The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, December 9, 1895, Page 6

as the poor. THE SAN FKANCISCO CALL, MONDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1895. i CHARLES M. SHORTRIDGE, Editor and Proprietor. SUBSCRIPTION RATES—Postage Free: Daily and Sundsy CArz, three months by mail Daily and Sunday CALL, one month, by mail.. Sunday CALL, WEEKLY CALL, One y BUSINESS OFFICE : 710 Market Street, San Francisco, California. { Telephone.... reeiieeeiee Main—1868 ITORIAL ROOMS: . Main—1874 Telephone............ 3 . BRANCH OFFICES: Xin street; open until @ Sixteenth and Missiou streets; open until § 'clock. 2518 Mission street; open until 9 o'clock. 116 Ninth street; open until 9 o'cloc] OAKLAND OFFICE : 908 Broadway. EASTERN OFFICE : Rooms 81 and Park Row, New York City. DAVID M. FOL al Agent. MONDAY MBER 9, 1895 THE CALL SPEAKS FOR ALL. Holiday trade goes lively. Cuba merits a Christmas recognition. The crisis in the convention fight is at hand. To give the country rest we must first give it protection. Many people would like to give the horse show an encore. Olney should send Salisbury an Amer- ican ultimatum for a Christmas novelty. Buving California products for Christ- mas gifts would be a good holiday novelty. The feeling that we are sure to get the National Convention has now become ticklish. Congress should get in at least one good lick at Cleveland before it adjourns for the holidays. Tom Reed is not finding any difficulty in counting a quorum of candidates for every chairmanship. It isa hard fignt to make the Central Pacific Company pay its debts, but Con- gre: do it. Grover sets if the holida thing besides bt a good example by acting as s were intended for some- ness, Buckley may again find this town too warm for his health and be forced to seek congeniality in Canada. The Bepublican National Committee meets to-morrow, and the convention is almost within our reach. How can a fat mugwump, even if he is President, look a dead duck in the face without a fellow feeling? Perhaps the Sultan may have an idea that the best way to clear the atmosphere is to precipitate the war cloud. It takes a live man to keep one eye on politics and the other on Christmas goods and see all the best points in both. bors by s message should also have a shooting for recreation. Those who shared Cleveland’s reading hi week's du It is only the rich who have much of a chance in the fashionable shops, butevery- body has a fine show in the windows. The retirement of greenbacks will not be favored by many people at this season of the year in any part of the country. There is a large variety of bric-a-brac and decorative work that California could engage in without fear of competition any- ‘where. Japan offers us bicycles for $12 apiece, but we are not willing to ruin the homes of our workingmen for the sake of cheap wheels. The movements of Grand Juries as a general rule do not go beyond kickine, but this one is taking distinct steps in the direction of reform. It appears that at some of the lectures of Senator Hill the name of Cleveland was hissed, but that was not the reason why Hill decided to quit. Don’t forget that one of the best pleas- ures prosperous people can enjoy at this season is that of assisting to provide toys for the children of the poor. The Venezuela problem will never be settled on the level until we scatter the British bluff and even up things between the big power and the little one. Huntington says he went to Washing ton to attend to our business, but it goes without saying that if he is permitted to manage it the whole business will be his; Every business man feels the difference between a holiday season that follows Re- publican success and that which comes after the fall elections show Democratic gains. The fight against the fanding bill is simply a resolve of the people to main- tain the pri le that an honest debt should be honestly paid by the rich as well Democratic journals are chuckling a great deal over Tom Reed’s saying “the country needs a rest,” but they overlook the fact that he meant it needs a rest from Democracy. The report that Tom Reed had practi- cally made up his committees before he left Maine must have been started by some fellow who is only a beginner at the art of guessing what he doesn’t know. he advance in steerage rates by the trars-Atlantic steamship companies is significant. Under the McKinley act fac- tory operatives in European countries were coming here in shoals, wages being relatively petter. The Wilson bill re- versed the conditions, and so decreased the number of steerage passengers that there has for some time been no profit in carrying them. The contention of free-traders, so oftend| repeated, that protection would make it impossible for our iron and steel manu- facturers to compete successfally with European countries has once more been shown to be puerile, as the Russian Gov- ernment has just concluded a contract with the Bethlehem (Pa.) Iron Works for $600,000 worth of armor plate for the new battleship Rotislav, News comes from San Diego that the Southern Pacific is preparing to build a railroad from that city to Salt Lake, and it is confirmed by Mayor Carison of San Diego to the extent of hisdeclaration that. while he is not at liberty to tell at present all that he knows, there isevery prospect of success in building such a road. Mayor Carlson is known to have been much in Mr. Huntington’s society lately and is supposed to be in his confidence. It is asserted that he represented Mr. Hunting- ton’s interests in the Trans-Mississivni Congress. The news is not only probably true, but it indicates, if true, a belief on Mr. Hun- tington’s