The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, September 13, 1895, Page 16

16 THE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 1895. WATER BENEATH THE CITY Facts That Will Be Brought Before the Board of Supervisors. STORY OF THE PARK WELLS. Milllons of Gallons Could Easlly Be Obtained at Comparatively Small Cost. The Union for Practical Progress, which began the movement in favor of a special election to give the people a chance to pass on the question as to whether the munici- pality shall own its own water and electric light and gas plants, is preparing a mass of information on the water question to be placed before the Board of Supervisors when that body comes to pass on the peti- tion for an election recently presented. According to the officers of the union there is ample pure and wholesome water within the limits of the City and County of San Francisco to supply the 60,000,000 of gallons per day that are necessary, and it can be obtained at a cost of less than half of what it would cost to buy the existing plants. John M. Reynolds, one of the active workers in the union, is preparing the statistics mentioned, and he becomes more sanguine every day, not only that the supply can be obtained, but that the Supervisors, when they are given the plain figures for the matter, will not hesitate long to call the election, and of the result when the matter is once placed before the public he has not the slightest doubt. “The union,” he said yesterday, ‘“has | cometo the conclusion, after a eareful in- vestigation, that the entire peninsula on which San Francisco stands is full of subterranean reservoirs that contain vast amounts of water only awaiting the well- borer’s drill to develop them. This belief is borne out by a large number of circum- stances that go to prove its soundness. “In 1893 the Golden Gate Park Commis- sioners decided to build a pumping and power plant on a portion of the property under their jurisdiction to supply the Strawberry Hill reservoir, and put down a numper of wells to ascertain whether a sufficient supply of water could be ob- tained at that particular place to justify the building 0¥ the power-house there. The result astonished the engineers in charge. “Four wells, 20 inches in diameter and | with an average depth of 145 feet, were sunk, and later on a fifth, 514 feet in diameter and 36 feet deep. A trial with two powerful pumps demonstrated that there was plenty of water to fill the 25,- 000,000 gallon tank, and then active opera- tions were begun. “Excavation was commenced for the site of the new engine-house and the founda- tions for the pumps and engines. Skilled engineers advised that this foundation be carried below the natural level of the water in the wells, and while this work was being prosecuted five pumps, discharging 60,000 gallons per hour, were employed day and night filling the excavation with water. The water seemed to come from every- where, and while it was a very trouble- some visitor, it was a most welcome one to those who were looking for a liberal supply. “Herman Schussler, the Spring Valley engineer, was called upon to explain the immense influx of water and gave it as his opinion that the wells and excavation tapped a subterranean reservoir of im- mense extent that would yield an inex- haustible supply of water.” Two engines and two pumps are now in operation and take out 1,500,000 gallons of water per day without perceptible effect on the lévels in the wells. That looks as though there is plenty of water underlying the park, at any rate. “Then there is the flowing well on the Almshouse farm that spouts 60,000 gallons of splendid water per day. Its mouth is twenty-five feet above the level of the Strawberry Hill reservoir, which shows that an unusually heavy body of water must exist in that vicinity. This well cost but $3000 to bore and put in running order. “During the past few_years a number of wells have been sunk in the western por- tion of the City that have flowed so pro- fusely as to enable the owners to supply their neighbors, and so much did this com- petition worry the water company that it began to supply their customers free of charge in order to drive.them out of busi- | ness. There is undoubtediy under the Mission a vast body of water that could be tapped by the proper kinds of wells. ““About Menlo Park and between that ?lace and the bay shore are a number of arms where the owners have bored ar- tesian wells that proved to be spouters. These wells supply more than enough water for the houses and cattle of the farmers, and if proverly handled could be made to supply an immense amount of | water. Wherever deep excavations or bor- | ings have been made in the City water in | abundant quantities has been encountered. ““These matters will all be put in proper | form and placed before the Board of Sup- | ervisors, as well as the methods by which this great store of watercan be gathered for the use of the community. These | methods can best be explained by describ- | ing the water system of Brooklyn, N. Y., a | city that has as fine water asany com- munity on earth. “In 1831-32 the city of Brooklyn was in | great distress for want of water, the ponds in the highlands of Long Island that had suppied the city having run low and great | danger of a water famine existing. Wil- | liam D. Andrews, a shrewd contractor and engineer, came forward and stated that he would agree to furnish the city with 