The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, August 1, 1895, Page 4

THE SAN FRA ISCO CALL, THURSDAY, AUGUST 1, 1895. PACIFIC COAST HEWS, Plea of the Southern Pacific for Lower Assessments. ATTORNEY RYAN’S TALK. Tells the Equalizers That the Assessors Have Shown Poor Judgment. FIGURES CONDUCIVE TO TEARS. Statistics to Prove That the Com- pany Is Generously Operating ataloss. SACRAMENTO, Car., July 3L —E. Black Ryan, attorney for the Southern Pa- cific Company, appeared before the State Board of 1alization this morning and delivered an extended argument upon the subject of the excessive taxation on all the property of the corporation lying within the boun s of the State of California. In fact, if the argument presented by Mr. Ryan is to be absolutely property in the State of California is as- sessed entirely too high, and in reality much higher than property cf the same nature is assessed in sister common- wealths. The arguments advanced by the railroad attorney are the same as those presented to the State Board of Equalization for years. The same chord has been harped upon with finely executed variations, but the argument is the same. It was claimed that it was a matter of grave doubt as to whether or not th ate Board of Equali- zation had jurisdiction over portions of the Central Pacific lying in Alameda County, and the old matter of Federal franchises was again brought to the front. The attorney came armed with volumm- ous statistics relating to assessments in other States, and others showing the miles of roadbed in the different counties of the State, and pleaded hard for a reduction of what he termed a burdensome and unjust taxation. He declared that the people had no idea of how a railroad should be assessed ; that they seemed to think thata | mile in one portion of the State was worth just as much'as a mile in any other part. They failed to understand that it was a constitutional provision that the assess- ment of the road should be divided among the counties pro rata, according to the population. Where the country through which the track passes is thickly inhab- ited the earning capacity is far greater than where the track goes through more thinly populated districts. -The attorney was subjected to a severe cross-examination by one of the members of the board as to what he considered the present valuation of the Central Pzcific system to be, and he seemed well posted and made ready answers. Healso claimed that before the road fell into the hands of the Southern Pacific Company it was not assessed for half the sum it is at the pres- ent time. F. Klink, clerk of the Southern Pa- cific Company, came to the assistance of the railroad attorney with a number of statistics, by means of which he endeav- ored to prove that the road had operated | Mr. | at a loss for the past fiscal year. Ryan, in an endeavor to prove that the railroad system in California was assessed at a higher rate than in any other State, said: Southern Pacific g rolling stock, New Mexico, Oregon, les: rizona assesses th at $6800 a mile, inclu stations, side-tracks, $6500; Texas, less th than $5000; Utah, Ohio and many other of the Western States are lower; Kentucky and Massa- chusetts are somewhat higher than the as- sessments in California, but then that sec- tion, which contains less than one-third of the area of this State, has a population of more than 5,000,000 people.”” Mr. Ryan took up the Central Pacific road, and gave the distances between all the stations from the Ozkland mole to the Nevada State line. The number of miles of road in each county operated under e an $5 0; Indiana, Illinois, Butte... Fresno, Madera. Merced Sacramento. San Francisco. San Joaquin. Santa Clara As to the misunderstanding of the people of the State relative to the valuation of the railroad, he quoted the situation in Ala- meda County; $17,000 per mile, he said, was not enough. They did not seem to understand tnat in some counties it was assessed at $60,000 and $70,000 per mile, and in others, where there was_ little or no population, the assessment was very much | less. According to the constitution the assessment must be distributed pro rata, according to the number of miles, among all the counties through which the road passes. Thus Sutter County gets as much Ppro rata as does Alameda. Chief Clerk Klink of the Southern Pacific Company gave the following figures for the Central Pacific within the State during the last fiscal year: Gross earnings...... Gross operating expens Net earnings Taking the entire system of the Central Pacific in and out of the State for the year 1895, it .shows a deficit of $117,848 93. It costs money to run through Utah and Nevada, and neither contributes mugh in traffic. Mr. Klink said there were six railroads proper operated by the Southern Pacific Company within the State of Cali- fornia. They were operated as one Sys- tem. Their total gross earnings for the past year were $19,964,318 85; gross ex- penses, $14,652,405 15; net earnings, $5,311, 913 17. The fixed charges, which are