part that the Government will foreclose its mortgage on the Central Pacific. By building from Southern Cali- fornia to Salt Lake the Southern Pacific could retain some of the business which it has been doing over the Central Pacific. It should be borne in mind, how- ever, that as a heedless presumption would arise to the effect that the construction would impair the money-earning capacity of the Central Pacific, and consequently reduce its value, the hint of building the new line may be intended merely as a threat to the Government that it would pursue an unprofitable course in foreclosing the Central Pacific mortgage. The talk of the railroad from Southern California to Salt Lake is by no means new. One of the arguments which the Southern Pacific has constantly urged against foreclosure of the Central Pacific mortgage is that thereby the Government would be paying two or three times as much as the property is worth, as besides the value represented by the Government's mortgage and accrued interest, the first mortgage would have to be taken up. The Southern Pacific has even gone so far as to declare that it wouid be glad to sur- render the Central Pacitic for the whole debt, as it could build a road from Southern California to Salt Lake at a cost of $40,000,~ 000, and thus save something like $30,000,000 or $40,000,000, and at the same time have a line from California to Salt Lake. Thisis presuming that the taking of the Central Pacific would serve as a cancellation of the whole debt, but the country is not willing to accept that view. In ofher words the policy of the South- ern Pacific has been to obscure the ethical side of the matter with an imperfect presentation of the financial. The threat to build from Southern California to Utah seems to be a part of that plan. California would be glad to see the Southern Pacific construct the new line, for 1t would be harmless asan agent of extortion if the Government owned or controlled the Union-Central Pacific, and under these circumstances would be an instrument of good. And undoubtedly it could be operated at a profit if it would charge rea- sonable prices. The affairs of the Santa Fe have become socomplicated of late that only those on the inside can know positively whether the old agreement between it and the Southern Paciiic isstill binding. This was that neither shouid invade the territory of the other with railroads, but that each might solicit trafiic in the other’s terri- tory and have its cars hauled over the other’s tracks. This much seems evident: The Santa Fe is not in a position finan- cially to build into Southern Pacific ter- ritory; that is it cannot run an indepen- dent line to San Francisco. If this likeli- hood is an absolute fact the Southern Pacific is master of the situation and free to build into the region south of Colton and Santa Ana. Indeed it has already secured a line from San Bernardino to Riverside, and is expending a large amount of money in that section in im- proving its lines and in constructing costly stations. The presumption, therefore, is that it is free to do whatever it pleases in Southern California without fear of the Santa Fe, and so may build from San Diego to Salt Lake. We may next expect a threat that if the Government pushes its claim against the Central Pacific, the Southern Pacific will divert its Oriental traffic from San Fran- cisco to Santa Monica or San Diego and make the new road to Salt Lake the great overland line. In short we may expect any number of mystericus moves and threats from this time on, and may know that they are intended to frighten Con- gress out of any intention to pursue the righteous course of foreclosing the mort- gage on the Central Paci: PRIVATE OONTRAOTS. Some extraordinary reveiations are em- bodied in the communication addressed by the Merchants’ Association to the Street Committee of the Board of Supervisors, urging the board to adhere to its decision to abolish the system of street improve- ments made by private contracts. The most astonishing disclosure which the communication makes is that the leading property-owner in a block was usually secured as a bribed instrument for assist- ing the swindling perpetrated on the smaller owners. The mode of procedure is 20 ingenious and despicable that it de- serves to be republished in full. It is this: “The thing which is first tried is to go 1o the man owning the most frontage or pos- sessing the most influence and secure his signature first. If he does not care to sign some inducement is given him. Often this inducement is in the shape of a pri- vate agreement to remit a great portion of the cost on his lot. In other words, if he signs first he will be exempt from certain payments. The other owners see his name and feel that if he can stand it they can also. In fact they seem to feel that it is worth while paying for the improvement in front of their little lots if the wealthy man can be made to pay for improving his portion. They take a wicked sort of satis- faction in it without thinking that perhaps he has secured some great concessions— that the laugh is really on his side. This will probably account for the fact that the representativés of large estates uniformiy favor the doing of street work by private contract.” T his is a species of swindling that gurely the laws ought to be able to reach. The Grand Jury is given a hint in this commu- nication as to what might be discovered if a careful investigation were made. This system of mean piliering practiced by the rich upon the poor, with rascally contrac- tors as the agency for making tne stealing possible, must unavoidabiy result in inad- equate work and complete