get the measurement of a small mounted cannon that had to be shipped for the government. After measuring several ways and figuring up the amount, he seemed so perplexed that he attracted the attention of two soldiers who were lying in the shade of a pine tree near by. One of them finally called out, "What is the trouble, Captain?" "I am trying to take the measurement of this blamed gun, but some way I cannot get it right," said Gibson. "Oh, I will show you," said the soldier, leading up a pair of harnessed mules that stood near and hitching them to the gun, "Try it now, Captain." "Thanks, that makes it all right; I see now why I could not get the correct measurement." In measuring a wagon or any piece of freight the full length, heighth and thickness were taken and carried out full size, the largest way of the piece. For instance, a wagon was measured from the back wheels to the end of the tongue, then the tongue was turned up and it was measured from the ground to the tip of the tongue again. This constituted the cubic contents, nothing deducted for vacuum, but when the wagon was shipped the tongue was placed under the wagon box out of the road.[1]
Following is a statement of freight charges by the Oregon Steam Navigation Company, taken from their schedule of rates that went into effect April 1, 1877:
RATES OF FREIGHT PER TON MEASUREMENT.
Portland to The Dalles, 121 miles $10.00
Portland to Umatilla, 217 miles 20.00
Portland to Wallula, 240 miles 25.00
Portland to Palouse, 317 miles 32.00
Portland to Penewawa and Almota, 348 miles 37.50
Portland to Lewiston, 401 miles 40.00
Fast freight, $2.50 per ton extra to The Dalles.
Fast freight, $5.00 per ton extra to all points above The Dalles.
PASSENGER CHARGES.
Portland to The Dalles $ 5.00
Portland to Umatilla 10.00
Portland to Penewawa and Almota 18.00
Portland to Lewiston 20.00