to be deducted, and which include- interest on bonds, etc., amounted to -$5,399,887 55, leaving a deficit of $87,974 38. There was another important factor, he said, which should be taken into considera- tion when assessing the valuation of the property in the possession of the railroad company and it was this: The company returned the amount of property as the same year after year, yet, owing to the in- creased advantages of manufactirers and the reduced ratio of wages, this proverty could be reproduced at a far lower figure at the present day than its original cost. He quoted as an example the San Joaquin Valley road, which is now in course of construction from the City of Stockton, and said this company was paying but $26 70 a ton for its rails, and could not possibly be paying more than 30 cents each for its ties, with the probability that it did not reach this figure, as there were mil- . B, 2, believed, railroad | ions of ties in stock. All along the coast, in fact, the Southern Pacific Company had been informed by the Union Milling and Lumber Company that it was prepared to furnish any required amount of ties at any figure the former might see fit to propose. In speaking of the assessments in forty- two counties of the State Mr. Ryan said the local assessors assessed property at from 60 to 65 per cent of its commercial value, while the State Board assessed rail- roads at 100 cents on a dollar. “Do you mean to assert that the Centra Pacific is assessed for its full valuation?” inquired Equalizer Arnold. “Would you pay $13,000,000 for it?"’ was the rejoinder. “What is the bonded indebtedness of the Central Pacific?”” inquired Equalizer Chese- brough. “It is about $5: 2.000,000. The original debt was $27,000,000. To that is added ars’ interest at 6 percent. I don’t that any individual or corporation would give $10,000,000 for it under existing conditions.” In speaking of the South Pacific Coast Railroad Mr. Ryan said while there existed no possible doubt but what this was the most valuable narrow-gauge property in the State, the assessment was far too high. The road was by no means worth §13,000 per mile. The net earnings of this line last year were $1278 per mile, this including the ferry services across San Francisco Bay, and before it fell into the hands of the Southern Pacific it did not bear one-half the amount of assessment it now does. The Fair estate holds the mort- gage upon this property. R. H. Beamer of the State Board of Equalization complained of the bad condi- | tion of the road and said that the depots | were falling to pieces and were sadly in need of repairing, the platforms all along the line were full of holes and fences were broken down. though the Southern Pacific Company again. Beamer said that the country along the Yolo County that was improving. That, he said, was getting better all along. Mr. Ryan seemed to think there was no justification for any such expenditure, and that farmers in that section were in a hard way. He asked Mr. Beamer if he thought the farm- ers in that part would ever be able to pay off their mortgages. This aroused Mr. Beamer’s indignation and he replied very emphatically to the question that they would. A few minor matters were discussed in relation to the matter of ass nent, and the question was left in the hands of the board. From the vote taken last year it is highly probable that Beamer and Colgan are willing to abide in the main by the de- cision of the county year new members have come in, and the indications at present seem to be that un- less errors in assessments are evident there will not be any material reduction. RUINS OF FRESN'S FIRE Repairs on the Courthouse to Be Begun Without Delay. County Officers Transacting Busi- ness Under Spreading Shade Trees. FRESNO, Cat., July 31. Supervisors has been holding meetings at intervals all day to make arrangements for He said it looked to him as | wanted to let the Fair estate have it back | Capay Valley road was the only part of | Assegsors. Since last | securing rooms for the county officers | PACIFIC CONST NEWS, Fight Against the Corral Hollow Road in Stockton. PLAN OF ITS OPPONENTS. | | | The City Council Will Be En- joined From Passing the Franchise. WORK ON THE VALLEY LINE. A Busy Scene Where the Graders Are Throwing Up Earth for a Roadbed. STOCKTON, Car.,, July 31.