OREGON STATE ITEMS OF INTEREST
WANT HOP INSPECTOR.
Lane County Growers Are Tiring of
Numerous Rejections.
Eugene A number of hopgrowers of
this vicinity are agitating the matter
of securing legislation to better some of
the troubles of hopgrowers. A meeting
will be held here soon and an attempt
made at organizing an association for
the benefit of the industry.
One of the worst cornplulnta against
the dealers, for which it is believed re
lief might be bad by legislation, is in
the matter of rejections upon inspec
tion. On ttiis point the plan is to se
cure a law providing for a state inspect
or, whose duty it would be to inspect
and grade all hops and brand the grade
on each bale, so that sales would be
made upon this inspection and the
common complaints of dealers, after
they have bargained for a purchase,
would be wiped out.
It has been a cause of much provoca
tion to the growers the way the inspec
tors usually act when "going through"
a lot of hops. The will throw out a
number of bales from some lots with
out cause and make all kinds of com
plaints; and, if the market has weak
ened since the bargain was made the
grower confidently expects that the
bops will be called "broken," "high
d lid," "slack dried," "mouldy," etc.,
and if nothing else is complained of
then "not up to sample" is the charge
that turns down many bales. The
growers think this one of the first
things that should be corrected by leg
islation. It is proposed to have similar organ
izations in other parts of the state and
to form a state federation for mutual
good and to accomplish unity of effort
on all important matters.
Fine Hospital for Albany.
Albany What will perhaps be the
best hospital in the state, outside of
Portland, will be established in Albany
soon. The announcement puts an end
to speculation as to what would become
of the palatial residence of the late
Father Louis Metayer, of the Albany
Catholic church, who willed all his
property to his private secretary, F. C.
Devine, of Portland. Mr. Devine has
sold the property to Rev. Father Lane,
Mr. Metayer's successor, who will turn
the structure into a hospital. It is by
far the finest building of its kind in
Albany.
Yamhill to Raise Stock.
McMinnville Yamhill county farm
rs will devote more time and land
hereafter to Btockraising, says an au
thority. He deduces this from the fact
that, although the most of the ground
devoted to grain this year has been
sown, a great deal of land has been
seeded to meadow and forage crops
Thi has been done to keep pace with
the increasing livestock industry.
'Lean years" have been one incentive
to the farmer to turn his attention to
diversified agriculture.
Heavy Rains in South.
Grants Pass Southern Oregon is be
ing visited by the heaviest rains of this
season. Prospects are bright for their
continuance, insuring big cleanups of
placer gold. Two carloads of machin
ery was taken to the Granite Hill mine
last week. The mine ha 4 electric mo
tors, an electric pump, hoist, etc. The
pump will throw a four-'nch stream of
-water. Property is being bonded on
all sides here on account of .he new
railroad. One man made $2,000 profit
-on 40 acres adjoining the town, which
he bought two months ago.
Plan Lumber Railroad.
Coqu'.lle Plans are completed by
John Yoakam and John Peart for a
railroad up Cunningham's creek road
to tap Peart' s coal properties. The
road will be ten miles, besides spurs to
the Simpson company's large body of
timber. The work commences soon.
It will open up some of the finest tim
ber in Oregon.
Wasco Grain Protected.
The Dalles All of Wasco county is
covered with from six to ten ' inches of
snow. Snow is most welcome at this
time, since it affordB protection to
growfng grain from frost. The temper
ature is a little below freezing and in
dications are that the snow will con
tinue. Must Rewire Roseburg.
Roseburg The Circuit court for
Douglas county is in session in this
city. All owners of business bouses in
this city have received notice from the
board of fire underwriters that their
electric wiring is defective and must be
done again. Considerable indignation
is expressed, and it is claimed that
much of the wiring condemned , is of
the best quality and workmanship.
Coal Prices Doubled.
Baker City The coal famine still
exists. Dealers here hope to receive a
few cars of coal within the next week,
bat the prices will be advanced from
$7 and $3 to $10 and $15.
WILL IRRIGATE LAND.
Enthusiastic Citizens at Echo Form
Waterusers' Association.
