The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, May 30, 1897, Page 6

THE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, SUNDAY, MAY 30, 189% ARE DEFECTIVE EVES PREVALENT? A Large Percentage of Students Seem to Be Afflicted. Oculists Claim, However, That the Examinations Are Im- properly Made. Ssy It Is Impossible to Make Proper Tests Without the Use of Drugs. After a few weeks of examina part of two physicians, over 1500 pupils of the public schools, it is said, hs found e strain imposed upon the immature nervous system,” said Dr. F. Cornwall last evening, *and throngh this upon the eyes, caused by the great num- ber of months of study in the year, to- gether with the forcing that comes through the competitive system in our public schools, induces such a prevalence of eye failure, with other nervous tom- plaints, as to awaken public interest. “Naturally the medical man is consulted and particularly the oculist, and ke being the only one with any knowledge of the subject, all is left to him. This is asit should be, but there are elements which enter into the proposition and which bring forth problems the solution of which is desirable. “A question arises which should be passed ‘upon, viz.: When an ocuhst is selected 1n the ordinary way, what assur- ance have the public of his capacity or | honesty? Human se apt toex- em piify itself in thisas in al human fairs, and when there is a monopoly, W no one possessed with knowleage with which to criticize, as in this case, things may not proceed as thev should. “An_established oculist. bas neither time mor inclination to perform this gratuitous work. A new and presumably inexperienced man who might wish to bring himself before the public agitates | It the matter through a political friend and, influence being brought to bear in the right direction, he gets the place. Se- lected in this way the oculist may be | either honest, dishonest, capable or in- capable. He hasa greatamount of work todo, for which he is to receive no salary or compensation other than being brought within the scope of public view. | He may have, however, a percentage Wil the spectacle-man who supplies the chil- dren with their glasses, and in this w make $40 or §50 a day. “To an or Ty observer this may seem all right, even the percentage part, but | when a _full understanding is had it may seem to be all wrong and of 1o use what- ever. “I wish toimpartthis knowledge =o that | the non-professional reader may under- | stand. The basis of my statements are my own case books and thatof others. Furthermore all unbiased oculists will, in | my opinion, coincide. ““What 1s called the accommodative function of the eye is composed of its lens and a muscle which surrounds it, called the ciliary muscle. By the action of this muscle the lens can be changed in its curvature. This adapts the eye for the observation of objects at different dis- tances, and the decline of which is shown by the fact that we require the assistance of glasses as we grow older. “In normal eyes this muscle acts on all the meridians of thelens alike, but if a me- chanical defect ofany kind exist this mus- cle may curve the lensin one meridian more than another. A lens whose curva- ture is perfectly spherical may be ren- dered unequal (spherico cyli the reverss may bs the ca 3 all individual things in creation, are sel- dom perfect, and only exist in ideals. This ideal eye is one that focuses light rays, emanating from distant objects, on its retina. “Sometimes the imperfection consists in foresight (hyperopia), a condition in which the eyeball is too short from front to back for the'focal length of its cornea and lens. Another defect is nearsight (mj} opia), a condition in which theeyeball is too long from front to back for the focus of the iens and cornea. The focus falls in front of the part of the eye which per- ceives the light (the retina). A third de- fect is a condition in which the lens or cornea or both are unequal in the curva- ture of their meridians, which is called astigmatism. “It would be impossible to constrmct an artificial eye with which toillustrate the pbysiological adaptation of the natural eye or toshow how muscular parts of the inside of the eve control the curva- ture of the lens, which changes its focal distance and thus adapts the eye for sight at the near as well as for the far point. The far-sighted young overcome their de. fects (keep the focus of parallel rays upon | the retina) by bringing into action the functions used in the correct eye, for seeing at the near point. Thus the iens is kept continually, with 2n extra curve sut. ficient to overcome the defect. This is ac- companied by muscular contraction, and, of necessity, beine constant, uses up nerve force to maintain it. - This-becomes a real spasm of the muscle, which does not re- lax in many cases, perhaps even in sleep. Thus reflexdisturbance of the whole ner- vous system may ensue, which brings on continual headeache, chorea, epilepsy, etc. This spasm of the muscie of accommoda- tion often becomes so great that not only the farsight is corrected, but the eye will actually become nearsighted. “When an attempt is made to measure farsight with lenses they will be rejected, as at best only a part of it will be revealed. The nearsizhwd young frequently accept wlasses three times as strong as the real refraction of the eye. This is done by spesm. The same may b said of as| matism. “‘Attempts to correct the mechanical defect and to get a more perfeet outline of observed objects put the nerves controlling these functions into an irritable state and when lenses are placed before the eye for these tests almost any result may be ex- pected so far as a proper diagnosis is con- cerned, “Many persons with nearsight, farsight or astigmatism, or a combination of these, may be examined every day in the week and give. a different result at each trial. Tuen of what use is an examination of this kind, conducted as it usually is in our public schools? 