The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, July 7, 1895, Page 11

THE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, SUNDAY, JULY 7, 1895. 11 LATEST ORKLAND NEWS,| Roads to Be Investigated by the State Highways Bureau. WILL MEET ON WEDNESDAY. Insinuations by the City Council In Relation to the Board of Education. The Alameda County Good Roads Asso- on feels jubilant over the meeting t to be held in their interest under the spices of the California State Bureau of The association has been laboring un- ceasingly for months, and now that it has the co-operation of the State bureau it will g0 on with renewed energy. [he State bureau is composed of R. C. , J. L. Maude and Marsden Manson. g their short stay here at the time of ting, July.17, they will be shown courtesy by the good-roads people of ty this eity. It is proposed to drive them overanumber of the principal highways of the county that they might see the work needed to be done. vounty Clerk ¥rank C. Jordan is in receipt of the. following communication from the comm itte: County Clerk, Alameda County—DEAR S1R: In dance with the requircments of chapter atutes of 1895 (s e of which ed), the members of the bureauwillbe land on W the 17th d and on the on 'of that date will hold's publ \der the provisions of 1 of public roads and 1 requ Can the hour and & suitable meeting cither the chamber of the Superior Court n he Board of Supervisors? to the 1 ess_for g all parties i e requested to attend. e matter was referred to the Board of Supervisors, who voted to give the use of r rooms on_the date mentioned and | those interested in the subject to | The bicyclists of the Oakland ng a great deal of interest in nd they say that good resulis | Manual Training Wanted. There were some strong insinuations cast by ) the members of City Council : ifficient fun: levied for that purpose. At a meeting of the Council some time peared ifor the same reason, but it was given no satisfaction. Last night Director Friend delivered an address on the benefit of practical training and in conclusion asked: “Ihave a sort of an idea thatthe Coun- cil ot in love with the Board of Educa- Am I right?” ell, it may be =o with some of you,” Councilman Bassett. kind of felt it in my bones,” said Mr. Friend know that there has been some sm of the salaries we have paid and I admit that there may be some | ! but I think that the Board of ago a committee sion, in which the members of the Coun- ¢it and the board freely participated. The conference ally adjournea without teking any aciion. No Startling Complaints. Assessor Dalton was somewhat surprised vesterday when he learned that none of the big corporations on whose property re had made increased assessments had entered any protests. From all the rumors then fly would h: ve to make a hard fight to retain gures, but he was failly prepared for y onslaught. Thus far the protest of Henry Rodgers is the only one on property of much value. It isthe Merritt block on velith street, corner of Franklin. Rogers 1s that the cash value is only $43,000, while Assessor Dalton has assessed it for The Assessor thinks he can find 2 ver for it at that price. The Board of - rvisors desire to give the matter of equalization more attention this year than ever before on account of the pubticity which has been given and the attention which bhas been attracted to Assessor Daiton’s assessments. ‘They do not intend to wait until com- plaints are brought in, but will voluntarily g around he expected that he ! ° shoulder. The injured boy was treated at the Receiving Hospital. A warrant was demanded for the arrest of the culprit by the parents of Smith, which the Beputy District Attorney promised to give if wit- nesses could be produced. Oakland Brevities. A. Jacobs of the firm of A. Jacobs & Co. of Oakland will leave for Camp Taylor to- day with his family, where they will sojourn for a few weeks. Mrs. Mary Galtzen has filed a suit against the Southern Pacific Company for $50,000 damages. She was injured in a collision with an engine of the Southern Pacific while on an Alameda electric-car. As a result of the Fourth of July thirteen d}-\\nkards were placed in the city prison. Yesterday they were brought before Judge Wood, who allowed them all to go, as they explained that they had only been cele- brating the Nation's independence. The various labor organizations of this City will unite 1 a celebration on Labor day, September 1, At the time a protest will be made against the impnsonment of Eugene V. Debs and his associates without a trial by jury. “Yho OId Homestead” will be played at the Macdonough for four nights and Wednesday matinee, commencing July 15. Sale of seats begins at 9 . M. to-mOrrow, The company is now playing at_the Cali- fornia, San Francisco, to crowded houses. ALAMEDA. Wung Hung created considerable excite- ment in the Chinese quarter yesterday morning by taking a shot at himself. The bullet penetrated near the right temple and came out several inches above, plow- ing up a furrow under the skin. He was despondent and crawled into the alleyway between Germania Hall and the Chinese grocery-store adjoining on Lincoln ayenue. This was. the third attempt to take his No flends, no money and me heap sick,” said the Mongol, as he lay on the ground writhing in pain. Death of an Old Resident. A. J. Schumacher died late Friday even- ing at his nome on Railroad avenue from chronie bronchitis with a complication of cancer of the lungs. Deceased was taken ill with the gripa few years ago and never fully recavered, and about two months ago was taken with a pa ticstroke. Hewas a member of the Odd Fellows, Knights of Honor and the San Francisco Schuetzen Verein. He was well known at the West End, where he had resided continuously for about a quarter of a century. He was 65 years of age. Death Rate Below. Health Officer McLean reported at the g of the Board of Heafib on Friday t twelve deaths occurred in this city June, which gives the low death rate per annum of 9.6 a thousand of inhab- .