5,000,000 gallons of water per day, himself bearing the expense of the plant, and would also agree not to ask for remunera- tion for twelve months after the water was turned into the city conduits. “Though somewhat incredulous as to his ability to carry out his contract, An- drews’ offer was_accepted and he went to work. The conduits that had carried the water supply of Brooklyn ran through Baisley’s farm and aplace called Spring Creek, and at these locations operations were begun. At each place 100 tubes were sunk into the ground with a piledriver alongside the conduit, each tube being | connected with the main pipe by a small pipe. Pumping-engines were put in at | each place, and when all arrangements were completed they were started up, and an immense volume of pure sweet water started to flow toward Brooklyn. “This water is running to this aay. With admirable forethought the engineer had | provided engines that would pump far | more than 5,000,000 gallons per day, and when in 1883 it was found necessary to supply the city with more water extra power was put on and 8,460,242 gallons were pumped in one day. **This plant is situated within ten miles of Brooklyn, and if necessary ten times as much water could be supplied to the city. “The conditions in this City are very similar to those in Brookiyn, both cities being partially surrounded by water. ‘Whether this fact has anything to do with the supply of water beneath San Francisco is hard to say, but the fact remains that it is there, and we believe that the munici- pality for a comparatively few millions of dollars could collect more than the (‘;0,030,000 of gallons per day that this City needs. “1f the Almshouse well, that yields 60,000 galions per day, cost only : enough wells, with_the proper pipi%&nnd connections, should be sunk for §5,000,000 at the most to supply San Francisco with plenty of water. ’lphnt the City can own water works is shown by the following law that was passed by the Legislature in 1891: “Any incorporated city in this State may ac- quire by giit, purchase or condemnation pro- ceedings under the power of eminent domain, ter, water right, reservoir sites, rights of v for pipes, aqueducts, flumes or other con- duits and all other property and appliances suitable and proper for supplying such city and its inhabitants with water. AN UNGRATEFUL YOUTH. N. Briggs, a Mission Grocer, Wants His Stepson Arrested for Robbery. W. N. Briggs, grocer, on Twenty-third and Sanchez streets, appeared in Judge Joachimsen’s court yesterday morning and swore out a warrant for the arrest of W. H. Thomas, his stepson, a young man 23 years of age, on the charge of robbery. He said he had raised Thomas from in- fangy. On Wednesday afternoon Thomas went into the store and demanded $60, which was refused. Thomas then went upstairs to his mother and Briggs fol- lowed him. He made a similar demand upon his mother and Briggs interfered. Thomas struck him, blackening his eyes and bruising his face badly, and pulled a revolver out of his pocket. = He threatened to kill Briggs unless he got the money. Mrs. Briggs had $95 in the bosom of her dress, and Brizgs, believing that Thomas would carry out his threat, begged her to give him the money. She gave him the 5 and Thomas left the place. Briggs at one time a member of the police force. He is incensed at the young man’s ingratitude and is determined to have him punished. Thomas, who is a member of Fire En- gine Company 23, went to his stepfather’s store about 10 o’clock yesterday morning looking for trouble. He had heard that the warrant was out for his arrest. Briggs, when he heard his voice, re- treated to his wife’s sewing-room, which is separated from the parlor by sliding doors. Thomas went in search of him and a friend of Briggs named Connolly got hold of him in the parlor. Thomas was trying to force his way into the sewing-room and Connolly was try to prevent him. Thomas’ mother also begged him to go away, but he wanted his stepfather’s blood. Connolly and he struggled in the arls till finaily Thomas succeeded in reaking away from him. Briggs had a revolver in his pocket and drew it to be ready for any emergency. He also placed a rocking-chair in front of the sliding doors. When Thomas threw open the sliding doors Briggs told him if he attempted to lay a hand upon him he would shoot him.” Thomas put his hand behind his back, and Briggs, thinking he was drawing his revolver, fired. Thomas threw up his hands and dropped to the floor crying “*Good-by, mother.” Briggs, without waiting to ascertain the effect of his shot, left the house and went to a friend’s near by. He had not been there many minutes when Thomas came searching for him. While Thomas was in the rear Briggs slipped out of the front door and made his way as fast as possible to the Seventeenth-street Police station and surrendered himself. The police were searching for Thomas up to an early hour this morning, but had not found him. It is not believed that he could have been seriously wounded when he went after Briggs to the friend’s house. w. hg LOKG AR OF THE LAV E. S. Cattley Brought From Honolulu on Extradition Papers. He Was Accused of Robbing P. George Gow and Ab- sconded. The long arm of the law did reach out and caich E. 8. Cattley. The chief crime charged against Cattley is grand larceny. As described in THE CALL some weéks ago, he gained the friendship of P. George Gow and then deliberately robbed his