—The oppo- sition to the Corral Hollow Railroad on the part of the merchants and millmen along the water front has not ceased, and a greater effort will be made to influence the Council against allowing that portion of the franchise for tracks between the water front and the line of the Valley road. A number of the milling and warehouse companies, together with others on the water front, have combined against the | Corral Hollow people and mean to carry the matter into court before they will per- mit tracks to be laid on Weber avenue, where the projectors of the coal road pro- pose to place them. ‘Whether the real fight is being made in behalf of the Valley road, or whether some other motive inspires the objectors has not yet been made apparent, but to-day J. M. Welsh, president of the Crown Mill, said that an injunction suit would be filed against the Council to prevent its granting the franchise in its present form. He said that all of the millowners and warehouse men were to hold a meeting to devise some means of keeping the Corral tracks from running between the Valley road and the water front. The passing to print of the franchise Monday night has by no means settled the matter, as there are yet thirty days from that time before it can be | finally passed. | Tke rails for the Corral Hollow road will arrive here some time next week, and unless there is some unforeseen delay all | the iron for the thirty-odd miles of track | will be in Stockton before the 10th. The | rails are coming overland. The contract | for the drawbridge across the San Joaquin will be let before the end of the week. The bridge as planned is capable of carryinga live weight of 262,000 tons. ‘Work on the Valley road is progressing | rapidly. More teams are being added to :the force, and quantities of material are | being taken out of the bed of Mormon | Channel for filling in the grade. The | scene is a busy one all the way from the | long piles of ties that are piled up along | Edison street out past El Dorado strest on Taylor, where the shovelers -are now E throwing up the earth for a roadbed. Men are camped all along the line of the grad- | ing, but many of the teamsters live in the y and the outside additions, or the | camps would be like a squatter settlement. Steam was gotten up in one of the new locomotives yesterday and it was found to work very satisfactorily. The work of maids clad in the garbof the fatherland. A pleasant feature of the entertainment was a peasant dance, lead by Frauen Vogel and Giskie. Dancing and German games were indulged in during the balance of the evening. Director Fritz Scheelof San Francisco was vresent with some ‘of his musicians to delight the esrs of the lovers of melody. RO WANTED AT PASADENA. Conductor Parlin Secures His Release on Habeas Corpus and Disappears. _PASADENA, Car., July 3L—F. E. Par- lin, the much-married electric-car con- d'uctor. was taken before Superior Judge Van Dyke yesterday ona writ of habeas corpus sworn out by Dupuy & Hiatt, his attorneys. Parlin was discharged. 2 Parlin was arrested for beating his wife in Los Angeles, and was taken before Re- corder Rossiter for trial on a charge of battery. The writ recited. that the Pasa- dena court had no jurisdiction, and the Superior Court agreed with it. If any offense was committed it was committed in Los Angeles, and the proper disposal of it should have been through the police courts there. Parlin visited Pasadena yesterday after- noon, and 1n the evening his wife went to Los Angeles and swore out another com- plaint against him. Parlin was in town this morning, but before the warrant reached here he had disappeared. The officers are after him, but he has not yet been captured. et A SANTA MONICA INVENTION. Designed to Allow a Swimmer to Take Advantage of a Breeze. SANTA MONICA, Car., July 31.—Rollin Sheckles of this place, an expert swimmer, | has invented an aquatic sailing machine | to help a swimmer take advantage of any | breeze that might blow. It is a piece of silk canvas 3 by 6 feet, strapped to the swimmer's shoulders with a guy rope reaching to his feet, with a couple of foot- balls attachea to his chest to protect the swimmer from any hidden rocks. He has made two attempts with the ma- chine, being successful in the latter, and will give a public exhibition on Sunday from the mammoth wharf at Port Los Angeles to the North Beach bathhouse, a distance of about two and a half miles. WORK AT CAMP ROKCHE | | | | Farmers Enthusiastic Over the Good That Is Being Ac~ complished. | Ladles Plan a Plcnic In Which the Entire Neighborhood WIll Participate. WRIGHTS, Cav., July 31.—Each suc- ceeding day the visitors at Camp Roache are more impressed with the conviction that this summer school for farmers is what has long been needed, and that it is | an institution that will be of untold benefit l‘to the people of California. The knowl- | edge gained by the thoughtful listener is | astonishing. The lectures are ably de- | livered and treat of questions of vital im- | portance to the farmer, and are followed | by general discussions which bring out | every phase of the question at hand. The entertainment promised for next Saturday by the ladies’ auxiliary com- | mittee will be a picnic in which the entire | neighborhood will join, and which prom- | ises to be an exeeedingly pleasant diver- | sion from the. solid and earnest study which characterizes each day at the | camp. | This morning’s lecture was by Professor | J. Wickson of Berkeley on ‘‘Grasses and | Forage Plants in Arid Countries.’” The importance of grasses was shown in the | statement that one-sixth of all the vegeta- TEE FRESNO COURTHOUSE AS IT AFPEARS AFTER THE FIRE, FRONT VIEW FROM MARIPOSA STREET. whose rooms were damaged by the fire at the