rottenness from beginning to end. The people of this City could learn nothing more profitable than the names of the rich property-owners who have engaged in this wretched busi- ness, and no great difficulty need be found in ascertaining them COLLEGE OF VITICULTURE. The names of the leading vignerons who have incorporated a college of viticulture in this City are a guarantee of their ear- nestness, ability and public spirit, and the movement they have begun is a great im- provement on the work of the Viticultural Commission, which expires at the end of the year. The purpose of the college is to gatherand disseminate practical and theo- retical information concerning viticulture and its allied industries and to foster and promote them throughout the State. It is not anrounced that any fee is to be charged for information given, or, for that matter, that this is to be a eollege in the ordinary sense. It seems to be merely an association of public-spirited men who are undertaking the fostering of an important industry at their own expense and for the general good of the State. It, therefore, should receive the meral and financial support of all citizens and associations who desire the progress of California. The establishment of such a college by private enterprise may be taken to ex- press not only the need and value of such an institution, but a lack on the part of the State Government. The principle of Government instruction in agriculture has been recognized by Congress in the estab- lishment of a Department of Agriculture, and to a certain extent by the State of California in the duties with which it has charged the State University in advising and instructing the people some agri- cultural matters—in protecting orchards and vineyards against infection, promo- ting forestry and in other ways. At this institution the principles of agriculture constitute a special conrse of study. But while the university has numerous col- uch as those of the law, medicine, ry, pharmacy and the like, it has none for the special promotion of the in- dustries peculiar to the State. In other words, while it is equipping young men and women for the learned professions it is not training them in the specific indus- tries which make California a State unique in the sisterhood, and upon the mastering of which its greatness depends far more than upon the achievements of its citizens in the learned professions. NEW YORK FARM LIFE. The New York Association for improv- ing the condition of the poor has pub- lished a special leaflet giving the results of an inquiry into the causes of agricultural depression in New York State. In the winter of 1894 the city was so crowded by able-bodied men apparently willing to labor in the country if situations conld be found for them, that the services of an in- telligent farmer were secured to gather in- formation by personal ingniry and ob- servation as to the congested population in cities and the reported existence of de- serted farms. The country clergy, postmasters, school- teachers, Supervisors and counury store- keepers were singularly unanimous in the statement that the average depreciation in land was 48 per cent, and this in the face of an increase in the State’s population from 1870 to 1890 of 1,610,389 souls. The railroad mileage in New York has, be- tween 1870-93, increased 4182 miles, while the increased value of real property for the same period was caiculated to be $1,659,- 643,908, The estimated value of farm pro- ducts was estimated for the year 1869 at 526,153, but in 1889 it fell to $161 009, notwithstanding increased population and wealth must have greatly stimulated and increased the demand for agricultural products, The fall in prices will hardly account for so great a loss. The causes will be found to be the abandonment of farm property to mortgagees by unsuc- cessful farmers, the low price of farm products, the opening of Western new land, the proportionately higher prices of labor than that of products, the scareity of good farm laborers, wunt of tariff protec- tion, and unjust and unequal taxation. The tendency to leave the farm for the towns and cities was found to be caused by unprofitable farming, greater school ad- vantages in towns, difliculty in getting skilled help in house and farm, higher wages and easier living in towns and the fact that 86 per cent of farmers’ children counld not be induced to follow an agricul- tural life, owing in many cases to the con- stant caricature of the farmer as “Old Hayseed” and “Mr. Wayback.” It would seem almost impossible to check the tide of migration to the cities that already threatens to make the condition of multi- tudes almost intolerable. The pangs of hunger and want will be the only instruct- ors to the suifering citizen. They are un- known in the country, where the very poorest can get land enough to enable him to keep chickens, raise vegetables and to get through the winter comfortably with- out earning anything by actual labor. COAST EXCHANGES, The Stockton Mail, asserting that that progressive city asks Congress for $750,000, shows intelligently what the money is needed for and what benefits its nse wounld bring. Of this sum $250,000 is wanted fora public building, which the growing size and business of the city as the entrepot of the San Joaquin Valley amply warrant. The remaining $3500,000 is needed for the improvement of the rivers thereabout. On this subject our contemporary properly ““As to the sum we demaund for river improvement, there is not the slightest doubt that were it twice as large we could find good use for every cent of it. Too much money has been spent on temporary improvements, and it is