- Statistics carefully prepared by the Ith oflicer show that the death rate of Alameda is 33 per cent; below the normal ath rate, which 1s indicative of the sanitary condition of the city. The Festive Tramps. nps continue to use freightecars for nd lodgings on the unused track erndale to Melrose. They also from F | build fires on the floor of the cars to cook their meals. Tour of the five arrested on ¥riday were committed to the County Jail for tem days each. BERKELEY. meeting on Friday night. A discussion arose as to whether arrangements should be made with the Contra Costa Water Company to lay certain mains in West Berkeley or patronize the home company. The president of the board was instructed to confer with Superintendent Wellendorf of the Alameda Water Company and re- 1t the next meeting whether that cor- jon is willing to lay the required ns at once, water for public and private use and for fire protection. Justice of the Peace James was granted permission to hold court in the Councii chamber of the Town Hall. Frank A. Thompson, upon recommenda- tion from Health Officer Rowell, was ap- pointed sanitary plumber. Cruelty to a Child. Theodore Stoneberg, living near Peralta Park, beat his eight-year-old son unmerci- fully yesterday morning for not having re- d soon enough with the cow that had ed away during the night. Upon the s arrival at home with the animal, the father whipped him until heavy welts were raised over the back part of his body. The child was taken in hand by some friends of the family and carried to a neighboring drugstore, where his bruises were treated. A complaint was sworn out for the arrest of Stoneberg, and it was placed in the hands of Deputy Marshal Rawson. O. G. May, the humane agent, has taken the boy in charge so that proper medical aid may be administered. Liquor License Case. J. W. O’Brien, who has been conducting a saloon for some time past without what the present Board of Town Trustees term a proper license, was arraigned before examine some of the more important assessments in each township and form an opinion‘as to the fairness of the valuation therefrom. West Oakland’s Park. Since the proposition of establishing a public park in Oakland has been brought up the old West Qakland Improvement Association has revived again. This asso- ciation was organized some years ago for the Eul‘poae of getting the city to convert the Sixteenth-street marsh into a public park, but at that time it failed. Now that the matter of a park is again before the people the association’is going to make a united effort for its side of the town. A meeting was held last evening by the im- rovement association, when the follow- ng resolutions were drawn up: Resolved, That it is the opinion of the West Oakland improvement Association that the beginning of all improvement in this city must be the abatement of the Sixteenth-street marsh s & nuisance, its condemnation for public use and conversion into & park. A Resolved, That}:this association is opposed to taxing inside property for public improvement of outside property. The second part of the resolution has reference to the proposed park in the hills back of Piedmont. Mary Newland’s Will. The probate of the will of Mrs. Mary Newland, who left an estate valued at $85.000, has been petitioned for by Mrs. Martha Newland. The property consists of real estate_on the northeast corner of Seventh and Washington streets; the resi- dence on Lake Shore avenue, $8000; per- sonal effects, $2000, and cash, $40. The will bequeaths to Thomas Woods of Lan- cashire, England, $10, Peter Gandy of Lancashire $200, Ann Groves of Somerset- ghire $100, Frederick S. Johnson of Lanca- shire $30, Carrie. Burch and Samuel ‘Wheeler of Lancashire $5 each, Alice C. Ferdner $10. One-half the property on Seventh and Washington streets is given to. Edward Newland, brother-in-law of the testator, in trust for}lis four children. Martha New- land is given half of the hotel property and Edward Newland is given the lake-shore property. ‘Will Reissue Bonds. At a meeting of the City Council Friday evening it was voted to have an election for the purpose of reissuing bonds for the payment of $140,000 of city bonds which mature October 1, 1895. City Attorney Peirsol thinks that such action will be legal, but he desires to have the city make p test case of it. Partof his opinion read at the meeting says: My own opinion is that the act of March 27, 189%, is contrary to the spirit and intent of the constitution, but no one can forecast the judg- ment of the Supreme Court on such questions, and until decided by itlawyers will no doubt differ in opinion upon them. Itisnot prob- able that the bonds can be sold in the face of the adverse opinions of bond lawyers such as Stoney and Thorndyke and Judge Dillon with- out a favorable decision by the Supreme Court. A Boy Stabs Another. Yesterday Marion Furtado and Louis Smith, two 