Fred, llildclu-ntiti, Propiietors. Headquarters at Foaid & Stokes. LEAVE ORDERS AT PETER BRACH'S, Uppertown. BAGGAGE, FU RIGHT. I3TC. PROMPTLY DELIVERED I:: any part of the City. Wanted. Parties to Take the Contract of Clearing Columbia Addition Of the Underbiush, Fallen Trees, Ftc. Apply to C.IJ. HALL & CO. to SALE. Valuable and KlIfillileLols in AJlair's Astoria. Saturday, October 5, at 2 r. m. At Robb & Parker's Real Estate Olllce. Wlieien Plat oftliePionerty can be Seen. Instructed by W. B. Adair. Esq., agent. l win oner ai rum,iu Autniui, on me above day, the Lots in BLOCK Co. ADAIR'S AS lORIA. as recently subdivided, replatted ami lecorded in the County Clerk' office. This property is admirably located, com mands a fine Mew of the Columbia River bar, is only 3 blocks from high tide water line and 3 only from the street car line now running. It is one block south ofthe Pow er's Avenue, which is laid out 135 ft. wide. Each lot is cleared and staked oil ami a ma jority of them are now under cultivation by Chinese gardeners. Persons desirous of examining the prop erty before the day of the sale will please take the plank road south of Kopp's IJiew eiy. The lots are now quite accessible. A carriage can be driven within one block of the north west corner of Block CO. Terms at sale. Title perfect. Warranty Deeds. E.C.HOLDEN, Auctioneer. John C. Dement. DRUGGIST. Successor to W. E. Dement & Co. Carries Complete Stocks of Drugs and Druggists' F.uYulrios. I'rescrlptloii t'niefiillj' compounded. Agent tor Mexican Salve and Norwegian Pile Cure Morgan & Sherman GROCERS And Dealers m Camiyjttiios! Special Attention CIvento Filling Of Orders. A FULL LINE CARRIED And Supplies furnished at Satis factory Terms. Purchases delivered In any part of the city. Office and Warehouse In Hume's New Budding on Water Street. P. O. Box 153. Telephone No, 37. ASTORIA, OREGON. Real I'iiJ Me in J. H. MANSELL, TAT! NOTA11Y PUBLIC FOR STATE OF OHEGON. City Lots and Acre Property, Ranches, Timber Lands, and Water Frontage for Sale. Investments made for OutsPde Parties. Established. 1SS3. . ext W. V. Telegraph Ofiice. P. O. BOX 863 Ogl GET YOUR EXCHANGED AT B V t - ISilimOl TO EAST ASTORIA: : $5.00 Per. Month. ' EGoocl for One Week only. ; SoBB & PARSES., Agents. it Will Pay You to Buy a Lot IN Laurel Park Addition -TO- This property is now on the On tho Installment Plan for $30.00 and $40.00 per Lot. $10.00 Cash and $5.00 per Month. Don't miss this opportunity. The terminus of n transcontinental road"wilrbe located within 1.1 minutes walk from this beautiful tract. ?r0 to-day. 250 in ono year. Save tho dollars and buy real estate and wealth is vours. Call at once upon WORSLEY & OARRDTHERS. Corner Sd'amTOIney Streets. This addition to Astoria i3 beautifully situated on a gentle slope toward the John Day river, lying on the County road and only 200 yards from steamboat land ing, and within easy walking .distance of street car line. Tho railroad survey from Portland to Astoria down the south bank of tho Columbia rivepossing between the landing and Riverside. Tho "Qregonian" in an editorial of September 1st, says: Tho O. R. & N. will build lines within n short time from Portland to Puget Sound and Gray's Harbor and from Portlaml to Astoria, penetrating the John Day region." Buy Now Be The most certain and best paying investments in any country are those made in good towns when prices nro low. and prior to the full growth of such' towns. No timber or ravines. All good level lots