friend, stealing gold samples, wearing apparel, a beautiful shotgun and many other arti- cles. Then he made haste to sail for Hono- lulu on the barkentine Wilder. The facts of the robbery were laid before the Grand Jury, Cattley was indicted and Lieutenant Hannah of the police detailed to proceed to Honolulu and bring the ac- cused to San Francisco. Hannah sailed for Honolulu on the steamship Mariposa, reaching his destination two days after Cattley arrived on the Wilder. Before the officer had been in town two days he located his man. Cattley was rolling, not so very high, but quite grace- fully. He was living at the Arlington Hotel and taking exercise daily on a horse purchased for his own use. e bad also deposited $300 in Bishop’s bank. When arrested by Lieutenant Hannah he feigned nsanity, but the officer referred tBe ques- ion of sanity to a medical expert, who pronounced Cattley sane. In due course of time Cattley was brought before Judge Whiting of Hono- lulu. Officer Hannah called Paul Neu- mann as a witness. The genial Paul testified that he was familiar with the laws of California and that grand larceny under the law of this State was a felony. The court remanded Cattley to the custody of the marshal, subject-to Officer Hannah's order. Ouna showing of documentary evi- dence Mr. Hatch, Minister of Foreign Af- fairs, directed that Cattley be surrendered to Lieutenant Hannah. Some of the property stolen from Mr. Gow was recovered by the arresting offi- cer. The beautiful shotgun which Mr. Gow so highly prized was found and will soon be restored to the owner as a trophy of the chase. The bankbook covering a deposit of $300 in Bishop’s bank may en- able Mr. Gow to recover that much in cash. Cattley sold Gow’s samples at the Selby works for a sum approximating $350. On the voyage aboard the Australia from Honolulu hither, Cattley was allowed the liberty of the ship until near the port night before last. Then as a precaution against escape he was ironed. The sight o?the shackles caused him to shed tears. On the way from Honolulu the prisoner wrote a long letter to Mr. Gow confessing the crime and gleading for mercy. Officer Hannah had the letter when the ship ar- rived yesterday afternoon, and Mr. Gow will probably secure it to-day. On the voyage down aboard the Wilder, Cattley asked the captain all sorts of ques- tions about extradition laws, yet no one suspected that the inquiring passenger was fleeing from justice. Cattley is a nice-looking and smooth- talking young Englishman. The story that he told in San Francisco that he was related to a British consular officer in Honolulu was not verified at that port. He was a stranger there, yet it is assetted bere that his family in England occupies a good position in society. Highest of all in Leavening Power.— Latest U. S. Gov’t Report Roval Baking Powder FIRE AND FLAG DRILLS, A Red-Letter Day at the Mis- sion Grammar School Yesterday. DISCIPLINE OF YOUNGSTERS. School Directors, Educators, and Others Witness a Remarka=- ble Exhibition. Yesterday was a red-letter day for the teachers and pupils of the Mission Gram- mar School. Frequent requests had come from the | patrons and friends of the school that an opportunity be given to witness the fire- drill,which is said to have reached the max- imum of excellence and speed in that in- stitution, and Mrs. Nettie K. Craven, the principal, resolved to oblige all the curious, and interested by having an ‘“‘open day” yesterday. The rain dampened the ardor of some who wanted to comne, but there was a large represenitation notwithstanding. Director the flag, and the young voices recited, “I pledge allegiance to the flag and to the re- public for which it stands,” with a spon- taneity of expression and gesture that awoke redoubled applause from the audi- ence. The singing ot ‘‘America’ and *‘Rally Round the Flag” closed the day’s programme. The alertness and attentiveness of the pupils were remarked by all. Not ‘the slightest or most furtive breach of disci- pline was observed, and pride in their school was manifest in the bearing and countenance of every student. 2 There was a pleasing aftermath in the form of luncheon and toasts, when there were addresses by Superintendent Babcock, Director Stone, Principals Brooks, White, Leyser, Mann and Miss Callahan. Super- intendent Babcock expressed sincere grati- fication with the work of the Mission Grammar School, which, he said, ‘‘is in the front rank of a large number of excel- lent schoois.” Director Stone spoke in a similar vein and Principal White, who has been asso- ciated with the San Francisco schools for twenty-nine years, stated that there is no department “in the City in which such faithful service is done ‘as in the public schools, and he believed that in no other department is to be found more faithful or intellectual workers than the teachers. Mrs. Craven paid a tribute to her assist- ants, who, she said, needed no head, but were capable of being heads of institu- tions themselves. Miss Margaret Craven, the actress, gave a short reading in_pleasing style, and the singing of “Auld Lang Syne” closed the informal part of the day’s pleasure. OUTCOME OF A DEBATUCH, ‘W, J. Burns Wounds the Head of Louis Rothschild. Early yesterday forenoon a teamster named W. J. Burns and a saloon porter employed at Pine and St. Mary streets, ‘DON'T LIKE THE BIG LEWY Men Who Deal in Real Estate Fear It Will Drive Away Investors. A HANDICAP ON GOOD