1t merely establishes the probability of a defect in the pupil's eye and approximates its kind. The unceriainty iies in this, that a farsighted eye may measure nearsighted and an as- tigmatic eve may overcome the defect and not be shown durinz examination, or there may appear 1o be astizmatism when the eye isin good condition. “The only reliable method of making a diagnosis of an error of refraction is to instiil into the eye a drugthat will tempo- rarily parsiyze the muscle of accommoda- tion. This does no harm, but rests the eye and prevents the muscles from accom- modating the eyes to any glass but the rightone. An optician may by repeated fitting approximate correctness, but this is done over a veriod of months or years, their only guide being that which gives the most relief. Those who examined the gchool children have but the one test, and that is conducted in from three to five minutes. *Modern opthalmology has taught us > 2 = H that affections arising from inharmonious action of the muscles that move the eye- ball are almost as frequent as those that come from the error of refraction. Some- times the place of rest of an eye isnot with its fellow, viz.: their visual axes are kept on a common point of fixation with difficulty. The eyes may have a tendency to divergence or convergence, or one may have a tendency above its fellow. “The distress from the force required to keep the two eyes directed toward the same object 1s often severe. A great deal of care and a number of examinatione are required to properly diagnose and treat these ocular defects. “It 15 possibly unnecessary to speak of the reflex disturbances of the system that mey and so often do arise frum these ocular defects, as almost all are in some way familisr with them. 5 “Tach advance in civilization imposes new burdens on our eyes and perhaps more than any other element character- izing our changing conditions, the City schools are most to blame for eye failure and the functional distresses that go with them. It behooves those who occupy laces of trust in this line to inform tlhem- selves carefuily that they may be able to oid committing error as well as to at- It has always been mv tempt to do good. A belief that the diagnosis of these mechani- cal ocnlar defects requires greater care, especially nong schoul children, than the general publi 1s aware of.” Anclent Order United Workmen. Last Friday evening Deputy Grand Master Workman Poland ana Grand Receiver Samuel Booth instituted a lodge of the order at Mill Valley. This lodge is the zesult of the eflorts 1al Dy B. Farwell. It starts out hip and fair prospects of increase. Elections are being held in the various lodges, in some cases quite spirited contests are reported. A very interesting meeting of Unity Lodge was held last Tuesday evening, when an unusually large attendance was present; in- terest being cenlered in the election of the overseer and recorder. On Thursdsy evening Burns Lodge No. 68, hed ninety members in attendsuce, the attraction being a race for the office of recorder. st ard ng a lodge was fnstituted ymond. Special Deputy H. L Brewer is doing good work in this section. Deputy Grand Master Workman Poland and Grand Keceiver Booth visited Vueaville Lodge No. 45 on Thursday evening, when the degrees, with the aid of the stercopticon, were con- ferred upon a ¢l of eightcandidat here was an unusually large attendance, and after the busivess of the lodge was finished the doors were thrown open and the public was invited, and addresses were made by visiting Katzenstein, past grand master of sickness in his family, 1 tend the session of the Su- dge at Milwaukee and has resigned. nd master workman has appointed Past Grand Master Workman James Booth to ber of the new official organ ppearance on June L A num- ber of special articies have beca prepared by the grand recorder and medical examiner and others, and the paper promises to be an inter- J. Stewart, supe- of honor, and Mrs, Kate M. Poland, grand recorder of California of the Dagree of Honor, will leave for Milwaukee to attend the session of the Superior Lodge of the Degree of Honor, which commences on June 5. The other. representatives irom California are W. H. Barnes and D. S, Hirshberg. Deputy Grand Master Workman Frank 8. Poland “and Grand Recefver Booth visited Wheatiend Lodge No.54 last eveming, when the onferred on six candiaates. evening, June 17, Triumph . 