13-year-old boys, got into an altercation over a trifling matter, when young Furtado stabl Smith in the Judge Lord yesterday morning for a hear- ing. The only evidence presented and points argued were upon the question of the time when the new charter went into effect. Judge Lord will render his decision in the case next Wednesday morning. Broke His Arm. The young son of Mr. Stone, living in ‘West Berkeley, was sitting on the railin of his father’s porch Friday morning, an losing his balance, fell to the ground an: broke his left arm near the shoulder. Gill Benefit Ball. A ball for the benefit of Lonis Gill, who was severely injured through a railroad accident some time ago, was given last night in Landregan’s hall, The affair was weLil attended. A Dog That Eats Oranges. “Do you want a good story?” asked a well-known man about town in the Conti- nental Hotel lobby last evening. ““Well, here’s one about a dog, and it’s a true one, too. The dog’s name is Sam. He is a set- ter, and belongs to a man named McCor- mick, who kee{)s a restaurant down at Atlantic City. wufoing down there last week and saw the dog going through a remarkable performance. A man in a crowd of six or eight people will take a nickel from his pocket, wrap it in a piece of paper and give it to the dog. Sam then trots off to the corner, where an Italian keeps a fraitstand. The {Italian places an orange in a paper bag, and pretty soon Sam comes trotting back with his urchase, wagging his tail and tickled to eath. He will then hunt out the man who gave him the nickel, never making a mistake, apparently wishing to. show that he hasn’t squandered the money foolishly. After that he takes the orange from the bag and plays with it until he gets tired. Then he eats it. This is another remark- able performance, He first bites a piece out of the skin, just as a man who has no knife might do, ard then breaks it in two pieces. gle is very fond of oranges, but, although he manages to get all the meat of the fruif, he will never swallow even a morsel of the skin. I tell you, he’s a great dog.”—Philadelphia Call. e —————— Pat’s Mother Wit. Patrick, in answer to an advertisement for a coachman, applied for the position. He was one of three applicants and patiently waited until his turn arrived to offer his services. The gentleman who wanted a coachman loved a joke and when the first applicant had answered a few of his auestionl he finally asked him: “How near to the edge of a precipice would you undertake to drive my car- riage?” *Your Honor, of it.” ‘The same question was put to the second applicant, who replied: “I'l drive within three inches of it all the way and never slip a wheel.” Patrick was then asked what he would T'd come within a foot 0. “Faith, your Honor, I’d kape as far away from the idge as possible.”” Patrick was engaged.—Harver’s Round Table. The Board of Town Trustees held a| and be able to furnish | FATAL FALL AT BERKELEY. Two Carpenters Killed at the State University Gym~ nasium. ONE MAN DIED INSTANTLY. W. C. Lewlis and W. J. Holllnger Pitched From a High Roof by a Rotten Rope. W. C. Lewis and W. J. Hoilinger, two carpenters engaged in repairing the roof of Harmon gymnasium at the University of California at Berkeley, met with a horri- ble death yesterday morning by falling from the eaves of the building to the ground, a distance of about forty feet. At the time of the accident the men were engaged in hoisting shingles to the crest of the west gable by means of a block and tackle attached to a beam overhanging the roof. A horse driven by Robert Aston, the uni- versity teamster, was used in the opera- tion, and as the men reached out to grasp the bundle of shingles which was coming up the load became entangled in the W. J. Hollinger. [From a photograph.] snatch-block and the animal was pulling with such force that the beam to which the ropes were attached gave way and let down the carpenters;who had been clinging to it for support. Hollinger was killed almost instantly, not recovering consciousness after the fall, while his comrade, Lewis, survived for about half an hour, during which time he begged piteoasly to be allowed to die. Physicians were on the ground within a few minutes after the accident took place, but their services availed nothing, as the men were beyond recovery. Upon exam- ination it was found that Hollinger’s neck and right arm were broken and the ribs on his left side crushed in. Lewis had both arms broken and several ribs crushed in, besides receiving internal | injuries which resuited in a hemorrhage, tlus hastening his death. Hollinger was 50 years of age and leaves a widow and four children, the oldest of whom has been a student in the university. He had lived in Berkeiey for the past five ears, having been in the employ of the tate as a carpenter nearly.all the time. Hollinger was a veteran of the civil war and a prominent member of Lookout Mountain Post, G. A. R., under whose auspices the funeral wiil take place. One {of the members of the organization re- ferred to the dead comrade as a valiant soldier and a worthy citizen. Lewis was 40 years of age, and a ear- builder by trade. He had been in the em- ‘W. B. Lewis. [From a recent photograph.