Echo A mass meeting of the citizens
was held here last week. The commit
tee appointed to incorporate the Water-
users' association reported that the ar
ticles of incorporation -find by laws
adopted by the committee had been ap
proved by the secretary of the interior
and the articles of incorporation had
been filed with the secretary of state.
The report of the committee was ap
proved. A stockholders meeting was then
held and 8,482 shares at $60 a share
were subscribed. Tbe following named
stockholders were elected directors:
H.T. Irvin, J. F. McNaught, A. C
Crawford, II. G. Newport and NW. H.
Skinner, 1 he directors elected H.T
Irwin president, J. F. McNaught vice
president, A. C. Crawford secretary and
II. G. Newport treasurer.
The city was crowded with delegates
and much enthusiasm wasjshown. The
government was represented by J. T.
Whistler, engineer, and HolgateA Wil
liamson, reclamation attorneys. The
Echo irrigation project is now a reality
and work will go forward at once.
Riley Chosen College President.
McMinnville At the semi-annual
meeting of the board of trustees of Mc
Minnville college Rev. L. W. Riley
was appointed president. Mr. Riley
was appointed pastor of the Baptist
church in thia city from 1901 to 1903,
and since that time has been general
missionary of the Oregon State conven
tion. McMinnville college has been
without an official head all the present
school year, Professor Northup acting
in that capacity. The new president
will assume his duties as soon as he
can adjust bis present work.
Regarding the Opticians.
Salem The state board of optometry
has filed its annual report with the
governor. The financial statement
shows receipts from all sources for the
year $1,244.10; expenses, $390.13.
There were 200 optometrists in tbe
state January 1, 1906. The members
of the board are C. W. Lowe, presi
dent; Herman W. Barsey and . O.
Mattern.
'Asks Oregon to Show in Florida
Salem Governor Chamberlain has
received a proclamation, accompanied
by an invitation from the governor of
Florida, asking Oregon to participate in
the proposed International Isthmian
exposition, to be held in Tallahasse in
1908. Governor Chamberlain will call
the attention of the next legislature to
the invitation.
Ship Flour to Japan.
McMinnville The Houck Milling
company, of this city, has sent 9,400
barrels of flour to Japan since last
August, besides supplying the local
demand.
PORTLAND MARKETS.
Wheat Club, 73c per bushel ; blue'
stem, 7475c; red, 70c; valley, 73c.
Oats Nolwhite feed, $27.5028 .50
gray, $2728 per ton.
Barley Feed, $23.50(324 per ton
brewing, $23.5024; rolled, $2425.
Buckwheat $2.50 per cental.
Hay Eastern Oregon timothy,
$13.50(314.50 per ton; valley timothy
$910; clover, $910; cheat, $8.50
9.50; grain hay, $89.
Fruits Apples, common, 75c$l
per box; choice, $1. 25 1.50; fancy
$22.50; pears, $1.251.50 per box
cranberries, $1313.50 per barrel.
Vegetables Beans, 20c per pound
cabbage, l2c per pound; cauliflower,
$1.25 per dozen; cjlery, $33.50 per
crate; bell peppers, 35c per pound
pumpkins, lc per ponnd; sprouts
67cper pound; squash,
per pound; turnips, 90c$l per sack
carrots, 6575c per sack; beets, 85c
$1 per sack.
Onions Oregon, No. 1, $101.25 per
sack; No. 2, 7590c.
Potatoes Fancy graded Burbanks
7075e per hundred; ordinary, 50
60c; sweet potatoes, 22J4c per pound
Butter Fancy creamery, 2732)ic
per pound.
Eggs Oregon ranch, 2728c per
dozen.
Poultry Average old hens, 12
13&c per pound; springs, 1213c
mixed chickens, 1212c; broilers, 15
16c; dressed chickens, 1415c; tur
keys, live, 15c; turkeys, dressed
choice, 1720c; geese, live, 9llc
geese, dressed 1213c; ducks, 1516c
Hops Oregon, 1905, choice, 10llc
per pound: prime, 894cj medium
78c; olds, 57c.