TIMES. It Emphasizes the Necessity of a New Charter for San Francisco. How will the big tax levy affect the real estate market? How do real estate owners and dealers look upon it? Answers were sought to these questions in the busy thoroughfares yesterday after- noon by THE CarLn. With scarcely an ex- ception the answers condemned the big tax levy. It was everywhere looked upon as a handicap to the business progress and development of the City. Mr. Baldwin of Baldwin & Hammond said: “I do not see how we can avoid the payment of this heavy taxation without repudiating certain of our obligations as a city, and also fail to carry on improve- ments that are really necessary in street and other forms of work. “The great difficulty is in raising so much money by direct taxation. There is PATRIOTIC SCHOOL DRILL AT THE MISSION GRAMMAR SCHCOL. [From a photograph by Thors.] Stone, Deputy Superintendent Babcock, Principals Brooks of the Girls’ High School, Mrs. Walker of the Marshall, Mrs. O’Neill of the Lafayette, Mrs. L. K. Burke of the Columbia, S. A. White of the Spring Valley, Miss Callaban of the Clement, A. E. Mann of the Denman and Albert Ley- ser of the John Swett schools were present. Mrs. Craven met the visitors in the office and conducted them to various rooms in the building, as many r{:rudes being in- spected as the time would admit. Each class' was presented to the visitors and the introduction was acknowledged with a profound courtesy from the classes and a cheerful “good morning, ladies and gentlemen.” Miss Gallagher’s sixth grade stirred the patriotism of ail by singing in tuneful chorus “California, Pride of the Golden West.” There was a short drill in addition of fractions that showed remark- able readiness on the part of the children. In obedience to a signal from the princival they ran from the room in orderly haste and in the wonderfully prompt and exact manner in which they are trained for the fire drill. Miss Kelly’s fifth grade showed its .skill in practical problems and counting money. e bright girls in Miss Horn’s sixth grade talked about a trip from this City to New York and the sights to be seen on the way. They sang with grace and unison of gesture the rhythmic ballad, “The Brook.” The children gave marked evidences of their skill in verbal composition. Miss Harper’s corresponding class of girls was ready with dainty sunbonnets, most of them products of their own handiwork, to sing in sprightly style, “You Can’t Play in Our Yard.” The utter abandon of the singing and gestures awakened hearty ap- plause from the party thus entertained. The bright misses then proved that their training was by no means confined to the ornamental, for the drill in those school bogies, parsing and diagraming, was sur- prisingly thorough. An illustrative solo and chorus followed, and the wisitors assed on to the ninth grade, with Miss Nellie Sullivan, the vice-principal, in charge. Here they were greeted by a fine chorus of young voices singing “The Flag.” The principal sent directions to each teacher to put the pupils in readiness for the patriotic drill and then said to those Mrs. Nettie B. Craven, Principal Mis- sion Grammar School. about her that in order to make a com- plete test of the “fire drill” she would ring the signal while they were swaitinfi the orders for the patriotic drill. The bell sounded, and instantly there was a rush- ing of many feet. The doors of the rooms on the ground floor opened quietly, but noiselessly, and out trooped hundreds of children in ad- mirable line, but with eyes strained toward the entrance and all at double quick. Scarcely had they disappeared into the yard, when the second floor rooms poured forth their streams of youthful humanity. Their elders looked on with bated breath as the children ran downstairs at, topmost sfieed. and there was a sigh of relief when the last child passed through the hall door. Not one had fallen, there had not been a single misstep, yet the big building was emptied of its 700 children, and the time that elnrsed between the opening and closing click of the referees’ watches was 90 seconds. The patriotic drill was the closing fea- ture of the varied entertainment. The little drummer, Alfred DeWitt, who, with becoming gravity and unvarying time, beat the taps for all the marching, tcok his station in the yard, and the chil- dren filed past him in double line, led by Jtwo of the yonnfint children, who were color-bearers. When marching and coun- ter marching had brought thi 1s and named Louis Rothschild, got into an alter- cation on Jackson and Kearny streets, and finally became badly mixed up in a hori- zontal position. Police Officer McGovern separated them, | and then it was found that Rothschild had received from some small sharp instru- ment a wound in the right side of bis head, from which the blood flowea profusely. Rothschild was sent to the Receiving Hospital and Burns was taken to the Cali- fornia-street police station. On the way to the station Burns threw away a lock-pick. Accordingly two charges were entered against him, one for assault with a deadly weapon and the other for having burglar’s tools in his possession, The policeman said he was an all-round crook and opium fiend, and that the stab- bing was the outcome of an all-night’s de- bauch the two men had indulged in. EARLY RAINS AND LOGSES Damage Likely to Result in the Fruit-Drying and Wine- Making Districts. Showers When Continued Sunshine