} ploy of the university for about nine months, having recently returned from a visit to his aged mother, who lives in Otto- way, Ill. He leaves, beside his mother, a sister and two brothers, one of whom is a prominent Chicago business man. For the st six years Lewis has made his home at 522 Telegraph avenue, Oakland, with J. Brouilet, chief electrician of the Telegraph- avenue Electric Railway Company. Lewis’ brother at Chicago was wired of the accident, and replied that he desired the body properly prepared for shipment to the family home in Illinois. W. E. Adley, foreman of the university carpenters, tells the following story of the accident: “My men were hanging up shingles to replace the old ones that had just been torn off, and T was on the ground below them placing the shingles in_the slings.”” “I had given the word to hoist away and did not look up. Just about the time the bundle reached the eaves of the building, which are fifty feet from the ground, heard something crack, and quicker than I could think, shingles, men and staging fell at my feet.” County Coroner Baldwin was notified soon after the accident and reached Berke- at_about 11 o’clock. There was some k of a battle between the town author- ities and the Coroner when he came to re- move the bodies, as an ordinance had been passed on Friday night making it a mis- demeanor, subject to fine and imprison- ment, to remove a body from Berkeley without & permit from the Health " Officer. Upon investigation, however, it was ascer- tained that the ordinance had not been signed by the president of the Board of Town Trustees and hence it was not yeta law. Health Officer Rowell was very indig- nant at the proceedings of the Coroner, and his ire was all the more stirred up wheh the widow of Hollinger stated that she desired the body of her husband brought directly to her home. The bodies were taken tothe Mo withoutinterference from either the Health Officer or Town Marshal, but it is expected there will be a reiteration of the &nml which took place between the Health Offi- cer and Coroner over the body of a suicide whose remains were removed to the Morgue without the consent of what Dr. Rowell claimed the proper authority. At the inquest held last evening the jury returned a verdict of accidental death. FIRE DEPARTMENT, A Report From Chief Sullivan Drawing Lessons From the Recent Conflagration. The Fire Commissioners met in execu- tive session yesterday morning, all the members being present. A lengthy report, covering eight or nine type-wrrtten pages, from Chief Sullivan, was read concerning the disastrous fire on the night of Thurs- day, June 27, which destroyed several blocks south of Market street. The Chief showed that the number of water mains and the pressure were totally inadequate for the requirements, and also the number of hydrants, not only in that particular portion of the City but all over the City. The Chief suggested the absolute neces- sity of having the present mains enlarged, new mains laid down and more hydrants ut in for the proper protection of the City rom fire, and that the board should use every effort to get the Board of Super- visors to ngpropnate sufficient money for c?g"ying these suggestions into immediate effect. The Commissioners adopted the report of the Chief, and at the meeting of the Board of Supervisors to-morrow it will be submitted, and a strong fight made to ob- tain the necessary approoriation. REVEREND HINCKLEY NOW An Oakland Minister Wins His Title by Public Ex- amination. Congregational Divines Ask Ques- tions Which He Answers Sat- isfactorily. Frank C. Hinckley, a young man with the face of a girl and the brainof a sea- soned theologian, stood beforea committee of Congregational ministers at the Second Congregational Church, West Oakland, yesterday afternoon and won his title of reverend in spite of the problems in bibi- cal lore which were thrown at him as rap- idly as they could be enunciated by the assembled divines. Rev. Mr. Hinckley has occupied the pulpit of the Second Congregational Church for several months past in spite of the fact that he had not been ordained as a minister and had never taken the sem- inary couse which is usually expected of rising clergymen before assuming a pulpit. Studying by himself and under Dr. Gunsaulus of Chicago, he had attained a degree of proficiency in theological mat- ters which led him_to believe that he was entitled to_the title of ‘‘reverend” with- out the added dignity of a seminary di- ploma. With this idea in view he resolved to underfi the ordeal of a public examina- tion, His determination was strengthened by the fact that Dr. Gunsaulus was on a visit to the coast, and had promised to act as his sponsor. Those who conducted the examination, which was the first of the kind ever held on the coast, were: Professors Mooar, W. W. Loveloy, F. W. Foster and C. 8, Nash, from the Pacific Theological Seminary, and Rev. J. K. Harrison, Rev. L. L. Wirt, Rey. Walter Frear and Rev. J. S. Kimball, the latter four being Congregational min- isters. Asarule ministers do not approve of ordination without the seminary diploma, and the assembled ministers pounded Mr. Hinckley right and left with problems dee; and dark, but he proved a match for Il{ and in the discussions which followed his answers someé of the already ordained divines seemed to be completely at sea. They talked big words and looked wise and solemn, but Mr. Hinckley met all their thrusts with trite answers'and a firm front. Rev. J. K. McLean was on hand to give him courage and he seemed to derive much comfort during the ordeal from this source. After over three hours of questioning the ministers were forced to acknowledge that the applicant was eligible