high time that some permanent work be done. If the im- portance of the San Joaquin River to the middle portion of California were fully impressed upon Congress we do not see how 1t conld refuse the $500,000 Stockton demands. The San Joaquin is a weighty factor in the transportation problem and any money spent in improving its navi- gability will be money well spent. We hope every California Representative and both our Senators will do their utmost to get Stockton that $750,000, and our people should give them every backing in their power.”” The Santa Barbara Press rightly insists that by reason of that city not being a port of entry it is compelled to suffer under disadvantages which are hurtful and unjust. ‘‘Attention has been fre- quently called,” it says, “to the fact that vessels with any foreign goods consigned to this port must first go to San Francisco or Port Los Angeles to have the goods re- leased before they can be unloaded here. This long formality is the cause of consid- erable expense and incaleulabie trouble to the receivers of the goods here, and asa maatter of fact this city has lost several desirable residents, who were unwilling to live here and be subjected to such in- conveniences every time they wished to have goods sent them from England or any foreign ports.” This is a matter in which the services of our delegation in Congress might be profitably employed. That stanch and prospercus paper, the Los Angeles Times, has compieted fourteen years, and in celebration of the event has published its history. As this is a part of the history of Los Angeles, and covers the period when the city was beginning to emerge from its primitive condition into the fine metropolitan character which it now enjoys, and as the Times was an im- portant factor in the production of this re- sult, its history is uncommonly interesting and valuabie. The rapid growth of the northern part of the State is indicated in a crisp and intelli- gent review of its progress, which has been published by the Redding Free Pres. It was only a few months ago that everything was at a standstill and wage-earners were without employment, hotels were empty revived interest in mining has awakened the slumbering activities of the section. All hands are busy, trade is brisk, the ho- tels are crowded and prosperity shines upon every occupation. Our contemporary says: “New mines are being opened and old ones more vigorously exploited with good results. Our depot platform is crowded with mining machinery and mining ap- pliances, and scarcely a freight train ar- rives without few machinery for use in our mines. Our vast stores of the precious and almost all other kinds of ores and metals are beginning to be understood and appreciated by capitalists and investors from all parts of the world. With water power unlimited all around us, with for- ests of choicest timber second to none, with a climate ail that one could wish and s0il that produces ali that the wants of man require, S8hasta County, with its un- limited resources, is just beginning to be understood and appreciated and is in the dawn of a prosperity that s realized by few of her citizens.” The wonderful changes which rapidly come over a progressive community in California are exemplified in the case of Alameda. The Argus, in celebrating its eighteenth birthday, not only draws atten- tion to its own history of prosperity and power, but gives an idea of what Alameda was eighteen years ago. “Itwasa town of one-fifth its present population. It was in- tensely rural, There were practically no street improvements. There was but one railway line. There was but one sewer in the whole city—through a portion of Park street. The trip to San Francisco con- sumed an hour and ten minutes, the fare being twenty cents. The business part of Alameda lay between Railroad and Santa Clara avenues. There were long stretches of lonely road between Park street and the West End.” The Truckee Republican gives some in- teresting information concerning the ice palace which the enterprising residents of that city are building. It is going to be an exceedingly handsome affair, and as few Californians have ever seen an ice palace it will be a strange and beautiful novelty to them, particularly at night, when it will be brilliantly illuminated with electricity. The people there have arranged with the Southern Pacific Company for special low rates so that all the residents of our semi- tropical coast will need to spend but little time and money to see this bewitching ex- hibition of one of the climatic possibilities of the State. . The Redding Free Press announces that there were recently sent down from the United States fish hatchery at Baird 50,000 salmon eggs, consigned to Ireland, 25,000 to Germany and 10,000 to the inddstrial exposition at Atlanta. During the sum- mer’s run 7,500,000 salmon eggs have been taken. The fall run furnished 1,750,000 more. Mr. Bass recently returned from the California- State hatchery on Battle Creek, where he secured 3.000,000 salmon eggs which he shipped to Oregon. The value of this important industry is thus further indicated by our contemporary: “‘We learn that the California State hatch- ery on Battle Creek made a phenomenal catch of salmon eggs during this season. They took over 10,000,000 eggs, and were catching them at the rate of 1,000,000 per day when the storage capacity became overcrowded and the work of taking the eggs was abandoned for this season. This hatchery will probably be transferred from the California State Fish Commissioners to the United States Fish Commissioners before the opening of next season’s run.” R. R. Bunker, one of the best and oldest