Courthouse. An appraiser has been appointed by the board to act for it in figuring the loss on the building and its contents, and the work will begin to-morrow. The agents of the San Francisco representatives of the companies holding the insurance arrived to-night. It is estimated that the loss will be about $90,000, while the insurance on the building was $85,000 and on the furni- ture $4000. The Courthouse will be repaired at once. Instead of a wooden frame like that in the { old dome the Supervisors will probably use steel. The burned dome was considered one of the greatest menaces to the city. The new one will probably not be quite so high. Within a few days the Board of Supervisors will advertise for plans and specifications for the work, and as little time as possible will be lost in repairing the damage done Monday night. The business of some of the officers is almost at a standstill, as the papers are in confusion and some of them ave lost. To- day Assessor Vincent, Auditor Barnum and Surveyor Hoxie transacted the most pressing business under a large tree near the Courthouse. Sheriff Scott has sworn in a large number of special deputies to xuard the books and other property still out of doors, and other guards are sta- tioned at the doors of the building to pre- vent people from destroying or stealing valuable papers not yet removed. The safe in Treasurer Whitson's office, containing all the county funds, has not been opened; but it is thought that its con- tents are not damaged. A great inconve- nience will result from the inability of the Treasurer to pay out money. Judge Carter held court to-day in an im- provised courtroem. Rooms for all three departments have been secured downtown. TO DISSOLFVE SUNSET DISTRICT. Suit Brought by Attorney - General Fitzgerald. FRESNO, Car., July 3l — Attorney- General Fitzgerald, in the name of the people of the State of California, to-day filed a suit in the Superior Court of Fresno against the Sunset irrigation district, to dissolve that district on the ground that it was fraudulently oOrganized, inasmuch as twenty-five persons- who signed a petition and represented themselves to be real estate owners in the dpropoud district do not own & oot of land there. |From a sketch made for *“The Call.”’] constructing the piledriver to be used in Channel was begun yesterday. CAPTURED A COINER'S OUTFIT. Plates and Bogus Money Used in an Oalkland Mint. STOCKTON, CAL., July 31.—Sheriff Cun- ningham made an important discovery last Triday, which will probably lead to the conviction of a man and a woman who were arrested several days ago in Oakland on a charge of counterfeiting. The Sher- iff’s find may possibly result in the cap- ture of a third counterfeiter, who is still at large. Several days ago N. R. Harris of the TUnited States secret service agency, raided a counterfeiting establishmentin Oakland. He succeeded in capturing two alleged coiners, but a third man who had a hand in the unlawful business escaped. He | took with him all the paraphernalia used | in making the counterfeit money, $10 bills being the kind of money turned out by the guklunden. A box which was sup- posed to contain the articles wanted as evidence was seen to be taken from the place where the trio held forth, and it was thought to have been sent through Wells, Fargo & Co’s office, although the officials would divulge nothing. Sheriff Cunningham got wind of the fact that the box had been sent to this city, and took possession of it upon its arrival. Upon opening it he found that it contained the plates used in making the bills, and also about $800 in 1llegal money. Detective Harris came up from San Francisco yester- day and Sheriff Cunningham turned the outfit over to him. SAN RAFAEL KIRMESS. Germans Indulge in a Yestival Typical of the Fatherland. SAN RAFAEL, CAL, July 31.—A typ- ical German \festival and kirmess took place under the auspices of the local Ger- man Ladies’ Society this afternoon and evening. Ower 1000 people thronged San Rafael Park, which had been beautifully decorated under the direction of the comely frauleins. Many came over from Sausalito on a special train which arrived at 8 o’clock tozmight. Around tbc grounds were ice-cream stands, grab-bags, booths where choice ice cream and German saladsand Waldmeister erb and wine—delicacies such as only the Germans can prepare—was dispensed by making the trestle bridge across Mormon | THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE LEFT WING. tion in the world belonged to the family of grasses. Grass was aefined as a plant | with a straight, hollow-jointed stem and | broad blade, and forage plants as those such as clover and alfalfa which could not be termed as grass. The main point of the lecture was to show the grasses which would live in arid countries, and samples were exhibited and the manner of growth and their ndag_mbility to certain soils were shown. hose grasses which had given most encouragement were the tall oat and Hungarian brown grass imported from Europe, and of forage plants the flat