for the ministry, and by a unanimous vote he was admitted to the ranks of Congregational ministers. Dr. Gunsaulus was unable to be present at the examination, but will preach the or- dination sermon at the church to-day and %)ngmmlate Mr. Hinckley on his advanced ideas. ————— ‘W. D. Howells on Dialect. One-reason why the general reader is im- patient of “dialect,” I suppose,1s that he rarelv notices peculiarities in the speech of people about him, and so fancies dialect an vention of the author’s to harassand perplex him. If thereis something very marked he will vaguely feel it, but the more delicate differences which interest the observer are quite lost upon him. He would not perceive that most people speak ungrammatically,and that the talk of those who speak grammatically is almost incredi- bly loose and slovcnl{. Talk, indeed, has not yet been faithfully reported in litera- ture by those who ought to be its careful- est students, the novelists and dramatists, writes W. D. Howells in Harper’s Weekly. Stage talk has been and largely is ludi- crously unlike life talk, though now the theater is beginning to take some account of the way people really express them- selves. But in novels, and very good novels, written by artists who ought to have ha a conscience against it, cultivated persons are represented as su[y;ing. ‘Will you not, Am I not, Is he not. though nobody but a hali-bred K,rig ever dreams of using those artificial forms in actual parlance. Itis all of a piece with the convention which still obliges us to write the language with- out any of the contractions we always use in ‘gvyeakmg. e write, Did not, Cannot, Would not, Is not, will not, when we are telling some- thing to be read, but we say Didn’t, Can’t, Wouldn’t, Isn’t and Won’t when we are telling something to be heard, and the con- tractions are infinitely more graceful and vigorous than the conventional forms. In fact, anything else in talking would be absurd; ard from time to time there is an effort to liberate the langunage of litera- ture from the constraint that the language of life threw off so long ago that no man’s memory runs back to the time of its bond- age. The lighter literature of the eighteenth century abounds in these en- deavors, and even some of the graver; even the verse of Pope and Young. Bus they were confined to a word or two; the plunge was never boid enough; and.in our own time we are not even so far on the way toa free use of the spoken forms. Emerson, to be sure, said 'Tis, in very colloquial moments, but that was perhaps because ople seldom say 'tis any more, and the form had an archaic charm. ¥ Now and then Mr. Henry James imparts a thrill of hope bg writing a contraction in his narrative, and you think that the good time is coming under the lead of an un- questionable master of English; but presently you find him conforming, like the rest, as if the attempt to hrug away from tradition were useless. Of the professional classes of this coun- try, such as docters, lawyers, teachers, journalists and clergymen, 40 per cent have lus than $1000 capital; 50 per cent rejoice in a capital of from $1000 to $10,000; 9 per cent have from $10,000 to $100,000, and only 1 per cent enjoy the possession of more than $100,000. S ‘When the last census was taken the de- itors in the savings banks numbered ,533,217, or about one-third of the number of &tgs. ngzile the depo!txga uz:ognud to 1,623,000, an ave; eac! lepositor :l':hont $358. Itis ;fiepved that no other country can show 8o large an amount of | time, savings as NEW TO-DAY. KELLY & LIEBES (loak and Suit House, 120 Eecarny Street. Thir Woek of Bi Bangas, For $2.75, $3 and $3.50. SILK WAISTS, fine, stylish waists, big sleeves, fancy collars, lots 0f patterns, actually reduced from 36, $7 and $8. For $4.75, $5.50 and $6. ELEGANT NOVELTY - STRIPED SILK WAISTS, big sleeves, fancy collars and beits, actually reduced from $9, $11 and $13. For $7.50, $8.50 and $10. FINEST HEAVY FANCY SILK WAISTS, ele- gant patterns, highest styles. These walsts for dress and evening wear. Actually reduced from $18, $20 and $25. For $5, $6.50 and $7.50. FINE ALL-WOOL SERGE AND CREPON SKIRTS, extra wide godet styles, all lined through and pleats stiffened, actually reduced from $10, $13 and 1 For 40¢, 75¢ and $1. FINEST STYLES IN LAUNDERED SHIRT WALSTS, French percales, stylish collars and sleeves, actually reduced from $1, $1 60 and $2. For $2, $2.25 and $2.50. CHILDREN’S JACKETS, red, vlue and brown, fancy trimmed with wh braids, actually re- duced from $5, $6 and $7. Our targety increased force of salespeo- ple can now wait on the greatest rush qulilelsly and comfortably. 