newspaper men on the coast, and father of W. M. Bunker of the San i‘rancisco Report, has sold his interest n the Martinez Ga- zette to his partner, Wallace C. Brown. Mr. Bunker has earned the rest which he proposes 1o take, as he has been one of the hardest-working of the able editors con- nected with the interior press, and has built up one of the strongest newspapers in the State. The Chino Valley Champion, in an able article on the sugar-beet industry, says truly that the production of beet-seed is bound to become an important business and offers special inducements to energy any capital. It then says: “The endeavor in the European seed farms is to produce a mother beet containing 15 per cent sugar with a yield that may be depended upon. During the season just past the average of the entire Chino ranch wasabout 15, and the mothers filling the requirements for seed could easily be selected with a sugar per- centage of 18, with the conditions of a good yield as well. Our farmers are each year growing their crops from seed produced in a country where beets have never been grown of as high a quality as they are here in the open fields. It seems to us reasonable, that with these natural conditions we should be able to grow beet seed of & much higher quality than that which we import and from it produce higher grade field beets. Regarding the sufficiency of the murket to warrant start- ing a seed farm on a large scale the grower would depend upon his ability to produce seed satisfactory to the growers and manu- facturers, and upon a reasonable growth and expansion of the beet sugar industry in this country.” The Independent Calistogian announces its entry upon the nineteenth year of its existence. Since its young editor, C. A, Carroll, assumed charge last July the paper has shown an accession of the energy and public spirit which have made it prosper- ous and influential during its long career. The Crescent City Record calls attention to the necessity for better transportation facilities to bring the products of that rich section down to the seaboard, and indi- cates the profits which would accrue to the builders of a railroad. Tt calls attention to these facts: ¢Crescent City is the natural distributing point for a large scope of country in Southern Oregon, and by en- couragement to the people of that section the freighting trade enjoyed by us prior to the advent of the Oregon and California Railroad could be regained. They partic- ularly object to paying tribute to the rail- road, and it now lies with Crescent City whether their freight comes this way. The encouragement to be given would be free access to the county and reduction of freight rates to and from San Francisco. The benefit derived from the increased traffic in a short time would doubly com- ventate the transportation company in making the reduction, and the money brought to the county by the freighters in moving the freight to the interior would aid in a great measure in the prosperity of Crescent City and the county.” The Ontario Record publishes an at- tractive special edition to celebrate its tenth birthday. It incidentally shows one of the important uses of a local paper in the record which it furnishes of a community’s progress. This is almost as important as any other feature of a paper. In anticipation of the increased demand for property which the opening of the Southern Pacific overland line will pro- duce, the San Luis Obispo Breeze warns the property-owners of thai county that they may destroy the benefits of a splendid opportunity by handling it without wis- dom, “If the owners of proverty in this and trade was dull. The magic touch of a| section,” it says, “will part with land in both town and country at reasonable fig- ures this county should develop rapidly in the next five years and property-owners must realize that every improvement enhances the value of their land. Those who are interested in the progress and development of San Luis Obispo should commence to make im- provements by the erection of substantial buildings, thereby keeping abreast with the efforts of the Trustees to pl streets and sidewalks in proper condition.’” It further advises the local banks to re- duce their rates of interest, and urges the people to revive the scheme, begun some years ago, but dropped for ‘“‘mysterious reasons,” of building & railroad from San Luis Obispo into the San Joaquin Valley. For forty-four years the Placer Herald (Auburn) has been promoting, observing and recording the steady progress of that rich old mining and horticultural center, and enters upon its forty-fifth year with bright hopes for.the future. T. K. Krauth has been so long in charge of the Alameda Encinal (since 1869, in fact) that his leaving the helm has brought something of a shock to journalistic cir- cles. He has been one of the ablest and cleanest editors in California, and has es- tablished for the Encinal a standard of ex- cellence which will serve to inspire his bright young successor, James W. Trav- ers, to put forth his highest efforts. PERSONAL. Allen Towle of Towle Station is in the city. Thomas Hopper of Santa Rosa is at the Bald- win, E. W. Holland of Tulare is a guest at the Grand. George West of Stockton is a guest at the Oc- cidental. J. H. Bemer, interested in oilwells at River- side, is at the Russ. E. M. McLaughlin, a Chicago stock broker, is staying at the Russ. J. R. Lowe of San Jose was registered at the Balawin over Sunday. G. H. L. Gerkins, proprietor of the Western Hotel at Petaluma, is in the City. 3 G. H. Fancher, a Merced business man, is among yesterday’s arrivals at the Lick. G. E. Cairne ot Seattle, Wash., is on a visit to