ea and Australian salt plantor alkaline b;s'}m“ were mentioned as among the st The lecture by Professor Ross in the afternoon was upon ‘‘The Farmer asa Buyer.” The overstimulus to agriculture given by the homesteading ?olicy of the Government was spoken of as the chief cause of depression to farmers. The ques- tion of alien.ownership of land was dis- cussed, showing the many dangers at- | tendant thereon, and Professor Ross took the ground that the Government weuld be perfectly justified in putting some restraint upon this custom. e spoke of the pres- ent system of borrowing money by the farmer, and thought that some kind ‘of co- operative societies would the best method of lessening the burden of the farmer, citing the building and loan so- cieties as an example. President Jordan has announced that the subject of his opening address at Santa Cruz will be “The Money Valueof Truth,” The people on eyvery hand are loud in their praise of Tue CALL for giving full re- ports of the proceedings at the camp. gt Brick-Making at Santa Crus. SANTA CRUZ, CarL, July 3L—A. G. Bowman, a prominent brick manufacturer of San Jose, has received a five-year lease of Hihn's brickyard, near Odd Fellows’ cemetery, and willimmediately commence turning out bricks for the new courthouse. Work will commence on the courthouse Monday. Mr. Bowman has discovered a fine bed of brick clay on the grounds which will make as fine a brick as can be made in the State. el SO Furniture Factory for Fresno. FRESNO, Cavn., July 31.—It is learned on reliable authority that a large Eastern furniture manufacturing company isabout to establish a factory in Fresno. An abundance of lumber for the chea rades of furniture can be procured in iérras, and after the first of next year cheap eleetrical power can be used. PACIFIC” COAST NEWS. Happenings of a Day in the County of Santa Clara. SAN JOSE LAND SUIT. A Man Supposed to Have Been Dead Returns to Fight for an Estate. ATTACK ON LOS GATOS GIRLS. Gilroy Preparing for an Elaborate Celebration on Admisslon Day. SAN JOSE, CaL., July 81.—After having been long mourned as one dead, Milton B. Smith has returned to this city to claim a share in thirty acres of land in the Wil- lows, valued at §15,000. Peter J. Smith died in August, 1871, leaving his property to his wife, Kate Smith. There were two sons, Earl and Milton, and the mother was appointed guardian of the children. The widow dis- posed of the property to W. W. and F. W. Reid, giving a deed, but the sale was never confirmed by the court, and in consequence the title to the property has never been very good. Later Mrs. Smith married C. B. Lauthier and moved out of the county, and her whereabouts were not known until the return of her son. Recently Francis W. Reid, one of the holders of the property, petitioned for let- ters of administration on the estate of Peter B. Smith for the purpose of securing a title to the property. In the petition to perfect the probate record it was stated that Kate Smith, last known as Kate Lau- their, Milton B. Smith and Earl F. Smith, children of the deceased, were next of kin, but the petitioner did not know whether or not any of them were then living, and all of them were over the age of 21 years, if living. Milton B. Smith states that his brother is now dead and that he is the only re- maining child. He says his mother is liv- | ing at Castroville, Monterey County. As | ihe present holders of the land have a per- | sonal deed from Kate Smith, she can have no claim to the property. The son was not mentioned in the will, but according to law this does notdisinherit him. Smith will engage an attorney and begin a con- test to recover the property. Ths petition of F. W. Reid to correct the probate record comes up for hearing on August 9. CAUGHT THE WRONG MAN. Otto Peterson, the Alleged Forger, Is to Be Released. SAN JOSE, CaL., July 31.—Otto Peter- son, the young man who was brought back from Los Angeles yesterday by Deputy Sheriff Black to answer to a charge of passing forged checks, is evidently not the man wanted, and will probably be re- leased. Peterson was arrested on suspicion of being the man who vyictimized a large rumber of merchants in this city about | three months ago by passing forged checks bearing the signature of Zollars & Restana, blacksmiths doing business on San Fer- | nando street. When the checks were pre- | sented the forger was made up as a black- | smith. His clothes were soiled, his hands and face were blacked and he had a black- | smith’s apron under his arm, and looked as if he had just come from work. Mr. Zollars was in a store at the time the youn; man tried to passone of the checks, an he atonce pronounced it a forgery, where- upon the forger fled. Zollars says Peter- son is not the man. Peterson may have a charge of embezzle- ment placed against him by William Top- ham, who claims that Peterson beat him | out of $20 by getting him to indorse a note drawn on a mneafalis firm, which was retusned unpaid. Topham had to pay the $20, and he accuses Peterson of defraudin, hif out of the money. Peterson acknowi- edges having some dealings with Topham, but says [opham owes him $2 50, instead of him being indebted to Topham. HARRASSED BY STRANGE MEN. Two Los Gatos Girls Twice Attacked by Ruffians, SAN JOSE, CaL., July 31.