180 will give an entertainment at Union-square Hall. visiting Evansvyille, Ind., Grand Master n Vinter ad a large essemblage W of Workmen under the auspices of oue of the local odges. ®B'ne B'rith. The grand officers paid a visit to the lodge in Oakland last Tuesday and were well re- Quite & number of names have been obtained he petitions for the organization of the Daugh of Judah as an sauxiliary to the b . Voorsanger will visit the lodges in Portland, Or., and the one in Seattle 10 fill the engagements of President Stein of Stockton, who at this time cannot fill them on account of a press of business. He will start between the Sth and the 10thof June, Court Sutro Heights. Court Sutro Heights No. 136, F. O. A., held its regular meeting in Liberty Hall, Alcazar building, on last Thursday evening. After the business meeting (which is always character- istic as being harmonious, althougn spirited) was over the following excellent programme arranged by the commitiee was presented: George Little, the well-known minstrel, led off with & comic song; Sam Yehl gave a piano solo; John Richardson, the musicsl king, tam- pered with his banjo for a few minutes; Char- lie Gans sang a song; the Boukofsky Brothers played their guitar and mandolin; E. S. Hard- ing told fu: ries, a3 also did’ George Lit- tle and Dr. During Blake. e evening the following grand on the progress and welfare of C.R., J. S W. Saunders; G. S. C. officers spoke ; G. T., 8. A. White; G. A., Sol . G. C. R., 8. L. Waller, court will give a public installation fol- lowed by an entertainment and dance on Thursday evening, July 8, at Social'Hall, Alca- zar building. Court Sutro Heights is fast pro- gressing toward the 150 mark and last mee ing tnere were nine applications for member- ship on the secretary’s desk. Knights and Ladies of Honor, The June issus of the Sentinel, the official organ of the Supreme Lodge, pays an cloquent tribute to C. H. Bremer, the lately decessed grand secretary of the Foresters of America. The discussion of the sdvisablity of estab- Jishing & reserve fund 1s becoming quite gen- eral, and it is quite probable that tbe question will command the serious attention of the next session of the Supreme Lodge, which convenes at Detroit in Sentember. Suprems Protector L. B. Lockard is one of the most popular and active of ali chief execu- tives of iraternal orders. During the past four months he has visited nearly every grand jurisaiction except Celifornia, and his receptions have been of & most royal nature. Lockard is now serviag his third term— year—and the desire is unanimous that erve the Knightsand Ladies of Honor still another term. Official circular No. 9 has been received from Supreme Protector Lockard calling for a general celebration of the twemtieth anniver- sary of the order in September next. ockbere is one sssessment, amoun(ing to 875, called for June. The total amount paid on approved claims fo JMay 15 was $12,367, 60 92. The tenth biennial session of the New York srand Lodge, held at PortJervis on May 11, 12 and 13, was tne most inieresting in the bistory of the order in the Empire State. Su- preme Protector L. B. Lockard, Supreme Vice- Protector H. Freudenthal and Supreme Medi- cal Examiner Witherill were among the dis- tinguished visitors. Six hours were consumed in_electing new offi the chief contest being for grand secretary, to fill the vscancy created by the death of A. Hoezle, who had held the office for over fifteen years. There are 18,000 members 1n New York. The iatest official report gives a total mem- bership of 76.08 Mongols Attack a Marin Oficer. SAN RAFAEL, Can, May 29.—Con- stable William Treanor had an exciting experience at Point San Pedro to-day while arresting a Chinaman for selling liquor without a licenss, Treanor went to the point and asked for a couple of bottles of beer at the place of Ah Tai, The beer was paid for and the constable went behind the counter and_placed the handcuffs on the Chinamen. When he at- tempted to take his prisoner along a hundred Chinamen who are engaged in sbrimp fishing at the point rushed fo ward to rescue their countryma Trainor forced his way through the mob at the point of his pistol and brought the prisoner to San Rafael in safety. e Segas “ Ord Rosy” ¥ay Plead for San Pedro, LOS ANGELES, CaL, May 29.—There is a movement on foot to send General W. S. Rosecrans to Washington to plead the cause of San Pedro harbor before Presi- dent McKinley. *Old Rosy” is an en- thusiastic friend of S8an Pedro, and re- cently wrote to the President a letter urg- ing him to hasten action on the harbor matter. The standing of the old general would, it is believed, insure for him most respectiul consideration at Washington; but on accountof his advanced age and feeble healta he may not consent to go on the mission. The matter will be finally decided in a few days. I T0 PUGET SOUND NOW FOR §5 And Only $2 50 Is Required to Reach the Oregon Metropolis. The Southern Pac fic Rests Satis- fierd With Its $10 and $5 Rates, How the Pacific Coast Steamers Were Forced to Fight—The Last Cut of the 0. R. and N. Company. The Oregon Railway and Navigation Company yesterday made another cutin the steamer fare between this City and Portland, reducing it from $6 cabin and $3 second class to §5 and §2 50 respectively. The Southern Pacific made no move to meet the cut. In fact, its officials claimed that they were satisfied with the relative difference in schedule rates and would reston their arms. The Southern Pacific rate is $10 and $5. The railroad may change its mind early this week and do some further cutting, but nobody can tell. it's a good deal the way the whim strikes. If the steamer proposition blossoms out big and lots of people go by the boats and seem to fight shy of the cars the road will bave