f0xl00. Avenues 60 feet wide. Price, 40.00; 10.00 down, balance 5.00 per month. Title? D. S. patent. See plats at J. H. MANSELL'S or FRANK SPITTLE, Real Estate Agents, Astoria, Oregon. J. P. H-YNES, DBA LEU IN- Groceries Produce. "Water Street, Astoria, Oregon. t TELEPHONE SO. 7. - PO. BOX 822. E BROKER, Correspondence Solicited. Third St. Astoria, Oregon. FOR A LOT -IX e uifv of Astoria. market, and is being sold by fore the Rise BOOTS AND SHOES! Of Best Quality, and at LOWEST PRICES, ATTHE-r- SIGN OF THEJOLDEN SHOE. New York Novelty Store. ALL THE LATEST NELTIES 33lt23.l5L Books, JSta,-tiox3Le3?y, Your Money's Wortli IS "WHAT YOU GET AT Foard & Stokes JN Groceries and Provisions. .Everything In a First-class Store and at Extremely Low Figures. Goods Delivered all over Town. Tue Hightj Price Paid for Junk. FOARD & STOKES Wholesale Wine House. Fine Wines, Choice Brands. I hnve completed arrangements for supplying any brant? of Wino in any quantity at lowest cash figures. The Trade Supplied, Families Supplied. ALL ORDERS DELIVERED FREE IN ASTORIA. Your patronage in City or Country solicited. A. W. UTZINGER, Cosmopolitan Saloon. ilk W MJLMmmW WHOLESALE AND RETAIL DEALER IN Groceries, Provisions and Mill Feed. Crockery, Glass $ Plated Ware. o The Largest and finest assortment of 3Pa?esh. Fruits and TSTgeta,kl&. Reoeived fresh every Steamer. The New Model Eange CAN BE HAP IN Agent. Call and Examine It ; You Will on Pleased. E. 11. Hawes Is also Agent for the Buck Patent Cooking Stove, AND OTHEU FIUST CLASS STOVES. Furnace Work, Steam Fittings, Etc., a Specialty. A Full Stock on Hand. AND CEILING DECORATIONS! 5000 double roll of Wall Paper and Decorations of the latest styles and shades just received direct from Eastern factories. Also a large assortment of CARPETS, ""N Of all grades in beautiful new designs New Smyrna Rugs, Portiere Curtains, China Matting, Etc., Etc. Call and examine. CHAS. HEILBORN. FIRE BRICK. OSAI.KK IN Hay, Oats, and Straw, Lie, Brici, Cement, Sana anil Plaster Wood Dollrered to Order. Drsjltig, Teaming mad Kxpress Business iisdyiPi j t'ii aha IER apply to the Captain, or to NORTH PACIFIC INDUSTRIAL EXPOSITION I Opens at PORTLAND, OB., Sept. 20, aad Closes Oct. 20, 1SS9, The Building Contains Six and One-half Acres of Floor Room, Which, will be covered with interesting displays of every description from every section o! the Northwest. $250,000 EXPENDED IN GROUNDS AND BUILDINGS. Largest and best exhibit of FINE .LIVE STOCK ever brought together on the Pacific coast will be made in the spacious grounds adjacentto the Exposition Building from October 14 to 19. LIBERATI, THE FAMOUS CORHCTIST, With fifty Of the best musician Of New Ynrlf, hal hppn fmcrotroH .t on onnrmniw ornAtiw to Wralsh muslc-during the-entlre exposition. There has been nothing left undone to make this the grandest exposition on the Pacific coast. Beduced rates of fare have been secured on all transportation-lines. Portland extends an invitation to every resident of the north west toattend this magnificent exposition and enjoy her hospitalities. Hotel accommoda ti ons ample. For further information address SOUTH PACIFIC CARL A. HAKSOX arker & Hanson SUCCESSORS TO G. L. PARKER, DEALERS IN GENERAL MERCHANDISE New Goods Arriving Every Steamer THIS WEEK. Ms. Clint The OM Stand - Astoria Oregon. ASTOUIA, ONLY OP FIRE CLAY NTKAWEU Eben P. Parker, Master. ForTOWJNG, FREIGHT orCHAK 11, i. 'PABH.EH. fiiDUgJBLLL EXPOSITION POKTLASD, 03 OSLO F. PARKER. . -jfeibagiAL4fei ".jUW.afeJm