Was Expected—Table Grapes and Raisins Suffer Most. Dispatches from interior points indicate that the unlooked-for rain that began fall- ing is likely to cause severe losses to many fruit-raisers. While this is 4 little past the height of the fruit-drying and raisin-mak- ing yet thousards of acres throughout Napa, Sonoma, Sacramento, Yolo, San Joaquin, Santa Clara, Butte, Placer, Mer- ced, Fresno, Kern and Tulare countie: were covered with trays of drying fruit | when the unusually early storm struck the State. It is practically impossible to protect trays so spread out and the wetting will do great damage unless followed soon by a period of sunshine. The loss to the table- grapes and the wine-grape crop will also be considerable. The heavy rain not only splits delicate grape berries, but the damp- ness that accumulates in the center of large clusters engenders mold and makes them unavailable for long-distance ship- ping. With wine grapes the harm done is much less, except in the cases of some choice French varieties not yet ready for the wine-press. A dispatch from Stockton notes: “The large amount of water which soaks into grape berries lowers the percentage of sugar and so destroys much of the useful- ness of either wine or table grapes. If the rain continues there will be but few grapes in this county which can be used for any purpose save distillation and the amount which the grower can realize from them for that purpose is so much below the prices obtainable but for the rain that the loss will be heavy.” “The rain has caught many of the fruit men who had reason to hope for some pro- fit this season,” said A.T. Hatch yester- day 1n speaking of the situation, *‘and I'm sorry for them. I understand the rain has been heavy enough to do considerable damage as far north as Red Bluff and as far south as Fresno, which is a_stretch of something like 400 miles. It will hurt the raisin men and dryers of prunes and ap- ricots in late districtsand it is bound to make trouble for all shippers of table grapes. If it don’t crack the berries it hurts the clusters for packing and ship- p_nP. There’s lots of nay and grain that wil l,)‘e damaged and hops may suffer some. ———————————— First Regiment Affairs. The first meeting of the First Infantry Regi- ment (N. G. C.) Lyceum will be held on Friday evening, September 20, at the Regimental Armory. Lieutenant F.L. Winn, U. 8. A,, will address the members. The officers and non- commissioned officers have been directed to report in fatigue uniform. Lieutenant Winn is the instructor of military science and tactics at the State University. Colonel Bush intends to have these meetings held monthly. Target practice for members who were unable toattend on the 9th will be held on Wednes- day, September 18, at Shell Mound Park, com- mencing at 9 A. M. Hospital Steward Ryan is busily engaged in instructing the new details to tho Tegimental ho?uul corps. and will give an exhibition of their proficiency next month. The non-commissioned staff officers of the regiment met on Tuesday evening and formed an organization similar to the board of officers. Sergeant-Major Mitchell was elected chairman, Color Sergeant Elbert secretary and Sergeant: Major Bush treasurer. They have had one of the rooms at the Regimental Armory assigned them, and will meet monthl; - A Word With the Wise. Beautiful Decorated Breakfast Set, 24 pjeces.$’ Decorated Tea Set, 18 pieces..... Cuspidore, Majolica Decosated, each. Gold illuminated Lunch Set, 18 pieces You can’t duplicate for dosble the money. GREAT AMERICAN IMPORTING TEA CO.’S BRANCH STORES EVREYWHERE, 1 85 100 20 160 no question in my mind but that we should vond the City for the purpose of making many needed improvements. Possibly cer- tain items might be omitted from the pres- ent -tax levy, yet I think there would be found little or no opposition to the tax for improvements if the people were assured that the money so raised would be judi- ciously expended for such improvements. A rigid economy should be enforced, to the end that the public receive full value for the money expended. I look upon a new City charter as the only hope of the veople Greater safeguards must be placed over our expenditures.” W. H. Crim said: “I " think our obligations should be met, yet it does seem that we are getting but a poor return for all the money expended; certainly nothing adequate to the amount of money which the present tax levy would seem to indicate. ’Fhe time has arrived when we must bond the City in order to properly carry on a system of adequate | improvements. The method of running our City under the system of politics now existing is a very loose one and should be speedily changed. To my mind there seems no good and sufficient reason for the present high levy. Itis highly injurious, as 1t comes at a very bad time for the wel- fare of the City in a business sense. With all this amount of taxation we are not get- ting nearly all we reed in the line of im- provements.” G. D. Toy of Bovee, Tay & Co. said: “I do not think the discussion of this ques- tion will do any good. We all know that the tax levy is too high; that it will de- Fresa husiness and retard investments, but how are we going to help the matter by nFituling the question? I can see no good that will result from jt.” A. M. Speck of A. M. Speck & Co. said: “The high tax levy will, in my opinion, seriously interfere with the era of better business, which seemed about setting in. It will have a tendency to check invest- ment in real estate, as it will add some- hing to the ever-present question, ‘Will it pay?”’ Buyers will have a disposition to hold back.” 8. C. Buckbee of Shainwald, Buckbee & €o. said: ‘“The levy is certainly too heavy. Under a new charter and a more economical administration of the City government we could get the same amount of work for very much less money. However, I ~do not think the levy will affect real estate investments to any degree. Most people understand or believe that it is a tem- gzrary matter, that next year it will not so high. Besides, the tax levy as com- pared to other cities is not exceptionally high. It is not so high asthat of New York. The tax levy there is upon actual valuation also. Here the valuation is that ata forced sale—about 60 per cent. C. 8. Capp said: “We do not receive an adequate return for the money invested. Notwithstanding the many supposed safe- guards against extravagance in the law, which is expressly intended to keep ex- penditures with the limit of the money raised and to prevent deficiencies being created, they occur every year. The Su- preme Court decided that a deficiency thns wrongly created cannot be paid out of the revenue of the next year, and in doing so only declared that the express terms of the law must be followed. Nevertheless the terms of the law and the decision of the court are disregarded, and the attempt is made to do what is prohibited by putting the deticiency into this year's bills and then the entire levy is liable to be ren- dered invalid. In such cases the poor peo- ple and those of moderate means pay, while the wealthy and the big corporations e!cflfl)fi “‘Plaintive appeals are made on behalf of certain meritorious objects which the pub- lic admit are proper, but when the money is collected it is paid for other purposes. Thus the Board of Education lately ad- mitted that money raised for the repairs of schoolhouses had been diverted to other purposes which involved increased ex- penses in the way of salaries, etc., and now they would like a million dollars for the repairs the taxpayers have already paid for in previous tax levies. A similar pol- icy has also been ‘pursued by the Super- visors, so that we really do not know what we are paying for when such a levy is made. _“It is clear that until there are addi- tional and effective safeguards placed about taxation and the expenditures of {;nblm money, the City had better not ranch out too largely in new projects for zo-called improvements. A new charter is the only way in which the security needed can be obtained. And a yote of the people is the only means of providing for meeting such portions of the present deficiencies as are meritorious. Now, when real estate and the income from it are so depressed, and foreclosure sales are becoming more and more numerous, it is nota good time to burden real estate more heavily and check sales and improvements by render- lv%g it less desirable as an investment. ithout the protection afforded in years &ut by the veto power in the hands of the ayor, we are too much at the mercy of the Board of Bu: isors and the heads of departments. far as I have learned the views of Mayor Sutro, as published in the daily papers, I think he is right in his op- position to the levy, and that every lawful means should be taken to mnm&& 8 Market atceeh SonFrandstp o-tax levy being imposed unen this, I may add, is the opinion of all the owners of real estate with whom I have talked.” HE IS NOT INSANE. Frank Comyns, the Accused Burglar and Robber, Examined Before the Insanity Commissioners. An unsuccessful attempt was made Wednesday to get Frank Comyns, charged with robbery and burglary, declared in- sane. Attorney Comyns in support of the com- plaint told Judge Slack of his brother hav- ing received an injury to his head when twelve years of age, and since then he has been acting queerly. He detailed certain incidents in support of the insanity plea— gpe being that he had attempted to kill im. Detectives Egan and Silvey produced the “jimmy”’ and revolver found upon Comyns when arrested, and told of the burglaries and robbery he had comn itted. They in- sisted that he was perfectly sane, and the Commissioners agreed with them and or- dered that Comyns be returned to the City Prison. The cases against Comyns and Goggin were called in Judge Joachimsen’s court vesterday, and the preliminary examina- tion was set for Wednesday next. GRBAND MINSTREL SHOW. Popular Singers Will Perform for the Young Men’s Institute. A first-class minstrel and vaudeville en- tertainment will take place this evening and Saturday night at the new California Theater, for the benefit of the reading- rcom and library fund of the Young Men's Institute in San Francisco. Some of the best local talent in the City has been secured for the occasion. Amon those who will take part in the minstre performance_are: John T. Greany asin- terlocutor; William J. Hynes, Eugene Beauce, Robert Mitchell, James C. O’Don- nell, John Cathcart and David McLaugh- lin as end men; Dr. G. F. Graham, George V. Woods, D. M. Warde and William J. O’Brien as vocalists, the choruses being augmented by ten gentlemen and twenty madrigal boys, all of sable hue. Between the first and second parts there will be a competitive drill between Com- anies A and C of the League of the Cross Sadets and a company organized from the minstrels. The following