it in for the boats some more and dosome cuiting. Otherwise, otherwise. The rates by both lines are as low now as they have ever been. In fact they are unprecedented, and there is nothing to compare them with except the long fight that raged two years ago from November toJuly 2l People by the steamers got board and those by the cars got free berths. It will be curious ifa whole lot of people do not go traveling, But the tide has not started much yet, so the trans- portation people say. They agree, how- ever, that there hz; not been time enough for the full force 61 1he fight to be felt by the people. The steamer Columbia ar- rived last night from Portland with 110 passengers. She will sail again on Wednesday. “Ivs all right as it is now,” was the statement from the Southern Pacific office alluding to the latest cat of the steamship company. *“Wecan stand that; will just rest where we are. That differ- ence is all right, and we can probably stand it as long as the other company can.’’ The fizht took on # three - cornered aspect early in the day, for the Pacific Coast _Steamship Company wus drawn into it. To protect itself in the Puget Sound business 1t had to drop its $15 first-class ra’e down to $10 and its $7 50 second down to $5. *‘We had to do this,”” was the story given by the Pacific Coast Company, ‘“or iet the other companies get the business. The local rate, for instance, from Port- land to Tacoma is $6 25. Add this to the rate from here to Portiand by the Oregon Railway and Navigation Company and you see where we get off. We couldn't tand it. Our $10 and $5 rates now apply o Victoria, Port Townsend, New What- com, Everett, Seattle, Tacoma, Olympia, and, you may say, every other place on the sound.”” KEEPERS OF LIGETHOUSES. Regulations of the Monotonous Lives They Are Compelled to Lead. A lighthouse-keeper is appointed by the Secretary of the Treasury on the recom- mendation of the Lighthouse Board, and at first receives only an acting appoint- ment. At the end of three months, if he passes an examination by the Naval Offi- cerwho is the inspector of the district, he receives a full appointment; if he does not pass he is dropped from the service, A keeper must be able to read and write, keep accouats, sail and pull a boat, and have enough mechanical ability to make the necessary minor repairs about the station and keep it in order. There is only one grade of keeper rec- ognized by law, but the custom of the service has divided the keepers into dif- ferent grades, with different pay and duties, and with promotion from one grade to another. A man may be ap- pointed to the service and assigned to a part.cular station, but he may be moved atany time if promoted, or if the inter- ests of the service demand it. At stations requiring but one keeper, a retired sea- faring man, with a family, is usually selected, and, in general, men of the sea- faring class are most wanted, At stations where there is a fog signal, one of the assistants is a man who has an engineer’s license and is something of a machinist. Keepers are paid on an average about $800 a year, but the individual sums paid vary from $100 to $1000 & year, according to the importance of the station and the amount of service rendered The princi- pal keeper at Minots Ledge Light, just outside of Boston, receives §1000 & year for his services, and this furnishes the only instance where the pay of a keeper is specified by law. The keepers who live at isolated light- houses and on the off-shore lightships lead a very monotonous life, broken only by the sight of passing vessels and the quar- terly visit of the lighthouse supply boat. ‘These keepers get considerable leave, about two weeks in three months, during which they visit their families on full pay. A lighthouse on an outlying reef, for instance, is on the same status as a lizht- ship, except that it cannot be blown away and the keepers cannot leave itexcept when they are relieved, s a storm might come up and prevent their return. Much is done by the lighthouse board to further the comfort of all its employes, but most is done for those who endure the solitary life at the 1solated lights and on the lightships. Librar] furnished the keepers and their tamilies; each contains about forty volumes of works of history, science and poetry, with a fair supply of good novels. This complete library is left at a station for three months, and is then red to another station by an in- spector on_his quarterly visit. There are nearly 1000 of thess libraries in circulation, each in its little portable case, and, by their judicions interchange, the keepers of stations where they are furnished, see about 200 volumes a year. Keepers are forbidden to enzage in any business which will prevent their presence at their stations or interfere with the pro- per performance of their duties. Many have useful and: orofitable occupations which they carry on at the stations, while some fill pulpits, are Justices of the Peace or teach school. All keepers are furnished ‘with quarters for themselves, and in some cases for their families. In some cases they are furnished with food and rations. Other stations bave barns furnished for cattle and horses, and boais are furnished all stations inaccessible by land., The discipline of the service bas been always rigid, as befitting a service where negligence or inefficiency may mean the loss of many lives