8o don’t fail to call. - B NEW TO-DAY. KELLY & LIEBES Cloak and Suit House, 120 EKearny Street. i Wk of Bi B Y For $150, $1.75, $2. DUCK SUITS, big sleeves, wide Godet skirts, hundreds of patterns; think of a awell Duck Dress for §150. These are actually reduced from $2 25, 3 and $4. For $2.75, $3.50, $1.50. HEAVY PIQUE DUCK DRESSES, big sleeves, wide Godet skirts, hundreds of patterns; also solid colors and black. Actually reduced from $5 60, §7 and $9. For $5, $6.25, $7.50 ALL-WOOL FINE CLOTH DRESSES, tans, nayies and blacks, wide full skirts and mg sleeves. Actually reduced from $12 50, $1i and $18. For $7.50, $9, $11. ALL-WOOL BOX JACKET SUITS, in mixed Scotch Cheviots and navy and biack serges, the latest novelty style for dresses. Actually reduced from $16 50, $20 and $22 50. For $10, $12, $14. FINEST ALL-WOOL COVERT CLOTH BOX JACKET SUITS—These have never béen sold for twice the money. Actually reduced from $22 50, $25 and $27 50. Country orders given special attention. Always send money with order. Sat faction guaranteed. ——————————— NEW TO-DAY. KELLY & LIEBES (loak and Suit House, 120 XKearny Streoct. For $1.50, $1.75, §2.25, ALL-WOOL CLOTH CAPES, good styles, trimmed with braid and ribbons, fancy neck trimmings. Actually reduced from $4, $5 and 6. For $2.50, $3, $3.50. ALL-WOOL CLOTH CAPES, blacks and all colors, elegant styles, fancy trimmed necks. Actually reduced from §7, 88 and 39. For $4.50, $5.50, $6.50. FINEST CLOTH CAPES, all silk lined, fancy styles, trimmed and plain, elegant goods. Ac- tually reduced from $12 50, $15 and $17 50. For $4.50, $1.50, $4.50. GOLF and SUMMER TRAVELING CAPES, with hoods, elegant imported check and plafd back cheviot materials. This is a grand special bar- gain; actually reduced from $9 and $10. For $5, $6, $7. VELVET CAPES, siik-lined, fancy chiffon and ribbon-trimmed necks, some finished with vio- lets. These are wonderful bargains; actually redaced from $12 50, $17 50 and $20. For $8.50, $10, $11. SILK CAPES. all silic-lined and lace ribbon or jet trimmed, a great variety of styles. Actually reduced from $18, $20 and $26. We have taken special care to have this week lots of extra big bargwins so as to keep up the big sales we have been making. A FREE YOSEMITE ROAD, How Mariposa Lost an Oppor- tunity for Which She Had Fought. Through the Work of a *Solid Three” in the Supervisors the Prize Vanished. Ex-Senator James H. Lawrence, a pio- neer Californian and veteran journalist, has been writing up the Yosemite wagon road business for the Merced Star under the caption of *“The Story of a Free Wagon Road.” Ithas run through six numbers of the Star and covers a period of about thirty years, including details of legisla- tive failures, executive catastropies and local methods of obstruction. These latter features will especially in- terest the people of Mariposa and Merced, but there are facts of record in brief per- taining to the subject and several up-to- date happenings which are of general pub- lic interest. To a CALL representative Mr. Lawrence gave in a condensed form some information derived from familiarity with the subject, or, as he expresses it, “‘based upon personal observation, for I spent half my life in the ‘butterfly country’ and I am no spring chicken.”” es, I felt cheerful over the bill which a?bro}arinwd $50,000 for the construction of a free wagon road from the town of Mariposa to the Yosemite Valley, and happy to see that immediately after the adjournment of the Legislature THE CALL stepped to the front and gave it an un- qualified indorsement. At that time it Tooked, on the face of it, all right. The bill provided that the Controlier should draw his warrant in favor of the Treasurer of Mariposa County for §$2000 upon the completion of the survey; then, upon the completion of one-fourth of the work, $12,000, and in like manner in $12,000 in- stallments at regular stages in the progress of the road until its completion. This was all good enough, but the mischievous feature of the measure was in the conclud- ing section which reads as follows: ‘This act shall take effect immediately after the County of Mariposa shall have appropri- ated and deposited with the State Treas- urer the sum of $75,000 for the construction of said roaa.’ 5 The intention of this amendment (which was made in the Senate Committee on Finance) was to guarantee the completion of the road by the county in the event that the $50,000 appropriation should prove in- sufficient; but 1t was ambiguous in lan- guage and liable to misconstruction by an unfriendly Board of Supervisors. In order that your readers may comprehend the conditions a bit of history is necessary. Oh! don’t get nervous—this will not run back to '49 or the spring of '50. “In July, 1888, the citizens of Mariposa County voted to 1ssue bonds to the amount of $75,000 for the construction of two wagon-roads—one from the town of Mari- Y,osa to Yosemite and the other from Bear alley to Coulterville. Tbe sentiment of the people at thatdate—varticularly in the principal towns—was practically unani- mous, and the majority throughout the county was largely in_exXcess of the statu- tory requirement. The only opposition was desultory and emanated from the pro- prietors of tollroads. It cut no figure at the fiulls, but in combination with the Southern Pacific has been an important factor at the State capital whenever occa- sion required. “Whatever may have been the moving cause, there was developed a very strong %posmon in the Board of Supervisors of ariposa. It was crystallized at their first regular meeting, immediately folléwing the bond election, by the initiation of a series of unfriendly acts which have cropped out in multiform delays and ob- structions all aiong the line for a period of seven years. During this period the person- nel of the board has occasionally changed, but in some mysterious way the obsfruc- tion tactics have found favor with them bi that same old vote, 3 to 2, till the petrifie mnéorit has earned the name of ‘The Solid Three.” “First there was an inexcusable delay of two months in commencing the survey— then an unnecessary amount of time and money expended in this preliminary work. There was a hitch in the matter of issuing bonds which was finally unraveled. They were eventually advertised in accordance with law. The following year a tax was levied to meet the payment of principal and interestand this has been levied and collected annually ever since, up to and in- clndin?tha present year. “Following the advertising of the bonds bids were invited in the usual form for the construction of the two roads and neces- sary bridges, and the contracts awarded to Meany, Bigelow & Rogers for the Yosemite road and Mentzer & Co. for the Coulter- ville road. They also, about the same &uud an order offering the Mari- mmercial posa and Mining Company $2500 for the piece of road on the Coulter- ville route known as the ‘railroad grade.’ “About this time they discovered, through the agency of the legal advisers of the opponents of the enterprise, that there was a doubt as to the legality of the bonds. This was settled by the Supreme Court in May, 1891—the decision in effect establishing ‘their_validity beyond cavil, Next they claimed that they were unable to obtain a right of way over the Yosemiie National Park, which was set apart by an act of Congress in 1890, and embraced in its scope a large extent of territory inter- vening between the town of Mariposa and | the valley, and only missed taking in the town by about four miles. This obstacle | was removed by an act of Congress grant- ing a right of way. “Then they solemnly averred that they had received no response to their offer of $2500 tor the ‘railroad grade’ owned by the Mariposa Commercial and Mining Com- pany. James Cross, business manager for the company, who was present, surprised | them by producing a deed not only con- | veying the property, but rights of way for | both roads over the grant. Their legal | adyiser quibbled over an alleged insuf-| ficiency of description, but eventually they settled and paid up. “During that same session Meany, | Rogers & Bigelow served a written notice | on the board that they were ready to per- fect their contract and commence work. It | was taken under advisement. *‘In the fall of that year Meany died. There was another halt, and the ‘matter again came up in the spring of 1892. Then the point was raised that the legal repre- sentatives of the estate of the deceased could not carry out the contract. This formed another pretext for delay. Then, a year or two thereaiter—and while this | question was under advisement and suffer- | ing with the dry rot of postponements— Bigelow, another contractcr, died. The friends of the enterprise had, during each session of the Legislature subsequent to the bond issue, appealed to that body for State aid. Commencins with the session of 1889, a bill was introduced appropriat- ng $30,000 for this purpose. It was pocket- ed by Waterman. Thereafter the amount was increased to $50,000, and after three successive failures in the matter of execu- tive approval the act passed the last Legis- lature by an increased majority and was approved by the Governor. “When I saw that $75,000 clause I knew there was more trouble ahead. No man of ordinary intelligence with the oppor- tanities for personal observation of seven years’ willful delay could possibly be mis- Jed as to the mischievous intentions of the ‘Solid Three’ of that Board of Supervisors. The only doubt was as to their method in this particular emergency. They rose to the necessities of the occasion and solved the problem. No manon earth, outside the circle, could have guessed the result. “The grand climax was reached during arecent session of the board. On the 8th of May, 1895, by the same old vote of 3 to 2,” they adopted a preamble and reso- lutions, with three ‘whereases.’” The pre- amble is brief and expressive. Hereis a copy of it: ‘WHEREAS, in the opinion ot this board it 1;1 fmpracticable to attempt to issue the bonds mentioned in_the orders and resolutions of this board under date of May 7, 1888, and Jan- uary 8, 1890, in conformity with the law; and whereas, without the issue of said bonds, the construction of the roads from Mariposs to Yosemite and from Coulterville to Bear Valley, mentioned in said orders and resolutions, can- not be undertaken: and whereas, the proposi- tion of the Legislature of this State granting an appropriation of $50,000 under certain con- ditions is wholly unaceeptable and inadmis- sible as a foundation for any serious action of this board, be it therefore Resolved, etc. “The resolutions rescind, repeal and annul all orders, resolutions and ordi- nances made or adopted since the bond election of 1888 pertaining to those bonds and the roads therein men- tioned, specifically mentioning dates. There is a little twaddle interpolated to the effect that ‘this repeal is without any rejudice to anything already actually sone and completed under said orders and resolutions.’ G P “If this clause has any significance it means that the stakes of the surveyors wili not be pulled up nor their field notes burned. A i 5 “Their remarkable edict closes in this language: Resolved, That the Treasurer be instructed to destroy all signed bonds of Mlfl}ws‘ County in his possession in the presence of the District Attorney and Auditor. Resolved, That the bond fund be and it hereby is abolished, and that $1000 of said money be transferred to the general road fund, and that all remainine money belonging to said bond fund under previous tax levies be transferred to the general expense fund. “Pursuant to this pronunciamento, on the following day and in the official pres- ence named, and with the mock solemnity incident to the cremation of a bateh of can- celed coyote scalps, the bonds were burned. “There is a tinge of the gmtesgue m this pyrotechnic tableau with which seven years of official malfeasance flickers in the red light of burning bonds, but the conse- quences are serious. The bonds were legally valid, and repeated offers have been made to take them at par. The tax been diverted to othe: purposes. The exact figures are not at hand, but the amount is something over $25,000—perhaps 30,000, “There is a strong probability that an accounting will be demanded. “The statement which they have caused to be circulated that the {)eopls were mis- led when they voted for the bonds is un- founded in fact and an insult to the in- telligence of the voters. “The pretext that the sentiment of the public has changed is a most unfortunate statement; unfortunate for the ‘Solid Three,’” for their seven years’ tinkering with an enterprise which should have been practically completed in twelve months might naturally bring about this change, seasoned with™ disgust. They assume to represent the peonle of that county, who have repeatedly petitioned for aid to con- struct the road, and now abruptly decline the donation of $30,000 by the State. Through their extraordinary proceedings the county has lost its best’ and possibly its only opportunity, for unless some legal method can be devised to compel a reissue of those bonds there is no immediate prob- ability of a free wagon road to Yosemite. “There is another afgmvming feature of the case. Immediately following this cre- mation act, the Attorney-General, at the request of the District Attorney of Mari- posa, forwarded an opinion giving his in- terpretation of the appropriation act,which was favorable to the county. “But the board were not waiting for a legal opinion, being alaw unto themselves, and here comes another little incident. The Bureau of Highways recently went on a tour of investigation through that terri- tory. Civil Engineer Maude has given his | views upon the subject and shows the ad- vantages to be derived from a rouie through the Merced Canyon, which could be trav- eled the entire year. I quote his language as given in THE CALL of June 24: I have no hesitation in saying,’ said Engi- neer Maude, ‘that I could easily construct a road with the amount of money at hand (re- ferring to the $50,000 appropriation) whicn would far excel any of the present ones into the valley.’ “So the county need not have been out adollar in the transaction except what had been expended in surveying, and to artly offset that, would have received Erom the State $2000. “In noticing the county road from Wa- wona to Mariposa, the members of the bureau are quoted as saying that ‘its con- dition is one of the greatest outragesupon the taxpayers ever perpetrated.’ “They had no personal knowledge of the series of ‘outrages’ committed by the ‘Solid Three’ during seven years of mal- administration, culminating in the annul- ling, revoking and bond-burning episode, or they would have thought that monu- mental rough road was a macadamized highway. ““Upon the heels of their latest official performance the board has called an elec- tion, to be held July 9, upon the question of issuing bonds in the amount of $15,000" for the construction of the Coultervilie road. Itwill probably be carried, and as the sum is insignificant and the road a necessity the bonds can be placed at home, but abroad the reputation of the county is materially impaired by the manifest dis- position on the Eut of ‘the Supervisors to repudiate its obligations. “Yes, I have a géneral knowledge of the topography of Mariposa County and was with the surveying party in 1888. S. J. Harris, County Surveyor, had charge of this work. Mr. Harris has recently sent me a communication embodying facts and figures that may be of interest to the pub- lic in case of a revival of the road enter- grise, which, in some shape, is liable to appen in the near future.” Jewels of Royalty. At a well-known auction-room in Lon- dou a casket of je wels, formerly the prop- erty of the late Duchess of Montrose, was sold publicly a few days ago. The last lot but one was a pear! necklace composed of seven rows, containing in all 362 fine grad- uated pearls, with a diamond tablet snap. The like of such a necklace for the size, color and faultless matching of the pearls was hardly to be found in the world. Ex- g&ru in the jewelry houses have, indeed, eclared that only three such necklaces exist which can be compared for splendor of surface and perfect symmetry of shape and dimensions to these seven rows. Two belong to queens and the third is the property of a very wealthy family. The very first offer made for the necklace was the round sum of $25,000. From this oint ‘the biddings quickly ascended to ,000 and the superb trinket was finall#® awarded to the bidder who offered the sum of $67,500,.—Boston Transeript. —————— The last census made noaccount of notes, bonds or other promises to pay, whether public or private, and these were not in- cluded in the estimated wealth for the reason that, while they are owned by one individual or corporation, they are owed by another. The total amount of gold coined at our mints from 1793 to 1892 was $1,552,000,000, of silver during the same period there has levied to meet the principal and interest was in accordance with the law, It nas| $657,000,000 and of subsidiary coinage of all denominations §24,000,000.