Wool Eastern Oregon average best
1621c; valley, 2426c per pound
mohair, cboice, 30c.
Beef Dressed bulls, l2Wc pound
cows, 34c; country steers, 45c
Veal Dressed, SW8c per pound
Mutton Dressed, fancy, 77Jc per
pound; ordinary, 45c; lambs,
7c.
Pork Dressed, 67c per pound.
TRANSPORT SERVICE WEAK.
Fleets on Both Coasts Must Be Pre
pared In Peace for War.
Washington, Jan. 16. A remarkable
exposition of the fatal weakness of the
army transport resources in case of war
is contained in a paper prepared by the
general staff, transmitted by Secretary
Taft to Senatoc Gallinger, chairman of
the Merchant Marine commission, in
charge of the shipping bill now pend
ing before the senate.
In the course of its work in prepar
ing in time of peace for war, the gene
ral staff has discovered that even the
present limited military force could not
be transported over the sea, in case of
a war with a foreign country, or to de
fend our insular possessions, unless
there should be an immediate and great
increase in tbe number of American
steamships suitable for, transport ser
vice.
It is pointed out that foreign ship
ping could not be drawn upon in
time of war because of the neutrality
laws, so that under present conditions
"the quick first blow, so very and in
creasingly important, cannot be struck
at all." Incidentally, the staff criti
cises with the greatest freedom the con
ditions under which the first little
American army was transported to San
tiago to begin the Spanish-American
war.
This report will be presented to the
senate tomorrow by Senator Gallinger,
who will inform the War department
that ships of the size and speed describ
ed as most desirable for transports are
also ships of the size and speed equip
ped for several of the most important
mail lines provided for in tbe bill of
the Merchant' Marine commission,
which stipulates that ships receiving
subvention from the government shall
be held at the disposal of the govern
ment in time of war.
PANACEA FOR INSURANCE.
Senator Dryden Has Bill That Would
Cure All Ills.
Washington, Jan. 16. Senator Dry
den has revised his bill contemplating
government control of insurance, and
will reintroduce it in tbe cenate today.
He bad followed very closely the in
vestigation being conducted by the
New York legislative committee, and
this has aided him in perfecting his
measure until now he expresses the
belief that it will correct practically all
insurance evils exposed by the New
York inquiry.
Publicity is the keynote of the bill,
and coupled with this are safeguards
for the detection of wrongdoing and the
punishment of those offending. It de
fines policies or insurance contracts as
instrumentalities of commerce, and pro
vides for the regulation of the business
through the medium of a controller of
insurance and along the lines similar
to the control exercised over national
banks. The author says he believes
this will go far towards meeting tbe ob
jection of those who have questioned
the constitutional possibilities of feder
al regmation of insurance.
The senator says the bill has the in
dorsement of the president, administra
tion officials, eminent constitutional
lawyers, in and out of congress, and
others, who are familiar with its gen
eral features, as coming nearer to meet
ing the demands of the situation than
any of the other numerous pending
measures. Senator Dryden has long
been a champion of federal regulation
OUR COMMERCE WITH FRANCE
Balance of Trade Against the United
States by Several Million.
Washington, Jan. 16. The total
commerce between the United Slates
and France, as shown by figures com
piled by the Bureau of Statistics of the
Department of Commerce and Labor
amounted in the fiscal year 1905 to
ahout $166,000,000, of which $76,000,
000 was the amount of the exports to
France, and $90,000,000 was the value
of the imports from that country
France gets most of its provisions and
breadstuffs from her colonies, and ex
ports mainly high grade manufactures
and wine.
The United States exported to France
nearly all the copper and the cotton
used by that country, the total amount
of these two articles being about $48,
000,000. Agricultural implements ex
ported from the United States this year
were approximately $3,000,000, against
f&uu.uuo a decade ago.
. dews Have Been Duped,
Moscow, Russia, Jan. 16. Wholesale
arrests are being made throughout Rub
sia for the sole purpose of preventing
tne victims registering in time to par
ticipate in the coming election for
members of the new legislative assem
bly. Officials of the government are
resorting to tactics of intimidation to
compel the people to vote for "select'
ed" candidates who will perpetuate tbe
old regime of absolutism. The Social
ists and labor leaders are being offered
enormous bribes to use their influence
in favor of certain candidates.