and much valuable property. Dismissal instantly follows in two cases—where a keeper is fourd intoxicated and where he allows his light to go out. Keepers are trained to consider the care of the light and the lighthouse property above any and all personal consider: tions, and it is rare, indeed, when they ail to realize this high'ideal. There have been a number of instances illustrating the esprit de corps of the service; how the keepers of the Minots Ledge, first built, went down with the light and died at their pests; how one keeper saved his lens and let his family look out for themselves, and instances where they have saved pub- lic property and lost théir own. Yortunately the service is not ham- pered by any question of poli and this fact, coupled with the excellent discinline maintainea, accounts for the fine class of men now in the service—men who take an honest pride in their work, and whose in- terest makes the efficiency of the service what it is. It is unfortunate that the navy has no retiring laws for its seamen, which would allow men after twenty, twenty-five or thirty years’ service, de- pending on the physical condition of the man, to be retired and placed in thelight- house service for the rest of their lives. A valuable class of men would thus be added, and the Nation would be paying a debt which now goes unpaid.—Yhiladel- phia Ledger. ———————— IN FRONT Of A LOCOMOTIVE. An Experience Thut Beats Football for Making a Man Hungry. The youngengineer who has just besn graduatea from college is likely to remem- ber the incidents of his first ride on a real steam engine longer than some of the les- sons he took four years to learn at the university. “I went up to New York the other day on my first engine test,” said a young M. E. of Philadelphia, who is in the employ of a locomotive works. “It was a novel and interesting experience, and one 1 very much enjoyed. But thén a fellow could enjoy almost any old thing after working four months in the grime and dirv and grease of the shop at the muuilficent rate of 8 cents an hour. 1 suppose I ought to consider mysell lucky 10 have secured any sort of work when times were as hard as they were this summer. Probably half the men that were graduated with me last spring vouid be glad to have my chance, but stiil it rather goes against the grain. At the 1ate of 6 cents an hour we make only 64 cents a day, §3 84 a week, wuen we work eight Lours & day for six daysin the week. But often we don’t get that chance. Be- iore election not many engines were being built, and eometimes I didn’t work more than twenty-five hours a week. Then I sarned the magnificent sum of $2 in seven ays. “The engine we tested was made last spring for the Jersey Central Railroad to haul tue Royal Blue express from Lew York to Washington. The engineer of tests and L rode from Philadeipnia in an engine-cab to Jersey Cily, where ihe engine we were to test—No. 456—was waiting for us in the roundbouse. It was a beauty, a great shining iron beast, with drivers eighty-four inches high. It had been brouzht to the round nouse the day beiore, and the mechanics had trued up or lined up its cross-head guides. We placed the indicators in the cyiinder, coaied our engine, filled the water tank, backed into the station, hitched to our train, and were all reaay to start when time came. “The engineer of tests and I took our places on the front of the engine on the nignt hand side. He read the draught gauge and speed, and I sat on top of the cylinder taking indicator cards. You haven't any idea of tue breeze created by a train running at the rate of more than a mile a mioute until you get outon the tront eud of an engine. 1he engine cab is a calm ana sequestered retreat in compari- son. I seemed Lo me that we were Lear- ing the very Leart out of the wind. The engine under me snorted and panted ana quivered like a wild animal in a rage, as 1t sprang forward widly into space, shrieking snrilly haif the time. Tne wind smote my cheeks lize the blow of a sharp blade. My eyes smarted with smoke and the tears that the wind dried. But for all that it was glorious —the very apotheosis of splendid motion. Tue landscape rushed past me like a fright- ened thing. Farms, towns, rivers, ihe earth, the sky. Ail'wasan indescribable biur. At times i wondered if the iron monster wasn't running away. And then I thought of the darky who said he'd rather be in & railway disaster than a steamboat smashup, for 1n the former case, *Dar you is!’ but in the latter, ‘War is you? “1 must have been a funny sight for the birds on the telegraph wires, as I dasbed pust them on the top of that cylinder. I fancy Ilooked like a dropsical brownie. 