~Ida and Ada Ladd, twin sisters, 12 years of age, who re- side with their parents near Los Gatos, have had a chapter of exciting experiences during the past week, The girls are em- ployed in the cannery at Los Gatos, and last Saturday evening after getting through work stayed to attend the services of the Salvation Army. After the meeting was over they started home in a cart, and when abouta mile from Los Gatos, were accosted by two men on _horseback, who began to insult them and tried to drag them from the cart. The men would probably have succeeded had not the girls’ father happened along. At his approach the men took flight, Mr. Ludd followed them as faras_the Forest House, where he learned they had stopped for a drink, and there told a man, who was waiting for them, that they would get the Ladd girls yet. A few days before the girls were accosted by the same men while walking home on the railroad track at about the same place. | witha They were subjected to the same indi nities, but struggled away from their a sailants and made their escape. ADMISSION DAY AT GILROY. Prises Offered for Winners in the Bicycle Tournament. SAN JOSE, Car, July 81.—The citizens of Gilroy are making extensive prepara- tions for celebrating Admission Day. Gil- roy Parlor No. 81, N. 8. G. W., has sent in- vitations to neighboring parlors to par- ticipate in the festivities, and it is believed ;h:t muany neighboring parlors will attend n a y. The executive committee has decided upon the following prizes for the firemen’s tournament: For hose team, first priz $125; second prize, $50; for hook and lad- der team, first prize, $100; second prize, $50. One hundred dollar’s worth of prizes, in addition to those given by business houses, will be given in t‘ge bicycle races. PRACTICED WITHOUT A LICENSE. Complaint Made Against a Woman Doc- tor in San Jose. SAN JOSE, CaL., July 81.—Otis H. Mil- ler to-day swore to a complaint before Justice Dwyer charging Mrs. L. M. Cole with practicing medicine without a license. Mraé Celie has (3;‘ a nun:be‘x" cgsfvg;::'bggg N Sal oroax;n\‘l:tigg.:r”"p:’he”y she sells “‘Mrs. le’! blets.” c‘id‘ifiel; si ;- his wife has been under Mrs, P t, but, instead of impro posl'egms;n m.m'ly worse and her life now despaired of. Attacked by a Boy. SAN JOSE, CaL., July 31.—C. A. Main is swore to a complaint in Justice Dwyer's court this morning charging Dennis Col- lins, & l4-year-old boy, with assault with a deadly weapon. Main and Collins had a dispute at the narrow-gauge depot. Main says that Collins attacked him with a coup- ling-pin, and would have killed him had he not made his escape. A warrant has been issued for Collin’s arrest, and_efforts will be made to send him to Whittier, as he has frequently been in the Police Court. Mrs. Rothe Arraigned. SAN JOSE, CAL., July 31.—Mrs. Clarinda Rothe was arraigned before Justice Gass this morning to answer to a charge of her husband, William A. Rothe, who accuses her of abducting their 12-year-old boy, Elmer, from the residence of the child’s grandmother, Mrs. Ruth Rothe, Saturday afternoon. There isa divorce suit pend- ing between the parties, in which the hus- band charges the wife with being unfaith- ful. It was agreed between them that the child was to remain in the custody of its grandmother until the matter was settled, but Saturday Mrs. Rothe ob- tained possession of the child and was about to take it East with her. Her exam- ination was set for August 10, and she was allowed to go on her own recagnizance. Fruit Trays Destroyed by Fire. SAN JOSE, CAL., July 31.—Fire was di covered in a stack of fruit trays belonging to the Willow Glen Fruit Growers’ Union in a field on Lincoln avenue near Willow street at 1 o’clock this morning. There were 26,000 trays in_the lot and they were iled around the field about seven feet high. About 5000 trays re destroyed and the loss amounts to §1250. The loss is covered by insurance. A number of prune trees in an adjoining orchard, belonging to John Gilman, were badly scorched and damaged. The origin of the fire is un- known, but it was probably caused by tramps sleeping among the trays. Declares He Is Insolvent. SAN JOSE, CaL., July 31.—B. Hicks, a general merchant at Santa Clara, to-day filed a petition in insolvency. Doing a credit business and gensral depression in business for the past three years are the causes of failure. His liabilities are $6412 60, with little or no assets. A few months | ago Hicks made an assignment to W. Rosie for the benefit of his creditors and they have been paid 50 cents on the dollar, and the petition in insolvency is now filed to relieve him of the rest of the indebted- ness. CHRISTIANS AT CAMP GARFIELD. Methods of Evangelization Discussed by the Pastors. SANTA CRUZ, CaL., July 31.