American To Be Retained.
' Seoul, Corea, Jan. 16. The govern
ment has decided to retain the servic
of Durham White Stephens, the Ameri
can diplomatic adviser to the emperor
oi corea.
NSULT TUMERICA
Castro Not Satisfied With Trouble
With France.
RENCH WARSHIPS ARE AT HAND
Failing Instant Apology, Their Guns
, Will Talk United States
May Take a Hand.
Washington, Jan. 20. Three French
warships are now off the Venezuelan
coast preparing to deliver the answer
of France to President Castro's treat
ment of M. Taigny, the French repre
sentative at Caracas, by a naval demon
stration in Venezuelan waters. Two
additional warships will join them as
soon as they can make the trip across
the Atlantic. Until the demonstration
has been initiated, the French govern
ment will share with tbe president and
Secretary Root the knowledge of the
exact form which this expression of her
displeasure at President Castro's action
will take.
Meantime the delicacy of the situa
tion at Caracas is greatly increased by
news which has recently reached here
from that city regarding the attitude
President Castro now appears to be
assuming toward Mr. Russell, the
American minister. Unless this atti
tude is radically modified, it may be
necessary to dispatch an American war
ship even nearer the Venezuelan coast
than has already been planned. Presi
dent Castro, it is said, will be given to
understand that any treatment of an
American representative such as that
accorded to M. Taigny will not be tol
erated. The cause which can be
ascribed here for Mr. Castro's attitude
toward Mr. Russell is that the former
insists upon regarding as personal
rather than official the efforts which
Mr. Kuesell has made to assist a peace
ful settlement of the Franco-Venezuelan
troubles. The request of tbe French
government that its interests in Vene
zuela be looked after by Mr. Russell
was immediately granted for the reason
that Buch a request is invariably grant
ed by a friendly power however difficult
the task.
France has adopted a simple pro
gram for her treatment of the Venezue
lan situation. It provides for an im
mediate and comprehensive apology by
Castro for his treatment of M. Taigny,
which treatment the Paris officials re
gard as insulting and intolerable.
One dispatch sent , to Mr. Russell
last Sunday had not been delivered to
him up to the time the last dispatch
was sent by him to the State depart
ment. This is being inquired into by
the department.
FUNDS FOR SEA WALL.
California Supreme Court Gives Fa
vorable Decision.
San Francisco, Jan. 20. The Su
preme court this afternoon handed
down a decision by which funds will
soon be available for the completion of
the San Francisco sea wall. The court
sustained the validity of the so-called
sea wall act, passed by the legislature
in March, 1903, which authorized the
state board of harbor commissioners to
issue $2,000,000 in bonds to complete
the San Francisco sea wall.
The harbor commissioners proceeded
to issue bonds under this act, but State
Treasurer Reeves refused to approve
the issue. The commissioners there'
upon applied to the Supreme court for
a writ of mandamus to compel the
state treasurer to sign the bond issue.
The court by its decision today di
rects the state treasurer to sign the
bonds. . The harbor commission, it is
understood, will now issue bonds under
the act from time to time until the full
$2,000 000 worth are on the market.
Afraid to Show His Face.
St. Petersburg, Jan. 20. Distrustful
of the spirit of his capital and perhaps
remembering the incident of last Janu
ary, when one of the saluting guns
showered grape on tbe imperial chapel,
the emperor will not come to St.
Petersburg for the ceremony of the
blessing of the waters of the Neva to
morrow. For the first time since the
Empress Anna laid the foundations of
the winter palace in 1732, the great
church festival of the Epiphany will
pass without the presence of the bov
ereign.
Funston May Go to China.
San Francisco, Jan. 20. The Call
will sav tomorrow that Brigadier Gen
eral Frederick Funston will soon be
relieved from the command of the de
partment of California and ordered to
the Philippines, where he will be
placed in charge of one of the brigades
which is being formed in Luzon with a
view to their possible utilization in
connection with any move which may
be made against China.
BOXER COIN FOR COLLEGES.