1 had”on_two pairs of trousers, a flan- nel shirt, two vests, two sweaters and a coat, besides a lot of heavy underclothing. I wore a cap that came down over my neck and ears, and my feet were wrapped up in coffee- sacks'until they were as biz asa water- bucket. The only parts of me that the at- mosphere got a chance at were my cheeks and my bands. I had to have the fingers cut out of my mitiens 1in order to handle the indicator cards. “When we reached Elizabeth we discov- ered that one of our crosshead guides was getting hot. It had probably been lined up wrong. We stopped, oiled it up well, and started agaio, but it troubled us so that we had to siow down considerably, and by the time we reached Belle Meade it was almost hot. That ended our test for that day. We took off our engine and let the train proceed with a switch engine we picked up at Belle Meade, while we backed 456 into Jersey City. 1t was 7 o’clock ai night by the MORE LABOR FOR GO0D ROADS, The New Department of Highways Swings Into Motion. The Engineers Cling to the Plan for a Grand System of State Highways. President Marsden Manson Is Dis- gusted With the Late Legislature, but Strong for the Fu'ure. The Department ot Highways was or- ganized last Tuesday and squared away for an important two years’ career. It's the Department of Highways now instead ot tne Bureau of Highways, as it was be- fore, Marsden Manson, the surviving mem- ber of the old commission, was elected president, and when he was in town yes- terday he told something of the hopes, plans and projects of the new commission, ‘W. L. Ashe, J. R. Price and himself. Mr. Manson has no exalted opinion of the benefits of Legislatures to the good roads movement, and neither have other road experts. “‘They turned everything backward that the commission recommended,’’ declared Mr. Mansen yesteriay. “We recom- mended laws that would have produced a systematic betterment of the roads at less taxation than now and they created a chaotic condition at increased coat. We recommended systematization and classi- fication, providing for State, county and district’ highways. We recommended a scheme of great State highways, planned with reference to the general needs of the State and 1ts future development, and not to the wants of particular- towns. We placed them where nature made them Toper, gave the general termini and out- ined their general alignment. The Legis- lature provided that any county may peti- tion the Department of Highways to have any piece of road in its borders declared a ttate highway, and if we refuse the matter must be decided by an arbitrator. A State highway should be a State high- way and not wholly a county road. The Governor vetoed most of the other road laws passed, for which I am not sorry. *At the close of the session the Legisla- ture passed the Clark district road law, which was a chaotic and idiotic measure, and distinctly a step backward in road improvement. It upsets the method of road administration throughout the coun- ties and may put a stop to road improve- ments until the courts can adjast the lagal complications involved. In counection with other laws it creates a question as to whether the County Supervisors or the District Trustees provided for shall have jurisdiction. The Attorney-General has recommended that the question be taken to the courts, and it may result in having to wait two years for much road improve- ment.” During the next two years the depart- ment of highways will carry on the work of the past two years in a more extended way, cunging tenaciously to the purpose of establishing a grand system of Siate as well as county and district highways, ex- ploring every part of the State for the best and economical supplies of road ma- terials, keeping up the agitation for good roads, holding public meetings, publish- ing road information, advising road- builders everywhare, and getting ready a batch of road laws torisk on the t Legislature. During the present season Messrs, Price and Ashe will truvel through Central and Northern California, giving special study to the proposed main State highway, ai- ready located in outline, locating their alignment, etc., more definitely, with a view to the future. Marsden Manson will give this season mainly to Soutnern Cali- fornia, studying especially the occnrrence, availability, mode of development, eic., of road materials in that part of the State. Several bulletins relating to road matters will depend on the office of Public Printer. The department will have the pioneer work of the past two years to build on in putting ‘at the service of the BState the most approved methods of highway con- struction, as the law dem. FRANCE'R POPULATION. Meaning and Results of the Decreasing Number of Births. Jacques Bertillon, the inventor of the famous system of identifying criminals, has written an article for the Temps of Paris on the decreasing birth rate in France and its effect on the population. time we had all our trapsoff the engine and were ready to start for home. We hadn’t a bite to eat since morning. Well, I used to think after a footbal! game that I Knew what it was to be hungry and stiff, but my ride on that engine cylinder con- vinced me that [ had previously had only the jaintest conception of what hunger and weariness me '—New York Sun, —————————— SOME NEW THINGS He says: “Qur fears are again surpassed. An official report which is about to be pub- lished by tho Journal Officie! shows a de- ficit of 17,000 lives during the year of 1895. “This report is symptomatic and of its kind the very worst yet made. In 1890, 1891 and 1892 ths statements showed an excess of deaths over births; but that was easily explained, as then the grip was To hold a music book and vprevent the leaves from turning a new device has an upright standard to which are attached two X-shaped wire springs, the ends of which project oxer the edges of the book, the holder being adapted to fit any size book by opening or closing the springs. The use of a roll and case to hold clothes lines when not in use has just been patented. When it is desired to use the Iine the catch that