—Theat- tendance at the Christian Church Associ- ation convention at Garfield is better than in any previous year. The Ministerial Association met this morning, with Henry Shadle in the chair. Rey. Mr. Chaplin conducted the dévo- tional exercise. This was followed by an address by Rev. J. H. Hughes of San Jose on the theme “Methods of Evangeliza- tion.” The speaker said the church was or- dered by the apostles and Christ to evan- elize, but was not told how to do it. fach man chose his own methods, and each one must know what methods were best for himself. Every community had its own peculiarities, and the methods must be adapted to the place. The obliga- tion was commanded, but the methods were ours. We must create them or an- swer to God for our future. The discussion was opened by Rev. R. L. McHatton, the State evangelist, who in- dorsed the paper and expressed himself as favorable to sensation rather than stagna- tion. Rev. Mr. Tout of Holhster followed lea for the education from child- Rey. C. W. Copson of hood of evangelists. | Capay thought that whatever converted the man and made him a good Christian was what was wanted; evangelize a man so he will remain evangelized. He wanted the whole man converted. Rev. J. E. Den- ton, Rev. Mr. Sharp, A. C. Smither, W. A. Gardner and J. L. Romig spoke. ‘This afternoon the first paper was on “Christian Courtesy Among Ministers,” by Rev. R. N. Davis of Butte City; the second on ‘‘Place-seeking,”” by H. C. Mor- gan of Pacific Grove, and the third on *“‘Secularization of Life,”” by J. F. Tout, pastor of the Christian Church, and editor of the West Coast Alliance of Hollister. The discussions of these papers were very animated. —— RUBY CREEK CATASTROPHE. Three Minors Buried Beneath an Ava- lanche of Rock and Earth. SEATTLE, Wasg, July 31.—Word comes from Ruby Creek, the newly dis- covered and almost inaccessible mining district in Whatcom County, that three prospectors named Nelson, Jefferies and Gannon, were instantly killed by a rock shde. The men had started a fire at the | base of a cliff in order to do some cooking. Whether the fire had anything to do wit! the loosening of the rock cannot now be told, but at any rate the great mass of rock and earth weighing hundreds of tons came down upon them without warning, burying them many feet deep. The sudden and total dislgpenrnnca of the men caused a search to be instituted for them, and it was not until several days elapsed that the recentavalanche of rocks, trees and earth was discovered. Traces of the men had also been found near the spot, and it was suggested that they might be buried beneath. After several hours of digging, the body of Jeffries, crushed to unrecognizable mass, was discovered. Every bone had been broken. A short distance away the bodies of the other two men were found but not so badly disfigured. The men ha evidently been eating a meal when death irlx‘ such awful form suddenly overtook them. —_—— STRUCK BY 4 vPHOO.N. The Steamer Hankow Disabled Off the Japanese Coast. TACOMA, Wasa., July 31.—A cablegram from Yokohama reports the Northern Pa- cific steamship Hankow struck by a ty- phoon and disabled off the Japanese coast. g O BREVITIES OF THE COAST. Condensed from Special Telbegrams to “The Call?’ John Filk, while camping in the Yosemite Valley, became insane, and jumping into Mer- ced River was drowned. Clifton E. Mayne was taken from San Diego to Los Angeles in irons to answer to the charge preferred against him by 15-year-old Elsie Shepton. Anton Zimmerman, shot by Philip Finker- negle at Woodland Tuesday, died on Wednes- day. He made an ante-mortem statement ac- cusing Finkernagle, The Great Northern Railway Company has begun work on the foundation for the immense carshops which are to be built at Inter Bay, just north of Seattle. Fire destroyed a large stable and two horses on Lord Aberdeen’s Coldstream ranch, near Vancouver. A lamp explosion caused the blaze. The loss was $4000; insured. Jose Johnson, an Indian, who in full war dress acted as cashier for a Sacramento dime museum, fled with $600 of the institution’s funds. He was captured at Truckee. Petaluma’s new fire alarm system has been completed. All the boxes were tested and found.in good working order. The system will be accepted at the next meeting of the City Trustees. At an election te decide whether the Red- wood City District should have a union high school, comprising seven sehool districts, the proposition was carried by 300 votes in favor to only 3 votes against. Redwood City, Menlo Park, Wooaside, Belmont and the Weat Union District voted. The World’s Fair Tests showed no baking powder 80 pure or so great in leave PRAISE TAKE GREAT PLEASURE IN BEING ABLE I to say that all the symptoms with which 1 was afflicted have passed away and I am now a perfectly healthy man. Yes, 1 am in perfect health and have noticed the change from time to time. I will always have the best of words for the great doctors of the Hudson Medical Institute. (Signed) P. D. ROBINSON, San Mateo, Cal. POR o M SR SRR TR R g The wonderful doctors of the Hndson Medi- cal