gentlemen will appear in the after-part: Alexander Rosborough of Qakland, in negro specialties; David Mc- Laughlin, German specialties; George Hammersmith of Alameda, female skirt- dancer; Frank McGlynn, Richard I ‘Whelan and a company of gymnasts from the Olympic Club; O. Crabill, the well- known whistler and imitator of Mrs. Alice Shaw; the Plymouth Quartet, consisting of Frank Coffin, George E. Rice, D. M. ‘Ward and C. L. Parent Jr. The music will be rendered by a full or- chestra under the direction of Mr. Fred G. Knell. The entertainment will be given under the auspices of Ignatian Council No. 5. EONE OUT OF BUSINESS, The California Paper Company Closes Its Doors for the Last Time. Lack of Profits Causes a Suspension. The Plant Cost a Quarter of a Million. The California Paper Company, the largest paper-manufacturing concern on the Pacific Coast, has closed its doors for good, and its big plant at Stockton is now idle and given over to scampering mice and the spiders. Seventeen years ago a number of en- thusiastic capitalists, who saw, as they thought, a great future in the paper- manufacturing industry, subscribed a large amount of money and built a splen- did mill on the banks of the creek at Stockton. For some reason the new con- cern did not pay, but it kept pegging away, putting in new and improved ma- chinery as fast as it came into the market and cheerfully subscribing more money whenever needed. A few years ago the concern was incor- porated and a skilled manager put in Charge, but still the mills did not pay, though many large contracts were taken and every chance given the plant to pay its expenses. In January last a meeting of the board of directors was held, and it was then de- cided to close the mills for the time being. The hundred or more men who were em- ployed at the mills were laid off and the doors closed. Recently it was decided not to reopen, but go out of business entirely. William Pierce Johnson, once manager of the concern, was seen at the company’s offices, at 722 Montgomery street, yester- day, and confirmed the rumor that the mills had closed for good. “The California Paper Company went out of business,” he said, “simply and solely because the paper business cannpt be made to pay on this coast and because its stockholders tired of putting their money into a business which would not an under any circumstances, and which ad swallowed up thousands of dollars without a cent of return. “The plant at Stockton, the first build- ing of which was erected seventeen years ago, cost between $250,000 and $300,000, and was the largest and best in California. Fine grades of paper, as well as some of the paper on which the metropolitan dailies are printed, came from 1ts machin- ery. The business transacted was large, but the manner in which some of the raw materials had to be procured made it im- Bossihle to compete with Eastern concerns. alifornia does not produce the raw mate- rials in sufficient quantities or cheap enough to make paper manufacturing pay. “Tgis plant will probably never be oper- ated again, for the members of the present corporation will hardly be foolish enough to put in more money, and in the face of what has occurred another company could hardly be induced to take it up. Tie con- cern does not owe one dollar.” HAMMERSMITE & FIELD. Petition of Creditors to Have the Firm Declared Insolvent. A petition to have Hammersmith & Field declared insolvent was filed yester- day by creditors of the firm, whose claims amount to about $3000. These creditors are: E. A, Phelps, $207 48; George Greenzweig, $670 74; Cl‘;‘m\? & Green, 3?0 25; First Ni- tional Bank, $1225.15; A. Green, $1461 37. Judge Slack has set the hearing for Sep- tember 24. The action of George E. Powell vs. Ham- mersmith & Field was dismissed yesterday in the Superior Court by request of the plainiiff’s attorney, M. B. Kellogg. Glavinovich & Brown, restaurant-own- ers, have failed, with liabilities of $2706 73 and assets $1100. Edward H. Beverly, a milkman, has gone into insolvency with debts of $994 25 and no assets. A Yetmon in involuntary insolvency was filed yesterday by E. C. Brown, doing business as the? San Francisco Cooperage Compsny. The creditors are: Sullivan & Doyle, $123; Yates & Co., $32 33; Ensign & McGuffick, $33 80; Harris & Jones, $201 28; John Wigmore & Son, $810; J.J. Rauer. $810; Bank of California, $1300. The pe- titioners say that in August Brown con- veyed to John Ritter all his property. Industrial Agency Incorporated. The United States Industrial Agency was in- corporated yesterday by W.H. H.Hart, C.T. Dyer, George B. Ellis, L. M. Holt, Aylett R. Cotton, J. H. Goodhue ‘and A. 8. White. Each of has g $4000 en & $100,000 MOSES AND BLODMERS, Rabbi Voorsanger Denies That Scripture Meant Those Things. AN ANTI-BLOOMER PREACHER. A Learned Rabbl Says the Immod= esty of Bloomers Is in Those Who Talk About Them. Many feminine minds are still severely exercised asto whether women ought to wear bloomers. Whole armies of the fair sex have not hesitated to avail themselves of the greater freedom of limb that the bifurcated garment offers, but there are numerous others who hang back and look askance at the insidious bloomer. In this unsettled condition of things, when the fate of the bloomer is hanging in the balance, a man has rushed into the breach, breathing death and destruction to the bifurcated garment. He is Rev. G. E. Scott, a pastor of the M. E. Church, which