holds the' reel is re- leased, thus allowing the cord to unwina, when it can be threaded through eyelets on the difterent posts and fastened to the last one, winding up the reel to draw the line tight from post to post. An adjustable dental mouth-mirror at its height and decreased the births while it raised so alarmingly the number of deaths. In 1895 the figures have but one explanation: the birth rate 1s growing less, and it has been ever since the begin- ning of the century, rapidly tending to place itseli on an equal footing with the mortality list. This aas at last happened. It the birth rate continues to diminish— which it must do unless some remedy is found—we must resign ourselves to the fact that France is rapidly going out of existence, while other countries grow daily more powerful, as the following figures will prove: BIRTHS PER 1000 INHABITANTS justout Lias a bead band to hold fast a number of adjustable rods attached to each other, the advantage being that the deutist has both hands free for his instru- ments without having to hold the mirror. For use in moistening and sealing en- velopes a new device consists of a series of rollers through which the envelopes are passed by means of turning a crank at the side of the machine, the first set of rollers holding tne body of the envelope fast un- til the moistening raller has operated on the flap, when it is passed between the secondary rollers to seal it. To prevent wind and rain from coming into a house under the door a new weather- strip is fastened to the bottom of the door and is automatically raised and’ lowered as the door ogen- and shuts by mesns of a spring and projecting arm, which fits into a recess in ‘the door, the strip lying over the edge of the door sill when the door is shut. The protection of shirt bosoms by a water-proof body having a neckband ana straps at the side for fastening it around zh: l:’ody of the wearer has just been pat- ented, One of the most useful of recent inven- tions is a pneumatic hammer for driving nails or riveting bolts, etc,, the air pres- sure being admitted through a pipe con- nected with the hammer casing and act- ing iantermitiently on a spring plunger carrying a hammer at its outer end, the mechanism being.controlled by a lever at the side to vary the force of the blows as desired by preventing the plunger from coming back. The hammer can be made in any size desired for light or heavy work. ‘22 decrease 1n births is general in the It has been explained as a cons-quence of civili- zation; butif t. were 50 it should be necessary to accept France as the only civilized nation of the world, for she is the sole great European country where births diminish with such implacable regularity, &8s these figures will show BIRTHS PER 1000 INHABITANTS. 18411830 18811890. “This throughout France, especially northern parts and in Brittany. 88 83 87 38 France. 27 24 *Atierward 22. “Finis Galli! No matter what point of view we take, the above figures lead us to tha “The political d military conse- quences that will ensue are easy to per- ceive. On the morrow of their war France and Germany had almost the same num- ber of recruits (296,334 in France and 330,- 136 in Germany), and we could ciing to the hope of again reconquering what we bad lost. To-day Germany has more then one-half mors recruits (448,433) than France, which yet retains the original number; and, as in Germany, the num- ber of pirtbs is twice (1,903,160) as larce in France (908,849) since 1891, it is pl that in fourieen years she will have twice the army that we bave. “Even our wealth is threatened. Our exports reached during the vears 1867-1876 an average of 3,306,000,000 francs; in 1805 XEW TO-DAY—DRY GOODS THE MAZ WILL BE CLOSED MONDAY OUT OF RESPECT TO OUR NATION’S DEAD. Will Reopen Tuesday With More Feteh- ing Bargains Than at Any Time Dur- ing Our Closing-Out Sale! o ola ?40 Baldwin & Howell, Real Estate Agents, 10 Montgomery street, have *g’ s the renting of our store. - Apply to them for particulars. = SEsiesie T3 X o # ticle in our stock is «» sold to % ¥ makes a profit. % 4 ai & $1 “w Shirt Waists 5 ¥ & 4 % i % $45 for $15 pays to gains await you in Linen and in fine we have $100,000 you can purchase your patronage. We cannot individualize or attempt to enumerate special items. you at a less to us, and no mer= ¥ chant can exist in business unless he Ladies’ Tailor-made g Suits at $1 50 and $2 50 are bargains, n’t they, no matter what they are? bad, are they ? Ladies’ Black Figured % Dress Skirts at $1 25, worth $2 50, are pretty good. Novelty Dress Pat- & terns at ; original value is pretty good. Every ar- a bargain, for it's for 39¢c are not ' look at. Big bar- g Towels and Table s Wash Goods. Our Lace and Underwear departments are crowded all the time. In conclusion, of merchandise to sell, and we are offering it at less than it anywhere. We trust that when you fill your wants you'll give us the first chance. don’t find that we save you money then give the other merchants the benefit of We are done as soon as we've sold this stock down. If you MARKET S1. §%fi?mfimyep@ e of SPHE Mewxe » COR. TAYLOR AND GOLDEN GATE AVE. they increased to 3,374,000,000. During | the same period the German exports in- | creased from 2974,000,000 francs (the aver- age for 1872-1876) 10 4,500,000,000. The rea- son for this 1s very simple: The number of our workmen does not increase, while