San Francisco. He is staying at the Baldwin. Eugene Ryan of the Paymaster's depart- ment of the United States navy is at the Bald- win. H. W. Crabb, the Oakville wine manufacturer, Wwho captured so many medals at the Bordeaux Exposition, is in the City. F. F. Vandervort of Pittsburg, Pa., is at the Phlace. Mr. Vandervort is one of the leading business men of the smoky city. J. C. Johnson of Acme, Wash., is visiting Oak- land. Mr. Johnson was a member of the his- torie “California One Hundred,” and a former resident of Oakland. Major W. A. Anderson of Sacramento spent yesterday in the City. He came to intercede with the Southern Pacific on behaif of the rail- road employes who are soon to be discharged at the Capital City. Rev. J. R. Rice, the cowboy preacher, who gave the city auihorities of Oakland so much trouble by insisting upon preaching in the streets some time ago, arrived in the City from San Diego yesterday W. R. Clarke, Mayor of Stockton and member of the State Board of Railroad Commissioners, is at the Baldwin. Mr. Clarke came to attend the hearing of United States District Attorney Foote’s intervenor, which will come up in the Federal Court to-day. THE OUTLOOK FOR BUSINESS. Philadelphia Inquirer. The weak spot in the situation is clearly our foreign trade relations and the tariff laws, which are unable to retain our stock of gold at home and are inadequate to raise a sufficient revenue. But our domestic trade is certainly not bad. Immense croos are to be hauled to market, railroad earmings will be large and the returns to the farmer will be in the main satisfactory. The process of recovery is siow, but it iscertain, Kven with bad tariff laws it is impossible to destroy the prosperity of a na- tion that raises 3,500,000, bushels of grain in one year and abundant crops of other products. St. Louis Globe-Democrat. The farmerin the Mississippi or Missouri Valley who looks te-day upon his large yield of corn for which he is offered only from 15 to 20 cents a bushel, may be pardoned for feeling that his apparent good luck is a snare and a delusion; but there isa way ior him to make it pro‘»erly advantageous. He can defeat the fate which seems to have emptied the horn of plenty on him only to poke grim and bitter fun at him. It is simpiy a quesuon of puiting the corn into cribs and waiting for it to acquire & higher value. A result of that sort is sure to ensue before many months and he is foolish if he sells any sooner. St. Louls Republic. 7 San Francisco has a good report to make of grain shipments from that City. Sixteen car- goes have been cleared this month, and & dozen other vessels are being loaded. Five ships have been chartered for our wheat trade with Australia, and three are to load with that cereal for South Africa. This is siguificant from the fact that wheat is seldom saipped from the United States to either Australia or South Afriea. Australia is ordinarily an ex- porter of wheat, while South Afriea’s supply is drawn generally from the former. But Aus- tralin’s last wheat crop was a failure. It is nOW nine years A cargo of wheat was shipped from the United States (o South Africa. Clevelund N nd Herald. The lemon famine of six years ago, due to the loss of the Florida crop last winter, and to the short supply of Mediterranean fruit, made extraordinarily high prices then. The new Sieily crop, which is now arriving, is abund- ant, and although no lemons are expected from Florida this season, and but few from California, prices are unusually low. The California lemon crop of the approaching sea- son is estimated at 250,000 boxes, and the orange crop of the same State at 3,000,000 boxes. Some 3,000,000 boxes, or about 1,000,- 000,000 lemons, are consumed in the United States in a year. Cleveland News and Herald. The stock market stands up against the loss of gold to Europe in a way which suggests that the financial experts of New York con- sider the country guiie safe from panic and all such dangers with a Republican Congress about to open and a Republican President sure 10 be elected soon. Denver Republican. RAWLINS, Wyo.—The sheep-raising business of this couniry is in a_more flourishing con- dition than it has been for several years. Men who have been in the business for y are buying all of the sheep they can pay for, and are anticipating & good season next year. TALKING OF BKCYACLBS. * St. Paul Pioneer Press. General Miles, in his report, recommends “the bicycle as a means of transportation” for use in the army, and wants the equivalent of & full regiment of twelve companies to be equipped with wheels and motor wagous. There are already 4000 men and officers in the army who are able to use the wheel, and by transferriug a certaln number of these' so that the bicycle riders could be massed together, a thorough demonstration of the plan could be effected. The purpose is not to use the bicycle in battle, but for the delivery of dispatches and the tun_llpomllon of infantry to the point of combat. The idea is deemed practicable by the League of Military Wheelmen, and it is certanly worth the experimental ‘test which General Miles suggests. New Bedford Standard. Two scorching eyclists in New York, who ran down and seriously injured two persons, vrere brought into court and fined $25 each. The Judge said he intended to put a stop to tne habit, if it lay in his power, and th penalty he inflicted 18 1ikely 16 hore o5 ph 3 re fect.” He accept the plea of the de- fendants that they could not stop afl saW the lmpendxn-: catastrophe. R g St. Paul Ploneer Press. The lot of the bicyelist is not quite as hard as that ufht.he ::mer drivers of bobtailed horse- cars, who had to drive, watch