Institute have permanently cured me from & chronic afliction, and I am thankful to God and to them. I wish to state that under the treatment of the great doctors ot the Hudson Medical Institute I have been fully re- stored to heelth and I am now enjoying that great blessing, perfect health. I am now feeling like throwing physic to the dogs. I wish to thank the doctors of the Hudson Medical Institute for the inestimable good that has been done for me. The Hudson Medi- cal Institute shall always receive my heartiest support and recommendation. I would send my brother or my father to the great doctors of the Hudson Medical Institute. A. W. NEALE, 710 Alpine street, Los Angeles, Cal. R OE R R X R E R R E ® X N A. E. Schillinger, Sutter City, Cal, say Hudson Medical Institute: I have taken your medicine for over a year, and I got help out of every bottle. It is wonderful. I would not put myself back where I was for §500. I feel like & well man all the time; could not feel any better than I do now. A. E. SCHILLINGER, Sutter City, Cal. R E R R R R R E R KIDNEY AFFECTION.—These are the main symptoms: Slight pain in back, sediment in urine, same highly colored. Frequent volding ofurine. Compelled get up to oiten at night. Eyelids swollen. Dropsy of the limbs. Ex- cessive thirst, palpitation of the heart, pale angmia, blood thin, bowels irregular, no ap- petite, pain in limbs, swollen limbs, etc. If you are suffering from kidney affection write or consult, free of charge, with the whole body of doctors of the Hudson Medical Institute, Btockton, Market and Ellis streets, San Fran- cisco, Cal. L I A A A I A A E. W. Fowler, Kamele, Orgeon. HUDsON MEDICAL INSTITUTE, Stocktom, Market and Ellis streets, San Francisco, Cal.— Dear Good Doctors: Please send me more med- icine. Iam doing so well, so very well. I am more than pieased with your treatment, and shall surely say a gooa word for the great doc- tors of the Hudson Medical Institute. E. W. FowLER, Kamele, Oregon. PR D Piles can be cured. Itis not always neces- sary to use aknife. If you have sorenessin rectum, itching, small tumors, bleeding at stools, bowels constipated—at times diarrhes; if you suffer from piles, or if you begin to suf- fer, call or write to the doctors who have cured s0 many people. The great white building— Stockton, Market and Ellis streets, San Fran- cisco, Cal. R OE R R R R E R R E e J.T. O'ROURKE, Petaluma. Cal., says: Gen- tlemen: Iam completely restored to health. I never felt better in my life than Ido now. I am feeling splendid in every respect. I cannot find words enough to thank you for what you have done for me. I bless the day that I placed myself in your hands. Yours truly, J. T. O’'ROURKE, Petaluma, Cal. R ‘Write to all of these peovle and ask them if what we print is true. If you send to us for more testimonials we can send yon over 2000, all in praise of the work of the doctors of the Hudson Medical Institute, Stockton, Market and Ellis streets. D All the following cases are curable: Catarrh of the head, stomach or bladder; all bronchisl diseases; all functienal nervous dis- eases; St. Vitusdance; hysteria; shaking palsy; epilepsy; all venereal diseases; all kinds of blood troubles; ulcers; wastes of vital forces; rheumatism; gout; eczema; all skin diseases, from whatever cause arisin psoriasis; all blood poisoning; varicocele; poison oak; lost or impaired manhood; spinal trouble; nervous exhaustion and prostration; incipfent paresis; all kidney diseases; lumbago; sciatica; all bladder troubles; dyspepsia; indigestion; con. stipation; all visceral disorders, which are treated by the depurating department. Special instruments for bladder troubles. B R ) @~ Ciroulars and Testimonials of the Great Hudyan will be sent you free of charge if yow write for them. Xk xR K X KRR kR E N You should read the “Blood Book.” It tells of diseases of the blood and how they are over- come. It will be sent to you free, although the cost is 25 cents. Write for “Blood Book,” Hud son Medical Institute, Stockton, Marketand Ellis streets, San Francisco, Cal. * * % % % % ¥ . HUDSON MEDICAL INSTITUTE, Stockton, Market and Ellls Streets, A L ) Send for Professor J. H. Hudson’s cele- brated lecture on “The Errors of Youth and on Lost Manhood.”” It will cost yow nothing. Visit the institute when you can. All patients seen in private consulting-rooms. Out-of-town patients can learn all about their cases if they send for symptom blanks, All letters are strictly confiaential. I'wo thoussnd testis monials in the writing of individuals cured. Office Hours—9 4. M. to 8§ P. M. Sune days, 9 to 12. The Ilost [liserable Ian. “The most miserable man is the one who is all the time anxious about his health.” Use Paine’s Celery Compound and keep well and strong. It §s not like ordinary remedles—it is medicine. Tryit. T0 WHOM [T MAY CONCERN ! We take pleasure in notifying our many friends and patrons that we are still in- terested in the old es- tablished S. P. TAYLOR PAPER CO0. WITH M, BROWN & SONS 414-416 CLAY STREET. JIM TAYLOR. WILL P. TAYLOR.