gives kis words a weight of authority they might not otherwise possess. The reverend gentleman, in a re- cent sermon preached at Waterloo, Iowa, hurled the Mosaic law at the bloomer, his text bein, ‘The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto man; all such are an abomination unto the Lord.” He said this law was given them because God, looking down through ages, saw the new woman ‘“‘dressed in men’s clothes, with abbreviated trousers, scant_cloth, and tied with a string; to the infinite disgust of men.” He asserted there was not a woman who wore bloomers who did not grow less modest every time she put them on. He said he was not different from other men, and when he saw a woman parading the streets dressed as a man his respect for her was gone. > Rev. Dr. Voorsanger was asked yesterday whether it was probable that the ancient command that ‘‘woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto man’’ could reason- ably be made to apply to bloomers. The rabbi replied” that he had yet to learn that bloomers had ever been consid- ered a male garment. “The man can know nothing about history,” he added. “In the time of Moses men and women alike wore flowing garments, in fact one may say that Moses himself wore a skirt. The modern style of male dress was en- tirely unevolved. Nothing so inartistic had been dreamed of. The most graceful style of dress seen to-day is in the Orient, and among the Turks and the Arabs men and women alike wear trousers, but no one ac- cusesthe Turkish women of immodesty on that account.” Having shown that there was no just scriptural cause orimpediment why women should not wear bloomers thedoctor added that in his own estimation there was reall, no reason why they should not be adopted. *No one can call the garment immodest, though as to the ungainliness—well, that is a matter of opinion.” “I do not suppose that the Bible had any conception of the bloomer costume,” said Rev. Dr. Nieto, commenting on Rev. G. E. Scott’s scathing denunciation of the bifur- cated garment. “The quotation he makes is evidently not a theological law. It was aimed again® women parading in a cos- tume not that of their own sex. There is a law to the same effect all over the civil- ized world to-day which forbids men to appear in women’s dress or yvice versa. The bloomer is distinctively a feminine dress—no one could mistake it for a man’s "costume. “If God, looking down through the ages, saw and disapproved of bloomers surely he would have done something to.prevent their coming into existence. I think the immodesty of the gangenc exists more in the minds or those who denounce it than in the actual wearers. The whole thing seems to me to be more a question of grace than of immodesty. No one could accuse the women one sees wearing bloomers of trying to be immodest, but it will always be a question of taste whether they look artistic. “You see, from an artist’s standpeint a woman’s figure can only be graceful in one of twd ways—when it is draped and when it is not—and bloomers have none of the beauty of artistic drapery. I would with- draw my latent objection to bloomers if I were assured that the ladies were con- vinced that the costume was more com- fortable and gave them a more free use of the limbs.” Opposing Administrator Freese. The petition of A. C. Freese for letters of ade ministration on the estate of Lucy A. Valen- tine is contested by James H. Pearson. Mrs, Yalentine died in Wisconsia and left property ere. It isn’t much trouble for a really healthy man to be good hu- mored. Jollity and exhuberant health are a proverbial combination. The hearty man who is always laughing doesn’t have any trouble with his digestion, It has been said that laughing makes peo- ple healthy. The truth is that health makes people laugh. There isn’t any other thing so essential to health as regularity in the action of the bowels. Most all sickness starts with some derangement of the digestive func- tions. Good digestion means good, gme blood, and that means strength. Once let the bowels become clogged with refuse matter, and the whole system is deranged. Impure, poisonous matter ts into the blood and plants the seeds or all sorts of sickness. ‘Whenever there is a stoppage of the intestinal action, help should be given immediately. Usually a mild, gentle laxative is all that is necessary. A vio- lent, wrenching, griping cathartic is never needed. Dr. Pierce’s Pleasant Pel- lets are the most pleasant and successful remedy for occasional or chronic consti- pation, or costiveness. They are tiny, sugar-coated anti-bilious granules that even the smallest child can easily take. They act in perfect accord with nature and produce no griping or other disagree- able feeling. They should be taken at the first indication of digestive trouble. They stop sour stomach, belchinfi, “heart-burn,” flatulence and sick head- ache. They cure constipation perma- nently. You.can stop taking them after the bowels are thoroughly regulated. Their help Zasts. You do not become a slave to their use as with other pills. Wright's Indian Vegetable Pills Are acknowledged by thousa: persos have used them 1ot over fort n::“vlm e De BICK HEADACHE, Gmrfifmse, CONSTIPA. TION, Torpid Liver, W £ e ; ‘eak Stomach, Pimples, and Crossman's Syl MiEms With this remedy persons can cure themselves without the least exposure, change of diet, or ication to business. The medicine chi in ap) Coptains that s of the least )