in Germany the population has jumped from 41,000,000 to 52,000,000; hence this gain over us. e 5 “In Austria the same condition prevails. Her exports for 1869-1873 averaged 1,055,- | 000,000 francs annuaily; in 1594 the ficures bad almost been doubled. reaching 1,988, 000,000, Thisis also explained by a gain of 7,000,000 of population. | “Atthe end of the last centtry France | represented 27 per cent of the population of the great European powers, and our language was the one most spoken throughont the world. To-day she lives on her past. ‘Lhere are 46,000,000 of peo- ple who know French from birth. Such is the number of readers that a French book could have; but the same bcok written in German could be read by more than 97,000,000 meu, and if in English by more than 115,000,000 people. Thereiare, itis not only our_political and cur mili- tary power that is menaced by the de. creasing births in our povulation, but also our ecomomic power, and above everything it is the intellectual and moral influence of our writers over the world, it is the intellectual patrimony of France that is on the verge of disappearing.” ———— Plan to Remodel Seats in the House. Speaker Reed is an advocate of the plan of remodeling the hall of Representatives 80 that the mombers of the House may be brought much closer together and grouped in much less space. The plan, which is discussed from time to time whenever something draws attention to the clumsi- ness of the House as at present arranged, is to clear out the members’ desks and to seat the members on benches as members of the Engiish Parliament arejSsoated. Mr. Reed, it seems, would par.ition the present hall into -three parts, giving a room for ‘the sittings of the House and new rooms on each side where members could read, write, taik and receive visitors. Itis admitted that for purposes of de- bate it would be a great advantage if the House could be made amore compact boly, but the members are loth to give up their desks, and it is argued that if members could not write during the ses- sion and had no emplovyment except to 8it on 2 vench and listen it would bte harder than ever to get together a quorum for the transaction of business. Mr. Re-a’s remedy for that would be to amend the provision of the constitution which makes a majority of the House a quorum, and to provide instead that some arbitrary number—fifty or one hun- dred—shall be a quorum. Such a change, however, would not be easy to bring about, and is not very hopefully sug- gested.—Harper's Weekiy. ——— Santa Cruz Dog-Poisoner Comvicteds SANTA CRUZ, CaL, May 29.—Owners of dogs here are greatly pleased with the conviction of D. M. Dibble of dog poison- ing. The loss of many valuable canines recently made this case one of unusual interest: Severa! dogs died immediately after his arrest, but it is possible they were killed by poison which he had placed before his incarceration. ———————— Salt Lake Desperado Shot. SALT LAKE, Utar, May 29.—Richard Harvey, receatly from California, swas convicted of burglary last Monday and to-day sentenced to prison for three years, While being handcuffed in the conrtroom, he made a break for liberty, knocked down several bailiffs and was finally shot and dangerously wounded by Deputy Sheriff Burt ——————— In the Baltic Sea there are more wrecks than in any other place in the world. The average throughout the year is one each da; DENTAL TEETH WING TO THE SUCCESS Wit HAVE ME foany requests from patients living at & dis anc the low prices we have gi: en the publ rate antil June 20 on ail work done 1u our offices Our patients are fully protected against the than half those charged by them. . NO MORE DREAD OF THE GHAIR. Extracted Without Pain, Fill:d Crowned Without Pain, Bridge Work Without Pain, operators are sxllled svecialiss and gradustes of the hest collexes of Ama We are not compe.iug with cheap dental estabilshments, but with firsi- NEW TO-DAY. ithout Pain. WITH IN' OBTAINING BUSINESS AND THE INESS AND e past thirty days, been able to avall them olves of we have determined 1o extend the present evils of cheap work and inferior matertals. Our rica. Nostudents employed. class dentists, a: prices less UNSOLICITED TESTIMONIALS. urdersigned, cheerfally testiy that at the Van Vr th extrac:ed at one sitting without the least pain. MHS. ANNA STONE, aged 54 ycars, 258 Efghth street, E. B PAYNTER, with Male Brothers. R WILLIAM GARDINER, Foreman Seldil" MRS, WILLIAM GARDINER. E. H. MCCREADY, 123 Cuver street. G. P. LIND0, 4202 Twenty-.hird sireet. MRS, R. F. FLETCHER, Los Gatos. com Electro Dental Pariors we had 's Candy Faotory. FULL 85T OF TEETH for GOLD CROWNS, 22k.. BRIDGE WORK, per Tooth. SILVER FILLING GOLD FILLING. CLEANING TEETH Work done as well at night as by daylight by the modern electrical . devices used hare. All Artificial Sets of Teeth are made by dentists of twenty yeers' experi e year erience, and & perfect fis By leavine order for cau get them the same ay. NO CHARGE for E: > G ABGE for Extracting Teeth when plates L@ We Will Give $500.00 to Any Dentist Who Will Duplicate Our Crown or Bridge Work. th in the mornlog you VAN VROOM ELECTRO-DENTAL PARLORS, 997 MARKET STREET. CORNER SIXTH. TELEPHONE JESSIE 1695. Eight Skilled Onera 0's. Lady Attendants. German and ¥ P . 2 o'clock: Sundays, 9 Lill 12. All Surg.cal Work done by G. W. Wil smapa: MD._ P venines il 10 OPEN ALL DAY MONDAY, MAY 31. ) {