for tend fires in winter, makechan| ,dopt.hc!n:'- box, open and shut the rear ?mr and a few ittle chores of similar character. But AN at he to fri ing seem a little unreasonable. i Philadelphia Ledger. The rate at which the use of the bicycle is growing is seen in the statement that the e eeeeererET——— ————————————————————————————————————————————— League of American Wheelmen now numbers 37,348 members, 9522 of whom are credited to New York, 5883 to_ Massachusetts and 4412 to Pennsyivania, while the tail-enders oi the procession are Idaho and Nevada, with two members each. Both these States, however, are better adapted to walking than wheeling. Chicago Inter Ocean. A cycling club in Brooklyn has decided to make organized efforts for the improvement of the streets and suburban roads. This is what cyeling clubs everywhere should do, both in their own and the public’s interests. Cycling will be & fallure if it does not secure better roads. Good country road-building, not more railroads, is what the country most needs. Boston Journal. Bicycle-riders will be interested to notice that & Minnesota court has ruled that a rider of & wheel, if not negligent, is not to be re- :iponlible for the damage caused by a horse riven on the highway which becomes fright- ened and unmanageable at the wheel. Cleveland News and Herald. Senator Hill has committed himself in favor of bloomers and bicycies for women. This may or may not be taken as an indication that he intends to get married. A LADY'S BEAUTIFUL HOUSE GOWN. This charming tea gown of pale-blue crepon, with sleeves of white satin, has a collarette and ower sleeves of white lace over black satin; these portions being trimmed with bands of sable or other dainty fur. A black satin collar finishes tie neck, and black satin ribbons extend from the shirring in front to the waist line in the back. Small points of lace and satin finish the sleeves and are added to the stock collar in the style introduced by Paquin, the great French dressmaker. A beautiful gown of rough white wool goods | would be worse than the disease that was made in this style had a collarette of yellow satin overlaid with white lace, this ed§ed all around with a fine pleating of yellow chiffon. Another of pink China silk had collarette and lower sleeves of pink and white brocade with ruffles of yellow lace around the collar and falling over’ the hand. Pink satin ribbon formed the collar. A less expensive gown of cotton crepon in violet had a i‘oke and lower sleeves of fancy silk in several shades of violet, with edgings of mink and stock collar of the faney silk. The gown is fitted under the arms and has a fitted body lining. The lower sieeves may be omitted, as shown in the smaller illustration, which also gives the back view. ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. No MaN's Laxp — R., Susanville, Lassen County, Cal. What was known as “No Man’s Land’’ in the United States was a strip of land, seventy-five miles wide, between Colorado and Kansas on the north and Texas the south, between longitude 100 and 103 w For forty years it was without name or Jaw; even tie | land laws of the United States did not cover the four miltion ueres of fertile lands within its borders. In fixing boundaries in the long ago | Stephen A. Douglas, who took a leading part in that legislation, left out this strip of land altogether. For years it was without govern ment and no legal title was vested in any one. After a time squatters settled on the land, sev- eral villages grew up, and prior to 1887 10,000 eople lived on that land without law,and awyers. In March, 1887, a provisional gov- ernment was established and the name of Cim- arron or Semerone, which is Spanish for wild, was given toit. In 1890 it became Beaver County of Oklahoma Territory. It was called “No Man's Land” because it belonged to no private individual. e \ GERMANY AND RHODE IsLaND—Inquirer, City. Germany presents two very distinct physical formations. First, a range of high table- 1and occupying the center and southern parts of the country, intersp érsed with numerous ranges and groups of mounlains, the most im- portan t of which are the Harz and Teutobur- gerwald, in the north; the Taunusand Thu- | ringerwald in the middle, and the Schwarzwald and Rube Alps in the south, and containingan area, including Alsace and Lorraine, of 110, square miles. the center of the empire uorth to the German Ocean, including Slesvig-Holstein, area about 98,000 square miles, mlkin§ an aggregate of 208,000 square miles, according to one author- i Another gives the total area as about 210,000 square miles. The extreme length of Rhode Island, nonth to south, is 47.5 miles. and the extreme breadth, east to west, 40 miles. The land and water area is 1250 square miles or 800,000 acres. Second. a vast sandy plain, from QUININE—N. B., Angel Island, San Francisco, Cal. Ii & person 21 years of age, suffering from a slight fever, should take forty grains of quinine at one time he would have such & ringing in his head for an indefinite period that he would feel iike taking the advice of De Wolf Hopper, in ‘“Waung,” to his colored servant: “You just go and select & nice littie headstone; have the date of your birth en- graved on it and the undertaker will attend to the rest.” It would not kill, but the remedy e. PAUL ARNIFF—E. B., Ci The drama en- titled “Paul Arniif, or The Love of a Serf,” was first produced in this City at the Baldwin Academy of Music when it was under the man- agement of Tom Maguire. It was first puton July 19, 1880, and ran for a week. James O'Neil appeared in the title role and the others in the cast were: J. O. Barrows, John Wilson, Frank