Senator Piles, of Washington, Will In-
. troduce Such a Bill.
Seattle, Wash., Jan. 15. United
States Senator 8. H. Piles will intro
duce in congress a bill appropriating
the $20,000,000 paid this country by
China as damages in the Boxer upris
ing to defray the expenses of Chinese
students to be educated in American
colleges. A part of this sum, it is pro
posed, shall be expended in schools
conducted by Americans in China.
A bill prepared under the direction
of the faculty of the University of
Washington has been forwarded to Sen
ator Piles, and the co-operation of coast
educational institutions has been asked
in the campaign. Out of this move
ment, it is believed, will grow some
thing satisfactory to China, and result
ing in abandoning tbe boycott against
American goods.
The measure was agreed uopn at a
meeting of the faculty of the Universi
ty of Washington, with A. W. Bash,
promoter oi the Canton-Hankow and
other Chinese railroads, and an inti
mate friend of many high Chinese offi
cials, and Dr. W. A. P. Martin, an ed
ucator long employed in Chinese
schools, who came West to welcome
the high commission just landed at San
Francisco. Mr. Bash has been official
ly designated by President Roosevelt
and Secretary of State Root. Mr. Bash
started the movement on the coast be
cause he has been a resident here, and
because he believes the Pacific Coast
states originating the movement would
strengthen the fight. For that reason
the co-operation of Oregon and Cali
fornia educators was asked.
Under the plan adopted here, the in
demnity money would be spent: First,
(0 invite Chinese students to the Unit
ed States and provide for their educa
tion in this country ; second, to aid
worth American colleges already es
tablished in China; third, to provide
for helping Chinese students at the
American consulates in China.
COMBINE FOR COLONIZING.
Western Railroads Establish Bureau
for Handling Business.
Chicago, Jan 15. General passenger
agents of Western lines, after three
days of almost continuous discussion,
have agreed upon a plan for the organi
zation of a general colonization bureau
to handle tbe details of the issuance of
certificates and tickets for land and im
migration business. - '
Reports from those who attended the
Weal em Passenger Association meetings
during the debates on this proposition
indicate that there were some repre
sentatives of railroads in the conference
who were in ' favor of abolishing the
privileges the colonization departments
have found so valuable in building up
communities along the railroads.
"We were fearful," said a passenger
agent of one Western road, "that the
issuance of certificates would be abro
gated and that every Western state's
development would be materially affect
ed by the shutting off of ths homeseek
ers' colonization certificate provisions."
According to one oi the passenger
agents, the bureau will handle the coU
onization business for all the roads in
the Western Passenger association, and
there will be no diminuation in the
volume of business.
Shaw to Stay Another Year.
Chicago, Jan. 15. A dispatch to the
Chronicle from Washington says: At
the meeting of the cabinet President
Roosevelt asked Secretary Shaw to re
main at the head of the Treasury de
partment until March 4, 1907, and
Mr. Shaw agreed to do so. More than
a year ago Mr. Shaw let it be known
that he expected to retire from the
cabinet in February of this year. The
president did not understand that tbia
was the secretary's determination until
Borne unusual reference was made to it
a few weeks ago, and then he lost no
time in urging the secretary to remain
in the cabinet for another year. ;
Russia Gets Help In Paris.
St. Petersburg, Jan. 15. Confirma
tion has been received of the report
that ex-Minister Kokovsoff has been
partially successful in his .mission to
Paris. A credit of $50,000,000 baa
been obtained from the French bankers,
with the assurance of an increase in the
amount, should it prove necessary to
maintain the stability of the rouble.
It is explained, however, that the
credit is not in the nature of a loan to
the Russian government, but is strictly
an operation between the State bank of
Russia and the French banks.
Needs of Railway Mail Clerks.
Washington, Jan. 15. The annual
report of the general superintendent of
railway mail service for the fiscal year
1905 shows the total number of miles
of service by railroad, electric, cable
and steamboat lines to have been 376,
584,037. An urgent plea is made for a
retirement and superannuation fund for
the benefit of clerks disabled in line ot
duty or worn out through long and
faithful service.