Doud, W. Tileford, Adelina Stanhope, Jeanne Clara Walters, Kate Denin, Virginia Thorne and Nellie Wetherill, PROPERTY FOR STREETS—A. H., City. own a piece of property in this City, Oakl or any other place in the State of California, the authorities have no right to take the same for street purposes without due process of law. If you do not desire to sell the same for street pur , for what is thought to be a reason- able price, the authorities can commence pro- ceedings in condemnation, and you wouhrbe lorcig to accept for it what the court would award. THE ORIGINAL VAsE—H. A, City. M. H. de Young, who was the director-general of the Midwinter Fair, is authority for the assertion that the large vase that was exhibited during the fair and is now in front of the Museum in Golden Gate Park is the original vase. He stated that the party for whom it was made destroyed the mold after the vase had been ::::3950 that a duplicate of it coula not be NEWTON B0OTH'S ELECTION—S. G.. City. It is not & fact that Newton Booth was elected on the "Dollyiv-nien ticket.” He was, as the an- swer previously given you asserted, el on the 6th of Boplembsr,{ml, on the Re ‘:I‘)’g can ticket. The Dolly Vaiden party did not come into existence until after the 28th of May, 1872, FASTEST RAILROAD TIME—Inquirer, c}tyA The fastest time ever made by an exvress train in the United States was made on May 10, 1893 Engine 999 aad four heavy cars of the Em; " State Express, the train weighing 460, pounds, ran between Crittenden and ‘Wende, one mile, in 32 seconds, or at the rate of 112} miles an hour. reme e Un: tates, Dot includ ‘Alaska, from east to west is 3100 mn-:. u‘: the extreme length from nortl o L1 h to south is MiLes oF Two COUNTRIES—E., City, The American mils d the nme.bmuo.t.“ o English mile i the UNITED STATSS AND EUROPE-E., Cily. The of the United States including Alaska is g.rgi.fl 990 square miles, and the area of Europe is 3,800,000 square miles. e CURRENT FUN. Pounder—What’s the matter, old man? Rounder (who came home very late the night before)—Why, I can see two of my faces in the mirror here, and I don’t know which one to shave.—Somerville Journal. When Mrs. Trivvet was taken to the New York Stock Exchange for the first time one of the janitors happened to be sprinkling the floor. “Oh, I know what he is doing,” she cooed. “I’ve read about it in the papers. He's water- ing the stock.”—Harper’s Bazar. “I can count on your sympathy in this cam- paign, can’t 1?” said the candidate. “Y—yes."” “That means, of course, that you will vote for me?” 2 “N—no. I don't go so furez that. Iwon’t no more'n jes' promise sympethy; an’I'm boun’ ter say I think yer goin’ ter need it.”— ‘Washington Star. ROBERTS, 220 Sutter—*‘Cards by the million."* CREAM mixed candies 25¢ Ib. Townsend’s. . —————————— SPECIAL information daily to manufacturers, business houses and public men by the Pres3 Clipping Bureau (Allen’s), 510 Montgomery. * ——.———— Cora—Do the young men ever kiss you against your will? Florence—Yes; I got tired ot the old way.— Louisville Truth. T¥ you have catarrh you are in danger, as the dis- ease is liable to become chronic and affect your general health. Hood's Sarsaparilla cures catarrh by purifying and enriching the blood. ———— CHICAGO LIMITED. VIA SANTA ¥E ROUTE. A new train throughout begins October 29, Pullman’s finest sleeping-cars, vestibule reclining. chair cars and dining-cars. Los Angeles to Chi- cago, via Kansas City, without change. Annex cars on sharp connection for Denver and St. Louis. Twenty-seven hours quicker than the quickest competing train. The Sants Fe has been put in fine physical condition and is now the bess transcontinental railway. e e + Mrs. Winslow’s Soothing Syrup” Has been used over fifty years by millions of moth. ers for their children while Teething with pertacs success. 1t soothes the child, softeus the gums, al- Iays Pain, cures Wind Colic, regulates the Bowsly and I3 the-best remedy for Diarrheas, whether arising from teething or other causes. For sals by Druggists in every partof the world. Be sureand ask for Mrs. Winslow’s Soothing Syrip. 253 » bottle. ———— CORONADO.—Atmosphere I3 perfectly dry, soft and mild, and is entirely free from the mists com- mon further north. Round-trip tickets, by steam- ship, lncluding fifteen days’ board at the Hotel del Coronado, §60; longer stay $2 50 per day. Apply 4 New Montgomery st., San Franeisco. ——————— Boys are apt to be forgetful about a good many things, but they do not often start off to school on Saturday morning.—New York Her- 1d. NEW TO-DAY. 50« TEAS EXTRA QUALITY With each pound is given a Lovely Dish Newest Shapes Prettiest Decorations 100 Varieties to Choose From' THEY ARE GEMS ] SEE THEM Great American mporting Tea Co. NQW Stm.e {1344 Market st., { Bet. 7th and Sth [140 Sixth st. 965 Market st. 333 Hayes st. 1419 Polk st. 521 Montg’y ave. 2008 Fillmore st. City Sto 3006 Sixteenth st. ¥ Mores. ‘ 2510 Mission st. L 218 Third s 104 Second st. 617 Kearny st. 146 Ninth st. 3259 Misslon st. 1053 Washington 917 Broadway. 131 San Pabloav. 816 E. Twelfth st Park st. and Alameda ave. Oakland. Alameda Headquarters—52 Market St., S. ¥. 2~ We Operate 100 Stores and Agencies. Write for Price List. Roaring fireinthe library, family all around playing games or reading, sister at her desk, writing. Which does most to make the room pretty—fire, sister or desk ? Desks dreds. for $6.50—hun- Arm rocker. Looks pretty; doesn’t look comfortable. Is pretty; is comfortable—all the comfort is in the seat. No; a big part of the com- fort is in giving it—at Christmas. Carpets . Rugs . Mattings CALIFORNIA FURNITURE COMPANY (N. P. Cole & Co.) 117-123 Geary Street.